Can't bear the weekend ending? Need a better reason than work to get out of bed at the beginning of the week? Here are ten excellent ways to spend a Monday night in Sydney.
Free films and trivia at the Soda Factory
Pop down to the
Soda Factory on a Monday to catch a free film. Before the curtain rises at 8pm, there are two rounds of themed trivia from 7pm, with a $200 dinner tab going to the victorious team. Doors open at 5pm and $5 beers and wines are sold until 8pm, while hot dogs and sides are $5 all night long. Keep an eye on the program via the
Soda Factory's What's On page.
Find the Soda Factory at 16 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills; (02) 02 8096 9120.
Both emerging and major acts appear at the Comedy Lounge on Monday nights
The laidback yet high-quality
Comedy Lounge happens every Monday, starting at 8pm and finishing at 10pm. The program usually features a mix of up-and-comers and big names. Previous headliners include Fiona O'Loughlin, Daniel Townes, Dave Eastgate, Dave Thornton and Tom Ballard. Doors open at 5pm for happy hour, with $7 pizzas and $5 drinks served until 7pm. Entry to the comedy show is just $10/$8 (conc.). It's usually pretty busy, so get there early to nab a seat. Check out the program via the
Facebook page.
The Comedy Lounge is held at the Cafe Lounge, which you'll find at 277 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9016 3951.
Jazz jam sessions and board games at Venue 505
Head down to
Venue 505 for a jazz jam session and as many board games as you can handle. Expect local, interstate and international players to drop by - and if you know your diminished chords from your major 7s, take your instrument along. It's free entry. Doors open at 6pm and the music starts at 8.30pm.
Find Venue 505 at 280 Cleveland Street (on the corner of Perry Street), Surry Hills.
One of Sydney's most popular open mics happens at the Hard Rock Cafe every Monday
Whether you're an aspiring musician or you're curious about what aspiring musicians sound like, head down to the Hard Rock Cafe for
the weekly open mic night, which kicks off every Monday from 8pm. On 4 May 2015, the legendary event celebrates its third anniversary. Keep up with developments - and outstanding new talent - via the
Facebook page.
Find the Hard Rock Cafe at T-Bar, Darling Harbour; ph: (02) 9280 0077.
The Golden Barley's trivia night tests out the most knowledgeable brains in the city
One of the city's busiest and toughest trivia nights is held at the
Golden Barley Hotel on Mondays from 7.15pm. Fair warning: even if you think you know your stuff, be prepared to find yourself up against some serious competition. Entry is $2 and prizes include jugs, tabs and a jackpot of up to $1,000.
Find the Golden Barley at 165-169 Edgeware Rd, Enmore; ph: (02) 9565 1166.
Frankie's World Famous House Band
Things never slow down at
Frankie's Pizza By The Slice, regardless of what day of the week it is. There's live entertainment every night and, on Mondays, it's
Frankie's World Famous House Band, from 9pm. The three-piece plays classic hard rock and metal covers, with special guests dropping by frequently. Frankie's stays open till 3am. Yes, even on a Monday.
Find Frankie's Pizza By The Slice at 50 Hunter St, City; email: pizza@frankiespizzabytheslice.com
.
End your weekend - or start your week - by getting creative
Counter the excesses of the weekend - or the initial grind of the working week - with an informal
life drawing experience at the Friend in Hand. The three-hour class, led by Geoffrey Goodes, starts at 6.30pm. Warm up by capturing a series of one-minute poses before the model relaxes into two twenty-minute sessions. Entry is by $15 donation.
Find the Friend in Hand at 58 Cowper Street, Glebe. Contact Mr Goodes on 0408 654 099 or at gngoodes@gmail.com.
$20 tickets go on sale at 6pm
Every Monday at 6pm, the Griffin Theatre Company sells remaining tickets for that night's show for $20 a pop. Anyone can access Monday Rush. The trick is you have to turn up at the SBW Stables Theatre, where Griffin holds its performances, in person.
Find the Stables at 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross; (02) 9361 3817.
Dance in the dark, without worrying about who's watching
Surrender $5 at the door for your chance to dance in the dark, without any inhibitions, for a solid hour.
No Lights No Lycra is an initiative started in 2009 by Alice Glenn and Heidi Barrett, two dance students from Melbourne, who wanted to encourage people to dance without worrying about what they looked like and whether or not they had the right moves. It now happens
all over the world. In Bondi, No Lights No Lycra starts at 7.30pm every Monday and is held in the Seagull Room at the Bondi Pavilion.
Find it on Queen Elizabeth Drive, right on Bondi Beach. To contact the organisers, email nolightsnolycrasydney@gmail.com.
Classes for all levels and social dancing
Known as
iLatinDance, the night starts at 7pm, with two hours of lessons, before giving way to social dancing until 10pm. The lessons cater to all levels, but if you're a complete beginner, you'd best turn up for the 8pm class. Participants are invited to dress casually and there's no need to take a partner. iLatinDance costs $15 per night or buy a six-week pass for $80.
Find the Collector Hotel at 100 George Street, Parramatta. Contact iLatinDance on 0416 272 685.
