Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Artist extraordinaire, Judy Macmillan.

Dears, y'all know that the party season is upon us, following on the annual staging of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Charity (JCC) Ball.

It was hosted last weekend at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, and the buzz was it was all that with a host of the well-to-do in attendance, and they all partied up a fabulous glow in the name of some very noble charitable causes.

The JCC and its directors should be lauded for their efforts and achievements over the years in using their annual showcase to raise funds that go towards the alleviation of poverty and the creation of opportunity for some of those least likely to access same otherwise.

Kudos all around, and more so to Sameer Younis who for years has pioneered the fight to make this very worthy outing, not just a staple on the social calendar, but even more so for its charitable components.

Sagittarian's day

Now, it's the age of the Sagittarius and parties there are aplenty. On Monday of this week, it was all about Opposition spokesman on National Security, MP Derrick Smith, who celebrated his birthday with an intimate dinner-do hosted by his wife, the oh-so-charming Carlene Smith, at their swanky Norbrook residence that was aglow with love and support from the hand-picked shortlist of those who attended.

Reggae Rubbers

No birthdays here but on Tuesday, the cool place to be was the Hilton Kingston Jonkanoo Lounge, as this was where celebrated beauty Cindy Breakspeare and hubby Capt. Rupert Bent and their team were launching this year's second staging of the largely successful Damian Marley musical extravaganza, Welcome To Jamrock, that had its inaugural staging to a jam-packed house and rave reviews last year.

And talk about novel, some patrons attending this year's event can expect surprise packages of Reggae Rubbers, the excitingly packaged prophylactic that is the brainchild of the former Miss World.

Eva Myers

On Wednesday, however, it was back to celebrating birthdays, as it being November 29, the lovely Eva Myers of Evita's Italian Restaurant fame, as the stylish restaurateur marked the occasion in her own inimitable classy style, sporting no less than some couture styled gems and other precious stones, that will make lesser social souls go absolutely green with malicious envy.

Anyway, sweet-things, it was all about Ochi's reigning grand dame of style and Italian cuisine and as she was wined, dined and feted by her friends, and pumpkins, how!

Frances Allison

In New York, Frances Allison opted for a muted celebration at her Long Island home, but in Laguna Beach, California, there were no such restraints on her daughter, Cherise Francis-Windle, who opted to celebrate her special day to the max.

We are talking mimosa mornings here, spa treatment there, candlelit dinner preceded by a champagne prelude at the Laguna Niguel Ritz-Carlton.

But this was a party for two with the birthday girl and hubby, Dr. John Windle.

Karlene Pinnock

Tomorrow, the lovely Karlene Pinnock of the Jamaica Redevelopment Foundation Incorporated will be celebrating her special day with family and friends in a quiet do.

On Sunday, however, the eyes of the art community, the chic and the well-to-do will be on the oh-so-talented Judy Ann MacMillan, as the internationally celebrated painter and sculptor will showcase some of her latest works at the National Gallery's Jamaica National Biennial Exhibition to be officially opened by the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, at 11:00 a.m. at the gallery's downtown headquarters.

The exhibition promises to be one cultural fest but will be made that much more so, if as is expected, the noted Judy Ann MacMillan makes an appearance!

Ron Droegmyer

Then, it was always going to be a fun-filled, style-perfect, social extravaganza, as Virgoan Ron Droegmyer, formerly of the Wyndham New Kingston Hotel and now general manager of the ultra-all-inclusive SuperClubs Grand Lido Braco, knows nothing else.

People are still going gaga over the smart, stylish and oh-so-chic event that was his wedding when he and fiancee Mai Ling got married a few Saturdays ago in Las Vegas!

With the wedding itself taking place at the Paris Hotel and the reception following at the fabulous Villagio Resort, y'all know we are talking haute-style, high-glam and glitz!

Plastic chairs

Someone has got to tell the powers that manage the affairs of state that those dreadful plastic chairs that seem to be considered quite fashionable in some quarters, are really not on for the state room of King's House!

Imagine being invited to a function at the state room at King's House on Wednesday morning of this week to find that while there were a few proper chairs to seat some guests, for the most part, others had to contend with the unseemly and decidedly vulgar plastic chairs!

Apart from their tendency to splay and embarrass those ensconced thereon, these things are not to be found in such an edifice!

They are totally inappropriate. So inappropriate, in fact, that wherever they are used, some guests out of an abundance of caution have taken to stacking them in twos and/or threes, to avoid the unflattering prospect of being landed spreadeagled on the floor.

And then, if these unseemly plastic danger traps were not already a sight for sore eyes, imagine being served at the very same function by a waiter who 'sported' a 'ratchet knife' in the waist of his trousers as some kind of a trophy!

One cringes at the mere recall of the visual incongruity of it all! Please, someone, enough already.

( L - R ) Cindy Breakspeare-Bent and Derrick Smith