Paradise Paradise Paradise
Ocho Rios might lay claim to holding the main roster of Easter Weekend events, but it is the northeasterly seaside town of Port Antonio that has ever so slowly positioned itself as the complementary foil to that more hectic party circuit, via the boutique beach do, Marbana, organised annually by M7 Events — that all-male promoter team that brings you the SPF Weekend come Emancipation Day. Their Frenchman’s Cove event — and its signature ‘M’ — over the course of its brief history, has become as synonymous with the iconic river-meets-sea inlet, as that plot of shoreline real estate is to the parish of Portland itself.
Easter Sunday last, at the Cove, much like in previous years, the white-and-butterscotch-themed party, which is sponsored by Victoria Mutual Wealth Management, attracted a smart set, who, though wanting to remain a tad off-the-grid, headed ‘thatta way’ for a day that started most languidly at noon with coconut jelly and ended with a live musical act à la Trinidadian soca artiste 5Star Akil.
SO combed the sun-drenched sand, weaving our way in and around the Caribbean Producers Jamaica watering holes, Revlon make-up studio as well as Craven “A” and Victoria Mutual lounges, to compile an uber-fab, on-site registry.
Mention must be made of event designer Sheldon Codner, the man behind Marbana’s artistically rustic — though equally Riviera-esque — patina.