- By Melissa Woodley
Rotary Club Fun Car Rally
On Saturday, the streets of Tortola will be filled with cars on a mission, following clues laid out by the Rotary Club in this year's Fun Car Rally. The rally promotes safe driving practices and creates a day of fun for everyone with the clue hunting and amusements set up at the Festival Village Grounds in Road Town.
Make sure you decorate your car and yourself before heading down to the rally, as awards will be given out for best decorations, best costume, ugliest car, overall rally winner and other categories. Activities at the Festival Village Grounds include a bouncy castle, dunking booth, and a car obstacle course. There is sure to be something fun for everyone.
Fun Car Rally teams should register early by calling Julien at 496-9070.
Local Artists Bring Museum Alive
Now through December 10, vibrant paintings by local artist Carol Vanterpool are adorning the white walls of the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum. Her colorful abstract works are on display, along with jewelry crafted by Daniele Ellis. Daniele creates striking pieces of jewelry from precious gems including turquoise, opal, amber and moonstone.
Carol's vivid paintings and Daniele's bold jewelry make the museum space come alive with color, and tonight, November 20, an opening reception will showcase the work to the community. All are encouraged to visit the museum between 6 and 9pm tonight to support the artists and appreciate their talents.
Carol was born in the BVI and currently lives and works here. She is an avid painter and photographer, founder of the BVI Art & Culture Exhibit, curator for the BVI's London House, and co-founder and curator of the Artists' Guild of the BVI. Daniele was educated in art all around the world, but has made the BVI her home. Her jewelry has been showcased in the BVI, London and New York City.
The gallery is open during museum hours and the show will be on display until Wednesday, December 10, when a Christmas wine tasting event will close the show.
Peg Leg's 'Round Tortola Race
Yachts will be circling Tortola this Saturday in the annual 'Round Tortola Race, hosted this year by Peg Leg's Landing at Nanny Cay. The course is set counterclockwise around Tortola, starting and ending at Nanny Cay, and there are three classes - racing, cruising and multihull. A skipper's meeting and a curry dinner will be held from 6-8pm Friday night at the Royal BVI Yacht Club, and then the racing gets underway Saturday morning at 9:05 for cruisers and 9:35 for racers.
Boats usually start crossing the finish line around 2pm, so make sure you're at Peg Leg's to congratulate the victors, and kick off the post-race party. Drink specials and live music will be enjoyed all night, and awards will be handed out starting at 6pm. All boats are welcome to compete, so get out on the water and hold your own in this favorite yearly race.
Arbour Day
As Arbour Day approaches, the BVI National Parks Trust is sponsoring a number of events throughout the Territory to get the community involved in the ecological cause.
A community tree planting will be held today, November 20 in Spring Bay National Park on Virgin Gorda, and a similar event will be held at Queen Elizabeth II Park in Road Town on Tuesday. Friday, November 21 is the deadline for an ongoing poetry contest, under the theme "Protect the Reef. Plant a Tree."
A plant sale will be held from Monday, November 24 through Friday, December 5 at the J. R. O'Neal Botanical Gardens from 9:30am to 3:30pm on weekdays, and free trees will be given out to the community from November 28 through December 5 at the Gardens.
Thanksgiving
Don't let Thanksgiving pass without enjoying some turkey dinner! Next Thursday, November 27, the Jolly Roger will once again have its Thanksgiving potluck dinner. Call 495-4559 now to reserve your space and sign up for the side dish you will contribute to the meal. The staff at the Jolly Roger will provide the turkeys.
Long Bay's 1748 beachfront restaurant will also be holding a Thanksgiving buffet dinner on the 27th, including appetizers, desserts, and turkey with all the trimmings. Make reservations soon for this festive event by calling 495-4252.
