Nightlife

Australians are party animals when they're in the mood; whether it's a few beers around the barbecue with friends or an all-night rave at a trendy dance club, they're always on the lookout for the next event. You'll find that alcohol plays a big part in the Aussie culture.

Where to find out what's on -- The best way to find out what's on is to get hold of the "Metro" section of the Friday Sydney Morning Herald or the "Seven Days" pullout from the Thursday Daily Telegraph.

The Performing Arts

If you have an opportunity to see a performance in the Sydney Opera House, jump at it. The "House" is actually not that impressive inside, but the walk back after the show toward the ferry terminals at Circular Quay, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up and the crowd all around you debating the best part of this play or who dropped a beat in that performance -- well, it's like hearing Gershwin on the streets of New York. You'll want the moment to stay with you forever.

It's a Festival! -- If you happen to be in Australia in January, plan to attend one of the many events that are part of the annual Sydney Festival. The festival kicks off just after New Year's and continues through the month, with recitals, plays, films, and performances at venues throughout the city, including Town Hall, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sydney Opera House, and Darling Harbour. Some events are free. "Jazz in The Domain" and "Symphony in The Domain" are two free outdoor performances held in the Royal Botanic Gardens, generally on the third and fourth weekends in January; each event attracts thousands of Sydneysiders. For more information, contact Festival Ticketek (tel. 02/9266 4111; fax 02/9267 4460). Buy tickets and find out about performances on the Web at www.sydneyfestival.org.au.

Theater -- Sydney's blessed with plenty of theaters, many more than I have space for here -- check the Sydney Morning Herald, especially the Friday edition, for information on what's currently in production.

Dance Clubs

Clubs come and go, and change names and music, so check the latest with a phone call. You can also check the "Metro" section in the Friday Sydney Morning Herald; free giveaway newspapers available in some bars along Oxford Street have info about the latest clubs.

Nightclub entrance charges change regularly, but generally are A$15 to A$20 (US$12-US$16/UK£6-UK£8).

Gay & Lesbian Clubs

Sydney has a huge gay community, so there's a very happening scene. The center of it all is Oxford Street, though Newtown has established itself as a gay hangout, too. For information on events, pick up a copy of the Sydney Star Observer or Lesbians on the Loose, available at art-house cinemas, cafes, and stores around Oxford Street. Nightclub covers generally range from A$10 to A$15 (US$8-US$12/UK£4-UK£6).

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras -- Each March, some 450,000 people pack into the city center, concentrated on Oxford Street, to watch as members of Sydney's GLBT communities pack a punch with colorful floats and frocks. The crowd is diverse, from kids to grannies, and those in the know bring a stepladder or milk crate to get a better view. Sydney's hotels are at their busiest during Mardi Gras, particularly anything with a view of the route. The post-parade party is an affair not for the fainthearted! Sequins, tight pants, and anything outrageously glamorous goes. Some 19,000 revelers attend. For more information check out the official Mardi Gras website: www.mardigras.org.au.

The Bar Scene

Most of Australia's drinking holes are known as "hotels," after the tradition of providing room and board alongside a good drink in the old days. Occasionally you might hear them referred to as pubs. The term bar tends to apply in upscale hotels and trendy establishments. Bars close at various times, generally from midnight to around 3am. Unless the listing says otherwise, these bars do not charge a cover.

Movies

The city's major movie houses, Hoyts (tel. 13 27 00 in Australia), Greater Union (tel. 02/9267 8666), and Village (tel. 02/9264 6701), are right next to each other on George Street just past Town Hall. They tend to show big-budget movie releases. Other options are the Dendy Cinemas, 19 Martin Place (tel. 02/9233 8166); 261-263 King St., Newtown (tel. 02/9550 5699); and 2 East Circular Quay, just before you reach the Opera House (tel. 02/9247 3800). All show art-house movies; the Dendy Quay allows wine and beer bought on the premises to be consumed in the cinema. In Paddington, the Palace Verona, 17 Oxford St. (tel. 02/9360 6099), and the Academy Twin, 2 Oxford St. (tel. 02/9361 4455), conveniently located next to each other, always screen the best local and foreign films in Sydney.

Another exceptional art house and recent-blockbuster cinema is the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, 380 Military Rd., Cremorne (tel. 02/9908 4344). This eight-screen Art Deco gem is an experience in itself, especially on Saturday and Sunday evenings when a Wurlitzer pops up from the center of the Cinema 2 stage, and a musician in a tux gives a stirring rendition of times gone by. Eat "Jaffas," round candy-coated chocolates, if you want to fit in.

Movie prices hover around A$15 (US$12/UK£6), with half-price night generally on Tuesday.