Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It was the most anticipated party of the season - 'It' being attorney Harold Brady's annual birthday celebrations and Brady family get-together, hosted at his Cherry Gardens residence, in St Andrew. When it unfolded, it was as fabulous and beautiful as was expected and justified its billing.

And luvs, make no mistake about it, as this was all that and then some. It started at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, as a sort of garden party and by late evening, changed social gear to become one fabulously exciting do with some of this here island's leading citizens in attendance.

Dears, it was clearly a multi-layered party, as Brady's birthday was the primary reason for the celebration. Second, it was also a gathering of the Brady clan in a family reunion as in years past saw members of the family journeying from all over the globe for this annual shindig. And then there was the St Mary factor - with the Bradys hailing from that parish, the occasion was also a celebration of the fellow distinguished sons and daughters, who hail from the parish.

Political power-player

It was all that and then some as added to the mix were friends and colleagues of the host, who apart from being one of the island's leading attorneys in respect of telephony, is a leading political power-player and a leading socialite.

Well my dears, it was all that and then some as the grounds and balcony of the residence were transformed from their cosy living mood to a fab garden, complete with strobe lighting that amplified the beauty of the towering fruit trees that dot the well-kept lawns. The back of the residence, the mini-mounted cannon and flowering orchids, spatial ferns and deftly placed café style accent tables, completed the picture-perfect decor! And with the balcony overlooking the business and commercial district of Kingston, transformed into a cosy lounge, complete with its own bar, you know we are talking style perfect here!

Food stations offered the very best in traditional Jamaican fare early in the afternoon and then later, the most scrumptious Chinese fare, ringed the lawns, in truly elegant mode, while the main bar that dominated the entertainment area, was only a short walk away from the well-laid-out dance floor. And with the bartenders serving up some fab martinis and other choice libations, it made for the perfect party atmosphere!

My daahlings with all else in place, y'all know that there was one all important ingredient needed to make it happen and pumpkins, the fates obliged. The music was perfect as musicologist Richard Clarke rose to the occasion and give the guests just what they wanted - dance-inspiring music and for my word, how!

My dears, the old, young, fab and studious, the quoted and often misquoted, all took to the dance floor and partied up a whale of a good time!

Guests

Among the notables out were Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson; his predecessor Col Trevor MacMillan and wife, Dr Olivia McDonald. Also out were Transport Minister Mike Henry; Justice Minister Senator Dorothy Lightbourne; Deputy Foreign Minister Senator Dr Ronald Robinson; Junior Minster in charge of local government, Bobby Montague; Opposition MP Dr Wykeham McNeill and wife, the gorgeous Sheila Benjamin McNeill; Denise Eldemire Shearer and her sibling Barney Eldemire; Supreme Court Justice Carol Beswick and hubby attorney Paul Beswick; her colleague judge Glen Brown; Justice Ingrid Mangatal; Solicitor General Douglas Leys and Mrs Leys.

We saw Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn; businessman Kenny Benjamin; Jennifer Lim; Professor Errol Morrison; Head of the EU HE Ambassador Marco Marzocchi-Alemanni; his predecessor Ambassador Gerd Jarchow (Ret) and his wife, Mara Mandara; Indian High Commissioner HE Moehinder Grover; Honorary Consul of Ecuador Clelia Barretto de Hunter; Pulse's Kingsley Cooper; Tanny Shirley; Janet Panton; Steve and Betty Ashley; Claro's Alejandro Guiterrez-Olivera Cabreles.

Also out were the lovely Minna Israel; American venture capitalist and international financial consultant Mark Jones; Toni Parke-Moodie-Panton; Rae Barrett; Rupert Bent and wife, former Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare; her mom the very charming Marguerite Spence and her daughter, Leah Tavares-Finson; Sean Azan; Gary and Bernadette Barrow; the oh-so-gorgeous Katherine Goodhall.

Also spotted were Dr Peter Glaze; Al Niazi; jurists Patrick Bailey, Kathy-Ann Pyke, Douglas Thompson, Seyon Hanson; Dr Douglas and Hyacinth McDonald; Ronnie Cooke and wife, Ethlyn Norton-Cooke; Dr Gavin Gunter; Gordon and Faye Hutchinson; Mr and Mrs Kenry Jackson; Rajiv Bakshi and companion, Dorothea Gordon-Smith; Patrick Wong and wife, Peta-Gaye MacMillan Wong; Cmdr George Overton; Sonja Sutherland Dumetz, son, Nicholas Sutherland; Dwight Moore; the lovely Marilyn Bennett; Carl Bliss escorting Dawn Fuller-Phillips; Ian Farquason; the affable Patrick Smith; the charming Margaret Grant; Oliver Magnus; Marsha Wilson; EU Official Alex Dropinski and wife, Dr Saphire Longmore; Vinay Walia and companion Sidjae Robinson; Ullie Bangerter; Patrick Pitter; Audrey Miller; Lawson Levy and Debra Ebanks; neurologist Dr Neville Gibbs, in from Washington, D.C.; Josephine McGann; Franklyn and Lorna O'Neill; former Miss Jamaica Universe, Nadine Thomas; plus a number of others.

Among the family members and relatives out were brothers Walter Brady and wife, Norma, who flew in from Florida for the event, and Dr Rupert Brady; sisters: Gloria Brady Young, who flew in from Baltimore; Jackie Brady; Claudette Brady flew in from Florida, and Kay Brady Brown and husband, Dr Paul Brown, and her son, Dr Pierre-John Holmes, and wife, Dr Anissa Holmes; Camile Brady; Dr Michael Brady and wife, Celia Brady; NFL Player Donald Brady, in from New York; Charles Davies and wife, Valerie Brady-Davies; plus a number of other relatives and friends.