CheapS talkpread your wordfectivTalk CTC - ely

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151596643260486&set=t.100000913126903&type=3

the above was designed (at least its initial iteration) by Portie's CTC

and in addition to all manner of design and digital printing, their handiwork also encompasses:

- phone accessories;
- internet cafe;
- photo restoration;
- CD & DVD covers
and a host of other services

They're open late and ready to serve

reach them at graphixwizz@yahoo.com;

Call 876-5367/437-1435;

or drop by at 19 West Street (across the road form the KFC) when next you're in Portie

Shem Dixon: Fashion's "Star of the East"

if you watched any of the SAINT International fashion extravaganzas, you've seen the (moving) handiwork of Shem Dixon. Chances are its been on lithe, leggy models wearing dazzling (and yes, a bit revealing) one or two-piece swimsuits while strutting the catwalk.

But, as a visit to her West Street shop confirms, there's much more to this Portie native than swimwear. Shem Designs makes and sells formal, evening, sports and casual wear for men, women and children.  Near obsessed with fashion and design from her childhood days, the petite and willowy "fashionpreneur" absorbed all the knowledge she could from various sources before setting up shop some five years ago. Why not Kingston or even Ocho Rios? "I thought about it," she muses, "but this is my home, this is where I feel grounded and connected."

Fashion designer Shem Dixon (left)

How odes she keep her edge? One way is Extended shopping. "many people shopping for clothes for retail may go up for a weekend. I typically spend two weeks to a month at a time. As a result, in addition to our own in-house stuff, the clothes we sell from other outlets is generally unlike  what's available elsewhere"

The wily entrepreneur is presently looking to expand, to provide more display space, and also to make a fuller entry into the bridal gown business. But she remains focussed on providing top-class clothing, whether for runway or running around, at competitive prices

Coming to paint Portie "Red"

RdBk Comes to Portie

Reps from new directory service RdBk stopped by the Portland Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting as sponsors, to pitch for their promotional product

L-R: Bernard Henry, RdBkCEO; Richard Robinson, Mktng Chief, and Digicel's Mark Linehan

Chief marketing Officer Richard Robinson took the membership and expanded audience through a coherent and lively presentation that made an  irrefutable case for RdBk's presence in a directory market long dominated by that "other colour" whose proprietors have, since RdBk's impending arrival, gone on a promo and ad blitz of their own

The creation of five regional directories rather than a general one is a strategic move as the company wants them to be portable because "people need to carry them around". Additionally, persons will be able to see and access services offered in their area as opposed to the general islandwide listings that are available now.

Marina is a “wedding memories” venue

Section of the marina Pier, looking over at Navy island

Similar to Kingston’s Emancipation Park, Hope Gardens  or Devon House, the Ken Wright Pier and the entire Errol Flynn marina property in Portie is a popular  stop for newlyweds seeking their “Kodak” moments (notwithstanding that Kodak is no more). Sometimes as many as three different wedding parties traverse the property each day, and the Marina also hosts wedding receptions on a regular basis.

Another Portie Success story

Another inspiring Portie-focussed story from the Gleaner, this time of educator Althea Loban Esty

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120324/life/life3.html

Italain Job: Uniting North & South in Portie

When Piedmont native Gianmaria Pedroli first set foot in Portland, he fell victim to a familiar malady - he was spellbound.

"Negril and Mobay nice," he declares, " but I never see anything like this place." The effect was so gripping that Pedroli decided to stay, and that meant he needed to support himself. So, what's a well-thinking, northern Italian man to do in such circumstances? - Open a pizza joint, "My sister in Italy has a bakery, so this is natural progression for me."

menu fold

Natural progression ,but some unnaturally hard work and effort to get the place up and running. but since October of last year, The Italian Job has been serving customers of all types from its location in downtown Portie. Though Portlanders are not strangers to pizza, Pedroli has helped ease the transition (and cover economic and stylistic bases), with an interesting "dual-style" approach. "By the slice, I sell the Neapolitan (or southern) style but I also do my traditional Tuscan style for whole pizzas".

A section of Downtown Pt Antonio

its working "Little by little" thus far, he says and adds that, at this point, his local traffic exceeds that of the overseas visitors. he further balances the menu with several budget items (cheesy dogs, etc) that start as low as J$100 to keep customers coming in and the cash register ringing.

Redroli works diligently with his staff of six to keep service high at the sit-down/take-out combo. "I mix in the Jamaican and Italian way of working," he says.

He is still revelling in the incidence of "first-time thrill”when people discover his food and enjoy it not having tried it before, and is now anticipating the introduction of delivery service. "I bought a small scooter; there is demand out there, especially among working people." he will also shortly introduce dessert. 

Italian Job is open Everday till 10 pm; 29 Harbour Street; call:291-4310

Guilty Pleasures: Portie's New Feel-Good Food Spot

The bustle of Port Antonio's William Street can overwhelm even the most jaded city dweller, as the town's traders, hawkers, hustlers and "schoolers" converge on and scramble to traverse the seemingly always congested artery that runs just opposite the market and ends up outside the United Church.
As one might expect ,those masses (and the few intrepid interlopers) will be looking to the numerous food and fruit stalls and cook shops to provide their sustenance. Thus the great, unrelieved bore of starch, chicken and goat, along with various packaged snacks and the aforementioned fruit.

But in this unlikeliest of settings, something fresh has popped up. Since last August a new eatery (and for most "Porties" even the term eatery is alien) has been open at the upper (church) end of the street. Guilty Pleasures is the brainchild of KellyAnn Goodall Kissoon, who spent time in the US, but out of a strong desire to be near her family, returned home and  after some combination of thought, misgivings and serendipity, opened the business, initially as a take-out only . its since expanded to include sit-down dining, but the guiding principle is the same. "I'm really about serving stuff that I enjoy eating," she explains. "We're not trying to be another cook shop"

So here you will not find the staple rice (and peas), curried chicken (or goat) or other heaping traditional street fare so abundant throughout the town. that is not to say  you won't be filled. The restaurant offers panninis and sandwiches (like that on the right) or pastires (left).

Founder-owner KellyAnn

Thee's also the more traditional cake and ice cream, though the owner says she's considering reducing the number of flavours offered. indeed, though the business has more or less kept afloat the past eight or so months, its not all peaches and cream. Porties are notoriously resistant to new dining options and despite the fairly widespread adoption of pizza (which Guilty Pleasures does not carry), old eating habits die very hard indeed, which can create frustration in the mind of a young, forward-thinking entrepreneur.

Nevertheless, she says she will stick it out for a while longer, and has some guarded plans to make the diner more attractive as well as to increase awareness of its presence. Time will tell if toasted sandwiches and the like will become the norm in this seaside town, but consider Guilty Pleasures a worthwhile vehicle for change.

Jammin on Titchfield Hill, a live music showcase with a distinctly Portie vibe continues on the Titchfield Peninsula of Port Antonio this and every Sunday.

As the organizers say " its a get together at the moment, but we can turn it into Sunsplash if we  feel like it.

Drinks and soup will be on sale, as well as Blue Mountain Coffee (as you might expect)