Eleven Bridge opens

Despite Sydney's nightlife seemingly vanishing before our very eyes with the new Lock Out laws, celebrity chef Neil Perry re-opened his Rock's restaurant as Eleven Bridge on Monday night. Previously named Rockpool, Perry closed the eatery six months ago.
A favourite with celebrities and fine diners- Whispers once sat at a table next to Joan Collins , Russell Crowe and media mogul Lachlan Murdoch (and that was a slow night), the foodie world was stunned when Perry suddenly closed up shop with a restaurant in a prime location and famed the world over.
But always one step ahead of his rivals, Perry had always planned to turn Rockpool into a more informal diner and Eleven Bridge was born.
You can peruse the new restaurants menu here but don't be too shocked at the prices. Hey, it's The Rocks and the NSW Government has just announced plans to spend $200M on refurbishing Circular Quay and The Rocks. Already a major tourist area it badly needs a re-vamp and Perry who also designs menus for Qantas is not one to miss a trick.

Charles Turns 80

 
Sydney based, Croation born artist Charles Billich (left with wife Christa Billich) has turned 80 and he threw a bash to celebrate. Charles looks at least 10 years younger-how does he do it?
" I surround myself with beautiful people and they keep me young " was the reply and there were heaps of them with around 200 venturing into the sensational Billich Gallery in The Rocks on a Saturday night to party. One thing we love about Charles (apart from the art of course), the Pommery keeps flowing out of his very own stylishly decorated magnums. Here a few snaps from the night and below, some Billich art.
 And not just one birthday cake..80 !. OK they were only cupcakes but it's a neat idea.

Model agent Grant Dwyer & Don Spencer (he's Russell Crowe's dad-in-law) Fran McPherson (yes- she's The Body Elle McPherson's mum), Helen Appelton & Noushin Rahimia

Nightclub boss Karim Gharbi & glam date, Hans Whitman & Shari-Lea Hitchcock, Angela Belle McSweeney

Charles Billich's self portrait & some of his famous nudes

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 !

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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...

Turning 30

The most popular Miss Universe of all time Jennifer Hawkins celebrated her 30th birthday with a masquerade party at a restaurant in The Rocks.
Like any event Jennifer attends, it's all about the money with an exclusive deal with a glossy magazine to publish photos of the event.

On the other side of town at the uber smart Beach Haus nightclub in Kings Cross, Fiji Water boss Aaron Zerefos who races Porches cars in his spare time also turned 30 with a fab party for 100 close friends.
Aaron always seems to be surrounded by pretty girls. The last time we saw Aaron Zerefos he was deep in discussion with Khloe Kardashian at Ottos in Woolloomooloo. How does he do it ?.

Some months ago the Shuttle went to Beach Haus for a small party thrown by superstar Leo Di Caprio.
We were given instructions not to approach Leo at his table which is pretty difficult in Beach Haus given it's size but by the look of his burly minders, wasn't at all advisable

Meet Darth Vadar

 To the Langham Hotel in The Rocks to meet the stars of the play Driving Miss Daisy on the first day of rehearsals.
 Hollywood greats Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones are in town to reprise their Broadway hit of the original play by Alfred Uhry.

Angela with Boyd Gaines

 The 1987 movie version won Australian director Bruce Beresford a few Oscars and took around $300M at the box office.


  Angela has been here once befiore- in 1959 where she lived for 4 months in Point Piper while she filmed Summer of The Seventeenth Doll with Earnest Borgnine, Ann Baxter and her pal John Mills. At the time she hired a car and drove around NSW with her children exploring the state.
 On this visit she and James Earl Jones, who was famously the voice of Darth Vadar in the Star Wars flicks will be touring for 5 months visiting Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

James was here ten years ago as a tourist and it's the first visit for 4 times Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines who completes the cast. With tickets selling like hotcakes it's another winner for producer John Frost- known as Frostie on Broadway but Mr Frost in London's West End.

The Shuttle caused a minor commotion when James Earl Jones asked which was the most 'right wing newspaper' in town. "They all are " replied the Shuttle accurately which went down well with the other media attending with one even apologising to the actors for gifting the world Rupert Murdoch.

And the big question of the morning for which we received no answer : just what was that monkey doing in the mural on the wall behind our esteemed thespians ?. Had a mischievous interior designer been inspired by Richard Nevile and the School Kid's Oz magazine ala Rupert Bear?
Below is a video we have uncovered of James Earl Jones channeling Justin Beiber.

For Art's Sake

An exhibition at artist Charles Billich's magnificent gallery in The Rocks is never boring.



Billich sketched 2 nude models while guests sipped on his very own label Pommery Champagne.
Two guests even decided to join the models to make a foursome !.
 Charles has that sort of effect on people. See our brief clip below.

right : Bella Hunter at the Billich Gallery

Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is in full blast until 11th June as the town is transformed into a spectacular canvas of light, music and other arty projects.


 It's the biggest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting over 400,000 attendees in 2011.
Now heading into its fourth year, Vivid Sydney was ranked in the Top Ten global ideas festivals by the influential Guardian newspaper in the UK.

Go to the Vivid Sydney website for more info on where events are taking place

Vale George Tupou V , King of Tonga

George Tupou v  with Charles Billich

The Shuttle met him late last year at the Charles Billich Gallery in The Rocks in Sydney where he attended the unveiling of his portrait.

Sadly the King of Tonga, George Tupou V passed away on Sunday from cancer which developed after complications from a kidney transplant. George was regarded as a reforming monarch after relinquishing most of his powers to an elected parliament and selling the only source of the families wealth-Tonga's electricity supply company, to the nation.

Noted for favouring uniforms and plumed hats, sometimes top hats and a monocle and travelling in the Royal Limousine, a London taxi, he is survived by his younger brother and heir Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka,