“How do you have a party like this in these economic times?”

It was a much-asked question for Colin Cowie, the event planner behind the biggest, most expensive launch party of recent years. The opening of the Atlantis hotel on Dubai’s Palm warranted a celebration on an unprecedented scale, at an estimated cost of £15 million, with attendees including Robert de Niro, Agyness Deyn, Lindsay Lohan, and Kylie Minogue.

Miss Minogue performed at the launch, for a rumoured fee of £1.5 million, whilst guests feasted on Middle Eastern mezze accompanied by flowing Veuve Clicquot. The glamourous event incorporated one million fireworks, set off in precise formation around the edges of the palm-shaped island. International hotelier host Sol Kerzner then held an afterparty for his hottest guests, in the exclusive Atlantis Bridge Suite.

Rumour has it that Kylie was left waiting at the door by a particularly strict doorman, who failed to recognise the international star under her baggy cover-up clothes – in fact, security for the launch was so tight that a two-mile exclusion zone was implemented around the hotel. Dubai’s hotels famously added more stars to the rating system, and it looks like its doing the same for the “V”s in “VIP”…

www.atlantisthepalm.com

Eternal Silver London has provoked quite an excitement in the world of jewellery due to their use of Argentium 970-pure Silver instead of the more commonly known sterling Silver.  To the non jewellery gurus, Argentium produces a far shinier, stronger and harder finish than that of the Sterling Silver and means that the jewellery will maintain a bright white lustre while other lesser mortal Silvers start to dull. 

The mastermind behind the idea is Simon Harrison and there’s little surprise in this, considering he has previously worked with the likes of Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Givenchy to name only a few.  

All of the designs for Eternal Silver have a running theme based on ‘Mobius,’ the ancient mathematical equation and is a nod to the eternal circle.  There is a wide range to choose from but the delicately twisted hearts and rings are a leading favourite in the collection.  As the most tarnish-resistant material, Eternal Silver will mean even if the light of you life starts to fade, this jewellery won’t.

Last week Dame Vivienne Westwood threw an exclusive fashion and music show party in order to raise money for NSPCC in the Banqueting Hall at Whitehall Palace. Together with London Musici, Vivienne Westwood hoped to raise £250,000 for the children’s charity.

The evening was also the night to see the designer’s new Gold Collection, Chaos Point.  The icon wore an all over embroidery dress in green taffeta from the new Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 collection.  The night was filled with celebrities such as the Jagger sisters, Claudia Schiffer and Tracey Emin, deifying the designer by donning various Westwood designs. 

However, the event was not just catwalk focused. Tim Hunter, the NSPCC’S deputy director of fundraising, was keen to point out that: “This event promises to be an exciting foray into the exclusive world of fashion, music and performance art in a sumptuous setting. You will also be helping to end cruelty to children, FULL STOP.” 

With performances from dancers Fernando Montano and Romany Pajdak from The Royal Ballet and solo violinist Charlie Siem, as well as a public matinee held by Nigella Lawson, Vogue magazine’s editor-at-large Fiona Golfar, and Easy Living editor Susie Forbes, the evening was filled with endless excitement and all for a very good cause. 

Trying to find a different night out in London can be pretty challenging.  Every restaurant seems to blend into another and the rise in the popular Pan Asian cuisine such as, the impeccable head-girl of restaurants E and O, proves difficult for the humbler sorts to hold their own against However, hidden incredibly well in the stable yard of Camden is something that you definitely won’t be expecting on a Monday night. 

Gilgamesh is a mix between a Buddha bar chain and a leisure centre.  Upon arrival you go straight upstairs by escalators and enter a movie set of the Mummy where the heat makes you feel you’ve stepped into a resort in Hawaii.  You can’t quite place it which makes it both intriguing and bewildering.  Yet there’s something even more unusual about Gilgamesh on a Monday.  The Globe girls.  These are a group of singing transvestites, who perform around six acts throughout the night.  Unsettling at first, weaving in and around your tables, these six foot four towering females have both an unnerving and amusing presence.  With constant costume changes and eclectic songs from the Pussy Cat Dolls to Abba, their range is impressive, if you forgive the obvious dubbing. 

Yet, what’s clear about Gilgamesh, and perhaps one of its charms, is that it is clearly not setting itself out to be a restaurant. The menu though offers a wide range of set courses – meaning the evening can be very good value – and the food is standard but nothing spectacular.  It is the entertainment that Gilgamesh is really swerving towards and once you’re aware of this then the night can certainly prove to be a highly comical one.  On the evening we went, by the third time the lithe young females had struggled to the stage for another act, the restaurant erupted into applause and joined in with the renditions of Grease and other favourites.

It’s certainly not somewhere to go to talk, and it’s not for the Pan Asian lover, but it definitely is for the Vegas loving, kitsch adoring customer and you certainly feel a bit of a scrooge if you don’t participate by the end.

So for a disrupting, chaotic, unashamedly tacky night to put you in a more upbeat mood, then a trip to Gilgamesh may be exactly what you’re looking for.  

Gilgamesh

The Stables Market

Chalk Farm Road

London

NW1 8AH

0207 428 4922

Nick Valentine has created four floors of decadence, resulting in a trifle-effect.  Leaving no signs of the slightly bohemian kooky furnishings of its predecessor, the late 43 South Molton, Valentine has opted for a slightly “louder” club. With no expense spared Valentine, co-founder of the popular Cuckoo club, shows no evidence of being “crunched,” refusing to shy away from profligate décor.  Perhaps this is where it goes wrong?

Python-skinned furnishings, peacock feathers, gigantic chandeliers, it’s certainly not a subtle approach, although some may succumb to the tongue-in-cheek venue. With a booming dance floor in the basement and four further floors, although each floor is heavily ornate, nothing shocks or excites it just makes you feel slightly queasy, or is that the sickly cocktails?

This member’s club is riddled with extravagance and flamboyant mistakes, yet some may argue it seems to work.  So, if you’re searching for an exclusive club on a night out – though I’d swerve to Swallow Street and stay clear of his latest haunt – if curiosity gets the better of you then…. and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Molton House
43 South Molton Street
Mayfair
London
W1K 5RS