- Contributed
Birthday girl Michelle Hussey (left) and sister Angie Harris at her 50th birthday party.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
IF THERE were any doubts that hotelier Michelle Hussey intended to celebrate the dawning of her 50th year in haute style and with the passion known only to Roman nobility, then those doubts should have been dispelled by the time the invitations to the event went out.
Dears, we are talking one fabulously done-up invitation here - a faux passport issued by the republic of Hussland with the requisite visas and guaranteeing safe passage without delay and/or hindrance, with the promise of a gastronomic adventure and libation to boot dears, y'all know we are talking the very trappings of a first class act here.
Well, precious angels, the fabulous Ms. Hussey did not disappoint! In fact on the night of her party, she raised the bar as she treated her guests to a rollicking smasheroni of a party that will not only rival any in the history of fabulous parties but may well be the standard bearer for some time to come!
RED-HOT SOCIAL
My dears, it was like that - one red-hot social tamale here and steaming like one dozen firesides, all cooking at the same time.
It was a night for Cinderellas and Prince Charmings - glass slippers, fabulous coaches and all, the only exception here being that, none of the expensive luxury imports that lined every which avenue and/or street in the neighbourhood of the Husseys' residence reverted to being pumpkins at the stroke of midnight. But my dears, with the exception of this one detail, this here was a story book 50th birthday celebration, and with all the trappings of fabdom, and then some!
Michelle is the firstborn of Laurie and Ruth Hussey, they being the first family in the sport of kings and clothier to the fabulous and the Terra Nova Hotel.
There's an old saying around here, to wit: be careful about who you say what, as in Kingston, everyone is related. Well, truer word have never been spoken, as most everybody in this here city is either kith or kin.
So, y'all have probably never heard of the illustrious Campbell family, as while the boys have naturally kept the family name, the girls have gone on to marry and created new family names and in the process, the impact of the Campbells is not so generally known. But Michelle Hussey is daughter to Ruth Hussey, whose siblings include businessman and art collector extraordinaire Wallace Campbell; Valerie Marzouca, of Blue Lagoon fame; socialite Jennifer Lim; the charming Hyacinth Davidson; antique and curio dealer Fred Campbell, and Stewart Campbell, of electrical engineering fame.
So it was a family affair as a gathering of the clan and then some, as friends jetted in from all over the globe for the celebrations.
Some came in from Ireland, the UK, across the continental USA, the Caribbean, and from every nook and cranny of Jamaica.
A GEM
Nestled up in the swanky neighbourhood of Beverly Hills, the Hussey family home is a gem of a fabulous place. Designed with gracious living in mind, it has all the requisite trappings to execute the fab-lifestyle and it was the celebrations took place.
Scheduled to lift off at 8:00 p.m., it did as Laurie and Ruth Hussey are known for there punctuality, and so by half eight the place was buzzing as they warmly welcomed guests to their home. Guests were then ushered through the main hall into a courtyard/patio, where the birthday girl, looking as radiant as ever, embraced her arriving guests, while legendary Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, off to the side, were just itching to get the musical ball a rolling.
Pumpkins, you've all heard the term money is no object, well it was like that - no scrimping! Not only was it white-gloved service all the way, offering premium liquor and fare, guests were not about to be outdone, and dovecakes, they came dressed to the nines, and then some!
THE ELEGANCE
Oh my word, the finery, the jewellery, the elegance it was all here my dears, definitely a couture act and not prêt-a-porter affair. A point made emphatically clear during the cocktail hour, as guests simply basked in the reflection of each other's society. Dears, we are talking high-glam - diamonds and tiaras all, and as my great aunt would have opined - 'everybody dress to puss-back-foot'
Some time after 9:00 p.m., the musical ball got going, and dears, no attitudes here as guests simply allowed the music to take over and as it did, they danced and danced and danced, breaking only when the band did. And here it was high energy, high-style and fabdom all rolled into one making for an air of regal sophistication.
And then there was dinner - a virtual feast of the flawless kind, and then some!
Dovecakes, it all started with some fabulous finger-food as cocktails included crispy stamp 'n' go, smoked salmon, jumbo shrimp, tempura style, pate (chicken) and caviar, naturally. And sweet-things, the party elixir known as champagne, was right at home here, and she reigned supreme, (Oh, did she ever!) and appropriately, the preferred brand here being Le Grand Dame, Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin.
