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.

We're Back !

A week in the sun on a sensational Fiji island. What bliss, followed by 3 days of some strange stomach bug contacted-we think- on the return flight of an airline we shall not name.
Sadly our New Year's Resolutions were not heeded. The ones we made for others. As always the Daily Telegraph is obsessed with the Ibrahim family with endless gushing stories of this family whose rise in Kings Cross over the past few years has mirrored the downfall of the wonderful and diverse nightclub area of Sydney.

There are other guilty parties though.

Hey guys- when Abe Saffron (right)  Mr Sin, ran the Cross he kept a very low profile. Very. The Shuttle met the Ibrahims many moons ago in The Tunnel, their first nightclub. It was at a PR promotion for something or other and they eagerly begged to be in the social pages (at the time we worked for one of Sydney's Sunday newspapers.) After pleasantries we politely declined. Since then they have risen to great heights aided by a few social writers who should know better. It will all end in tears.

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.

Marnie's Showcase

One highlight of the Mercedes Fashion Week was the photographic exhibition held by one of our most talented designers Marnie Skillings at her boutique in Glenmore Road Paddington.

blondes greet

Marnie with Michelle Jank

TO celebrate the launch of her new collection titled Trait, Marnie turned  her shop into an art gallery to showcase 10 portraits of inspirational women including Sophie Lee, musician Julia Stone and shoe designer Terry Biviano.

Skillings is known for her feminine, romantic and sophisticated  pieces and has a confirmed following of fans who limo straight to her boutique when in town- including  Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Julia Stone, Abbie Cornish and Paris Hilton who shopped there recently during her visit to launch the Marquee nightclub at the Star casino.


left : Marnie Skillings and one of her very best creations-(an unimpressed) Kosta. 
right : Marnie's designs

    the portrait of Julia Stone

                                                                    

                                                            

Falling Stars

Will-I-Am & Ashlee Simpson arrive on Wednesday for the Marquee openiung.

Relaxing in our rural retreat for the weekend, our spy disguised as a B-List sleb ventured into no-man's land, Darling Harbour for the much trumpeted "VIP" celebrity opening of Star Casino's Marquee nightclub.

The original architects of Star City say they operated under directions from a Feng Shui Master which may explain the millions in profits that have been generated for it's owners over the years but did they sack the Feng Shui consultant for the latest "billion dollar" makeover?. Things are going from bad to worse for the gambling joint despite the millions of dollars they have forked over for celebrities like Leo Di Caprio and the Black Eyed Peas to put in personal appearances.
Elton John stormed out of the casino's new penthouse suite after one day last year and fled to the Sheraton On The Park, vowing never to return and the on-going political dramas over the sacking of the casino boss, Las Vegas import Sid Vaikunta will get much worse.
Last night's appearance by Paris Hilton, surely on the slippery slope to celebrity oblivion was a major mistake and basically set the tone for the glitzy nightclub. Why it thinks it needs a "VIP Entrance" is a mystery. Getting patrons through he main door will be a struggle let alone those who pass as VIPs in this town.
Hilton's appearance at Bondi barely caused a ripple and noticeably absent were the paparazzi. They were largely absent for last night's launch as well. And as late as 6pm the club managers were desperately phoning around agents looking for a magician to entertain the VIPs.

A Paris Autumn

Taking in the gorgeous Autumn weather today at Bondi, the Shuttle came across "party girl" Paris Hilton who is town for the opening of Star casino's Marquee club tonight......

No Longer Keeping Up With The Kardashians

As Kim Kardahsian and sister Chloe Hardashian do their round of media appointments today, requesting that their...errr.. 'privacy'..be respected over Kim's marriage split up (Mum Kris Jenner is doing likewise in the USA and scoffing at rumours Kim's ring is worth $2M.."only half that") one must wonder who has organised this PR tour as the calamities keep piling up.

It's either a total stuff-up or Hollywood PR at it's best. As you can see by viewing footage here.

Last night the sisters went to the Icebergs restaurant at Bondi Beach, again a wonderful spot but not the best place to avoid the media as their minder's infer as they keep angrily hissing at the assembled paparazzi : one who actually said, clipboard in hand,"how did you find us here..leave us alone?"

