Good news and bad news, dessert lovers. The good news is that Gelato Messina, Andy Bowdy Pastry and New York ice cream kings Big Gay Ice Cream are teaming up for a night of sugary extravagance unlike anything you've ever seen. Dubbed Superbowl Sundae, the event will bring together some of the most delectable names in dessert for a two hour seminar and party. There'll be ice-cream, cakes and scintillating conversation, the latter presumably conducted in between mouthfuls of the former. Basically it's everything a card-carrying dessert addict could desire. The bad news? Tickets have already been well and truly gobbled up. It's cruel really, announcing something this spectacular when there are only 40 places available. Guess they underestimated how much Sydneysider's love sugar. Anyone who did manage to nab themselves a ticket will get the chance to talk to (and be fed by) Messina head chef Donato Toce, pastry czar Andy Bowdy and Big Gay Ice Cream founders Bryan Petroff and Douglas Quint. The rest of us will have to make do with trawling the internet for pictures and dreaming about what could have been. Rocky Roadhouse: almonds, chocolate bits and mini-marshmallows with some Maldon salt. In Dalton's legendary words, "FAT DON'T HURT!" Repost from @jamiehannn. #thefattening ・・・ nsfw A photo posted by 💃🏼🍦💃🏼 (@biggayicecream) on Mar 10, 2016 at 6:02pm PST
Food will fly thick and fast at a brand new community initiative in Western Sydney, led by the Museum of Contemporary Art. Part of the museum's C3West community program led by local artists Diego Bonetto and Branch Nebula (Lee Wilson and Mirabelle Wouters), FOOD FIGHT is the result of a partnership with Genevieve Murray of Future Method Studio, and aims to raise awareness about food security in Liverpool and South Western Sydney through workshops, performances, cooking demonstrations and choreographed culinary combat. Set to take place in Liverpool's Bigge Park on the evening of Saturday, April 30, the event will feature market stalls, cooking shows, projections and live performances, before culminating in an epic food fight and 100-seat al fresco banquet. The artists will also collaborate with various local partners, including Foodbank, OzHarvest and Youth Food Movement Australia, on a series of community engagement workshops. "Our aim with this FOOD FIGHT project is twofold," said Bonetto. "We want to create a fun and engaging event that serves as a wake-up call and conversation starter on a hidden issue; whilst also celebrating the community champions and everyday heroes who fight for food security in the local area, one meal at a time." According to recent statistics, roughly two million Australians rely on food relief programs every year, while close to a million children go without breakfast or dinner each day. "The issue of food security barely raises an eyebrow in our society. Yet it is an issue which continues to worsen," said Foodbank NSW business development manager Tony Gatt. "In NSW alone, over 90,000 people rely on Foodbank's emergency food relief each month." "This is why initiatives such as FOOD FIGHT as so important," Gatt continued. "Anything we can do collectively to break down the veil of ignorance about food security, build empathy and address the stigma associated with food relief is a step in the right direction." For more information about FOOD FIGHT, go here.
Your lords might not be a-leaping nor your maids a-milking quite yet. But, to make sure your Christmas dinner goes to plan, it’s time to start a-booking. After all, as soon as that Melbourne Cup starter gun goes off, you’ll know you’re in the home straight. So, here’s a few ideas to get your geese a-laying from Urban Purveyor Group. From big companies to smaller startups, it's not the easiest to find a Sydney restaurant for a work or family Christmas do. UPG have venues catering for groups of ten to 3000 and tailored packages aplenty, so there'll be something to fit your outing in the collection. If their champagne-fuelled brunches are anything to go by, the French-inspired Ananas Bar & Brasserie is bound to be a winner. This year, they’ve delivered some extraordinary creations, from a Mad Hatter's feast with a dessert fairyland to a spooky Halloween buffet with an edible graveyard. Steak and seafood fiends might be more at home at New York-inspired eatery The Cut Bar and Grill. Christmas shindigs, which might include this killer banquet menu, are available for small groups and massive parties — and you can even chat to the team about matching wines with your work dinner. Then, at Sake, you can usher in the season Japanese-style either in The Rocks or Double Bay. Their contemporary culinary approach covers both classics and experimental dishes. Three set menus, varying from the chef’s selection to new classics to signature dishes (check out the menus here), offer plenty of choice. Plus, they do sushi-making classes if you're after a less obvious team building type of Christmas activity. Finally, if beer is crucial to your festive cheer, there’s The Argyle, Bavarian Bier Cafe and Lowenbrau. The former’s menu is absolutely huge and lets you eat anyway you like — from share platters to woodfired pizzas — and the heritage-listed, sandstone courtyard is great for summery evenings. The latter guarantees a party atmosphere, a gigantic beer list and stacks of hearty fare. Of course, you might want your own space for Christmas get-togethers, and there's private dining spaces aplenty in every one of these venues. For example, even on a regular day Ananas has innovative two- and three-course set menus available and a variety of spaces for a quirky Christmas outing option — try Le Salon, which fits up to 44 guests, or the whole venue fits 300 for bigger companies. To make a booking, get in touch with Urban Events.
Start planning your costumes, brush up on your heaps sick macaroni necklace skills and dig out your ol' faithful tent. One Australia's best and most beloved festivals, Secret Garden Festival, is back for another year, announcing the 2016 festival dates today. Returning to the festival's hallowed and not-so-secret-anymore location outside of Sydney, Secret Garden is celebrating its eighth year over February 26 and 27. And what's more, they're expanding (a little). Donning a bigger sunhat than ever, Secret Garden will be taking place over two full days and nights on Friday and Saturday, giving 'Gardeners' more live music, dress-ups, art installations, face painting, craft, lawn games, love and glitter than ever. But as usual, in true SG tradition, the lineup will not be revealed until after the tickets go on sale — that's at 9am on Wednesday, November 11. As always, proceeds from ticket and bar sales will go toward charity — and these guys have donated more than $200,000 to Oxfam, The Boys and Girls Brigade and the Sarah Hilt Foundation. Noice. Capacity hasn't changed even though the festival program has, so tickets are going to evaporate. Sign up for the presale at Secret Garden's fancy new website if you're keen to nab a spot at the festival. And you will — last year Client Liaison brought confetti cannons so... yeah. Secret Garden Festival returns to its (sort of) secret location on February 26 and 27, 2016. General tickets are on sale at 11am on Wednesday, November 11 from Secret Garden's website. Images: Anna Warr, Jack Toohey.
The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has announced announced one of its most all-round thumbs-up inducing lineups yet, with the UK's dynamic duo of crisp dancefloor gems at the top: Disclosure. With a shiny new album brimming with singles, Disclosure are returning to Sydney to play live pickings from newbie Caracal along with favourites from their wildly popular debut Settle. The lads will be joined by fellow Brits The Wombats and Django Django, the insanely visceral RL Grime, Australia's beloved beats duo Flight Facilities, and the legendary Pusha T, amongst one heck of a killer lineup. Local legends aren't scarce this year, with the likes of Ta-Ku (live), San Cisco, Allday, SAFIA, Com Truise and more locked in for NYD sets. Returning to The Domain on New Year's Day, January 1, 2016, Field Day proves once again that some lineups are worth skipping the last NYE UDL for. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after. FIELD DAY 2016 LINE-UP: Disclosure (live) Flight Facilities The Wombats Pusha T RL Grime Golden Features Halsey Skepta Boys Noize Seth Troxler Django Django Ta-Ku (live) Zeds Dead Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (dj set) San Cisco Allday Daniel Avery SAFIA Young Fathers Com Truise The Avener Snakehips Tuka Luke Million Sam Feldt JOY. Ngaiire Motorik + triple j Unearthed Artist and many more Field Day returns to The Domain on January 1, 2016. Tickets on sale Tuesday, October 13 at midday from Field Day's website. Image: Field Day/AP Photography.
Good news, health nuts. Beloved organic grocer and cafe Bondi Wholefoods are about to cut the ribbon on a second store. Popping open next month in Surry Hills, Bondi Wholefood number two will bring tasty, nutritious, sustainable food to inner Sydney. Watch your back, Woolies. Details on the new Bondi Wholefoods store are as thin as a gluten-free wafer. What we do know comes from information shared on their Facebook and Instagram accounts – specifically, that the new store is currently set to open Monday December 7, and that it'll boast a much larger kitchen than their Bondi location. As for what'll feature on the menu? How's this for a tease? OMG!!!! Seriously the best cake I've ever eaten. VEGAN SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE. It's like a salted caramel cloud... Posted by Bondi Wholefoods on Tuesday, 10 November 2015 There's no way that could possibly be healthy, right? Raw sweet treats are a Wholefoods specialty, and we expect plenty to feature on the Surry Hills menu. Assuming things are more or less in line with what's on offer in Bondi, foodies in the inner-'burbs can also expect muffins, salad bowls, sandwiches and wraps alongside smoothies, fresh pressed juices, tea and coffee. For more information on the new store, keep your eyes glued to Bondi Wholefoods on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In the meantime, you can visit their original location at 30A Hastings Parade, Bondi.
The gang at Work-Shop are heading off on safari, and they're inviting all of you to come along. The latest project run by the DIY specialists will see a group of hungry guests off on a day-long foodie adventure, sampling tasty treats and beverages in picturesque surrounds. First up? A trawl along the Hawkesbury River with lunch cooked by former Longrain chef Martin Boetz. Participants in the Hawkesbury River Food Safari will gather outside Work-Shop's Redfern location at 7am sharp on Sunday, November 22. From there you'll be bussed an hour out of the city to Boetz's Cook's Co-Op, where you'll pick vegetables (so dress appropriately) and learn about the history of farming in the region. You'll also spend some time on the water with local fisherman Gary Howard, who'll discuss the importance of sustainable fishing practices and serve up freshly cooked Hawkesbury River prawns. Once you've worked up a proper appetite you'll sit down for a lunch, cooked by Boetz using the freshest local ingredients. He'll also take you through various cooking techniques, so you can attempt to replicate his methods back home. After that it's back on the bus and back to Sydney by 4pm — giving you plenty of time to upload your photos to Instagram and brag to all your friends. Tickets to Work-Shop's Hawkesbury River Food Safari cost $190 plus a $5.74 booking fee. There are only 30 spaces available, so best get in quick. Images by Luisa Brimble.
