So you're a vegan. And lactose intolerant. And a coeliac. And allergic to additives and preservatives and the nasties that come in pre-packaged foods. Life is tough and you're getting all huffy and puffy because everyone is out there stuffing their faces with Snickers bars and you ain't allowed one measly bite.Ordinarily, you'd take one look at the chocolate truffles in the picture above and would sigh at the gluten and dairy-ridden injustice of it all. But it's not all bad! These little bites of luuurve are gluten-fee, dairy-free, processed sugar free, vegan and organic, just like you!Luv Bites was started this year by Kristina Pardy who "strives to remove the negative stigma attached to healthy food by providing delicious, irresistible snacks and meal alternatives that are high in nutritional content and that nourish the body." Which basically means that health food doesn't have to be all about limp salad. Health now comes in the form of lemon/lime & coconut, lavender, strawberry, orange, walnut, coconut rough and a heap of other naturally flavoured truffles, with coconut oil (which Miranda Kerr raves about), cocoa butter, organic dates and nuts replacing the usual chocolate and butter. Luv Bites also produces savoury products like rice paper wraps and nori rolls for corporate and catering events.You know who else is a vegan? Tobey Maguire. And you know what he had for lunch the other day on the set of the Great Gatsby? LUV BITES. You can find Luv Bites on sale at Bayside Natural Health Centre on Bay St in Double Bay and they will be launching a line of new products at No Fear Fitness in the New Year to promote 'New Beginnings'. They are also available at the Taylor Square sustainable markets every Saturday from 8am-1pm. Kristina gladly accepts private orders and loves the challenge of health and dietary requirements. Luv Biteswww.facebook.com/Luv.Bitesluvbitesinfo@gmail.comSophie McComaswww.twitter.com/sophmccomas

Two of our favourite Brisbane bands, Velociraptor and Dune Rats.Get on the (traditional spiced) Rum Train at GoodGod Small Club, November 23rd.$10 on the door for good times.xDS

The faces of young, poverty-stricken children are often used as subjects in photography. Kabul Kids, opening next Friday 18th November at China Heights Gallery, shows the images that emerge when these children take hold of the camera.This collection of photographs were taken by six young Afghani orphans who show the Kabul through their eyes; an alternate perspective to the war-torn images shown on the news.It's the result of the hard work of ShutterSeed, an project initiated by Palwesha Yusaf who travelled to Afghanistan in 2009 to teach these six children the art of photography through a series of workshops covering all the basics. The kids were then handed a camera to go out and express their own experiences creatively both within the orphanage and out on the streets of Kabul.The aim of ShutterSeed is to show the 'positive effects of "photographed" communities representing themselves through their own photography.'The collection ranges from intimate scenes of friendship to raw photos of the street outside, all are from an innocent and honest perspective.On the 25th November the exhibition will move to Parramatta for a week-long installment at the Information Cultural Exchange. The opening night will play host to a panel discussion with Palwesha Yusef on topics ranging from the universal experience of the child to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which the event falls upon.Throughout the entire exhibition artworks may be purchased, with all proceeds going towards the Hope House Orphanage in Kabul.Be sure not to miss this incredible chance to see Afghanistan through the eyes of the children that live there, sure to be an insightful and eye-opening experience.Opening Night - Kabul KidsWhen: 6-9pm, Friday 18th NovemberWhere: China Heights Gallery, 3/16-28 Foster Street, Surry Hillswww.chinaheights.comPanel Discussion @ International Cultural ExchangeWhen: 6:30pm, Friday 25th November (Exhibition runs here until 1st December)Where: 8 Victoria Road (Switch Digital Arts Centre), ParramattaLiz de Fegely: liz_defegely@hotmail.com

