Blogs Linking to Urban Life

“All things entertainment in TNT” is an insightful blog by course colleagues from GEOG2016 that deals with different approaches to entertainment in Trinidad and Tobago. One of their blog posts that stood out and that could be linked to this blog is “Entertainment in Time and Space.” This post really shows how activities and use of space  vary in the day and night. It can be linked to the posts on this blog that deals with the differences during night and day. However, their post incorporates changes in entertainment during the day and night, week days and weekend and different months. It shows how activities in the urban are different during the day and the night and how certain areas like clubs and cinemas are busier at night. 

Another blog that could be linked to this blog about urban life is the blog on Homelessness in Chagauanas and Port of Spain. Homelessness is one of the plagues that exist in urban areas and constitute a major part of urban life. It is part of the culture and is prominent within many major cities throughout the world and Port of Spain as well. This blog gave some details and pictures of the intensity of homeless people within the town especially at Tamarind Square and Brian Lara Promenade public spaces that citizens use to express themselves and enjoy their culture. If our blog was to continue forward, it can expand to incorporate homelessness as part of its description of urban life. 

In addition to these two blogs, another blog that really looks into urban life is waste in the city. This, just like homelessness, is a plague to urban areas and makes up what has become the norm for urban life. POS Waste: Viewing the city through it waste blog showcases the different types of pollution in Port of Spain and explores how it relates to different things. They investigate waste and drainage, waste from homeless people, waste management among others. Due to waste being prominent within the city, it can dissuade citizens from exploring their culture and push people away from using the public spaces. Waste no matter how big or small is part of the culture that exists in the urban.  

Daytime VS Nigh-time Living

It seems as though Port of Spain’s daytime and night-time culture has evolved over time, from a traditional colonial lifestyle to a more Westernise approach. (Mumford 1938) believes that the city is defined as a place where diffused rays of many separate beams of life fall into place. This is definitely seen in Port of Spain, whether it be day or night, through the entertainment/ recreation, they way and types of food that are being eaten, traffic and services provided.

Daytime entertainment and recreation seem to be as important as night-time recreation within Port of Spain. People go for lunch and dinner at the same restaurant and relax in the same areas. However, people don’t seem to shop as much during the night time as they do during the daytime and more people use public green spaces during the day than at night. But, it looks like whether it be day or night people look for somewhere to relax. At night some people head to the board walk or Movie Town compared to the green spaces during the day.

Angelo's on Ariapita Avenue can be accessed during the day and at night.

Foods are as important in the day as it is at night. Fast food outlets and restaurants like KFC, Independence Square are opened 24/7. Doubles is another food that is available both at day and night as seen in the photo. However, during the day food courts are more prominent and at night food stall are more noticed.

Doubles during the day on Independence Square

Doubles at night on Ariapita Avenue

Traffic is a problem occurs in Port of Spain. This can be because of the high population density, poor parking availability so people park along the roads and obstructions in the roadway. This can play a major role in traffic congestions, since most patrons and vehicles are attempting to reach to the CBD.

Main services are usually opened during the day, like government offices and commercial buildings. Other services like hotels and motels are open 24/7.

This can be a movement towards development in Trinidad and Tobago. With these cultural changes and apparent lively daytime and night time cultures, it is evident that there are similarities to the Western world and globalization has played a major role.


References:

Mumford, Lewis.1938. The Culture of Cities. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company. Accessed February 3, 2015 from http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/25346/Lewis_Mumford_Introduction_The_Culture_of_Cities_1938_xid-3429222_2.PDF

Services

The urban area can be characterised in many ways. One of them being the amount, type and availability of services!

There is nowhere in Trinidad that offers more services than the capital itself. Port of Spain offers services from the western coast to the foothills of the Northern Range.

There is an array of commercial, administrative and residential buildings.  The intensity of administrative buildings, government offices, hotels, goods and service oriented shops and outlets, is one that is unique to the city of Port of Spain.

