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.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Sydney Festival. Having excelled at keeping revellers cool and sweetened-up at the 2014 Festival Village, the whizzes at Gelato Messina are set to return in 2015. As anyone who’s experienced last year's Messina incarnation at Sydney Festival would know, this doesn’t involve merely turning up with a cart and doling out the goods, Mr Whippy-style. When Messina hits the village, they bring an entire ice-cream carnival with them. The 2015 menu is still under wraps. But after bouncing around Stonehenge last summer on a sugar-rush fuelled by the fairground treats of Gelatoffee Apples, Eyescream Lollipops, Messinawieners and Yeeeah Dogs, our expectations are high. While availing yourself of Messina’s custom-built creations, you’ll be able to wander around a reimagined Hyde Park consuming an array of other sensory delights. Taking the mantle of Thing Everyone Instagrams This Year from Jeremy Deller’s inflatable Stonehenge (aka Sacrilege) will be Irish artist Maser with his work Higher Ground. He’s taken on the influence of MC Escher’s vertigo-inducing art and concocted a part-installation, part-playground that’s two storeys high. What’s especially exciting is that Sydney will be the first city in the world to experience it. In between shaking up your notions of what space, geometry, colour and gelato are capable of, there’ll be ample opportunities to challenge your perceptions of human anatomy by checking out some circus, cabaret and circus-cabaret. Alternatively, give yourself a breather with some chilled-out tunes. Not one but two Spiegeltents are being magicked up this year: The Aurora and The Famous Spiegeltent. Theatrical performances on the program include the return of Limbo, local acrobats A Simple Space and Between the Cracks burlesque. As for music, SydFest has diversified to the tune of 200 percent on 2014. Back-to-back nights of exclusive and one-night-only Australian and international shows will run for three solid weeks, with the schedule split into early and late. To help you shake off your workaday grit and grime, relaxing sessions will be happening from 5.15pm most evenings, featuring performers from the US, New Zealand, Japan, Reunion and home. These include the hypnotic, percussion-driven ceremonial rhythms of Christine Salem; the country-soul and airy vocals of Tiny Ruins; and the squalling guitars and avant-noise of Body/Head (aka Kim Gordon and Bill Nace). On a selection of nights, live acts and DJs will be turning The Aurora into a dance floor from 11.45pm onwards. There won’t be a moment to pine for Hot Dub Time Machine. Head night owls include Brazilian hip-hop queen Karol Conka, idiosyncratic mixer Oneman (UK) and garage punk swaggerers Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds.
If you think Sydney Contemporary — a biennial international art fair held at Carriageworks — is only for art lovers with Chanel suits and investors with hedge funds, think again. Sure, 75 respected galleries from all over the world will be exhibiting (and selling) some of the best contemporary art money can buy, but you will also find an entire program of more affordable (and just as impressive) art on offer. It's made even more accessible by the presence of Art Money, an art loans program for works priced between $750 and $20,000. And if you want to leave commerce out of it entirely, look to addendum program Sydney Art Week, which is scattering art happenings throughout Carriageworks and its surrounding suburbs. Look out for art-infused bar crawls, monolithic art installations, a special edition of the Redfern Night Market, and the food pop-up Local Palette.
Leave everything up to the chef at this intimate omakase restaurant in the heart of Sydney's CBD. Make your evening even more special with a complimentary Haku martini paired with the eight or 11-course meal. Besuto is located mere steps from the iconic Sydney Harbour and is helmed by Chef Joel Best — we sat down with Head Chef Best to chat about his early morning trips to the fish market to ensure only the best reaches his guests. What sets Besuto apart from the other stunning omakase restaurants in the city is the size of both the venue and the menu — although it only holds a dozen seats, each diner receives a mammoth 18-course meal. The menu combines traditional and inventive takes on Japanese cuisine, with some dishes coming and going daily while others remain consistent. Visitors can also expect sashimi and sushi curated each day based on what fish the team has chosen. "Selecting our beverages is like selecting our seafood. We spend a lot of time and precision on making sure we're selecting the best of the best," says Chef Best. If you want to level up your omakase experience, from Tuesday, October 3, till Friday, November 3, all seatings at Besuto will begin with a complimentary nori-infused Haku martini crafted by Jake Errey, Besuto's venue manager. "When developing the cocktail, I was looking to make a dirty Japanese martini with kombu. But the kombu had this overwhelming earthiness to it, so I decided to try nori. Playing around with it needed some sweetness — we had umeshu on hand. Obviously, the umeshu jelly with the oysters started, and I thought, 'This is going to work perfectly'. Then, it was just playing around with the ratios." This offering is available from Tuesday to Saturday across two dinner seatings (5.30pm and 8pm) and on Fridays and Saturdays for lunch (12.30pm). Mark your diaries: the booking window is now open on September 1. Haku Vodka's signature serve is the Haku martini — a drink that showcases the craftsmanship, nuanced flavour and exceptional quality of the premium Japanese liquid. To learn more, head to the House of Suntory website. Images: Declan Blackall
Adulting can suck sometimes but there is one major positive: you can eat dessert for dinner and nobody can stop you. And you'll feel like the fanciest kidult on the block when you sit down to this dessert tasting menu at Bennelong. Throughout March, the stunning fine diner is offering a four-course menu featuring some of chef Peter Gilmore's best desserts. The menu includes tasting size versions of the crème caramel vs mille-feuille, the white peach bellini and, of course, Gilmore's legendary lamington — sponge cake, coconut ice cream and cherry jam slathered with chocolate ganache and served in a bed of coconut milk parfait shavings. The finale to the sweet degustation is Bennelong's signature dessert. Taking inspiration from the restaurant's famed setting within the Sydney Opera House, the pavlova consists of a rhubarb and raspberry centre covered in carefully piped double cream and meringue, and finished with shards of meringue to mimic the Opera House sails. This special menu is on offer at the restaurant's bar as part of Delicious Month Out. It'll set you back $60 per person — not bad, considering the white peach bellini and lamington are normally $28 each. The dessert tasting menu is available at the Bennelong Bar with limited bookings available, but walk-ins also welcome. [caption id="attachment_664104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Top image: Nikki To
Off the back of the release of their second album Choose Your Weapon, Melbourne neo-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote are killing it this year. After wrapping up a sold-out tour around Europe and the US, they’re back on home turf and setting off around the country for a string of live shows playing their ‘multi-dimensional, polyrhythmic gangster shit’ (their words, but good ones) for local fans. The group’s 2012 debut Tawk Tomahawk earned them props from people like Prince and Pharrell, and a Grammy nod for their collab with Q-Tip ‘Nakamarra’ — a first for an Australian R&B act. Always interesting, their sound is blissful funk with broad appeal — not least for the heady vocals of majestic frontwoman Nai Palm. It’s the kind of music that has seen them on a festival bill alongside Grace Jones and Massive Attack one night, and the next playing a small gig in Paris with a 70-year-old Ethiopian jazz composer. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGlIMaw5vlU[/embed]
The natural world used to be in good company with happiness and education on the list of things on which a price could not be put (although anyone with a HECS debt might disagree). Now it seems not even Mother Nature can escape the reach of global capitalism. The planet’s ‘natural capital’ is estimated to be a whopping $125 trillion, according to IQ2, the debate program of The Ethics Centre. IQ2 have made a name for themselves in recent times putting on impassioned live discussions of hard-hitting topics such as euthanasia, the future viability of large media corporations and Australia’s new(ish) data retention laws. This month they turn their attention to the question: can we use economic modelling to protect the environment, or should we be protecting it from market forces instead? You'll hear from environmental activist/scientist Tim Flannery, Greens senator Larissa Waters, and Aboriginal elder and philosopher Mary Graham, among others. This is not your school debating team; the speakers on each side may reach similar conclusions, but they'll get there in vastly different ways. Prepare to have your thoughts well and truly provoked.
