Dining under the Moon

It's starts under the sun. The inaugural Moveable Feast on the sands of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. From the entrepreneurs who gave us the acclaimed Diner en Blanc Sydney, A Moveable Feast was the first of four in a new series of dining experiences set to take place in 2016.

 In attendance were a number of A-list Sydney and international personalities such as Natasha Oakley, Devin Brugman, Kris Smith, Maddy King, Natalie Roser, Laura Csortan, Tim Holmes a Court, Daimon Downey and of course the Bondi Rescue boys.

Lauren Murdoch of Sydney Opera House Concourse venues designed the  menu, presented in the form of a picnic hamper for two with picked Alaskan crab salad with potato, pea, celery heart and tarragon, poached chicken with roasted eggplant, du puy lentils, eggplant caviar, sesame yoghurt hazelnuts and pastel meringue kisses among other culinary delights.  Yum ! Washed down by Piper-Heidsieck. What more could a mere mortal desire?

The Star lights up for Summer !

Whispers can't really think of a better spot to party during summer than at the Terrace Rooftop Bar at The Star in Pyrmont. With sensational views as you can see above- gorgeous Laura Csortan checks it out - and lots of pretty people plus drinks & fine food with cool harbour breezes. What more could a mortal want? And the following list of lovely celebs at the launch shindig all swear they put in regular appearances and that includes Richard Wilkins, actor Dan McPherson, Laura Dundovic, singers Nathaniel & Samantha Jade. beautiful Jodi Anasta and Sally Obermeder. They're in our pictures below and most are Ambassadors for the Terrace so you can guarantee it will be a great place for star spotting. And where else can you play flamingo croquet?

 We've only just discovered this game : you pile wood bricks on top of each other and keep removing one to place at the top. And then they all fall down !. We thought it looked like fun.

 X-Factor discovery Nat Conway (right) sang at the launch: it's tad noisy but that's because folks were having so much fun !! Below : Richard Wilkins captures the action on the Flamingo Croquet pitch.

 

Selfie Attacks at Terminator Genisys

And so to the George Street cinema complex for the preview screening of Terminator Genisys. It's an action pscked movie-if you like that sort of thing- and  Arnold Schwarzenegger was still in top form as he first avoided one fan tickling his chin, posed for a few selfies & then the dreaded selfie stick emerged. Below :some of the glamour puss' who also attended the evening.

Jade Albany    *    Pia Muehlenbeck   *   Laura Csortan   *    Fleur Egan    *    Sasha Simone 

Weight Watchers

AFTER BANNING LARA BINGLE from his parade, designer Alex Perry is now flagellating himself after yesterday's opening parade for Sydney's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Perry has said that using ultra thin supermodel Cassi Van Den Dungen was a mistake.
As our snap shows Cassi does look rather gaunt although the camera can fib. Alex appeared on the 9 Network's Morning Show and told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson that it "was a mistake" after looking at photos from the show.
Mia Freedom has bought into the debate on Mammia, describing the parade as The Hunger Games while Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank has expressed concerns over Cassi's health. Van Den Dungen helpfully Instagramed a snap of her lunch which seems to consist of 2 croissants, water and a hugely unhealthy energy drink- not the sort of thing to be recommending to young girls who may be following her career.
The obsession with thinness is always evident during Fashion Weak and anyone who has shopped with a larger lady as the Shuttle did last week knows how ridiculous it has all become. Looking for larger lingerie at both Myer & David Jones in Bondi's Westfield proved fruitless (and just finding an assistant was like Stanley discovering Dr Livingstone) Racks and racks of unsold stock- thin stock -was on display yet nothing for the average sized or above, woman as most Australian women are. 
Yet in the specialty shop Storm In A D Cup just down the road in Edgecliff they were doing a roaring trade with an assistant who not only knew her stock intimately but took over $3000 in the half hour we spent there. There are lessons all round which are bound to be ignored.
 Tomorrow : SORTING OUT LAURA CSORTAN

Pretty Pictures

Some lovely snaps of some very pretty people at a London party. No Terri Biviano or Laura Csortan at this bash and not one Alex Perry frock in sight !. That's a sure sign you ain't in Kansas any longer. And we're overjoyed to see Baz Luhrman's Great Gatsby has finally had an influence on British fashion- or is it Mary Poppins?. 
The do was for Rimmel, one of the world’s oldest beauty brands who reckon they are the fashion-forward inventor of the hip London look and have been since 1834. The party was hosted at the London Film Museum in Covent Garden and as you can see from the gorgeous models below, they dipped into the Museum's drag box.

Rita Ora, Kate Moss and Georgia May Jagger ... also with James Brown              Fiona Young and Kyle De'volle

party guests !                  all pics by David M.Bennett image.net

Party Rivals see in the New Year

Catalina in Rose Bay                                                                Bondi Icebergs

Paris Hilton at Icebergs in 2007

Ever since Paris Hilton and then boyfriend Stavros Niarchos III attended the first New Year's Day charity bash at Bondi  Icebergs in 2007 it's been the recovery party for January 1st but a new competitor looks like stealing Iceberg's thunder. 

