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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Prime

Who knew? The most impressive salad bar in the Cayman Islands is tucked into Prime, a new Brazilian Churrascaria Steakhouse located in Governor’s Square. For $19.00 CI, treat yourself to an all-you-can-eat antipasto bar loaded with healthy, ultra-fresh menu choices. The richly appointed new restaurant features a two-tiered granite island with soups, salads, roasted vegetables, cured meats, cheeses and seafood. Warm woods, soft lighting and an open floor plan make this elegant hotspot special enough for any occasion.

Seasoned restaurateurs Markus Mueri and Neil Bryington are responsible for introducing this exciting dining concept to the Cayman Islands. With many years of success under their belt in Grand Cayman, they are experts in providing the ultimate culinary experience to their Cayman clientele.

If you are in the mood for low calorie choices, typical healthy options include grilled portabella mushrooms, steamed mussels, marinated veggies, fresh corn salad with baby red skinned potatoes, fragrant carrot soup, fresh hummus and mixed green salad.

If you prefer to indulge a wee bit, typical splurge-worthy selections are creamy lobster bisque, fresh rolls with butter, nibbles from the exquisite Charcuterie board, Caesar salad, plump olives, tri-colored pasta salad, rice and beans, and smoked salmon.

Meat lovers can enjoy the total Prime lunch experience for $34.00 CI. The Brazilian rotisserie is the center of attention at Prime, with choice cuts of meat sizzling in clear view of the diners. The charming staff will stop by to hand carve portions of different cuts of meat until you’ve had enough.

Make your way over to Prime and treat yourself to a mouthwatering luncheon worthy of a goddess. You deserve it!

Prime Steakhouse

Governor’s Square, Seven Mile Beach

Telephone:       (345) 623-7272      

Hours Lunch: Monday to Friday 11.30am–2.30pm Dinner: Daily 5.30pm until Closing Sunday Brunch: 11.30am–2.30pm

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Are you in a cardio rut? Try a thrilling exercise adventure exploring Grand Cayman’s beautiful North Sound with Cayman Kayaks. Cayman Kayaks offers eco-adventure kayaking tours in the pristine waters of the North Sound, the largest reef-fringed lagoon of the Cayman Islands. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach, you can experience the mangroves, bays and beaches of Grand Cayman on a stable and safe sit-on-top kayak.  Cayman Kayaks offers a number of different tours, ranging from the tranquil and relaxing Mangrove Adventure to the fascinating and challenging Bio-Bay Tour. The Bio-Bay tour takes place on the darkest nights of the month when the moon has not risen or is new to avoid light pollution.  One of nature’s most enthralling light shows on earth can be found right here in the Cayman Islands at Rum Point’s Bio-bay, and is caused by bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is the phenomenon where light or glow is created by a living creature by an internal chemical reaction. Once inside Bio-bay you will be amazed by nature’s fireworks.

You will have so much fun, you won’t even notice how hard your upper body muscles are working. Cayman Kayaks offers one of the most enjoyable workouts in all of the Caribbean. Afterwards, you can swim, enjoy the stunning beach, or enjoy a meal at nearby Kaibo resort.

This adventure is an absolute must.

Cayman Kayaks

Cayman Kayaks

Telephone:     (345) 926-4467     or     (345) 746-3249      

Happy paddling!

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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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Eats Cafe

Sometimes nothing will do but a huge, juicy, diet-busting burger. Eats Cafe on West Bay Road has the yummiest, freshest burgers around with a wallet-friendly price tag. Fresh buns, top grade beef and endless topping options are the reasons Eats Burgers are famous in Grand Cayman. If burgers aren’t your thing, you can choose the Triple Decker Clubhouse sandwich, the scrumptious Garlic Prawn & Fresh Mango Wrap, or the Blackened Mahi-Mahi Sandwich. Sandwich prices are in the $6.95-$8.95 range. If you are starving and feel a huge beef craving coming on, splurge on the Sirloin Steak Fajitas for $13.95.

The eclectic decor is sunny and bright, with modern artwork and big, comfy booths. One visit to Eats Cafe and you’ll see why it’s a popular local hotspot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Full Service Bar, Air Conditioned and Kid-Friendly.

Eats Cafe

Open Daily 6:30 AM-11:30 AM, Sunday 6:30 AM-12 PM

Telephone: (345)-943-EATS (3287)

www.eats.ky

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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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