A couple Saturdays ago, the warmth, verve and vitality of a true true T&T Christmas was unleashed in Florida by the Orlando Island Boys. Comprising Errol Greenidge, Vernon Cudjoe, Keith Tillet, Cecil Pinder, Joe Mc Leod, Trevor Tillet and Lloyd Herbert, the Boys hosted their annual Parang Extravaganza, featuring two of Trinidad’s best Parang Soca exponents.

In true Trini fashion, the cops had to put a stop to the merrymaking at three on the Sunday morning, an hour after the legal limit of the party, during Crazy’s “las’ lap” performance.

For just US$25 patrons got all the usual Trini Christmas fare, inclusive of pastelle, ham and hops, black cake, corn soup, pelau, and some wicked Rufus souse made by “sweet hand Eleanor.”

Even while the completely sold-out party was in progress, people were still phoning promoters to purchase tickets.

Apart from Crazy “mashing up the place,” show host Creig Camacho also presented on stage Poser, Leon Coldero and Lima Dunbar, as well as sang his latest yuletide parang soca hit Garlic Pork.

Among the party crowd were Canada-based photo-journalist Rolph Warner, Lisa Spicer, Marilyn Harrison, Garvin Granger, Marilyn King, Pam Tillet and former US Embassy (Trinidad) staffer Angeli Blood.