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad

From the Water Front, the skyline is graced with towering administrative and commercial building. The Hyatt hotel and the Parliament building stand tall and meet the eyes of the world. Further back the Central Bank and other important buildings continue down the Brian Lara Promenade.

The first picture shows the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago which constitutes the main managerial activities of the country. The second photo shows the Central Bank which is the main bank of the country.

Trinidad and Tobago, Twin Towers

A walk down the Brian Lara Promenade shows the change in activities eastward. The services begin to consist of shops, bars, smaller banks and food outlets. The third picture, taken at Independence Square, shows and array of activities that meet the day to day amenities of the general public. Food outlets, shops and banks are observed from the photo.

Independence Square, Port of Spain

In addition, the city is comprised of an intensity of shopping outlets. Streets upon streets are filled with stores that offer goods and services to the citizens.  The fourth picture illustrates this clearly. Streets like Frederick Street, Henry Street and Charlotte Street are the main shopping streets in the city. In fact a brochure from the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago labels Charlotte Street as the ‘Bargain Capital of the Caribbean.’

One of the issues that arise from this theme is the lack of services for the less fortunate. Further eastward on Tamarind Square, homeless people are surrounded with so many services but do that have the capital to access them. To them, the type, intensity and availability of services does not even matter.

Oh Boy, TRAFFIC!

Traffic in Port of Spain is inevitable. Whether it be pedestrian or vehicular. This may be the direct cause of Port of Spain being the main city and a major transportation hub. From maxis to taxis to water taxis, Port of Spain is the place to get your transportation. However, this causes too much traffic congestion. Wrightson Road, Ariapita Avenue and St. James are areas within Port of Spain that are affected the most and each area’s traffic may be because of a specific source.

Traffic around the Queen's Park Savannah

Population density seems to be a major player in Wrightson Road’s and around the Queen’s Park Savannah daily traffic congestion. The first photo depicts traffic around the Queen’s Park Savannah attempting to reach the Central Business District (CBD). Due to the extent of citizen attempting to get into the CBD at the same time, may be an element of traffic congestion. Likewise, obstructions on the roadway, for example potholes or WASA construction, can also be a cause for the incredible amount of traffic within Port of Spain.

Car parked along the Western Main Road, St. James

In the second photo it is obvious that the poor parking along the Western Main Road, St. James, may be a major contributor to traffic within this area. Since there is lack of parking lots in St. James, patrons are forced to park along the road. Likewise, this is done on Ariapita Avenue and can be seen in the third photo.

Cars parked along Ariapita Avenue.

The government, however, developed some mitigations to reduce traffic along the roads of Port of Spain and Trinidad as a whole. With the introduction of PTSC buses, individuals can carpool on a bus from the area in which they live to the CBD. This will reduce the number of vehicles on the road, clearing the road and making it easier to reach the CBD faster. Also, if one doesn’t like the idea of public transportation, carpooling with private vehicles are also encouraged to reduce traffic on the road ways.

Here is a video on how you can personally reduce traffic congestion.

Here is a line on How you can reduce traffic. 

References:

YouTube (2015) Retrieved on April 3^rd, 2015 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZptbRr4jJ8 

Dinner Time!

Urban areas have within them zones of leisure and nightlife (Grazian, 2009). Both of which (amongst others) provides a market for the food industry and night.

The city of Port of Spain at night is equally lively as the day. While the rural areas sleep, the city’s nights are geared up with ‘local pump’ as people engage in social activities that help them relax at the end of a long day or week. It is not filled with shoppers, commuters and workers as during the day. Instead, it is filled with people who are trying to access the various services that the urban nights have to offer. Food is a major hit!

At night the Avenue is crawling with people who have come to enjoy the liming experience. But, the Avenue does not only have bars and clubs but it is well known for its diversity of food and fine dining. There are many different restaurants that offer an array of cuisine for the different tongues that come to partake. Fancy restaurants such as MoreVino/More Sushi and Angelo’s (first photo) are just two of the many there is to choose from at the Avenue.  To read more click on the link: Discover Trinidad and Tobago

Angelo's, Ariapita Avenue.

