There's a great anecdote behind Big Poppa's. It's three guys sitting around, eating cheese and drinking wine while listening to hip hop and deciding that their current activity was a) costing them too much money — they were literally spending thousands of dollars on cheese — and b) a great concept for a restaurant. And so, Big Poppa's was born from Lewis Jaffrey, ex-operations manager at The Baxter Inn, Frankie's and Shady Pines, and Jared Merlino, owner of The Lobo Plantation and Kittyhawk. It's a two-floor ode to Biggie Smalls that plays hip hop until 3am, and serves cheese, wine and Italian food until the doors close. The restaurant is upstairs, the bar is downstairs — it has bare brick walls, candles, dark blue leather booths and the face of Biggie Smalls is tiled on the floor. It's an unpretentious space, and it's worth the wait for a table. We've partnered with KitchenAid to celebrate the launch of the KitchenAid Mini, and we asked two chefs from two of our favourite restaurants to throw a Mini Dinner party (and create a Mini Moment) for their friends. Liam O'Driscoll, head chef at Big Poppa's, former Sydney hip hop DJ (although he probably won't enjoy us calling him that) obliged. He cooked us up a three-course dinner of the simple, rustic Italian food he serves at Big Poppa's, and told us what he loves about cooking at home. He reveals his menu in advance — it's so beautifully Italian I have to research it so I know what we'll be eating. There's salsa salmoriglio, parmigiana-reggiano, pangrattato, flat iron tagliata and potato al forno. This appears on the table as globe artichokes, pasta sprinkled with cheese, a thinly sliced flat iron steak, potato with rosemary butter and a simple semifreddo nougat dessert. [caption id="attachment_592755" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flat iron tagliata with confit garlic and rosemary butter, and potato al forno.[/caption] O'Driscoll adores Italian food. "I love pasta," he says specifically, "if I was on a desert island and there was one food I could take, it would be pasta." With Italian food, he explains, less is more — it's about the quality of the produce over anything else. "It's not like French food where there are so many ingredients and complicated techniques to learn. Some Italian dishes only have three to four ingredients, so the produce is left to stand for itself." Big Poppa's isn't fine dining, it's casual dining. Produce is sourced from quality suppliers, and the food is presented in its simplest state. Despite having a background in fine dining (he just came from Pendolino in the Strand Arcade), this is how O'Driscoll chooses to cook. The preparation at his dinner party is simple, as is the service. Food is served in the pan, and friends help themselves to steak and potatoes. [caption id="attachment_592851" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Torrone Semifreddo, dulce latte.[/caption] "One of the beauties of cooking is being able to share food with the people you love," he says. "There's a communal feeling in everyone being able to dig into a dish that's on the table, as opposed to everyone having their own particular meal". Liam pulls his tub of semifreddo straight from the freezer and starts to scoop it out and serve. "When you're home cooking you just slap it on a plate," he says. "If this was a nice restaurant, I'd shape it into something. But this is rustic cooking — everyone agrees that they would like it better like this." What he says doesn't really have an impact until the next morning, when I'm sitting in a café and I look down at my breakfast. It's piece of toast that's been delicately scattered with edible flowers. While beautiful, they don't really add anything to the dish in terms of taste. "It's not about it being pretty," I remember Driscoll said. "It's about what it is." Images: Samantha Hawker.
Sydney's controversial lockout laws look set to undergo another major test, after the owner and staff of Hugos Lounge in Kings Cross today announced they are considering bringing legal action against the NSW government in the wake of the venue's closure. The longtime Kings Cross institution revealed last week that it would be ceasing operation after suffering a 60 percent drop in revenue since 2012. Unsurprisingly, owner Dave Evans cited new licensing laws and the recent 1.30am lockout as the reason for his business' decline, telling The Daily Telegraph that the "well-intentioned but ill-informed laws" meant that "good, safe operators can't sustain their business." Owens will be joined by 70 of his former employees in a proposed class action lawsuit, the details of which will be revealed later today. In its heyday, Hugos reportedly drew in more than 6000 patrons a week, but the business has been crippled in recent times by an 80 percent drop in patronage. Owens believe revellers have abandoned Kings Cross in favour of areas such as Newtown, where the lockouts do not apply — although in a bitter twist, several venues in that suburb have recent agreed to voluntary enforce the laws in an attempt to curb a sharp uptick in drunken violence. The tough lockout laws have been credited with reducing assaults in Kings Cross by one third, although detractors believe they have simply pushed such incidents into the surrounding suburbs. Incidents of drunken violence doubled in Pyrmont in the 12 months following the law's introduction, and increased by two-thirds in Newtown. Meanwhile, Hugos is far from the first Kings Cross venue to shut its doors since the lockouts came into force. Soho, Goldfish, The Backroom and the Trademark Hotel have all ceased operation, as have Flinders Hotel and The Exchange in neighbouring Darlinghurst. The lockout laws are due to be reviewed in February 2016. Via The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph.
The adverse effects of climate change have already been well-documented. Rising sea levels. An increase in extreme weather events. Hundreds of millions of people potentially displaced. Yet the most disturbing cost of environmental degradation is only now being driven home. We don't mean to alarm you, but the verdict is in: global warming is going to change the taste of your beer. Commissioned by Earth Hour and produced by the good sports at Willie the Boatman craft brewery, Drought Draught is a brand new beer brewed under drought-affected conditions. Made using poor quality barley and hops, along with artificial supplements standing in for cost prohibitive natural alternatives, the result has been described as "average tasting beer," one that lets beer lovers "actually taste the effects of climate change." Lucky for Sydneysiders, the intentionally sub-par brew will debut at Feather and Bone in Marrickville this Saturday, as part of Earth Hour's Save the Ales campaign. The event is part of a broader Earth Hour initiative that draws attention to the impact of global warming on Australian farmers. People are also being encouraged to upload their #NoBeerSelfie to social media, with the best entries winning a beer tasting event in Sydney, Adelaide or Perth, along with a bunch of other prizes courtesy of craft brewers Young Henrys. More than 500 community events are expected to take place around the country this Saturday March 28 as part of Earth Hour 2015, in the lead-up to the annual 'lights out' at 8.30pm. For an event near you, visit the Earth Hour website.
Just a cheeky heads up for local legends like Liquorun, Jimmy Brings, Friday Beers, LiquorDrop, Dial-A-Drink, QuickBottle and WineRun — the big guns have jumped on the booze delivery bandwagon. Online shopping behemoth Amazon is trialling one-hour alcohol delivery, starting in Seattle. Announced by Amazon this week, Prime Now will take human laziness and demand for things now to the next level, dropping wine and beer at your doorstep within 60 minutes. From burger delivery by drone to ordering pizza with one emoji, humans just want things faster, faster, faster now. The Prime Now service, which is Amazon's fastest yet, will be exclusively available to members of Amazon Prime — and it's not just for booze. Tens of thousands of items will be available for one-hour delivery, from wine and beer to milk and ice cream, televisions, Kindles, paper towels, you name it. Throwing a last minute party or treating yourself to one heck of a night in just got pathetically easier. Local startup booze delivery crews, don't freak out just yet. Prime Now is currently only available Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland in the States, but the company has plans to expand the service to localities across the country and worldwide, eventually. Via CNET. Images: Dollar Photo Club and Walnut Studio.
