wham bam drumming jam

Malcolm says
goodbye to politics
Page 3
Independent Newspaper
Bondi breaks
relay drought
Page 10
www.bondiview.net.au
Sydney’s most
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Page 19
FREE • APRIL 2010
Bondi shaking to its
foundations – literally
WHAM BAM
DRUMMING JAM
Rhythm Safari bringing the beat to the Bondi Pavilion
page 6
By Paul Paech
The rash of large construction and excavation work at Bondi Beach is
shaking the ground and causing major cracking in buildings hundreds
of metres away from worksites.
A meeting of Waverley’s Combined Precinct Committees heard last
week that excavation work for the Hotel Bondi redevelopment has
damaged walls in an apartment block more than 200 metres from
the site in Roscoe Street. The meeting asked Waverley Council to
investigate as a matter of urgency.
Investec spokesman Zach Mcherron said they were aware of the
issue but argued they had been careful. “We went beyond Council’s
requirements in monitoring the impact of the 6.5m excavation for the
project,” he said.
The Bondi Beach Precinct Committee also called on the council to
investigate the consequences of deeper excavations in the sandy Bondi
Basin, and to pay greater attention to applications for such excavations.
The problem arises because of a high demand for car parking, with
new developments excavating deeper and deeper.
A three-level underground car park for the 131 East project on the
corner of Jaques and Lamrock, (known as The Monster), turned into
a disaster for the adjacent block of flats in Jaques Avenue. Just days
after drilling began, owners started to see cracks in their double brick
walls, which eventually opened to allow daylight in. Some owners had
to move out, and the Owners Corporation was tangled up in insurance
negotiations. They have had to raise more than $100,000 in special
levies. Dilapidation reports had been prepared, but they provided little
defence. The builders passed responsibility over to their engineers and
contractors, and then on to insurance companies where negotiations
stalled. Six years after excavations began, a resolution may be in
sight with a developer submitting plans to demolish the building and,
provided the council approves, the owners will finally be able to sell.
Damage attributed to the refurbishment of the Bondi Motel is also
cited in a development application to demolish the building at 146-150
Campbell Parade.
The Bondi Basin area is effectively a dune of very fine sand. Despite
the injunction to build homes upon a rock and not on sand, sand can
provide a very stable foundation – if it is not disturbed.
Because there is minimal internal cohesion in sand, any change in
density of the underlying sand is likely to affect stability for a long way
around. The sandstone block foundations of older buildings are not
even a metre deep, so they are particularly susceptible to damage.
Mayor Sally Betts said it was a complex problem but pointed out that
houses next door to the Hotel Bondi were not affected.
“Our technical staff don’t think that a house blocks away can be
affected when houses in between are not,” she said. “There’s no way
we can check after the event that houses so far away were affected by
building works, especially with buses and trucks on the roads every
day that could also be the cause.”
Queens Park Road a
danger to pedestrians
By Liam Kinkead
A lack of appropriate footpaths
along Queens Park Road and
Baronga Avenue is endangering
the lives of students and residents
according to locals.
After years of campaigning, long
time resident Chris O’Sullivan
says nothing has been done to
improve the conditions of the
path that surrounds the park
from the corner of Bourke Street
and Queens Park Road around
to the entrance of Moriah
College on Baronga Ave.
Mr O’Sullivan said the lack of
initiative on the part of local
and state governments defied
common sense.
“Queens Park Road is a hugely
busy road,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“It’s a bus route, a cycle track
and it’s where everyone parks
either to go into Queens Park for
sport or to go to Moriah College,
which is a busy school.”
He fears an accident will occur
on the stretch of road when
simple actions could be taken
to prevent further danger to
pedestrians.
The strip of land adjoining
Queens Park Road with the park
is currently patchy grass with
pockmarks of muddy and rocky
dips, many of which have been
Chris O'Sullivan says a
pedestrian path is essential
filled intermittently with logs of
timber, palm tree branches and
building tiles.
Along the strip is a bus stop
for the 357 bus route from
Sydenham to Bondi Junction.
Car spaces along the park are
normally filled on weekdays
and a cycle lane connects the car
parks to the road proper.
When heavy rain occurs parents
are forced onto the road with
prams, and school children can
Shark sightings at ocean swim
forces cancellation mid-race
A shark was sighted in between
more than 500 swimmers in the
Tamarama to Clovelly ocean swim on
Easter Monday.
Despite 800 people being registered
to swim, organisers cancelled
the race after water safety crafts
reported three separate shark
sightings during the event.
“After multiple sightings of sharks
we decided to stop the race and do
a good check of the area,” said race
director and surf lifesaver Joel Turner.
“The conditions were tough all round.
The 500 people that finished the race
battled against big swell and rips.
Everyone came in safely though and
the water safety team did a great job.”
The 2.5km Cliffside-Odyssey swim
attracts some of Sydney’s best
swimmers, lured by the challenge of
the swell.
“Tamarama Beach is definitely one
of the most dangerous beaches
on the east coast,” Mr Turner said.
“But it was good to see so many
enthusiastic ocean swimmers take
on the big waves.”
Sports commentator HG Nelson
called the race from the Tamarama
cliff tops and Tamarama resident and
media personality Deborah Hutton
awarded the first place prizes.
Ben McGarry won the race, clocking
30 minutes and 14 seconds.
And Greenpeace partnered with the
Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club
at this year’s Cliffside Odyssey
Ocean Swim to raise awareness
of the campaign to save tuna from
Published monthly and distributed to residents and
businesses in Bondi Beach, Bondi, Bondi Junction, Dover
Heights, Waverley, Tamarama, Clovelly and Coogee.
Published by The Alternative Media Group of Australia.
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content,
The Bondi View takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors
or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169
Design: Gadfly Media
Cover Photo: Edwin Monk
Mayor accuses Premier of breaking promise
be seen walking two abreast
prompting yells from cyclists and
klaxons from motorists.
Mr O’Sullivan said the best
solution would be to extend a
concrete path from the Bourke
St corner all the way down to
the dressing sheds located at the
pedestrian crossing that serves
Moriah College on Baronga Ave.
Waverley Mayor Sally Betts
said she was aware of the issue
and was waiting on a reply from
the Centennial Parklands Trust
(CPT) in regards to an extension
of the cycleway within Queens
Park to the Bourke St entrance.
“Once they [the CPT] extend
the bike path then students and
parents can use it,” Councillor
Betts said.
The mayor explained that while
they were waiting for a reply, it
would be wasteful to lay down
a path outside the park only to
have it duplicated by the bike
path. Mr O’Sullivan believes the
council is missing the point.
“The bike path inside Queens
Park is well away from where
everybody parks, where it is
needed,” he said.
“Unless they take the fence
surrounding the park down,
any talk of extending the bike
path is irrelevant.”
becoming extinct. Swimmers aged
13 years to 70 took the plunge, with
many choosing to support the race to
save tuna.
“Ocean Swimmers love being in the
ocean,” Mr Turner said. “Naturally we
want to raise awareness of the fact
that one of the biggest and fastest
fish is disappearing from our seas.”
Ocean swimmers sported ‘Save
the tuna’ tattoos and hundreds of
participants signed the petition to
remove the most threatened tuna
from supermarket shelves.
“Even though tuna stocks are being
decimated worldwide, the overfished
species still end up in cans for sale in
our supermarkets,” Mr Turner said.
A new Greenpeace Canned Tuna
Guide for consumers exposes brands
using overfished tuna species and
ranks them from the most to the
least sustainable.
Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons
Group Manager: Chris Peken
Managing Editor: Pam Walker
Reporter: Liam Kinkead
Arts Editor: Angela Bennetts
What’s On editor: Komi Sellathurai
Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan
Advertising Managers: Scott Winter,
Rachel Tarquinio, David Sullivan
Email: [email protected]
Advertising: [email protected]
Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007
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Premier Kristina Keneally
asked to keep her word
Waverley Mayor Sally Betts
said she was extremely
disappointed that NSW
Premier Kristina Keneally had
broken a promise made when
she was Planning Minister.
“Just 12 month ago Minister
Keneally promised that the
Bill introduced to fast track
infrastructure projects funded
by the Commonwealth under
the Nation Building and Job
Plan would be repealed as
soon as the projects had been
completed,” Mayor Betts said.
“Now as Premier, Ms
Keneally wants to extend the
Bill to cover other significant
projects like shopping centres,
housing developments and
supermarkets which will
cut out local community
consultation and also the
planning rules.”
She said some projects – such
as St Catherine’s School
and Waverley Public School
projects – built under the
Nation Building and Job Plan
were already causing extreme
stress to residents.
“This is largely due to the
complete lack of community
consultation and the lack of
consideration on the affect
it has on the neighbouring
residents’ amenity,” Councillor
Betts said.
“Council should not be left
out of the process and neither
should residents. We may
as well tear up our DCP
and LEP which are in place
to protect the amenity of
everyone if the Premier has
her way and rides roughshod
over our community.”
“The Planning Department
insists that councils do
extensive community
consultation when preparing
both their LEP and their
DCP. So I ask how come the
Premier now wants to approve
all these developments with
no community consultation
whatsoever?”
The mayor said residents
would be left to deal with the
impact of these developments,
while the Premier “moves on
to her next role”.
“She promised community
consultation when she became
Premier. I challenge her to
stay true to her word,” Cr
Betts said.
Malcolm farewells the political arena
Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull
on Tuesday, April 6 made public
his decision to leave federal politics
at the next election. Below is his
statement in full:
I have today formally
advised the Leader of the
Opposition and the President
of the Wentworth FEC of
the Liberal Party that I will
not be contesting the seat
of Wentworth at the federal
election later this year.
I thank the people of
Wentworth for their support
over the last five and a
half years. I have enjoyed
serving and working with
them enormously – there
is truly no greater privilege
than representing your own
community in our national
parliament.
Over the years I have
appreciated the friendship,
support and encouragement
of Liberals both in this
Parliament and around
Australia for which I sincerely
thank them. As a Member
of Parliament, a Minister
and especially as Leader of
the Party I have been proud
to defend the principles of
freedom, opportunity and
enterprise so fundamental to
the values of the Liberal Party.
I thank John Howard for
giving me the opportunity
to serve as Environment and
Water Minister. With his
support I was able to ensure
that for the first time in our
history the interstate waters
of the Murray Darling Basin
were placed under national
responsibility.
However, I regret that
another important reform
begun during that time, the
establishment of an emissions
trading scheme, is no longer
Liberal Party policy.
In particular, I thank
the Liberal Party and its
supporters in Wentworth
for their tireless support
and loyalty. We have fought
and won two very difficult
elections in Wentworth and
our success, in 2007 very
much against the odds,
is a tribute to the passion
and professionalism of the
Wentworth Liberals.
I also thank the many
dedicated men and women
who have worked on my
personal staff, in my electorate
and parliamentary offices.
Above all, I thank my family,
my wife Lucy and children
Alex and Daisy without whose
infinite love, patience and
cheerfulness it would not have
been possible to undertake the
many challenging roles I have
had in this Parliament.
When I ceased to be Leader
of the Opposition at the end
of last year I resolved that I
would not precipitate a byelection by resigning from
Parliament.
However I did say that I
would reflect carefully on
whether I would run at the
election this year and having
done so I am making this
announcement.
I have received considerable
encouragement from
my constituents and
parliamentary colleagues to
run again at the election and I
thank them sincerely for that
confidence and support. But
a decision like this is a very
personal and heartfelt one
which can only be made by
me and my family.
I will of course continue
to serve the people of
Wentworth as their Member
of Parliament until such time
as the Parliament is dissolved
for the election and look
forward to continuing to
work with our community
and contributing to public
policy debate after my time in
Parliament is complete.
As to the future, Lucy and I
look forward to once again
pursuing new opportunities in
the private sector.
Finally, I wish our Party and
its leaders, Tony Abbott and
Julie Bishop, every success in
this election year.
3
opinion
Tram tracks resurface
By Chris O’Sullivan
With a little imagination,
Waverley Council is in the
unique position to formally
recognise the iconic and world
famous “Bondi Tram”.
While this has already been done
in a replica fashion with the mock
tramlines in the Bondi Junction
Mall, at the Adelaide and Oxford
Streets intersection the original
lines are starting to emerge once
again in the roadway.
This is a non-pedestrian
area and would only require
removal of the very thin lining
of bitumen to expose the lines.
There would be practically no
roadway level change.
If the lines are exposed, a plaque
could be installed on one of
the corners. There are footpath
plaques throughout the junction
commemorating sites and
buildings that once existed, but
we now have an opportunity
for the real thing, which
would certainly attract great
interest. Even a trial uncovering
would be worth doing to see
how things worked out.
These lines were re-laid in mass
concrete through the Junction
in the mid 1950s and only saw
4
service for some six years, prior
to the last Bondi tram which
ran (now 50 years ago) on 27
February, 1960. In fact the lines
(including turn-ins) are still in
situ under the bitumen from the
Waverley Bus Depot (former
tram depot) down to Newland
Street. A large section of the
Bronte line also remains intact
from the Tea Gardens Hotel
right through to the top of
Macpherson Street.
When the first mall was
constructed in the late 1970s,
several sections of line were
removed for planter boxes. The
Westfield development and the
upgraded mall (with tramway
theme) saw the removal of all the
lines in that area. Fortunately a
number of lengths were secured
by the Sydney Tramway Museum.
The tracks then continue from
approximately the Eastern
Hotel along Oxford Street to the
beginning of Bondi Road.
It was in the mid 1980s that
Waverley Council acquired
from a country property an R
Class tram No 1808, which was
subsequently restored by the
council with 1988 Bi-Centennial
funding. The tram was then
displayed for a time in the
forecourt of the Boot Factory in
Spring Street.
Plans to actually operate the
tram on the original lines were
also considered. In fact, in
June 1991 the council flew the
Melbourne Manager Tram
Track to Sydney to inspect and
report on the lines, a section
of which had been uncovered
by council employees. The
subsequent report indicated
that after bitumen removal and
cleaning, the lines were fit for
further use. But these plans
did not eventuate and R 1808
was transferred to the Sydney
Tramway Museum.
In January 1992, the lines
were actually classified by the
National Trust of Australia:
“these lines lay intact under the
bitumen and are one of the last
complete sections of the former
tramway (many other sections
of the line have been removed).
The world famous notoriety of
the Bondi Tram is an important
element of Sydney’s transport
heritage. The section of line has
the potential to be a publicly
accessible tangible remnant of
this famous line.”
Saving lives in many ways
Four-year-old Junior Mafi met his
heroes the Bondi Rescue lifeguards
at Bondi Beach recently.
The Blacktown youngster came
with his family to meet the
lifeguards and Waverley Mayor
Sally Betts, and to enjoy a day at
the beach. He was given a signed
lifeguard shirt and taken for a ride
on the beach on the rhino.
Junior helped save his younger
sister Crystal from drowning at
Blacktown Aquatic Centre a month
ago. Two-year-old Crystal was
playing in the babies’ pool when
she was shoved and went under
the water. An avid Bondi Rescue
fan, Junior raised the alarm telling
his grandmother: “Crystal has
drowned.” Pool lifeguards sprang
into action, resuscitating the
unconscious girl.
Mayor Betts said the council
arranged for Junior to meet his
heroes as a reward for his efforts.
“Bondi Rescue is educating
viewers about surf safety and
helping to save lives,” she said.
“Junior wouldn’t have known how
to help save his little sister if he
hadn’t watched the show.”
Head lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’
Hopkins said Junior was an
amazing little boy.
“He must be the youngest lifeguard
ever. At four he has already made
his first rescue,” he said.
“This is what it’s all about for
us – saving lives – and it’s great
that through the show we are even
preventing deaths because of the
surf safety message.”
Bondi Rescue has been nominated
for a Logie for the third consecutive
Junior Mufi with Waverley
Mayor Sally Betts and the
Bondi Rescue lifeguards
year, in the ‘Most Popular Factual
Program’ and ‘Most Outstanding
Factual Program’ categories. It has
won the ‘Most Popular’ Logie for
the past two years. Winners will be
announced on May 2.
