Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 172

the Wharf 's restaurant offers special views of the harbor. Pier 4, Hickson Rd., The
Rocks. & 02/9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au. Ticket prices vary.
THE CLUB & MUSIC SCENE
JAZZ, FOLK & BLUES
The Basement Australia's hottest jazz club also manages to squeeze in plenty
of blues, folk, and funk. Acts appear every night, and it's best to book ahead.
Call for the schedule, pick up one at the club, or visit the website. 29 Reiby Place,
Circular Quay. & 02/9251 2797. www.thebasement.com.au/club_info.htm. Cover A$15-A$20
(US$9.75-US$13) for local acts, A$20-A$40 (US$13-US$26) for international performers.
side-on café Known by locals as one of the few live venues in Sydney to
showcase deliciously diverse jazz nearly every night of the week, this surprisingly
decent restaurant is part of a multiarts complex and serves a two-course meal for
A$27 (US$18). Patrons are a decent cross-sectional blend of artists, musicians,
and various other assorted jazz lovers. The side-on endeavors to promote
upcoming local talent as well as established acts and is also home to an art gallery
upstairs. Located just over 5km (3 miles) from the center of town, it's not all that
central but is very easily reached by public transport and well worth the detour.
Daily 7pm until late. 83 Paramatta Rd., Anandale, near Anandale Hotel. www.side-on.com.au.
Cover charge: A$13 (US$8.45).
ROCK
Metro A medium-size rock venue with space for 1,000, the Metro is the best
place in Sydney to see local and international acts. Tickets sell out quickly. 624
George St. & 02/9264 2666. Cover varies.
DANCE CLUBS
Clubs come and go, and change names and music, so check the latest by plan-
ning ahead with a phone call. You can also check the “Metro” section in Sydney
Morning Herald on Friday; otherwise, you might find free giveaway newspapers
in some bars along Oxford Street that have info about the latest clubs.
Nightclub entrance charges change regularly, but generally cost between
A$10 and A$15 (US$6.50-US$9.75). The Bourbon & Beefsteak Bar, with its
A$5 (US$3.25) cover charge, is an oddity.
Bourbon & Beefsteak Bar Right in the middle of Sydney's red-light district,
this 24-hour restaurant and nightspot has a small dance floor. Bands play on the
ground level Friday and Saturday nights. It's popular with a whole range of ages,
from 18 to 60. 24 Darlinghurst Rd., Kings Cross. & 02/9358 1144. Cover $5 (US$3.25).
Chinese Laundry A couple of dance floors, one with rock walls to enhance
the beat of the hip-hop, trance, and dance. What to wear? Dress like you want
to un -impress. Open Friday and Saturday from 11pm to 4am. Sussex St. (turn right
as you face the bridge from Cockle Bay across to Darling Harbour, and it's a 2-min. walk, below
the Slip Inn bar). & 02/9299 4777.
Home Cavelike in shape and feel with a balcony to look down upon the
throng, Home has a reputation for bad bouncers—like the time the Sydney
Morning Herald newspaper had a Christmas party there and even the influential
journalists were abused. Still it's managed to survive—hope you can. DJs spin
funk and heavy drum-and-bass-style music, good for the serious clubber. Cockle
Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour. & 02/9266 0600. Cover A$25 (US$16).
Mister Goodbar A young, trendy, local crowd inhabits Mister Goodbar's
two good-size dance floors, where they can groove to a range of rap, funk, and