The work of one of the masters of American indie filmmaking is on its way to the Golden Age Cinema and Bar. From Wednesday, February 15, the Surry Hills picture house will shine a spotlight on the endlessly inventive filmography of the one and only Jim Jarmusch. The mini-retrospective begins with a special Film Club presentation of Down by Law, Jarmusch's critically acclaimed 1986 black comedy about a trio of cons, played by John Laurie, Roberto Benigni and music legend Tom Waits, on the run from the authorities through the Louisiana Swamp. Golden Age will also screen his followup, 1989's Mystery Train, an anthology film set in Memphis, Tennessee. Rounding out the program are Jarmusch's two most recent films: the good-natured Paterson starring Adam Driver, as well as his adoring rock doc Gimme Danger about The Stooges and Iggy Pop. For more info and session times visit www.ourgoldenage.com.au.
Los Angeles-based foursome Warpaint are set to return to Australia — the homeland of their drummer, Stella Mozgawa — in late February. The group's summer tour follows the release of their third studio album, Heads Up, in September last year. The new album's tone more closely emulates the style of their live performances — energetic and dance-oriented — than their previous albums, which have been more subdued and reflective. This isn't the first Australian tour for Warpaint, having previously performed at the likes of Laneway Festival in 2014 and Splendour in the Grass in 2011. But this time, they'll be hitting up the hallowed Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House on Saturday, February 25. They'll be stopping by other major capital cities including Perth (as part of the Perth International Arts Festival) on Sunday, February 19, Brisbane on Wednesday, February 22 and Melbourne on Friday, February 24. Image: Robin Laananen.
Air out that mouldy tent, start rounding up the GoPros, Falls Festival have quite the epic 2014 lineup on their hands. With Byron now extended to a four-day program, Falls Festival is returning to its three sites (Lorne, Marion Bay and North Byron Parklands) for its annual New Year's Eve hootenanny. So who's on the bill? Returning with a Mercury Prize and a million debut album copies sold under their belt, Leeds foursome Alt-J are sure to be one of the packed sets this year. There'll be ass everywhere with the presence of the unmissable Big Freedia. The sublimely talented SBTRKT is set to play a huge live set (one of Laneway Festival's best sets to memory), while the formidable Jamie XX will keep the basslines well up in grill. Fresh from Glastonbury, George Ezra is set to be one of the festival highlights, with the debut set from the legendary Todd Terje, house monarchs Tensnake, Sydney trio Movement and San Francisco's Tycho sure to send everyone on a synthy, beats-fuelled odyssey. Altanta's favourite 'flower punk' band The Black Lips are in. Confirmed after a leak in Cleo, UK's Glass Animals are confirmed to get sultry. Festival favourites Cold War Kids return with their latest album's material (and a few oldies), while Australia's own ARIA-winners The Temper Trap return to the live circuit with material from their upcoming third record. Rap fans have some gleeful squealing to get to, with Brooklyn's Pro Era whiz Joey Bada$$, Killer Mike and El-P's Fool's Gold super-collab Run the Jewels, Melbourne's own Remi locked in. 'Stolen Dance' fans will have plenty to jig about with the first Australian tour of Milky Chance, Sydney's Bluejuice are playing their last round, London's Wolf Alice are sure to generate some buzz, and Canberran trio SAFIA are also buzzworthy inclusions. There's a few Splendour returns: Britpop-loving Sydney dudes DMAs, newbie hip hop firecracker Tkay Maidza, Sydney dance legends The Presets, electronic whiz kid The Kite String Tangle, returning rock heavyweights Spiderbait, singalong starters Sticky Fingers and Riptider Vance Joy. Falls will also see a kickass 'Boogie Nights' program featuring none other than the ever-kickass hip hop legends Salt n Pepa, Melbourne's best-dressed duo Client Liaison, Sydney partystarter Alison Wonderland and Canada's Badbadnotgood. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): ALT-J ASGEIR BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DAN SULTAN DMAs EMPIRE OF THE SUN GEORGE EZRA GLASS ANIMALS JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO JULIAN CASABLANCAS + THE VOIDZ KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE LA ROUX MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE (live) TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE BOOGIE NIGHTS: ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON DJ FLETCH DJ WOODY PRESENTS 'HIP HOP IS 40' AV SHOW SALT N PEPA TWERKSHOP COMEDY: DAMIEN POWER DANIEL TOWNES HARLEY BREEN LUKE McGREGOR TOMMY DASSALO URZILA CARLSON + MORE Image: David Burke.
A new design aesthetic has landed in Darling Harbour, and its messenger is The Port. The 1,050-capacity bar and eatery just opened in the space that formerly belonged to Margaritaville, challenging the garish, touristy feel that has long characterised the Harbour's venues. Instead, The Port is inspired by French coastal chic, with Lainey Richardson the architect responsible. You might know her work from Pepe's On The Beach in Wollongong, The Annandale Hotel and The Henson in Marrickville. Here, you'll sink into a waterfront cabana, order a signature cocktail — like the St Barts Sour (Disaronno, Makers Mark whiskey, egg white, lemon Juice, black pepper) or the Smoked Sea Salt Margarita (Patron Silver lime juice, pineapple, agave nectar, smoked sea salt, paprika) — and pretend you're on the Riviera. There's also a bunch of craft beers, including Young Henry's and Stone and Wood, as well as a boutique wine list. If you're keen to get a bit diva, you can book a cabana in advance, which comes with your own private host and canapés handpicked by the chef. The menu is all about share plates, available in various sizes to suit your appetite. Choose from "Raw and Cured", which features hiramasa kingfish sashimi with pickled ginger, soy and wasabi; or "From The Garden" and "From The Sea" selections. There's also a series of sourdough flat breads with toppings like jamon, artichoke, olives and pecorino, or chilli prawn, tomato, pineapple and buffalo mozzarella. For something heftier, check out the "From The Land" section, where you'll find pork short ribs with smoked barbecue sauce and the Double Royale Burger, with double beef, cheddar and house pickle. You can also swing by for a light, French-style brekkie, because The Port opens at 10am to serve Will & Co Coffee and freshly-baked pastries. Then, come Thursday, the live program kicks in with acoustic musos and DJs making appearances all weekend. Sundays are dedicated to long, laid back sunset sessions, kicking off at noon and not wrapping up until late. Find The Port at 2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, is open Monday-Thursday, 10am-2am; Friday-Saturday, 10am-4am; and Sunday, 10am- 2am. The kitchen is open daily, 11:30am-10pm. For more information, head to their website.
Eating actual food from the World's 50 Best Chefs can come with a pretty hefty price tag, but this April, you'll have the opportunity to feast on their words of wisdom for a whole lot less. This year, the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants awards are set to take place on Aussie shores and, while most of the associated culinary fun will be reserved for industry folk, absolutely everyone's invited to catch the globe's top chefs take the stage for #50BestTalks. Hosted by commentator and ABC presenter Annabel Crabb, there are just two of these foodie events planned, happening at the Sydney Opera House on April 1 and Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on April 3. Sydney's lineup includes appearances from Dominique Crenn (2016's World's Best Female Chef and mastermind of San Francisco's Atelier Crenn), Massimo Bottura (of 2016's World #1 Restaurant, Osteria Francescana), and our own Peter Gilmore, whose restaurant Quay ranked #98 in last year's awards. On sale from tomorrow, February 15, tickets for both events start at a tidy $30. That said, if you fancy splashing out, $119 VIP tickets will also nab you entry to a post-event canapé function and the opportunity for a meet and greet with some of the chefs.
Seeing Cinderella downstairs at Belvoir is like going on a first date, but in the real world. Directed by Anthea Williams and written by Matthew Whittet, Cinderella undermines the Hollywood rom-com to hilarious effect. It first utilises the universal and pervasive fairytale, and our knowledge that it will all end at midnight. Then it usurps it, with depictions of crippling loneliness, and a stubborn heroine in her early 40s who refuses to compromise for the sake of our happy ending. Spending the evening with the contemporary Cindy/'Ashley' (Mandy McElhinney), alerts us to pop culture's continued brainwashing about 'romance'. A female in 2014 is still told to expect chocolates, flowers and rides in horse-led carriages. But sometimes the best it's going to get is a cheap Chinese meal and a personalised ringtone. Williams' direction validates the real-life version of romance as beautiful, and actually preferable... even if incredibly daggy. Cinderella is a success due to the generosity of its two actors, Mandy McElhinney and writer/actor Matthew Whittet. Both give mesmerising performances because they allow themselves to be completely present, as we watch on. They sit quietly in their human failure and sadness, and reach out to each other (and us), searching for something to puncture the loneliness. This depth alternates with unbelievably funny moments: Whittet’s interpretive dance to disrobe himself is one of the most joyous things I've ever seen. The dialogue is also extremely witty, pacey, and gets to the heart of each character. The play closes with elements of surrealism and impossibility that fend off the fairy tale formula. It's satisfying to file out over the shaggy carpet at the end and hear everyone's murmured hypotheses of what just happened. Cinderella surprises you if you've underestimated it, and has you wondering how far a mother's matchmaking influence can reach. A small, digital clock remains constant in the midst of Elizabeth Gadsby's minimal, versatile set. It's a lovely, unobtrusive way to mark the passing of real time, as we sit with McElhinney and Whittet, as they perch on the gutter outside a nightclub, or hang out in an autumnal park. It also helpfully fast-forwards through the hours to ensure we see the best bits of the night. This is a play for realistic romantics and self-determining dreamers. It reveals there is no formula to love, and falsifies Hollywood-built expectations. The loveliest image in Cinderella for me became a metaphor for the whole play: thousands of moths tickling my whole body. Society sees moths as ugly or negative, when compared to butterflies, but the less superficially attractive sensations often teach us the most. Image by Brett Boardman.
