Sydney-based writer, psychotherapist and multidisciplinary artist Noula Diamantopoulos has a new show and it's all about L-O-V-E. In a series of poetic neon artworks, Agape asks what it means to fall in love, whether we can accurately define love, and why love can hurt so much sometimes — ultimately arguing that it shouldn't. An artist known for exploring universal emotion and human feeling, Diamantopoulos recently completed a public art commission as part of the 'Love Shouldn't Hurt' domestic violence campaign. You might have seen the massive mural depicting domestic violence survivor Felicity Cook at 182 George Street, crafted from 20,000 jar lids? That was her. In this latest exhibition, each work features a Greek word or poetic phrase — in Diamantopoulos's own handwriting — that refer to various facets of love, plus a single abstract drawing piece full of symbolic imagery. Look closely and you might see the double helix of the DNA sequence, or maybe even the muscles and arteries of the human heart. Image: Noula Diamantopoulos, Agapo mou, 2017, neon, acrylic sheet, unique edition, 45cm x 80cm.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking its first wander around Sydney after previously strolling through Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during 2017, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover has been waiting for. Think Grapest, but without convincing yourself that you're going to run five kilometres. Or, what you might do on a weekend afternoon, but in a more organised fashion From midday until 5pm on February 10, you'll saunter between the likes of The Winery, The Dolphin Hotel, This Must Be The Place, The Wild Rover, Golden Age Bar, Maybe Frank and more, sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by South Australia's Delinquene Wine Co andHither & Yon, and New South Wales' Printhie Wines, Freeman Vineyards and Hart & Hunter among others. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for $45, with full tickets costing $55 once the initial allocation has run out. Places are limited, but this moving cellar door will not only serve up wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars.
Take your Christmas shopping to the next level this December — that is, to level four of The Strand Arcade. That's where a large collection of artisan producers will be selling home products, ceramics, accessories and more. And it's all in the name of supporting independent, sustainable Australian art, fashion and design. Kicking off on Thursday, December 7, it'll all take place at Courtesy of the Artist's 200-square-metre multipurpose space at the top of the arcade. Look out for products from a long list of Australian makers including Alison Jackson Tableware, watches from Aãrk Collective, Isobel Sippel Studio, Gewürzhaus Herb and Spice Merchants, Lauren Webster, Loom Towels, Carrol Russell, Fink, Tracy Dickason, Pass A Ball, Avi Amesbury, Ainslie Walker and Pendolino Olive Oils. Keep in mind that there will also be beautiful gift boxes for your Christmas gifting, and you'll also be able to create your own expensive hamper from the broad choice of products available at the market. The Loft Christmas Market will run every day between December 7 and January 31, except between December 23 and January 4, when it will be closed for Christmas. It'll be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 5.30pm, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
How do two filmmaking siblings follow up one of the biggest Australian comedies of the 21st century? With a much bleaker slice of comic action. In the 12 years between Kenny and Brothers' Nest, Shane Jacobson hasn't been far from screens. In fact, he's graced local cinemas in the awful trio of Guardians of the Tomb, The BBQ and That's Not My Dog! just this year alone. But making another film with his brother, actor-director Clayton Jacobson, has taken much, much longer than it'd take Kenny to plumb most of the country's toilets. While Brothers' Nest is as far removed from the Jacobsons' toilet-fixing mockumentary as you can get, it's mostly worth the wait — an attempt to meld grimy psychological thrills with black comedy that doesn't break the mould, but delivers exactly what it promises. Shane and Clayton co-star as a luckless and unhappy duo intent on securing what's rightfully theirs and willing to do whatever it takes to get it, even resorting to planning the perfect murder. Their cancer-stricken mum (Lynette Curran) is dying and, to their dismay, she's just changed her will to leave everything to their stepfather Rodger (Kim Gyngell). With the family home in country Victoria on the line, no-nonsense elder sibling Jeff (Clayton Jacobson) quickly convinces his kindlier younger brother Terry (Shane Jacobson) that homicide is the only option to reclaim their inheritance. It's with a wry smile that Brothers' Nest begins with its titular pair cycling up to their childhood abode, donning orange jumpsuits and hospital booties, and starting to enact Jeff's meticulous plan. Visually, the picture is soaked in fog and grey, befitting a sombre mood — but the moment Jeff and Terry start preparing for their grisly task, humour cracks the grim facade. Indeed, Clayton Jacobson and writers Jaime Browne (The Mule) and Chris Pahlow manage a delicate balancing act for the first two-thirds of the film, milking the business of knocking off a family member, and dealing with deep-seeded woes, for both drama and laughs. Still, there comes a point where brothers' banter can't bring cheer to this tale, with their bickering — often sparked by Jeff's pedantic determination to stick to his detailed to-do list — only going so far as the movie veers into more tragic territory. That said, much of the film's success stems from the Jacobsons' performances, with the pair pretending to be other, more desperate siblings. Fleshing out a fraught picture of brotherly love in the process, it's clearly not a case of art imitating life, but the authentic connection between their characters runs deeper than if the actors weren't related. For Shane, as the unsurprisingly more affable of the two, it's a more interesting and challenging big-screen role than he's had in some time, although his 'loveable larrikin' public persona softens Terry's quiet sadness. For Clayton, taking the sterner, more brittle part — and eventually, the more unhinged as well — it's a welcome reminder that his talents don't just reside behind the camera. Wielding that lens, Clayton's efforts are effective. Viewers never forget that this is a low-budget affair, particularly given that it's confined to one setting, but many rousing thrillers have been. A hefty smattering of inventive shots catch the eye, while the short but definitely not sweet film is well-paced, with Clayton also co-editing. Sadly the supporting cast are all noticeably underused, although Curran, Gyngell and Sarah Snook each make their marks. Of course, you don't go to a dark, murderous comedy called Brothers' Nest for something other than siblings getting kill-happy, and this taut, claustrophobic account of blood, money and double-crossing does what it needs to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdo5oiBQOgs
It's not too early to think about your next season's swimwear, we promise — summer is in sight (or spring at the very least). Boho label Tigerlily Swimwear is offering something very relevant to your interests: a big old four-day warehouse sale to get you some much-welcome bikini bargains. The Aussie brand is almost 20 years old and still creating timeless prints and unique swimwear, so getting your mitts on some of the goods for up to 70 percent off doesn't seem like the worst idea. This is the brand's biggest ever warehouse sale with prices starting from $30. Past-season Tigerlily collections will be on offer for you and your sun-craving bodies — and it isn't just swimwear. Dresses, shorts, kaftans and other clothing will also be reduced to help you begin your summer haul. The Tigerlily warehouse sale will take place at Paddington Town Hall from August 23–26, running from 8am–7pm on Thursday and 8am–5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
If pastel wasn't already part of your gig-going wardrobe, it will be at Client Liaison's Expo Liaison, which will be touring the country in August. Announced back in May, the seven-hour event will hit Sydney's Luna Park on across August 25, and the headlining duo will have quite the company. Alongside a roster of eight other acts, the duo's own set will also feature The Voice himself, John Farnham. Alice Ivy, Ken Davis, Kon, Luke Million featuring KLP, No Zu, Rainbow Chan and Total Giovanni are all on the bill, plus John Howard doing a DJ set. Whether that's John Howard the former prime minister, John Howard the Aussie actor or just some other guy called John Howard, well, your guess is as good as ours — but Triple J is entertaining the fact that it could be the former. As for the kind of vibe that's in store, the curated event has fest badged "a multimedia, multi-city, multiversal experience" in its promotional material, as well as a "once-in-a-lifetime event". They're the kind of descriptions that plenty of gigs and fests throw around, but, even though the band's being overly hyperbolic, Client Liaison has a track record of delivering more than just the usual shows — or fashion lines or music videos, for that matter.
