Saturday 11th February: Bear Essentials Kick Off with "Chunky FC"

Kick off Bear Essentials with Chunky FC, a footy-themed party featuring our star player DJ HiFi Sean from the UK.

Come play with the big boys in this action packed night.

Pool Room: - djmikeyb (Brisbane) - DJ Man
Vegas Lounge: - DJ Rob
34B Bar: - Matt Effect - HiFi Sean (London) - Troy Cox

Plus with our sexy soccer show, hot movies and even footy pies...you're bound to score at Chunky FC.

Afterwards head down to UP our official recovery in Phoenix.

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact - Justin Fashanu was one of the UK's top soccer players when he came out through the tabloid press in 1990.

Tickets through Daisy Tickets www.daisytickets.com

Chunky FC from 9.00pm @ Q Bar, 38 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.
(Nearest station – Museum).

Sunday 12th February: Fair Day Recovery

Take a rest from all the action and recover from Chunky FC's excesses at Mardi Gras Fair Day.

Meet under the Bear Tree any time from 10am, with the festivities from 2pm.

We're not saying you'll need it today, but keep an eye out for the free self defence classes courtesy of the City of Sydney.

Mardi Gras Fair Day from 10.00am @ Victoria Park, Camperdown. (Look out for the special Fair Day bus.)

FREE event.

Then we go into extra time from 6pm for Bears on Sunday at the Lord Roberts Hotel.

With the inviting rooftop surroundings and the friendly home team, it's like a recovery from the recovery.

FREE event.

Bears on Sunday from 6.00pm @ The Lord Roberts Hotel, corner of Stanley St & Riley St, East Sydney.
(Nearest station – King's Cross, then walk down William St.)

Monday 13th February: Club History

Like a good goalie, nothing gets past historian Garry Wotherspoon.

Garry has written a booklet about the history of the Harbour City Bears which is launched today.

We venture to new turf, the plush Polo Lounge, but expect old faces and great stories from the history of our great club.

FREE event.

Book launch from 6.30pm The Polo Lounge, the Oxford Hotel, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
(Nearest station – King's Cross or Museum then walk to Oxford St)

Wednesday 15th February: Time Out

Whether you're a pitcher or a catcher, you'll find our community forum on love and sex covers all the bases.

It starts at 7pm at ACON's home ground, and includes a special Bears "Ass Class" with free showbags.

*sponsored by the Anti-Violence Project

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact – Sydney's Ian Roberts was the first Rugby League player in the world to come out as gay in 1995.

FREE event.

From 7.00pm @ ACON, 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.
(Nearest station – Central, Devonshire St Exit).

Thursday 16th February: Mardi Gras Film Festival – Season Opener

Queer Screen hosts a curtain raiser at Cinema Paris with the opening night of the Mardi Gras Film Festival.

Season Opener "Dirty Girl" (USA, 2010)

The festival runs from February 16th to March 1st at three locations:
the Entertainment Quarter Moore Park; Newtown and Parramatta.

Opening Night from 7.00pm @ Cinema Paris, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park.
(Buses to Entertainment Quarter).

Friday 17th February: Footy Frenzy Charity Night

Get a kick out of our charity night at the Oxford Hotel with points awarded for the best bears in footy shorts.

Tunes by DJ Rob (main bar) and Tim McLoone (Underground) plus competitions, footy videos and Go Go Bears dancing for a good cause.

Entry by Gold Coin Donation. e.g. $1 or $2 coins

From 9.00pm at The Oxford Hotel, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst.
(Nearest station – King's Cross or Museum then walk to Oxford St).

Image © Paul D Wade Photography

Saturday 18th February: Bear Shorts

Our furry film debut out west is sure to score highly as Harbour City Bears joins forces with Queer Screen as part of the Mardi Gras Film Festival at the Riverside Theatre complex in Parramatta.

We'll be showing a blockbuster sizzler in Raffertys theatre – the Australian Premiere of "Sagat: The Documentary" (2011, France 80 mins, subtitles) a film showcasing French porno star, bear icon and sex symbol François Sagat.

http://youtu.be/lJZ_Kg4x06c

Followed afterwards by some beary short movies outside in the courtyard in a social setting with food and drinks.

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact – The Sydney Convicts, which launched in 2004, were the first gay rugby union club in Australia.

Movie details and tickets at http://mgff.queerscreen.com.au/sagat-parramatta-screening-presented-with-harbour-city-bears/
HCB members get the same price as QueerScreen members. Please choose QueerScreen member, and bring your keyring tag along on the night.

From 6.45pm at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta.
(Nearest station – Parramatta then walk. Or catch the Rivercat to Parramatta then walk).

