Like any Caribbean cruise ship destination, Grand Cayman has a dizzying array of jewelry stores clustered around the waterfront. The discerning customer seeking an exquisite piece of jewelry, one that will elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from all who see it, will need to travel a few miles away to Balaclava Jewellers in Governors  Square. The moment you set foot in Balaclava Jewellers, you have entered into a world-class jewelry showroom. The collection of precious jewelry has been procured from the finest houses in Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

The jewelry collection is a perfect marriage of classic and contemporary pieces. Each of the pieces is uniquely crafted with unexpected combinations of color, metals and materials. Martina and Philip Cadien are the owners of Balaclava, and their painstaking commitment to quality, sophistication, and elegance is evident everywhere. Martina and Philip both trained at the prestigious Goldsmithing school Pforzeim in Germany, and their extensive knowledge of gemstones, metals and craftsmanship is reflected in the quality of the collections.

Cutting-edge global fashion trends are on display in Balaclava. Bossy right hand rings made with blinding white pave diamonds are displayed near whisper-delicate strands of pearls. You won’t be able to resist the chunky bracelets crafted of sleek wood and rose gold, casual enough to wear with skinny jeans and a white t-shirt. This the the place to find that once-in-a-lifetime piece with incredible fancy-colored diamonds that would be noticed at any black tie event in the world.

Every visit to Balaclava behold something new to fall in love with. On a recent visit, the temptation of the day was a magnificent 18kt white gold necklace set with green amethyst and pave diamonds. It can be worn long and low, or a single strand, or doubled up for a more dramatic effect. Light and airy, this necklace can be worn with a sundress, a charcoal suit, or a strapless ballgown. Like most of the jewelry at Balaclava, this piece is a timeless classic with a fresh fashion twist.

Wander into Balaclava soon and have a look around. Try on a few sensational accessories and feel a little more beautiful, instantly . We’ll be shocked if you aren’t smitten with something fabulous!

Balaclava Jewellers Governors Square   Telephone (345) 945-5788  

www.balaclava-jewellers.com           

18kt White Gold Necklace

 

 

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NKY Camana Bay

A posh, chic store filled with luscious clothes from Guess, Polo, Boss, MaxMara, Roberto Cavalli, Calvin Klein and Tommy Bahama…wait a minute, are we in South Beach? Heavens no, we’re in Camana Bay’s gorgeous flagship store, NKY in Camana Bay.

Beautifully appointed with fine woods and appealing lighting, NKY brings a new level of elegance to the clothing scene in Grand Cayman. Find designer clothing for work, leisure or nights on the town. Bring your man; the store has fashions for both men and women. A gallery of fabulous footwear and handbags features all the latest styles and trends.

Stop in soon and find sexy, smart outfits for your fall festivities. The friendly staff offer warm, personalized service and can help find exactly what you are looking for.

NKY Camana Bay                       In the Paseo, Camana Bay

Monday-Saturday 10AM-9PM      Telephone  (345)-946-8171           nky@candw.ky  

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Red Sail Sports Stingray City Tour

Grand Cayman is the world’s best-known dive destination. Some say it’s because of the warm, crystal-clear water – year-round. Others love the stretches of magnificent, unspoiled coral reefs, the schools of colorful fish, the friendly stingrays, the spectacular shipwrecks, the vertical walls teeming with sealife, even the dramatic underwater drop-offs. And most Cayman visitors agree that there’s simply no better way to discover the island’s many underwater beauties than with Red Sail Sports, the watersports experts.

Red Sail Sports is the only premier operation delivering full-service dive and watersports services island-wide. We maintain seven full-service dive and watersports sites at the following locations throughout Cayman’s north, west and east ends:

 Grand Cayman Beach Suites
 Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa
 Marriott Beach Resort
 Courtyard by Marriott
 Morritt’s Tortuga Resort
 Sea Grape
 Rum Point

Contact Red Sail Sports today to set up your ocean adventure!

Toll-Free Reservations and Information
877-RED SAIL (     877-733-7245     )
Outside the U.S., call      661-287-3181     
(long distance charges will apply)
Hours of Operation: M-F, 8:00am – 5:00pm (Pacific Standard Time)

Red Sail Sports Grand Cayman
PO Box 31473
Grand Cayman KY1-1206
CAYMAN ISLANDS

Phone:      345-945-5965     
Fax: 345-945-5808
Email: info@redsailcayman.com
Web: www.redsailcayman.com

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Is anyone up for running a marathon in December?  How about if the locale has beautiful weather, breathtaking ocean views, and lush tropical greenery?  The Cayman Islands Marathon is a small, intimate and friendly race held annually in George Town along the waterfront.

The big day starts at 5:00 AM on Sunday, December 7th 2008. Events include The Cayman Islands Marathon, Half Marathon, and The 4-Person Relay. The Kids Fun Run starts at 9:30 AM.

The date is carefully chosen to take advantage of the fabulous winter weather in Grand Cayman. Temperatures are warm year round in Cayman, and the coolest days of the year are in December. The average temperate for the race is in the low seventies in the early morning and climbing into the high seventies by the end of the race.

All runners will receive an official T-shirt, a runner’s bag and an entry to a post-race food and refreshment area. There will be a Pasta Party the night before so the runners can load up on carbohydrates for the run.

Come and join the fun!

Information about the race is available at www.caymanislandsmarathon.com . Get information on all the events and register online.

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Every Bloomin Thing

Wouldn’t it be nice to fix all of our beauty problems in just one minute? Now it’s possible to remedy at least one issue in a minute or less: rough, dry hands. Sea, salt and sun exposure can be tough on our hands. Get super quick relief with the 60-Second Manicure Fix for Hands from Crabtree & Evelyn. Available at Every Bloomin Thing on Crewe Road in Georgetown, the 60 Second Fix kit will work wonders for your hands.

