THE NAKED CITY – with Miss Death, Jay Katz and Coffin Ed

BLEAK CITY COMES TO TOWN 

There’s nothing like a big event to divert the flak from everyday failings and here in NSW the Ministry Of Big Expensive Often Totally Frivolous Events is forever eager to raid the public purses. 

Whether it’s Breakfast On The Bridge for the privileged few or the V8 Supercars terrifying both residents and wildlife at Olympic Park, these events are always promoted as being for the greater public good and the millions of dollars of  tourist revenue they supposedly create. 

In recent years  both Sydney and Melbourne have engaged in a furious non stop war to outstage each other when it comes to securing the biggest and best sporting and cultural events. Last week Premier Kristina Keneally announced plans to steal the Formula One Grand Prix from our southern friends and restage it as a night time event in the Harbour City. 

There’s obviously no love lost between fellow Labor Governments when it comes to this kind of poaching and maybe NSW should look to more than just the Grand Prix when it comes to raiding Melbourne’s treasure chest of mega events and world class attractions.

Why not put in a bid for this year’s Melbourne Cup. There’s no reason that it has to be run at Flemington and imagine the novelty if the Sydney Metro was reborn and the race was run underground from Rozelle to the CBD. And while we’re talking racing, surely Sydney could do a better job with the mummified remains of Phar Lap, currently languishing in a glass case in a Melbourne museum. What better place for the old Red Terror than atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge where bridge climbers could be photographed astride his magnificent girth, as his eyes light up and fireworks rocket from his rear end.

Come on now – does Melbourne really deserve Federation Square, the Victorian Arts Centre, Brunswick Street and all those bloody laneways. They would all look better in Sydney as would the AFL Grand Final and even Moomba. Of course we can be magnanimous about this appropriation – Melbourne can certainly hang onto Crown City Casino and we’ll throw in our own Star City if they give up the MCG and the annual Comedy Festival. Nobody wants to look like they are being greedy!

THE HIT LIST: Reverse Garbage, Sydney’s most innovative not for profit co-operative is now sponsoring Texas Chainsaw Trivia, every Wednesday night from 7.30pm at the Darlo Bar in Darlinghurst (cnr Liverpool and Darlinghurst Rd) with quizmeisters Jay Katz, Coffin Ed and Miss Death. There’s the chance to win a $100 gift certificate at Reverse Garbage and lots of other great prizes. And if you are looking for a true bargain check out the amazing Reverse Garbage store at 8/142 Addison Rd Marrickville (02) 9569 3132.