The Daily Planner

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday January 10, 2008

Compiled by Angie Schiavone theplanner@smh.com.au 9282 2142

BEST ECO ADVICE

Kermit had it right: it's not easy being green. But with the right advice it might not be so difficult. Rebecca Blackburn, environmental scientist and author of Green is Good: Smart Ways To Live Well And Help The Planet, will offer insight into which eco-friendly practices have the biggest impact so you can focus your energy in the most effective way. Pick up practical, easy solutions that will "make a difference" and be sure to ask Adyar Bookshop staff about other in-store events on the calendar.

Tonight, 6-7.15pm, free, Adyar Bookshop, 230 Clarence Street, city, 9267 8509, adyar.com.au.

BEST WINE

Take a flight to Friuli in Italy, then Alsace in France and finish at Central Otago in New Zealand. You won't be travelling by air or sea though; this is a pinot gris wine flight. Try a trio of wines - 2006 Masi Masianco, 2004 Hugel Tradition and 2006 Nevis Bluff - and learn about this grape variety with Cafe Sydney's sommelier, Todd Cummins. Discover how different soil, climate and wine-making techniques affect what is poured into your wine glass.

Daily, from noon, $18, Cafe Sydney, Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, 9251 8683, cafesydney.com.

BEST GUITARIST

See prolific recording artist and genius guitarist Bob Brozman, tonight at Lizotte's Restaurant on the Central Coast, before he heads to the Thredbo Blues Festival (January 11 to 13, see thredboblues.com). While Brozman pushes his custom-designed guitars to the limit, you can dine on fantastic modern Australian food from the Lizotte's kitchen. Show starts at 9.30pm with dinner service from two hours prior, $85 includes main meal and $65 is bar stool seating with a tasting plate. Tonight, 6.30pm, $85/$65, Lizotte's, Lot 3 Avoca Drive, Kincumber, 4368 2017, lizottes.com.au.

BEST PLAYS

Sex And The City has nothing on Angry Young Women In Low-Rise Jeans With High-Class Issues, a play by Matt Morillo at the Old Fitzroy Theatre. Expect plenty of laughs and irreverent talk about men, women and ladies underwear. Mile High, about a couple sorting out their relationship issues on a 23-hour flight to New York, is on stage after Angry Young Women, and tickets are just $10 if the seats for the two shows are booked together.

Tonight, 7.30pm, $28/$20 or beer, laksa and show $34, Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo, 1300 438 849, trstheatre.com.au.

BEST ART TALK

Eat Drink Talk Art; the event's name sums up what you can expect from the series of free talks held at the Mint as part of the Sydney Festival. Today's talk is with Oscar Hernandez, pianist, arranger and producer, who is in town with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Hernandez will speak about his lifetime of music-making, with music journalist Cristina Dio. The series ends on January 25 with a festival wrap, with the artistic director, Fergus Linehan.

Today, 1pm, free, The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, city, sydneyfestival.org.au.

BEST KIDS' SHOW

Do the pumpkin mash with the fairy godmother, play air guitar with the prince and dance the macarena at the ball at a singing and dancing stage show of Cinderella, "a ball for all". The colourful interactive show is perfect for kids aged two to 12, who can bring a toy or book to contribute to a Children's Hospital toy appeal. Performances continue throughout January at venues in Sydney and regional NSW. Today, 10am, $11, Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL, 9559 0000, and 4pm, $12.90, Ryde Civic Centre, 132 849, cinderellashow.com.

BEST ANTIQUES

Antique shops are treasure troves for those who love all things old and not so new, making the Blue Mountains (with more than 30 antique shops) an undeniable paradise. The largest variety of antiquities in the area can be found at Victory Theatre Antique Centre at Blackheath. You'll find furniture, jewellery, art works, rugs, light fittings, books, records, needlework and much more. Take plenty of time to browse in person (with a coffee break at the cafe in store) or shop online.

Daily, 10am-5pm, free entry, Victory Theatre Antique Centre, 17-19 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath, 4787 6002, victorytheatre.com.au.

BEST COMEDY

Australian expat comedian Brendon Burns is back in town for another round of ranting, raving, swearing and making people laugh. See Burns at the Sydney Comedy Store tonight, Friday and Saturday, with fellow stand-up comedians Julia Wilson and Daniel Townes.

Tonight, 8.30pm, $22/$17, Sydney Comedy Store, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, 9357 1419, comedystore.com.au.

BEST MOVIE

Relax on the lawns of the Overflow at Sydney Olympic Park for a free movie night. Stars Claire Danes, Vanessa Redgrave and Toni Collette will light up the big screen in Evening, about two sisters learning there was much more to their mother's life than they'd ever imagined. Food stalls open from 6pm, film starts at sundown. Tonight, 6pm, free, the Overflow, Sydney Olympic Park, near ANZ Stadium, sydneyfestival.org.au or sydneyolympicpark.com.au.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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