Enter Lady Georgia Campbell

What a treat is in store for northern New South Wales as one of England's Grande Dames Lady Georgia Campbell is to grace our shores as a contestant in the British reality program I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Whispers knows Georgia fairly well and have been to many parties with the aristocrat. Indeed we once shared adjoining seats on a Lear jet owned by Saudi mega billionaire Adnan Khashoggi, on a flight to Monaco to attend a gala party on his sumptuous yacht The Nambila (Whispers was writing a social column at the time for a European magazine owned by Khashoggi.)

Campbell's history has been well covered in the past in articles like this. Born in Jamaica she married Lord Colin Campbell the son of the Duke of Argyle but the marriage only lasted 14 months. Since then she has written hugely successful books about the British Royals. Georgia now lives in a petite townhouse in London's Kennington with the 2 young Russian boys she adopted - Mischa and Dima who were whisked away from Moscow poverty to be brought up amongst minor British aristocracy



More recently Georgia featured on the Aussie TV show Ladette to Lady where her good friend publicist Liz Brewer -left, (Liz was married to Australian John Rendall of Christian the Lion fame) brought in Lady Campbell to introduce the ladettes to the British upper classes that included a successful used car dealer, an aging Count and a handful of golly gosh Hooray Henry's. What fun.
                       ***********************************************

 And the excitement just keeps coming. Manager of Double Bay's Casablanca nightclub Karim Gharbi, above- a regular fixture on these pages, has been snapped up to write a monthly lifestyle column in Maxim Australia called OZ HOT SPOTS. It pays to have several irons in the fire these days especially as the owners of the building where Casablanca is located have a proposal with Woollahra Council to turn the building into private apartments

VIPs Only !

You have to hand it you nightclub entrepreneur Karim Gharbi who rules the roost at Double Bay's Casablanca nightclub. His new VIP venture is a much needed service for Sydney : the concept is a one-stop-shop for anyone that wants the very best this city has to offer. Whether it's a Lear Jet on standby, the best suite at one of this cities luxurious hotels, the best table at our world renowned restaurants or just perhaps the latest Rolls Royce to ferry you from point to point, Gharbi promises to smooth the way. And we love his 5 day cosmetic package that will rejuvenate the most jaded.
How appropriate that Karim should launch his business at the amazing Penthouse at the Top of The Town in Kings Cross.
The above vista is just part of the sensational view from one of Sydney's secret party spots. And yes, the Roller with the open doors greeted us upon arrival. No, the pushbike does not belong to Whispers (we walked) but we can report that magnums of Moet & Chandon flowed for one of Sydney's best parties of the year. Whispers approved. And we aren't even VIPS!. Russian oligarchs should form an orderly queue.

Growing Up

It doesn't seem that long ago when the 'scandal' erupted in Australia that billionaire Dick Pratt had fathered a daughter with the vivacious socialite and lawyer Shari Lea Hitchcock.

Now 17 years old, Paula Sarah Hitchcock was spotted out on the town this week with mum Shari-Lea and a school chum at the launch of Karim Gharbi's VIP venture hosted at the swish Penthouse at the Top of The Town in Darlinghurst.

Polish born Pratt who died in 2009 left a tidy sum to Paula that includes over $22M, a $7M Watsons Bay house on Sydney's harbour and a country property. Paula, who looks  like her late dad, is set to become a fixture on the Sydney circuit.

Sin City Sensation

 It's never dull in Sydney which in it's long and varied career has been called Sin City and once had a reputation as the "Chicago of The South Seas" due to it's fierce gang rivalries.

Where else could noted Captains Of Industry be found battling in smart Woolloomooloo restaurants or even a Bondi street when media moguls James Packer and David Gyngel engaged in clumsy fisticuffs (over a woman?) and now the latest bunfight that involved another media name John Singleton (worth a reputed $300M) and hamburger giant Jack Cowan (worth over $900M) who doubles up as a director of the huge Fairfax Media outlets.
There was even a claim the dust-up that had an excited Singleton, who from all accounts attacked Cowan over an alleged sleight to his drinking preference- rose wine instead of a butch beer - that it was the lack of female companions that caused the fisticuffs.
The last time Whispers encountered the amiable Singleton was at the launch of his new Balmain bar (pictured with pal, former PM Bob Hawke) and before that was when he hosted the launch, along with Paris Hilton of his Bondi Blonde Beer at the uber smart Icebergs Restaurant.

above : bringing urban sophistication to Sydney: Karim Gharbi and a bevy of beauties

How timely then that nightclub boss Karim Gharbi should be launching his new VIP venture tonight at an exclusive party at an inner city penthouse (we'll be there). His services surely will be in demand for visiting VIPs and even local ones who wish to avoid the pitfalls that see them on the front pages of the nation's tabloids.

