If you're keen to have your say in Australia's upcoming postal vote regarding same-sex marriage, then make sure you're enrolled to vote by August 24. With 14 percent of young Australians yet to do that, time is running out. But what if you just enrolled over a beer at the pub? Sydney party crew Heaps Gay is taking matters into their own hands. From August 17–20, they're hosting an Equality Weekender. Essentially, it's a massive, nationwide enrolment drive, involving barbecues, parties and assorted spontaneous events where you can enrol or update your enrolment details right there in the bar via postal forms and iPads. So far, more than 40 venues have signed up, including The Lansdowne, Mary's, The Unicorn, Vic on the Park, The Lord Raglan, Cake Wines, World Bar, The Imperial, Stonewall and Volumes Festival. Each venue will be holding a 'rego party', with enrolment forms, envelopes or (much easier) iPads to get that enrolment sorted, as well as plastering the walls with enrolment posters featuring artwork by Luke Arnold. "There is an old rule to never discuss politics in a pub, and while some folk in Canberra want to make this issue purely political, we recognise that it is squarely about equality, respect and love," said Jake Smyth, co-owner, The Lansdowne, Mary's and The Unicorn. "We are throwing a party to all to register to vote, to have your voice heard, to speak out for the family members, the friends, the teenagers whose voice has been ignored for too long. Vote yes to marriage equality!" Heaps Gay's founder and director Kat Dopper hopes to see plenty of young Australians show up at these events. "Young people have such a huge part to play in the conversation of marriage equality. By holding these events and encouraging people to bring a little positivity into the world, we hope that people will get more involved and more engaged in this issue. This isn't just about marriage, this is about equal rights — and we need each and every one of you to join in."
The brains behind one of inner city Sydney's favourite regular markets, Chippendale's Brewery Yard Market, have been bringing the magic to the south, launching a brand new market in Wolli Creek earlier this year. Located at Discovery Point and aptly named Discovery Markets, it's a fiesta of independently grown, baked, designed and made goodness — from local produce and tasty treats to fashion pieces and homewares. And this Christmas, they're putting on one heck of a special edition. For Christmas at Discovery Point, the crew are turning things up at notch. The market will run from 9am - 3pm during the day, then during twilight from 5pm-9pm, featuring over 60 handpicked stalls including Chapa, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Arepa Oz, Waffles and Dom, Shades of Grey Decor, Petite Perette, Sonoma Baking Co. and The Chilli Effect. There'll also be live music and Christmas carollers, Christmas-themed workshops by Work-Shop, a neon silent disco truck by Silent Sounds, wine tastings, street art demonstrations, kids activities and communal long table for eats, chats and pre-holiday catchups. If you're hooked, the Discovery Markets are held on the first and third Saturdays of every month.
If movies have taught us one thing, it's that you shouldn't feed gremlins after midnight. If movies have taught us a second thing, it's that hardened criminals are no match for a precocious eight-year-old played by Macaulay Culkin. But if movies have taught us a third thing, it's that you should never, ever, under any circumstances go into the water. Because that's where Jaws lives. Do you want to get eaten by Jaws? Didn't think so. Unfortunately, despite it basically being a straight-up fact that anyone who dips so much as a toe into the murky depths will 100 percent get eaten by a ravenous 25-foot shark, the lunatics at Golden Age Cinema are still insisting on screening Jaws in an outdoor pool right by the harbour. In partnership with Art & About Sydney, Golden Age will screen Steven Spielberg's quintessential summer blockbuster crucial public safety announcement on back-to-back evenings in late January 2016 at Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool on Woolloomooloo Bay. Tickets go on sale in November, with the option for floating or 'beachside' seating. The screening will be accompanied by ocean-inspired beverages and fresh seafood, as well as guest talks designed to dispel myths about our toothy aquatic friends. Although frankly, headlines like this aren't exactly helping their case. In the meantime, Golden Age are also hosting a car park screening of Blade Runner in late November, complete with food, music, artwork and a futuristic night market. It promises to be a transportive event, even (or especially) if you fear self-aware AI as much as you do sharks.
If your midweek lunches have looked a little sad of late, here's something to get excited about: all through March and April Harpoon Harry will be flexing its daytime charms and dishing up a limited-edition offering of Lunchtime Sandwich Heroes. You can ditch the sad salad roll and forget about the lacklustre leftovers — Harry's got you sorted with a tempting rotation of $15 sambos, on offer weekdays to takeaway or eat in. And with two new sandwiches hitting the menu each fortnight, no one's about to get bored of this lunch bunch. Sandwich Heroes kicks off on Monday, March 2, with a hefty club sandwich and a vego number called Plants, Shoots & Leaves filled with eggplant and feta. Elsewhere on the lineup, you'll get to devour the likes of a Japanese 7-Eleven-inspired egg salad number and a fried chicken sanga worthy of your finest midweek hangover. The latter is set to star southern-style Rice Bubbles-fried chicken, house-smoked chilli mayo, avocado and cos. You'll also spy a cheeky rye number, loaded with sliced pastrami, swiss cheese, slaw and russian dressing — and a classic fish finger sambo somewhere in the mix. To check out exactly when you can find each sanga, check out the lineup below. HARRY'S LUNCHTIME SANDWICH HEROES LINEUP March 2–13: Club Members Only and Plants, Shoots & Leaves March 16–27: The Steaks Are High and Croquet in Tokyo March 30–April 10: Red & Green Roster and Fush Funger Sambo April 13–24: So-Fried Chicken and Pistrami De Resistance Harry's Lunchtime Sandwich Heroes are available weekdays from 11.30am–3pm or until sold out. Updated February 26
You've probably got a whole bunch of beard jokes, banjo bashing and eye-rolling up your sleeve already. But put your four-part harmony rant aside for a second, there's special edition Young Henrys beer afoot. London's folk-pop foursome Mumford and Sons are releasing their brand new album Wilder Mind on May 4, and to launch the whole stadium-ready thing they'll be opening a pop-up bar inside Newtown Hotel for two weeks from Monday 27 April to Sunday 10 May. This isn't the first time Mumford and Sons have had a Sydney pop-up bar, their 2012 album Babel saw a pop-up whisky bar on Oxford Street with film screenings and tastings aplenty. This time around, the Newtown Hotel pop-up will trade whisky for Young Henrys' special edition Wilder Mind ale, with DJ sets, live music and mural painting locked in for the duration of the activation. Plus, you'll be able to hang around and listen to the new album if you're a Mumfordian. While you're waiting, let's remember this straight-up chuckler of a video. Fine holiday fun. The Mumford and Sons Wilder Mind pop-up will be at Newtown Hotel, 174 King St Newtown from Monday 27 April to Sunday 10 May.
When it comes to fashion, staying ahead of the pack can be a mighty tough feat. But if you're keen to kick monochromic minimalism to the curb, while giving a little back to your global community, we've found just the bold West African label to help you do it. YEVU, which means 'foreigner' in the local Ewe language, is a socially responsible clothing line bringing the wild traditional wax prints of Ghana to Aussie shores. Linking local African tailors with style-conscious global customers, founder Anna Robertson is creating serious change for Ghanaian seamstresses living on the poverty line. After launching their sell-out debut range in October 2013, and following a successful pop-up run in November last year, YEVU returns this month with a fresh selection of awesome new threads (we actually can't get enough of these prints). From February 2-12, the entire new range will be available exclusively from the YEVU IRL store in Paddington, followed by an online launch from February 13 at yevuclothing.co. Plus, you'll be able to pick up archival pieces and the last remaining limited edition styles from last quarter's collection on sale. It's the first collection since Robertson employed a more extensive Ghanaian team to release more collections with limited runs, and it's also the first time YEVU have shot their campaign in Australia with a local cast, working with photographer Sarah Adamson. YEVU's IRL pop-up runs Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 12. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 11am–5pm. To attend the official launch, head along on Thursday, February 2 from 6–9pm. Images: YEVU/Sarah Adamson.
