When Paint Jamaica founder Marianna Farag, a native of France, first visited Fleet Street in Kingston in 2014, she found herself at a gigantic abandoned warehouse bordering the fence of a local schoolyard. The neighborhood, Parade Gardens, is known to some as an impoverished inner city, and to others it is hardly known at all. Marianna had booked a trip to Jamaica for a vacation […]
The Friendliest Place in Jamaica is Also the Tastiest
We’ve already dispelled the myth that Jamaicans are unfriendly, but if you’d like to see for yourself, head to Coronation Market in downtown Kingston. Known as “the stomach of Jamaica,” this massive farmers’ market in an iron-covered warehouse is filled with hundreds of vendors from all around the island. it runs from Thursday mornings to Sunday evenings all year round. The scene at the market […]
Kingston’s Music Gains UNESCO Status
On December 12, 2015, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova announced the induction of 47 cities from 33 countries as new members of the UNESCO Creative Network. Cities such as Adelaide, Australia and Medellin, Colombia, were acknowledged for their work in one of seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. Kingston was chosen as one of those cities for […]
Why Jamaica is the World’s Next Surfing Hotspot
Huntington Beach, California. Bondi Beach, Sydney. Hanalei Bay, Kauai. If you’re a surfer, you know these beaches well. But did you know there are killer waves right here in Kingston? Jamaica’s beaches along the north and south coast have perfect surfing conditions for eight months out of the year, largely due to wind swells from the northeast. Just along the southeastern coast at Eight Miles […]
Inside a Jamaican Artist’s Home
There are some places that feel like home from the moment you enter. That’s what happened when we walked into the Mt. Plenty home of Laura Facey, a Jamaican-born artist and sculptor whose career has spanned 40 years. Her art is controversial, thought-provoking and honest. And her home is a reflection of that: It’s filled with some of her most famous pieces, along with watercolor […]