The Chat 'N' Chill Blog 
Posted on March 25th, 2013 | Blog Category
Cordell Thompson, local Exuma Historian and Director of the Pompey Center for Studies in Traditional Art, Music, Food and the Unresolved Mysteries, describes the origins and components of the Bahamian Junkanoo festival.
Q: What exactly is Junkanoo?
A: Junkanoo is the colorful, energetic, and breath-taking Bahamian festival that takes place every year on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Starting at 2:00 a.m. and coming to an end only when the sun rises (around 9:00 a.m.), hundreds of people dressed in bright, extravagant costumes parade through the streets playing authentic Bahamian instruments, performing choreographed dance routines, and celebrating their culture. The influence of Junkanoo is seen in all aspects of Bahamian society, in the fine arts, in music and dance, and particularly the personality and attitudes of the Bahamian people who understand the necessity for taking time out to celebrate life.
Found at ExpressionsByAnn
Q: When and how did it start?
A: Around the 16th or 17th century, Bahamian slaves were given several days off around Christmas time, during which they would celebrate by spending time with their families. In their three days of freedom, they would dance, play music, and create costumes as a way to enjoy the holiday. Even after slavery was abolished, this tradition continued in the Bahamas and eventually transformed into the spectacular festival it is today.
Q: Where does Junkanoo take place?
A: Junkanoo has its roots in harvest festivals in the African countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Most Africans who came to the Americas came from these two countries and Junkanoo is celebrated in some shape or form from the Southern United States to as far south as Belize in Central America.… Read More
Posted on December 13th, 2012 | Blog,News & Events Category
Chat ‘N’ Chill® Pops The Question to Engaged British Couple Lisa Gant and Alex Pelling to Bring Their
‘Perfect Wedding Destination Search’ off The Beaten Aisle to Marry in The Exotic Exuma Islands of The Bahamas
Global marrying couple, Lisa and Alex of Manchester, England, say “yes” [to The Invite] and continue to their discovery of the world’s cultures and marriage traditions in The Bahamas while building their database of unique customs and unusual places to get married.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA, BAHAMAS (December, 2012) – Chat ‘N’ Chill®, Ltd., a Bahamian restaurant, beach bar and special event venue located in The Exumas, invites global marrying couple, Lisa Gant and Alex Pelling of Manchester, England, to marry on their 9 acre private island beach on Stocking Island. “I and thought ‘how cool is that!’ and wonder if they could come here to The Exumas to get married?”, says Kwanza Clay Bowe, co-owner of Chat ‘N’ Chill®.
Their journey began as a longtime desire to see and travel the world. After they saved up their money, sold everything they owned and planned their escape, they decided it might be nice to get married somewhere along the way. “While we both are very romantic, we also like to do things a little bit differently than most. We looked for ‘unique wedding locations,’ ‘wild weddings,’ ‘traveling weddings,’ we read wedding blogs, travel blogs, and love stories but we just couldn’t quite find what we wanted,” Alex said. So they set off to see what they could find on their own.… Read More
Posted on April 15th, 2011 | News & Events Category
Martha Stewart Goes “Off the Beaten Aisle™” and Features Exuma’s Chat ‘N’ Chill™ for Travel Cover Photo Shoot
America’s Most Trusted Guide to Weddings and Entertaining discovers a hidden jewel of The Caribbean and captures its unpretentious tropical island setting for the backdrop of its Special Travel Issue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA, BAHAMAS (June, 2011) –Chat ‘N’ Chill®, Ltd., a Bahamian restaurant and beach bar and special event venue located in The Exuma Islands, was the location of choice for the wedding cover scene of Martha Stewart Weddings ® Destination & Dream Honeymoons Fall 2010,a special travel issue. Wedding trendsetter and do-it-yourself entertaining queen, Martha Stewart, found refreshing backdrops at Chat ‘N’ Chill® for today’s brides and grooms seeking unique locations to host their destination wedding.
“Brides and grooms come to us looking to escape the typical big-box wedding experience,” says Kwanza Clay Bowe, owner of Chat ‘N’ Chill® and founder of A Wedding Breeze, Exuma’s premiere destination wedding and event planning company. “Our high achieving bride and groom clients are ‘always on’ and connected with their successful careers and businesses, professionally. Here, they relish in the rustic, laid back surroundings where they can enjoy an intimate ceremony and simply relax with their guests, totally uninterrupted.” In today’s glossy wedding market, where everything often looks the same, some engaged couples are seeking out settings that are not just like the last 5 weddings they recently attended. And no doubt, Martha Stewart is on top of the latest trend and has discovered a hidden jewel amongst The Exuma Islands in the beautiful Islands of The Bahamas.… Read More
Posted on August 1st, 2010 | Blog,Weddings Category
Steve & Mary were my very first wedding clients at Chat ‘N’ Chill, 7 months after I moved to Great Exuma and I was 5 months pregnant. They threw a fun-filled wedding party spanning over 4 days for about 40 of their closest friends and family. Since Mary & Steve fell in love while on a sailboat anchored at Chat ‘N’ Chill, they set their plans to have a wedding a Chat ‘N’ Chill. Before the ceremony, Mary had an “Amazon” cruise where she and her best girlfriends cruised around the harbour in a houseboat that delivered her ashore for her late afternoon wedding. During a special part of their ceremony, Mary’s son “scooped the sands” where they pledged their vows to preserve as a keepsake.
They even “jumped the broom” too.
A hot day it was, most of the wedding guests enjoyed cocktails during the ceremony and half of them stripped of their tropical attire and swimsuit cover-ups and cooled off in the sea immediately following the ceremony.
Everyone partied late into the evening to Bahamian, Calypso and Reggae music played by a local band. From the looks of the photos, Steve, Mary and all of their guests had very memorable destination wedding in paradise.
And the crew at Chat ‘N’ Chill had a fabulous time throwing them an unforgettable island party!
Unable to make the long trip back to the Caribbean this year, to celebrate their 6th anniversary, Steve & Mary are touring Italy while Steve is on break from his contract in Afghanistan. Have a fun and safe trip and we look forward to seeing you next year in The Exumas!… Read More
Posted on July 5th, 2010 | Blog,Weddings Category
The crew at Chat ‘N’ Chill wish Arash and Sonia a very happy 5th anniversary and many happy returns. We know you are enjoying The Exumas celebrating your anniversary island hopping:-)
It is an honor that you chose Chat ‘N’ Chill as the sacred place where you two became one. And it certainly was a priveledge to plan your island wedding ceremony, meet all of your friends, especially the Ya-Ya’s and listen to Rouzbeh’s beautiful music. We will always remember being a part of your special day. Love & best wishes!… Read More
