It is never too early to start thinking about a Caribbean getaway for escaping the winter freeze. Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino is offering travelers the opportunity to take away that cold weather chill and save by booking soon with its Early Winter Sale. Home to the award winning oceanfront Larimar Spa, the resort is offering up to a 35 percent savings on stays beginning January 6, 2008.

The Early Winter Sale is available for bookings made by September 30, 2007, and includes a $150 spa or food and beverage credit per room for guests booking garden view or partial ocean view accommodations five nights or longer. This credit can be used towards such items as a Signature Aloe Vera and Rum massage at the Larimar Spa, a gourmet Dinner by Torchlight on the beach or a culinary experience at the Four Diamond rated Sunset Grille. Families will also enjoy even more savings as “Kids Eat Free” at Laguna for breakfast and dinner buffets. Garden view and partial ocean view rooms are $339 and $379 per night beginning January 6 - 31, 2008, and March 30 - April 12, 2008, based on double occupancy. These same room category rates are $359 and $399 per night February 1 - March 29, 2008.

With the Early Winter Sale savings, standard room rates begin at $299 per night from January 6 - 31, 2008, and March 30 - April 12, 2008, based on double occupancy. Standard room rates begin at $319 per night February 1 - March 29, 2008. The Early Winter Sale can be booked through (800) 333-3333, the resort’s Web site www.radisson.com/aruba or through any travel professional.

Event will take place at Moomba Beach November 2-3-4

For the 4th consecutive year the Aruba Tourism Authority is supporting this “fun” beach tennis event. International tournament held at MooMba Beach on November 2, 3 and 4, promises to be fantastic featuring this year invited Dutch Champions Robert v. Boeschoten and Peter Amerika. Local participants are registering for the fun happening as we speak, while international players are sending in their registrations via e-mail. The top category (Open A) is expected to sizzle, with the US National Champions, a superb Dutch team, Italian wizards and a team from Costa Rica trying to take out our local favorites.

Beach tennis is about having fun, and the combination of sun, sand and sport is unbeatable. MooMba Beach is the perfect venue for the event, which is held in all categories, from beginners to advanced. Notice that most participants are no tennis players! Everyone can join the action so take up the phone and start dialing.

Sponsors:
The tournament is sponsored by Polar Beer, Alno Kitchens, the Aruba Tourism Authority and Century 21 – Best and Solid Real Estate. Expect a super lounge area courtesy of The Jungle and a fantastic barbecue evening courtesy of MooMba Beach.

Contact:
To register or for additional information please call tel. 583-7074 or cel. 592-6421 or mail to register@arubabeachtennis.com

Saturday, October 6, was the day of the final game of the Ultimatebet Aruba Poker Classic, and the famous tournament, which has been attracting Texas Hold’em fanatics and pros to Aruba’s shores for six years, experienced some landmark events before departing the island.

A heavy rain shower in the Palm Beach area delayed the start of the game by more than two hours, which is a first if not an auspicious start. The Radisson Resort was the host hotel for the poker classic, and the setting they provided for the final game was beautiful for the simultaneous live webcast of the final action, but the recent rains, lack of wind and TV spotlights sent the temperature under the game tent soaring. The final table consisted of, in descending winning order, Travis Rice of Texas, James Mordue from California, Brad Smithson from Wisconsin, and Jordan Rich and Jason Grey, two good friends from Portland, Oregon, that were the first to “bust out.”

The game, deemed the longest final game in Ultimatebet history, continued long into the night, and past the beginning of the final farewell party, drawing the rest of the tournament attendees and a large audience as the players continued battling it out under the stars. All were playing very conservatively, which dragged the game for several hours, until a little after 10:00 p.m. Brad Smithson was finally busted out after going head on head with Jim Mordue, and though both pulled a pair on the flop, Jim’s pair of kings beat Brad’s pair of jacks, with both holding an ace kicker. Bad luck left Brad with third place and $252,490, not a bad consolation.

This left at the table Travis and Jim as partygoers rushed over to watch the final action. Travis had a substantial stack of 3.5 million in chips over Jim’s 1.9 million. Both were hot and tired, and so pushed the play, with Jim going all-in when he held an ace and king of clubs, as he had done against Brad. Travis took the bait and revealed a king and ten, unsuited. Luck was with Travis as the dealer showed a ten on the turn card, which meant that only an ace on the river card could win Jim Mordue the tournament, but it was king, giving Travis two pair. Travis Rice won a magnificent trophy, the coveted gold bracelet, and $800,000 as tournament manager Matt Savage declared him the winner. Jim Mordue won $478,405 for second place.