Food vendors in the Queen' Park Savannah

The second photo is showing the various street foods that are available during the night on the Queens Park Savannah. These foods all include doubles (third photo), corn soup, burgers/hot dogs, coconuts and juices. There are street foods throughout the town during the day but there is a greater concentration of vendors at these areas during the day. A documentary on a local television station interviewed a juice vendor who said that he sells during the late night hours because he gets his sale from people liming in and around the city.

Doubles on Ariapta Avenue

As with the day, the urban area is filled with fast food restaurants that offer quick and affordable food. The forth picture shows KFC at Independence Square. This particular outlet opens 24/7. Regardless of their opening hours they still constitute a large percent of the sales during the night. After work people might just drop in to buy a quick dinner or after liming they may just want something to eat. Whatever the reason for their economic prowess, they heavily contribute to the culture of the urban nights.

KFC Independence Square

Port of Spain is one of those Caribbean cities that can attract tourists with its nightlife and cuisine alone.

As with every feature of the urban area, there are current issues with street food culture. Not only do they have problems with the authority for selling in the various places but they also have little disagreements among themselves. The link below is a humorous animation which exaggerates the vending disagreements but serves to illustrate that there is issues between the vendors themselves. 

References:
Discover Trinidad and Tobago (2014)   Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.discovertnt.com/articles/Trinidad/Ariapita-Avenue#axzz3S8qrbcxx

Grazian, David (2009) Urban Nightlife, Social Capital, and the Public Life of Cities. Sociological Forum 24.4, 908-917. Accessed March 2^nd, 2015 from http://works.bepress.com/david_grazian/11

Food For Long Tiring Days

Day time food is fast food in urban areas. It’s a culture of ‘order and go’ or ‘order and dine’.

During the busy days at the urban areas people have a large array of fast food to choose from. Their options vary from foreign owned food places (MNCs), to food courts and street food.

With globalisation there has been an increasing spread of foreign owned companies throughout the nation. In Port of Spain, these MNCs have numerous food businesses which include, KFC, Subway, Pizza Boys, Pizza hut amongst a list of others.

The first photo is a food outlet that belongs to a large MNC known as Prestige Holdings. Pizza hut is just one of the many food outlets owned by this organisation. It is a fine place for dining and taking out with quick service that saves time for the urban people.

Pizza Hut, St. James, Trinidad

The second photo shows a BBQ hut located at Brian Lara Promenade. In the urban area there are many food outlets and food courts where many local citizens test their hand by cooking and selling for the public. Grabbing a box of lunch at one of these establishments is also part of the urban culture.

BBQ Shop and Coconut vendor on Brian Lara Promenade

 The third photo shows a street vendor on the Brian Lara Promenade that is selling doubles. This local treat is a common food for the urban areas of Trinidad and Tobago. Behind him is further evidence of the strong presence of the Multi-national food corporations discussed above.

Doubles vendor on the Brian Lara Promenade

In the urban area, food is never a problem. There is a wide array of options to choose from including local and foreign foods.

The following link gives more information about the Trinidadian eating experiences and describes in more details the food available within the urban area of Port of Spain: Discover Trinidad and Tobago

References:

Discover Trinidad and Tobago (2014)   Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.discovertnt.com/articles/Trinidad/The-Trinidadian-Eating-Experience/131/3/18#axzz3UkEOhekY

Where We Pumpin' Tonight?

Night-time recreation is as popular is not more prominent that daytime recreation and entertainment. According to (Anderson 2009), nightlife is a form of cultural creativity and expression. From clubbing and feting, to going to dinner or a simply “liming” is a major part of the nightime recreational culture. In Port of Spain, the night life is vibrant and the city is as alive as it is in the day.  Maco Caribbean has a list of nightime entertainment in Trinidad. Trinidad and Tobago has moved away from the traditional lifestyle and has taken a western approach. With Aripita Avenue, the home for clubs and bars, being a major influence to this lifestyle.