The city's oldest green space is set to be transformed into a lit-up wonderland when the sun goes down and Vivid Sydney kicks off its 2018 edition this Friday, May 25. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will this year play host to a bigger Vivid set-up than ever before, featuring 16 captivating installations and — for the first time ever — a swirling, illuminated facade for Government House. Peppered throughout the site will be a colourful assortment of characters, from giant plant species and moving forests to exotic birds. And you can expect plenty of food and drink options to fuel your after-dark adventures, including fruity cocktails served in light bulb-shaped glasses from two bars, a series of performance-filled Enlightenment Feasts, and sweet treats a cupcake ATM (yes, a cupcake ATM). Here's a peek at some of what you can expect to encounter on a Botanic Gardens jaunt during this year's festival. Take a stroll along the swirling, light-up pathways of the interactive Aqueous installation, as it morphs into a variety of shapes. In the background here, you'll cop a glimpse of Government House, lit up with a colourful montage of Aussie animals and iconic destinations that's been created by TAFE NSW students. Another bold TAFE NSW creation features a collection of brightly-lit totem poles, titled Light Houses. Meanwhile, artists Adrienn Lord, Richard Neville and Nick Sheen have used over 40,000 individually-controlled RGB pixels to create a forest of spiralling, colour-changing trees. And this installation Midnight Sun will leave you captivated by the hundreds of shimmering, fluttering discs across its surface. Vivid Sydney will run from May 25 until June 16, and the Royal Botanic Garden will be open and lit up every night of the festival until 11pm. Image credit: Steve Christo.
Grab your wetsuit and hightail it to California, the not-so-secret home to Kelly Slater's game-changing wave pool. Surf fans have been scrambling to uncover the location of the facility since Saturday, when Kelly posted a video on Facebook (below) that showed him surfing what he called "the first truly world class, high performance, human-made waves." The world champion surfer was coy about the pool's precise coordinates, even as the video racked up more than four million views. In the end, it was Sydney-based surf writer Craig Brokensha who channelled his inner Miss Marple and cracked the case. Brokensha, who writes for Swellnet, began his investigation on Reddit, where numerous other amateur detectives had already begun cobbling together clues. Cross-referencing photos from Google with telltale landmarks visible in Kelly's video, Brokensha soon narrowed the location down to an old water ski lake near Leemore, around 50 kilometres south of Fresno. "With all the tools freely available to us in this day and age (Google, Google Earth, Google Streetview) it only took an hour or so to confirm the likely location of the test facility," wrote Brokensha. Well isn't someone a bit of a clever pants? Assuming the new technology is everything Slater claims it to be, its impact on the surf world could be enormous. There have been other attempts to create consistent, cost-effective waves in the past, but success has to this point proved elusive. Slater has promised to reveal more information in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the World Surf League have released a statement declaring that "the ramifications of this reveal are immeasurable at this point, but certainly will change the face of surfing as we know it." Here's hoping Slater opens the pool up to the public... although that's probably still a ways off yet. Now that the world title has been decided and events for the year have finished, I’m excited to show you what I’ve been... Posted by Kelly Slater on Friday, 18 December 2015 Via SMH.
In case you needed more proof that Hollywood is scraping the bottom of the barrel, audiences will soon be getting not one but two Uber-themed comedies. Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox will be racing to see who can get their flick into theatres first, after both studios unknowingly purchased Uber-centric scripts within 24 hours of each other. Honestly, this is just like Antz and A Bug's Life all over again. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures threw down a seven figure sum on an untitled pitch from Bad Neighbours screenwriter Brendan O'Brien, with Will Ferrell set to produce and star. The script isn't actually finished yet, but sources say it will concern an unfortunate Uber driver (Ferrell) whose fare turns out to be an escaped convict. Fox, meanwhile, purchased Tripper Clancy's completed script Stuber, which in an amusing twist of fate follows an Uber driver whose passenger is a cop, working what THR calls "the most dangerous case of his career." Is it just us, or does it sound like these two films are ripe for an Avengers-style crossover? No word yet on when either film will be released. It does make you wonder whether movies based on apps could be the next big thing, especially with The Angry Birds Movie hitting cinemas in the next few weeks. Surely it's only a matter of time before we get a romantic comedy and/or serial killer film based on Tinder. Via THR.
You've schlepped it all the way to the beach, through public transport, epic crowds and 40 degree heat. Towel down, muumuu off, you're ready to dig into that juicy pageturner... wait. No. NO. You left your book at home. You'd immediately crush the beachball of that offensively happy family beside you, but luckily, Coogee Beach has your back. Ready for a literature-fuelled summer, Sydney's very first summer-long beach library has opened in Coogee. Free of charge and open 7am to 7pm daily, the six-metre timber pop-up library will sit on the lower promenade until the end of February 2015. As reported by the Daily Telegraph, you'll be spoiled for choice; the shelves are packed with over 1000 reads — from must-read fiction novels to magazines, non-fiction books to kids books, and even a non-English language section for visiting beachgoers. Borrowing is free and you can take the books home, with an honour system imposed — bring it back when you're done, so someone else can spend beach time with Katniss. Inspired by similar European projects like France's pop-up beach library, the freestanding bookshelf is a welcome addition to Coogee — with Randwick mayor Ted Sang calling it Randwick's unofficial fourth library. "European countries have trialled similar initiatives before, but we’re not aware of any beach libraries of this scale and capacity in Australia," he told the Tele. "Modern libraries are thriving educational and social centres and the beach library will bring our resources to even more members of our community." Bondi locals have seen this type of bookery before. In 2010, Bondi Beach saw a one-day installation of the world's largest outdoor bookcase by IKEA — but with the summer-long timeframe and borrowing capabailities, Coogee gets to officially claim the title of Sydney's first beach library. Beach reads, ahoy. The Coogee Beach Library will be open during lifeguard patrol hours of 7am to 7pm and will be at Coogee Beach until end of February 2015. Via Daily Telegraph. Image: Reddit.
“Will you be ready for THE CATCH?" This is the intriguing question posed by Heineken just one week out from the release of the 24th James Bond film SPECTRE, and it’s referring to something pretty darn special. To celebrate Heineken's 18-year partnership with the iconic 007 franchise, they're offering a select group of lucky fans a chance to experience the intriguing and prestigious world of James Bond. Sure, that could technically mean you have to infiltrate villain lairs and have various tuxedo scuba suits on hand for 24 hours, but we’re pretty confident it’s referring to the fun stuff: parties filled with glamour, prestige, special guests and VIP performances. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens. You won’t know where. You won’t know when. Will you be ready? To be in the running, fans need to sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Helipads and jet skis aren’t essential, but they’ll certainly come in handy...
Switch your brain on and ready those tweetin' thumbs, as the seventh annual TEDxSydney event returns to the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, May 25. The one-day program combines talks, live performances and a special film program, featuring its usual all-star lineup of speakers. Speakers include radical body activist Kelli Jean Drinkwater, London 2005 terrorist bombing survivor and M.A.D. for Peace founder Gill Hicks, and masculinity expert Dr. Michael Kimmel. Unfortunately attendance for TEDx is through application only and the live audience is already at its max. But these are tech times we live in. The recently created TEDxSydney Satellites allow anyone to view and participate in the live talks via video conference. You can join one already planned, or host your own. TEDxSydney began at Carriageworks in 2010 and has since become a massive annual event on the ideas calendar. The event will run alongside TEDxYouth for the second year running, which is curated by young people, for young people. Tickets for TEDxYouth are still available for purchase. Stream TEDx live here. Image: TEDxSydney.
