Happy Mardi Gras Everyone!

This year's Mardi Gras parade, themed 'History of the World' starts tonight at 7.45pm. The parade will take you on a sexy and bawdy rollercoaster ride through the ages, looking at gay history and shining a pink spotlight on some of mankind’s great figures and events.

Pay homage to the pioneers of the queer world as we take a trip down the memory lane that is Oxford Street. From gay culture of the modern world right back to ancient times, queer icons of all Ages will be marching together for one night only.

The History of the World theme will be brought to life along the Parade route by six stunning artworks created by Sydney artists Scott Elk.

Whatever you do, be part of this magical journey of colour, energy, dance and costume as we deliver a historical night at the 2010 Mardi Gras Parade!

Join hundreds of thousands of visitors in Sydneysiders along the Parade route. It's very much first come, first served and people get out early to get a great spot.

Get Your Racing Best on for the First Ever Pink Stiletto

Everyone’s coming out for the ‘Sport of Kings’ (and Queens) in aid of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (Australia’s longest-running HIV charity)

The Pink Stiletto is the World’s first gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender race day.

Located trackside at the prestigious Royal Randwick, the home of Australia horse racing, it is set to be the ultimate social event in the lead up to 2010 Mardi Gras.

$15 ticket includes : racecourse entry, a $5 Bobby Goldsmith Foundation donation and entry into a prize draw.

* Location ~ Randwick Racecourse, Alison Road, Randwick, Sydney, 2031
* Date ~ Friday 26th February, 11:00am to Saturday 27th February, 12:00am
* Tickets ~ $15 General Admission

C'mon and Shake it for Mardi Gras

Shake It is celebrating Mardi Gras with a new gay dance party held in one of the city’s gems, The Argyle in The Rocks.

Special Guest Performers – INAYA DAY & PEYTON

INAYA DAY is famous for:
Horny * I Am Tha 1 * Stand By Me * Movin’ Up (Take My Problems To The Dancefloor) * Nasty Girl * Breakaway * Glamorous Life

PEYTON’s hits include:
A Higher Place * Ride Like The Wind * Never Give Up * Love Is The Answer (with Freemasons) * I’ll Rise * Trapped

Local DJs will be spinning music thats funky, fresh and gotta a whole lotta soul.

* Jake Kilby
* Troy Cox
* Dan Murphy
* Chip

Location ~ The Argyle, The Rocks, Sydney, Sydney, 2000
Date ~ Thursday 25th February, 8:00pm to Friday 26th February, 3:00am
Tickets ~ $20:Pre-sale $30:Door
Music Styling ~ Soul, Dance/Club, Top 40, Pop, House

Tickets are available online through SX:
http://e-p.com.au/shop/product_book_info.html?products_id=518

Available from Sydney outlets:
* Soleil Tanning – Taylor Square
* Bang Clothing – Taylor Square
* Totally Pierced – Taylor Square

Lifesavers with Pride Beach BBQ

For those of you who want a gentle ramp-up to the big party and the chance to put the finishing touches to your tan, today’s the day to head to beautiful Tamarama Beach, next door to Bondi. Expect the locals and visitors to be out in force, joined by a little roving entertainment throughout the day...

Plus you can refuel at Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club where Lifesavers with Pride will be running a beach BBQ to raise funds for their organisation and Tamarama Surf Club. What could be more Australian than the beach barbie prepared by some gorgeous lifesavers!

Food and drinks available from 1pm to 2.30pm.

Location: Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club, Tamarama Beach, Tamarama, New South Wales

When: 6 March From 1pm

Cost: Free event

Get Wet for Mardi Gras for Wet Furr

Get ready to make a splash at Bear Essentials.

You'll be joining literally hundreds of other cubs, bears and admirers at play. Your first choice will be which pool to try first: the large leisure pool with waterspouts and waves, or the more cosy hydrotherapy pool where the heat definitely is on.

The final hour of the evening is reserved just for us, when there’ll be Wet Furr as far as the eye can see. Whether you spend the whole evening paddling in the shallows or trying to squeeze into an inflatable donut, or just soaking with your pals letting your skin go like a prune, it's sure to be as fun as it is furry.

Oh, and keep your Wet Furr wrist band on, because it will get you to the front of the queue at the Oxford Hotel later that night where we have we'll have our favourite "bear-friendly DJ's spinning the tunes including US DJ Rotten Robbie.

Details: Friday 5th March 2010 at 7:00 pm Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic Centre, College Street (next to St Mary's Cathedral)

Tickets: refer: http://www.bearessentials.com.au

Infamous Diva Amanda Lepore to Lead Mardi Gras Parade

Amanda Lepore, American travestite, fashion icon, nightlife hostess and performer, will be leading this year’s Mardi Gras parade.

Lepore has said to be "thrilled and honoured" to be invited as head of the parade.

Lepore caused a stir on her first visit to Australia late last year, with a short but sweet appearance and performance at Sydney’s Nevermind.

If you don’t get a chance to ride front and centre with Amanda on parade night, the only other chance to get up close and personal with the fascinating Ms Lepore is at Nevermind’s Mardi Bar.

Amanda will be hosting the second week of Mardi Bar, after porn star Brent Corrigan relinquishes hosting duties. Mardi Bar will take over Nevermind on Oxford St from Wednesday, February 24.