You've feasted upon endless bags of crustacean at The Norfolk's House of Crabs. Recently, Cleveland Street's seafood palace has been delving into another, more traditional means of all-you-can-eat tomfoolery: yum cha. After a hugely successful feast in May, House of Crabs is throwing another one-day-only oceanic version of yum cha on Sunday, October 4. Expect lobster doughnuts with XO mayo, popcorn bugs with lime and chilli salt, Singapore-style chilli crab, alongside 'The Boil' (South Australian mussels, Little Neck clams, Queensland prawns, Blue Swimmer Crab, Snow Crab and King Crab). If seafood isn't your only yum cha preference, there'll be Korean fried chicken ribs, barbecue duck pies, crispy Chinese chicken, steamed pork buns and spicy sichuan pork and scallop dumplings. To top it all off, there'll be fried mantou ice cream sandwiches. Being a long weekend Sunday, you'll want to grab one of the Norfolk's Bloody Marys or a sweet, sweet Fire Engine and get cracking. Just remember, be assertive, be polite and pace yourself. — just look at this lobster doughnut: House of Crabs' Yum Cha is happening on Sunday, October 4 from 11am. To book, email the team.
Last year, Jungle’s unique brand of modern soul exploded worldwide, landing them prime positions at international music festivals and a Mercury Prize-nominated debut album to boot. Earworms such as 'Time', 'The Heat', and the triple j Hottest 100 shoe-in 'Busy Earnin' (it reached number #67) made everyone wake up and pay attention. But they're no mere studio cats — Jungle's live set is one of the best excuses to bust out your dancing shoes we've seen in a while. Not content with playing around with their laptops on stage, Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson — more commonly known as J and T — will be joined by Jungle's live band, recreating their music in all its harmonic splendour. Opening the show will be Melbourne’s golden boy Oscar Key Sung, so arriving early to this gig has more advantages than just a prime position. If you're not content seeing Jungle in their set at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, get along to their sideshow while they're in town.
Need to shake up your Thursday night routine? Tired of smashing pub trivia then going to the same dumplings happy hour you've been going to all summer? (Okay, so that might be impossible to tire of.) Good news — Art Month Sydney is back with an indulgent celebration of art exhibitions, workshops, talks, tours and Precinct Nights — which means your Thursday nights in March can revolve around after-hours gallery hopping and after-partying across different pockets of the city. Grab your mates, rope in a colleague, give your trivia team a heads up — it's time for a month of art adventures. Art at Night in Chippendale and Redfern invites you to explore a stellar line up of shows on March 1 at The Japan Foundation gallery, Home@735, Verge Gallery, VANDAL, Galerie Pompom, Nanda/Hobbs and The Bearded Tit. Once you've gorged on the galleries, end your walking trail at The Lansdowne Hotel for the Art Month Opening Party, where you'll get to check out performances, live music and installations going on from 8pm. Art Month Sydney runs March 1–25, 2018. Find out more information and download a precinct map here. Image: Kieran Butler, Magic Circle for me and for you and for the power of three, 2018. Image courtesy of the artist, Kieran Butler.
Sydney will join the likes of Tokyo, Warsaw and Vienna, when the globally acclaimed Red Bull Music Academy Weekender hits the harbour city in September. Making its first ever stop in Australia, the four-day travelling festival will welcome a collection of internationally recognised artists for a series of live shows, club nights, lectures, parties and art exhibitions at some of Sydney's best-loved venues. Sounds pretty bloody terrific to us. Set for September 8-11, the Weekender lineup is headed by the seriously sold-out Flight Facilities concert with Sydney Symphony Orchestra in The Domain. There'll be a conversation and performance by house music legend Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers) on Sydney's newest permanent floating venue Seadeck. Ta-ku will make his directorial debut for his music doco (m)edian. There'll be an ambient set from Gigi Masin on Sydney Harbour with Young Marco and Jonny Nash as Gaussian Curve. Seminal LA label Stones Throw will take over Manning Bar to celebrate two decades of beats, with Beat Junkies founder and legendary turntablist J Rocc, alongside Mndsgn, Katalyst and Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf. There's a massive club night taking over Oxford Art Factory with Night Slugs' Bok Bok, Kilo Kish, Sydney's Marcus Whale,Cliques, Low Ton, Kllo, Kučka and Lewis Cancut. The whole festival will wrap up on Sunday with the Great Antipodean Reggae Soundsystem Carnival, which is one of the best names for an event we've seen in an age, and includes sets from Earthshaker Soundsystem, Heartical Hi Powa with Stryka D & Macky Banton World MC, K.B.I Soundsystem, Inner West Reggae Disco Machine and Gappy Ranks. The Weekender is one of many events to have spun-off from the Red Bull Music Academy, which boasts an 18-year history fostering musical talent and collaboration around the world. In Australia they've hosted club nights featuring the likes of Onra, Romare and Taylor McFerrin, and presented stages at Laneway and Splendour in the Grass. RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY WEEKENDER FULL LINEUP András (live) Bok Bok Cliques Dan White Dopplereffekt Earthshaker Flight Facilities Frank Booker Gappy Ranks Gaussian Curve Gigi Masin Heartical Hi-fi (Melbourne) Inner West Reggae Disco Machine J-Rocc Kano Katalyst Kbi Kilo Kish Kllo Kloke Kucka Larry Heard Lewis Cancut Lorna Clarkson Low Ton Lucy Cliché Macky Banton World MC Marcus Whale Mndsgn Noise in my Head Peanut Butter Wolf Phile Simon Caldwell Stryka D Sydney Symphony Orchestra Tako & Kamie Tiller Ta-ku Xosar By Imogen Baker and Tom Clift.
Charlotte's Little Sister has added another sibling, with the launch of their latest cafe at the Australian Technology Park. The sixth member of the highly caffeinated clan after the original Charlotte Cafe in Birchgrove as well as spinoffs in Manly, Pennant Hills, Mosman and Boronia Park, Charlotte's Little Sister Australian Technology Park will make its mark on the Eveleigh business precinct with rotisserie meats, freshly made salads and steaming Campos Coffee. Located on Central Avenue, Charlotte's Little Sister Australian Technology Park opened earlier this week. With interior design by Guru Projects and India Harris, the cafe boasts brass panelling, raw timber and Italian mosaic floor tiles, and can seat as many as 160 patrons. The menu was created by chefs Rob Clarson and Jimmy Mathers, previously of Sugar & Spoon and Pony Dining, respectively. Breakfast options include fruit salad with 'paleo crunch' and coconut yoghurt, and a BBQ bacon egg roll on freshly baked organic bread. For lunch you can grab rolls packed with everything from slow cooked grain fed pork belly, South American slaw and brown rice, to house-made falafel, eggplant puree, cucumber yoghurt and salad. Alternatively you can enjoy a spice cauliflower and eggplant salad with pickled currants, kale, coriander, almonds and tahini. There are also plans to introduce a bar menu featuring wine, beer and a range of cocktails. Until then though, you can still enjoy a fresh cup of Joe, courtesy of premium local supplier Campos Coffee. "Charlotte's Little Sister, ATP will be the first bit of community this area has seen, dedicated to superior service, great food, and exceptional coffee," said Charlotte founder Jason Ghebar. "We hope to create a social hub for those working and hanging out in the area. We understand that a break is necessary during a busy working day, and there is no better way to catch up with friends or colleagues than over good food and coffee." Charlotte's Little Sister Australian Technology Park is located at Suite 2, 1 Central Avenue, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh. Their opening hours are 6am-4pm Monday-Friday. For more information visit www.charlottecafe.com.au.
No longer do we have to imagine things like rainbow-coloured horses running through the streets — instead, American artist Nick Cave will make this vision a reality with HEARD.SYD. Involving 60 dancers and musicians and 30 colourful, life-size horse suits, the performance work will bring Sydney's streets to life, highlighting the beauty and joy of nature reimagined in contemporary art as part of the City of Sydney's Art & About program. Co-presented by Carriageworks, each horse suit is inhabited by two dancers at a time, and the performance is set to a booming soundtrack of live percussion, aiming to transform and disrupt the daily activity of Sydneysiders with an exuberant explosion of activity. HEARD·SYD is a chance for those caught up in their daily routine to escape the bustle of the city for a moment. Each performance is free for the public to watch — Cave knows that a lot of us don't have time to visit art galleries, so he's making it easier. This is the first time Nick Cave has presented a major work in Australia. One of the most important artists of his generation, he's best known for his 'soundsuits' - sculptures that combine art, fashion, dance and music. His 30 horses take inspiration from African ceremonial costumes, Tibetan textiles, and popular culture. Cave's work has political undertones — his first 'soundsuit' was created in response to racism he faces as an African-American man. When performers cover their faces and bodies they are building armour against any prejudice they may face, and viewers are forced to suspend any judgement. Two performances will take place over two days — at Pitt St Mall on Thursday November 10 at 5pm, and at Carriageworks on Saturday November 12 at 10am, and again at 12pm. Image: Nick Cave: Heard.Detroit 2015. Image courtesy of the artist and James Prinz Photogrpahy.