One crew makes seriously good wine. One makes seriously killer parties happen around Melbourne. The other cooks up some of the finest goods in Sydney. Now they're joining forces for an epic wine-fuelled, pastry-flanked hootenanny inside a mysterious Sydney space. Which Sydney space? That's a big ol' secret. Melbourne collective Wax'o Paradiso and Sydney bakery Brickfields have teamed up with Redfern-based vino lovers Cake Wines for one huge secret party on May 23. It's the second secret party for Cake, who recently took over the rooftop pool deck of the Holiday Inn in the Rocks with damn good wine, gourmet kranskies and seriously good beats from Lovebombs, FBi Radio and Astral People. It was a bonafide humdinger. Now the crew are looking to the inner west, inviting their party-starting friends from Melbourne up for an eight-hour afternoon shindig. Wax'o Paradiso have cranked their fair share of killer hootenannies everywhere from MONA's Dark Mofo to outdoor labyrinths and garden rooftops; so they know what they're doing. They've invited Edd Fisher (host of Tomorrowland on PBS106.7) with his partner in crime Simon TK (resident at Melbourne's Hugs and Kisses), to blitz the decks, alongside local legend Steel Bonus. The proviso? Vinyl-only for eight hours. Whetting whistles for the afternoon, Cake will be bringing their 2013 and 2014 new vintage wines to the bar, with beer and cider on offer too. And if you're feeling a little peckish, Brickfields will be serving up their fresh Modern Australian fare on the day, with the party menu yet to be revealed. 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 inner west, so stay tuned. Here's what went down last time: Cake Wines secret party with Wax'o Paradiso and Brickfields is happening on May 23 from 4-11pm. Tickets are $25 each and last time they sold out super fast, so snap 'em up now.
A brand new streaming service could change the way you watch new release movies — assuming you're willing to fork over the cash. The latest online endeavour from Napster co-founder Sean Parker, Screening Room wants to bring movies into your living room on the same day they hit cinemas. The idea has already received backing from several major Hollywood filmmakers, including Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. But hostile theatre chains and prohibitive costs could mean the service remains a way off yet. The biggest hurdle, it would seem, is the cost of the service. Subscribers would need to purchase a US$150 set top box, after which they'd be charged $50 per film, which would remain available to them for 48-hours. Admittedly, you're paying for the convenience of not having to leave the house, and if you get enough people to chip in, it could easily work out cheaper than going to the cinema. But by the same token, if you're willing to wait a few months, you'll be able to watch the exact same movie on Netflix for a fraction of the price. The reason for the cost is in part to placate theatre owners, who might understandably be none too pleased about Parker trying to muscle in on their territory. According to Variety, as much as $20 out of each $50 rental fee would be paid to exhibitors, in return for two free tickets to see the given film in theatres, should Screening Room subscribers so choose. Film studios would also get a substantial slice of the pie, with Universal, Sony Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox all expressing interest in getting on board. There have, however, been several prominent naysayers, including filmmakers James Cameron and Christopher Nolan, who reaffirmed their commitment to theatrical presentation. It's easy to see their point: films are designed to be viewed on the big screen with the best possible picture and sound, something that cannot be replicated at home. On the other hand, it only takes one jerk on their phone in front of you to ruin the whole experience. Of course regardless of what happens with the Screening Room, we'd wager it'll still be quite a while before it makes its way to Australia. Looks like movie night is still a go, for now. Via Variety.
Look, in our book, every single day is gin day. But this Saturday, June 11, the drink that launched a thousand drunk texts (and counting) will be officially celebrated the world over. It's World Gin Day. And considering the experimental foodie age we live in, it doesn't seem appropriate to celebrate with just another gin and tonic — not when you can have it infused with ants or steeped in red wine grapes, anyway. So we've found two new weird Australian gins that won't only make for an unconventional G&T, but will spark a few conversations and raised eyebrows too. ANGRY ANT GIN — BASS AND FLINDERS Up and coming gin barons often differentiate themselves and their product by distilling the botanicals of the local area to give a distinctive, but familiar, flavour and scent. Australian species lend themselves perfectly to the task — but for the chaps down at Bass and Flinders Distillery in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, that simply wasn't weird enough. They've distilled a gin made with a special ingredient: ants. Like all gin, Angry Ant is made up of a selection of botanicals. But along with the usual juniper berries and lemongrass, the essence of ants has also been thrown in. That's because ants release a pheromone during the distillation process, which produces a flavour that complements the other botanicals to create a damn fine gin. While they're not the first people to use the tiny insects in gin — Copenhagen's Nordic Food Lab produces an Anty Gin that costs a bomb per bottle — they're certainly the first in Australia, with the ants sourced from Wooleen Station in WA. Grab a bottle here, if you dare. BLOODY SHIRAZ GIN — FOUR PILLARS Ron Swanson may say that "clear alcohols are for rich women on diets" and while we usually take his word as gospel, we couldn't disagree more with him on this one. But if you want to add some colour (and kick) to your 5pm G&T, look no further than Four Pillars' brand new Bloody Shiraz Gin. The revolutionary gin created by Victorian gin legends Four Pillars is exaaactly what it sounds like — a Shiraz and gin blend. To create this bloody monster, they steeped Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoped like hell it would turn out well. It did. The pretty, deep purple hue combined with a potent alcoholic content (37.8 percent, compared to an average 30 percent in sloe gin) and sweet undertones make the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near perfect specimen. Four Pillars are releasing the mix on World Gin Day — you can head down to their Healesville distillery to try it or buy it on their website. And on that day, we'll raise a toast to all the gins that were and to all the weird, delicious gins that will soon be. Cheers to you gin, you glorious bastard!
Uber's switched on marketing team are at it again. Less than a week after teaming with Optus on an Australia Day stunt that saw cricket umpires dispatched to backyards around the country, the ridesharing service have announced their latest promotion. From 11am on Sunday January 31, Uber users will be able to summon a driver to collect unwanted gifts and second-hand clothes for donation to the Red Cross. The promotion is being run in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, in partnership with local Red Cross Shops. Users wishing to donate can simply log in to the app between 11am and 4pm and select the 'Clothing Drive' option. The Red Cross asks that people bag up their donations, and only include items that can be resold. "The more donations we receive the more we are able to support the work of Red Cross around Australia," said Red Cross Shops Marketing Manager Kate Dear. Proceeds from sales at Red Cross Shops go directly to support the daily work of the organisation. Here's hoping people respond to this Uber promotion with the same enthusiasm that they did to ones involving kittens and ice-cream. Sure, helping people in need might not be as exciting as cats on demand, but you'd be hard pressed to argue it isn't a little bit more worthwhile. For more information visit the Uber newsroom.
Skiing is about confidence, and it's a cold hard fact that we’re better more cocky skiers after a few drinks in a cosy mountainside bar. Luckily, the good folk at champagne house G.H. Mumm also know this and are bringing the legendary La Folie Douce snowfield parties to Thredbo (so you can really work on your slopeside confidence) in conjunction with Thredbo’s 25th ToptoBottom weekend (August 6-9). La Folie Douce, running over Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, has been styled after the decadent European snow holiday blow-outs from whence their fame springs (those Europeans really know how to party in the snow, so you know it’ll be good). La Folie Douce translates approximately to 'sheer madness' and we think that’s kind of fitting. The free main event is being held at Thredbo’s Alpine Resort Poolside Terrace and will feature a cabaret and street theatre-style performance, singers, dancers and DJs. Think a modern Gatsby party, but in the snow. There’s a tonne of free events happening up and down the mountain and most of them revolve around champagne (hallelujah!). As well as free parties at the poolside terrace, you can book yourself into one of Mumm's champagne and caviar masterclass with chef Josue Lopez from Brisbane’s GOMA or pop into a champagne degustation (translation: drinking champagne). And if by this point you haven’t had enough champagne to down a buffalo, stop by the Mumm pop-up champagne bar at Kareela Hutte for more confidence juice and then have a whack at Australia’s longest run at an altitude of 1810m. La Folie Douce is coming to Thredbo Alpine Village, August 6-9. Visit La Folie Douce for more details. Image: La Folie Douce Meribel.
