Playtime

Playtime

BOYS
SKINNY DIPS
Skinny Dips Resort and Spa will hold its annual five-night Gathering of Natural Men in October. This year’s gathering includes a welcome barbecue, underwear dance party and a beer and pizza pool party. The party kicks off on Friday, October 23. info: www.skinnydips.com.au
Bears on sunday
From 4pm-9pm each Sunday at the Lord Roberts Hotel, the Harbour City Bears present Bears On Sunday. It’s a relaxed vibe with furry fun and chilled music, plus a weekly HCB prize draw. Free bar snacks and free entry. info: www.hcbears.com
JELLY WRESTLING
SLICK Season III, gay men’s jelly wrestling, is back at the Clarence Hotel every Wednesday night from 7pm. Every contestant receives a gift bag with the swimwear they’ll wrestle in, a session at Sunlounge, sample lube, a six-pack of Pure Blonde, plus more. Entry is $5.
info: Contestant entry forms are available to download by visiting www.clarencehotel.com.au
FOCUS ON MEN
For the month of October, RAW Gallery in Hunter St Mall, Newcastle presents A Focus On Men, a photographic exhibition of the male in all his forms. The exhibition reflects on the diversity of men in the community. The gallery is open Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm.
info: www.workingwithmen.org.au

GAY NUDISTS
Gay Sydney Nudists is a social organisation for gay or bisexual male nudists and host parties at members’ homes, dinners at restaurants, harbour cruises and any other legal activities the committee decides upon.
info: To join the group call 4972 5357 or email [email protected]

GAY DADS
Gay Dads NSW will hold their monthly social dinner on Monday, November 2, at the Bank Hotel’s Thai restaurant. The dinner starts at 7pm.
info: www.gaydadsaustralia.com

CLUBS

MIRAGE
Saturday nights at the Stonewall Hotel, you can catch the sexy spectacular Mirage. Three big shows with Decoda and her luscious dancers Wil and Dan. $5 cover charge, but VIP members get in free.

MEET MARKET
Looking for love — or a whole lot less? Friday October 16 at Arq is Meet Market, a night of cruising for men only. You’ll get a ‘shag tag’ on entry, where you can leave a special message for someone you’re interested in on the night. The frisky fun starts at 10pm, $10 entry.
info: www.arqsydney.com.au

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX
This Saturday October 17, come along to Slide Bar for a special 40th birthday party for DJ Alex Taylor. As befits a party for this Australian house music icon, expect a lot of great music from a killer line-up of DJs, including Chip, Kate Monroe, Sista P, Eddie Coulter, Darren Mason plus performances from the incomparable drag artistes Tess Tickle, Buckwheat and more.
info: www.slide.com.au

LOOSE ENDS
Loose Ends at Phoenix Bar on Oxford St is kicking off again for Spring. The weekly party happens every Sunday night from 10pm, with resident DJ Matt Vaughan and regular special guests playing a swag of dirty electro, house, punk and disco tunes.
info: www.exchangehotel.biz

COMMUNITY

RADIO CELEBRATION
Community broadcaster Radio 2SER this month celebrates 30 years on the air. To commemorate the milestone, they’re having a month of parties and events — more than 20 in total, running right up until November 1.
info: www.2ser.com
ZOO DINNER
New Mardi Gras and Australian Marriage Equality have announced Mardi Gras’ Dinner at the Zoo, a gala dinner at Taronga Zoo to raise money for the fight for Marriage Equality and a highlight of the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Happening on March 3, it’s a lush community fundraiser that’s sure to be one of the hottest tickets at Mardi Gras.
info: Tickets are on sale now via www.moshtix.com.au
PFLAG
The Support Group for parents, family and friends of lesbian & gay children, PFLAG, will hold their monthly family support meeting on Wednesday October 28 at Wesley Lodge Motel, cnr of Hawkesbury & Queens Rds. Westmead, commencing at 7.30pm.
info: www.pflagaustralia.org.au
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS
The Feminist Bookshop will hold a trivia night to celebrate 35 years of operation on Thursday, October 22, at the Toxteth Hotel in Glebe. Doors open at 6pm with a $25 cover charge, which includes finger food.
info: Bookings on 9810 2666 or email [email protected]