If you missed having your heart broken and lovingly repaired again and again this past winter by Sufjan Stevens, you're in luck. The Michigan-born songwriter is returning to Australia, announcing a huge national tour playing tunes from from his 2015 album, Carrie & Lowell as well as selections across his dreamy, dreamy back catalogue. Bringing a full band and an immersive lighting production, Stevens will be celebrating ten years since Illinois and five from his Age of Adz, so expect quite a few throwbacks between the album that made us cry every last salty, salty tear in our bodies this year, Carrie & Lowell. Tickets are on sale now. If you're not on it, you're probably an emotionless stone. SUFJAN STEVENS 2016 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Monday 22 February — State Theatre, Sydney. Tickets available via www.ticketmaster.com.au. Friday 26 February — Hamer Hall – Melbourne, Tickets available via www.artscentremelbourne.com.au. Wednesday 2 March — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth. Tickets available via www.oztix.com.au. Friday 4 March — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. Tickets available via www.qpac.com.au.
Pizza Hut. The noble and long-serving 'za provider who filled our tummies at last-day-of-school pizza lunch and, in our uni student years, staved off hunger and calcium deficiency with cheap Tuesday deals. That is until in 1983 when the Dominos chain hit our shores. Dominos grew in reach and popularity and brought the Hut to its knees (or at least, to mainly smaller takeaway-only venues, less all-you-can-eat restaurants). Sure, there's still a few floating around (lookin' at you Goulburn), but they're harder and harder to come by nowadays. Once a dignified, family-friendly palace of soft serve on-tap, mini marshmallows and slice after slice after slice, Pizza Hut is now reduced to stunt-like takeaway grotesquery such as the Four 'N Twenty Meat Pie crust and its ilk, cramming more and more fast food, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheeseburgers into the crust until it's just a misshapen farce oozing with disappointment. There's not much scope for an in-house sit-down pig-out any more. Apparently someone else also noticed the decline. Sydney-based photographer Ho Hai Tran took up the quest of documenting the last surviving original Pizza Hut buildings before they pass into irrelevance. Alongside co-pizza tracker Chloe Cahill, Tran has travelled 14,000kms across Australia, New Zealand and the USA to try and capture the photos of the buildings, most of which have been converted for other uses. Now, after two years, the Pizza Hunt has come back to Sydney, culminates in an exhibition at Sun Studios in Alexandria. There'll be a big flashy opening, an artist talk, and of course, a pizza party on Thursday, August 4 from 6-8pm (you just have to RSVP to rsvp@sunstudiosaustralia.com). The exhibition runs until August 18.
NAIDOC Week happens in the first full week of July every year, with a packed program of events to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme this year? 'Our languages matter'. One of the biggest drawcards of the week is NAIDOC in the City, which invites Sydneysiders down to Hyde Park for an afternoon of festivities on Monday, July 3. The event is a sensory delight (seriously). Underground earth ovens will be temporarily installed in the park, cooking up slow-cooked samplers of everything from kangaroo fillets to crocodile puffs and lemon myrtle barramundi. Rocks heated by fire cook the foods under a blanket of banana leaves, branches, wet hessian and sand. While you're there, visit a gunya, a ceremonial site and shelter constructed from cane and bark. Watch traditional dance, try a didgeridoo workshop and settle in for storytelling sessions. There will also be a range of market stalls showcasing arts, crafts and books. Image: Joseph Mayers.
Live music, performance art, live karaoke, debate and Young Henrys gin will converge on Cockatoo Island on August 1 for the artiest party of the year, the 2015 Underbelly Arts Party. The programme includes the abstract electronica of solo artist Lucy Cliche, a brand new collaboration between Cassius Select and Thomas William dubbed T. Morimoto and Fake, chunyin and CORIN in live format, Austin Buckett, Megan Alice Clune, Pip Stafford, Soft Power, Daniel Jenatsch, and Alex Kiers and Claire Finneran. Meanwhile, a slew of comedians, artists, radio personalities and writers will get together to debate the topic 'Originality Is Overrated'. Mish Grigor will be doing the hosting and scheduled speakers include Dan Ilic (ABC Radio), Amala Groom (artist), Michael Hing (Good Game), Wendy Zukerman (Science Vs podcast), David Capra (artist) and Kate Britton (curator/writer). Once the performances have wrapped (and you've enjoyed a Young Henrys gin or several), it'll be your turn to contribute, when the Goodgod House Band takes over with live karaoke. If going home looks like too much of a downer after all this fun, go ahead and stay the night — ticketholders score up to 30 percent off glamping and camping packages, as well as full access to the Underbelly Arts Festival.
Supplement your afternoon swim with a dose of the world's best short films when the 24th Flickerfest comes to Bondi Beach between January 9 and 18. The 2015 programme features 95 works, selected from 2300 entries, following months and months of difficult decision-making. Flickerfest is the only competitive short film festival in Australia to be both Academy®Accredited and BAFTA-recognised. With 56 Australian shorts to see, incorporating 20 world premieres and nine Australian premieres, the festival is an excellent chance to support the local industry, find out what's been preoccupying our filmmakers of late and discover hot new talent. Meanwhile, the international segment features 39 films, with one world premiere and 32 Australian premieres. Some sizeable Academy®Accredited prizes are up for grabs, including the Flickerfest Award For Best International Film, the Yoram Gross Award For Best Animation and Virgin Australia Award For Best Australian Film. After spending ten days in Bondi, Flickerfest will hit the road for a five-month national tour, stopping at no less than fifty destinations along the way.
Operating under the (often correct) assumption that if some is good, more must be better, everybody's favourite American bar and eatery, Surly's in Darlinghurst, has launched an upstairs expansion. The recently-renovated upstairs area, christened Smokey's Cabin, continues the convincing Americana theme with a dark interior, wooden paneling, exposed bricks, charismatic brown leather sofas and, of course, the massive BBQ plates (with cornbread stacked high on the sides) you've come to love. The atmospheric space also features an epic mural by Sydney artist Sindy Sinn, featuring spooky skeletons on motorbikes. But the best part of the new fit out are the shuffleboards on which you can work off some of that BBQ and those crunchy chicken wings. Enjoy some American BBQ, beer and a game of shuffleboard in Smokey's Cabin, open Wednesday-Saturday from 6pm until late #surryhils #surlys #shuffleboard #americanthemed #americanbar #sydneyvenue A photo posted by Surlys (@surlys_bbq_and_beer) on May 17, 2016 at 3:33pm PDT Smokey's Cabin is open Wednesday to Saturday at 182 Campbell Street, Darlinghurst.
Sydneysiders have always liked cheese, but in recent years things have gotten serious. Dedicated fromageries have popped up across our fair city and recently we've enjoyed events featuring gin and cheese, wine and cheese and even vegan cheese. Our stomachs are working overtime to digest all the lactose — and, honestly, we've never been happier. And the love affair continues with this latest cheesy announcement. France (or more specifically, a Parisian centre for cheese, which is a real thing) is bringing Bon Fromage, a free two-day festival celebrating European cheese, to Sydney. The whole thing will happen at Carriageworks on October 14 and 15. First and foremost is cheese — the venue will be transformed into a cheese marketplace and wine bar from 11am till 6pm each day. Organisers will be bringing in half a tonne of cheese for the festival, and it will all be free of charge. Just to recap: free entry and free cheese. But the cheese festival isn't just about eating so much cheese you puke. Masterclasses will be held on how to match cheese with wine, how to tell the difference between varieties and, we assume, the correct way to draw a cheese fondue bath for yourself. There will also be a collection of stalls selling cheese for you to take home and eat later. The festival is supported by the European Union, presumably to get Australians on board with the European cheese industry. To us, this seems like a bit of a misfire because we're evidently already very invested in cheese, from Europe or elsewhere. But whatever — we'll be there regardless. Bon Fromage will run on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 at Carriageworks. For more info, visit the Facebook page.
Attention all lovers of the cold and the sweet: Good Times Artisan Ice Cream, Potts Point’s newest dessert parlour, is open and it’s like a Wonka factory for soft serve. The Good Times project is a joint effort between Nathan Sasi, the ex-head chef of Nomad, and wife Sali Sasi, founder of Poppy Renegade and director of brand partnerships at The Iconic. For the first stage of their tenure, they’ve be collaborating with dessert legend Christine Manfield who’ll be instore working her magic for the first week. Good Times aims to revolutionise the humble soft serve cone and do away with all associations of McDonalds, pig fat and the 50 cent price point. It’s been a relative quick journey from conception to opening (only about eight weeks) but the couple had a clear idea of what they wanted. Sali says they were inspired by the from-scratch culture happening at places like Butter and Burger Project but wanted to take it even further and have complete control over everything on the menu by crafting it all from scratch. Gluten and dairy intolerant people will be delighted to know they can grab a completely gluten-free waffle cone or dairy-free soft serve. “When you’ve got intolerances, whether it dairy or gluten, often you have to forgo ice cream or the cone. I can’t stand that!" says Sali. "Gluten intolerant people always miss out on cones. So we do make gluten-free waffle cones fresh daily in house.” The process of creating everything in house is a labourious one, but they’re all about the ice cream. “It’s a lot of hands on deck, a lot of man hours, but we believe that you don’t need to forgo quality to have something that’s quick and easy,” Sali says “I have no doubt there’ll be days we’ll run out of ice cream and will have to shut the doors early but it’s not about money or churning out cones, it’s about making really good ice cream,”. Courtesy of Christine, the menu is chock full of gourmet, bespoke ice cream sandwiches and soft serve with flirty and risqué titles. You’ll find the ‘Bite My Cherry’, ‘Rainbow Parade’ (a flavour made with the upcoming Mardi Gras in mind) and ‘Ziggy Stardust’ cones alongside the ‘Stoned Pony’ and ‘Lickalottapuss’ ice cream sandwiches (sass levels: 110 percent). They hope to collaborate with other chefs in the future to keep the menu fresh and fun but in the meantime, the cooking smells emanating onto the street have all the locals enchanted. “People literally come up to the door and ask us “What are you making?’ as they walk down the street," says Sali. And tonight from 6pm you can taste it for yourself. Good Times Artisan Ice Cream, Macleay St, Potts Point, open from 3pm daily.
