All stories about "Ari Stein"

Considering we are a nation of sports-obsessed freaks, I thought it would be appropriate to post a list of some of Sydney's most attractive leisure sports centers. Maybe it's stating the obvious, but sports has infiltrated every household in Australia; per capita, we are the best sporting nation on the world, with the highest level of achievement for a country of close to 20 million people. There are plenty of open parks and free leisure centers for anyone to use, waiting only for you, your bat, and your ball to come round for a game or three.

Oh how I want to involve myself in the illustrious world of art, to be high cultured and enlightened. 'Art' I have been told is for the masses but since when do the masses have free time to go and look at a penis hanging on the wall. Especially if it costs 10 AUD to see one. Unfortunately Sydney has decades to go until it can consider itself a competitive art city alongside New York, London and Berlin. I'm no art major, but even I can see how behind we are as a city in the art world. Nonetheless, these are some good places to start off with if you want to feel arty and cultured in Sydney

It's a hard thing to pin down but there is a sense that eating kosher in Sydney is getting easier. It's never something that has been put out in the open, for the obvious reasons that setting up something within the kosher arena demands a lot of detailed attention, time and money. And the sad thing about kosher restaurants is that they really don't last very long due to small demand and lack of support from the Jewish community. Yet there are some tasty treats and meals to be enjoyed at several locations in Sydney, all provided in the following guide.

This isn't about fear-mongering or sensationalism, or helping the terrorists win. Rest assured that anyone with nefarious intent has already given the subject a thought or two. This post is about taking a serious and creative look at what areas and tourist hotspots in Sydney that terrorists might be attracted to. Sydney doesn't rate highly on the world terrorism network, although we kind of like to think to think we're important -- that's probably why Australia spent a ridiculous $250 million on security for the recent APEC summit, which was easily embarrassed by those TV heroes at The Chaser. Yet it's still wise to consider our vulnerabilities as a first world city and what we can do to prevent atrocities like those in Madrid, London, or New York. You'll always notice security manning the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but that's just one potential target.

In Sydney's short but illustrious history, the city has given birth to a range of different bands. Through the years, Sydney's main export musically has been good hard rock, but that's not all we offer, from Silverchair's stadium pop to The Church's dark and unsettling urban sound. Certain locations and spots around Sydney have shaped its music vibe, from the hotel room where Michael Hutchence killed himself all the way to Wolfmother's first steps as a universal rock monster in Kings Cross. We don't have a CBGB's or Whiskey A Go Go or anything that comes even close, but we do have our rock pride.

Males over a certain age in Sydney have an inevitable curiosity that leads them into temptation, often manifested by a fascination with the city's streetwalkers. There are certain places and spaces habituated by Sydney's ladies of the evening, some more recognizable to the newcomer than others. To help keep your sexy streets straight, I've keyed each one to a pop song of passing relevance. And please, nothing quite so obvious as "Roxanne."

Better known as Double Pay, this is home to the rich, wealthy, and hidden scamsters. They prefer to use this suburb and its surrounding area as a protective hub. Many people living in this area have a penchant for nice cars, luxury goods, and the high life. The best way to explore this suburb is on foot -- you could drive a car, but that would defeat the purpose of soaking up the true Double Bay atmosphere. You might just miss all highlighted poodles, plus the overtanned women and men sitting outside cafes drinking golden frosted espressos whilst watching over their Ferraris.

Thaasophobia is a real, official, and quite common illness, which means that you have a fear of boredom. Through the ages, many unfortunate people have screamed in agony and withered away from sheer dullness, and Sydney can cause acute thaasophobic attacks as well as any major city. Even considering the town's world-famous Opera House and some beach called Bondi, it's still quite possible to get bored shitless. Join us for an aversion-therapy tour of Sydney's most boring locales.

