Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2013

Slither into the Year of the Snake

In February 2013 don your best red outfit, adorn yourself with a bloodstone, find your inner schemer and slither your way into the Year of the Snake at one of Sydney's favourite festivals. Sydney Chinese New Year Festival kicks off with a festive bang on Friday 8 February and closes with the splash of dragon boat racing on Sunday 24 February.

And in between you'll find everything from art exhibits, film festivals and markets to lunar feasts at top Sydney restaurants and of course, the ever popular Chinese New Year Twilight Parade.

The Year of the Snake. Image from Sydney Chinese New Year website.

Sydney's festival lays claim to the title of the biggest Chinese New Year Festival outside mainland China. There's so much happening that Sydney needs more than two weeks to fit it all in. For full details of the more than eighty events and activities on offer - many of them free - see the website here, but below is a summary of the festival's not-to-be-missed highlights.

Highlights

Chinese New Year Markets

The festival begins with the authentic sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a Chinese marketplace, transforming Sydney's Belmore Park into a little piece of China. The festival's opening weekend serves up food stalls, Chinese arts and crafts, entertainment, and the Chinese New Year AYAM Kitchen where former Master Chef favourites, Adam Liaw and Alvin Quah, will be giving cooking demonstrations and tips.

Image from Sydney Chinese New Year website.

When: Friday 8 February from 4pm to 10pm, Saturday 9 February from 11am to 7pm, Sunday 10 February from 11am to 5pm.
Where: Belmore Park, Eddy Avenue, Sydney (opposite Central Station).
Cost:Free


Festival Launch

In addition to the Friday night markets, there will be lion dances, firecrackers to scare away the last of the previous year's problems, and entertainment from the crew at SBS PopAsia, to celebrate the festival's official launch.

Image for Sydney Chinese New Year Festival website.

When: Friday 8 February from 6pm to 8pm
Where: Belmore Park, Eddy Avenue, Sydney (opposite Central Station).
Cost: Free


Twilight Parade

The magical, annual procession of floats, lanterns, acrobats and dancers will once again make its way from Sydney Town Hall to Harbour Street, to the backdrop of Sydney's beautifully illuminated buildings. There's also pre-parade entertainment and post-parade fireworks at Cockle Bay.

Image from Sydney Chinese New Year Festival website.

When and Where: Sunday 17 February. The evening begins at Sydney Town Hall at 7pm, with the parade from 8pm and festivities conclude with the Cockle Bay fireworks.
Cost: Free. There is also limited VIP seating available for $66 per person. Call 02 9265 9333 for information and to book.


Lunar Feasts

This year's festival introduces Lunar Feasts, where some of Sydney's top Asian restaurants will be offering set price meals to celebrate the new year. You can experience everything from vegan yum cha or an eight course lunch banquet to "Food of Tasteful Pleasure' or a premium deluxe banquet.

These specials will be available throughout the festival, but bookings are essential and ensure you read the fine print (some conditions apply). You can find the list of participating restaurants and details of their specials here.

Image from Sydney Chinese New Year Festival website

When: From 8 to 24 February 2013
Where: Participating restaurants
Cost: Ranges from $20 to $50 per person.


Dragon Boat Races

See the powerful yet poetic spectacle of dragon boat racing on the last weekend of the festival. The 12 metre long boats seat twenty paddlers along with a sweep and a drummer. Competition will be fierce and exciting at Darling Harbour.

Image from Sydney Chinese New Year Festival website.

When: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February 2013.
Where: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour
Cost: Free

Australia Tops US ‘Dream Destination’ List

Is topping a list of ‘dream destinations’ a good thing? On the one hand, you’d appear as an idyllic destination, a place to which people would ideally love to travel. On the other hand, you’d appear as an idyllic destination, a place to which people couldn’t travel.

Regardless of its perception, or misperception, as a pipe-dream destination, the country’s position at the top of a list of dream vacation spots for clients of US travel agents would still bring a smile to the faces of Australian tourism authorities.

According to a survey conducted by North America’s largest travel agency franchisor – Travel Leaders Group – of its owners, managers and agents, Australia was chosen as the destination clients would most love to visit – if money were no object.

With agents allowed to choose up to three destinations each, Australia garnered 47 percent of votes, followed by Bora Bora (26 percent), world cruising (20 percent), Tahiti and Italy (17 percent each). 

Other dream destinations of note included Antarctica (12th place), which earned 9.5 percent of votes, and the Galapagos Islands (13th place), which scored just over six percent of votes.  

The disparity between realistic and (sometimes) unattainable, but desired, destinations is evidenced by France’s position on the list. A constant among US travellers’ top five international vacation spots, the European nation ranks a relatively lowly 16th position on the dream destination list, with just 3.5 percent of votes.