UPDATE: DECEMBER 23, 2019 — Even more star bartenders have now joined the lineup. The below article has been updated to include them. Head to The Baxter Inn on Sunday, December 29, to do some good with your booze bucks. The popular whisky den is hosting a Bushfire Benefit — a charity initiative that'll see some of Sydney's best bartenders join forces for one night. On the night, Big Poppa's Mary White, Dre Walters and Daniel Noble from Old Mate's Place, The Drink Cabinet's Jason Crawley, Tio's Alex Dowd and Jeremy Blackmore, Jay Cozma and Ross Purnell from Shady Pines, Charlie Ainsbury and James Marcel Chew Wynn-Williams from Proof & Co, Paige Aubort and Evan Strove from Bulletin Place, Charlie Lehmann and Sebastian 'Cosmo' Soto at Ramblin' Rascal Tavern, Sweet & Chilli's Jared Plummer and Cam Northway, Lewis Jaffrey and Rachelle Hair from Archie Rose, and teams from Mary's Newtown, Lobo Plantation, Charlie Parker's and The Baxter Inn will all be making drinks. [caption id="attachment_707972" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] Each team will shake and stir their signature cocktails, which will all be going for $12 a pop. An entry fee of $50 also includes one cocktail and all proceeds from the night will be go to the NSW RFS. It's been a particularly devastating bushfire season already, with 768 homes lost and more than 2.7 million hectares burnt at last count. The Baxter Inn Bushfire Benefit runs from 4–10pm. Images: Leticia Almeida
Charging headlong into its 2017 edition, Taste Orange Food and Wine Festival is set to take over Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel on Sunday, May 7. For six glorious, autumnal hours, you'll get to sip and sample Orange's best offerings, while soaking in all the harbour views. Numerous wineries will be making the 260-kilometre journey coastwards for this Aussie Wine Month event. Topping the list are Rowlee, whose 2013 Arneis inspired a 4.5/5 glass rating in Halliday's 2015 Wine Guide; Ross Hill, whom Huon Hooke awarded Top Sauvignon Blanc in Australia in 2013; and Tamburlaine, whose organic wines have scored a stack of prizes. Also making appearances will be Philip Shaw, Angullong, Logan, Heifer Station and Cargo Road. You can definitely count on trying some spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Should you find yourself looking for food matches, you won't have to move. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel will be setting up food stalls in the park and dishing up some nosh, from succulent pulled pork rolls and barbecue ribs to cheese boards and soup. Entry to the Taste Orange Food and Wine Festival is free. However, you will need a few bucks on you to do some tasting. Your best bet is to nab tokens in advance — they're available online at ten for $40, which includes a free wine tasting glass.
Ladies and gentlemen, turn off your engines. One of the world’s most outlandish racing events is headed to the harbour city. The 2015 Red Bull Billy Cart Race will see both amateur and professional teams piloting their own home-built, gravity-powered racers along a downhill racetrack/obstacle course in Sydney’s Centennial Parklands. And you're invited to cheer 'em on for free. Scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 15, the race will see 60 of Australia’s strangest and most innovative vehicles battle it out for the chance to be crowned champion. Competitors will be judged on three separate criteria: performance, speed and creativity. Ludicrousness appears to be a pretty big factor as well, with memorable competitors in previous races built to resemble teacups, corncobs and even the Golden Gate Bridge. Red Bull has hosted more than 40 billy cart races since 2000, in locations ranging from England to South Africa to Helsinki. The Sydney event has already been given a distinctly Australian flavour thanks to the unveiling of a racer shaped like a pair of bright red budgie smugglers. Hey, they don’t call us the lucky country for nothing. For more information about the event, head on over to the Red Bull Billy Cart website. Images: Red Bull.
Nine independent local designers will soon converge on Crown Street for a powerhouse pop-up. Throughout the first week in September, you'll find them at Blank_Space Gallery, showcasing their latest creations, from fashion and jewellery to ceramics, furniture and objects. Though their works are diverse, these nine artists share a commitment to local, ethical and sustainable making and have all spent time in Chippendale's WIP (Work in Progress) Studio. The group is made up of jewellery designers Alexandra Dodds and Pip Stent, who both source Australian materials, from recycled silver and gold to fair-trade diamonds; fashion designers Annie Hamilton and Jillian Boustred, whose high-quality, locally-made garments feature hand-illustrated prints; Bel Campbell and Tara Bennett, whose handmade homewares celebrate slow work, raw materials and organic shapes; and ceramicists Emily Ellis, Gretel Corrie and Milly Dent. WIP Shop will open at 11am on Saturday, September 2, with welcome drinks happening from 4pm. After that, opening hours are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-6pm, and Thursday 11am-9pm. Images: Rosie Fitzgerald, Annie Hamilton, Gretel Corrie.
Music festivals and writers festivals have existed for years, but they rarely mix. Sure, you'll hear poetic lyrics at the former, and maybe attend a tunes-inspired session at the latter. A true fusion of the two, though, is an elusive beast. Well, it was, until a few smart-thinking folks decided to organise a rock and roll writers festival. In an Australian first, the weekend-long event will explore the relationship between the literary and musical worlds. It's an idea that's so great, we can't believe that no one has done it locally before. Come April 2016, some of Australia’s finest authors, songwriters, lyricists and music commentators will converge upon Brisbane for two days of discussions, interviews, panels and more. An initial lineup boasting stacks of talented speakers has just been announced, featuring performer Jackie Marshall, previous jMag editor Jenny Valentish, journalist and Australian Music Prize judge Kate Hennessy, former Time Off editor and owner Sean Sennett, Courier Mail music writer Noel Mengel, and Pig City: From The Saints To Savage Garden author Andrew Stafford, among others. They'll all natter on about everything that's great about words, songs and the combination of the two, while trying to surprise, entertain, enlighten and challenge attendees in the process. And they'll do at the Brightside, because if you're going to throw a rock and roll writers festival, you have to do it at a rock and roll venue. The Rock and Roll Writers Festival runs from April 2 – 3, 2016, at the Brightside, 27 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information, visit their website.
In its inaugural year, brand new Sydney festival Volumes enjoyed the kind of success that debut events long for, but is seldom achieved. As a multi-venue festival taking over several Oxford Street spaces, it was touted (by us, hello) as a mini South by Southwest-style festival featuring some of Australia's premier artists, bands, DJs and, importantly, live music venues. And thank the merciful gods, Volumes is coming back in 2016 to kick off festival season. This years' lineup is a whizzbanger, with reams of artists set to take over Oxford Art Factory, Brighton Up Bar, The Cliff Dive and The Burdekin over August 26 and 27. The first day, Friday, August 26, is a wee bit more dancey with BV, Dro Carey, Charles Murdoch, Rainbow Chan, Alba, Silent Jay x Jace XL, HTMLflowers, DEER, Milwaukee Banks, 30/70, Christopher Port, Lupa J, Jaysways, Body Promise, Sidechains DJs, Melty, Spirals and Godriguez. The second day, Saturday, August 27, is jam packed with quality: Nicholas Allbrook, Slum Sociable, Fishing, Mall Grab, Donny Benet, Mossy, Rolling Blackouts CF, You Beauty, Cliques, Marcus Whale, Habits, Zero Percent, Good Boy, Orb, Unity Floors, Terrible Truths, The Harpoons, Hubert Clarke Jr, Null, Babicka, Leo James, Scott and Charlene's Wedding, Darts, Summer Flake, Angie, Scraps, 100%, California Girls, Good Morning, Solid Effort, Us The Band, Xanga, Nite Fleit, Andy Garvey, Adi Toohey and Playful Sound. We'll also be graced the curatorial talents of a horde of DJs from I OH YOU, Strange Yonder, Thump, Noisey, Rice Is Nice and Bedroom Suck. Early bird tickets are on sale now, and at $69.90 +BF for a two day pass, it's the best value for money festival out. Grab em' here and get excited – summer is looking fine. Volumes returns to Sydney over August 26 and 27 at venues around Oxford Street. More details and tickets on the Volumes website. Image: Sam Brumby/Volumes.
Ex-Rockpool chef Harry Stockdale-Powell has recruited Bulletin Place bartender Matt Linklater for a new project, with the pair set to work closely together at the former's new European-style restaurant and basement bar. Opening next month on Bridge Street in the CBD, Bouche on Bridge will showcase the English-born chef's passion for local produce and sustainable practices in the context of a relaxed fine dining environment. While the full Bouche menu is still under wraps, Stockdale-Powell and company have revealed few highlights, such as rare breed suckling pig with unripe fermented strawberries, onion tarte Tatin with parmesan ice-cream, and whole hay-smoked chicken with white soy bread sauce. In order to keep things as sustainable as possible, the kitchen will make use of lesser-known cuts of meat, while bread, cultured butter, cold-pressed olive oil and cured meats will all be made on-site. But we're equally excited for what's happening downstairs. Dubbed The Cellar, the restaurant's subterranean basement bar will no doubt prove popular with the after work drinks crowd and serious cocktail fiends. Linklater will be whipping up concoctions like the oddly-named Crustbuster, made with brandy, fennel, strega and served with a liquorice rim, and the White Whale, which is a take on a White Russian with vodka, fernet, crème fraïche and coffee bitters. The bar will also boast a 300-strong wine list, courtesy of sommelier Seamus Brandt. Bouche is set to open at 6 Bridge Street, Sydney in September. For more information visit boucheonbridge.com. Image: star5112 via Flickr.