Icebergs

This was the spot brilliant advertising guru John Singleton chose to launch his Bondi Blonde Beer in 2006 (like Australia really needs another beer!) with then 'it' girl Paris Hilton in tow. He later sold the beer brand for a huge profit 4 years later.

The Shuttle went to the party and made it through the mayhem on a Saturday afternoon. Unwisely we chose to leave just as Paris Hilton left and got caught up in complete chaos, being shoved against Hilton's waiting limousine that had all doors open waiting for Singleton and Paris to make a quick exit..

Hundreds of tourists had blocked the roadway and restaurant entrance and as 2 heavy minders gradually made their way to the limo with Hilton, they first had to remove an almost stereotype Japanese tourist, cameras strung around his neck who was now sitting in the back of the limousine, casually inspecting shopping bags from Paris's Paddington shopping spree that morning !

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Meanwhile John Singleton, whose exploits have built him a $100M fortune by correctly gauging the Australian psyche-if we didn't know Paul Hogan's larrikan personality was the real deal you could be forgiven for thinking he was a Singleton invention-has escaped censure by the local Woollahra council having re-painted his newly purchased Bellevue Hotel in Paddington without council permission.

Bellevue Hotel

Facing a $3000 fine the council have agreed to waive the fine if Singleton re-paints the pub in  'acceptable"colours within the month.
A similar event happened in London in 2005 when he arrrived at his daughter's Notting Hill house unannounced, and not finding her home, had her front door re-painted red as a surprise. The local council ordered the door be re-painted it's original colour.

The pub re-paint is part of Singleton's promotion of the Gut Foundation, just one charitable cause the generous Singleton donates to which are a diverse lot- from paying legal bills of incarcerated asylum seekers, Rev Bill Crews Exodus Foundation  and almost too many to name..
Sadly, John who has been married 5 times has just split from his girlfriend Yvette Hartmann.

Poppy, Paris, J.K & Anne

Poppy Montgomery

Press Association (c)

As Chancellor of Edinburgh University, Princess Anne was on hand too present Harry Potter author J.K.Rowling with a Benefactors Award.
Rowling donated $15M to the University to establish a new Multiple Sclerosis (MS)unit. Rowing is pretty generous with her donations but considering she has an $1B fortune she can probably afford to be. Her mother died of MS in 1990.  It was on a slow train journey that she conceived of the idea of Potter traveling to a Hogwarts. Which gives a whole new meaning to British rail delays.

Hilton giving the money while she was in Mumbai.PIC/SATYAJIT DESAI

Meanwhile Australian actress Poppy Montgomery is to play Rowling in an unauthorised bio-pic of the writer detailing her rise to fame from an impoverished single mum to the world's richest author.

And Paris Hilton has caused a family squabble when she handed a $100 note to a beggar in Mumbai. The unfortunate lady who handed it to her brother-in-law to exchange for local currency set off a fight that ended with the note being torn into pieces.

Paris just tweeted :

ParisHilton 

How can I reach this woman & send her even more in her currency? Can whoever interviewed her tweet me please? 

1 hour ago

 

See, even party girls have their little problems. 

Reality Bites For Glam Pair

They're a couple who live a glamorous life-attending the right parties and swanning about with plenty of baubles and toys.

Oliver Curtis & Roxy Jacenko

Roxy Jacenko is one of Sydney's top publicists and her boyfriend 25 year old Oliver Curtis, son of one of the countries top corporate high fliers is a young man about town-good looking and seemingly rolling in money.

She drives an Aston Martin, he the latest Range Rover.

They just bought a $6.6M house in chic Woollahra and Roxy has been sporting a $200,000 engagement ring.

She wore it the Cleo Bachelor Of The Year bash she organised at Ivy last week and at the Hermes beach party at Nielsen Park in February.

Roxy runs the top PR firm- Sweaty Betty and she and her equally gorgeous sister Ruby Jacenko have been likened as an Antipodean answer to  Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky.



