An intimate affair

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

There's nothing like the charm of an intimate do to celebrate life's blessings!

Whether that celebration takes the form of a small dinner party, an intimate 'little' soirée, an unstructured lyme, or even a party - which includes dancing and other frivolity - the more intimate the occasion, the better the quality of the celebration. This affords those guesting the opportunity to not only engage each other, but also to get to know each other on more than a perfunctory level!

Comparatively speaking, the bigger the celebration, the less likely it is to be one of quality. When facilitating upwards of 50 guests, spread out over lawns, along corridors or slumbering at poolside, this robs the event of one of the key ingredients - that is, the coming together of friends and associates of differing backgrounds and divergent views to encourage and facilitate the cross-fertilisation of ideas and new friendships! Unfortunately, the social neophyte is wont to think that to make a social splash, a celebratory event needs to be akin to a roll-call of all and sundry, as against being restricted to those they know and care for.

Now, the fine art of entertaining is a dying one but fortunately, there are a number of people for whom it's second nature and they, in their own inimitable style, continue to enrich the experience of their guests when entertaining. One such individual is James Samuels.

Known regionally as a hotelier of style with a penchant for detail and getting it right, Samuels has distinguished himself in the industry with decades of sterling service and leadership that has endeared him to guests and employees. His style eschews confrontation, opting instead for leadership by example that personifies the hallmark of civility and gentlemanly behaviour. Samuels is a man with an abiding faith in the ability of his countrymen to excel at their chosen task. And this belief continues to inspire and motivate him, to continues to impart his skills and knowledge to those with whom he continues to serve! With a résumé that has seen him serve as GM for a number of the island's leading hotels and resorts, Samuels celebrated his birthday on July 15. Due to professional commitments, however, the celebrations were officially stayed until last Sunday, at his Skyline Drive residence, in the Jacks Hills community of upper St Andrew.

Now here was a party of distinction! Intimate to its very essence, it was all about friends and nothing but, as here there were no arbitrary guests for the sake of making up numbers. We are talking warm, convivial, and style perfect from the very get-go. It was to this inviting home, rich in familial atmosphere, that friends of Samuels gathered for his post-birthday festivities. And with Andrew Henry of Renegade Disco spinning some def tunes, and the city forming the picture-perfect backdrop, the stage was set for guests to have a good time and that, my dears, they did!

With food and beverage dynamo Raymond Watson marshalling the charge, libations were only a nod away, and when dinner was served, it was a fab fare that included a delicious fruit-melange; garden greens, grapes; goat, curried and cooked to perfection, accompanied by white basmatti rice; the national dish supported by sliced roasted breadfruit; island-style spicy shrimp; and a shrimp pasta and cheese ensemble that was dieting bustingly fab!

There was absolutely no crush of bodies for drinks or dinner, and with Henry upping the musical ante, guests took to the veranda, seemingly suspended above the city, and danced to the musical groove! Luvs, it all made for one fab do, as here, there were no egos or puffery, only friends celebrating each other's company on the occasion of a friend's birthday!!

Among those out were: Michael Campbell; Ronnie and Suzie Burke; Kingsley Cooper; Robert and Donna Stephens; artist Cecil Cooper; former Public Defender Howard Hamilton and wife Thalia; Dr Noel and Denise Watson; man-about-town and entrepreneur Oliver Magnus and the lovely Paulette Wildman; attorney and columnist Margaret McCaulay, her step-daughter, the 'dee-vine' looking actress Bertina McCaulay. Also out: D'Arcey Crooks; Diahann Campbell; Paul and Cherry Burgess; interior designer Karen Booker; Henry and Yasmin Williams; the fab Charl Baker; Kevin and Dionne Harris; Andrew Parker and his fab wife Sheryn Hylton-Parker; and his son, Dominic Samuels, in from Florida, for the celebration.

Dears, talk about style edition, this was the very essence of style!