When Bob Dylan last toured Australia, it was billed as a 'once in a lifetime' experience. And, for all those who went, it was. It's just that now fans will be get the opportunity to have another such experience, because the legendary tambourine man will return to Australia for a national tour this August. This tour will be less exhaustive than his 2014 effort, with Dylan set to do eight shows — one in Sydney on August 18, as well as one in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Wollongong, and two back-to-back shows in Melbourne. He will draw on his incredible 60-year career — which spans 36 studio albums and countless hits — for the shows, so you better start praying to the music gods that your favourite makes it onto the setlist. Dylan may be 76 years old, but he has certainly showed no signs of slowing down as he approaches 80. In 2016 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature and, just this year, he oddly released his own whisky. But still, it could be the last chance you get to see this living legend perform live. His last tour sold out, so don't wait too long to get your hands on tickets.
Sydney's luxury lifestyle and homewares label In Bed is hosting its annual warehouse sale this June. After launching its first bricks-and-mortar store in Paddington earlier this year, In Bed is now taking over an Alexandria warehouse with discounted linen and cotton bedding, bath towels, kitchen textiles and homewares. As well as discounts of up to 80 percent on the above, there'll also be a slew of samples, seconds and surplus stock to get your mitts on. If you've been lusting after the label's all-natural linens for a while now, here's your chance to finally take them home. But, a word of warning: it's going to make getting out of your cosy bed this winter even harder. In Bed Sydney Warehouse sale is open Friday, June 29, 12pm–7pm; Saturday, June 30, 9am–4pm; and Sunday, July 1, 9am–4pm.
Over the past few years, Keep Sydney Open has been the loudest voice for Sydney nightlife, and, as of this month, it's officially registered as a political party with plans to run at next year's NSW state election. And it's celebrating with a big ol' bash. From 9pm on Saturday, June 30, KSO is taking over Kings Cross Hotel in support of all things that have kept Sydney alive. The appropriately dubbed Party Party, which will be held across all six levels of the venue until 3.30am, will feature DJ sets from big names Roland Tings and Basenji, as well as Triple J presenter Luen Jacobs and music collective Body Type DJs. Now, the nightlife lobby group is solidifying its legitimacy and taking its battle to state parliament — it's now officially registered as a political party, and will be running at next year's NSW state election, which will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019. KSO announced its new status via a Facebook video earlier this month, and released a statement on its website saying, "what started as a movement to protect Sydney's nightlife has morphed into something bigger — the lockouts were just one symptom of a broader sickness in NSW politics". While we can assume its stance on nightlife, the party's opinions on other state matters are yet to be revealed. These will be just as important to take into consideration in the lead-up to the election. Tickets to the party cost $32.70, with all proceeds going to support Keep Sydney Open's political campaign, and can be purchased here.
If you missed out on the huge Marrickville warehouse plant sale, be sure to clear Saturday, March 3 immediately. Because there's another one on its way. The Jungle Collective is a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. After holding its first wildly successful Sydney market earlier this month, it's gathering the leftover plants, tracking down new ones and throwing a one-day indoor plant party. While we don't know what plants will be available this time, previous sales have had everything from hanging pot plants to palms for the garden to a giant Bird of Paradise. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. This one will be held in a different location, which hasn't been announced yet. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions over the day (8–10am, 10am–12pm, 12–2pm and 2–4pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets . Best get in quick for an early session though — the last Sydney market was incredibly popular.
Just like that, Beck has announced he'll be playing a surprise show in Sydney this Friday, February 23. It'll be happening at the Factory Theatre and tickets will be strictly limited to just 500. So, as you can imagine, fans are ready to pull teeth to lay their hands on one. In order to stop these rowdy masses from losing all control, promoters Secret Sounds and Live Nation are making tickets available by ballot only. And you have until midday today — Wednesday, February 21 — to register. You'll be told via email whether or not you scored a ticket by 5pm. Beck is making just three other appearances in Australia, one at the inaugural Sydney City Limits festival taking place at Centennial Park this Saturday, as well as two headline shows in Sydney and Canberra. Image: Lauren Dukoff.
Backhands, beats and artisan eats will converge on Rose Bay's Lyne Park Tennis Centre on Saturday, March 17. That's when social tennis event Social Serve returns to raise money for The Primary Club, an Aussie charity that helps people with disabilities to play sport. If your activewear hasn't had more of a workout than a stroll to the cafe at the end of your street, then here's your chance to put it to work. The good news is you'll only have to work as hard as you like. The sporty part of proceedings will take the form of friendly mixed doubles match from 3.30pm, with champs who kill it on the court heading into the finals. The whole thing will be capped off with a preso and rink from 7–9pm. Not so keen on joining the game? That's more than fine. Instead, relax on the sidelines, listen to local DJs, eat some snacks and drink some cocktails by Poor Toms.
Break out the pink and don't even dream of wearing sweatpants: it's Mean Girls brunch time. Come Sunday, April 22, themed mid-morning meals dedicated to the 2004 teen classic will be popping up in yet-to-be-disclosed locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, like Gretchen's devotion to the word "fetch", someone is trying to make this happen. Tickets are $57 and include brunch and an hour of bottomless prosecco, and for an extra $6.60 you can catch a screening of the film too. It's the latest in what's proving a growing trend, given the enormous popularity of the already sold-out Harry Potter-themed Wizard's Brunch. If the Plastics were to give their opinion on it, however, we're not certain it'd get the Regina George stamp of approval. Other than the pink-hued outfits and just generally gossiping about the Tina Fey-written, Lindsay Lohan- and Rachel McAdams-starring movie, there's not that much else to really throw into the mix. Will attendees eat in a school cafeteria-like setting? Will it feature an all-carb menu to go with Regina's all-carb diet? Will tables be split into cliques like "actual human beings" and "desperate wannabes"? Will Kalteen bars feature? Perhaps a Spring Fling King and Queen will be crowned, which is what's happening at London's version of the event.
