In Bonaire, a New Kind of Dutch Caribbean Vacation 

It’s always been the Caribbean capital of diving, a haven for sustainability and the natural environment. 

But now another side of Bonaire is in the spotlight, as more and more travelers appreciate Bonaire’s place as the culinary star of the ABC islands, where world-class eateries abound and a cocktail and a fine spirits culture continues to grow. 

And that’s the thinking behind the island’s newest event, Bonaire Rum Week, a weeklong festival highlighting the finest premium rums from the Caribbean and the island’s buzzing gastronomic movement. 

“Bonaire has become one of the Caribbean’s top gourmet destinations, led by an impressive collection of world-class eateries and some terrific bars,” says Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal, which is organizing the event hosted by Tourism Corporation Bonaire. “With Bonaire Rum Week, we’re celebrating rum as an artisanal, ultra-premium spirit, set against the backdrop of this impossibly beautiful, pristine island.”

Bonaire Rum Week is set for June 14-17, with a full slate of events that give travelers and locals the chance to sample some of the Caribbean region’s top rums and indulge in Bonaire’s culinary culture. 

The event kicks off with an opening party by Rum Papiamento at Rum Runners; that’s followed on June 15 by a rum-on-the-beach tasting at the Plaza Beach Resort and a cocktail competition at Tiki & Co.

Chef Britt Thomasen will craft the menu at the Rum Lunch at Harbour Village.

June 16 sees a rum lunch prepared by the Harbour Village Beach Club’s talented Chef Britt Thomassen, followed by a Happy Hour at Buddy Dive by the celebrated Clifton Estate Rum from Nevis. 

On the morning of June 17 at Delfins, there’s a rum tasting seminar for local bartenders; and then there’s the party piece: a final Bonaire Rum Week dinner at the Brass Boer, the Caribbean outpost of the three-Michelin-star culinary team of Johnny and Therese Boer, followed by Papa’s Pilar’s rum-and-cigar pairing evening at the Delfins Beach Resort. 

“We are happy to see how many partners are interested in being part of the first Bonaire Rum Week,” Tourism Corporation said in a statement. “By organizing this event, we will showcase Bonaire as more than just a diving destination, and give our visitors the opportunity to experience Bonaire in a different way. We are looking forward to an exciting week where both our visitors and locals can mingle and enjoy.”

caribbean travelers choice winners
The Brass Boer, set at Delfins Beach Resort.

Bonaire Rum Week hotel partners include Delfins Beach Resort; Harbour Village Beach Club; Plaza Beach and Dive Resort Bonaire; Captain Don’s Habitat; Buddy Dive Resort; Bellafonte Bonaire; and Bamboo Bonaire

The festival’s host rum is the island’s celebrated local rum, Rom Rincon, joined by more than a dozen rums from across the wider Caribbean.

Eric Gietman, CEO of Cadushy Distillery in the town of Rincon.

Caradonna Adventures is the official travel partner for Bonaire Rum Week (you can find more on packages here).

To reserve the final dinner at Delfins, please contact reservations@delfinsbeachresort.com. For the Harbour Village Rum Lunch, contact reservations@harbourvillage.com

For more, visit Bonaire Rum Week

Bonaire Rum Week is CJ’s second major rum event in the Caribbean, joining the existing Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, set for Nov. 1-6, 2022, a weeklong festival and the Caribbean’s premier rum competition. 

The post In Bonaire, a New Kind of Dutch Caribbean Vacation  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Selling Your House With Water in The Crawl Space

Do you wish to sell your home? Selling a house with water in the crawl space is complicated. But what if I told you there was a way to sell your home even with the crawl space issues?

Water damage in American homes is rampant, with over 35 percent of homeowners experiencing losses as a result. Leaky basements can negatively affect your resale value. Consider having water in crawl space home inspection to investigate the extent of the problem.

A leaky basement is a ticking time bomb that most buyers will be wary of. It can be a problem in the sale, but you have to consider ways to go around it.

You might have considered selling the house by hiding the water damage. Please avoid it! Wet basements cause damage over time. Suppose the new owner’s notice could result in a lawsuit. You wouldn’t want that, right?

How do you go about selling a house with water in the crawl space? Continue reading to identify how to sell a house with water in the crawl space.

What Affects Your Home Sale Decision?

Before you can sell a house with water in the crawl space, you’ll need to understand the origin and extent of the problem first.

It’s necessary to consider whether your basement is finished or unfinished.

