The Great Gatsby

It was a wet, wintery night in Sydney and time to see a good movie

Mr Movie Buff arranged to pick me up from KTs Haymarket headquarters and we headed off to see the Great Gatsby Goldclass style.

Arriving in the ambience of the Goldclass lounge makes for a relaxed indulgent experience. The mood lighting and comfy seats, delicious food and drink menus tempt your senses alright. It might just be that you find that you just have to order yourself a cocktail. This time it was a Midori Splice for me and a light beer for Mr M.B.

After selecting a delicious two course meal that would be delivered throughout the show to our table we headed for our seats. If you are going to sit around for 142 mins you might as well be very comfortable and that we were, in these spacious arm chairs that come with footrests pointed to the ceiling and I prepared myself for a fun night.

If you are driven by visual beauty (as I am) Baz Luhrmann didn’t disappoint with his cinematic vision of a story told with exquisitely breathtaking scenery, amazing costumes and a creative music score.

The first course had arrived which was a section of seafood on a platter to share accompanying our glass of white wine.

The musical score was kind of interesting, as with Moulin Rouge, it has slices of modern music to fit with a bygone era. It works really well.

I must admit though, I thought the storyline was a little thin but the acting made up for it.
I am a fan of Leonardo Dicaprio and he did an amazing job but I couldn’t help feeling that he did not live up to the original Gatsby -Robert Redford. Perhaps Leo was not old enough to play the part. In my view Leo lacked the suave maturity of a much more polished Redford.

Desert has arrived and a selection of delectable sweets such as sticky date pudding and I could not refuse although I realized my virtual personal trainer would not be happy.

In conclusion, I enjoyed my time with Mr Movie Buff and his cinema experience and decided to accompany him to his waterside apartment overnight to discuss the movie and take the opportunity for some roleplay acting of our own.

If you would like to enjoy your own cinema experience with Karen you don’t have to bother with ticketek just contact me or simply pick up the phone and read your lines out to Karen personally on 043 171 4069

 

The Frankie Valli Sydney Experience

There are lots of Jersey Boys but only one Frankie Vallie boasted a recent review of Frankies’ Australian Tour. The Masseuse (TM) invited me along to Frankies show at the Lyric Theatre the other night to see how true this statement was? It had been a show I had been looking forward to seeing for many months.

Anyway, the day arrived and after TM and I got ready we decided to test out Sydneys Light Rail system from my place to the Casino.  It had been a gorgeous sunny day that had changed to a bit overcast. I checked the weather report, Mmmm 70% chance of rain. Ah no worries, no need for a brolly or so I thought. We just made it around the corner to Campbell St Tram stop before the first pitter patters came raining down on our heads, threatening to wreck my blow dry. Bah!

Anyway the light rail was a treat. Fast and easy. we sailed past the Capitol Theatre, Cyrils Deli, Paddys Market, The Exhibition Centre and finally to the the Casino. We had a bit of time so we had dinner and a couple of drinks there before making our way to the Lyric Theatre.

TM and I decided the Frankie Valli audience tended to be an older crowd than we had seen last month at the Opera House. Again, we were asked not to take photos so I don’t have many to show you. Now Frankie is 77 years old, that is quite an age for a performer and we wondered what kind of show we would be seeing?  

The lights dimmed and the band took the stage.  Mmm impressive, an Australian six piece brass section. Ha! I LOVE horns! Two guatarists and a base player. One keyboardist who played other instruments and a drummer. Four backing singers and Frankie. Wow, this was going to be a great show with an rich sound.  Frankie himself is this tiny, frail, old guy but gee what a voice.  In the first couple of numbers, we wondered if he was lip synching because his style is he scarely opens his mouth but yet there is this incredibly powerful sound. In any case we saw him reach behind and play with his pick up a few times and we realised we were in fact seeing a live performance.

Frankie Belted out all his old hits and told a few jokes too. No doubt about it he is an engaging performer. Frankie recounted when Tom Jones is on stage he gets pelted with womens panties and this little old guy taking a forlorn glance around his own barren stage ha ha.  I would have like to have helped out but had at the last minute decided to go commando. Frankie then encouraged the audience to throw cash and credit cards and buy his cd sold outside in the foyer ha ha.

