Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

The Stewart automotive group was celebrating its 70th anniversary and, of course, a night out at Mac's Chop House for Kingston Restaurant Week. From left are Jackie Stewart Lechler, Shelly-Ann Fraser (specially invited guest) and Diana Stewart. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Is The Gleaner-sponsored Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW) happening, or what!

It's reservations only at Mac's Chop House and, as we speak, it's way too late to secure one. The rib-eye steak at the Palm Court Restaurant in the Hilton hotel is as mouth-wateringly fab as ever.

Try the shrimp fettuccine over at Carlos' Café on Belmont Road. And the pork and yam, as well as the pimento steak at China Express at the Courtyard in the Market Place, is absolutely all that, and then some! But the spare ribs are simply to die for!

Calories! Bring them on as they are just a small and worthwhile price to pay for this annual festival of feasting at some of the city's finest eateries and leading restaurants. Kudos to the fab Stephanie Scott for her brainchild; and to the region's leading newspaper, the iconic Gleaner, for its role as title sponsor of the country's leading culinary event.

Caribbean cooking

Now, to round out the week, one simply must head over to Devon House and sample the offerings of the doyenne of Caribbean cooking - chef extraordinaire and first lady of haute cuisine and food stylist, the irrepressible Norma Shirley, as KRW could not end without a visit to Norma's on the Terrace.

And speaking of fabulous people, places and things, if y'all missed the absolutely smasheroni of Halloween celebration hosted at the fab Hedonism III resort near Salem, St Ann, two Fridays ago, then beat up on yourselves, as I do swear y'all missed the time of your lives!

This year's Hedoween festivities were all about the celebration of life with just the right touch of fantasy to make for a truly awesome celebration. And it did rain cats and dogs, but with people jetting in from all over the globe, as well as motoring in from every corner of the island for this annual frolic, y'all know that it would take more than rain, lightning and thunder to stop this party.

Every fabulous minute, whether spent dancing between raindrops at the main bar; or in the rain at the resort's pool and beach, it made for one hot weekend!

And speaking of a happening party, it's definitely the age of the Scorpio, with today being November 14, it's all about the wife of the prime minister, Lorna Golding, celebrating her birthday. Champagne toasts and beluga treats, Madam Golding, and kudos all around.

Also celebrating Scorpio birthdays was Saleem Lazarus on Tuesday. And the fab Danielle Gordon of Pulse celebrated her special day at the very start of the week. Style empress, Ambassador Madge Barrett, takes the honours tomorrow. Jamaica's former Ambassador to Cuba Lloyd Wilks, now with the Jamaican High Commission in London, also celebrates his birthday tomorrow.

And, it has been one of the most anticipated literary pieces of the 'A-crowd' and art world for some time now, come this here Sunday. All will be revealed as the oh so talented painter and sculptor Susan Alexander will launch a tome cataloguing her fabulous works and contribution to the art world over several decades. It promises to be a social humdinger and so is a must-attend.

And for the culture vultures and aficionados, the only ticket this, Thanksgiving is the Royal Plantation on November 29, for what promises to be a fab chamber music recital, that will see pianist Laura Kargul from the United States, Austrian/Jamaican Rosina Moder, Walter-Michael Vollhardt from Germany on cello, and the acclaimed Jamaican Stephen Woodham on violin - all in concert at the fab resort.

Break bread and make merry

But tomorrow, it's all about the grand celebratory do, here in the nation's capital, at the fab Constant Spring Golf Club, as Rainbow Land Nursery and Kindergarten, on the occasion of its 23rd anniversary, will take to the manicured grounds of the club. Family, friends and well-wishers will leave all care behind as they come together to break bread and make merry to mark the occasion.

It promises to be a fab-fest, as the school that has nurtured many a scion is now on the verge of putting down permanent roots in a home of its own, and this is more than cause for celebrating.

It's that time of the year, so let the partying begin in earnest.

The lovely trio of (from left) Denise Stokes, Juliet Cuthbert and Sandie Richards at the latter's 40th birthday party last week Thursday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. - photo by LeVaughn Flynn

Richard Stewart (left) and Robbie Epstein hang out at Mac's Chop House on Wednesday night with Kingston Restaurant Week sponsors, Stewart's Auto.

Stephanie Scott (centre) with her mother, Doreen Thompson (right), recipient of a badge of honour for voluntary services to Jamaicans in the field of education, childcare and theatre arts, with family members (from left) Brian Stack and wife Liz, and her father, Dr Ralph Thompson, at this year's National Honours and Awards ceremony, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

Lorna Golding

In deep discussion are (from left) Paul Mason, Duncan Stewart and his wife Debbie, during cocktails at Mac's Chop House.

Susan Alexander

Saleem Lazarus