Clear your culinary calendar, Merivale’s epic food and wine festival March into Merivale is back for the eighth year in a row. From February 14, for five glorious weeks, you’ll be treated to pop-up feasts, international DJs, festivals-within-the-festival, dining specials, masterclasses and mystery banquets. Altogether, it’s more deliciousness and fun than we can handle — but we'll try. The extravaganza kicks off on Wednesday, February 10 with a huge launch party invading every nook and cranny of the Ivy – and spilling over into nearby laneways. Sample nearly all of Merivale’s creations in one spot, with pop-ups from Mr. Wong, The Paddington, Coogee Pavilion, est. and Papi Chulo, alongside Enmore’s soon-to-open Queen Victoria Enmore, The Newport and Fred's. In between grazing, keep your eyes peeled for live acts and roaming performers. An easy 45 bucks buys you eight food and drink tokens, which you can top up to your heart’s content all night long. When the festival starts proper on Sunday, February 14, each night of the week will be devoted to a different activity. On Fridays, the UK’s fabulous homage to pop, Guilty Pleasures, will take over Palings Kitchen and Bar with DJs, cabaret and Chandon’s Unplanned Band. Tix are $20 a pop. Meanwhile, every Saturday, Pacha will be presenting Absolut Nights, stacked with international DJs, including Trance Nation feat. EXIS (February 20), Thomas Jack (February 27), Yolanda Be Cool and Nicky Night Time (March 5), DJ Fresh (March 11) and Robin Schulz (March 26). Sundays are all about festivals. If you find yourself strapped for cash on March 6, the Coogee Rooftop will have you covered with live music and a free DJ set from Yahtzel. 20 bucks to spare? Head to the Ivy Pool Club, where L D R U will be manning the decks. Two weeks later, on March 20, it’ll be more of a family affair, when the Coogee Foreshore Festival hits the Coogee Pavilion with live music, roaming performers, games and food from Coogee Pavilion, Papi Chulo, El Loco, sushi e and Mr. Wong. Swap $25 for three food and drink tokens or $45 for six. Meanwhile, to get you through hump day, Wednesdays will be giving Merivale’s venues permission to ‘show-off’. The stand-out on this part of the program is The Establishment’s epic festival-within-the-festival, happening on March 9. All sixteen rooms of the luxurious hotel will be taken over with cocktails, theatre and tasty, tasty morsels ($75). The Wednesday before will see a return of The Establishment’s popular ‘Wok On’, combining Asian food, cocktails and hip hop beats ($45). Before that, on February 17, Palings will hold an epic ‘burger-off’ – you get to sample the work of six finalists and vote ($45); on February 24, Ash St. Cellar will transform its laneway into an outdoor European-style market, featuring stalls from from Felix, Ash St, Bistrode CBD, Lorraine’s Patisserie, The Paddington, Uccello and Palings ($45); and on March 16, Hemmesphere will be opening more than 20 top-shelf champagnes for you to work your way through ($85). For a quiet meal with a friend, look to Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays are dedicated to ‘Friends with Benefits’. Take a mate to Ash St. Cellar, Ms. G’s or Papi Chulo, and score a two-course meal, and a drink of your choice, as well as some unexpected happenings, for $45 a head. A bit more cash to splash? Do the same at Felix, Uccello, Bistrode CBD, The Paddington and sushi e for $55 or at est. for $75. Things get fancier on Thursdays with ‘Chef Signature’. If you’re willing and able to hand over anywhere between $150 and $300, you’ll be amply rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime banquet, be it a sneaker exhibition and curated Asian feast at Ms. G’s on 18 February or a five-course dinner, hosted by seven hatted chefs, in est.’s extraordinary dining room on 10 March. To get an education, check out Mondays, when ‘Show and Tell’ master classes will happen every week. Wondering why your Instagram posts aren’t going viral? Let social media stars DJ Dumpling, Dan Hong and Patrick Friesen show you how it’s done on 29 February for $45. Want to know why Merivale’s venues all look so damn good? Spend a night with the company’s designers on 7 March. On 15 February and 14 March, dessert chef Lorraine Godsmark will be talking – and eating – chocolate ($75), while on February 2, Villa Maria’s Josh Hammond and Merivale’s Franck Moreau will be cracking open a bunch of limited edition reserves for your sampling pleasure ($45). If, at any time during the festival, you’re feeling the need for an adventure, book yourself a Mystery Feast. For 75 bucks, score three courses with matching wines, or, for $35, one course with one glass of wine. You could end up at any of Merivale’s restaurants – from Ms. G’s to est. Can’t make up your mind? Grab a $150 Chandon Unplanned Pass, which seals you a Mystery Feast plus your choice of any two events. Head to the March Into Merivale website for more info and to lock down tickets (they go fast).
MCA's latest exhibition presents French-Algerian artist Kader Attia in an exploration of his major installations, which examine ideas of the complex cultural exchange between Europe and non-Western countries after decolonisation. Curated by the MCA's chief curator Rachel Kent, the exhibition includes over a decade of artwork, focusing on his installations, videos and sculptural work. Attia's 48-minute single-channel film, Reflecting Memory (2016), is a particular highlight of the exhibition. The intimately intense film explores themes of injury, unseen repercussions of trauma and the 'phantom limb' through interviews with psychiatrists, surgeons, trauma specialists and survivors. Attia began his career working in the Congo, a region deeply affected by decades of war and conflict. After returning to France, he has worked with activist groups that support migrant communities, including displaced Algerian cross-dressers who faced persecution in their home country. In 2016, Attia was the recipient of the 2016 Prix Marcel Duchamp prize — the most prestigious art award in France. This is Attia's first solo exhibition in the southern hemisphere and it is now open through July 30. Image: Kader Attia, installation view, photo by Jacquie Manning.
Could this be Sydney's very own one-day version of South by Southwest? There's a brand new music festival coming to Sydney, letting you wander between three of the city's best venues to discover your new favourite local band. Volumes is a brand new live music project happening this August, a collaborative concept between some of Australia's most groundbreaking labels, hyped-up musicians and Sydney venues to create a kind of mini South by Southwest in the heart of the city. Co-curated and presented by Sydney/Melbourne label I OH YOU, Wollongong’s Farmer & the Owl and the Gold Coast’s Strange Yonder, alongside Vice's Noisey and Thump, Volumes is the first event of its kind in the city. A multi-venued affair, Volumes is happening on August 29 from 2pm across Oxford Art Factory, The Cliff Dive and Brighton Up Bar, handpicked for their high-fiveworthy set-ups and walking distance proximity to each other on Oxford Street. You can pop between venues easily enough on the day; one wristband will allow you to move between stages at Oxford Art Factory, OAF Gallery Bar, The Cliff Dive and Brighton Up Bar (that 2pm start time is intentionally way before lockout). Each stage is being crafted and themed with its own personality, through both genre programming and how each joint is decked out. According to the Volumes team, you can expect anything from tropical psychedelic discos to gritty post-punk dungeons and all-encompassing walls of sound. So who's playing? Volume's lineup sees some of Australia's most genuinely must-see artists (both established and newbie) on one eclectic bill: Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, The Laurels, Canyons, Lower Spectrum, Noise In My Head, World Champion, Catlips, The Walking Who, Zeahorse, Day Ravies, Shining Bird, Step-Panther, Mere Women, The Dandelion, You Beauty, Lovebombs, Steele Bonus, TEES, Mezko, Flowertruck, The Pinheads, Gold Class, Death Bells, Wild Honey, Yo Grito! and Dusty Fingers as well as I OH YOU DJs, Strange Yonder DJs, Noisey DJs and THUMP DJs. Volumes has sights set on some pretty lofty future goals — aims we can truly get behind. The crew intend to grow the festival into a platform for both Australian and international record labels and artists to collaborate, showcase their rosters and curate lineups together — it's like BIGSOUND meets CMJ meets SXSW meets The Great Escape. Take our money. Volumes is happening on August 29 from 2pm at Oxford Art Factory, Brighton Up Bar and The Cliff Dive. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $39.90 for early birds. Grab one here. Images: Volumes and I Oh You.
Sitting in Matt Moran’s CHISWICK in Woollahra, you could be mistaken for thinking you were on some glorious estate in the Southern Highlands — not some 5km from the Sydney CBD. Wherever you are, floor-to-ceiling windows open onto lush greenery; on one side, there’s a mini, landscaped park, on the other a thriving kitchen garden. It’s the latter that drives the heart of the restaurant’s menu, which is famous for its fresh, seasonal produce. “Matt [Moran] grew up on a farm,” says CHISWICK’s head chef Richie Dolan. “He’s a country boy, so his philosophy has always been paddock to plate — about using the best seasonal produce available.” Every morning, the chefs pick piles of herbs, leaves and veggies — and, by midday, they’re on your plate. Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of time, a lot of planning and one hell of a vision to do things this way. For an opportunity to experience Richie Dolan’s produce first hand, James Squire and Concrete Playground are creating a Summer Banquet at CHISWICK, giving 34 lucky people a seat at the table. You’ll sit down to a five-course meal custom-made by Richie, each dish paired with a specific James Squire tipple, and hear from Richie and James Squire brand ambassadors on the night. You'll also take home a bespoke hamper from Sydney company Caring Canary, filled with delicious eats and JS drinks. To be in the running, enter here.
You put your hands up with Beyonce. You were brought 'Together Again' with Janet Jackson. This week, Goodgod Dance Class Studio's taking it to the D-Floor Queen of Barbados: Rhianna. Get ready to put your shapes-throwing ability to the test with a whole class dedicated to RiRi. You'll be learning the steps to the 'Where Have You Been' video (sans mangrove swimming) — and if you've stumbled pon de Sydney dancefloors since the single dropped in 2011, you'll know you've ample opportunity to bust it out at many, many a later occasion. If you've seen the WHYB clip, you'll know you're in for a whole lot of feet stomping, chest popping and empowered crotch patting. Gather your buds and book into either the 6.30 or 8.30pm dance class with resident instructor Amrita, who'll show the moves to make you feel like the only girl in the world. Belly Bao will also be serving up till late so you can grab some post workout eats.
