Angela Philipps, Contributor

"Everyting kris man"! We've been employing this expression for a long time in Jamaica, and those are the words that spring to my mind when I go and listen to live jazz at Christopher's on Tuesdays. Arranged by the very talented musician, Seretse Small, Jazz Night is Kingston's best kept secret. But ladies, it's not just the fabulous music that is good reason to go. It's the men! They are everywhere - old, young, Jamaican and foreign. And I have to tell you that they're not half bad-looking either.

I have been going pretty much every Tuesday for the past couple months now, and I've reached the stage where I feel like I am almost coming home whenever I walk in. There are quite a few familiar faces, with an adequate amount of neophytes to spice things up a bit. And it seems to me that everyone is there to have a good time - no other agendas, no stress - they are just there to enjoy the music, chat to their friends and meet some new people. The ambience is so relaxed that you can't help but just be yourself at Christopher's. There's something in the air which makes you want to go up to anyone and just strike up a conversation without feeling self-conscious.

Big Flirt

Last Tuesday I found myself in a particularly fortunate and fun situation. I was surrounded by numerous good-looking men who were all giving me enough attention to feed the egos of a gaggle of gals! I have to be honest with you - I am a flir - sorry, did I say a flirt? What I really meant to say is that I am a big flirt. Huge! No two ways about it folks, I can't help myself. But what harm is there? Good, clean flirtation feeds your spirit, and before you know it your eyes are sparkling, you feel like you are floating just above ground and everyone wants whatever it is you're having.

And so it was some nights ago. I felt like I had the pick of the bunch (who knows if that was really the case, but it sure seemed that way!) This is the place to be single in the city, my friends, and I mean that for men too - there wasn't exactly a lack of female beauties either. OK, well, maybe there was slightly more competition for them, but that's only because many women do not feel comfortable going out by themselves (either for personal or safety reasons - but that's a whole other topic which, come to think of it, I should really cover one week). But don't let me get side-tracked!

That One Guy

There was one guy in particular who I had had my eye on most of the night, but I truly thought that, while he was undeniably very handsome, I had met or at least seen him in the past. Well, the next thing I knew, the hunk himself was walking by me and I simply stopped him and said, "I'm sure I've seen you before. Your face is so familiar." I know, I know, the cheesiest chat-up line in the history of time - one which would have made me run like fire, had someone used it on me. And yet, there I was bringing it into play - what was I thinking? I might as well have said, "Listen mate, I find you sexy and I'd like you to talk to me for the rest of the evening." Which, by the way, he did! In fact, he ended up coming out with me twice that week and, hopefully, we will be seeing each other again soon. But in the meantime, I shall continue to go out on my Tuesday nights because everything is indeed kris at Christopher's.

angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com