PLAYTIME

CLUBS

GRAND FINAL
The grand final for Search For a New Imperial show cast is on  Thursday July 9 at Arq. The night is hosted by Mitzi Macintosh with DJs Alex Taylor, Kitty Glitter and Scott Tanner. Free entry from 9pm. info: arqsydney.com.au

IN RICHMOND
Jupiter’s Nightclub in Richmond will hold its GLBT night this Friday, July 10. Doors open at 8:30pm and entry is $7. Jupiters 253 Windsor Rd, Richmond. info: myspace.com/jupiters_nightclub.

UNITY
Unity Wollongong will present Out In Space on Saturday July 11. Starting at 8pm at the Beaton Park Tennis Club in Gwynneville. Entry is $10.
info: unity-wollongong.org.

DIRTY
DJ Mandy Rollins (pictured) is back this Saturday July 11 with Dirty at Phoenix. DJ Robert Gilbert from Melbourne will also play. Doors open at 10pm and entry is $15. info: mandystribe.com.

DOLPHINS DANCE
Dolphins Dance in Parramatta takes place on Saturday July 18, from 8pm. Entry is $8, at Parramatta Golf Club, Park Pde, Parramatta.
info: dolphinsdance.net.

SOUND FACTORY
Every Sunday Boutique Sydney hosts Sound Factory with DJs Murray Hood, James Tobin, Troy Cox and Brett Austin. Doors open 8pm with 2 for 1 cocktails -˜til 11pm. Entry free until 10pm. info:  Email [email protected]

DISCO HEAVEN
Disco Heaven stars Minnie Cooper, Decoda Secret and Charisma Belle on Friday nights. Doors open from 11pm. Entry is $10, $5 before midnight. DJs include Kitty Glitter and Greg Boladian.

PUBS AND BARS

THE ALEXANDER
Every Friday night the Alexander Hotel in Leura holds a gay and lesbian friendly night from 7pm. A bistro is also available for dinner. The Alexander Hotel is located 62 Great Western Highway, Leura.

NEW SHOW
New drag show Mirage starring Dacoda Secret, Wil and Daniel will play at Stonewall Hotel from 9pm this Saturday July 11. DJs include Craig Payne, Jimmy Dee, Greg Boladian and David Smith.
info: stonewallhotel.com.

COMEDY NIGHT
The Sugarmill has just launched a comedy night on a Tuesday called Gagging For It. Doors open at 7pm with dinner and show costing $25 or $10 for show. Comedian Lehmo will perform on Tuesday July 14 and Axis of Awesome on Tuesday July 21. Bookings on 9368 7333 or email [email protected]. The Sugarmill is located at 33-37 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross.

SYLVANA’S BACK
Entertainer Sylvana (pictured) will return with Rick James to The Oxford Hotel on Tuesday July 14 at 8pm. Get in early as $3 schooners finish at 5pm and the bistro opens at 6pm.

A LITTLE CHA CHA
On Wednesday July 15, CHI CHI CHA CHA Lombardo will return to Slide. Starring Trevor Ashley and Lesley Hancock, this hilarious show is based on a married couple who have travelled the high seas on the Cabaret circuit. Doors open at 7pm. Dinner and show is $60 or $20 for show.
info: slide.com.au.

VICTORIA ROOM
Sunday Supper & Sounds is the latest and hottest addition to The Victoria Room repertoire. Its restaurant and bar will melt into one as patrons are invited to choose where they sit to nibble on the new and easier to share menu and relax to the soulful tunes of guest DJs. Doors open at 6pm and the night will soon be broadcast live on Eastside FM.

COMMUNITY

TABLE4TEN
Table4Ten (T4T) are looking for people to host a table and raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. T4T is on Tuesday September 22. If you would like to host a table visit t4t.com.au.

NEW GROUP
Pillow Talk is a new group for young guys and girls to discuss partner communication. This sex and ethics group is for young people between the ages of 16 and 26 from the GLBT community.
info: 9206 2000 or [email protected].

RAINBOW PICNIC
Rainbow Parents BM, a group of Blue Mountains lesbian mums and gay dads and their families who come from anywhere between Penrith and Lithgow, will hold a picnic on Saturday July 11 at Wentworth Falls Lake.
info: [email protected]

COMMUNITY CRUISE
The Southern Cross Outdoors Group will hold a Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruise on Saturday July 25. The cruise crosses Pittwater for a brief stop at Patonga then cruises up the lower Hawkesbury into Cowan Waters, stopping at Bobbin Head for lunch. Passengers may board at either Palm Beach at 11am or Patonga at 11:30am. info:  Robert on 0407 934 740 or email rob_dkellett@hotmail.