Spare a thought for the St George OpenAir Cinema team, the folks behind one of Sydney's favourite outdoor cinema spots. When picking their summertime lineup each year, they're battling fierce visual competition: Mrs Macquaries Point's spectacular panoramic view of the city. Accordingly, every movie that graces the cinema's big screen has to hold its own against the stunning sights glittering away behind it. Don't worry — boasting everything from Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in the newspaper trade to Greta Gerwig's latest effort as a director, their 2018 program achieves that feat. Kicking off on January 7 and running until February 17, the outdoor cinema's new season commences with the Australian premiere of The Post, which sees America's nicest actor and the Oscars' most nominated actress join forces for filmmaker Steven Spielberg. It's just one of the movies making sure it'll be starry not only in the sky above, but on the 350-square-metre screen rising from the harbour. And with lineup featuring the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis in Paul Thomas Anderson's fashion flick Phantom Thread, Margot Robbie hitting the ice in I, Tonya, Jessica Chastain playing a poker kingpin in Molly's Game, the first film directed by Aussie actor Simon Baker, and a session of Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi under the stars, it well and truly delivers. The list goes on during OpenAir's 43-night-season, thanks to previews of Gerwig's aforementioned Lady Bird before it hits regular theatres; the latest flick from Veep's Armando Iannucci, The Death of Stalin; Guillermo del Toro's monster romance, The Shape of Water; and Ridley Scott's newly re-cast kidnapping drama All the Money in the World. Or, revisit Blade Runner 2049 in scenic surroundings, watch Liam Neeson wreak havoc on a train in The Commuter, or settle in for 50 Shades Freed (hey, if you've been keeping up with the franchise so far, you might as well catch the final movie). Off-screen, expect culinary stars to join the fold as well, with OpenAir partnering with Matt Moran's Chiswick. They'll be delivering a signature menu to hungry movie-goers each and every night during the cinema's 2018 run — but with 2000 patrons expected every evening, expect them to be busy. Speaking of, when tickets become available at 9am on Monday, December 11, they're likely to go quick. Last year, more than 30,000 tickets sold within the first 30 minutes of sale.
Continuing on a cultural bent, the Mardi Gras Film Festival presented by Queer Screen is back for its twenty-third year. One of the most exciting events on Sydney’s staid cinematic calendar this year’s film festival will feature 75 screenings across five venues, including a festival first outdoor screening on the harbour. One of the festival highlights for this year will be a screening of Out to Win on Sunday, February 28, a documentary that follows the lives of aspiring and professional queer athletes. Following the screening a panel of prominent queer Australian athletes including Ian Thorpe, Matthew Mitcham, and Sally Shipard will discuss the challenges facing LGBTIQ equality in sport. Image: Bare.
Consider yourself a bit of a wine expert? Can you swish with the best of them? Can you hold long conversations about tasting notes and ageing barrels? Or are you more in the Leslie Knope school of thought when it comes to wine sampling — couldn't tell you the difference between a Cab Sav and a Merlot, but it's tasty and I'll go with it? Wherever you sit on this spectrum, Mental Notes promises to have something for everybody on the wine enthusiast scale. Kicking off 3pm on Saturday, April 30, the National Art School will be hosting winemakers from all over Australia and beyond, giving keen wine-drinkers the opportunity to taste a cheeky wine, or three. With over a hundred wines available for the tasting, you can drink your way through the country's vineyards, and learn a trick or two from the winemakers themselves. If this wasn't already a pretty sweet deal, there will also be a smattering of food stalls on the day to complement (read: soak up) some of that sweet wine goodness, notably Mary's and Icebergs Dining Room. Hosted by Joel Amos (DRNKS) as well Kenneth Graham and Jake Smyth of Mary's and The Unicorn fame, there will also be a casual bar operating during the wine tasting — with a wine list that will be changing every hour — because, can you ever really have enough booze at a wine event?
The man who helped Amsterdam maintain its nightlife will travel to Sydney in November, as one of the major guest speakers at this year's Electronic Music Conference. As the Night Mayor of Amsterdam, for the past few years Mirik Milan has built connections between business owners, residents and various government entities, creating a safe and prosperous environment under which the city's after dark culture could thrive. Huh. Must be nice. With its world famous lockout laws, the City of Sydney has obviously taken a slightly different approach to its citizen's nocturnal activities — something we're sure Milan will touch on in his opening keynote address. [caption id="attachment_578886" align="alignnone" width="226"] Pictured: Sydney's official nightlife policy.[/caption] "We believe Milan's knowledge and experience will be invaluable in our own city's pursuit of a vibrant and safe nightlife," said EMC programmer Eric Flanagan. "Amsterdam has shown us and the rest of the world that it is possible to achieve this." Although Night Mayor isn't actually an official government position — rather, Milan is the head of an advisory NGO — that hasn't stopped the former club promoter from having a significant impact on policy. In the past few years he's helped clarify Amsterdam's drug laws, introduced 'soft enforcement' services to try and deescalate potentially dangerous situations, and pushed hard for 24-hour licences in certain nightclubs which, since their introduction, have led to a significant reduction in street noise. He's been so successful that several other cities around Europe, including Zurich and Paris, have introduced Night Mayors of their own. Now in its fifth year, the Electronic Music Festival will run from November 28 until December 2 at the Ivy complex in Sydney, and will feature panel discussions, Q&As, workshops, parties and more. Early bird tickets are available now. Keep your eyes peeled for the full program announcement, which should be dropping soon.
After blazing through the end of 2014 with sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders are back. And this time, they're taking on the nation. New album Playmates, released in November, inspired many a rave review from the critics and featured on Double J, FBi, 3RRR and 2SER. It's also been released in the big ol' U.S. of A. by Fat Possum (Black Keys, Spiritualized), which meant that March took Jack to gigs New York, Los Angeles and SXSW, Austin. NPR even named him one of the 'Musicians You'll Tell Your Friends About In 2015'. Plus, he casually recorded a killer duet with Sharon Van Etten, so extra kudos. Catch Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders at Melbourne's Howler on May 8, Perth's Amplifier on May 9, Brisbane's Brightside May 15 and Sydney's Oxford Art Factory May 16. They'll be supported at every show by Sydney-based singer-songwriter Alex Cameron, who first became known as the percussionist in Seekae but has since been getting attention for his solo adventures.
Inner-city Sydneysiders, there's some unfathomably good Italian nosh coming your way. Alexandria's Salt Meats Cheese is set to open a new chapter on Broadway on April 7. Modelled on the Alexandria Salt Meats Cheese store and following openings in Mosman, Parramatta, Drummoyne (in conjunction with Harris Farm) and Surfers Paradise, the new food emporium will take over an industrial, exposed brick-clad space opposite Broadway Shopping Centre — with SMC's beloved fromagerie, charcuterie delights, and Italian deli stylings at the ready. Award-winning, hatted chef Simona Ciantelli has dreamt up an eclectic new menu for the Broadway store. Riding recent trends, SMC has an entire Nutella menu — from the Nutella Cartocci (deep fried pastry with Nutella and custard cream) to the Nutella Heaven Cup (cookies and cream gelato, Ferrero Rocher, Raffaelo, Kinder Bueno and Nutella sauce). For the more savoury palate, Ciantelli is doing tapas-style dishes and NYC-style burgers influenced by street food of south Italy like the truffle burger with grilled chicken breast, caramelised Spanish onions, truffled mushroom and gorgonzola sauce on a milky bun. SMC favourites like the egg parpadelle with burnt orange lamb ragu and the black lobster pizza will of course be in abundance. Tapping into the busy, student-fuelled nature of the Broadway area, Salt Meats Cheese will be doing pre-made cocktails in keepsake bottles — think elderflower spritzes and mezcal Negronis — alongside imported and local wines, Italian beers and Mexican tequilas. Plus, Thursday to Sunday will even see local DJ sets. Salt Meats Cheese will open at 68 Bay Street, Ultimo (opposite Broadway Shopping Centre) on April 7.
Moving castles have become abandoned mansions, and adventurous kids are now asthmatic outsiders, as you may have noticed if you've been keeping up with Studio Ghibli's recent films. It seems like everyone's favourite Japanese animation house is growing up and getting serious; however, that might not be all that's behind their change in mood. With no new features slated, they might be shutting up their movie-making shop — or so it has been rumoured. Perhaps that's why the studio's output over the last year has felt a little more melancholy and contemplative, and why tissues have become a necessary viewing accessory. The great Hayao Miyazaki's swan song, The Wind Rises, and co-founder Isao Takahata's latest effort, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, already tested tear ducts, and When Marnie Was There does so again. If this is the last Ghibli movie, then the tale of 12-year-old Anna (voiced by Sara Takatsuki) offers a fitting farewell. Above all else, it tells of the importance of friendship, acceptance, understanding and looking to the past to embrace the future, recurring themes in the studio's work. A foster child usually found alone with her sketchbook in hand, Anna is isolated and unhappy. That doesn't change when she is sent to stay by the seaside with her adoptive relatives — but then she spies a house surrounded by marshland, and meets the girl who lives there, Marnie (Kasumi Arimura). When Marnie Was There is based on the 1967 British novel of the same name, and while the film isn't exactly old-fashioned, it is relaxed and reflective, even for an animation house known for making movies unlike any others. The second effort — and the second such book-to-screen adaptation — from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi after 2010's The Secret World of Arrietty, it takes its time not just to get to know Anna and her new pal, but to let the audience into their headspace. It's an approach that's crucial to the feature, with the journey Anna takes in finding her sense of self more important than anywhere she might wander — and the bond she forms with Marnie more engrossing than anything else she might encounter. It also fits in with the mystery surrounding the titular character, who only Anna can seem to see, and only under certain circumstances. As well as building character and intrigue, the slower pace leaves plenty of room for the kind of gorgeous visuals Studio Ghibli is known for, painstakingly hand-drawn and -painted. Indeed, that the film looks a treat can almost go without saying, except that Yonebayashi uses his beautiful images to thrill as much as enchant. There are a few darker turns in this tale, and the filmmaker is just as skilled at conveying pain and sadness as he is at creating magic and wonder. If it sounds like another bewitching gem, that's because it is — but if it sounds like something a little different, that's because it's that, too. When Marnie Was There is compiled from the same parts as other Ghibli fare, but it really does feel like a film studio saying goodbye. Expect sorrow from the sweet and soulful story about finding a place to belong. Expect more from the possibility that this could be the last movie from the beloved studio.
