Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Michelle Bovell and her son, Peter, at a recent party. The Bovells will host a party for Joey Issa at their residence tonight. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MANY YOUNG professionals and up-and-coming entrepreneurs may have missed out on the absolutely fabulous outing that the recently-ended inaugural Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW) was. During the week, some of the city's finest restaurants were not only on show but were also serving up some of their best culinary creations at discounted prices.
As a result of social insecurities and/or the lack of dining etiquette, just in time for the Christmas season, and in preparation for next year's KRW, noted beauty and etiquette doyenne Elima Hall, of the celebrated Face Place, will be hosting an etiquette workshop at her Constant Spring offices this weekend. And sweet-things, this is exactly what the doctor has been ordering, and for some time now!
Darlings, talk of a timely intervention! Well, pumpkins, they do not come any more timely than this (save for divine intervention, of course), as the absence or lack of the social graces as part and parcel of the young professional's portfolio is definitely an impediment for upward mobility. It is rough in the world of finance, commerce and the hospitality industry, and the 'bhutto' behaviour will most definitely not cut it.
There once was a time when Kingston was replete with organisations and/or individuals who offered this training, and many young professionals, housewives and even corporate managers availed themselves of the lessons and courses being offered. In recent times, however, with the rise of the sub-cultural and the 'get-frowsy' values and attitudes replacing the 'manners and brought-upsy' of another era, and overly ordinary and downright 'bhutto' behaviour became de rigueur, decency and its attendant social graces took a back seat.
There's a new day dawning, however, and with it the realisation that what plays on jump-street will not play anywhere else has led to the enlightened view (and correctly so), that it is time to revisit the kinder, gentler, more sophisticated way of living. This will make folks more than two-bit players in this, the new global village. So, Elima Hall's intervention provides a welcome change and a return to civilised interaction and the perfect opportunity for the up-and-coming to arm themselves with vital social tools.
WEDDING
It originally was conceptualised as a brunch of thanksgiving as the charming and statuesquely svelte Sonja Sutherland, the social presence in the ranks of the chic and fabulous, was recently given a clean bill of health after a particularly frightening diagnosis of the dreaded cancer. It wreaked havoc in the lives of both herself and long-time companion Fred Dumetz, and was also devastating news to her friends and family as they suffered the trauma and psychological dislocation that accompanied her diagnosis, treatment, and tenuous road to recovery. When the union came to be last Sunday at the poolside under the air-conditioned marquee at the Terra Nova Hotel on Waterloo Road, it proved all that, and then some!
Suffice it to say, the day before the couple exchanged marital vows in a hush-hush wedding restricted to family and very close friends, and with the following day (Monday) being Fred Dumetz's birthday, the thanksgiving brunch was that, too, as well as a wedding reception and a pre-birthday celebration all rolled into one. It was a celebration of life, love, family, friends and the additional blessings bestowed by the gods, and pumpkins, it was flawless!
So last Sunday, family and friends gathered to share in thanksgiving for the life and health of Sonja Sutherland, but fabulous surprise of surprises it was also the celebration of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Freddy Dumetz, and dears, in an event already brimming with goodwill, the well overflowed, and my word, how!
My dears, it was a love fest! A gathering, if you will, of some of society's finest and nothing but. No speeches here, just a few words of thanks from Mrs. Dumetz, who in one very touching moment presented her husband with a plaque proclaiming him Nurse of the Year 2005, for his role in nursing her through her illness and back to recovery.
Doves, it made for one fabulously wonderful outing, and memorably so!
Kudos and blessings all around, my dears, and here's to life.
And speaking of weddings, all the invites are out, the bridal shower was two weeks ago and was hosted in the golden triangle; the stag-party was last night, in Stony Hill, and the wedding follows tomorrow. It promises to be all that!
And if y'all are not yet in receipt of your invite to the Sagittarian do in Negril next weekend, then pumpkins y'all did not make the cut as invitations are out and children, they are definitely a keepsake!
Precious angels, we are talking about the long-awaited and much-anticipated birthday party of the fabulous Carol Bourke, and come hell or high water we will be there.
And honeys, Negril is most definitely the place to be next week as it will be most definitely sizzling. Sweet things, first there will be the absolute smasheroni of a 16th anniversary celebration of the fabulous Grand Lido Negril, with a three day and night affair that promises high-glam, retro-glitz and some definite ultra-mod sounds and fine food, not to mention premium libation. And then there will be the Sagittarian shindig with all the promises of hotdom.
Dovecakes, with a double treat in the offing and both promising to be all that, y'all know this scribe will be over there in that mecca of hotness partying up a firestorm.
And speaking of Sagittarians, my dears, the season of Sagittarius, is definitely upon us.
Pumpkins, the celebrations got under way with Fred Dumetz celebrating his special day on Monday of this week, followed by the lovely Francis Allison, who celebrated her special day on Tuesday in the Big Apple - a day she shares with her daughter, the simply fab Cherise Francis-Windle, who marked her special day at her Laguna Beach home in California. With hubby John Windle and a short-list of friends, they gave thanks for their very many blessings.
North Coast personality and realtor, Andrew Baston, celebrated yesterday. His wife the fabulous Moya Baston will celebrate Tuesday of the week ahead. Joey Issa, who also celebrated his special day yesterday, will be the special guest at a party in his honour being given by his friends, Peter and Donnia Bovell, later tonight, at the Bovell's Jacks Hills family home.
Today, however, Karlene Pinnock from the Jamaica Redevelopment Company Incorporated will be blowing out the candles on her birthday cake; and tomorrow being Saturday, it will be all about the celebrated artist and socialite, the fabulous Judy-Ann MacMillan, who will be celebrating another year of fabulousness.
Then come the 12th it will all be about Local Government Minister and PNP presidential and prime ministerial hopeful, Portia Simpson-Miller who will celebrate her special day then.
Champagne wishes all around and caviar treats, my dears!
And sadly, Richard and Ursula Ashenheim no longer call Jamaica home as the couple departed these shores on Wednesday for their new home in Bermuda.
