Oxford Street is at the heart of Sydney’s gay and lesbian area. The scene may not be as extreme as it was in its heyday in the 1980s, but it now offers countless cafés and clubs for homosexuals and heterosexuals. These have replaced the previously disreputable bars with leather furniture and the like. Relevant establishments can still be found in the traditional red light district in Kings Cross.
In the past, Sydney residents used to go to The Rocks, the harbor and warehouse district, particularly oftenout. Back then, it was a real ritual for workers in Sydney to go to the bars after work and stay there late into the night – until the curfew. Today, these pubs are less dark because they have adjusted to the flow of the many foreign visitors. On the other side of the bay, on the harbor terrace of Bennelong Point, you can sit directly below the opera house. The drinks there are not exactly cheap, but you are rewarded by the wonderful view over the whole harbor.
Sydney’s night owls are particularly fond of wearing designer clothes, and the bouncers of the fancier clubs adhere to strict dress codes and ID checks. There is a free weekly magazine for up-to-date information about places to go out Drum Media, Revolver and 3D World, which are available in almost all bookstores and record stores in the city center. Here you will also find the Sydney Star Observer for the gay and lesbian scene. The Metro magazine provides similar information and is a supplement of the Friday edition of the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald. You can also find constantly updated information on the Internet at www.sydneytribe.com or www.sydney.sidewalk.com.au.
The pub hours are handled very loosely in Sydney, which is why you will find an open pub here at any time of the day or night. The legal minimum age for the consumption of alcoholic beverages is 18 years.
Clubs
In Sydney, going to the nightclub is a serious thing. Therefore you should dress up too much rather than too little and be prepared for long queues at the entrance.
Live music
Some time ago, the live rock scene in Sydney’s pubs was about to end because of the many poker machines that were set up there; but now the number of good locations is increasing again.
Culture
The cultural life in Sydney is uniquely multi-layered – from classical music at the local opera house to the latest, experimental performance art. Around 3000 performances take place in the opera house every year. The focus is on classical music, opera, theater and dance. Sydney citizens are very interested in these performances, which is probably the reason that the performing arts are experiencing such a boom in the city.
The aborigines of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands make a significant contribution to Sydney’s cultural life. The Survival Festival, which takes place every year on ‘Australia Day’, January 26th, is an alternative festival of the indigenous people to the traditional national celebrations. The culture of the indigenous people and the Torres Strait islanders is celebrated with music, dance, art exhibitions and culinary specialties. The Bangarra Dance Theater shows the contemporary form of this culture with its performances and combines traditional elements with modern dance.
Tickets are available from Ticketek (Tel: (02) 92 66 48 00. Internet: www.ticketek.com.au ) and Ticketmaster (Tel: 13 61 00, only inAustralia . Internet: www.ticketmaster.com.au ) available. On Halftix kiosk in 201 Sussex Street, Darling Park (tel: (02) 92 86 33 10), the presentation can be bought discounted tickets on the day.
Music
There is great interest in Sydney in symphony orchestral music, choral singing and opera, unfortunately the classical music scene is only determined by a handful of performers and venues.
Cultural event
Open-air concerts and world-class street theater are offered during the Sydney Festival , which takes place every January. The Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras gay and lesbian carnival takes place for a month in February / March and is known for its colorful parade along Oxford Street, which attracts half a million spectators each year.
The traditional 12-day Royal Easter Show brings country life to town every Easter. The Festival of the Windsis the largest kite flying competition in Australia and is held every September at Bondi Beach. Talented kite builders from Australia and abroad fight here for the title of the best homemade kite.
The Manly Jazz Festival , which takes place every year on the long weekend in October, which also celebrates Australian Labor Day, is the largest and most famous jazz festival in Australia. Various types of jazz are played here – traditional jazz, big band, fusion, bebop and contemporary jazz. On the same long weekend in October the Sleaze Ball also takes placein Fox Studios, where around 16,000 gays and lesbians dress up according to a certain basic theme and celebrate all night long. The ball’s proceeds will be used to fund the Mardi Gras Festival.
Bars
East Village
The East Village, 234 Palmer Street, is a classic Sydney pub of the more sophisticated kind.
Address: 234 Palmer Street, Sydney
ECQ
From ECQ, 69 Macquarie Street, you have a wonderful view of the harbor bridge.
Address: 69 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Middle bar
In the Middle Bar, 383 Bourke Street, the young and beautiful of the city come and go.
Address: 383 Bourke Street, Sydney
Civic
The impressive Civic, 388 Pitt Street, is an elegant bar in the Art Deco style.
Address: 388 Pitt Street, Sydney
International
Many of Sydney’s chic bars offer breathtaking views. From the International, 14th floor, 227 Victoria Street, you can admire the city skyline.
Address: 227 Victoria Street, Sydney
Annie’s bar
In Sydney you should definitely pay a visit to one of the city’s unusual transvestite bars. The best is Annie’s Bar at Carrington Hotel, 563 Bourke Street.
Address: 563 Bourke Street, Sydney
Imperial
The famous Priscilla show takes place at Imperial, a transvestite bar on 35 Erskineville Road.
Address: 35 Erskineville Road, Sydney
Albury
Things are particularly lively in the Transvestite Bar Albury, 6 Oxford Street, where the public is invited to participate.
Address: 6 Oxford Street, Sydney
Darlo bar
The Darlo Bar, 306 Liverpool Street, and the Bank Hotel, 324 King Street, in the city center, meet young people for beer and billiards.
Address: 306 Liverpool Street, Sydney
Kings Cross Hotel
For the tireless, there is the 24-hour Kings Cross Hotel, 248 William Street.