Spicy, spicy Bloody Marys and Breaky Bowls at the ready, Bondi brunch staple Porch and Parlour has opened the doors on their next-door expansion. It's been a long time coming for Porch to get a little roomier; since opening in 2010 the Campbell Parade cafe has has queues out the door for their freshly-squeezed juices, Will & Co. coffee, and trademark Green Breaky Bowls — also, that house rosé. To meet the weekly demand, the team took over the store next door and nabbed themselves an extra 40 seats. Porch's extensions continue the design of the beloved original interior, sourcing timber from the bones of Sydney's biggest icon. "Our intension was to improve the flow and functionality of the space but hold onto the old Porch feel," says co owner Sarah Hendriks. "We sourced timber from old Sydney Harbour Bridge formwork to craft the furniture and fittings, which not only has historical but sentimental value as our relatives worked on the Bridge construction in 1932." But an extra room isn't all Porch has added. Owners Hendriks and Sam Smith, alongside head chefs Mark Mansfield and Daniel Brown, have added hospitality heavyweight Alexander Relic to the team, who's managed the likes of Low 302 in Surry Hills and several Keystone Group venues. Looks like those killer Bloody Marys will have some menu company, Relic's carefully crafted a concise back bar and cocktail menu for the space — one we'll be taking full advantage of for boozy spring brunches and after-swim drinks. Finally, a big one for Bondi residents looking for a new evening nosh spot, Porch's renovations mark the cafe's move toward dinners (starting August 5), a move fellow Bondi resident Harry's also made in recent months. Find Porch and Parlour at 110 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach. Open Monday to Tuesday 6.30am – 5pm, Wednesday - Sunday 6.30am – 10pm (Evening service will commence from August 5 August, and open daily for breakfast and lunch until then.)
The work of one of the masters of American indie filmmaking is on its way to the Golden Age Cinema and Bar. From Wednesday, February 15, the Surry Hills picture house will shine a spotlight on the endlessly inventive filmography of the one and only Jim Jarmusch. The mini-retrospective begins with a special Film Club presentation of Down by Law, Jarmusch's critically acclaimed 1986 black comedy about a trio of cons, played by John Laurie, Roberto Benigni and music legend Tom Waits, on the run from the authorities through the Louisiana Swamp. Golden Age will also screen his followup, 1989's Mystery Train, an anthology film set in Memphis, Tennessee. Rounding out the program are Jarmusch's two most recent films: the good-natured Paterson starring Adam Driver, as well as his adoring rock doc Gimme Danger about The Stooges and Iggy Pop. For more info and session times visit www.ourgoldenage.com.au.
Los Angeles-based foursome Warpaint are set to return to Australia — the homeland of their drummer, Stella Mozgawa — in late February. The group's summer tour follows the release of their third studio album, Heads Up, in September last year. The new album's tone more closely emulates the style of their live performances — energetic and dance-oriented — than their previous albums, which have been more subdued and reflective. This isn't the first Australian tour for Warpaint, having previously performed at the likes of Laneway Festival in 2014 and Splendour in the Grass in 2011. But this time, they'll be hitting up the hallowed Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House on Saturday, February 25. They'll be stopping by other major capital cities including Perth (as part of the Perth International Arts Festival) on Sunday, February 19, Brisbane on Wednesday, February 22 and Melbourne on Friday, February 24. Image: Robin Laananen.
Air out that mouldy tent, start rounding up the GoPros, Falls Festival have quite the epic 2014 lineup on their hands. With Byron now extended to a four-day program, Falls Festival is returning to its three sites (Lorne, Marion Bay and North Byron Parklands) for its annual New Year's Eve hootenanny. So who's on the bill? Returning with a Mercury Prize and a million debut album copies sold under their belt, Leeds foursome Alt-J are sure to be one of the packed sets this year. There'll be ass everywhere with the presence of the unmissable Big Freedia. The sublimely talented SBTRKT is set to play a huge live set (one of Laneway Festival's best sets to memory), while the formidable Jamie XX will keep the basslines well up in grill. Fresh from Glastonbury, George Ezra is set to be one of the festival highlights, with the debut set from the legendary Todd Terje, house monarchs Tensnake, Sydney trio Movement and San Francisco's Tycho sure to send everyone on a synthy, beats-fuelled odyssey. Altanta's favourite 'flower punk' band The Black Lips are in. Confirmed after a leak in Cleo, UK's Glass Animals are confirmed to get sultry. Festival favourites Cold War Kids return with their latest album's material (and a few oldies), while Australia's own ARIA-winners The Temper Trap return to the live circuit with material from their upcoming third record. Rap fans have some gleeful squealing to get to, with Brooklyn's Pro Era whiz Joey Bada$$, Killer Mike and El-P's Fool's Gold super-collab Run the Jewels, Melbourne's own Remi locked in. 'Stolen Dance' fans will have plenty to jig about with the first Australian tour of Milky Chance, Sydney's Bluejuice are playing their last round, London's Wolf Alice are sure to generate some buzz, and Canberran trio SAFIA are also buzzworthy inclusions. There's a few Splendour returns: Britpop-loving Sydney dudes DMAs, newbie hip hop firecracker Tkay Maidza, Sydney dance legends The Presets, electronic whiz kid The Kite String Tangle, returning rock heavyweights Spiderbait, singalong starters Sticky Fingers and Riptider Vance Joy. Falls will also see a kickass 'Boogie Nights' program featuring none other than the ever-kickass hip hop legends Salt n Pepa, Melbourne's best-dressed duo Client Liaison, Sydney partystarter Alison Wonderland and Canada's Badbadnotgood. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): ALT-J ASGEIR BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DAN SULTAN DMAs EMPIRE OF THE SUN GEORGE EZRA GLASS ANIMALS JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO JULIAN CASABLANCAS + THE VOIDZ KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE LA ROUX MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE (live) TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE BOOGIE NIGHTS: ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON DJ FLETCH DJ WOODY PRESENTS 'HIP HOP IS 40' AV SHOW SALT N PEPA TWERKSHOP COMEDY: DAMIEN POWER DANIEL TOWNES HARLEY BREEN LUKE McGREGOR TOMMY DASSALO URZILA CARLSON + MORE Image: David Burke.
A new design aesthetic has landed in Darling Harbour, and its messenger is The Port. The 1,050-capacity bar and eatery just opened in the space that formerly belonged to Margaritaville, challenging the garish, touristy feel that has long characterised the Harbour's venues. Instead, The Port is inspired by French coastal chic, with Lainey Richardson the architect responsible. You might know her work from Pepe's On The Beach in Wollongong, The Annandale Hotel and The Henson in Marrickville. Here, you'll sink into a waterfront cabana, order a signature cocktail — like the St Barts Sour (Disaronno, Makers Mark whiskey, egg white, lemon Juice, black pepper) or the Smoked Sea Salt Margarita (Patron Silver lime juice, pineapple, agave nectar, smoked sea salt, paprika) — and pretend you're on the Riviera. There's also a bunch of craft beers, including Young Henry's and Stone and Wood, as well as a boutique wine list. If you're keen to get a bit diva, you can book a cabana in advance, which comes with your own private host and canapés handpicked by the chef. The menu is all about share plates, available in various sizes to suit your appetite. Choose from "Raw and Cured", which features hiramasa kingfish sashimi with pickled ginger, soy and wasabi; or "From The Garden" and "From The Sea" selections. There's also a series of sourdough flat breads with toppings like jamon, artichoke, olives and pecorino, or chilli prawn, tomato, pineapple and buffalo mozzarella. For something heftier, check out the "From The Land" section, where you'll find pork short ribs with smoked barbecue sauce and the Double Royale Burger, with double beef, cheddar and house pickle. You can also swing by for a light, French-style brekkie, because The Port opens at 10am to serve Will & Co Coffee and freshly-baked pastries. Then, come Thursday, the live program kicks in with acoustic musos and DJs making appearances all weekend. Sundays are dedicated to long, laid back sunset sessions, kicking off at noon and not wrapping up until late. Find The Port at 2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, is open Monday-Thursday, 10am-2am; Friday-Saturday, 10am-4am; and Sunday, 10am- 2am. The kitchen is open daily, 11:30am-10pm. For more information, head to their website.