In 2018, great Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy celebrates 50 years in the business. And, to mark the occasion, the Australian Ballet is opening the season with a tribute. Titled Murphy, the show is a dazzling compilation of the choreographer's boldest and most poetic moments. A major highlight is the return of Firebird. The ballet is based on a Russian folktale about a prince who captures a bird, but, in exchange for a magical feather, sets her free. Next, he finds himself in an enchanted garden, where he falls in love with the daughter of an evil magician called Koschei, whose soul is trapped inside an egg. Together, the prince and Firebird attempt to release it. The story first appeared as a ballet in 1910 in an interpretation by choreographer Michel Fokine, set to music by composer Igor Stravinsky for the Ballet Russe. Murphy's recreation in 2009, which sticks to the original, is set in a dystopian Garden of Eden, designed by Leon Krasenstein. Along with performing the whole masterpiece, dancers will revisit excerpts from The Silver Rose, Ellipse, Grand and Air and Other Invisible Forces, as well as the entirety of Sheherazade. "What better way to start the year than by honouring an Australian dancemaker of unparalleled talent whose virtuosic career began right here with the Australian Ballet 50 years ago," said David McAllister, artistic director of the Australian Ballet. Murphy created his very first work for the Ballet's Choreographic Workshop in 1971, before going on to become artistic director for Sydney Dance Company, a position he held for 31 years. Murphy runs April 6–23 at the Sydney Opera House. You can book tickets here. Images: Jeff Busby and Alex Makeyev
For a taste of the Hunter Valley's finest food and wine without the long drive, take a day trip to the beachside suburb of Avalon, where you can experience all the delights of Australia's premium wine-growing region at Uncorked Avalon. Returning for its second year, the one-day festival features 23 Hunter Valley wineries and a host of gourmet food suppliers coming together to provide a taste of what's to come at this year's Hunter Valley Food and Wine Festival. As well as sampling your way through the goods on offer, you'll be able to brush up on your knowledge at wine masterclasses. Held at the festival's new semillon and oyster pop-up bar, the sessions will be hosted by four of the region's top semillon producers —Mount Pleasant Wines, McLeish Estate Wines, Tamburlaine Organic Wines and Tulloch Wines — and will see the variety paired with fresh Sydney Rock oysters. The sessions will set you back $45 a pop, but for the cost of the ticket you'll get a Riedel glass, a flight of wine and half-a-dozen oysters. If wine's not your thing, there'll also be craft beers from the region and a host of local bites, including pastries, seafood, Italian street food and heaps of gooey and smelly cheeses. Tasting vouchers are $4 each on the day, or you can skip the line and pre-purchase a Riedel wine glass with four tasting tickets online for $26. Prepare your palate — it's set to be a big day of wining and dining. Uncorked Avalon will run from 10.30am to 5pm at The Village Green at Dunbar Park.
Though the festive season may be over five months away, the cold weather and cosiness of winter has inspired Christmas in July celebrations across Sydney. And this year, Ultimate Silent Disco and Silent Sounds are bringing the (second) most wonderful time of the year to new heights. On Friday, July 27, you can treat yourself to 360-degree views of Sydney as you boogie to Christmas-themed bops (and, normal music, too). While you can only hope to hear some of Mariah Carey's holly jolly hits as you party 250 metres above the CBD, you'll be sure to sleigh the dance floor to sets from three different DJs. You can party from 9.30pm to midnight, the music switching between hip hop, throwback, and house party channels. Don't forget to show off your Christmas (in July) spirit and wear the tackiest, most festive jumper — if you're best dressed, you could even win a prize. Drinks will be available to purchase on the night, too.
He has been the body, voice and spirit behind some of Australian musical theatre and cabaret's most memorable and vibrant characters. But there is one role that Trevor Ashley doesn't take on stage very often: himself. On Saturday, September 22, he plans to do just that, taking to the stage at City Recital Hall for an intimate look back at his time in show business — with a few impersonations thrown in for good measure. It's difficult to find a performative pie that Ashley hasn't had his finger in over the course of his 20-year career. Writer, director, actor and cabaret all-rounder, he's probably best known for his performances as Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and Miss Understanding in Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical. But he's also found no end of acclaim with his independent works: a series of arch and saucy adult pantomimes titled Fat Swan, Little Orphan TrAshley and, most recently, The Bodybag. Having never performed at Sydney's City Recital Hall, Ashley's leaving nothing to chance. Armed with an array of anecdotes, an eight-piece band and an arsenal of songs, he promises that Double Ds: Two Decades of Divadom will be a tornado of spangles, sass and soaring high notes. And while this is technically a one-man act, you can expect to meet a number of different characters throughout the night, namely Liza Minnelli, Cher and Shirley Bassey. Sure, this is a retrospective. But it's also Australia's cabaret matriarch showing with brio and glamour why the throne has been his for the last two decades. Tickets for Trevor Ashley Double Ds start from $50 for under 30s. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the City Recital Hall website.
This year's Irish Film Festival doesn't just showcase the country's cinematic output, although it certainly does that. Intertwined with the fest's movie lineup, attendees will also receive a crash course in recent Irish history. With 2018 marking the 20th anniversary of the Northern Ireland peace process, the five-day event is focusing on films about the troubled period. In fact, four flicks in its nine-title program contemplate the subject. They include opening night's Maze, which dramatises a 1983 prison break, and The Journey, featuring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney as figures on either side of the conflict. Or, there's also No Stone Unturned, the latest doco from director Alex Gibney (We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief), exploring the murder of six Catholics in a tiny pub in County Down in 1994. For viewers after a change of topic, the fest also features Song of Granite, a music biopic about traditional Irish folk singer Joe Heaney, as well as The Lodgers, which unfolds its haunted house tale in 1920s rural Ireland. Plus, the Irish Film Festival does something that other fests don't: it holds two opening nights. The main run kicks off on April 19 and plays until April 22, taking place at the Chauvel in Paddington. However, if you'd like to get things started early, it actually launches on April 18 with a one-night-only session at Penrith Gaels.
