boom_meringue

We're less than 13 weeks away from the big move and I wanted to start getting some idea of the less well known or more 'arty' things to do and places to eat in Perth.

Any suggestions for arthouse cinema, small galleries or intimate restaurants with some character would be appreciated along with things that you think are brilliant about Perth and should not be missed.

Simone

Just quicky:

Leederville has a small cinema(art housey I guess, doesn't show big movies).
Also nice restuarants there(Green house or green room?, Sienna's for families, a nice Indian further up, and heaps more that we haven't tried yet), and some more boutique shops.
Also of course Subiaco and Fremantle for that kind of thing, and heaps more suburbs(mostly the more central suburbs, the 'established' ones)

There are plenty of galleries around, I guess check the yellow pages
Bigger ones Art Gallery in the city, and something in Fremantle(Arts centre), but lots of small ones spread around too, one here in Mt Hawthorn. Mt Hawthorn also has some boutique shops, and the New Norcia bakery, and some more original type pubs(Paddo, and Oxford(that's officially Leederville)

There's theatres, like His Majesty's in the city(or is it West Perth?), one in Subiaco, Burswood, and more.


I could start naming stuff, but it would just go on and on and on

boom_meringue

no please, start naming stuff! looking in the yellow pages is never as good as a recommendation from someone who has been there

TheCrone

Personally, I love His Majesty's Theatre, which is in the city. The Australian Ballet Company will be visiting shortly (sorry, can't be more precise, I've put the weekend papers out for recycling!) I've seen them perform there several times, also the Sydney Dance Co. My last visit was to see Maggie Steel in Talking Heads - wonderful. There's also a small bistro-style cafe, with tables out on the pavement as well as indoors.
The theatre in the Burswood Casino complex is reasonably good, if you don't mind a bit of a walk from the carparking area. This seems to get the big production shows from the Eastern States - Abba, Boy From Oz etc. You have to be careful when you book by phone, some of the seats have less-than-perfect vision. But there's a seating plan in the front of the Perth Telephone directory which you can check before paying the high prices that these shows command. I last saw the Red Army Choir and Dancers there, a couple of years ago and paid $95.00 per seat - and that was at Seniors' discounted price.
There are several 'art-house' type cinemas, the Luna has two venues, one in Leederville (tne one Simone mentioned), also one in the city. There's the Astor, a refurbished art deco delight, in Mount Lawley, and the Regal, which both shows films and stages shows, in Subiaco.
But the summer months are a culture-vulture's delight. There are many outdoor film shows, one in the grounds of Burswood, one in King's Park; but the one I like best is the Summerville, held in the grounds of the University of Western Australia. With a group of family and friends, we picnic on the lawns before settling down to enjoy a movie under the pines which surround the area.
And in Feb/March, there's the Annual Perth International Arts Festival (check piaf.com on the web). There are visiting orchestras, dancers, theatre from all over the world, together with international authors, writers, painters....it's an absolute feast!

boom_meringue

thanks guys, some fantastic suggestions there and they say that Oz has no culture!

Keep them coming

Vegemite Kids

I'm not a huge opera fan but some of the performances put on by the Australian Opera Studio at Midland are just amazingly fantastic. Check here for more info http://www.australianoperastudio.com.au/

Also at Midland is the Public art sculptures commisioned by the Midland Redevelopment Authority (dont know the website sorry). its very modern and not really to my taste but impressive anyway.

There are also some amazing open air concerts held at various vineyards in the Swan valley. Everything from opera to jazz to Harry Konick Jnr or Diana Krall.

If you like arthouse cinema you will probably love Luna Cinemas. Never been myself but one of the girls from work is a huge fan and always talking about it. its a contempory arthouse cinema with a couple of locations in Perth. she always goes to either the leederville one or the fremantle one (think its on Essex street) can get more details from suze on thursday if you want (Out of Office for next 2 days so wont see her till thurs)

For art galleries there are a couple of good ones up in the hills esp the one in Kalamunda (on railway road I think its just called the hills art gallery) Simone may know it better than me. Most of the really good boutique art galleries I know are down in the margaret river region.

Intimate restaurants are all over the place. Two of the best we've found are both Italian, One in attadale, just off Canning Highway and the other on the corner of Mill point road and Douglas Ave. cant remeber the name of either off the top of my head. email me when you get to Perth and I'll have remembered by then hopefully.



Ooooh forgot to say the Aboriginal/indiginous galley in fremantle has some pretty stunning stuff as well.


fremantle (and subiaco) probably has the most concentrated amount of galleries, restaurants, cinemas, "arty-farty" type things.

sophia

hi steve & clare,

the Luna cinemas are definitely worth a visit, the one in fremantle is on Essex street (am off there tomorrow as it happens!!) and shows lots of arthouse films.

Another one you might be interested in, along with the very good suggestions above is Kulcha: Kulcha Although I'm not a member I know lots of freo people who go to many of these events they put on...sounds like it could be right up your street too.

love sophia xx

Simone

Just remembered. I've done two threads on Events and festivals in perth.
Certainly not complete, but you get an idea. Most are annual events

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t=events+perth

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t=events+perth

I was particulary impressed with the Freo Street Arts Festival, to name just one

Gotta go to bed now!

boom_meringue

that all sounds great, thanks so much.

A friend here at work used to live in Perth and he said there were alot of pubs with live music, does anyone have any favourites? especially pubs with web sites so we can see the soirts of bands that are coming up soon????

sophia

hi again

try this link Live music ...it's a bit basic, but gives you an idea of whats on and where, some have also got websites to visit too.

love sophia xx

saraliz

Mojo's in North Fremantle is a really good one for live music (I don't think they have a website). They tend to have a band on nearly every night of the week. There's also a pub called the Rosemount that's also supposed to be really good, but I've never been there (think it's in Subiaco).

Simone

tHE Rosemount is in North Perth(or a suburb around North Perth, could be Mt Lawley. Across from it is a snooker hall, I think it may be Beufort st). Yep, lots of live music there, and also the Paddo and Oxford, both up the road from us.
Only with the bigger bands do you have to pay to get in.

claire edwards

I can recommend the red herring restaurant (I'm a Chef), fabulous seafood/sushi - amazing - a speacial treat sort of place. Great crab salads.

www.redherring.com.au

PommieLeague

What culture? Ahh suburban life, mowing lawns and diving in the pool, oh and not to forget the 'footy' (an alien sport unfamiliar to most UK migrants)

boom_meringue

do you mean that thing they do at weekends where blokes in wife beater vests cannot decide whether they are playing football or rugby?