DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN

Whether you're looking for a retro date night

A fun day out with your mates or to relive the 1980s, it's time to get your fluoro gear out, put on some fun retro tunes and try some of the best flashback experiences Sydney has to offer. STRIKE BOWLING Ever bowled and wished you could have a glass of bubbly or a cold beer in your hand to mix things up a little? Now you can, with Strike Bowling combining bowling and drinking for a somewhat adult retro experience. Register in homeimprovement9.yolasite.com for bookings

"We have fluoro lighting, mirror balls and the ongoing video clips to make your night as fun as possible," spokesman Matt McIntosh says. You can also hire the karaoke room or chill in the champagne lounge while your friends battle it out in the bowling lanes. It costs $14 a game, including shoe hire; on Tightass Tuesdays there's $10 bowling and free popcorn from 8pm; karaoke room hire is $80 an hour. Monday-Friday, 11am until late; Saturday-Sunday, 10am until late; 18-plus from 8pm. King Street Wharf, 22 The Promenade, city. Phone 1300 787 453 for bookings. 

DRIVE-IN CINEMA

If you thought the drive-in was a relic of the past that only featured in movies such as Grease, think again. Greater Union Blacktown Drive-In is the only remaining drive-in in Sydney. It does a roaring trade with couples, families and groups of mates who want to watch the latest movies in the comfort of their car, tuning into old-school speaker boxes or FM and AM radio stations for a real surround-sound experience. "We've been operating for 47 years," general manager Maureen Black says. "In the warmer months, people bring picnic blankets and deck chairs to sit outside and in the colder months they all rug up with doonas in their cars." Open seven days a week, it lets customers sit back, relax and watch new releases. 

A perfect retro first date. Adults $15.50, children $10.50, concession $11.50. Cricketers Arms Road, Blacktown. Phone (02) 9622 0202. ROLLER SKATING HIRE If you're more into the active side of retro, why not take up roller skating for the day? Manly Blades hires out roller skates for those keen to glide down the Manly promenade and enjoy the beachside lifestyle in eight-wheel style. "We've had an increase of roller-skating hire this year, with many people hiring them out overnight for '80s parties," store manager Chris Williamson says. If you want to combine roller skating with partying, Manly Blades also organises roller discos, with staff heading out armed with 100 pairs of skates. Roller-skate hire costs $20 for an hour, $25 for two hours, all day $30 and overnight $35. Manly Blades is open seven days a week, 9am-6pm. Shop 263 Crown Street, Surry Hills. 

BRISTOL ARMS RETRO HOTEL With a name like "Retro", this nightclub lives up to its name - musically, anyway. It might be a little seedy - you'll need more than a few drinks before you get there - but there's fun to be had. The Retro nightclub hosts weekly retro nights on Fridays and Saturdays, mixing it up with different themes, such as rock'n'retro and toga and pyjama parties. It's also extremely popular for hens' nights and bucks' parties, so look out for marauding groups of people dressed in crazy gear. Entry before 9pm is free; entry after 9pm on Fridays is $10; $20 on Saturday after 9pm.