By Kelly Meister Jan 14, 2010 - 11:58:56 AM Paradise Plates Fundraiser To Help Fight Hunger in The Bahamas - More than 400 people attended Paradise Plates last year and raised over $60,000 to help fight hunger in The Bahamas. NASSAU, Bahamas – Hands For Hunger is gearing up for its second annual fundraiser, Paradise Plates, scheduled to take place on May 15th, 2010 at the Atlantis Crown Ballroom. The creatively presented event showcases a lavish array of gourmet food prepared by Chefs from Nassau’s premier restaurants, fine wine and spirits and live entertainment with all proceeds benefitting Hands For Hunger the non-profit, humanitarian organization committed to the elimination of hunger and the reduction of food waste in The Bahamas. Last year, Paradise Plates served-up an unforgettab... 01/23/2010

Finishing the fifth hole at the Ocean Club Golf Course at One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas, a member of our foursome casually mentioned that maybe we should let the group behind us play through. “Why?” I asked. “It’s not like it’s Donald Trump.”Any other day I’d have been right. But, not that day. Not on that course. Was it surprising to see “The Donald” in the flesh? Yes. Out of the realm of possibility? No way. One&Only Ocean Club, which won the 2009 Luxury Travel Advisor Award of Excellence for best luxury hotel in the Caribbean, has drawn celebrities since its inception: Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordan, Hilary Swank—all A-listers.So when we goggled at The Apprentice star/real estate mogul hoofing it up to the green (he plays fast), we froze for a moment, but wer... 01/23/2010

  A new way to buy property is in its infancy in the UK, buyers and the general public are not fully aware of this brand new option called Rent To Buy. It's an exciting concept and I am not sure where else in the world people Rent To Buy  and the experiences that they have had. For me as an observer of everything real estate it seems like the silver bullet for those that cannot afford the huge deposits that are required today. I believe that the Rent to Buy option is set to change the way buyers finance a purchase of their home and is set to take off in the UK, pundits are saying it is oneof the best ways to get on the property ladder .   So Why Rent to Buy? The credit crunch has resulted in lenders becoming more stringent with their lending criteria. This has resulted in many people w... 01/21/2010

LCIS Grade 9 students with Jacline Mazard Nassau, Bahamas - Renowned designer Jacline Mazard opened up her studios for LCIS students this week for them to learn about her legendary gold forging techniques. Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts arranged the visit to Ms. Mazard’s studio as part of the school’s Art Institute program. The designer, who has worked exclusively for Neiman-Marcus for the past 32 years, took time to show the students how she sculpts her one-of-a-kind 22 carat gold jewelry pieces. Ms. Mazard also found time to impact the students with some inspirational words, which she first shared with LCIS students on a previous collaboration 17 years ago, “Each of us has a treasure and we have to find it within ourselves. Some of us write well, sing, play tennis or golf, swim bea... 01/20/2010

A landscape painting by Gustav Klimt, presumed looted during World War Two, is to be sold at Sotheby's next month.   Church in Cassone, a serene meditation on a small town on the banks of Lake Garda in Italy, is expected to fetch up to £18 million. The proceeds will be split between the current owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, and the descendant of the Jewish Viennese family to whom it had belonged The 1913 work, painted in a typical Klimt palate of soft greens, blues and oranges, had hung on the wall of Georges Jorisch's grandmother's house. Mr Jorisch, now 81 and a retired camera shop manager in Montreal, moved to Canada in 1950, having lived in hiding with his father in Brussels for two years during the war. His grandmother Amelia had tried to safeguard the painting, putting it... 01/19/2010

By Jeannie Gibson, MOT Fort Lauderdale, FL - In its ongoing efforts to promote The Islands of The Bahamas as the premiere destination for general aviation/private pilots, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation will be the chief sponsor of a Bahamas Day event at a Fixed Based Operation (FBO) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 20, 2010. The First Annual Bahamas Day, is being hosted by Banyan Air Service, located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.  Banyan was named earlier this year as one of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Aviation Division (BMOTA’s) Bahamas Preferred Gateways. Going forward, the Bahamas Day will be hosted by a different Bahamas Preferred Gateway each year. Bahamas Day is for pilots who want to fly their aircraft to The Bahamas as well as for non-pilots who ... 01/19/2010

