2 Places @ Once
Party people have converged in St Ann and Westmoreland for the series of all-inclusive parties that have come to typify the holiday weekend. Think SPF, Dream Weekend and ATI.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what you need to know about the people, places and things that make the two parishes go-to destinations.
Parish:
St Ann
Capital: St Ann’s Bay
Hot Spots: Margaritaville; Harmony Hall
Olympians: Deon Hemmings-McCatty; Novlene Hilaire Williams-Mills; Danny McFarlane
Eat Local: Miss T’s; Scotchies; Toscanini
Shopping Central: Casa de Oro; Island Village
Hometown celebs: Bob Marley; Burning Spear; Marcus Garvey; Shabba Ranks
Coveted invite: Lunch with Ernest Smatt to hear stories of his famous friends including Elizabeth Taylor and Martin Luther King.
Best Place to take out-of-towners: Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, Dolphin Cove, Margaritaville
Historical Sites: St Ann Parish Church, erected in 1871, Seville Great House, originally built in the 1700s
Annual Events: Ocho Rios Seafood Festival; SPF; Beach J’ouvert
Parish:
Westmoreland
Capital: Savanna-la-mar
Historical Sites: Court House on Great George’s Street; Mannings High School (the country’s second oldest secondary institution — founded in 1738); Savanna-la-mar Baptist Church, established 1829
Olympians: Trecia Smith; Kaliese Spencer
Eat Local: Fish or lobster at White House
Hometown celebs: Storm Saulter; Peter Tosh; Lady Gladys Bustamante
Coveted Invite: A special dinner whipped up by Jamaica Observer Chef of the Year, Rock House Hotel’s Kevin Broderick.
Best Place to take out-of-towners: Rick’s Café at West End; Roaring River Cave; Seaford Town (German Town); Royal Palm Reserve
Annual Events: Westmoreland Curry Festival; Dream Weekend; ATI