Who Ate Grapes, Hid the Knives, Broke All the Dishes and Why?

One of the great responsibilities of radio on-air personalities is the requirement to paint pictures with words. Friday’s show was a great illustration of this requisite. Rumor had it, based on several Facebook postings, that the studio may be in several different locations, ranging from Foxy’s in the British Virgin Islands to some secret location on the Treasure Coast. The fun fact is we could have been anywhere you wanted us to be! The secret location was somewhere in FLAHAMA, a Great State of Mind. It was a fitting salute to 2010 for History Lady, Radio Man and special guest host Ed Griffith to be together sharing with listeners the highlights of our 2010 shows. There were many great memories and insider stories as Robin and Ed disclosed some of their favorite shows. Interestingly, some of Ed and Robin's picks were the same shows!

Since Talkin' Tourism is tourism centric, it only made sense for Gary and Robin to take a quick spin around the globe to explore some of the traditions and lore associated with the New Year in various countries. Do you know what pasta is the correct pasta to eat on New Year’s Day in Sicily? How about in what country is it customary to eat a dozen grapes at the stroke of midnight and which country consumes thirteen? And it what country do they hide all the knives in the house for 24 hours? Great New Year’s Eve cocktail party trivia indeed.

And if that wasn't enough, a few specialty cocktail recipes and news on fishing tournaments here and abroad were thrown in the mix to close out our last show of 2010. If you missed the fun, you can download last week's show here.

We hope you had a fabulous Old Year’s Night, and are off to a healthy and prosperous New Year. See you next week in 2011!

2010: A Year of New and Old Friends and Plenty of Tourism Adventures

Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI,
 throws one heck of an Old Year's Night party!
(Or anytime of the year.)

2010 is now pretty much in the rearview mirror and everyone in the industry is looking forward to what 2011 will bring. The Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond) team is no exception. We are blessed to have had a great year visiting great venues, seeing old friends and making new ones. And, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to bring you, our listeners, so many varied topics, insights and examples of why tourism is important to local, regional and even international economies and the quality of life. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm for the show.

This week, hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors will reflect on the most interesting shows from their perspective as host and co-host. Will their Top Ten be your Top Ten? And, since the New Year is celebrated across the globe, Radio Man and History Lady will take a look at some of the more unique traditions and ways in which the new year is celebrated and welcomed. Rather than celebrate “New Year’s Eve," why not celebrate “Old Year’s Night?" Radio Man was surprised to learn about this unique perspective when living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We are sure that some of the celebrations and customs may amaze (and amuse) you.

Also, as we close out the old year, we will give you the latest details on the last tournament of the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship Series, New Year’s Eve activities in the Treasure Coast, Florida area and more.

So pop the bubbly a little early and join Radio Man and History Lady for the last show of 2010. If you listen carefully, you just may hear corks popping during the show! Coming to you tomorrow from a 'secret' place on the Treasure Coast. Tune in to WPSL 1590 AM (or www.wpsl.com/tv) at 10:05 a.m. to find out where we are.

Let the sailfish action begin!

Radio Man was thrilled to be walking the docks of Finest Kind Marina in Stuart, Florida last Friday morning. With the sailfish season starting in just another couple of weeks, there were many friends and fellow fishing enthusiasts on the docks getting set for the upcoming tournaments. The smell of the salt air, sounds of mullet jumping and the general “buzz” on the docks as boat owners and captains were sharing their fishing adventures from around the globe, set the stage for Friday’s show. Co-host Robin enjoyed a lay-day (day off), as they say in tournament lingo, and area fishing guru and historian Ed Killer filled in the co-host chair. With jets flying overhead is was appropriate to promote the Stuart Air Show, one of the biggest Treasure Coast visitor magnets each year.

Things, however, quickly got down to sailfish tournament business. Radio Man (aka Gary Guertin) did his standard preshow research, and brought some very interesting and notable information on the early years of the Stuart Sailfish Club’s Light Tackle Tournament to the group discussion. If you desire a better understanding of what our area's sailfish tournament legacy is all about, you will definitely appreciate the show.

