Puffio

This is a public service announcement: on sale now and for the duration of this bitterly long and cold winter is the new Coopers 2006 Extra Strong Vintage Ale. This is good news for those who like their ale brimming with flavour and punch (7.5% alcohol, apparently), but the bad news is that there are limited stocks being brewed and once it's gone, it's gone. Coopers say the ale should be savoured in moderation, which is a very wise warning, but Puffio met one tippler last week who'd tried a pint or more at a local hotel and forgot to buy milk on the way home. You are warned.

'[photo:fugue]' is an exhibition of artworks by Tracy Cornish which opens on Thurs 20 July in the SASA Gallery, Kaurna Building at the UniSA citywest campus. Cornish is a PhD student exploring the counterpoint nature of photography and digital media, but the '[photo:fugue]' exhibition is only open for ten days. The work shown is Chrysalis, which illustrates Cornish' style and technique.

In the latest dramatic adaptation from the fertile mind of Independent Theatre's Artistic Director Rob Croser comes the full stage production of Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca', which opens on Sat 29 July at the Odeon Theatre, Norwood. Starring Lyn Wilson as the second Mrs de Winter, and Sheree Sellick as the evil Mrs Danvers, this is psychological thriller in the best Du Maurier tradition which will play with your head.

'What's In The Attic?'is an exhibition of more than sixty items from the Hayward bequest to the state, and features rarely seen items and trinkets from the family vault - or attic... an eclectic mix of humorous sketches, old master prints and drawings, photographs, sculptural works, books, medieval weapons, thirteen swords, leather fire buckets, furniture and part of Sir Edward Hayward's drum kit. Get a look at Carrick Hill from Thurs 3 Aug.

In what rates as a coup for diplomatic relations, Japan's Crown Princess Masako and her four-year-old daughter Princess Aiko, will attend a Windmill performance of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish' when the Adelaide-based company tours the acclaimed production to Tokyo and Osaka later this month. The Australian Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Murray Mclean, will also attend. Good on ya, Windmill. You've done a play about a sheep, and a fish. Is one about a whale which is saved from the evil harpooning hunters too much to ask for?

The Australian String Quartet (ASQ) and clarinettist Catherine McCorkill will celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday in style with 'Shimmer', which is currently touring the nation. If you've been following the news you'll know that the history of the ASQ has been somewhat chequered this year, and that the current quartet are being replaced by the artits formerly known as Tankstream. Some ain't happy, some are, but the fact is that 'Shimmer' performs in Adelaide at 7pm on Mon 24 July in the Adelaide Town Hall and marks your last chance to see the current ASQ lineup. Thereafter, they will be seen in the following guise, a very fine guise indeed, Puffio thinks you'll agree.

You only have until the end of this month if you're an artist who wants to be in the running for Australia's Richest Landscape art prize, the $50,000 Fleurieu Peninsula Art Prize. The Prize is the centerpiece of the 2006 Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale which will be held in South Australia's picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula from 3 - 26 Nov. There are awards totaling $90,000 and a main prize on offer of $50,000, so this ranks as one of the most significant visual arts prize programs Australia-wide. To check categories and conditions go to www.artprize.com.au

To follow on from that bit of good news, young artists looking for ways to take the next step in their art career should put their hands up for $10,000 in Fleurieu Peninsula Youth Scholarship, which is also part of the wider Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale Prize Program. This scholarship is sponsored by Santos, who get a namecheck only because Puffio thinks it's excellent use of their corporate largesse.

Talented percussionist Fleur Green is off in the wild blue yonder, or at least flying to the USA, where she takes up a scholarship position at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory thanks to her having been awarded the Helpmann Academy Professional Development Grant. It's a two-year scholarship worth about $15,000, so not to be sneezed at. Fleur will study a Graduate Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory, part of the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, the first Australian so selected to do so. Onya Fleur!!! Here's her pic.