In a straight-up baller move, South King Street's beloved live music den is shaking things up with a new meatball-focused menu. Like all good meatball kitchens from here to Williamsburg, Newtown Social Club is letting diners customise their own ballscapade — you'll be able to choose your perfect meatball, sauce and side combo for $19. It's all part and parcel of NSC's big ol' revamp to be unveiled at the end of July (coinciding with the bar's first birthday), with the straightforwardly-renamed Ground Floor getting a cheeky reno and the food and drinks list starting afresh. The NSC's new ground floor will be divided into a bar, 50-seat dining area and new cocktail lounge under the stairs leading up to the bandroom. Now, let's handle those balls. Choose your favourites from NSC's ball gallery: free range chicken, monterey cheese and harissa spices; wagyu, Berkshire pork with whole river shrimps, ginger and spring onion; MSC New Zealand hoki fillet with thyme, dill and chives; and tofu, eggplant and pesto. Next, let's sauce up those balls, and pick a side to go with 'em. Best bit? All produce is locally sourced, sustainable and free range where possible, and the vegan balls are also gluten free. You'll be able to christen the new space with a few bevs from the new drinks menu, featuring organic and biodynamic wines and locally produced spirits such as Archie Rose’s Signature Gin and Stone Pine Dead Man’s Drop Black Spiced Rum. “The new management team and I hope that this latest update to our historic venue will really put the heart back into the venue and remind people that this is a great place to drink, eat and socialise every day of the week, not just somewhere to drop in for a quick beer before a gig," says venue manager Chris Aitken. Newtown Social Club will unveil the new Ground Floor space and menu late July, at 387 King Street, Newtown.
One of Australia's biggest beats-loving festivals has been canned. Mushroom Group have announced the discontinuation of Future Music Festival today, after reporting low ticket sales for the last two years. Despite attracted huge crowds to this year's March festival nationwide, Future apparently underperformed with ticket sales. This means Future isn't returning for 2016, with Mushroom looking to steer away from large-scale travelling festivals and put more focus on its touring adventures with Frontier Touring, A Day On the Green, Melbourne's Sugar Mountain and under-18s event Good Life. "The decision to discontinue Future Music Festival was not made lightly," says Mushroom Group Chairman Michael Gudinski. "A point came though where it simply no longer made sense to continue. We believe in the festival industry in Australia and plan to announce an exciting new festival concept in the coming months." Mushroom Group are developing a new festival concept, planned for the same time period previously held by Future and set to be announced later this year. Image: Future Music Festival.
Darling Square's new food precinct is continuing to expand in advance of its April grand opening, with an additional five eateries joining the ranks in the newly formed Steam Mill Lane. The district — which will occupy the previously dead space between UTS and the ICC — has now signed on a Japanese izakaya, a Greek gyro shop, a sandwich eatery, a matcha cafe and a Sichuan rice house. First up is BangBang, which will attempt to bring a bit of Tokyo's Shinjuku district to the laneway. With ex-Nobu Tokyo chef Kokubo Yuji at the helm, the restaurant will offer up ramen and curry alongside a Kabukicho-style whisky and craft beer bar. It will also have a soundproof neon-lit karaoke room. It will be joined by Bexley's much-loved Gyradiko, which will be serving up legit Greek pork gyros — and only pork gyros. This means no lamb, beef or even hummus and tabouleh. It's mainly a takeaway joint, though there will be a few tables for dine-in. Also pleasing the takeaway lunch crowd will be Surry Hills' The Sandwich Shop, which will open its second location here. It'll be turning out its usual quality sandwiches using organic sourdough, house-made sauces and meats roasted in-store. Diners can also sit-in for breakfast, salads and coffee. Matcha-Ya will provide an alternative to coffee — it'll be sourcing their matcha powder from Japan, so you can expect some serious green tea brews, along with a full matcha menu including lattes, fondue, parfait and soft serve. This matcha-mania will be accompanied by savoury dishes, served for lunch and dinner. And to round out the bunch, the teams behind Two Sticks, Bun Gallery and Kobe Wagyu Yakiniku are bringing you Ricefields, a Sichuan rice eatery. It's of course based around the cuisine's numbing chilli, with a specific focus on preserved ingredients through pickling, salting and drying. The five eateries will open in April alongside Melbourne's 8Bit and Sydney's Fishbowl, Belles Hot Chicken, Edition Coffee Roasters and Marrickville Pork Roll. They'll join Toby's Estate, which has been operating at Darling Square since July 2017. These ten eateries will sit within the precinct's 8000 square metres of new retail space, which will eventually house approximately 80 new restaurants, cafes and shops. Darling Square has direct access to to Darling Harbour via The Goods Line and is part of Lendlease's 20-hectare development around the area — along with ICC Sydney and Sofitel Darling Harbour. The precinct has already locked in some pretty big names — but even though Darling Square will house around 2500 CommBank employees, 3000 residents and 1300 students, it will be interesting to see how the new area flourishes, especially considering its proximity to Barangaroo. Of course, there are plenty of top-notch eateries operating in Haymarket — use our handy day and night guide to check them out. Steam Mill Lane is set to open to the public in April 2018. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date and further details.
Get a bird's eye view of a land girt by sea, as Sydney aerial drone photographer Gabriel Scanu marks his debut exhibition at Double Bay's Art2Muse gallery. Open from February 7 to 20 at the independent gallery on New South Head Road, this exhibition will showcase Scanu's remarkable photographs. The Sydney-based artist has cultivated more than 190,000 followers on Instagram for his aerial shots of the Australian coastline. One work will set you back anywhere between $3,300 and a whopping $14,500. Not bad considering he's just 20 years old. Bondi Icebergs and Bronte Beach are but a few of the iconic Sydney locations featured in Scanu's work. Frankly, if his photographs don't make you want to get out and enjoy the final weeks of summer, then we just don't know what will. Images courtesy of the artist.
It's almost here. We teased you with the idea of a Hello Kitty Diner a few weeks ago, with little but an Instagram post to go on. But now we've got a date and a location for Sydney's very first official Sanrio-endorsed Hello Kitty establishment; we're looking at October 2015 and it's going to be Chatswood. The Diner is locked in as the newest and most adorable resident of the District of Chatswood Interchange, a brand new food destination that has already launched with the likes of Ippudo and Michelin-starred dumpling house Tim Ho Wan. The whole predictably cutesy space will be designed by big gun design firm Luchetti Krelle, best known for working wonders on Momofuku Seiobo, Adriano Zumbo and more recently The Butler, ACME and the new Single Origin takeaway cafe. "With such variance and possibility of what a Hello Kitty Diner could look like, our task is to go beyond these expectations and make her and the diner’s experience uniquely Australian,” says Stuart Krelle, director of Luchetti Krelle. "Playing on Hello Kitty’s cheeky energy, colour and pattern will be a central theme along with an understated nod to the iconic American Diner style." According to the Hello Kitty Diner Australia team, 'local celebrity chefs' will be behind the menu concept, which will be both savoury and sweet (yep, that's all you're getting). But we do know each dish will be inspired by what Hello Kitty 'means' to each chef — what a heartwrenching feline. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, we all grew up with Hello Kitty,” says Dorothy Wang, managing director of Hello Kitty Diner Australia. “Our vision for the Diner is to invoke those memories and bring them all together into an unexpected dining experience. We won’t simply be offering Hello Kitty shaped meals, instead we will present a menu that tells a story, that brings flavours from all over the world — after all, Hello Kitty is a part of everyone, and you will really see this reflected in our dishes.” she said. There's set to be a whole host of activities, events and special dining experiences around the Hello Kitty Diner's launch, with a 'premier tasting event' locked in for September — one social media fans will be able to win tickets to, so get to the Facebook page. View all Sydney Restaurants. Image: Hello Kitty pancake by Ellie, Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi. Not part of the upcoming menu but adorable anyway.