Ever had any troubling questions about the connections — or disconnections — between the Internet, feminism, art and feminist art? Give them an airing at Contemporary Art, Feminism and the Internet, an experimental discussion happening as part of Vivid. In the centre, there's a panel, being held at the Museum of Contemporary Art on June 17 at 3pm. But, unlike most panels, which come with an emcee, this one will be utterly unmoderated. Instead, the speakers — Zin, Fresh and Fruity, Sabella D'Souza, Xanthe Dobbie, Hannah Bronte and Talia Smith — will embark on a conversational adventure. If you're keen to see them in the flesh, nab a ticket and turn up. However, if you can't make it, that's no barrier to participation. The panel will engage, not only with contributions from the floor, but also with questions and comments submitted via Facebook. Think of it as an absolutely enormous cyber-chat that hopes to break down borders, timezones, preconceptions and misconceptions.
You've run around scavenger hunting with sharks, drinking cocktails with clownfish and dancing against the glass with rays (what, you didn't? Oh...), now it's time to take your after hours tomfoolery to the halls of the almost famous. The Festivalists are moving their next Hijinks party from the Sydney Aquarium next door to Madame Tussauds wax museum. The Festivalists are ditching the daytime Darling Harbour crowd for one creepy, glamorous party after closing time, dubbed '15 Minutes of Fame' on Friday, May 29. "No kids. No tourists. No C-listers." WE'RE IN. Deliberately going well OTT as an dramatically super-glam red carpet party, Hijinks will feature five pop-up bars (yep, five), interactive games and performances by drag artists, comedians, dancers and impersonators. And yes, dressing up as a celeb is encouraged. You'll be able to taunt the flamin' galahs about the place with Alf Stewart; meet Eddie Mabo, Albert Einstein and Henry Lawson; or snuggle up to the recently revealed Ryan Gosling (with his 'interactive abs'). You can have mad chats with Barack Obama, take dumb selfies with Taylor Swift, Madonna and Miley Cyrus and suss out the wax museum's brand new resident — Chris Hemsworth (good attempt, don't know about that hair though). Be sure to shoot the breeze with MT's wax sculptors, compete for Best Celebrity, get some form of makeover or just victoriously taunt celebrities who are shorter than you. Tickets are just $25 (normal daytime entry is $40) and include a complimentary Little Creatures beer or Stoli vodka cocktail on arrival (you'll have to bring cashola for more drinkies). You're advised to allocate 90 minutes to go through the venue. Any Ryan Gosling-loving cousins of yours who are under 18 aren't allowed, so you'll have to bring 'em back in the daytime.
Life lacking direction? Looking to learn something new? Then it might be time to enrol yourself in The School of Life. Founded in London in 2008, the school is committed to teaching 'emotional intelligence' through workshops, events and secular sermons, covering everything from leadership skills to love and online dating. They've been operating in Melbourne since early 2014, and next year they're coming to Sydney. Details on the school's Sydney launch are still relatively slim. What we do know is that they'll be running a pop-up term, which will stretch from February 28 to March 24, with the program set to be announced on January 11. This will be followed by a permanent launch later in 2016. Those interested in staying in the loop can keep their eyes on The School of Life's website, where you can also join their mailing list. The School of Life currently operates in various cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Belgrade, Istanbul, Paris, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Tel Aviv. In Melbourne they run a 'Conversation Cafe' in the centre of the city, operating as a coffee shop, bookshop and curated classroom. To give you more of an idea of what they're about, some of their recent events have included a talk on the philosophy of disco (followed by a bit of a boogie, naturally) and a presentation about misinformation by the one and only Dr. Karl. Here's hoping the Sydney curriculum is similarly eclectic. Tickets for The School of Life's pop-up program in Sydney will go on sale on January 11. For more information visit www.theschooloflife.com/sydney.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? After a successful debut last year, Carriageworks is bringing back their Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day, because we know what you're like. Hitting Carriageworks on Friday, December 23, the market will be a cornucopia of the spoils of over 160 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent turkeys and hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more, alongside artisan food and gift stalls. Plus, they'll even have Christmas trees for you traditionalists — or highly unorganised folk. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market, including produce favourites like Pudding Lane, Melanda Park Pasture Raised Pork, Linga Longa Farm, Burrawong Gaian, Thirlmere Poultry Supply, Drive in Orchards, Wanaka Orchards, Wandillyan Seafood, The Shuck Truck, Freeman Vineyards and more. Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party, including Billy Kwong, Archie Rose, Young Henrys, Bar Pho and Moobi Valley Farm, Happy as Larry, Eloquesta Wines, Slow Wine Co. and Vale Creek Wines. Carriageworks is licensed for you to take away booze too, if you have beer lovers on your pressie list. If you're a last-minute gift-buyer, there'll be 75 gift stalls from the likes of local designers Romance Was Born, Benah, Studio Elke, Published Art, Better Read Than Dead, Beautiful Pages, Aneau, The DEA Store, Supply Paper Co, High Swan Dive, Clay Canoe, Double Rainbouu, The Rocks Push, Bandsome and Rolling Records. Look at that, Carriageworks just saved Christmas. Image: Daniel Boud.
It attracted 2.03 million votes in 2014, is regarded as 'the world's greatest music democracy' and is pretty much the only thing on Australian radios on Australia Day between the odd 'Khe Sanh'. Whether you 'get into it' or not, triple j's Hottest 100 has some serious reach, and this year, they're putting that blanket coverage to bloody good use. As part of this year's Hottest 100, triple j have teamed up with Indigenous school mentoring program AIME, for some hardcore fundraising. Aiming to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian students, AIME and triple j are encouraging Hottest 100 voters to donate right after they've popped their favourite songs in the voting form — votes open this Thursday, December 10. On Australia Day, you can also use your Hottest 100 rager or hushed barbecue as a fundraiser for AIME. In the lead up to the launch of the 2015 Hottest 100, we're stoked to announce a new partnership with triple j. Posted by AIME on Monday, December 7, 2015 It's all for a damn good cause, and you'll still get to screech about your favourite artist being played too early dammit. By donating in the Hottest 100, you'll be helping the hardworking AIME crew help 10,000 Indigenous kids finish school at the same rate as non-Indigenous students by 2018. Now that's worth getting all flustered about — albeit alongside whether Major Lazer tops the lot or not. It's not the first time triple j has worked with AIME; they've given big love to the crew around events like Homeground and NAIDOC week in the past. Here's hoping it rubs off on their listeners. Kyran Wheatley and Gen Fricker on triple j breakfast for #NAIDOCweek Posted by AIME on Thursday, July 9, 2015 Voting opens this Thursday, December 10. Via triple j.
Jarryd James has had quite the year already. At the start of 2015, this quiet achieving Brisbanite released a tune by the name of 'Do You Remember'. Blending ambient beats with progressive R&B, and featuring James's mesmerising vocals, the single gained over five million cumulative streams, full rotation on triple j, peaked at #1 on the Australian iTunes chart, spent six weeks atop the Australian Shazam chart and achieved Double Platinum sales here as well. Boom. It's not really a big surprise though, the track was co-written with powerhouse, Grammy-winning producer Joel Little, who's worked with the equally bright-young-thing likes of Broods and Lorde. Six months later, the 31-year-old dropped a catchy little number called 'Give Me Something' (also produced by Little), with an Usher-meets-Flume vibe and set to feature on his forthcoming debut album, to be to be released independently in Australia via Dryden St and internationally via Interscope. Having shared stages locally with both Broods and Angus and Julia Stone and crushing it with his own headline tour in March, James is now heading out on another national tour to coincide with an anticipated Splendour appearance. He'll be appearing in his hometown of Brisbane at the Hi-Fi on July 3, at Sydney's Metro Theatre on July 10 and at Melbourne's Forum on July 11 before Splendour on July 25. By Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
The phone hacking scandal that blew up in the UK about a decade ago doesn't immediately strike one as brimming with feel-good stories. The demise of a smutty tabloid was about as close to a silver lining as it got. Nevertheless, after digging around in the News of the World's ashes, playwright Tommy Murphy has come up with an unexpected prize: redemption. Mary Peirse plays Mary-Ellen Field, a business adviser who was wrongfully fired for sharing private information about her client in the early 2000s. When news broke that a number of celebrities' phones had been tapped by Rupert Murdoch's News International, Field realised what had happened and began sharing her story. When she shared it with ABC journalist Mark Colvin, it started a friendship which ended up with Field... but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Belvoir's artistic director Eamon Flack has described the company's 2017 lineup as an attempt to "defy the cynicism and shittiness of the world". Mark Colvin's Kidney could well prove a much-needed antidote to the chaos. Or, at the very least, a comfortable place to sit while civilisation shreds itself. Image: Daniel Boud.