Image © Paul D Wade Photography

Sunday 19th February: Pool Comp

Whether you're into pots or shots, the Bear Essentials Pool Competition downstairs at the Lord Roberts will be a welcome attraction at Bears on Sunday.

There's great prizes to be won; plus $12.00 jugs of beer to be sunk. But remember always drink in moderation; you don't want to get behind the eight-ball.

Upstairs our usual HCB members badge draw will be held and the award winning restaurant opens at 6.00pm

FREE event.

Bears on Sunday from 4.00pm @ The Lord Roberts Hotel, corner of Stanley St & Riley St, East Sydney.
(Nearest station – King's Cross, then walk down William St.)

Image © Paul D Wade Photography

Monday 20th February: Our Defence

Do you fancy putting a bear in a strangle-hold?
Or a hold a cub at bay?

With our self-defence class you'll quickly learn to be part of a defensive line that one day could save your life.

FREE event – wear lose clothing and gym shoes.

From 7.00pm @ Harmony Park, Surry Hills
(Nearest station – Museum, then walk)

Tuesday 21st February: Cubz with Balls

It's almost guaranteed that you'll score tonight.

Get your mind out of the gutter …
we're talking bowling and we're talking cute cubs getting their hands on some really big balls.
(We said out of the gutter!)

HCB's SydCubz take over Strike EQ from 6.30pm and even if you've never bowled a strike in your life, with the right cubs, every game can be a perfect game.

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact – US Diver Greg Louganis cut his head open in the pool at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. This caused furore years later when he came out as gay and HIV positive; with the tabloid media asking whether he could have spread the virus to other competitors.

Tickets through Daisy Tickets www.daisytickets.com

Ten Pin Bowling From 6.30pm at Strike EQ, Entertainment Quarter,122 Lang Road, Moore Park.
(Arrive by bus from Taylor Square or Central to the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park)

Wednesday 22nd February: Game On

The most talked-about event of Bear Essentials is arguably our most discreet.

Playing a field full of hot men, watching X-rated bear movies on the sidelines or shaking your tight end to the sounds of the sexy party beats – our Play Party will tempt you into the sin bin.

Special guest from the UK, DJ Paul Coals will make sure this is your game, no matter which position you play.

Tickets through Daisy Tickets www.daisytickets.com

The action starts at 9pm at HeadQuarters on Crown – rear access off Lower Campbell St, Surry Hills.
(Nearest station – Museum).

Image © Paul D Wade Photography

Thursday 23rd February: Tour de Bears

The Bears Artspace is our Grand Tour of the Bear art scene as artists from around the world exhibit their work before an appreciative crowd.

For the second year running Monstrosity Gallery presents the world's most talented Bear photographers and artists in our peloton show at this small, artist-run contemporary art space.

The launch is this evening from 6.30pm, come meet the artists.

If you don't like to be boxed in by the crowd on opening night, you can break away from the pack as the artworks are on display until 1st March.

If you are interested in displaying your work please contact Cory at cozathomas@gmail.com for a submission pack

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact –Mark Twekesbury was the first Canadian athlete to voluntarily come out as gay in 1998. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 100 metres backstroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

FREE event.

Monstrosity Gallery, 93 Bourke Street, Woolloomooloo.
(Nearest station - St James or King's Cross then walk).

Friday 24th February: Swimming Gala

Aussies love a pool party and Wet Furr will have the bears clogging up the pool filter again at Cook & Phillip Park Aquatic Centre. Our annual "swimming gala" is one of the most hilarious homo-gatherings ever assembled.

From 6.30pm squeeze into your togs and join hundreds of other cubs, bears and admirers at play in the water, where you'll soon learn that the mating call of the bear leads to curious hands in the hydro-pool.

Watch out for a special poolside show and be sure to check out the courtyard with DJ Box spinning the tunes and the guys from Sydney Rangers Football Club sizzling their sausages on the BBQ.

It's A Whole New Ball Game Furry Fact – The Sydney Rangers Football Club were the first gay soccer club in Australia, founded in Sydney in 1997.

Tickets through Daisy Tickets www.daisytickets.com

From 6.30pm at Cook & Phillip Park Aquatic Centre, 4 College St, Sydney. (Nearest station – St James)

Remember to keep your Wet Furr wrist band on for priority entry to Furry Friday at the Oxford Hotel later that evening with our special guest DJ Sean Mac (USA) in the Underground and Chunky favourite Mark Alsop in the main bar.

FREE event.

From 9.00pm at The Oxford Hotel, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst.
(Nearest station – King's Cross or Museum then walk to Oxford St).

Image © Paul D Wade Photography