We were treated to quite a show “Walk Like A Man”, “Rag Doll”, “Grease”, “Sherry”, “December 1963”, “My Eyes Adored You” and the 1967 solo hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. It was a top performance by a real showman. Thanks to TM and we made our way back to Haymarket to once again thoroughly enjoy an intimate evenings entertainment.

 

Back to the Eighties

In touch with the ground
I’m on the hunt I’m after you
Smell like I sound I’m lost in a crowd
And I’m hungry like the wolf
Straddle the line in discord and rhyme
I’m on the hunt I’m after you
Mouth is alive with juices like wine
And I’m hungry like the wolf

Duran Duran

Mr Groover invited me to take a trip down memory lane the other night to a time when I
was just a youngster and enjoying the sounds of the 80s and er, well *some* of the fashions of the time.

So, Duran Duran were back in town for a one off Sydney concert and I
was lucky enough to go.
The plan was to have a feast at the Nine Dragons restaurant an iconic China Town restaurant before heading down to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and that’s just what we did.

In order to avoid the crowds, we got to the Entertainment Centre early and caught the the support act. We were hoping for a great band or a top singer but it was a rather bizarre choice of opening act to support Duran Duran. Two DJs spinning vinyl donned the stage playing some funky mixes that became quite boring after ten minutes.

Mr Groover leaned over and reminded me of some of the way more fun activities we could have been doing instead of putting up with that dull *yawn, sigh & eye roll* duo.
Most of the details can be found here at http://www.karenthompson.com.au/services just in case you’re unsure of what we were talking about :0)

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Anyway… to cut to the chase, finally Duran Duran appeared on stage and the old hits kept churning out mixed with some new tracks that were not too bad, I guess. I really enjoyed the commentary between songs that the various band members gave about their times in Sydney, they really connect well with their audience. So, it turns out that Duran Duran were the first act appearing at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. And they talked about going to various Sydney eighties venues like the Cauldron and the Manzel Room. I never got to those places myself, I suppose at the time, I preferred to hang out at slightly more cliquey places like The Hip Hop Club, Patches, The Exchange Hotel, Plastic Inevitable at the Playground, The Trade Union Hotel, The Site, The Taxi Club and Propaganda. There I am in the black and white shot (c/- young S the fantastic photography student) in the late eighties in Paddington, have a look at the hilarious alcohol prices.

The Duran Duran audience were a mixture of young trendies, wearing some 80s revivalist fashions, think net and neon colours (thankfully we didn’t spot any bubble skirts or shoulder pads) *cringe*, middle aged flunkies, not to mention a brigade of blue rinse senior citizens that came along for the fun of it.
The band are still in top form and the lead singer Simon Le Bons vocals were just as terrific as in the year 1981. I loved the show and the encore was a exciting finish with the band performing the eighties hits “Girls on Film” and Rio.
As the song Rio was winding down the concert, Mr Groover wanted some winding down himself at my inner city apartment.

I have just made a new addition to my working tools, a rather good new playstation. Mr Groover had made it known he wanted to be my very first special guest to try it out. We made a speedy exit and headed off to feel our way around my lovely new equipment and I am delighted to report to you it all works out splendidly.

 

Olivia Newton-John at the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

It had been with great anticipation and excitement that I looked forward to this show with ‘The Masseuse’ (TM) the other evening.

Now, I have been a fan of Olivia’s way back when she did mostly country music and TM who it turns out is the same fabulous age as me, (Gee, he must come from the year of the cat too)!

So, by now I’ve moved into my swanky new apartment in Haymarket which is my base for entertaining and the home of sensual experiences. I very much enjoy the company of TM so I’d been shopping for some sexy lingerie earlier to model for him later on in the evening.

I was the designated traffic monitor for the evening and we caught the bus for the short trip down to Circular Quay. It was a steamy rainy evening so I grabbed my accomplices hand and we braved the elements, ok so I’m a romantic at heart.

We made our way through the crowds (it was a humid night) and the rain at Circular Quay and on to an early dinner at The East. It was a good thing we arrived early too as we got the best table for comfort AND people watching. We knocked back a couple of drinks, a Blue Hawaii for me and a Bourbon for TM and some fantastically delicious Chinese food and chatted away. The pre-show crowds started to arrive and pack out the restaurant so we took our cue and left for a bit of a wander around the Opera House.