Well, this is rather excellent branding. Britpop kings and experts in cheesemaking Blur are selling its own ice cream for their latest album tour. Coinciding with Blur's newest album The Magic Whip, the new edible merch is an attempt to recreate the neon sign on the cover; taking something like Gelato Messina's Jack White flavour next level. Damon Albarn and the lads teamed up with UK based ice cream company The Licktators, whose previous music-themed flavours include 'John Lemon' and 'Jiggy Pop'. But the company really made its headline-worthy reputation after releasing 'Baby Gaga' for the royal baby — an ice cream flavour made with human breast milk. Yep. Really. Blur's own escapade into iced confection will, of course, be called 'Magic Whip' after the new album. Attempting to mimic the cover art, the ice cream will be vanilla custard flavour with raspberry sauce. Unfortunately, 'Magic Whip' will be available exclusive at the legendary foursome's concerts and at a few London co-ops this year. We're not sure whether the ice cream will make it to Australia for their highly anticipated Splendour appearance and stadium tour, but until we're sure we'll be cooking up our own Blur dessert using the recipe hidden within the video for lead album single 'Go Out'. Via AV Club.
Rounding out the Sydney Festival season at Carriageworks is the Night Market — curated by one of Sydney's favourite, highly-renowned chefs Kylie Kwong. Kylie is a regular at Carriageworks, she often brings her authentic, home-style Chinese Australian cuisine to the Saturday farmers market. Taking inspiration from the streets of Harajuku (Tokyo), Hongdae (Seoul) and AnFu Lu (Shanghai), the market will immerse you in the food, pop culture and music of contemporary Asia. As always, Carriageworks' curated markets showcase Sydney's best producers and chefs. More than 50 stallholders will be there on the night, presenting the very best Asian food there is to offer. Appearing on the night will be Rockpool Bar & Grill, Eleven Bridge, Moon Park, Long Chim, Pinbone, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, The Dolphin Hotel, Cornersmith, Bar Brosé, Batch Brewing Co. and natural wine from Rootstock Sydney. Keep Sydney Open star Tyson Koh will DJ throughout the night — he'll be playing a mix of soul, disco, yacht rock and world funk. The Night Market rings in the beginning of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival. Celebrate the Year of the Rooster and the Lunar New Year with some tasty food, from 5–10pm. For a full list of stallholders, head here.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and make that film you've always wanted to? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of some bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Sydney's Jason Perini knows all about the anti-comfort zone. He's a man standing on the precipice of an opportunity so monumental it's overwhelming — a fully loaded-career with seriously big names already sitting in his credit roll. Alright, so it's not quite as dramatic as all that but he has recently found himself hurtling from struggling up-and-comer to directing Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal in a film he wrote himself in the space of a few short weeks. One of three winners of Jameson's 2016 First Shot competition, an international short film comp giving aspiring writers and directors their 'first shot' in the film industry, Jason's channelling 'Sine Metu' all the way to Hollywood with his film The New Empress. But how the heck did he get there? GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS/AWESOME WIFE Jason started his directing career, as all great directors do, on the other side of the camera. Graduating from the Actors Centre Australia in 2009, he starred in a few short films, episodes of Underbelly, and a few plays for the likes of Belvoir, RockSurfers and NIDA. Highly sought after as a voice over artist, he churned out ads for KFC, Sony and Samsung before taking a little more creative control over his film career. He wrote and starred in multiple award-winning short films including 2012 Tropfest finalist and Best Comedy winner at NYC's BrownFish International Film Festival Kitchen Sink Drama, and the Cannes-screened short A Little Bit Behind. Being a director, writer and actor was paying off. In his new arrangement though, the scales are loaded. On one side is his family (wildly supportive wife Susan, three young kids and preschool fees stacking up), fear and niggling self-doubt. On the other side is the pure joy of making films and a fair dollop of entrepreneurial spirit. In the end, they balance each other out — but it doesn't come easy. "My wife reassures me to keep moving in this direction and making short films because… I think she just sees the joy it brings me," he says. "And that it brings me a level of satisfaction." Perini doesn't fit into any preconceived notions you might have about actors and directors. He could be your brother, your mate, your neighbour, your uncle — there's not a skerrick of Tinseltown pretentiousness in him and he seems acutely aware of that. What he lacks in old Hollywood gravitas he more than makes up for in relatability. He's not a polished protagonist and seems to have no faith in things working out for him. For some, that fear might be calcifying, but for Perini, it makes him cautious, calculated and hardworking. His approach isn't razzle-dazzle, it's a hard slog, and maybe that insight is why Trigger Street Productions president Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey and Maggie Gyllenhaal, chose his script out of hundreds to win First Shot. FYI, this is the straight-up baller way Jameson, Trigger Street and Spacey told the three First Shot winners they'd won (get the tissues ready): EAT HUMBLE PIE FOR EVERY MEAL There's nothing glamorous about clawing your way up the film industry ladder. Like most of the creative professions, there's a dearth of funding and a saturation of hungry mouths to feed. Putting a dollar value on creative ideas can be challenging but not as difficult as going hand-to-mouth to potential investors and supporters. But that's the reality for most filmmakers. There's no fat stack of Hollywood money, no personal assistants and no safety net. Making it work means calling in a lot of favours. "Constantly having to approach people I don't know and say, 'I don't have much money, my idea is probably not very good but would you be willing to come along and help out with this thing,' you think, 'I don't want to do this, it's out of my comfort zone.' But in five years, if I hadn't given it a shot, I would kick myself. "I'm not getting any younger. I get nervous calling anyone on the phone, I can't stand it. I get weirded out by emailing people [the same as] approaching people cold. But the more you do it, you still don't like it but you know that's what you have to do." Herein this simple admission lies the crux of Perini's appeal – he's you. He's all of us, unpolished and goofy and cringing about having to pick up the phone and ask a favour. He's a man with the same hang-ups, the same road blocks we all have (age, time, money, warring responsibilities), who's managed to somehow close his eyes, steel himself and awkwardly run screaming into the fray 'without fear'. FAKE IT TILL THE HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS NOTICE YOU Perini quickly discovered that for him, being an actor was far easier than being an everything else (don't throw anything at us, actors). As director, producer and writer, he finds himself holding a lot of threads which threaten to unravel at any moment and ruin everything. "What's nice about it is that you get more of a vision but then if it comes crashing down, it sucks," he says. "If I was acting it I'd just go, 'Oh they cut it badly, the director was a jerk.' But there's nowhere to hide once you start producing, directing and writing." His approach to his craft is one of self-assured humility; an oxymoron that blends equal parts ability and uncertainty. When asked if he thinks he's a good filmmaker, he's characteristically self-deprecating. "No I don't," he says quickly. "I think I'm a baby in it. Now that I've made two films completely on my own, in the sense that I produced them and wrote them, I think I learned the hard way really quickly. I look back at both those films and would do them completely differently. But I've learnt so much… that's kind of helpful." Trigger Street and Maggie Gyllenhaal evidently disagree. Perini's script, which he nearly didn't submit, was chosen out of hundreds as a co-winner of First Shot. The prize is a filmmakers' dream Your script is brought to life with you as the director, Kevin Spacey as creative director, Trigger Street as producers and Maggie Gyllenhaal in front of the camera. As you may guess, Perini is dealing with it in a characteristically low-key way. "They're gonna have a rude shock when I turn up and don't know what I'm doing... I'm just thankful and I want to learn from them as much as I can. I want to be as ignorant as I can and soak it all up." Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website. Images: Michael Ciccone, Jameson, Trigger Productions.