The basement can be a living space for some, which adds value to your property. Understanding if the leak happens due to a proofing problem will determine the right approach to use.

The frequency of leaks in the area also determines the extent of the problem. You have a better chance of finding out and solving the problem by looking at what others have done.

Looking at the problem based on its origin and extent will assist with tailoring the solutions to meet your needs.

1. Consider Full Disclosure During the Sale

Have you thought about selling the house as-is? You could go on with the sale provided you offer the buyer a full disclosure of the crawl space problem.

It might sound like the easiest route, but there are drawbacks to it. Water in crawl space is known to cause damage, and any of these might significantly reduce the property value by at least 60 percent. There are also very few buyers interested in inheriting home problems, but you could give it a shot.

Depending on the problem and the buyer’s interests, your sale might attract great offers as well. Make sure that you disclose the water in the crawl space to the buyer. Such a disclosure ensures that you avoid legal trouble with a buyer down the line.

Consider specifying the extent of the problem to the buyer. A general disclaimer will not suffice since buyers are more into details of the problem, like when the leak occurs and why it happens. A manageable leak will most likely be a no concern for a new homeowner.

In addition to feeling at ease, buyers will be reluctant to sue for misrepresentation when the problem resurfaces. You would otherwise have to cater for the repair costs and their attorney fees.

Don’t assume that disclosing water in the crawl space problem will derail your home sale. You might be surprised at the interest of a listing as buyers are always looking for affordable homes.

2. Direct Water Away From the House

Are you on a strict budget when making the house suitable to sell? You could deal with water in crawl spaces problems by rerouting runoff away from home externally.

Causes of water in crawl spaces include runoff from rainwater or snow thawing. The significant problems of water in crawl spaces can be catastrophic. You could alter that by ensuring water runs right through the crawl space.

Here are a few solutions to work with when directing water away from the house.Change the Slope of Your Lawn

The slope of your landscape determines the trajectory which water will follow. It would help if you considered sloping it out away from your house’s foundation.

Changing the slope of your lawn aims at preventing pooling in the wrong places. You’ll need to be careful to ensure that the sloping does not result in erosion as well. Creating a well-graded lawn can assist take care of erosion.

Landscaping is a relatively cheaper solution to dealing with water damage, and it’ll be suitable to work for you.Extend Your Downspouts

Does your basement leaking problem happen mainly during a storm or in winter thaw? Your downspouts could be a source of concern, so check them.

Downspouts collect water from the roof and are meant to channel it away from the foundation. The problem could be that they deposit water at the base of your home.

Consider extending the downspouts to assist with water diverting as a solution. Extensions are cheap to acquire and easy to fix, which saves you money and fixes the problem.

3. Waterproof Your Basement Fully

Do you intend to do away with the water in crawl spaces before selling your home? A fully-fledged waterproofing to your crawl space is critical.

Ensuring your basement is watertight markets the house better to buyers. As a homeowner looking to sell your home, waterproofing is costly but can increase your home value.

The following is what fully-fledged waterproofing involves.Removing Water Damaged Items

Water damage is typical, especially in spaces where it has holed up. Previous leaks might have caused a lot of damage which you should eradicate within the water remediation.

Removing water-damaged material as the first step to renovation ensures a clean slate. Waterproofing will therefore be well conducted using newer material that reinforces the foundation to the house.Drain Installation

Drain systems can seem like a disastrous fix to water in crawl spaces, but they work well. The creation of trenches or even a yard pipe works to do away with the water at the moment.

It’s an easy fix and has to be repeated every time there’s a leak. It, however, offers the space for working on the waterproofing by making the conditions favorable.Install a Liner Within Your Basement

Do you wish to have the waterproofing solution last you long? Installing a liner within your basement can be vital to extending the life of the waterproof.

Consider appropriate liners, whether coating or silicate sealers. Make sure that the interior liner applied will be waterproof, which ensures the results last.Consider Installing a Sump Pump

A sump pump mechanically directs water from the basement whenever need be. Installing it can be imperative to ridding the water in crawl spaces problem.

4. Consider Real Estate Buyers

Do you wish to get rid of your home fast? Real estate buyers can offer you a quick solution to selling your home with water in crawl spaces.

You might be in an emergency that needs you to sell the home as fast as possible, which can be challenging in everyday situations. You also could be willing to get rid of the home to do away with the strenuous process of getting a buyer. A home buying company is your friend when selling a home with a leaky basement.

