This was published 5 years ago
Social Scene: LEGO bricks and bricks and mortar
By Lucy Manly
LEGO LAND
It was a family affair for David Campbell Credit: Paul Macmillan
It wasn't just kids who were excited to burst through the doors at Australia’s very first flagship Lego Store opening on Tuesday night. Taking up residence at Bondi Junction’s Westfield, the colourful store sprawls over two levels and left guests buzzing.
Self-confessed Lego enthusiast David Campbell was MC for the event, while his wife Lisa Hewitt, daughter Betty and sons Billy and Leo cheered from the crowd. Jules Sebastian attended solo as her husband Guy is in the midst of filming The Voice, while Nova's Michael "Wippa" Wipfli was there with his wife Lisa and sons Ted and Jack.
A unique menu comprised of colour block canapes - RED Watermelon w Yuzu Fingerlime, PURPLE Potato w Citrus Creme, Dill and Caviar and GREEN Smoked Chicken Tart w Guacamole. Lego is renowned for taking inspiration from local landmarks in their design and the Sydney store was no exception with a mosaic Sydney Harbour Bridge and wall-mounted Opera House.
AVNU
Michael and Mia Coombs.Credit: Craig Bryant
Sydney’s top performing real estate agent Michael Coombs was welcomed into LJ Hooker's new "tech smart" agency, Avnu, on Thursday evening. Chairman Janusz Hooker threw open the doors of the Neutral Bay HQ to Coombs' VIP clients, celebrity friends and team. The champagne flowed, cheese and whisky rooms opened and the most constant remark was “is this your actual office?” The lower north shore’s celebrity contingent included Zoe and Benji Marshall, Nova’s Tim Blackwell, Kate Waterhouse and Luke Ricketson, Nine’s Belinda Russell, Zanerobe’s Leith Testoni, designer Rachel Gilbert and her newly minted agent husband Tom Williams.
WEST SIDE STORY HITS THE HARBOUR CITY
As the sun set on Friday evening, stars of stage and screen flocked to Sydney Harbour for the West Side Story opening gala. As celebrities hit the red carpet to recreate some of the iconic WSS moves with finger clicks, kicks and dance dips in front of the cameras the rain wasn't going to put a halt to the much-loved musical.
Barbara White walked the red carpet for the opening night.Credit: Wendell Teodoro
Getting into the spirit of harbourside venue, which boasts iconic views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour bridge, guests were amongst the elements and endured rain for the first half of the show. Gretel Killeen, Bonnie Lythgoe and Wendy Whiteley all seen in good spirits under biodegradable ponchos marked "I am not plastic".
Bonnie Lythow kicked up her heels on the red carpetCredit: Wendell Teodoro
As the wet weather disappeared at the interval so did a sea of ponchos and some very soggy guests, but as they say "the show must go on" and go on it did. Despite the debate about racial casting reignited after the company's decision not to cast a Latina woman in the lead role Australian soprano Julie Lea Goodwin was the undoubted star of the night and met with a standing ovation at the show's end.
One-piece dressing is a way of the future
IN: Pop pink utility jumpsuit by OneTeaspoon
OUT: Married At First Sight. Get off our screens, it's time to go!
Do you have a Sydney social event coming up you would like covering? Email lucy.manly@smh.com.au