New to Adelaide..The A Club brought to you by the A Team. Stop by to meet some very cool cats…read more Great atmosphere, beats and bartenders.

Unless you've been born into a well to do old Adelaide family - and you're a gentleman - you're…read moreunlikely to ever get past the front door of The Adelaide Club. This is an exclusive 'gentleman's club' the likes of which don't exist in many places these days. The club was established back in 1863 and its still stands today in its original location on North Terrace. Much of the exterior of the building has remained unchanged since those early days but those 'allowed' inside report that it has undergone a myriad of changes inside through the years. Not that average bods like you and I can get in there but those who have say there's a library, billiards room, bar, library, cards room and of course accommodation. If you come from old Adelaide money, you may get inside one day but I don't like my chances of ever paying them a visit. I'm sure this establishment is deserving of five stars but its exclusivity status prevents me from granting it - so there!

or secret Mens society, as I like to call it…read more It's that exclusive, that the staff are contracted to keep their mouths shut about anything and everything that happens within The Adelaide Club walls. Now it isn't just old Adelaide money, its for anyone of a certain upper class in society who also happens to drive a Bentley and isn't still paying it off. There is a restaurant which offers silver service, a smoking room for enjoying a fine Cuban cigar... and accommodation. I'm of course just going by what I've been told, The Adelaide Club is for doctors and lawyers and their home away from home wifeys. I would be concerned if my partner was frequenting this gentlemens club, the exclusivity is ridiculous and dated and the secrecy is just plain uncomfortable.

Think young trendy underground, trying hard to not be trying hard; sort of hip, but a bit too…read moremawkish to actually be hip and you'll start to understand the Format Collective crowd - they don't care what you think mostly. They are a mixed group and none of them are particularly concerned about being real cool, they just want to explore their particular bent be it music, computers, film making, video art, painting, cartooning or social speaking, and to get on with things like drinking alcohol and fornicating with their chosen partner. They are young, but older than their years and they are absurdly un-trendy for that is their main aim I think, to be but not to be. If you consider underground publications photocopied and stapled together interesting artifacts then you will love Format. If you like post punk and alternative rock you will enjoy Format. If your idea of a big night is moshing on a small dance floor to a Melbourne underground band who are releasing an limited edition EP you have hit the jackpot here. They are a combination art gallery space, band gigging venue and computer geek experimental group with free internet that is a bit intermittent but it's the thought that counts. They have had poetry readings, zine workshops, talk festivals where they discuss how young and different they are (while they still are young and different in some cases, and while they are no longer either in others but remain in denial about that). They may have an obscure band in one night and a gallery opening the next night attracting many local geeks and inked freaks all in it for the cheap unpretentiously chilled out good time. To an outsider, a newbie to their group it may seem like they are nothing but a gaggle of masturbators, and that would make some of them laugh out loud while others of their number would cross the road and never speak to you or of you again, preferring to pretend that you do not exist. I personally enjoy my Format adventures and go along whenever I can. I think the group who run it are a little odd, but I'm sure they couldn't care less, and they may well think the same of me - whatever any of us think we always enjoy a good peaceful time in a largish group with no violence or actual vomiting, that's got to be good!

The Format Collective are a group based on Peel Street in the city who run the Format Festival,…read moreStreet Dreams art, the zine shop, and a variety of art exhibitions, live music, and community and art based events. The Format Festival, which was a surprise success and is what they're most well most known for, is on every year in February and gets all the DIY kids riled up. The zine and DIY fair is hugely popular, and what a great opportunity to pick up strange little publications you'd never normally read. Over the last two I've noticed the number of cat based zines to normal zines ratio is about two to one, and I personally hope that trend continues. The great thing about Format events is they're come one come all, you can rock up without having any sort of connection to this crew, and have a great time and always guaranteed see and learn something new. I for one am very excited to see what they come up with in 2012.