Seeing Cinderella downstairs at Belvoir is like going on a first date, but in the real world. Directed by Anthea Williams and written by Matthew Whittet, Cinderella undermines the Hollywood rom-com to hilarious effect. It first utilises the universal and pervasive fairytale, and our knowledge that it will all end at midnight. Then it usurps it, with depictions of crippling loneliness, and a stubborn heroine in her early 40s who refuses to compromise for the sake of our happy ending. Spending the evening with the contemporary Cindy/'Ashley' (Mandy McElhinney), alerts us to pop culture's continued brainwashing about 'romance'. A female in 2014 is still told to expect chocolates, flowers and rides in horse-led carriages. But sometimes the best it's going to get is a cheap Chinese meal and a personalised ringtone. Williams' direction validates the real-life version of romance as beautiful, and actually preferable... even if incredibly daggy. Cinderella is a success due to the generosity of its two actors, Mandy McElhinney and writer/actor Matthew Whittet. Both give mesmerising performances because they allow themselves to be completely present, as we watch on. They sit quietly in their human failure and sadness, and reach out to each other (and us), searching for something to puncture the loneliness. This depth alternates with unbelievably funny moments: Whittet’s interpretive dance to disrobe himself is one of the most joyous things I've ever seen. The dialogue is also extremely witty, pacey, and gets to the heart of each character. The play closes with elements of surrealism and impossibility that fend off the fairy tale formula. It's satisfying to file out over the shaggy carpet at the end and hear everyone's murmured hypotheses of what just happened. Cinderella surprises you if you've underestimated it, and has you wondering how far a mother's matchmaking influence can reach. A small, digital clock remains constant in the midst of Elizabeth Gadsby's minimal, versatile set. It's a lovely, unobtrusive way to mark the passing of real time, as we sit with McElhinney and Whittet, as they perch on the gutter outside a nightclub, or hang out in an autumnal park. It also helpfully fast-forwards through the hours to ensure we see the best bits of the night. This is a play for realistic romantics and self-determining dreamers. It reveals there is no formula to love, and falsifies Hollywood-built expectations. The loveliest image in Cinderella for me became a metaphor for the whole play: thousands of moths tickling my whole body. Society sees moths as ugly or negative, when compared to butterflies, but the less superficially attractive sensations often teach us the most. Image by Brett Boardman.
Pizza Hut. The noble and long-serving 'za provider who filled our tummies at last-day-of-school pizza lunch and, in our uni student years, staved off hunger and calcium deficiency with cheap Tuesday deals. That is until in 1983 when the Dominos chain hit our shores. Dominos grew in reach and popularity and brought the Hut to its knees (or at least, to mainly smaller takeaway-only venues, less all-you-can-eat restaurants). Sure, there's still a few floating around (lookin' at you Goulburn), but they're harder and harder to come by nowadays. Once a dignified, family-friendly palace of soft serve on-tap, mini marshmallows and slice after slice after slice, Pizza Hut is now reduced to stunt-like takeaway grotesquery such as the Four 'N Twenty Meat Pie crust and its ilk, cramming more and more fast food, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheeseburgers into the crust until it's just a misshapen farce oozing with disappointment. There's not much scope for an in-house sit-down pig-out any more. Apparently someone else also noticed the decline. Sydney-based photographer Ho Hai Tran took up the quest of documenting the last surviving original Pizza Hut buildings before they pass into irrelevance. Alongside co-pizza tracker Chloe Cahill, Tran has travelled 14,000kms across Australia, New Zealand and the USA to try and capture the photos of the buildings, most of which have been converted for other uses. Now, after two years, the Pizza Hunt has come back to Sydney, culminates in an exhibition at Sun Studios in Alexandria. There'll be a big flashy opening, an artist talk, and of course, a pizza party on Thursday, August 4 from 6-8pm (you just have to RSVP to rsvp@sunstudiosaustralia.com). The exhibition runs until August 18.
Supplement your afternoon swim with a dose of the world's best short films when the 24th Flickerfest comes to Bondi Beach between January 9 and 18. The 2015 programme features 95 works, selected from 2300 entries, following months and months of difficult decision-making. Flickerfest is the only competitive short film festival in Australia to be both Academy®Accredited and BAFTA-recognised. With 56 Australian shorts to see, incorporating 20 world premieres and nine Australian premieres, the festival is an excellent chance to support the local industry, find out what's been preoccupying our filmmakers of late and discover hot new talent. Meanwhile, the international segment features 39 films, with one world premiere and 32 Australian premieres. Some sizeable Academy®Accredited prizes are up for grabs, including the Flickerfest Award For Best International Film, the Yoram Gross Award For Best Animation and Virgin Australia Award For Best Australian Film. After spending ten days in Bondi, Flickerfest will hit the road for a five-month national tour, stopping at no less than fifty destinations along the way.
Operating under the (often correct) assumption that if some is good, more must be better, everybody's favourite American bar and eatery, Surly's in Darlinghurst, has launched an upstairs expansion. The recently-renovated upstairs area, christened Smokey's Cabin, continues the convincing Americana theme with a dark interior, wooden paneling, exposed bricks, charismatic brown leather sofas and, of course, the massive BBQ plates (with cornbread stacked high on the sides) you've come to love. The atmospheric space also features an epic mural by Sydney artist Sindy Sinn, featuring spooky skeletons on motorbikes. But the best part of the new fit out are the shuffleboards on which you can work off some of that BBQ and those crunchy chicken wings. Enjoy some American BBQ, beer and a game of shuffleboard in Smokey's Cabin, open Wednesday-Saturday from 6pm until late #surryhils #surlys #shuffleboard #americanthemed #americanbar #sydneyvenue A photo posted by Surlys (@surlys_bbq_and_beer) on May 17, 2016 at 3:33pm PDT Smokey's Cabin is open Wednesday to Saturday at 182 Campbell Street, Darlinghurst.
You've run around scavenger hunting with sharks, drinking cocktails with clownfish and dancing against the glass with rays (what, you didn't? Oh...), now it's time to take your after hours tomfoolery to the halls of the almost famous. The Festivalists are moving their next Hijinks party from the Sydney Aquarium next door to Madame Tussauds wax museum. The Festivalists are ditching the daytime Darling Harbour crowd for one creepy, glamorous party after closing time, dubbed '15 Minutes of Fame' on Friday, May 29. "No kids. No tourists. No C-listers." WE'RE IN. Deliberately going well OTT as an dramatically super-glam red carpet party, Hijinks will feature five pop-up bars (yep, five), interactive games and performances by drag artists, comedians, dancers and impersonators. And yes, dressing up as a celeb is encouraged. You'll be able to taunt the flamin' galahs about the place with Alf Stewart; meet Eddie Mabo, Albert Einstein and Henry Lawson; or snuggle up to the recently revealed Ryan Gosling (with his 'interactive abs'). You can have mad chats with Barack Obama, take dumb selfies with Taylor Swift, Madonna and Miley Cyrus and suss out the wax museum's brand new resident — Chris Hemsworth (good attempt, don't know about that hair though). Be sure to shoot the breeze with MT's wax sculptors, compete for Best Celebrity, get some form of makeover or just victoriously taunt celebrities who are shorter than you. Tickets are just $25 (normal daytime entry is $40) and include a complimentary Little Creatures beer or Stoli vodka cocktail on arrival (you'll have to bring cashola for more drinkies). You're advised to allocate 90 minutes to go through the venue. Any Ryan Gosling-loving cousins of yours who are under 18 aren't allowed, so you'll have to bring 'em back in the daytime.
Life lacking direction? Looking to learn something new? Then it might be time to enrol yourself in The School of Life. Founded in London in 2008, the school is committed to teaching 'emotional intelligence' through workshops, events and secular sermons, covering everything from leadership skills to love and online dating. They've been operating in Melbourne since early 2014, and next year they're coming to Sydney. Details on the school's Sydney launch are still relatively slim. What we do know is that they'll be running a pop-up term, which will stretch from February 28 to March 24, with the program set to be announced on January 11. This will be followed by a permanent launch later in 2016. Those interested in staying in the loop can keep their eyes on The School of Life's website, where you can also join their mailing list. The School of Life currently operates in various cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Belgrade, Istanbul, Paris, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Tel Aviv. In Melbourne they run a 'Conversation Cafe' in the centre of the city, operating as a coffee shop, bookshop and curated classroom. To give you more of an idea of what they're about, some of their recent events have included a talk on the philosophy of disco (followed by a bit of a boogie, naturally) and a presentation about misinformation by the one and only Dr. Karl. Here's hoping the Sydney curriculum is similarly eclectic. Tickets for The School of Life's pop-up program in Sydney will go on sale on January 11. For more information visit www.theschooloflife.com/sydney.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? After a successful debut last year, Carriageworks is bringing back their Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day, because we know what you're like. Hitting Carriageworks on Friday, December 23, the market will be a cornucopia of the spoils of over 160 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent turkeys and hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more, alongside artisan food and gift stalls. Plus, they'll even have Christmas trees for you traditionalists — or highly unorganised folk. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market, including produce favourites like Pudding Lane, Melanda Park Pasture Raised Pork, Linga Longa Farm, Burrawong Gaian, Thirlmere Poultry Supply, Drive in Orchards, Wanaka Orchards, Wandillyan Seafood, The Shuck Truck, Freeman Vineyards and more. Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party, including Billy Kwong, Archie Rose, Young Henrys, Bar Pho and Moobi Valley Farm, Happy as Larry, Eloquesta Wines, Slow Wine Co. and Vale Creek Wines. Carriageworks is licensed for you to take away booze too, if you have beer lovers on your pressie list. If you're a last-minute gift-buyer, there'll be 75 gift stalls from the likes of local designers Romance Was Born, Benah, Studio Elke, Published Art, Better Read Than Dead, Beautiful Pages, Aneau, The DEA Store, Supply Paper Co, High Swan Dive, Clay Canoe, Double Rainbouu, The Rocks Push, Bandsome and Rolling Records. Look at that, Carriageworks just saved Christmas. Image: Daniel Boud.
It attracted 2.03 million votes in 2014, is regarded as 'the world's greatest music democracy' and is pretty much the only thing on Australian radios on Australia Day between the odd 'Khe Sanh'. Whether you 'get into it' or not, triple j's Hottest 100 has some serious reach, and this year, they're putting that blanket coverage to bloody good use. As part of this year's Hottest 100, triple j have teamed up with Indigenous school mentoring program AIME, for some hardcore fundraising. Aiming to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian students, AIME and triple j are encouraging Hottest 100 voters to donate right after they've popped their favourite songs in the voting form — votes open this Thursday, December 10. On Australia Day, you can also use your Hottest 100 rager or hushed barbecue as a fundraiser for AIME. In the lead up to the launch of the 2015 Hottest 100, we're stoked to announce a new partnership with triple j. Posted by AIME on Monday, December 7, 2015 It's all for a damn good cause, and you'll still get to screech about your favourite artist being played too early dammit. By donating in the Hottest 100, you'll be helping the hardworking AIME crew help 10,000 Indigenous kids finish school at the same rate as non-Indigenous students by 2018. Now that's worth getting all flustered about — albeit alongside whether Major Lazer tops the lot or not. It's not the first time triple j has worked with AIME; they've given big love to the crew around events like Homeground and NAIDOC week in the past. Here's hoping it rubs off on their listeners. Kyran Wheatley and Gen Fricker on triple j breakfast for #NAIDOCweek Posted by AIME on Thursday, July 9, 2015 Voting opens this Thursday, December 10. Via triple j.
