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

Janet Jackson - Up Close & Personal

Last week it was announced that Janet Jackson would be coming to Australia to perform her current Number Ones World Tour in October and November 2011. Instead of performing this concert at Acer Arena or the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Janet Jackson has decided to do the concerts in Australia in a more personal atmosphere.

The tour which is now named in Australia as "Number Ones: Up Close & Personal" is a more fitting title being that she has chosen the Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Wednesday 3rd August 2011. The list of concert dates are as follows for Australia;

DATE LOCATION

TUE 18 OCT	PERTH	BURSWOOD THEATRE
SAT 22 OCT	ADELAIDE	FESTIVAL CENTRE
WED 26 OCT	MELBOURNE	ARTS CENTRE, STATE THEATRE
THU 27 OCT	MELBOURNE	ARTS CENTRE, STATE THEATRE
WED 2 NOV	GOLD COAST	CONVENTION CENTRE
SAT 5 NOV	SYDNEY	OPERA HOUSE, CONCERT HALL
SUN 6 NOV	SYDNEY	OPERA HOUSE, CONCERT HALL

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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Lady Gaga Live at Sydney Monster Hall 13/07/2011

Utilising the Facebook platforms of the event’s promotional partners Today Network (2DAY FM, FOX FM, B105, SAFM, 92.9), Vodafone, Take 40, and associate partner Channel [V], fans have been invited to post one single image that personifies just how monster they are. The competition commenced on the 8th June 2011 and closes between 24th June 2011 and 4th July 2011, with fans encouraged to get amongst their ‘Monster’ community to win their way in. Tickets for this exclusive one-off event, hosted by Today Network and Take 40’s Kyle and Jackie O, are strictly limited and will not be sold.

To enter this competition use the link below and good luck

ENTER COMPETITION

Gay Couples to press Julia Gillard over Dinner

Once again the Australian PM has been questioned about her views on Gay Marriage, this all happened a few nights ago at Federal Parliament in the King's Hall. The ticket price for the event was AUD $12,000.00 per head and six lucky members of the GetUp! Political Activist Group secured seats through bidding for the tickets.

Australia is aware that Julia Gillard is personally against gay marriage and also the Labor party and conservative opposition support Australia's current ban, despite polls suggesting growing public support for the law to change. It is the second time GetUp! has won the annual raffle, and I can only hope that by writing this that Australia will assist Gay Communities everywhere in Australia to come together and show their support to allow this and hopefully Julia Gillard will listen to the mass population and start the process of legalisation of Same-Sex Marriage.

Currently there are ten countries around the world who have legalised Same-Sex Marriage, remember that I am not counting Civil Unions which are currently present in other countries around the world also.

If you would like to see Gay Marriage Legalised, then please sign the petition by clicking the link below.

Petition to Legalise Gay Marriage

Sir Elton John coming to Sydney

Sir Elton John has confirmed that he will be coming to Sydney in November 2011. He will be playing at Lyric Theatre, Star City on the 26th and 27th November 2011. Tickets start from $255.00 to $405.00.

The Lyric Theatre at Star City is only able to hold 2,000 people so this will be the smallest audience that Sir Elton John will play for, but I am guessing that this would be the show to be at for all those Elton John fans out there. I have placed the link to the TicketMaster website below for those looking at getting tickets.

TicketMaster Website

Kylie Aphrodite Les Folies Tour, Sydney 7th June 2011

To all reading this blog,

Here are a few photos which I was able to take whilst in "Splash Zone" at Sydney Entertainment Centre on the Opening Night. I hope that you enjoy the photos and it was definitely worth spending the little extra for the VIP Experience.