BY Tia Smith

Ah, spring. The season of rebirth, renewal… and really not having any clue what weather to dress for on any given day (or hour, for that matter). This is the time that the world suddenly remembers who it used to be before the dreariness of winter, and starts flexing her groove thang. Its that time where we start to realize that summer and all of its unending heat will be soon upon us again. It’s the dichotomy of crisp, cool days alternating with torrential rain that comes out of nowhere on a random Tuesday.

So, of course, what is the best thing to do in this kind of schizophrenic weather? Why, go outside and roll around in the dirt… or garden.
Like any other socially and environmentally conscious person of this age, I fully ascribe to the need for reaping the benefits of sustainable living. I love the various farmers markets and there is nothing better than fresh produce. Sooo, what could be better than my very own fresh produce. Tomatoes I lovingly coaxed from seedling to juicy morsel. Sweet potatoes I tilled all on my own. Salad on my family’s table plucked from our own garden, so fresh that the caterpillars now have a bone… or a leaf… to pick with me over. Living the dream and perhaps even saving a dollar or two. Sounds lovely, right? Unfortunately, I have a small problem with this utopian landscape. I, ladies and gentlemen, have what is sometimes called a “black thumb”.
I’m not talking, the “normal, not so great at gardening” thumb which could be helped with better knowledge. My black thumb is WAYYYY beyond that. If I touch the plant or even look at it for too long, said plant will basically commit suicide. Death by wither. I mean, I can kill parsley. I even managed to kill rosemary. These are literally the equivalent of weeds that will grow through concrete and they died under my watch. I water plants, they die. I ignore the plants, they die. Basically, I have a radius of a ten-foot no-grow zone.
I don’t come by this naturally. My mom and dad are both amazing at gardening, as is my husband and his parents. My kids are even great at it. For some reason, the buck (or perhaps, the spade?) stops with me. And unfortunately for the souls of the carrots of Bermuda, I haven’t let that discourage me.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not spreading my death cooties onto our family garden plot (except in the occasional sideways glance). No, I have my own “kitchen garden” which I shall be tilling shortly for another year of Russian roulette, herb style. This year, I will again plant parsley, cilantro, basil and all the other fun plants that any discerning Food Network aficionado and Ina Garten envying foodie needs to have freshly cut on their counter. And at the end of this year, I will again look morosely upon a patch of land with more weeds than useful plants, I will again hold my tearful in memoriam and I will again wonder, hmm, what plants shall I let die next year?

The post Perhaps gardening isn’t my thing appeared first on RG Magazines.

BY Nadia Laws

Life can take you in some incredible and unexpected directions if you’re willing to take some risks, and step outside your comfort zone.

So learnt Quinton Sherlock, a former Bermuda College lecturer and educator, who left the Island six years ago to move to Ghana in West Africa.
“I initially came here in 2013 to study for a Master’s degree in African Studies at the University of Ghana in Legon,” Mr Sherlock explains. “My expectation was to learn more about the history and the culture of the country, but then while in my second year of my programme, my path took a sudden turn. I became engrossed in the world of philanthropy through one of my contemporaries whose wife needed support running her NGO.”
Mr Sherlock agreed to fill in for his friend’s wife by overseeing her non-governmental organisation (NGO) for eight months while she handled some urgent business abroad. That one decision changed the trajectory of his life.
“Through the NGO, I helped young people in an urban slum area called Chorkor,” he says. “It’s a densely populated area with a lot of poverty. The other volunteers and I would go into the community hoping to make a positive impact through the NGO’s afterschool programme, which helped children with their homework, and also a feeding programme within the slum.”
Following that experience, Mr Sherlock got an idea. He saw there were many other small communities around Ghana in need of support, so he launched Ace It Foundation in 2015, with the aim of empowering the next generation of student athletes. Based in Gomoa Fetteh, a coastal town in the Central Region of Ghana, Mr Sherlock’s NGO has successfully provided academic support, as well as beginner and intermediate golf lessons, to dozens of young people in the community.
“We’re starting to see some of the rewards now and feel a sense of success when we look back at what we’ve accomplished,” Mr Sherlock says. “We started out just doing vocabulary and reading comprehension activities with the young people, but then added in golf classes to the curriculum as well. I’ve always been an avid golfer and started playing the sport at age ten. It’s offered me a lot of opportunities such as travelling through the US to represent Bermuda, scholarships for university and much more.”
In fact, he recalls his first visit to the African continent was through a professional golf tour in Morocco in North Africa.

“To put it plainly, golf is a huge passion of mine. It’s an honour to share this sport with those who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it,” Mr Sherlock says. “The hope is that we can create some opportunities with these young people through golf and the good news is we’re already starting to see that come to pass.”
Mr Sherlock has admittedly learnt a lot about himself since moving to Ghana. By his late teens, he recalls going through “a period of soul searching” and becoming interested in learning more about his identity as a person of African descent.
“That desire was welling up within me, and I knew I had to explore more,” he explains. “Throughout my life, one thing I’ve always been okay with is making leaps. When I make up my mind to do something, I just go for it.”
Stepping foot in Ghana for the first time was a bit of a culture shock. Everywhere he looked, there were black people – and instead of being surrounded by ocean, all he could see was land, mostly undeveloped land.

