Joseph Allen is a man of many talents. Besides being an amazing artist he somehow also finds the time to be a publisher and curator, organizer of lovely community art makings.

Joe has recently published two books you probably have seen - or need to see - the Kill Pixie book and the Marcus Oakley book. Actually, you can't really read either of them as they are picture books, but they are beautiful.

He also often collaborates with Dave Ladd of HeSheItTheyI and there's a couple of fantastic zines by the both of them. You would be wise to go to the MCA Zine Fair during the Sydney Writers Festival and check out their wares. There is internet representation on IzRock.com, but it's really just a tease of the actual tangible beauty of these publications.

By Biddy & Sonny, Webuyyourkids

Format: Magazine

Motivation: Improves creativity by osmosis

Keywords: Joe Allen, Kill Pixie, Zine

There's this guy called Jonny Nails (yes, his real name) who co-runs a great blog called Polaroids of Androids. POA had a party late last year above the Newtown Hotel. This amazing band, Talons played and blew our faces off with their awesomeness. We were so excited, we just wanted to draw them a picture. So, we made them a poster and went to more shows and they just kept ruling.

They have this EP DUCATS and the artwork on that is done by the amazing art talents of Leo Coyte from Further and you should buy it. But seeing them is believing. So you should do it. They'll be supporting The Holy Soul and The Exiles later in May at the Hopetoun.

By Sonny and Biddy, Webuyyourkids

Release: Live

To Cure: A quiet weekend

Keywords: Psych rock, Talons, Webuyyourkids

Down the South end of King Street is friendly Justin and the shop he co-runs - Bravery Repetition and Noise. The store is named after what we thought was the best Brian Jonestown record (until we bought the new one last week. Frankly, we are stunned at how much we love it and might have to re-think the rating).

Anyway, one of the great things about this record store is the wall displays and how they are arranged by vague genre-style family trees. For example, at the moment there is a neat display of psych and doom bands that spans the true doom kings of Electric Wizard, then branches out to the amazing newness of Witch, Dead Meadow and The Warlocks.

This is all connected like a bizarre vine; a very cool way to see all the cool covers laid out. BR&N stock all sorts of great CDs, DVDs and Vinyl, but we are particularly fond of the dooooooooom. Buy the Witch record, its amazing.

By Biddy & Sonny, Webuyyourkids

Product: Music

Anatomy: Face

Keywords: Webuyyourkids, Psych rock

In case you haven't noticed, China is in our sights. And besides things like the Olympics, environmental degradation and Tibet, there is increasing focus on the nation's thriving contemporary art scene.

See Beijing Bubbles to learn about the capital's underground music world and next time you're passing through check out 798, an abandoned military electronics factory on the outskirts of Beijing that was converted to a hub of studios, galleries and performance spaces.

For the last few decades a dude named Ai Weiwei has been at the forefront of contemporary art in China. A cultural commentator, publisher, curator, architect and artist, he is currently in Sydney for the first international survey of his work.

Sherman Gallery is housing an amazing dramatic installation, THROUGH, and one of his video works, FAIRYTALE. There are also over 45 of his photography, video, installation and sculpture pieces at Campbelltown Art Foundation - well worth the little drive down the M5.

By Amelia Groom

Medium: Mixed

Drink: Double espresso

Keywords: China

If you are ever wondering where Shepard Fairey got the inspiration for his Obey logo - look no further than the awesome movies of Mr. John Carpenter. In 1988 he made a sci-fi extravaganza called THEY LIVE!. It starred Rowdy Roddy Piper of old-school wrestling fame and involved him finding a pair of magic sunglasses. The sunnies allowed him to see that the earth had been invaded by aliens who had been slowly brainwashing humans using subliminal messages in our advertising, and it also includes a scene of one of the said aliens standing before a giant Obey banner and that's from whence the inspiration came.

That's a really long sentence but it's a really great movie. So watch that and then get all the ones John Carpenter "collaborated" with Kurt Russell on. Especially THE THING, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (Snake!) and BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.

By Sonny & Biddy, Webuyyourkids

Format: DVD

Mood: Rad

Keywords: John Carpenter, Webuyyourkids, Horror

If you want to know the time there are two options - analogue or digital. Sundials look sweet but aren't that practical, and trying to chart the sun's axis makes for fried eyeballs.

In 1997 however, another mode of clocking time appeared. It all happened when designer Matthew Waldman was staring at a clock in a London hotel. There he stood, thinking 'man, there are so few options for time display, I gotta create myself a new clock'. So Matt grabbed a napkin (the saviour of many a fleeting thought) and sketched out Nooka.