It may be news to some Sydneysiders that Adelaide is home to one of the best (if not the best) craft beer festivals in the country. In fact, the Beer and BBQ Festival is just behind the Great Australiasian Beer Spectapular as the largest beerfest in Australia and, dare we say, rivals it as our national favourite. So it's with pleasure that we report that the festival is coming to Sydney for its first interstate event this year. It'll take over Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter for three days from Friday, June 29 through to Sunday, July 1 — and it's got one helluva lineup in store. The outdoor event will see over 60 brewers descend on the EQ's showring and market canopy areas. Headlining the list is Scottish heavy hitter BrewDog, which, after announcing it will open a brewery in Brisbane, will team up with Aussie locals for some exclusive collab brews that will be available at the fest. Representing the Australian brew scene will be Sydney locals Batch Brewing, Canberra favourite Capital Brewing, Melbourne's Hop Nation, Brisbane's Green Beacon and Adelaide's own Mismatch Brewing, to name a few. Enmore's new P&V Wine and Liquor will also host a stall, and brew masterclasses will be held throughout the weekend. The barbecue component will be impressively curated by Duncan Welgemoed, the renowned executive chef at Adelaide's award-winning restaurant Africola. He's already roped in locals like Belles Hot Chicken, Bovine and Swine and Mary's, plus one-off food stalls from The Lansdowne and The Unicorn, along with vegan fare from Melbourne's Smith & Daughters. If that wasn't enough, the music lineup is strong too. The Preatures, Holy Holy, Jen Cloher and Bob Evans are all representing, plus Canada's Matty Matheson (from Viceland's It's Suppertime) and up-and-coming local artists and DJ sets. Live tattooing, a barber shop, locals market, a vinyl record shop and a hot dog eating contest are also on the docket. Yes, it will be one massive weekend and, yes, you should nab tickets straight away. Speaking of — you have the option to purchase per session ($30–45) or grab a weekend pass to all four ($80). It might be chilly as it's held outdoors in winter, but this really sets the vibe apart from other beer festivals. And there'll be heaps of bonfires (and beer) to keep you warm. The Sydney Beer and BBQ Festival will take place on at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter on Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 24.
It might seem a little premature, but trust us — now is the time to start planning your perfect New Year's Eve event before all the good tickets get snapped up. Our pick? Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel are throwing a crazy party with a view over Sydney Harbour. Not only will you watch the sun set over the city and get a primo view of the fireworks spectacle, but the beachside party will kick on into the wee hours with some killer DJs. You'll find POOLCLVB, Jonny Powel, The Artful Force, DJ Cloud Rider and Tina Turntables on the decks. Last year's event was crazy fun and a collection of the most beautiful people on earth. This year you can get amongst it. And if you're feeling fancy, grab a VIP ticket and indulge in bites and beverages on the balcony from 6pm-8pm. Or go full Gatsby and rock a three-course, sit-down feast with oodles of champagne, plus access to the VIP area. WBBH have even arranged a ferry service to make getting home a breeze. NYE — you are officially sorted.
Gear up for one of the year's most anticipated (and inevitably raved about) national tours. The ever-impressive, ever-epic musical mastermind Ty Segall is currently on Australian shores to kick around on our stages for his biggest headliner tour yet — and set to show Sydney what San Fran sludge rock is all about. Segall is probably best known for his insane levels of productivity and painstakingly thought-out approach to his garage-rock jams. This year, the 27-year-old Californian released one of the great albums of 2014, glam-rock grail, Manipulator. Over the years, Segall already made significant waves with Sleeper, Twins, Hair, Melted, and Lemons. More EP vending machine than an album-a-year kinda guy, he's already racked up eight albums under his belt, and has a four song EP called Mr Face due out in January. Segall has already hit Melbourne and Meredith Music Festival with full force to rave reviews, selling out his first sideshow and adding another date to keep the people happy. Sydneysiders, if you see one show this year, catch this rock savant at Oxford Art Factory and thank us later. Image credit: Denee Petracek.
Buying a bottle of wine after 10pm has been a thing of the past for the last 18 months in Sydney, but at what cost or gain? In a move certain to trigger many a heated debate, the NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming is reviewing the statewide 10pm time restriction on takeaway sales of alcohol. Introduced in February 2014, alongside the Sydney lockout laws, the ban applies to all sales of alcohol in all areas — including pubs, bottle shops, clubs, hotels, venues and even online stores with delivery. The law's stated goal was to “reduce alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour in the community", but what's the actual impact of the 10pm cut-off? A debate-ridden 18 months later, the Office is taking a close look at the ban’s impacts, both positive and negative. Investigators are considering not only whether or not the ban has reduced violence but also its influence on revenue for venues selling alcohol. The review will take place in two stages, beginning with regional areas, before moving to metropolitan areas. As part of the consultation process, stakeholders were invited to lodge public submissions. Among the seven received, three came from individuals or independent businesses, while the other four came from the Liquor Marketing Group, the Liquor Stores Association (NSW), the NSW/ACT Policy Alliance (NAAPA) and the Shoalhaven City Council. According to The Liquor Stores Association (NSW), the ban has led to reduced revenue, increased unemployment, a rise in aggressive and intimidating behaviour from customers, and loss of business to cross-border towns. The Association quotes the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research to demonstrate that alcohol-related public assaults have been decreasing steadily since March 2009, suggesting that recent decreases cannot be directly attributed to the ban. “We do question whether the blanket measure was necessary in the first place,” Michael Waters, the Association’s executive director, told the ABC. However, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is calling for the ban to be maintained. And, according to crime statistician Dr Don Weatherburn, a nine percent reduction in assaults between February and December 2014 is a result of the ban in combination with other alcohol restrictions. “It’s helped reduce assaults across the state as a whole outside the Sydney entertainment precinct,” he said. Keen for a good takeaway longneck in the meantime? Head to Sydney's ten best craft beer bottle shops or head to these online stores to get 'em delivered — all before 10pm, of course.
Dance music: it's a damn boys club behind the decks. Forbes World’s Highest-Paid DJs of 2014 List? Unsurprisingly, 15/15 are dudes. When it comes to the Australian dance music industry, things aren't too different. Don't get us wrong, there's plenty of straight-up excellent lady talent out there amongst the bros — think Aussie powerhouses like Alison Wonderland, Nina Las Vegas, Anna Lunoe, Luen, Chiara Kickdrum, J'Nett, YO! MAFIA, Bad Ezzy et al. And the She Can DJ crew are doing great things. But from EDM to house, drum and bass to psy-trance, dance music is generally dominated by dudes. Just look at Zac Efron's new thingo. But there are some who'd see things change. Sydney's beloved community radio station and general bunch of legends FBi Radio have had enough of this lad-heavy industry and have teamed up with V's MoVement to launch a brand new initiative called Dance Class, a means to get more female talent behind the decks. "It's been well established that there is a gender imbalance when it comes to female representation in electronic music," says FBi's managing director Clare Holland. "We see an underrepresentation of women as DJs and producers and it reinforces the false idea that men are more qualified to do this. It means that a young female music lover may not even consider the option of making this a career. "For those who do, it doesn't stop here. A number of high profile artists who have achieved major international success (Grimes, Anna Lunoe, Bjork) have publicly opened up about how their abilities have been doubted or they have received highly gendered criticism. This is not by any means limited to dance music." Running through October and November, five bright young trainees will start workshops covering basic DJ skills, radio presenting, how to navigate the industry and more handy DJ tips. Trainees will be paired with an FBi mentor (Andy Garvey, Adi Toohey, Kali (Picnic) and more) and join them on air for a month. Then, they'll get the chance to spin at their debut live gig and put those new skills into practice. Don't have a DJ skill in the world? No worries at all, Dance Class is open for grassroots, square one beginners — no previous skills needed to apply, just a damn fine taste in new dance music and the drive to be one heck of a DJ. "This is about breaking down barriers to entry," says Holland. "We just want people with great taste and real passion. We'll give them a solid grounding in DJ skills as well as some business know-how and radio presenting. Beyond learning skills we also think it's important to give them connections in the industry which is why we've chosen some of our favourite female DJs to mentor them." Music industry, take note. "How we achieve more equal gender representation in the music industry is something we often discuss at FBi," says Holland. "Ultimately we feel that as programmers we have a responsibility to take positive action. This needs to happen across the board from radio stations to festivals, venues, labels and media." Applications are now open for FBi Radio's Dance Class. For information on how to apply, head over here. Applications close September 27. To celebrate the launch of FBi’s Dance Class, there will be a free, all-ages party at the station with Catlips on Thursday October 22 as part of MoVement Sydney. More details on how to RSVP will be announced soon. Images: Hoops (Goodgod Small Club), Alison Wonderland, Anna Lunoe (FBi Radio), YO! MAFIA.