Demolition of Waverley Pavilion
The demolition of the old Waverley Park Pavilion starts
thisweek and is expected to take 10 days to complete.
Following the demolition of the old structure, Waverley
Council will build a new Waverley Pavilion and amenities
block. Plans include sporting and community facilities,
a multipurpose indoor sports court, public amenities, a
large community meeting room, storage and a café.
Rebuilding the pavilion is a multi-million dollar project
with Waverley Council contributing substantially, and a
$2 million grant from the Federal Government’s Regional
and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
Senator Michael Foreshaw (representing Minister for
Infrastructure Anthony Albanese) and Mayor Sally Betts
were scheduled to turn the first sod on April 7 near the
Waverley Pavilion, Waverley Park, on Bondi Road.
The work is due for completion by September 2011.
Move to the beat of your own drum
By Pam Walker
Audience participation takes
on a whole new meaning
when Rhythm Safari – The
Show brings its interactive
musical adventure to the
Bondi Pavilion from April 20
to May 2.
North Bondi producer Lance
Radus is one of the forces
behind the upcoming visual
and sensory celebration
that features an expert
ensemble of percussionists,
musicians and singers playing
original contemporary and
world music.
The adventure begins with
Sibo as he leaves Africa and
experiences the beats of
Spain, Asia, the Caribbean
and Brazil.
“Sibo gets a calling to leave
Africa and explore the rest of
the world. He meets all these
musicians who teach him
how to use their instruments,”
Radus said.
“Part of Sibo’s journey
is trying to discover who
he is but in the process
he also discovers western
instruments, joins a band
and meets a girl. Through all
6
these challenges he realises he
is Mr Drummer and returns
to Africa and celebrations.”
Radus describes the show
as an audiovisual explosion,
a full lighting show with
visuals projected for the
dream sequences.
But its most defining specialty
is that on each seat the
audience will find a drum and
a percussion instrument (a
groove tube), which they are
encouraged to play.
“Most people believe they
can’t play music. In the show
that fear is broken down along
with the barrier,” Radus said.
“The audience members
find that just like Sibo they
can create music and do it
together. The experience of
drumming together has a very
powerful sense of unity and
building community.”
The story behind this
uplifting musical experience
has been years in the
making. In 2006, producer
Hilton Rosenthal attended
a school reunion in Sydney
and witnessed an interactive
drumming session run by
Radus and his group.
“There were drums at every
seat in the room and I noticed
that everyone was participating
with big smiles on their faces
– bankers, nurses, lawyers,
housewives and doctors. It
was one big party,” Rosenthal
said. “Then I had an idea:
wouldn’t it be great if we could
bring this type of interactivity
into contemporary music
and theatre?”
The next day Rosenthal
contacted Radus and they
agreed to start work on some
original music. Over the next
year or so, they wrote and
recorded a number of songs.
Then work began on creating
a show where members
of the audience could
participate by playing along
on drums provided on every
seat. The team was complete
when Paul Chenard came on
board as musical director
and Moira Blumenthal as
theatre director.
There will be 16 shows over
two weeks at the Bondi
Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth
Drive, Bondi Beach.
Tickets available from
www.moshtix.com.au
Beads bounce
into the Bondi
Pavilion
By Liam Kinkead
In an unusual exhibition, 54 Commonwealth
countries have strung together to bring Bondi
the best bead show in town.
Beaded Links, an exhibition of vibrant work from
around the globe, explores the cultural, political,
spiritual and economic links that bind us all
through the medium of beads.
Waverley Mayor Sally Betts opened the
exhibition with a speech relating to her
experience with beads in her native South Africa.
“I grew up around a mine and we had a lot
of the different tribes around and I found it
interesting that you could look at the different
beads and know exactly which tribe they came
from,” Mayor Betts said.
“I’m excited about the event. It represents
a great opportunity to get a whole group of
different cultures together in such an interesting
way. And I think it helps us all understand each
other a little better.”
Beaded Links will showcase bead work from as
far afield as England, South Africa, Mauritius and
Nigeria, exploring the many ways in which beads
can be manipulated in jewellery, costumes and
religious artefacts.
The exhibition will run from April 1 to April 18 at
the Bondi Pavilion.
Depression flashback
The Oddfellow’s Hall in Church Street near Charing Cross was one of the
buildings used to distribute food, clothes and the dole in the Depression.
BY PETER McCALLUM
Memories of hard times in the
1930s have been stirred by Skint, an
exhibition that just opened at the
Museum of Sydney at Bridge and
Phillip Streets.
But current news reports from other
developed countries remind us how
Australia, by good luck or good
management, has avoided the worst
effects of the current “global crisis”.
8
The current debate about rushing
into building works without normal
planning is one of the many similarities
between Australia’s experiences in the
thirties and those of today.
Then, as now, delayed action could
spell prolonged hardship for families
whose breadwinners needed to be
gainfully employed.
But haste can generate mistakes.
Locating the Eastern Suburbs Hospital
in what was supposed to be a park
was just one of many legacies of the
rush to provide work for unemployed
breadwinners during the Depression.
The hospital itself lasted only a few
decades but the existence of buildings
within a park is sure to generate
future arguments.
One major work that had been planned,
but was never implemented due to a
lack of funds, was the mysteriously wide
Blair Street with its dual carriageway
and oversized median strip which now
hides a huge sewer main. This and
other work – grading and sealing what
had been so many dirt roads in the area
and improving parks – put bread on the
table for many families. However, the
sewer eventually required a deep ocean
outlet, well out to sea.
With many of their young members
suddenly thrown out of work, both of
Bondi’s lifesaving clubs approached
Waverley Council and the State
Government asking for more suitable
premises to replace their ramshackle
buildings. They argued that the huge
crowds who came to Bondi bringing
business to the local community were
there because of the safety provided by
the lifesaving clubs and to watch the
spectacular surf carnivals.
Though outside the guidelines set by
the Unemployment Relief Council, the
significance to the nation of the work
of the clubs was recognised as a special
case and a loan of £7,000 was arranged
for Waverley Council to erect the
buildings of both surf clubs. This sum
soon proved insufficient and the council
had already spent a lot of its own
money on earlier relief efforts.
But the surf clubs had many friends
and important allies in legal, medical
and retailing circles who rallied to the
cause. A surprise benefactor was Earl
Beauchamp, a former Governor of New
South Wales – he and other benefactors
ensured the completion and adequate
fittings of both the Bondi and North
Bondi surf clubs.
Individuals, clubs and societies and
governments showed a breadth of
vision as well as compassion in the
Great Depression: Australians today
are still enjoying the benefits of this
co-operation.
Material and assistance is acknowledged
from The Bondi Lifesaver by Sean Brawley
and from the Waverley Local Studies Unit of
Waverley Library.
Harold Dews, a veteran of Movietone in
Australia, will address Waverley Historical
Society – “It all began in 1896” – this
Monday, April 12 at 4 pm on the 1st floor of
Club Bondi Junction. On May 10, they will
hear how “Medical Miracles are Made to
Happen” from Nikki Allings of the Garvin
Institute. All welcome, admission free.
BONDI BRIEFS
Global Table
Annual multicultural extravaganza, Global
Table, will be held on Saturday, April 24 from
noon to 6pm at Oxford Street Mall. Enjoy
delicious food from Turkey, Spain, Ethiopia
and Japan and a wide range of multicultural
entertainment. For information call 8305
8419 or visit www.waverley.nsw.gov.au.
De-clutter your home of
unwanted chemicals
Take your old chemicals, paints and gas
bottles to Chemical Clean Out at Clovelly
Beach car park between 9am and 3.30pm
on Saturday, May 8.
Chemicals and e-waste can contain lead,
mercury and cadmium that can leach into
our aquatic systems to create serious health
problems. Whitegoods and smoke detectors
not accepted.
Call 9369 8242 or email eleanorr@waverley.
nsw.gov.au for information.
Kids Waste Truck Art Competition
Local primary school students can win a
‘Roar and Snore’ overnight adventure at
Taronga Zoo by creating a colourful artwork
with a waste-wise message to decorate
Waverley Council’s waste truck fleet.
Artworks must be in landscape format, on
A4 or A3 paper.
Details on 9369 8242 or email eleanorr@
waverley.nsw.gov.au for an entry form.
The competition is open from April 27 to
May 21.
CELEBRATE 2010 IN 2010!
Local Businesses in Darlinghurst,
Surry Hills and East Sydney are invited to
• meet your neighbours
• have free drinks
• find out about an exciting new SHOP
LOCAL marketing initiative
When: Monday 12th April
from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
(following the Darlinghurst
Business Partnership’s reconvened
AGM from 5:00 to 5:30pm)
Where: The Winery
285A Crown Street, Surry Hills
(through the old sandstone gates next to Thomas Dux)
RSVP to: [email protected]
Photos: Tim Read
Bondi breaks 19-year surf relay drought
Tom Miller raises a clenched fist at
the finish to salute Bondi’s first win
since the 1990-91 season of the Stan
Mac relay against North Bondi.
The recent 68th staging of the Stan and
Bas McDonald Memorial Relay ended
almost two decades of domination by North
Bondi against the neighbouring Bondi surf
lifesaving club.
The highly competitive 20-person relay, for
the elite swimmers of the two clubs, has
been a permanent fixture on the surfing
calendar since the 1942-43 season and is
commonly known as the “Stan Mac Relay”.
Bondi led the relay for the first eight
swimmers and then fell behind before its
19th swimmer, Will Hardman, regained the
lead for Tom Miller to power home with an
10
unassailable advantage on the final leg.
Bondi was represented by Simon Nothling,
Toby Jenkins, Ryan Huckle, Cedric Gillardi,
Adriel Young, Xavier Clarke, Simon
Watkins, Ollie Schaffer, Alex Nothling,
Colin Marshall, Bradley Horning,
Michael Firman, John Romyn, Josh Yuide,
Grant Baldock, Adam Nezval, Danny
McKell, Michael Cossji, Will Hardman and
Tom Miller.
North Bondi has won the event 37 times
and Bondi 31 times over the years, a good
indication of the intense rivalry that exists
between the two clubs.
Bondi Beach Boost bonanza
By Tom Edwards
Bondi went surf-crazy for Boost.
The Boost Mobile Surfsho from March
12 to 14 saw a pro surf and spectator
extravaganza at Bondi.
There were good reasons to be
down at Bondi for the biggest surfing
competition held here since the Coke
Classic in 1989: a picture perfect
sunny day, beckoning clear warm
water with great surf, and amazing
aerial surfing performances from the
world’s finest – Kelly Slater, Mick
Fanning, Owen Wright, Taj Burrow and
Jordy Smith.
Some of the Bondi locals surfed in the
trials; none of them won cash prizes
but it was great to see local kids
mixing it up with world-class pros
in the water and in the competitor’s
area. The kids were stoked at the
chance to hang out with heroes like
Kelly and Taj.
Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark
commented on the thousand-strong
crowd: “Fantastic to have a big surf
event here at Bondi – the crowds
here today indicate how important it
is to run an international surf event
in Australia’s biggest city that not
only produces outstanding world
professional surfers but also has an
abundance of excellent surf beaches.”
Down at the beach, super-surfers
were being super-men in the water
with amazing high-flying stunts to
an ever-growing crowd. In fact, the
crowd was so intense and so keen
to get photos with their heroes that
Waverley Police were called to provide
police escorts for the high-profile pros
to get from the VIP stands down to the
safety of the jet-ski patrolled water.
Owen Wright took out the event with
an enormous air-reverse (basically a
360 air spin). The light was shining
on 20-year-old Lennox head aerial
master – especially after his airs kept
punching holes through the ozone
layer above him.
Surfing’s World Tour is often referred
to as a circus but it won’t ever come
Kerby Lofts and Kelly Slater
close to the extravaganza of the Boost
Mobile Surfsho until the tour comes to
Bondi Beach.
“They’re not the best waves but it
was pretty perfect for airs,” said
Owen after his finals win.
And following the huge commercial
success of this weekend’s Surfsho,
competition organisers may well
reassess Bondi Beach as a possible
major event location.
Surfsho drew a good crowd to the beach
Bondi lifesavers bring home medals
Bronze: Harvey Barrett (sweep),
Ted Healy, David Lippmann,
Daniel Ryan, Andy Winters
(men’s masters 240 years
combined minimum age surfboat
crew); Bob Tate (sweep), Jason
Vineberg, Matt Barker, Titus Day,
Kieran Milne (men’s masters 140
years combined minimum age
surfboat race).
Other Bondi finalists: Calvin Brodie,
Greg Byrnes, Rob Harvey (men’s
masters 110 years combined
minimum age surf ski relay race).
Unfortunately, Bondi’s women’s
open five-person R & R team did
not get the chance to win a record
fifth consecutive national title
because of the treacherous seas.
Ted Healy sustained a fractured
vertebra while competing with
Bondi’s men’s masters 240
years combined minimum age
surfboat crew. He has since been
discharged from hospital and
will have a long recuperation,
including wearing a support brace
for the next six to eight weeks.
Healy, 72, recently received an
award for being Australia’s oldest
surfboat rower.
Long-service Bondi member Allan
Metti, competing for Cronulla,
won the masters over 70 years
ironman and masters over 65 years
board rescue titles, was placed
Photos: Anne Lynch
Bondi lifesavers achieved
considerable success in the recent
Australian and NSW surf life
saving championships.
At the Australian championships
at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast,
Bondi won five medals — one gold,
two silver and two bronze — before
the remaining water events were
cancelled because of dangerous
surf conditions.
Bondi’s medal recipients were:
Gold: Cyril Baldock (men’s masters
65-69 years rescue tube race).
Silver: Cyril Baldock (men’s
masters over 65-69 years surf race),
Louise Santos (women’s masters
40-44 years rescue tube race).
The Bondi crew: (from left)
Andrew Winters, Harvey Barratt,
Danny Ryan,Ted Healy and
David Lippmann, placed third in
both the NSW and Australian
men’s masters 240 years
combined minimum age surfboat
championships.
12
The Bondi crew of Harvey Barratt (sweep), David Lippmann
(stroke), Andrew Winters, Danny Ryan and Ted Healy (bow)
competing in treacherous seas at the Australian masters surfboat
championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast.
second in the masters over 70 years
rescue tube race and fourth in the
masters over 70 years surf race.
Meanwhile, Bondi won eight
medals — three gold, three silver
and two bronze — and qualified
for three other finals in the leadup to the NSW championships at
Swansea-Belmont.
Bondi’s state title medallists and
finalists were:
Gold: Simon Watkins (men’s
30-34 years tube race); Lea Hill
(women’s 60-64 years surf and
rescue tube races).
Silver: Cyril Baldock (men’s 65-69
years surf and rescue tube races);
Simon Watkins, Grant Baldock,
Xavier Clarke (men’s 110 years
combined minimum age surf
teams race).
Bronze: Danielle Hoban, Andrew
McEncroe, Nick Nezval, Scott
Ryan, Simon Watkins (open
mixed five-person R and R team);
Harvey Barrett (sweep), Ted
Healy, David Lippmann, Daniel
Ryan, Andrew Winters (men’s
240 years combined minimum age
surfboat crew).
Other finalists: Samantha Hopkins,
Rebecca Koerber, Isobel Lord,
Brynlee Owen, Darcy Pierce
(women’s under-15 years R and
R team); Andrew Winters, Cyril
Baldock, Grant Baldock (men’s 150
years combined minimum age taplin
relay); Louise Santos (women’s
40-44 years ironwoman race).
Bondi Surf Bathers
Life Saving Club results
Sunday, March 28 (56 swimmers competed)
A-grade surf race: Charles Cotton (1min 40sec) 1, Martin
Greenberg (1m:5s) 2, Chris Lorang (1min) 3.
B-grade John Bevege memorial surf race: Shaun Brooke
(1m:55s) 1, Doug Yuide (45s) 2, Margaret Miller (1m:5s) 3.
Cadet (under-16) surf race: Rory Weste-Haldane (2m:20s) 1,
no second or third.
March 21 (66 swimmers competed)
A-grade surf race: Monique Sayers (1m) 1, Alistair Monroe (1m)
2, Jon Slack-Smith (1m) 3.