Now that our collective childhoods have officially come to a close thanks to the end of the Harry Potter saga, the next best thing is being able to rummage amongst artifacts, costumes, props and set pieces that appeared in the films in the new exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum: Harry Potter, The Exhibition, which will stop in Sydney only on its world tour. "Along the way, visitors can enter the Quidditch area and toss a Quaffle, pull their own Mandrake in the Herbology vignette, tour a recreation of Hagrid’s hut, encounter Buckbeak the Hippogriff and look into the many eyes of a giant Acromantula spider."Sounds pretty sweet to us, and we don't even care that we're not 14 years old anymore, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU HARRY POTTER.Harry Potter, The ExhibitionNovember 19 2011 - March 18 2012The Powerhouse Museum500 Harris St, UltimoSophie McComaswww.twitter.com/sophmccomas

Do you all remember the Beer Baron? The guy (Jed Clarke) who set up the late-night alcohol delivery service that was shut down recently because of lame licensing issues? Well ol' mate Baron has set up a bar. A great bar too, stocked with drinks that will make you laugh as much as they'll get you drunk.Did you know, that if you chuck a handful of Skittles in a schooner of beer, you will have a three-second window before it froths up volcanically? You've been duly warned. It's frothy alright. It's also delicious. If a Skittlebrow doesn't tickle your fancy, how 'bout a Stevie Nicks? A Root Beer-esque concoction of Carter Premium Lager, Coke and Amaretto. Or perhaps a Flaming Moe? A fiery shot of Absinthe and a 'secret ingredient'. If you like your drinks a little more on the right side of the tracks there are whisky or Amaretto sours, margaritas, caprioskas and a whole list of classics that are mixed well and liquor heavy. To soak all this fun up there's only free popcorn, but that may change soon. Head to The Dock for a spoonful of authentic grunge and a dose of the Good Times while lounging on their cracking collection of vintage chairs and lounges. The Dock182 Redfern St (cnr of Regent)5pm-12pm dailySophie McComaswww.twitter.com/sophmccomas

The first time I saw Amazing Face by Zoe Foster I was in a Bondi bookshop-café. I basically army crawled through the macchiato-sipping, skins-wearing yummy mummies to grab this book before they realised my ploy. I then scrambled to check out every page on pimples and blackheads (business first, people) before my boyfriend finished his coffee. Final verdict (on the book and my stealth mission): Amazing.* If you’re a chick with a penchant for primping (and you have a massive girl-crush on Cosmo dating expert Zoe Foster) you can pick up a copy of the book and meet the author at the Pitt Street Mall Sportsgirl, tomorrow night. Zoe will be sharing her tips on the best beauty trends this summer. During the Q&A, you could even ‘get your colours done’ a la Bridget Jones’ Mum, and ask Zoe to pick out a shade of lippy for you. If everyone asks for that, we’ll soon have a rainbow of pretty-coloured pouts across Sydney. It’ll be a beautiful summer, indeed. Zoe Foster Beauty Workshop WHERE Sportsgirl, Pitt St Mall, Sydney WHEN Thursday, 10th of November, 5pm - 6.30pm. HOW MUCH FREE! * Disclaimer: I will willingly follow the advice of anyone who refers to her readers as ‘Gorgeous Rascals’.Leesa Hamiltontwitter.com/LeesaHamilton

Ever get all existential and mopey about your inability to 'make' things? Does your struggle to express your feelings in a physical medium compound a sense of emotional impotency, deleteriously effecting  your personal relationships?OMG, like, us too!!That's where ArtRoom can help - at ArtRoom you can drink with friends, listen to music and graze listelessly on fingerfoods just as you would at any other post-work, Friday-night shindig WHILE creating powerful works to thrill future generations / your mum's fridge door.It's a casual painting class in a sociable, un-pretentious environment.Have a drink, pick up a brush and see what happens.DJs and nibbles included in the ticket priceWHAT: ArtRoom @ Hibernian HouseWHERE: Hibernian House, Elizabeth StWHEN: Friday 18th November @ 7:00pmHOW MUCH: $50 inc. unlimited paints, canvas, drinks and foodTickets from Sticky Tickets

Gyms are terrifying artifacts of our insatiable western fixation with body image. They're like self-esteem fast food outlets - they don't cater for the culturally savvy fitness aficionado.If you're the type that's prone to anxiousness when showering alongside Adonis reborn, or take deep, personal offense to the soundtracks accompanying pump class you should really be checking out Physique Aerobics.Physique is a new social aerobics night in Sydney, combining 'the best' (their words, not ours..) elements of aerobics from yesteryear - mirrors, attractive people, sweat, spandexand banging 80’s music.Physique is on Tuesday nights upstairs at China Heights Gallery inDarlinghurst. It will set you back $15a session.Bookings are essential:physique.virb.com/xDS