Looking around, it turned out it was quite a dressy affair and I was pleased I got a new frock for the occasion to go with the new sexy smalls and TM looked pretty sharp as usual.

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It is quite a curious arrangement they have organised at the Opera House with the entry though. So, they don’t allow the audience in until the show time, presumably to sell drinks, programs, t-shirts and Cd’s. As a result the crowds mount up and up and then there is this rather wretched and extremely unmusical ;-0 xylophone that warns you it’s time to enter, pretty quickly the xylophone gains pace and becomes almost this mono-tonal xylophone and all the while the frustrated mounted up crowds are trying to enter the auditorium (and get away from the dreadful din).

Anyway, we found our seats next to some Americans and we took a few pictures. Unfortunately they ask you not to photograph or video the performance at the Opera House so I obliged and don’t have so many to show you this time. The pre-show act had a stellar operatic voice and which really showcased the SSO and the Opera House.

And then it was time for Olivia, who was in fantastic form singing like an angel hit after hit of her magnificently successful career. There was A Little More Love, Magic, Xanadu, Suddenly, Summer Nights, You Are The One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted To You. Sam, Jolene, Banks Of The Old Ohio, Please Mr Please, Have You Never Been Mellow, I Honestly Love You, If You Love Me (let me know), If Not For You, Let Me Be There.

What a voice! I loved every minute of it!

It was time to go and I am pretty sure I spotted Richard Wilkens again in the crush to leave. By now it was cold and raining outside and TM and I hurried home and quickly peeled off our wet clothes and I reckon we did a pretty awesome rendition of “physical” ourselves …lets get animal, animal…

 

Not Just Another Saturday Night

My Baby moves at midnight
Goes right on to the dawn
My woman takes me higher
My woman keeps me warm

You Should Be Dancing, Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack.
Songwriters: Gibb, Maurice;Gibb, Barry;Gibb, Robin; Gibb

I had a feeling this was not going to be an ordinary Saturday night. My overnight project included a stay at a very special hotel suite on the club floor, a lovely meal at
Otto’s in Woolloomooloo, drinks at the hotel bar and then an overnight experience back at the penthouse.

I probably should start by saying that my new friend Mr Entertainment Industry Insider is a touch younger than me. He was quite forward about his preference in wanting to taste all the delights that a mare offers (yes that’s me).
To be honest I was quite hesitant and am not known for seeing a younger clientele but after some emailing back and forward, I was swayed by his easy charm and mature nature.

True to his word, we met at his love suite and after some get to know you time and a few drinks the night kicked off to a great start. We headed off to his choice of restaurant and while I hadn’t been to Otto’s before, I knew this particular area hosts some restaurants that specialise in fine dining. Otto’s came with a wonderful reputation and so I was looking forward to a fine time. We easily settled into our seats joining the the well heeled Lower North Shore and Eastern suburbs crowd. I did my usual sticky beak trick of scanning the group for someone famous (this will be no surprise to regular readers of the blog –like some 80% of the population, hell, honest enough to admit I’m shallow).

No expense was spared and Mr E.I.I. was a terrific host.

Otto’s has an extensive Italian menu and awesome wine list so with the combination of food wine (no, no song) and engaging conversation we headed back for what was to be a memorable night.

I have to say my new friend was quite the energetic type but of course, I have some sensational moves of my own.
Lets just say satisfaction was written all over his face the next morning. I’m not sure what happened over the next 24 hours but Mr.E.I.I. and I got together again a couple of days later so I must done something right. Perhaps I pressed the right buttons on the repeat function, what do you think? We had another fun Saturday night the next weekend at a special table at
Rockpool and an even better hotel suite, so the whole experience even topped the first one.

I have to thank all the lovely people that were involved in this great project and especially the head of production for putting together quite a storyline and a first rate cast.

You gotta love show business. Ha!

 

U2 360 Tour Experience

Wow, what a show this was!
As I’m of proud Irish decent (albeit a bit removed as these things go via Liverpool England) I just had to make my way to ANZ stadium the other night to join the many tens of thousands of fans in their excellent entertainment choice.

