Great jazz jam and board game night on Monday nights. They have good pizza available and make good…read moremixed drinks. My only complaint was the audience was talking fairly loudly during the performance but the band was fantastic. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Sydney.

Perhaps I've always wandered by on the wrong nights, but it wasn't until last week that I finally…read morewitnessed one of Venue 505's free-jazz Fridays! At around 21:30 this place was packed and the fantastic band was finishing up their first of many sets to come. The underground location and vibe really sucked me in and makes me feel like I was witnessing some great big secret. The ceilings are high, the walls are covered in murals and there are couches and seats everywhere. While the couches give it a "relaxed feeling," we had a bit of difficulty finding a spot and unfortunately there isn't any area dedicated to dancing. And we're in a music venue. Hmmm ... There's an extensive bar and food menu, and considering that you're also being treated to fantastic free music, it's really, really well priced! A house wine only sets you back $6 and the food mains were around $12. There are also a few share platters and cheese boards, too! During the week that are a ton of free events - such as Swing Tuesday - that I'm super keen to check out! Definitely, definitely one of the best music venues of this kind in Sydney.

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.

Located in the Chinatown and Thai town area with lots of restaurants and small food places to get…read moredinner beforehand or after a show, sits the Capitol Theatre. Unassuming exterior but with a beautiful ornate interior with old Victorian style decor and Roman style arches and sculptures on top. I went to see the musical, Beauty & The Beast which is an awesome Disney adaptation of the movie. I seen it first about 20 years ago and really enjoyed it then as I did now. It's definitely a show that all ages will enjoy and sing along. The snack bars have your typical goodies and the snacks and drinks are allowed in the theatre seating area. During intermission there was a small side window inside the seating area that opened and sold some snacks and drinks as I purchased a bottle of water. Inside the theatre the temperature was comfortable and acoustics were excellent. The seating seemed a little worn and outdated but did not take away from the experience.

The site of the Capitol Theatre has provided entertainment to the people of Sydney since the early…read more19th century when this piece of land was used by early settlers as a market place for produce and hay, giving this area its name "Haymarket". The building initially functioned as a fruit and vegetable market called "Belmore Markets". The markets were built in 1891 by George McRae, City Architect. The markets relocated in 1912, after which Wirth Bros took over the lease and opened their new Wirth Bros Hippodrome in 1916. The old site was divided up between the Manning Building (1895-1924), facing Pitt Street, and the western half, which was rebuilt as a theatre in 1928. A beautiful old building with grand interiors and host to many famous Australia and international performances, musicals and so on. I have been here many times and really enjoyed it. I love live theatre and have seen some great musicals here as well as other forms of theatre.

We came here for a 2pm movie but one of our friends went to the wrong theatre. We requested the…read morestaff to allow us to change our tickets for the 320pm show instead and they kindly agreed. How awesome! Happy New Year guys!

I think I sat in an Xtreme Screen cinema but to be honest I'm not sure what characterises Xtreme so…read moreI'm not 100% certain. Do you get a free Pepsi MAX? 3D goggs? Seat warmers? I didn't have any of those so maybe it was just normal. But hells, it was a good ol' movie experience. Everyone sat in one big chunk in the middle because they followed their ticketed seating allocation, which is fine when the cinema is packed but if it ain't, go sit where you want. You can lead a film geek to water but you can't make them drink, I guess. But yeah, big cinema, clean seats, crisp sound, and Guardians of the galaxy. Go see it, of only for Groot. That makes no sense now but it will, I promise it will.

Ever thought of quitting your day job and becoming an exotic dancer?…read more You're going to need some training. This sport is less about being a stripper than you'd imagine. Pole dancing is pretty gosh darnn hardcore. You need stamina, strength and flexibility. You need patience and grace, and it helps if you can dance. Being more of a draught horse than a graceful elegant swan, I initially struggled with some of the moves in the 8 week, $190, beginner's course which is run by award winning Pro pole dancers. (YouTube search: Pole dance Academy's star performer, and I think owner, Shimmy, for glimpse) After a few weeks though, I had managed to learn several beginner's moves such as "The Chair", "The Stag" and "The Hook" I was taught how to "climb" the pole properly and that Britney Spears' music was practically made for this sport. We learnt a full routine to her song "Operator". I also learned that this is better than yoga for gaining leg flexibility and that Pole dancers don't just wear tiny tiny pants to look sexy. You need all the skin you can get to grip that pole. A blistered, calloused hand is a sign of your advanced standing in the pole world, and it's just about the only sport where it's actually easier in High heels. ( Most women start out shoeless, but as you progress, you'll find that swinging around a pole is enhanced by the heels) If you're keen to do something different, get some toning in your muscles and have a new skill to tick off your list, I recommend Pole Dance Academy's courses. You start at Beginners, then after you "graduate" ( you even get a lovely certificate) you move on to intermediate, and so on.. Dont be shy either, while most of the women are uber fit, it is still a sport for everyone. You can do it!

PACT Theatre is a fantastic space. A theatre like a giant warehouse, it plays host to some of…read moreSydney's freshest performance art, installations and fringe theatre. And as you walk through their side entrance, with red lights glowing inside the narrow foyer, it's exciting to know that you're stepping into the underground of Sydney theatre. The space is extremely adaptable - of all the shows I've seen at PACT, not one of them has used the space in the same way, cordoning off small sections of the warehouse, placing the audience in the centre of the room, cutting the space in half, using the upstairs balcony and even extending the space outside, beyond the theatre doors. If you're heading along, get in early to chill out in the courtyard with a beer/glass of wine before the show (drinks by donation).