Fatima Fete 2015

This first photo shows a crowd at the Fatima Fete 2015. With local soca music clubs and fetes are great places to hang out with friends and meet new people. This is fete, though open to the public, is mainly for the upper class in society. The second photo also shows a newly developed night club TZAR. Like Fatima Fete, this club is not easily accessible by individuals in Port of Spain. These activities are for those who can afford it or those who know someone. However, there are other places like Aria and Cocoa Lounge, which are usually full of life and action on Ariapita Avenue.

TZAR Nightclub

ARIA Nightclub

Food stalls at the Queen's Park Savannah

After partying for the entire night, one may become hungry. So why not get something to eat? Whether hungry from being highly intoxicated or just plain hungry, at night it is easy to access food. Right on Ariapita Avenue there are doubles vendors available at late hours. Families, couples and friends go to Ariapita Avenue or the Queen’s Park Savannah to please their nighttime food cravings or for pleasure.In the forth photo, it portrays the Savannah full of life. Vibrant with individuals buying and eating food. This nightime recreation has become very popular in Port of Spain. Food is readily available no matter the time of the day.

(Anderson 2009) believes that nightlife illustrates diversity, acceptance and equity. This may or may not be a reality in Port of Spain since there are places for the elite that other can’t get into and there are places everyone can occupy. There can be some downfall to the vibrant nightlife of Port of Spain. Drunk driving is indeed a problem in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Arrive Alive, there has been 29 road fatalities thus far for 2015 and 34 deaths.  With the increase in the nightclubs and bars individuals are drawn to this lifestyle. Recreational eating at night can also be another down fall. Trinidad and Tobago are in the top five countries worldwide suffering with obesity. This can be a direct cause of eating at night.

References:

Anderson, Tammy (2009). Rave Culture: The Alternation and Decline of a Philadelphia Music Scene. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Arrive Alive (2015) Retrieved on March 14^rd, 2015 from http://www.arrivealivett.com/index.php?page=driving-under-the-influence

Maco Caribbean (n.d.) Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.macocaribbean.com/trinidad/entertainment/  

What Do We Do Daytime?

CULTURE: the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society”

The cultural melting pot can be examined deeper through various entertainment and recreation available within the city. Culture can be considered what people do and it definitely contributes to the culture of an urban space. Port of Spain is the hub of entertainment and recreation, since it is the capital city.  Jane Jacobs believes that the city allows fir accessible public spaces that can be used for recreation. Port of Spain is a perfect example of this with the public space being used for various recreational purposes.

The first photo shows individuals using the Queen’s Park Savannah for exercising. This Savannah is used by many locals for healthy living. It gives people the ability to exercise with others without being segregated. It is available for everyone. The Queen’s Park Savannah is most frequently used around the Carnival period with many sponsored aerobics classes.  It is not only used for running but also for various sports like football and cricket.  Also on Easter Monday, a grand kite flying contest is held at the Queen’s park Savannah. This may indeed be a part of Port of Spain’s culture.

Individuals exercising around the Queen's Park Savannah

The second photo displays a major shopping center on Charlotte Street, Port of Spain. The picture portrays a more traditional style building reflecting on the original culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Charlotte Street is one of the main street for shopping. This street is usually congested around Christmas time with space to even breathe. Shopping is important in any culture and Charlotte Street will forever be a part of Trinidad and Tobago’s shopping recreational culture.

Charlotte Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad

This third photo depicts elderly individuals relaxing along the Brian Lara Promenade. This public space is usually used by the senior citizens in society. On entering the promenade you can hear the chatter amongst them or some quarrelling about their chess match. It’s a nostalgic feeling when seeing the senior citizen portraying traditional culture in today’s society.