Now, I was hoping for a nice sit down meal at one of the many restaurants around the Homebush Bay area but to my disappointment, all were booked out. The only option left was to join the hard-core take-away crowd.

So, I joined the enormous queue and muttered three Hail Marys and a Our Father as I awaited my fate to who knows what greasy, artery hardening, grossly wayward offerings were on the menu?

As I made my way through the queue I could see that Dagwood Dogs were the order of the day. Honestly, just the thought of the kind of ingredients that made up these deep-fried yet cold missiles left me wondering what kind of internal damage was being done to the consumer. One can only imagine what Jamie Oliver, the naked chef would have made of it all. Weapons of Mass destruction had nothing on tonight’s dinner! Absolutely Bleurgh!

Anyway, back to the entertainment.

U2 were the main act but I always like to experience the pre show and take in the atmosphere.
Jay-Z the rapper was the special guest and his set was pretty exciting, especially when he did In New York. I enjoyed the later part of this performance more as it became more musical to my ears.
Perhaps I was also feeling less queasy as my digestive system was starting to settle down after the earlier treacherous assault on it via the Dagwood Dog. *cringe*

As the sun went down and lights got brighter the anticipation was growing and everyone was very excited with the thought of seeing Bono and the lads take the stage. I’ve been a big fan for their whole career but have never made it to the show before. So kindly armed with a recommendation from Amy Monroe@Twitter I knew this was going to be a sensational experience. Still in lead up to the show, I played You Tube footage of U2 live at Slane Castle and I did wonder how an international U2 show would compare with that level of Irish tribalism.

The set was just incredible and looked like something out of a Sci Fi movie from the likes of War of the Worlds.

The ground of the ANZ stadium where footy is usually played had been filled in to hold more people. ANZ stadium really was holding a capacity crowd.

The countdown came and went… U2 made their grand entrance with the classic Bowie “Space Oddity”. I guess it was an appropriate mental link to the spaceship theme and that magnificent set.

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U2 played all the usual faves and more, so many excellent songs Beautiful Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Mysterious Ways, Pride (In the Name of Love) and Discoteque to name a few.
The crowd on the floor went wild not to mention a very enthusiastic guy a few seats away jumping up and down like Skippy mmm or maybe more like Iggy Pop, who knows?
The encore was so very awesome. Set to the beautiful and haunting “With or Without You” the spire on top of the spaceship now sported a disco ball that projected lights all around the stadium. What an incredible ending, it was such a magnificent sensory overload and provoked such an emotional response.

I can recommend this experience to anyone that likes a great sound awesome set and an atmosphere in an open stadium like no other. I managed to sneak out during Bonos last speech to the fans and hop on to the shuttle bus to the carpark and beat the crowds.

I’m still buzzing and singing their songs to anyone that will hang around long enough to experience my sensational vocal repertoire. Unfortunately I’m a little low on fans at the moment but surely that’ll build up when I get some voice lessons.

Now to plan my exciting camping trip to the Woodford Folk Festival over the Xmas and New Year break.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks for reading my blog all year.
I very much enjoy reading other ladies blogs/journals and so this is my contribution to the blogosphere.
I hope you have had as much fun reading my blog as I have putting it together for your pleasure.
Speaking of pleasure hope to see some old friends and make some new ones too in 2011.

Karen x

 

The John Farnham Experience.

When you think of Sydney’s Luna Park you tend to think of merry-go-rounds and scary rides but I had the pleasure of seeing one of Australias best home-grown talent last weekend. Mr Communication whisked me away once again, this time to see John Farnham at The Big Top. The evening started off with dinner at a Thairiffic at McMahons Point, which happened to live up to it’s name, especially with being open on a Public Holiday.

Getting back to Whispering Jack, we arrived in time to see his special guest in country sensation Melinda Schneider. I must confess not to be an enormous country music fan, so I was surprised that I enjoyed her performance so much. While Melinda Schneider mostly performs her own original material, she also does some tremendous covers of Doris Day, she even looks a little like her. Perhaps a trip to Tamworth with a special friend to the music festival could be on the cards…who knows?

