I've seen many a great band advertised here but as is my wont, the thing that finally got me here…read morewas the lure of a spankin new comedy night. And it doesn't hurt that this deep wild-wild-inner-western venue is on the freakin bondi junction train line! #ftw Hump Night (Wednesdays, in a camel themed bar, capiche?) Comedy's opening night was brilliant, with a stellar lineup & full house. The decor description is best quoted to the night's MC- David Smeidt- who described it ss if a gay pirate was having a garage sale. Camels, camel themes, and some classic posters- the gay pirates responsible for decorating Camelot have definitely never heard the expression, "less is more"... I ordered a garlic pizza cos it was like $8. It was alright & for $8 I ain't gonna complain the crust was a bit hard tho. Some pretty amazing looking mezze plates were doing the rounds and making me regret my decision. Now that I know how easy it is to get to and groovy a venue it is I'm looking forward to joining the camel cult.

Random nights are the best nights, aren't they?…read more My friend Isobel sent me a message last week, with a Facebook link saying, wanna check this out next week in good old Marrickville? I was like, yeeerrrppppp, let's go. Why not, right? So tonight, I look at the Facebook page to figure out where it is and its like all trendy and ambiguous "in the back streets of Marrickville".... well, where the FUCK is that, eh??? Bloody thing. Well, I figured it out and I can't tell you how AWESOME it was! Dimly lit, trendy, hipster kitch. Think Shady Pines, but not so much Americana. Yes, cowboys. But also gypsies, persian carpets, camels and eastern flair. The owner, came over and introduced himself to us and was like, how did you hear about us? Well, we have the very uncool story that Isobel's mum told her about it. Yeah, I'm serious. LOL. We think it's funny as hell too, especially since the place was so great, so unknown. Her mum saw some live music here a few weeks ago. I should probably make up a cooler story about how I know about the place that makes me sound really awesome with my finger right on the pulse of avant guarde Sydney or something, so when I bring people here I can be like... yeah... I'm cool... man?!! We had wines which were delicious. I had an SA Pinot Noir. Hey, look! I'm trying to learn my wines! Be impressed. I'm a wine doofus. Downstairs is "Django Bar" which is I guess, not a music venue. Camelot is technically on the top floor, and is a music venue with some food... the garlic pizza is amazing. Perfectly garlicky and cheesy melty goodness. Sean Taylor was playing, he was described as a Chris Isaak acoustic guitar type.... well, wow, I could have easily stayed out til past midnight if it wasn't a school night. He was amazing. Everything was 5 star. I'm really glad to be able to write this review for such a great NEW establishment, but it's even better that it's in my home suburb of dear old MARRICKVILLE!!! Marrickville is seriously Sydney's Brooklyn. Seriously. Its coming up in the world. Watch out.

Great local cinema that plays lots of independent films that you won't find anywhere else. If you…read morejoin Club Dendy, movies are just $13 anytime and they offer preview screenings of new films before they are released to the general public. The recent refurbishment has made this my favorite local cinema. Good, comfy seats, and nice (if small) screening rooms. And, as an added bonus, the Dendy tends to attract more of a movie-lover crowd, so I don't end up with idiots sitting next to me texting and/or talking throughout the film.

We arrived at Dendy in Newtown a little bit late and bought our tickets from the Candy Bar. We…read moretiptoed through the doors and took a seat up the back in one of their smaller cinemas. The film was 'Blessed' and like all Australian dramas it made you want to slit your wrists. So how do you review a cinema when the mood of the piece that you see there is so heavy that it surely will effect your opinions. The film was depressing, but the cinema was not. If you see a comedy, you're bound to leave with an upbeat attitude thinking, wow this cinema, absolutely hilarious! So let us look at the markable qualities within and try and ignore the child burning, man-slaughtering, sexually abused themes of the film we saw there. The cinema is quite small compared to its blockbuster equivalents. The cinema we watched 'Blessed' in, couldn't have sat more than one hundred and twenty people, this is a plus in my books. Less people, less chance of a phone call, a crumpled chip packet or an older person who assumes the cinema is a pantomime. "Look out behind you Batman! It's Heath!" The tickets are relatively cheap as they do not do 3D and thus do not feel the need to rob you for something so unnecessary as the third dimension. The range of films they get in is always interesting; foreign films, small Australian films and even blockbuster films from time to time. The main issue with Dendy in Newtown is the parking, but that goes for the whole of Newtown. Trains and busses are available or it's a pleasant stroll through a cafe and boutique rich suburb should you decide on walking. Let's be honest, a fresh aired walk is just what you'll need to clear your head of suicidal thoughts after experiencing the latest Australian familial drama.

Hardware Gallery opened in 1999 and moved to its Enmore address in 2006. The venue includes two…read moreexhibition spaces, an art services workshop and a second-hand record shop. Exhibitions change every few weeks, featuring both solo artists and group shows. They display some really interesting art, always worth a browse even if you're not in the market for buying. Take, for example, the recent 5th Annual Google Exhibition, which was part of The Sydney Fringe Festival. A bunch of artists were given the same phrase (this year 'Uncanny Valley'), and had to Google it at the exact same time, then take inspiration from one of the resulting websites. Cool, yes? Yes. You can also get your used vinyl fix, plus a range of art services like framing, installation and canvas stretching. Check the Hardware Gallery website or blog (http://hardwaregallery.wordpress.com) for upcoming exhibitions and news.