“I saw it as a land of opportunity in that it’s fairly easy, once you notice a gap, to get something established here in Ghana,” he says. “The university is what got me here, but working with young people has always been my passion and is what keeps me here.”

In addition to being an educator and working with the Family Centre, a local non-profit in Bermuda, Mr Sherlock served as President of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association and Ocean View Golf Club for four years before his departure. He says the Ghanaian people are “very welcoming and friendly”, which has helped to ease the transition in moving there. Still, adjusting to life abroad hasn’t all been easy.
“It’s a different environment and as much as I may romanticise ‘coming back home to Africa’, you also have to be real about it. Here, I’m considered an outsider, and that comes with a certain level of interaction. People may try to take advantage of you in certain situations if you’re not vigilant and aware. It’s not that they’re bad people, but they just don’t have access to what you do.”
While working at the NGO consumes most of his time, Mr Sherlock also teaches golf in the city at Achimoto Golf Club, one of Ghana’s top courses. Each week, he also takes a handful of young people from the Ace It Foundation there so they can get real practice on the course.
He said one thing he’s most grateful for since the move is the continuous support he gets from friends, family and former colleagues back home in Bermuda. He facilitates annual trips for local residents interested in volunteering in Ghana, with the Foundation’s homeschool and junior high school programmes.
“Right now, I’m committed to the project I’m working on in Ghana, but I always consider Bermuda to be home. That’s where my family and friends are – and I’m trying to see how I can create options to be in Bermuda a little more, and yet still keep the momentum going here in Ghana.”

The post Quinton Sherlock Aces It in Ghana appeared first on RG Magazines.

Peter Backeberg

On any given day, all across Bermuda, there are literally thousands of school-aged children running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching, swimming, sailing or riding with one of the Island’s vast array of youth sport clubs and organisations.
In addition, the Bermuda School Sports Federation (BSSF), as part of Bermuda’s education programme, holds up to 60 tournaments and meets, plus league games, in 10-15 sports each year.

Clearly, time spent on the field of play is an important and influential part of many young people’s lives. Sport keeps them active, teaches important life lessons and can create educational opportunities at overseas high schools and colleges. For those with particular talent and commitment there are also chances to represent Bermuda on the international stage or even enter the professional ranks.
The cultural influence of sport cannot be overstated either, with the community vicariously experiencing the success, or failure, of our athletes, creating a sense of unity, identity and pride. To witness the outpouring of support for Flora Duffy when she romped to victory in the 2018 World Triathlon Series on home turf is to understand the unique power that sport holds in our culture.
But for every Flora Duffy, or Nahki Wells (a professional footballer), there are many, many young people for whom the rewards of sport are defined by simply participating, making friends, experiencing success and failure, staying active, learning teamwork and discipline and developing physically and emotionally as they grow into healthy, productive adults.
It is these young people that Bermuda’s youth sporting organisations are tasked with overseeing and developing in their thousands. This important task can be complicated by another side of youth sport, one where performance is tied to self-esteem and winning seen, and experienced, as a reflection of worth, for the player, their team, their coaches, their family and their community.
Given the shear number of children playing youth sport and the obvious influence of this experience, should there be a national conversation on how to deliver the very best experience for these young people? And what should that conversation be about?
Well, it turns out that conversation is taking place, and while it has been going on in clubhouses and at AGMs for many years, there is now a more formal structure taking shape at the national level, driven by the Department of Youth and Sport in collaboration with the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA), and others.
The conversation is focused on the idea that the development (physical, social and emotional) of the athlete comes first, and while that may sound obvious, how this is achieved on a consistent basis is less clear.
Despite the best intentions, such altruism faces headwinds from a culture where winning is important, coaching and administration is largely volunteer based and a relatively small pool of athletes is participating in a relatively large selection of sports, all of which are trying to attain success both locally and internationally.
How we measure success might be the most important question facing youth sport today.
In 2019, the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation released the Sport Recognition Policy which set requirements for Bermuda’s National Sports Governing Bodies (NSGB) and mandated that they all reapply for their designation.
Jekon Edness, the senior sport development officer for Youth and Sport, says that the goal was to create a minimum set of national standards that ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the NSGBs and to start building a consistent framework across these organisations.
“This is really the first step,” he says. “We knew it would be a shock to some and we didn’t want to be too onerous or overwhelm what are essentially volunteer run organisations, but we do want to set standards to ensure that those bodies that are recognized as NSGBs have implemented reasonable levels of organizational and governance structures that will be checked annually.”
While the new requirements are largely focused on administrative efficiency through governance structure and financial reporting, each organisation must also demonstrate it has “a clearly defined strategy for the development of its organisation and has structures in place to maintain its effectiveness as a NSGB for their respectve sporting activity.”
In addition, Mr Edness says the Department, in partnership with the Bermuda Olympic Association, have begun the process of educating all NSGB’s about the nuances of Long-Term Athlete Development Plans (LTAD), which will be a future requirement for all NSGB’s seeking funding from the BOA and recognition from Government.
“We would like to see NSGBs looking at a six-year-old child who enters their grassroots programme and say, OK, how are we going to get this six-year-old into an elite programme and if they don’t become an elite athlete how do we keep them active in our sport? Not everyone is going to compete at an elite level but at the end of the day you want people to stay active, so you need various pathways for elite athletes and recreational athletes as well.”
In September of 2019, Youth and Sport hosted “ReImaging Sports” a conference designed to prompt the type of dialogue and learning NSGBs can use to develop, amongst other things, their LTADs. The BOA followed with a second set of workshops in January of this year and also hosted an Athletes Forum in February.
The topics addressed at these events speak to some the core issues facing youth sports in countries around the world; how to compete in a healthy way, multi-sport versus specialised training (and at what age) and safeguarding athletes on and off the field.