Nearly four decades ago, the nephew of a famous film director took his first big screen acting gig playing a character so minor, he didn't even get a name. Six years later, the star in question nabbed a Golden Globe nomination. Before the century was out, he won an Oscar. These days, he also has eight Razzie nominations, but if ever an actor has straddled the vast chasm between the ridiculous and sublime, it's Nicolas Cage. He has crooned Elvis songs for David Lynch, married Elvis's daughter in real life, acted opposite himself in Adaptation, taken to the skies with criminals in Con Air, named one of his sons after Superman, and starred into two of the worst Marvel-affiliated movies ever thanks to Ghost Rider and its sequel. The list goes on — and over his 37 years in the business, Nicolas Cage has amassed a whopping 95 screen credits. We could continue, but everyone knows that talking about Nicolas Cage isn't anywhere near as great as watching Nicolas Cage. Also, for some reason, it just feels better to use his entire name. Don't just take our word for it about any of the above, however — take the Ritz Cinema's. This year, as part of a six-week effort between September 2 and October 9, the Randwick venue is dedicating two days each week to Nicolas Cage mania. The cinema is calling it the We Love Nic Cage film series, and it has amassed quite the showcase of Nicolas Cage's work across six films – but let's be honest, they really could've picked any of his flicks and it'd be amazing. Attendees will get into the mood with the long-locked glory of Con Air, then watch Cage switch faces with John Travolta in Face/Off, before seeing him live life in the fast lane in Gone in 60 Seconds. Next comes jailbreak drama The Rock, his latest and maybe greatest in the form of unhinged thriller Mandy,before coming to a close with the Coen brothers' madcap comedy Raising Arizona. Tickets cost $15 per session (and $12 for members), but the memories you'll have seared into your brain forever will be priceless. A word of warning: spending this long staring at Nicolas Cage's various crazy grins won't be easy to shake, especially with four of the films screening on 35mm. If you're keen — and of course you are — here's the full rundown of films, dates and times: Con Air: Sunday, September 2 at 4.45pm and Tuesday, September 4 at 8.30pm. Face/Off: Sunday, September 9 at 5pm and Tuesday, September 11 at 8.30pm. Gone in 60 Seconds: Sunday, September 16 at 5.30pm and Tuesday, September 18 at 8.30pm. The Rock: Sunday, September 23 at 5pm and Tuesday, September 25 at 8.30pm. Mandy: Saturday, September 29 at 8.30pm and Monday, October 1 at 5pm. Raising Arizona: Sunday, October 7 at 5.30pm and Tuesday, October 9 at 8.30pm.
Legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is returning to Aussie shores this November. While down under, Byrne will hit up Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide to promote his newly released — and already acclaimed — album American Utopia. Byrne's first solo album in 14 years, American Utopia features songs co-written by Brian Eno and contributions from Sampha and electro producer Daniel Lopatin. As well as songs off the new album, Byrne will perform classics from his solo career and hits from his Talking Heads days — expect 'Psycho Killer', 'This Must Be the Place' and, of course, 'Burning Down the House' to make an appearance. The show is one of Byrne's most ambitious yet, too, with a 12-piece band joining him on stage and choreography by Annie-B Parson, who choreographed the St Vincent and David Byrne collaboration back in 2013. It's expected to be an eclectic and moving performance, with early shows reviewed as "at once novel and oddly comforting" and "a thought provoking example of the power of live music". Byrne performed the show at Coachella earlier this year, where it was a standout. Tickets to the American Utopia tour will go on sale at midday on Monday, June 18.
An underground sensation has been stirring in Australia since 1999. That's when the country's first truffles were harvested, following years of careful preparation, and as a nation we've embraced this black gold of haute cuisine ever since. To see how the prized fungi are farmed firsthand, there's nothing better than to join a truffle hunt and tasting at Black Cat Truffles. This truffiere on the edge of Victoria's Creswick State Forest, just outside of Ballarat, boasts more than 1000 French and English oak trees with truffles slowly, moodily growing on their roots. To help you sniff them out, you'll have a little animal assistance from Black Cat's resident dogs, Ella, Harry and Narla (pigs are famously naturally drawn to truffles, but you don't want to fight one for the rights to its find). Farmers Andres and Lynette Haas will be there too, sharing their truffle-related knowledge, tales and tasting notes. You'll also get to try a selection of truffle-infused dishes, ranging from oozy d'Affinois cheese to potato stacks and ice cream. This is a quintessentially winter activity — truffles aren't in season for long — so prepare to rug up, pull on your wellies and get enveloped in the highland mists. Black Cat's Truffle Hunts and Tastings run from June to August. If you're really enamoured with the catch of the day, it's yours to take home for $2.50 per gram. To find more winter adventures in Ballarat, Daylesford and the surrounds, visit the Wander Victoria website.
If you're fond of a bit of activewear, you better work some shopping time into your schedule over the next three days. The Upside is hosting a huge warehouse sale this week, taking over Paddington Town Hall from April 5–7. The Sydney-based activeware brand is offering up to 75 percent off for both men's and women's apparel, with samples starting at just 25 bucks. Clothing from the January through September 2017 seasons will be up for grabs — think colourfully patterned sports bra and legging sets, singlets, workout jumpers and tennis shorts. The pop-up shop will be open Thursday from 12–9pm, Friday from 8am–6pm and Saturday from 9am–5pm. We expect there will be a queue — move around some yoga classes to get there early.
Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT) Fairfield once again heads out into the local community to do what they do best — that is, highlighting and celebrating cultural pockets of Sydney that are vibrant but often little-known. This time the focus is on the thriving Iraqi culture in Sydney's western suburbs. Little Baghdad is a culinary theatre experience, but it's also an effort to gain public recognition and support for one of the most successful refugee services in the world. Audiences are invited to attend a traditional dinner party in the Parents' Garden Café in Fairfield High School, a commercial kitchen-cum-refugee support centre that has been praised by the UN as a model for welcoming and integrating refugees into a community. The night will consist of food, drink, dance and song as newly arrived Australians share dishes and memories from the country of their birth. Artists and musicians will be showcasing their works, with performances and live music throughout the night. After dinner, though, everyone dances. It's tradition. This is an excellent opportunity to support one of the few positive measures Australians have implemented when it comes to refugees. It's also a great chance to immerse yourself in the culture of a country that's been a tad difficult to explore as a tourist of late. If you need extra incentive, supporting this event is an incredibly creative way of telling Peter Dutton where he can shove it. Although, if you'd rather not spoil your dinner with politics, the first two reasons are perfectly adequate.
If you missed out on The Jungle Collective's previous warehouse plant sales, be sure to clear the weekend of April 7 and 8. Because there's another one on its way. The Jungle Collective is a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. After holding three wildly successful Sydney markets this year, it's tracking down new plants and throwing another two-day indoor plant party. While we don't know exactly what plants will be available this time, there will be a focus on vines, and previous sales have had everything from hanging pot plants to palms to a giant Bird of Paradise. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. The location is still TBC, but will run from 10am till 4pm on both days with ticketed sessions. The good stuff tends to go first, so we recommend booking a morning session on the Saturday when bookings open at noon on Monday, April 2. Images: Mooikin.
