Community Billboard – 27th of April to the 3rd of May

If you're a photography enthusiast, or you're not sure about all the different angles, exposure, and filters used, but simply like taking a look at some outstanding photos.
Then for the whole month of May you can go along and take a look at some of the finest photographers in the world's work. Through world-renowned exhibitors and speakers, to innovative workshops this festival is a platform for the passion of the photographers, the excitement of the audiences, and the issues photography addresses.

The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across Australia to over 200 events at more than 100 venues across Sydney. This festival is unique in that it provides opportunities for thousands of artists to meet, exhibit and sell work. There is also a free Mothers day portrait session, on the 10th of May in Town Hall.

When: 1st to the 31st of May.

Where: Sidney wide, opening night: 6pm-8pm, 1st May, Sydney Lower Town Hall.

Cost: Free.

If you have an eye for sci-fi art, and want to explore the mind of Christie Torrington's work, there will be an exhibition showing all of Torrington's recent works which is a combination of collage techniques with skilful mimicry to confuse the eye & create new landscapes from old.

Incorporating collage, watercolour & drawing techniques, Torrington blurs the line between lost and found, light and dark, reality and fiction, stirring lost memories and creating imaginary universes.

It's up to you, to see what you want to see, with what way you choose to look at it from, let your imagination go.

When: Friday 1st to Sunday 17th of May, Opening Night: 7pm-10pm, Fri 1st.

Where: Newsagency Gallery , 332 Stanmore Rd, Petersham.

Cost: Free.

The Metropolitan orchestra bring you on a journey through Folk, Jazz and Romance. With folk sounds from a local gypsy band from Slovakia inspiring dances of Galanta from Zoltan Kodaly. Then with Classical music and jazz-influenced effects coming into play the orchestra will be joined for a piece by, three time winner of the Australian Entertainment MO Award for Variety Instrumental Performer of the Year, and a Number One charting recording artist, pianist Bernard Walz. For a night of sounds from all over the world and to be taken on a journey of music be entertained and moved by this display.
“Wonderful orchestral music comes from a wide variety of backgrounds. This performance will present three very well known works, each of which has very different roots and styles and will elicit different responses from the audience,” says Sarah-Grace Williams, TMO’s Chief Conductor and Artistic Director.

When: Saturday 2nd May at 8pm.

Where: Eugene Goossens Hall ABC Centre, 700 Harris Street Ultimo 2007.

Cost: Adult $49, Children $20.

For all you romancers out there, cupid is coming to town for a night of great Jazz entertainment and the chance to meet "the one".
It's the very first time it has been presented, so who knows what's in store. Only two things are for sure it will be a night where you can get your groove and twist on to the Jazz beats that you love, with people that are there for the same reason of finding that special person.

The event includes a free drink on arrival in the first hour, tasty light Bites, match games to get you mingling, and great prizes.

The event is for ages 35-55

When: Saturday 2nd May from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.

Where: The Arthouse - Gallery, 275 Pitt Street.

Cost: $25:00.

One of the recently inducted volunteers at Eastside FM, Suren Jayemanne, is performing his show Eat Praline, Die at the Sydney Comedy Festival.
Suren has just returned from performing sell out shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

In 2014, Suren was handpicked by the MICF directors to perform in the prestigious Comedy Zone, a showcase of the best emerging comics from Australia.
In 2015, the Sydney Comedy Festival have chosen Suren as part of their FRESH program, a selection of new acts to watch out for at the festival.

Eat Praline, Die is Suren's debut solo stand up show, and is a hilarious blend of stories about his life with food allergies and topical observations on growing up with Sri Lankan parents in multicultural Australia.

Suren charms audiences with his penchant for wordplay.
Why not go along for a night full of laughs, brought to you by one of Eastside FM's volunteers.

When: Tues 5th, Thur 7th and Saturday 9th May, at 9:30pm.

Where: Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville.

Cost: All tickets $15.

Are you one of the many film lovers out there? Most of us are, since there is such a variety of different types, from love stories to animation.

Well there is going to be no shortage of variety at this years Sydney film festival on from the 3rd to the 14th of June, and if your wanting to be right on top of things for this years schedule and the latest news surrounding the festival, then why not pop along to the program launch night, where you can find out the diverse range of films to be screened in 2015, including the opening and closing night films, and the official competition Selection.

The festival director, Nashen Moodley will be showcasing all the news you need to know if this is an important event on your calendar.

When: Wednesday 6th May from 6.00pm to 7.00pm.

Where: Customs house library, 31 Alfred Street Circular Quay.

Cost: Free.

Mental health is a topic which affects far more people out there than we might think.
Some of us may have experienced blushes of it in the past, or thought that we were, others might have a close loved one who is dealing with a mental health issue.
It is definitely one of the most shushed up, locked away conversations people want to discuss, however with the world becoming more open about private issues, thankfully there are more people there to listen.

If this is an area that you live close to in your life, or want to understand further about what ways the mental health services are delivered in NSW, in particular this forum will ask us to reflect, to listen and to work towards a healthier future for all people coming into contact with services who have had Adverse Childhood Experiences in NSW.

There will be a forum bringing together experts (by experience and by profession) from the Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health Inc. Such as Gary Parker, Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health, Executive Director, plus many more speakers from across NSW.

When: Thursday, 7th at 9:00am and Friday, 8th of May at 5:00pm.

Where: Ground Floor, Conference Centre, Labour Council Building, 377 - 383 Sussex Street.

Cost: Free.

What better way to spend the day than doodling around a market taking in all the atmosphere and liveliness from people attracted to what they see on offer, to the mixture of lovely smells filling the air from the artisan food stalls.

The Finders Keepers Markets now feature over 200 stalls from local makers, to talented folk from all around Australia.
The Sydney markets started in 2007 and are well known and loved, this year they are going to be on for an extra day so there will be even more of a buzz around.
There will be plenty of entertainment throughout the weekend with a fresh new line up of live music for each market. There will also be two bars at the event just in case you needed a break from the shopping and to decide on what handbag you were going to get from the massive selection.

From handcrafted clay pots to polka-dotted dresses, this is where you will find that hidden gem.

When: Friday 8th to Sunday the 10th May.

Where: Australian technology park, Exhibition Hall, 2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh, 2015.

Cost: $2:00

Mothers' day, that special day of the year to celebrate the ladies of this world who brought us into it. Some of you might celebrate it in bigger ways than others from ringing home to say hello to overloading them with presents.
Apart from that you can bring out your charitable side and take part in the annual Women in Super Mothers' Day Classic fun run and walk, raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

The aim is to deliver a fun, healthy and inspirational event that brings the community together on Mothers' Day to support those touched by breast cancer.

There will be a 4km walk, 4km run, 7km walk which is usually an 8km walk but has been changed this year due to light rail works in the CBD, and there will also be an 8km run.

So you have your choices there for whichever one you're feeling up for, or even if you want to go along for the day and look at all the runners there will be plenty of entertainment such as warm up aerobics, roving performers, food vendors, entertainment, plus a kids activity area with face painting and jumping castles.

The more people that are there, the more awareness that's created, and that is key. So if you're up for taking part in a run, donating to charity, celebrating Mothers day or simply having fun this is the event for you.

When: Sun 10th May from 6:00am.

Where: The Domain, Art Gallery Road. The event also takes place in Western Sydney – Parramatta Park, Parramatta.

Cost: Adult walker $50, Adult runner $55 and family packages from $65.