Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
(From left) Nightclub guru Ribbie Chung, modelling sensation Nadine Willis, Paula-Ann Porter and Dave Simpson, owner of the new restaurant, at the opening of The Veranda. - CONTRIBUTED
THE HUSTLE and bustle of the Yuletide season, the rush and dreadful traffic snarls are almost behind us - and none too soon.
Phew!
It's been one marvellous season, and then some, with parties a-plenty and celebrations that went into overdrive and beyond - making for one fine season.
There were also some fab birthday celebrations that added just the right touch of the personal to the season of goodwill.
Dears, the fab Sharon Beckford, celebrated her special day on Tuesday, with an intimate do at her Stony Hill residence; Sharon Coombs, celebrated hers in the Big Apple; and International A- Crowder and SuperClubs tycoon John Issa, celebrated yesterday.
Best wishes all around and champagne treats!
Then Robert Epstein and Odette Shoucair tied the knot yesterday.
THE BUZZ
And speaking of tying the knot, the buzz about town is that the lovely Rebecca Tulloch is no longer sporting the engagement ring presented to her by Alex Issa just a few weeks ago.
And it seems like it's also Splitsville for David Minott and his fabulous wife Kinshasa.
Anyway my daahlings, we party on ...
It arrived on the local scene just in time for the party season; it boasted an impressive list of supporters and for its pre-Christmas opening a few Tuesdays ago had a marvellous little show that really had the place and its patrons rocking!
Sweet-things, known as The Veranda, this new hip joint is located at the Pulse 38A Trafalgar Road complex in the middle of the entertainment capital of the Caribbean. Pumpkins, Kingston's newest watering hole and eatery hardly needs any introduction as the place is owned and managed by none other than Dave Simpson, 'man-about-town' and dapper dresser to boot, and known in partying circles as a truly fab host.
PARTYING POTENTIAL
And so little wonder that in order to maximise his partying and entertaining potential, the enterprising Dave Simpson is now entertaining on his new Veranda, the traditional place of grand entertainment, in olde Jamaica!
Done in a spiffy ultra-modern décor, The Veranda boasts one mighty fabulous bar that is a profiler's dream as it sits right there on Trafalgar Road, its garden of potted plants affording patrons the ultimate vantage point in that they retain the opportune operational mode of being able to see and observe, without being seen by prying eyes. And yet, they will remain at the centre of it all, but also discreetly removed.
The eatery itself is an indoor facility also done with a contemporary café effect, and smartly packaged to seat just about 30 or so for lunch or dinner and will serve up a fusion of Italian/Caribbean dishes that the host promises will be of the rather especially fabulous order that will see patrons not only licking their fingers in the ultimate sign of approval, but returning to recapture and or celebrate the dining experience!
So wait for this one as come mid-January, Kingston, is promised a fabulous treat in the dishes to be served on The Veranda.
Opening night was one fabulous shindig and then some. And guests came expecting no less. The invitations were divine as they were novel. They were were engraved glasses bearing the name of each guest who was asked to take same along to the opening where it would not only be filled with good spirits and good cheer but that it would be constantly replenished!
Well pumpkins, they did all that and more as for the benefit of the many who responded to the invitation, the host threw in a marvellous live concert featuring Lloyd Parks and Friends. Sweet things they rocked the house with a medley of oldies and contemporary tunes that really took the partying vibe to another level.
Dearhearts, we are talking the high priests and priestesses of fabdom here from the days of Topsy's; Epiphany; The Rock Club; Rumours; Mingles, Flannigan's and the oh so fabulous Illusions! Talk about fabulousness! Well sweet-things, those were the days and honeys, they sizzled like all that's hot!
Well pumpkins, as the age mellows so do fellow travellers and so the Veranda, will be no cauldron of dancing hotness, but more like a fabulous extension of the host's home designed for laidback lunches, intimate dinners and perfect for formal and informal get-together over libations and or power outings!
Spotted out sharing in the festivities were: Kingsley Cooper and his companion, the fabulous Romae Gordon; Michael Holding; Madge Foreman; Cleto Parkinson; the fabulous Katherine Phipps; Rajiv Bakshi; famed musician Stephen 'Cat' Coore, his brother Dr. Michael Coore, also out; Pam Bunting; EG Hunter; the celebrated Ribbie Chung; Gina Jarrett, flew in from Florida to assist with the opening; Hugh "Kes" Scott; Colin Campbell; Darcy and Del Crooks; Harry Smith; hot model Nadine Willis; Rudolph MaxBrown, in from Toronto for the season and son Carlos MaxBrown; the dee-vine Paula-Ann Porter, who compeered the evening's concert; Bobby T; Ingrid Green; Micky Hill; Daryl and AnnMarie Vaz; Ronnie Young; Andre Hylton; Barbara Clarke; Jose Walton; Peter Thompson; the lovely Josephine McGann; David Muirhead; Skelly Green; Tanya Ho-shue; Carman Hudson; Jacquie Sanguinetti; Michael Hall; Gina-Rae Forrest; Howard McKenzie; the lovely Shauna Sibblies; Anthony Watson; Joanne Watt; Marshall Peterkin; and the beautiful Anita Morgan; plus several others.
