Playtime

CLUBS

DIRTY @ PHOENIX
Sydney’s most popular subterranean club night celebrates its third birthday on Saturday December 12 from 10pm. Mandy Rollins and Feisty will be playing the dirtiest underground tribal house in Sydney’s favourite sweatbox, Phoenix. Come and hear what all the Dirty talk has been about over the last three years. Early arrival is recommended.

CAMP ATTACK
Want to hear the campest music in town? Think Village People, Cher, Right Said Fred… Well, maybe not that camp. Hear it all at Arq on December 11 with Camp Attack, when DJs Kitty Glitter and Dan Murphy dig out the ultra-camp treats we all secretly love. It’s $10 entry from 9pm.

GET LOOSE
Loose Ends at Phoenix Bar on Oxford St is kicking up a notch for summer. The weekly party happens every Sunday from 10pm, with resident DJ Matt Vaughan and regular special guests playing a swag of dirty electro, house, punk and disco tunes. Plus, the first 20 people through the door each week in summer get a free mix CD from DJ Matt. Free entry.
info: www.exchangehotel.biz

PUBS +  BARS

HEAVEN DANCE
Come for a drink and a dance at the Heaven Social Dance, Saturday December 12 at the Northmead bowling Club, 166 Windsor Rd, Northmead. The over-18s event runs from 8.30pm, with fantastic drag shows from Gracie Lou, Lola del Arte and others. Beverly Buttercup is hosting. Entry is $7 before 10pm or $10 after. info: www.heavensocialgroup.zoomshare.com
LATIN LOBOS
LoBOS is Sydney’s newest and most exciting social network for Sydney’s Latin LGBTQI community and friends. The group’s first event, ‘Latin Trash’, is at Candy’s Apartment, Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross, from 8pm on December 9. The event is so named because at 2010 Mardi Gras LoBOS’ special guests on their float will be Anaconda Trash and her sidekick Gabi Garbo direct from Uruguay.
B-SIDE
Never before have the heavy hitters of Sydney radio come together to do battle in this way. Whose record collection will come out on top? Who owns the entire back catalogue of Sun Ra? Who plays Radiohead on air, but secretly listens to David Hasselhoff at home? Sydney radio DJs including Fenella Kernebone, Dan Zilber and Tim Ritchie will battle it out each Sunday from 2pm at the Beresford Hotel’s beer garden. Free entry.

COMMUNITY

CELEBRATE WITH US
At 1000 issues strong, Sydney Star Observer is one of the longest-running GLBT community publications in the world — and also one of the best, if we do say so ourselves. We’re celebrating this milestone at Taylor Square South from 6pm-7.30pm on December 9. There’ll be entertainment from Maxi Shield and Candy Box, plus music from DJ George Roussos. Hope to see you there.
GLRL PICNIC
To celebrate the conclusion of the 58’08 education campaign, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is holding an end-of-year picnic on December 13 at the Federal Park pergola, Chapman Rd, Annandale. From noon-4pm, you can enjoy free food, refreshments and light entertainment.
DRUG STUDY
If you are gay, lesbian or bisexual and a regular user of the drugs crystal, speed, base or ice, ACON and the National Dug and Alcohol Research Centre would like to hear your story. The study involves a confidential one-hour interview, and you’ll be paid $50 for your time. For more information, please contact Emma on 0400 547 777.

BOYS

BEAR ESSENTIALS
The Bear Essentials program will be launched at the Harbour City Bears’ Den Night at the Oxford from 9pm on December 11. Tunes from DJ Seymour Butz, plus Furry Fridays with DJ Gavyn Vincze downstairs from 10pm.
GEORGE MICHAEL
He wants your sex! George Michael, the father figure of pop, is returning to Australia for the first time since 1988. Michael’s gracing our shores with a handful of mammoth stadium shows, including a stop at the Sydney Football Stadium on February 26. Tickets on sale now through Ticketek, get in quick!
NAKED BARBER
Looking for a close shave? The Naked Barber is a men’s mobile grooming service that specialises in body shaving/clippering, haircuts, cutthroat shaving and hair colouring.
info: www.thenakedbarber.com.au

