In the busy streets of Brooklyn, a famous person was born – Mickey Rooney, the powerhouse of American entertainment. Since he was very young, he was drawn to the spotlight, which sparked a love for performing that would shine on screens and stages all over the country.
Imagine this: a tiny entertainer, just a little older than a baby, capturing audiences with his lively energy and natural charm. Mickey started his journey in the exciting world of vaudeville, where he learned and practiced his skills with his parents, impressing crowds with singing, dancing, and humor.
But it was the silver screen that truly embraced Mickey’s boundless talent. With a twinkle in his eye and mischief in his smile, he brought to life characters that leaped off the celluloid and into the hearts of millions. Who could forget his mischievous turn as the puckish Puck in a whimsical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”? Or his endearing portrayal of the irrepressible Andy Hardy, a role that made him the darling of Hollywood?
At MGM Studios, Mickey became very famous. He worked with big stars like Judy Garland, dancing and singing his way into movie history, making a lasting impression during Hollywood’s best times.
This Caribbean Island Is Back From the Brink—and Ready To Share Its Treasures With the World
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The paintings of Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a profession of depicting the island in subdued, stylized settings that covered up the harsh realities of colonial control, were my first visual introduction to Dominica. However, as soon as I step onto its winding roads, which begin to twist shortly after I arrive, it becomes evident that this region, which is situated in the center of the Lesser Antilles’ curve, is anything but tame. The two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, which change color from green to white when they sway in the wind, shimmer and bristle with the power of the volcano. It lulls with the erratic sound of its numerous waterfalls, scatters rainbows haphazardly across its breathtaking horizons, and enchants from the depths with its vibrant coral reefs. And it roars come storm season.
The indigenous Kalinago people of Dominica survived invasion by the French and British, who imposed slavery on the Africans who now make up four-fifths of the island’s population and left a linguistic legacy of English and French-based Creole, by mastering the lush tropical rainforest that covers more than 60% of the island. If you visit Trinidad for roti and Jamaica for jerk, you should travel to Dominica for green things like bush rum and flower teas. There are a ton of medicinal herbs in the forest.
The Jungle Bay Dominica resort, located smack dab in the center of the Soufrière jungles, leans into nature instead, maybe realizing the futility of fighting against the earth’s generosity. When I finally get there, the kitchen is closed. Joanne Hilaire, the operations manager, tells me that they never let guests go hungry, though, so I can feel the warmth of Dominica’s welcome. The cook is preparing an excellently stewed dish of beans with taro, rice, and plantain for our late dinner, off the menu, while I have a refreshing ginger-lime cocktail that is a local favorite. When I wake up the following morning, I find that my villa’s doors open onto a private veranda that faces southwest toward Soufrière Bay, where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean converge. I let the light wake me for the remainder of my stay by leaving my blinds open.
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