Sydney, you're about to discover (and taste) what can happen when an acclaimed Finnish chef and an award-winning Italian sommelier join forces. Giorgio De Maria (formerly of 121BC and Rootstock Sydney food and wine festival), is teaming up with Finnish-born Pasi Petanen (2015's SMH Chef of the Year and the guy behind Café Paci), for That's Amore — a series of wine dinners to be held at Mecca in Alexandria next month. Across 12 nights in March, the pair will combine culinary talents, pulling together innovative foodie flair, some serious wine knowledge, and a couple of lively personalities, for what promises to be one very rare dining experience. This fusion of front and back of house is bound to ensure some well-rounded feasting, starting with the weekly-changing, five-course menu. Here, the duo's hinted at a focus on produce-driven dishes, with an Italian edge. Meanwhile, De Maria's working his own brand of magic, proving the cross-cultural combo isn't the only perfect partnership on the table here. His handpicked selection of wine is available to try matched to each course, or simply quaffed by the bottle. That's Amore dinners will take place on March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 at Mecca, 2/26 Bourke Road, Alexandria. The five-course menu is $75 per head, with drinks charged on consumption. Jump on the That's Amore Instagram page for a peek at the menu and nab your spot by emailing thatsamoreinsydney@gmail.com.
Electronica megastar Omar Souleyman is on his way to engulf you in Arabic techno beats with a national tour this January. Souleyman has reached cult status internationally for his patented sound of insanely fast synths adapted to Syrian folk music and his "epitome-of-cool" persona, with Bjork herself labelling him as one of her favourites. Never seen without a pair of aviators and his red and white kaffiyeh, Souleyman has long been famous in his homeland of Syria, with, believe it or not, a rumoured 500 separate bootleg cassette releases recorded straight from his many performances at weddings around the country. His 2013 album, Wenu Wenu, was his first recorded outside Syria, and its blending of Western electronica beats and traditional dabke music (an Arabic form of folk dancing) promises live performances filled with electric sax solos, super high-tempo synths and vocals given alternatively in the tone of commanding pronouncements and trance-inducing chants. You can catch Omar Souleyman at The Aurora as part of Sydney Festival on January 16, Melbourne's Corner Hotel January 19 and The Brightside in Brisbane January 21.
The Museum of Contemporary Art's ARTBAR has become a firm fixture on Sydney's after-dark cultural calendar. For the uninitiated, ARTBAR combines art, music, design and performance for a huge art party on the last Friday of every month, curated by a different artist each time. This month, the event comes under the direction of interdisciplinary artist Reko Rennie. Perhaps best known for his public art installation Always was, always will be at Taylor Square in Darlinghurst, Rennie's work combines Indigenous iconography with street art to explore notions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity in an urban environment. For ARTBAR, Rennie has chosen the theme 'Maverick' to run the night, curating a night focused on praising nonconformity and independence. Australian and international artists will showcase "unexpected art forms" and transform the MCA into a "space of experimentation". "I show my work where I want and where I can," says Rennie. "I'm not affiliated with the dominant commercial galleries and their curators. For this I've been called a maverick artist… I like it. This night is for all those who are mavericks. Each of the artists I have selected have forged independent careers in creating and making art.' Your ARTBAR ticket also includes free entry to Tatsuo Miyajima: Connect with Everything.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition. The 61st edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition will touch down in Sydney this month and will be on display at the State Library of NSW from May 26 until June 24. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 73,000 photographs by 4548 photographers from 125 countries. The one that took top honours for 2018 is Ronaldo Schemidt's frightening image of José Víctor Salazar Balza who was set alight at a protest in Caracas, Venezuela when the gas tank of a motorbike exploded. This will be on display alongside other finalists, including Adam Ferguson's portrait of a 14-year-old Boko Haram suicide bomber and Patrick Brown's devastating shot of Rohingya refugees after the boat in which they were attempting to flee Myanmar capsized. Further categories on show will include contemporary issues, environment, general news, long-term projects, nature, people, sports and spot news. Image: 'Venezuela Crisis' by Ronaldo Schemidt (cropped).
Gyros is not something that's necessarily hard to find in Sydney — especially not with the explosion of takeaway outlets like Zeus Street Greek and GRK Souvlaki and local favourites in Bexley, Beverly Hills and Five Dock. But even so, it's about to get easier with chef George Calombaris today announcing that he will open four of his Jimmy Grants souvlaki bars in Sydney over the next year. Calombaris first opened Jimmy Grants in Melbourne's Fitzroy in 2013, and has since opened four other stores in Melbourne and one on the Gold Coast. The expansion to Sydney seems somewhat late in the piece, but he MasterChef judge says he's "excited" to finally bring the brand up here. This first store will be located in Newtown and will open next month. If you haven't been into a Jimmy Grants down south, it's a similar offering to that of Sydney's Zeus Street Greek. Souvas are stuffed with the likes of chicken, lamb, falafel, prawns and beef short-rib, chips come topped with feta and oregano and dessert is a baklava choc-top. Also on the menu is a selection of dips, meat plates, salads and Jimmy's famous steamed dimmys. The whole thing is pretty casual — they have room for diners to sit-in but do lots of take away and delivery through UberEATS — and the new Sydney stores will be fitted out with recycled or repurposed materials and feature the brand's signature neon blue. With the Newtown store set to open in September, a CBD location will follow in October. The remaining two locations are yet to be revealed, but they'll be opening in 2018 — potentially alongside Sydney versions of Calombaris' other Melbourne restaurants, Gazi and Hellenic Republic. The MAdE Establishment group have hinted that they are currently scouting for appropriate sites for these venues. Calombaris was recently forced to back-pay over $2 million to staff at his Melbourne restaurants Gazi, The Press Club and Hellenic Republic after underpaying them through systematic payroll errors over the last six years. The first Sydney Jimmy Grants will open in September in Newtown. We'll keep you updated with further information. Until then, check out jimmygrants.com.au.
There more centenarians in Okinawa — Japan's island-dotted, southernmost region — than anywhere else in the world. Want to know why? Head to Life, by Okinawa, a pop-up at 46 Kensington Street, Chippendale, between now and Tuesday. Open between 11am and 8pm daily, the pop-up is a glorious escape from hectic city life. You'll be treated to free tea and Chinsuko cookies in a tea house, free yoga lessons, free meditation sessions and free karate classes. In between, relax in a hibiscus garden, wander through an exhibition showcasing traditional ceramics and textiles, and watch films that'll transport you to Okinawa's white sand beaches, subtropical jungle and magical coral reefs. Plus, if this taster event has you ready to book a trip, you'll be able to nab a pretty good flight deal on the spot. Workshops and classes are as follows: February 3 12.30pm and 7pm - karate class (30 mins) 6pm - yoga (30 mins) + meditation (30 mins) February 4 2.30pm - yin yoga (30 mins) 4:30pm - karate demo 5:30pm – karate class (30 mins) February 5 12.30pm and 6.45pm – karate class (30 mins) 5:30pm – yin yoga (30 mins) February 6 12.30pm and 7pm - karate class (30 mins) 6pm - yoga (30 mins) + meditation (30 mins) February 7 12.30pm and 7pm – karate class (30 mins) 6pm – lifestyle coaching (30 mins)
Turns out eating an entire two sticks of buttery, bready garlic bread from the freezer section doesn't count as an 'appreciation conference', because one Melburnian is making this actual event happen. Garlic bread aficionado and straight-up boss Baxter Kirk is putting on the world's very first Garlic Bread Appreciation Conference in Melbourne. Set to descend upon the MCG (yep, the giant, giant MCG) on Friday, January 15 at the strange time of 3.07am, the conference will "discuss the underrated garlic bread," according to the Facebook event. With 47,000+ people supposedly 'attending' the event, this could be the biggest celebration of garlic breadery the world has ever seen. Whether this conference is real or a beautiful, beautiful troll, we'll be raising a glass of cheap cola to that beloved buttery, buttery side anyway, before, during and after the event. Via Pedestrian. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore has long been a supporter of small bars, live music and Sydney's creative culture. And now, she's putting her weight behind opposition to the lockouts. In an article published in the SMH on April 3 titled, 'It's time we grew up and ditched the one-size-fits-all lockout', the Lord Mayor wrote that "well-managed licensed premises and live music and performance venues should be exempt from the 1.30am lockout" — and considering Sydney's live music venues have lost almost half their revenue since the lockouts, we're psyched. She added that the 3am 'last drinks' rule should be determined according to each venue, taking into account its "compliance history, planning controls and economic, social and environmental factors". What's more, the Lord Mayor has put all this into the City of Sydney's submission to the NSW Government's Liquor Law Review, which is underway under the leadership of former High Court judge Ian Callinan and due to be done and dusted by August. "It's about balance," the Lord Mayor told the SMH. "It is about enabling people to go out safely in a rich and diverse night life that you have in a global city." She also pointed out the lockouts have had negative impacts on live music (which they bloody well have), culture and businesses, leading to job losses. In 2013, Sydney's late-night activities were worth $17.8 billion and kept more than 30,000 people at work. At the same time, the Lord Mayor acknowledged that levels of violent behaviour in Kings Cross and other areas had become concerning. For years before the lockouts, the City had appealed to the State Government to take action, such as putting on more public transport and better planning, but had received little or no support. Since the introduction of the lockouts in February 2014, live music ticket sales in Sydney have dropped by 40 percent. On 1 March 2016, Music Australia reported that the Oxford Art Factory alone had suffered a 30 percent drop in revenue. Consequently, industry bodies, such as the Live Music Office and MusicNSW, have been lobbying for exemptions for live music venues. Meanwhile, numerous artists and bands, including The Preatures and Flight Facilities, have voiced their opposition to the lockouts, and on 22 February 2016, more than 15,000 people rallied under the banner #KeepSydneyOpen. Via SMH. Image: Stocksnap.