Notable additions are Daily Sydney amigo Alison Wonderland, Example (who was here for Parklife recently), Modestep, New Navy, Cloud Control, Motor City Drum Ensemble (NICE!), Elizabeth Rose and, as usual,  the ubiquitous mystery act "Many More".What do you think - is it a bit lazy booking Justice two years running or are you mega amped for their new live show?xDS

emerald + ella is a gorgeous prop-hire shop, stocking those awesome candy stripe straws we love so much and a swag of other treasures. e+e are the ones responsible for filling all those beautiful food and home magazines with the cute trinkets we want in our house when we're All Grown Up but can't be bothered trawling through flea markets to source.They are having a WAREHOUSE SALE for the first time ever, where they are going to sell off all their surplus stock of vintage and new props and homewares to all you lovely nest-makers for cheap cheap! Our tip is to get down there early so some bitch doesn't steal the vintage duck-egg blue tea pot you've been dreaming about.emerald + ella warehouse saleNovember 17th, 18th & 19th10am-4pmWoollahra Colleagues Rugby Club, Rose Bay (Woollahra Oval, Manion Av, Rose Bay)Sophie McComaswww.twitter.com/sophmccomas

What are we excited about?Festival First NightWHEN: Saturday, January 7thWHERE: EVERYWHERE in the cityHOW MUCH: FreeNorman Jay on a double decker bus dropping world grooves for 8 hours straight, Holly Throsby rocking her album for kids live, people running up the sides of buildings, old Jamaicans playing Amy Winehouse covers - all accompanied by a hip-flask tucked into the front of your pants. Best night of the year to be in the city, and tonnes of action for anyone with ears and eyes.Whitest Boy Alive + New Navy WHEN: Saturday, January 21st WHERE: Keystone Festival Bar @ Hyde Park BarracksHOW MUCH: $52The best! And free tunes from our bros at Future Classic when the gig finishes. Perfecto.Nick Zinner performs 41 StringsWHEN: Sunday, January 22ndWHERE: Opera HouseHOW MUCH: $45 - $60Part of the Vice Creators Project (which is really cool and worth a visit) - Nick Zinner put together an orchestra and wrote a 'modern symphony' about Earth Day. "Fie, fie, this is a show for them hipster types innit!", you say... but have a listen, it's really pretty. Plus Nick Zinner is from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's which makes this automatically a "cool event" to attend and perhaps "micro-blog" about.41 STRINGS by creatorsprojectWhat else is on? Deerhoof, TuneYards, some wank with Megan Washington, The Famous Spiegletent of world music wonders, Beth Orton, Dj Koze and a stack more.Start saving your pennies! And by pennies we mean $50 notes.xDS

Another self-styled boutique music festival, this one from the team that brought you Winter Music earlier this year. Seasoned Music are back in the saddle this November with SPRING MUSIC.With the blissful memories of Musica Tumbalong (perhaps the best all-round festival experience of 2011 might I add) fading fast, Spring Music promises a similar vibe. 1000 capacity, a focus on high-end production and no dickheads.We're cool with that.Cadenza-bro Ernesto Ferreyra and Minus man Fabrizio Maurizi round out a local mix of deep house specialists. Spring Music EQ ShowringSat November 12th Tix $77 from RASample some of the wares on offer below:xDSFABRIZIO MAURIZI (MINUS)http://soundcloud.com/nightclubber-ro/fabrizio-maurizi-fabrizio-wts ERENSTO FERREYRA (CADENZA)http://soundcloud.com/ernesto-fNIC SCALIwww.souncloud.com/nicscali YokoO www.soundcloud.com/yokoo Pink Lloyd http://www.http//soundcloud.com/sof-1 SlowBlow http://soundcloud.com/slow-blow Mesan http://soundcloud.com/mesan