Address: 248 William Street, Sydney
The establishment
The Establishment at 252 George Street lives up to its name and is the place to go for a drink after work. This chic, huge bar also includes the exclusive Hemmesphere cocktail bar.
Address: 252 George Street, Sydney
Clubs
Home The Venue
Home The Venue at Cockle Bay Wharf has four different areas in which radio, techno, two-step and disco music are played.
Address: Sussex Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9266 06 00
Website: http://www.cocklebaywharf.com.au/venues/bars/home-nightclub/
tank
The tank, 3 Bridge Lane, is part of the establishment complex.
Address: 3 Bridge Lane, Sydney
The Chinese Laundry
The Chinese Laundry, 111 Sussex Street, combines very loud sound with bizarre oriental furnishings.
Address: 111 Sussex Street, Sydney
Cove
The glamorous high society of nightclub visitors in Sydney runs in the Cove on Pirrama Road.
Address: Pirrama Road, Sydney
Q bar
The long-established Q Bar, 44 Oxford Street, is a reliable choice for a weekday nightclub.
Address: 44 Oxford Street, Sydney
Club 77
Notable nightclubs include Club 77 at 77 William Street.
Address: 77 William Street, Sydney
Sugareef
You can party until the wee hours of the morning in Sugareef on 20 Bayswater Road.
Address: 20 Bayswater Road, Sydney
gas
The gas on 47 Pitt Street is still a tip.
Address: 47 Pitt Street, Sydney
Live music
Hopetoun hotel
The Hopetoun Hotel, 416 Bourke Street, is one of the best places to hear little-known emerging bands.
Address: 416 Bourke Street, Sydney
Annandale Hotel
Newcomer bands keep appearing at Annandale Hotel, 17 Parramatta Road.
Address: 17 Parramatta Road, Sydney
Sydney Entertainment Center
Established international and Australian groups perform at the Sydney Entertainment Center on Harbor Street.
Address: Harbor Street, Sydney
metro
Well-known international and national bands play live on the Metro at 624 George Street.
Address: 624 George Street, Sydney
Newtown RSL
The Newtown RSL at 52 Enmore Road is a temple for live music. Many well-known greats in the rock music scene appear here.
Address: 52 Enmore Road, Sydney
Basement
Jazz fans can hear world-class performers at Basement, 29 Reiby Place.
Address: 29 Reiby Place, Sydney
Pier One
Pier One, on Hickson Road, magnetically attracts jazz fans.
Address: Hickson Road, Sydney
Conservatorium of Music
The Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Street, is the venue for symphony, brass band and chamber concerts. Jazz big bands also perform here.
Address: Macquarie Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9351 12 22
Classical music
Opera house
The opera house, Bennelong Point, is the number one venue for classical music, but the acoustics in the concert hall are known to be inadequate. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (tel: (02) 93 34 46 44. Internet: www.symphony.org.au ) has even threatened to boycott the concert hall. The Sydney Philharmonia Choir (Tel: (02) 92 51 20 24), Opera Australia (Tel: (02) 93 19 10 88) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (Tel: (02) 82 74 38 00. Internet: www. aco.com.au ), however, still hold the majority of their performances in the opera house.
Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 92 50 71 11
Website: http://www.soh.nsw.gov.au
Eugene Goossens Hall
Smaller performances of contemporary music mostly take place in Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Ultimo Center, Harris Street.
Address: Harris Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9333 15 00
Sydney Town Hall
Smaller orchestras play classical music at Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street.
Address: 483 George Street, Sydney
Phone: (02) 92 65 91 89
Website: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Theatre
Café Nine
The leading venue for cabaret performances is Café Nine, 37 Ultimo Road.
Address: 37 Ultimo Road, Sydney
Sydney Theater Company
The most important theater ensemble in the city is the Sydney Theater Company, whose stylish performances can be seen above all in the Wharf Theaters at Pier 4 on Hickson Road and in the Opera House.
Address: Hickson Road, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 92 50 17 77
Belvoir Street Theater
Actors such as Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett have performed at the Belvoir Street Theater, Belvoir Street.
Address: Belvoir Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 96 99 34 44
The Performance Space
The best addresses for contemporary, more politically left-wing theater are The Performance Space, 199 Cleveland Street and the Seymour Theater Center on Cleveland Street and City Road.
Address: 199 Cleveland Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 93 19 50 91 (The Performance Space); (02) 93 51 79 40 (Seymour Theater Center)
Stables Theater
The plays by young dramatists are staged at the Stables Theater, 10 Nimrod Street.
Address: 10 Nimrod Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9361 3817
ensemble
The longest established theater in Sydney is the ensemble, 78 McDougall Street.
Address: 78 McDougall Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 99 29 06 44
music and dance
Capitol Theater
Musicals are performed at the Capitol Theater, 13 Campbell Street, the State Theater, 49 Market Street and the Lyric Theater, Star City, 80 Pyrmont Street.
Address: 13 Campbell Street, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 93 20 50 00 (Capitol Theater); (02) 93 73 66 55 (State Theater); (02) 96 57 85 00 (Lyric Theater)
website: http://www.statetheatre.com.au
Australian ballet
The Australian Ballet primarily stages traditional pieces that take place in the Opera House during the summer and winter seasons.
Address: 10 Hickson Road, Sydney
Phone: (02) 92 52 55 00
Website: http://www.australianballet.com.au
Sydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company, the city’s leading modern dance ensemble, is shown at the Opera House for two seasons each year.
Address: Maquarie st, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 92 21 48 11
Website: http://www.sydneydance.com.au
Bangarra Dance Theater
Bangarra Dance Theater, influenced by indigenous culture, is known for its mix of contemporary and traditional dance.
Address: 4/5 Hickson Road, Sydney
Phone: (02) 92 51 53 33
Website: http://www.bangarra.com.au