Finally the lights dimmed and we had the pleasure of a tremedous Aussie talent stepping on to the stage and boy did he belt out some great numbers – 61 years old and geez what a vocalist! The band (many of whom have performed with JF for years and years) were polished professionals as were the back up singers.

All time great Australian pop songs such as Pressure Down, Age of Reason, Touch of Paradise and You’re the Voice were crowd pleasers. In the song “You’re The Voice” there was a brief appearance by four kilted fellows playing the bag pipes… nothing like a Scotsman to get you excited I say.

The crowd loved John so much that throughout the night people were running down and shaking his hand, some with panties and bras in hand. Maybe if I had have been wearing some I could have participated too – but that’s another story.

It was a wonderful evening and the final song was a surprise choice but what an excellent a version of the ACDC hit “It’s a Long way”- boy was that a cracker!

Thanks to Mr C for another terrific evening. I saw Richard Wilkins, and a couple of promoters make an early exit before the mad crush and the lady in the next aisle seemed to be having a wild time as she kept falling over while dancing …whatever she was on made for some unexpected extra sideline entertainment. All that was left to do was fight through the crowd get into the car and head to the Hilton for some rock and rolling of my own.

It’s times like this that you really appreciate the talent that Australia has to offer and how lucky I have been to experience it once more.

 

A Masquerade Ball

I had the opportunity to go to a masquerade (masked) ball last Saturday night. It was a pretty exciting proposition that Mr Useful put to me. This corporate event was held at the historic Sydney Town Hall and would have various live theatre characters as well as a set three course dinner, speeches and entertainment by Sydney’s own “Enormous Horns”. We would then make our way to the Crown Plaza where he had arranged an upgraded suite for our very own live theatre later.

When the invitation was announced that it was to be formal costume I went into perfectionist panic mode. Ideally I would have liked us to dress up in 17th style costumes with professional costumes makeup and wigs but that would have took some major arrangements on my part. Unfortunatly, I was finding myself attending to a few different commitments and didn’t have the time to make it *my idea* happen. I sorted out some basic masques and we wore formal costume and as it turns out that was all that was required.

Arriving at the red carpet at the Sydney Town Hall was a glamorous affair. The photographers were decked out in retro blues brothers type gear with big flash cameras.

The inside of the Town Hall itself had been majically transformed from the church like pews that it’s usually set up with into a visual feast. It had a French circus type vibe with street performers in costumes and on stilts.

The props and the lighting were very imaginative and extremely well done.

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We found our table and chatted with some of the guests as our drinks were served. There was a short presentation from the company thanking the marketing manager who was taking a position at another firm, he certainly did a awesome job putting the event together. Then the entree arrived, king prawns closely followed by the main, steak or chicken. More speeches and some fundraising for the the childrens burns unit. The irony of having to wear a mask through the experience of having a deforming burn highlighted.
There were a couple of glow bars set up at the venue serving a choice of Mojito or Cosmopolitan with donations being contributed to the burns unit. We bought a couple of cocktails at our table to help out.

All to soon it was the end of the evening and the Enormous Horns were playing their amazing and massive organs. They really are a very professional and slick outfit and do Sydney corporate events proud.

I think I enjoyed the Village People set the most. It takes a bit of front to come out topless in an Indian outfit Ha! =D Plus, I’m really looking forward to seeing the original Village People myself in a couple of weeks.

With the conclusion of the ball we made our way back to our five star accomodation and created a little fantasy of our own.

*This blogs’ music choice inspired by my friend werewolf@werewolf’s Lair.

 

Movies by the Quay

One of my very favourite things to do is go to arthouse cinema, so it was with much pleasure that I had a recent invitation from Mr Movie Buff. The plan was that we go to dinner, a movie and then share an overnight experience at his hotel (Marriott). Well, who was I to argue, after all these are three things I really enjoy – dining, viewing and relaxXxing.

One of the most scenic places in Sydney has got to be Circular Quay. There’s something very magical about the location, being right on the harbour and of course there’s Opera House, so why not take a stroll to the Dendy Movie theatre like we did and partake in a mystery movie.