Movie lovers, prepare to lose your shit. Acclaimed writer-director Quentin Tarantino is indeed visiting Australia in January to promote his latest film, the star-studded, blood-soaked western The Hateful Eight. The film is currently slated to debut in select cinemas in 70mm on January 14, followed by a wide release on January 21. But before you see the new film, why not take a little trip into Tarantino's favourite Australian 'Western-ish' films, introduced by the man himself? The newly established People's Republic of Movies (P.R.O.M) will be presenting an exclusive one-night-only double bill of Australian cinema plus a live Q&A hosted by Tarantino himself on January 15 at The Star. Curated and personally MCed by Tarantino, the evening pays homage to Australian cinema by showcasing two of the filmmaker's favourite Australian Western flicks and treating the audience to a live Q&A. Two gems of Australian cinema will be played back-to-back on 35mm courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive, and they're two of the filmmaker’s favourites: The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and the wild Dennis Hopper outlaw classic, Mad Dog Morgan (1976). Then, Tarantino will join multi-award winning director Fred Schepisi (The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Six Degrees of Separation) and globally acclaimed writer Thomas Keneally (Schindler’s List) on stage for a Q&A. Quentin Tarantino's exclusive one-night-only double bill and Q&A is happening at The Star, Sydney on January 15, Thanks to the People's Republic of Movies (P.R.O.M), we have five double passes to give away. For your chance to win, just subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and email us at win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. By Shannon Connellan and Tom Clift.
Keen to gift Rushcutters Bay with an authentic taste of Rome, Flavio Carnevale is pulling up stumps on his southern Italian-inspired Popolo to make way for a new venture, MARTA. As Popolo prepares to relocate to slightly more formal CBD digs, the space at 50 McLachlan Avenue will be transformed into a bright and buzzy neighbourhood osteria and bar, as imagined by award-winning Melbourne architects, DesignOffice (who're responsible for the epic Higher Ground). The all-embracing space will be decked out in fresh neutral tones, boasting a sunny courtyard and an array of seating options to suit any occasion. Moving away from the food of the Basilicata region, MARTA's food and drink offering will take its cues from the lively venues of Rome, where Carnevale's hospitality journey began. Out of the open kitchen will come a menu that's both refined and full of personality, featuring plates like bucatini with mussels, tomato and pecorino and cod fillet, while daily house specials hope to inspire regular visits. It won't be open for lunch anymore — just dinner six nights a week and brunch on Sundays. Meanwhile, a bar area with high-topped tables will be ideal for those drinks-focused drop-ins — sessions spent sipping spritzes and quaffing wines poured from Carnevale's handmade terracotta decanters. Marta is set to open its doors mid-September at 50 McLachlan Ave, Rushcutters Bay. It will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 5.30pm and from 9am on Sunday. Images: Alan Benson.
Ready to crisp up your March? British producer Bonobo has arrived just in time for autumn with a string of highly-anticipated DJ shows around Australia. As well as tipping his hat to one of the world’s great endangered apes, the UK-based DJ, musician and producer (real name: Simon Green) effortlessly incorporates sample layers with complex basslines; creating that signature minimalist sound he's inspired budding producers with worldwide. Since the release of his completely self-produced and self-instrumented debut Animal Magic in 2000, Bonobo has released five full-length albums and a handful of EPs and singles — becoming somewhat of a downtempo pioneer in the process. His latest release The North Borders saw him play over 175 shows across three continents and 30 countries, including appearances at Coachella and Glastonbury. March will see Bonobo travelling to Auckland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth for solo DJ sets, with a bucketload of visuals to enhance the experience.
With every passing week, it seems, there's yet another reason to make gin your go-to beverage this festive season. Little Fish Bar just opened its pop-up summer gin garden. The new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay unveiled its own gin-centric bar, The Stillery. And now, a brand new venue in Potts Point is boasting the biggest collection of the spirit in the entire city. The Powder Keg, which you’ll find at 7 Kellet Street, is inspired by gin's long and colourful history. As far as we can tell, the good stuff was first made in Holland back in the 17th century. The Powder Keg takes on this fact quite literally, with a menu heavily influenced by the kind of fare that the Dutch and English were feasting on in shadowy taverns and gin palaces 400 years ago. Cue duck schnitzel lollipops with pickled kohlrabi and tarragon mayo, oysters with gin and tonic sorbet, Scotch quail egg with smoked potato, crispy pancetta and shimeji mushrooms and numerous other out-of-the-box morsels. They're all created by head chef Elijah Holland, in collaboration with fellow chefs Danny Russo and Roy Ner. Meanwhile, in between slowly working your way through the 120 gins on the menu, you can sample a cocktail from The Keg's little black book of vintage numbers. Signature mixes include the Nettle Gimlet (gin, homemade nettle cordial, served in a vintage coupet) and the Gunpowder Plot (gunpowder tea-infused gin, fernet branca, gunpowder syrup, dandelion and burdock bitters, and a tea smoke). Or, if that's all sounding too adventurous, you can rest assured that the good ol' G&T won’t let you down. The Keg keeps a signature blend, accompanied by your choice of three ices and five tonics, including one very special homemade option. The mixologist genius behind the drinks menu is one Grant Collins, who you might know from Zeta Bar, Sydney, or Ku De Ta and Potato Head, Bali. In keeping with the centuries-old vibe, the space has been stripped back, to draw attention to its eighteenth century architecture. The interior is all black leather and wood, from the club chairs to the wood-panelled bar, complete with a vintage gin presentation cage. The Powder Keg is located at 7 Kellett Street, Potts Point. Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 4pm–late; and Sunday 12pm – 11pm. To get in touch, call (02) 8354 0980. Want to brush up on your gin knowledge before you check it out? Give our Bluffer's Guide to Gin a read.
Calling all Anglophiles. Here's a humdinger of a Shakespearian-style play predicting the future of the British throne — and what could happen once Charles takes the crown. Set a fair few years down the track, Mike Bartlett's King Charles III imagines the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth's death. Prince Charles, having spent his entire life waiting in the wings, takes the throne, while Camilla Parker-Bowles becomes Queen Consort. Bartlett brings a structure of Shakespearean proportions to the situation. In the bigger picture, King Charles battles with political chaos, civil unrest, daily news headlines and the tensions between monarchy and democracy. Closer to home, he must cope with the close, watchful eye of Princes William and Harry. And internally, like any great Shakespearean hero, he struggles with his own conscience and morality. King Charles III, which won the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Play, makes its Australian premiere at the Sydney Theatre Company, after seasons at the West End and on Broadway. The STC's production will be directed by Rupert Goold, artistic director at Almeida Theatre.
What does it mean anymore to be 'manly'? What maketh the modern man? In what better company could we find ourselves contemplating the future of masculinity than this motley crew: Joel Creasey, Kate Peck, Tim Blackwell, Peter FitzSimons and I-Manifest founder, Jo Pretymanto — em-ceed, heckled and harassed by none other than one Mr Chris Taylor. When this lot get together at Giant Dwarf on Monday, April 18, they'll be talking about what it takes to, not only privately embrace one's individuality, but publicly express it, too. Along the way, all the mighty, masculine issues will be poked at — from what it means to be 'a man', to the complexities of having too much freedom, to fitting in yet standing out. All monies raised on the night will go to I-Manifest, an organisation committed to encouraging young people to empower themselves through creativity and pursuing their passions. All genders welcome.
It’s not every festival feels like a country weekend fete that just happens to be headlined by Father John Misty. Fairgrounds, Australia’s newest boutique camping festival descended on the small NSW town of Berry on Saturday, December 5. Taking over the local Berry Showgrounds, Fairgrounds boasted all the trimmings of a major music festival with the essence of a local fair — with a mini-Meredith lineup to boot. Headlined by the high priest of folk balladry, Father John Misty, alongside Brooklyn's rocktronica duo Ratatat, Portland/New Zealand’s genre-defying Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sydney’s raucous garage favourites Royal Headache and Melbourne’s soul virtuoso Meg Mac, Fairgrounds brought the best bits of Meredith to Berry for one (bloody hot) day of laidback sets at the showground. Between Josh Tillman’s rambling philosophising — “I hope pop music gets existentially fatalistic in the next year,” — and Shogun’s humble apologies for a blown amp — “That sounded like elevator music on mushrooms,” — punters were treated to quite the cornucopia of artists — some even caught CW Stoneking adorably reading tales to kids in the storytelling tent. Really. With a strong focus on the local South Coast area, however, Fairgrounds wasn’t just about the tunes. Local nosh, local market stalls and the local swimming pool played equally starring roles at this multifaceted festival — something we’re sure made Berry residents pretty happy. Between watching Searching for Sugarman at the openair cinema, sack races, bouts of tug-of-war and dips in Berry’s local pool (within the festival grounds and equipped with hectic DJ sets), punters feasted on local delights, from South Coast candy from Berry’s own Treat Factory, and fresh rock oysters from An Australian Affair, harvested less than half an hour from the festival site. Plus pies, pies, pies, pies, pies. Straight-up, it warms our jaded little hearts to see a smaller scale festival like Fairgrounds supporting local nosh, something still spearheaded by the likes of local loving’ bigwigs like Bluesfest and Splendour. Although there were a few food shortages and longish waits, Fairgrounds’ menu was a slam dunk of a local spread, one worth waiting for (if you tried the oysters). Check out our gallery of happy snaps from the festival. Here’s hoping Fairgrounds pays Berry a second visit, this is one Aussie event we’d line up for again — anyone who sets up shop down the road from The Donut Van is alright by us. Photos by Andy Fraser, words by Shannon Connellan.
