Playtime

BOYS

WOOFCLUB
On Saturday November 21, WoofClub celebrates its fourth birthday at the Oxford Hotel with a killer DJ line-up including Seymour Butz, Rob Davis and Jayson Leahy. Bark 4 Critical Mass is strictly for WoofClub members and invited guests.
info: www.woofclub.com

POS SEX
Positive Life NSW is running a new creative workshop, ‘Sex With other Pos Guys — What Are Your Experiences?’ The workshop involves writing, making videos, telling your story and meeting new people. The work developed will be used as part of a new online campaign. If you’re interested in taking part, call Kathy on 9361 6011, or email [email protected]

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

CLUBS

ONELOVE BACK
Perennial clubbers’ favourite onelove re-opens at The Bourbon on Saturday November 21. With three spacious rooms of entertainment, recently renovated main room and bars, not to mention a state-of-the-art new sound system, onelove’s new home will be the new ‘place to be’ in Sydney over summer.

DANCE DANCE DANCE
Get your dancing shoes on for Saturday nights at Arq with Dance Dance Dance. There’s a swag of DJs performing over two rooms: in the Arena, dance the night away to sounds by Jake Kilby and Jayson Forbes. In the Vortex, get your groove on to Rob Davis, Johan Khoury and more.

ALL SORTS
Thursdays at the Supper Club, a collection of weird, wonderful and chic DJs come together for All Sorts, from 8pm to 1am. Regular DJs include Tobin Saunders, Ben Drayton and Seymour Butz, plus weekly special guests. Saunders’ other half, the delectable Vanessa Wagner, might even make an appearance from time to time.

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

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.

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 and 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

MCC SYDNEY
The Metropolitan Community Church Sydney prides itself on being an inclusive church: proud, courageous and loving. Weekly services are held every Sunday at 10am (traditional) and 6.30pm (Crave contemporary), although you’re welcome to drop by for a cup of coffee or a chat any time — just ring ahead on 9569 5122. The church is at 96 Crystal St, Petersham.
info: www.mccsydney.org

SECURITY SESSION
The NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby is holding an information session on Monday November 30 to help educate the community about the impact of the Government’s reforms to laws regarding same-sex relationships and parental recognition. The topic of the session is Social Security, and it’s to be held at the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Community Centre.
info: www.glrl.org.au

DIARY

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

START YOUR SUMMER
What better way to celebrate the rise in the mercury than at the Start of Summer race day at Royal Randwick on November 28. The day will feature fabulous frocks, an exhilarating racing line-up, trackside bocce and resident DJs from Sugarmill. Gates open noon at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, $15 entry.

FREE

JOHN MARSDEN LECTURE
This year’s annual John Marsden Lecture will be given by Anand Grover, the senior lead advocate in the Supreme Court of India who successfully challenged the criminalisation of homosexuality in the Delhi High Court recently. He is also the UN Special Rapporteur on Health. Entry to the lecture at 6.30pm November 30 at the Grand Lodge Room, Sydney Masonic Centre, is free.

WILLIAM YANG
Iconic Sydney-based photographer William Yang joins Art Atrium in a discussion about his photographic works, Self-Portrait and China and Thornborough series, currently on display at the gallery’s latest exhibition, Transcendence — Reflections of an East West Fusion. The discussion takes place at 2pm on November 21, and while it’s free to come along, RSVP is essential via [email protected]

GIRLS

GET MOIST
Arq gets Moist for the ladies on November 27, with a special motocross-themed party featuring a motor-revving line-up of DJs and perfomers. DJs Shalyn Gray, Sandi Hotrod and Bella will be joined by the electro-rock group The Toxic Femmes. $10 on the door.

DYKES ’N’ DOGS
The Dykes & Their Dogs 2010 calendar features 12 diverse and beautiful photos of dykes and their delightful dogs. Buy the calendar online at www.dykescalendars.com (be sure to order before December 3 for Christmas delivery) or pick it up from the Feminist Bookshop in Lilyfield.