MOUNTAIN MEN
PLWHA Blue Mountains has weekly luncheons every Wednesday at 10 Station St, Katoomba from 12:30pm. You will find them next door to the Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre.
info: Warwick the day before on 4782 2119 or 0449 026 878 so he can make catering arrangements.

OPEN DOOR
The Open Door is a Christian based support group for the GLBT community in Penrith and the Blue Mountains. The group follows a simple format of coffee, discussion, reflection and prayer time. The meeting takes place every Sunday at 74 Laycock St in Cranebrook from 6pm. info:  Pastor Sue Palmer on 0411 330 212 or visit theopendoor.org.au.

DIARY

VINTAGE NIGHTS
Zeta bar’s famous VIP Room will hold a new event called Vintage Nights. Inspired by prohibition, a time when alcohol consumption and distribution was against the law. Mixologist Grant Collins has put together a Vintage and Forgotten Classics cocktail list designed to conjure up thoughts of the era. Vintage Nights will be held in the VIP Room on Thursday July 30 and Thursday August 27. Cost: $40 per-person including cocktails, canapes and recipes to take home. info: zetabar.com.au/Vintage.

PARKLIFE
Tickets are now on sale for Parklife on Sunday 4 October. The line-up includes Empire of The Sun, La Roux, Little Boots, Tiga, Crystal Castles, The Rapture, Kaskade and Lady Sovereign. info: parklife.com.au.

LONESOME WEST
The hilarious black comedy The Lonesome West will open at Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre on August 21. Directed by Peter Carstairs, the play tells the story of how an alcoholic priest attempts to teach two misfits the meaning of love and forgiveness. Tickets start at $29. Bookings:  9699 3444
or belvoir.com.au.

BANGARRA
Bangarra Dance Theatre is about to embark on its 20th anniversary Australian tour with a retrospective work called Fire. Opening Friday 28 August at the Sydney Opera House. Tickets start at $48. Bookings:  9250 7777 or sydneyoperahouse.com.

PERSIAN MUSIC
The first Persian music festival in Australia will feature five live acts, 12 musicians, eight hours of music for $35. It’s been called Persian Pickles and is both a celebration of life and love of music at The Factory Theatre on Saturday 5 September. Bookings:
9550 3666 or factorytheatre.com.au.

LIOR RETURNS
Australian singer-songwriter Lior will perform his Shadows & Light show at the Sydney Theatre Company on September 9 and 10 in support of Youngcare. Lior performs alongside guest performers, the Tailem String Quartet. Tickets start at $40. Bookings: 92501777 or sydneytheatre.com.au.

FREE

CHEMICAL CLEANOUT
A free household chemical collection is at the old South Sydney Hospital carpark on Saturday July 11 between 9am and 3pm. Chemicals that can be dropped off include cleaning products and solvents, paints and thinners, pesticides and herbicides, poisons, aerosols, batteries and gas bottles. info: environment.nsw.gov.au or 9265 9333.

POETRY FOR ALL
Poet Richard Jenner will present his latest work at the Customs House Library on Tuesday July 14 at 12pm. The work is in both French and English.
info: A free event but bookings are essential on 9242 8555

CERAMICS
Twelve emerging ceramic artists from six countries are brought together for New Friends, Art and Adventure – a ceramic art exhibition at the Japan Foundation Gallery from Thursday July 16. The exhibition will represent a culmination of three months spent as artists-in-residence at the Shigaraki Institute of Ceramic Studies. Entry is free. info: jpf.org.au.

DESSERT CHEF
The Callebaut dessert competition is calling on all chefs, apprentices and restaurant or cafe owners. The event will take place at the Hunter Valley Gardens on August 1&2. Contestants will be judged on their presentation, preparation skills, taste, texture and originality of the dessert using Callebaut chocolate. Entries close at the end of July. info: 0413 749 423 or
email [email protected].

KNIT WITS
Let the Inner City Branch of the NSW Knitters Guild help you learn to knit. The first session is on Saturday July 11 at 1pm and later on Wednesday 22 July from 11am.
info: A free event but bookings are essential on 9242 8555.

ON SCREEN

ON THE RUNWAY
The second series of Australian Project Runway will premiere this Wednesday 8 July on Foxtel’s Arena channel at 8:30pm. info: projectrunway.com.au.
CEDAR BOYS
After much media hype, low-budget Australian budget film Cedar Boys will launch nationwide on Thursday July 30. Set in the western suburbs of Sydney, the movie stars Hollywood actress Rachel Taylor. A few of the movie’s featured songs, I Don’t Give A Damm and Such a Fool, are by Australian pop singer and DJ Ray Isaac. info: cedarboysthemovie.com.

