Come along and enjoy an exceptional main meal and glass of wine by the Harbour for only $25. Open Tuesdays - Fridays until 8pm, watch the sunset, Simmer Style! Nestled on the waterfront at Walsh Bay, Dawes Point is one of Sydney's best kept secrets – the Simmer Café.

With spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, exceptional food at fantastic prices and a unique French-inspired ambiance the Simmer Café is the perfect destination for a relaxing meal or aromatic coffee.

Take a seat

Our striped deck chairs have become an iconic part of Walsh Bay weekends. Soak up the sun and admire the view as you enjoy a freshly baked muffin and cappuccino, gourmet sandwich, daily special or leisurely glass of wine...

Refreshingly tasty seasonal menus for you to enjoy

The Simmer Café offers changing menus and daily specials of baked-in-house cakes and pastries, artisan sandwiches and fresh salads. We also provide office sandwiches and catering, hampers for boat picnics and take home meals, so you can enjoy delicious Simmer Café fare on the go.

Simmer Café is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks and looks forward to welcoming you soon.

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 2011 AT 10PM (APPROX START)
FREE POST-SHOW LIVE MUSIC AT THE WHARF

On Friday 21 January, The Wharf Sessions kicks off for 2011 when Sydney Theatre Company welcomes Passenger the brainchild of UK born singer/songwriter Mike Rosenberg.

Cut from the same mould as Van Morrison and Neil Young, Passenger’s latest album Flight of the Crow features collaborations with great Australian musicians such as Lior, Josh Pyke, Katie Noonan and Kate Miller Heidke.

The Wharf Sessions are Sydney Theatre Company’s regular series of free post-show gigs at The Wharf. Previous Wharf Sessions artists have included Bertie Blackman, The Paper Scissors, Cloud Control, Red Riders and Bridezilla.

Entry to the gig is free and available to all. No booking necessary. Drinks and snacks will be available at the bar.

In the Next Room or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl
 
7 February to 27 March 2011. Opens 11 February 2011 at 8pm.
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Sydney Theatre Company’s first main stage production for 2011 is the Australian premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s acclaimed Broadway comedy In The Next Room or the vibrator play.

Pamela Rabe directs Jacqueline McKenzie as Catherine Givings, an 1880’s woman whose husband Dr Givings (David Roberts) marvels at the effectiveness of a newfangled electric invention he uses to administer remedial treatment to women suffering from ‘hysteria’.  The STC production opens at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, on 11 February, running to 27 March 2011, followed by tours to Melbourne, Wollongong, Canberra and Parramatta.

With a sumptuous period setting, the play is based on the fact that doctors in the Victorian era used vibrators to treat ‘hysterical’ women. Unable to breastfeed her baby, excluded from her husband’s world and feeling desperately lonely, Catherine seeks companionship with two of the patients her husband has been treating with the new device in the adjoining room and begins to discover the truth of what goes on behind the closed door.

Both a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist and a 2010 Tony Nominee for Best Play, this beguiling comedy about love, longing, invention and equality, was a resounding hit when it opened on Broadway last year.

Jacqueline McKenzie last worked with Sydney Theatre Company in 2003 in Proof by David Auburn. The cast also includes Helen Thomson (God of Carnage), Mandy McElhinney and Sara Zwangobani (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Josh McConville who, as a NIDA student in 2008, performed in STC’s Gallipoli and for 2011 has been cast in two other STC main stage shows, Loot and Gross Und Klein.

                                                                                                 
Pamela Rabe, well known to audiences for her standout STC performances including as Richard III in The War of the Roses and Nora in The Season at Sarsaparilla has twice directed for Sydney Theatre Company.  In 2009 she directed the touching comedy  Elling by Simon Bent and in 2008 directed the taut Citizens, part of a double bill by Daniel Keene.

The success of In The Next Room or the vibrator play has consolidated Sarah Ruhl’s reputation as one of America’s most exciting contemporary writers. Her other plays include The Clean House (Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2005); Passion Play, a cycle (Pen American Award); Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play) and Eurydice.

Director: Pamela Rabe. Designer: Tracy Grant Lord. Lighting Designer: Hartley T A Kemp. Composer & Sound Designer: Iain Grandage

Cast: Josh McConville, Mandy McElhinney, Jacqueline McKenzie, Marshall Napier, David Roberts, Helen Thomson, Sara Zwangobani

Box Office: (02) 9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Tickets: $35 - $90 (transaction fees may apply)

For the past few weeks Walsh Bay has been leading up to the Palette on the Pier arts fundraising dinner at Pier 2/3 which aims to raise funds for Regional Arts NSW.

During the event guests were treated to a whole host of gastronomic delights, from Walsh Bay’s top restaurants, while a silent auction of regional arts was on display.

Regional Arts NSW has a network of 14 independent Boards which span an incredible 662,000 square kilometres, 1.7 million people and about 1200 local arts and cultural Groups.

The NSW Government is proud to support Regional Arts NSW and has committed to funding in excess of $1.5 million over 2009-2011.

“This fundraising event demonstrates what can be achieved when businesses,

communities and the arts sector work together,” MP Virginia Jusge said.     

As well as all the beautiful artwork on display, there was also live jazz, a beautiful setting and the most incredible food provided by Walsh Bay’s selection of world class chefs.

A selection of images form the night cab be seen below and also be following this link.

For more information on Palette on the Pier visit www.regionalartsnsw.com.au