Ruby Jacenko

The Shuttle mentioned in it's report on the Hermes' party that although the pair looked jovial, Oliver may soon face some sort of enquiry in respect of his pal John Hartman, son of society obstetrician Dr Keith Hartman, who was jailed for 4 and half years last December for insider trading.
Now the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the enquiry may soon be under way. It's claimed that Hartmann who confessed to making nearly $2M profit from his illegal enterprise may have passed on financial information to Curtis so he could benefit.

 Hartmann is in protective custody and it's reported has agreed to give evidence against Curtis.
Read more at the SMH.

                    




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Model Mischief

 The drama following the gaff made by host of the show, Sarah Murdoch in the announcement of the winner of the 2010 Australia's Next Top Model has been on-going

Feathers are flying in the modelling world after the top agency Priscilla's was dumped from the up-coming series and replaced by Chic run by the legendary agent Ursula Hufnagl who manages Miranda Kerr.

Taking over the reins as producer of the show Sarah ditched the production company Granada Media Australia and hired her sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch's  new TV production vehicle Shine. It's the sort of thing you can do when dad-in-law Rupert and husband Lachlan own most of the cable network the show features on.
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When gap toothed Victoria's Secret model Jessica Hart  scored the prestige job as top model in the Myer's G'Day Australia USA fashion spectacular in Los Angeles, she was at first reluctant to take the offer having just returned from working in the US.

However a financial offer made  by Myers sealed the deal. It was the kind that she couldn't refuse. Now there are rumblings in the huge Myer Emporium about whether former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins will continue in her role this year as ambassador for the chain store.

Miranda Kerr with a new bub to look after and under contract to the David Jones chain won't be attending this year's summer/spring collections.

Insiders are saying Myers are looking for a knock out blow to take DJ's fashion crown. Step forward Jessica.

The Shuttle's spies in New York report the gap-toothed beauty also has an ulterior motive for the trip back to the States. She has been getting up close and personal with  Stavros Niarchos who has had an on and off affair with Paris Hilton over the past few years and that has turned into a full blown affair with Niarchos begging Jessica to return to the US, according to friends.
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Billionaire James Packer's $45M Vaucluse  mansion ( right) is steaming ahead with massive earth-shifting machines digging deep into sandstone in preparation for an underground garage to house 13 vehicles, staff quarters and a huge swimming pool and presumably a kiddie's pen for children Indigo and Jackson.

James appears to be determined to dispense with all shreds of his father Kerry Packer's empire. Having sold off his dad's beloved Channel Nine network and the ACP magazine publishing titles that filled the Packer coffers, James has now purchased a controlling interest in the Ten TV network.

the Bondi Beach pad

When father Kerry died  James inherited a $6B fortune and lost a billion in just six months. He still lives in the sprawling Packer Bellevue Hill complex-2 mansions surrounded by the grounds of 2 more that were purchased and demolished, and his 3 storey apartment that he built directly opposite Bondi Beach.

The Vaucluse house, which James spent $18M on buying 3 houses to knock down and build the ultimate play pad will be ready in about 18 months time.

Meanwhile there was a rumour being touted at the Hobart to Sydney yacht race in January that the Z-Sydney, the luxury gin palace owned by James Packer that has played host to Hollywood movie stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is for sale with James shopping for a new vessel and in talks with the ship yard that built the world's second biggest 'super' yacht, Al Said for Sultan Qaboos of Oman . In 2007 Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes also joined James and wife Erica aboard their luxury converted minesweeper the  Arctic P on their Mediterranean cruise after their Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc wedding.

read more at 'PS' in the Sydney Morning Herald.

More Legal Woes For Hermes' Boss

Gary Baker

Karin

They were financially devastated by the economic meltdown when their property empire went bust.
Now Sydney's high profile socialites Karin Upton Baker, the Managing Director of the fashion label Hermes and her husband Gary Baker have been summonsed to appear in court.

Troubles began for the pair when they failed to purchase every apartment in a Bondi block with spectacular views over the beach. They had planned to turn the 1920's style flats into luxury condominiums. As property values rocketed,  the remaining tenants demanded multi-million dollar prices for their unconverted flats directly opposite the uber smart Bondi Icebergs restaurant, favourite watering hole of the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Paris Hilton.