Bent Theatre for Mardi Gras

From the decadence of 1930s Berlin to the inhumane excesses of the Nazi concentration camps, Bent, by Martin Sherma, explores one gay man’s fight for self-acceptance in the face of hatred and persecution.

Thirty years after Bent premiered in London, Focus Theatre (Blowing Whistles, Bison, Natural Born Hooker) and B Sharp are thrilled to present Martin Sherman’s bold and compassionate play in which love transcends the most unimaginable circumstances.

Directed by Pete Nettell

Associate Director: Alice Livingstone

Set: Tom Bannerman

Lighting: Luiz Pampolha

Composer/Sound: Rosie Chase

Costumes: Cassandra Pascoli

Graphics: Wayne Harris

Photograph: Heidrun Lohr

Featuring: Walter Grkovic, Sam Haft, Garth Holcombe, Radek Jonak, Lachlan Mantell, Ant Sullivan and John Turnbull

For Telephone Bookings call Company B Box Office on 02 9699 3444.

Mardi Gras Mardi Bar

The Pop Up Mardi Bar that started during the 2009 Mardi Gras and packed out every night returns bigger and longer in 2010.

The popular Same Same Mardi Bar will return for two weeks only at Nevermind around Mardi Gras time, starting on Wednesday February 24 and closing on Saturday March 6.

This time around, the return of the Mardi Bar is even more exciting with the announcement of two very special hosts for the two weeks of fun, adult entertainer Brent Corrigan and transsexual Amanda Lepore.

Brent Corrigan has squeezed more into his life than most 23 year-olds. He blazed into the porn world in underage controversy, and hasn’t stopped making headlines since then. From murder trials to countless adult awards, Brent’s story is as interesting as it is diverse. He’s currently running his own production company and forging a promising career in mainstream films appearing in Gus Van Sant’s Milk and a key role in Another Gay Sequel. Brent will be appearing at the Mardi Bar on Wednesday February 24 and Thursday February 25.

The second week of the Same Same Mardi Bar will be hosted by the number one transsexual in the world, Amanda Lepore. After her road-blocking Australian debut in November, Amanda is returning to the country so you can get to know her a little bit better.

The fashion and pop culture icon makes waves everywhere she goes, and it’s not hard to see why. With a style that’s copied all around the world, she wowed Sydney audiences with her performances last year, and will return to Nevermind on Wednesday March 3 and Thursday March 4 to make the 2010 Mardi Bar truly memorable.

The Same Same Mardi Bar takes over Nevermind on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from Wednesday February 24. The full schedule of events will be announced closer to the launch, but one thing is certain – you’re not going to want to miss one night of this highly anticipated annual event series.

Mardi Ha for Mardi Gras

Mardi Ha - OPENING NIGHT!

Tuesday 9th February at 8:30pm marks the opening of Sydney’s first GLBT Comedy Showcase at the Comedy Store in Moore Park.

$15 + BF gets you entry to opening night, a complimentary drink, reserved priority seating, and access to the exclusive after show party.

Go to www.comedystore.com.au and use the special code CULTURECLUB to access this ticket.

Mardi Ha features the amazing talents of:
Hannah Gadsby
Anthony Menchetti
Tom Ballard
Rhys Nicholson

And prices for the other nights are as follows:

TUE to THU night: $10
FRI night: $25
SAT night: $30

Location ~ The Comedy Store, 122 Lang Road, Moore Park, Sydney, 2021

Mardi Gras Gallery 2010

The Mardi Gras Gallery returns for the 2010 Festival! Featuring the work of local and international artists, the Gallery showcases the exciting queer talent our community has on offer. This year’s Gallery has a special focus on portraits, reflecting on our Festival theme: “Mardi Gras’ History of the World”, so be sure to check out the interpretations by our artists! Also on display is the Mardi Gras Festival season artwork, by artist Scott Elk.

In 2010, with the support of the CAL Cultural Fund, the Gallery will be awarding one of the artists with the New Mardi Gras Gallery Art Prize – a $500 cash prize. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced on Wednesday 24 February, from 6.00pm, at a special launch event. Gallery audiences will also be able to vote for their favourite work, as part of SX’s Festival Favourite Award – a $400 cash prize. Take a moment, spend some time enjoying the visual delights and vote for what you think should be the Prize-winning work! The winner of the SX award will be announced after the last day of exhibition.

Location: Tap Gallery, 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales
When: 20 February - 6 March, 2010, 12.00pm - 6.00pm (Daily), 6.00pm - 8.00pm (Wed 24 Feb)
Cost: Free

Grab Your L.B.D. and Get Ready, Get Set, GO!

Boys get shopping for the one wardrobe essential - the Little Black Dress... Chanel established it as the epitome of chic, Audrey wore it with nonchalance and pearls, Jackie donned it on every occasion ... get ready to don your very own version ... and join the Sydney Frontrunners for our annual fundraiser, the Little Black Dress Run! This is your chance to frock up, be fabulous and parade around the park whilst raising funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Camp Good Time for kids living with HIV. Join our hostess, superstar style-icon Joyce Maynge, in a hilariously short, fun, 4km run/walk, with plenty of opportunities to flash your fash!

Location: Paddington Gates, Centennial Park, Paddington, New South Wales
When: 20 February, 9.00am
Cost: Entry by donation/sponsorship
Website: www.sydneyfrontrunners.org