With Christmas over, we all know New Year follows, and January is a big month for Sydney.

It's Sydney Festival month!

This year, Sydney Festival once again features theatre productions and concerts from all over the world. The highlights are of course, the FREE events, which include outdoor cinemas at the Overflow in the Olympic Park, the Domain concert series from the Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia and Jazz bands. Darling Harbour will also be putting on some shows for the young and the old, and there are of course, fireworks in order.

It's a full month of celebrations and to check out the details, visit Sydney Festival Official Website.

Saturday 24 November program:

Starstruck 1982
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Choreographer: David Atkins
Producers: David Elfick & Richard Brennan

Venue:
Fitzroy Gardens
Macleay St
Potts Point

Visit the official event website at:  http://www.innercityarts.org.au
Ring 131500 or visit www.131500.com.au for the best public transport options.

Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig is a man known for his many talents. He was a cartoonist, poet, philosopher and artist, his cartoons have been featured as light humours as well as bearing strong political messages in the press.

In the "Things are great" exhibition, his works explore human's sad and happy moments, as the tide of times sail us through commercialism and globalisation, as well as the loneliness brought to all of us, by the growth of technological communication methods. The exhibition aims to create more meaningful relationships in the community and better mental health for us all.

This selection of Michael Leunig's cartoons are being exhibited around Sydney's local libraries:

2 - 14 November
Ultimo Library
Ultimo Community Centre
40 William Henry Street, Ultimo
Phone 9298 3110

15 - 29 November
Waterloo Library
770 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo
Phone 9288 5688

4 - 16 December
Kings Cross Library
Level 1, 50 - 52 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross
Phone 9246 4530

Visit the Sydney Libraries website for further information on the exhibition and how to get to the libraries.

The event runs from the 1st of Nov to the 18th Nov, so it would be the last week to catch a glimpse of the talented sculptors at work. This year, a line up from 100 different artists from 18 different countries, it's surely an event not to be missed.

And who would want to miss it? With Sydney weather slowly clearing up, it is extremely pleasant to be walking along the cliff walk enjoying the sea breathe and the beautiful coast line. When you eventually get to Tamarama, lay down your beach towel and go for a dip in the warm ocean that Sydney is ever so proud of.

For further information visit Sculpture by the Sea website. Use public transport to avoid hassles with parking. Information on Sydney buses and trains, call 131500, or visit: Sydney Transport Info Web.

Get out of the city center this Sunday and enjoy a day of food, music and craft stores in the inner west at the Newtown Festival.

Held annually, Newtown Festival is a fundraiser event for the Newtown Neigbourhood Centre (NNC), who provides community service to the aged, people with disabilities, people with mental illness, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people on low incomes.

The event will be held at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, easily accessible by public transport and will be a day packed with bands, market stalls, licensed bars, international food stalls, writers corner and activities for children. A donation for the NNC will be welcomed.

After the festival, enjoy a cup of great coffee in one of Newtown's many good cafes, or shop to your heart's content among the boutique and alternative fashion stores Newtown is well known for. Stay late and party into the night starting with the famous happy hour at Kuletos Cocktails Bar and enjoy the atmosphere of inner west Sydney.

Date and Time: 11 Nov 2007, 9:30am - 5:30pm

Venue:Camperdown Memorial Rest Park

Entry:Free but a small donation to the NNC is welcome
Further information:

Newtown Festival 2007 website
Kuletos Cocktail Bar
Sydney Transport Information

The event is joined by another thirty locations across the country and was extremely successful last year with Sydney and Melbourne attracting the support of 40,000 people.

There will be music, speakers and information on other ways you can help and support the cause for climate change.

Date and Time: 11 Nov 2007 starting 1pm

Venue: Starting at The Domain, the walk will take you looping the city streets before returning to the domain.

Further Information:

Walk Against Warming website

Some of Sydney's best music gigs and where to find them.