If there's one comprehensive way to celebrate David Bowie's wildly chameleonic life, it's surely an evening with DJ and film expert Jay Katz at Toho Nights at Goros. Unsurprisingly, Katz is a Bowie buff, with an extensive collection of rare recordings and visuals, so expect to dig deep into the archive. On top of sharing his materials, Katz will be bringing a bunch of guest DJs along to spin various deep cuts and oddities. Meanwhile, the beloved Goros karaoke booths will open wide, giving you the chance to work through your grief by unashamedly banging out all the hits. You're invited to get into the spirit by dressing up — according to whichever of Bowie's incarnations caught your imagination: be it Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust or the Thin White Duke. The celebration kicks off at 8pm and goes till late. Entry is free. Image: Lost Sydney.
Nocturnal creatures and art lovers, get on down to the National Art School this Thursday night for a free after-dark shindig. From 6pm, for three hours, you'll be able to wander through the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize, while sipping on wine and listening to live music. Adding to the adventure, NAS are running a tour through the grounds kicking off at 6.30pm, which will fill you in on the school's fascinating history — including its former incarnation as Darlinghurst Gaol. Then, from 7.30pm, you'll be hearing from a bunch of artists, including 2016 Emerging Art Prize winner Jack Lanagan Dunbar, as well as Rosie Deacon, Francesca Heinz and Shane Haseman. This event is just one in the 2016 NAS nights series. "NAS Nights is a welcome opportunity for curious newcomers together with seasoned art-lovers to enjoy a great exhibition of contemporary artwork, engage with artists, and hear live music in a relaxed, convivial evening setting," says curator Judith Blackall.
If Neighbourhood Watch or The Cat stole your heart, you'll be happy to know that playwright Lally Katz is back with a brand new creation. This time, she's drawn on her parents' life (with the addition of a big dose of imagination) to develop the story of Danny (Harry Greenwood), a young man who spends his youth lost in drugs and free love, before meeting a charismatic sensei (Natsuko Mineghishi), through whom he befriends fellow wayward character Jerry (Fayssel Bazzi) and his rather appealing sister Lois (Catherine Davies). Jump to the next scene and into the present. Both Danny and Lois have grown old and, while Lois lies ailing in bed, Danny sits and waits by her side, performing one karate move after another. Enter Patti, their grandchild, who, after two years of absence, is going through a gender transition and recovering from a broken relationship. Belvoir presents Back at the Dojo in collaboration with Melbourne-based theatre company Stuck Pigs Squealing.
Vivid Sydney is really cranking it up this year, with a truly epic program of lights, music, ideas and live events, which, in one heck of a slam dunk, includes none other than Björk (BJÖRK!). As part of Carriageworks' contemporary program, she'll launch a huge virtual reality project dubbed BJÖRK DIGITAL — a collaboration with some of the world's best filmmakers and programmers. And to celebrate the opening, Björk herself will travel to Sydney to curate a one-off music event at Carriageworks, where she'll DJ with special guests. In a response that absolutely everybody expected, the opening night event and the additional party sold out quick sticks. While that leaves the 12 people who actually got tickets pretty smug and happy, it leaves the rest of us sad and confused as to how we'll live a life where Björk doesn't make an appearance. But hey, the two big parties are just the icing on the real cake. The BJÖRK DIGITAL exhibition will run from June 4-18. It will include a downright must-experience program of her extensive video, multimedia and virtual reality works, divided into five unique spaces. Entry is free but we can't recommend booking the VR experience enough. It's quietly booking out. By Shannon Connellan and Lauren Vadnjal.
Hold onto your paper plates Sydney, because Carriageworks has just added another night market to their 2016 calendar. After the wild success of The Night Market, a winter gathering of the best food and drink in the city held as part of Vivid back in June, it's no surprise they're bring back the after-dark outdoor nosh session for one night only this spring. Like its previous instalment, it's quite straightforwardly called The Spring Night Market. The event will see over 50 stallholders take over Carriageworks on the spring evening of Saturday, September 3 from 5pm. If you went along to the winter market, you can expect to once again sample goods from NSW's top tier of restaurants, winemakers, spiritmakers, breweries and providores. Porteño, Billy Kwong, Icebergs, Efendy, Young Henrys, Cake Wines and Pepe Saya will be returning to kick off the new season, and will be joined by Alex Herbert's Bird Cow Fish, St Peters' Urban Winery and Mr Black, who'll be whipping up coffee cocktails. Curated by Sydney chef (of the just-opened No. 1 Bent Street) and Carriageworks Farmers Market creative director Mike McEnearney, The Spring Night Market will hero new season produce. Each stallholder will be able to clue you into the regional source of their produce — a requirement that could only come from the paddock-to-plate-focused McEnearney. The Winter Night Market, held over two nights in June of this year, brought in over 9000 people each night. So, in short, you'll want to get there early and be prepared to queue for the good stuff. THE SPRING NIGHT MARKET STALLHOLDER LINEUP: Bar Pho Baxter & Bird Billy Kwong Bird Cow Fish Blini Bar by Crepe & Coffee Co. Burrawong Gaian Cake Wines Chrissy's Cut Sausages Country Valley Dairy Dessertmakers Ding the Recipe Efendy Eloquesta Wines Freeman Vineyards Gumnut Chocolates Hand N Hoe Organic Macadamias Icebergs Bar & Restaurant Juicing by Colours Kitchen Green Kurrawong Organics La Bastide Lowe Wine Mimosa Valley Lamb Moobi Valley Farm Mr Black Cocktails Mr Goaty Naturally Felafel Pasta Emilia Pepe Saya Porteno Restaurant Prickle Hill Produce Shepherd's Artisan Bakehouse Slow Wine Co. Sweetness the Patisserie The Drink Cabinet The Pines Kiama Trolleyd Urban Winery Vale Creek Wines Young Henrys Brewing Co. By Lauren Vadnjal and Shannon Connellan. Image: Tim da-Rin.
Just about every day it feels like Barangaroo announces a new addition to its eating and drinking repertoire. Last week the Bentley team launched sustainable seafood restaurant Cirrus and Belles Hot Chicken finally opened their much-anticipated permanent venue. And now, let us introduce Bel & Brio, a European-style emporium covering a whopping 800 square metres. As you might expect of such an epic space, Bel & Brio serves more than one purpose — in fact, there are five areas altogether. So you can swing by for a coffee, wine or a full-blown meal, and, while you're at it, take care of your entire weekly shop in the marketplace. In the 240-seater bar and dining space, you'll find European-inspired dishes designed for sharing. There's not one, but two, executive chefs on board: Sicilian-born Andrea Assenza who's worked all over Europe and Asia, and Vanessa Martin, former owner-chef at the now closed hatted Italian restaurant Il Piave. Grab a mate or two and tuck into slow-cooked lamb ragu with lemon ricotta ravioli or crispy pork belly with braised fennel orange salad. The cocktail menu is the work of mixologist James Snelgrove, who you might have met previously at Bentley, Ms.G's or Button. Meanwhile, wine guru Jon Osbeiston is taking care of the 400-strong wine list. He's also behind Bel & Brio's extraordinary cellar, where you can explore more than 2000 drops from Australia, Italy and France. If you don't have time to hang around for a meal, you can always stick to a caffeine hit in Coffee & Co, which is open from 7am. The beans are roasted by Will & Co and turned into excellent coffees by ex-Baker Bros folk Alessandro and Gianni Panetta. There's also a brekkie menu and pastries, baked daily in Bel & Brio's kitchen in Lane Cove. Alternatively, go for a spot of takeaway. The eatery sells a slew of ready-to-eat meals, including rotisserie meats, paninis, traditional pizza al taglio (the ones cooked as a rectangle) and fresh pastas. And, in the marketplace, you'll find loads of high-quality groceries, from pasture-raised eggs and cold-pressed juices to fresh bread and flowers. In-demand designers DS17 — who've recently done The Resident and the brand new Nour — took care of the interior, drawing inspiration from Europe's legendary food halls. Expect a classic, elegant look, combining timber, brass, copper, polished concrete and marble. Bel & Brio is now open at 300 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. For more info, visit belandbrio.com.au.
