Yardhouse is Sydney's New Hotspot

Yardhouse Bar and Brasserie opened last week in Haymarket and should be a hit with Sydney’s urban business crowd and theatre-goers attending the neighbouring Capitol Theatre.

Formerly Paddy McGuire’s pub, a major refurbishment undertaken by the Metro Hospitality Group has created a stylish and contemporary venue while still paying homage to the heritage of the area — particularly the former Palace Hotel which once occupied part of the site.

Metro Hospitality Group chief operating officer George Bedwani said the Yardhouse’s name was inspired by the popular beer-drinking vessel of the 1800s, the yard glass. The front bar off George St has been renamed the Palace Bar and will continue to appeal to the traditional patrons of the area who enjoy a drink after work.

“Yardhouse Bar and Brasserie is an exciting new venue in Sydney’s entertainment precinct,” Bedwani said.

“We wanted to ensure the venue retained links to its important heritage while also expanding its offering to appeal to a broader clientele.”

Chef Daniel Collins, previously head chef at the Russell Hotel, has created a menu that includes light meals to tempt pre-theatre patrons as well as hearty fare for its business clientele.

While the pre-theatre menu includes dishes like spiced calamari with Szechuan pepper salt, chilli, coriander and citrus aioli or beef and James Squire Porter pot pie, the full menu has a selection of four steaks (including a 300g Wagyu rump), four types of skewers with different international heritages, and six mains including slow-braised pork belly, Queensland spanner crab linguine and crisp skin salmon with tomato, white bean and fennel.

At the Palace Bar, choose from more than 60 craft beers, while an all-day bar menu is available.

A downstairs area in the venue has been created specifically for live music. Reggae bands will be featured on Monday evenings while rock bands are expected to prove a popular option for patrons on Friday and Saturday evenings.

All areas can be hired for private functions, providing an opportunity for corporate event managers to combine an evening at the theatre with pre-theatre dinner and drinks in a designated area, or a post-show nightcap.

Food is served in the bar from 11am until late every day while the brasserie is open for lunch from noon-3pm, Monday to Friday, and for dinner from 6pm. On weekends, the brasserie menu is available all day until late.

INFO: www.yardhouse.com.au or (02) 9212 2111 for Reservations and Enquiries

REPOSTED FROM: The Star Observer (http://www.starobserver.com.au/life-style/food-life-style/2011/10/11/sydneys-new-yardhouse-is-a-palace/63657)

Clover announces Oxford Street Drag Makeover

City of Sydney will revitalise the West end of Oxford Street by opening spaces to creative industries and new businesses.

Last Monday’s Council meeting confirmed the long discussed project, which includes leasing Council land to artists, retailers and cafes; fostering more street-side plants and conducting day-time waste clean-ups.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said fostering a diverse mix of tenants would attract more people to live, shop and eat around Oxford Street and ultimately boost the local economy.

“We agree with business owners and the local community that it could be better, and to make the most of Oxford Street, we need to think creatively and work together.”

By strategically using our vacant properties on the south end of Oxford Street, we can kick-start a creative rebirth of the area.”

Council will begin taking expressions of interest next month and aims to have creative tenants in by Christmas.

Greens Councillor Irene Doutney praised the project for finally answering loud calls from the lower Oxford Street community.

“This is fantastic. It has been long sought for . . . I just hope the base of the community is happy for this to go ahead.”

Sue Ritchie, Vice President of 2010 Darlinghurst Surry Hills Business Partnership, said the news was evidence of the start of a working relationship between Council and the community.

“It’s been a long time coming, nevertheless it’s great news.”

Ms Ritchie said although she was thrilled with the news, she thought the project could be expanded to the rest of Oxford street.

“We are looking for council to be more responsive to the community from Park to Park. That is from Hyde Park to Centennial Park,” she said.

“Oxford Street is the spine that has driven creative industry around . . . It has been neglected and it has seen many cuts . . . Rather than let it deteriorate, while the focus is on the other areas like Barangaroo, we want to keep Oxford Street strong.”

Ms Moore responded by stating the City has delivered a $45 million package, which featured more than 50 individual projects to improve the shopping strip and over $236,000 for community groups running local creative projects.

Taken from Alternative Media Group

Author:Nicholas Jordan Posted:Thursday, 25 August 2011

Gaga a Go-Go in Gay Old Night on the Town

IT HAS taken a couple of Sydney drag queens to bring out the ''real woman'' in Lady Gaga. On Tuesday night, it was up to Courtney Act, aka Shane Jenek, and fellow drag artiste, Heaven Lee (aka Perry Meek) to introduce the pop star to Sydney's pink mile, Oxford Street.

Doubling as hand maidens for the reigning Queen of Pop, the bewigged duo accompanied Gaga at her two impromptu shows at gay clubs, Nevermind and Arq, navigating the hordes of fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their idol at the frantically organised last-minute shows.

''She really is the most genuine, down to earth and engaging person you could hope to come across,'' a slightly hoarse-voiced Jenek told PS yesterday morning.

Jenek had accompanied Gaga during her mini concerts at both clubs, spending the wee hours of Tuesday morning at the downstairs bar at Arq, on Flinders Street, which had been roped off for Gaga, her dancers and entourage, which comprised a ragtag gaggle of drag queens, muscle men and fruitcakes.

Gaga managed to indulge in Sydney's nocturnal delights away from the prying lenses of the paparazzi and, by all accounts, was enjoying herself immensely.

Jenek met Gaga last year when he, as Courtney Act, did a special birthday performance for the pop star during her stop in Canberra.
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Wearing 15cm heels, Jenek serenaded Gaga with the Rocky Horror hit Sweet Transsexual before giving her a lap dance. Gaga's father, Joe Germanotta, who had flown in for the party, was also rather taken with the routine, offering Act his hand so ''she'' could climb on to the table.

''I would have forgiven her for forgetting my name, but I was totally blown away. She remembered me like I was one of her best friends. She is an awesome woman … a very real woman,'' Jenek gushed.

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