OKTOBERFEST!!! Pork Knuckle, Bratwurst, pickled herring,…read moresteins and BEIR! During the humble year Concordia Club is a quiet croquet club catering to the tastes of the German expat community in and around Tempe. You can drop in on a Lazy Sunday afternoon for some deep fried Camembert, a schnitzel and a pint. However. For 2 weeks in September this place goes off. Concordia Club plays host to one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in Sydney. Croquet Lawns disappear under a huge beer tent. Extra bars are set up. Bretzen go in the oven and thousands of pigs are sacrificed for the important tradition of eating crispy pork knuckle whilst downing as much German Beir as possible. Fantastisch!!

Pork knuckle...!!…read more P..o..r..k.. K..n..u..c..k..l..e..!!!! Not yet understanding my meaning yet? Kannst du Deutsch sprechren? No?? Even if you can't speak German, this totally awesome roast pork knuckle, served with a heap of German side dishes, speaks plenty. Served piping hot with a knife thrust through the crisp, glistening crackling, wafting up with a bit of Bavarian brilliance, this is a meal! You could say that I enjoyed it.... though... it would be more correct to suggest that I devoured it...! :-) I love food like this. Simple flavours done really well. Oh... did I mention beer? Perhaps having Warsteiner, DAB and Erdinger on tap might spark some interest? Let me just suggest from the offset that you take a train here (Tempe station is across the road), and *cough* properly research the available beer, you will not regret it... :-) P.S. Yes... this place does look like a RSL.... but the food and beer is awesome... so seriously... who cares.... :-)

No fuss, no pretense - and definitely no schmoozing. This was director Willurei Kirkbright's aim…read morewhen she opened the exciting new art space, Plump Gallery. With a focus on supporting emerging, interesting and challenging artists, the gallery aims to not only display thought-provoking work but also challenge the currently limited general view of Aboriginal art. Housed in the old Vintage Glamour spot, just before Enmore Park, it's an unusually-shaped space, which seems to reflect its ethos rather perfectly. The gallery opened with the 'Kindling' exhibition, which was a really diverse but beautiful collection of work from cardboard animal skulls to bright paintings to paper installations. Packed with punters, it gave a pretty good indication of the potential this place has. Melbourne street and graffiti artist Phibs also displayed his works here through September, which goes to show the gallery's unique bent. There are also plans in the works for the gallery to host special nights like spoken word and music events.

The gallery has been around for a while but it has had a renovation in style and in the type of…read moreartists who are displaying their work. New paintings were being hung as we entered the small gallery and the owner of the gallery lovingly spoke of each painting as if he was totally involved in the creation of each masterpiece. His passion was commendable. His enthusiasm was infectious and yes I signed up for the next special preview of current works. I hope it is a champagne and caviar night. Love those arty nights. The paintings, mainly of calm beach scenes, were relaxing and full of blue tones. Easily each work could be a feature in a modern lounge room or bedroom. There were also a good range of signed prints, each numbered. I was impressed to see that each print was numbered less than 100. I like the idea of buying a signed print and only 99 (or less) other people might have one. Don't you hate it when you walk into someone's house and they have the same print or painting! You just feel like scratching out their eyes and leaving! ha Unfortunately I could not take any photos...you just have to visit this little gallery when in Newtown. The prices are very reasonable! I hope to visit again soon and see some different paintings. I'll keep you updated.

Best room we played in Sydney and one of the best we've played anywhere... La Rebellion. Great…read morebuild out with good puzzles and effects. Fun fun! No leaps of logic.

Just for context, My partner and I have done around 30+ different escape rooms in different…read morelocations (mostly in Sydney but some in North America). My partner and I did their first room, Espionage, a few years ago when The Cipher Room opened. Since then, it has been the standard that we have measured every other escape room against. We have been out of the country for a few years but were very excited to come back and try another one of their rooms. We recently came back and completed The Marlowe Hotel and were almost a tiny bit worried as we had held Espionage in such high regard that we might judge it unfairly. Fortunately I can say that everything we loved about the first one was replicated for us here! The Marlowe Hotel is just as carefully executed and well-thought out, there is care and precision in terms of the theming and story-telling elements and we were just as impressed! As far as difficulty goes, their puzzles are challenging without being frustrating and even if you get stuck, the welcoming game masters (who watch you throughout the whole run) will jump in to offer help and suggestions so that you don't get stuck. I would recommend this place to anyone from complete beginners to experienced escapees. One of the best parts is that they typically offer better locks/puzzles than a lot of other escape rooms, which leave you with a sense of satisfaction and plenty of good "Aha!" moments. To conclude I would still comfortably say that The Cipher Room is the absolute best set of escape rooms in Sydney and we are very excited to get back and try their other room, The Cabin and whatever else they dream up in future! Thank you again to the friendly staff and the minds behind the different themes and puzzles!

I had the best possible introduction to Newtown's New Theatre. I went to see Aaron Sorkin's sublime…read moreThe Farnsworth Invention and, better yet, the actors did a great job of his rapid-fire dialogue. Sorkin on stage was always going to see me with a big grin on my face, so of course I left with very rosy feelings towards this theatre. The venue itself feels intimate and beloved. The staff behind the bar double as ushers and everyone seems keen for you to have a good night. And you're in Newtown, so pre-theatre dinner or a post-show supper are just too easy to come by! So while Sorkin initially won me over, I'll definitely be coming back to the New Theatre.

Came here for a friend's play. Bought tickets on line and when we walked there that night, we saw…read morethat the theatre had moved. Luckily it was just a few blocks down the road. Came in and a really cool band was playing on stage. We checked in with the lady at the bar and sat down. The place had a cool old vibe. The bathroom was newly painted and fairly clean. After about 15 minutes, there was an announcement that the play would start soon. We queued up and went to our seats. The stairs up to the chairs were a bit wobbly. The chairs were comfy, nothing flash. Overall a cool venue. Close by to St Peter's Train Station.