(Source: eTravelblackboard)

Ellen DeGeneres Taking Talk Show to Australia in March

Spunky talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will take The Ellen DeGeneres Show to Melbourne and Sydney this March to film several segments that will air to her global audience in April

Oprah’s “Ultimate Australian Adventure” may not have initially driven tourists Down Under in the high numbers predicted by Tourism Australia (the situation has since improved), but it appears that her travels did inspire another US television personality to visit the country.

Spunky talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will take The Ellen DeGeneres Show to Melbourne and Sydney this March to film several segments that will air to her global audience in April.

The visit, announced by the 13-time Emmy Award winner during the taping of her January 11segment, will be co-sponsored by Australian vitamin company Swisse Wellness and Qantas Airways. Swisse will launch 15 of its most popular products in Walgreens stores across the US next month as part of its global expansion initiative.

“Ellen represents our healthy and happy culture and celebrates life every day – key pillars of our wonderful Australian company,” said Swisse Wellness CEO Radek Sali in a company statement.
“There is no doubt bringing Ellen to Australia and signing Australia’s own Nicole Kidman as the global face of our brand will go down in history as watershed moments for our company. It is a benchmark way to launch our brand globally.”

Kidman, who also appeared on the show that day, urged Ellen to add the outback town of Kununurra, Western Australia – where Kidman’s film Australia was shot – to her list of destinations.

Though Ellen fans will not accompany her on the trip, the 400-person studio audience present during the segment’s taping received an airline ticket from Qantas for travel to Sydney or Melbourne anytime in the next 12 months, with six nights’ accommodation at a four-star hotel included. (Turns out Ellen’s birthday is on Australia Day and she felt everyone deserved a gift.)

Despite being married to Australian actress Portia de Rossi since 2008, Ellen has never visited Australia.

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Etihad Signs ‘Multimillion Dollar Deal’ With Sydney Opera House

Etihad Airways has signed a three-year, multi-million dollar partnership with Sydney Opera House in a bid to further grow its cultural profile in Australia.

The Abu Dhabi airline become the cultural icon’s exclusive international airline partner, and it will develop a range of joint initiatives to promote tourism to Sydney and increase the opera house’s capacity.

New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, said it will further Sydney’s tourism and cultural profile too, and help attract more international artists to the state.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO, said the opera house is one of the world’s architectural wonders, recognised the world over, and from today, it becomes “the most culturally valuable asset in our global sponsorship portfolio”.

The airline is already involved with Melbourne Recital Centre, Biennale of Sydney, Arab Film Festival Australia, Islamic Museum of Australia and Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.

“Strategic investments such as these in tourism and the community – with their flow-on economic effects – are the foundation of our enduring partnership with Australia,” he said.

The partnership complements the recent $6 million marketing agreement which Etihad Airways had signed with Tourism Australia to promote travel from the Middle East, UK and Europe.

Seven Weeks Until Oceania Cruises Debuts its Elegant Ship Marina in Australia

Award-winning cruise line Oceania Cruises is set to reveal its luxurious ship Marina down-under this March.  Currently cruising around the pristine French Polynesia, Marina is sailing her way to Australia with first port of call in Hobart on March 9th followed by Melbourne and Sydney. With style, taste and flare, Marina made her maiden voyage in January 2011 as the host of many firsts redefining the upper-premium cruise market. ~  The first hands-on cooking school at sea, Bon Appétit Culinary Center ~  The first namesake restaurant at sea of Master Chef Jacques Pépin ~  The first Ralph Lauren Home furnished Owner's Suites and luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson ~  The first Wine Spectator wine program ~  The first Lalique grand stairway Carrying 1250 guests, onboard facilities include 10 dining venues (six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants), an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs. The exclusive Bon Appétit Culinary Center, available on Marina and sister ship Riviera, features 24 fully equipped work stations with induction cook tops and convection ovens.  Oceania Cruise's culinary enrichment program Culinary Discovery Tours provides guests the opportunity to explore local food markets in small groups alongside an expert chef.   Recently honoured with two prestigious awards for "Best Dining" and "Best Suites" at the Cruise Critic 2012 Editors' Picks on December 4th, Oceania Cruises is renowned for its world-class gourmet cuisine, unparalleled service and award-winning itineraries.

(Source: Travmedia.com)

Paris Opera Ballet - Capitol Theatre, Sydney

2013 marks the triumphant return to Sydney of the Paris Opera Ballet, universally regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest ballet company in the world.

This incomparable ensemble will perform an exclusive Sydney season of Giselle, one of the best-loved and most enduring of all of the great classic ‘white' ballets.

As a French work, conceived, choreographed, composed and danced by French artists, Giselle is the quintessential romantic ballet, and it remains, understandably, one of the most important cornerstones of the company's repertoire.

Their production, with historic sets and costumes by Alexandre Benois, one of the original designers for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, is seen as by far the most ‘authentic' version of this masterpiece and the perfect showcase for this magnificent company and its sublime dancers.