Next month, the bustling Night Noodle Markets will return to Hyde Park for eight nights of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant frozen desserts. Taking over the inner city park from October 11–18, the fifteenth iteration of the fairy light-lit markets will see over 30 of Australia's favourite food stalls set up shop — serving humans and dogs alike. Wait up — dogs? Yep, this year, the NNM have launched the aptly named Night Poodle Markets. On Saturday, October 12, the NNM will be filled with floofs galore, a roaming dog photographer and dog treats from The Doggie Bakery. Tickets to the one-off event are just $5 — which include a doggy portrait and treat — with 100 percent of profits going to the NSW RSPCA. In terms of food for humans, the NNM has just unveiled its full menu. And Gelato Messina is preparing to wow Sydneysiders once more with a brand new menu. While last year's frozen treats were inspired by the Philippines, this year, they're an ode to Thai sweets. Choose from the Bangkok Banana, a Thai milk tea cheesecake sandwich with sponge and meringue; the Phuket Bucket, banana fritters served with caramelised banana gelato and peanut crumble; the Coco Phangan, mango sorbet with coconut sticky rice; or the Eye of the Thai-ger, a multi-layered dessert of condensed milk pudding, condensed milk crumble, shaved ice, lychee gelato and jellies. Or don't choose and eat them all — you can spread them out over eight nights, after all. Elsewhere on the NNM menu, you'll find Bangkok street food snacks, foot-long potato fries, bao, spicy biang biang noodles and paella. Sydney's all-vegan Flyover Fritterie & Chai Bar will also be making an appearance, as will Crows Nest's purveyors of fried chicken Johnny Bird and Redfern's much-loved maker of baked goods Donut Papi. As all great things must come to an end (of sorts), this'll be the last year the NNM will be held at Hyde Park. Details are scarce for now, but we're being told they'll relocate to "a larger space" in 2020. We'll let you know when more details on that drop. In the meantime, start scheduling your visits the market — and cross your fingers that this year will be a little less rainy. The Night Noodle Markets will be open 5–10pm Monday and Tuesday, 5–11pm Wednesday and Thursday 5pm – 11pm, Friday 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 12pm–11pm, and Sunday 12pm–10pm.
The crew behind The Hill Eatery are opening a brand new bar in addition to their beloved North Bondi brunch spot. Taking tropical, summery inspiration from Florida Keys, The Hill Bar will sit right beside its parent eatery on Campbell Parade. If anything, Florida Keys is highly underrepresented in Sydney's themed bars (if at all), so we're on board. Think flamingos, coconut palms, scuba diving, key limes, rum cocktails, parades, hold the tropical cyclones. Celebrated as a staple North Bondi brunch spot with their Breakie Boards and killer Bloody Marys, The Hill have quite the loyal following to make this project seriously viable. When the space next door came available, the Hill team jumped at the chance to extend their bar. They've knocked through the wall are currently splashing pastel paint, white-washed timber and custom flamingo wallpaper everywhere. But the Hill team also promise to bring a little Australiana to their Florida Keys theme. Here's the wallpaper they're hinting with on Facebook: Details on the menu are being kept under wraps for the moment, but we're guessing it will continue the whole paddock-to-plate philosophy from next door into bar nibbles. Tipple-wise, The Hill will be launching and serving their very own craft beer from the bar, Lighthouse Kolsch by The Hill, alongside brews from Young Henrys, Rocks Brewing Co and there’ll be plenty of tropical cocktails on offer, with Hippocampus rum aplenty. Launching on November 26, The Hill Bar will be open just in time for summer. Bring on the mojitos. Colour selections for new bar. #colour #pastels #floridakeys #thehillgrows Posted by The Hill Eatery on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 THE team hard at it painting the new bar. We will reopen the Eatery tomorrow afternoon. See you for the weekend. #bondi #thehillgrows #cocktails Posted by The Hill Eatery on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 One of our resident artists Mackie splashing up a little something behind our bar @mackinnonwalker #bondi #local #community Posted by The Hill Eatery on Thursday, October 1, 2015 Find The Hill Bar beside The Hill Eatery at Shop 5/39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi from November 26. The Hill Eatery is one of our favourite Bondi spots. Check out the whole list.
Inspired by the theme "fearless", the 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is promising more than 100 events and over 400 artists running across 17 days. In addition to the signatures — including the Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, March 2 — there's a bunch of new happenings this time round. One of the most anticipated is the Strictly Kaftan Party, a new pool party to be held at the Ivy on Tuesday, February 19. Don your favourite kaftan or hottest moo-moo and spend the day kicking back to New Zealand country duo The Topp Twins and various DJs. There'll be prizes for Best Kaftan, Best Cabana Lounging Ensemble and Most Outrageous Summer Accessory. Meanwhile, the Sissy Ball is back for another round, after selling out last year. Taking over Carriageworks on Saturday, February 23, this NYC ballroom-inspired event centres around vogue battles in the categories of dance, movement, fashion and air. In between watching acts of unabashed self-expression, you'll be kicking back to live music and DJs. On a more solemn note is the Requiem Mass: A Queer Divine Rite, which will fill the City Recital Hall with song on Thursday, February 21. This choral work, written by American composer Holcombe Waller in collaboration with LGBTQI+ communities, is informed by research into the persecution that LGBTQI+ people have experienced over the past 50 years. It'll be performed by Sam Allchurch and the Sydney Chamber Choir. The Seymour Centre, Newtown, will host Mardi Gras Central, the festival hub. Head down there anytime to catch theatre, music, dance, circus, cabaret and burlesque shows. Among the headliners is the inaugural Bent Burlesque, a feast of outrageous underground cabaret, circus, drag and performance art to take place over February 16 and 17 , as well as Club Briefs, set to bring you disco hits and dance moves from Wednesday, February 20 till Friday, March 1. You can look forward, too, to the return of longstanding favourites, including Fair Day at Victoria Park on Sunday, February 17; Pool Party at the Ivy on Monday, February 25; the Mardi Gras Party on Saturday, March 2 at the EQ Moore Park; and Laneway – the Parade's official recovery party – on Sunday, March 3 at The Beresford in Surry Hills. Images: Jeffrey Feng.
Sydney craft beer dukes Young Henrys have teamed up with the Marrickville Council to create a beer that tastes like ANZAC biscuits — just in time for the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. The new ale's been dubbed 'Winged Victory', after a World War One memorial statue created in 1919 the council has resurrected. On Sunday, April 19, you’ll get to taste the biccie brew for the first time and see the statue's glorious unveiling at Marrickville Town Hall. "The Council approached us," Richard Adamson, co-owner of Young Henrys, said. "We thought it sounded like a really good community project. The statue is an amazing part of the area’s local history and a gift for the people." Young Henrys were given creative licence to conjure up an appropriate flavour profile. It turns out that using ANZAC biscuits for inspiration was the obvious choice. "We thought it would be a lot of fun," Adamson said. "We smoked the malt ourselves and then burned rosemary, which is a symbol of remembrance. Getting them all to balance well with spices was a bit of a challenge, but we threw caution to the wind." In addition, the hops came from both Australia and New Zealand, in honour of the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. The statue is the work of Gilbert Doble, a local sculptor. It depicts the Goddess Nike, who, in Greek mythology, symbolised victory, success in battle and peaceful competition. And it commemorates 457 soldiers from Marrickville who died during World War One. The Winged Victory ale launch will happen at Marrickville Town Hall on Sunday 19 April at between 11am and 3pm. There's also going to be a parade and a photography exhibition on the day as part of the event. Entry is free. Image: ANZAC biscuits from Low FODMAP.
Maybe you're old enough that you can remember where you were when you heard the news of his death 21 years ago. Maybe you grew up only ever knowing of his loss and his legend. Either way, Nirvana fan or not, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is essential viewing. This isn't your usual music documentary, or the standard package of talking heads, childhood photos and backstage pics — though they're all there in some shape and form. As the name suggests, this is a mosaic of his tumultuous life as it happened, drawn from the most intimate resources and largely spoken in his voice. Filmmaker Brett Morgen uses art, music, journals, home videos and audio montages provided by Cobain's family to journey, step by step, from the birth to the death of the rock icon. First he's a bright child, then a disaffected teen, a creative genius, a reluctant star, a drug-addicted celebrity and a doting father. What he rarely seems, though, is happy. Indeed, think of Montage of Heck less like a portrait of Cobain and more like his thoughts and emotions being allowed to roam free. Biographical information is included, but this is about who he really was, rather than interesting trivia. Things get dark, clearly; however, the fleshed-out image the film composes of the troubled musician is probably the most complex audiences have ever seen. Examinations of tortured artists rarely come across as quite so honest, or so genuine in peeking behind the veil of their public personas, or so willing to embrace the complications of their subjects. Morgen's style has much to do with the movie's air of authenticity, the writer, director and co-editor piecing everything together with a lived-in mood and a stitched-together look unlike the bulk of similar offerings. From animation that brings Cobain's drawings to life and scrawls his handwritten lyrics, lists and love letters onto the screen, to footage of his brand of wedded bliss with Courtney Love, to revealing chats with those who knew him best (Love, Cobain's parents and sister, his ex-girlfriend Tracey Marander and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic), it never feels anything less than hand- and home-made. The wealth of content the feature has at its disposal is certainly astonishing, both in providing much more than a glimpse Cobain's most personal moments, and in allowing fans a few opportunities to really geek-out — such as spying his sketches for Nevermind's album cover and his suggestions for 'Smells Like Teen Spirit''s music video. That Montage of Heck is the first effort made with the support of his loved ones shows, though this is as far from a glossy tribute as you can get. It might be light on performances, but the film also has an amazing soundtrack, obviously — and the way Morgen weaves Nirvana's music into the mix is so well done, it causes goosebumps. That's the kind of reaction Montage of Heck inspires. By the time it makes it to the MTV Unplugged clips from what turned out to be one of the band's last major performances, expect your eyes to get misty. With so much said about Cobain for the past two decades, it feels fitting that a compilation of his own words actually says the most. Never basking in the cult of his fame, nor wallowing in his demise, this is Cobain being Cobain. It's not just a montage: it's a haunting, heartbreaking cinematic poem about a lost icon — and perhaps the finest music documentary of its generation.
