Amadeus is located at Tanki Leendert 249.  Anyone interested in more information about International Friends of Aruba, can go to www.ifaruba,com.

“Thanks for hosting our wine tasting and art show at your lovely home, it was a wonderful way for IFA to start off the year, and we had a great turnout.  Everyone enjoyed the wines provided by purveyors Pepia Est, and it was great to see the art created by IFA’s talented members,” said President Marty Relan, on behalf of the membership.

Pepia Est’s Sanne Michielse, explained the different wines, elaborating on nuances of flavor, as combined with Donna’s home made snacks.

Those interested in more information about International Friends of Aruba may go to www.ifaruba.com.

Owner Nancy Ninaber-Schmidt treated her guests to an informative tour of the facility, complete with refreshments and a fun quiz about what they had learned.   The Antique Shop is located at Rococo Plaza, Tanki Leendert 158-G, and is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours and on Saturdays in the morning hours. The last Sunday of each month will find Rococo Plaza open to browsers and bargain hunters, in the morning hours. The place is a treasure trove of items from all over the world, from exquisite pieces of furniture to the tiniest accessories and home décor pieces.

Anyone interested in learning more about the International Friends of Aruba is invited to go to www.ifaruba.com for more information.

For information about joining International Friends of Aruba, log on to www.ifaruba.com.

For more information on Pure Beach, go to www.diviarubaphoenix.com or call 586 6066. For more information on IFA visit their website at www.ifaruba.com.

Submitted by Mashelle Zeolla. Taking the International Friends of Aruba monthly Happy Hour to new heights were the combined forces of Moby Dick’s Seafood Restaurant and Pepia Est n.v Spirits and Wines. The culinary talent of Moby Dick’s kitchen met the wine savvy expertise of Pepia Est to create the most unique IFA evening to date. Keeping with IFA tradition, Brian Reeve of Moby Dick’s presented a delicious sampling of menu items from their extensive menu, including mussels, beef tips and calamari. The new twist was the addition of a wine tasting from Rambert de Lange of Pepia Est.

Pairing each Moby Dick’s dish with a delicious wine for IFA members to sip, Rambert held a small tasting for interested members of the following carefully chosen wines: New Zealand’s Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Italy’s MezzaCorona Pinot Nero and Chile’s Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva. Meanwhile, Brian and business partner Gilbert Senchi kept the food coming and the special happy hour drinks flowing. With more than 40 members in attendance, IFA was well represented at the event with all guests fully enjoying the sea inspired motif of Moby Dick’s and their courteous and helpful staff.

For more information on IFA, go to www.ifaruba.com or email them at ifamembership@hotmail.com. IFA recommends a visit to Moby Dick’s located at Paseo Herencia Shopping Center (297 586 8333) and a call to Pepia Est n.v Spirits and Wines (297 582 7177) for more information on their extensive, exclusive wine selection.

Having enjoyed La Vista’s Happy Hour, IFA members went back to the restaurant for another experience, this time the whole nine yards, cocktails AND dinner.

Having been renovated for six months, the expanded La Vista restaurant is now twice its former size, boasting a fresh, comfortable and elegant look.

IFA members sipped cocktails at the cozy bar then occupied a number of round tables, dining leisurely in community, enjoying hand-tossed pizza slices as an appetizer and the buffet’s signature Italian dishes including a rich Antipasto spread, Osso Buco, roast pork, steak, fish and chicken served from the brand new cooking stations, which are incorporated in the open kitchen environment.  Adolfo Bonarriva oversaw the great service with his dedicated staff. Pictured here the International Friends of Aruba in action with Buon Appetito.

The International Friends of Aruba highly recommend La Vista + 297 520 6601, to the Aruban community with unanimous rave reviews of the food, service and ambience.

Back by popular demand is the International Friends of Aruba Ladies’ Spa Night at Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa. Director of Spa Services Bruce Cavan created an exceptional experience at the luxurious Larimar Spa for this lucky group of ladies orchestrating the service of complimentary champagne, just prior to the relaxing treatments. The Larimar staff pampered each client with cozy robes before sending them for facials, massages and over the top pedicures and body scrubs. Between services, the ladies lazed about in the open sky lounge nibbling hors d’oeuvres and engaging in much needed  “girl talk.”

The IFA (www.ifaruba.com) highly recommends Larimar Spa, www.larimarspaaruba.com, as “a must see and do” attraction for any spa-aficionado.  Heartfelt thanks go to Bruce, the Larimar staff and Melissa Cavan for organizing this immensely popular activity.

IFA and Marriott Combine for the Best Yet

The International Friends of Aruba (www.ifaruba.com) were hosted at the newly re-opened La Vista Restaurant and Bar, located at the Aruba Marriott Hotel, for the organization’s monthly happy hour. Vice President and General Manager Rick Zeolla welcomed IFA members to the fully renovated restaurant and bar, complete with chic décor, friendly and attentive wait staff and an Italian themed menu.

While Zeolla took interested members on a tour of the restaurant, others mingled in the bar, which is reminiscent of the finer South Beach hot spots.  The Friends indulged in libations from La Vista’s “mix-ologists,” enjoying the special drink prices provided just for the occasion. The courteous and friendly staff served a never-ending flow of complementary new menu items, including pizza, calamari and shrimps.

IFA President Marty Relan, on behalf of the group, thanked the La Vista management and staff for “the best happy hour yet” and is already planning to return to the restaurant with the IFA Dinner Club for a complete dining experience. The International Friends of Aruba highly recommend La Vista, Aruba Marriott Hotel, to the Aruban community with unanimous rave reviews of the food, service and ambience.