Caribbean Art, African American Art, Caribbean Products

The Community Contact: ESSENCE OF THE CARIBBEAN IN THE WEST ISLAND

There are few better ways to show love and appreciation than with a gift that reflects the essence of the Caribbean.

So as a special gift to the people of the West Island and surrounding areas, entrepreneur Christiana Howe has brought a special slice of the sunshine and paradise region to their doorstep.

The place is called Caribbean Essence and it carries gifts, Caribbean recipe books, souvenirs, wood-turnings and paintings from some big name Caribbean artists.

The store is easy to find at Galerie des Sources on Sources blvd just off of the Trans Canada highway.

The Community Contact: HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT CARIBBEAN ESSENCE

"I still enjoy the joyous reaction I get when someone from the Black community discovers the store," says Christiana Howe of Caribbean Essence.

Catering to a multicultural and multi-ethnic clientele, this boutique offers a varied collection of art pieces to select from, all of which focus on familiar Caribbean scenes.

This Christmas season, there is increased focus on home décor accent pieces. They include lamps, musical water fountains, artistically designed wall clocks, vases, African tribal masks, wall hangings, throw rugs, art tiles and Black figurines.

The store also has a wide selection of Black greeting cards for Christmas and Kwanzaa, and Black angel Christmas tree toppers and ornaments.

For the kitchen there are Caribbean recipe books to help you prepare your favorite special Christmas dishes, potholders and oven mitts.

And why not give the gift of reading this Christmas? The selection of Caribbean children's books will help our children to master the English language and the art of reading.

Come in and see what there is to offer at any time of the year, but especially for the holiday season: fine art prints, home décor, Black greeting cards, throw rugs and pillows, tote bags, tapestry hangings, children's Caribbean recipe books, International CDs, plates, mugs, and magnets, Jamaican Rastafarian sculptures and wall plaques.