It's one of the most popular podcasts in the world, and one that has educated listeners on topics from the inner workings of waterslides to the ingredients that make up Spam. Now, Stuff You Should Know is coming to Sydney for the first time. Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant are the hosts of the research-based, general knowledge podcast. The pair became friends while working at HowStuffWorks.com and created the podcast as an attempt to repackage some of the website's most popular content. So far they've recorded episodes on everything from disco to the time when Nazis invaded Florida in WWII; wonky stuff like trickle-down economics and voter suppression; science-y topics like the sun, global warming, bioluminescence and willpower; and totally random topics you'd never think could be interesting, like grass, zoot suits and shotgun houses. Since 2014, Josh and Chuck have taken the Stuff You Should Know live show on the road to cities across the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. Like the podcast, the live experience bundles up learning with laughter. Expect to witness a never-heard-before episode unfold in real time.
There's no way the newly revamped Imperial Hotel was going to celebrate its first New Year's without some serious fireworks. And indeed, the ever-vibrant and proudly LGBTQIA+-friendly pub is wrapping up 2018 with a bang, hosting a huge NYE fiesta for party people of all persuasions over its three levels. From midday on December 31, the super keen can get things rolling up on the Imperial Up rooftop, where the prosecco and pizzas will be flowing hard and fast all afternoon. Then, the pub's dynamic 'drag and dine' destination Priscilla's will be dishing up the ultimate New Year's food situation, with a complimentary glass of bubbly for anyone indulging in one of the kitchen's feasting menus. Best to make a booking ASAP if you want a table. And from 9pm, you'll need a ticket as the official party NYE Thing fires up. A diverse and jam-packed lineup of live tunes is planned, as hosted by legendary duo ETC ETC and Jojo Zaho. Expect to ring in the new year with help from some of the city's top queer talent, including The Magda Szubanskis, Cunningpants, Smithers, Nipslip, The Shady Ladies, Maple Behaviour and more.
Anyone who's familiar with The Whitlams' back catalogue knows that the scourge of the poker machine has long been a concern of Tim Freedman's. His 2000 hit 'Blow Up the Pokies' was a response to the gambling addiction of the band's original bassist, Andy Lewis. Now, he's getting behind a new movement called Proudly Pokies Free, which aims to draw attention to — and reduce — the destructive impact of pokies in communities across Australia. The initiative has been instigated by sibling duo Anna and Tom Lawrence, whose late father, Neil Lawrence, created 2015 ABC doco Kaching! Pokie Nation. Proudly Pokies Free will kick off on Sunday, October 23 with a launch party at the Oxford Art Factory. There'll be performances from Freedman himself, alongside Joyride, Wild Honey, Left. and Bad Deep DJs, as well as guest speakers. "I'm proud to be involved with the Proudly Pokies Free movement to hopefully encourage a mindset that rewards and encourages venues that show imagination in programming and curating their activities," said Freedman. "It's time for the people of Sydney to push back against the pokies."
Start coordinating your crew's dress-ups — one of Australia's best and most beloved festivals, Secret Garden Festival, is back for another year. Returning to the festival's hallowed and not-so-secret-anymore location outside of Sydney, Secret Garden is celebrating its eighth year over February 26 and 27. And now, with just 17 days to go, the team have revealed the first 10 of the 50+ artists on their music lineup. While the full lineup, as SG tradition goes, will remain under lock and key until the festival sells out, the crew have given a sneak peek into what to expect. Melbourne's Grammy-nominated neo-soul powerhouse Haitus Kaiyote will be there alongside Sydney's synthy dance duke Hayden James, the unstoppable hip hop/R&B force that is Sampa The Great, Adelaide raw garage outfit Bad // Dreems, absolute Australian party legends Stereogamus, Sydney art pop wunderkind Montaigne, smooth electronic hardworker Roland Tings, Sydney super duo The Meeting Tree, alt-pop ten-piece Dorsal Fins and the fast-climbing World Champion. Tip of the Iceberg - Teaser AnnouncementPresenting, a teaser announcement of our 50+ act lineup. Party time! Two day tickets MOVING FAST >> http://bit.ly/SG_TicketsWe're keeping the rest a surprise…Posted by The Secret Garden on Monday, February 8, 2016 They'll be joining the already announced Sydney party crews already locked in for the weekend: Love Bombs, Shag & Friends, Purple Sneakers and Money For Nothing DJs will be curating their very own parties in the forest. As for the rest of the lineup? Secret Garden's lips are sealed, but they're promising "over 50 bands and DJs, 30 actors, dancers and comedians, 18 pop-up performances, 10 drag queens, 8 dance floors, 6 stages, 1 very busy kissing booth and many, many more secrets to be discovered in our adult play land synonymous with dress ups, sequins, glitter and good times." Two day tickets are moving quickly and one day tickets have now sold out. Get movin'. SECRET GARDEN FESTIVAL FIRST LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: Bad//Dreems Dorsal Fins Hayden James Hiatus Kaiyote Montaigne Roland Tings Sampa The Great Stereogamous The Meeting Tree World Champion Secret Garden runs February 26 to 28 in a secret location outside of Sydney. Tickets on sale now from Oztix. More info over here. Image: Anna Warr.
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? 'Because of her, we can!' One of the biggest events of the week is NAIDOC in the City, which invites Sydneysiders down to Hyde Park for a day of festivities from 10am–2pm Saturday, July 14. 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, watch didgeridoo workshops, join traditional dance circles and settle in for storytelling sessions. There will also be a range of market stalls showcasing arts, crafts and books. Image: Joseph Mayers
Australia's about to embark upon an entire month of parties, gigs and backyard shindigs, all raising sweet, sweet money to fight poverty around the world. Having run successfully in the UK for about ten years, Oxjam is a month-long, nationwide music festival aiming to raise money for Oxfam. Now it's launching in Australia, with goodhearted gigs coming to venues, garages and backyards nationwide. Even you can throw one. One of those star-studded fundraisers which has seen the likes of Hot Chip, Fatboy Slim, Coldplay and T.E.E.D. crank out a set for a good cause, Oxjam has been a long time coming for Australia. Teaming up with MTV Music and MTV Dance, Oxfam are launching the festival in August; with the main events happening across Sydney and Melbourne. Local venues, collectives and labels like I Oh You, Noisey, Goodgod Small Club, One Day, Motorik, UNDR CTRL and more are holding some of the official gigs — where of course, funds raised will go directly to Oxfam. Oxjam's major gig lineup will be collectively announced in June. But you don't just have to wait for Noisey's lineup, you can also host your own party wherever you are. Literally anyone can hold their own Oxjam, from existing venues to local bowling clubs, big time clubs to your very own home. So if you're deep house DJ in your crew you could set up the decks in your garage, put a collection tin at the door and throw down one humdinger of a fundraving do. (And if your neighbours complain, give 'em hell until they donate too.) First time at the event-throwing rodeo? MTV Australia are hosting an official event at MTV HQ in Sydney (date TBC), where budding venue managers, club promoters and regular shindig starters can get tips on throwing their own Gig For Good during Oxjam. If you can't make it to the how-to, Oxjam's website has a bunch of handy tips and DIY guides for party planners. Oxjam is happening Australia-wide over August 2015, with the main gigs happening in Melbourne and Sydney. But with one in three people around the world living in poverty, Oxjam's probably one of the best reasons to throw a local backyard gig we've ever heard. Head over here for more info and start planning. Image: Goodgod Small Club.
The comedy that won this year's Palme d'Or, Robert Pattinson getting gritty running around New York, the 100th feature from a Japanese master and an effort inspired by real-life witch camps in Africa. Hope you've got some room on your flexipass, Sydney Film Festival-goers, because they're just some of the flicks the fest has just added to its 2017 lineup. Every year, SFF unveils their full program in May; however seasoned fest attendees know that's not really the complete picture. Given that the Cannes Film Festival is held after SFF announces their yearly bill, artistic director Nashen Moodley always gifts cinephiles a few late additions in the form of titles straight from the Croisette. Start rearranging your festival schedule accordingly. In 2017, The Square sits at the top of the heap — just as it did in Cannes' competition. Winning the festival's coveted main prize, the latest film from Force Majeure's Ruben Östlund steps into a contemporary art museum, crafting biting satire starring Danish actor Claes Bang, The Wire's Dominic West and Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss. In the high-profile camp, it'll be joined by the Safdie brothers' Good Time, which left France empty-handed, but earned raves for RPatz's performance. Forget brooding vampires — here, he's caught in a heist gone wrong in a movie that's been compared to Dog Day Afternoon and Taxi Driver. Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal is also headed to SFF, as well as British first-time offering I Am Not a Witch. Yes, the former — a gory samurai effort from the filmmaker behind 13 Assassins — really is the 56-year-old director's 100th film. And as for the latter, it tells a tale of a nine-year-old branded a witch by her new community, in a feature that both makes a statement about misogynist power structures and finds absurdity in the whole situation. Rounding out the new batch are Iran-set animation Tehran Taboo, which charts the struggles required to express individuality and sexuality; Un Certain Regard winner A Man of Integrity, an indictment of authoritarian societies from banned Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof; and flying refugee flick — yep, you read that correctly — Jupiter's Moon. In short, you've now got even more SFF choices. Don't go spending days trying to fit them into your diary though, as they're certain to get snapped up rather quickly. The 2017 Sydney Film Festival runs from June 7 to 18. To check out the complete program and book tickets, visit the festival website.