GIRLS

LESBIAN SEX SEMINAR
Come along to After Dark: Lesbian Sex and Sexuality Uncovered. This seminar is being held at MaXXX Black Adult Fun on King St, Newtown from 6.30pm on December 16. Women can enjoy cupcakes, champagne, rope bondage demonstrations, an interactive sexual health and sex positivity workshop, gift bags (inclusive of special mini vibrators), and a complimentary cocktail at The Bank Hotel afterwards. The workshop is free (with a limited number of places going fast). RSVP essential: [email protected] or 02 9206 2007
DISCUSSION GROUP
A new discussion group for lesbians in the Blue Mountains is taking place at 7.15pm on December 10. Come along to discuss health, social, life issues — whatever you want. Have your say and hear what other women think. The hour-long dicussion group (followed by tea and coffee) will be held at the Blue Mountains Women’s Health Centre, 124 Katoomba St, Katoomba.
QUEER CENTRAL
Catch DJs Sveta, Miss Gee, Shalyn Gray, Beatrix and Avra Cybele at the Sly Fox every Wednesday night from 9pm. Surprise shows every week by Mitzi Macintosh and Penny Clifford. info: 9557 1016
HOTROD SUNDAYS
Every Sunday at the Colombian Hotel, girls can get their motors running with Hotrod. The line-up includes alternating guest DJs from 5pm and Sandi Hotrod spinning tunes from 9pm to 1am in the main bar. 117 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.

STAGE

CABARET
The iconic play (and film) Cabaret, with the character of Sally Bowles so memorably played by Liza Minnelli, is getting a new lease on life at the New Theatre in Newtown. A fresh young cast tell the story of the seedy, politically charged underbelly of pre-war Berlin. It’s showing until December 19.
info: www.newtheatre.org.au
MARIKA AUBREY
Marika Aubrey makes her return to the stage this month in the one-woman cabaret tour-de-force Caution: Aggressive Birds. A mix of song, storytelling and big laughs, the night proves this bird can sing. It’s playing at the Raval on December 15 and 22. Bookings through Moshtix.
THREE 2 TANGO
What happens when you combine an urban expression from the streets of Buenos Aires with high fashion, electronic beats, acrobatic lifts and three of Australia’s most exciting and versatile dancers? Three 2 Tango have re-invented the Argentine tango, maintaining the passion while breaking the rules. William Centurian, Mariana Baltodano and Manuel Albarracin present this full-length modern tango show ‘in the round’ at Slide on December 21.
info: www.slide.com.au

SONGVOICES FOR PEACE
Some of Australia’s — and the world’s — best musical theatre talent comes together in Voices for Peace, for one night only on December 10 at the Seymour Centre. Leading musical theatre performers such as Amelia Cormack and Nathan Leigh Jones will be joined by emerging stars for an intimate night of music, with all proceeds going to charity Inter-Educare.
info: www.seymourcentre.com
GET SMOKEY
Soul legend Smokey Robinson will be joined by man-band Human Nature and R&B sensation Jessica Mauboy for a special one-off show at the Wyndham Estate winery on December 12. Robinson has become a good friend of the Human Nature lads, working with them on their Motown releases, so there might even be a duet or two on the night.
info: www.smokeyandhumannature.com
SHALOM ANDREWS
As the Christmas season approaches, join Shalom Andrews in a special Christmas concert, alongside special guests the Mark Harris Trio and opera singer Tina Harris. The audience will be immersed in the Christmas spirit as they sing along with traditional carols such as Silent Night, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and Away in the Manger. They will also be entertained with popular Christmas songs such as Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The concert is on at the Glen St Theatre, December 15, 11am.
info: www.glenstreet.com.au

