Playtime – issue 1037

Boys

FATHERS FORUM
The 2010 National Gay Dads Conference, to be held September 18-19 at the Richmond Town Hall in Melbourne, is a celebration of gay fatherhood that’s expected to draw men from around the nation. With Rodney Croome as the keynote speaker, the forum is open to all — children included. The cost, $45 per person (or family), is inclusive of catering and childcare. info: Call Zoe on 9639 2576.
GAY AND MARRIED?
The next meeting of the Gay and Married Men’s Association, on Wednesday, September 1, will have as its subject ‘An understanding of emotional intelligence’. Hosted by John Raymond, the meeting is at ACON, 9 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, from 7.45pm for an 8pm start.

Clubs

SPRING SWEAT
Spring’s finally arrived, and Sweat hits Phoenix again on September 4. They’ve got Eddie Coulter and Gavyn Vincze back on board to bring Sydney’s sexiest men a dirty, horny night of house and progressive tunes. From 11pm.

ASIAN FANTASY
The next instalment of Fantasia, a regular event aimed squarely at Sydney’s gay Asian community, hits ARQ on September 3. The theme is Angels and Demons, and there’ll be drag shows by Fantasia Starr, Kiki Fetch and Sue Nami, plus Fantasia’s resident DJs Sandi Hotrod and Danny T spinning on stage. Doors open 9pm, $10 entry.

Community

NAOMI’S SHAVE
Community worker Naomi Palmer, better known as Bingay’s ball girl, is getting her head shaved to raise money for a lesbian health project. The shave will take place on Sunday, September 5 at the Coopers Arms Hotel in Newtown, and will feature grrrl band The Frocks. You can sponsor Naomi at www.everydayhero.com.au/naomi_palmer_shave
DIVA VOTING
While online voting for the DIVA Awards has been open for a few weeks now, physical voting will take place this Saturday, September 4, from noon to 5pm. Get along to Nevermind on Oxford St to cast your votes for Favourite Venue and Favourite DJ, and stay for a while to enjoy a bevvie or two and tunes from a live DJ.

Free

ON YOUR BIKE
GreenUps is the coolest way to check out the latest green ideas, have a drink, and meet people who are passionate about the environment. Anyone is welcome and best of all it’s free. This month, GreenUps celebrate the humble bicycle. Enjoy a night of short films from the Bicycle Film Festival, see new bike designs and be in the running for a lucky door prize. It’s on September 7 at Oscars Lounge, 84 Union St, Pyrmont. info: http://greenups.net/
I SCREAM
Ice cream fans: Ben and Jerry’s will soon add a new range of chunks and swirls to their range. To celebrate, there will be an Oscar-worthy launch event on Thursday, September 2 from 5-9pm at Hoyts Broadway. Free ice cream for all, plus 100 free movie tickets up for grabs for those who glam up for the occasion and come dressed as their favourite movie star.

Girls

SAPPHIC SYDNEY
Website Sapphic Sydney is a comprehensive online portal for lesbians living in or visiting our harbour city. Girls, if you’re looking for like-minded women, visit www.sapphicsydney.com.au

POP YOUR CHERRY
With Bitch taking a well-deserved break for a month, Cherry at Slide on Friday September 3 (following Lemons with a Twist) is the place to be for Sydney’s hottest women who love women. DJs Du Jour and GI Jode will be spinning from 9pm. $10 entry.