Keep it on the down low, but Sydney's got a brand new bar (well, technically new). Located in the basement beneath Riley St Garage in Woolloomooloo, in a subterranean space previously occupied by a mechanics workshop, Busby Under the Garage opened with little fanfare earlier this month. With champagne, cocktails and sophisticated bar food to accompany the classy surroundings, it seems like the perfect spot to wind up your evening after a big jaunt out on the town. That being said, you'll have to pick your nights carefully. While Busby will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, from Monday to Thursday it'll operate as a private functions space. According to Good Food, Riley St Garage co-owner Liesel Peterson initially planned to keep the new venue a secret from the public, utilising it as a hidden hangout for regulars and celebrities. Thankfully, he opted against that idea, and now it can be enjoyed by one and all. The drinks list at Busby promises wine, champagne and cocktails, while the food menu includes fish and chips as well as plates of cured meats and cheeses. The space itself, replete with luxe leather and industrial-style lighting, was designed by Alexander & Co, the same team behind the fit outs at Surly's, The Morrison, Daniel San and The Print Room. Busby Under the Garage can be found beneath Riley St Garage at 55 Riley St, Woolloomooloo. For more information, check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food. Image: Riley St Garage.
Carriageworks' vast, industrial spaces are already epic, by anyone's standards. After all, they used to be train yards. But they're planning on getting a whole lot snazzier, thanks to a just-announced whopping $50 million revamp. Announced by The Sydney Morning Herald this morning, the multipurpose Wilson Street venue is gearing up to "rival the Sydney Opera House and the yet-to-be completed ICC Sydney Theatre in Darling Harbour as one of the city's biggest entertainment venues." So, where is Carriageworks hoping to spend those big bucks? As you'd expect, they'll be spread across a bunch of varied artforms. Ready? You'd better sit down for this. Plans include a huge 5000-seat live music venue, a 200-seat cinema, another massive public exhibition space, new artist studios and rehearsal spaces, work spaces for creative companies, and more places to socialise, including bars, cafes and restaurants. Needless to say, a master plan of such gargantuan proportions is going to take some time to execute. The makeover process will take up to six years. But, by 2021, Carriageworks expects to be playing host to two million visitors and making a cool $15 million every year. There'll also be more music festivals, more food events, a major expansion of the weekend farmers' market and an additional weekday market. What Carriageworks won't be getting is any new buildings. "It's all within the existing envelope of Carriageworks," director Lisa Havilah told SMH. Importantly, there's no apparent intention to steal the thunder (or audiences) of Sydney's established arts centres. "Carriageworks reflects urban contemporary Sydney, which is a different experience from when you go to the Art Gallery [of NSW] or the MCA or the Opera House," said Havilah. "We also work across disciplines and the creative industries and that's what really makes Carriageworks a distinctive cultural precinct." Carriageworks is planning on sourcing money from both the government and private investors. Between 2012 and 2015, annual audience attendance increased from 110,000 and 790,000. Via SMH.
Remember how excited we all got when we found out Vin Diesel and The Rock were going to be teaming up in the Fast and Furious movies? Well this story is exactly like that, only for ice-cream. Two of Sydney's dessert heavyweights, pastry chef Andy Bowdy and ice-cream kings Gelato Messina, are joining forces on a limited edition range of soft-serve sundaes. And guess what? They go on sale today. Assuming you're still reading this rather than sprinting out the door (congratulations on your restraint, by the way), here's the nitty gritty on this sugar-coma-inducing collaboration. Bowdy, the former dessert chef at Hartsyard and the creator of some of the most ludicrous, mouth-watering cakes this side of a French royal wedding, has designed two flavours of soft serve that will be 'on tap' at the Messina Dessert Bar in Darlinghurst. He's also created a pair of cone and cup varieties, ensuring you'll have plenty of tooth-decaying goodness to choose from. No word yet on what exactly the flavours will be; the last time Bowdy operated a soft serve machine he ended up combining cheesecake soft serve, apple pie filling, donut and peanut crumble, and salted bourbon caramel, so it's safe to assume that whatever he creates for Messina, it'll probably be insane. Swirls and swirls of interpretive softserve dispensing happening today at the @underbellyarts festival on Cockatoo Island. Cheesecake softserve, warm apple pie filling, donut and peanut crumble and a deceivingly good serving of salted bourbon caramel... Come and see me #andybowdy #andybowdypastry #softserve #softie #icecream #icecreamofinsta #ua15 A photo posted by Andrew Bowden (@andybowdy) on Jul 31, 2015 at 6:43pm PDT A team-up between these two has been on the cards for a while now it would seem, with Bowdy currently operating his online cake business out of a Gelato Messina production space. Honestly though, who cares how or why it's happening? The point is, it is, and it's amazing. Now get going. That soft serve isn't going to scoff itself. Via Good Food.
Are you a hardcore ramen connoisseur? By now, you've probably tried all of Sydney's best ramen offerings. Our favourites might have their noodles done to al dente perfection and their chicken cooked to mouthwatering, melty goodness, but things are about to go next-level for ramen fiends. Bibs on, the city's inaugural Ramen Wars are warming up. On Sunday, May 15, two of Sydney's most experienced chefs will meet at Salaryman, Surry Hills. On one side of the kitchen bench, you'll find Noma alumni and Silvereye head chef Sam Miller, who's promising to bring smoked eel and ox tongue to the Japanese classic. On the other will be Master head chef John Javier, who says he's going to draw on "traditional Asian flavours" to create an interesting dish, honing in on the elements that make ramen the "epitome of comfort food". And the best bit? You'll be doing the judging. That's right, kicking back, with a cocktail in your hand, you'll be sampling and slurping your way through the evening, ultimately deciding who should take the ramen trophy home. Get those chopsticks at the ready. To book, call (02) 9188 2985 or email info@salaryman.com.au.