B-grade John Bevege memorial surf race: Linda Mead (1m) 1,
Carmel Vanderham (1m:40s) 2, Lee Mackie (1m:50s) 3.
Cadet (under-16) surf race: Rory Weste-Haldane (2m:20s) 1,
no second or third.
March 14 (49 swimmers competed)
A-grade surf race: Steven Potter (1m:45s) 1, Francisco Cordero
(1m:30s) 2, Michael Hallam (1m:25s) 3.
B-grade John Bevege memorial surf race: Colin Panagakis
(2m:5s) 1, Martin Waters (1m:50s) 2, Bruce Wynne (2m 5s) 3.
Cadet (under-16) surf race: Rory Weste-Haldane (2m:20s) 1,
no second or third.
March 7 (44 swimmers competed)
A-grade surf race: Louise Santos (1m:15s), Lea Hill (45s) 2, Jon
McGuigan (2m:45s) 3.
B-grade John Bevege memorial surf race: Pep Font (2m:15s) 1,
Steve Burns (2m:25s) 2, Jane Cichero (2m:25s) 3.
Cadet (under-16) surf race: Rory Weste-Haldane (2m:20s) 1,
no second or third.
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144 / 313 Harris Street,
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Ground floor, facing M-Central,
Bus 501& 443 stop at Cnr Allen St
www.pyrmontdental.com.au
1off
$
Powerhouse
Hot Dog
Autumn Special
Enjoy a COMPLIMENTARY bottle of “Lobster Reef” Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc NZ
or “Lou Miranda Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon SA, when two guests order 2 courses,
ie entrée & main or main & dessert. Please present this voucher on arrival
(one bottle of wine per voucher). Conditions apply. Available for the months of March, April & May 2010.
Continental smoked
frankfurt served with
mushy peas, garlic
onions, chilli con carne,
cheese and chilli sauce
Expires 31 Dec 10
562 Harris st. Ultimo
sydney wharf | 56 Pirrama Rd Pyrmont | Ph- 02 9571 1999
www.ripplescafe.com.au
Glasgow Arms Hotel
One complimentary visit
Offer is limited tO One cOupOn per persOn
Gym
suite 139 level 4, upper deck,
JOnes Bay Wharf 26-32 pirrama rd
pyrmOnt 2009 ph: 9571 1195
Redeem this Coupon:
Home delivery + takeaway
10% off 5-10pm min order $25.
Lunch special 7 days $7.50
Garden Restaurant:
Open 7 Days
Lunch: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Dinner: 5.00pm – 10.00pm
527 Harris St Ultimo
Tel: (02) 9212 0055
EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan
[email protected]
FOODIES’ DIARY
Manly Pavilion
Signorelli Gastronomia
Pantry Pleasures
As the weather cools, my desire to
stock the pantry and nest grows.
There are few better places to do
so than Pyrmont’s recently opened
Signorelli Gastronomia. I took
a trip to see what all the fuss was
about, and found myself marveling
at brimming shelves of must-have
gourmet products, with locally
produced 100-mile items indicated
by ‘pick me’ tags. I loved the
chance to peer into the impeccable
Doltone House kitchen, and the sexy
red 1898 Berkel meat slicer makes
the antipasto bar mighty enticing.
Did I mention wood-fired pizza?
I’d plan on grabbing a bite to eat
before exploring their dedicated
red, white, champagne and cheese
rooms.
www.signorelli.com.au
Sydney International Airport
Hungry Bathers
To the Aiport
Revamped Bentley
Stunning harbour views and a
Mediterranean dining experience
await at the newly opened
Manly Pavilion. Back in 1923,
the space was originally built
as a dressing room for the
comfort of bathers. These days
it’s a world-class restaurant with
the pans manned by handsome
young chef-to-watch Jonathan
Barthelmess. His exciting,
fresh menu for the 150 seat
restaurant includes dishes like
Grilled yabbies, Celery Ragu and
Bagna Cauda. I’m told he’ll be
hand-making pasta, sorbetti and
gelato as well as aging his own
meats. Sounds like a trek across
the harbour is in order soon...
www.manlypier.com
Jumping on a plane is not the
only reason to visit Sydney
International Airport these days.
Savvy locals are also making the trek
to visit the outpost of Jared Ingersoll’s
Danks Street Depot, gobbling up
seasonal and sustainable offerings like
his Wild Rabbit and Pork Terrine. I’m
pleased to report that after being a
good-food desert, the airport now
boasts five new world-class eateries.
If you are lucky enough to actually
be traveling, try and save some room
until after Customs for the newly
opened Caviar House & Prunier
Seafood Bar which offers premium
champagne, Prunier caviar, smoked
Tasmanian salmon, shellfish and foie
gras. It’s sure to get your holiday off
on the right foot.
Most people probably don’t need
another reason to put the award
winning Bentley Restaurant
and Bar on their must-dine list,
but if you do, try a face-lift from
acclaimed Melbourne designer,
Pascale Gomes-McNabb, with a
matching menu revamp by Head
Chef Brent Savage. I’m more than
a little tempted by his Slow Cooked
Duck Breast with Zucchini Flower
and Hazelnut, and I’m told that his
progressive desserts are a must!
www.thebentley.com.au
Bentley Restaurant and Bar
together, packing over $240 worth
of 2-for-1 cocktails, full buffet
breakfast, make-up and a makeover
in with a nights’ accommodation
that’ll cost you just $180 if you stay
in their centrally located Sydney
CBD property. Perfect to combine
with a spot of shopping and a visit
to a day-spa, if you ask me...
www.vibehotels.com.au
Girls’ Weekend
Feel like a weekend with the girls?
Vibe Hotels have got together
with Napoleon Perdis to create
the ultimate great value girly-get-
Vibe Hotels
 Free regular coffee with any
637 Harris St Ultimo 2007
8065 6265
Mobile: 0417 652 012
Phone:
All day coffee & cake
for $9.00
Breakfast available 7 days a
week, award winning boutique
hotel and multi-use function
room for hire.
Vulcan Hotel
500 Wattle St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Darling Harbour, Sydney
P: 02 9211 3283 F: 02 9212 7439
www.vulcanhotel.com.au
16
purchase over $5 for lunch or
breakfast
 Open from 6.45am
 Seating inside and outside
Alfresco
 extensive hot & cold menu
 Catering at competitive
prices available
EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan
Moo Gourmet Burgers *NEW*
My dining companion had his own mini Man V.
Food moment here with the awesome Deluxe
Burger ($28). As he posed with the gravity-defying
mountain of wagyu patties, bacon, egg, beetroot,
pineapple, Swiss and mozzarella cheese, grilled
onions, salad and sourdough, I was reminded of
the 1970s B. Kliban cartoon depicting a man being
served a mound of food with the caption: “Never
eat anything bigger than your head”.This burger’s
inspired by owner Adam Gerondis’ grandfather, one
of New Zealand’s restaurant pioneers, who opened
The Deluxe back in 1926. My own selection, a Piri Piri Chicken ($15) paled
in comparison; but I reckon this lil’ beachside burger bar is really about the
cow, the certified Australian Angus cow. If you have the capacity, the generous
Hot Chips ($5.00) are chunky home-styled numbers - crunchy outside, soft
and fluffy within - best with home-made sauces like Sweet Chilli Jam ($1.50)
or Aioli ($1.50). Drink your favourite candy bar selection in their tempting
Moo Shakes - mine’s the Beach Blonde ($6.50). Parents can quaff a Bloody
Mary ($9.50) or a very drinkable Moo Pinot Noir ($6) while the kids are busy
with a Little Cow ($9.95) meal. Kudos to ‘em for including a Starlight Children’s
Foundation donation in the price.
242 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee Beach (02) 9664 4300
www.moogourmetburgers.com.au
Burgers $-$$
Pricing
$ - mains less than $15
$$ - mains between $15-$22
$$$ - mains between $22-$30
$$$$ - mains over $30
EASTERN SUBURBS
& BEACHES
Media Luna
The new combinations and flavours
will refresh the most jaded of palates,
so check your cynicism at the door
and dive into a great Chile Relleno
($14.90), a tuna-stuffed Guero chilli
topped with a tamarind sauce. Try
excellent Lime Margaritas ($15) with
Zucchini Flower and Tinga (pulled
chicken in chipotle sauce) Quesadillas
($14.90), before an earthy Chicken
Especial ($27) stuffed with huitlacoche,
a fungus that grows on ears of corn.
Freshen up with an Ensalada Azteca
($14.90) studded with nopales (prickly
pear cactus) and end the night with
a delicious Prickly Pear Cake ($14)
served up with coconut ice cream and
a Mexican chocolate sauce. Book now,
your mouth will thank you!
309 Clovelly Road, Clovelly
(02) 9665 8942 www.medialuna.com.au
Mexican $$$
[email protected]
Funky Pies *NEW*
Bite into a better planet (and a decent
pie by anyone’s standards) at this quirky
little Bondi cafe. It’s hard to believe that
these flaky, tasty beauties are completely
dairy/animal free (vegan), but I assure you
they’re made from just plant material.
The signature Funky Chunky ($6) is full
of meaty (me bad) shiitake mushroom
chunks in rich gravy with creamy mash. The flaky pastry is made without
butter; the filling is flavoursome with onion, garlic and a hint of chilli. I tried
the new Tuscan Mushroom served with Mushy Peas, Mashed Potato and Gravy
($9.50) – it’d make a great winter warmer when the weather calls for one. It’s
got the same organic seed topped layered puff pastry, encasing mushrooms
marinated in balsamic vinegar and rosemary with sautéed silver-beet and
cherry tomatoes in a white wine vinegar sauce. As you perch on a recycled
bushel burlap bag stool, relish that your dollars are paying for staff to wear
uniforms made in sweat-shop free factories; the packaging is biodegradable
down to the coffee cup lids (the first in Australia) on your organic, Fair Trade
Coffee ($3.50); even the cold drinks are organic. A Charlie’s Mango and
Orange ($3.50) was just the trick on the unseasonably warm day I dined.
Shop 2 / 144-148 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi (0420) 415 164 www.funkypies.com.au
Vegetarian $
Gusto Kitchen & Bar
Nautical architecture and picturesque
Watsons Bay water views suit Chef
Paolo Patane’s Sicilian dishes, especially
succulent Calamaretti Soffritti ($16.90)
and his compelling Cucina Povera
style Frittelle de Nonnata ($14.90).
Penne alla Siciliana ($15.90) is simple
but heavenly, showcasing the creamy
eggplant. Muscat cooked veal in
Scaloppine al Passito de Pantelleria
($25.50) is so tender I ‘cut’ it with my
fork.We filled up on a generous, moist
swordfish Pesce Spada alla Messinese
($33.90) complimented by a Syrah
Botticella ($8/glass, $42/bottle) from
the keenly priced Italian wine list.The
ricotta-filled Sicilian Cannoli ($9.00)
entices my vow to return.Viva Sicily!
27 Military Road,Watsons Bay
(02) 9388 8827
Sicilian/Italian $$$
ROCKS & CBD
Neptune Palace
This tucked away Circular Quay
gem’s been here for seventeen
years, serving up beautifully cooked
Braised King Crab with Singapore
Chilli Sauce (market price $78/
kilo) with a comprehensive wine list.
Try a stunning 2006 Johanneshof
Gewürztraminer ($68) with good
Chinese dishes like succulent Salt and
Pepper Prawns ($31.80) and tender
Diced Fillet Steak with Wasabi Sauce
($29.80). Malay offerings like creamy,
Penang Kapitan Chicken ($22.80)
and a dry, intense Daging Rendang
($22.80) are even better, as are Malay
desserts like Pandan Crepe ($7.80).
Service feels like you’re in good hands.
Level 1 Gateway Building, Corner of
Pitt and Alfred Streets, Circular Quay
(02) 9241 3338
www.neptunepalace.com.au
Chinese/Malaysian $$$$
DARLO, KINGS X &
SURRY HILLS
An Nam Bar & Grill
Bury your nose in the fragrant
Vietnamese herb garden of Chao
Tom ($20) grilled prawn paste in a
French provincial setting with shaded
chandeliers and a classic colonial era
sliding screen. Owner Sonia Cru’s
enthusiasm for home style Vietnamese
dishes inspires my choice of Hanoi style
Grilled Bass Groper ($18) with bright
dill on charred tender fish.The underpriced Bo Kho ($18) is a stunning fourhour beef stew with sweet pumpkin
and springy sprouts, offset nicely by
the lemon/lime Lengs & Cooter 2008
Watervale Riesling ($26/bottle). End
with a Claret Cobbler ($12) cocktail
with vodka and Framboise.
Shop 6B, 431 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
(02) 9380 8007
Vietnamese $$-$$$
Tiger Mottle
Our bro’s across the ditch excel in cafe
culture – here they make the coffee I
want to drink and the food I want to
eat, in a place I want to linger. Try the
beautifully made Golden Cobra coffee
South American ($3) with sweetened,
condensed milk; Maple Mottle ($3)
with maple, chilli and cream; or in
an awesome Mottle Shake ($6.50).
Minty, refreshing Spearmint Milkshake
($5) compliments the benchmark
Mushrooms on Toast ($12.50); or
try Billy’s unique Bubble and Squeak
($14.50) while the voice of Brian
Eno washes through the airy terrace.
Yep it’s cool Kiwi cafe culture of an
international standard!
248 Glenmore Road, Paddington
(0401) 225 269
Cafe $
0INNER WEST
(Pyrmont/Balmain
Leichhardt/Glebe)
Cantine
Italian owner/chef Massimo Arata
exudes warmth and will probably
remember you by your coffee order
in this small but stylish four-year old
Pyrmont cafe – I’m a Grinders Flat
White ($3). Midweek it’s a canteen for
busy neighbour Fox Sports, but on the
weekend it’s a great breakfast nook
for savvy locals. Try the fluffiest Sweet
Corn Fritters ($11.50) in Sydney using
fresh corn and a fragrant ginger-rich
chilli relish; or the three egg Ova
Espagnola ($10.50) with crispy potato
and gentle chorizo. Hollandaise is made
fresh with each order, so mark the
Eggs Benedict ($11) in your diary. Did
you see those prices?
Corner of Pyrmont Bridge Rd & Ada Place
(next to Fox Sport), Pyrmont
(02) 9518 6622
Cafe $
Buy one
get one
FRee
Powerhouse Hot Dog
tiger Pie
enjoy one
complimentary pie
or hot dog when
a second pie or
hot dog of equal
or greater value is
purchased.
(present this voucher)
expires 31 Dec 10
562 Harris st. ultimo
17
EAT & DRINK
By Jackie McMillan
[email protected]
Tomislav Restaurant *NEW*
Fall down the rabbit hole with the whimsical dishes of Tomislav Martinovic.
At thirty-five he’s already cooked with Matt Moran, Guillaume Brahimi
and Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck). While his cooking is progressive,
there’s still a foot firmly planted in the camp that allows good produce
to shine.Your exercise in trust begins with the understated menu, best
contemplated on the balcony with clever Smith’s Crisps inspired Rice
Crackers ($6) and the 2006 Rymill Coonawarra Sparkling ($12/glass, $55/
bottle). Follow the three squirt advice religiously. Sydney Rock Oysters
($12/22) explode between contrasting layers of lemon sorbet and soy. Roast
Red Gate Farm Quail ($19) is teasingly Thai with chilli, coriander and roast
pineapple. The biodynamic Poached Comboyne Hen’s Egg ($18) with smoked potato cream and Kurobuta sausage is
comfort anew. With the restaurant pass on show, watch as Tomislav applies uniform beetroot smears with the speed
and skill of a Japanese calligrapher; before you mop them up with surgical precision using the airy olive oil sponge with
the Burrawong Duck Breast ($32). The O’Connor Scotch Fillet ($30) with bone marrow and grilled mango puree
is a strangely compelling collision. Desserts are just fun, from the popping Dark Chocolate Mousse ($14) to the airy
enchantment of a deconstructed Cheese Cake ($14) with the best rhubarb sorbet in Sydney.