ON SCREEN

CHAUVEL RETROSPECTIVE
The Chauvel Cinema this month presents an exclusive season celebrating the work of pioneering Queensland filmmaker (and the venue’s namesake) Charles Chauvel, screening over two weekends from December 12-20. One of Australia’s foremost film pioneers, Chauvel forged a career that spanned the silent to sound era, and the program of eight screenings includes such classics as Forty Thousand Horsemen (1940), Rats of Torbruk (1944) and Jedda (1955).
info: www.chauvelcinema.net.au
PERV FILM FESTIVAL
Perv is a new international film and video festival dedicated to queerotica. The festival runs from December 10 to 13 at the Red Rattler, and will showcase some of the latest and greatest audio-visual material representing and catering to queer desires: from the sensual to the lewd, the silly to the serious, the subtle to the shamelessly upfront.
info: www.pervfilmfestival.com
AFI AWARDS
It’s been a cracker of a year for Aussie screen content, with shows like Underbelly keeping us glued to the small screen and films like Samson & Delilah earning international rave reviews. On Saturday, December 12 at 9.30pm on Channel Nine, Julia Zemiro hosts the AFI Awards, a celebration of all that’s great on Australian screens.

FREE

CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE
Up until Christmas Eve, Studio 20/17’s Christmas Showcase 09 will exhibit one-off pieces of innovative jewellery and objects by Australian and international contemporary jewellery designers. The exhibition promises to provide an abundance of inspired and unique gift ideas. Much of the jewellery is deliciously tactile with luxurious curves, satin finishes and moveable parts, so you can pick up a Christmas gift or just enjoy some free window shopping. It’s at Studio 20/17, 2 Danks St, Waterloo, every day until December 24.

URBAN BAR CODE
Suspended in Abercrombie Lane, white fluorescent tubes diagram the bar code to Jan Gehl’s book Life Between Buildings. Beneath this suspended code lies another painted in black — Two or Three Things I Know About Her by Jean-Luc Godard. The two codes frame a space of dialogue on the city and create the opportunity for one to engage with it. This is one of the more esoteric examples of the City of Sydney’s summer laneway art project, but it’s a visually stunning piece that’s definitely worth checking out.
info: www.lanewaysbygeorge.com.au

COOGEE CAROLS
Randwick City Council presents the Coogee Carols at the Goldstein Reserve, Coogee Beach on December 20 from 6.30pm-8.30pm. The free Carols boast appearances by local celebrities and personalities who, supported by a 12-piece band and a 20-member choir, will perform the traditional and contemporary carols we all love and enjoy. Special appearance by Santa. The sale of songbooks and glowsticks aid the Killara Women’s Refuge in Randwick.

FUTURE FUN

IDAHO ART WANTED
IDAHO Sydney is inviting artists and students to contribute artworks expressing their personal responses to homophobia for the 2010 exhibition at Kudos Gallery in May 2010 for International Day Against Homophobia. The theme for the exhibition is ‘Love Combating Fear’. All participants are encouraged to explore issues surrounding homophobia and/or identity as gay, lesbian, transgender, intersex or queer and questioning members of the community.
info: www.idahosydney.org
BOOK OF EVERYTHING
The Book of Everything centres on nine-year-old Thomas, a little boy who dreams big. Directed by Neil Armfield, the magical tale follows the story of a child who sees things others cannot imagine, and whose spirit and curiosity win over those around him as he writes his fantastical visions in his own Book of Everything. The season runs from December 23 to January 31 at the Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills.
info: www.belvoir.com.au
COMEDY GALA
That Was The Year That Was is Australia’s Comedy Gala Event of the Year, bringing together the country’s finest comedians for a no-holds-barred review of 2009. Starring Mikey Robins, Wendy Harmer, Wil Anderson, Eddie Perfect, Celia Pacquola, Flacco and the Sandman, Felicity Ward and the Scared Weird Little Guys, with many more to be announced. It’s on at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, on December 29 and 30.
info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com