Newtown Festival is returning to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park for its 38th year on Sunday, November 13. The festival — this year fronting the theme 'Home is where the heart is' — celebrates the eclectic Newtown community by showcasing local musicians, artists and food. In that spirit, the festival this year will raise funds for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre's First Response Program, which supports people at risk of homeless in the inner west. Off the back of their US tour and the release of their second album, High Times for Low Lives, The Griswolds are headlining on the main Federation stage. They'll be joined by L-Fresh the Lion, All Our Exes Live in Texas and Purple Sneakers DJs. There will also be three more stages, featuring a wide range of acts from kids' music to DJs and rap. In addition to over 40 food stalls, Newtown Locals — a group comprising Black Star Pastry, Bloodwood, Brewtown Newtown, N2 Gelato, Young Henrys and Mary's among others — are collaborating to create five dishes for $10 especially for the festival. Also returning to the festival is the ever-popular Writer's Tent, which will include talks from Jane Caro, Melina Marchetta, Holly Throsby and David Hunt. For the first time, the festival will also include an exhibition of portraits by Jo Wallace, the brains behind Humans of Newtown. And, of course, it wouldn't be the Newtown Festival without the Dog Show, which will be on from 9.30-11am (with registration from 9am).
Parramatta has scored an epic new dining hub. We would say restaurant, but the term is inadequate. This long-anticipated culinary empire comes with two levels, indoor-outdoor seating for 150, a bar, a bakery and an onsite coffee roastery. In fact, a cheeky $4 million have been poured into its creation. The Emporium made a sneaky opening on Monday, April 6. And even though it’s yet to officially launch (that’ll be happening on May 21) and hasn’t hit the press in a major way, it’s been nonetheless attracting ravenous locals in their hundreds. Head chef Robert Cannon (formerly of Pony Lounge and Dining in The Rocks) has created a contemporary Australian menu, with flashes of Mediterranean tastiness. Right now, the dishes are limited to nine, with a more extensive menu to be launched at the end of April. Meanwhile, the coffee roaster is a 25 kilogram beast, which has been imported from Germany, and can take care of 600 kilograms of beans per day. There’s been no scrimping on the interior, either. Handcrafted marble tables have been imported from Venice, brickwork has been exposed, fresh flowers have been arranged. “We've got a lot of plans, we've got a lot going on,” Domenic Borel (ex-Gazebo and The Local Taphouse, now Emporium's general manager) told Good Food. “We'll be taking over the whole building by the end of the year and we'll have private wine rooms upstairs. We've got an application in for a sky bar — a champagne and oyster bar on the roof. And we've also made an offer on another restaurant quite close by. We're going to do a high-end fish restaurant." The Emporium, located at 51 Phillip Street, Parramatta, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with food served until 11.30pm. Via Good Food.
Dumpling devotees, your potential for satisfactory feasting in the CBD is seriously expanding. This spring, two of Sydney’s most gifted dumpling makers are moving into Pitt Street: Tim Ho Wan and New Shanghai. Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant on the planet, began cooking up its fresh-to-order dumplings in Hong Kong in 2009. In March this year, the eatery launched its first ever venture outside South-East Asia — in Chatswood. Now, it’s expanding its Sydney presence, with the establishment of three new shopfronts. Two will be in the city — inside Pitt Street Mall's Westfield and at 580 George Street, while the other is heading for Burwood Westfield. We don’t have exact opening dates, but Tim Wo Han’s Facebook page is promising they’ll be ready by summer. Meanwhile, fellow Chatswood dweller New Shanghai, which already has eateries in Ashfield and Bondi Junction (among other lucky, lucky locations), is also coming for the CBD. According to the restaurant’s website, city workers will be chowing down on its soupy, crispy, pan-fried pork buns and crab xiao long bao by early October. We expect New Shanghai will also be importing its trademark 1930s Shanghai-inspired interior design and open-plan kitchen, where diners can watch the dumpling making in glorious action. Tim Ho Wan will open this summer at Westfield Sydney, 580 George Street and Westfield Burwood. New Shanghai will open October 2015 at Westfield Sydney. Can't wait for dumplings? Sink your teeth into Sydney's eight best dumpling houses here.
It's not every music festival that feels like a country weekend fete — and it's definitely not every music festival that feels like a country fete while being headlined by Rodriguez. But, hey, that's exactly what Fairgrounds 2016 promises to be. After a stellar debut last year — with Father John Misty headlining, no less — the boutique camping festival in the small NSW town of Berry is coming back this December. And the lineup has two big thumbs up from us. Taking over the local Berry Showgrounds on December 2 and 3, the two-day festival is making a triumphant return — much to the delight of everyone who went last year (including us). In a huge coup for the small festival in its second year, they've secured the legendary Rodriguez to headline on the Friday night. It's something of a self-fulfilling prophecy as the film in which Rodriguez is the subject, Searching for Sugar Man, was screened at the festival last year. Like last year, they've also nabbed some talent from Victoria's Meredith Music Festival, which will take place the weekend following Fairgrounds. In great news for NSW-bound music lovers, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Jagwar Ma, Angel Olsen and Japandroids will all be doing back-to-back festival weekends. There's a notable Aussie music presence (go team), with old hats The Drones and the ever-talented Sarah Blasko both playing the festival, along with Big Scary, who should be releasing their new album any day now. With a strong focus on the local NSW South Coast area, Fairgrounds isn't just about the tunes. Last year local nosh, 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 films 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 warmed 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. We can't wait to do it all again this year. But we know what you're here for. Here's the full lineup. FAIRGROUNDS FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Rodriguez King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Angel Olsen Big Scary Jagwar Ma Japandroids Julia Jacklin Julien Baker Sarah Blasko Sheer Mag Son Little The Drones The Tallest Man on Earth By Shannon Connellan and Lauren Vadnjal. Image: Andy Fraser.
As part of Parramatta Nights, the richly diverse Street Festival is rolling into the western CBD, bringing with it celebration, flavour and a juicy squeeze of live music. Over two weekends this March, Phillip Street and surrounds will play host to five outdoor stages, which will be taken to by both local and international performers. Experience the thrill of being in the bustling crowd at a live music event again, while you bop to Jamaican dancehall or vibe-heavy R&B, before catching a Korean rap set or the joyous brassy notes of a jazz performance. Scoot on down to Phillip Street at 5pm on Friday, March 18, to start your festivities with the community Holi celebration, bearing witness to (and participating in) the smoky rainbow of colours filling the air. On the opening weekend, you can also groove to an energetic mix of Sister Nancy and Legal Shot Sound at the Erby Place Block Party. Weekend two is sure to get the crowds going too, with the Pist Idiots taking their Australian rock tunes straight to the Justice Stage. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Erby Place boasts a female- and non-binary-led lineup, with Jesswar and Kymie front and centre. Street Festival also has a stellar cast of bites to keep energy levels sky high. Archie Rose will be behind the bar mixing gin-laden cocktails, and tastes from all over will be dished out by the likes of Butter, Flavours of Spain and the Raza Central food truck, which will be serving up flavour-laden El Salvadorian favourites like piping-hot pupusas (grilled tortillas filled with cheese) and accompanying horchata. Street Festival is free to enter. Under-18s will be required to have a parent or guardian present. To find out more and explore the full program, head to the website.