Reluctant pirates of Australia, this one's for you. Announced today, Australia's getting a brand new internet service, Yournet, which uses geododging to grant you access to TV from around the world. No VPN/funny business needed. Yournet is a soon-to-be-launched internet provider with a philosophy that everyone should pay for the content they consume, but also that Australians often get shafted out of competitive deals and easy access to good streaming services because of a certain someone’s monopoly on the market (Foxtel. It's Foxtel. Foxtel.). According to SMH, Yournet will un-geoblock your access to the holy grails of cheap TV streaming (US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer) and other blocked foreign sites. Yournet will become available in August and you’re looking at an ADSL2+ connection for $129.95 with unlimited downloads, which is a wee bit more than your current (terrible) TPG bargain bin deal. But considering a good VPN will cost up to $10 a month and Yournet has an uncapped download limit, we’re pretty into it. Yournet is also designed specifically for people who like to procrastabinge-watch entire seasons of TV shows without slow buffering times reminding you of the mountain of responsibilities that lurk outside of the safe zone (your laptop-warmed, bed pillow fort). If you're using Yournet, you will need to find your own way to sign up for blocked overseas services and actually pay for the service. But once you're signed up, Yournet allows you to flick between platforms easily with the 'Global Mode' service — unlike many VPNs like Hola, which don't allow Australian geoblocked sites through to the rest of the world, you can just flick between BBC and ABC iView for example. With Australia's new copyright laws rolling out with gusto, this could be the solution that lets you hang up the cutlass and parrot. How this is possibly legal, we're still pretty in the dark. However, Fairfax references legal advice that this type of technology to bypass geoblocking is perfectly okay, something that consumer advocacy group CHOICE Australia thinks is not exactly correct. "It's possible that we'll see a legal challenge against Yournet, similar to the actions against Global Mode services in New Zealand," CHOICE campaigns manager Erin Turner told SMH. "CHOICE remains concerned that the recently passed Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 will allow Australian rights holders to block access to online tools that allow consumers to access geo-blocked services. This isn't an anti-piracy measure, it's an anti-consumer measure that could see some of Australia's biggest companies block access to their international competitors." Check out Yournet here, launching in Australia in August. Via SMH.
A nirvana of live music and creative thinking nestled smack bang in the middle of one of America’s most conservative states, Austin, Texas is amongst the most hypeworthy cities in the world. Never is this truer than during South by Southwest, a ten day festival of hugely talked-about movies, must-hear new music and groundbreaking, interactive tech. From flying cars to talks by Edward Snowden, this year’s event has once again got us turning green with envy. To help us cope with hardcore FOMO, we’ve come up with seven things happening at SXSW 2015 we wish we were bragging about experiencing firsthand. MEERKAT IS TAKING OVER With a tech-head on every corner, SXSW has become a premiere destination for developers looking to launch their latest app. Twitter and Foursquare both got their start in Austin, but this year the buzz has coalesced around Meerkat, an app that lets you live stream video from your phone to Twitter. Interesting idea, although whether it has staying power remains to be seen. VIRTUAL REALITY IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AT SNL40 Right now it feels like we’re right on the cusp of virtual reality actually being a thing. The team at Saturday Night Live certainly think so, teaming up with Sony to capture the filming of their recent 40th anniversary show. Just think: now you’ll be able to experience Eddie Murphy’s awkward guest spot like you were squirming in the audience firsthand. THERE'S A KWIK-E-MART FOOD TRUCK HANDING OUT FREE SQUISHEES Celebrating 25 years since the Kwik-E-Mart first opened its sliding doors on The Simpsons, Fox have created a food truck for SXSW that's serving up free squishees to lucky, lucky jerks for the duration of the festival. The flavours? 'Not So Very Cherry' and 'Give 'em the Razz'. The whole thing's a publicity stunt of course, and coincides with the announcement of the first ever 1100-piece Lego Kwik-E-Mart set. JIMMY KIMMEL TAPED A COMMERCIAL FOR A LOCAL AUSTIN VIDEO STORE For the second year in a row, late night host Jimmy Kimmel made the trip to Texas for a week’s worth of shows, with guests including Bill Murray, Willie Nelson and Kanye West. But the highlight might be the trio of TV ads he recorded for Austin’s Vulcan Video, where he and a self-effacing Matthew McConaughey pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy and extol the virtue of VHS. Alright, alright... alright? THERE'S BEEN SWORD FIGHTING AT SXSWESTEROS Well of course there was a Game of Thrones thing. HBO’s SXSW installation, teasing the launch of the show’s fifth season, has been one of the biggest drawcards of the festival, with lines stretching around the block. Fans got the chance to practice their swordsmanship, snap a pic in the Iron Throne and get a taste of the show’s latest branded beer, Three-Eyed Raven Ale. As of yet, no one appears to have been betrayed and brutally murdered, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. TINDER'S BEING USED IN A CREEPY BUT MOVING MARKETING CAMPAIGN Okay, so we’re not exactly sure we’d actually want to experience this one. Like any popular social networking app, Tinder has got its fair share of bots, but none of them are quite like Ava. While she appears to be a pretty 25-year-old, she’s actually part of a viral marketing campaign for sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, which premiered at the festival over the weekend. It’s a clever stunt, although we can’t help but feel a little bad for the guys who swiped right. PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTARILY STAYING AT BATES MOTEL We all go a little crazy sometimes. Some of us are even crazy enough to want to stay in a pop-up Bates Motel, publicising the A&E thriller television show with a terrifying stay. An exact replica built with the help of the show's set designers for the third season of Bates Motel, the pop-up fully functioning hotel accommodates guests in three rooms from March 13-21. You're only able to check-in by winning a daily sweepstakes in the motel office. Lucky winners have found a fake blood spatter in the shower in their room, along with poor ol' Norma's bathrobe on the bed. Freaky. PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY RALLYING AGAINST ROBOTS Perhaps a few of Ava’s disgruntled victims were amongst the protestors at the Rally Against Robots, a protest march attempting to warn festivalgoers about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Or at least, that’s what it looked like. Turns out this was actually another marketing stunt, for a dating app called Quiver. That said, we’ve seen The Terminator enough times to think they might actually be on to something. PUNTERS ARE TAKING INTERSTELLAR VR TOURS Speaking of virtual reality, a VR tie-in with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar put attendees 'inside' the film’s Endurance space craft — letting them explore the ship in zero gravity and get a glimpse of a time-warping black hole. No word on whether this experience actually helps you understand the plot of the movie, but either way it sounds pretty cool.
Ethical shopping is really goddamn hard sometimes. On one hand, you don’t want clothes that have been painstakingly made by someone earning a dollar a day in a sweatshop. On the other hand are a bunch of shopping bags because you've no idea where to even start shopping ethically. Like everything, an ethical mindset happens incrementally and the first step you can take is here — the Good On You ethical shopping assistant app is seeking crowdfunding. Intended to help you make better consumer choices, the Good On You app amalgamates information on the ethical rating of fashion brands, either by search term or in your local area. The app also measures different production impacts and processes such as child labour, treatment of animals and contribution to climate change. Basically, the app tells you all the real ingredients that went into making your must-have leather jacket, leaving no stone unturned. At times, it may be a hard pill to swallow if your favourite brands don’t pass the test, but the GOY team don't want you to stop shopping — the app also feature alternative suggestions, based on your style, that do better ethically. And perhaps the feature with the greatest potential to catalyse change is the ability to directly message brands who don’t pass muster (fire up your emoji dictionary for maximum emotional impact). There are a few ethical shopping assistant apps on the market right now, however this is the first that systematically catalogues Australian fashion and beauty brands — and it’s about time. Ethical shopping needn’t be a time-consuming ordeal and with an app that creates brand transparency it hopefully soon won’t be. Image: Dollar Photo Club and Good On You. UPDATE DECEMBER 18, 2015: Thanks to awesome crowdfunded dollars, Good On You reached their target of $15,000 and the app is now live. You can download it from their website. Go team!