The urge to compete

“Everyone wants to win,” says Manny Faria, who is in a unique position to comment on youth sport as administrator for the BSSF and chair of the Youth Committee for the Bermuda Football Association (BFA). “But when we focus on winning we can forget about the development part.”
With football being by far the most participated in youth sport in Bermuda, the approach the BFA takes to competition can have a big impact.
“For U7 through U11 we have rules in place to ensure that everyone plays in every game and we don’t keep results or publish scores,” he says. “It has been that way for a long time.
“Three years ago there was a focus group with our Player Development Committee, the technical team and coaches from the clubs and it was determined to keep the younger leagues non-competitive.”
Cricket is another widely participated youth sport and the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) takes a similar approach to youth competition.
“We don’t keep results or stats until they start playing with the hard ball at U13,” says Cal Blankendal, executive director for the BCB. “We also play a slightly different format with younger players, a small field, faster play, all designed to get more interaction with the ball.”
Mr Blankendal is also well placed to comment on youth sport having coached youth and senior football since 2002, he holds a UEFA ‘B’ License as a football coach and has run afterschool programmes for middle school boys and girls.
“It’s the parents who make it competitive,” he says. “They might think that what the child does reflects on them. But they don’t always know what instructions the coaches have given the players and are yelling something different to their child. Parents should stop coaching from the sidelines. The kids feel that pressure.”
Mr Faria concurs and says its not just football and cricket.
“I’ve seen it at inter-school sports, parents yelling at their kids, the coaches, the refs. I’ve even seen it community events like Dash in the Dark or the Magic Mile, parents putting pressure on their kids. It takes a mental toll on young people.”
But Mr Faria is also quick to point out that most parents are there to support their children. “I don’t want to paint a bleak picture, for every parent who is yelling from the sidelines there are two who are not, but it’s a challenge.”
Of course winning and losing is part of sport and the very NSGBs charged with developing young people are also looking to identify the next generation of elite talent. Similarly the BOA is charged with identifying and supporting athletes at the very highest level, but are now also supporting NSGBs in their planning for long term youth development.
“The main issue for the BOA is that this is something we’ve never had to do before so we are learning right along with our NSGBs,” says Katura Horton-Perinchief, a former Olympic diver and chairperson of the BOA’s Standards Committee. “To be fair, it is the BOA’s mandate to deal with the elite. The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of athletic success. Developing minors, however, is a whole different ballgame. It’s okay for a young athlete to have an Olympic dream but he or she should not feel like a failure if the goal is not met. Youth sport is and should be about having fun, physical literacy, making healthy lifestyle choices and building confidence.”
With these goals in mind, the role of coaches is critically important. Again, the BFA takes a progressive approach that requires an age-appropriate licensed coach for each team. The license includes not only football training but also First Aid/CPR and SCARS training.
“In boys alone there are 98 teams, so you’re talking about 150-plus, coaches,” says Mr Faria. “I fully support that coaches are licensed and the clubs have embraced it. If the mandate is development it wouldn’t make sense if the coaches themselves aren’t trained.”
While this doesn’t automatically rule out some coaches being overly competitive, Mr Faria says the focus has definitely shifted, “most coaches take it to heart, build relationships and are invested in developing young people in the community.”
The role of SCARS, a Bermudian charity that offers training to adults to build awareness about the “the devastation that child sexual abuse can cause in the life of an innocent child”, has grown increasingly important in recent years.
Patrick Singleton, a three-time Bermuda Olympian, is presently the executive officer of the World Olympians Association and is a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Medical and Scientific Commission and its Athletes Commission. He says safeguarding athletes, both on and off the field, is a subject of great importance in international circles.
“We’ve seen horrific abuse, most prominently in US gymnastics, but in other sports and other jurisdictions as well.
“To Bermuda’s credit, we are actually ahead of most nations, with SCARS leading the way. It’s a fantastic organisation doing important work.”
At present, Mr Edness says the NSGBs are not required to have coaches SCARS trained and each NSGB sets the standards for their coaches. However, one of the organisations working with Youth and Sport, and therefore the NSGBs, is Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a US non-profit.
PCA has been delivering workshops for the NSGBs and also offers comprehensive online training that helps coaches, and parents, to support young athletes, both in terms of developing their full potential and also learning the important life lessons that sport can teach so well.
“PCA provides workshops on the mental aspect of coaching, so it is not sport specific, but more aligned with motivating athletes and getting the best out of them,” says Mr Edness. “Its all about athlete development and retention, making sure we can reach our potential, stay active as a community and improve over time.”

