Melbourne
EMPORIUM MELBOURNE GALA LAUNCH, CITY
"A little party never killed nobody," and a big party hurts even less.
Melissa Juratowitch and Duckie Thott at Emporium Melbourne Launch. Photo: Shaney Balcombe
"A little party never killed nobody," and a big party hurts even less. On Wednesday night at the launch of Emporium Melbourne guests including Isabel Lucas , Rachael Finch , Bianca Spender and Michael and Lindy Klim felt no pain as dream weaver and creative visionary Baz Luhrmann ��� officially ��� launched the fashion and food hub in the CBD.
Party people: August22
From launch parties to awards, here's a rundown of last week's events in and around Sydney and Melbourne. Photo: Shaney Balcombe
We asked guests at what point did your life begin to surpass your dreams? "Life is in many ways, a dream," Lucas said. "But there are always pitfalls in dreams, shadows and gold that come together. But I'm very appreciative of where I'm living and that I get to come home to Australia and attend an event like this."
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Harrison Craig's dreams are just at his fingertips. "Close," he said, "but you've always got more goals and dreams that you want to smash, so I'm not quite there yet. I'm just working on my third album at the moment."
And the director, the showman, when did his life overtake his dreams? "It hasn't!" Luhrmann exclaimed. "It feels very - not ordinary - but it feels like what I know. I've got two little kids and, you know, I still have to organise things, but I think if you feel like you've realized your dream you probably stop dreaming don't you. I still dream."
PURE ARTESIAN WATER LAUNCH, SANDBAR
Wear and tear, let's call it; it just seems the more time you spend on the planet the less perfect things become. A little less sparkly, a little more soiled, and the challenge is to keep something, anything, pure.
At the Pure Artesian Water launch at Sandbar in Middle Park on Tuesday night we wanted to know what, in your life, remains wholly unspoilt? "When I think about something pure, the first thing I think of is my mum," Bogdan Chirila said. "I had, like, a tough childhood so she had to raise me by herself which, for me, makes her the strongest woman in the world and that makes it the purest thing you can think about. Everything is family."
"I rode horses when I was younger," Larni Salathiel said. "And it's a real passion of mine; I still love it as much as I did when I was young."
"A Sunday roast with the family," Rachel Brooks said. "My dad is responsible for it, roast lamb, nice and tender, and, oh, 10 vegetables." What's your dad's name? "Baldy, we call him Baldy."
MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS VIP EVENT, CIRCA BASEMENT
On Tuesday night we could be found underground, something was about to be unveiled. It was the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and everything you wanted to know about it ��� that its redesigned control and display concept is modelled on the S-Class, that it features nearly all of the driving assistance systems available in the S-Class and E-Class - was revealed.
We wondered, what else do you want to know . . . about anything? "Where is that plane, where is MH370?" C.C. Sheffield asked. "How does that just disappear?"
"How Marilyn Monroe really died," Sarah Jane Young said. "And Tupac," Britt Prince nodded. "And Tupac! Can you add that in?" St Ali's Salvatore Malatesta wondered "why people who aren't in the service industry have zero understanding of, and don't try to understand, what's involved in service. I think everybody needs to do a week of hospitality service and everybody will win from that."
"I'm a simple man," Grant Smillie shrugged, "I just want to find out what is the mystery meat in the meat pie." Do you really want to know that? "No."
Sydney
THE 2014 HELPMANN AWARDS
Australian stage's finest were rewarded in a ceremony that was a cracking show in itself. With numbers from The Lion King , The King and I , LesMis and more, many of the prizewinners did their stuff live. Producer Jon Nicholls kept the pace brisk so the 42-plus awards were dished out within three hours, followed by a party in the Capitol Theatre's foyer. Local winners included the Hayes Theatre's Sweet Charity and the Belvoir's Angels in America .
BELVOIR ST THEATRE 30TH ANNIVERSARY
In a big week for theatre, this milestone for Sydney's original crowd-funded theatre gave the performing arts community another reason to celebrate. In 1984, a collective of actors, directors, writers and enthusiasts bought 600 shares at $1000 each to secure an old theatre's future. More than 200 original stakeholders partied long into the night with a 1984 soundtrack.
CHEERS TO J.R. EWING BOURBON
It's not often the likes of Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy sashay into town, and when they do, it follows that you'll find the Dallas legends (aka Sue Ellen and Bobby Ewing) toasting with their new J.R.Ewing Bourbon at Sydney's home of American-style tipples, the Bourbon in Kings Cross. The veteran stars are wearing well, boasting faces as smooth as the tipple they were launching.
NATIONAL VARIETY BASH DINNER
This flamboyant fund-raiser's 30th birthday began with a convoy of 550 beautiful vintage vehicles crossing the Harbour Bridge to the party venue at Moore Park's Royal Hall of Industries. There, philanthropist and businessman Dick Smith, founder of the Bash, partied with 1700 supporters to celebrate raising more than $200 million for kids in rural communities over 30 years by Australia's largest charity motoring event. "Basher" and John Williamson performed with Variety Scholarship recipient and former The Voice contestant Melanie Dyer, and the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, spoke movingly about the spirit of the Bash.
ADOPT CHANGE LAUNCH
Deborra-Lee Furness gathered a powerful team of adoption advocates for the launch of Adopt Change, a year-round version of her existing National Adoption Awareness Week. Ambassador Jack Thompson and youth ambassadors India Grant and Zufi Emerson mixed with TV supporters including Lisa Wilkinson and Leila McKinnon.
KOOKAI SPRING SUMMER 14/15 RUNWAY SHOW
A riot of lush prints and cool graphics wowed an avid crowd as Alexandra Agoston and Nicole Trunfio paraded the latest looks from Kookai at Carriageworks.
GOURMET TRAVELLER AWARDS
Australia's food royalty were recognised at the Opera House with a restaurant pop-up manned by six top chefs. Winners included Martin Benn from Sepia, who was crowned chef of the year.