A magical feast awaits the foodies of London, inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis. For two weeks starting in late January, fiction-inspired supper club The Literary Hour is hosting a five course Narnia-themed banquet — and yes, you have to step though a wardrobe to attend. Just don't forget to bring your winter furs. Set to take place in a secret location somewhere near Tottenham Hale station in north London, Feast in Narnia is but the latest literary supper club hosted by the group. Previous dinners took their cues from the Brothers Grimm and Roald Dahl, and featured dishes such as Cinderella's pumpkin arancini and Willy Wonka's whipple-scrumptious fudgemellow delight. They've also run a not-so-fairytale dinner inspired by Hannibal Lecter, featuring blood soup, brain fritters and Silence of the (Ten Hour Slow Roasted) Lamb. What exactly you'll find on the menu in Narnia is currently being kept under wraps, although the organisers are promising "traitors' tea with Mr Tumnus" and "a fine fishy time with Mrs Beaver". We figure that it's not too much of a stretch to assume that Turkish delight will feature prominently as well. Londoners can book themselves a spot at the table via Grub Club. The rest of us might have to find our own enchanted wardrobe to transport us there first. Via Londonist.
Woken up in a self-induced, whiskey-fuelled, stomach-grating, cold-sweating Sunday Hades too many times? You’re about to feel real guilty. London’s wholesome beige cashmere cardigan of a suburb, Notting Hill, is about to open the unthinkable: an alcohol-free cocktail bar called Redemption. We like to call this a ‘juice bar’. But apparently there's more to it than that. Redemption is London’s first alcohol-free bar, the city’s only ‘cocktail spot’ with a mocktail and food menu designed by nutritional therapists. Created by Catherine Salway, ex Virgin Group Brand Director, executive chef and raw, vegan specialist Andrea Waters, the bar sports the tagline, “Spoil yourself without spoiling yourself.” It’s the latest in a ‘healthvolution’ (yep) of dry bars happening across England, tackling the country’s huge social drinking focus by simply replacing the booze with Healthy Things. It's like almost like nicotine patch for being around bars. “These days it’s hard to get away from booze – you can’t even go to the cinema without being offered a glass of wine,” says Salway and Waters. “With Redemption, we are creating a space away from temptation that still feels like a treat. We’re challenging the convention that we need alcohol to lubricate every social occasion.” Anyone who just did Dry July (right here), would probably be down with this. But let’s be honest, this isn’t a ‘cocktail bar’. Basically it’s a wholesome, vegan cafe open late and using a buzzword to generate articles like the one you’re reading now. Consider us suckers. Redemption’s less about getting smashed on Negronis and more about filling your weekends with less sugar and alcohol. Think 'beet-o-tinis', 'apple mockjitos', and the mildly terrifying-sounding ‘lettuce spray’. For those who don’t drink at all, or those looking to detox the Captain Morgan from their pores, this is a great, appealing initiative from a country whose deep-set drinking problems mirror our own. Perhaps it’s time for a Redemption of our own? *rolls over, orders pizza online, burps Chardonnay* Redemption Bar opens on August 10 at 6 Chepstow Road, London. Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 11pm. Sunday 10am – 5pm. Via VICE and Sharking for Chips and Drinks. Images: Redemption and Sharking for Chips and Drinks.
Anyone who’s dreamed of spending a summer living in Berlin has just gotten some added incentive. The German capital has officially enacted new rent-control legislation, in order to curtail rising rental prices that have been driving low-income earners out of the city. Must be nice. The new law, which was approved by the German parliament in March, will prohibit landlords from increasing rent to more than 10 percent above the local average. The law was already in place for existing contracts, but will now apply to new tenants as well. Berlin was previously experiencing some of the fastest rising rental rates in Europe, with the average rate jumping by more than 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 alone. If you’re wondering why Australia doesn’t have similar legislation on the books, then welcome to the club. A recent global survey that took into account rental prices as well as various other cost of living factors including food, transport and utilities found that Sydney was the fifth most expensive city in the world, with Melbourne right behind at number six. Brisbane came in at 21, while Perth and Adelaide tied at 24. By comparison, New York City was number 26. That’s right. Living in New York is less expensive than Perth. The NSW Greens Party actually proposed changes to Sydney rental laws during their state election campaign earlier in the year. Under their proposal, rises in rent would be tied to the rate of inflation, and landlords would be restricted to one price increase per year. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has pledged to introduce the legislation to the state’s lower house. In the meantime, Flight Centre has tickets to Berlin starting at $1499. Via The Guardian. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
At first glance, mid-week raving and healthy living don’t seem to go hand in hand. The energetic people behind Morning Gloryville turned that preconception on its head with their breakfast raves in Paddington Uniting Church last year. Now, Sydney's dawn party experts are back with a brand new venue — an Alexandria warehouse. Taking over All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory from March 18, the London-founded breakfast bash will ring in its first Sydney pop-up event for 2015 with a huge warehouse party. An early, early 6.30am warehouse party. Lockouts, consider yourselves excluded from this shindig. "Anything goes really," says co-organiser Max Becker. "The benefit of having a rave at 6.30am is that the lockouts are irrelevant, plus rather than ensuring people get home safely it’s actually trying to make them go to work that becomes the problem." So first-timers, what can you expect from this breakfast rave? The Morning Glory rave started in London’s Shoreditch — where else — by Sam Moyo and Nico Thoemmes. Like last time around, music will be pumping from 6.30am, with sets from some of Sydney DJ favourites Levins and Max Attack. You’re encouraged to jump around and shake those cobwebs loose before heading to work — there's even a few furiously energetic dancers around to show you some moves. To keep your energy up and legitimately kickstart your day, MG offer up a bunch of tasty breakfast options and juices, as well as free yoga and massages. The recommended dress code is simply 'dress to sweat', but loads of colour and festivalwear is also encouraged — anything to help you seize the day. The only real rule is sobriety; let your inner dance monster show the world what it’s made of unimpeded by plonk. It's all ages, just ten beans if you get tickets early, and probably the most fun you'll ever have early on a Wednesday morning. Find Morning Gloryville at All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory, 160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria on Wednesday, March 18. Runs 6.30 - 9.30am, tickets are $10 for early birds, $15 first release, $20 second release, more on the door. Grab 'em here. Words by Hannah Valmadre and Shannon Connellan.
More home-style Vietnamese fare (just like mama used to make) is coming to Sydney, with local favourite Mama's Buoi opening a Sydney third location this winter, following their Surry Hills and Crows Nest branches. It'll be their their fifth restaurant counting Melbourne's Chadstone and CBD locations. Located at Tramsheds, the heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot-turned-colossal European-inspired market hall, Mama's Buoi will be joining the likes of Belle's Hot Chicken, Bodega 1904, Gelato Messina and many more. The new venue will open later this month, with an exact date to be confirmed. On the menu, you'll find MB regulars like fresh rice paper rolls, variations of vermicelli salad, and bowls of that coveted six-hour broth pho, served in a casual setting — with playful cocktails to boot. And of course, it's all relatively cheap — you can expect to get a decent meal for under $20. Mama's Buoi opens at Tramsheds Harold Park, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge in August 2017. Images: Mathilda Hill-Smith.