On Screen

QUEER OPENING
It’s all about the Queer Doc this week, with Queer Screen’s annual queer documentary festival kicking off on Thursday September 9 with the German/Israeli film I Shot My Love, in which filmmaker Tomer Heymann travels to Berlin to present his film Paper Dolls at the Berlinale. There he meets Andreas, a German Dancer, and within 48 hours, a love-at-first-sight relationship unfolds. info: www.queerscreen.com.au
RIOT GRRLS
Here’s a Queer Doc treat for fans of spiky feminist electro outfit Le Tigre – this live concert-cum-behind-the-scenes-cum-meet ‘n’ greet is the ultimate inside view of Le Tigre’s final tour. The group – Kathleen Hanna, JD Samson and Johanna Fateman – rose from the ashes of the riot grrrl movement to become queer icons in their own right. It’s screening on September 10 at the Dendy, Newtown.
GENDER PERSPECTIVES
An all-Australian double bill is coming to the Dendy in Newtown on September 13, with both films focusing on gender identity issues. Mind is the story of Melbourne author Tom Cho, a female-to-male transgender person who shares his journey from being the young daughter of Chines parents to living as a man. Following it, Sistagirl investigates the lives of the transgender sistagirls of the Tiwi Island community north of Darwin.
NAKED PSYCHE
From the porn industry to pool parties to naked yoga retreats, the body is undeniably the currency of many gay male communities. The Adonis Factor delves into the psyche of the physique, interviewing a cross section of gay men about what it means to be hot, or not and how these perceptions can affect your self-esteem, your success and your social circle. It screens on September 11 at the Dendy in Newtown.
FANGIRL’S STORY
In Queer Doc’s closing night film, Fan, Dutch filmmaker Nienke Eijsink is on a quest to find her childhood idol and first love: Doctor Chris Randall from The Flying Doctors. In the early 90s, Nienke’s teenage life revolved around the Australian TV series and her admiration for Doctor Chris, played by actress Liz Burch, who ignited her initial lesbian desires. It screens on September 19 at the Dendy, Newtown.

Pubs & Bars

HONKY TONK
Honky Tonk Thursday is the latest addition to Surry Hills nightlife, with Decoda Secret hosting and producing shows with local talent from the Oxford St strip each week. Plus, there’s a rotating roster of hot DJs. It all happens each Thursday night at the Black Boater, 6 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills.
GET HAPPY
From Sunday, September 5, Monday Records will be hosting ‘Happy’, an afternoon of bands, poetry readings and more at Enmore’s Sly Fox Hotel from 5.30pm. Entry is free, drinks are cheap, and art will be flowing freely.
BEAT THE BUZZER
Win $20 in two minutes with Sandy B’s Beat The Buzzer, coming to the Taxi Club every Thursday. It’s a chance to show off your best (or worst) drag, dance, movement, soapbox or DJ talents — anything you want, really — and win $20 cash. Every Thursday night at 9.30pm, show up, enrol, and get to it. Everyone gets two chances to win and is limited to two minutes. Lots of laughs, fun and stupidity.
FANGS A LOT
Slide’s season of Vampire Stories is now in its final weeks, so be sure not to miss this exciting and humorous evening with a five-course degustation and five tales of the underworld on Thursday, September 2. Hosted by Claire de Lune. $80 per head. On Wednesday, September 8 comes a new production at Slide called 4 Faces of Love: enjoy three degustation courses and four short plays depicting the vast complications of Love.

Song

ALED ON SONG
Aled Jones has been a household name since the mid-1980s when his uniquely pure treble voice first became known on the world stage. He’s since roamed through the heritage of Welsh choral singing and had a highly successful career as a velvet-voiced baritone, releasing 27 albums to date. Jones will perform at the State Theatre on September 4. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
BEATLES RETURN
Following three sell-out performances of Let It Be: The Beatles Songs of Lennon and McCartney at the Sydney Opera House in August, a fourth and final show has been announced for September 12. Jeff Martin and Glenn Shorrock will join Jack Jones and Doug Parkinson to perform two hours of much-loved songs including Yesterday, Blackbird, Let It Be, Hey Jude. info: www.theletitbetour.com
WASHINGTON
Indie-pop chanteuse Washington is enjoying huge success with her debut album, I Believe You, Liar — so much so that her entire Australian tour has all-but sold out. Washington has just announced an all-ages show at the Oxford Art Factory on September 12, and it’s shaping up to be one of the few gigs of her whole tour with tickets still available. Get in quick though — tickets through Moshtix.

Stage

TRANTASTIC
Playwright Kieran Carroll’s frenetic coastal comedy Ladders By The Sea centres on Bert and Kev, two very premature retirees. Pleasantly stuck in the 1950s, their world is turned over by a former American soap star turned transsexual real estate agent, Barbara Malabar. It’s playing at the Petersham Town Hall from September 10-19. info: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au

DINOSAUR DELIGHTS
Sexy Tales of Paleontology takes in science, evil corporations and a lumberjack. What more could you want? When a group of scientists is taken over by an unselfconsciously evil corporation, a clash of ethics and robots ensues. Expect hysterical geologists in pit fights with paleontologists, flamboyant glam-pop mercenaries breaking out in song and the world’s worst narrator. It’s playing at the Boiler Room from September 16-24. info: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au