Sydney Contemporary is back for its fifth year, once again taking over Carriageworks for an annual celebration of all things art from September 12–15. As is usually the case, this year will be the biggest yet, with over 450 artists from 34 countries exhibiting their work. The opening night party on Thursday, September 12 promises to once again be among the year's biggest art bashes. On the night, visitors will catch a glimpse of thousands of new contemporary artworks, alongside eight performances — including Tony Albert's Confessions and the premiere of Nell's Ghost Songs for Rock Gate. Not to mention the afterparty, which we, your mates at Concrete Playground, are hosting with Campari at Earl's Juke Joint. The art fair been been collated in partnership with more than 95 galleries — those include international heavy hitters like Kyoto's Cohju Contemporary Art, Paris's Nil Gallery, Cape Town's Worldart and New York's Flowers Gallery. As far as local galleries go, expect entries from Roslyn Oxley9 and Sullivan+Strumpf, and a focus on Indigenous and emerging artists. Interactive art also takes centre stage with Australian artist Joan Ross presenting her virtual reality work Did you ask the river?, which depicts an unsettling 3D colonial landscape. Other large-scale installations include Gregory Hodge's Suspension Painting, Michael Lindeman's text-based sculpture Thanks and Alex Seton's carved marble skull Winners are Grinners. Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro have teamed up, too — creating the site-specific Tower of Power, which can be climbed for panoramic views of the fair. Free talks will be on offer throughout the event, as will performances by the likes of Rainbow Chan, Marcus Whale and Hong Kong artist Movana Chen — she is presenting an ongoing performance series, titled Body Container Container Comes to Life. Paper Contemporary also returns for 2019 with a showcase of modern printmaking, artist books and other works on paper. And, once you need a break from all that art, head to one of three bars — featuring champagne from Taittinger, Campari cocktails and Handpicked Wines — or to the pop-up restaurants for snack breaks. Tickets to the afterparty will set you back 50 bucks, otherwise you can check out the fair at your leisure across the four days for $26. It'll be open from12–5pm on Thursday, 12–8pm on Friday, and 11am–6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Check out the full program over here, and be sure to nab tickets while you still can. Images: Jacquie Manning.
The high priestess of dark rock is coming to Australia — PJ Harvey is the very first artist announced for Sydney Festival 2016. Locked in to play an exclusive performance at Sydney's shiny new International Convention Centre on Sunday, January 22, Harvey will be backed by her ten-piece band for a career-spanning set. It's been a while between drinks — Harvey hasn't performed in Australia since her 2012 Sydney Festival concert. It's a new live show for the UK indie rock legend, one that's already toured Europe and the US and features all your favourite early classics and newer material. It's also one of the first concerts announced for Sydney's epic $1.5 billion ICC, with all round nice guy but undeniably less badass Keith Urban recently announced as the very first artist for the new venue. PJ Harvey plays ICC Sydney Theatre in Darling Harbour on Sunday, January 22. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 8am AEST from Sydney Festival's website. An allocation of tickets will also be held for Sydney Festival customers, on sale from 27 October.
White rabbits, tea parties, royal megalomaniacs — outside Lewis Carroll's gloriously twisted imagination, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is meant for the stage. And next year, you'll be able to see this dark, surreal and twisted tale as a ballet, with the Australian Ballet announcing the Australian premiere today. Headlining the Australian Ballet's 2017 program, announced in Sydney today, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will complete the season in Melbourne in September and Sydney in December. Spearheaded by legendary choreographer Christoper Wheeldon and scored by Joby Talbot, Alice will be brought to life by the Australian Ballet in what they're calling "magnificent detail". Think Broadway-level. Designer Bob Crowley will throw as many immersive digital projections, wigs and masks, puppets and intricate costumes as he can at this one. Alice is one of three mainstage shows for the Ballet's 2017 season featuring female leads, joined by the return of artistic director David McAllister's highly opulent production of The Sleeping Beauty and radical modern reworking of Nutcracker – The Story of Clara. "It's a season defined by exquisite performance and the adventures of three extraordinary women," says McAllister. "We fall down the rabbit hole with Alice in Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, we follow the life of a Russian ballerina who arrives in Australia in Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker – The Story of Clara, and then Princess Aurora leads a cast of fairytale characters as she searches for her Prince in The Sleeping Beauty." Keen for something a little more contemporary? The Australian Ballet is continuing their dedication to body-stretching modern triple bills with Faster — if you've caught the Ballet's previous tri-slam dunks like Triptych and Vanguard, you'll know how quickly you'll enrol in yoga after seeing one of these sexy, sexy works. Faster will see three of the world's leading choreographers create one diverse work, featuring an Olympics-inspired work scored by Australian composer Matthew Hindson, an Australian premiere of new work by Wayne McGregor scored by Steve Reich, and a new work by Australian Ballet resident choreographer Tim Harbour, architect Kelvin Ho and lighting designer Benjamin Cisterne. In big news, the Australian Ballet will also perform a free outdoor event, Ballet Under the Stars, in Sydney's West. And if you show up at the wrong venue for the mainstage productions, take note — due to the closure of the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House in the second half of 2017, Capitol Theatre will be the primary venue for November and December 2017. There's plenty more where that came from, including a Melbourne-only, young choreographer-focused production of George Balanchine's Symphony in C. Check the website for dates, tickets and more info.
If it's been a while between Chardonnays with you and Orange, or if you've never actually ventured to the regional foodie hub of New South Wales, now's your time to make amends. On Sunday, November 26, Sydneysiders can take in the best of Orange's food and wine on the waterfront — Taste Orange is headed for Barangaroo. Taste your way through NSW's 'food basket' with some of the regions best wineries offering tastings, including Cumulus Estate, Gilbert by Simon Gilbert, Highland Heritage Estate, Logan Wines, Philip Shaw Wines, Slow Wine Co. and Ross Hill Wines. Seriously, if you haven't tasted a Phillip Shaw Chardonnay, get amongst it. But you're going to want some high quality, Orange-grown nibbles with that vino. Taste's food offerings include kangaroo sliders from Dreamtime Tuka, Indigenous Cultural Adventures and sweet treats using native ingredients from Bush Tucka. Barangaroo eateries like Wild Sage, Anason and Bel & Brio will also set up stalls for the day. Entry to the festival is free, but you'll have to purchase all food and wine once you're in. It's $5 for a wine glass and and then you can choose between $8 per full glass of wine (120ml) or $4 per half glass (60ml) for the tastings. If you don't want to wait in line, you can purchase a $40 tasting pack online before you head in, which gets you ten tokens for either five glasses or ten half glasses.
It's an accepted truth that the best things in life are free. But when it comes to the dating game, the best things are actually kinda pricey. Now, we're all keen to impress that Tinder hottie with seafood buffets, bottles of Moët and sweeping romantic gestures, but they're not what all dates are made of. Even those on a beer drinker's budget can take a lucky someone out on a sweet date. In fact, a cheap, activity-based date could be the best way to get to know your potential new lover without the pressure of trying to elegantly eat crab without splattering some on your face. Dating doesn't have to be all low-lit wine bars and fancy restaurants. It can be outdoors, in art galleries or at the pub — and it can be, you know, actually fun. [caption id="attachment_577886" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Anita Peeples.[/caption] GO BUSH(WALKING) Now, you may not want your potential new bae to see you sweating like a pig, dragging your failing body through the scrub and panting like a baboon in heat. But hear us out: it's free. Completely free! And if you can keep a lid on the sweating and moaning (save it for later *winks*), hiking through the lush bush or along a craggy cliff and quoting Walt Whitman poems (that you memorised that morning) could be a pretty cute date. Sydney has some stunning walks through the bush, along the beach and up mountains, while Melbourne boasts some sweet city hikes that'll keep your heart rate down. [caption id="attachment_578074" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Meghan Yabsley.[/caption] GO FOR A LONG BIKE RIDE Again, the idea of exercising with a new friend might gross you out, but, again, it's very free. You'll get to show off your activewear in a legitimate setting, fooling your new love into thinking you're sporty. Plus, bike riding is pretty easy if you have a bike with many, many gears and choose a path devoid of large vehicles and hills. Take your pick from our best bike tracks in Melbourne and Sydney. If you keep the speed down in order to chat and pack a cute, protein-heavy picnic, you'll be telling your grandkids about this date one day. Or your friends at the pub later. Either way. [caption id="attachment_577854" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Adrianna Calvo[/caption] CHECK OUT SOME LOCAL GALLERY OPENINGS If your new boo is an art fanatic, puff yourself up (while keeping your wallet plump) by taking them to an art show. The best thing about local art events is that they're usually cheap (or even free) and serve up equally cheap or free booze, leaving most of your date budget for a bohemian night of shenanigans. Nothing will put your date in the mood for a bottle of red wine on a rooftop or sharing Pez while strolling along the beach than a night of rebellious art — a reminder than you're only young and foolish once. IMPRESS THEM WITH USELESS KNOWLEDGE AT TRIVIA As mid-week trivia nights are generally populated by poor students and bohemian grown-ups, the getting is good (but cheap). It's a smooth idea for the group date, to introduce your date to your friends or — if you want to create a little us-against-the-world division — go it alone in a team of two. Perhaps one of the most romantic features of a trivia night is the standard 'phones away' rule which should, frankly, be a rule at all social occasions. Make sure you've got some conversation topics up your sleeve though because you won't be able to hide behind your phone if the chat dries up. (But don't worry, you're gonna do just fine.) SET UP A CUTE PICNIC This is a classic first date idea — and even though you're being a cheapskate, you can pass it off as sweet. The trick is to put some pre-planning into the park selection (a Melbourne secret garden is always a safe bet). If you want a talking point and potential puppy pats, woo them at one of Sydney's best dog parks. A few more tips: avoid playgrounds (which are often riddled with children), plan for the weather (no one likes a soggy sandwich) and learn the scientific names of the surrounding plants so you can really impress. And as the location is free, you can drop all your funds into a lush picnic basket stuffed full of cheese, bikkies and wine.