Flowers, stars and mulled wine will collide when astronomy comes to The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden. On arriving at this brand new event, you'll be handed a glass, then invited to kick back, relax and listen to Dr Angel Lopez Sanchez chat about the night skies. Dr Lopez Sanchez is an astronomy research fellow and a science communicator at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and Macquarie University. Surrounded by the garden's botanic surrounds, he'll bring you a whole new perspective on familiar constellations and show you how to find those that are not-so-familiar. Learn to locate the Jewel Box within the Southern Cross, bright nebulae within Sagittarius and Omega Centauri, a globular cluster. Your ticket — a wildly reasonable $15 — includes one complimentary mulled wine or cider. Further drinks and snacks will be available at the bar.
Been dreaming about supping at Peter Gilmore’s Bennelong, but not managed to scrape the cash together quite yet? Well, there’s good news afoot. Come January 8, a bar will pop up on the restaurant’s private balcony. For three-and-a-bit summery weeks, you’ll be able to soak up those supreme Bridge-Quay views, without smashing a huge hole in your wallet. After all, you’ll surely want to save some of your hard-earned pennies for the cream of the Sydney Festival’s gig program. To be known as Bennelong Balcony, the bar will open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from midday-late, until January 31. Topping the drinks menu is a selection of signature cocktails, which bar manager Aaron Gaulke has designed specifically for Sydney’s balmy evenings, like Whispers on the Breeze (Sauvignon Blanc, St Germain, soda, cucumber, lemon peel). There’ll also be Piper Heidsieck Champagne and Endeavour Pale Ale. And, should you grow a little peckish, the bar menu will sort you out. Chef Peter Gilmore (Quay) has been running at the show at Bennelong since the middle of this year. He replaced the degustation menu with a few casual, yet no less outrageously delicious, options: from three course dining in The Restaurant dining, to share ‘Cured and Cultured’ plates, to supper. And they just nabbed Concrete Playground's Best New Restaurant in our Best of 2015 awards, so pay 'em a visit. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon.
You've watched the films on the big screen, bought the toys, and maybe even tied the knot in a Princess Leia costume. Even if you've only done one of the above, you're bound to get excited about Brisbane's latest eatery. Yes, it's Star Wars-themed. In fact, the forthcoming addition to Queen Street in the CBD doesn't just take its cues from George Lucas' space opera saga, but from Eddie Izzard's famous joke about just what Darth Vader and his cronies might eat on board the Death Star. No one can answer that question for sure — Izzard reckons the ungodly combo of peas and penne — but the Death Star Canteen is going to have a whole lot of fun trying. You cannot kill catering with a thought here. Thank Glen Morris — aka the main man behind Glen’s Espresso — for making this pop culture dream a reality. In his vision of the most notorious place in a galaxy far, far away, coffee and sandwiches will be on the menu. We're not sure if the trays will be dried properly though, let's give it a look... Wait. This one's wet, and this one's wet and this one's wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. Did you dry these in a rainforest, Glen? Brisbane Star Wars buffs still have two more months to wait before they can get their cinema-themed caffeine fix, but we don't think anyone will mind. If you're going to open a Death Star Canteen, there's only one day you do it: May 4, or May the Fourth be with you, as we're all fond of saying. Find the Death Star Canteen at 359 Queen Street, Brisbane from May 4. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
With dozens of diners filing in at every meal, Kepos Street Kitchen has certainly cemented its position on Sydney diners' palates. And now, it's ready to multiply. Restaurant owner-chef Michael Rantissi has announced that Kepos is opening a second incarnation of its tasty self in Danks Street, Waterloo. Set to open just after Easter in Danks's Casba development, the new eatery will be named Kepos & Co. "[It] will look onto palm trees and a little pond," Rantissi told Good Food. "We’ve gone for a look that’ll be like old Jerusalem." Meanwhile, the menu will stick with the Kitchen’s winning Mediterranean theme, but delve into new territory. "I want to explore another side of the Mediterranean and plan to have mulukhiyah on the menu," Rantissi said. "In Egypt they do it with rabbit, we'll do it with wagyu." Since opening in November 2012, Kepos Street Kitchen has become one of Sydney’s favourite restaurants. Rantissi, who grew up in Tel Aviv, combines Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern influences, bringing together both classical training and new ideas. This year, the restaurant was listed as one of the Top 500 Restaurants in Australia by the Australian Financial Review. Via Good Food.
One of Sydney's most popular weekend markets, the Carriageworks Farmers Market brings a huge selection of fresh produce and artisan wares to Eveleigh each Saturday from 8am–1pm. And, every now and then, the beloved cultural space hosts a blockbuster edition of the weekly market. Enter the Autumn Seasonal market, set for a big return on Saturday, March 16. The free market will be serving up a lineup of over 50 stallholders with fresh autumn fruits, soup- and stew-ready vegetables, quality cuts of meat, cheese, baked goods and more delicious gear. Highlights from the stallholder program include bread and pastry masters A.P Bakery and Flour and Stone, butter lovers Pepe Saya, Hotluck Club selling their signature chilli oil, and coffee from both Single O and Reuben Hills. Then you've got Bar Pho, Kepos Street Kitchen, Vannella Cheese, Condimental, Crumpets by Merna, Broomfields and Jonima Flowers among the huge slate of other stallholders that will be in attendance, selling both takeaway goods and tasty treats you can consume on-site. There will also be a live program Erina Starkey, the Digital Editor of delicious. who always guarantees a good time. Expect a cooking demonstration from Sonoma's Alejandro Luna running attendees through how to make the bakery's Not Cross Buns, and Pasta Emilia's Simon Venning hosting a tasting of drops from the Bacco Wines range. "As we welcome cooler weather, we are delighted to see the return of our Carriageworks Autumn Seasonal Market, offering Sydneysiders the opportunity to source the freshest seasonal produce, enjoy comforting meals, stock up on Easter treats and gifts, and more," says Creative Director of Carriageworks Farmers Market Mike McEnearney. Images: Jacquie Manning
Sydney's LGBTIQ+ scene is thriving. There are great, queer-friendly gatherings happening all around the city, from secret warehouse parties with a BYO policy, to regular drag and queer nights and charity celebrations. The vibes may vary, but the all-inclusive nature prevails. In partnership with Skyy Vodka, who are supporting marriage equality with a #cheerstoequality campaign, we've rounded up five venues, party crews and events that can guarantee a fun time in an atmosphere that's welcoming to all. Whether you're part of the queer community or just tagging along with a friend, here are five of the best queer-friendly spaces Sydney has to offer. HEAPS GAY For the past three years, Heaps Gay has been throwing some of the best LGBTIQ+ parties in Sydney, leading the queer community with intimate events that are all about dancing, art, inclusion, and absolutely no lockouts. The party crew is known for popping up in warehouse spaces across Sydney, as well as hosting events at Mardi Gras, Vivid Sydney and collaborating with Keep Sydney Open. This year Heaps Gay are bringing back their third annual Vivid Festival party, and donating $1 from every ticket to Redfern's community-focused 107 Projects. The Heaps Gay party crew regularly double their paid parties as charity initiatives, an even better reason to join them on an unrestricted night out. [caption id="attachment_606868" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Glitoris: Alli Sebastian Wolf.[/caption] THE BEARDED TIT The Bearded Tit is one of Redfern's most eclectic watering holes, often filled with a host of colourful characters. The bar doubles as an art and creative space, showcasing weird and wonderful local artists (including The Glitoris, by Alli Sebastian Wolf above) and welcoming everyone into its kitschy interior, which features everything from barber chairs and fruit chandeliers, to crocheted penises and a taxidermy boar playing the trumpet. The bar is also known for bringing some of Australia's best pop and dance acts in for a full-on party. Upcoming nights including a live performance for the Broads album launch and a retro Hawaiian-themed fashion show and dance party. The venue has teamed up with the aforementioned Heaps Gay in the past, to create a rooftop pop-up bar for Mardi Gras 2016. SLYFOX Enmore's Slyfox is an all-round party venue, boasting late nights with a stellar lineup of DJs and live bands. Retro decor and a moody atmosphere give the venue a warm and inviting glow, and their regular dance nights have helped put Enmore on the map as a go-to place for queer parties. Their rotation of events run every Tuesday to Sunday, ranging genres from punk, indie and jazz to funk, hip hop, house and techno. Their regular queer nights include the weekly free entry Birdcage party — running every Wednesday, the self proclaimed "queerest shin-dig" in Enmore is about to celebrate their 5th birthday with a blowout bash. Acts include K-pop dropout Nes, the R&B beats of Mowgli May and tropical vibes of Pineapple Pineapple. THE FLINDERS HOTEL The Flinders has gone through a few revamps since closing due to lockouts back in 2015, and once again, it officially relaunched this year in March, partnering with Skyy's #cheerstoequality campaign to celebrate inclusiveness, equality and the return of a classic. While a few things have changed since The Flinders of old closed — including the addition of a swanky marble bar imported from Italy, a custom DJ booth and repainted graffiti walls — the spirit of the original venue is still alive and well, continuing to be 100 percent inclusive and welcoming on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. The revamp has brought on a new cocktail list of classic favourites and their 3am licence is back in action as well, promising heaps of late night parties with some of the Flinders original DJs to boot. The bar is perfectly situated in the queer centre of the city, making it ideal for a regular party haunt of the LGBTIQ+ community. CANNED FRUIT Canned Fruit is Sydney's newest all-inclusive queer party and they've been making a name for themselves with their regular Canned Fruit Wednesdays at Enmore's Secret Garden Bar. The "juicy" parties promise drag performances, cheap drinks and no labels, along with the requisite dance floor tunes. Past weeks have featured the likes of femme duo Fox Force II, CF preacher Double D and "Enmore's unholiest" Burley Chassis DQ, with upcoming events featuring the fabulous Cherry Kills channelling Patsy Stone and beats master Dunny Minogue. Themes range from "80s and Fabulous" to the iconic film But I'm A Cheerleader. The small bar has become a regular go-to for the inner west queer community, and gives off some serious let loose, anything goes vibes. Show some SKYY Vodka support for marriage equality by taking a selfie and tagging it with #CheerstoEquality and #AusPol. Top image: Heaps Gay.