Travis took a well-earned victory plunge into the pool and the fabulous farewell party put on by the Radisson culinary staff finally got into gear with everyone on the dance floor. This year, Scott Ian, founder and lead guitarist of Anthrax was the tournament’s celebrity participant, an Ultimatebet tradition, joined on Aruba for the week by his fiancée Pearl Aday, daughter of Meatloaf. Pearl is a singing star in her own right with her band called Mother Pearl, in which Scott is lead guitar. The two took to he stage to regal the gathering with an incredible performance of her soulful singing, proving she is a significant talent on the rise, and a name to watch.

The last day of the Ultimatebet Aruba Poker Classic set some new records for the annual tournament, the longest final game ever, consisting of a field of relative unknowns, though twenty-five year old Travis is not the youngest winner ever, last year’s Devon Miller holds that honor, only twenty-one when he won the gold bracelet. This was a first to have major rock stars entertain, but over the week, Scott and Pearl had won the hearts of all those attending with their down-to-earth attitude and easy-going affability.

Aruba says goodbye to over 550 poker players (another new record) and their families until next year after paying 2.7 million dollars to top fifty-four place players. For those that missed it, all the action of the past week can be viewed in videos online at www.ultimatebet. com on their Aruba blog spot.

Upgrades completed on 400 of 600 total guestrooms, meeting/special event areas & dining facilities

The Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort Aruba announced today that its three-year, $15 million makeover program is nearing completion as a series of new upgrades were recently made to guestrooms, meeting/special event areas and dining facilities. Originally launched in August 2005, the makeover program features a new marine theme, which permeates all aspects of the improvements being made throughout the property.

“We’re entering the third year of our makeover program right on-schedule and with some great new amenities for our guests,” said Raul Villagran, director of sales & marketing for Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resorts Aruba & Jamaica. “Our Aruba property is truly being re-born with a fresh new marine theme celebrating our wonderful location on Aruba’s world famous Palm Beach. We couldn’t be happier with the results thus far and with the success we’ve had with limiting the impact of the renovations on our guests.”

Floor-to-ceiling upgrades to guestrooms at the resort’s Aruba and Bonaire Towers include new carpeting, bed linens, upholstery and curtains all supporting the resort’s new marine theme. Airy yellows mix with varying shades of ocean blues and greens on the walls, bed linens, curtains and artwork to create a distinctly Caribbean vibe. Bathrooms have been updated as well, with new vanities, showers, tiles, mirrors and light fixtures installed for added comfort.

Comprehensive upgrades to the Las Palmas Ballroom better position the property for meetings and special events. New carpeting, ceilings, walls, electronic screen projectors, lighting system and chandeliers are but a few of the enhancements. Wireless high-speed Internet service is now also available for meetings, and even the floorplan has been converted to a single-level convention-style configuration, creating more flexible seating options for meetings and banquets.

The restaurants at the Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort Aruba are being entirely transformed in line with the new marine theme to the point where even the names have changed. The new Corals Restaurant, previously known as Boardwalk, features light, casual buffet dining with a new menu offering local and international favorites to match. Caffé Da Vinci, formerly Miramar Restaurant, is an Italian trattoria with a la carte dining, linen tablecloths and dark-wood plantation style furniture creating a truly inviting ambiance. The Sea Breeze Restaurant will feature new tables and chairs, while The Iguana Bar & Grill located poolside along the beach has also been revamped with new cocktail tables, colorful tiles and a new kitchen.

“The first two phases of our makeover program have gone extremely well, and we’re looking forward to more of the same for phase-three,” said Villagran. “We’ll continue upgrading guestrooms until all 600 are up to the new higher standard, while also improving and modernizing the entire property. Our already wonderfully inviting lobby is being upgraded, new elevators are being installed and flat-screen TV’s will be standard in all rooms in 2008. We still understand, though, that all the fresh paint and new amenities won’t amount to much without the support and continued great service put forth by our staff every day. It’s this dedication to quality service that has made us famous, and it’s definitely one big commitment that won’t be changing.

When Armand Simon returned from Holland to the land of his birth three years ago, he established a career as private piano teacher. He was amazed to discover that Aruba had over 200 students eager to learn classical styles of piano, and so established the Aruba Piano Festival last year. “I saw many opportunities here, and a remarkable amount of interest,” he reports.

Last year’s success laid the groundwork for this year’s noteworthy agenda and international coterie of visiting artists. Alan Weiss of the U.S., who now lives and teaches in Belgium and Holland is considered “one of the outstanding pianists of his generation.” Randal Corsen, his Alan’s colleague at the Music Conservatory in Utrecht, is originally from Curacao, and a jazz pianist of international repute. He appeared as one of the star performers of the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in August.