Nooka isn't about numbers, it's about intuition. As time passes, the visual mass on the left hand side increases, "giving weight to an ephemeral and abstract concept" (thank you Mr Waldman).

To be honest, we didn't realise that Nooka's time chart was that different at first, it was colour and design of the things that grabbed us. Analogue be gone! We're running on Nooka time now.

By Nadia Saccardo

Product: Accessories

Theft: Theft is likely

Keywords: Nooka, Watch, Design

A friend told us a friend of hers saw Michael Caine in the Thanh Binh. I already knew it was cool because I'd eaten frogs legs there, but that made me wanna move in. Now Sonny and I live above it (well above a shop a few doors down) and often take Sunday lunch there. They have this amazing noodle menu where everything is about $10 and comes in novelty sized bowls. Stuffed calamari, salt 'n' pepper soft shell crab or the pho are sure winners.

You also get a mintie after you pay. We asked about the Michael Caine thing and it turns out he went to another Vietnamese restaurant down the road, but damn it we dig Thanh Binh Sundays.

By Biddy & Sonny, Webuyyourkids

Venue: Restaurant

Meal: Dinner

Keywords: Newtown, Vietnamese, Noodles

If THE CASTLE had been set in Sydney, simply putting a link to the movie up would have been enough to explain the romance of Greyhound racing. For those of you unfortunate enough not to have seen it or still on dial-up, the dishlickers are the affordable option to those other, more regal races over at Royal Randwick.

There isn't a feathered hat in sight, entry is only $5, the races are over before you can even think about how much money you've lost, the drinks are cheap and there's a bistro that puts shame to every other bistro that's within striking distance of a bookie and even some that aren't. What more could you ask for?

By Gabriel Knowles

Ambience: Outdoor

Difficulty: Exertion will pay off

Keywords: Glebe, Greyhounds

Imagine the cutest, cuddliest, warmest little plush creatures possible. Now picture said creatures with their little red hearts in there hands, and their little red arteries streaming from their chests. Meet Cat Rabbit and all of her hand-sewn babies. The Hobart based artist will be showing the little munchkins at Ruban Rat from May 9 until May 29. - HM

By Hayley Morgan

Event: Exhibition

Stimulus: A

Keywords: Design, Exhibition, Newtown

We're likening MAKE DO to THE BIG CHILL. Except swap 'eight high school friends' with '23 different artists and designers who have worked at Object Gallery'. There's no grand creative theme here, just "a bunch of peeps getting their craft on" according to exhibitor Gabriel Clarke. (Who was still getting his craft on as he wrote.) Clarke was also excited about Honor Freedman and Mel Young. We're excited to see this crew back together. - NS

By Nadia Saccardo

Event: Exhibition

Stimulus: W

Keywords: Gaffa Gallery

Long running weekly electro club BANDITS bids farewell to Club 77's dirty dancefloor (and the strobe-porn toilets) this Friday. Joining them for one last hurrah will be Melbourne's Ooh-Ee plus residents Kato, Spruce Lee and Dan De Caires. Those used to munting out to Spruce Lee at 6am on Saturday mornings have no need to fret - Bandits will return at a shiny new venue in a month or two. - AL

By Levins

Event: DJs

Stimulus: E

Keywords: Electro, Club 77, Darlinghurst, Bandits

Will & Toby's Supper Club plays host to two fine parties this Saturday night. First up is Barcleona's El Guincho, a psychadelic pop genius bringing his acclaimed live show to Australia for the first time. Also on the bill are The E.L.F., WOW, Architecture In Helsinki DJs and DJ Berko. After El Guincho expands your mind prepare to get sweaty when Ro Sham Bo DJ's Sleater Brockman, Spruce Lee, Moriarty and Jimmy Sing take over the club until the early hours of the morning for the latest edition of RO SHAM BO KNIGHTS - playing the finest in Dancehall, Reggaeton, Baile Funk, Crunk, Baltimore Club etc etc etc. Party times! - AL

By Levins

Event: Bands

Stimulus: W

Keywords: Psych, El Guincho, Darlinghurst, Ro Sham Bo

Remember when these kids were just breaking out on the scene? It's not hard because it was only about a year or two ago now. Since then the world has been their freshwater oyster - culminating a few weeks ago where they played at the Coachella festival in California.... Or was it having Bruce Willis claim that they were one of his favourite bands? - KB

By Kylie Boyd

Event: Bands

Stimulus: A

Keywords: The Metro, City, Architecture in Helsinki