Many sports or just one?

Being a relatively small community that still aspires to achieve at the international level, there can be, understandably, competing interests between the various clubs and NSGBs. They also find themselves bidding for funding from the same pool of resources, whether that’s through the private sector or government.
The quest to develop high quality athletes and demonstrate their success highlights one of the important questions being asked both locally and overseas: Should children be training in multiple sports and at what point is it beneficial to focus on a single sport?
Mr Singleton says this question is not unique to Bermuda, noting that the IOC runs an advanced team physicians course every year, which is attended by chief medical officers from International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees and big sporting clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who send their top doctors.
“One of the things they look at is injuries and overtraining. An overarching theme is over specialization at a young age, which can be highly detrimental to the development of young athletes,” he says. “In fact, some top doctors are saying footballs’ many academies are so specialised that a lower than average percentage of players make it from the academies to the pros. Statistically you’ve a better chance coming in off the street.
“When popular sports ‘vacuum’ up a lot of youngsters at a young age it can put a heavy burden on them in terms of training, this can lead to injuries, fatigue and burnout – often many young athletes don’t fully develop and never achieve their full potential as a direct result of over training.”
Sport for Life in Canada is another organisation working with Youth and Sport to help build an athlete development model for Bermuda. Their literature on the subjects clearly recommends a variety of activities that are inclusive and not overtly competitive prior to adolescence. The early and mid-teens are recognized as the critical time for ensuring long-term participation and also identifying and supporting top athletes.
However, even for young people who choose to specialize, Sport for Life still highlights the importance of athletes continuing with “complementary” sports that develop other skills beneficial to their particular sport and physical development in general.
And, on a topic of particular relevance because of Bermuda’s small population, they suggest that sporting organisations work together to ensure success, writing: “A collaborative, coherent approach among coaches, organizations and system stakeholders is needed to support the athlete’s continued development toward excellence, or transfer into ongoing activity for life. When these stakeholders understand the issues and show patience in development, more youth will be retained in sport and physical activity.”
While recognizing the challenges of a small population and that the development curve in each sport can vary, Ms Horton-Perinchief says the best path forward is for the NSGBs to find ways to work together.
“I think the sports can work together if they regard our athletes as our athletes and not their athletes,” she says. “In the off-season for track, kids can swim. In the-off season for gymnastics, kids can dive. The track coach, swim coach and cycling coach can all weigh in on best practice in each discipline for a triathlete. Every little footballer should be doing ballet. The list goes on. It’s a shift in mindset and it’s a change in practice for us. But it can be done.”
Given that the focus of the LTAD is to create pathways for elite athletes and recreational ones too, the benefits of multi-sport training become even more clear and, according to Andrea Cann, a Pediatric Physiotherapist and former chair of Bermuda Physiotherapy Association, can provide a deeper service to the community.
“Multi-sport training is better for younger children, they can find out what they are good at, plus the benefits of sport are well known and young people need them today,” she says. “With the advent of technology kids are less active. We don’t play outside like we used to – climbing trees, riding bikes, taking risks – what I would call ‘outdoor learning’, sports can help re-create that too.”

The post Youth in Action appeared first on RG Magazines.