Additionally appearing over the three day festival was violinist Simon Gollo of Venezuela, Horacio Contreras, cellist, who is also from Venezuela, as is flautist Nicaulis Alliey. Famed pianist Gerardo Villa of Argentina completed the roster of visiting artists, not only performing in concert, but also giving clinics along with Alan Weiss and Randal Corsen, who along with Gerardo and two noted Aruban pianists, acted as judges for the final youth competition conducted on Sunday evening at the Cas di Cultura in Oranjestad.

The festival was comprised of recitals by the visiting artists who additionally conducted workshops for the aspiring young piano students registered for the competitions. Workshops were conducted at Aruba’s National Library and Access Art Gallery, which was also the venue for a Sunday concert by Armand Simon and Nicaulis Alliey. One of the most exciting aspects of the entire weekend was the final night of competition, where one talented young pianist would win a scholarship to the Festival y Academia del Nuevo Mundo Maracaibo, in Venezuela during August of 2008. Contenders were divided into two age groups, from eight years old to twelve, and from thirteen to seventeen. In the eight to twelve age group were Quincy Connor, (second place winner) Genesis Giel, Noah Vonk, Jelle Teusink, Emile Ponson (second place winner) and Angelique Janssen, gold medal winner and the winner of the popular vote of the audience as best performer. Angelique, only nine years old and a student of noted Aruban pianist Johnny Schaarbay, presented a remarkably polished performance of Mozart’s Ronda all Turca and Chopin’s Nocturne in C Minor.

Winning first place in the thirteen to seventeen year category with his flawless interpretation of works by Chopin and Prodofieve was Alexander Kraft van Ermel of Curaçao, grandson of famed pianist Wim Statius Muller, who was with him on Aruba to share his triumph. Second place went to Eduardo Garcia, last year’s scholarship winner, and third place Jeremy Lanooij was judged “most promising young performer” and winner of the scholarship, which was awared by Clyde Harms, President of the Aruba Scholarship Foundation. Additionally performing in their age class was Elisa Partodikromo. The evening and festival ended with a final recital by Randal Corsen.

The Aruba Piano Festival brought together the finest elements of classical and jazz piano, with visiting artists not only sharing their talent with appreciative audience, but also their wisdom and experience with the next generation that wishes to keep alive the great classic works by Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and others. Seventeen-year-old Alexander Kraft van Ermel commented that it was wonderful for him to find other young people still interested in playing and perpetuating the art of classical piano. Johnny Schaarbay, a graduate of the Berklee School of Music and a judge in last year’s festival commented that “the festival offered a once in a lifetime opportunity for Aruba’s talented youth to benefit from masters such as Alan Weiss, and it is something they will take with them all their lives.”

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Courtesy of the News

During a press conference at the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) headquarters in Oranjestad this past Tuesday afternoon, Astrid Muller, GM of the Divi Phoenix Beach Resort and Chairperson of the Environmental Committee announced that registration for the sixth Annual Fundraising Coastal Clean-up is now open. The island wide effort, which will encompass eleven key coastal areas on Saturday, October 21, has raised in the past as much as 20,000 Aruban florins from thirty-six sponsors and mustered 900 volunteers.

The Coastal Clean-up has become an annual tradition towards maintaining the beauty of the island and our beaches, and needs the support of vendors and volunteers. Areas to be cleaned this year are North coast beaches from California dunes to Wariruri/Boedoei near the gold ruins, coast areas of Arikok National Park, , Baby Beach, Bachelors Beach, Nanki Beach and Boca Grandi around the eastern tip and Mangel Halto, Surfside and Rincon on the south side; totally eleven beaches. Funds raised from the event will assist in maintaining the environment beyond the clean-up day.

The campaign will be in the early morning from 8:00 a.m. finishing at 11::00 a.m., to avoid the mid-day heat. There are 37 to 40 designated sub-areas and organizers seek sponsors to donate 750 Aruban florins per area. In the past, schools, hotels and various organizations have participated, and any group that cares to register is welcome. The organizers particularly emphasized the need for volunteers with pick-up trucks to assist in transporting the bags of refuse to the dumpsters.

Donating goods and services to the clean-up are SERLIMAR, the Aruba Gastronomic Association, Balashi Breweries, Ecotech, Dijkhoff Cleaning, Mourik N.V., Andina Ice, SETAR N.V., Hoori N.V., Oduber Agencies, Boogaard Insurance, Visser Trading, De Palm Tours, ECA and the rangers of the Arikok National Park.

