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NSW: Why are there so few pointers about places to go?
It’s a question that has become too common: where can a grrrl go in Sydney when she’s all dolled up? and, sadly, there is a silence from the Tranny community in response.
Recently I ventured to the Imperial at Erskineville on a Thursday night and it was empty, completely soul-less. I used always go to the Taxi and use it as a base for venturing to Oxford Street venues. Since it has gone, the number of grrls around Oxford Street has definitely diminished, and the number of admirers has similarly diminished, for better or worse. Aarows at Rydalmere has its (crude) attractions, but I was informed last week that we grrls have been banned forthwith from weekend visits, for reasons unstated. I like the Oxford Tavern and the Colombian, and Palms on its busier nights, all because they are mixed, and there is always a good vibe. But invariably I am the only grrrl there. Newtown seems dead these days, save for the downstairs Cellar at the Marlborough, where I’ve had fun nights. To be honest, Melbourne these days is so much more fun.
Are these ‘the end of days’ for the Sydney tranny scene?
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20 Replies
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I’ve been wondering the same thing and agree whole heartedly that after the Taxi finished up everything changed…
Sometimes Oxford st can be an unfriendly and unforgiving place now so I haven’t felt the motivation to go there. I’ve thought about the Imperial as well but as was written above, the night in question was really quiet which from what I have heard isn’t unusual… I really should go check out a drag show there though.I ended up at that downstairs bar at the Marly in Newtown late on the weekend (in boy mode) after everything else had shut with a group of mates (who don’t know about Angela)… we were upstairs first but the football was loud then one of my companions said let’s go downstairs… “It’s where the drag queens hang out…” I was disappointed to find none down there but thought it was a cool little bar and especially since it is kinda walking distance from home I want to find out when and what happens there so I can suss it out.
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One of the strongest pointers to change on the Sydney social scene is the fact that the Taxi club was forced to close due to obvious lack of support from the local “T” community.
With the rapid increase in both awareness and acceptance by the general public of gender diversity in Sydney comes a natural reduction to socialise with like-minded people. What I think we are observing is a normalisation of the “T” social scene. Granted that this can make it more difficult for those still reticent about taking the plunge into the big ‘bad?’ world – but that is becoming a niche market with a consequent reduction in opportunities.
The only suggestion I can make is to focus on what else you are looking for on an evening out (appart from being in the same room as someone else who is obviously “T”) – be it music, sexual liaisons, dance, whatever.. and go to a venue that is known for that entertainment. It’s probably what the rest of us are doing in Sydney – and you might even run into a fellow spirit!
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hi
two venues
are Heaven Social Dance….Northmead Bowling Club
and Kaleidascope…Paramatta Golf clubTransgender very welcome
Google for details dates etc
xxx Shanalee
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Hi Kelly
Sadly I’m not a Sydney gal but I do have a recommendation for a terrific TG friendly restaurant at Darling Harbour. I dined there 3 times last week and received outstanding service. If you are interested I can provide introductions to the manager and the best waiter.
Michelle
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Michelle_1 wrote:. If you are interested I can provide introductions to the manager and the best waiter.
MichelleThis is a moderated forum so please include in your post useful information like the restaurant name. The post has no value without that information.
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Apologies Adrian. The restaurant is Cyren.
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Sadly the same scenario here in Brisbane, which used to have quite a vibrant scene several years ago. Apart from Bernie’s Coffee Club nights, there is very little happening. Maybe spring will see a change, lets hope so.
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Try living in Newcastle/Hunter the only places I am aware of are the Cafe nights at the Junction and the G at Islington.
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Living in the Newcastle area, I can’t find too many places or events that are not CD friendly.
The two largest shopping centres, Charlestown Square and Westfield Kotara are never a problem. Even if there was someone who wanted to be a problem, security would boot them out quite quickly.
Being currently into the 1950s pinup style, I’ve found that events such as the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival, and almost every car related event that involves cars from the ’50s or older is fine. Virtually every shop I’ve ever been in has been fine, and some have even gone out of their way to offer special late afternoon/evening openings for me or for CDs in general.
I guess that the lack of pointers on specific places to go is because you’d have to list just about everywhere. It would probably be more meaningful to produce a list of places to avoid, but I’m not sure that we really want the negativity that such a list would imply.
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yes , I agree with you Adrian .Society ,or most of it has become so accepting of Tgr people there is little ( perceived ) demand for a taxi club type of place to congregate in . Yet I feel the taxi, if still in existence , would have a place in our world as somewhere to go
Ironic isnt it ? Society’s acceptance has increased greatly which has led to the demise of the old tranny meeting places … -
there are a few places to go in brisbane wickem street hotel sporties and a few others
I think we have a problum as transgender we need to be more in the public eye i know omg easy to say way hard to do, the more thay know about us the public that is
the more it wont bother them its a bit like the gay people who cares but it took a long time for them and a lot of pain to its just an idea
salleyj -
To refer back to Jane’s original post, it seems she is lamenting the passing of the Taxi club as a venue where you could go most nights of the week and meet up with other TG’s
Theres no question as others have pointed out that vitrually anywhere is TG friendly these days . The venues that we post in TGR forums for various nights out are testimony to that. So for those who havnt yet taken that opportunity to go out in public for the first time have no fear.
Ive heard that the Marrickville RSL( in Sydney ) already has a few TG enjoying themselves on fri /sat nights Maybe it could develop into a place where it wouldnt be unusual to meet a few others. Just needs to get some support and the snowball effect will start !!
Caroline
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Suzzanne wrote:Ironic isnt it ? Society’s acceptance has increased greatly which has led to the demise of the old tranny meeting places …
I have spent time recently thinking about a number of issues that confront the gender diverse community here in Australia – and it seems that good change so often carries unwanted side effects.
In the case of “Tranny Friendly” venues I think the sad part is we are loosing the opportunities to go out and socialise with the intent of meeting others who are also gender diverse. No matter how “normal” we consider ourselves, and how “normal” the social life we choose to enjoy – the fact is that it is healthy to have close friends who are diverse. The sort of friends who just understand what you are going through and don’t need an explanation of what is going on inside our heads.
So instead of asking about “Tranny Friendly” places in Sydney – which we all know is a bottomless list – we are perhaps asking about “Tranny Frequented” places. And there are very few of those. It is a need that drives attendance I think at regular cafe nights (like Glebe and Newcastle), and a need that can only be satisfied only for a very few by groups like Seahorse.
Caroline wrote:Maybe it could develop into a place where it wouldnt be unusual to meet a few othersI guess the only way this happens if people take upon themselves the task of organising opportunities to meet others. It isn’t going to happen by chance in a place as big as Sydney. Someone has to nominate a place to go, choose when, and be there to ensure that the place actually is “T Frequented”.
So don’t look for things happening – make them happen yourself!
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Caroline and Adrian, I couldn’t agree more. At my first lunch meeting with a TG person on the South Coast, my parting comment was that it had been so great to just spend time talking to someone who “got it”.
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Further to my last comment on this post, where I moaned about nowhere to go in Brisbane. I decided to take a proactive approach and created events for girls to go to. I have held about six in the last two months and are getting a turnout of five to ten girls each time, have made lots of new friends, visited new places and had a lot of laughs.
So don’t just sit there, start your own event up, you might only get one or two the first time but it is like pyramid selling, it just keeps expanding each time as attendees tell their friends.
Hugs Lacey