If you've been saving your money the last couple months and are wondering where to spend it, head down to the Makers and Shakers Market on April 7. Making its return to Sydney, it'll feature 60 high-quality stalls, so you'll definitely find something you like. The market provides an open platform for local makers to sell their handmade wares, gourmet foods and lifestyle products. Start your shopping at 10am with speciality kombucha served up by Mailer McGuire, then wander to Archon Designs to purchase organic products for your home, body and pets. Finish up with a visit to Tiny Paradise to add a little plant life to your home — and that's just a taste of the goodies on offer. While you're wandering the stalls, tackle your post-shop hunger with some toasted sandwiches from Mister Toast, doughnuts from Nutie and Shortstop, bagels from Smoking Gun, plus many more delicious foods. Located at Marrickville Town Hall, tickets are $2 and kids under 12 are free. Image: Alana Dimou.
In celebration of its grand opening, Taiwanese eatery SooZee23 has sorted out your lunch. On Friday, February 23, head to Westfield Sydney from 11am–2pm and you'll score yourself a piping hot bowl of the restaurant's signature braised beef noodle soup — for free. The shop is brought to you by the team behind Chatime and is inspired by the popular Duan Chun Zhen beef noodle restaurant in Taiwan. It's claiming to have the 'most authentic' Taiwanese noodle soup in town, using a recipe passed down through three generations and originating on the streets of Taiwan in 1948. As the name suggests, the recipe uses 23 herbs and spices in its stock, which takes eight hours to make. The broth is spooned over thin handmade noodles, then topped with succulent braised beef, bok choy and spring onions. Diners can select the classic version or spice it up with copious amounts of chilli. Other menu items include chicken karaage, gyoza and spicy beef fried rice, but these aren't included in the freebie. The self-proclaimed authenticity is certainly a bold move, but then again the recipe does sound legit. Lucky for you, there's no limit to the number of bowls they're give away during that time frame, so head on in and judge for yourself. SooZee23 is now open at Level 5, Westfield Sydney. Head along to the grand opening event on Friday, February 23 between 11am and 2pm for a free bowl of its signature braised beef noodle soup.
Grab your most colourful beach floatie and your most surf-friendly some out-there fancy dress — the 14th annual Manly Inflatable Boat Race returns to delight kidults on Sunday, February 25. The charity event will see participants take their makeshift boats and paddles through a one-kilometre course, starting off at Shelly Beach and ending back at shore. You must be at least 12 years old to participate and, of course, be able to swim. Following the race, the Hotel Steyne will put on a sausage sizzle while token prizes are awarded. The day isn't just for laughs though, with all proceeds going to Tour de Cure, an Aussie-based fundraiser that benefits cancer research. Even the booking fee will be donated thanks to Humanitix, Australia's first not-for-profit ticketing platform. Early bird tickets have already sold out, but you can still nab $55 tickets online up until February 24, or pay $60 on the day. Registration begins at 8.45am at the south end of Manly Beach near Manly Life Saving Club, with the race starting at Shelley Beach 10.30am. Here's a chance to enjoy yourself silly while doing some good. May the best floatie win.
There are few things more civilised than having your friends over for pasta that you made with your own adult hands. It's one of those tasks that feels impossibly complicated, but once you learn a few simple techniques, you'll be fanging fettuccine like the CEO of Barilla. Why not invest in your fancy, adult life and sign up for a pasta making workshop at Cornersmith in Marrickville with Chef O Tama Carey (of Berta fame). Over a glass of wine and a selection of delectable Cornersmith treats, you'll learn how to make two styles of pasta and some tasty seasonal sauce that can be easily recreated at home to thoroughly impress your pals.
Since 2012, Sydney has dedicated one day each year to pretending that Japan isn't nearly 8000 kilometres away. Whether you're hopping on a plane to Tokyo in the near future, have always dreamed of wandering around Kyoto come cherry blossom season, or just love sake and gyoza (and who doesn't?), Matsuri Japan Festival celebrates everything the nation has to offer — and it has become Sydney's biggest Japanese celebration in the process. Indeed, last year more than 30,000 people went along to watch traditional and contemporary performances, knock back a few Orion beers, get their matcha fix, sip yuzu lemonade, learn calligraphy and origami, and devour sushi. And with all of that on this year's bill as well, plus karate and sumo demonstrations, audience cosplay, plenty of Japanese food and more, expect the fest to be fun and frenzied when it returns. The 2017 festival takes place from 11am on December 9 at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. Entry is free, but we can't promise that the accompanying yearning to plan your next holiday won't cost you anything.
The weather is getting warmer, and we all know what that means: the outdoor cinema season is here. Movie lovers in Sydney are spoiled for choice when it comes to open-air screens — and from the looks of things that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon. Located at the North Sydney Oval, this year's Sunset Cinema kicks off on Thursday, January 18, and will run until Saturday, March 24. The program skews towards more recent films including The Disaster Artist, Wonder, Downsizing and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. They've also put together a top-notch food and beverage offering, in order to keep your stomach from grumbling during the film. Dinner will be taken care of and the site will have a fully licensed bar, serving 4 Pines craft beers and MadFish wines.
