Left: Marsha Wilson (left) hangs out with Kingsley Cooper and Marcia Reid. Right: Y.P. Seaton (left), Nadja Davis and husband Rodney Davis catch up on the latest happenings last Friday at the opening of Studio 38. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Now, 38 Trafalgar Road is undoubtedly one of Kingston's premiere entertainment and business addresses, as it's the headquarters of Pulse, the Caribbean's leading and most successful modelling agency. It is also home of many young businesses and organisations, including the Asafa Powell Foundation.

In recent years, however, the complex has seen its primary entertainment premises - a restaurant and nightspot - undergoing a number of incarnations as various business operators sought to establish a dining and entertainment alternative there.

All have failed and this was a pity, as they all had a run of success, and just when patrons started finding their groove it all seemed to fall apart!

Well, conscious of the need to have an alternative to the younger generation's entertainment spots currently in the city, businessman Kingsley Cooper, in conjunction with a number of associates - Renee Lattibudaire, Lloyd Thomas and Debbie Morgan - made their move. The group of young entrepreneurs saw the need for Kingston to have as diverse an entertainment offering as is possible. But that offering must, and should, include a mature alternative with a contemporary appeal.

Simply put, the place must not only appeal to the mature crowd, it should also be attractive enough to be seen as an option for the young and the young at heart!

Last Friday evening, Cooper and his partners officially launched Studio 38.

Studio experience

Located at 38 Trafalgar Road in New Kingston, it represents a cross between a buzzing café and a trendy nightspot; an alfresco setting, punctuated by potted plants, towering trees, with some strategically placed patio furnishings to create a living space. This, combined with the very ultra-mod bar, completes the studio experience. There is a dance floor and a very positive near-Parisian feel to the place, enhanced by the almost sidewalk effect.

Now my dears, talk about a good thing whose time has come! Well, if y'all missed last Friday's opening of 38 you missed a good thing!

Dears, we are talking a rush and crush here with standing room only and then some, which made it almost impossible to move around and enjoy the company gathered! And that was even more so when it came to getting libations, as we are talking an opening night rush not seen in Kingston since the '80s, and even beyond!

Beautiful people

But it made for a beautiful night and then some, as everywhere one looked there were beautiful people! We are talking the noted and quoted! The celebrated, rich, famous, hot, chic, super cool and, of course, leisure society were out in full force!

My daahlings, simply put, Studio 38 was happening like everybody's business, not just crowded but with a rush of fab society!

Spotted: Transport Minister Mike Henry and wife Dawn; Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton; Opposition MP Lisa Hanna; Howard Hamilton; Lois Sherwood; Dr Michael Banbury; Viv Lue-Tenn; brothers Y.P. and Neil Seaton; the stunning Toni Parke-Moodie-Panton; Lennie Little-White; Colm Delves; James Samuels; Claudia McGann; Patrick Casserly; Kathryn Phipps; Patrick Bailey; Carmen Clarke; Jeff Cobham; Lloyd and Sonia Tomlinson; Oliver Magnus; Tanya Ho-Shue and Leahcim Semaj.

We also spotted: the lovely Nurma James; Oliver Holmes; the very charming Marilyn Bennett; Ian Wong; Denise Evelyn-Elliott; John Graham; the lovely Caran Chang; Jack Shirley; Ingrid Green; Chris Dehring; Phillippa Sauterel; Gregory and Michelle Mayne; Jackie Bird, in from Montego Bay; Donovan Brown; Leigh Phillpots; Rodney and Nadja Davis; Gary Coulton; Debi Dewar; Andy Jefferson; the absolutely fab Fallon Harris; Rob Mullally, in from California; Shannon Shields; Marshall Peterkin; Dennis and Charmaine Lawson; Yvonne Wilks; Gerry and Audia White; the fab Safia Cooper; the oh-so-gorgeous Carla Campbell; Miss Jamaica Universe Carolyn Yapp; and naturally, the oh-so elegantly fabulous Romae Gordon; plus a number of others!

Oh what a night it proved!

And with the music pumping, the vibes flowing and the chic out to party, Kingston's latest nightspot was abuzz with celebrity and high-society's allure. It made for a most wonderful outing!