JONIQUE GAYNOR, Staff Reporter
Patrons get down at Blink All-Inclusive Party, held at the Hybrid's Temple Hall Estate, Temple Hall, St. Andrew on Sunday. - WINSTON SILL
Intermittent showers, a muddy parking lot, wet grass and a soaked dancefloor. Sounds like the recipe for a tasty, mouth-watering flop, right? Well, not quite. This was the scene at the ultra all- inclusive Blink, 'The All-White Holiday', held on Christmas day at the Temple Hall Estate. Though the party only came alive at near 2 a.m, patrons did not allow the wet weather to dampen their spirits and partied like their lives depended on it.
White lights strung around trees and in shrubs added to the appeal of the already stunning venue, and white tents housing food and drink stations, completed the all-white theme. The few patrons who were present at midnight stood around mingling and sipping drinks that flowed freely all night .
As part of the all-inclusive package, patrons were exposed to a seemingly inexhaustible supply of food and drink. Mixed drinks and a variety of other beverages kept thirsts quenched and 'vibes' flowing, while Lorraine Fung provided tasty treats. Grills blazed and oil sizzled as the food was prepared before the eyes of the patrons. Fung attempted to take patrons on a culinary tour of the island with her 'taste of Jamaica' theme. The menu was predominantly Jamaican but was infused with Italian and Oriental influences. The tents offered a variety of tastes influenced by popular Jamaican eating spots. The taste of Port Royal for example, offered succulent seafood while a taste of Faiths Pen provided true Jamaican delights like roasted yam and saltfish.
As time wore on, more supporters filed in with many adhering to the all-white dress code. Most men chose crisp, white buttoned shirts while the females went Bohemian chic with jeweled tops and flowing skirts. Of course there were the deviants who chose to wear black and even red.
Just as the party was taking shape with host DJ Adrenalyn from Miami unleashing retro hits like Bounty Killer's Anytime, a burst of heavy rain sent patrons running for cover. The party soon resumed however, with a string of classic hip hop hits including the Ruff Ryder's Anthem and Jay-Z's Hard Knock Life. DJ Adrenalyn followed up with with a string of dance hits sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Though most seemed to be enjoying the vibe, some patrons felt that the rain caused several persons to stay away, resulting in a turnout that paled in comparison to that of former years. One patron told THE STAR, "I'm disappointed by the turn out, but I had to come, it's an event I support every year." Another commended the promoters saying, "The food and everything is good, it's just that the rain tek whe from di crowd, but that's nobody's fault."
Patrons began filing out after 4 a.m., but surely with their stomachs filled and well 'juiced up'. Though the crowd was less than was anticipated and even amid a steady, constant drizzle, Blink refused to be killed and made a commendable rebound from a not so promising start.
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