Be nice to each other. It's a simple, sensible message that we're all guilty of forgetting sometimes, but every now and then a film pops up to remind us. Wonder is the latest, based on the book of the same name. The movie spends its running time with 10-year-old Auggie (Jacob Tremblay), his family and his friends. Born with a facial deformity and still sporting considerable scars after corrective surgery, the home-schooled Star Wars and Minecraft fan just wants to be an average boy. Understandably, he isn't too keen on finally attending classes with other kids — and facing their stares, questions and inevitable teasing. As The Elephant Man and Mask did before it, Wonder steps through the encounters that follow as Auggie interacts with the world. From bullying to peer pressure to hearing his only friend talk about him behind his back, it's the usual list of struggles. Auggie's mother Isabel (Julia Roberts) and father Nate (Owen Wilson) worry but offer encouragement, while his teenage sister Via (Izabela Vidovic) tries to lend a helping hand. Among Auggie's classmates, some taunt, such as popular kid Julian (Bryce Gheisar). Others are cautiously friendly, like scholarship student Jack (Noah Jupe). It's Wonder's willingness to look beyond Auggie that endeavours to set it apart — and helps it avoid becoming a run-of-the-mill disease-focused weepie (though that fate never feels particularly far away). In chapters narrated by other characters, we learn that everyone has insecurities, fears and woes, as the film drives home the idea that we all deserve love and affection. Wading through troubles at home, navigating first relationships, being forced to give up on your dreams, and coping with death are just some of the situations covered. As such, faulting the movie's intentions is impossible. As it tells Auggie's tale and others, the film shines a spotlight on society's troubling willingness to judge rather than help — a topic particularly relevant in today's political climate. A word of warning, however: if you're not too fond of having your emotions plucked like a harp, then you might say this family-friendly effort has too much obvious sentiment. The movie's thesis of kindness over cruelty is not only thoughtful and important, but as warm as its imagery. Still, at times it can feel as though the script is working through a checklist of every sappy cliche imaginable. In the film that results, there's rarely a moment that doesn't tell viewers how to feel. That's hardly surprising given that director Stephen Chbosky previously helmed The Perks of Being a Wallflower — a movie that telegraphed its emotional intent in much the same way as Wonder, albeit with teenage outcasts instead of a lonely boy. Here, with Room's Tremblay doing such an impressive job of balancing Auggie's bravery and vulnerability, the overt button-pushing is even more unnecessary. Wonder might tell its audience to trust, care and be kind to each other, but it'd help if it trusted them to embrace it's own core messages without quite so much poking and prodding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GHGHhucqJQ
'Tis the season for many things, though at one particular pop-up Christmas market, the festivities are entirely, deliciously gin-related. Held at famed gin bar The Barber Shop and hosted by Sydney's own gin expert The Ginstress (aka Elly Baxter), the inaugural Christmas Gin Market is a one-stop pressie shop, with a very distinct flavour. Taking over the space from 6–9pm on both December 7 and 14, expect a careful curation of gin-themed delights — products from top local distilleries, Treat Dreams' handcrafted gin-filled chocolates, gin-based marmalade from Four Pillars and gin-scented grooming products from the folks at Enright's Original Gin. You'll also be able to get your hands on the soundtrack from hit Sydney Festival show, Mother's Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin, and there'll be meet-and-greet opportunities with some of your favourite Aussie distillers. Browse top-notch gifts for your ginthusiast mates, while sipping gin cocktails crafted by The Barber Shop team and you'll find yourself very much tapping into the Christmas spirit.
Sydney's Electronic Music Conference (EMC) is back for the sixth year running and, this time, the event will see more than 55 artists perform across five venues over three days. By light, there'll be panels, workshops, masterclasses and talks. By dark, there'll by EMCPlay: showcases starring the most talented, hardest working musicians in Australia. Things will kick off with the inaugural invite-only Global Cities After Dark forum on Tuesday, November 28, where international speakers like Amsterdam Night Mayor Mirik Milan and Lutz Leichsenring of Berlin non-profit The Creative Footprint will give local leaders and planners valuable insights on how to foster a creative, vibrant and safe nightlife culture. Then there'll be the gigs. On Tuesday catch S.A.S.H., one of the best-known names in Sydney clubbing, on stage with Fred P at the Sly Fox Hotel in Enmore. The following evening, head to The Lansdowne for EMCPlay's headline event, featuring Commandeur, Miss Blanks, Elkkle and Tiber. Just down the road at Freda's, Of Leisure, a new indie record label, will host a free night-long showcase, while The Chippo plays temporary home to Refuge, alongside Double Up and One Hit Agency (also for free). As if that's not enough to keep your ears busy, the Cake Wines Cellar Door will be on-board, too with sets from graduates of Ableton Liveschool. The finale, happening on Thursday, November 29, will involve another showcase at the above venues. Check out the full program over here. Image: shiBBi.
It's beginning to look a lot like the festive season, and at Porteño, that means one thing. Well, a few: eating, drinking and shopping. That's what the Surry Hills spot will be serving up at their first-ever Christmas market. For a gold coin donation on entry — the proceeds of which will go to Westmead Children's Hospital — attendees will find local designers, creatives and some of Porteño shop-owning faves all descending upon Cleveland Street for a merry ol' day of gift browsing and buying. Expect all of your canned and smoked goods needs to be taken care of by Continental Deli and LP's Quality Meats, meaning that you can stock up on some edible Xmas essentials as well. Taking place from 10am to 5pm on December 3, the market will also look after your hunger and thirst while you're perusing the stalls and shelves, courtesy of caffeinated brews from 212 Blu and the Porteño kitchen's own bites to eat. As for something stronger, you'll find that at the Gardel's Bar — whether you're celebrating once you've wrapped up all your pressie purchasing for the year, or getting some liquid inspiration.
Love quirky facts? Spent your life amassing the kind of details that will probably never come in handy? Consider yourself a whiz at every trivia night around town? If so, you're probably a QI fan — and an avid listener of No Such Thing As a Fish. The former is, of course, the long-running British comedy panel quiz. The latter is the popular, award-winning podcast hosted by four of the show's researchers, aka the folks putting in the hard yards to come up with amusing pieces of information you didn't know you needed to know. Series staffers Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski and Andrew Hunter Murray aren't just finding tidbits for a raft of English comedians, or spending their spare time sharing the most bizarre facts they've come across over the last seven days, however. Come May 2018, they're also coming to Australia to shower our shores with trivia morsels. The live version of the podcast will include a live recording, so your laughter might be immortalised forever, plus a round up of the most astonishing things the team have discovered from the year's news. It has been a busy couple of years for the group, with their last UK and European tour proving a sell-out, and their 187 episodes to date scoring more than 55 million downloads. As Schreiber explains, "we started as four dorks sitting around a single microphone trying to make each other laugh. Things have changed a bit since we started — we now have four microphones — but it's a thrill to know there are hundreds of thousands of other people who love the same wild and hilarious facts that we do."
In the Iranian feature Subdued, a recently divorced woman tries to carve out a single life, but finds her quest for independence far from easy. The there's The Home, in which a daughter struggles with the contents of her recently deceased father's will. Depicting the tumult of everyday Iranian existence — the oppression, the judgement, the unfair treatment of women and the impact of unjust bureaucracy — is something that the country's cinema output has become particularly known for. Indeed, films and tales like these (and, of course, including these) abound at this year's Iranian Film Festival Australia. In fact, they're just two of the ten flicks on offer in 2017, the fest's seventh year. Nodding to the past, a retrospective session of 1997's Leila shows how little has changed in the Middle Eastern nation. Celebrating a filmmaking master only recently lost, Abbas Kiarostami's final short Take Me Home finds joy in repetitive actions with unexpected outcomes. Iranian Revolution dramas, musicians travelling abroad and a tale of friends torn apart by an organ donation request help round up the lineup. You'll find them all at Event Cinemas Top Ryde from November 9 to 12, with IFFA demonstrating that good things come in compact packages.