2/13 Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst (02) 9356 4535 www.tomislav.com.au
Modern Australian $$$$
Petrol *NEW*
Clever foodies park at al fresco tables overlooking the now-gentrified
Springfield Mall to fuel up on the fine brunch offerings of owner/chef
Clinton Whiteman (ex-Rockpool) before visiting new neighbour Harris Farm.
From a postage-stamp sized kitchen Clinton produces an earthy skillet of
Black Pudding and Bean Stew ($18.50) with spinach and Gruyere, and a
good Three Egg Tortilla ($17.50). Both dishes have a nice through-line to his
evening tapas menu, but you’ll also find the usual breakfast suspects including
a decadent platter of Cinnamon French Toast ($16.50) cooked in maple
syrup. They’re all eclipsed by my first bite of the extraordinarily fine Chicken
Liver Pate ($16.50) appropriately autumnal with a scattering of toasted
pine nuts and an orange, fig and sultana compote. Personable server Alex
Auyeung sums it up: “It’s amazing. I have dreams about it.” I suspect I might too. If the sun is past the yardarm, match it
by a glass from the interesting wine list compiled with the help of the talented Barney Fallows (Sydney Cove Oyster Bar).
Or stay on the wagon with a rounded and satisfying Latte ($3.50) made by owner/barista James Algar-Gard from their
own brand of organic rain forest coffee; or experience alchemy in a glass with a Coconut, Basil and Blueberry Frappe
($7.50)! 9 Springfield Avenue, Potts Point (02) 9331 5048 www.petrol-pottspoint.com
Café/Tapas $$
The Riverview Hotel *NEW*
This sensitively renovated gastro-pub dining room is very Balmain. “I’m
putting up a registry for my thirtieth,” cuts through from a neighbouring
table to illustrate my point. Luckily most conversation is reduced to an
indistinct murmur by the room’s angles, so I lose myself in the picturesque
Balmain roof-line and purple hued sky. Lucinda Newton oozes slickness and
professionalism on the floor. She’s yet to put her mark on David Myers’
exciting wine list, but knows her way around it well – our recommended
2008 Chateau Bouscassé Petit Corbu ($66/bottle) is slick and exciting. She
even redeems Chianti with a 2008 La Querce Chianti Sangiovese ($12/glass)
brilliantly paired with Head Chef Brad Sloane’s dish of the night, Parsley and
Pine Nut Crusted Lamb Rump ($30) with smoked eggplant and textbook
herb gnocchi and crunchy anchovy fritters. Well-cooked Roast Duck Breast
and Croquette with Pickled Pear and Celeriac ($34) seems muted by comparison. House-made Pappardelle with Lamb
Shanks, Tarragon, Peas, Proscuitto and Pea Butter ($19/$28) is gentle, silky and harmonious. Chef’s restraint comes alive
in the excellent Vanilla Panna Cotta with Summer Berries and Bellini Sorbet ($13); but it’s the seasonally appropriate
Bakewell Tart with Blood Plum Sorbet ($13) that grabs me most. Order three courses...
29 Birchgrove Road, Balmain (02) 9810 1151 www.theriverviewhotel.com.au
Modern Australian $$$$
Duck Pie *NEW*
Value where you least expect it – in the back streets of Balmain, reminiscent
of the working class roots of the area. Chef Daz Antaw’s new domain
(previously of Restaurant BYO, Gladesville) is simplistic rather than ritzy –
think first date. Make a minimal investment in your romantic future by dining
on a Wednesday for a bargain Seafood Menu ($35/3 courses), or enjoy the
Table d’hôte ($47/3 course) menu any evening. Maitre d’ Scott Bullock’s
relaxed and friendly manner will put you both at ease. No need to fear the
wine prices either, it’s a tiny but very reasonably priced list; the Two Thumbs
Chardonnay ($22.90/bottle) is quite drinkable. Scott will shatter any awkward
silences by cooking au guéridon (at your table), and his Tiger Prawns with Truffle Oil, Garlic, Parsley and Cream
($15) are flaming good. The namesake Duck Pie ($15) is rich and meaty, encased in rustic pastry then topped
with a slice of melted brie. Mains are bested by the Plate de Bouillabaisse ($27), the gentle broth allows the nicely
cooked fishes (baby flathead, marlin and salmon) to shine. End the night with a gooey board of Melted Brie drizzled
with Forest Honey ($13) or indulge in the super rich Chocolate Trio ($13) if you must.
West End Hotel, 72-76 Mullens Street, Balmain (02) 9555 4455
French $$$
NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS
(Marrickville/Petersham/
Dulwich Hill/Waterloo)
Bloodwood
Three talented Claude’s defectors move to Newtown to
cook for people they could relate to more in an achingly
cool space. Perfectly executed Polenta Chips ($9) with
Gorgonzola show that even with relaxed rules, there’s
still excellent technique. Baked Mushrooms ($17) give
18
four varieties of mushroom cooked to perfection too,
but the highlight’s beautifully paper-cooked Miso Baked
King Fish ($32). Deceptively straight-up cocktail list sees
a Bloodwood Iced Tea ($18) made with organic Earl Grey
tea syrup; or there’s a light, lemony 2009 Fox Gordon
Princess Fiano ($38). After four or five dishes between
two, clink spoons in a shared Bloodwood Trifle ($12).
416 King Street, Newtown
(02) 9557 7699
www.bloodwoodnewtown.com
Modern Australian $$$
EXHIBITION:
WILDERNESS
by Angela Bennetts
ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
The landscapes of Balnaves’ Contemporary Painting
exhibition are those that dwell inside of us; shadowy
half-remembrances, media montages, dreams flattened.
Although the title Wilderness suggests perspective,
horizon and other tropes traditionally associated with
landscape, in most pieces distance has been decimated.
There is no Ned Kelly against an eggshell-blue sky (walk
across to the Nolan room for that), no wily, elastic
eucalyptus trees beneath which Aborigines dance from
the man who “Invented Australian landscape painting,”
John Glover, no Tracey Moffatt-esque photos of dusky
red towns populated with local geishas. In the Australian
landscape canon, the horizon has been ever-present
- an ‘over there’ that is constantly felt in such a vast,
unpopulated land. But in Wilderness the field of vision has
inched closer, sometimes claustrophobically so.
As you walk up the stairs to the Rudy Komon gallery
you are silently greeted by Del Kathryn Barton’s 2009
we too have been there, though we shall land no more.
Distant mountains hover - and yet the incredible
intricacy of the up-close overwhelms you.Tasmanian
tigers paw at alien bodies, electric rainbow serpents
20
Untitled #1279, Louise Hearman (2009)
a&e
a r t s & E N T E RTA I N M E N T
by Michelle Porter
writhe, a doe-eyed wallaby sadly hides behind a man
with a rather large penis. Australiana has been inverted,
tripped out, placed in a flat no-time of pictorial
elaborateness. It’s a fitting opening to Wilderness; which
is both Australian and not, both referencing an ‘over
there’ and negating its relevance.Tony Clark’s Sections
from Clark’s Myriorama (2010) deals with this quite
deliberately. It references an 1824 parlour game devised
by John Clark (name a coincidence, we think), in which
cards with a shared horizon could be shuffled and set
up in endless variations; a landscape of your devising.
Throughout, these are fantasy slices of ‘nature’ - Fiona
Lowry’s airbrushed waterfalls more a reference to
Photoshop than any real place, Julie Fragar’s Death of
a stag - our dear hunter (Jason) (2008) the macho space
of hunting is held up like a specimen and overlaid with
text.The huge, psychologically menacing black and white
thickets of Andrew Browne’s Curtain (2008) exemplifies
the new ‘nature’ in Australian painting. It could exist
anywhere. It leads to an inky black nowhere. And due to
the vantage point, it places you right in the middle of it it comes from where you are.
Until May 23, Art Gallery of New South Wales,
free, 9225 1700, artgallery.nsw.gov.au
THEATRE: THE FASTEST
CLOCK IN THE UNIVERSE
WHAT’S ON
BY LUCY HEARN
22
Cougar Glass refuses to admit he’s getting old. Every
year on his birthday he celebrates turning 19, again.
This year is no exception, and he’s invited gorgeous
schoolboy Foxtrot Darling to dinner in the hope of
seducing him. There’s just one problem: Foxtrot has
brought with him his pregnant fiance, Sherbet Gravel.
This is the first time The Fastest Clock In The Universe
has been performed in Australia. Newtown Theatre’s
handling of Philip Ridley’s darkly humourous play is
enjoyable if not remarkable.Though bouyed tonight
by the solid performances of the cast, the production
is driven more by Ridley’s compelling script, which
regardless of the treatment make it two hours well
spent.
Until Apr 17, Newtown Theatre, cnr King &
Bray Sts, $20-25, newtowntheatre.com.au
music
24
movies
Go to:
www.altmedia.net.au
for more A&E stories
Arts Editor:
Angela Bennetts
Listings Editor:
Komi Sellathurai
Music Editor:
Chris Peken
Contributors:
Aidan Roberts, Michelle Porter,
Kate Britton, Adam Guetti,
Rebecca Keane, Mark Gertskis,
James Harkness, Lucy Hearn,
Lucy Hill, Lena Rutkowski,
Nell Greco, Komi Sellathurai,
Alex Bodman, Alex Britton,
Sam Moginie, Sophie Mallam,
Anna Klauzner, Tara Parsons,
Brianna La Rance
& Alice Fenton
THEATRE: WAY TO HEAVEN
by Alice Fenton
As far as facts go, we know this:The Nazis opened up
a concentration camp called Theresienstadt to a Red
Cross worker who wished to inspect it, and no damning
evidence was recorded. How did they manage to hide
what was going on? What kind of elaborate performance
convinced him that nothing was awry? How must he
have felt upon later learning the truth?
Way to Heaven, by Spanish playwright Juan Mayorga, plays
with these questions and uses them as a jumping off
point to explore notions of perception, fear, control and
performance.
It’s not just a Holocaust story, and the creative team
were careful not to present it as a historical piece.The
set and costumes dip into nostalgia but essentially create
a world that rings true with our contemporary aesthetic.
According to costume designer Xanthe Heubel, “If we
were to use period costumes it would be locked into
THEATRE:
THE WALWORTH FARCE
a specific era, and it needed to move beyond that; be
more universal.The play is about taking responsibility for
your actions and considering how you would behave in a
similar situation, so the costumes needed to be relevant
to the audience - it’s not a history lesson.”
The creative team behind Way To Heaven are a loose
collective who go by the name RideOn and have worked
together for years.This time around, a key consideration
was the fact that most of the cast members are children.
This means double casting, to split the workload, and
a lot of logistics, but also gave them a deeper sense
of responsibility. “When you’ve got kids involved it
adds another level.They and their parents are giving
up their time for free, and you want to make sure
that the relevance and message of the play is properly
understood.”
Apr 14-May 8, SBW Stables Theatre, 10
Nimrod St, Kings Cross, $15-30, 8002 4772,
griffintheatre.com.au
Michael Glenn Murphy seems relaxed and cheery and happy to talk
when I call him for an interview about the play, The Walworth Farce.
The play focuses on the lives of Dinny and his two adult sons - Blake
and Sean, who are kept incarcerated in a Council flat in London and
made to re-enact a farce concerning their father’s last day in Ireland.
“It’s a way of controlling them, a way of keeping control... he’s
paranoid,” says Murphy, who plays the role of Dinny.“The only one
he lets out for an hour a day to do the shopping is Sean and the play
begins on the day when he comes home and the shopping’s wrong
and then the farce begins to unravel.” This sudden disentanglement of
the farce reveals the real threads of the family structure and the truth
behind the deaths of Dinny’s brother and wife in Ireland.
“I think what the playwright wanted to show is that we sometimes
hide truth behind our stories and then story becomes myth and then
myth becomes legend and that every family has their truth and their
stories,” says Murphy. Enda Walsh, the playwright, is an ever-rising star
in UK Theatre due to a habit of writing plays with absurdist plots and
flamboyant characters teetering on the edge of madness. Murphy
said that Enda wrote The Walworth Farce in 2003 and was taken on by
Druid Theatre, where it had its first reading in 2005 by the man who
went on to direct it - Michael Murphy, who he describes as not only
his ‘namesake’ but also ‘an extraordinary man’. The production has
appeared in Edinburgh, New York, the National Theatre in London,
Dublin and Galway, and has been a hit in every place. Despite its
success, Murphy found it interesting that at each show about five or
six [people] walked out. He thought they didn’t understand it and
possibly expected something linear as we seem to live our lives this
way. But he explained that Walsh has purposely written the play to
be calculated and doesn’t want the audience to follow the plot,“But
focus in on the real story.”
“I think Enda wanted to teach people a new way; that perhaps it’s
all bullshit, a construct of how we live our lives and underneath it,
is actually the truth,” he muses.“And this also ties in with why my
character needs stories in his life, he needs people to play them out
in front of him [sic]... But by the end, we see that Blake and Sean can
only live their life through the farce and when the audience see this
happening, it’s incredibly sad.”
Apr 14-24, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay,
$30-85, sydneytheatre.com.au, 9250 1777
BALLET: THE SILVER ROSE
BY LUCY HILL
Jealousy, infidelity, love gone wrong. No, this is not the description
of an episode of Melrose Place.These are the main themes of The
Silver Rose,The Australian Ballet’s newest show, choreographed by
the legendary Graeme Murphy (best known as the long-standing
head of the Sydney Dance Company).With dazzling Klimt-inspired
gold and silver-toned Art Nouveau sets by Roger Kirk and a vibrant
score by renowned composer (and long-time Murphy collaborator)
Carl Vine, the scene is set for this timeless tale of romantic
interludes and dangerous liaisons. Based on the classic opera The
Rose Cavalier, Murphy has spun the opera on its head, infusing it with
pathos and humour - and lashings of sex. Ballet is not just for the
bourgeois set. If you’ve never imagined yourself a ballet aficionado
- in fact, you’d prefer to watch Melrose Place - The Silver Rose is
the perfect introduction into this madly dizzying, often comic and
intensely passionate world.
Apr 9-29, Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, $29160, 1300 369 741, australianballet.com.au
19
what ’ s on
THEATRE &
PERFORMANCE
Catholic School Girls
The sixties: a time of social and
political upheaval, the heyday
of the Beatles, the birth of the
pill and the sexual revolution.
What would it have been like to
grow up then? And what if you
were Catholic? The upcoming
adaptation of the 1982 off
Broadway play, Catholic School
Girls, explores these questions.
(MP)
Until Apr 14,
Darlinghurst Theatre, 19
Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point.
$32-37. 8356 9987,
www.darlinghursttheatre.com.au
The Chronic Ills of
Robert Zimmerman:
AKA Bon Dylan (A Lie)
It’s that unmistakable voice,
hair, swagger and of course
the grand message behind
it all. The tambourine man
himself, Robert Zimmerman.
Who? Yep, that was his
birth name. In an interview,
Bob Dylan said “You’re
born, you know, the wrong
names, wrong parents. I
mean, that happens. You call
yourself what you want to
call yourself. This is the land
of the free.” Good choice
Bobby. Written by Sydney
playwright Benito Di Fonzo,
The Chronic Ills takes us
through Dylan’s life in his
own wordplays and music.
Having played to sold out
crowds at the Adelaide Fringe,
Sydney awaits its debut at
the intimate settings of the
Old Fitzy.
6 – 30 Apr.
The Old Fitzroy Theatre, Cnr
Cathedral and Dowling Sts,
Woolloomooloo.
Tickets: $17-$35,
1300 GET TIX
(1300 438 849),
www.rocksurfers.org
The End
Written by Samuel Beckett and
starring Robert Menzies, The
End is a story about a lonely
man who has given up on life.
He takes in all the beauty that
surrounds him as only a man
nearing the end can. The poetry,
magic and sadness of Beckett’s
words will be translated to stage
by director Eamon Flack making
his Company B debut.
15 Apr – 9 May.
Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre,
25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills.
