( l - r ) David 'Squeeze' Annakie, Steve Ashley,

( l - r ) Burchell Whiteman, Susan Alexander

Celebrated Jamaican-born, California-based international artist Bernard Hoyes celebrates his birthday today along with international personality Zola Burse.

Businessman and political power-player Steve Ashley of KSA Engineering celebrates his birthday tomorrow.

Former host of Full Moon Frolic in Newcastle hills and man-about-town, Michael Fox, now domiciled in Port Antonio, celebrates his special day on Sunday as will Joel Ellison, in Montego Bay.

The lovely Nagina Newman will celebrate her special day next Tuesday as will Melinda Brown, Martina Robinson and former Kingston-based designer now New York resident, Al Whyte.

London resident, the ever-so-charming Emma Scanlan of the Chain of Hope Charity, will celebrate her special day next Wednesday along with the lovely Michelle Emmert, who will be celebrating a fab milestone in Houston, Texas.

Musicologist extraordinaire Dermott Hussey, will be making it a musical encounter of the fabulously eclectic kind as he celebrates his birthday next Thursday at his Florida home.

The fabulous Dr Kim Brown should be back here in Jamaica from her Laguna Beach, California home in time for her birthday next Friday! Come next Saturday the stunning Deidre Hart-Chang, the fab Raquel Rhino-Gowdie and the lovely Shannon Shields will all celebrate their birthday!

Belated wishes to the charming Annabella Proudlock who celebrated her birthday on Monday, the 28th, and sportscaster Patrick Anderson, who celebrated on Wednesday.

On Monday all roads led to SOB's in New York City where the multi-talented and extraordinarily gifted musician, David 'Cat' Coore, was the opening sensation, his rendition of Spanish Guitar brought patrons to their feet! When he introduced the new musical kid on the block, Donahue Jarrett, looking like reggae's hottest superstar and with musical talent to boot, SOB's was in the throes of reggae magic. All of that was before the night's main act, Mr Vegas, took to the stage and worked his own musical charm on the packed house!

Since Monday night's show, the only buzz in town is all about Jarrett, as musical scribes and booking agents can't get enough of reggae's latest star! Star is what he is with the only question being what kind he will become, mega or super! The buzz is that SOB's and reggae will never be the same again after Monday's New York debut by the talented Jarrett, as the reviews are pouring in.

Other guests

There were some fab people in the house to witness the do, too, as among those spotted were: international recording star Shaggy; Walter Elmore; Myriam Portacarero, the wife of the former Belgian Ambassador to Jamaica; Jamaica's contribution to chic New York society, the lovely Andrea Hutchinson; Howard Barton and his fab American wife Nancy Kalb; Nathalie Hall-Jadot and her Belgian husband, Yves Jadot; Stephanie Fox; Serani; and impresario extraordinaire David 'Squeeze' Annakie; plus a number of others out celebrating both the new singing sensation, as well as the birthday of the talented Mr Vegas.

Meanwhile, the word out of London is that the flawlessly talented painter and sculptor Susan Alexander was in that famed city last week to launch her pictorial, Jamaican Journey. It was launched here in Kingston in November of last year to critical acclaim and word is the London launch was no less so!

Sweet-things, word is that the Jamaican High Commission was the preferred address last week as High Commissioner Burchell Whiteman and his elegant wife, Joline, took time out from their duties to host the visiting Jamaican artist. It was the event in town. Leading members of the Jamaican community in Britain, as well as a number of dignitaries, diplomatic colleagues and friends of the artist, took time from their respective assignments all over Europe to be at the launch!

Among those in attendance were former German Ambassador to Jamaica, Dr Christian Hausmann, and his wife Harriett Huber; and former High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Dennis Francis, now posted in Brussels. They were just a few of the VIPs who flew in. It was a fab reunion as well as the breaking of new ground, as the event occasioned a number of old friends and acquaintances catching up with each other.

Exhibition

Alexander is also set to mount her very first exhibition here in Kingston in almost a decade. Slated for the Mutual Gallery on November 12, the show is a must-attend for art lovers.

Then if y'all missed the mid-September launch of Shakti Love Fest, the brainchild of Shakti's owner, Sharon McConnell-Feanny, then y'all missed a celeb-studded, power event, designed to introduce wellness and a healthy lifestyle to a society in need of it! It is a worthy intervention, designed to raise funds for charity, as well as to raise the consciousness of the individual about making healthy lifestyle choices for a better quality life.

The launch was the precursor to tomorrow's big day at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, where it will all unfold, as guests, for a nominal fee, can participate in a day of activities based on improving their own lifestyle, knowing that while doing so, one's contribution goes towards the Bustamante Hospital for Children, via the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation!

( l - r ) Dennis Francis, Dermott Hussey, Donnahue Jarrett