Pulse's 13-time American Vogue supermodel Jaunel McKenzie wears Gavin Douglas backstage L'Arsenal, before hitting the runway at the Jamaica Fashion Collections last Saturday night in Brussels, Belgium. - Contributed

It used to be that the upper-classes could not wait to get out of the city for bank-holiday weekends as they headed in droves to their north-coast hideaways.

Now fewer and fewer of the social elite are venturing out of the city over the holiday periods, opting instead to stay in their homes while the polloi head for the coast. They also avoid the hordes of parties now the norm in once-tranquil towns and villages and the traffic congestion and other social inconvenience that these mass parties foster.

And so it is that Kingston is not only fabulous 'in' for this Easter weekend, it is the civilised alternative for those with that discriminating sense of style and or appreciation for the beauty of silence, things culturally illuminating and/or social independence. And so Kingston is the hottest get-away destination this weekend.

Anyway, it's all about the National Dance Theatre Company's Easter performance at the Little Theatre on Tom Redcam Avenue this Sunday morning and we are talking a fully sold-out performance here. So more anon!

Then, word out of Brussels is that the Jamaican contingent, headed by Pulse's Kingsley Cooper and Romae Gordon, and facilitated by sponsorship of the European Union Delegation, with its head, Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, journeyed to the European capital to showcase Jamaican fashion and models (with Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, in attendance). It was a smashing success!

The buzz is, His Royal Highness Prince Laurent, of Belgium (no stranger to Jamaica, he honeymooned at the Alligator Head Summer Estate of Archduke Karl Von Habsburg and Archduchess Francesca von Habsburg in Port Antonio, and has returned on a number of occasions) was the special guest during the showing of the Jamaican collections, and was reportedly, very impressed by it all! The buzz is it was all that with designers Sandra Kennedy, Barry Moncrieffe and Biggy Turner showcasing their latest collections on the European stage. Plus model, the fab Jeneil Williams, not only burned up the runway in fab Brussels, she jettted across the world as the current 'daahling' of the hot designers and photographers in Europe and in the United States.

Also appearing in Brussels and helping to create the summer wave of Fab Island fashion and talent were: the hot Shevolee Bell; the stunning Rochelle Notice; the leggy Raquel Smith; the head-turningly purr-fect Carla Campbell; plus a number of others! The full line-up of designers' collections being showcased was Mutamba, Julan, Les Campbell and an Island Collective line coordinated by Sandra Kennedy. The Island Collective includes Kennedy's own West Indies Sea Island Cotton line; Mushroom; Yola Gray; Minka; Akira Lyn; Heather Laine and T&T Fashions, with accessories by Bridget Sandals, Cinderella Hats and Kawaii Jazzy.

And speaking of fabulous people, places and things, it's Thursday, meaning it's now all systems go at the fabulous Hedonism III Resort in Runaway Bay, as the resort will once again be hosting its carnival celebrations this here Easter with its usual high-octane energy starting today, for those that plan to get an early start on the weekend celebrations with the staging of the Easter super olympics, the toga rampage and arty and the staff and guest Easter talent show.

Friday is a double-header with the Mr and Ms Bunnylicous contest followed by the hot bikini model search later tomorrow night; with Saturday night promising to be an action-packed hotbed of fun and fantasy as the resort's entertainment team and their carnival crews take the carnival celebrations to another level during their carnival parade and show that will feature soca prince Oscar B. That will climax with the As Bare As U Dare after-party in the resorts' Hurricane Disco.

Hotter than Hades

And, if y'all were thinking that Sunday is for resting, not at Hedo III as the Wet and Wild, Hot Hedo Beach J'Ouvert kicks off at 3 p.m. And it promises to be hotter than Hades so if you are out of town and trying to avoid the hordes of young rushing from location to location in search of a happening party - it's destination Hedonism III and nowhere else! And y'all were wondering why they call it the party capital of the Caribbean!

And it's all systems go for the annual Backgammon Tournaments of Champions at the tres chic Strawberry Hill Boutique Resort and Spa, in Irish Town, come the weekend of the 24th of this month, with organiser Alastair McBeath promising a smasheroni of an event that will include fabulous entertainment, an art exhibition and sale, flower-fair and sale, plus a whopping US$20,000 in cash and prizes to the winners. A definite must-attend for the backgammon aficionado.

Then happy birthday wishes to former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, Good Friday, April 10. The fabulous Grace Silvera of Red Stripe celebrates her very special day on Saturday, former high-fashion photographer Paul Levy will celebrate on the 15th, the partying being at his Florida home and belated birthday wishes to Justice Glen Brown, who celebrated his birthday on the 31st of March.

Happy birthday wishes all around!

P.J. Patterson - file

Grace Silvera - File