$32-$42, 9699 3444,
www.belvoir.com.au
Feel Good
Feel Good is a clever and comic
take on the art of political spin
doctoring. Eddie and speech
writer Paul are crafting the
perfect words for the PM in
the midst of a riot and keeping
a scandal involving genetically
modified plants and male
mammaries under wraps. Before
the cups runneth over, Eddie has
to stop Liz from publishing the
scoop of the year
Until 17 Apr.
New Theatre, 542 King Street,
Newtown. $22 - $28,
1300 306 776,
www.mca-tix.com.au
20
Good Morning, Mr
Gershwin
In Good Morning, dancers spin,
tap, pirouette and break dance
to some of Gershwin’s bestloved classics from the 20s and
30s. With dramatic backdrops
to match, choreographers
José Montalvo and Dominique
Hervieu have blended an array
of dance genres to create a high
energy performance for the 21st
century audience.
8 – 10 Apr.
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera
House. $49-$99. 9250 7777,
www.sydneyoperahouse.com
King Lear
Directed by Marion Potts and
starring John Bell, the print
advertisement for the production
cheekily yet justly says “The
dangers of playing favourites with
your children”. Losing everything
he had, a headstrong father
battles the harshest of elements
to discover that true love is
more than just empty flattery.
Until 10 Apr.
Drama Theatre. Sydney Opera
House. $45-$75. 9250 7777,
www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Love Me Tender
The love child and the sacrificial
animal. Are they one in the
same? Tom Holloway’s Love Me
Tender, directed by Matt Lutton
tells the story of the fears and
extremities that exists between
a man and his daughter, offering
the truth about the fragility of
the human condition. (BLR)
Until 11 Apr.
Belvoir St Theatre. Belvoir
Theatre Upstairs. 25 Belvoir St,
Surry Hills. $35-$57. 9699 3444,
www.belvoir.com.au
Merchants of Bollywood
There is something magical about
Bollywood. Yes it is cheesy and
over the top but it provides a
much needed sense of escapism.
And that is exactly what
protagonist and choreographer
Ayesha Merchant is hoping to
reintroduce to Indian cinema
in this musical extravaganza.
Stunning costumes, heartthumping music, sexy dance
moves and lots of melodrama –
just the way we like Bollywood.
Until 11 Apr.
State Theatre, 49 Market Street,
Sydney. $69.90- $124.90.
8512 9020,
www.ticketmaster.com.au
New Creations
Spanish-born Sydney Dance
Company Artistic Director
Rafael Bonachela steals the
show with 6 Breaths. This mindblowing exploration of the idea
of breath as a vehicle for birth,
life and decay is accompanied
by an elegantly elegiac CGI
video piece by Tim Richardson. A
heartbreaking and bone-crushing
beauty. (SM)
Until 10 Apr.
Sydney Dance Company. 22
Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. 9250
1999,
www.sydneythreatre.org.au
Stockholm
The perfect couple in their
perfect home just had the
perfect day, but they could lose
everything by nightfall. Will
Todd and Kali fly to Stockholm
tomorrow as planned or is this
another doomed relationship?
Combining dance and drama,
Socratis Otto and Leeanna
Walsman star in this intensely
beautiful portrayal of love and
obsession.
Until 24 Apr.
Sydney Theatre Company.
$30-$75. 9250 1777,
www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Short Sweet+Dance 2010
This year’s dance-off will consist
of a three week line-up with
over 35 performances, and
a WILDCARD night on 10
April. With only ten minutes
to impress the pants of their
audience, we are expecting
some high energy routines and
innovative choreography.
7 – 17 Apr.
Parade Theatres. NIDA (National
Institute of Dramatic Art), 215
Anzac Parade, Kensington.
www.ticketek.com.au
S-27
May (Sarah Snook), a statetrained photographer, is
entrusted with the job of
recording the faces of those who
are about to go through ‘that
door’ – and judging from their
behaviour, the other side is not
to be desired. Clocking in at a
little over an hour, this is by no
means an in-depth or particularly
nuanced study of morality and
mob-mentality. But it is clever
enough, and well-executed
enough to satisfy. (AB)
Until 10 Apr.
Griffin SBW Stables Theatre,
10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross.
$23-30. 8002 4772,
www.griffintheatre.com.au
The Suicide
“Life is beautiful, life is shit ...” so
goes the metronomic dilemmas
of the unemployed and useless
Semyon Semyonovich in Simon
Stone’s re-penning of The Suicide,
Nikolai Erdman’s 1928 Russian
classic. With far too heavy
shades of slapstick than satire,
this madcap farce becomes
monotonous and borderline silly.
(AB)
Until 11 Apr.
Belvoir St Theatre. Belvoir
Theatre Downstairs. 25 Belvoir St,
Surry Hills. $20-$32. 9699 3444,
www.belvoir.com.au
Wicked
Long before Toto and Dorothy
turned up, two girls had a
rendezvous in Oz: one beautiful
and popular, the other smart and
fiery but decidedly – well – green.
Wicked follows the girls as they
grow to become Glinda the Good
Witch and the Wicked Witch of
the West, with appropriate dashes
of wit and warmth.
Until late 2010.
Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St,
Haymarket. $69.90-129.90.
1300 723 038, wickedthemusical.
com.au, ticketmaster.com.au
FOR THE KIDS
Felts and Fangs
One word: Twilight. If your tween
just can’t seem to stop talking
about vampires or swooning
over a certain Edward character,
bring them along to Felts and
Fangs where they can truly relate
to other vampiric novel lovers.
For ages 12 and above.
8 Apr.
Surry Hills Library, Lvl 1,
Function Room. 405 Crown
Street, Surry Hills. 8374 6230,
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Rhythm Safari: Kids Play
2010
In conjunction with Glen Street
Theatre’s Kids Play program,
your children will get a taste
of world music starting with
the rhythmic beats of African
musician Sibo. The show
encourages kids to be interactive
so let them do what they can’t
at home, beat the drums till the
cows come home.
13 – 17 Apr.
Glen Street Theatre, Cnr
Blackbutts Rd and Glen Str,
Belrose. 9975 1455, www.
glenstreet.com.au
Sydney Family Show
An Easter show replete with
your favourite showbags, magic
shows, tasty food and fun
competitions with fantastic
prizes. And it’s free! If the Royal
Easter Show is not in the budget
this year, the Entertainment
Quarter version is a fabulous
alternative.
1-14 Apr.
Entertainment Quarter, 122 Lang
Rd, Moore Park. Free. 8117 6700,
eqmoorepark.com.au
2010 What Matters?
Pick up any newspaper or click
on a news website and there are
opinion pieces on everything by
everyone. Unfortunately, with all
the noise that’s made, the voice
of the youth is going unheard. If
you are in years 5-12 and have
something to say about how to
build a better society then put
your ideas down in an essay and
enter the 2010 What Matters
competition.
Entries close 30 Apr.
Whitlam Institute within the
University of Western Sydney.
9685 9187, www.whitlam.org
COMEDY
Thursday 8 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Bruce Griffiths – Randwick Rugby
Club ($12)
Tom Oatley, Brad Oaks – Laugh
Garage Comedy Club ($11.50$26.50)
Friday 9 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Tom Oatley, Brad Oaks – Laugh
Garage Comedy Club ($11.50$26.50)
Saturday 10 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Tom Oatley, Brad Oaks – Laugh
Garage Comedy Club ($11.50$26.50)
Sunday 11 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Monday 12 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Tuesday 13 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Comedy at BB’s – Bar Bondi ($10)
Pauly Shore, Sandy Danto – The
Basement ($44)
Stand Up & Get Down – World Bar
($5-$10)
Wednesday 14 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
New Comics Night – Laugh Garage
Comedy Club ($11.50-$26.50)
Thursday 15 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Pubs, Clubs and Bars
Annandale Hotel:
Cnr Nelson St and Parramatta Rd,
Annandale. 9550 1078,
www.annandalehotel.com.au
The Argyle:
18 Argyle St,The Rocks.
9247 5500, www.theargyle.biz
Bank Hotel:
324 King St, Newtown. 9557 1692
The Basement:
29 Reiby Pl, Circular Quay.
9251 2797,
www.thebasement.com.au
Beach Road Hotel:
71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach.
9130 7247, www.myspace.com/
beachroadbondi
Candy’s Apartment:
22 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross.
9380 5600, www.candys.com.au
Club 77:
77 William St, Kings Cross.
9361 4981,
www.myspace.com/club_77
Cricketers Arms Hotel:
106 Fitzroy St, Surry Hills.
9331 3301
The Different Drummer:
185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe.
9552 3406,
www.differentdrummer.com.au
The Duke Hotel:
148 Enmore Rd, Enmore.
9519 1935,
www.duke-hotel.com
Empire Hotel:
32 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross.
9360 7531, empirehotel.net
Enmore Theatre:
130 Enmore Rd, Newtown.
9550 3666,
www.enmoretheatre.com.au
Excelsior Hotel:
64 Foveaux St, Surry Hills.
9211 4945,
www.excelsiorhotel.com.au
The Factory Theatre:
105 Victoria Rd, Enmore.
www.factorytheatre.com.au
Friend in Hand Pub:
58 Cowper St, Glebe. 9660 2326,
www.friendinhand.com.au
Fringe Bar:
106 Oxford St, Paddington.
9360 5443, www.thefringe.com.au
Gaelic Theatre:
64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.
9211 1687, www.thegaelic.com
Gaslight Inn:
278 Crown St, Darlinghurst.
9360 6746
The Harold Park Hotel:
70A Ross St, Glebe.
9660 4745,
www.haroldparkhotel.com.au
Hopetoun Hotel:
416 Bourke St, Surry Hills.
9361 5257,
www.myspace.com/
hopetounhotel
Lansdowne Hotel:
2-6 City Rd, Chippendale.
9211 2325
The Laugh Garage:
Cnr Church and Market St,
Parramatta. 8883 1111,
www.thelaughgarage.com
The Loft:
University of Technology,
15 Broadway, Sydney. 9514 2000,
www.myspace.com/utsloftbar
Manning Bar:
Lvl 1, Manning House,
Manning Rd,
University of Sydney.
1800 013 201,
www.manningbar.com
Mars Lounge:
16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills.
9267 6440,
www.marslounge.com.au
Melt Bar:
12 Kellett St, Kings Cross.
9380 6060,
www.meltbar.com.au
Metro Theatre:
624 George St, Sydney.
9550 3666,
www.metrotheatre.com.au
The Nags Head Hotel:
162 St Johns Rd, Glebe.
9660 1591,
www.nagshead.com.au
Newtown Theatre:
Cnr King St and Bray St.
9519 5081,
www.newtowntheatre.com.au
The Oatley Hotel:
8 Oatley Ave, Oatley.
9580 1117,
www.oatleyhotel.com.au
Opera Bar:
Lower Concourse Lvl, Sydney
Opera House, Sydney.
9247 1666,
www.operabar.com.au
Oxford Art Factory:
38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.
9332 3711,
www.oxfordartfactory.com
Rag & Famish:
199 Miller St, North Sydney.
9955 1257,
www.ragandfamish.com.au
The Roxbury Hotel:
182 St Johns Rd, Glebe.
9692 0822,
www.roxbury.com.au
Roundhouse:
University of New South Wales,
Anzac Pde, Kensington.
9385 7784,
www.unswroundhouse.com
Ruby Rabbit:
231 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.
9332 3197,
www.rubyrabbit.com.au
The Sound Lounge:
Seymour Centre,
cnr Cleveland St and City Rd,
Chippendale. 9351 7940,
www.seymour.usyd.edu.au
Sandringham Hotel:
387 King St, Newtown.
9557 1254,
www.sando.com.au
Sapphire Suite:
2 Kellet St, Kings Cross.
9331 0058,
www.sapphiresuite.com
South Sydney Juniors:
558A Anzac Pde, Kingsford.
9349 7555,
www.southsjuniors.org.au
Spectrum:
34 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.
1800 438 849 (moshtix),
www.pashpresents.com
Star Bar:
600 George St, Sydney.
9267 7827,
www.starbar.com.au
The Vanguard:
42 King St, Newtown.
1800 438 849 (moshtix),
www.thevanguard.com.au
World Bar:
24 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross.
9357 2755,
www.theworldbar.com.au
The White Horse:
381-385 Crown St, Surry Hills.
8333 9999,
www.thewhitehorse.com.au
• The family are throwing a fundraiser for Al (nee Smidmore) Strehler. And in keeping with Al’s personality
they’ve named it: “The Bondi Local FunRaiser”. Organiser Beccy Strehler says “We wanted to raise funds in a
fun, community kind of way. We thought of the kind of person Al is and just went from there. She simply loves
Bondi and is fun-loving so the name and theme came easily.”
Anyone wanting to contribute or buy a ticket to the event can contact me on 0451 09 0006 or visit
www.bondilocalfunraiser.blogspot.com.
• Young Bondi Local living with MND
• Family lived in Dover Heights since 1920...when it
was still just a Bondi sand dune.
• Her father owned 6 Ways Pharmacy on Hall St for
over 40yrs. It’s where Skinny Dip café is now. Al –
started coming to Bondi with her large family of 6
siblings. As a teen she was one of the original “2nd
Ramp” crew of local hot surfers and friends. They
‘owned’ the 2nd Ramp each summer for years.
• Al was a keen surfer and walker, she just loved
loved the ‘Bronte walk’. She spent countless hours
at Bondi with her two children teaching them to
surf.
• Both are keen surfers as a result of her love and
commitment. She was 39yrs when diagonosed.
• She developed MND six years ago first noticing it in
her left leg while on the walk to Bronte. There is no
cure for MND though there are trials being done at
The Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick. AL’s family
is looking to get her included in the program.
• The debilitating disease has now spread to other
parts of her body. This means she is more and more
confined to her home in North Bondi. Of course,
work is out of the question. For an active and hard
working person like Al this is another cruel blow.
• Al is not one to feel negative or depressed. On the
contrary many people draw strength from her
fresh and sunny outlook.
• She is a self-taught meditator and constantly
reads self-awareness and spiritual healing books.
Peter Aftanas from Bondi Natural Health is helping
treat her symptoms with acupuncture and herbal
remedies. It’s a slow process though her migraines
have eased with Peter’s help.
• Her children, family and friends have supported her
throughout her illness. Now the wider Bondi and
Eastern Suburbs community is getting involved.
• “At the event we want to raise money first and
foremost but make sure everyone there has a blast.
• There’s great local party bands like Big Toy and
Shark Alarm, MC, magician and comedy.
• What’s on at the Bondi Local FunRaiser
• Local party bands –
Big Toy www.bigtoyentertainment.com and The
Shark Alarms
• Hosted by Gary Bradbury
• Auction of big ticket items an original handwritten
Tim Finn song “Poor Boy” and personally ownded Taj
Burrows board - donated by himself.
Silent auctions
• Justin, Al’s brother, says “We’ve had a great response from local people and businesses to help. It’s a great
example of the community pulling together for each other. Al is a very private person and not directly involved
in the event. However the money raised will all go directly to helping with her treatment and comfort.
Music
CD Reviews
[email protected]
THE WEAKERTHANS LIVE AT THE BURTON
CUMMINGS THEATRE
At some point in the genealogy of
alternative music, post-hardcore
became post-post-hardcore, and
would-be punks start making
accessible, introspective pop music.
The Weakerthans are the kind of
band you want to trot out to support
this kind of thesis.They play fun,
guitar-driven songs with that serious
North American vocal twang. Keeping
it simple with pop structures and
compelling with cathartic, semiteenage lyrical content. If you don’t
know the band, Live at the Burton
Cummings Theatre isn’t a bad place to
start. It’s a live album, a recording of a
show in their hometown of Winnepeg,
Manitoba, from their 2009 tour.The
band are on form, and supported
by a number of guests and stand-in
musicians.There are lots of guitars.
Best of all is the audience, who are
massively in to it, so that when John K.