Taking a quick side trip to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Fa-La-Me Capt. Rob Moore shared what it was like to be chased from port to port by Hurricane Earl, which lashed the British Virgin Islands as they were pursuing blue marlin.

Getting down to specifics, Char Griggs, Capt. David Berard and Krista Chasmar gave listeners the latest and greatest on the three major sailfish tournaments coming up in December. It was great to hear that each tournament has established its own special “signature."

On Friday, November 19, we'll becoming to you LIVE from the Bimini Big Game Club/Guy Harvey Outpost Resort on North Bimini. We’ll be talking fishing, sharks, history and much more. What will be the Treasure Coast connection? Tune in Friday at 10:05 a.m. to find out. More pre-show banter to come!

Here's the show from Friday, November 12. Enjoy!

Gatorade on a Q-Tip and Art Masterpieces with Bugs

From Talkin Tourism Show Photos

Getting back together again after their travels, History Lady and Radio Man picked up like they had never been apart. Something that is bound to happen when you have close to 75 shows under your belt…or perhaps it is just talent!

With Ed Griffith in the studio, recounting his recent trip of Eleuthera with the Jensen Beach gang, it was interesting to hear the Talkin' Tourism Team actually talk about their experiences as tourists, each in a different country. So, who was the man who proposed to Robin and what do Marie Antoinette and Robin have in common? What were Ed’s reflections on his first visit to Eleuthera and is the Jensen Beach 'Sister City' relationship with Gregory Town alive and well? Are “Nature’s Little Secrets” (the British Virgin Islands) keeping any secrets about Gary and Misti’s trip to Tortola? All this and more when you download the show.

The main event was the return visit of Dr. Noble, Director of Public Exhibits at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Always a wealth of information, Dr. Noble carefully explained the uniqueness of the new exhibit entitled CSI: Crime Scene Insects. The discussion was fascinating. While this type of forensic analysis did not have legal credibility in the U.S. until the 1960’s, it has been practiced in China for over 1,200 years. How was a murder in China that long ago solved? Is it an exhibit that children will enjoy? Absolutely! Who would have ever thought that you could 'paint with maggots'! And what about our cold winter? The outdoor butterfly exhibit which houses 2,000 butterflies had to make adjustments, which they did. Believe it or not, they moved many of the butterflies into their indoor breeding areas and allowed the patrons to feed the butterflies. The butterflies food of choice? Gatorade on a Q-Tip!

It just gets better and better every week, so if you missed the show download and listen now. If you have not been to the blog in a while, check out the amazing photos of the two shows broadcast from the British Virgin Islands. You will want to travel to paradise and have a cheeseburger in paradise!

Until next week, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast…signing off!

What do CSI Insects, French Men, Pineapples, and the Caribbean have in Common?

From Blogger Pictures

Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast will be talking to three experienced tourists who have recently completed three different international experiences at nearly the same time!

Getting their act together after time apart, show host Gary Guertin and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors are rejoined after a couple weeks away. Robin’s sojourn to Paris will lend some ”Je ne sais quoi” to the show. So who did propose marriage? How many croissants can you eat in a day? Is the French onion soup really that good?

Radio Man (aka Gary) and the rest of the Talkin' Tourism team headed to Tortola, British Virgin Islands for their semi-annual get-a-way. What adventures happened while they were visiting “Natures Little Secrets?” Do they have their own secrets? Was it a problem being held captive in the Caribbean due to the Spirit Airline Strike? What is the hottest bar in Road Town, Tortola? What is the magic of Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke? Added into the mix will be Talkin' Tourism special guest host Ed Griffith. Ed accompanied the Jensen Beach contingent that tripped down to Gregory Town, Eleuthera in the Bahamas to join its sister city for its annual Pineapple Festival. What was it like? This will be the first time that Radio Man, History Lady and Don “Edwardo” Gilbert will be in the studio at the same time!