But before we got to that, a delightful seafood meal was waiting for me. Unfortunatly by this stage the wind had picked but the romantic in me suggested we dine outside overlooking the glorious view anyway Thankfully there was a outdoor heater and Mr MB was so brave. (He must have been freezing but didn’t complain once, well perhaps once- but nicely). I did notice he had to lift his hoodie up to cover his head from the gale force wind chill factor sent directly from Antartica that prevailed upon our romantic evening.

It goes without say, I don’t think my future as a outdoor event organiser was gaining any momentum.

After a delicious but windy meal and with time still some time left, I directed my fellow diner to the Guylian Café where we had the most delicious pot of hot chocolate made from real chocolate. If you haven’t ever been, its the kind of place where they have their own specialist pastry chefs and the array of desserts is mindblowing. It was lucky in one way we had just finished dinner because the spread of deserts that surrounded us would have been extremely tempting under any other circumstances.

The time had come for the main feature (no, not that, that’s later …) the movie which was called the Ghost Writer and if I don’t say so myself was quite a thriller. It even starred Ewan McGregor – gawd, he was so good in Moulin Rouge.

Mr Movie Buff wasn’t living up to his name as he dozed off a few times, leaving me somewhat deflated but somehow I don’t think it was entirely my fault.

Well the thriller was over and we strolled back to our 5 star accommodation where I suggested we make an action flick of our own.

It didn’t take much to motivate the movie buff to put his directors hat on and call the shots.

What else is left to say here, but “ it’s a rap”

 

Sinsational Indulgences

When it comes to fine dining, I reckon everybody in their life should at least once experience a degustation menu at a ritzy restaurant. Put simply, a degustation menu is is a feast of many different courses that tempt, tease and test your palate. The food is perfectly matched with different varieties of wine that compliment the particular dish.

A degustation indulgence was our recent mission as Mr Equine Investor and I headed out to one of Sydney’s finest establishments, the Astral Restaurant at Sydney’s Star City Casino. And gee, what a treat lay ahead of me
Mr EI had arranged that we meet at his hotel (Sofitel) and after some interesting conversation we headed to the Astral restaurant, I must say he dressed very sharp.

We settled easily into our window seats overlooking the magnificent Sydney views. It seemed very fitting that we toast our new friendship and our evening with a fine glass of Krug champagne. After that no time was wasted with the first of many courses hitting our table quickly. The first was amuse–bouche or a lovely appetiser, then oysters accompanied by the first light white wine. As I said, the courses were coming out thick and fast, there was smoked salmon, scallops, pumpkin risotto and that was just entrée all with the accompanying complementing wine.

The conversation was easy, we shared interesting experiences from both our lives and I was feeling very relaxed. So much so, I suggested we take our shoes off and play some footsies, perhaps this was the wine talking but we both enjoyed some under table action.

By now I was holding Mr EI’s hand too, I suppose I was feeling very touchy feely with another Cancerian for company.
Well time for more courses, out came the aylesbury duck breast.
Next the angus beef with hollandaise, king mushrooms, miso seeded mustard & fois gras. By now the complementing wine was red, robust and full flavoured. I was pretty much in heaven (with the company, conversation and great food contributing to all the essential elements of a great evening).

The dessert was just exceptional, it was a mandarin sorbet, compressed segments, lemon balm & hibiscus jelly. The dessert was just the most toppermost of the poppermost of desserts. It was an awesome visual and oral sinsation. It arrived in a puff of smoke and had this crackling, popping sound when it hit your tongue. How erotic! It tasted incredible too. WoW, VERY SexXxy.

There was a cheese platter still to come but Mr EI had other ideas in mind so we headed to the taxi rank to h
ail one of Sydney’s best. It was pretty entertaining watching the different members of the public. The Casino crowd revelers were impatiently lingering at the taxi rank, chatting amongst themselves about their night that had just passed.
Both Mr EI and I were very full and feeling cheery.

As the sun warmed the day, we couldn’t imagine having breakfast after the feast of the previous night. We decided to skip on that and whip up a smorgasbord of our own. Needless to say we worked off most of the delicacies that the Astral had to offer.
A most memorable experience. I can only wonder where my friendly clients will take me next – who knows maybe an overseas adventure? Ha!