LIVE IN VIENNA
Sarah Brightman’s (pictured) Symphony Live in Vienna concert will be featured on SBS on Sunday July 26 at 11am. The preview is to coincide with her DVD release this month.
info: sbs.com.au.

FILMMAKER SEARCH
Time is running out for aspiring filmmakers to enter the prestigious DigiSPAA digital filmmaking competition. The winner will take away a cash prize of $15,000, $20,000 for post-production, a guaranteed screening of their film on the Movie Extra channel, plus a return airfare and free registration to the prestigious CineMart International Film Festival in Rotterdam. Applications close at 5pm on Friday September 18.
info: spaa.org.au.

BOY MEETS GIRL
Boy Meets Girl is a fast-paced and funny comedy drama about a man whose life is turned upside down when he accidentally swaps bodies with a woman. Premiering on ABC 2 on Friday July 31 at 9:20pm. It’s also available on iView from Saturday August 1.

FILM FESTIVAL
Possible Worlds, Sydney’s fourth Canadian Film Festival, will present a selection of the best new features, shorts and documentaries. The festival unfolds on Thursday August 20 at Dendy Opera Quays, Dendy Newtown, the Australian Museum, The Red Rattler and Bobbi’s Pole Studio.
info: possibleworlds.net.au.

SONG

AT THE CHAPEL
Jessica Mauboy will perform at Kia Soul Live At The Chapel on Thursday July 9 at the Paddington Uniting Church. Mauboy’s showcase will be broadcast on Channel 7 and Channel [V] in August. info: liveatthechapel.com.au to find out how to score audience tickets.

SECOND SHOW
Tickets for Katy Perry’s second show at the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday 18 August will go on sale this Friday 10 July. Tickets: 132 849 or ticketek.com.au.

LIVE JAZZ
A brand new jazz night will be held each Wednesday at the Ivy Bar from 6pm. Live performances from 7pm, with an ever changing roster of top talent.
info: 9240 3000 or visitmerivale.com.

IN THE RAW
Shannon Noll’s In The Raw, In Conversation & Acoustic tour is at The Basement on Thursday July 30 and The Epping Club on Friday 31 July.
info: shannonnoll.com.au.

FAKER SHOWCASE
The second tour of The Jack Daniels set in 2009 will see Faker perform at The Metro on Friday 7 August. As a bonus for Sydneysiders, there will be a limited number of guaranteed entry tickets available for The Metro show. There is no door charge. info: thejdset.com.au.

TOUR ANNOUNCED
The Black Eyed Peas will tour in support of the most successful album of their career, The E.N.D. Tickets are now on sale for their Sydney show at Acer Arena on Friday October 2. Bookings on 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au.

STAGE

JAMES GALEA
Lying Cheating Bastard is a one man show that reveals the story of an apprentice card-shark drawn into the seedy underbelly of Sydney.  Starring co-writer James Galea, the show is inspired by actual events and will play at the Old Fitzroy Theatre until Saturday July 25. Tickets start at $25. Bookings: rocksurfers.org or log onto 9380 5553.

LITTLE DOG LAUGHED
Stars Alexa Ashton, Lindsay Farris and James Millar and will open on Thursday July 16 at the Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Andrew Doyle, The Little Dog Laughed tells the tale of a gay actor who is trying to make it big in Hollywood. Tickets start at $39. Bookings: 99290644 or ensemble.com.au.

FORBIDDEN PLANET
Sydney’s new monthly cabaret event, Forbidden Planet, opens at the Supper Club on July 18. Starting at 8pm, the show has been described as one part Kerouac, one part Waits, one part Piaf and one part Kinko the Clown. Tickets: Moshtix or on the door.

SNATCH PARADISE
Five of Sydney’s finest young actresses will star in the musical black comedy Snatch Paradise at Fraser Studios on July 18. Directed by Tanya Denny, the 8pm show is the latest script from Australian playwright Van Badham. Fraser Studios is located at 10-14 Kensington St in Chippendale. Tickets start at $20. Bookings on 97890539.

KAMMER ENSEMBLE
On Saturday July 25, cabaret artist Nadia Piave, conductor Paul Stanhope and the Kammer Ensemble will perform Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire – an artist’s journey through the inner psyche. Taking place at the Recital Hall East, tickets start at $20. Bookings: 8256 2222.

ELLING
A captivating tale starring the hilarious Frank Whitten and Darren Gilshenan. Elling charts the journey of two friends making the adjustment back into mainstream society after two years in a mental institution. Opens at the Riverside Theatres on 29 July. Tickets start at $29. Bookings:  8839 3399 or riversideparramatta.com.au.