The Griffin theatre company celebrated 30 years with a party on Nimrod Street, Darlinghurst, today. There were plenty of familiar faces, including a substantial wedge of a particular hospital drama.

Of course, there was a crowd of local councillors and government people, and faces lit up when Virginia Judge (NSW assistant arts minister) announced $80,000 towards the theatre’s rebuilding costs. The company’s trying to raise $1 million for upgrades.

The Griffin has plenty of events planned to mark the anniversary, including a 24 hour play generator where six young playwrights are huddled into a room and given 24 hours to deliver the goods – a 10 minute short play. They’re also launching Short Circuit, a collection of short plays.

It’s the only theatre dedicated to new Australian plays, and stacks of great playwrights and actors have started at Griffin/SBW Stables – Cate Blanchett, Louis Nowra, Brendan Cowell, Michael Gow and plenty more. That’s something to celebrate. Plus it’s the first time Darlinghurst Nights has been invited to a party in the neighbourhood.

UPDATE (21/9/09): Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton donated $45,000, and Bob and Helena Carr $3000, according to the SMH, while Louis Nowra and Bob Ellis feuded from opposite ends of the party over Nowra’s review of Ellis’s book And So It Went.

Zap’s nothing if not prolific at the moment.

This back alley cash swap appeared on Pennys Lane, Kings Cross, last month – it was mentioned by Rachel in our comments at the end of August, but we walked by yesterday and photographed it.

We asked Zap for an interview a few weeks ago. He’s been studiously ignoring our email.

A quick update on Blanco’s progress.

The menu is up for show at the entrance.

The space looks ready to go.

But will Baron’s be resurrected?

I’ve been watching this building’s development for some time now. It’s on Roslyn Street in Kings Cross.

It is no accident it looks like a tribute to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. It is, the building is even called ‘Barcelona’.

According to today’s Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Living section, a new restaurant and bar, Blanco, is all set to open in the building.

It was all over the news today. The third season of Underbelly, aka The Golden Mile, was to begin shooting in Kings Cross.

And there they were, shooting away on Darlinghurst Road, this afternoon.

An ’80s-style Commodore cop car and paddy wagon were parked outside the Astoria Hotel, opposite Club Swans, while a man in blue climbed head-first through an open window above.

Filming is expected to continue through the rest of the year, so I’m sure this scene is going to become a familiar sight around the neighbourhood.

People might say Kings Cross is where the dregs of society wind up, and they’re probably right, but not necessarily exactly right.

It’s hard to miss the skerricks of booze when you’re walking through the neighbourhood, especially early on the weekend.

Maybe they’re one for the road, the straw that broke the camel’s back. Surplus to requirements, a little too much.

Occasionally you see a guy pick one up, test the weight of the thing, then take a swig.

You see some odd sights walking the streets around Kings Cross.

But McElhone Street has a couple of lovely surprises on the side.

The laneway garden above is on Windeyer Street.

This one’s at the end of Rae Place.

These gardens remind us a lot of this one in Thomson Street.

Street proud residents, lane way love.

Someone is feeling really sick today. A hippie of Jim Beam, pre-mix Jose Cuervo and a drum of vegetable oil.

Perhaps this is who was responsible for the vomit.

The Cross is probably at its most grotesque at 7 in the morning. Especially on a Sunday morning.

Fights are still breaking out and the ground is absolutely littered with trash.

And vomit.

Sometimes the vomit stains the ground for months, maybe years to come.

Fortunately, just moments after this shot was taken, the Karcher boys were heading north down Macleay Street.

This picture was taken from the fourth floor of the new wing at the Australian Museum, which we visited last weekend.

And this one is from the top of William Street two Sundays ago, just before a massive storm broke.