Plant lovers of Sydney, you can now grab a coffee while shopping for your perfect tiny, tiny succulent. Garden Life, St Peters's beautiful store for urban green thumbs, is opening its very own onsite cafe. If you've ever been to Garden Life, you'll know that ordinary things don't tend to make it across the threshold. And the cafe's no exception. The coffee is coming directly from The Little Marionette, while Ovvio will be providing premium quality organic teas. Meanwhile, you'll be snacking on delicious treats from The Bread and Butter Project, a not-for-profit initiative by Bourke Street Bakery. And what better way to launch it than with free coffee and food? That's right, if you head along during the first two days of operation — Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3 — you'll be treated to a hot, steaming brew as well as a selection of treats without paying a cent. Once launch weekend is done and dusted, Garden Life cafe will be open during the week for tea and coffee, and on weekends for light refreshments. Find Garden Life at 158 Princes Highway, St Peters. Opening weekend for the Garden Life cafe is Saturday, July 2 (9am-5pm) and Sunday, July 3 (10am-4pm).
Finally, the Bloody Mary will have a breakfast bev companion. Bacardi has been cooking up what is thought to be the first spirit distilled from tea leaves, a new product they're calling Tang. Although we're pretty sure that's already a long-copyrighted drink name for a sugary orange fizz, Bacardi are running with it as inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty — when the country's obsession with tea really put down its roots. And with tea still the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (behind coffee, of course), it looks like Bacardi's capitalising on a still-travelling bandwagon. Someone at Bacardi obviously saw more than The Grim in their tea leaves. Apparently the company has been developing a brand new distillation process for four years, according to The Spirits Business. Releasing complex sugars from green tea leaves, the process makes the tea leaves fermentable — so able to become booze. Looks like someone at Bacardi left the leaves in their home teapot too long and had a Brilliant Idea. The fermented gloop then heads to distillation phase, before being blended to really get those tea flavours out. Then the whole thing is diluted with French spring water at Cognac's Grey Goose distillery and you've got yourself a 'tea spirit', designed to drink alongside Chinese food or dropped into cocktails. If you're all fired up to drop a little Tang in your morning cup, be warned; it's going to be exclusively distributed in China (initially only from DFS Hong Kong until May). Plus, it's not going to be cheap. Bacardi are only making small batches of 2000 500ml bottles a go (HK$1888 or AU$318), with the first 500 of the batch numbered, so you're going to see some pretty steep eBay prices on Tang. Via The Spirits Business.
Continuing in the tradition of online services that ensure you never have to leave your living room, a brand new website has recently launched in Sydney that will deliver groceries right to your door. Inspired by their success in Germany, ShopWings lets you select your groceries over the web, before dispatching one of its shoppers to do the busy work for you and deliver within about two hours. Basically it’s like The Iconic, but for food. After entering your postcode, visitors to ShopWings choose between three different grocery chains: ALDI, Coles and Harris Farm (sorry Woolies). From there, it’s simply a matter of filling your virtual shopping cart and heading to the checkout. The delivery fee comes in at a flat $8.90 — although in order to entice customers, your first use of the service is free. Once you’ve paid via credit card or PayPal, ShopWings guarantee delivery within two hours. They currently deliver to addresses in the CBD, eastern suburbs and beaches and the Lower North Shore, with plans for expansion already on the cards. Of course ShopWings isn’t Australia’s first online grocery service. Both Coles and Woolworths already offer home delivery, while Grocery Butler has been operating since mid-2013. Where this new operation aims to stand apart is in the quality of their service. ShopWings shoppers will even get in touch with you from the grocery store if an item you selected is out of stock, so that you can pick an alternative rather than going without dinner. Test out ShopWings over here. Image: ShopWings.
Calling all Gordon Gekkos and Jordan Belforts, the UK's got a new bar for you. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange is London's new venue where drink prices fluctuate in real time according to their nightly popularity, opening on June 17. Set across three floors, Reserve is attempting to connect customers to the value of their cocktails, and how quickly one drink can rise in value while another crashes. It all depends on which drink is most popular on the night — classic supply and demand. There's a live market price board where you can see how different cocktails are doing, and the bar's smartphone app will let you keep track of things at your table — an app that also allows patrons to order cocktails right to their table. The bar's advice? "Buy low, play the market, and when the market crashes... everybody wins." We guess that means a sweet cheapo special. So who's the Wolf of Wall Street behind this whole deal? Reserve has been dreamt up by Alan Grant and his crew, whose former escapades include London's Cherry Jam, Supper Club and Notting Hill Arts Club. It's London's first bar of its kind, but it's not the world's — Austin, Texas has a stock market themed bar called The Brew Exchange, where the hundred beers on tap fluctuate according to popularity. If you happen to be in London (or you've got buds over there) before the bar opens on June 17, Reserve is offering punters the chance to feel like a right ol' Gecko — you can invest £25, £50 or £100 in the bar and you'll double your money instantly with a 100% return of £50, £100 or £200 in bar credit. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange opens on June 17 at 46 Gresham Street, London. Via The Drinks Business. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
In the latest "hello young people" example of giant fast food chains desperately attempting to be cool, McDonalds has announced that a dedicated French fry 'concept store' will open tomorrow in Sydney and it's called, wait for it, Fries With That. You can probably hear us sighing from here. Located on Glebe Point Road in Glebe, Fries With That will throw its doors wide to the insatiably curious masses at 11am tomorrow and the menu is (as you may have guessed) dedicated solely to fries. It's a big trend-sucking gimmick to promote their new loaded fries menu, and they'll be test running six new varieties of toppings. The most popular topping will get the honour of becoming a permanent member of the illustrious Maccas menu. As is tradition in a democratic country, you vote by smashing down your fave French fry flavour. After Camperdown's new eatery The Corner turned out to be a Maccas in disguise last year, this is just some more casual bandwagon-jumping for Maccas. Just look at this on-trend interior, blonde wood, white tiles, exposed light bulbs — someone's been paying attention: It's only open for three days and will close up at 6pm on Sunday, giving you only three days to try all the new flavours — which are, quite honestly, boring as batshit. The six options include sour cream and sweet chilli, Caesar, curry, pesto and parmesan, chipotle cheese sauce and peri-peri cheese sauce. Yawn. They'll also be serving gravy loaded fries which launched nationally yesterday. Eh, we'll probably inhale some. Stop looking at us like that. Find Fries With That at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Opening hours Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29 11am-6pm.
Cammeray's go-to for laidback weekend tipples, Norths has undergone a multi million-dollar renovation over the last year — and they’ve just revealed the spoils. Now strongly focused on post-work drinks, big local family dinners and weekend wine sessions, Norths has a brand new bar, cafe and seasonal menu to boot. Using the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, Norths are now serving up a range of seasonal, internationally-inspired cuisine in Norths Pantry — from the porcini pesto arancini to the classic 200gm angus beef burger, 'The Bear' housemade range-fed beef pie with mash, crushed peas and red wine jus to Marrakesh grilled eggplant and tomato baked in Moroccan spices. Dessert is by no means a mere afterthought, with a Tim Tam and white chocolate brûlée, The Pantry Sundae and the epic Eton Mess just a snippet of the sweet tooth part of the menu. Where possible, the Pantry's ingredients are locally sourced from sustainable supply chains. If you’re looking for a solid lunch or light snack on the sunny terrace, the newly revamped, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired Norths Cafe is brewing up their own personal blend of coffee, with a large selection of Greek and Lebanese delicacies, Italian panini and salted caramel eclairs. Just keen for a few bevs with buds? Head for the brand new Bar and Lounge and kick back with a frosty craft beer, light aperitif or something neat from the lengthy spirits list. More into vino? Norths also has a brand new wine bar, offering a selection of boutique wines ranging from Orange to Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley to Margaret River, New Zealand to California. Norths also do Moet Magnum Fridays, if you’re looking for a weekend kick-off. Find Norths at 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray.