Movie lovers, prepare to lose your shit. Acclaimed writer-director Quentin Tarantino is indeed visiting Australia in January to promote his latest film, the star-studded, blood-soaked western The Hateful Eight. The film is currently slated to debut in select cinemas in 70mm on January 14, followed by a wide release on January 21. But before you see the new film, why not take a little trip into Tarantino's favourite Australian 'Western-ish' films, introduced by the man himself? The newly established People's Republic of Movies (P.R.O.M) will be presenting an exclusive one-night-only double bill of Australian cinema plus a live Q&A hosted by Tarantino himself on January 15 at The Star. Curated and personally MCed by Tarantino, the evening pays homage to Australian cinema by showcasing two of the filmmaker's favourite Australian Western flicks and treating the audience to a live Q&A. Two gems of Australian cinema will be played back-to-back on 35mm courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive, and they're two of the filmmaker’s favourites: The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and the wild Dennis Hopper outlaw classic, Mad Dog Morgan (1976). Then, Tarantino will join multi-award winning director Fred Schepisi (The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Six Degrees of Separation) and globally acclaimed writer Thomas Keneally (Schindler’s List) on stage for a Q&A. Quentin Tarantino's exclusive one-night-only double bill and Q&A is happening at The Star, Sydney on January 15, Thanks to the People's Republic of Movies (P.R.O.M), we have five double passes to give away. For your chance to win, just subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and email us at win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. By Shannon Connellan and Tom Clift.
Ready to crisp up your March? British producer Bonobo has arrived just in time for autumn with a string of highly-anticipated DJ shows around Australia. As well as tipping his hat to one of the world’s great endangered apes, the UK-based DJ, musician and producer (real name: Simon Green) effortlessly incorporates sample layers with complex basslines; creating that signature minimalist sound he's inspired budding producers with worldwide. Since the release of his completely self-produced and self-instrumented debut Animal Magic in 2000, Bonobo has released five full-length albums and a handful of EPs and singles — becoming somewhat of a downtempo pioneer in the process. His latest release The North Borders saw him play over 175 shows across three continents and 30 countries, including appearances at Coachella and Glastonbury. March will see Bonobo travelling to Auckland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth for solo DJ sets, with a bucketload of visuals to enhance the experience.
With every passing week, it seems, there's yet another reason to make gin your go-to beverage this festive season. Little Fish Bar just opened its pop-up summer gin garden. The new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay unveiled its own gin-centric bar, The Stillery. And now, a brand new venue in Potts Point is boasting the biggest collection of the spirit in the entire city. The Powder Keg, which you’ll find at 7 Kellet Street, is inspired by gin's long and colourful history. As far as we can tell, the good stuff was first made in Holland back in the 17th century. The Powder Keg takes on this fact quite literally, with a menu heavily influenced by the kind of fare that the Dutch and English were feasting on in shadowy taverns and gin palaces 400 years ago. Cue duck schnitzel lollipops with pickled kohlrabi and tarragon mayo, oysters with gin and tonic sorbet, Scotch quail egg with smoked potato, crispy pancetta and shimeji mushrooms and numerous other out-of-the-box morsels. They're all created by head chef Elijah Holland, in collaboration with fellow chefs Danny Russo and Roy Ner. Meanwhile, in between slowly working your way through the 120 gins on the menu, you can sample a cocktail from The Keg's little black book of vintage numbers. Signature mixes include the Nettle Gimlet (gin, homemade nettle cordial, served in a vintage coupet) and the Gunpowder Plot (gunpowder tea-infused gin, fernet branca, gunpowder syrup, dandelion and burdock bitters, and a tea smoke). Or, if that's all sounding too adventurous, you can rest assured that the good ol' G&T won’t let you down. The Keg keeps a signature blend, accompanied by your choice of three ices and five tonics, including one very special homemade option. The mixologist genius behind the drinks menu is one Grant Collins, who you might know from Zeta Bar, Sydney, or Ku De Ta and Potato Head, Bali. In keeping with the centuries-old vibe, the space has been stripped back, to draw attention to its eighteenth century architecture. The interior is all black leather and wood, from the club chairs to the wood-panelled bar, complete with a vintage gin presentation cage. The Powder Keg is located at 7 Kellett Street, Potts Point. Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 4pm–late; and Sunday 12pm – 11pm. To get in touch, call (02) 8354 0980. Want to brush up on your gin knowledge before you check it out? Give our Bluffer's Guide to Gin a read.
It’s not every festival feels like a country weekend fete that just happens to be headlined by Father John Misty. Fairgrounds, Australia’s newest boutique camping festival descended on the small NSW town of Berry on Saturday, December 5. Taking over the local Berry Showgrounds, Fairgrounds boasted all the trimmings of a major music festival with the essence of a local fair — with a mini-Meredith lineup to boot. Headlined by the high priest of folk balladry, Father John Misty, alongside Brooklyn's rocktronica duo Ratatat, Portland/New Zealand’s genre-defying Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sydney’s raucous garage favourites Royal Headache and Melbourne’s soul virtuoso Meg Mac, Fairgrounds brought the best bits of Meredith to Berry for one (bloody hot) day of laidback sets at the showground. Between Josh Tillman’s rambling philosophising — “I hope pop music gets existentially fatalistic in the next year,” — and Shogun’s humble apologies for a blown amp — “That sounded like elevator music on mushrooms,” — punters were treated to quite the cornucopia of artists — some even caught CW Stoneking adorably reading tales to kids in the storytelling tent. Really. With a strong focus on the local South Coast area, however, Fairgrounds wasn’t just about the tunes. Local nosh, local market stalls and the local swimming pool played equally starring roles at this multifaceted festival — something we’re sure made Berry residents pretty happy. Between watching Searching for Sugarman at the openair cinema, sack races, bouts of tug-of-war and dips in Berry’s local pool (within the festival grounds and equipped with hectic DJ sets), punters feasted on local delights, from South Coast candy from Berry’s own Treat Factory, and fresh rock oysters from An Australian Affair, harvested less than half an hour from the festival site. Plus pies, pies, pies, pies, pies. Straight-up, it warms our jaded little hearts to see a smaller scale festival like Fairgrounds supporting local nosh, something still spearheaded by the likes of local loving’ bigwigs like Bluesfest and Splendour. Although there were a few food shortages and longish waits, Fairgrounds’ menu was a slam dunk of a local spread, one worth waiting for (if you tried the oysters). Check out our gallery of happy snaps from the festival. Here’s hoping Fairgrounds pays Berry a second visit, this is one Aussie event we’d line up for again — anyone who sets up shop down the road from The Donut Van is alright by us. Photos by Andy Fraser, words by Shannon Connellan.
Next month, the bustling Night Noodle Markets will return to Hyde Park for eight nights of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant frozen desserts. Taking over the inner city park from October 11–18, the fifteenth iteration of the fairy light-lit markets will see over 30 of Australia's favourite food stalls set up shop — serving humans and dogs alike. Wait up — dogs? Yep, this year, the NNM have launched the aptly named Night Poodle Markets. On Saturday, October 12, the NNM will be filled with floofs galore, a roaming dog photographer and dog treats from The Doggie Bakery. Tickets to the one-off event are just $5 — which include a doggy portrait and treat — with 100 percent of profits going to the NSW RSPCA. In terms of food for humans, the NNM has just unveiled its full menu. And Gelato Messina is preparing to wow Sydneysiders once more with a brand new menu. While last year's frozen treats were inspired by the Philippines, this year, they're an ode to Thai sweets. Choose from the Bangkok Banana, a Thai milk tea cheesecake sandwich with sponge and meringue; the Phuket Bucket, banana fritters served with caramelised banana gelato and peanut crumble; the Coco Phangan, mango sorbet with coconut sticky rice; or the Eye of the Thai-ger, a multi-layered dessert of condensed milk pudding, condensed milk crumble, shaved ice, lychee gelato and jellies. Or don't choose and eat them all — you can spread them out over eight nights, after all. Elsewhere on the NNM menu, you'll find Bangkok street food snacks, foot-long potato fries, bao, spicy biang biang noodles and paella. Sydney's all-vegan Flyover Fritterie & Chai Bar will also be making an appearance, as will Crows Nest's purveyors of fried chicken Johnny Bird and Redfern's much-loved maker of baked goods Donut Papi. As all great things must come to an end (of sorts), this'll be the last year the NNM will be held at Hyde Park. Details are scarce for now, but we're being told they'll relocate to "a larger space" in 2020. We'll let you know when more details on that drop. In the meantime, start scheduling your visits the market — and cross your fingers that this year will be a little less rainy. The Night Noodle Markets will be open 5–10pm Monday and Tuesday, 5–11pm Wednesday and Thursday 5pm – 11pm, Friday 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 12pm–11pm, and Sunday 12pm–10pm.