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly Living Colour floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Castlereagh Street, Alfred Street, Queens Square, Cathedral Square, Springfield Gardens, Taylor Square, Sydney Town Hall and QVB, Green Square, Union Square, the forecourt outside St Mary's cathedral and more. But as the thousands of plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons and geraniums in your life? On Sunday, November 12 from 8am, Sydney Park will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Plus, all funds go towards the RSPCA.
Warm weather means heading outside, and not only soaking up the sun, but enjoying summer's sultry evenings. It also means finding as many ways to do just that as possible, and how better than heading west and enjoying a free film? Every year for the past seventeen years, Sydney Olympic Park has played host to Movies by the Boulevard, a free summer film fest that's all about the open-air experience. It's back for 2018, and, as held on a selection of evenings between January 12 and 28, it's serving up a feast of 2017 flicks for your outdoor viewing pleasure. Missed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 the first time? Love Wonder Woman, and want to watch it on the big screen again? Eager for a dose of Lion on Australia Day? They're all on the agenda, and more. The rest of the lineup spans from the lush fairytale of Beauty and the Beast, the satirical animation of The LEGO Batman Movie, primates against people in War for the Planet of the Apes and this year's other huge Aussie hit, Ali's Wedding. Gates open at 6pm each night, with films kicking off at 8.30pm. BYO picnic, or grab some food or drink onsite.
Terms like #BlackLivesMatter and alt-right didn't exist in 1967. As such, they're not mentioned in Detroit, a film based on the infamous race riots that gripped the titular town 50 years ago. Instead, we hear other telling words and phrases. Words like "you people". Words like "them". When a racist cop compares the city to 'Nam, when offensive slurs flow freely, and when scared black men openly pray for their lives in front of white police officers, there's no mistaking the climate of hatred and fear they're all inhabiting — or the parallels with the United States today. In a film of talk as much as action, these moments shudder with significance. Often, they make the audience shudder as well. Director Kathryn Bigelow, who remains the only woman to win an Oscar for direction, wants the violence, the slurs and the sense of anxiety to stand out. At the same time, she demonstrates just how commonplace it all was — and still is. As they did with The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, Bigelow and writer Mark Boal serve up an eye opening account of how America operates. Only this time, as they delve into racial, societal and institutionalised conflicts, they're working on home soil. Accordingly, Detroit pieces together a picture of a city and a nation seething with disharmony, weaving seemingly disparate stories together to recreate one specific incident. On the night of July 25, 1967, cops respond to reports of a sniper at the Algiers Motel, but can't locate the culprit or a weapon once they arrive. Already full of bluster from an earlier altercation, Officer Krauss (Will Poulter) and his colleagues (Jack Reynor and Ben O'Toole) aren't prepared to leave empty-handed. So the trio interrogate and intimidate a group of black men, plus two young white women, determined to put somebody in handcuffs. Among their detainees: The Dramatics singer Larry (Algee Smith) and his pal Fred (Jacob Latimore), who are staying the night en route home from their cancelled gig, and happen to cross paths with the attractive Julie Ann (Hannah Murray) and Karen (Kaitlyn Never). They're in the vicinity of the shots simply because they've followed the girls into their friend Carl's (Jason Mitchell) room. He's hanging out with a few mates, while returned soldier Greene (Anthony Mackie) is also down the hall. Arriving with the national guard, part-time security guard Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega) tries to assist in the aftermath. Detroit lets viewers get to know these characters — and to know them well. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they react when times get tough, and everyone here is swimming in pressure. After backstories are laid out in the film's first quarter, the movie spends its terse, tense mid-section in the hotel, watching the various figures face off. The camerawork is jumpy, intimate and urgent, as are the performances. Poulter is unnerving in his venomous conviction, while Smith is heartbreaking as the aspiring talent seeing his dreams fade away. Boyega, meanwhile, is a ball of internalised turmoil as the man caught in the middle. With the aforementioned war films as well as Point Break and Strange Days on her resume, Bigelow has consistently proven herself to be one of the best action directors working today, and Detroit only solidifies that status. Just as the film initially bounces around the riots to establish Detroit's volatile intensity, it also gets up close and personal with its main players, crafting a brutal snapshot not only of the events in question, but the city at the time and America as a whole. In the process, it serves as both an immersive picture of history and a horrific cautionary tale. Archival footage is used to amplify the grim mood, but it isn't really needed. Detroit would be a stunning piece of cinema either way. https://youtu.be/yv74LqiumXE
Aldous Harding is a name you're going to be hearing a lot about very soon. Her second album, Party – released earlier in May 2017 by legendary indie label 4AD – is full of darkly lyrical, dramatic songs, sung in Harding's extraordinarily versatile voice that can go from husky and dramatic to girlish and hopeful at the flick of a switch. Harding's sound is a is a mesmerising, intoxicating mix of Leonard Cohen, Elliott Smith, even an occasional flicker of Joanna Newsom. And given the album was recorded with PJ Harvey's longtime collaborator John Parrish, it's hard not to hear a touch of Polly Jean in there too. Image: Cat Stevens
As a trio who perform in Spanish, Femina have learned to be more theatrical and expressive to ensure their message comes across. Mixing traditional South American styles with modern soul, hip-hop and R&B, sisters Sofia and Clara Trucco, along with friend Clara Miglioli bring passionate intensity to promote their message of love and equality across races, genders, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Their harmonies and intricate wordplay are sure to set the Spiegeltent alight this summer — find out why Iggy Pop is a fan, and why Rolling Stone just named them one of the 10 New Artists You Need to Know for August 2017. Image: Eliseo Miciu
Indigenous photojournalist Barbara McGrady has a new exhibition opening November 3 at ACP. Curated by Sandy Edwards as part of the Carte Blanche Program, Always Will Be showcases McGrady's unique ability to document the community she knows and loves with uncompromising truthfulness. A Kamilaroi woman from Mungindi in northwest NSW, McGrady embraces photography as a tool with the ability to increase shared knowledge and foster social change. Particularly concerned with the contemporary urban issues affecting Indigenous Australians, her work typically explores human rights, community events, arts and culture, politics and sports (for the last three years McGrady has photographed the NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout). Capturing diverse subjects ranging from Anthony Mundine training at his local Redfern gym, to Indigenous ceremonial performances at Sydney Opera House, to a portrait of legendary activist and historian Gary Foley, this latest exhibition offers an opportunity to "learn about what it means to be kooris in Sydney and First Nations in the new millennium" through the lens of a passionate photographer at the top of her game. Image: Barbara McGrady, Sista Girls Mardi Gras 2017, courtesy and © the artist.