Samson sings “I hate ...Winnepeg”, you
get a sense of the mild, introverted
angst that fuels the scene.A nice
document from a great band, and well
worth your time. (SM)
JOHN BUTLER TRIO - APRIL
UPRISING
Album number five for John Butler is
album number one for the John Butler
Trio Mark II. Having decided he need
new faces to musically bounce off, John
Butler cast aside the old - Michael
Barker and Shannon Birchall - for the
new - drummer Nicky Bomba and
bass-player Byron Luiters.The result,
April Uprising is John Butler’s Triple M
album. One Way is as infectious as a
blend of shuffling funk-rock as JB has
written so far, and has understandably
been plastered all over the airwaves.
But where before one might be talking
about Bultler’s deft touches on the
guitar, his adroit picking and nuanced
playing, we are talking more about his
power chords and fat riff’s here.And
granted they are good riffs, but they
are not producing the quality of song
that Grand National did.Take Close To
You, bloated pub-rock at its best/worst,
a dumb fat riff and not much else, but
you will tap/stomp your foot to it. By
anyone else’s standards this is a fine
alt-rock album, but by those of JB we
know and hope that when he settles
in with his new musical mates that
there is better (man) to come. (CP)
MARY GAUTHIER - THE
FOUNDLING
I listened to this album for a couple
of weeks, puzzled by my own feelings
towards it. I figure it’s an average-togood country-folk album.The album
was produced by Michael Timmins of
the Cowboy Junkies, and produced
well, with lots of interesting bells and
whistles, atmosphere.The core of the
album is Gautheir’s story, a moving and
very true story about her birth out of
wedlock, subsequent adoption, and the
relationships (mostly estranged) that
follow. The Foundling is a song cycle
on these experiences. It’s a moving
story, and the songs are written well,
and that’s what really stands out on
the album. But the catch is Gauthier’s
voice. It’s okay, but the performances
aren’t good enough (not country
enough, perhaps) to carry every one
of her songs. I love the tune Goodbye
for instance, but Gauthier doesn’t
carry it as well as she might. But then,
she kills the excellent closing number,
The Orphan King (“the superhero of
suffering”). She’s a little bit inconsistent.
But that shouldn’t stop you from
checking it out. (SM)
SHE & HIM - VOLUME TWO
It is a cocktail seemingly mixed
in heaven - the charming Zooey
Deschanel’s neo-Sandy Shaw musings,
and M Ward’s distinctive twisted folk
sounds and 60’s pop production.
However, despite its clear musical
prestige, this album feels somehow
removed from reality.All of the songs
were written by Deschanel, and
she delivers them with melancholy
conviction - these are tales of broken
vows and broken hearts, Gerry and
the Pacemakers style. She clearly has
a firm handle on the construction of a
classic pop song; occasionally the Brill
Building hit-factory sound comes to
the fore, particularly in In The Sun and
the southern lilt of I’m Gonna Make It
Better. But despite the odd moment of
sparkle, largely these tunes feel a little
forced; it somehow feels like we’re
being taken on a disappointing journey,
as the material is not quite intimate
enough, and the pop melodies are
not quite catchy enough to leave you
humming.A solidly produced record,
full of lovely sounds, but for the keen
listener it somehow falls short of the
sum of its parts. (AR)
For more album reviews go to www.altmedia.net.au
22
w h at ’ s o n
Gary Eck, Cam Knight – Randwick
Rugby Club ($12)
Phil Wild, Brian Damage, Krystal
– Laugh Garage Comedy Club
($11.50-$26.50)
Friday 16 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Pauly Shore – Sydney Comedy
Store ($49)
Phil Wild, Bruce Griffiths, Brian
Damage, Krystal – Laugh Garage
Comedy Club ($11.50-$26.50)
Sydney Comedy Festival: Basile –
Enmore Theatre ($44-$49)
Sydney Comedy Festival: Tom
Green – Enmore Theatre ($39.90$49.90)
Saturday 17 April
Alonzo Bodden – Sydney Comedy
Store ($10-$30)
Phil Wild, Bruce Griffiths, Brian
Damage, Krystal – Laugh Garage
Comedy Club ($11.50-$26.50)
Sunday 18 April
Sydney Comedy Festival: Henry
Rollins – Enmore Theatre
($54.60)
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS
Anna Schwartz Gallery
Joseph Kosuth until 10 Apr
Tue – Fri 10am-6pm,
Sat 11am-5pm.
245 Wilson Street Darlington NSW
2008. 8580 7002,
www.annaschwartzgallery.com
Artereal Gallery
Carla Hananiah: Sublime until 1 May
Gary Smith: Refined until 1 May
Wed – Sat 11am-5pm
747 Darling St, Rozelle. 9818 7473,
www.artereal.com.au
Art Gallery Of New South
Wales
ARTEXPRESS 2010 until 9 May
Colour, Rhythm, Design until 30 May
The Dreamers until 26 Apr
East meets West: from the archive of
Flora Beresford until 30 Apr
Hymn to Beauty:The Art of Utamaro
until 2 May
Wilderness until 23 May
10am-5pm, 7 days a week. Art After
Hours – every Wed until 9pm.
Art Gallery Rd,The Domain, Sydney.
9225 1744, www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Aquabumps Gallery
Tue – Sat. 10am to 6pm.
151 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach.
9130 7788, www.aquabumps.com
Australian Centre for
Photography
Amy Stein: Domesticated until 11 Apr
Olivia Martin-McGuire: Sleepers until
11 Apr
Zed Nelson: Love Me until 24 Apr
Tue – Fri 12pm–7pm,
Sat & Sun 10am–6pm.
257 Oxford St, Paddington.
9332 1455, www.acp.org.au
The Australian Museum
Amazing Backyard Adventures until
18 Apr
Wildlife Photographer of the Year until
26 Apr
Mon – Wed 6am-10pm, Thur – Fri
6am-11pm, Sat – Sun 8am-11pm.
70 Riley St, East Sydney. 9361 4613,
www.austmus.gov.au
Australian National Maritime
Museum
Australia-America permanent
Eora First People permanent
Mythic Creatures until 23 May
Navigators permanent
Navy permanent
Sea Journeys permanent
Watermarks permanent
9.30am-5pm daily.
2 Murray St, Darling Harbour.
9298 3777, www.anmm.gov.au
Breenspace
Kate Murphy until 17 Apr
Nick Savvas 29 Apr – 5 Jun
Tue – Sat 11am-6pm.
289 Young St, Waterloo. 9690 0555,
www.breenspace.com
Brett Whiteley Studio
Iconic Whiteley until 4 Apr
Sat – Sun 10am-4pm.
2 Raper St, Surry Hills. 9225 1744,
www.brettwhiteley.org
Charles Hewitt Gallery
Mary Shackman: Absolutely
until 26 Apr
Sara Freeman: New Work until 26
Apr
Mon – Sat 10am-6pm.
335 South Dowling St, Darlinghurst.
9331 4988,
www.charleshewitt.com.au
China Heights Gallery
De-Con-Struction until 16 Apr
Faxhibition until 30 Apr
Sat – Wed 12pm-5pm.
257 Crown St, Darlinghurst.
www.chinaheights.com
Craft NSW
Riches of the Earth until 26 Jul
Mon – Sun, 9.30am-5.30pm.
Craft NSW, 104 George St.
9241 5825,
www.artsandcraftsnsw.com.au
Darren Knight Gallery
Robert Kinmont until 17 Apr
Kenzee Patterson until 17 Apr
Charlie Sofo until 17 Apr
Ronnie Van Hout until 17 Apr
Tue – Sat 11am-6pm.
840 Elizabeth St, Waterloo.
9699 5353,
www.darrenknightgallery.com
Depot Gallery
Just Add Water until 1 May
Tue – Sat 11am-6pm.
2 Danks St, Waterloo
www.2danksstreet.com.au
Harrison Galleries
Elizabeth Wojciak until 6 May
Junk Go until 6 May
Lisa Tomasetti until 27 May
Loretta Quinn until 6 May
John Waters until 27 May
Tue – Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm.
294 Glenmore Rd, Paddington.
9380 7100,
www.harrisongalleries.com.au
Iain Dawson Gallery
Big Paintings until 10 Apr
Tue – Sat 10am-6pm.
72A Windsor St, Paddington.
9358 4337, www.iaindawson.com
Justice & Police Museum
Femme Fatale until 18 Apr
Sin City from 1 May
Mon – Fri 10am-5pm, daily in
school holidays.
Cnr Phillip & Albert St, Circular
Quay. 9252 1144
Macleay Museum
Macleay Reworked permanent
Makarr-garma: Aboriginal collections
from a Yolnu perspective
until 15 May
Mirror Mirror until 2 May
Outlines - Koori Artefacts until 30 Jun
Mon – Fri 10am-4.30pm,
Sun 12pm-4pm.
Gosper Ln, near the Footbridge
St entrance to the University of
Sydney. 9036 5253
Museum of Contemporary
Art
Almanac:The Gift of Ann Lewis
until 18 Apr
Sylvie Blocher:What Is Missing?
until 26 April
Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson
until 11 Apr
We Call Them Pirates Out Here
until 29 Aug
10am-5pm daily.
140 George St, The Rocks.
9245 2400, www.mca.com.au
Museum of Sydney
Up the Cross: Rennie Ellis and Wesley
Stacey until 8 Aug
9.30am-5pm daily.
37 Phillip St, Sydney. 9251 5988,
www.hht.net.au
Nicholson Museum
Charles Nicholson: Man and Museum
until Dec 2010
Classical Fantasies:The Age of Beauty
until Dec 2010
Mon – Fri 10am-4.30pm,
Sun 12pm-4pm.
Southern entrance to the
Quadrangle, The University of
Sydney. www.usyd.edu.au/museums
NG Art Gallery
Daniel Malecki 11 – 29 May
Steven Vella 20 Apr – 8 May
Susan O’Doherty:The Perfect Woman
until 17 Apr
Tue – Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 9am10pm.
Upper level, 3 Little Queen St,
Chippendale. 9318 2992,
www.ngart.com.au
Powerhouse Museum
The 80s Are Back until late 2010
DesignTECH until 18 Apr
Student Fashion until 30 May
10am-5pm daily.
500 Harris St, Ultimo. 9217 0111,
www.powerhousemuseum.com
Ray Hughes Gallery
Group Show until 21 Apr
Franck’s Wild Years by Chayni Henry
23 Apr – 19 May
Small Sculptures by Peter Powditch
until 21 Apr
Tue – Sat 10am-6pm.
270 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.
9698 3200,
www.rayhughesgallery.com
Robin Gibson Gallery
Cash Brown and Chico Monks 1 – 26
May
New Talent until 26 Apr
Tue – Sat 11am-6pm.
278 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst.
9331 6692, www.robingibson.net
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery
Imants Tillers: A Poem of the Land
until 3 Apr
Tracey Moffatt: Plantation and Other 9
Apr – 1 May
Tue – Fri 10am-6pm,
Sat 11am-6pm. 8 Soudan Lane,
Paddington. 9331 1919,
www.roslynoxley9.com.au
Sarah Cottier Gallery
Gemma Smith: Sudden Double until
1 Apr
Wed – Sat 11am-5pm.
3 Neild Ave, Paddington. 9356 3305,
www.sarahcottiergallery.com
Sherman Contemporary
Art Foundation
Fiona Tan” Coming Home
until 12 Jun
Wed – Sat 11am-5pm.
16-20 Goodhope St, Paddington.
9331 1112, www.sherman-scaf.
org.au
S.H. Ervin Gallery
Salon Des Refusés 27 Mar – 23 May
Tue – Sun 11am-5pm.
Watson Rd, Observatory Hill,
The Rocks. 9258 0173,
www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au
Stills Gallery
Anne Feran: Lost to Worlds
until 15 Aug
Ricky Maynard: Portraits of a Distant
Land until 15 Aug
Sat 11am-6pm.
36 Gosbell St, Paddington.
www.stillsgallery.com.au/
UTS Gallery
Twenty/20 until 9 Apr
Mon – Fri 12-6pm.
Lvl 4, 702 Harris St, Ultimo.
9514 1652,
www.utsgallery.uts.edu.au
White Rabbit Gallery
The Tao of Now until July 30
Thu – Sun 10am-6pm.
30 Balfour Street Chippendale.
8399 2867,
www.whiterabbitcollection.org
Wilson Street Gallery
Ian Andrews: A Conversation
until 11 Apr
Lifelines until 17 Apr – 9 May
Manne Shulze:The Vinyl Archives
until 11 Apr.
Wed – Sun 11am–6pm.
30-34 Wilson St, Newtown.
9516 3144,
www.wilsonstreetgallery.com.au
TALKS & EVENTS
Apollo 13: NASA’s Finest
Hour
Everyone loves a survival
story. In conjunction with
the museum’s Apollo 40th
HOT TIX
Popcorn Taxi:
Accidents Happen
Meet Miss Geena Davies,
the six foot beauty who
will put any insult-laden
road safety campaign about
redheads to shame. Along
with director Andrew
Lancaster, Davies will join
an Australian audience at
Orpheum Picture Palace for
a special Q&A session. A
British-Aussie collaboration,
Accidents Happen is a black
comedy about 15-yearold Billy Conway and his
dysfunctional family whose
fate is about to change.
He’s been witness to freak
accidents all his life and
when he decides enough
is enough and begins to
stray with the bad crowd,
things seem to take a turn
for the…better? If not for
a glimpse of Ms Davies’
never ending legs, go see
how a film based in 1980s
Connecticut was shot
entirely in Sydney.
Apr 14. 7.30pm.
Hayden Orpheum Picture
Palace, 380 Military Road,
Cremorne. $26.
www.popcorntaxi.com.au
Supafest
Bring on the bling because
this is the biggest urban
pop show to hit our shores.
With a line-up that flaunts
some of the world’s biggest
chart toppers Pitbull, Eve,
Kelly Rowland, Sean Paul
and Jay Sean, this is a mega
concert with real value for
money. And rightly so, the
first show has already sold
out and we are guessing the
HOT TIX for their newly
added second show will
disappear before you can say
shizzle. So get in there quick.
Warning to English teachers:
May lead to the permanent
replacement of “er” with “a”.
Keep it real gangstas.
Apr 15 (sold out) Apr 16.
Acer Arena. Olympic
Boulevard, Sydney Olympic
Park ($99-$159) 8765 4321,
www.ticketek.com.au,
www.supafest.com.au
w h at ’ s o n
Anniversary talk series, curator
of Space Technology, Kerrie
Dougherty, will discuss the
“successful failure” of Apollo 13.
11 Apr. 2-3pm.
Target Theatre.
Powerhouse Museum,
500 Harris St, Ultimo. ($6-$10)
9217 0111,
www.powerhousemuseum.com
Australia’s Richest Radio
Play Writing Competition
2010
With a prize package worth
$6000 for the top 4 scripts,
it is no wonder that this is
Australia’s richest competition
in its genre. If you are an aspiring
playwright with an opinion about
contemporary issues faced by
everyday Aussies, then get your
pen to paper now.
Entries close 30 June.
www.dogwoodcrossing.com,
46271131
Diary of a Wildlife
Photographer
Join author and wildlife
photographer Jan Latta as she
talks about her adventures in
Africa, China and India. Along
with an exhibition of her
dazzling photography, you will
also be aiding her cause to raise
awareness about endangered
animals.
Apr 13. 12pm.
Customs House Library,
Level 2 Meeting Room,
31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay.
Free.
9242 8555,
www.sydneycustomshouse.
com.au
Casablanca Nights
I attended the inaugural
Casablanca Nights on 2 March
and it is easy to see why this
is becoming a staple at Notes
Live. At the classy jazz event,
women were draped in slinky
numbers even though it was
only a Tuesday. Men in business
suits looked dapper - you could
imagine them waiting for the
clock to read 5.30pm in their
offices. There was even a Bogart
look alike in pin-stripped suit. I
had a dirty martini with olives
and spicy calamari which was
perfect for me although you
could book in a sit-down meal.
The martini went down well
with the smoky vocals of Evelyn
Duprai who will be performing
again in this installment with
Gary Holgate, Peter Skelton,
Joseph Calderazzo, Natasha
Stuart, Anthea White and Mark
Palmer.
13 Apr. Notes Live.
73-75 Enmore Rd, Newtown.