Damion Downey

Catalina in Rose Bay threw an almost identical party hosted by musician Damion Downey formerly of Sneaky Sound System . With his party partner Tim Holmes a'Court they pulled in around 300 guests, about the same number that attended the Bondi Bash.

Catalina's was slightly marred by the discovery of a body floating beneath the pier the previous day, the result of  tragic boating accident but with it's expansive view and large dining room it's certainly a comfortable venue.

Chris Brown

Chris Joannou * Laura Csortan

At the Icebergs and sipping on Veuve Clicquot: Dan Single and girlfriend Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Kings Cross nightclub mogul John Ibrahim, Charlotte Dawson and Brian McFadden with Vogue Williams.
At Catalina swilling Pommery and lunching on pancakes and duck sauce-the newly trimmed billionaire James Packer taking a series of intense looking phone calls and wife Erica, Laura Csortan and boyfriend Chris Joannou from Silverchair and Southeby's Justin Miller with designer Danielle Wallace-she flew in from Lake Como.
Missing in action : Kylie Minogue and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Handsome Men of Style

 Kaspar Breuker, Jake Cassar, Michel Boutin, Greg Kheel

Lisa Robertson and DJ Wippa

La Croix is one of several new decor stores that have opened in Macleay Street Potts Point which continues it's rebirth as the leafy stylish boulevarde it was from the 1920s to the late 60s when the arrival of the American Vietnam troops on R & R brought a whole new feeling to Kings Cross and an influx of hard drugs.

While nearby Darlinghurst Road now has around 50 nightclubs, strip clubs and cocktail bars operating 24 hours of the day, Macleay Street is quickly returning to it's genteel days with new fashion boutiques and restaurants opening by the week.

And an ideal spot for the men's fashion magazine Men's Style to celebrate 50 years of successful publishing with a party and a special treat- a performance from this month's cover girl Cheyenne Tozzi (above right) singing up a storm.

Benji Marshall, Zoe Balbi & Laura Csortan

Move Over Hugh Jackman-Thor Is In Town

He's could easily take the mantle of Mr Nice Guy of
the movies- Chris Hemsworth who flew into town for the opening night of Snow White & The Huntsman and wowed hundreds of waiting fans at Westfield in Bondi Junction.

Some had camped out for 8 hours to catch a glimpse of the 6' something,blue eyed, blond star and co-star Kristen Stewart and despite a publicist warning fans that Chris wouldn't be signing autographs, he spent 30 minutes doing just that.

Lincoln Younes

Michelle Bridges spots Thor

Veronicas : Jessica & Lisa

leggy Laura Csorton

A Very Stylish Party

Miranda Kerr

In Style Magazine threw their annual Ladies Of Style bash in association with Audi at the Carriageworks.

Miranda Otto

Who would miss this party?. So many beautiful ladies in one room and they come in all shapes and ages.

Needless to say, the beautiful Miranda Kerr dominated the room. She had flown in from New Zealand that morning with baby Flynn and her mother and grandmother leaving hubby Orlando Bloom behind filming The Hobbit.

Laura Csortan & Sophie Faulkner

Jessica Rowe & sister Harriet

Ricki-Lee Coulter

Miranda, wearing a powder blue Carla Zampatti gown even picked up a gong for Women Of The Year. Who would have guessed?
 The other winners: Beauty: Co-winners: Miranda Kerr and Rebecca Morrice Williams, News & Entertainment: Asher Keddie,Fashion: Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson (Easton Pearson)
Arts & Culture: Co-winners Nikki Gemmell and Lally Katz, Lifestyle: Indira Naidoo,Charity & Community: Alison Thompson, Business: Kate Weiss,Design: Liane Rossler, Environment: Abigail Forsyth

Marriage Made in Heaven

Chiswick Gardens in leafy Woollahra is one of the council's prime properties, surrounded as it is by the well heeled of the Eastern Suburbs and a stone's throw from the Consular district .

The restaurant in the gardens-Chiswick has lain dormant for some years now and after a long tender process the council has awarded the premises to one the countries best know chefs, Matt Moran and his business partner Peter Sullivan. It's a wise decision on the council's part and the pair have spent the last 18 months renovating the dining areas and adding their own vegetable garden to supply the kitchen with fresh produce.

Masterchef's Hayden Quinn

Silvia Colloca, Richard Roxborgh & Matt Moran

Anyone who has dined at Matt's Aria restaurant right next door to the Sydney Opera House will know of Matt's superb culinary skills that have made Aria the first stop of choice for visiting celebrities and tourists.

Chiswick Gardens is a bit more laid back with it's polished floors, rustic tables and superb floor to ceiling windows that open onto the gardens giving the place a light and airy feeling. Prices are reasonable and it's guaranteed to become one of the area's most popular dining spots. On Tuesday they held a launch party for regular customers.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley loves a party

Silverchair's Chris Joannou & Laura Csortan

the veggie garden

MKR's Manu Feidel & Clarissa Weerasena