By Fred Sturrup, Nassau Guardian Nassau Guardian - (Bahamas) The marathon races throughout the streets of New Providence in the past have been predominantly localized. The organizers had little or no strategy for a tourism connection in the big way. Visitors who ran marathons and happened to be in the capital at the time, took advantage of the opportunity to observe the local events. There is no attempt here to blame the planners of the past marathons or the tourism officials of the day for not capitalizing on the visitor potential. Quite frankly, around the world, the interest in marathon running was solidified just in certain locations prior to the last three decades. While... 01/19/2010

Bring the whole family to paradise with the winter's hottest deal For more information on Bahamas Real Estate NASSAU, Bahamas, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With the winter chill in full swing and cabin fever setting in, what could be better than a free ticket for a sun-drenched escape? The Islands Of The Bahamas have just announced the season's hottest offer - FREE companion airfare to a Bahamas island destination of choice. Travelers who book by March 3rd receive free companion airfare for bookings of four nights, allowing for an inexpensive tropical getaway in the middle of the frosty winter months. Choose from more than 40 participating properties throughout Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island and the Out Islands, each offering idyllic crystal-clear blue waters and soft white sand.... 01/17/2010

Dean's Blue Hole(Bahamas Ministry of Tourism) For more information on Bahamas Real EstateThere may be bigger and more impressive blue holes, but Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island in the Bahamas is the world's deepest at more than 600 feet deep. Dean’s Blue Hole is located west of Clarence Town on Long Island. It is almost twice as deep as any other explored cave in the Bahamas, according to the Bahamas Journal of Science. In April 2008, William Trubridge broke his own freediving world record from 2007, swimming 86 meters (282 feet) into Dean’s Blue Hole without fins. Trubridge is the director of Vertical Blue Freediving School and Team, which leads dives into Dean’s Blue Hole. Blue holes are formed by erosional processes. They can be carved out by high and low sea levels from glacial peri... 01/17/2010

MARATHON BAHAMAS http://www.atlantis.com/promotions/marathon.aspx February 14, 2010 Marathon Bahamas will be the first marathon of The Bahamas in the 21st Century, and will bring together runners and walkers from around The Bahamas as well as internationally. It is anticipated that Marathon Bahamas will become an annual event and every effort shall be made to make it increasingly attractive for participants from the Bahamas and around the world. 01/12/2010

Spend a CELEBRITY - FILLED WEEKEND at Atlantis Wednesday, January 20 - Sunday, January 24 http://www.atlantis.com/events.aspx   MICHEAL JORDAN CELEBRITY INVITATIONALhttp://mjcigolf.com/ January 20 - 24, 2010 Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) is hosted by basketball legend and Hall of Fame member Michael Jordan and brings together sports and entertainment notables for a four day charity golf event that has raised over $4 million to date. JERRY SEINFELDhttp://www.atlantis.com/events.aspxSaturday, January 23, 2010 Atlantis LIVE is pleased to present our first comedic performer, Jerry Seinfeld. Best known for the situation comedy sensation, Seinfeld, Jerry has returned to his roots in stand-up comedy. He is hailed as the best comedian of his generation, with an ability to make au... 01/12/2010

Two young teens, Jake Aulin (13) and Kirk Jr. Aulin (16) with the assistance of their mother, Patricia Aulin, spearheaded a Boxing Day (Dec 26, 2009) rescue in the Bahamas that has attracted the attention of Biologists and Whale activists. The Aulins, were returning from a fishing trip with their mom in their 34ft boat, off North Eleuthera in the Central Bahamas when they spotted what they thought may have been a whale blowing fairly close to the island of Spanish Wells. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a humpback whale that was badly entangled in a fishing net. Driven by courage and compassion the boys then undertook the very dangerous task of attempting to free the whale, a move that experts say should be attempted by professionals given the inherent safety concerns. Us... 01/10/2010

The British love affair with French property is set to continue into 2010 but why do the Brits love France so much and can other regions pick up some tips?  The number one reason is France is very easy to get to with an abundance of low cost flights to France. For those who prefer not too fly Brits can choose to arrive in France by land or sea. The second reason is the region offers a great choice from beach type property, rural areas, ski property to city apartments it seem France has it all.  The housing market s stable without great price increases and get rich quick schemes. Property law is well established and has a proven track record so those adverse to risk feel safer to buy a property in France.  A huge consideration is the French lifestyle.France has been named the best place... 01/10/2010