Historic Bailey’s Bay home has a great story – or two

Just off North Shore Road, near Bailey’s Bay, a serpentine driveway beckons you up the hill to historic Clifton Heights. Palm trees and casuarinas dot the expansive front yard until you reach the house where famed author Frances Hodgson Burnett once lived. Burnett had taken up winter residence in Bermuda in 1911 shortly after publishing The Secret Garden, one of her better-known books along with Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Just off North Shore Road, near Bailey’s Bay, a serpentine driveway beckons you up the hill to historic Clifton Heights. Palm trees and casuarinas dot the expansive front yard until you reach the house where famed author Frances Hodgson Burnett once lived. Burnett had taken up winter residence in Bermuda in 1911 shortly after publishing The Secret Garden, one of her better-known books along with Little Lord Fauntleroy.
Shortly after setting up house at Clifton Heights, she created a real-life secret garden with 762 rose bushes protected by the white coral wall on the right side of the sloping hill. On the other side, she planted lilies, shielded by oleanders, to help give her peace of mind, far away from the hustle and bustle of her summer home in New York City.
Burnett was already a well-established author by the time she rented Clifton Heights from Samuel and Mary Outerbridge. While in Bermuda, she continued to write and penned another seven books. Those included The Lost Prince, and 1922’s The Head of the House of Coombe, which was the fourth-highest best-selling novel in the United States that year.
While Burnett is the most famous person to live at Clifton Heights, over the years, it was owned by a veritable Who’s Who of Bermuda. According to the National Trust, it is most likely that Captain Englesbe Seon had the Victorian-style house built in the 1840s. Seon was a businessman who made his fortune in the West Indies and the Americas. When he took up residence in Bermuda, he was elected to the House of Assembly and later served as a magistrate.
While the welcoming arms and the brick steps at Clifton Heights were added in the 1980s, the stately veranda is an original feature from Seon’s time – harkening back to a bygone era in Bermuda where you can imagine guests lingering over a Champagne cocktail as they watched ocean-going steamers slip past Bay Island along the north shore.
Of course, in Burnett’s time, they might have been sipping a ‘Mary Pickford’, a cocktail named after the iconic silent film star, nicknamed ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ who would go on to star in two of Burnett’s book deals turned into movies, including the famous Little Lord Fauntleroy.
As expected, you enter the home through a cedar front door, finding yourself in the original section of the Seon home. The wooden floors of the spacious living room creak beneath your feet while a majestic cedar bookcase, that peaks near the high ceilings, frames one of the walls. The scent of cedar wafts in across the windows and frames, allowing the distinct fragrance to permeate the room. A gilded fireplace is at the far end of the room, in front of which it is easy to imagine Seon surrounded by the movers and shakers of the time. They may have been discussing his donation of the land that Black Bermudians used to open up a school where Temperance Hall now stands.
To the left of the entry, sits the master bedroom, with an ensuite bathroom. It presents a panoramic view through the window that extends past Bailey’s Bay out to the Atlantic Ocean – surely prompting a linger in bed, for just a few more minutes.

Expressing more modern times, the ample master bathroom is decked in marble, providing a layer of luxury that befits this noble manor. The jacuzzi tub and glass shower with seat, allow for spa-style comfort in the lap of history.
The wooden floorboards, which run throughout, continue to creak as you wander down the hallway into another bedroom where you are greeted with another immense, conjoined, cedar bookcase that blankets two walls. Considering that an author of Burnett’s renown lived here, it seems a fitting, even if unintended, tribute to her.
Further down the hall, a lordly chandelier announces the dining room where the formerly wood-burning fireplace has been converted to gas, reminding us that the house has indeed moved into modern times.
In the kitchen, which was once separate, but now joined, you can see where the cooking fireplace would have been a century ago, calling back to a time when the home’s staff would have been hard at work preparing meals for the owners of Clifton Heights. Two exposed cedar tie beams are a reminder of a time when this was commonplace.
Stepping out the kitchen door into the back yard, you only take a few steps to what used to be a servant’s quarters. Today it is an apartment that could be enjoyed by visiting guests or provide rental income. Downstairs is a living room and kitchen, while upstairs is a full bedroom.
A most curious feature in this building is the wooden staircase, which has offset steps for the left and right feet. (PULL THIS SENTENCE AND USE AS CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO).
The backyard contains a service building, now used as a laundry and a workshop, but the rusty, hand water pump sitting outside of the building is a further reminder that Clifton Heights represents a time now passed by.
Contrasting this ‘water feature’ is another more modern one that is to be expected in a home of this stature – the swimming pool. Privacy is afforded by trees that act as sentinels to keep any prying eyes at bay.
We often hear the phrase, “if these walls could talk”, at Clifton Heights they almost do, expressing a time from which Bermuda has moved on, but the essence of which can be found in the scent of cedar and creak of floor planks at this historic home.

The post This Bermuda House: Clifton Heights appeared first on RG Magazines.

The Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club
opens art appreciation to a wider audience
as it embodies public access to art

