Three Down, One Up. Imperial Sets Re-opening Date

The Imperial Hotel will be open by the end of November, owner Shadd Danesi has guaranteed — irrespective of the outcome of his court case against the City of Sydney.
Residents, City of Sydney representatives and officials from the Land and Environment Court met with Danesi yesterday morning at the Erskineville pub site to discuss its future.

Danesi has for months been petitioning for the council to increase his capacity limit from 442 to 788 patrons.

The Land and Environment Court will now deliberate on the matter, but Danesi has said the venue will have to open soon, irrespective of the verdict. Danesi hopes to reopen the iconic venue in late October/early November.

The meeting came as the gay and lesbian community loses a raft of other venues. The Flinders has been sold to a group of buyers who are expected to close the venue for renovations. The Midnight Shift has also closed its upstairs section for a series of renovations, and the owners of the Clarence last week announced an end to Manacle.

Flinders Hotel Sold! Bears Move to a New Den

The Flinders Hotel will shut its doors as a gay venue under its current management following the October long weekend.

The venue’s soon to expire lessee, Sue Cameron, negotiated with a group of buyers who intend to shut the pub and conduct renovations.

The bar's manager has informed all the Bears and all the other girls nights that they work with about the developments, so that they can relocate, and some of the girls nights are taking a rest.

Harbour City Bears president Jonny Bastin confirmed the club would move its Friday Den Night to the Oxford Hotel. Bears on a Sunday will move to the Lord Roberts on Stanley St.

Mika Comes Down Under

British pop sensation Mika will perform one show only in Sydney this November.
The singer, who burst onto the charts with the smash hit Grace Kelly will play the Enmore Theatre in November and perform the at the Australian Idol grand final on November 22.

The tour will be in support of Mika’s latest album The Boy Who Knew Too Much.
To date, Mika has only performed once in Australia. A glorious affair, Mika introduced the sold out audience to his world, as he brought his imagination to life on stage in an explosion of balloons, glitter and, err, pantomime cows. Those lucky enough to witness Mika’s Australian debut will attest to his buoyant performance, with all leaving the show enraptured and needing more.

Tickets on sale Monday, September 28 through Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Gay Day at Jambaroo for Spring

You may have heard about Gay Day at Disneyland, well now the Aussie equivalent is about to take place. Aussie gay social group, 'Gay4play' is organising an excursion for the gay community and their friends to Jambaroo... where you control the action!

You can check out all that Jamberoo has to offer at http://www.jamberoo.net/rides_attractions.php

The excursion takes place 17th October 2009, leaving from the Flinders Hotel in Darlinghurst at 8:30am.

Places are limited to 30 so places are offered at a first come, first served basis.

The special package includes: Coach Transfers to and from Sydney, entry into the park, gourmet BBQ, return transport to the Flinders Hotel to party on.

Don't forget to bring swimmers, towel, and change of clothes incase you want to frolic in the water areas!

For more information, happy campers can goto:
http://www.gay4play.com.au/

Special Gay Games Award to be presented to Sydney

The Federation of Gay Games has announced that a special award will be given to Sydney (and all presvious host cities) of the Gay Games over the past 27 years.

Former hosts, including Sydney, and cities who have bid are invited to send representatives to the Gay Games 2010 in Cologne, Germany, where they will receive a Medal of Honour.

In an open letter to all hosts and cities who have bid in the past, Emy Ritt & Kurt Dahl co-presidents of FGG wrote: “Although it is a joyous occasion for the organisation selected to host the Gay Games, we recognise the disappointment felt by those not chosen, and heartily applaud all candidates for having believed in the Gay Games with the strength and passion required to bid and host this life-changing event.”

The Gay Games are held once every four years. Conceived by Dr Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, the first Games were held in San Francisco in 1982, attracting 1,350 participants. By the time the Games were held in Sydney in 2002, that had swelled to 11,000 participants.

“Without the support of bidders, the Gay Games would not be the premier LGBT international multisport and cultural festival that we know today,” Ritt and Dahl wrote. “Therefore, it seems only fitting to pay tribute to all Gay Games Bidders and to salute them for being key contributors to the almost 30-year Gay Games movement.”

The host city for the 2014 Games will be decided on September 29 in Cologne.

Aussie designers collaborate with Ikea Sweden at Everleigh

Now this is an international collaboration worth checking out.

Undoubtably in your house you will have at least one item sourced from IKEA. Well now here's a chance to get something from IKEA that no one else can have!

The IKEA Home Project will mark the 30th birthday of the iconic KLIPPAN sofa, one of IKEA's most recognisable and affordable items. A selection of acclaimed Australian artists are creating unique works which the public can buy. The artists create a one-off KLIPPAN cover in their own style, focusing on the theme of ‘home’.

Two time Academy Award winner Catherine Martin, Australian fashion icon Akira Isogawa, and Archibald Prize winner Del Kathryn Barton in collaboration with fashion label Romance Was Born are amongst the contributing artists (as pictured above).

The resulting masterpieces will be exhibited at CarriageWorks from 28 July – 4 August and sold via an online auction event.

Proceeds of the auction will be given as a cash donation to the Victorian Bushfire Relief effort.

Artists on board include:

Ron Adams
Del Kathryn Barton/Romance Was Born
Cash Brown
Sarah Contos
Adam Cullen
Daniel Mudie Cunningham
Louisa Dawson
Deb
Will French
Jessica Geron
Agatha Gothe-Snape
The Glue Society
Mini Graff
Michelle Hanlin
Akira Isogawa
Deborah Kelly
Jasper Knight
Lindy Lee and Robert Scott-Mitchell
Catherine Martin
Nana Ohnesorge
Phibs
Tom Polo
Mickie Quick
Reko Rennie
Elvis Richardson
Stewart Russel / Spacecraft
Kate Rohde
Rachel Scott
Naomi Troski
Pete Volich
Gosia Wlodarczak

Australasian Mr Bear annnounced

Harbour City Bears winner impressed the judges in Melbourne, during Southern HiBearnation 2009, to take out the national title.

Forty year old Jason Lee, who took out our inaugural Mr Harbour City Bears title in May, now has the chance to impress at an international bear competition in the US.

Congratulations to Jason, who will be working with us over the next year to promote the Harbour City bears, our community and the bear clubs of Australia.

The Harbour City Bears is a social club for hairy gay men, their admirers and friends. Actually people of all shapes and sizes and degrees of hirsuteness come along to enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the HCB events. Each Friday night the HCB's meet at the Flinders Hotel as well as a variety of other social events.

The Harbour CIty bears welcomes locals or visitors alike to join in their events.