DIARY

NIGHTCAFE
Duck flying furniture, swig from a bottle of red and listen in on conversations at Nightcafe, running for three performances only from October 26 at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. The movement piece is presented by Dancenorth and blends dance with live gypsy music.
info: www.dancenorth.com.au
CHESS
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, Chess is a musical love story that unites one of pop’s greatest songwriting teams — ABBA’s Benny and Bjorn — with theatre icon Tim Rice. The Ashfiele Musical Society’s staging of the show, running from October 29-November 1 at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, will have a 19-piece orchestra with superb soloists and chorus, making it a lush musical theatre experience not to be missed.
info: www.chprsl.com.au
canned laughter
This year’s Canned Laughter comedy night brings together Australia’s best-loved comedians, including Rove McManus, Merrick & Rosso, Kitty Flanagan, Tom Ballard, The Umbilical Brothers, and The Kransky Sisters, live on one stage, for one night, for one cause — CanTeen. It’s on at the Hordern Pavilion on November 6, tickets through Ticketek.
CATS
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Cats returns to Sydney, at Star City’s Lyric Theatre, from May 18. It’s been 15 years since Mr Mistoffelees and his feline friends purred on Australian stages. Tickets on sale now.
info: Book through Ticketmaster on 1300 795 267 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
GET LISTED
To be considered for Play Time listings email [email protected]
RIVERBEATS
Running October 31-November 14, Riverbeats ’09 is an elaborate, citywide showcase of artistic excellence in Parramatta.
info: www.riverbeats.com.au


FREE

NIGHT MARKET
The Chinatown Night Market is on every Friday night from 4-11pm at the Dixon St Mall, Sydney. The market features clothing, knickknacks and food stores.
info: www.chinatownnightmarket.com.au

NEWCASTLE FAIR DAY
The annual Picnic in the Park — also known as Newcastle Fair Day — organised by Rainbow Visions is on October 18 at Gregson Park in Hamilton, from 11am to 4pm. BYO
info: www.rainbowvisions.org.au

TIGER SHOWCASE
On Thursday, October 15, Australia’s best artists, designers, photographers and fashionistas will converge in Sydney for the Tiger Translate 2009 Global Showcase. Held at Wharf restaurant, Tiger Beer has invited artists from around the world to explore the theme of ‘Change’ through their art. Partygoers can also check out live street art plus music from DJs Russ Dewberry and Little Bambalam.
info: Apply for free tickets by visiting www.tigertranslate.com

FREE FOR KIDS
Here’s one for the kiddies: the Sydney Children’s Festival has a brilliant free literary program happening until October 17, with activities like ‘Living Library’, featuring child-friendly talks and readings by acclaimed children’s authors like Andrew Daddo and Anna Feinberg.
info: www.sydneychildrensfestival.com

HUNTER UNCORKED
On November 1, the Hunter Valley Uncorked Balmoral event will host over 30 wineries and restaurants showcasing their first class wine and produce. Among the ample food and wine available for sampling, there’ll also be activities ranging from golf to boule to wine-spitting competitions. Best of all, it’s free to come along.
info: www.hunteruncorked.com.au

GIRLS

LESBIAN DAY
Happy International Lesbian Day! To celebrate, WILMA Lesbian Fair Day is running from 11-3pm on October 25 at 2 Bugden Place, Campbelltown. The four hours of fun, entertainment, workshops and shopping is open to lesbians, bisexual women and their friends. $2 entry. WILMA is currently seeking lesbians who wish to have a stall, provide entertainment or facilitate a workshop.
info: email [email protected]

LIPPS PICNIC
LIPPS — or Lesbians In Parramatta Park Socialising — is a Western Sydney social group for lesbians and their children. They meet on the last Sunday of each month at 11am in Parramatta Park for a fun, social picnic with kids. Friends and family welcome. The next picnic is on October 25.
info: [email protected]

BEER DRINKING WOMAN
Machine Gun Fellatio’s resident riot grrl, Christina Hughes, presents a new show at the Vanguard every Sunday this month, Beer Drinking Woman. It’s a funny, sexy exploration of one woman’s love-hate relationship with the bottle.
info: www.thevanguard.com.au

FILM FESTIVAL
World of Women Film Festival is a short film festival that promotes the talents of women in key creative roles in the film industry. The festival will screen films with a thematic perspective of Seeing The World Through The Eyes of Women. Filmmaker Q&As and filmmaker forums will feature at the festival held October 14-18, at the Chauvel Cinema, AFTRS and Metro Screen.
info: www.nsw.wift.org/wow

ON SCREEN

TASPRIDE FILMS
If you’re looking for a quick break down south, the TasPride festival is the perfect excuse — a two-week gay and lesbian festival taking in Hobart and Launceston. Among the many activities on offer are a number of film screenings, including AIDS opera Fig Tree, lesbian comedy I Can’t Think Straight and doco Gorrrgeous Vonni! The festival runs from October 31 – November 15.
info: www.taspride.com
RACE RELATIONS
Provocateur and very naughty boy John Safran is in hot water again, before his new show has even started: conservative pundits are in a tizz because Safran simulates masturbation to a picture of Barack Obama in Race Relations, an eight-part look at cross-cultural love. See what the fuss is about at 9.30pm Wednesday October 21 on ABC1.

TANGLED
Love My Way fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a new season of the acclaimed show, but in the meantime, here’s the next best thing: Tangled, a similarly grown-up Aussie dramady written and produced by the same people behind Love My Way. It’s getting great reviews — check it out Thursdays at 8.30pm on Showcase, Foxtel.