Newtown wants Cate Blanchett

Newtown

Cate at the Sydney Theatre Company

The decline of Sydney's King Cross and the legendary 'Golden Gay Mile' of nearby Oxford Street is having unexpected consequences. Double Bay as we reported previously is becoming the location for smart nightclubs like Karim Gharbi's Casablanca and the Pelicano Bar.
But Newtown, the densely populated suburb much favoured by students at the nearby Sydney University is positively booming.
The main street is packed with restaurants of all stripes, coffee shops, gay hotels, smart and alternative boutiques along with second hand and designer furnishing stores.

Now an ambitious plan is underway to attract Oscar winner Cate Blanchett to a newly renovated theatre, The Hub which is ideally located slap bang in the centre of Newtown and directly opposite the subway station.

The Hub at various stages during it's lifetime

The property developing Vlattas family have invested $500,000 in refitting the 100 year old Vaudeville theatre that has done time as a porno cinema amongst it's varied and often sad life.
The Vlattas' are also part owners of the nearby Enmore Theatre, now the only live venue in the inner city.
Whispers attended the opening of Mel Spencer's Green Room bar next to the Enmore Theatre along with Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer (and our favourite crooner Kamahl)
left : Kamahl with Adam Spencer at the Green Room
Chris Vlattas is hoping that Blanchett who has had such a stellar success with her Sydney Theatre Company productions will take up an offer to lease the 1500 seat Hub.
                                                      *********************
The Seal Of Approval that Newtown is now a serious contender as the up and coming suburb for the smart young set surely must be the fact that Australia's most ambitious and successful nightclub entrepreneur Justin Hemmes has purchased the nearby Queen Victoria Hotel in Enmore for $11M. below Justin Hemmes & his new purchase

Kings Cross loss = Double Bay's gain

 Kings Cross' controversial 'lock-out laws' are crucifying nightlife in the famous Sydney night spot suburb (although strip clubs are still thriving) but aiding nearby suburbs not covered by the laws. The gay 'golden mile' of Oxford Street is also finding the going difficult with empty premises popping up overnight. The once vibrant street that contained more gay and lesbian nightclubs during the 80s & 90s per square mile that any other city on the planet is slowly dying. Meanwhile the Cross had, as of yesterday, 45 empty premises available for rent.Benefiting is the harbour side suburb of Double Bay just 2 miles from the Cross which is now booming with packed pubs on the weekend and 2 notable nightclubs that are filled to the rafters from Thursday to Sunday. Local restaurants are often booked out and coffee shops-there are nearly 100 in the Bay alone- are well patronised. Pictured above :  Karim Gharbi & Michael Clarke

Casablanca

The Pelicano restaurant and bar is the venue of choice for the so-called smart set but Casablanca run by Karim Gharbi is giving it a run for it's money. As our exclusive pic shows, recently retired Aussie cricket captain Michael Clarke celebrated his 34th birthday at the venue on Thursday evening.

Pelicano Restaurant & Bar

Oxford Street (left) full of empty shops while Kings Cross' strip joints are surviving

Play It Sam

The Shuttle's spy disguised as a multi-coloured cocktail umbrella at the glitzy new Double Bay nightclub Casablanca tells us there were a few ruffled feathers over the latest LattéLife Newspaper edition which pictured the club's manager Karim Gharbi surrounded by a bevy of beauties in it's What's Hot & What's Not page labeling the snap as "cringeworthy".
 Having worked in New York and London as a publicist for some pretty big names, the Shuttle was taught at early age : all publicity is good as long as the name is spelt correctly.
Apparently Karim has now seen the light and the value of such excellent publicity. Indeed it's a pretty handsome snap and Karim looks his always elegant self and if they are the staff members a customer would find in Casablanca- success is assured.


 However we haven't heard yet what the reaction has been from the delectable Laura Csorton who appears in the same newspaper with an opinion writer questioning Laura's decision to sponsor Harpic which is - a toilet cleaner.
Let's face it, if you look like Laura you can sell anything !

# The quote "Play it again Sam" is a common mistake made about the classic film Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart never actually said the words but Ingrid Bergman did say "play it Sam".