Elizabeth Bay Duplex

 The liquidator of Baker's company Montpelier seized the block to re-pay finance companies but some of the flats have been selling for up to two million dollars less than the Bakers paid for them. Now that liquidator has summonsed both to appear in the Supreme Court in February 2011.

Karin is battling to remain in her sumptuous Elizabeth Bay duplex that has hosted some of Sydney smartest parties for celebrities like Giorgio Armani and Elle McPherson. The pair owe $18M to the finance company Perpetual and Challenger Managed Investments who are trying to evict them from the house before it is sold by private treaty.

gone!

The pair have already auctioned  their fleet of sleek black cars that were housed in the heated garage of the duplex that boasts a turntable and an elevator into the living area.

Amongst them was Karin's favourite  vintage Pagoda style Mercedes along with a Bentley Continental and a Rolls Royce Phantom all with distinctive XXX number plates.

Paris Hilton Vs Perez Hilton

 Update :  "RADAR EXCLUSIVE: Paris Owns Purse That Appears Identical To One She Claimed Was Borrowed Night Of Cocaine Arrest"
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By Twitter :

ParisHilton
  Love this site, it's nice reading the truth instead of these invented stories on other blogs. Check it out - http://tinyurl.com/283qyug

Paris Hilton isn't happy with Kim Kardishan or the gossiper Perez Hilton. That's if you believe the website

Paris Hilton is HUGE  which gets Ms Hilton's seal of approval with her above tweet earlier tonight. 

According to the site:

"Paris Hilton would never jeopardize her career by doing cocaine. We believe her and know exactly what it feels like to be tangled in a mix-up to that degree, all too well. That is another story, for another time, on another blog! This is about Paris! "

On Kim Kardashian the site says : "To add salt to this HUGE wound, Paris Hilton former friend, or should we say leech, was on Jay Leno’s late night show talking bad about her. This is what she had to say about Paris Hilton’s run-in with the law:"

And another former friend Perez Hilton comes in for a serve : "Enough is enough Mario! We think it is disgusting you are using Microsoft’s Paint application to deface Paris Hilton’s photo’s for your posts, mock her, and jump on the Anti-Paris Hilton bandwagon, when you were just butt-kissing a few months prior. 

If it were not for Paris Hilton or your stalkerish ways to get into her inner circle, you would be a TRAGIC waste of space living in your mother’s house."

Our favourite piece :

"Paris Hilton’s recent run-in with the Las Vegas P.D., has been keeping the internet full of made-up stories and rumors. We absolutely hate it! The latest rumor that has spun completely out of control, is that Paris Hilton thought that the cocaine that was found in the purse, was gum.

Yes! Chewing gum that has be around since the dawn of time. This is so disrespectful to Paris Hilton intelligence as a human being. This blog’s owner has shed tears about this, and spoken to her family about it.

So the cocaine that Paris says wasn't in the handbag she was carrying ...that she says wasn't her handbag but a friend's ....didn't have gum in it..and that gum was actually..err ..cocaine!. Wonderful. 

read more of this madness here.

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a must read:

NYC's Golden Gossip Era Fades

in The Village Voice

Great Minds Think Alike # 2

Following our Twitter tale about Paris Hilton and her day in Las Vegas that included a hairdressing appointment , a radio interview and a night in front of the telly watching A Family Guy ( with a police arrest for cocaine possession in between) the UK Daily Mail has taken up the theme :

Paris Hilton's latest mug shot

The moment Paris Hilton was busted for possession of cocaine in Las Vegas

A Day In The Life of Paris Hilton

  A day with Paris Hilton in Las Vegas via twitter :

ParisHilton

  

Going to bed. Sweet dreams everyone. Xoxo Paris :) about 7 hours ago via mobile web
 

ParisHilton

  

In bed watching Family Guy. Love this show.! So hilarious! Stewie is my favorite :) love his accent. about 7 hours ago via mobile web


ParisHilton

  

