Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Birthday girl Michelle LaPorte strikes a pose in faux fur on animal print for her 40th birthday pyjama party, last week Saturday. - CONTRIBUTED
AND SO, the feast of red and white which heralded St. Valentine's Day has come and gone, but not before an orgy of fabulousness. Luvs, from Kingston straight through to Negril, the island was in the throes of lovers' celebrations!
Now, add to the mix the fact that it was President's Day weekend in the continental United States of America, and the wicked weather, and y'all know that there was nary a room available between Ocho Rios and Negril, as wishing to escape the blizzard, North Americans packed into the preferred resorts on the north coast.
My dears, it's been a bumper season and then some for most north coast properties as the fallout being experienced from the hurricane-ravaged Mexican destinations has created a windfall for 'destination Jamaica', and turtle doves, tourism interests here are just positively beside themselves with glee.
CELEBRATIONS
And so last Saturday, with the fabulous Michelle LaPorte, in the throes of her pre-Valentine's Day birthday celebrations, in Cardiff Hall, near Runaway Bay, St. Ann, out-of-town guests had a juice of a time in securing accommodation for the one-time runway diva's 40th birthday celebrations!
Ms. LaPorte is unquestionably one of the more gorgeous women to have ever graced this here side of fabdom, her in-your-face style and mode making her truly one head-turning beauty and then some, whether she is making an entrance or just casually strolling by! Pumpkins, we kid you not, the lady is just hot like 10 coal stoves in full flight and foxy like that! You know the kind of a woman who makes other women pull their husbands just a tad closer when she enters a room? Well sweet things, it's that kind of a hot and foxy, and then some.
Well, to celebrate her hitting the fabulous 40s, and with her birthday falling on Valentine's Day, and being cognisant of the commitments and varying schedules of her many friends and admirers, she decided on throwing a pre-birthday shindig at her Cardiff Hall beachfront residence last Saturday.
'BACKYARD BEACH PARTY'
Dubbed a 'Backyard Beach Party', the affair kicked off at around 3:00 p.m., and sweet things, at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, the party was still kicking.
Luvs, with the lawns of her backyard done up to accommodate her partying friends, guests began gathering from the appointed hour and were still arriving after midnight!
The mood was easy, the atmosphere convivial as guests began gathering and exchanging pleasantries and laa-de-dahing, in the early afternoon sun, sipping their favourite libations. Now, being a 'backyard bash', true to form, Guinness, Red Stripe, Malta and Rum Punch de Tropicale were the spirits of choice in keeping with the theme, with premium liquor playing the supporting role for those with a more discriminating palate.
THE FARE
And then there was the fare: jerked poultry and pork; coal-roasted fish, rolls and deep-fried green plantains; and a steaming cauldron of chicken broth, that simply hit the spot when afternoon wore into dusk, dusk wore into night and the full moon made her way centre stage and brought with her a chilling wind!
And, not to be outdone, for the most part, guests did do tha bling thing as they, too, did dress to thrill. But dears, none came close to the hostess, who floated effortlessly across her lawns in her come-do-me stilettos and rib-tickling number that did more to reveal her curvaceous bod, than to conceal, and my dears, there's a lot here to see!
Anyway, with guests taking turns spinning music, in between the domino games, the sips, spills and thrills, they gathered to toasts the hostess, and share in cutting her birthday cake and opening of presents. Now here the affair became a love fest as guests toasted and testified not only to the goodness of the hostess, but to her care, warmth and sense of dedication to her family and friends.
MANILOW MUSIC
But what a night! And oh, the presents! With guests dancing to Barry Manilow's hits, the birthday girl announced she would save the Manilow music until she hit the next decade, and there and then hit her own stride to some pulsating reggae rhythms that took the party into the night and then some!
Now me-daahlings, it was a celebration of three generations of fabulous women as among those out celebrating with the hostess included her grandmother, the sprightly Gwen Watson, her daughter and mother of the birthday girl, the lovely Allison McHayle; siblings Claire 'Spike' McHayle and Lisa McHayle, along with sister-in-law Kadian Powell who all motored in from Mandeville for the do. Also spotted: Cecile Levee and her darling daughters Kennedy and Spencer Levee; Joe English; the charming Rose Richards; Dr. David Wheatle; the lovely Donna Grant-Clarke; Mark Cole, his twin brother Andrew Cole also out; Robert Haughton; the lovely Celine Drummond; Gordon Edwards and Kerry-Ann Quallo; Sophia Leahong; David Dawkins; Marie Deer; Freddie James; the lovely Leejay Williams; Vladimir and Stephanie Borero and their son and baby daughter; Steven Pottinger; the charming Michelle Davies; Garfield Collins; Peterina Lindsay; Mel and Kerry Bose in from the United Kingdom; Godling Richard Bradford; Nichel Lindsay; Brian Douglas and Jay Paharsingh; Kurt Hudson; Nubian prince Paul Reid; Velicia Baugh; Lloyd 'Boogie' Johnson; Carlton and Karen Henry; Jason Wilson; and the lovely Sapphire Gutzmore; plus several others.
On Sunday it was all about the lovely Ann-Marie Lee who was treated to a very special birthday fare as husband Dennis Lee, celebrated chef, donned the apron and served up an especial fare for his wife on the occasion of her birthday.
SPECIAL LITTLE SOIRÉE
Also celebrating his birthday on Sunday was management consultant and noted tenor Carl Bliss, who marked the day with a special little soirée in Rock Hall, rural St. Andrew, that saw loads of friends in attendance and toasting the much-admired NDTC stalwart.
Today being Friday the 17th, however, there are special plans afoot to mark the birthday of Canadian High Commissioner Claudio Vallé, as his fabulous wife Louise Vallé, is all set to mark this very special milestone with an intimate little do, at their official residence over there in the Golden Triangle.
Not to be outdone, the lovely Valerie Juggan-Brown will also be hosting a rather intimate little do for hubby Ron Brown at their swanky Old Stony Hill residence.
JETTING IN
And former Life of Jamaica bigwig and United Nations diplomat, Anil Kalra, jetted in for a few days of social and business engagements.
Also jetting in last week for a few rounds of golf was hubby to former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb, Ambassador Charles Cobb, who took time out for lunch and drinks with a few friends before returning home.
And Cindy Breakspeare is back from the Grammys and a swirl of parties after the victory of her son Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley!
And speaking of music; the I's are being dotted and the Ts crossed for the renewal of the world's premier reggae festival, Reggae Sunsplash, later this summer, so wait for it!
