CubaPLUS Magazine

The visual arts, music, and fashion were all part of an enjoyable evening to celebrate the seventh anniversary of Cubaplus magazine at Havana's emblematic Hotel Nacional, with a full house of tourist industry representatives, businesspeople, artists, diplomats, journalists, and other friends.

It was also the occasion for launching Cubaplus issue No.25, an English-language quarterly aimed at the Canadian and U.S. tourist markets, and 55 Minutos, its Spanish-language supplement.

The Canadian ambassador to Cuba, Matthew Levin, praised the magazine's quality and its helpful information, for providing a look at and a perspective on the country by people with in-depth knowledge who understand what is interesting for touristsmdash;its unique features, its quirks."

Cubaplus publisher Dominique Soave thanked everyone who has collaborated with this project for the last seven years, and especially Prensa Latina, the news agency that oversees its editorial process, and whose assistant general director, Alfredo García Pierrat, said that the agency looked forward to strengthening that partnership.

The Hotel Nacional's 1930 Compay Segundo salon was the venue for an exhibition of 40 pieces by major Cuban artists whose histories and work have appeared in the pages of Cubaplus and 55 Minutos.

From the imagination of designer Ismael de la Caridad, who turns fashion into art, those present were treated to a performance and fashion show by models who brought elegance, traditional Cuban motifs and religious elements to the fore.

The Schola Cantorum Coralina choir, conducted by Alina Orraca, opened the musical part of the evening, followed by the duo Cubanitos 2002, who shared the stage with Swedish audiovisual producer Michel Miglis, a promoter of reggaeton projects.

The Havana All Star band played all-time Cuban favorites, and the popular singer-songwriter Descemer Bueno and his group got everyone to their feet, singing and dancing, to end a memorable night.