Hey Las Vegas! Turn on Channel 3 News Now xox about 11 hours ago via mobile web
ParisHilton

  

RT AliciaJacobs @PARISHILTON speaks exclusively 2 me about her awful home invasion! 11pm..KSNV on Channel 3 about 12 hours ago via mobile web  
 
ParisHilton

  

At Color Salon with @AliciaJacobs, she is so pretty and sweet. Love her! :) about 14 hours ago via mobile web   

ParisHilton
 
 What a beautiful day laying by the pool. Love life! about 19 hours ago via web


Some time between the The Color Salon and The Family Guy Paris got busted for cocaine !.

Zsa Zsa fading fast

Zsa Zsa & Frederick

The words 'high camp' could have been invented for her and she's been a Hollywood stalwart for decades with her 'Hello Darlink" greeting in her Hungarian accent. Sadly the wonderful Zsa Zsa Gabor is quietly slipping away according to her ninth husband Frederick Prinz von Anhal. 

At 93 years of age, 2 days ago Zsa Zsa was admitted to the  Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a fall following hip surgery. Today she summonsed a priest to perform the last rites.

Born  Sári Prinzessin von Anhalt in Hungary in 1917 into a Jewish family with 2  famous sisters, Eva and Magda, Zsa Zsa began her show business career as an opera singer in Vienna before Hollywood beckoned and along the way, a string of husbands. She had one child to her 2nd husband, the hotel baron Conrad Hilton (great grandfather of Paris Hilton) which she claimed was the result of a rape by Hilton.

Always tongue in cheek, Gabor has never taken herself seriously and is famous for some of her quips. Once asked during a TV interview about the high number of marriages she responded "I was always a good housekeeper-every time I divorced I kept the house ".

In 1989 she famously slapped the face of a Beverley Hills cop who Zsa Zsa said had been exceptionally rude to her whilst writing out a speeding ticket. Sentenced to 3 days in jail, she proved so popular with fellow inmates they launched a petition for Zsa Zsa to spend more time in a cell.

The Shuttle was privileged to meet Gabor once at a dinner party at London's Embassy Club in honour of the British actor Richard Johnston given by Zsa Zsa's good friend, the London society maven Lady Edith Foxwell. At the time Lady Edith-then in her 60s was dating a 22 year old Caribbean boy.

"You won't be able to bring him to Beverley Hills " said Zsa Zsa to Edith loudly across the table of 20 guests. Lady Edith responded by hurling a bread roll at Zsa Zsa and a (literal ) bun fight began with Zsa Zsa eventually storming out.

Lady Edith said Gabor later relented and invited her and her black boyfriend to stay in LA for 6 weeks. One day whilst admiring the beautiful gardens in Zsa Zsa's mansion Edith asked which husband she got the house from.  

Zsa Zsa responded " I can't quite remember- 5th or 6th ?.. but I know he was immensely rich"

They don't make them like the Gabor sisters anymore. Send your prayers to Zsa Zsa as she ails in hospital.

Zsa Zsa in 'Queens From Outer Space" followed by husband Freddie naked in his car !



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Tweet of the day : yokoono I woke up in a room in my parents’ summer house It was in Japan. I was seventeen. about 1 hour ago.

Tweet of the Day !

We bring you the mindless tweets so you don't have to bother-
 
ParisHilton

  

Been at the "Happiest Place on Earth" since this morning! I Love Disneyland! Having the best time ever! :) It's so much fun being a kid. ;) 41 minutes ago via UberTwitter


 
russellcrowe

  

begging tweets,whingeing tweets,negative tweets about 2 hours ago via web  



justinbieber

  

EVERYONE GO FOLLOW MY BOY @TLANEZ HES SOO TALENTED. about 2 hours ago via web  




maxmarkson

  

Hanging with Dick Smith at Terrey Hills.. You? about 2 hours ago via web  
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Twit of the Day !

No guesses-first prize goes to designer Alannah Hill for her 'grope' gaffe at the David Jones spring fashion show ( see story below) Yes that's we thought...24 hours is all it will take for the penny to drop !

Read it here.