‘Anyone lucky enough to have seen the Paris Opera Ballet on its first Australian visit will have a new benchmark for their ballet viewing.' - The Sydney Morning Herald

Alpine Horn on the Top of Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

Surfers, runners and early starters are in for a treat as Russian horn player Arkady Shilkloper brings his giant alphorn to iconic Sydney sites for a series of dawn callings.

These serenades to the sun will take place on beaches, ferries and city sites in the early hours, as Shilkloper helps you greet the new day.

A masterful performer, Shilkloper has played solo and with Moscow Art Trio (Sydney Festival 2009), the Vienna Art Orchestra and many more.
 

 

Russian Alpenhorn player wakes Sydney

Meet Arkady Shilkloper, he is a master Alpenhorn player from Russia and is here for the Sydney festival to wake up the city with his melodic horn in Dawn Calling.

HE HAS played his three-metre long alphorn at dawn on Bondi Beach, aboard the Manly ferry, in Hyde Park and even alongside the giant rubber duck temporarily berthed at Darling Harbour.

But on Wednesday morning, Russian alphorn player Arkady Shilkloper played atop the most recognisable Sydney location of all: the largest sail of the Sydney Opera House. Cutting a tiny figure from below, the multi-instrumentalist performed as part of the Sydney Festival as the city woke to a perfect summer’s day.

”It’s quite a special feeling because the audience is very enthusiastic,” Moscow-born Shilkloper said of performing at sunrise. ”It’s not just people who come by accident.”

“I Try to find the best place for acoustics and visual look” … the repertoire of Russian alphorn player Arkady Shilkloper ranges from traditional Swiss songs to improvisational jazz.

Of his choice of Sydney locations, Shilkloper said: ”I try to find the best place for acoustics and visual look. It’s kind of an improvisation.

Photo: Edwina Pickles

How To... Keep Your Belongings Safe Whilst Travelling

When it comes to travelling, one of the most important tasks is to keep yourself and your belongings safe.

It’s something that you need to be aware of at all times and can make even the simplest trip stressful.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your cool, and your wallet, on your next trip:

Low

• Keep cash and credit cards as well as photocopies of important documents in different places
• Wear all bags on the opposite shoulder to the one facing the road to decrease the chance of someone snatching the bag as they are driving
• Be aware of your surroundings – if it looks unsafe, leave
• Lock the doors and windows of your hotel room

Moderate

• For long trips ensure that you have a spare credit card that you can activate if your original gets lost or stolen
• Be careful about taking money out of ATMs, if possible do it near banks or hotels where security will be a little better, or buy everything on card
• Put locks on your handbags
• Close the blinds at your hotel so outsiders don’t know if you’re there or not

Extreme

• Take down serial numbers of all electronic goods that you are travelling with
• Stash credit cards inside your shoes
• Sew extra pockets on the inside of your pants
• Hide valuables around the hotel room i.e. under the bed
• Put something big, like a chair, or fragile, like glass, at your front door when you go to sleep so that you can hear if someone tries to break in. Be careful with this one if you are a sleepwalker and be aware that this may not be the safest option in the event of a fire

What not to do

• Don’t use waist or neck wallets, not only are they uncomfortable, but they also put a huge target on your belly
• Don’t put your wallet or passport in your pocket; they’re called ‘pick pockets’ for a reason!
• Don’t look too ‘expensive’ or ‘touristy’ when walking around foreign streets
• Don’t leave valuables lying around your hotel room, at the very least put them under some clothes

Shen Yun - Coming Soon To Capitol Theatre

Shen Yun, for Chinese, the words evoke a sense of wonder, magic, and the divine. To audiences who have seen it, they recall the experience of a lifetime - a moment so powerfully beautiful it touches the soul.

With the mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun performances are filled with stories, virtues, and fascinating details that weave from ancient times all the way to the present. Explore the richness and mystery of Chinese culture and learn about Shen Yun's dance, music, production, props, costumes, dynasties and heroes

Shen Yun Performing Arts presents colorful and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music. A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.



Shen Yun will have three performances at the Capitol Theatre in February 2013 on Monday 11 at 7pm, Tuesday 12 at 2pm and 7pm

Outdoor Smoking Bans to operate from 7 January 2013

From 7 January 2013, smoking will be banned in the following outdoor settings:

• Within 10 metres of children’s play equipment in outdoor public spaces (including children’s playground equipment located at licensed premises);
• At public swimming pools;
• In the spectator areas of sports grounds and major sporting facilities and other recreational areas when sport is being played;
• At public transport stops regardless of whether the area is covered
• Within four metres of a pedestrian access point to public buildings (licensed premises excluded until 6 July 2015)

Other than the ban which applies within 10 metres of children’s playground equipment, none of these bans will impact on licensed premises until 6 July 2015 when smoking will also be banned within 4 metres of an outdoor seated dining area and for 4 metres from a pedestrian access point to or exit from licensed premises.