Joining the crew for the main feature of the show will be Dr. Doug Noble, PH.D, Director of Exhibits, Public Programs and Assistant in Museum Administration for the Florida Museum of Natural History, which is located in Gator Town--Gainesville. This will be a second Talkin' Tourism guest appearance for Dr. Noble. "Wow’ed" by the hospitality of the Treasure Coast on his first visit, Dr. Noble wanted to come back to the Treasure Coast and share his excitement about a brand new exhibit opening at the museum--CSI: Crime Scene Insects. This exhibit delves into the mysterious world of crime solving insects! With many TV shows focusing on crime scene investigation, the CSI: Crime Scene Insects exhibit uses hands-on activities, educational panels, and mock investigations to show visitors how maggots, flies and beetles help solve crimes every day. You will want to travel to Gainesville to see this one!

Tune in tomorrow at 10 a.m. to hear the show live. If you're on the Treasure Coast, tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM. If your outside of the radio broadcast area or if you prefer to listen in via the Internet, you'll be able to listen to the live audio stream by visiting http://www.wpsl.com/.

See you tomorrow!

Sailing, Diving and Resorts of the Caribbean

Thanks to the “spirits” (no, not the rum or jumbee kind--the airline kind), the Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast crew is not back on the Treasure Coast this week.

Canceled flights, due to the Spirit Airlines strike, have held the crew captive in the British Virgin Islands until Saturday. So, why not make lemonade out of lemons and put together another show from the Caribbean? Cool man!

Since we are here in the beautiful Caribbean, let’s talk boating, water sports, diving and fly fishing. As you may surmise, in the islands it’s all about the water. The British Virgin Islands--“Nature’s Little Secrets”--are world famous for its beautiful waters, and with so many islands to visit, everyday is a new adventure. Water activities, such as diving, snorkeling, cruising, fishing, windsurfing, surfing, kite boarding, kayaking and more---the BVI has it all!

This week Talkin' Tourism will broadcast further west on Tortola, from Nanny Cay Resort, Marina and Boatyard. Show host Gary Guertin and the Talkin' Tourism team has assembled a great guest line up, and once again, this week Radio Man is joined by celebrity guest co-host Malcolm "Manpot" Boyes.

Here's the guest line-up.

Andrew Thompson, director of Horizon Yacht Charters. Andrew will share his passion for sailing the waters in and around the BVI. Horizon Yacht Charters, with additional locations in Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Martin, can make your dreams of sailing the Caribbean come true. What is the difference between a bareboat charter and a crewed charter? What about a skippered charter? If you are not sure about the pros and cons of each, you will want to tune in.

Samantha "Sam" Lewis, the hospitality manager for Nanny Cay Resort, Marina and Boatyard. She will enthusiastically describe all of the amenities to be found at this great Caribbean port of call, from the provisioning center to ships chandlery, to guest accommodations, restaurants and bars, to most importantly, commitment to guest services.

Want water toys while you in the British Virgin Islands? Radio Man will inform listeners where they can find everything from clear bottom kayaks and floating coolers, to windsurfers and blenders, to hammocks, hand-held VHF radios and fishing poles. Truly “one-stop-shopping."

Rather be under the sea than on the sea? Then Michael Royle, co-owner of Blue Water Divers BVI, will be your cup of rum. Since 1980, Blue Water Divers BVI has been providing unparalleled diving experiences for visitors from around the world. Is there a Florida connection? You bet there is, as well as a Bahama connection for all you FLAHAMIANS.

Of course, there will be Treasure Coast and Florida updates in the mix, including Police and Fire Games, the Stuart Sailfish Club’s Summer Slam and the 4th annual Reef Builders Tournament.

Are you ready for another island adventure semi-compliments of Spirit Airlines? If you’ll drink to that, so will we.

See you Friday morning at 10 a.m. from Nanny Cay Resort, Marina and Boatyard. On the Treasure Coast you'll find the show on WPSL 1590 AM. For the rest of the world, you can listen to the show live on your computer at www.wspl.com.

Culinary Tourism, Brandywine, a Bare Hut, and what's a ManPot?