Citizens relax along the Brian Lara Promenade

Citizen enjoy daytime entertainment and recreation. However, there may be some issues within Port of Spain that may encourage individuals to turn away. The Queen’s Park Savannah has been deteriorating, according to Richie Gaspard, Trinidad Express. He claims that, “Vagrants are seen sleeping on the park benches and under the large trees. Careful about sitting under some of those trees because they have fresh faeces under them.” This can be a major turn off for most people. Other places that are rampant with vagrants are Charlotte Street and the Brian Lara Promenade. This situations turn people away from socializing in these areas. 

References:

Trinidad Express Newspapers (2015 ) “Free-for-all deterioration of the Queens Park Savanna”.  Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/Free-for-all-deterioration-at-the-Queens-Park-Savannah-236130651.html

Nighttime Melting Pot

The city at night is also a melting pot as it attracts residents, friends, lovers, co- workers, students, acquaintances and tourists (Grazian, 2009). As in the day, people come to the city to access the goods and services that it offers during the night. During the Carnival season, the urban nights are filled with events just as the day creating opportunities that illustrate the diversity of its people.  These events all incorporate elements of the rich Trinidadian culture thus encouraging an increase in diversity, acceptance and equity.

The first photo shows the coming together of people at an event that they all had a common interest in despite their difference. At all of these events the audience is never people from one culture or one segment of society. It is always mixed and facilitates interaction between the locals and the tourists. The first photo was taken at Fatima Fete and just one example of an event that brought people from different cultures together.

Fatima Fete 2015

The second and third photo was taken at Carnival Village. In an effort to promote and sustain Trinidad’s culture, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 2011 organised a Carnival Village (Trinidad Express Newspapers, 2011). Placed in the center of the city, the Queen’s Park Savannah, it aims to showcase our culture and provide information about it. During the day as well as the night there are many booths displaying carnival costumes, providing booklets for people to read, and displaying other artifacts that has contributed to Trinidad and Tobago’s culture. 

Side entrance to Carnival Village

Placed in the center of the city, the Queen’s Park Savannah, it aims to showcase our culture and provide information about it. During the day as well as the night there are many booths displaying carnival costumes, providing booklets for people to read, and displaying other artifacts that has contributed to Trinidad and Tobago’s culture. The photos show an event held in the night promoting local entertainment associated with Carnival. This Carnival Village has served as a melting pot not only because it showcases the different cultures in Trinidad but because it also brings together different people in one spot!

Display in Carnival Village

Trinidad and Tobago, the home of Carnival, the ‘greatest show on Earth’, has bypassed many Caribbean countries in the way it promotes and develops its culture. This is mainly as a result of its economy which allows for significant figures to be used to fund these events and shows. Other countries in the Caribbean do not experience this, at least not to this extent. However, since the Caribbean has a shared history, a lot of what is displayed can be linked to the other Caribbean islands as well.

References:

Grazian, David (2009) Urban Nightlife, Social Capital, and the Public Life of Cities. Sociological Forum 24.4, 908-917. Accessed March 2^nd, 2015 from http://works.bepress.com/david_grazian/11

Trinidad Express Newspapers (2015) “Carnival Village opens today.”  Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Carnival-Village-opens-today-289747581.html

The Melting Pot

The city is defined as a place where diffused rays of many separate beams of life fall into focus (Mumford 1938). These diffused rays of separate life influences the practices that take place in the city and which contribute to the material culture of the urban area. This culture is highly diversified creating what is known as a ‘melting pot’.

The Caribbean is well known for its diversity and unique culture. Trinidad and Tobago has always been known as a melting pot. This is a result of its rich history which allowed for descendants from all over the world but largely, Asia, Africa and Europe. However, in its city of Port of Spain, the melting pot is seen as much more than just different ethnicities. It refers to the profound diversity of the city, its people, its culture, its society, economics and politics. For our capital city, there is no better way to highlight this urban melting pot than through its Carnival celebrations.