Giant Duck Sends Darling Harbour Quackers For the Sydney Festival 2013

IT'S the centrepiece of a story about a little boy who loses his rubber duck, though how you could misplace this monster is hard to imagine. 

The 15m inflatable artwork known appropriately enough, as Rubber Duck came cruising into Cockle Bay at Darling Harbour yesterday to mark the opening of The Sydney Festival.
Sydney Festival 2013 

The Arrival, a two-hour show featuring dancing tug-boats, a flotilla of bathtubs, acrobats, dancers and a "quackophony'' of saxophones, built to the highly anticipated entrance of artist Florentijn Hofman's luminescent yellow duck under Pyrmont Bridge.

Thousands of bubble blowers, duck whistles and rubber ducks were passed into the crowd of about 30,000 spectators to get involved in as part of the show about the boy searching for his lost toy.

Darling Harbour was transformed into a giant bath tub yesterday - complete with bubbles and one very, very big rubber duck.

Festival director Lieven Bertels said the purpose of the floating celebration was to help young and old relive their childhood.

"We wanted to turn Darling Harbour into a giant bath tub,'' he said.

Meanwhile in Hyde Park, festival-goers danced and cheered as sporting hero "Humphrey'' ran a 42.2km marathon on a treadmill for Fun Run - the story of Greek messenger Pheidippides..

The evening soul rhythms blasted from The Domain from 7.30pm as 60,000 Sydneysiders grooved non-stop for three hours to the Daptone Super Soul Revue.

The massive outdoor dance party featured funk, gospel and afrobeat artists from the Brooklyn record label Daptone Records, including Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley and The Budos Band.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend an eclectic mix of theatre, music and dance over the next three weeks.

Bertels urged festival-goers to buy tickets ahead of time, with acts selling out fast.

"This Christmas period was the highest tickets sales over a weekend that the Sydney Festival has ever had,'' he said.

"The Spiegeltent is very popular again, with Cantina already sold out and tickets to Inside and Briefs selling fast.''

Some of the festival's top Australian and international acts include Indigenous singer Archie Road, a Francis Bacon retrospective at the Art Gallery of NSW and Rian, a Celtic/West African fusion of music and dance from Irish dance company Fabulous Beast.

Parramatta will also host a series of events including a free opening night party on January 19.

NSW Smoking Ban Smokers Like It

YESTERDAY’S introduction of strict outdoor smoking bans in NSW drew few objections on the Border; even smokers believe the tougher laws are a good idea.

It is now illegal to smoke in many outdoor public areas, including train stations, bus stops and sporting facilities.

Those who ignore the bans risk a $550 fine.

A smoker for more than 15 years, Duncan Cooper, of Albury was concerned about the harm passive smoke could do to children.

“I get passive smoke from my own cigarette when I’m not smoking it,” he said.
“For people’s health it will be a good thing.”

But he didn’t agree with the amount of the fine.

“Who has that amount of money these days?” he said.

Shane Vale said smoking away from people was common courtesy, NSW now made it law.
“It’s fair enough,” he said.

“I can understand that non-smokers don’t like to smell cigarette smoke, especially with kids around, but it’s not an illegal product ... it is a bit frustrating.”

The new laws are designed to protect people, particularly children, from passive smoke.
Eight-year-old Lily Ryan-McCormack is glad.

“Sometimes the smoke makes me have a bit of a headache,” she said.

“I smell it, and it smells really gross.”

The Asthma Foundation NSW yesterday applauded the NSW government’s decision, which will also see smoking banned from outdoor areas at venues where food is consumed from 2015.

“According to the most recent NSW government statistics, smoking-related illness accounts for about 5200 deaths and 44,000 hospitalisations per year in NSW and costs about $8 billion annually,”
Asthma Foundation NSW chief executive Michele Goldman said.

“Tobacco smoke is a key trigger for a potentially fatal asthma attack and is associated with higher rates of asthma.

“Children who live in homes where parents smoke are three times more likely to have asthma than children living in non-smoking homes.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin Road Show

These summer holidays, hit the road with Mickey Mouse and your favourite Disney friends for a hilarious talent search in the all-new Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show!

Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy set out on a zany road trip where audiences join in and help find the coolest acts around.

Along the way, hit a high note with Cinderella; get your bounce on with Tigger; and shout out your loudest “yee-haw” at a hoedown with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from Disney Pixar’s Toy Story! Grab your family for a fun-filled getaway at this live, show-stopping adventure jam-packed with unexpected twists, turns and hijinks.

For more information visit www.disneylive.com.au.

Show Dates and Times:

Sydney 11th-13th January

Sydney Entertainment Centre

Melbourne 24th-25th January

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - The Plenary