Discreetly hanging in the corner of the second floor mezzanine of the Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club is a Picasso. To see to this famous piece of art, you pass under a series of hibiscus flowers by Andy Warhol and past a mind-bending Optical Art piece by Philippe Decrauzat. Meanwhile, in the formal and opulent Trudeau Ballroom, across the hall hangs the bright, poppy smiling flowers of contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
The quality and renown of this artwork would not be out of place in a museum, but instead, it shares common space with hotel guests lounging in the lobby, waiters rolling food carts, gym members on treadmills and curious children, who seem just as intrigued by the works as their parents.
The art is not hidden away, but thoughtfully placed throughout the hotel – behind the concierge desk, in hallways, inside guest rooms, in the restaurants and even in the public restrooms.
Furthermore, unlike a museum, there is an unspoken permission for visitors to approach (but not touch) the artwork. There are no ropes to keep people, or children, away, really creating a sense of accessibility to the art and expanding the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy it.
The hotel’s focus on art has also created opportunities for Bermudian artists to be showcased amongst such a glittering array of the internationally renowned artists. Pieces by Otto Trott, Jon Legere, Will Collieson, and Catherine Lapsley along with cedar work by Milton Hill are weaved throughout the collection while Carlos Santana Dill, who worked as a concierge at the hotel and is now a full-time artist, has his pointillist-style pieces on display – a nod to the full-circle experience of working in a place that values and encourages art.
While the sheer volume of art is staggering the variety of styles and mediums is equally impressive. There is the ever-popular Hero Designed interactive #princessbright that every child – both young and old – can’t get enough of, and the soaring KAWS figure that most believe is that iconic mouse from Disney (but it’s not).
The juxtaposition of legends such as Warhol, Picasso and David Hockney sharing space with street, urban, and graffiti artists like Invader, Banksy and D-Face even challenges the notion of what is considered art.
“It embraces the lines between high and low,” says Lisa Howie, an art consultant who leads a tour of the hotel’s art on Saturday mornings. The tour is free for hotel guests, but locals can join too for a small fee.
With little to no descriptions or statements accompanying the pieces, it does welcome viewers to reflect for themselves on cultural pieces like the street artist Pegasus’ “Harry’s Girl” or the surrealist artist Rene Magritte. One of which you would expect to find in a museum while the other was originally painted on the side of a hair salon in North London.
When the hotel was purchased by the Green family in 2012, and underwent major renovations, it lifted its formal feel and made way for a contemporary, yet grand, space that somehow feels more like a home to display the artwork “compared to the more classic and austere space that the hotel was before,” says Ms Howie.
The collection, which is completely curated by the Green family, began to evolve, and the changes to the hotel allowed for the artwork to add a new ambience. The display also challenges the concept of hotel art and art for public consumption, which isn’t often experienced in Bermuda.
And the collection is ever-evolving with pieces often moved around the hotel and new pieces being added. “This keeps it fresh for guests,” says Ms Howie. With so much thought given to the placement of the pieces, there are plenty of “a-ha” moments to be had, that really make it feel smart and also adds a new sort of energy to the hotel.
For instance, how many have sat sipping mimosas at brunch in Marcus’ without realising the significance of Nelson Mandela’s “Struggle” series facing them from near the restaurant’s kitchen.
“Marcus’ celebrates Southern soul food and predominantly African American-style of cooking, there is a theme and thought behind the placement of the art, it’s not just random,” says Sian Blackmore, the hotel’s PR Manager.
The commitment to art also extends outside of the hotel with the family commissioning the “Greetings from Bermuda” mural on the side of the Dorchester building near the corner of Church Street and Par-la-Ville Road in Hamilton.
“It’s a fun attraction in town that really brightens up that space,” says Ms Blackmore. Back at the hotel, a smaller “Greetings from Bermuda” sign was painted, inviting guests to take fun Instagram-worthy shots with the iconic background.
In fact, interacting with the art plays a big part in guests’ enjoyment of the space while staying at the hotel. There are ample opportunities for selfies and even signs that guide visitors to an “Instagram Photo-op” allowing art and everyday life to intersect.
One guest’s social media post read: “Completely shocked to walk into our hotel and see works by nearly every contemporary artist you’ve ever heard of and more.”
Along with being an opening for students to experience the art within the hotel (see sidebar), pieces from the art collection are often loaned out to the Bermuda National Gallery and coincide with their art curriculum.
“When we have students and visitors come in and say they are interested in going further with their art, we often connect them with the BNG where they’ll get a more comprehensive museum experience. But through the hotel’s collection, they have the ability to experience both,” says Ms Blackmore.

The post The Art of the Hotel appeared first on RG Magazines.

In recent years, we’ve seen the avocado frenzy, edible gold, activated charcoal, and even unicorn food take the culinary world by storm. For 2019, experts are predicting even more of a melting-pot of cuisine, as the fusion of different cultures becomes more popular.

Bermuda has turned into a melting pot. As of 2016, a reported 7,360 immigrants reside in Bermuda, coming mainly from the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, and other Caribbean countries. The diversity of cultures has inevitably permeated into the island’s cuisine, creating a varied gastronomy that surprises most when considering our size and population.

Chef Danai Hongwanishkul, head chef at Marcus’, was pleasantly surprised to see such diverse cuisine coming from Toronto. “There is a lot of Filipino food, as well as Jamaican, Indian and sushi.” He says. His Thai cooking classes are heavily influenced by his mother’s cooking and family tradition. Along with skills, he teaches what a culture’s food means to it’s people. “The food that I teach is something my mom would cook for me, I grew up eating this, and I want to keep that going.” Cooking ethnic food, for him, is about preserving culture.

Established restaurants like Little Venice are a testament to how successful and appealing cuisine from other cultures can be to locals.

There is a variety of food in Bermuda. Our daily specials are always really popular, people like to try new things.” – Chef Federico Basso.

They offer main courses such as Cartoccio di Frutti di Mare alla Mediterranea, Tortellone al Cotechino, and Ravioli Caprese.

By focusing on authentic Italian food while incorporating local and fresh ingredients, they have built long-lasting relationships with customers. Executive Chef Danny Lim mentions, “We have people come in multiple times a week, or even a day, who are always excited to try new dishes.”

Utopia on Front Street has committed to offering a nutritional experience throughout their Asian fusion menu. Chef Karsten, has worked alongside a nutritionist to offer dishes like Korean Wings, Yakitori, Thai Curry, Vietnamese Pho and Tom Kha Gai. “We’re all kind of melting together,” says Chef Karsten. “I like to pull from different cultures, while also understanding that food is personal, and has meaning behind it”.