QUEER FRUITS
The Queer Fruits Film Festival is held at the Star Court Theatre, Lismore, and will screen an award-winning program of local, national and international queer films on December 29 & 30.
info: Bookings on www.tropicalfruits.org.au

CITY LIFE
Catch the seventh series of Yianni’s City Life every Monday at 8pm, Wednesdays at 8.30pm and Fridays at noon on TVS. Series seven is a playful mix of food, fashion, entertainers, artists, community organisations, and interesting people.
info: www.tvs.org.au

BARS AND PUBS

BAR BENEFIT
On Sunday October 18 the Stonewall Hotel will host an Old Skool T-Dance for Paul MacFarlane, who has worked in Oxford St venues for 20 years but has recently been diagnosed with cancer. The event starts at 3pm, with a $5 door donation and $10 Long Island Iced Teas. $5 from every Long Island Iced Tea sold will be donated to Paul.
info: www.stonewallhotel.com

DRAG FOR DOLLARS
Thursday nights from 9.30pm, Sydney’s budding drag queens will take to the stage to compete in Drag For Dollars at Arq. Come and see the best — and worst — of the city’s drag talent. Hosted by Mitzi MacIntosh with music from DJs Kitty Glitter and Alex Taylor, it’s free entry to watch the comp.
info: www.arqsydney.com.au

LIZA ON AN E
Trevor Ashley’s fabulous new drag show is a tribute to Ms Minnelli herself, Liza On An E! The all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza takes in all of Liza’s biggest hits, from Cabaret to New York, New York. It’s running at the Civic Hotel for five shows only from October 22. info: www.ticketek.com.au

MOVIES AT BERESFORD
The Beresford Hotel’s traditional Monday movie night now starts at 8pm Monday nights due to daylight savings. The great films and laidback pub environment stay the same, with Get Shorty screening on October 19 and A Clockwork Orange playing the week after. info: www.theberesford.com.au

SONG

DAMIEN LEITH
Up for a bit of Irish ear candy? Australian Idol winner Damien Leith has shrugged off the Idol curse with his new album, the Coldplay-esque Remember June. He’s playing songs from the album plus older hits at the State Theatre in Sydney on October 16.
info: www.ticketmaster.com.au

RHONDA BURCHMORE
Cabaret returns to Sydney with the launch of Civic Cabaret at the Civic Hotel in October, playing on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The first season of Civic Cabaret will see the Sydney premiere of Rhonda Burchmore’s new show, Red Hot and Saucy. Her show is a tribute to the saucy and blue entertainers and opens Wednesday, October 21.
info: Bookings on 132 849 or visit www.ticketek.com.au

MERENIA
Powerhouse performer Merenia will bring her own distinctive Latin-infused soul to the Notes Live stage on October 25. This multitalented musician sings in five languages and crafts her sound by using the traditional styles of her ancestry (Maori, Romany Gypsy and Welsh) as a platform for layering hypnotic beats and producing sultry, soaring vocals.
info: www.myspace.com/merenia

cassie davis
Hitmaking songstress Cassie Davis is up to the fourth single from her debut album, after hitting the charts with songs like Differently and Like It Loud.
To celebrate, she’s performing an all-ages gig at the Oxford Arts Factory on October 17.
info: www.moshtix.com.au

STAGE

MARIA VENUTI
Her mighty bosom makes an annual appearance on the Logies red carpet, but for the rest of the year Maria Venuti is a vivacious actor and entertainer with a dynamic singing voice. She’ll be putting her — ahem — assets on show during a special one-night-only performance at the Supper Club, October 18.
info: www.showqueen.com.au

CHI CHI & CHA CHA
Award-winning showbiz veterans Chi Chi and Cha-Cha Lombardo have been entertaining the masses on board the Columbian cruise ship Hispanic Princess for the last 35 years, but now they return to land for three special shows at Slide bar on October 14, 21 & 28. Featuring the talents of Sydney’s favourite cabaret couple Lesley Hancock (Leave it to Diva) and Trevor Ashley (Priscilla), this show promises to be a camp cabaret classic.
info: www.slide.com.au

TAMING THE SHREW
The Bell Shakespeare Company presents a not-so-classic, all-female take on Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy at the Sydney Opera House from October 20. The gender-bending production mixes women playing men with women playing women in delicious style.
info: www.bellshakespeare.com.au

DAVID PAGE
David Page is back on the Belvoir St stage for a two-week return season of Page 8. The coming-of-age story and self-portrait incorporates heartfelt storytelling, 1970s home movies, singing, dancing and his now-famous drag routine. Page 8 opens Wednesday, October 21.
info: Bookings on 9699 3444 or visit www.belvoir.com.au

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One response to “Playtime”

  1. I have high hopes he will get better. Prostate cancer especially caught in the beginning stages is very treatable. Plus he will have the best treatment there is so fingers crossed. Good luck to him and his family!