Top Glass

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday June 30, 2001

Edited by Jacqui Taffel

A pyramid reopens for business, champion bull riders hit town and a Mary Poppins singalong lifts off ...

BEST POINTY BIT

Pyramid Glasshouse Reopening

Closed since March, the pyramid in the Royal Botanic Gardens is opening its doors again after receiving a facelift. Reglazed and tinted to better protect the tropical plants inside, the structure houses displays of northern Australian monsoonal woodland and the tropical rainforests of Queensland. The pyramid, first opened in 1972, and the neighbouring Arc Glasshouse, built in 1989, can be visited free for a week to celebrate the reopening before it reverts to charging $2.20 for adults. Saturday until

July 6, 10am-4pm daily, free, Royal Botanic Gardens, city, 9231 8125 or 9231 8104.

BEST VOCALS

Sydney Cabaret Convention

The convention has its final flourish tonight after four days of showcase performances by 40 unknown artists selected from 200 applicants. The Town Hall's Centennial Hall will be decked out cabaret-style for tonight's gala, which features the convention's award winners as well as cabaret stalwarts Geraldine Turner, Tim Draxl, Natalie Mendoza, Mary Schneider and Renee Geyer. Saturday, doors open 6.30pm, show starts 7.30pm, $96.80 with dinner, $47.30 table only, $33 gallery (concession only), Sydney Town Hall, George Street, city, bookings 136 100.

BEST MOVES

Salsa Competition

Put on your salsa shoes for the competition finals at Club Marconi. Salsa studios from all over Sydney have entered their top students, and the best 15 couples will take to the floor to dance it out for a first prize of $1,000. Competitors will come from as far afield as the Gold Coast and Melbourne and last-minute entries will be considered if you're really hot. Organisers are expecting about 1,000 people to attend, with Latin band Son Veneno entertaining the crowd until 2am. Saturday, 8pm, $12.50, Marconi Plaza, Bossley Park, 9823 2222.

BEST SADDLE SORES

SuperBull

It must be one of those times when eight seconds last a lifetime - that's how long a bull rider must stay seated on almost a tonne of bucking muscle to get a score. At SuperBull, riders from Canada, the US, Brazil and Australia, including world champions Troy Dunn and Ty Murray, will take on beasts with such names as Tough Times, Wild Thing and Earthquake. Hold onto your hats, it's going to be a wild ride. Saturday, 7pm, $30/$20/$85 family, Sydney SuperDome, Homebush Bay, bookings Ticketek 9266 4800, www.extremebullriding.com

BEST CANDLE IN THE WIND

Show a Light on the Hill

If you're driving past the ABC's headquarters at Gore Hill tomorrow evening, it may appear that Carols by Candlelight has come early this year. The Friends of the ABC are holding a candlelight vigil to mark Aunty's 69th birthday and "to mourn the passing of talent, programs, archives, resources and production facilities". Anyone is welcome to light a candle outside ABC offices, including the radio complex at Ultimo. Sunday, 7.30-8.30pm, information 9990 0600, 9362 0840 or go to www.fabc.org.au/nsw

BEST IVORY TINKLING

Piano scholarship

Four young pianists will compete for the $10,000 John Allison City of Sydney Piano Scholarship as part of the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge. Each performer must play a major work that is between 15 and 25 minutes long for the judging panel of Richard Bonynge, Nikolai Evrov and Margaret Hair. The evening features a guest appearance by last year's Operatic Aria winner, Jaewoo Kim. Sunday, 6.30pm, $20/$15/$12 on the door, Smith Auditorium, Shore School, Blue Street, North Sydney, 9261 8366, www.culturalcouncil.org.au

BEST FILM FEST

Beyond Shangri-la

The Australia Tibet Council presents its second Tibetan Film Festival. Hosted by Peter Berner, tonight's opening gala night includes a screening of Frank Capra's Lost Horizon, which perpetuated the myth of Tibet as a utopian Shangri-la. Many of the films shown look beyond the romantic images of mountains and monks to the realities of life in Tibet under Chinese rule. The program includes feature films, documentaries, speakers and lucky door prizes. Saturday, 6.30pm, $25/$20, Sunday from 11am, first session $13/$10, remaining sessions $17/$13, Valhalla Cinema, 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, details 9283 3466 or www.atc.org.au

BEST WARM-UP

Mini-Mosmarathon

As the City to Surf draws nearer, this is a good warm-up event for serious runners and a fun day out for others. Now in its 19th year, race entrants can run or walk a 10-kilometre course, or take a two-kilometre option that is part of the annual Primary School Challenge. Medals for various category winners will be presented at the fun fair in the grounds of Mosman Public School. To enter on the day, register at the school hall at 7.30am. Sunday, 9.15am, corner Belmont and Myahgah roads, Mosman, infoline 0414 207 910.

BEST HABITS

Sisters of Charity 1838 to 2001

Since they arrived in Australia in 1838 to work with convicts at Parramatta's Female Factory, the Sisters of Charity have concentrated their efforts on the neediest sections of the community. Their projects have covered health, education, welfare, justice and community outreach services such as youth-suicide education programs and safe houses for women and children. Using artefacts, photos and personal portrayals, a new exhibition dedicated to the sisters opens this weekend at the Australian

Museum. Saturday until October 14, daily

9.30am-5pm, free with general admission $8/$3/$19 family, 6 College Street, city, 9320 6000, www.austmus.gov.au

BEST CARPET BAG

Mary Poppins Sing-a-long

After the success of Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music, Julie Andrews bounces onto the screen again, this time in the guise of Mary Poppins. The restored 35mm print of this 1964 film has subtitled songs in Dolby stereo for those who are a bit rusty on the lyrics. Croon your own versions of A Spoonful of Sugar, Chim Chim Cher-ee and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, dress up as an umbrella or a chimney and enjoy the introductory live accompaniment on an original Wurlitzer organ. Advance screenings start this weekend with the official season, from July 7, featuring daily matinees during the school holidays and a once-off, drag-style "Midnight Mary" event on July 21. Saturday and Sunday, 1pm, $15/$11, Cremorne Orpheum, 380 Military Road, Cremorne, 9908 4344.

Email event listings to metroevents@mail.fairfax.com.au or fax 9282 2481.

BEST OF THE BEST

BEST BIRTHDAY

Historic Houses Trust turns 21

The public is invited to the Historic Houses Trust's 21st birthday party. Entry is free this weekend to all the trust's properties, including Elizabeth Bay House (above) and Vaucluse House, the first two properties managed by the organisation when it started in 1980. Also open for inspection are Hyde Park Barracks, Government House, Susannah Place, Museum of Sydney and the Justice & Police Museum, all in the city; Elizabeth Farm at Parramatta, Rose Seidler House at Wahroonga, Rouse Hill Estate, and Meroogal in Nowra. Saturday and Sunday, infoline 1300 653 777, www.hht.nsw.gov.au

The glass pyramid at The Royal Botanic Gardens, top; Geraldine Turner, above, appears at the Cabaret Convention; Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in a scene from Mary Poppins, right.