Stephen Schafer
Jazz
May 2
Wine Banq bar, Sydney
Tickets: $10

Diesel
Pop/rock
May 4
The Vanguard, Sydney
Tickets $28 + booking fee

Guy Sebastian
Pop
May 4, 5
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Tickets: $80 to $120

Dave Matthews Band, Xavier Rudd
Folk/pop/rock
May 5
Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park
Tickets: $99.90

Pink
Pop
May 11, 12, 13
Entertainment Centre, Sydney
Tickets: $89.90 (some shows sold out - ticket enquiry only)

Keith Urban
Country/pop
May 15
Acer Arena, Sydney
Tickets: $85.90 - $119.90

Sneaky Sound System
Pop/funk
May 17
Mean Fiddler, Sydney
Tickets: $25

Grinspoon
Pop/rock
June 1
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: sold out (ticket enquiry only)

Stories in the Dark
April 30 to May 11
A world premiere play by award-winning writer Debra Oswald, Stories in the Dark tells the story of Anna and a 12 year-old boy she befriends. Set against a backdrop of war, it mixes the magic of fairytales with a struggle to survive. At Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. More info

Ann Howard's Original Oil Paintings
1 May to 31 May
An exhibition of Chinese-American Hsiao-Yen (Ann) Howard's magical realism oil paintings. At Finks restaurant, Waverton. More info

Jackie Collins
May 3
Author Jackie Collins will be at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel for a luncheon on May 3 to mark the launch of her 25th novel, Drop Dead Beautiful. Tickets $68. More info

Tattoo Spectacular
May 5
Featuring nearly 900 entertainers this year, the Tattoo Spectacular has evolved from its origins as a call for soldiers to return to their barracks into an annual theatrical event. This year's Spectacular features The Band & Bugles of The Rifles, The Band of the Grenadier Guards and special guests Anthony Callea and Deni Hines. At Acer Arena, Olympic Park. Tickets $89 - $116. More info

The Garden Show
Until May 20
The Garden Show is an invitational show featuring a collection of creative clay pieces. See interesting designs and everything for Autumn. Inner City Claw Workers Gallery, Glebe. More info

Head On: Alternative Portraits
Until May 26
Head On is an annual national portrait prize and exhibition, now in its fourth year. This year's collection represents a diverse cross-section of new and traditional works. At the Australian Centre for Photography, Paddington. Free entry. More info

The Leonardo Da Vinci Machines: An Exhibition of Genius
Until July 1
On display for the first time in Sydney, this exhibition displays over 60 models of Da Vinci's famous machines, inventions and designs based on ancient codices. Now showing at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. More info

The Amazing Human Body Exhibition
Until June 11
The Amazing Human Body Exhibition examines the complexity and intricacy of the human body. Using a preserving method called "plastination", the exhibition features over 400 real human specimens to help teach children and adults alike about human physiology. On now at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Tickets: Adult $23, children $15. More info

Clive James
June 19
Writer, poet, critic and commentator Clive James will be reading from and promoting his new book "Cultural Amnesia: Notes In The Margin Of My Time" at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, Surry Hills on June 19. Tickets $15. More info

9 Shades of Whiteley
Until September 9
This exhibition, held in Brett Whiteley’s last home and studio, is a mini-retrospective tracing the life and career of one of Australia's greatest artists. Among the works featured are Whiteley's first work, Self Portrait at Sixteen, July Painting, and Dixon Street. Now showing at the Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills. Tickets: $5 to $7. More info

However, not all is that bad. Dig deep enough and you will find great surprises. Apart from the luxurious French cuisine and overly expensive steaks, there is one restaurant which stands apart from all the others.

Welcome to Blackbird Café, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Located on the balcony level above Lindt chocolate bar and Nick’s, this establishment is, in a way, the black sheep in the herd. While all the other places serve you in a restrained top notch manner, this venue takes you to a wholly new environment.

Imagine dining with harbour views, commercial house music pumping in the background, a live DJ and hip casually dressed staff. The other restaurants play either classical music or no music at all, with snobbish staff dressed in a generic uniform.

It feels as if you’re eating in a nightclub. Always a good mood setter, considering that in nearby King Street Wharf, the equally stunning Cargo Bar is the perfect next stop.

Food here is good. Excellent beef fillet (read: steak), great pasta, interesting kangaroo fillet and really good burgers. Food doesn’t take that long to arrive, as opposed to some places I have been to (one place in Leichhardt took half an hour for pasta). Most are less than $20.

The staff here are attentive, on par with Café Courtyard and Caffé Cino service. On occasion, you might see an oddly dressed head waiter entertaining the crowd with his antics as he takes your order. One day an Ali G, the next day a Funky Afro Bro. If you’re unsure of what to order, they give good advice on what to eat. Plus, they won’t recommend the most expensive, just the best thing to eat.