Devil’s Isle Head Chef Josue Lemus offers Italian Flatbread With Tuna Tartare, Homemade Tofu Dumplings, and Arabic Spiced Cinnamon Lamb Lollies. Yum! “We are trying to get people to try new things every day, while also eating healthy and clean”. From owner, Holger Eiselt: “We introduce trends that we are passionate about ourselves.”

As the world keeps “getting smaller” with the help of social media, trends now move faster than ever. A trendy dish that is booming in Japan can spread to the rest of the world in a matter of weeks or even days. And although Bermuda might come late because of its isolated geographical proximity, population size, and logistics, people in Bermuda are thirsty for newness. Food is a gateway to understanding different cultures. Bring it on!

This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 edition of RG Magazine. 

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Photography by Akil Simmons

Executive Chef Danai Honwanishkul, Marcus’ Bermuda

Thai cuisine offers different tastes from each part of the country. Northern Thai meals usually feature sticky rice, Nam Prik (spicy chili paste), fresh vegetables, and soup; while northeastern Thai meals are famous for their spicy and sour dishes and an essential condiment Pla Ra (fermented fish sauce); and traditional southern foods are well-known for their herbs and spices. The secret to Thai food, however, is a balance of five flavours: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. Chef Danai gives us some of his favourites that combine all of these tantalising tastes!

Moo Krapow

The Perfect Pork Krapow

2 pounds ground pork

4 shallot

6 cloves garlic

2 tablespoon ginger (chopped)

1 stem lemon grass

15 Thai basil leaves

1 Thai chili

1 teaspoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

Juice from 3 limes

10 leaves kafir lime leaf

1 teaspoon salt (if needed)

1. Chop garlic, ginger, and shallot.
2. In a sauté pan, sauté pork making sure to break apart meat while cooking.
3. After brown strain off the fat.
4. In the same pan add garlic, shallot, and ginger.
5. Sweat, then add smashed lemongrass.
6. Add the pork back to the mix.
7. Finish with kafir lime leaf, basil, fish sauce, oyster sauce and, if needed, salt.
8. Add lime juice just before serving.

Nam Prik la

Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Savoury

1 cup shallots

2 tablespoons garlic (chopped)

30g ginger (chopped)

1/4 cup red green and red chili

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup Squid Brand fish sauce

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup cilantro stem and root (chopped)

1/2 cup lime juice

2 cup water

1. Mix chopped shallots, garlic and ginger. Macerate in sugar.
2. Add chopped 2 pepper with seeds.
3. Add lime juice, fish sauce, vinegar and water.
4. Add cilantro.

Jasmine Rice

Fluffy, Fragrant, Rice

2 cups Jasmine Rice

2 1/4 cups Water

1. Wash rice in bowl with cold water, using your hand to rub the starch off the rice. Strain and repeat until water is clear. Place in rice strainer and let dry (roughly 30 minutes).
2. Add water, bring to a boil.
3. Add rice and cook until perfect consistency.

This article was originally featured in the 2019 Spring edition of RG Magazine.

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In this issue of Big World, we caught up with Bermudian Tariq Lynch-Wade, Flight Operations Inspector (FOI) for Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA). He talks to RG Mags about his incredible position, how he got there and the perks of travelling for work.

 Which city are you based in?

I’m based in Hong Kong. Part of my development plan with BCAA is a secondment with Hong Kong Airlines, where I joined on the narrow body Airbus A320 and recently moved up to the widebody Airbus A330.

What does an FOI do?

The FOI is responsible for providing safety oversight of all Bermuda registered aircraft in the private category by ensuring they meet and maintain compliance with international standards. As First Officer on the A330, I along with the Captain, safely operate the aircraft anywhere within the route network of the airline.

Tell us about your journey…

As a kid, my ultimate dream was to become an airline pilot, so that’s where I set my sights. There have been many ups and downs (no pun intended) filled with more opportunities than disappointments. After I completed flight training, I became a Flight Instructor, teaching others how to fly and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Chief Flight Instructor with Delta Connection Academy based in Jacksonville, Florida.

What do you enjoy most about being a pilot?

The view! Being able to see the Sunrise or the moonlight causing the bed of clouds to glow beneath us is like watching nature’s poetry. One of the more fulfilling experiences of being an international pilot, though, is continuously navigating different cultures and perspectives. 

Where have you flown so far?

I have had the opportunity to fly into Africa, Asia-Pacific, Maldives, Europe, Middle East, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

What is your schedule like?

No month is the same.  Some trips result in what are known as turnarounds where we take passengers from Hong Kong to another destination, then an hour later take a new set of passengers back to Hong Kong.  Other trips are longer flights which allow us to have anywhere from a day to three days off at that destination to explore.

What do you like to do on your time off?

Some days I go exploring the sights of the city, or go hiking up the mountains, but usually days off result in doing some intense physical activity or finding a new place to eat.

If you could play a song in the cockpit, what would be your theme take off song?

If I had to narrow it down to just one, I would choose ‘Kendrick Lamar, SZA- All The Stars’.  Something about the rhythm incites a similar adrenaline boost as the sound of two roaring engines powering us down the runway.