KINGS & QUEENS
The Drag! Camp As Christmas show, at the Sydney Opera House from December 1 to 6, has a stellar line-up of drag queen talent, including Les Girls legend Penny Clifford and Courtney Act. Now added to the mix is — shock, horror — a drag king! Rocco D’Amore will be showing the ladies who’s boss each night.
info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

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

ON SCREEN

KEITH HARING
At 6pm Sunday November 22 at the Paddington Town Hall, the Speakeasy Cinema will screen The Universe Of Keith Haring, a revealing portrait of the visual artist who counted Andy Warhol and Madonna among his closest friends before his untimely AIDS-related death. Take a look back at why Haring was so revered in the ’80s.
info: www.stickytickets.com.au
HOLA MEXICO
The Hola Mexico Film Festival runs from November 18-29 at the Dendy Newtown and Opera Quays. Mexicans are known for their sizzling, sultry cinema, and the festival highlights some of the best that country has to offer, including the outrageous comedy Sex, Shame & Tears, and the dramatic thriller Sin Nombre.
info: www.holamexicoff.com

JEWISH CINEMA
The Festival of Jewish Cinema runs from November 11-30. at the Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction, and one particular queer highlight is Eyes Wide Open, the taboo-breaking film about an ultra-Orthodox married father who falls in love with a young male student in Jerusalem. It’s one of several queer-themed films screening at the festival, including romantic comedy He’s My Girl.

PUBS AND BARS

FOMO PARTY
Get wet and clean up at Fomo, a massive foam party happening at Arq on November 20. With DJs including Dan Murphy, Jake Kilby and Sandi Hotrod, it’s $20 on the door. Dress to get wet!

POP UP BAR
The Kings Vault bar is designed to showcase delicious cool climate wines and food from the state’s King Valley region. The Bar will ‘pop up’ at 20 McLachlan Ave, Darlinghurst from November 18-27. Inside the interior-designed and Italian-inspired bar, the intimate experience of King Valley’s cellar doors will be re-created, with the spotlight on a cross-section of locally grown food and wines.

SLIP INN
On November 19, Slip Inn will be transformed into a veritable mini music festival, with marquees and multiple dance spaces providing tunes that will pump steadily into the early hours of the morning. In honour of all things summery, guests will go into the draw to win themselves tickets to the Good Vibrations festival. Slip Inn is at 111 Sussex St, Sydney and open Monday to Friday, noon until 2am and Saturday 5pm until midnight.

LIPSTIK
Catering to popular demand, Hostage X Lounge Bar Nightclub will host Lipstik, a GLBTI event in the Illawarra, from 8pm on November 19. Set to be a night filled with dazzling drags, fabulous feathers and glittering guests, Lipstik is a Hostage X initiative that showcases the talent of local and metropolitan drag performers in the Illawarra.

SONG

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Robbie Williams is coming to Australia later this month, and a handful of lucky fans will get the chance to see the star perform in an intimate environment when he plays an exclusive gig at The Metro on November 25. Outside of the ARIAs, it’s the only chance to see Robbie play during his Australian visit. Tickets will go on sale November 19 at 9am and can only be purchased with a Debit MasterCard.
info: www.mastercard.com.au

LENNY SINGS
On November 26, Lenny Sings and his full band will come to Slide Bar for an evening of classic crooning. It’s only $20 to see the soulful singer, or $60 for dinner and show. info: www.slide.com.au

OLD MAN RIVER
Old Man River and his band will play a special top-secret show in Sydney on November 25 to celebrate the recent completion of his sophomore album, Trust. The event offers a glimpse of his new material — an absorbing blend of sitars, electric guitars and tablas. Email [email protected] for details of where the concert will be held.

SIA
Kooky Aussie songstress Sia played a handful of gigs around the country earlier in the year, and the reponse was so rapturous she’s back for a full-scale tour. You can see the Breathe Me singer in action at the Enmore Theatre on November 24. Tickets through Ticketek.

STAGE

HAPPY DAYS
Samuel Beckett’s absurdist comedy Happy Days is hitting the Belvoir St stage this November. In this new production, Julie Forsyth takes centre stage as Winnie, one of the most surprising and extraordinary female roles ever invented by a playwright. Peter Carroll plays her long-suffering husband Willie. Watch as Winnie’s sunny optimism takes a beating over the course of the play, as she finds herself literally buried up to her neck. The play’s running from now until December 16.
info: www.belvoir.com.au

ALICE
This journey down a rabbit hole is not the stuff of fairytales. Using physical theatre, trapeze artistry, stilt walkers, acrobats, jugglers, combat artists and dancers, experience Alice, a slightly darker interpretation on the timeless classic Alice in Wonderland. Starring Brendan Maclean as the March Hare, the production runs from November 19-22 at Cleveland St Theatre.
info: www.rushcutterentertainment.com

TRIPOD
Perennially popular musical comedy trio Tripod come to the Campbelltown Arts Centre on November 20 at 8pm. The award-winning group have been mixing comedy and song for a hilarious, deliciously geeky stage show since Flight of the Conchords were still in nappies. To book, call 4645 4100.