Three, two, one ON THE AIR! …and the second LIVE remote was a happening from Brandywine Bay Restaurant, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Malcolm Boyes, sitting in for Robin Hicks-Connors (who's off on a European trip of her own), and Chef Davide Pugliese in the guest seat, the good times began to role.  At the top of the show, Radio Man, Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin gave shout outs to all the great folks that made the trip and the show possible, including Jerry from Jerry’s Car Rentals, our St. Thomas taxi driver, the Love Cab, and U.S. and BVI Customs and Immigration for a smooth entry.  What are the Treasure Coast connections to the show?  For one, Freddie “John” Wilson from Stuart, Florida, owner of Casa Allamanda, which has become Gary and Misti’s second home in the BVI. Thanks Freddie!

For listeners who may not have known exactly where in the world Tortola is, Malcolm provided a geography lesson and shared how easy it is to travel to this tropical paradise from the U.S. With geography lesson out of the way, the stories began to roll on when and how Malcolm, Chef Davide and Gary fell in love with the BVI.  Remarkably, three very different people had eerily similar tales to tell.  Each revolved around a woman and the love of the “Caribbean Way."  Fast-forwarding to the present, Gary and Malcolm headed for the topic of the day, Culinary Tourism in the Caribbean.  Chef Davide was certainly up to the task as he began to describe how he began his career, and what influenced him in the development of his style of combining classic Italian with the best of the Caribbean.  Availability of product, creative use of standard (and not so standard) ingredients and passionate creativity all combined to create the Chef Davide “signature” that has become so popular in his restaurants in Tortola and elsewhere.  A few questions listeners will hear answered when listening to the show include:  Is the current food media hype in broadcast, print and elsewhere creating higher expectations for the dining public?  Besides excellence in food quality and preparation, what is the second most important part of the dining experience?

Sprinkled in the mix of laughs and stories, was an assortment of more “Treasure Coast Connections," how Malcolm received his island name--Manpot--and from whom, and a discussion of the current state of affairs with the invasive Lionfish in the BVI.

Saving the best for last, Chef Davide explained his new creation for the ultimate culinary tourism experience, Wali Nikiti, located on private Scrub Island, BVI.

Before you listen to this part of the show, YOU HAVE TO VIEW THE PHOTOS!  Then, and only then, will it all make sense.  For example, how can a house have no walls, corners or windows?  And, what the heck does Wali Nikiti mean? (BVI).  With celebrity guest co-host

Thanks for listening! We know you'll have as much fun as we did doing it! And, for those of you with DIF (dreaded island fever)--you know who you are, fix yourself a rum drink, and get ready to escape to paradise, even if it's just for one hour. Here's the audio link to the show. And, below are several photo albums for your viewing pleasure.









See you for another fun-filled hour this coming Friday!

NEWS FLASH---The Talkin' Tourism crew was among the thousands impacted by the Spirit Airlines strike. We're 'stranded' on Tortola and return flights are a little hard to get, so we'll be in the BVI a bit longer than expected. The good news? We'll be doing another LIVE show this Friday, June 18, from the BVI. If you're on Florida's Treasure Coast, you can catch the show on your radio dial at WPSL 1590 AM. If you're anywhere else in the world, catch the show on the Internet at www.wpsl.com. The fun begins at 10 a.m.!

Wali Nikiti--one of tomorrow's show's topics

Check out the photos of this fabulous retreat on Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands. If you love culinary tourism, turn in to the show tomorrow, Friday, June 11 at 10 a.m., to learn more about this Caribbean enclave owned by Chef Davide and Cele Pugliese.

LIVE from the Caribbean--Culinary Tourism and All T'ings Caribbean

Even Radio Man (aka Gary Guertin) has to take a vacation from time to time…right?  Well, where does the Ambassador to FLAHAMA go on vacation?  To the Caribbean of course!  As they say in show business, “the show must go on,” so Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast is pleased to be producing its second live remote from beautiful Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. What are the Treasure Coast connections? You’ll have to listen in this Friday at 10 a.m. to find out.

What surprises are in store? How about having a return guest co-host appearance by Malcolm Boyes, who is an award-winning journalist, Malcolm (aka Manpot) has worked for the likes of the National Inquirer and interviewed celebrities such as John Wayne, Cher, Clint Eastwood, and more. In addition, Malcolm’s illustrious career has included stints with The Star, People magazine, Cable News Network, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Inside Edition, A Current Affair and Hard Copy, to name a few. And, that’s just our the co-host!