Traditional 'Ole Mas' - Port of Spain, Trinidad

The first photo illustrates young children parading through the streets of Port of Spain playing traditional ‘ole mas’ characterised by their ‘Moko Jumbie’ costumes. The earliest Carnivals in the city of Port of Spain were an event where the emancipated former African slaves took to the streets to celebrate. The ‘Moko Jumbie’ was one of the main costumes used. Its name was derived from a God named ‘Moko’ of the West African tradition. The outfit entailed people walking on stilts and wearing bright coloured clothing (Nalis, 2012). However, these traditional costumes are no longer the main attire used for Carnival celebrations. Much is being done to keep the traditional ‘Ole Mas’ alive.

The photo then can show a deeper meaning of children of different backgrounds coming together to celebrate their history as Trinidadians. In addition, they are either knowingly or unknowingly trying to preserve the traditional mas and what it represents. That is, the freedom, courage and endurance of the former slaves.  

Carnival gathering at the Queen's Park Savanna, Port of Spain

The second photo captures numerous people at the Kiddies Carnival celebrations located on the Queen’s Park Savannah. As the country gets ready to celebrate its two days of revelry, colour, glam and rhythm, the nations’ children can extend their Carnival celebrations by taking part in ‘Kiddies’ parades, shows and competition. This affair serves to bring together tourists, Trinidadians and more importantly the children of the nation in an eventful array of Junior Carnival celebrations.

Carnival stall along the Queen's Park Savanna with  cultural items

The third photo depicts several stalls along the Queen’s Park Savannah that sells cultural items. These stalls sell a variety of cultural items representative of the many cultures within Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. The items are not only available for Trinidadians but to tourists as well, so they can take a piece of the Caribbean home.

This melting pot effect that is vibrant and prominent in the daytime of the urban city of Port of Spain is not only limited to Trinidad alone. Throughout the Caribbean, our similar history has granted us descendants from throughout the world. The same concentration of people, culture, society, economics and politics in urban areas give distinctly diverse cities. Cities throughout the Caribbean then will more than likely experience similar cultural fusion as Port of Spain, Trinidad.

With Carnival, one of the current issues that scorch the land is the risk of the Ebola disease entering our borders with the influx of tourists for the event. The country is ever vigilant and the authorities are taking the necessary precautions to prevent this. The deadly Ebola disease could hardly ever stop the celebrations of not just Carnival but the coming together as one despite the differences.

References:

CCNTV6 (2014) Retrieved on March 3^rd, 2015 from http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-CARNIVAL-WILL-GO-ON-AS-PLAN-280874622.html
 Mumford, Lewis.1938. The Culture of Cities. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company. Accessed February 3, 2015 from http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/25346/Lewis_Mumford_Introduction_The_Culture_of_Cities_1938_xid-3429222_2.PDF

It's A Town Thing

With the Caribbean becoming more like "Little Americas", it is not foreign to witness activities that were traditional Global North culture. Trinidad especially, is no stranger to this. It's capital, Port of Spain, according to Caribbean Journal, is the most developed in the English speaking Caribbean and it shows through its nightlife. Popular places like the Queen's Park Savanna, Ariapita Avenue and St. James 'City That Never Sleeps", all contribute to the rich nightlife of Port of Spain. With famous clubs and bars for "liming", entertainment and all-night street foods, Port of Spain is an integral contributor to Trinidad and Tobago's culture.
Though, the nightlife seems crazy in a good way, daytime, Port of Spain is filled with locals and traffic. Busy with people heading to work, school, running errands and shopping, the streets of the CBD, Port of Spain is always lively. It is not bizarre to spot locals at bars "liming" or entertaining themselves from as early as 9am around Port of Spain. Its an insanely cool, relaxed lifestyle with plenty to see and plenty to do. 
This blog seeks to creatively explore the culture of the urban during the day and the night.