The old fashioned charcoal chook is getting a bit of an upgrade at the newly launched Juicy Lucy in Surry Hills. Owned and operated by the same guys behind Sugarcane, this brand spanking fast food joint combines the classic Australian chicken shop with the flavours of South-East Asia, including garlic, coriander and turmeric. The birds at Juicy Lucy are spiced with cloves, cassia bark, coriander seeds and Sichuan pepper, then stuffed with rice and garlic and slow roasted whole. Other menu options include the Lil Kim Burger (fried chicken, slaw, kimchi and Korean barbecue sauce) and the Jackie Chan Wrap (rice, Malay chicken, pickles and herbs) as well as fried drumettes and chicken tenders cooked in Asian-style tapioca batter. They also offer a rotating lineup of specials including green papaya salad and an Asian take on the Caesar salad (lettuce, kaffir lime, pork crackling and coconut dressing). We'll take one of each, please ✌🏽️#crazygoodchicken #juicylucychicken #sydneyeats #friedchicken #burger A photo posted by Juicy Lucy (@juicylucychicken) on Feb 24, 2016 at 10:49pm PST "Chicken is just something we really enjoy eating," co-owner Milan Strbac told Good Food. "There's a lot of Middle Eastern-style chicken restaurants around, a lot of American-style ones, but not many south-east Asian-style shops." Located at 232A Elizabeth Street just around the corner from Sugarcane, Juicy Lucy is open from 11am until late, Monday through Saturday. Diners can eat in or get their poultry to go. For more information visit Juicy Lucy on Facebook. Via Good Food.
Entries have now closed. Fair is foul and foul is fair, and both descriptors very much apply to the harrowing new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Foul in that Australian director Justin Kurzel, who burst onto the scene with the unforgettable Snowtown, evokes the bleakness and epic sense of tragedy in the Bard's play. And fair in that Kurzel's hypnotic style, along with the incredible work of his cast, make this one of the single most compelling movies of the year. Michael Fassbender gives a thunderous performance as the eponymous Scottish thane, a good man brought low by his own overleaping ambition. Alongside him, Marion Cotillard has likewise rarely been better, disappearing into the role of Lady Macbeth. A supporting cast of UK heavyweights including David Thewlis, Paddy Considine and Sean Harris is nothing to turn your nose up at, either. But Kurzel doesn't rest on the laurels of his cast or the pedigree of the material. His visceral direction, including some absolutely mesmerising uses of colour and slow motion, makes Macbeth one of 2015's must-sees. Macbeth is in cinemas on October 1. To celebrate the film's impending release, we've teamed up with Transmission Films to host an exclusive preview on Wednesday, September 30, 6.15pm, at the Dendy Newtown. To score tickets, click here.
Sydney's sought-after lobster rolls are heading to a more fittingly seaside location this summer. Celebrated for their American-style lobster rolls, Waterman's Lobster Co. is bringing their seafoody fare from Potts Point to Bondi for a three-month pop-up. Opening on Boxing Day, Waterman’s Bondi take over the former Mr Moustache site (RIP) on Hall Street. Waterman's owners Matt Swieboda, Tristan Blair and Nate Hatwell will be transforming the former Bondi bar into a vaguely beach-inspired pop-up eatery, open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Food-wise, expect a bite-sized version of the Potts Point eatery, focusing on those signature Maine and Connecticut-style lobster rolls. There's a veggie roll option too, as well as other seafood possibilities (in case you're not crash hot on lobster). There'll also be a small selection of sides and salads including oysters and kingfish tartare, an Australian-focused wine list with drops from Great Southern, Adelaide Hills, Tumbaruma and Yarra Valley, and a solid cocktail list featuring Waterman's favourites like the Ritz Spritz, Line and Sinker and The Old Man & The Sea. Best bit? All nosh will be available to eat-in or take away — because that postcard-happy beach won't picnic on itself. Waterman’s Bondi will open Saturday, December 26 from midday, located at 75-79 Hall St, Bondi Beach. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week from 12pm to late.
Blossoming foodie fest Parramatta Lanes has announced their heaving 2016 lineup and, like a rich, cheesy arancini sent from the heavens, it's stuffed full of the best, brightest and most filling industry folks. You might want to start fasting now because it's a total smorgasbord. The festival — which won Best Community Event at this year's Australian Event Awards — will take place across ten of Parramatta's inner city laneways and squares. Headlining the festival are the team behind Efendy in Balmain, including head chef Somer Sivrioglu, who'll be serving up contemporary Turkish fare. Neil Perry's Burger Project has burger lovers covered with his broad menu of burgs, while Surry Hills hip hop/sneaker fiends Butter will be offering up their particularly beloved brand of fried chicken (it's unclear at this stage whether sneakers will also be on the menu). Brew-wise, you'll find gin wizards and cocktail artists Archie Rose shaking up some crisp bevs, and Young Henrys will be serving their famous craft beers. For dessert? KOI Dessert Bar, the project of Masterchef alum Reynold Poernomo, will be whipping up his treat/work of art creations. Also on board are local favourites Courtney's Brasserie, The Emporium, Temesek Knafeh, Adora Handmade Chocolates, StroopBros, N2 Gelato, KayterCon and Paper Street Ice Cream. And there will (of course) be a food truck food court because no festival is complete without one. One of their signature events is the Dine Bright in the Park dinner, which will see 100 diners eat under the stars on Thursday, October 13 in support of migrant training social enterprise Bright Hospitality. Dinner will be catered by Efendy and Rockpool (among others) and drinks will come from the legends at Archie Rose and Urban Winery. Tickets to this one are $120, but you might have to get in quick to nab one. Otherwise, you can try your hand at winning some below. [competition]591941[/competition]
Here's one surefire way to make Christmas shopping more enjoyable. A bunch of independent designers and artists have popped up in a gorgeous residential space in a leafy back street in Paddington. It's named Wilderness and you can visit anytime between now and Wednesday, December 23 to get your mitts on some beautiful, original objects — whether you're in the market for jewellery, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, paintings and more. Wilderness is a project of Darlinghurst's Artisan Guild and Curiosity Shop, which has been operating pop-ups since 2009 — before they were everywhere. Created by jewellery designer Chrissy Hammond, the organisation is all about encouraging and promoting local creatives, while fostering community connections. At Wilderness, you'll find work from more than thirteen artists and designers. These include jewellers and sculptors Lyn and Tony, illustrator and printmaker Franz Anthony, sculptor Aesha Henderson, designer Matthew Lawrence (The Earbud Taco), photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick, knitter of home wares Michelle Davies, painter and drawer Raj Panda, illustrator Sarah Baron, ceramicist Jemima Woo (Woo Ceramics), artist Isabelle Gerrard, and, of course, Chrissy Hammond. Wilderness is at 48 Gurner Street, Paddington between now and Wednesday, December 2316. It's open weekdays between 11am and 5pm and on weekends between 10am and 6pm. In the lead-up to Christmas — from Monday, December 21 — opening hours will be extended to between 10am and 7pm.
Unless you’re living in a hammock in the woods, chances are you’re surrounded by artificial light for half your day. Whether you’re working under fluorescents in the office, finishing the latest Booker Prize-winner by your bedlamp or manoeuvring your way along Victoria Road’s constant red-lit jam, artificial light changes the way we move through our day, how we feel, how we interact with Sydney every day. But we usually take it for granted — until Vivid rolls around. That's where light artists come in, to remind you of the possibilities and straight-up power of one of the most customisable and underrated technologies we've got. MCA’s brand new exhibition Light Show, one of its most ambitious undertakings yet, extends the Vivid Sydney focus on using light as an artwork; bringing 19 works from the 1960s to now that use light as the medium. Opening on Thursday, April 16, the exhibition comes from London's Haywood Gallery after sold-out showings there and record attendances at Auckland Art Gallery. It’s not a chronological survey though, you’re not signing up for a history lesson. Instead, Light Show is a highly playful, wonderfully immersive exhibition that will have you rethinking your kitchen down lights — in the same way the recently opened Luminous show did. "As visitors, your experience becomes the work,” says Haywood Gallery curator Dr Cliff Lauson. “Light shines upon the subtleties and changes of perception." Two works popping up in your Instagram feed daily will be David Batchelor’s Magic Hour and Carlos Cruz-Diez's Chromosaturation. While Batchelor's sculptural work balances dirty, found light boxes with a pure spectrum of projected light, Cruz-Diez has created an immersive environment we hope doesn't get too scuffed over the course of the show. To recreate the 1965 work, the Cruz-Diez studio has worked with the MCA to create three adjoined rooms of different fluorescent light projected on white-painted walls. It’s inescapably similar to Olafur Eliasson’s 2002 work 360° room for all colours or even his 1997 work Room for one colour, both of which were cornerstones for the MCA’s Take Your Time blockbuster exhibition in 2009/10. There's plenty more colour and light where that came from. Cerith Wyn Evans’ genuinely hypnotic work S=U=P=E=R=S=T=R=U=C=T=U=R=E (‘Trace me back to some loud, shallow, chill, underlying motive’s overspill) — actual title, go with it — sees elegant pillars of light bulbs pulsating in space. Evans’ work glows beside NYC-based artist Leo Villareal’s Cylinder II; a four-metre-high work built of over 20,000 computer controlled LEDs which Villareal developed and programmed his own computer software to control. These two works alone are worth your visit. Brigitte Kowanz’s 2013 Light Steps hover elegantly in the main exhibition passageway as a divine, minimalist play on a 'Stairway to Heaven', while legendary, pioneering light artist Francois Morellet uses the most customisable of light technologies — the fluorescent tube — to create his 2006 work Lamentable. Morellet almost literally uses light as a pencil — ‘drawing’ a mangled, minimalist circle in the space. Those with vertigo or motion sickness might want to face their demons with Conrad Shawcross’s 2009 work Slow Arc Inside a Cube IV — one of the most simultaneously mesmerising, exciting and physically nauseating works you’ll come across in the show. Light Show is one of MCA's most playful, engulfing and eye-pleasing shows yet, one of the best journeys through light art since the Eliasson show. You can see it during Vivid, when the gallery will be staying open every night until 9pm. You won't look at your bedside lamp the same again. For the duration of the Light Show exhibition, MCA is partnering with the QT Sydney hotel on Market Street, offering a special package for art-seekers. If you book a night at the super stylin' QT, you’ll receive two tickets to MCA’s Light Show and receive breakfast at Gowings Bar & Grill the next morning. Head over here for more details. Check out our other picks of the best art shows to see in April.
