VIP: The Gold Dinner for Sydney Children's Hospital and this week's top-notch soirees
A MILLION bucks raised by seasoned socialites to a fashion gal re-branding her empire - the social set was on fire this week...
A MILLION bucks raised by seasoned socialites to a fashion gal re-branding her empire - the social set was on fire this week...
GOLD DINNER, HORDERN PAVILLION:
A swarm of 350 very generous socialites raised over a million for sick kids last night, proof that a lotta good can also come from one mighty powerful dinner party.
Guests had paid $1500 per head to attend and gathered in the 2000 candlelit Hordern Pavillion to raise bucks for the Sydney Children's Hospital.
The 16th Annual Gold Dinner had an impressive guest list indeed, with names like Delta Goodrem, John and Marly Boyd, Skye Leckie, Terry Biviano, Janine Perret, Sonia Kruger and Glenn and Sarah McGrath.
Not forgetting Sarah and Robby Ingham, Paul Keating, John Symond and Amber Keating, Richard and Jane Freudenstein, Lang and Sue Walker, Tom and Hoda Waterhouse, Patrick and Gigi Delany and Joe Hockey.
In the last 15 years, the Gold Dinner has raised more than $16 million with this year's million-dollar haul benefiting the Neurosurgical Service at Sydney Children's Hospital.
The Bollinger and Matt Moran menu was perfect and Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson did the MC-ing game proud.
Names like Louis Vuitton, Paspaley, Etihad, Lion, Stedmans and World Travel Professionals coughed up some dynamic donations. Great night all round.
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL, STATE THEATRE:
The 60th annual Sydney Film Festival opened on Wednesday evening with the world premiere of Mystery Road, presented by the fine folk at Audi.
The all-Australian film was directed by Ivan Sen, who wrote, edited and directed the feature with a cast that included Aaron Pederson, Hugo Weaving, niece Samara Weaving and legend Jack Thompson, who all walked the red carpet.
Australia's latest in-demand talent, Mia Wasikowska, was also home to walk the carpet, and will be again at the festival when her latest film Stoker, premieres tonight.
Guests included Tasma Walton, Rove McManus, Damian Walsh Howling, Andrew Denton, Barry Otto, Susie Porter and Jan Chapman.
WENTWORTH CELEBRATION LUNCH, FLYING FISH RESTAURANT:
Almost halfway through its record-breaking season so it felt like a good time to call "lunch", hosted by the fine folk from Foxtel.
With the first episode of Wentworth being the most-watched show in the network's history, there is series 2 now on the drawing board so it was time for some good TV news.
Guests included the show's cast plus FremantleMedia's Jo Porter and Foxtel's Penny Win, and Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh.
Relaxed and calm there were no strip searches required and there was definitely no lining up for food.
STYLE SPY:
International model turned fantastic designer, Gail Elliot, hosted a great opening for her latest venture - a new store in Sydney's smarty pants Double Bay - and the style set came out to play.
The soiree was a relaxed way to officially open the store as Laurent Perrier champagne flowed, paired with the sweet deliciousness of mini chocolate cupcakes. Nice.
Guests included Joe Coffey, Cheyenne Tozzi, Adam Williams, Geoff Huegill, Anthony Minichello, Sally Singleton and Hugo's man Dave Evans with Scorcha Horgan.
Always on fire when it comes to nailing real trends, Gail's Little Joe label is a favourite of a heap of glam gals including Terry Biviano, Kristy Hinze-Clark and model Michelle Walsh.
ARDBEG in The Park:
What better way to spend the first day of Winter than having a whisky in The Park? Sydney's Ardbeg whisky lovers gathered in The Park at Centennial Park to launch of distillery's latest limited edition release, ARDBOG.
The name of the whisky is a nod to the very smoky, peaty style of the product (umm, and peat is sourced from a peat bog, for all you whiskey aficionados.)
The day was a quirky take on some Scottish highland games as guests were invited to pin the tusk on the Mammoth, play quoits, go on treasure hunt and play skittles.
Canapes included roll mops, scotch quail eggs with dijon, beef and Guinness mini pies with chutney, potato and leek soup served in a tin cup and thyme, sage and parsley crumbed chicken drumsticks.
Guests included Tim, Charlotte and Bridgette Holmes a Court, Hermione Underwood, Daimon Downey, Georgia Gorman, Terry Kaljo, Warren Fahey, Mandy Foley Quin and Stuart Quin.
ASTRA AWARDS nominations, Sydney Theatre:
News, fashion, houses, music or comedy, all tentacles of pop culture were given the nod at the awards nominations brunch at the Sydney Theatre.
Model host Megan Gale, Sky News star Paul Murray, houses guru Andrew Winter, comedian Rove McManus, music spunk Danny Clayton and Deb Hutton were all nominated in 5 public-voted categories as part of subscription TV's annual gong fest.
Megan looked spectacular in a leather dress from Willow, and she will no doubt rock the red carpet when the awards are announced at Sydney Theatre on July 25.
For the first time, www.news.com.au has signed up as an event partner.
"We are delighted to sign on as a major partner of the 11th ASTRA Awards," said Julian Delaney, our extremely genial general manager here at news.com.au.
"With a unique audience of over 2.8million, news.com.au is Australia's leading online news source and our highly engaged consumers are big fans of entertainment news." (Self congratulatory pat on back to our team.)
If you do have Foxtel, visit www.news.com.au at news.com.au/ASTRAawards to vote.
THE GOOD:
He gets paid the mega bucks to be funny, and Steve Carell didn't disappoint at the red carpet star turn at the Despicable Me 2 premiere.
THE BAD:
Sure, sure the footy biffo thing is kind of funny to most grown-ups... but the message it sends to kids is still a questionable one.
THE UGLY:
Inner-city bashing thuggery. Just why?
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