The crew behind The Hill Eatery are opening a brand new bar in addition to their beloved North Bondi brunch spot. Taking tropical, summery inspiration from Florida Keys, The Hill Bar will sit right beside its parent eatery on Campbell Parade. If anything, Florida Keys is highly underrepresented in Sydney's themed bars (if at all), so we're on board. Think flamingos, coconut palms, scuba diving, key limes, rum cocktails, parades, hold the tropical cyclones. Celebrated as a staple North Bondi brunch spot with their Breakie Boards and killer Bloody Marys, The Hill have quite the loyal following to make this project seriously viable. When the space next door came available, the Hill team jumped at the chance to extend their bar. They've knocked through the wall are currently splashing pastel paint, white-washed timber and custom flamingo wallpaper everywhere. But the Hill team also promise to bring a little Australiana to their Florida Keys theme. Here's the wallpaper they're hinting with on Facebook: Details on the menu are being kept under wraps for the moment, but we're guessing it will continue the whole paddock-to-plate philosophy from next door into bar nibbles. Tipple-wise, The Hill will be launching and serving their very own craft beer from the bar, Lighthouse Kolsch by The Hill, alongside brews from Young Henrys, Rocks Brewing Co and there’ll be plenty of tropical cocktails on offer, with Hippocampus rum aplenty. Launching on November 26, The Hill Bar will be open just in time for summer. Bring on the mojitos. Colour selections for new bar. #colour #pastels #floridakeys #thehillgrows Posted by The Hill Eatery on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 THE team hard at it painting the new bar. We will reopen the Eatery tomorrow afternoon. See you for the weekend. #bondi #thehillgrows #cocktails Posted by The Hill Eatery on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 One of our resident artists Mackie splashing up a little something behind our bar @mackinnonwalker #bondi #local #community Posted by The Hill Eatery on Thursday, October 1, 2015 Find The Hill Bar beside The Hill Eatery at Shop 5/39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi from November 26. The Hill Eatery is one of our favourite Bondi spots. Check out the whole list.
Inspired by the theme "fearless", the 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is promising more than 100 events and over 400 artists running across 17 days. In addition to the signatures — including the Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, March 2 — there's a bunch of new happenings this time round. One of the most anticipated is the Strictly Kaftan Party, a new pool party to be held at the Ivy on Tuesday, February 19. Don your favourite kaftan or hottest moo-moo and spend the day kicking back to New Zealand country duo The Topp Twins and various DJs. There'll be prizes for Best Kaftan, Best Cabana Lounging Ensemble and Most Outrageous Summer Accessory. Meanwhile, the Sissy Ball is back for another round, after selling out last year. Taking over Carriageworks on Saturday, February 23, this NYC ballroom-inspired event centres around vogue battles in the categories of dance, movement, fashion and air. In between watching acts of unabashed self-expression, you'll be kicking back to live music and DJs. On a more solemn note is the Requiem Mass: A Queer Divine Rite, which will fill the City Recital Hall with song on Thursday, February 21. This choral work, written by American composer Holcombe Waller in collaboration with LGBTQI+ communities, is informed by research into the persecution that LGBTQI+ people have experienced over the past 50 years. It'll be performed by Sam Allchurch and the Sydney Chamber Choir. The Seymour Centre, Newtown, will host Mardi Gras Central, the festival hub. Head down there anytime to catch theatre, music, dance, circus, cabaret and burlesque shows. Among the headliners is the inaugural Bent Burlesque, a feast of outrageous underground cabaret, circus, drag and performance art to take place over February 16 and 17 , as well as Club Briefs, set to bring you disco hits and dance moves from Wednesday, February 20 till Friday, March 1. You can look forward, too, to the return of longstanding favourites, including Fair Day at Victoria Park on Sunday, February 17; Pool Party at the Ivy on Monday, February 25; the Mardi Gras Party on Saturday, March 2 at the EQ Moore Park; and Laneway – the Parade's official recovery party – on Sunday, March 3 at The Beresford in Surry Hills. Images: Jeffrey Feng.
Sydney craft beer dukes Young Henrys have teamed up with the Marrickville Council to create a beer that tastes like ANZAC biscuits — just in time for the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. The new ale's been dubbed 'Winged Victory', after a World War One memorial statue created in 1919 the council has resurrected. On Sunday, April 19, you’ll get to taste the biccie brew for the first time and see the statue's glorious unveiling at Marrickville Town Hall. "The Council approached us," Richard Adamson, co-owner of Young Henrys, said. "We thought it sounded like a really good community project. The statue is an amazing part of the area’s local history and a gift for the people." Young Henrys were given creative licence to conjure up an appropriate flavour profile. It turns out that using ANZAC biscuits for inspiration was the obvious choice. "We thought it would be a lot of fun," Adamson said. "We smoked the malt ourselves and then burned rosemary, which is a symbol of remembrance. Getting them all to balance well with spices was a bit of a challenge, but we threw caution to the wind." In addition, the hops came from both Australia and New Zealand, in honour of the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. The statue is the work of Gilbert Doble, a local sculptor. It depicts the Goddess Nike, who, in Greek mythology, symbolised victory, success in battle and peaceful competition. And it commemorates 457 soldiers from Marrickville who died during World War One. The Winged Victory ale launch will happen at Marrickville Town Hall on Sunday 19 April at between 11am and 3pm. There's also going to be a parade and a photography exhibition on the day as part of the event. Entry is free. Image: ANZAC biscuits from Low FODMAP.
Flowers, stars and mulled wine will collide when astronomy comes to The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden. On arriving at this brand new event, you'll be handed a glass, then invited to kick back, relax and listen to Dr Angel Lopez Sanchez chat about the night skies. Dr Lopez Sanchez is an astronomy research fellow and a science communicator at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and Macquarie University. Surrounded by the garden's botanic surrounds, he'll bring you a whole new perspective on familiar constellations and show you how to find those that are not-so-familiar. Learn to locate the Jewel Box within the Southern Cross, bright nebulae within Sagittarius and Omega Centauri, a globular cluster. Your ticket — a wildly reasonable $15 — includes one complimentary mulled wine or cider. Further drinks and snacks will be available at the bar.
Been dreaming about supping at Peter Gilmore’s Bennelong, but not managed to scrape the cash together quite yet? Well, there’s good news afoot. Come January 8, a bar will pop up on the restaurant’s private balcony. For three-and-a-bit summery weeks, you’ll be able to soak up those supreme Bridge-Quay views, without smashing a huge hole in your wallet. After all, you’ll surely want to save some of your hard-earned pennies for the cream of the Sydney Festival’s gig program. To be known as Bennelong Balcony, the bar will open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from midday-late, until January 31. Topping the drinks menu is a selection of signature cocktails, which bar manager Aaron Gaulke has designed specifically for Sydney’s balmy evenings, like Whispers on the Breeze (Sauvignon Blanc, St Germain, soda, cucumber, lemon peel). There’ll also be Piper Heidsieck Champagne and Endeavour Pale Ale. And, should you grow a little peckish, the bar menu will sort you out. Chef Peter Gilmore (Quay) has been running at the show at Bennelong since the middle of this year. He replaced the degustation menu with a few casual, yet no less outrageously delicious, options: from three course dining in The Restaurant dining, to share ‘Cured and Cultured’ plates, to supper. And they just nabbed Concrete Playground's Best New Restaurant in our Best of 2015 awards, so pay 'em a visit. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon.
With dozens of diners filing in at every meal, Kepos Street Kitchen has certainly cemented its position on Sydney diners' palates. And now, it's ready to multiply. Restaurant owner-chef Michael Rantissi has announced that Kepos is opening a second incarnation of its tasty self in Danks Street, Waterloo. Set to open just after Easter in Danks's Casba development, the new eatery will be named Kepos & Co. "[It] will look onto palm trees and a little pond," Rantissi told Good Food. "We’ve gone for a look that’ll be like old Jerusalem." Meanwhile, the menu will stick with the Kitchen’s winning Mediterranean theme, but delve into new territory. "I want to explore another side of the Mediterranean and plan to have mulukhiyah on the menu," Rantissi said. "In Egypt they do it with rabbit, we'll do it with wagyu." Since opening in November 2012, Kepos Street Kitchen has become one of Sydney’s favourite restaurants. Rantissi, who grew up in Tel Aviv, combines Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern influences, bringing together both classical training and new ideas. This year, the restaurant was listed as one of the Top 500 Restaurants in Australia by the Australian Financial Review. Via Good Food.
You know summer's almost here in Sydney when openair cinemas start making big ol' announcements. Sydney's most visually stunning openair cinema, St George Openair Cinema, is back for the summer. Celebrating its 20th season this year, Sydney's beloved cinema with a million dollar view returns to Mrs Macquaries Point on Thursday, January 7 for a huge 40-night season until February 19. The 2016 program, announced today, will see fourteen premiere and preview screenings, a selection of 2015’s best arthouse films, as well as the all-time favourite Christmas and New Year releases. First up, opening night will see the Sydney premiere of Looking for Grace — bound to sell out. Then it's all Oscar tips, all the time, from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's hotly anticipated Carol, to Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl. Michael Fassbender as the Apple luminary Steve Jobs is in there, alongside Spotlight, Brooklyn, Trumbo, Hail, Caesar! and Room. Yep, we're already clearing our calendar. This year's summer blockbusters are all on the bill too, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter ruling in Suffragette, alongside Jennifer Lawrence's Joy, the epic In the Heart of the Sea, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Sisters, and the (for some reason) remake of Point Break. Films you might have missed at the cinema or just want to dive into another time also abound, from Amy Schumer's Trainwreck to The Martian, Everest, The Walk, Spectre, Man Up and Sicario. There were more than 50,000 tickets sold last year in the first days of pre-sales in December, so you'd better be organised when tickets go on sale on December 7. Keeping their tried and true formula intact, St George Openair Cinema will return with their epic grandstand seating, with those insane views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House which perpetually distract us from the 350 square metre cinema screen. Stupid beautiful Sydney. St George Openair Cinema 2016 runs January 7 to February 19. Advance tickets are on sale at 9am on December 7, 2015. Visit the website for updates and the full program, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