There's another wine festival hitting Sydney — but this one's shining the spotlight on the lesser-known colours and varieties. For Wine De Jour's first event on Saturday, December 2, there's going to be a focus on rosé and skin-contact wine. By bringing together producers from around Australia, the festival's organisers hope to quell some of the misconceptions often made about these special drops. Sweeping claims and assumptions about these varietals will be challenged, such as 'the darker the rosé, the sweeter the flavour' or that 'all orange wine must be bitter, astringent or cidery'. It's run by Glen Cassidy, founder of Cake Wines, and Sydney sommeliers and wine writer Samantha Payne. Over 30 winemakers will join in on the conversation, including Vinteloper, Swinging Bridge, Raidis Estate and Captains of Trade. And due to this huge gathering of different production methods, colours and ethoses you'll walk away more confident and with a well-rounded knowledge of these up-and-coming varieties. Wine De Jour will take place in the carpark out the back of the Cake Wines Cellar Door in Redfern with DJs Boogie Monster and Tom Studdy mixing the music and food provided by neighbours Bart Jr. There are two three-hour sessions on the day: at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are $46 and include wine tastings.
Sydneysiders have a new al fresco food event to add to their calendars this sunny season as some of the city's best-loved chefs come together for the inaugural EatSummer twilight market. Helmed by the team at Cambridge Markets (who also run Watsons Bay Spring Market, Rose Bay Farmers Market), the event will grace the Entertainment Quarter's Heritage Park on Saturday, November 18. And it's bringing with it a drool-worthy lineup of food, drink and entertainment, headlined by a strong lineup of chefs from restaurants like Lucio's, Ume Burger, Mr Bao, Barzaari, Indu, Lotus and Anason. A dedicated 'dessert alley' will showcase six of Sydney's finest sweet-focused vendors, including Cow and the Moon's gelato, Fratelli Fresh's banoffee pie, and Barzaari's orange blossom and pistachio doughnuts. Meanwhile, four themed bars will include a cocktail-slinging pop-up run by local craft gin distillery Archie Rose, to be enjoyed alongside EatSummer's program of live tunes, DJ sets and performances. More EatSummer dates are planned for the coming months — we'll keep you posted as they're announced. Image: Ume Burger.
On Sunday, June 10, things are getting hot at The Bank Hotel. Tongue-tinglingly hot. Face-meltingly hot. Homer Simpson running, screaming and waving his hands around hot. That's what happens when you spice up your Sunday with a chilli festival, after all. Adding some zest to the long weekend and to Sydney in general, the King Street pub is hosting its second annual Newtown Chilli Festival from midday. There'll be chilli beers — from local brewers Young Henrys, 4 Pines, Sauce Brewing and more — heaps of homemade chilli sauce and chilli barbecue specials. Aka chilli galore. And yes, there'll definitely be enough hot hot heat to help you turn several different shades. Of course, it wouldn't be a chilli festival without the spiciest event of them all: a chilli-eating competition. If you're currently thinking "I can consume anything!", there are vouchers, hot sauce and beer on offer if your tastebuds emerge victorious. To enter you'll need to submit a short video on why you love chilli — you'll find all the details here. Our tip, and we think you'll need it: remember that milk is a chilli-lover's best friend.
Nobody knows how to put on a gay old time better than Heaps Gay. The collective of Sydney LGBTIQ+ party starters hits the nail on the head every time, and now it's teamed up with Thredbo for a whole five days of back-to-back fiestas. Running from August 29 till September 2, Rainbow Mountain: A Heaps Gay Snow Week promised to be a glittery, colourful all-out fun affair. Grab your 80s bunny suits and your rainbow flags and strap yourselves in for a long, long weekend of silly snow times, including après pool parties, a queer movie nights and Champagne lunches. Can you believe? Well, you better, because that lineup is topped only by drag bingo with added karaoke. In short, it's going to be a heaps gay ski week of heaps epic proportions. To find out more about Thredbo's exciting winter program, head to thredbo.com.au.
Sydney-based trio Middle Kids has already toured with the likes of Paul Kelly and The War on Drugs, and even inspired the praise of Elton John. And yet, the band only one album into its career. Launched on May 4, Lost Friends is an exploration of vulnerabilities, disintegrating relationships and fear, led by singer-songwriter Hannah Joy's warm, emotive voice, which shifts from fragility to strength and back again. She's backed by her multi-instrumentalist husband Tim Fitz and drummer Harry Day, who studied jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. This is a prime time to catch the band before it hits the big-time — after this Vivid Sydney show at the Opera House, Middle Kids will be setting off on an international tour.
You didn't do any cooking last night, did you? You had plans to meal prep for the week, but instead you went to the pub and ate chips and now you're sitting at your desk, broke and hungry, wondering what you can get for lunch for under $10 today. Well, my unorganised friend, you're in luck. If you work/live near a Roll'd, you can wander in there and get yourself a free rice bowl. Yep, free. And you don't even have to be one of the first people into the shop — you just have to fill out this form. The while-stocks-last giveaway is in celebration of the chain's sixth birthday, and is happening at all NSW Roll'd stores excluding the ones at the airport. There are seven in the CBD (including Gateway Sydney and Chifley Plaza) and six more in Bondi Junction, Parramatta, Castle Towers, Warringah, Campbelltown and the Macquarie Centre. If you can't make it for lunch, some of them are also open for dinner.
Sydney winters mightn't be known for their ice and snow; however, that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From June 29 to July 22, St Mary's Cathedral forecourt will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Sydney Festival. With the event back for another year, all of the frosty fabulousness Sydneysiders know and love will return to the CBD. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when it's oh-so-cool, just without the bone-chilling, teeth-chattering cold. The lineup of events includes not only regular ice skating, but a 'date and skate' night each Tuesday, plus a 90-themed disco evening every Thursday from 5pm. This will see you skating to 90s bangers and sipping $10 espresso martinis. Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am–9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am–11pm on Thursday and Friday, 9am–11pm on Saturdays and 9am–10pm on Sundays.
Among the many gifts that Japan has given the world — ramen, sake, Godzilla, Pokemon, the list goes on — bonsai is perhaps the most relaxing, even if you haven't mastered the art yourself. Cultivating tiny trees certainly sounds soothing, but it's not a skill we all have. Still, regardless of how green your thumbs are (or aren't), we all can enjoy the calming bliss of looking at these small wonders. From April 30 to May 5, Sydney's The Japan Foundation Gallery is the place where miniature plants come to life, showcasing the work of the Sydney-based Megumi and Alex Bennett. Bonsai: Generations of Growth not only highlights two generations of bonsai practitioners, but applies the practice to Australian native plants. For six days, their creations will be on display, looking cute and comforting for anyone that wants to take a gander. Warning: stare long enough, and you'll want to take up bonsai yourself. Don't say we didn't tell you. If that's you, there's also a bonsai demonstration on May 1 at the opening reception, running through the bonsai basics.
