A RALLY to save the Metro-Minerva Theatre Sunday 5 December from 12.30pm Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross Featuring: Marcia Hines and John Waters (original cast of HAIR) Mark Trevorrow, Catherine Alcorn, David Carroll and Christa Hughes Speakers: Alex Greenwich (Member for Sydney), Andrew Andersons AO (renowned theatre architect) Olivia Ansell (Artistic Director Sydney Festival) Media are invited to join members of the entertainment profession, supporters of heritage architecture, and concerned residents of Potts Point, at a Rally on Sunday 5 December from 12.30pm in the Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross. Fitzroy Gardens is directly opposite Orwell Street, the location of the Metro-Minerva Theatre. There is a chance that the Metro-Minerva Theatre will be sold to developers for commercial use. This stunning art deco building was once the home to many musicals including the Premiere of HAIR in 1969.

Moran Art Prize

The Moran family have at times been steeped in controversy. They also live now as a happy family unit in the extraordinary Swifts in Darling Point. Swifts, built in 1876 by Sir Robert Lucas Lucas-Tooth is possibly the most valuable house in Sydney with it's many acres.    

The Moran Art Prizes are amongst the most valuable in Australia and the awards were given out today in the beautiful Juniper Hall  (also owned by the Morans and faithfully restored) in Paddington.
Louise Herman won first prize with this stunning portrait of photographic artist Bill Henson who has also been surrounded by controversy over his work.
Alisha Staines picked up the Student Prize Year 10-11 for her photo those that don't jump will never fly (left) and below that is Emily Riley's Colour of Life the winning snap in Student Year 9-10

The exhibition of all the winning photographs and much much more is now on at Juniper Hall in Oxford Street Paddington

Right :  Bill Henson, Lewis Miller, Edmund Capon & Peter Moran with Louise Herman accepting her award.

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Cirque du Soleil opened last night in the big top at the Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios.

Attending as our snap shows: actress Claudia Karvan and her son, Alex Greenwich MP and Sharri Markson the Media Editor on the Australian Newspaper.

Gay News, Dame Marie and Deviants

She has been one of the most loved reps of Her Maj : Dame Marie Bashir the retiring Governor of NSW.  Last night it was time to honour the Governor herself at Parliament House at a dinner organised by the Gay & Lesbian community- the LGBTI Community Tribute Dinner for ( we love her full title) Her Excellency Dame Marie Bashir AO CVO.
Pictured right is Adrian Bartels and a pal with Dame Marie. Bartels was just pipped at the post at the last state election by current MP  Alex Greenwich. also openly gay.
Aren't we lucky in the Eastern Suburbs ?. A choice between the very David Beckham style Bartels or our favourite descendent of Russian Nobility Alex !

## also pleasing to see Sydney Councillor Christine Foster ( PM Tony Abbott's sister ) at the St Vincent de Paul sleep out in Redern  helping to raise awareness for homelessness.

Dame Marie was described by the LGBTI as a "powerful advocate for the powerless" and this has been evident on so many occasions as evidenced by our exclusive pic taken at the mansion Boomerang at a fundraiser for the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross. Marie was only too happy to chat to former Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks (left).

Dramas in the world of Opera as a twitter outrage grows over Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri, scheduled to sing Desdemona in Otello for Opera Australia in July and Tosca later this year in Melbourne
Iveri has been condemned for an open letter she wrote to the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in May last year. In the lengthy diatribe, posted on her Facebook page, she describes LGBT people as “deviants” and suggests that homosexuality is part of the “faecal mass” being foisted on Georgia by the West.
Iveri was commenting after LGBT activists marched to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) in the city of Tbilisi. The marchers were attacked by thousands of fundamentalist Christians (?) with some barely escaping with their lives. The loopy soprano said she was “proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade” and that  “often, in certain cases, it is necessary to break jaws in order to be appreciated as a nation”. Charming! She really is coming to the wrong town. Somehow I think Ms Iveri's visit may be cut short.
Below is a video from the march-what a contrast to the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras !

Getting Hitched

 Our pic shows State MP Alex Greenwich (the Shuttle's favourite politician from the Russian Nobility) Nadia Neuman and the Federal member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek MP at the beautiful and historic Strand Arcade for the launch on Tuesday of the Mondial Australian Marriage Equality Ring.                                                                                                                                 

Available in 18 carat rose, white or yellow gold, 9 carat gold or silver all profits made from the sale of the ring will be donated to Australian Marriage Equality and contribute toward continued lobbying and education of equal marriage rights in Australia. 
It's available on-line here or in the Strand at Mondial-ask for Nadia who does expert fittings.
And look : all these celebrities are wearing them !

Dannii Minogue                                      Rachael Taylor                                 Deni Hynes