Nassau, Bahamas - Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) is holding a Teacher Recruitment Fair on Saturday, 16th January, 2010 (10:00am) at the LCIS Campus. LCIS is an independent and accredited school for Nursery through Grade 12. The school is the only school in the Caribbean region, and one of only 139 schools worldwide, authorized to offer the full International Baccalaureate Programme, which includes the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme, as well as supporting students who wish to enter for BGCSEs. The event will require any interested persons to submit their resumes at 10:00am and to attend a visual presentation that will follow from the Principal, Ms. Stacey Bobo, then initial job interviews. Ms. Bobo commented on the initiative, “We h... 01/07/2010

Grand Bahama, The Bahamas - There is excitement in the birding circle on Grand Bahama Island these days. During the 10th annual Christmas Bird Count on December 18th of 2009 the visiting experts and local birders had recorded 117 species on this island - the highest number ever observed! When the final tally was held at Garden of the Groves birders were not only pleased to have surpassed the Nassau and Abaco counts but were ecstatic at the high number of species which is an indication that birding populations have rebounded on Grand Bahama Island after the devastation of three major hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 when some species had been decimated by 75 %.    One of the favourite species of the CBC is the Painted Bunting that spends the winter on Grand Bahama     Tony White of Bethesda,... 01/07/2010

  Nassau, Bahamas - Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) is proud to announce that it has received authorization to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).  The IB is a curriculum framework that seeks to develop internationally minded students and is offered in over 2,000 schools worldwide.  LCIS is now one of only 139 schools around the world to offer all three IB curriculum frameworks – the PYP, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme - and the only one in the Caribbean region to do so.    Principal Stacey Bobo commented, “This authorization shows that LCIS is committed to offering a rigorous academic program that is recognised worldwide.  The fact that we are now officially authorised to offer all three programmes of the IB prov... 01/04/2010

By SUE COCKING scocking@MiamiHerald.com Not every fishing trip can be a bonefish bonanza -- even in the Bahamas where it's often possible to trip over scores of the speedy, silver bomblets. But even under the worst weather conditions, a competent guide ensures the angler gets to bend a rod. On a visit earlier this month to the bonefish-rich flats of Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos, a large cold front that had stalled north of the region edged south and unleashed near gale-force winds on the only day I had to fish. I thought veteran guide Ronnie Sawyer might cancel our trip. But he showed up on time at the Green Turtle Club to take my friend Linda Luizza and myself fishing. Foolishly figuring the conditions would be similar to my last trip with Sawyer -- a late-summer romp in perfect wea... 01/04/2010

14 Islands, 14 Filmmakers, 14 Days, £14,000 Grand Prize The 14 Islands Film Challenge is the search for talented UK filmmakers to travel to the 14 Islands of The Bahamas to shoot the inspiring and dramatic stories of the different islands. The lucky 14 finalists have been chosen. To see who the talented 14 are and to watch their winning semi-finalist entry films, visit www.14islandsfilmchallenge.co.uk The winner will be selected from the final 14 and announced at a red carpet premiere at BAFTA in London in March 2010 and will win the grand prize of £14,000 cash. And for those of you who might not be a filmmaker but love film, well every film needs a packed auditorium, so we're taking care of you non-filmmakers too! Armchair Critics will be crucial in helping the judges to choose the eve... 01/04/2010

Brazilian property is all the talk for international investors but like many countries not all regions are equal and you need to tread carefully when considering a location. I am going to make your investment destination in Brazil easy by suggesting its best to invest in the North East Region of Brazil.My recent visit to the North East region confirmed that exit strategies were as solid as a rock meaning when it came to selling your investment you have both local and international buyers to sell too.City of FortalezaThe northeast Brazilian region of Fortaleza in Ceara is my tip for the place to invest in Brazilian Real Estate. I recently visited the city which for me is the gateway to real estate bargains ideal for international property investors seeking low priced well placed land or ... 01/02/2010

AirTran Airways on Dec. 17 kicked off a daily, nonstop flight to Nassau, Bahamas, from Atlanta, the airline's biggest hub.  The flight was scheduled to take just over two hours to reach the Bahamian capital.  AirTran, a subsidiary of Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Holdings Inc., is also launching service to Nassau from Baltimore four times per week and Orlando five times per week.  The Bahamas flight is the newest expansion to AirTran's Caribbean route map. Flights to Cancun, Mexico, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, launched earlier this year.  Introductory fares are $79 each way from Atlanta, $99 from Baltimore and $44 from Orlando.  The Bahamas opened a consulate general in Atlanta earlier this year.  Visit www.airtran.com. 12/23/2009