Levys throw a fab surprise party

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

My darlings, there's nothing like throwing party, just because, especially for the sheer fun of the occasion and devoid of agendas. And, my dears, it's definitely the season of fabulously intimate soirées and luvs, they are energising the social landscape like the bonfires they are, and how!

Earl Levy and wife Beverly Junor Levy, are two of Kingston's leading social denizens. He is the celebrated architect-turned-hotelier to the internationally rich and famous. His grand designs proved the rage of the uber-classes for their beachfront multimillion-dollar villas and their fabulously stately homes that are to be found only in the upper St Andrew enclaves. These are the preferred locales for their domiciles. She is the daughter and heiress to the late Percy Junor, plantocrat, financier, and philanthropist, who was better known historically for having bequeathed the Percy Junor Hospital to the people of Manchester and the surrounding parishes and communities in mid-Jamaica.

Surprise party

It was once said of Earl Levy and wife Beverly Junor-Levy that one's social register is not complete if the Levys are not on your shortlist, more important, you should be on theirs!

And little wonder here, as Earl and Beverly Levy are the consummate hosts and social legends, who have hosted European bluebloods and the titled, over the years, with the famed Trident Castle, in Port Antonio, being the Jamaican hub for European nobles, social gadabouts; wealthy Americans and, of course, the famous, and earning Earl Levy, the moniker, 'The Earl of Portland'.

Anyway my dears, on Saturday, April 15, the Levys, with their daughter, the lovely Suzanne Louis and granddaughter Christina Louis, visiting from Florida, threw a surprise party, at their St Andrew home that proved the social jewel of the season, and nothing but!

The Levys' residence is simply fab composition, as here, Earl, the architect, did not stint on his own home, but was generous with his attention to detail, and lavishly so, as the gardens and entertainment areas and spaces attest. It is a very lush and oh-so fabulous oasis right in the middle of Kingston.

Dears, the home is situated right in the middle of the city, near the historic Devon House and is an oasis of haute style, civilised good taste and a beacon of ageless classical elegance!

Guests upon arriving were greeted by the melodious strings of Paraguayan harpist Carlos Rodas, who was the entertainer for the evening. He performed beautifully, as if oblivious to the rush of beautiful people in attendance.

And yes, my dears, it was all about the beautiful people - as in decidedly 'A-Crowd'. This was not merely an outing of august society, this was a virtual who's who not necessarily the photographed and or the quoted, but definitely the movers, shakers, and pillars of industry, and the very foundation on which this country's social, commercial, industrial, and political fortunes are built.

Event planner was the renowned Maureen Capleton ably supported by a battery of staff that included waiters to haute society. The evening buzzed with the synergy of a fabulously well-oiled Swiss timepiece as guests were treated to an evening of fine pampering, premium libations and a fare that was nothing short of a culinary symphony. We are talking a faultless fare here, with libations never more than a nod or smile away, and pleasantly so!

Luvs, this was a lesson in fabulous entertaining and a tenner, on the international social Richter scale, with the tremors still being felt long after the event!

Indeed, tomorrow will see Beverly Junor Levy celebrating her birthday, and for many, the party was regarded a pre-birthday celebration. But luvs whatever it was, the party was unquestionably style perfect!

Guests

Among those sharing in the fellowship were former Prime Minister and newly installed Chancellor of the University of Technology Edward Seaga; former Cabinet minister and lawyer John and wife Urla; Head of the EU Ambassador Marco and wife Fiela, Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda and Nigel Pagon; Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia and wife Luz Santa Maria; United States Embassy official James Hathaway; Monsignor Richard Albert; Jean Ashenheim; Dr Barbara Matalon; Albert and Su Nakash; Dr John and Paddy Masterton; the esteemed Peter and Joan McConnell.

We spotted Legal luminary Chris Bovell and his wife, social icon Michelle Bovell; Peggy Blades; Dr Cecil and Rosie McIver; Mark and Diane McConnell; George Fatta; Sylvia Collister; John and Jill Andrews; sisters the fabulous Carole Issa-Cartade and the lovely Suzanne Issa; Robert MacMillan; Joy Mahfood; Charles Hanna and his sister the lovely Mary Hanna; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and son James; Adrian and Darilyn Foreman; Paul and Melanie Bitter; Onesto and Josie Maffessanti, in from Ocho Rios; Herman McLarty and wife Dorothy Pine-McLarty and Dhiru Tanna and wife and Dr Laura Tanna.

Also out were Thomas and Cynthia Lyew; Gordon and Diane Tewani; the charming Lolita McGann Evans; Tino Calderelli and the elegant Gloria Palomino; the elegantly charming Janette Stewart; Maurice Robinson; Russell and Carol Hadeed; Lorna Myers; a radiating Patrick Lynch, wife Marguerite, looking positively flawless; Peter Junor and his lovely daughter, Nicola Junor; Owen Harry; Michael Sharpe and Betty Zaidie; Hugh Croskery; Bruce and Carolyn Terrier; Leicester and Belinda Levy, his sister, the lovely Rosemary Levy, also out; the lovely Nicola Croswell-Mair; Chris Issa and wife Kimberly Mais-Issa; Wayne Chen and wife Diana Thorburn Chen; Aubyn and Tamara Hill; Jimmy Josephs; Sheila Lyons; Paul Cooper; Nicole Kuster; Kevin and Cynthia Jones, plus a number of others.

Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer