Mega Beauty

It's been responsible for launching the careers of some of Australia's top models.


Now in it's 10th year Australia's Next Top Model has some glamorous judges lined up for the 2015 season. Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio and Tyra Banks will strut the boards next year. Watch out Alex Perry!
left : Jennifer Hawkins & Tyra Banks

right : Alex Perry

A (food) Star is Born

 If you have never tried chef Stefano Manfredi's food you really haven't lived. He's been one of Sydney's most favoured star chefs who is admired by his customers and all in his profession.
Stefano has opened PizzaPerta at The Star casino and it really must be visited. Do your self a favour, these are undoubtedly the best pizzas I have ever tasted and I've traveled the world seeking out the best !
left : Luke Mangan showed his support along with Richard Wilkins and Stefano
Find out more here : www.manfredi.com.au/

where else would you get a juggling waiter ? Perhaps the Veuve Clicquot helped.

Water Diviner is divine

Jai Courtney,Steve Bastoni, Isabel Lucas and Russell Crowe join other cast members at the premiere

Russell Crowe premiered his new film Water Diviner tonight at Sydney's State Theatre, The movie tells the story of an Australian man who travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons. And the film is superb as is Russell and the cast.

Tropfest time

 December 7th is the date for the 2014 Tropfest short film contest where budding film-makers present their efforts. All the Hollywood stars in the above photo have been supporters from day one and been judges at Tropfest so you are in good company. Take a picnic rug, chairs and umbrella to Centennial Park and settle in for the day- it's free !. There will be as usual plenty of food and drink outlets available and a chance to hobnob with movie celebrities. It's a fun day out!

When Newsreaders Attack!

This snap below landed in our inbox with no explanation. It appears SBS news reader Le Lin Chin has been floored by Network Ten newsreader Sandra Sully who is brandishing an axe. Chin must have put up a fight as a baseball bat lies nearby. There was a one-line caption with the pic "I finally have Le Lin Chin where I want her". The Shuttle has encountered both ladies around town. We thought they were such nice girls. Left is a snap of Sandra at jeweler Jan Logan's birthday celebration at the Double Bay Intercontinental Hotel a fortnight ago and one of Le who is noted for the fashionable outfits she wears when reading the news.

Snapped !

Ever since these world leaders clutched an indigenous marsupial it looks like being the new craze. So we got 2 visitors to these shores, the actor who plays the horrible young King Joffrey in Game of Thrones, Jack Gleeson to do the honours and for good measure Alan Tudyk star of Justice League and countless other movies. Both actors are in town for Supernova.

 And playing a visit to broadcaster Bob Rogers at the 2CH studio was Bold and The Beautiful star Ronn Moss who is touring the country in a one man show relating tales from his 25 year career on the show. What fun ! (pics: Lionel Mitford Publicity)

Intercontinental bash

It was the first of what is expected to be many parties and promotions at the new Double Bay Intercontinental.
Local jeweler Jan Logan one of Australia's top purveyors of fine pearls and other gems celebrated 25 years of being in the Bay with the first official party at the Intercon. Jan also introduced the new 'face' of her range beautiful Perth born actress Courtney Eaton and premiered a film produced, directed by and starring the actress Rachael Taylor, a tribute to Logan.

Among the guests, Marie Sutton, Carla Zampati,Marta Dusseldorp and Georgie Gardner.


above : Marie Sutton
Right : Jan Logan and Courtney Eaton.

Waiting for Jennifer

When you look like Jennifer Hawkins you will probably be forgiven for most things. Whether the assembled paparazzi at the Polo In The Park will is not known.
Given instructions that Ms Hawkins would arrive at 11.30 am they patiently waited until she did actually get there- at 1.30pm.Water was consumed, brows wiped in the alternating hot sun and cold wind. Faces began to burn. But she did arrive and duly posed with a Range Rover.
Crowds seemed to be down this year possibly because the event has grown a reputation for always being extremely hot in it's home in the sheltered area of Centennial Park. But the weather was perfect, the champagne chilled  and the food excellent. Well that was at the Land Rover corporate tent. Wandering past the other marquees guests looked happy and contented and some even watched the polo matches while ladies and some men swooned over the handsome polo players.
It's a rich man's game but we loved the announcer proudly introducing one team member as the "son of a fish monger". So there, polo is now an egalitarian sport and mere mortals like me and you can attend and even play !

Polo guests : Darren Palmer, Camila Franks,George Gregan, David Novak-Piper, Neale Whitaker and Guy Sebastian

Patrick McMullan reports from New York

It was the cultural event of the season - An Evening with Stella McCartney in Conversation with Jerry Seinfeld  at the Alice Tully Hall.

All her closest friends came to support her big night, Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore, Kate Upton, Carolyn Murphy, Seth Meyers and dozens more. It even brought in a little The Beatles reunion with her father, Sir Paul McCartney, Dhani Harrison & Yoko Ono. The sublime soiree left virtually everyone on cloud nine.

Gum Leaf Mafia step out in New York

Big name Aussies were amongst those at the gala Louis Vuitton Monogram party at New York's Museum of Modern Art including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban with Miranda Kerr ( the model who is not having an affair with billionaire James Packer) and actress Melissa George.

Patrick McMullan

Patrick McMullan is New York's, and probably the USA's most celebrated social snapper and we at the Shuttle are proud to call him a  good pal. In fact he visited Sydney to attend an exhibition organised by us a few years ago. He is a contributing editor on Vanity Fair as well as a contributor to numerous US magazines like Ocean Drive, Allure and Andy Warhol's Interview. Here he talks on Morning TV about his new exhibition of fashion personalities that has just opened at the Hearst building in Manhattan. Check out his website at www.patrickmcmullan.com

Good Reads

Dean Dudley & Marie Sutton

DIANA-SURVIVOR. This book was brought to out attention by Princess Diana's Aussie pal Marie Sutton who organised Diana's last official function before she was to retire- the Victor Chang Institute fundraiser in Sydney in 1996. It's the debut book by British writer Dean Dudley and is available in paperback or Kindle version.                         
Diana-Survivor tells the story of Diana surviving the car crash and giving birth to Dodi Fayed's Muslim son. Some years later, in the wake of 9/11, her child is kidnapped.
 "I can almost imagine this happening " says Marie. "it's a completely believable tale with twists and turns.I loved it". Along with Marie's endorsement it also gets a seal of approval from the Scottish Herald. Buy it here

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay: The dodgy business of popular music  by music figure Simon Napier Bell is a complete history of popular music from the late  1700s- when composers first obtained legal copyright - to the present day. Simon is the best selling author of Black Vinyl White Powder which is described as the definitive history of pop and was included in the UK school curriculum in 2013. 

Simon's books are never boring. His I'm Coming To Take You To Lunch which charts his successful endeavours to get the band he managed WHAM ! as the first Western pop music band to give a concert in China is fascinating. Napier-Bell is also a writer of huge hits for Dusty Springfield & Elvis Presley. Buy it here.

 As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by actor Cary Elwes who starred in the Princess Bride and Robin Hood Men in Tights, Glory, Days of Thunder, Twister, and Saw and dozens of movies since. Elwes is to direct his first film about the late Kit Lambert the discoverer of The Who & Jimi Hendrix who died in mysterious circumstances in 1983. Cary's book takes you behind the scenes of the making of a Hollywood film and has received rave reviews from the New York Times and US Weekly. Buy it here.

 

Lifesurfing : Your Horoscope Forecast Guide 2015 by noted Astrologer Victor Olliver is an invaluable guide for the coming year. We at the Shuttle still consult our 2014 guide and swear by Olliver's accuracy. Buy it here.

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.

Russell Brand on Renee Zellwegger

Hello Sailor at the Wharf4Ward

Natalie Bassingthwaighte & hubby Cameron McGlinchey  plus Hamish & Andy or Ham for short                 

Kerri-Anne Kennerley channels her inner Big Bird in bright yellow while James Tobin waves

Ronan Keating with Storm Uechtritz plus X-Factor's Jai Waetford

 Sony Foundation's biggest annual fundraiser, Wharf4Ward, went off with an expected bang at Woolloomooloo Wharf and raised a whopping $880,000 for the Sony Foundation's national youth cancer program, You Can.

