'Game Of Thrones: The Exhibition' confirms Sydney dates

Now that the fourth blood-soaked season of HBO’s Game Of Thrones has come to a close, fans are no doubt left wondering what to do with themselves until season five. As previously announced, however, those based in Sydney have an extra helping hand in the form of Game Of Thrones: The Exhibition, which has now confirmed its running dates of July 1 to July 5.

Being hosted at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the joint HBO-Google Play production will be open to the public, free of charge, between 10am and 8pm on its operating days. Launch day – Tuesday, July 1 – will have slightly later hours, running from 11am to 10pm.

The exhibition will feature a range of authentic costumes, props, armour and weapons seen on the show, and an Oculus Rift-powered immersive experience that puts users in the boots of some poor sap guarding the frozen, gargantuan Wall, and give attendees the opportunity to get their face snapped while lounging about on the world’s most uncomfortable-looking chair – the Iron Throne.

The announcement comes in conjunction with the release of Game Of Thrones’ fourth season on Google Play today, which includes a slew of exclusive content for Aussie buyers including the featurette A Slave To Grammar: Creating The Valyrian Language, which is a must-watch for anyone who wants to craft insults only other giant nerds will understand. A collected edition of the first three seasons is also available.

Source: http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2014/06/17/game-of-thrones-the-exhibition-confirms-sydney-dates/

Darling Harbour's 'Icemen' ready to sculpt away

Edward Fraze and Don Harrison Jr, aka the "Icemen", have readied their tools - now all they need is a big ice block. Photo: Brendan Esposito

Darling Harbour has a pair of pocket aces up its sleeve in its attempt to draw families and tourists to the precinct as the mercury dips: two "extreme ice sculptors" from Colorado. 

Armed with chisels and chain saws, "Icemen" Edward Fraze and Don Harrison jnr will give three live sculpting performances from Tuesday night until Friday. 

The pair will have just 30 minutes to transform large slabs of ice, weighing up to 150 kilograms, into winter-theme pieces, and Fraze says audiences can expect a "very high energy, very intense performance".

"As the performance starts, one of us will take one part of the sculpture and the other will take the other part, and we just go to town. We almost race each other," Fraze said. 

The duo "like to improvise along the way", and Fraze hinted that a menagerie of icy polar bears, penguins and other snow-loving creatures would grace the Harbourside Amphitheatre before melting down to a puddle – eventually. 

While Sydney's winter is substantially milder than the Americans are used to, a supply of dry ice and water will slow the melting process. 

The free Extreme Ice Show is part of Darling Harbour's Cool Yule festival, which runs for four weeks until July 13. Other activities include a snow pit, an open-air ice-skating rink, a 25-metre inflatable snow slide, firework displays and a frozen forest installation. 

NSW Government announces $7.2 million to transform the Australian Museum

The Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Troy Grant MP today announced $7.2 million for the transformation of the Australian Museum.

The Australian Museum, the nation’s oldest and one of the most important scientific research, educational and cultural institutions, will receive $4.7 million over two years to complete a Master Plan to develop the current museum site. The New Australian Museum Master Plan will include new spaces dedicated to education and learning, a large temporary exhibition space to host international blockbuster exhibitions as well as a dedicated gallery to display the Museum’s internationally significant Pacific collection.

A further $2.5 million has also been granted to implement Stage 1 of the New Australian Museum which will significantly improve the visitor experience and accessibility. The planned works in Stage 1 include a new entrance on William Street, a new gallery space highlighting biodiversity, as well as a new rooftop brasserie with spectacular views over the city to the harbour.

Mr Grant said, “The NSW State Government recognises the importance of the Australian Museum to the city, the state and the nation and is funding these important works and future planning to ensure the Australian Museum can deliver a world-class visitor experience to the people of NSW and to interstate and international tourists.”

Kim McKay AO, CEO and Director of the Australian Museum said, “We are excited to receive this funding from the NSW Government which will allow us to immediately begin transforming the museum. The visitor experience will be markedly improved by moving the main entrance to William Street. Our permanent gallery space will be added to for the first time in over 30 years with the creation of 632 m2 of exhibition space on biodiversity featuring more than 400 animals.