($20.50-$44) 9557 5111,
www.noteslive.net.au
FESTIVALS
Animania Festival 2010
Who didn’t love Hayao Miyazaki
Ponyo last year? Although his
films are embraced by the wider
community, there is a lot about
anime and Japanese pop culture
that is still foreign to us. And here
is an excellent opportunity to
eradicate that.
11 – 12 Sep.
Australian Technology Park.
Conference Centre, Bay 4
Locomotive St, Eveleigh.
$11.50-$25. www.animania.net.au
A Night of Horror
International Film
Festival
This year, skip the dress-up
party and drench yourself in
blood, guts and gore during
Halloween. The sleaze and
cheese of horror at its very
best. A Night of Horror will
debut Australian films The
Horseman, Damned by Dawn,
The Dark Lurking and BritishAustralian collaboration
The Triangle starring Melissa
George and Emma Lung. Ah…
Quentin would have been
proud. These nine days of
ghoulish entertainment will
include several short films,
Q&A sessions and a special
Halloween screening of the
much-anticipated vamp-com
Zomebieland starring Woody
Harrelson and a grown-up
Abigail Breslin (Little Miss
Sunshine). Let the nightmare
begin!
15 – 23 Apr.
Dendy Newtown Cinema.
261-263 King Street,
Newtown. 9550 5699,
www.anightofhorror.com
Hymn to Beauty Film Series
A floating world, an underbelly
of entertainment, theatre, actors,
geishas and brothels. Ukiyo or the
floating world of 17th century Japan
during the Tokugawa rule is the
inspiration behind this film series,
held in conjunction with the art
exhibition Hymn to Beauty:The Art of
Utamaro.
Until 18 Apr. 7.15pm Wed and 2pm
Sun.
Art Gallery NSW. Domain Theatre,
Lower Level 3. Art Gallery Rd,The
Domain, Sydney. 9225 1744,
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Scorsese Film Festival
Paying homage to the man with the
eyebrows, Mr. Martin Scorsese, the
festival will see some of his earlier
films screened at the lovely Chauvel
cinema. Spread over four weeks;
watch Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Good
Fellas and Raging Bull on the big
screen again.
26 Mar – 9 Apr.
Chauvel Cinema. Paddington Town
Hall, Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Rd,
Paddington. $12. 9361 5398,
www.chauvelcinema.net.au
smARTarts Festival
Held in conjunction with National
Youth Week (10 – 18 Apr),
smARTarts will see some of Sydney’s
most creative youths playing live
music, performing dance numbers
and displaying commendable art
pieces at the youth art exhibition.
17 Apr. 1-3pm.
Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, 64
Pine Street, Chippendale. 9245 1503,
www.pinestreet.com.au
Surry Hills Festival
Local bands, quirky fashion designs,
great food and kids’ entertainment.
Celebrating everything we love
about Surry Hills, this one day
festival is a must for all. Entry
through gold coin donations.
10 Apr. 9.30am-6pm.
Ward Park, Devonshire Str, Surry
Hills. www.shnc.org/festival
Sydney Royal Easter Show
How can anyone say no to
showbags stuffed with candy? On
a high and don’t know what to do?
Head to the Poultry and Sheep
Pavilion to see chooks washed and
blow-dried.With blood sugar levels
that high, chooks in soapy foam can
be quite entertaining. Ah… good old
Easter Show.We can’t wait for the
madness to begin.
1 – 14 Apr.
Sydney Showground, Sydney
Olympic Park. $22-$93.50.
1300 730 631,
www.eastershow.com.au
LIVE MUSIC
Thursday 8 April
Anikiko – Notes Live ($14.50)
The Beatville Boys – The Orient
Hotel (free)
Bebel Gilberto – Enmore Theatre
($89.90)
Café Carnivale: Heval – Sound
Lounge, Seymour Centre ($22-$28)
Cameron Undy Quartet – 505 ($10$15)
Casey Donovan, Urban Stone –
Sandringham Hotel ($12)
A Casual End Mile – Oxford Art
Factory (free)
Extended Family – Macquarie Hotel
(free)
Hot Damn! – Spectrum ($12-$18)
Katie Noonan & The Captains –
Oxford Art Factory ($33.30)
Peter Head – Harbour View Hotel
(free)
Pistol Whipped – 202 Broadway
(free)
Snowdroppers – Gaelic Theatre
(free)
So You Think You Can DJ? – Empire
Hotel (free)
Stryper, Devine Electric – Metro
Theatre ($73.50)
The Suspects – Marble Bar (free)
Thousand Needles in the Red –
Annandale Hotel (free)
Friday 9 April
Alisa Fedele – Fitzroy Hotel
Bernie McGann Quartet – Sound
Lounge, Seymour Centre ($22-$28)
Blades – The Gadd (free)
Brown Sugar – Marble Bar (free)
Eddy Current Supression Ring –
Annandale Hotel ($20)
Geoff Achison – The Vanguard ($22$27)
The Jezabels – Oxford Art Factory
($12.80)
Justin Townes Earle, Jason Isbell – The
Factory Theatre ($38.50)
La Discoteca – World Bar ($15)
MUM – World Bar ($15)
Philip Johnston and The Pagers – 505
($10-$15)
Purple Sneakers – Gladstone Hotel
($12)
Roger Hodgson – Enmore Theatre
(sold out)
Skryptcha – Beach Road Hotel
(free)
The Stripped Back Late Show – The
Vanguard (free)
Talib Kweli, Jean Grae – The Forum
Theatre ($45-$55)
Saturday 10 April
Doug Williams & The Mix – Ravel,
Macquarie Hotel ($22)
Eclipse Alley Five – Strawberry Hills
Hotel (free)
Eddy Current Supression Ring –
23
movie micros
Kick Ass
AN EDUCATION Sixteenyear-old Jenny is fulfilling her
father’s dream for her to go to
Oxford University until she meets
a much older David, with whom
her daydreams are tangible. Nick
Hornby’s adaptation of Lynn Barber’s
memoir is a seductive miseducation
of an adolescent life. (KS)
A PROPHET Grim, gritty, violent,
and almost entirely set in a prison, A
Prophet is by no means a glorification
of crime and neither is it a seat-ofthe-pants action thriller with twists
and turns at every corner.Yet it is
about criminals and it is a thriller,
but within a slow human drama
that is as much about growth and
friendship as it is about organised
crime and power. (MG)
A SERIOUS MAN The Coen
brothers have produced another
gem with A Serious Man. Following
feckless physics professor Larry
Gopnick’s struggles with family, work
and marriage, the film is a masterly
black comedy exploring questions
of faith, family, mortality, academia
and everything in between. Hilarious
and profound, this is one not to be
missed. (KB)
AWAY WE GO, the antithesis
of Sam Mendes’ melancholic back
catalogue, sees Verona (Maya
Rudolph) and Burt (The Office’s John
Krasinki) travel across America in
search of a home for their unborn
child. Rudolph and Krasinki’s zany
rapport will illicit laughs. (JH)
THE BLIND SIDE is inspired
by the life of NFL linesman
Michael Ohler. It’s a mawkish and
ideologically questionable sporting
drama, enlivened only by Sandra
Bullock’s career-best performance.
(ABo)
It’s wonderfully depraved; it’s uber-gonzo; it’s
bitingly funny; it’s Kick-Ass! Matthew Vaughn’s
unapologetically over-the-top flick is the hippest,
most exhilarating film out now. It’s also proof that
‘so-called’ legitimate comic-book films don’t have
to be dour, humourless affairs – they can also be
a ‘helluva’ lot of fun! Dave Lizewski (Nowhere
Boy’s impressive Aaron Johnson) spends his days
fantasising about buxom high-school teachers
and reading superhero comics. Unfortunately, he’s
awkward around girls and is the target of repeated
muggings. When Dave becomes a masked vigilante
to revitalise his remote existence, he soon trades
blows with a powerful Mafioso (the ever-reliable
Mark Strong). Kick-Ass also stars Christopher
(McLovin) Mintz-Plasse, a ludicrously straightfaced Nicholas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz,
who steals the show as an 11-year-old assassin in
pig-tails. While it revels in its use of violence and
profanities, Kick-Ass is a surprisingly sweet (and
often romantic) offering that plays like an off-thehook mash-up between Superbad, Spiderman and
Kill-Bill. Bring on the sequel! (JH)
THE BOUNTY HUNTER
In this romantic reimagining of
genre classic Midnight Run, a fugitive
reporter (Jennifer Aniston) tries to
allude her bounty hunter ex-husband
(Gerard Butler). Perfunctory plot
aside, this playful offering works when
the leads are given enough space to
chew the scenery. (JH)
BRAN NUE DAE Flimsy plot
elements aside, this vibrant and funfilled outback adventure jaunt about
an indigenous boy’s return home
from a religious mission in 1965 has
a lot to recommend it. Worth it for
genuinely toe-tapping tunes and the
spectacular visual beauty of Broome
itself. (SM)
BRIGHT STAR The story of John
Keats’ and Fanny Brawne’s tragic love
is beautifully told in Jane Campion’s
latest feature Bright Star. Abbey
Cornish and Ben Wishaw shine with
authenticity as the two lovers and
evoke genuine empathy in this true,
Romantic tragedy. (NG)
BROTHERS A film about love, war,
betrayal, death and family, Brothers is
a deeply emotional film. It doesn’t
set itself on happy endings but with
strong performances and some solid
themes it is still a rather enjoyable
experience. (AG)
CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE
VAMPIRES ASSISTANT,
directed by Paul Weitz, follows
Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia), as
he is recruited, perhaps unwillingly,
into the vampire world by Larten
Crepsley (John C. Reilly) in order to
protect him from the fate that awaits
him.Tossing and turning between
moralities, immortality, love and the
underworld, this new take on the
vampire ideology brings more than
just teeth to the table. (BLR)
CLASH OF THE TITANS
The latest blockbuster for Hollywood
money maker Sam Worthington
Clash of the Titans wastes little time
in ramping up the action. Demons,
spirits, gods and all sorts of deadly
creatures are brought to the
forefront of this mythical battle royale
within minutes of the opening credits.
This digital remaster of the original
1981 story follows Worthington’s
Perseus, mortal son of Zeus, as he
embarks on the dangerous journey
to stop Hades and his minions
from taking over humanity and the
heavens by defeating the fearful
Kraken. Clash is all about the action
and without surprise it handles it
fairly well, especially in 3D. Suspend
your disbelief and buckle up for this
extreme feast of visual effects. (AG)
DAYBREAKERS The latest
offering to vampire lovers,
Daybreakers, is set in 2017 where
most of the world’s population have
become vampires and humans have
been farmed virtually to extinction.
The last hope for humanity rests
on the brooding shoulders of Ethan
Hawke. (ABr)
FROM PARIS WITH LOVE is
not a movie with strong character
depth and an engrossing story.What
is provided however is pure off the
wall action and it comes in spades.
Don’t pay too much attention to plot
and enjoy this summer shooter. (AG)
THE GIRL WITH THE
DRAGON TATTOO Since this
is a Swedish production of a darkerthan-you-expect bestseller, I had high
expectations that it wasn’t going to
be another Da Vinci Code (shudder).
Larsson set the director a hard task:
a film’s length just couldn’t permit
all his minutiae and extreme detail,
which meant the opening and closing
scenes were unfulfilling and much of
the book was omitted. But the midsection was riveting. (RK)
THE HURT LOCKER A
refreshing portrayal of the Iraq War,
this is one of the best films based
on the conflict to date – a stellar
showcase of intense action and
suspense while exploring a fascinating
insight into the psyche of the
American soldier. (AG)
IN THE LOOP Bureaucracy and
international politics are skilfully
thrashed in this black comedy about
UK-US alliances during the lead up
to a fictional Middle East invasion.
Infused with cynicism, dry British
humour and plenty of punch, In the
Loop is political satire at its sharpest.
(LRu)
INVICTUS South Africa’s
new president, Nelson Mandela,
enlists the Springboks rugby team,
abhorred for evoking the nation’s
racist past, to help reconcile his
people. Morgan’s nuanced portrayal
of Mandela is pitch-perfect, while
Clint Eastwood’s ‘no bull’ direction
offers heart and sports spectacle.
(JH)
THE LAST STATION Love,
religion, sexuality and honour play
out in this theatrical tale of Leo
Tolstoy’s last days. The acting is great
across the board but hinges on
stellar performances by Christopher
Plummer (Tolstoy) and Helen Mirren
(his wife of 48 years). (AF)
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN If
you can manage to leave your brain
at the door for the sometimes
ridiculous plot, Law Abiding Citizen
is a fairly enjoyable thriller that
showcases a father taking revenge
for the murder of his wife and
daughter. (AG)
THE LOVELY BONES In Peter
Jackson’s adaptation, 14-year old
Susie Salmon watches from Heaven
as her grief-stricken family struggles
to cope with her brutal murder.
Based on Alice Sebold’s novel,
hackneyed spiritualism prevents this
gorgeously visual film from being a
truly cathartic experience. (JH)
THE MEN WHO STARE AT
GOATS Walking through walls
and killing goats by simply starring
at them are just some of the psychic
weapons used by the U.S. Military’s
New Earth Army. Sounds kooky?
Well, it is a kooky kind of a movie
except that it flaunts a dream cast
and is based on a true story. (KS)
MY ONE AND ONLY In what
is more than an average ‘road-trip’
WRITERS AND
OPINION MAKERS
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City News, Bondi View and
Inner West Independant are looking for writers.
Opportunities in print and online
are avalible to opinion makers
and up and coming journalists.
Send a CV, writing samples and a
covering letter to:
citynews
@alternativemediagroup.com
24
story, Anne Devereaux whisks
her two sons Robbie and George
around America to find herself a
new husband and unexpectedly finds
instead, that she doesn’t need one.
(NG)
NANNY MCPHEE AND THE
BIG BANG When the Greens are
at risk of losing their family farm, the
magical Nanny McPhee turns up to
help out. So ensues the tale of Nanny
McPhee and the Big Bang, a solid
kids movie enough straightforward
laughs to keep you watching happily
to the end. (LHe)
NOWHERE BOY Sam TaylorWood’s charismatic biopic Nowhere
Boy meditates on John Lennon’s
rollicking teenage years prior to the
genesis of the Beatles. Newcomer
Aaron Johnson gives a spirited
performance, investing the rock and
roll icon with irreverence, pathos
and lad humour. (JH)
PRECIOUS Based on the 1996
novel Push by Harlem poet Sapphire,
Precious is a hard knocks with
heart tale following an illiterate,
overweight and pregnant teenager.
Honeycombed with fantastical
escapism, and straying stylistically
somewhere between Dangerous
Minds and a gritty, heartrending
reality, Precious works best in the
latter. A diamond in the rough. (AB)
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF
PIPPA LEE The enigmatic title
character (Robin Wright Penn) is
forced by a drastic change in lifestyle
to reflect on her dysfunctional
upbringing. This film works best
when it trades melodrama for
oddball humour. (JH)
THE ROAD John Hillcoat’s
adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s
The Road is a bleak, post-apocalyptic
story of a father and son struggling
for survival in a world on the
brink of death. Its sparse and eerie
landscapes make the perfect setting
for the ultimate question, is survival
enough? (KB)
SEPARATION CITY is in
essence a comedy drama about
romantic relationships in all
their dysfunctionality – from the
old shtick of the wife who finds
her philandering husband in a
compromising position with some
blonde bimbo, to the wife who tells
her husband she’s actually a lesbian.
At times predictable, it does make
you think about the high price of
keeping love going, while staying light
and funny. (MG)
SHERLOCK HOLMES With a
deft flick of the wrist Guy Ritchie
scuttles all of Holmes’ ‘stiff upper lip’
incarnations. Robert Downey Jr can
streetfight and mud-sling along with
the gnarliest of Lock Stock geezers
– except with charm and a fierce
intellect to boot. A fun take on one
of literature’s best ever bromances.
