Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Honorary Consul to Iceland Robert MacMillan (fourth left) presents a framed original photo by Howard Moo Young to Ambassador Hjalmar Hannesson. The photograph shows reggae legend, Bob Marley, joining the hands of former Prime Minister, Hon. Michael Manley, and then Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga, at the 'One Love' peace concert, in April 1978. The presentation was made at a reception by MacMillan for the visiting diplomats at his St. Andrew residence, last Friday evening. Looking on are members of the local diplomatic community, as well as members of the Icelandic community resident in Jamaica. - Contributed

Oh, sweet mint-juleps and cucumber salad! What a week of partying that was!

Honeychiles, it was all a hot and then some, as from Kingston, through to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, luvs, there were some simply fabulous 'A-Crowd' happenings all over and it made for one buzzing week!

To begin with, there was all that jazz, heating up Montego Bay. The Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Café, that proved a profiler's haven and was the place to be and be seen by those who not only like to hob, but do so with the exalted!

But more anon as Montego Bay was humming, all of last week and then some!

Well, not to be outdone, and fearing the hordes that were expected to descend upon the tourist mecca, there were those who simply opted to ignore the appeal of the festival.

Marking a milestone

Earl and Beverly Levy celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and y'all know that the attendant celebrations would be nothing less than fabulissimo grande! Well my dears, it was and then some!

Sweet things, I missed this celebration of life, love and fortune, but the word is it was all that, and then some.

Now, y'all know it's no easy task finding that special someone, and in finding that someone give validity to the seemingly onerous commitment 'till death us do part'. Well, when this is found not only is it to be celebrated, it should also be commended in a land apparently bereft of wholesome models and/or ideals.

Anyway, Earl and Beverly Levy - he a formidable architect and former hotelier, and she heiress to the Percy Junor legacy and socialite - found love over some 40 years ago, and last Saturday, celebrated the union that came about as a result of that love.

They not only produced the apple of their eyes in their gorgeous daughter, Suzanne Levy-Louis, but has also withstood the test of time.

By any yardstick, 40 years is a significant milestone and in the institution of marriage - a formidable accomplishment. And so, it was that to celebrate their union and love, Earl and Beverly threw a swanky 'little' reception last Saturday.

And really, little wonder here as Earl and Beverly are style icons and premier socialites, after all, being to the manner born, nothing else was expected!

With Veuve Cliquot, being the champagne of choice, and with a critical shortlist of family and friends in attendance, the historic Devon House saw high glam and regal glitz, not on parade but out and celebrating with the couple.

Dovecakes, suffice it to say, the buzz was it was so fine a shindig, people are still talking!

Preferred address

That, however, was Saturday night. The night before, the preferred address was the home of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Iceland, Robert MacMillan. He hosted a diplomatic swelleganza for visiting Icelandic Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Hjalmar Hannesson, and his charmingly lovely wife, Anna, both in Jamaica for the annual Diplomatic Week festivities.

Now luvs, the buzz here is that this was a social and diplomatic coup as not only were the leading heads of missions here in attendance, there were also a number of international diplomats as well as St. Andrew's leading socialites, powerbrokers, glamour denizens and card-carrying members of the ruling fabulocracy!

Well sweet things, needless to say, it was another of those fab parties, but this was even more so because it was the perfect antidote for those not wishing to brave the congested and dusty roadways of the second city.

Y'all can imagine that with the MacMillan's annual diplomatic soiree being a calendar social event, those in the know as well as pretenders were queuing to make the cut, so as to manufacture a legitimate social excuse for not making it over to the Bay!

Well, it was not that kind of a party, and so it is that when it was all over, none of the usual suspects here, just a fab turn out of those short-listed to attend and nothing but. It made for swelleganza and then some.

Now today being Friday, it is businessman and owner of the Wendy's franchise here and co-heir to the Couples Hotel dynasty, Paul Issa, who celebrates his birthday.

No public celebrations here, but his fab Spanish-born wife, Oriente, is expected to host an intimate do at their golden triangle residence to celebrate the occasion!

Special days

And come tomorrow, it will be all about cultural icon and leading intellectual, Professor Rex Nettleford, as this dynamic and revolutionary thinker celebrates his special day.

While on Monday, the lovely Diane Francis, rastafarian 'queen' and 'empress', will celebrate her special day, in her usual low-key mode with hubby Alfred 'Franno' Francis and their children, at their Stony Hill home.

Champagne wishes all around, and Beluga treats!