Croatian Get-Together

 

Many of the retailers in Sydney's historic Rocks area may be complaining about rising rents and plunging tourists numbers but Charles Billich's art gallery in the old Sailor's Home is thriving. Billich played host this week to Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Croatia's first lady Sanja. Billich was born in Lovran, Italy which is now part of Croatia and emigrated to Australia in the 1960s. No word yet on whether Croatia's PM realised that many of Charles's more erotic works are based on wife Krista Billich who was there to meet the couple. Several years ago the Shuttle came across a glittering ballroom event at the old Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast where hundreds of art lovers had queued to purchase Billich prints. Lying on a chaise lounge on the stage was Krista, totally nude with legs akimbo as Charles sketched her whilst guests sipped champagne and looked on in awe. Talk about great marketing !

*************************

Excitement is brimming over the soon to open new nightclub in Double Bay located in the old

Hungarian Restaurant in Bellevue Road under the auspices of restaraunter Karim  Gharbi (left-he calls his promotions company KGB). By co-incidence Karim is a great pal of the Billichs with Gharbi recently nursing Charles through a bout of ill-health. No expense is to be spared and one of Australia's top designers and man-about-town Alex Zabotto-Bentley right has been called in to work on the interiors and the theme- Casablanca !. Maybe they can pick up a few tips from this vid...

Designing Woman

"When in doubt, redesign the client ".
That's a quote from the excellent architectural writer on the Sydney Morning Herald, Elizabeth Farrelly one of our most ardent critics of the property developers who have blighted the Sydney skyline with ghastly concrete and glass monstrosities.

The term came to mind at last night's party at Charles Billich's Art Bar for Bondi fashion designer Tahli Jatali.



another Billich art work !

The Shuttle was there by mistake.

Collared earlier in the day by Art Bar manager Karim Gharbi ( who calls his PR company KGB), your hard of hearing scribe thought he was inviting us to a bash for Tupou .

That's His Royal Majesty George Tapou V, the King of Tonga. He is, after all a guest in town of  Charles and wife Christa Billich. Charles is painting his official portrait.

We knew we were at the wrong party when a reams of 20 somethings piled in.



Dr Wayne Young & friend

Amongst them was the Harley Street trained Dr Wayne M.Young , who runs the FreshFace Clinic.

 Dr Young as a precocious 6 year old child in South Africa often informed his mother when she frowned at him, that her  wrinkles could become permanent if the wind changed. He knew he had found his calling.

He scolded the Shuttle when we told him his fame as a plastic surgeon of note had spread far and wide. Channelling Dame Edna Everage and her 'face furniture' gorgeous sets of spectacles, he sniffed -" I am a face designer !".

We noticed another guest when she sailed by tailed by a film crew.



J'anus McG

 Her name, rather intrigingly was J'anus McG. J'anus was wearing a snappy short dress and at the back there appeared to be a sales tag hanging from the zipper. Upon informing her young J'anus responded :

" Oh I'm a celebrity and designers lend me clothes to wear at parties. I have to show the designer's tag so people know who made the creation".

The clever name of the designer of this particular frock appeared to be: $299 (including sales tax). Upon further enquiry J'anus tells us her current show biz career involves  "holding up signs on Deal or No Deal".

Justin Melvey

There was one 'major' celebrity-the very handsome Justin Melvey, ex Home & Away and Bold & The Beautiful star. Justin is staring on a new cable TV series on Foxtel titled The Phone and says he has a Hollywood film role lined up in 2011 opposite Gwyneth Paltrow.



the KGB prunes

 Finally it was time for Tahli Jatali to arrive. She had been circling the block for 30 minutes with a team of models in 3 Lamborghini's. Tahli wanted to ensure there was a maximum of guests to greet her spectacular arrival.

Manager Karim of the KGB helpfully herded a few dozen guests towards the front door to give the appearance of a crowd and then attacked the over-hanging foliage of a tree outside in order that the Lamborghini's could easily slip beneath.

Tahli alighted, rather clumsily from the low slung vehicles and lined up with a few models in bikinis all wearing very dark sunglasses.

We took our leave as 2 feverish paparazzi repeatedly yelled "looking this way please'..all eyes this way !"

                                                                ***************

On the subject of  'face designing' we would like to present a series of snaps from our sister site,

 New York Social Diary run be the excellent veteran journalist David Patrick Columbia.

What strikes us about these gorgeous ladies who lunch in the Big Apple is the marvellous freshness of face and their natural beauty, No need for face designing with this lot !