V-Day, birthdays and all

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My daahlings, it's looking like 2011 is definitely the year for fabulous parties and intimate events, as chic-society shake off the side effects of the very drab recession in favour of celebrating the joys of life and all its bounties!

And while the nation's capital is abuzz in the throes of celebrations this weekend, the partying moves to the north coast. It's all about the fabulous GoldenEye Resort in Oracabessa, St Mary. The ultra-fab boutique resort and spa will be hosting its first party at its new Bizot Bar tomorrow, and luvs, it promises to be all that and then some! So who or what is the Bizot Bar, you might ask?

The bar is named after Frenchman Jean-Francois Bizot, the famed counter-culture connoisseur and founder of Radio Nova. Today, Radio Nova is France's critically acclaimed radio station playing world music and breaking in new acts. Its founder was a repeat guest at GoldenEye, thus the bar is to celebrate the life and times of Bizot, and naturally, it plays Radio Nova exclusively.

Sweet-things, it promises to be one fabulous do as the hosts are promising an exciting and very different outing with loads of celebrities and party people to boot. Not to mention premium libations and a fabulous fare, in a beachside setting with Radio Nova providing live Internet broadcast from the bar, from noon to 6 p.m with the partying continuing into the night!

Valentine weekend

Montego Bay, too, will be abuzz this weekend as the fabulous Palmyra Resort and Spa, located on that city's 'elegant corridor', will be the place to be. The Palmyra Foundation will hosts its annual benefit event that begins this evening with a beach concert at the resort's Tropical Reggae Beach, with headliner the Third World band. Singer Tarrus Riley, the celebrated saxophonist Dean Fraser, and singer Tessanne Chin are set to rock the white sand beach in true island party style.

Luvs, it promises to be a star-studded Valentine weekend of fun and excitement, as tomorrow evening brings a more formal entertainment offering with the fabulous Myrna Hague, the talented Dwight Richards and his ensemble, and featured international headliner Ruben Studdard, dubbed 'The Velvet Teddybear'. He shot to prominence in 2003 on American Idol, and has since gone on to establish himself as one of thepre-eminent contemporary R&B artistes.

But it will not only be a musical feast but also one of social, culinary and philanthropic proportions, as it's all about raising funds to provide books for the children in need in the Montego Bay area.

Birthdays

And the fab, the beautiful and talented are celebrating this week as birthdays there are aplenty. Among them: Lois Lake-Sherwood; the lovely Nevine Heaven; the gorgeous Maureen German; Okosun Onura; the fab Charmaine Austin; and Bryan Hamilton in Florida all celebrating today! Business consultant and tenor Carl Bliss will be celebrating tomorrow. On Sunday, the lovely Cherise Victoria Neil in New York; and Junior Washington in Connecticut, both will celebrate! On Valentine's Day: Senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte; celebrated ceramist and sculptor Gene Pearson; the beautiful Romae Gordon of Pulse; former model and current Hedonism II web-mistress, the gorgeous Michelle Laporte; the lovely Tamiann Young; the beautiful Karen Gomez, in Montego Bay; associate professor at Florida International University Karlene Cousins, formerly of Kingston; New York-based model Brandon Lamar; the fab Sheri Black, in Laguna Beach, California; and the charming Tamika McCourtie Phillps in Atlanta, Georgia, all make it a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Among those celebrating on Tuesday are: Dr David Panton; businessman Xander Melville; beauty Michelle Moodie; bachelor Julian Walker; the fab Seya Wilson; the fab Tara Hylton-Wilson, in Montego Bay; and the gorgeous Latisha Atterberry Cobb, in Benton Harbour, Michigan. On Wednesday, Marlon Honegon celebrates his special day. And come next Thursday, the lovely Jacqui Salmon will make it her very special day.

Belated birthday greetings to the talented Bunny Rugs of Third World musical fame, who celebrated on Monday, and to the gorgeous Audrey Miller of the Guardsman Group, who celebrated on Wednesday.

Many happy returns to y'all!