Photos

Children like Edward Dura were a major focus of last Sunday's Italian Festa on Norton. Record crowds lined Norton Street for the Inner West's biggest celebration of all things Italian. View gallery

Sydney was thrown into chaos yesterday as 200,000 spectators scrambled to witness the arrival of the world’s largest passenger ship, the Queen Mary 2, and it’s sister ship the Queen Elizabeth 2. Photos by David Clare, First Light Photography View gallery

A farewell private recital was held for aspiring young pianist Lukas Opacic (he turned 18 this week) who leaves on February 3 to further his studies at the prestigious Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. View gallery

A welcome lunch party was held for former Sydneysider and tennis promoter Karen Scott Happer who now lives in Miami. Karen, a close friend and business manager of tennis legend Jimmy Connors, was here to see family and friends en route to the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne. View gallery

It was the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Festival's opening night of must-see Kaidan, a ghost story with choreographer Meryl Tankard collaborating with visual artist Racis Lansac, brilliantly performed by Tankard's seven dancers and drum ensemble TaikOz. View gallery

Everyone had fun at the opening night of the fabulous Eva Yerbabuena Ballet Flamenco, the exciting traditional flamenco from Madrid, the first production presented by Sydney Opera House as part of a series of world music and dance events. View gallery

Holidays, homecomings, celebrations and chitchat took place here, there and everywhere around Sydney. View gallery

The Gaelic club played host to more than 800 musos and industry guests last week for the announcement of the 2007 Jack Awards nominees. Rockers including Eskimo Joe, The Vines, Youth Group and Faker were all there to toast the Australian live music scene. View gallery

Overlander 4WD magazine announced the winner of the prestigious 4WD of the Year award at a luncheon hosted by editor Mattieu Raudonikis. The much-anticipated award was won by the Toyota D4D Prado GXL and accepted by Mike Breen of Toyota. View gallery

The big turnout at the recent Pie Face party proved that even fashionistas and gorgeous A-list folk can't resist the temptation of munching on hearty foods. The company's owners, Betty Fong and Wayne Homschek (who are also the design duo behind Paablo Nevada), threw one of their legendary bashes on the deck of their Bondi home to celebrate the opening of the 10th Pie Face store. View gallery

The opening of the 2007 Sydney Festival included Telophaza, by Israel's dazzling Batsheva Dance Company, and also Dublin's Gate Theatre Beckett season with Ralph Fiennes in First Love. View gallery

Opera Australia's Sydney summer season opened with Australian maestro Alexander Briger conducting Neil Armfield's production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, followed a few days later by its production of Verdi's La traviata. View gallery

The Medibank International 2007 Sydney tennis tournament featured many top players. View gallery

Some of the world's top tennis players attended a welcome cocktail party held in their honour in Sydney recently. The party welcomed players competing in the Medibank International, which was held at Sydney Olympic Park's International Tennis Centre. View gallery

The touring component of the Blake Prize for Religious Art opened in Ashfield last Tuesday. The winner was Haberfield resident Euan Macleod. Glebe resident Chris O'Doherty (better known as Reg Mombassa) also entered the competition. View gallery

Musicians Robbie Avenaim and Clayton Thomas were at the launch of the experimental and improvised music festival known as the Now Now Festival. View gallery

Longtime Five Dock resident Esther Johnstone celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. View gallery