You know summer's almost here in Sydney when openair cinemas start making big ol' announcements. Sydney's most visually stunning openair cinema, St George Openair Cinema, is back for the summer. Celebrating its 20th season this year, Sydney's beloved cinema with a million dollar view returns to Mrs Macquaries Point on Thursday, January 7 for a huge 40-night season until February 19. The 2016 program, announced today, will see fourteen premiere and preview screenings, a selection of 2015’s best arthouse films, as well as the all-time favourite Christmas and New Year releases. First up, opening night will see the Sydney premiere of Looking for Grace — bound to sell out. Then it's all Oscar tips, all the time, from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's hotly anticipated Carol, to Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl. Michael Fassbender as the Apple luminary Steve Jobs is in there, alongside Spotlight, Brooklyn, Trumbo, Hail, Caesar! and Room. Yep, we're already clearing our calendar. This year's summer blockbusters are all on the bill too, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter ruling in Suffragette, alongside Jennifer Lawrence's Joy, the epic In the Heart of the Sea, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Sisters, and the (for some reason) remake of Point Break. Films you might have missed at the cinema or just want to dive into another time also abound, from Amy Schumer's Trainwreck to The Martian, Everest, The Walk, Spectre, Man Up and Sicario. There were more than 50,000 tickets sold last year in the first days of pre-sales in December, so you'd better be organised when tickets go on sale on December 7. Keeping their tried and true formula intact, St George Openair Cinema will return with their epic grandstand seating, with those insane views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House which perpetually distract us from the 350 square metre cinema screen. Stupid beautiful Sydney. St George Openair Cinema 2016 runs January 7 to February 19. Advance tickets are on sale at 9am on December 7, 2015. Visit the website for updates and the full program, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Are you the kind of gin drinker who believes that if you want something done right, you'll have to do it yourself? Well, have we got an activity for you. The Archie Rose Distillery Company is hosting a 'Blend Your Own Gin' course with Work-Shop at their Rosebery warehouse from June 17. After a signature dry gin and bush tonic on arrival, the gin savants of Archie Rose will guide you through the distillation process and give you the means to blend two varieties to take home and guzzle straight from the bottle. The session will be led by Dave Withers, a renowned spirits authority and whisky expert, and the Archie Rose team will pop their heads in to taste how you're going. They’ll also teach you a bit about the history of gin, so you can show off to the bartender next time you order a G&T at your local. You can select the infusions that match your gin-style and choose from such whimsical flavours as native blood lime and river mint or juniper and cassia bark. Perhaps trying pushing the boat out and whip up a Vegemite-flavoured gin? No, no please don't, no one should ever ruin a good thing with Vegemite. The Archie Rose Distillery Company is the first distillery to open in Sydney for 160 long, dry years and it’s really living up to the hype. As well as the Blend Your Own Gin workshop, the crew is offering distillery tours and food events throughout winter in partnership with Black Star Pastry, and they’re even conjuring up a Tailored Spirits service available to order online and have delivered straight to your door (as if we weren’t tempted enough).
Photographer James Adams has spent the past ten years shooting some of the biggest names in music, from Wolfmother, Primal Scream, Eagles of Death Metal and Violent Soho to You Am I, Angus and Julia Stone, The Preatures, Graveyard and more. Five of those years involved working with local lads The Delta Riggs, including tours with none other than Foo Fighters and Kasabian. It's fair to say that Adams knows more than the average punter about what goes on off-stage. This weekend, for one night only, he'll be holding his first solo exhibition at Goodspace Gallery, above the Gladstone. From 6pm, there'll be cheap booze courtesy of Young Henrys, live sets from Wild Honey and Heavy Lids, DJs till 3am and photos, photos, photos. “This night is about sharing my experiences behind the lens as accurately as possible," says Adams. "Enter one of the most exciting Aussie bands right now, and pixilate with a generous river of Young Henrys liquid gold, and you’re as close to the real thing as you can get. Sans the sweat being flung at you side-stage.”
March can often arrive with a pang of seasonal realisation — summer's done. But there are some who resist the change, especially those intent on creating an entire foreshore festival in Coogee. You'll quickly forget any farewells to the sunnier months at the Coogee Foreshore Festival, a local seaside celebration transforming Coogee Pavilion's ground floor into a burgeoning marketplace — one tasty, beachy adventure in five weeks of this year's March into Merivale. With the 2015 program just announced, there's plenty to look forward to at the end of summer. Intent to soldier on into the autumn season, some of Sydney's best, newest and most loved venues, including Coogee Pavilion, are gearing up to March into Merivale. "This year, we have upped the ante to deliver a jam-packed five week festival of the senses," says Justin Hemmes, Merivale CEO. "March into Merivale will show you how to live larger every day of the week as food, wine, adventure and surprises explode together in over 50 amazing events. I cannot wait." Kicking off with the lavish launch party on Wednesday, February 25, MIM will showcase the best nosh and drinkies from over twenty Merivale venues all in one epic event at ivy. From Ash Street to Palings, you'll be able to stroll through the stalls for $45 entry, handpick your favourite Merivale snackery (and maybe meet the chef). Then there's the wonderfully new Coogee Foreshore Festival on Sunday, March 15. Set amongst one of our favourite openings from 2014, the $45-a-head festival will see Merivale pop-ups such as Papi Chulo, Mr Wong, El Loco and sushi e all taking their spot along the promenade, while roaming entertainment, a Deus surfboard-shaping stand and face painting bubbles inside. Weeknights are a thing to look forward to during March Into Merivale. Monday Detox will see free Lululemon yoga sessions every Monday night at ivy Pool Club (with $25 healthy dish and mocktail specials at Papi Chulo, The Fish Shop, Coogee Pavilion, The Beresford Hotel and Uccello). Tuesday Date Nights includes two courses for two at the same Merivale establishments, plus a bottle of Sanpellegrino and a choice of beverage from Villa Maria, Chandon or Heineken, from $45 per person. Throughout the festival, diners with a love of adventure can book a 'Mystery Dinner'. You could end up in any Merivale eatery, from the grand dining room at est. to Potts Pott hangout Ms.G’s. Wednesday Showcase Events will see a dessert-only feature night at Establishment, Merivale Wines tastings at ivy, a European-focused night in ivy's laneway and an Asian cuisine 'Wok On!' party with hip hop, neon installations and stalls taking over Establishment. Savoir Fare Thursday is the fanciest of them all — and one for true Merivale enthusiasts — where Merivale kitchen masters including Dan Hong, Peter Doyle, Jordan Toft, Danielle Alvarez and Jeremy Strode will each take a turn to host their ultimate dinner party at ivy Private Dining Room, and hand over their skills to budding chefs while they're hosting (from $150 per person, limited 22 seats available each event). For the sweet tooth, Merivale’s queen of pastry, Lorraine Godsmark, will be taking weekly masterclasses at $80 per person. Weekends are where the party really ignites for MIM. Each Friday night will see a different Merivale venue picked for the 'Friday Surprise' — it'll be Establishment, ivy Pool Club, Slip Inn, Palings or Beresford. The 'surprise' can be anything from opera to impromptu cabaret, so be prepared. Saturdays will see a string of Merivale parties from Pacha Sydney's new Maison de Fous to the Beresford’s Mardi Gras Party. Then you'll dust it all off with Sunday Brunch, Merivale-style — Breakfast à la Française (Felix, 1 March), Mardi Gras Recovery Brunch (Beresford, 8 March), BBQ Brunch (Papi Chulo, 22 Mar) and Brunch Italiana (Uccello, 29 March). It's $55 per person including a set brunch feast and a glass of Chandon Rosé. Summer might be done according to the calendar, but there's no reason to dwell in melted daiquiris and uneaten Christmas chocolate. Forward march to autumn. March into Merivale runs February 23 - March 29. Tickets on now, available here.
Anything Melbourne can do, Sydney can do better — or, just as well, as Sydney Film Festival's first announcement for 2016 illustrates. If New South Wales-based movie buffs were feeling a bit of envy about the SCORSESE exhibition that's about the visit Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image, SFF has swooped in to offer up the next best thing. In partnership with ACMI, and as curated by none other than David Stratton, SFF will present a showcase of Martin Scorsese's essential films. How they whittled down the iconic auteur's efforts to just ten, we don't know. But, as The Movie Show and At the Movies' audiences did for decades, we'll just have to place our faith in one of Australia's most famous movie critics. Given that the selection includes the seminal gangster flick Mean Streets and often overlooked musical New York, New York, viewers are in for some Scorsese gold (and yes, Robert De Niro is as much of a feature as the director, with Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino screening as well). For those after a slice of Scorsese's later-career flicks — and his collaborations with Leonardo DiCaprio — then The Aviator well and truly ticks that box. They'll all screen on specially imported 35mm prints, because Scorsese isn't just about making movies, but about preserving the format of celluloid in this increasingly digital age. To whet your excitement, we'll leave you with this clip of De Niro doing stand up in The King of Comedy. No, he's not talking to you. Tickets to Essential Scorsese: Selected by David Stratton are on sale now. The 2016 Sydney Film Festival runs from June 8 – 19. For more information, visit the festival website.