When Mardi Gras brightens up Sydney's streets every February, it showers the city in LGBTIQ+ pride — but that's only the beginning of the celebratory fun. Among the plethora of supporting events, the annual Mardi Gras Film Festival brings the party to the big screen, taking film lovers into a wealth of stories from a number of countries, and demonstrating the depth and breadth of queer cinema in the process. MGFF not only brings brings the best in LGBTIQ flicks to Sydney, however. It also spreads the love across the state thanks to its touring program. That means that the filmic feast keeps on going until April — and, more cinema-goers receive more chances to catch the queer film highlights from the past year, including these five must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ0ERN2rZ7g DIE BEAUTIFUL Winning Filipino star Paolo Ballesteros the best actor award at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival, Die Beautiful offers a rousing and moving transgender tale — one that's set in the beauty pageant world, flits between the past and the present, and perfects the balance of heartfelt emotion and vibrant celebration. With the fate of its protagonist apparent from its title, the film not only depicts the path that Trisha Echevarria charted in life, but the determined efforts her community makes to honour her in death. Her dying wish? To be dressed up as a different celebrity each day of her wake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQw_HimdIo A MOMENT IN THE REEDS It was only last year that God's Own Country earned comparisons to Brokeback Mountain, but took a seemingly well-worn situation and turned it into something all of its own. Expect Finnish drama A Moment in the Reeds to do the same as it explores the homecoming of Leevi to renovate his father's summer cottage, and his bond with Syrian asylum seeker Tareq, who is hired to help. As in all love stories, the delights are in the details — and, while all love stories boast similarities, it's the way they convey the intricacies of romance in their own unique manner that counts, as first-time director Mikko Makela understands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drg74wOy8z8 FREAK SHOW The directorial debut of Trudie Styler, Freak Show can't be accused of fading into the background. Like film, like spirited protagonist, too. Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther) is his own glitter-wearing self when he turns up to his first day at a new school, and he's not willing to be anyone else — although, he does need to learn to navigate the usual teenage issues. If it sounds familiar, that's because it is, but what this movie lacks in originality it attempts to make up for in personality. And, in recognisable faces as well, including Abigail Breslin, Laverne Cox, John McEnroe and Bette Midler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_okj8aEh5mM SIGNATURE MOVE Love stories linked to the world of lucha libre women's wrestling aren't an everyday occurrence on screen, with director Jennifer Reeder joining forces with writer and star Fawzia Mirza to give cinema the romance it didn't know it was missing. The duo also fill their combined effort with layers upon layers of cultural and societal probing, as a Pakistani-American immigration lawyer and a Mexican-American bookstore-owner deal with the aftermath of their one-night stand — including the vast differences between being able to live your life the way you want to, and still bowing to conservative expectations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Yua3Smc3M SENSITIVITY TRAINING Starring Australian actress Anna Lise Phillips, Sensitivity Training steps into will-they-or-won't-they, opposites-attract territory. And, with its narrative revolving around a far-from-friendly scientist forced to interact with the world and learn to temper her ways, it treads down a familiar path when it comes to potentially redeeming misanthropes too. Thanks to engaging performances and its own sensibilities — and sensitivities — what sounds formulaic on paper finds its own niche, and provides a reminder of why The Boys, Animal Kingdom and Crownies' Phillips is always a welcome presence on screen. Mardi Gras Film Festival runs February 15 to March 1 in various Sydney cinemas, March 16 to 18 at Riverside Theatres Parramatta, March 23 to 25 at Arc Cinema Canberra, and April 6 to 8 at Mount Vic Flicks, Mount Victoria. For more information, visit the festival website.
October, you minx. Taunting us with hot balmy nights only to have us shivering in our summer threads the very next day as the wind wails and the temp barely breaks the teens. Summer isn't quite upon us, but the good news is you can draw some stability in this month of seasonal transition from a consistent lineup of stellar art offerings. Snap up a piece directly from the artist at The Other Art Fair, take in an incredible festival, check out (yet another) art award and visit a smattering of thought-provoking solo and group exhibitions. With so much to do, November will be here in a flash — you'll be hearing the cicadas and craving a Calippo before you know it. By Lucy McNabb, Libby Curran and James Whitton.
Redfern's seen its fair share of change in the past few years, with new(ish) residents like Bart Jr, Moya's Juniper Lounge and The Noble Hops riding a wave of small venues setting up shop in the history-proud inner city suburb. And from Tuesday, August 8, there's a new kid on the block, a new drinking and dining joint from the W. Short Hotel Group called Misfits. As full of personality as the suburb it calls home, Misfits is in a good position to make its mark on Redfern — it's taken over the site of the former Mr Mary's Hotel next to Domino's Pizza and doors down from sandwich haven Scout's Honour. Follow the neon sign inside and you'll find a collection of '60s and '70s-inspired spaces — a public bar, cocktail lounge, eatery, private dining room, and rooftop terrace, all pulled cleverly together under one vibrant design. From the same minds that brought us drinking institutions like The Australian Heritage Hotel, The Glenmore and The Tudor, it's no surprise that Misfits' booze offering is rather wide-ranging — with magnums on the menu. There are plenty of local craft brews on tap, a strong representation of single malt whisky, and a cocktail list bursting with sophisticated twists on the classics (haven't ordered a Paloma in a while?). Meanwhile, a global-reaching wine selection ventures beyond simply glass pours and bottle serves, going large with a hefty range of magnum (1.5L), jeroboam (3L), and imperial (6L) wines and Champagnes. With group executive chef James Privett on the pans, the food situation seems relaxed but versatile at Misfits. Treats like crab rolls, empanadas, and a smoky beef tartare lend themselves to snack-happy sessions perched at the bar; while confit pork belly with house-made blood pudding, and charred WA octopus are the stuff of heartier feeds. Misfits opens Tuesday, August 8, at Level 1, 106 George Street, Redfern. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 3pm-late, and Friday 11.30am – late. Images: Alana Dimou.
One of West Africa's most critically acclaimed rock collectives is coming to Sydney for a one-night-only performance. Hitting City Recital Hall in March, Songhoy Blues mix contemporary rock and hip hop with the traditional music of Mali's Songhoy people, creating a unique sound that has been described by critics as "intense", "thrilling" and "revelatory". Songhoy Blues formed after guitarists Garba Toure and Oumar Toure, and vocalist Aliou Toure, were forced to flee their hometown after it was seized by armed jihadists who banned drinking, smoking and music. Travelling to the southern city of Bamako, they partnered with drummer Nathanael Dembele, and after playing the local club scene for a time, caught the attention of the Africa Express project and Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner. Their debut album Music in Exile has since garnered rave reviews and placed them well and truly on the world stage.
