Newtown What's On: Week ending June 10

Here's the first of a planned weekly Newtown What's On. It's far from complete at this stage - see here for how you can help contribute. Please send any corrections or suggestions to mayorofnewtown 'at' gmail.com.


Mayor Recommends

TED Talks @ Newtown Public School
Thursday June 4, 6pm.


Music

Thursday June 4
Tango Bar - Cafe Carnivale
Sound Lounge at Seymour Centre Corner City Rd and Cleveland St

Friday June 5
Luluc + Jessica Says
Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown

Alex and Eve - The Wedding
The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville

Saturday June 6
Monsieur Camembert
Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown

Sunday June 7
Mick Medew and the Rumours - Album Launch
Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown



Theatre

Merchant of Venice
Newtown Theatre, Corner King and Bray St, Newtown
26th May - 13th June

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown
June 4 - July 4

My Name is Rachel Corrie
Seymour Centre, City Road, Newtown
28 May - 20 June


Exhibitions

Marnling Press & Whaling Road Studio - Printed Image
Wilson Street Gallery, 30-34 Wilson St Newtown
Until June 14

Other

Rugby League - Frank Hyde Day
Henson Park, Marrickville
Saturday June 6 3pm

Artisan's Market
Eveleigh Markets, near Carriage Works, Wilson Street
Sunday June 7 10am - 4pm

Regular Events

Funky Cafe, 256King St Newtown
- Live music Wed - Sat night

Madame Fling Flong
- Tuesday night movie $20 with drink/mezze. Bookings advised.

Sandringham Hotel
- Live music every night and Sunday afternoons

Eveleigh Markets
- Farmer's Market every Saturday 8:00 - 13:00

Addison Rd Centre, 142 Addison Road Marrickville
- Marrickville Organic Markets every Sunday 8:30 - 15:00

Introducing Newtown What's On

I'm hoping to start a regular what's on guide to Newtown on this site. Ideally posting every Wednesday in time for the (extended) weekend, covering one off concerts as well as regular events, art exhibitions, book shop readings e.t.c.

In order for this to work I'm going to need help from you; especially if you own or run a venue or know someone who does. If you have a weekly mailing list, please add the mayor to your list. If not, please email me early in the week with what events you're running during the week.

And I'll be fairly generous with my definition of Newtown - Enmore and Erko definitely rate, Marrickville depending on my mood; Surry Hills and the CBD - no chance !

My email address is mayorofnewtown 'at' gmail.com.

Have a look at a skeleton what's on here. Looking forward to some feedback.

Notes about a New Venue

Notes Live

There's a new venue in Newtown. While it doesn't (yet?) seem to form part of the Newtown Entertainment Precinct, it seems that Notes Live, at 73-75 Enmore Road near the bridge, has ambitious plans to be a permanent part of the Newtown Entertainment scene, at least judging by the yet to be active website, extensive upcoming gig list, and branding. With a fancy menu accompanying the Monsieur Camembert invitation, it seems the inspiration is very much Newtown's Vanguard.


The official opening this Friday (15th May) will feature Vanguard favourites Monsieur Camembert, although the venue has been there for a while, operating as a sort of occasional Greek nightclub and function centre. The fact that the premises are a converted funeral parlour shouldn't be an issue given the success of Kinselas in Darlinghurst.

Any new venue is good news for Newtown in the Mayor's opinion, although I only hope it doesn't impact on any plans for The Hub to re-open as a venue. I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who has already been there, or is attending the opening - let us all know what it's like as a venue.

Mystery Photo II - Quiet Please

 

An easier mystery photo this time - where is this inviting library entrance ? Answers (or guesses) to mayorofnewtown at gmail.com, or via twitter please !

Mystery Photo I - The Great Bite

Copyright DEWHA, Photographer Charlton, K.

The first in an occasional series of posts where the mayor will share an old photo with you and you have to guess where it is. First correct answer wins a year's free subscription to Newstown :) As do all other correct answers.

Where was the above photo taken ? What monstrosity (there's a clue) replaced the half-eaten building on the corner ?

Who is the Mayor of Newtown ?

Not many people know that Newtown still has a Mayor. History records that Newtown Council, and therefore the role of Mayor, was abolished in 1948, as one of a never-ending series of power struggles between Sydney councils and the state government. The first Mayor of Newtown was elected in 1862, and in 1912 Newtown Municipal council issued a book to celebrate the Golden Jubilee, from where you can see a list of my early predecessors:

History, however, is written by the victors, and what it neglects to mention is that, like the House of Savoy, unceremoniously usurped from ruling Italy only 2 years earlier in 1946, the flame has been kept alive, and there are many supporters of the Mayor of Newtown waiting patiently for the time for the day when the illustrious office reappears and the Mayor can take his rightful place on the Mayoral throne in the Town Hall.

In the interim, I have set up office in the Town Hall Hotel, at the corner window on the first floor (above), from where, in addition to watching over the comings and goings on Kings St, I can gaze across the road to the eponymous Town Hall, temporarily occupied by usurpers from the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre.

It's a shame to see the Town Hall covered up like this - literally if you see the photo below, where the occupiers have attempted to negate the very existence of the Town Hall, an attempt which only came unstuck due to a timely Sydney southerly.

Newtown Town Hall today

When returned to my office, I plan to restore the Town Hall to its turn of the century splendour. Looking at the picture below only makes me more determined to right the historical wrongs that have left Newtown split between two uncaring councils and its Town Hall a banner-covered shadow of its former glory.

Newtown Town Hall in 1912

In order to introduce myself to the wider public, and establish popular support for my comeback, I have established this blog to communicate goings on in Newtown and nearby suburbs. I'm hoping that this will be a chance for those who like me love Newtown to follow the goings on and indeed communicate stories of their own.

Stayed tuned to these pages for more Newtown news - and if there's anything you'd like to see more information on, drop me a note at mayor of newtown (oneword) at gmail dot com.

P.S. Black and white images taken from the Jubilee booklets, which have been scanned and stored on the excellent Sydney council Newtown archives - check them out.