(AB)
SISTER SMILE Cecile de France
delivers an unmissable performance in
Stijin Coninx’s latest film Sister Smile
(soeur SOURIRE), based on the life of
Jeannine Deckers, one of the highest
selling artists of all time. Deckers, who
lived through a stifled adolescence, a
Dominican convent, worldwide fame,
financial and personal hardship and
early feminism, makes for a fascinating
story, done justice by a magnificent
performance. (KB)
THE TOPP TWINS An utterly
endearing biopic laying bare the lives
of kiwi entertainment icons: the Topp
Twins. Funny, touching and inspiring
portrait of the all singing, all dancing
lesbian twin sisters. Go see this and
let them yodel their way into your
hearts. (ABr)
UP IN THE AIR Ryan Bingham
(George Clooney) is a travelling
businessman whose busy lifestyle
keeps him distracted from reality
until the company’s keen upstart,
Natalie I type with a purpose Keener
(Anna Kendrick) comes along and
thoroughly disrupts his routine. (NG)
THE VINTNER’S LUCK
Based loosely on the novel by Kiwi
writer Elizabeth Knox, it follows
one sandy-haired man and his satin
sheet-clad angel in 1800s Bordeaux.
What would’ve been an interesting
and mildly believable tale of not only
eking out an existence on the land
but yielding poetry from it becomes
an over-fermented piece of froth
thanks to the angel. (AB)
WELCOME To reunite with his
girlfriend in England, an Iraqi teenager
plots to swim the English Channel
with the reluctant help of a cynical
French swimming instructor. Don’t
let the washed-out colours fool you;
there’s tenderness in this rare human
experience. (JH)
WHATEVER WORKS
Improbable romance ensues
when Larry David’s misanthropic
quantum physicist offers a ditzy-butendearing Southern beauty queen
a bed in the big bad city. No one
believes this somewhat dated Allen
fairy tale for a second but that’s
hardly the point. Equal parts silly and
delightful. (SM)
THE WHITE RIBBON
(GERMAN: DAS WEIßE
BAND) One the eve of World
War I, a German village experiences
a number of bizarre incidents. Using
masterful restraint, Director Michael
Haneke provides a perverse sense of
satisfaction in being continually strung
out by the film’s slew of titillating
enigmas. (JH)
THE WOLFMAN Although
altering from the original story of
the first Wolf Man, this lycanthropic
tale still tries to carry the same level
of horror and haunting sadness that
captivated horror fans worldwide. A
fur clad, fanged, modern day monster
movie. (AEB)
what ’ s o n
THE NAKED CITY
THE SHOWBAG IN A BAG WITHIN ANOTHER BAG!
by Miss Death, Jay Katz and Coffin Ed
It’s show time out at Homebush and whilst the current venue has proved
a great success there are still many who long for the old style Royal
Easter at Moore Park. It’s now well over a decade since the show moved
from the old Sydney Showground and the site appropriated by Fox
Studios.
Back in the 50s and 60s sideshow alley was one of the biggest attractions
and not just an afterthought with gravity defying high tech rides as it
is today.There were boxing tents, a Pygmy Revue, freak shows and a
very low tech Ghost Train. Even the old style showbags were infinitely
superior. For starters they were made of paper with sturdy string
handles, not like the nasty plastic shopping bags of today. For many
years sample bags were actually free and when they did start charging
they were always chock full of goodies, like the Jolly Jumbo Liquorice
Bag which packed enough ammunition to have a family running to the
outhouse for a week.These days show bags seem to have lost all that
innocent charm but wait there is still time to do something about it, if
not for this year, then certainly for next. Here’s a Naked City wish list of
showbags we would like to see:
Annandale Hotel ($20)
Horrorshow – The Factory Theatre
($17.50)
Jamrock – 202 Broadway ($15)
Jason Isbell – The Vanguard ($27.50$35)
Kim Salmon & the Surrealists –
Spectrum Theatre ($12)
Late Night Lounge – Sydney Opera
House ($30)
Roger Hodgson – Enmore Theatre
($140)
Rogue Traders – Lyric Theatre, Star
City ($79.90)
Samba Mundi – 505 ($10-$15)
Saritah – Macquarie Hotel (free)
SHFL – Gaelic Theatre ($25)
Wham! – World Bar ($15)
Yves Klein Blue, Cloud Control,The Last
Dinosaurs – Oxford Art Factory
($15)
Sunday 11 April
Bill Dudley’s New Orleanians –
Strawberry Hills Hotel (free)
Bloc Party – Bondi Social (free)
The Break – Annandale Hotel ($20)
The Tony Abbott Climate Change Is Bullshit Bag: Comes
complete with an unsigned remaindered copy of “Battlelines”, a pair of
edible Speedos, and a set of Lord Monckton pop out eyes.
The Zen Concept Bag: Open the bag and there’s another bag inside
and in that bag another bag and in that yet another bag,The bag is in
fact an endless succession of bags within and bound to have the kiddies
bamboozled but deep in philosophical thought.
The Aussie Kid Obesity Bag: Why bother with the finished
product when the ingredients can be just as tasty. Complete with a kilo
of sugar, a kilo of animal fat, a tub or lard and a junior chemical set of
preservatives and artificial colours. DYI has never been more deadly.
The Clover Moore Sustainable Future Bag: With six edible
and fully biodegradable chokers (assorted flavours), a throwaway guide to
the villages of Sydney and a personal invitation to the Woolies in George
Street demolition party (byo jack hammer).
The City Metro Nostalgia Bag: Train buffs will love the wads
of useless designer tickets and timetables to nowhere as well as the
three metres of PVC piping so you can build you own mini metro in the
backyard (ferrets not included).
Chontia – Docks Hotel (free)
Grace Before Meals – The Vanguard
($8-$10)
Radio Social – World Bar ($5)
Rodriguez – The Factory Theatre
($70)
Sime Nugent – Ravel, Macquarie
Hotel ($13.80)
Sunday Sessions at the Deck – The
Deck, Luna Park ($5)
Tuesday 13 April
Casablanca Nights – Notes Live
($20.50-$44)
Coyote Tuesday – The Gaff (free)
Jazzgroove – 505 ($8-$10)
The Mountain Goats – Manning Bar
($42)
Pop Panic – World Bar (free)
Wednesday 14 April
Betty Airs – Oxford Art Factory
(free)
Jager Uprising – Annandale Hotel
($5)
The Wall – World Bar (free)
Wednesdays at 202 – 202 Broadway
(free)
Yourspace – Town Hall Hotel (free)
Thursday 15 April
Bob Brozman –The Vanguard ($28$33)
Casey Donovan, Urban Stone –
Sandringham Hotel ($12)
Die! Die! Die! – Annandale Hotel
($15)
Extended Hotel – Macquarie Hotel
(free)
G3 – Marble Hotel (free)
Hot Damn! – Spectrum Theatre
($10-$12)
Monique Brumby – Notes Live
Paul Greene – The Basement ($22$25)
Philadelphia Grand Jury,The John Steel
Singers – Oxford Art Factory ($17)
Pistol Whipped – 202 Broadway (free)
Porcelain Gallery Bar – Oxford Art
Factory (free)
So You Think You Can DJ? – Empire
Hotel (free)
Supafest (see full preview) – Sydney
Acer Arena (sold out)
Friday 16 April
Blades – The Gaff (free)
Bob Brozman –The Vanguard ($28$33)
Brown Sugar – Marble Bar (free)
Direct Influence & others – Beach
Road Hotel (free)
Gareth Liddiard, Loene Carmen –
Notes Live ($20)
Job for a Cowboy & others – Metro
Theatre ($66)
Katrina – Docks Hotel (free)
La Discoteca – World Bar ($15)
Laura Imbruglia & others – Annandale
Hotel ($12)
MUM – World Bar ($15)
Philadelphia Grand Jury,The John Steel
Singers – Oxford Art Factory ($17)
Purple Sneakers – Gladstone Hotel
($12)
The Striped Back Late Show – The
Vanguard (free)
Supafest (see full preview) – Sydney
Acer Arena ($129-$169)
Saturday 17 April
Cash Only – Lansdowne Hotel (free)
Eclipse Alley Five – Strawberry Hills
Hotel (free)
Illy & others – Spectrum ($12)
Jamrock – 202 Broadway ($15)
Niagara & others – Gaelic Theatre
($25)
Paul Dempsey & others – Metro
Theatre ($38.50)
Perry Keyes & others – Notes Live
($22.75)
Radio City Cats – Marble Bar (free)
SIMA – Sound Lounge ($12-$18)
Stereophonics – Enmore Theatre
(sold out)
Tiki Two – Oxford Art Factory ($8)
Tinpan Orange – The Vanguard ($18$22)
The Vasco Era – Oxford Art Factory
($19.90)
Wham – World Bar ($15)
Sunday 18 April
Bill Dudley’s New Orleanians –
Strawberry Hills Hotel (free)
Bloc Party – Bondi Social (free)
Bob Allan – Docks Hotel (free)
The House of Blues – Town Hall
Hotel (free)
Radio Social – World Bar ($5)
Stereophonics – Metro Theatre
($79.90)
Steve Prestwich – Notes Live ($22.75)
Sunday Sessions at the Deck – The
Deck, Luna Park ($5)
The Tea Leaves – The Vanguard ($15$18)
25
FREEWILLASTROLOGY
By Rob Brezsny
a
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
It would be a good week
for you to perfect your ability to
crow like a rooster, Aries. I also
recommend that you practice your
skill at leaping out of bed in the
morning fully refreshed, with your
imagination primed and ready to
immediately begin making creative
moves. Other suggested exercises:
being on the alert for what’s being
born; holding a vision of the dawn
in your heart throughout the day;
and humorously strutting around
like you own whatever place you’re
in.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20): I got a spam email
containing supposed words of
wisdom from the Dalai Lama. “We
spend more, but have less,” it said.
“We have more conveniences,
but less time; more experts, yet
more problems.” It went on like
this for a while. I was suspicious.
It seemed to contain too many
pop platitudes to have been
uttered by the Dalai Lama. With
Google’s help, I did some research
and discovered that the passage
was actually the handiwork of
pastor Bob Moorehead, who
resigned from his Seattle church
under a cloud of allegations
about misconduct. I urge you to
make similar investigations of
the ostensible truths you receive
this week, Taurus. You may find
discrepancies as major as the
differences between the Dalai
Lama and Bob Moorehead.
b
C
GEMINI (May 21-June
20): A life-long dream
of mine came true recently, and
I didn’t even know it was a lifelong dream until it happened. It
struck unexpectedly on a Tuesday
afternoon. My daughter called
on the phone from her college
dorm room, wanting to discuss
an essay she’d been assigned
for her History of Modern Art
class. She really liked it, but there
were some points she wanted to
understand better, and she thought
my input might help. The essay?
The “Surrealistic Manifesto,”
formulated in 1924 by the writer
André Breton. Years ago, it was
a crucial document in my own
development as a young poet.
The opportunity to share its heady
brew with the beloved child I used
to push on a swing was startlingly
blissful. I predict a similar event
for you in the coming days,
Gemini: the fruition of a life-long
dream you didn’t even know you
had.
CANCER (June 21-July
22): It’s probably true
for a lot of celebrities that their
public personas are not accurate
reflections of their private lives.
One striking example is actress
Megan Fox, who’s famous for
being a sex goddess. But the
fact is, she told Harper’s Bazaar
magazine, she has only slept with
two men in her life, and it makes
her ill to even contemplate having
sex with someone she doesn’t
love. While it may not bother her
to have a reputation that’s so
different from her inner world, I
d
26
wouldn’t say the same about you
-- especially now. I urge you to
do what you can to create more
harmony between the version of
yourself that you project outward
and the version of yourself you
actually live in.
e
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
In her poem “The Gift,”
Chinese poet Shu Ting writes, “I
dream the dream of a pond who
lives not just to mirror the sky
but to let willow trees on the bank
drink me up.” This would be an
excellent dream for you to dream
in the coming week, Leo. It would
also be empowering for you to
render its themes in your waking
life. I think you will derive great
pleasure and sound teaching from
mirroring a soaring archetype and
feeding an intimate primal force.
(Shu Ting’s poem was translated
by Tony Barnstone and Newton
Liu.)
f
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Are you an athlete? If so, I
suspect that you will soon make
an adjustment in your training or
technique that will improve your
game. Are you an artist, musician,
writer, performer, or dancer? I bet
you will get a sweet insight about
the creative process that could
revolutionize your work in the
months to come. Are you a pilgrim
on a meandering long-distance
quest to a promised land whose
location you’re not exactly sure of?
Any minute now, you’ll uncover a
clue that will dramatically narrow
down the possibilities of where the
promised land is.
g
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
There may be times in the
coming week when you will in a
sense be dreaming while standing
up. On other occasions, you may
be hard at work while lying down.
In fact, I suspect that the law of
reversals will be in full bloom.
Things that have been last will,
at least temporarily, be first, and
influences that have calmed you
down will rile you up. What has
been crazy may be quite sane, and
what has been in the shadows will
come into the light. Tight squeezes
may turn into expansive releases
and heavy-duty commitments will
get a dose of slack -- and vice
versa. Always vice versa.
h
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.
21): Every one of us in
engaged in some ongoing battle
with ourselves. Maybe there’s a
conflict between our heart and
head. Maybe we’re trying to stop
expressing some behavior that
we know is self-destructive but
seems all too natural and easy to
do. Maybe we feel guilty about
or resentful toward some event
from the past, and are constantly
fighting with its after-image.
Whatever your version of the civil
war might be, Scorpio, the coming
weeks will be an excellent time to
reduce the heat of the strife. But
you’ll have to be ingenious as you
reframe the way you think about
the situation, and you’ll have to
locate a reservoir of willpower that
has been hidden in your depths.
i
SAGITTARIUS (Nov.
22-Dec. 21): This would
be an excellent time for you to
take inventory of what brings you
pleasure. According to my reading
of the astrological omens, you’re
due for an update and upgrade.
Some of your tried-and-true
strategies for generating joys and
thrills are fraying at the edges.
You should consider refurbishing
them, even as you also think about
going in quest of fresh sources of
delight. For extra credit, see if you
can gain access to an experience
that could accurately be described
as “a blessed state of bliss.”
j
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): It would be smart for
you to whet your appetite, but
please don’t go too far and spoil
your appetite. Imagine and plan
for the feast to come; make sure
the evolution of the feast is on
track; but don’t try to actually
enjoy the entire feast yet. It’s not
ready, you see. The “cooking” isn’t
complete. To dive in now would be
like eating a chocolate cake that
has only been baking in the oven
for ten minutes. In conclusion,
Capricorn, strike a balance
between practicing watchful
patience and cultivating protective
excitement.
k
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18): Your key word for the
week is “fulcrum.” It’s derived
from a Latin verb meaning
“to prop up, support,” and its
definitions include the following:
1. the stable point on which a
lever pivots; 2. the crux of a
percussionist’s grip as he or she
holds a drumstick; 3. an agent
through which vital powers are
exercised. I suggest you meditate
on where the metaphorical
fulcrums are in your life, and then
take creative measures to give
them extra care and enhance their
strength.
l
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20): I’m wearing a replica
of an ancient Egyptian atef, a
white crown surmounted by
two ostrich feathers. My white
cashmere robe, decorated with
Qabalistic sigils, was sewn for
me by a Wiccan priestess. My
wand is shaped like the head of a
Kalao bird and once belonged to a
shaman from Burkina Faso. Aided
by these accessories, I gaze into
my magic mirror and conjure the
spirit of my deceased great-uncle
Felix, a successful businessman
born under the sign of Pisces. He
has always been a reliable source
of inside info for me in the past.
“Dear ancestor,” I murmur, “do
you have an oracular revelation
for my Piscean readers?” And he
replies: “Tell them their money
mojo is stronger than usual. Urge
them to bargain aggressively and
make sure they get a percentage
of the gross, not just of the net
profits.”
Homework: Listen to two versions
of the song “You Taste Delicious”
at http://bit.ly/YouTasteDelicious.
Tell me your favorite at
[email protected].
KINGS CROSS
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since its conception. A
designer label operating
in the premium sector of
the erotic market space,
LELO challenges the overall
concept of traditional sex toys and has fast
become the global centerpiece of designer sex.
Leg Avenue
Open 24 Hours, 7 Days
65 Darlinghurst Road Kings Cross
9357 4762