Back in August last year, Merivale slipped the news that it'd be taking over much-loved northern beaches pub The Collaroy. It then closed the doors to the beachside boozer so it could undergo a revamp — and now, it's finally open once more. During the past few months, the Justin Hemmes-led team has been busy sprucing up The Collaroy — but it maintains that the pub's easy-going, community-friendly atmosphere will remain intact even under new ownership. Just like before, you'll feel comfortable taking a dip at the beach, before spending the rest of the day (and maybe night) drinking at your leisure. Downstairs, executive chef Jordan Toft has organised a menu that will change throughout the day. Kick into the morning with the ultimate post-surf feed: brekkie pizzas. They'll be accompanied by coffee, juice and house-made pastries. Lunch will see cafe-style fare come to the fore, with healthy bowls like muesli with dried fruits, nuts and coconut yoghurt, ortoasted faro with avocado, boiled egg, rocket, haloumi, olive oil and lemon. When darkness falls, the kitchen goes into gastropub mode, serving up things like anchovy toasts with pickled shallot and hearty pub meals, which will change daily. On Monday, you might be digging into lamb and eggplant moussaka, then, on Tuesday, pork and fennel sausages with roasted pumpkin and green garlic. Meanwhile, upstairs, where the beach views are uninterrupted, there is two bars and an open kitchen. Go for a woodfired pizza created by Italian chef Vincenzo Biondini or a burger from the bar menu. If you'e looking to get a bit fancier, take a seat in the restaurant, to linger over oysters, local seafood, charcoal grill and salad. Taking care of the drinks menu is a team of bartenders from Merivale's other venues; look out for plenty of crisp whites, roses and summery cocktails. The acquisition of The Collaroy is a sure sign that Merivale is planning to beef up its northern beaches portfolio — it already operates The Newport and Bert's in Newport and has just closed Papi Chulo in Manly to make way for a second Queen Chow. This is on top of the group's other recent buys: Woollahra's Hotel Centennial, Bondi's Royal Hotel, The Vic on the Park in Marrickville and The Tennyson on Botany Road. The Collaroy is now open at 1064 Pittwater Road, Collaroy. It's open seven days a week from 7.30am, and stays open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. You can book a table here.
Sydney's favourite incidental fitness party in the dark is taking things to the next level this month, with seven guest playlisters curating your pitch-black tunes for No Lights No Lycra this May. The team have announced their Guest Selector Month lineup for this May, with some of Australia's best established and new talent handcrafting tried and tested d-floor playlists for the night. In case you've never been to a NLNL before, it's a weekly dance party started in Melbourne; just an hour long and entirely in the dark. Expect plenty of '90s dance, '70s disco and '80s R&B vibes with this lineup; we're talking upcoming Splendour headliners Flight Facilities alongside fellow Splendour benders like 19-year-old Adelaidean rapper Tkay Maidza, Sydney's electropop-meets-R&B wunderkind Elizabeth Rose and Melbourne's dream popsters Alpine. Also on the bill for May is Astral People signing Roland Tings, and Melburnian eight-piece percussive groove outfit No Zu. That makes five, with two more yet to be announced. Each will create an exclusive mix for NLNL, similar to previous guest playlists like The Presets' Carriageworks set, one you'll be able to dance your butts off to at the event's weekly lose-your-inhibitions dance party. No Lights No Lycra runs in Sydney from 7.30pm – 8.30pm on Mondays at Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi and on Thursdays at Main Hall Newtown, 189 Church Street, Newtown. It's just $5 on the door, with $2 for cloaking. Check the Facebook page for updates and specific artist playlist dates, coming soon.
Gin! Whimsy! Harbour views! These exclamations and crisp local gin cocktails can be yours this summer, as the Museum of Contemporary Art and Archie Rose are opening a Grayson Perry-inspired gin garden. The Gin Garden will be a shady oasis atop the museum from December 4, coinciding with the MCA’s Sydney International Art Series huge exhibition Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career. Dubbed "the ultimate celebration of British eccentricity with a twist of Antipodean flair" by the MCA team, the rooftop Gin Garden will see a range of innovative cocktails made with native ingredients and the Signature Dry Gin by Rosebery's Archie Rose — Sydney's first distillery in 160 years. Young Henrys also launched their own Noble Cut gin this year, but they'll be bringing more of their beloved craft beers to the table. They'll be paired with a menu focused on juniper, so prepare your palate for new and glorious adventures in taste. In addition to snacking and slurping in the garden, of course, you should check out Grayson Perry's highly anticipated exhibition, the first major survey in the southern hemisphere of the works of one of Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. It'll run December 10 to May 1. The Gin Garden opens at MCA from December 4 to early February. Open Thursdays to Sundays, 4pm to late. Free entry.
Tuesdays couldn't get any cheesier. After a successful run last year, Handpicked Cellar Door is bring back its Raclette Tuesdays, devoting the second evening of every week to piping hot, melted cheese. From 5.30pm–10pm, the team will warm a mammoth wheel of raclette before your eyes, then slice it straight onto your plate. For $24, you'll be eating the raclette alongside premium pancetta, pickles and potatoes, with a vegetarian option also available ($20). And, before you ask, there's of course the option of matching wines as well. Just 25 bucks will buy you a 'swipe right' four-wine flight, made up of Mornington Peninsula chardonnay, two types of shiraz (one from Heathcote and one from the Barossa Valley) and Margaret River cab merlot. Their Tinder joke, not ours. If this doesn't get you off your couch on a Tuesday night then nothing will.
Having said au revoir to the French Film Festival, it's now time to slip over the border into Spain. Returning to Palace Cinemas around the country, this year's Spanish Film Festival will once again showcase some of the biggest and most critically acclaimed Spanish and Latin American films from the past 12 months. How's that for a cinematic siesta? The festival — which will feature at Leichhardt's Palace Norton Street and Paddington's Palace Verona — begins with the highest grossing film at last year's Spanish box office: rom-com sequel Spanish Affair 2. Other comic standouts include espionage spoof Spy Time, madcap ensemble My Big Night, and dark domestic comedy Happy 140. Of course, not everything on the program is quite so light and breezy. Critically acclaimed drama Much Ado About Nothing confronts legal and political corruption in modern day Chile, while Ma Ma stars Penelope Cruz in one of her most nuanced roles to date, as a put-upon single mother diagnosed with breast cancer. Below, we've put together a list of the five films on the lineup that have caught our eye. For the full program, go here. https://youtu.be/K_NMyRjL8dM THE THIN YELLOW LINE This comedy-drama hybrid, directed by first time writer-director Celso Garcia, is a road movie, but not in the way you'd expect. The Thin Yellow Line follows a misfit group of five cash-strapped men tasked with painting the dashed yellow line along more than 200 kilometres of Mexican highway. You only need to take a brief look at the trailer to appreciate the film's gorgeous cinematography and bittersweet tone. If that's not enough to convince you, consider the fact that it's executive produced by Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak director Guillermo del Toro. https://vimeo.com/131531005 THE CLAN Based on a chilling true story, this Argentinean thriller tells the story of the Puccios, a seemingly normal family living in Buenos Aires in the 1980s who made their living kidnapping people and holding them to ransom. The film broke box office records in Argentina, screened in competition at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, and has scored plenty of positive critical buzz, with Variety comparing it to the movies of John Carpenter, Brian De Palma and Martin Scorsese. Consider our expectations set very, very high. https://vimeo.com/153227513 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Another true story from Latin America, Much Ado About Nothing is a far cry from the light-hearted Shakespearean comedy with which it shares a title. Instead, Alejandro Fernandez Almendras' film takes place in present day Chile, and follows a young man who finds himself framed for a fatal hit-and-run committed by the son of a powerful politician. A grim indictment of corruption in the upper echelon of Chilean society, the film received strong reviews and a Grand Jury Prize nomination at Sundance earlier this year. https://youtu.be/I8TiFAdvqLM EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT This year's closing night film floored audiences at Cannes and scored a 2016 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Inspired by the journals of two separate Western explorers who travelled to the Amazon decades apart, Embrace of the Serpent is described in the festival program as "a breathtaking cinematic odyssey". With startling, unsettling imagery shot in hypnotic black and white, and dialogue spoken in over ten different languages, the film promises to be like nothing else you'll see at the festival — or indeed, the movies — this year. https://youtu.be/XIwPPoWPlmo NOTHING IN RETURN In Daniel Guzmán's Nothing in Return, 16-year-old Dario finds himself on the search for a surrogate family in the wake of his parents' divorce. Enter his best friend Luismi, a car mechanic named Caralimpia and a sweet little old lady named Antonia. At first glance the film looks like a fairly standard coming-of-age tale, but the fact that it scored a pair of gongs — for Best New Actor and Best New Director at Spain's most recent Goya Awards — has us curious to check it out. And as an added bonus, Guzmán is a guest of the festival this year, and will be on hand at screenings in Sydney and Melbourne for a post-film Q&A. The Spanish Film Festival will run from April 12 until May 1. For more information, visit the festival website.
