Melbourne
DESIGUAL STORE LAUNCH, THE STRAND MELBOURNE
Would we go to the DESIGUAL launch?
Vincent Fantauzzo and a pregnant Asher Keddie at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.
Would we go to the DESIGUAL launch? Si. The launch of the Barcelona-based brand's first Australian flagship store? Si. With stores all around the world, and known for its optimistic, colourful clothing, its enthusiastic, open-minded ethos ... Si! On Wednesday night at the store's launch at The Strand Melbourne we wondered, to what question in your life are you dying to say, "Si! Yes!"
Party people
Here's a rundown of last week's events in and around Sydney and Melbourne. Photo: Shaney Balcombe
"Marriage," Tim O'Rourke said. O'Rourke has been with his partner, Mark Coombes, for eight years. Who's going to ask? "Maybe me." When? "When it's legal."
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"If Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs asked me to move in with her, I would say, 'Yes'," Josh Cordwell said. "Even though I'm gay, if she was to ask me to marry her I would. Most definitely. I love her attitude, her style, everything she stands for."
Taylor Hunter would say "Si!" to paragliding in Turkey. "My friends did it on their trip to Europe this year and I saw photos, they had a GoPro up there, it looked incredible. They jumped off a cliff!"
Kathleen McMahon , too, was ready to jump. "I'd say 'Yes' if someone told me they would train me to be in the circus as a trapeze artist, as a duo, so as I was swinging through and let go somebody else would catch me." What would your performance name be? "Kathleen the Courageous."
MISS FITZY'S LAUNCH, ST KILDA
There's someone new you need to know; a new woman, a new Miss ��� Miss Fitzy's. The restaurant, at the beach end of Fitzroy Street, wants to be your favourite. At the Miss Fitzy's launch on Thursday night we asked after other favourites ��� who is your favourite Miss?
"Missy Higgins," Sam Bramham said. "She and I featured in a book, an anti-bullying book [ Bully for Them ], a couple of years ago and she's just real. She speaks in a very raw way about growing up, about being a lesbian; she's a cool chick."
"Miss Universe?" Dan Anstey said.
"Miss Nigro," Cam Stockdale said. "She was an absolute belter; she was my maths teacher and everyone had a crush on her. Smart and hot."
"At school I had a really amazing drama teacher ��� Miss Moore-Carter," Jazz Bell said. "She was just a real fun teacher, outside of the box. We did Footloose: The Musical ; I sang Let's Hear it For the Boy . Did you have a tractor fight on stage? "There was no tractor fight, but a lot of crazy eye makeup and big hair."
WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC STORES PREVIEW, CHADSTONE SHOPPING CENTRE
On Tuesday Christmas came to Chadstone. Not in its expected form, that was already there, but in the form of Williams-Sonoma, Inc stores ��� Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm. For Melbournians who have been waiting for these iconic American kitchen and home furnishings brands it was as if all their Christmases had come at once.
So we wanted to know, what (else) do you want for Christmas? "I'm liking all of these cushions," Rebecca Hunt said. "I love cushions; I just moved out of home so I'm about making my house look like it's not just full of mum's leftovers."
Cindy Sargon didn't want for anything. "I've been spoilt all year. I just want to have a nice time with my family and friends. I know it sounds cliched, but I couldn't ask for more." Are you cooking? "I've got the day off on Christmas Day but I'm cooking Boxing Day. Simplicity and elegance; the ham, the cooked prawns, terrine, everything sort of done, it's all about not having to slave on the day and making life easy."
Sydney
THE GREENS NORTH SYDNEY NEW LOOK
Summer's hottest Sydney hang-outs appear to be bowling clubs and, to prove it, two launched this week on opposite sides of the harbour. At the Greens North Sydney (known by locals as Norths Bowlo), husband-and-wife kitchen team Lilly and Nathan Fasan showed off skills honed at the Grounds of Alexandria to a glam crowd including Casey Burgess, Tara Rushton (Fox Sports), Scott Tweedie and Georgia Berg. The club has blossomed into a restaurant, bar, cafe and garden oasis around the three bowling greens ��� all with harbour views. We're bowled over.
BONDI BOWLING CLUB'S WHALE OF A TIME
The week's second bowling club rebirth had a healthy dose of Bondi hipster, with cocktails and a DJ set from Peking Duk, while an artist put the finishing touches on the venue's fabulous whale mural. The makeover comes courtesy of the guys behind Bondi's Panama House. Tradition and new cool mixed, with longtime members teaching newcomers how to bowl. Guests included club president John Wright, Brenna Harding, Oscar Done, Andrew Hawkins and Chris "Becko" Beckhouse.
S PELLEGRINO MAGNUM LAUNCH
It may not be champagne, but the fine fizzy water from San Pellegrino certainly dresses as if it is, in a posh new magnum bottle complete with wine-style capsule, label and silhouette. The magnum was launched with an elegant dinner at Otto, attended by restaurant bosses including John Szangolies (Sake, Ananas), Sam Christie (Longrain, the Apollo) and Otto's John Fink. With gorgeous green floral displays from interiors wizard Alex Zabotto-Bentley and plenty of fine food and wine to allay fears of a water-only evening, this was a little slice of Monday magic.
THE BUZZ FROM SYDNEY IS BACK
The Museum of Contemporary Art provided a suitable backdrop for a creative crowd celebrating the re-launch of art website The Buzz From Sydney. The party also featured the launch of the Silver Gull Play Award, Sydney's newest literary award. The Silver Gull will highlight new work that is brash, bold and cheeky. Bravo to that.
ASPHYXIATE EXHIBITION OPENING
Paddington's Comber Street Gallery filled with cool kids supporting artist couple Ted O'Donnell and Vicki Lee as they unveiled their new exhibition. Laura Csortan, Lara Bingle, Marc Freeman and Leah Simmons were among the admirers of the sexy, floral images themed around lust.
GQ MEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Every year the blokes have their night at these awards, and recipients of the gongs at Ivy Ballroom included Ian Thorpe (Man of Influence), David Franco (International Man of the Year) and Jason Clarke (actor of the year). An impeccably mannered Hugh Evans demonstrated why he scored Man of Chivalry, and athletes such as Thorpe and Michael Klim mixed it with models including Jessica Gomes and Jarrod Scott, and designers Kym Ellery and Christopher Esber. Model Nicole Trunfio and actor Asher Keddie were both rocking pregnancy, while musicians INXS and the Preatures added rock 'n' roll to the potent party mix.