The Paddington Inn is welcoming celebrated chef Matt Moran back home with yet another revamp, this time relaunching as a more casual eatery renamed the Paddo Inn Bar and Grill. Moran began his career at the Paddo over 20 years ago and Solotel (North Bondi Fish, Aria) has enlisted his help to bring the space and menu back to basics. According to Solotel, a casual grill was more in line with what locals were after — seems the relaunched Paddington Inn's fine dining didn't hit the mark as expected after its September 2016 relaunch. Now, let's define casual — this is still not a local pub where you'd stop by for a cheap pint and a schnitty. The dining room's interior is softly lit by hanging globes, and abstract prints adorn one wall. While there are some booths, they look to be of the soft leather, high-end steak house variety and the majority of seating is taken up by classic low tables — though there is not a tablecloth in sight. The menu, which showcases Australian beef and seafood, isn't exactly casual either — think mains like lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke and mint sauce ($34) and king salmon with celeriac and lemon ($32), along with a fine selection of steak cuts, including a Rangers Valley rump cap ($34), an O'Connor Premium rib eye ($45) and a Jacks Creek t-bone ($92). A raw bar, duck liver parfait ($21) and steak tartare ($23) are also on the seasonal menu, which Moran will only oversee. Head chef Laura Barratto (Chiswick at the Gallery) is taking the reins day-to-day. All that being said, we wouldn't call the space a fine dining restaurant either. The term 'casual' might just be an overreach — simply removing your tablecloths doesn't make for an instant casual restaurant. The front bar will remain intact, though, and will serve a decidedly more casual grill menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers. This is the latest in the fine-dining-gone-casual trend, with Sepia announcing a more casual venture planned for the end of 2017 and Rockpool Est. 1989 reopening as Eleven Bridge in 2016 — which is already being replaced with a new Cantonese restaurant. Interestingly, Moran's Aria did not go the casual route after reopening late last year, but has instead maintained its fine dining stance. Paddo Inn Bar and Grill is located at 338 Oxford Street, Paddington and open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday and dinner seven nights.
The 35th incarnation of Woodford Folk Festival — a temporary village of alternative lifestyle, music, art and performance — is finally happening this December and January. Over six days and six nights, more than 2,000 performers (and many, many more attendees) will bring this festival to life in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after a two-year pandemic-induced break. The festival will feature music from all over the globe including folk, rock, blues, First Nations performances as well as children's events, comedy, cabaret and talks on everything from social justice to science and innovation. You'll be able to wander through market stalls, encounter installation artworks and take part in workshops and activities at the Bushtime camping experience on Jinibara Country as you see out the year in with thousands of other festival goers. And that's all before the mammoth closing ceremony fire display on New Year's Eve that'll help you welcome in 2023. Keen to head along? The full Woodford Folk Festival program and tickets are yet to be released. For more information, visit the website. Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
The monarch of Merivale, Justin Hemmes, could be kicked out of his most successful venture in years. The Sydney Morning Herald's Kate McClymont reports Hemmes is facing possible eviction from the Coogee Pavilion by his landlord. According to documents lodged in the Supreme Court, Coogee Pavilion owner David Kingston, ex-managing director of investment bank Rothschild, has issued termination notices after late rent and "unauthorised works", namely the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop and the barbershop downstairs. And Hemmes is fighting back. Let's head back to the beginning. According to the SMH, Hemmes sought to buy the Coogee Pavilion (formerly the Beach Palace) from Kingston last March. The pair agreed on $37 million and Kingston required Hemmes to pay the whole sum in two years. Hemmes deposited $5 million (treated as an option fee) and the rent (a cheeky $1.5 million per year) was considered interest on the remaining $32 million. Hemmes then poured $12 million into the refurbishment of the Coogee Pavilion and launched in July 2014. But all seems to have gone pear-shaped after Hemmes was allegedly two days late with rent in January 2015. After failing to pay rent on Saturday, January 3, Kingston issued Hemmes a termination notice on January 5, on which Hemmes paid the rent. So rent was paid, albeit late. Apparently this two-day delay would have set Kingston back $85.74, which seems teeny compared to the $1.5 million rental fee, but money's money. Fairfax reports that Hemmes lodged a caveat on the Coogee Pavilion the very next day, claiming he had an "equitable interest" in the property — and after pouring $12 million and the hefty Merivale brand into the joint, we can't blame him. But Kingston's not just angry about late rent. Apparently the owner didn't know about "blatant and unauthorised works" happening at the Pavilion — the new and highly publicised Coogee Pavilion Rooftop, opened in December 2014. After claiming Hemmes hadn't clued him into the nature of the rooftop renovations, Kingston issued a second termination notice. Then Kingston claimed further breaches — he apparently didn't know Hemmes was operating a barbershop on the premises — and issued a third termination notice. Hemmes is biting back on this one, saying Kingston actually attended the opening of the downstairs section in July 2014 and the Rooftop in December. Someone check that security footage already. Three notices in a month is serious stuff, so Hemmes is taking action in the Supreme Court. Fairfax reports Hemmes is seeking an injunction to prevent being kicked out of the Pavilion, and he's looking to reinstate the call option to buy the Pavilion from Kingston, who refuses to refund Hemmes' $5 million deposit. The case will be tackled in court later this month, and Coogee Pavilion will of course remain trading as usual. What do you reckon? Would you return to the Coogee Pavilion if Justin Hemmes and Merivale were no longer the owners? Would it not matter? Let us know in the comments below; we'd love to know your two cents. Via the Sydney Morning Herald.
We may still be stuck in the dying days of a rainy, rainy winter, but for one afternoon, on one rooftop in Sydney, summer is coming to town. To celebrate the launch of their latest beer, Heineken are teaming up with the five star Primus Hotel for a full blown beach party six stories up. The fun kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, August 27, with a handful of spots on the proverbial sand still available. The hotel's rooftop pool area will be transformed into a fully heated indoor-outdoor beach club, complete with DJ, live entertainment and all your favourite summer foods, plus a whole bunch of ice-cold brews. The whole thing is to mark the release of Heineken's new beer — a beverage that, for the time being, remains shrouded in secrecy, and that guests at the rooftop event will be among the first in the world to try. Mystery beer by the pool? We're in. To score an invite to Heineken's Ultimate Summer Rooftop Pool Party, register your details via the link on the Facebook event page.
Undisputed badass, battle hero and SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin is gearing up to represent Australia on the global stage. Announced on SBS's The Feed last night, Chin will take on the coveted role of Australia's official Eurovision spokesperson. Now that's a Eurovision representative we can get excited about (yeah sorry, ARIAs, charts, vocal range, yadda yadda, but come on). Chin will deliver the famous and vital points from Australia's stash, announcing the final three countries that will receive Australia's eight, ten and twelve points. So while Malta, Demark, perpetual 'London Calling' jokemakers the United Kingdom and more give it their best, most awkward shot in front of the green screen, Australia's modish champion will inevitably deliver the points with poise, urgency and hopefully, in this Logies hat. Given the time difference in Austria, Lin Chin will have to get up pretty early to deliver the goods. But eating, sleeping, raving and repeating is a cakewalk for this party professional. "I’m not worried about being up early, I’ll just have to take a break from the clubs for 20 minutes." *drops mic* As the very first time in Eurovision history Australia has been invited to compete in the contest, and the very first time Chin has dominated the international airwaves, it's all convenient timing for the SBS newsreader — who recently announced her new commitment to campaigning for the 2016 Gold Logie (most popular personality on Australian television, yep she's missing a few decades worth on her shelf). "195 million people watch Eurovision every year and if even just 10 million of those buy TV Week I’ll have it in the bag," she said in a coy and perfectly crafted media statement. "As SBS’s most recognisable personality I couldn’t say no to such an opportunity. I’m the obvious choice — not only have I been to Europe but I also listen to music from time to time." How can you get in on the Eurovision action? SBS will broadcast both semi-finals and the Grand Final live from Vienna on May 20, May 22 and May 24 from 5am. Both semi-finals will be shown in full on SBS ONE on May 22 and May 23 from 7.30pm. The Grand Final featuring Guy Sebastian and Lee Lin Chin's points delivery will screen on Sunday May 24 from 7.30pm. For now, this:
If you’ve checked out the Hotel Palisade’s swish new rooftop bar, Henry Deane, you’ll already know it’s going to make for one hell of a New Year’s Eve venue. The 360-degree views are extraordinary, so you'll be in prime position to take in every single second of pyrotechnics happening on the night, from Sydney Harbour to The Rocks to Barangaroo Reserve to the Anzac Bridge. Few places in the city offer such a straight-up spectacular perspective. What’s more, your ticket buys you way more than panoramas. You’ll score a drink at the door, a champagne hour for the midnight countdown and a tasty, tasty selection of roaming morsels and shared spreads, created by head chef Joel Bennetts. Meanwhile, DJ Crazy P — all the way from the UK — will be keeping your toes a-tapping while the fireworks are taking a break. Named after legendary Aussie engineer and architect, Henry Deane, the Palisade’s split-level rooftop bar is one of Sydney’s most beautiful revamps. Back in the early 20th century, Deane was one of the hotel’s best-dressed frequenters, so the renovated interior — designed by Sibella Court — pays homage to his flawless sense of style. Think lavish marble surfaces, pink leather couches and stunning copper touches. Tickets to NYE at Henry Deane are $490 each. You can purchase tickets in the venue or by emailing socialbutterfly@hotelpalisade.com or buzzing (02) 9018 0123 or 0421 001 474. Group bookings also available.
