Last Summer Spongebob loved his vacation so much that he is coming back to Grand Cayman. This Summer kids can laugh and play with their favorite porous pal – Spongebob Squarepants!

Spongebob Squarepants will be hosting the  Cayman Islands Seas School, a programme set up to educate youngsters about the importance of the marine life environment – and what better place to learn than in the warm tropical waters of Cayman! During the Summer Sea School, children will learn about marine life through hands on activities, arts and crafts and of course through a very special episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

TheReef is joining forces with Spongebob and is offering -

• every fifth night free
• 2 tickets to the legendary stingray city, and
• kids eat free at Pelican’s Reef Restaurant and the Rusty Pelican Beach Bar (one free child 11 and younger per paying adult)

For more information and booking, visit theReef.com

 For more information on the Cayman Sea School please visit www.caymanislands.ky/summersplash

Taste of Cayman is an opportunity for local restaurateurs to showcase local Caribbean and international cuisine, reaching an audience of over 4000 people! Each vendor has tasting booths set up to allow people to have a “taste” of local fares.

This year, theReef will be showcasing at Taste of Cayman with our very own Head Chef Robert. He will be cooking his Cajun chicken pasta, using his own blend of herbs and spices. Chef Robert thought carefully about his choice of dish and he said “I hope it reflects our international menu at theReef.” There will also be a chance to enter our prize draw for a Romantic break at theReef.

The festival is truly a family event with activities for kids including arts and crafts and even kid friendly food. For those looking to chill out and relax, head over to the “Mojito Lounge” featuring Bacardi’s top mixologists.

Further to Taste of Cayman, January has been announced as the Cayman Islands Culinary Month, with additional events held around the islands such as the Barefoot Brunch, Charity Wine Dinner and flair-bartending competition. This event joins the long list of fantastic events held in the Cayman Islands throughout the year.

Proceeds from all events across culinary month support the non-profit Cayman Islands Tourism Association and their partner charities, such as the Lighthouse School for disabled children.

There is plenty to see, taste and do at Taste of Cayman 2010! Tickets for Reef guests are available from our concierge team.

Maybe we can get Byrne to visit The Reef Resort and participate in the Reefathlon, a bike friendly event that will take place this November 22. The first event was a smashing success and the second event has already attracted Peter Stetina, an up and coming cyclist with his eye on the Tour de France. Ok Byrne, you may want to come and share cycling stories with Stetina or bring a few books for a beachside book signing, as the resort is 100% beachfront.

For those interested in Byrne’s book, review it on Amazon.com and for those interested in the Reefathlon read more here; www.thereef.com/reefathlon.

Makes me want to get my bike out and go for a ride!

Perhaps one of the Cayman Islands most famous export is the Barefoot Man’s music! Widely renowned for his daring lyrics, Barefoot is the biggest B to hit the island since Blackbeard and no visit to the island is complete without taking in Barefoot and his band.

Barefoot plays exclusively at theReef every Tuesday and some Thursdays. His full schedule can be found at http://www.thereef.com/en/thingsToDo/entertainmentSchedule.html

You can email Barefoot at: GoneFishing@Barefootman.com

What I do like about what I’ve seen from viewing the trailers are the opportunities for each couple to experience activities that deviate from their normal routines. It’s fun to do something that you’ve never done, it stretches the soul and interjects creativity and of course, it’s always great buzz for cocktail parties or water cooler exchanges.

Couples go ahead and retreat, come as one or bring some couple friends, enjoy, relax, laugh and go ahead, do something out of the norm. Power snorkeling anybody?

Yes, it is evening time here in Scotland where your favorite reef blogger has been stationed over the last few months and i must apologize for the lack of reef news since then. However, there is good news on the horizon as i will be back in Cayman and back at thereef in less then a months time which is very close to Pirates Week. Hint Hint.

Upon my return expect more updates of the latest news at thereef as well as Cayman.

It is no secret that anyone in Caribbean tourism wishes for the early onset of Winter and some snows in the North East, as nothing makes people hanker more for some winter warmth in the Caribbean.

So…last night I arrive after 11pm in New York and, after navigating (somehow!) my rental car up the various parkways to my hotel upstate, it was in the 20s when I walked into the hotel.

No problem, I can wrap up warm… then this morning, snow was dumped all over the place and the roads are a mess….no idea how to get to my conference now

Ah well, called home, and the temperature is in the 80s as usual…. me wanna go home !

Arthur Winston, the Los Angeles Transit Worker who celebrated his 99th birthday at work on March 22nd 2005 – less than a month after retiring on his 100th birthday, died in his sleep 2 weeks ago on April 15th.

To his former colleagues at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Winston was more than a model employee known for his energy, punctuality and longevity. He was a legend. Winston missed one day of work in over 70 years, and that was to attend his wife’s funeral in 1988. In 1996, he received an “Employee of the Century” citation from President Bill Clinton.

This news reminds us of all those special people who work hard to improve the world throughout their lives and dedicate themselves to the company or individual they work for – spending their limited time on this earth in service and helping others.
We are very lucky to have many of these loyal and dedicated people at The Reef Resort and plan to keep them here as long as we possibly can!
So raise your next glass to Arthur Winston and all who follow him.