Held across all six top restaurants at the Finger Wharf in Woolloomool- Otto, Chinadoll, Kingsleys, Criniti's, Manta and AKI's — Wharf4Ward 2014 with a nautical theme proved to be a spectacular afternoon.
Sony Music artists joined personalities from TV networks Seven, Nine and Ten at what is shaping up to be the social event of the year - and there can't be anyone who has not been touched by cancer either via a friend or family member.

You Can is establishing specialised youth cancer centres around Australia for 16-25 year olds with cancer, who are currently falling through the gaps in our health care system.
Australia's first You Can Centre opened in Perth in May 2013, with a $1.8 million donation from Sony Foundation, and a second is currently under construction at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney.

And top entertainment for the day included Human Nature and X-Factor winner Dami Im with the Royal Australian Navy Band.
And a fashion note - surely it's time Australian blokes dressed in pastel light suits and ditched those heavy black numbers especially on a glorious summer day


 left : Sam Armytage looking very summery
 

Here's young Jai Waetford interviewing celebs!

Missing In Action

On Wednesday November 5th (one day after the Melbourne Cup) a memorial service will be held for the late Gough Whitlam the former Prime Minister who died at age 98.
                                               

Word is buzzing around town that the venue, the Sydney Town Hall will not be nearly big enough for the crowds expected from former PMs, the current PM Tony Abbott , a host of show business faces and business names to ordinary members of the public including a large contingent of Indigenous Australians.
Former Fairfax scribe Mike Carlton has been on the blower to some Labor Party heavies and is  trying to organise a live TV link to the old Parliament House in Canberra to host an expected few hundred more mourners.
While Gough's extended family will be attendance one family member will miss the service Andrew Esteban Romero Whitlam is Gough's "adopted" son although it's never been confirmed by the late Whitlam if he actually adopted the Argentinian.
Baci as he is known to pals whipped up dresses in a Double Bay boutique for society ladies for a number of years before joining his family restaurant business in Rushcutters Bay.
It was there as we reported back in February that Baci was busted in an undercover sting while attempting to sell cocaine to police. He was sentenced to two years jail. Above is the only photo taken of the late Gough Whitlam and Baci together.

Pooch Wrestling at Banter

An interesting collection of guests turned out for the opening of the swish new French restaurant Banter in Surry Hills. Karim Ghabi of Casablanca nightclub fame hosted the evening while the delectable Laura Dundovic accompanied him greeting guests.

 One face we haven't seen out on the town lately, Fashion school supremo Leanne Whitehouse (left) who has been embroiled in a controversy over the Pm's daughter.  She sat quietly in a booth with designer Charlie Brown.
And we also got to meet Bentley, the largest feline in town who arrived in the arms of a friend of Christa Billich.
Bentley surveyed the scene with a rather haughty look and later wrestled a poor dog to the ground before going to sleep in a violinist's case which he was soon ejected from by a disgruntled musician.

From sampling some of Banter's delicacies on the night, this should be another fine addition to Sydney night life.


                         

The Wit & Wisdom of Eddie Obeid

The family companies may be feeling the pinch- son Moses Obeid looks set to lose the lease of the Rushcutters Bay Marina, but our favourite ex-Labor Power Broker & ICAC witness Eddie Obeid retains his sense of humour.
As the Shuttle revealed in LatteLife Newspaper , if Eddie were to face again any sort of formal tribunal, he has a 6'4" transvestite nephew who once belonged to the legendary Sydney drag troupe, Sylvia & The Synthetics who is very fond of his uncle. Said nephew is itching to turn up in short black dress, huge sunnies and a large picture hat to lend support to Eddie.
We digress : Mr Obied has been tweeting lately his views, not only one of Sydney's top nosheries but shows he also has a cracking sense of humour as you can see in his second tweet.