EASTSIDE UNLOCKED
EASTSIDE UNLOCKED is an epic four-week festival celebrating the very best of Sydney’s inner-east creative precinct, with drag, art, food, music, performance and more for the entire month of October.
Sydneysiders are invited to rediscover the Harbour city’s liveliest suburbs Potts Point, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo, through over 80 colourful and diverse events at 35 venues across the precinct.
Eastside Sydney has so much to offer when it comes to culture, live performance, food, drink and more. We’re inviting Sydney to rediscover Eastside’s world-class restaurants, art galleries, cosy cocktail bars and iconic nightlife venues.
Festival program highlights include a Caribbean Festival at Rosie Campbell's, life drawing at Ching-a-Lings, a Natural Beer Festival at Bitter Phew, Murder Mystery nights at Grove Bar, a Fashion Feast at EZRA and a Rosé Festival at the Winery. Plus, an extensive lineup of comedy nights, poetry, DJ sets, trivia, live music, drag shows and more!
For those looking to embrace the spooky season, Eastside Unlocked will also see a series of Halloween events take place on the final weekend of the festival.
This includes Hotel Hollywood’s Horror Hotel Immersive Experience, Halloween Hijinks at Soda Factory, a Haunted House party with Burlesque Entertainment at Surly’s American Tavern, Spooky Halloween Queer Cabaret at Dulcie's Kings Cross, La Vampire Du Nuit at Claire's Kitchen at le Salon, Halloween Drag Brunch at Bar Nina and a special Halloween in the Honky Tonk event at Shady Pines.
In addition, Sydneysiders will be able to experience undiscovered parts of the precinct, with an immersive augmented reality art walk designed as a treasure hunt. Artworks will come alive through digital animation and sound via the free EyeJack app.
Throughout the precinct, there will be 15 artworks to discover, created by leading artists, animators and sound designers from around the planet.
Eastside Unlocked is proudly funded by the NSW Government as part of the CBDs Revitalisation Program. With a range of free and ticketed events on offer, bookings are strongly recommended to secure your spot.
To learn more about Eastside Unlocked, or for the full program of free and ticketed events, please visit: eastsidesydney.com
BECKER MINTY
Becker Minty owner, Jason Minty started his career on-board QANTAS and hasn’t lost any of his love for jet-setting around the globe … now he’s buying up items for his fabulous Potts Point design store.
From Paris to Las Vegas and everywhere in between Jason’s discerning eye searches out art, furniture, lighting, fashion, and jewellery. Australian designers and artists are also well represented in store too. There’s also a revolving display or artists work both in the store and the annex round the corner on Macleay St.
Becker Minty is popular with architects, designers and stylists - those arbiters of style who know a good thing when they see it.
Prices range from aspirational to affordable - you could deck out your whole penthouse apartment, find a new artist to love or come home with a fab Trudon candle or vintage brooch. It’s worth a browse!
7, 81 Macleay St (enter via Manning St) Potts Point
OXTRAVAGANZA
Oxtravaganza is back! For two weeks starting Friday 18th February through to Sunday 6th March ”Darlo does Mardi Gras”. The official parade may have relocated but Oxford St plans to party on, with local businesses ramping up the glitter-vibe and our celebration of the Pink Mile will see dozens of businesses coming together to offer special retail promotions, live music + performance, viewing parties, outdoor entertainment, art walks, plus food and drink deals.
Saturday 26th February is ‘Shop Till You Drop’ day on Oxford St and surrounds. The best vintage stores, drag queen costumes, leather, glitter and sequins will help create your ultimate Mardi Gras outfit. Live performers are out and about and the ‘instax selfie booth’ guarantees instant gratification - a photo for just a gold coin, with all proceeds going to The Gender Centre. There’s also drag story time, bottomless brunches, wrestling demos, undie models, naked barbers and more!
Across the full 2 weeks explore our LGBTQI history in photo exhibitions; take a class and learn how to draw, get introduced to kink and somatic sexology. Or just kick back with a cocktail, alfresco in a beer garden or hidden rooftop spot. Order a Young Henry’s beer and raise money for charity. There’s a full schedule of drag, cabaret and variety shows, bingo and trivia. And on Parade Night join a Live Viewing Party, popping up in dozens of venues, around the neighbourhood.
THE GLITTERING MILE
The Glittering Mile is where it all began. In 1978 the party that became a protest started on Darlinghurst road and in 2022 it returns. We’ve come a long way since those days and and for two weeks (Thursday 17th February through to Sunday 6th March), Mardi Gras returns to the Cross to celebrate our LGBTQI community in camp sophistication and glamour amidst the neon.
From bottomless brunches and alfresco dining to cabaret shows and cosy cocktail dens. Retail offerings, history talks and walks or live music, viewing parties and art exhibitions, in 2022 all that glitters will be gold. There’s so much to do from Oxtravaganza to the Glittering Mile this Mardi Gras, so come join the party.
Kick off on Thursday 17th February at ‘Shop Late’ as you stroll the neighbourhood and check out the local style stakes - start with a shopping expedition and finish with a cocktail, a quick snack, or a 5 star meal.
Over the next two weeks take in some art, find a new favourite bar or come to a show. On the night of the Parade, Mardi Gras viewing parties will be at different venues, with fun hostessing and some performances as the parade goes on - it’s next best thing to being there!