Fans of photography and public art should head down to OPEN at Darling Quarter this month for Sweet Country Stills Exhibition, a collection of stunning behind-the-scenes images captured by four stills photographers during the shooting of Warwick Thornton's new Australian period western, Sweet Country. You'll be able to see 16 large-scale photographs by Tamara Dean, Warwick Baker, Mark Rogers and Michael Corridore, who captured portraits of the cast and locations on the fly during the movie's tight filming schedule in Alice Springs. Expect shots of actors (including Hamilton Morris, Natassia Gorey-Furber, Anni Finsterer, Thomas M. Wright, Bryan Brown and Sam Neill) alongside breathtaking desert landscapes. Bill Dimas from Sydney's aMBUSH Gallery — who is producing the exhibition — says the photographs allow viewers a glimpse into a process normally hidden to them, revealing "both the intensity and pure joy of filmmaking". The exhibition is free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Catch it before February 25. Image: Tamara Dean, Still, Sweet Country Photo Series, 2017.
They send coffee beans into space, shoot fireworks you can taste into the sky and make cocktails tailored to your individual DNA in Dubai. With their fantastical fusion of art and food, UK-based 'jellymongers' Bompas & Parr are basically our patron saints around the Concrete Playground office. Who wouldn't want to attend one of their playful and painstakingly constructed events? For the happy campers at Dark Mofo, that's what's set to happen in a big way. As part of the Unconscious Collective's art sleepover Wild at Heart, the duo will create a feast that nods to Pagan traditions through hunting, gathering, sacrifice, ritual and some intensely primal dishes. With our eyes wide and mouths properly drooling, we got Sam Bompas on the line for a lowdown on what to expect at his Feed the Beast feast. And even more than that, we wanted to know what a person so used to thinking laterally about the potential of food has to say about current dining trends and the Australian culinary scene. His answers may surprise you. You and Harry [Parr, the other half of Bompas & Parr] started working together as jellymongers, but I see increasingly more stories about non-jelly-related experiences you've created these days. How did that evolution happen? I think quite naturally. When we started out we just wanted to do something fun on the weekend, and jelly held the key. We set up the jelly company but within a month we were moving on to full catering, doing a 12-course Victorian breakfast in Warwick castle, coordinating a thousand calories arriving on people's plates from three separate kitchens. So we moved quite quickly from jelly into doing everything. And I think really the reasoning behind that was wanting to give people really engaging, emotionally compelling experiences and in order to do that we were looking at controlling everything, from venue and set design to uniform design to choreography, rituals, scripting, staff, right through the plates and everything else. So I guess it was pretty ambitious. Obviously it takes a much bigger team of creatives to make all of this happen. Is your workplace basically Wonka's Chocolate Factory? Like that, but perhaps a little more adult. A lot of the projects we work on, some of them are very, very child-friendly — so we just did something that Willy Wonka would be proud of, a flavour-changing chewing gum factory — but some of the projects are a lot more adult, so things like the installation we've got up at the Museum of Sex in New York at the moment, which is looking at fairgrounds and eroticism, the pleasures and perils of the erotic fairground. You've been to Australia a few times now with your work. What did you find out about Australian food while you were here? I've got to say, when the Australian chefs I know come over to London, I'm always very, very interested because I think that in certain sectors Australia leads the world by about six months or so, in things like juicing culture, coffee culture, a lot of their F&D, and I'm obviously interested in some of the more unusual ingredients as well which are just totally native to Australia ... I was amazed last time I came across, I went to Africola, the restaurant in Adelaide, and I was served up a whole cow's head with brains still in, and of course, coming from England that's about the most taboo food you could ever imagine, in the aftermath of BSE [mad cow disease], so that was a pretty feral dining experience for me and absolutely blew me away. That's great for us Aussies to hear, because we have this cultural cringe, where we presume everything we do is a bit backwards. Did your visit give you any ideas you wanted to pursue? Seeing the cow's head sparked us to push even further what was totally acceptable for us to put on the table. Everyone here is obsessed with what is called the 'unholy union' of Cadbury chocolate and Vegemite. Have you heard about this? Oh wow. Not at all. Who claims to have discovered this? Cadbury's produced it. It's on the shelves. Really? They're very innovative. I guess so. We're just discovering how deep their imagination can stretch. So would you eat Vegemite chocolate? I'm never shy to try something once. Most people's reaction is 'yuck'. So is that yuck impulse something you like to trust, or interrogate? Well I think it's always culturally constructed. I've read a lot of research that says you can grow to like anything after you become acclimatised, and actually grow to love it. So once you know that, then you're kind of up for eating anything. Quite often when I travel my host will try to put the most harrowing things on the table just to test me, but I always quite like that challenge. So whether it's live, squirming tentacles that if you don't chew them stick to the back of your throat in South Korea or strange and rare fruits in Hawaii, I love pushing what I feel are my own limits. Insects are starting to become a thing here. You've probably eaten a few insects in your time? Yeah. There's a lot of chat about it. We did a whole insect banquet as part of something around Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, god, four or five years ago now. I'm not convinced insects are the future for our diets but I do think that they might help with animal feed and animal protein. I'm much more interested in the creative potential of genetic manipulation. I did imagine that you would be more excited than worried about GM. Well of course there are ethical concerns but as long as you navigate them in a sensible and conscientious manner I think there's some good work to be done. Back to the present. There's also this rise at the moment in food that's a challenge. You know, it's either impossible to make, or it's some kind of monstrous hybrid, or it looks like it could give you a heart attack. What is that about do you think? And do you see that kind of instinct in people as fuelling interest in your own work? I think for me, it's feeding into how across the board people are using food to define their personal sense of identity and to perform identity in front of others as well. So whether that's you're eating your glucose-free, lactose-free light salads and you're telling the story to people of you as a yoga babe, or savage dude food — all of it, of course, going up on Instagram to tell people what an interesting, amazing life you have. And I think it's exciting too. What it has meant is, given that people are using food in this way, as a signifier of status and signifier of identity, there's been an increasing amount of resources put into food and concern about food and what people are eating, and generally an overall lift up in food knowledge, which I think can only be a good thing. Absolutely. Australia certainly has a big foodie culture. Probably safe to say it eclipses our interest in stuff like art and art appreciation. Your work obviously combines both food and art. So what is the connection you see between the two areas? Basically no one eats our food because they're in need of more calories — in actual fact, they're often avoiding calories. They tend to eat our food for entertainment, and personally I consider both arts and food offshoots of the entertainment industry. So if you come to one of our events rather than going to the opera, going for a nice swim, making love, sitting at the pub talking about mermaids or whatever you like to talk about, it has to be really rather compelling. I guess one of the good things about food is it's a wonderful arena to give people an interesting and emotive experience and I think that's what the best art seeks to do. Foodie culture obviously has a lot of benefits — the increased knowledge, as you were saying. But do you think there are any downsides from being too narrowly focused on food? I think you've got to look at the word 'foodie' itself, is a pejorative term. It was invented in the 1970s by Paul Levy as