Every Bloomin Thing is a well known nursery with a reputation for top quality plants, garden supplies and floral arrangements. The gift store is equally impressive with an extensive collection of bath and body goods, top quality candles, luxury pet gifts, and whimsical home decor items. If you need a “pick me up”, a visit to Every Bloomin Thing is guaranteed to lift your spirits in no time. Open seven days a week.

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Remember Madonna’s leggings in 1985’s “Desperately Seeking Susan”? Those of us old enough to remember wearing this trend in the 80’s vowed we’d never go there again. We never guessed the leggings and tunic look would resurface, but now it’s everywhere. Even in steaming tropical Cayman weather, layering leggings under dresses is a hot trend.

Finding that perfect, flirty floral dress can be a challenge. Look no further than Funky Monkey, Grand Cayman’s active and fun wear boutique. Funky Monkey has recently introduced La Class to the store.This line of fun and affordable dresses starts at just $28 CI. Dress them up, dress them down or pair them with tights. They are adorable enough to wear over a bikini for a Kaibo afternoon. Worn with a pair of leggings, strappy heels and a chunky necklace, you have an outfit worthy of the Friday night Ritz scene. The La Class line also includes cute 4-pockets shorts in white and black.

At only $28 bucks, you may want to buy more than one little dress!

Funky Monkey
Governors Square

Telephone:    (345)-943-8659           

La Class Floral Dress

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Beach Reading

What could be more relaxing than a day at the beach? Miles of sugar white sand, the crystal clear Caribbean Sea, and the sound of palm trees rustling in the breeze. In Grand Cayman, no day at Seven Mile Beach is complete without oodles of sunscreen, a chilled water bottle, and a juicy novel.

If you didn’t bring along a book from home, don’t worry. There is a new world class bookstore in Grand Cayman. Books & Books is located at the Town Centre of Camana Bay, Cayman’s chic new shopping and entertainment district. Camana Bay is en elegant shopping and dining area with luxury retail stores, a gourmet coffee shop and a six-screen Hollywood Theaters Cinema. 

Modern and airy, Books and Books has an extensive collection of books and magazines. ”This bookstore would not be out of place anywhere in the world,” says Sally Machado, General Manager of Books & Books at Camana Bay. “This is not only true of the design and physical product, but also of the books we stock. We offer the latest publications from authors all over the world and specialise in writers from North America, Britain and the Caribbean as these are where most our customers are from.”

Books & Books is one of the most successful independent bookstores in the United States with three additional locations in Southern Florida. The friendly staff is happy to share their wealth of knowledge with customers and can help find exactly what you need for your vacation reading. The large, well designed store is ideal for lazy browsing. Pop into the recently opened Cafe Del Sol for an iced latte; the cafe is right next door.

Books & Books is the ideal place to pick up your perfect beach book. Don’t forget to tell Sally the Goddess sent you!

Books and Books

Camana Bay
45 Market Street
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
345.640.BOOK (2665)

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Toss Pillows

Is your home decor a bit ho-hum? Spice up your living room or bedroom with the addition of luxury toss pillows from Beyond The Horizon. If your decor palette is neutral, try introducing fabrics in trendy color combos like chocolate and pale ocean blue, or lime green and cinnamon. You can easily update your home without breaking the bank with the addition of a few rich looking accessories.

Specializing in beautiful Asian furniture and unique home furnishings, Beyond The Horizon carries a wide range of top quality textiles and linens.

The store’s owners, Tara and Tim Parker, have traveled extensively through Asia and beyond, hand-picking exquisite items of furniture, fabric and fashion. Thanks to the personal relationships Tara and Tim have built with suppliers, many of their products have been designed and manufactured exclusively for Beyond The Horizon.

The store’s unique line of pillows, lavish throws, wall hangings, and curtain panels come in a wide range of colors and fabrics. An impressive selection of comforters and tablecloths are also available. Warning: once you experience the quality of these luxurious textiles, there’s no going back to Target or Pier 1 Imports for your toss pillows. Like a great pair of diamond stud earrings, sometimes exceptional accent pieces are the most important part of the ensemble.

Beyond the Horizon

Galleria Plaza, West Bay Road
Telephone:    (345) 946-1498      
Open: Mon thru Sat, 9am to 5pm

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Gawk & Leer is a company dedicated to providing the basic necessities of a well-accessorized life. ”Necessories”, as they are called in Gawk & Leer, are high quality, design-focused kitchen and home accessories sourced from the finest manufacturers in the world. 

Just a few of the premium brands include Alessi, Boda Nova, Edgecraft, Riedel, Rorstrand and Puegot. My personal favorite line is the Janet Torelli handcrafted sterling silver pieces, aptly named ”jewelry for the table”. Santa will soon be hearing about my interest in Solicut knives, designed for gourmet cooks and chefs.

The airy, modern store is located next to Icoa Fine Foods on West Bay Road in Seven Mile Shops. Pick up a cappuccino and a croissant from Icoa and wander around the store, which is so beautifully appointed that it has the feeling of a Chelsea art gallery. This the perfect place to find a wedding present, birthday gift or something to delight your favorite foodie. There are items for every price range, from “unique bridal shower gift” to “major culinary splurge”. The staff is extremely helpful and low key.

The next time a special gift is in order, visit Gawk & Leer to choose the ideal “Necessory”.

Gawk & Leer

Seven Mile Shops, West Bay Road

Phone:               (345) 945 1914              

website: www.GawkandLeer.com

Solicut Knives

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