The drinks menu here is what I love the most. They used to serve Hoegaardens here, which was one of their draws. However, despite the absence of that very excellent Belgian beer, they serve Smirnoff Black, Smirnoff Blue shooters, Grey Goose; in short, a wide variety of vodka for a restaurant. In addition, they have interestingly named cocktails.

The one passable sin here is their chocolate mousse. Good chocolate mousse but after a while, you feel sick. It is really, really rich, as rich as the chocolate platter served in Sheraton on the Park.

If you ever plan to come, expect the place to be full at any time, especially during weekends. If you arrive but your party is still on their way, you can wait by the centre bar. Don’t worry about the seating. If seating takes a while, you can still enjoy the pleasant surroundings of the bar and the DJ mixing the decks. Remember, it also ‘functions’ as a ‘nightclub.’

When my friend Karen flew in from Adelaide early this month, I brought her for dinner at Blackbird. She loved the place. She comes to Sydney often and always expects to pay at least $30 for dinner. She was surprised that she didn’t have to pay for the harbour views. Cheers!

Anyway, today is as good as any to introduce a restaurant I have come to love since arriving here two years back. My cousin told me of this place, and it was once featured Condé Nast Traveller a while back. I’m talking about Opium Den.

Opium Den is a discrete little restaurant in Potts Point, just a ten minute walk away from Kings Cross Station. Don’t let the name fool you; this restaurant is no sleazy venue like the other more renowned establishments in the Cross. Located along Macleay Street and surrounded by a leafy neighbourhood, this restaurant is worth the trek. Among the better Thai places I’ve encountered.

The shop frontage isn’t very conspicuous. The signage is small and unless you know what you’re looking for, you’re sure to walk past it. Plate glass windows provide a view to the world outside.

Inside, mirrors dominate one wall while a central communing table sits in the middle one dining section. The feeling is very woody and earthy, with no pseudo-Buddha statues anywhere in sight. The décor is simple and has a very cosy atmosphere around it. There are more seats at the back and though at first glance, the restaurant seems tiny, it is actually very long.

The menu is extensive, though lacks much selection in seafood. The dishes are reasonably priced, with most mains below $20. Portions are considerably large, making it good for sharing. I once brought two friends from Melbourne, along with two other friends, here once and in total, I spent less than $80 for food. Add in the wine, it barely touched $100.

Their green curry is excellent; their selection of beef in a multitude of cooking techniques superb and their fried rice with crab is simply delicious.

Despite the excellent ambience and delectable menu, the tables leave much to be desired. If dining with more than 2 others, you get decently large tables. If the main table is full and you’re dining with just one other, you might be placed on the smaller tables by the windows or mirrors. This is small. I went with CK a few weeks back and we struggled with two mains, two bowls of rice and water on our tiny table.

Apart from that, they do not have a wine list. So, if you plan to wine and dine, fret not. There is an excellent wine cellar just three doors down. The staff will help you there.

Which brings me to staff. The staff are really helpful and food arrives promptly and quickly, always serving with a smile.

So, if you’re looking for a sleazy-ily named restaurant with a very dark feel but a somewhat charming atmosphere, I suggest you try Opium Den on Macleay Street, Potts Point. And if you’re dining with 4 others and your table barely fits your dishes, the staff come out with a very useful food stand! They don’t serve opium though. Cheers!

Some of Sydney's best music gigs and where to find them.

Herbie Hancock
Jazz
April 23, 24
State Theatre, Sydney
Tickets $129.90

Birds of Tokyo
Pop/rock
May 3
Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills
Tickets tba
May 6
Spectrum Theatre, Darlinghurst
Tickets tba

Beyonce
Soul/RnB
April 26
Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour
Tickets $103.40 - $134.40

Missy Higgins
Pop/ indie/ alternative
May 2
Roxy Hotel, Parramatta
Tickets $49.90
May 4, 5, 6
Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Tickets $59.90

30 Seconds to Mars
Pop/rock
May 4
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Tickets $56.60

James Morisson
Pop/rock/soul
May 12, 13
Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Tickets $61.40
Silverchair
Pop/rock
May 9
Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Tickets $53.50 (by ticket enquiry only)

New Buffalo
Acoustic
May 10
Factory Theatre, Newtown
Tickets $12