The Vanguard is a delightful high-ceilinged theatre with balcony and a 1920's feel perfectly suited…read moreto the fantastic acts they always have on here. They mainly book great Aussie blues, roots & jazz-type bands but mix it up with some cult cinema and the like. I have never ever seen a not-great gig on the Vanguard stage or even in their calender- true story! They do dinner & show packages and the dinner seating varies depending on the type of act that are playing, booking numbers etc - sometimes it's in front of the stage and sometimes up on the balcony. The sound here is really good no matter where you end up sitting, tickets are reasonably priced and I can't comment on the food because I've never tasted it. You're on your own there sorry! Drinks prices are a little on the high side but the service is good - we were unintentionally in the way of the bar & the woman we were bothering, instead of getting annoyed, graciously found us a table. The only reason I dropped a star was the drink prices. I would go here for the music every night if I could afford to! Oh and check their listings for business hours as they're not open every night - it varies.

I haven't seen my mate from school in a while and he happens to be playing at the Vanguard. I've…read morenever been to the Vanguard and so take this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. (A violent yet skill involved metaphor.) The night goes as follows; I get to the Vanguard early and take a seat in one of the booths, only to discover that behind me in the near booth is my friend, looking quite different, but still recognisable and I join their table for a chat and to meet his band. They play their set and I watch on from the rear of the club standing with the family at the CD sales stand. A few CD's are bought and I drink of the wine. Next comes some Cabaret, a few strips and a lot of singing. The MC is tres hilarious and the music is great. I get my phone out and track down a few of the numbers for later listening activity. The night ends in further beers, additional chats and the purchase of a CD for my good self. Good shows, tasty wine and a food option. The view from upstairs is glorious, but interrupted briefly by a pair of lesbians ripping each others hair out and getting escorted by the security. The view from downstairs is great as well, but lacks lesbian lovers quarrelling.

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.

Urban Dance Center has "cool" written all over it. I have been dancing all my life and teaching for…read moreyears, so I am always interested in taking class from new choreographers at new places just to see which way the trends are going. From my experience, UDC is best studio, particularly for hip-hop, in Sydney. If you have some dance experience under your belt, definitely take a class with Tiana Joubert who will have you moving like a ghetto, afro-Caribbean maniac. Her class is the perfect balance between sexy and hard-hitting, and is definitely good for cardio. If you are a beginning dancer, I wouldn't recommend Urban Dance Center. The girls walking around there definitely think they're tough sh*t, and the classes won't be beginning, despite their listing. And if you your high top Nikes aren't HEEELLLLLAAA fly... dude, don't even bother!

Urban Dance Centre. These 3 words are heard all over town and always in a good context. So one day…read moreI thought I gotta try it and see what all the fuss is about. So I did a lyrical class and yep it rocked. The choreography was amazing and a genre I love to do to release all the stress/emotions from your day. In terms of level, its kinda on par with the lyrical classes at SDC, but the classes were a bit small because I went on a thursday night, which is apparently their most unpredictable session. The students vary, with some beginner dancers having a go without feeling intimidated, which is fantastic! It certainly helps you enjoy the class if you have dance experience/background but try the beginners class and see how you go - nothing to lose! :) The instructors are also quite friendly and well-known in their respective genres. Other things to note? The office guy Vincent who is also an awesome dancer in his own right, said that Mon and Tue are crazy busy, and Wed-Fri being unpredictable, sometimes quiet, sometimes busy. The location is a bit of a surprise being in a quiet street across from Broadway carpark (and its next to the Church of Scientology). I might try the hip hop classes one day and I'll keep this review updated when I do :)

Once a year, thousands of people gather from all walks of life, to sit in a park together to watch…read morefilms made by 16 talented filmmakers.... this event is free, its fun and it's called Tropfest. This unique cultural event is the brainchild of John Polson. He created the festival which is now the largest film festival in the world! Basically filmmakers are given a key word which they have to incorporate into a 7 minute film - the top 16 get screened on the night and the filmmakers win awesome prizes and accolades... The films start in the evening and the program runs for about 3 hours... it's super fun and a wonderful way to spend the night.... Now there can be a fifty thousand people in the park - so may I offer a few suggestions to get the most out of the expereince. 1. Get public transport 2, Get there early if you want a good seat 3, Go with friends 4. Bring a picnic blanket 5. Bring clothes for changing weather incl for rain 6. Bring your own food because it's expensive 7. Bring a sense of adventure... Tropfest is one of my favourite times of the year and its a wonderful way to bring people together..... FUN FUN FUN...

As a film maker, I'm not much of a fan of Tropfest, but as a spectator and lover of entertainment,…read morethis is one of those must-go-to events of the year. Heading into its 20th year, the event has now spread to the US, Asia and the Middle East, having started as a one short-film showing in the Tropicana Café in Darlinghurst. It now attracts around 150,000 to The Domain in the middle of February (next years festival will take place over 3 days, but the main showing takes place on the Sunday), so be sure to get there early to make sure you can get yourself a decent patch of grass. It's free to enter and if you get there early enough you'll also get to see the Mobile Screenfest and Junior Tropfest entries. The films have to be under 7 minutes long, so if you've got a poor concentration span, you should be ok with these. The 16 films are shown over around 3 hours, so it's a full evenings entertainment.