a descriptive of someone who's too concerned about food to the point of missing other things in life. I think it is important to have balance, but if you look at a lot of our installations, while the food is important, we address a lot of the attention to other elements as well, just to give people a total experience, one that's very legible and understandable. I find sometimes very cheffy food becomes difficult to read; it becomes something that only the food elite can possibly understand. But what I'm interested in is a much more inclusive approach to food. Your banquet in Tasmania, Wild at Heart, is based around pagan themes. It seems pretty perfect for Dark Mofo, which also includes a nude solstice swim. Is that where the inspiration came from? With the banquet we've been collaborating with the Unconscious Collective, and they set the theme, but it's a theme we've been very delighted to explore, expand on and run with. It's so hairy and muscular you can really gorge on it, as we hope that participants will be gorging on the feast as well. There are two components. On the first night, it's more of a gentle, campfire-type scenario, spiced up with flamethrowers, bombfires and roadkill jerky and drinking from actual skull cups hollowed out of a whole variety of animal skulls. And that will actually be up and remain up way beyond the original launch to ensure that everyone can pop down. Then we move on to the Feed the Beast banquet, which is exploring all the many different facets of the beast and the animals we all contain within ourselves. Sounds primal. It should be pretty savage. And it's something that I'm quite excited to explore, because when you start feeding people, you become quite aware of just how thin that line of civility is that divides us from the animal kingdom ... So what we want to do with this event and meal is give people the opportunity, the excuse and legitimacy to explore the beast within them, with things [from] blood and beating hearts to epic steaming hunks of spit roast wild deer that's actually just been hunted by [Tasmanian chef] Ross O'Meara to the more amorous side, so exploring tales of aphrodisiacs. There'll definitely be a lot of nudity. And not all of it probably our performers. One of the things we're looking at is creating an actual beating pig's heart that materialises as part of the starter, and it's literally there pumping fluids around, so it feels very visceral, very alive. We then take this live heart, slice it up and sautee it so it comes back served up for the first course. I don't know that anyone's done that before, so there should be a few world firsts. Can you tell us anything else you've got planned for the 'rituals' in the event? We've got lots of rituals around blood. Almost like a whole meditative cleanse around hand washing as well. I'm also very inspired by a chap called Grimod de La Reynière, who was kind of the first proper restaurant critic and if you ask me a far better gourmet and food writer than his contemporary Brillat-Savarin, who everyone normally refers to. And he hosted a very decadent banquet in which all the guests arrived, they had their hands washed, and then they dried their hands on the hair of all the waitstaff, which I think is really, particularly creepy. So we'll try to channel some of those energies as well. Delightful. I want to ask you about some of your past works that we've covered on the site. You recently held an anatomical whiskey tasting. So I want to know, were people more excited to drink from a 20-year-old or a 50-year-old? Well we went from 25 to 39, and I think the thing that was wonderful was as the age went up, so the whiskey got more and more elaborate. We actually had a 63-year-old volunteer to be the vessel for one of them, although the only 63-year-old whiskey we could find was going to cost us a hundred and twenty thousand pounds, which got pretty full on ... The thing that I liked was how people interacted with one another. You started off with what was originally a sort of awkward situation, twenty strangers in a room on Valentine's Day, all licking whiskey from the naked, supine body of someone who they've never met and who's just told them the story of their life in fifteen minutes, and even with that, very rapidly, galvanized by some of the world's finest whiskies, they very quickly formed bonds. What about the lava barbecue? People had to get 500 friends together to make that happen. So did anyone get 500 friends together? We're still working on that. We're speaking to a couple of people at the moment. That would be my ultimate, ultimate project. That was far and away the best week I've ever had, and far and away the quickest cook as well, given that it is blazing at one thousand three hundred and fifty degrees Celsius. So you just need to find someone who can gather 500 people? Five hundred people and quite a hefty budget. 500 people and much money. We'll work on it. And with regards to jelly, have you come across a building you couldn't make into jelly, or are there buildings that work better than others? Modern architecture doesn't work; anything with a steel core doesn't work particularly well. Towers don't work very well at all. They obviously look phallic as buildings, but even more so when rendered in jelly. We made the Empire State Building and it had to get pulled from American morning television because it was just way too threatening ... But actually the buildings that tend to work best are historic stone architecture. And the reason for that is that as it gets higher then it goes in at the top, and that gives jelly just the right amount of stability. So some of the really good jellies we've made are actually Flinders Street Station and the Melbourne War Memorial, which was a really good one. But the Sydney Opera House might be harder? It sort of tapers in at the top; it works quite well. That's a firm favourite and regularly made as jelly. You already sell 'space beans' [coffee beans that have travelled to space] on the site. Are there any plans to expand the products people can buy? We often have plans we're not totally good at realising. To do products you have to have a firm focus and keep on rolling on it for a good long while. The inception and the creative frenzy of the first bit is soon replaced by actually having to go out and sell the product. The bit we like doing is all the creative bits, which is why I guess we stick with events and things. That's reasonable. But we'll keep our fingers crossed for some kind of amazing chocolate bar. It would be fun to do. I guess we've just got way too short attention spans so far. Wild at Heart is part of the festival Dark Mofo, which is on from June 12 – 22 in Hobart. The event is sold out, so if you don't have a ticket, you'll just have to watch your friends go savage from afar.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with their instructor, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will be held at Sydney's Luna Park and is probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. After a sold out event at Luna Park in April, you better snap up some tickets quickly, as this one's set to be bigger and better than the last.
One crew make seriously good wine. The other make seriously killer parties happen around Sydney. Now they're joining forces for an epic wine-fuelled hootenanny atop one of Sydney's high-flying buildings. Which rooftop? That's a big ol' secret. Sydney DJ collective Lovebombs has teamed up with Redfern-based vino lovers Cake Wines for one huge secret rooftop party. Kicking off from 2pm and running until 9pm, the innards of the party will see locally-made, top notch wine a-flowin', beats a-crankin' and eats a-cookin'. On the decks? FBi Radio Sunset bosses Simon Caldwell and Preacha, Astral People's Mike Who and Lovebombs DJs all afternoon. In your mouth? Cake Wines o'course, along with beer, cider and a few cheeky spirits, and you can chow down on a gourmet kransky topped with caramelized onions and served with quinoa salad ($15). Bring along your cash, as your ticket doesn't cover nosh or booze. The secret location will be revealed on the day of the party via text message and/or email. Apparently it'll be somewhere in the CBD, so stay tuned.
There's the parade, yes. But before that, nearly a month of cultural and celebratory events of all stripes makes up the festival of Sydney Mardi Gras, and there's something for everybody, even Straighty McStraight-Straight. Who relates absolutely and 100 percent to the social expectations of their gender and sexuality? Nobody, probably. And that's something to love, savour, and take away from this most iconic of Sydney events. This year, there's a fair day, art you can dance to, an intergalactic gay wizard and some steamy literary readings, among all the parties between February 20 and March 8. With gay marriage rights firmly on the agenda again this year, 2015's Mardi Gras will definitely be one that's remembered.