“This is our first step in a visionary long-term Master Plan for the entire Australian Museum site. The planning funds will allow us to develop detailed plans over the next two years. I’m also delighted we can make immediate changes to transform the visitor experience – with a new gallery, new entrance, improved visitor circulation and new rooftop brasserie,” Ms McKay said.

Source: http://australianmuseum.net.au/media/Museum-transformation

History of the Eagles - Live in concert

Presented by: Frontier Touring
Tickets On Sale: Tuesday 10 June 2014, 10.00am

Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce the return of one of music’s most iconic groups to our shores.  Renowned for their hit laden sell-out concerts, the Eagles are bringing their critically acclaimed ‘History of the Eagles’ World Tour to Australia and New Zealand in February/March 2015.

The legendary ‘Hotel California’ outfit will perform their career-spanning “History Of the Eagles” concerts, which sees members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmit deliver an incredible three-hour songfest of classic Eagles hits, including tracks the band had never previously performed live.

Including celebrated favourites such as ‘Desperado’, ‘Take It Easy’, ‘New Kid In Town’, ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ and ‘Take It To The Limit’, the “History Of The Eagles” global trek has already elated fans across the USA and Canada since their latest world jaunt kicked off in July 2013. Last in Australia in 2010 and New Zealand in 1995, the “History Of the Eagles” tour is a mammoth production spanning the globe – and a show for fans to remember.

With those unmistakable West Coast harmonies and the song writing gems of Glenn Frey and Don Henley, don’t miss your chance to see the Eagles make history.

Source: http://www.qantascreditunionarena.com.au/Events/Events%20Detail/The_Eagles.aspx

The Wolf of Wall Street - Jordan Belfort Live in Qantas Credit Union, Sydney

Produced a best-selling book and a record-breaking movie, but Jordan Belfort’s most powerful story you need to hear in person.

Jordan Belfort learned the hard way that success at anything in life – from building your career or business, defining entrepreneurial vision, enhancing relationships to creating wealth – has a ‘formula’… a system of ‘rules’.
By developing a unique understanding of those rules he now knows how to ‘fail elegantly’ – because the real lessons are in the failures. And he knows how to succeed wildly!

Jordan can claim to have transformed vast numbers of lives. His testimonials confirm he can take virtually any individual, regardless of background, and empower them to attain goals they never dreamed themselves capable of.

Ticket Inclusions:

Platinum – the best seats in the house
The Wolf of Wall Street book signed by Jordan Belfort
Plus an exclusive cocktail function with Jordan

VIP – VIP seating

The Wolf of Wall Street book signed by Jordan Belfort   

DATES/TIME

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Starts 7.00pm

PRICES

Platinum $795.00
VIP $295.00
General $129.00

Payment processing and transaction fees apply

BOOKINGS

Web:  Ticketek

Telephone: 132 849

Special Needs Bookings

Metro Hotel on Pitt Room & Hotel Images Gallery

Click here to view full gallery: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-hotel-on-pitt/gallery/

Sydney Festival 2015

Sydney Festival is assembling a stellar line-up of events for 2015!

Sydney’s Festival hub and summer destination in Hyde Park was a huge success in 2014, attracting over 220,000 people. The hugely popular Festival Village will once more delight local residents and visitors when it returns in 2015.

Cheer for your favourite ferry along the Sydney Harbour shoreline and take part in Ferrython 2015.

Sydney Festival returns 8 - 26 January, 2015. The 2015 program will be announced in October - so stay tuned for more details!

Coming to Sydney for the Sydney Festival 2015? Book your stay with Metro Hotels - offering fantastic locations across Sydney CBD so you can stay close to the action.

Visit www.Metrohotels.com.au to find your ideal hotel or serviced apartment.

Metro Hotels in Sydney:

Metro Hotel Sydney Central
431-439 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Link - http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-hotel-sydney-central/welcome/

Metro Hotel on Pitt
300 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Link - http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-hotel-on-pitt/welcome/

Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour
132-136 Sussex Street,
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Link - http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-apartments-on-darling-harbour/welcome/

Metro Apartments on King
27-29 King Street,
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Link - http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-apartments-on-king/welcome/

Aspire Hotel Sydney
383-389 Bulwara Road Ultimo,
Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
Link - http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/aspire-hotel-sydney/welcome/