The many options in the market make it incredibly challenging to find a single option to work with. It would help if you were careful not to end up with an option you cannot trust.

Here is a breakdown of what to check with the real estate buyers:Reputable Home Buying Company

Reputation in business matters. This is because it describes relationships that companies have with their clients. You’ll need to choose a reputable home buying company.

Seeking references for the company will offer you honest reviews about how good the company is.

A reputable home buying company is best suited to make your selling process a lot easier. You’ll be lucky to deal with them since it also reduces your chances of getting duped.Offer No Obligation Cash Offers

You’ll want quick processing for the sale if it’s for an emergency. There is a need for your home buyer real estate agency to offer you cash offers.

Great real estate buyers will have their value estimators to ensure that you get accurate quotes. They’re also best positioned to save you time by buying your home as-is with their cash offers. The house sale needs to be a no obligations deal which is among what they offer.

Consider the Above Factors When Selling a House with Water in the Crawl Space

Selling a house with water in the crawl space can be overwhelming. The above factors will assist in making the home sale easy. Water in crawl space home inspection will assist you in determining whether your solution is actionable.

Wondering what your home’s worth in the current market?
Get a free online home valuation!

Are you looking for a real estate homebuyer? iBuyer got you covered. We can offer you information, connections, and insights to quickly sell your house. We also offer home valuation and connect you with quick buyers for reasonable cash offers for your home as-is.

The post Selling Your House With Water in The Crawl Space appeared first on iBuyer Blog.

Powered by WPeMatico

Miles Morales Missed a Chance to Become Marvel’s ‘Captain Puerto Rico’

Puerto Rico due to the costume’s stark resemblance to the Puerto Rican … memorable. Turning Miles into Captain Puerto Rico would celebrate his Boriqua heritage … ;s first Captain Puerto Rico. Miles Morales’ Puerto Rican culture gets occasional highlights …

Powered by WPeMatico

How St Thomas Restaurants Are Putting a Spotlight on Local Cuisine

Always an terrific food destination, St Thomas is in the midst of a gastronomic renaissance, with a renewed focus on traditional classics and a new push to highlight local cuisine.  

Indeed, more and more eateries are putting the food of St Thomas front and center, from food trucks to fine dining and everything in between. 

It all adds up to what is a full-fledged local food movement, where the emphasis is not just freshly-caught fish, but about putting the flavors and culture of St Thomas on the table.

Here are our favorite St Thomas eateries for exciting local food, from island institutions to hip, upstart eateries. 

Blue 11 No restaurant better exemplifies St Thomas’ new food movement than this. It’s called Blue Eleven, and it’s the the debut restaurant of leading VI chef David Benjamin, formerly of the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas. The Yacht Haven Grande outpost is a fine-dining love letter to island food, with an exclusive tasting menu that lets guests embark on a culinary journey (including a wine-pairing option) through either seven, nine or 11 courses. With a focus on local ingredients, that means dishes like pan-seared wahoo, a brilliant spin on callaloo and jerk chicken with plantain gnocchi, among others. 

Honey drizzled johnny cakes.

Twistt340 Set in the increasingly hot Yacht Haven Grande marina, Twist, the brainchild of Dimitri and Tamra James, is all about Caribbean cuisine — and puts a new spin on traditional island favorites. That means dishes like honey-drizzled johnny cakes, curry chicken sliders, jerk bowls and trios of the island’s famous pate. 

Gladys’ Cafe One of St Thomas’ most prominent places to eat, Gladys’ is a Charlotte Amalie institution, with out-of-this-world Caribbean signatures: think curry goat, stewed oxtails; jerk chicken, pan-fried grouper and, of course, its “Ole Wife” fish. Make sure you get a side of fungi with creole sauce and thank us later. 

Petite Pump Room It’s been a hallmark of St Thomas for more than fifty years, first with Anna and Douglas Watson and now with their son Michael, whose family is expertly stewarding this USVI institution. It’s the essence of St Thomas: fresh locally caught fish; soursop ice cream; sautéed conch; and a must-try rum punch. 

PlantTastic Yes, St Thomas’ food movement now includes a vegan option — and a food truck to boot. It’s called PlantTastic,a  truck serving up vegan and pescatarian dishes like black bean cakes with mango salsa; vegan crab cakes, falafel and fresh-catch poke bowls. It’s set in a location in Frenchtown by Radio One. 

The post How St Thomas Restaurants Are Putting a Spotlight on Local Cuisine appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico