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PLAYTIME

Boys

HIV HELP
Ahead of Time is a new booklet filled with practical advice about growing older with HIV. The booklet, available from your local ACON office and from Positive Life NSW, is specifically designed to help people with HIV make the best and most informed decisions about their health as they grow older. info: www.acon.org.au

BOYS BOYS BOYS
The next Hard On event, on May 22 at Phoenix Bar on Oxford St, is dedicated to one thing only — boys, boys, boys. As Lady Gaga sings, ‘Boys boys boys — we love them! We love them!’ The night will feature a special extended set by Stereogamous, aka Paul Mac and Seymour Butz. 10pm-5am.

MALEBOX
Stonewall Malebox turns 12 on May 26. Malebox is the hottest place in Sydney on a Wednesday night and has become known to tourists from all over the world. The birthday party will be held on all three floors with DJs Justin Scott, Scott Tanner, Dan Murphy and David Smith. Prizes include a three-month City Gym membership, photo shoot and much more.

BEARS DOWN SOUTH
Victoria’s VicBears group is holding its annual Southern HiBearnation from June 13-20. The website, www.southernhibearnation.com, promises Underbear, Bear Soup, Bear Bingo, BBQ’D Bears, Meatrack, Round-up: basically, more Bear-themed events than you can poke a stick at. Plus there’s the Mr Australasia Bear 2010 competition, which Sydney’s own Harbour City Bears will send a contestant to.

SEX TESTING
Positive Life NSW is focus-testing its new ads, booklets and videos based around pos-pos sex messages. They need your thoughts and feedback — you will be renumerated for your time. To register your interest for a focus group, call Kathy on 9361 6011 or email [email protected].

POOL AT SADDLE
Cue up at SaddleBar’s pool competition every Thursday night from 9pm. Have a relaxed, friendly game in a chilled pub environment. Big prizes to be won — $100 first prize, $50 for the runner-up. Saddle Bar at the Midnight Shift, 85 Oxford St.

Clubs

GAGARAZZI
Friday nights at Arq go Gaga-crazy with The House Of Gaga, the brilliant Lady Gaga tribute act, performing their stellar show Gagarazzi. Featuring all of Gaga’s hits, plus chart-toppers by Britney, Rihanna and the like. Arena level, $10 entry, doors open 9pm.

TRINITY
Welcome to Trinity, a new night of the best trance at the Midnight Shift. Trinity will take over the SaddleBar, remove the pool tables and return this once-hallowed space back to a dance club. Expect state-of-the-art lasers, crystal-clear sound and renowned DJ talent from Sydney and beyond. May 22, 10pm-6am, $15 entry.

YOUNG AT HEART
Twink Town’s latest event, Pre-School Musical, takes over Slide Bar on Friday, May 21. This time, it’s all about remembering your favourite morning and after-school cartoons during a play-date at Slide kindy. There’ll be board games, fairy bread, (possibly tainted) cordial and more childlike fun. Hosted by the divine Miss Summer Salt.

STRICTLY ’90S
Snap. Amber. Gina G. La Bouche. Not exactly timeless artists, but damn they made some great pop. Come celebrate the dancefloor hits of the early ’90s with Strictly ’90s at Arq on May 21. From 9pm, $10 entry, with DJs and drag queens performing ’90s hits.

HOLY HILARITY
The cast that brought you Country Ladies and All in a Gay’s Work present Getting Nun! on Thursdays at the Midnight Shift. Starring Sister Tora Hymen, Sister Charisma Belle and Mother Superior Minnie Cooper as your naughty (but nice) brides of Christ. Showtimes 10.30pm and 11.30pm. Costumes courtesy of Kirsten Damned and Mitzi Macintosh. Soundtrack by Tora Hymen. Choreography by Minnie Cooper and Charisma Belle.

Community

MENTAL HEALTH HELP
Running from now until May 25, the Mental Health First Aid workshop teaches adults how to provide initial support to others experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental illness. Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of these mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective. The workshops are held at ACCA, 2 Mary St, Surry Hills. info: [email protected]

QUEER FRONTIERS
As part of IDAHO, Amnesty International Australia is hosting a think tank titled Queer Frontiers on May 21 from 6.30pm-8.30pm at 79 Myrtle St, Chippendale. Hosted by Angelus Morningstar, the session aims to raise awareness of issues affecting the global queer community, and to explore strategies for emancipation and development.

SHELLEY’S JOURNEY
Opening The Door is the personal journey of Shelley Argent, PFlag’s national spokeswoman who has worked voluntarily in the gay community for more than 10 years. The book provides us with her family story when her son came out while still at high school and her endeavours to understand and be part of his life. It also includes funny stories about how she immersed herself in the gay community. Buy the book from http://longuevill.cart.net.au/details/2799897.html

SPEAKING OUT
IDAHO Sydney and Too.CAMP are teaming up to produce a documentary that will explore issues around homophobia, document people’s experiences and stories, and look at the ways in which Sydney’s GLBTIQ community overcomes and challenges homophobia. Share your story when filming continues for Break the Silence at the Kudos Gallery from noon-2pm on May 22. info: www.idahosydney.org

Free

NIDA OPEN DAY
Thinking of applying to NIDA? Would you like to strut the boards, call the shots from the director’s chair, make costumes or write scripts? NIDA Open Day, on Saturday, May 22 from 10am–4pm at the NIDA campus in Kensington, is your chance to find out what goes on inside Australia’s leading drama institute as NIDA opens the doors to its theatres, rehearsal rooms, workshops and classes. info: www.nida.edu.au

SUSTAINABLE MARKET
Here’s a welcome change for residents around Oxford St: waking up on a Saturday morning to fresh fruit and vegetables at Taylor Square, not last night’s drunks. The weekly farmers market is now running every Saturday from 8am-1pm.

STICKY FINGERS
The inner-west based rude boys of Sticky Fingers are delivering a refreshing vibe to the Australian music scene with their super mega-hectic psychedelic reggae flavours. Join them at the Oxford Art Factory gallery any Friday in May as they play a free residency joined by a rotating cast of The Future Prehistoric, Betty Airs, Massema and The Tsars. info: www.myspace.com/stickyfingers

BENT ART
The bentART exhibition is being held at the Wentworth Falls Art School in the Blue Mountains and runs from Friday, June 10 to Monday, June 14, showcasing artworks from a diverse collection of queer artists. If you’d like to submit your work for inclusion, be quick — submissions are open until May 26. info: www.bentart.com.au

Girls

BETTY’S TURN
Betty’s Turn is on for another night of dress-up daggy dance, pop-tastic hits and requests for the ladies in the inner west. It’s time to hoe down with Betty for another ranch spectacular. You should all know the drill by now: post your requests on their Facebook wall, dress up in your best Cow Polk or Dixie Chick kit for drinks on the night. They’re visiting the Wild West this time with rodeo dress-up and bootscooting tracks to dig your spurs into. May 28, The Clarence Hotel, 9pm-2am.

BURLESQUE BEAUTIES
Miss Burlesque Australia is the first competition in Australia to combine all feature elements of burlesque performance and personality to compete for a major prize and international title. The competition is open to burlesque performers of any level, both new, emerging and seasoned professional. Competition dates will be announced soon, but in the meantime, hopefuls can enter the comp at www.missburlesqueinternational.com

LEATHER WOMEN
The Sydney Leather Pride Association has noticed a drop in the number of female members and events to cater for those members in recent years. In an effort to change this, SLPA will hold a special forum to consult with the women of the community at 4pm on Sunday, May 30. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.sydneyleatherpride.org

On Screen

NOMINATIONS NEEDED
The Inside Film Awards celebrate the art of the music video through the SAE IF Award for Best Music Video. Nominations for the award close on September 17, but the earlier the entry the more time fans have to rate. The SAE IF Award for Best Music Video is open to any music video by an Australian artist with an Australian director that has screened on Australian television since September 18 2009 or at an IF-accredited film festival. For details on how to submit your music video email [email protected]

BLIND COMPANY
Written and directed by Alkinos Tsilimodos, the suspenseful drama Blind Company portrays the intensity of familial love and revenge. Geoff Brewster, played by Colin Friels, sees out his final days at the family’s coastal shack, recording confessions to his estranged wife, Sally. He is also going blind. When his nephew, Josh, arrives unannounced, a tense game ensues with shattering consequences. The film screens from May 20 at the Chauvel Cinema.

ROBERTS ON SHOW
Channel 10’s weekly sports panel show, Thursday Night Live, will feature openly gay ex-rugby league star Ian Roberts on Thursday, May 20. The program screens live from 7.30-9.30pm, and Ian’s sure to give a few opinions on the current state of rugby league.

Pubs & Bars

POLLYS DANCE
The next Pollys Club show plays at 7pm on May 22 at the Marrickville Town Hall. Titled Music of Hollywood, the show will be staged midway through an evening that takes you back to the days of disco. Entry is $25, and you can reserve space at a table (held until 8.30pm) or just stay mingling on the dancefloor all evening. To book, email [email protected] or call David on 9557 6739.

CONVICTS FUNDRAISER
The lesbian coaches of the Convicts — Bronnie Mac and Louise Ferris — are hosting Footylicious at Slide on May 21 to cover travel costs to Minnesota next month with the Convicts to defend their Bingham Cup title. The night will have some competitions between the codes, auctions and numerous performances including Maxi Shield, Deb Jackson, Vixen Nuoir, Lulu Burlesque as well as Dessicated Simpson and her Coyotes!

GLAM FUNDRAISER
Fast and Glamorous, taking over the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel on Friday, May 21, is a mix of fashion show, concert, art exhibition and club night, all with the aim of raising money for Lifeline. From 7pm, enjoy music live on stage from R&B singer Liena, art from Ian Horncastle, and much more. Tickets are $35.

Song

MAGPIE BLUES
Australia’s most beautiful songbird, Ursula Yovich, is set to swoop. Magpie Blues is themed on the feathers of a magpie and stories from Yovich’s life told through song. Infused with sadness and love, it’s about growing up in Darwin with an Aboriginal mother from Arnhem Land and a father born in Serbia. Join Yovich on her remarkable journey between two worlds from 7.30pm on May 21 at Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

CASSETTE KIDS
Sydney’s Cassette Kids have just released their debut album, Nothing On TV. It’s been an exciting journey for the four-piece, from Triple J Unearthed winners to hitting the stage recently at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Add into that mix some UK showcase gigs, supports with La Roux and the Presets around Australia, and now their very own headline tour kicking off in June. See them in action at Oxford Art Factory on June 18. info: www.cassettekids.com.au

TRIBUTE TO LANZA
Two of Australia’s best loved singers, Roger Lemke and Annalisa Kerrigan, will unite to deliver a ravishingly beautiful presentation of the music of Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson in Mario Lanza: The Loveliest Night of the Year at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sunday, May 23 at 2pm. Expect renditions of Lanza fineast hits. info: www.cityrecitalhall.com

Stage

MOVE YOUR BODY
Ballet and fashion have long influenced each other. For nearly a century, high-end fashion designers have created costumes for ballet companies, but the last decade has seen an explosion in these collaborations. Opening at the Sydney Theatre on May 27, the Australian Ballet’s Bodytorque.á la mode celebrates this very chic partnership by pairing five emerging choreographers with emerging designers. It plays for five performances only, so get in quick. info: www.australianballet.com.au

PAJAMA GAME
The Strathfield Musical Society brings the classic play The Pajama Game to life at the Latvian Theatre, Strathfield, from May 21 to 29. The Broadway musical favourite — featuring classic songs like Small Talk and Steam Heat — will be given a new lease of life over six energetic performances. Book now by calling 9797 6658.

TANGO THREEWAY
Three smouldering Latinos of diverse dance backgrounds will create a maelstrom of passion and jealousy as they re-write the rules of traditional Argentine tango in Three2tango at Slide Cabaret. Created and staged by Will Centurion and featuring Mariana Baltodano and Manuel Albarracin, Three2tango will combine poetry, visual art, music and an erotic fusion of movement. It’s on at Slide on May 25. info: www.slide.com.au

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