Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lake Victoria, a more formal dining room at the back and a large bar that's always packed
on Monday for the island's most popular rake 'n' scrape music evening.
Pet's Place
DELI $
( 242-336-3010; Queen's Hwy; mains $6-16; 7am-11pm Mon-Sat, to 10pm Sun;
) It might not be giving New York a run for its money, but this new addition to George
Town's limited eating scene opposite the Shell station is very welcome. Drop in for a
freshly baked muffin and coffee in the morning, or a filling soup and sandwich combina-
tion at lunch time. It also delivers.
FAMILY ISLAND REGATTA
The wildly festive, four-day
Family Island Regatta
(
www.nationalfamilyislandregatta.com
)
has been held every April since 1954.
The party really gets going the week before the regatta, when breweries and rum
companies sponsor a host of daft and fun events as a build-up to the main event.
Around 50 Bahamian sailing vessels (all locally made and crewed) race in El-
izabeth Harbour, George Town, and everyone within miles - landlubbers,
yachties and far-flung Bahamians - arrives to cheer on the sloops. The boats
race along with their tall sails billowing, spilling the odd drunken crew member
as they go. For the islands' boat builders, it is a chance to see their lovingly-
built vessels prove their master's craft.
Races are divided into five classes, including a junior class for youngsters. A
hallmark of the races is the 'pry,' a long wooden plank jutting from the side of
each dinghy and sloop. The crew - often as many as six or seven people - put
their weight on it to keep the boat balanced as it zips along, typically in a stiff
30-knot breeze. Knowledge of the winds, currents and boat-handling is essential
to winning.
The celebrated regatta is also an excuse for a party; sound systems are
tweaked up and accompanied by a colorful and raucous Junkanoo band, while
stalls sell cracked conch and fried chicken. Everyone chatters while they sip
their favorite brew in the sunshine. The dancing starts as dusk falls, and the
night's festivities begin…
Towne Café & Bakery
CAFE $$
(Queen's Hwy; mains $12; 7.30am-3pm Mon-Sat) This rather sterile-looking place in
fact serves up a good Bahamian breakfast of boil fish (a type of stew) with onions and hot
