Community Billboard January 25 to 31

With some of the great weather we are having lately it is always good to know somewhere new to chill out, dine out and relax.
If you haven't heard of the Sydney Opera House Summer Playground and you are liking the sounds of it then there is no time to wait around, this week is the final week of the pop-up alfresco dining restaurant and bar.

Top class chefs will be bringing the passion of Riviera Italy to Sydney with lots going on apart from dining, you can head down early for a kids session where there will be a free creative play in the Western Foyers, including a sandpit, interactive performances and a sunny spot for parents to relax. You will be tempted to make a day of it and settle in with lounge dining, DJs and live music.

Filled with outdoor dining, scorching shows and surprise experiences, there’s a lot to enjoy this summer at the Sydney Opera House.

When: Monday 4th to Sunday 31st January.

Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney 2000.

Cost: Free Entry.

If BBQ's are your thing and you consider yourself to be the king or queen of the barbie then an event that will be right up your street is The Yaks Sydney Barbecue Festival. It will be all about barbecues, smoked foods, summer and good Aussie fun.

The festival is modelled after the many successful American barbecue festivals staged annually across the United States, The Yaks Sydney Barbecue Festival will be a celebration of meat, local produce and the great Australian tradition of summer barbecues.

The festival will feature - barbecue food stalls including some of Sydney’s finest pit masters and culinary talent,
barbecue cooking demonstrations by local and international barbecue experts, equipment exhibitors showcasing the latest local and imported barbecue products on the market all in the surroundings of live entertainment and DJs.

It will also be your chance to enter The Yaks Sydney Barbecue Festival cook-off where the winner will be invited to represent Australia at internationally renowned barbecue contests in the United States.
If you want to be known as the best host for a BBQ or to pick up some handy utensils for your next sunny day then this is the spot to be.

When: Saturday 30th January, 10am to 10pm.

Where: The Domain, St. Mary's Road, 2000.

Cost: $25.

One thing that most Sydney siders love is the beach, if you are interested in going to an exhibition that displays an array of different beach scenes then for two months there will be a collection of beach photography, down at the Eastern Suburbs' most popular beach.

The exhibition is named Life’s a Beach, one of Britain’s most beloved photographers will take you on a colour-saturated journey through a place loved by all, the seaside, with all it's glory and local quirks.

Martin Parr has been photographing this subject for many decades, documenting all aspects of the tradition, including sunbathers, rambunctious swimmers caught mid-plunge, and the eternal sandy picnic underway.
To let you see the wonderful sights of the world there wont only be snaps from Australian beaches there will be photos of beachgoers on far-flung shores, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Japan, the United States, Mexico, Thailand and the U.K.

When: Sunday 31st January to Sunday 27th March.

Where: Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, 2022.

Cost: Free.

The music event recommended for you on this weeks community billboard is one that ticks all the boxes as it is a night full of talent. One of our proud sponsors Foundry616 will be hosting a night not to forget as SIMA Presents: February Jump Up.

It will be a constellation of internationally acclaimed musicians on one stage for one night only creating music that you will get to hear just once.
The event curated by Jon Rose, who was described by Time Out New York as “"brilliant" will bring you a wide range of sounds and talent as over eight artists take to the stage.

If you are looking for a fun way to begin your week then this will surely get you off to a good start, it is not every Monday you get the chance to hear from artists who are known worldwide. You can expect to hear alto and tenor saxophones, piano, trombone, guitar, violin, bass and electronics.

When: Monday 1st February, 8:00pm - 11:00pm.

Where: Foundry616, 616 Harris Street, 2007.

Cost: $20.

In the past we have highlighted some of the Consious Club's events here on Community Billboard, next Thursday they are having their first event of 2016.
The Club is all about creating conscious community through the medium of what they refer to as ‘enlighter-tainment’.

Their event next week The Way OF The Heart will be an evening filled with multi-sensory layers of inspiring talks, tasty food, great music and live art.
There will be a full night of speakers such as Orly Faya and Merpire, plus it will be your chance to hear from the very well known My Kitchen Rules star Pete Evans as he will reveal details of his previously untold spiritual journey.

Learn how he lives his life, his loves, his life philosophy and how Pete changed his existence to a healthy way of living and how an abundance of mental, physical and emotional changes followed.
You can also participate in interactive art and meditate with 600 other conscious minds.

When: Thursday 4th February.

Where: Paddington Town Hall, 249 Oxford Street, Paddington, 2025.

Cost: $55.

If you are feeling lonely or want a new family member then next Saturday is your lucky day as it is National Pet Adoption Day.

Do you think you could adopt a puppy, kitten, bunny or guinea pig? Pop along to one of the many events that will be on throughout the day with pet rescue organisations visiting more than 100 PETstock stores across Australia, in the hope to turn heartbreak into hope for orphaned animals.

The aim of the day is to raise awareness of pet adoption and encourage Australians to consider giving a rescue pet a forever home.
It is sure to be a fun and rewarding day out where you will chat with rescue group representatives, meet pets available for adoption and learn about becoming a pet foster carer.

Last National Pet Adoption Day saw at least 236 pets find forever homes, if you are looking for a new furry friend and want to make that number even bigger this year than this is the day to find your new pet.

When: Saturday 6th February, 10am-2pm.

Where: Nationwide (PETstock stores).

Cost: Free.

Next week the city of Sydney is going to welcome the 2016 Chinese New Year with a host events and entertainment to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

It is going to be the year of the monkey and given that there will be a bananas amount of events on right in the heart of Sydney, with over 70 different events on it would not be fitting to name them all. The festival is running for over a two week period, some that are starting first will be the Lunar Markets at the Star - where Pyrmont Bay Park will be transformed to a pop-up festival zone with food, drinks and entertainment, The QVB Dome Display - where you can walk through QVB to admire the stunning lantern display within the dome as the traditional lion dances entertain you and also a Chinese Tea Appreciation event where you can learn about the ancient history of tea in a tea appreciation workshop along with Yum cha, plus many many more entertaining and interesting events.

When: Saturday 6th to Sunday 21st February.

Where: Citywide.

Cost: Various prices, some free.

We all love a good food and wine festival whether they be big, small, themed or local. Next Saturday a pretty largescale food fair is kicking off as the NSW Food and Wine Festival begins for a whole three weeks.

The Sydney Morning Herald NSW Food and Wine Festival is where you can celebrate fine produce, wine, and wine regions across NSW. It is your chance to explore the tastes of the state from dinner to dessert, brunch to high tea.
Not only will you be eating tasty bites you will also be able to meet the growers, winemakers, artisan food producers and chefs from all over Sydney and regional NSW.

There will be lots of different events going on throughout the festival such as, food producing, winemaker masterclasses and much more. You have had your January break from the Christmas indulging now its time to treat yourself again.

When: Saturday 6th to Sunday 28th February.

Where: Around Sydney and regional NSW.

Cost: Various Prices.