I have turned off the BBQ and dusted off my pen and am excited to have joined the Two Flat Whites Team. Over the course of the year, I will be providing you, the Two Flat Whites readers with a commentary on some of the spectacular, wacky and unique towns and places this wonderful country of ours has to offer.

We get the ball point rolling and shine the spot light on the inner west. Glebe is an eclectic slice of Sydney. The diverse groups of people that live, shop and visit Glebe get a real feel of the Bohemian culture. The area is renowned for its young and fashionable art loving, book devouring and coffee consuming atmosphere.

Glebe was discovered by the English very quickly on the arrival of the First Fleet. Its name derives from the land on which it was developed. Originally owned by the Church of England, ‘The Glebe’ was a land grant of 400 acres given by Governor Arthur Phillip to Reverend Richard Johnson, Chaplain of the First Fleet, in 1790.

Today, Glebe has a population of about 14 thousand residents, with almost half of them aged between 20 and 39. The area houses an abundance of charming bookshops, multicultural restaurants, divine cafes, funky pubs and bars. Glebe is also home to the Anzac Bridge, Wentworth Park, Fish Markets, Valhalla theatre and the rejuvenated Sydney Tram System.

Annual events include The Glebe Street Fair and Glebe Music Festival in November, the Sydney Teapot Show in August every year and the upcoming Sydney Shakespeare Festival. Established in 2007, the annual Sydney Shakespeare Festival has fast become a fixture on Sydney’s summer calendar. Shakespeare’s plays have captured the imagination of millions of people throughout the world for over 400 years and are as exciting and provocative now as the day they were written. Grab a picnic, a bottle of wine, your friends and head to Sydney’s spectacular harbour foreshore for a night of theatrical magic from the 7th January to 14th February 2010.

Article written by the Travelling Larrikin.

The really wonderful thing about film is that it can be open for anyone and everyone to participate.  All that is required is a video camera and an idea – whether you’re making a movie in Hollywood, in Bollywood, or…in Glebe.

Indeed, there I was – just five days after Hollywood’s night of nights, the Oscars – strolling through the gritty streets of Glebe on my way to a community cinema event put on by Glebe Youth Service.  One of the primary goals of the Youth Service has been to help guide the young (and often disadvantaged) people of Glebe to a positive future.  The youth workers firmly believe that this can be achieved by working with the youth on activities that bring the community together.  Tonight’s event was coordinated by one of their tireless workers, Keiran Kevans.  Keiran is surely one of the most selfless people you’re likely to meet in the welfare industry – and that’s saying something!

One of the movies screened – a short-film called The Badge – was produced by Short Black Films.  Short Black Films is an initiative funded by the City of Sydney Council and run by Australian actor Vincent McManus.  The idea behind Short Black Films is that they go into various inner-west suburbs and work with the local Aboriginal youth to put together short-films.  The young people are involved in all aspects of the process.  This includes initial brainstorming and discussion of themes, through to writing the script, acting in the film, and even producing music for the sound track.  It is through this open collaboration that the great success of Short Black Films reveals itself.  Show me a teenager who wouldn’t be excited to see him/herself in a movie.  Or be thrilled to hear their music accompany a movie.  Or revel in hearing a crowd laugh at a joke they had written.  As soon as any form of ownership is associated with a project, there comes a feeling of pride, worth, and ultimately, inspiration.

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Glebe Youth Service is a non-government youth service dedicated to the recreation and support of young people who live, work, study or play in the Glebe area. Young people aged 12 to 24 are welcomed into the service to have fun, get to know our workers and get assistance with any issue that they have concerns about.

The majority of young people that attend the service are from the Glebe Housing Estate. Most are Aboriginal and many come from backgrounds that have left them with serious disadvantage. Our goal is to provide them with the skills and information they need to move forward in a positive way.

The Glebe Community Cinema Festival is on Saturday 28th February at 7:30pm. Screening on the night will be ‘The Badge’ – a film made by Young People at Glebe Youth Service and the City of Sydney, as well as a film clip to music produced by local youth.  Also, a mystery feature film will be screened.  Food and beverages will be available by gold coin donation.

For further info people can contact Keiran at Glebe Youth Service on or .  Glebe Youth Service (GYS) website:  www.glebeyouth.org.au

Celebrate summer on Sydney’s fabulous harbour foreshore with the Sydney Shakespeare Festival 2009 . The festival kicks off in January with performances on alternate nights of Shakespeare’s fiercely fun farce, The Comedy of Errors and his gruesome tragedy, Macbeth. FREE for children 12 years and under, people with disabilities and people aged 65 years and over, the festival is on Thursday to Sunday at 8pm from 8 January until 15 February 2009 in Bicentennial Park, Glebe Foreshore. Check the website to see what play is on each night.

Shakespeare’s plays have captured the imagination of millions of people throughout the world for over 400 years and are as exciting and provocative now as the day they were written. In The Comedy of Errors two sets of identical twins, each unknown to the other move in and out of each others’ spheres with dire, often ludicrous, farcical and increasingly nightmarish consequences. In Macbeth vaulting ambition and corrosive guilt culminating in murder and madness, along with witchcraft and ghosts provide spectacle and insight into the darker side of human nature.

In its second year, this annual outdoor festival is fast becoming a fixture on Sydney’s summer calendar. Outdoor theatre is the most accessible and historical performance style and is a great way to spend a summer evening. So bring a picnic and enjoy the magic of Shakespeare under the stars, all while taking in spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney City skyline.

Funnyman & well-known television, radio and stand-up comedian, Wil Anderson , performed one of his hilarious stand-up comedy shows at the Roxbury Hotel in Glebe last night. Two Flat Whites caught the show & enjoyed the entertainment including the four comedians leading up to the main event.

The Roxbury Hotel is a wonderful establishment with a diverse cool crowd. They often hold functions, have plenty of space to chill, have a few drinks, kick up your heels & enjoy a wonderful meal.

Wil is a stand up first and foremost, touring Australia and the world at every opportunity, performing more than a hundred shows a year, currently in his show titled BeWILdered . You can hear him on the nations airwaves on Triple M’s national Drive Show, “Wil and  Lehmo” in Melbourne & he is probably best known for hosting ABC-TVs AFI Award winning program, The Glass House , which was on screen for many years.

We have always enjoyed Wil’s quick wit. Seeing him live for the first time though was an experience in itself. He not only brings people together to make them laugh, he is also very professional, obviously really enjoys what he does & brings messages about issues we face in the world today to his act & he does it in a humorous & intelligent way.

Catch Wil Anderson when he performs near you. He will make you laugh & when you leave the show you will want to come back for more. And remember, laughter feeds the soul!

Article by Robbie Ryan

Sydney Teapot Show 2008
Inner City Clayworkers Gallery
Cnr St Johns Rd & Darghan St
Glebe NSW
Ph:
www.clayworkers.com.au
Open 10:30am to 6:00pm everyday