Connect with Tariq @roll.with.riqs

24 Hours in Hong Kong

Favourite local food and the best place to eat it.

Dim Sum is something Hong Kong is famous for, and the vegetable Dim Sum is my favourite.  There’s a little hole-in-the-wall family-run restaurant called “Dumpling Yuan” in the city that serves up a great array of dim sum options along with garlic broccoli.

The best-looking airport to fly into

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is probably the most amazing airport to see at night.  There’s what appears to be an infinite amount of lights and large aircraft loading passengers to fly to every continent in the world except Antarctica.

The best spot for shopping

Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise. There is no shortage of malls, shopping centres, and markets to spend money.  Everything from cheap knock-offs to outrageously expensive luxury name brands can be found here. It can be quite overwhelming even still today having been here for 3 years.

 If we only had 24 hours in Hong Kong, where should we go?

Ngong Ping to see the Big Buddha, take the tram up to The Peak and see picturesque views of the world-famous Hong Kong city and Victoria harbour, immerse yourself in the tranquil Nan Lian Garden which is a far cry different than the bustling atmosphere of Hong Kong city.

A place that reminds you of Bermuda

The active marina of the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland during the summer gives a feel of Bermy during the summer months. The Maldives offers a utopia in the middle of the Indian Ocean and bears a similar beauty to our Pearl of the Atlantic we call home.

This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 edition of RG Magazine. 

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From ancient times, we have always been about the serious business of enhancing what Nature gave us. In fact, the practice of beauty enhancement – and the equally stunning verse that it inspired – was evident over 6000 years ago, in Kemet (Egypt).  So, as humans have done all over the world, from the dawning of civilisation until the present moment, I’ll gather what I know about this ancient art and pass it on to you.

1. First off, beauty starts on the inside. Here, the adage “You are what you eat” applies. Bulk up on leafy greens, increase your water intake and reduce your consumption of sugar, dairy products and fried foods. Maintaining adequate hydration and consuming nutritious foods will translate into a glowing, pimple-free complexion.
2. Gua Shais known as an all-natural Botox alternative. It involves using a piece of jade or quartz and oil on the face. The jade is gently pressed upward and outward. The result?Capillaries burst, stimulating oxygenated blood flow and metabolic cell repair. Gua Sha instantly lifts and plumps the skin, smoothing existing lines and reducing wrinkles.
   
3. Rubbing ice on your face after cleansing constricts the pores and reduces excessive oil production. It’s also a great treatment for the dark or puffy area under the eyes, as the excess fluid that accumulates there is reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
4. Manuka honey is a natural humectant that contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. It also aids in wound care and tissue repair because of its antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It can be used to remove blemishes and dark marks or as a mask to restore your skin’s pH and moisture balance.
5. Aloe is a miracle plant that soothes, moisturises and heals and can be used to treat various skin ailments. And it’s likely growing in your backyard!
6. Chondrus Crispus, aka Irish Sea Moss, is a nutrient-dense food that is as beneficial externally as it is internally. Use the gel for the ultimate facemask, transforming yourself into the Divine beauty that you are.
7. When it comes to beauty, one of Bermuda’s best-kept secrets is Omni Medical & Laser Clinic. Located on Point Finger Road, Omni Medical & Laser Clinic provides a host of services, including photo rejuvenation, microdermabrasion, wrinkle and scar reduction and laser hair removal. Stop by sample their treatments – their knowledgeable and friendly staff will not disappoint!

[bio] Ava Pitt is a self-taught beauty and fashion maven.

Connect with Ava @Avarougie

The post Ancient skincare treats appeared first on RG Magazines.

Art Direction & Styling – Karlandra Smith @karlandra11 & Kevin Smith @kces_

Photographer – Alex Masters @ambda

Makeup Artist – O-Faces @makeupofaces

Hair Stylist – Synergy Hair Salon @synergyhairsalon

Nails – Bella Bella Nails @bellabella.nails

Models – Domonique @redhead_neeks, Marley @marley.joy & Heston

Studio – INTO Bermuda

Model: Dominique Pink Leopard print top and skirt: Urban Cottage Neon green belt: Jazzy Boutique Heels: from the stylist’s wardrobe

Model: Marley Neon green dress, green heels and sunglasses: Jazzy Boutique Animal print clutch: Gibbons Company

Model: Marley Yellow Zebra print top and skirt: Urban Cottage Neon orange belt: Jazzy Boutique Necklace: Toxic Rose

Model: Dominique Sunglasses: Argus Optical Purple turtleneck: Gibbons Company Leopard print dress and heels: Jazzy Boutique

Model: Dominique Hot pink track suit: Jazzy Boutique Model: Marley Neon green track suit: Jazzy Boutique Model: Heston Sunglasses: Argus Optical

Models: Dominique and Marley Black dresses: Gibbons Company Coloured socks: Gibbons Company Neon green shirts: JRU Clothing

This shoot was originally published in the Spring 2019 edition of RG Magazine.

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