To register as a volunteer or sponsor, or for more information call the AHATA offices at telephone number 582-2606 and speak to Anky Bruin or Astrid Muller, at the Phoenix Resort 586-0066.

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Courtesy of the News

All the players have arrived, including a planeload of Ultimatebet.com pros that were flown in by private plane from a tournament in the Turks and Caicos, and all are ready to play and party for one week of top-flight poker competition until one of them leaves with nearly one million dollars in prize money. For the official opening of the weeklong event, the top pros were paraded out to the Radisson pool deck like the poker royalty, where a sumptuous welcome party awaited them and all the participants and Ultimatebet poster pros Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke greeted over 500 players and their families to Aruba. They introduced the Ultimatebet team, which consisted of a number of new faces, including Matt Savage, who is tournament manager in Aruba for the first time, and celebrity player Scott Ian, who won his place in the tournament during the VH1's Rock Stars of Poker tournament.

Phil Hellmuth noted that after six years the Aruba Poker Classic has become one of the premiere international poker events of the year. “Our pros that we just flew in came from a tournament in Turks and Caicos that was attended by how many? Ninety players? What have we here for our week on Aruba? Over 500 and counting? I think we can officially declare the Aruba Poker Classic is a “major event,” he announced.

Another new face to Aruba is Gene Bromberg, who is officially chronicaling all the action for Ultimatebet, and his daily blog recounts the progress of the players, humorous anecdotes and has photos of thefun and events, so poker fans can stay up to minute on all the happenings by logging on to : www.ultimatebet.com/poker-blog

There is still places in the Ultimatebet main event, which begins tomorrow at noon, and interested parties can register to win the nearly one million dollar grand prize, or settle for a mere few hundred thousand if they take second or third place. The registration office is located on the ballroom level of the Radisson Aruba Resort. Registration also gave players entry to this morning’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) workshops, and lets them play right alongside the top pros, perhaps beating them as did last year’s winner, Devon Miller. Nineteen year old Annette Oberstad was proof anyone with the skill can take home over two million dollars and a gold bracelet when she won last month in London on the first WSOP international event. Ultimatebet has a week full of exciting and special events planned for their players that will allow them to meet the pros, get poker advice, and improve their game. Also providing an interesting note to the event is the calendar photo shoot that will feature Absolute Poker model Sarinda Swan and Aruba’s beautiful scenery.

The welcome event of the Ultimatebet Aruba Poker Classic ended as it usually does, with “Everyone in to the pool!” and as happens with gamblers, those that dared to do it won a quick $500! The big money action has begun!

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Courtesy of the News

“When it comes to structure, it is a challenge to try to pull the image out of the painting and the three dimensions,” is the thoughts expressed by artist Aura Wilming about her work, “Ode to Matissem” one of the few sculptures in the collection now showing at the Insight Art Gallery in Paradera.

The new exposition, titled “The Structure,” opened on Thursday, October 4, and will continue for two months. Insight Art Gallery, which is primarily devoted to abstract and Avant Garde work, has, for them a rather unusual piece by Edmund Tujeehut, whose still life is extremely structured in technique and composition. His piece could be considered a departure from the rest of the collection.

Departures and innovation is a thread that is prevalent from a number of the artists, who are known on the island for particular types of work. Elvis Lopez, known previously for his realistic style, has become enamored of abstract, and with each successful show becomes more so in his work. Gwendy Sneek, aside from two paintings contributed a very interesting sculpture, a first for her, and its sardonic humor and comment on materialism is amusing.

In particular, well known island artist Miriam d’Lisle has completely departed from her usual techniques and experimented with some very interesting mediums she recently discovered that has completely captured her imagination. Incorporating textured materials such as paper mache, and a process of combining beeswax with a special resin in a process called encausting, she has definitely explored new directions with her work, and broken some barriers. Miriam reports she is very excited about the work she is producing, the textures and colors the medium allows, and experimenting with new concepts.

The minimal work of Rob ten Haar exemplifies structure, while the whimsical piece of Nelson Gonzalez is very entertaining. Each of the artists has brought a unique vision to the topic, while presenting a great diversity of thought, interpretation, and execution of the concept of “structure.” Additionally on display during this exposition are abstracts by noted Venezuelan artist Juan Henriquez.

Now on display at the Insight Art Gallery along with those mentioned above are the works of gallery curator Alida Martinez, Stan Kuiperi, Marisol Canizalez, Mo Mohamed, Tuesday Irwin, and Carol Taylor.

The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and private tours for groups can be arranged on the weekends by calling 568-9168.