It's not like San Francisco or Los Angeles quite yet, but Sydney's adventurous sex spots are definitely on the rise. These clubs do come and go, but local enthusiasts keep the scene jumping. If it's leather, fetish, fisting, ball handling, or swinging, then you'll certainly find a receptive locale that will put a naughty smirk on your face. Make sure you play nice and safe. And most of all, have good, dirty fun.

Bondi has a lovely way of making you feel like a tourist, even if you've lived in Sydney for 20 years. And not just any tourist, but one who likes to be ripped off, buys t-shirts with memorable slogans such as "I have been to Bondi Beach" (I mean, who gives a shit), and parades across the beach in budgie smugglers (i.e., swimwear that suffocates the male privates . You don't have to be like this. There is an alternative. Set yourself free and hit these cool Bondi hotspots instead, following the true locals.

Everyone knows that music has taken a dive for the worse. If Radiohead are selling their new album 'In Rainbows' online for free, then you know something is going on. The best record store DISC Records (R.I.P.) in Sydney left its premises about a year ago, and for me that was the real nail in the coffin. In Sydney, music stores used to be in abundance, but now they are huddling together to stay alive. It's not so much that people are not buying records, rather that they have been turned off about the idea of a good old fashioned store. People have forgotten how good it is to hear, see, and feel a record, but for all those downloaders out there, these stores might just make you feel nostalgic.

Have you ever had that horrible feeling of being wasted and yet hungry after a big night out? Sitting on the side of the road with a massive craving for something dirty, oily, and cheap. Better known as the beer munchies, it's a common symptom of drowning yourself in alcohol. You feel so hungry that even the rocks on the side of the road look appetizing. Here are some of the finest late-night hangouts in Sydney for those stark cravings. Non-natives, take note: We call shawarma, doners, and everything in between "kebabs," regardless of culinary accuracy.

In recognition of the amazing plight that those tens of thousands of monks marching in Burma have undertaken. I thought it would be great to offer my support and reinforce the importance of believing what you wish, irrespective of who is in power. Although religion is not a hot topic in Australia, there are still a large section of people in Sydney who visit different places of faith. Different places of worship are spread out through Sydney. Here are some of the most interesting.

If you can't afford to make that 22 hour flight all the way to Europe from Sydney, then have no fear -- Sydney has its own piece of Europe that you can visit anytime. European restaurants, as some people in Sydney will tell you, consist of high-priced meals, ornate interiors, and unreadable menus. That's crap. I find the most comfortable restaurants have a true down to earth European flavor; they aren't trying to impress anyone. There are numerous such restaurants in Sydney that possess a true European quality.

Eventually, you and your buddies, wherever you are in the world, are going to be denied entry to a club, bar, or pub. You might be dressed the wrong way, you might just be two guys who are not flanked by eight women for the sake of the M/F ratio, or you might have just caught the less than intelligent doorman on the wrong night. It seems everyone in Sydney has a horrible bouncer story; violence seems to be the only alternative when it comes to telling someone politely to leave. Here are a few of the best places in Sydney to get manhandled by belligerent steroid enthusiasts.

Sydney once had a very strong independent cinema scene: the legendary Third Eye cinema, if you are old enough to remember, and the Valhalla in Glebe were the true shining bacons of cinema in the city. But, alas everything good must come to an end. The horrible cineplexes, which cost a fortune and are so damn impersonal, now dominate the scene in most major cities. That said, a smattering of good indie cinemas span Sydney, and they all offer their own unique experience. Here are some favorites.

There are three things that make for a truly authentic Sydney café experience: a great coffee, the weekend paper, and the right neighborhood. It's hard to find, but unlike any capital city in the world, you either have to know someone that lives there or possesses a nose for what's good and where to go. Cafes in Sydney don't discriminate; there is no one type of customer. Yet, the most amazing thing about coffee in Sydney is that the baristas in this city truly care about their brew. It's become an art form, and you won't find comparable java anywhere in the world. Here's a few places to get properly caffeinated.