And when le entrée made her debut, we are talking a symphony of fabulous tastes here as it was all that, and then some! Served in the front gardens and poolside overlooking the city blazing her beauty in the night light dinner, my dears, was the fabulous stuff from which urban social construct springs. Dears, you think it, it was on offer. From Jamaican jerk, through to sushi, with duck, ham, petit shrimp and king lobster, pumpkins, it was all on offer - and deliciously so.
THOSE OUT
Among those out were: the birthday girl's beau Dave Banmiller, who along jetted in for the do, his twin, Bryan Bamniller and wife Jenifer; David Banmiller Jr. and wife Amy; Abdullah Marzouca escorted his former wife glamour denizen Valerie Marzouca, their son Abdullah Marzouca Jr. and wife Helga Marzouca, out too; Dr. Don Christian and long-time companion Hyacinth Davidson; the unflappable socialite Jennifer Lim, her daughter Liz. McAdam, looking positively fabulous; art collector extraordinaire Wallace Campbell; Fred Campbell; Outram and Marcia Hussey; Champion jockey Charles Hussey and wife Alicia; Percy and Eleanor Hussey; Anthony Harris, his charming wife Angie Hussey-Harris, and their fabulous teenaged daughter Crystal Harris; Andrew and Susie Hussey.
Also out were: the Most Hon. Glynne Manley and her lovely daughters Janine Bunting and Liz Ewart out with beau David Douglas; Ambassador Douglas Saunders and Angela Robertson; Canadian High Commissioner HE Claudio Valle and his fabulously fashionable wife Louise Valle; Spanish Ambassador HE Jesus Silva; Dennis and Diane Lalor; regional mogul Las Chin; Joe Matalon and companion Bernadette McKinley-Morin; Mrs. Beverley Junor-Levy; Lorna Myers; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and their son James Watson; O.K. and Angela Melhado; Barclay and Deirdre Ewart; Robert MacMillan; Mike and Alma Vicens, their daughter, the beautiful Amber Vicens-Stewart, out with Roger Malik; Edward and Hope Zacca; Mrs. Ruby Martin; Douglas and Brunhilde Vaz; Turro and Karen Zaidie; Capt. Michael Lyn and his fab wife Thalia Lyn; Robert and Barbara Henriques; George Fatta; Peter and Faye Bangerter; Dr. Oswald and Mrs. Marigold Harding; Col. Trevor MacMillan and wife Dr. Peaches McDonald; Hugh Levy; Hugh and Margaret Croskery; Russell and Carol Hadeed; Phillip and Sandra Feanny; David and Mary Henriques; Christopher Issa and the fabulous Kimberly Mais-Issa.
Norman Wright and wife Jean Mignon Wright; Dr. Trevor and Shirley Golding; Drs. Richard and Carolyn Gomes; Robert and Anthea Gore; Karlene MaxBrown and her fabulous daughter Sophia MaxBrown; Capt. David McRae; the
fabulously lovely Deidre Hart-Chang; Paul Hanna; AB 'Tony' Lindo and companion Dr. Elaine Williams; John and Sue Rosen; Mario and Fiona Machado; Richard Lake out with the stunning Lisa Hanna-Panton; Mrs. Stephanie Scott; Eusebio Perez and Nora Parnell-Perez; Capt. Michael and AnneMarie Feanny; Xavier and Roma Chen; Peter and Susanne Couch.
Tom and Rose Tavares-Finson; Charles and Brunetta Matthews; Michael Matalon and companion Michelle; Janet Farrow; Yogi and Claire Fernandez; Shirley Henry; Carmen Brown; Mintette Palmer and beau Lowell Lawrence; Stephen and Jennifer Henriques; Chris and Sandra Annamunthodo; Paula Azan; Bruce Baylis and Susan Burke; Ardelle DallaCosta; Candy Depass; Carol Flamant; Beverly Hall; Shelly Hendrickson; Tim O'Brien and companion Donna Robinson; Amy Calani; Frank Eck; Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Kline; David and Mary Daly and son Paul Daly; Gerald McGraw; Patrick and Ann McGraw; Denis and Jean O'Connor; plus several scores others.