So what’s the show theme?  Quite simply fabulous food and all things Caribbean. Talkin' Tourism is thrilled to have famed Chef Davide Pugliese, owner of Brandywine Bay Restaurant and Capriccio de Mare located in Tortola, as our special guest.  He and his wife Cele's restaurants are renowned for their fabulously creative cuisine.  Born in Italy and a former fashion photographer, you will hear the incredible story of pursing his passion for all things culinary. Davide has been a chef and team manager for the British Virgin Islands Culinary Team in the Taste of the Caribbean, was one of the celebrity chef's this year in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and has won many other awards and recognitions. Could you take culinary lessons under Chef Davide?  If you listen closely, you will hear Chef Davide talking about his exclusive enclave-Wali Nikiti-on Scrub Island, BVI built exclusively for this purpose.

What else?  If Malcolm and Chef Davide don’t fill the hour, there will certainly be Tortolian updates and adventures.  By the way, if you ever want a break from the heat of South Florida in the summer, come to Tortola.  It is cooler and less humid here than on the Treasure Coast!

Thanks for tuning in live on Friday at 10 a.m., either on your radio--WPSL 1590 AM--or for the live audio stream on your computer at--www.wpsl.com. If you can't listen to the show live, check out the Talkin' Tourism blog post-show for the audio file (posted a day or two after the show). The photos alone will be worth your visit!

From Chambers of Commerce to Cane Garden Bay

NOVEMBER 20, 2009 SHOW RECAP

Talkin' Tourism's "Radio Man" and "History Lady" enjoyed another information filled Friday morning in the Captain's Lounge at Harborage Yacht Club on a beautiful November day. Joe Catrambone, president and CEO of the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, was this week's guest.

Historically, Martin County’s Chambers of Commerce (all five of them) had been the primary organizations that promoted Martin County as a visitor destination. The effort was “under-funded” due to the fact that tourism promotion is not typically a Chamber’s primary function unless it is under contract by a Tourist Development Council (TDC) as is the case with Indian River County. Now that Martin County’s destination promotion entity is officially the Martin County Convention and Visitors bureau (formed in 2002), Gary and Robin explored with Joe what role will/can the Chambers of Commerce play in this important effort.

The rest of the show was packed with interesting and fun facts, information and laughs, including rumors from afar. Is Quito Rhymer selling his famed Quito’s Gazebo in Cane Garden Bay? The British Virgin Island's table setting competition and the reason for it was also discussed.

Robin's This Week in Martin County History segment continues to educate listeners on the early pioneer days of Martin County. If you missed it, download the show HERE.

Keep sending in your Treasure Coast vacation photos to be eligible to win this month’s Getaway Giveaway compliments of Caribbean Shores Resort in quaint Jensen Beach, Florida. Send your photos to talkintourism@gmail.com.

Next week's show on Black Friday will bring a few special "in-the-field" reports from shopper Robin. Tune in for the fun on Friday at 10 a.m..

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

May 29 Recap: Sea Turtles are great tourists!

Sea turtles are great tourist! Why? Because they come back to the same beach every year to lay their eggs! Such loyalty to a destination. Does temperature determine the sex of a sea turtle? Absolutely!

Debbie Fritz-Quincy reveals this and more during her guest appearance on this week's Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast episode, including what it's like to be a true eco-tourist on the unique Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.

Where was the third largest artificial reef recently sunk?

Did you know that there are several companies in Oklahoma, Texas and Florida that actually look forward to the Hurricane Season as a “boost” for tourism?

What new airline is offering $9.00 fares to Toledo, OH, Lansing, Michigan, and Newark, NJ from Melbourne International Airport starting July 13th?

If you caught the show, you would know all of the above…and more. If you are just now going to download the show, enjoy! (Download the show HERE.)

Don’t forget to listen next week, June 5th (Friday), when Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast broadcasts LIVE from beautiful Cane Garden Bay, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.