Brush up on your heaps sick macaroni necklace skills, coordinate your crew's dress-ups and dig out your ol' faithful tent. One of Australia's best and most beloved festivals, Secret Garden Festival, is back for another year. Returning to the festival's hallowed and not-so-secret-anymore location outside of Sydney, Secret Garden is celebrating its eighth year over February 26 and 27. Hold up, you haven't heard of Secret Garden? Grab a beer, line up for the egg and spoon race and we'll fill you in. Forget everything you know about big, personality-less, bro-zone festivals. If that's your thing, you enjoy that, but this little homegrown gem ain't for you. Secret Garden is Australia's most genuine, perpetually surprising, made-for-mates-by-mates festival, with a bigger heart than most festivals could hope to have. Directed by the inimitable, larger-than-life, outrageously hard-working Clare Downes, held annually on the idyllic Downes family farm outside of Sydney and brought to life by the ever-loyal Secret Garden family, this NSW festival reminds punters to ditch the attitude and remember what bloody good fun looks like. Secret Garden's more than a lineup (although said lineup is inevitably kickass each year, with Parquet Courts, Sharon Van Etten, Remi, Gang Of Youths, Client Liaison, The Griswolds, Japanese Wallpaper, UV Boi, Willow Beats, Milwaukee Banks, Total Giovanni, Peter Combe (PETER COMBE) and more playing last year). But with hidden handcrafted areas, drag queens, lawn games, facepainting, ballpits, pillow forts, craft tents, forest pop-up bars, huge art installations, local food, tiny rave caves, photobooths, birds nest-shaped DJ booths, kissing booths, ticket booths and a hell of lot more to be found at the festival, you'll be pressed for time. Importantly, you should start planning your costume, because if any festival goes above and beyond on the dress-ups, it's Secret Garden. Think big — this year's dress-up theme is 'Space Cowboy'. And the 2016 Friday dress up theme is... TICKETS ON SALE NOW >> http://bit.ly/SG_Tickets Posted by The Secret Garden on Thursday, January 7, 2016 Donning a bigger sunhat than ever for 2016, Secret Garden will be taking place over two full days and nights on Friday and Saturday, giving 'Gardeners' more live music, love and glitter than ever. But as usual, in true SG tradition, the festivals always sells out before the lineup's announced. 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. There's a couple of options for tickets: the 'Two-Day Celebration' ($209.65), 'One Hot Night' ($144.35) and the 'Office Worker Package' ($575.80). Head to Secret Garden's fancy new website for more details and to book tickets. And you'll want to — last year Client Liaison brought confetti cannons. In a highly ineloquent statement, Secret Garden rules. We should know, we put on a humdinger of an event with the SG crew last year, Cubby House, so ner. Secret Garden Festival returns to its (sort of) secret location on February 26 and 27, 2016. General tickets are on sale now from Secret Garden's website. Images: Anna Warr, Jack Toohey.
Remember a couple of weeks back, when the internet collectively lost its shit over the existence of that mind-blowing Nutella doughnut milkshake? You know, the one that looks like a massive coronary waiting to happen, but who cares because after drinking it you can basically just die happy then and there? You do, huh? Well how would you like to get a free one delivered directly to your desk? For free? Free. Probably taking cues from Uber's kitten/Messina/pure joy delivery stunts, the mad, Nutella-loving geniuses at Erskineville's Foodcraft Espresso — from whose blessed milkshake mixer the Tella Ball Milkshake first sprung — have teamed up with text message concierge service ASAP for a one-day promotion that no self-respecting dentist could possibly have signed-off on. The long and short of it: 150 thirsty folk in the Sydney CBD are about to be very, very happy. Details of the giveaway will go live on the ASAP Facebook page sometime later today — at which point the first 150 people to tag three of their friends and text their preferred delivery address to 0409 777 917 will be locked in for an injection of sweet, sugary goodness. From there, all that's left to do is count down the minutes until next Thursday, when the ASAP team will start ferrying their precious cargo across town. As it happens, ASAP don't just deliver ridiculous milkshakes. You can text these guys for just about anything — they're basically a Yellow Pages combined with a tiny butler who lives in your phone. They only operate in Sydney right now, although there are apparently plans to expand to Melbourne in the near future. Not that'll be much comfort next Thursday when Sydneysiders are literally drinking Nutella through a straw. For more details about how you can snag yourself a free Tella Ball Milkshake, keep your eyes glued to the ASAP Facebook page.
Portraits aren't all regal furs and awkward "Oh, didn't see you there," poses. They can be weird, abstract, figurative, unrecognisable, or downright adorable. It's not an easy task; capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you've just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archibald Prize winners. Australia's top portraiture prize is back for another year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales's annual celebration of Aussie faces. The Archibald finalists will be exhibited at AGNSW from July 29 to October 22, along with the finalists for the Wynne Prize (which awards the best landscape painting of Australia or figure sculpture) and the Sulman Prize (for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project). After exhibiting in Sydney, the finalists will then tour regionally, after which time the winner will be announced by the trustees of AGNSW. The winner will be awarded $100,000 in prize money and some serious bragging rights to boot. The prize was created by Jules Francois Archibald, the founding editor of The Bulletin magazine. He established the prize with the goal to promote both great Australian portraiture and great Australians. The only real stipulation within the contest is that the painting must have been created in the last 12 months and include at least one live sitting with the subject. The award is an open competition, which means that any resident of Australia or New Zealand can enter. Something to keep in mind for next year. And while you wait to potentially enter the next Archibald, we have another competition for you to enter — we're giving away ten double passes to the Archibald. [competition]630952[/competition] By Marissa Ciampi and Shannon Connellan. Image: Dee Smart, The mayor of Bondi, oil and acrylic © the artist. Photo: Jenni Carter, AGNSW.
How's this for a way to blow off steam at the end of a working week: Abbotsford is about to become Melbourne's official home of casual and competitive axe throwing, which is exactly what it sounds like. Maniax is the brainchild of Stephen Thomas, who first came across the sport while living in Canada. "My wife and I used to go every week to watch the league," he tells Concrete Playground. "Down this back alley in Toronto there's this small warehouse with a bunch of targets set up, and a fire burning out the front. Everyone was right into it, and it was a really cool atmosphere." Upon returning to Australia, Thomas opened Maniax Sydney, and it soon proved to be a bit of a hit. "Think of it as an alternative to bowling or lawn bowls," he says. "We get birthday parties, hens parties, bucks parties, even family groups. Then midweek, we do corporate team building sessions. Google, Spotify, Australian Navy, Commonwealth Bank, IKEA, Qantas, you name it, they've been in." For Maniax Melbourne, Thomas has secured a warehouse just east of Hoddle Street, around 100 metres from Collingwood Station. "We've got six dedicated throwing areas, so we can take six separate groups at a time," he says. "It's going to have a very rustic, very industrial feel with lots of iron and wood." Thomas also plans to partner up with local bars and restaurants. "In Sydney we've got a guy called the Pig Baron who comes and sets up a pig on a spit," he explains. "Then afterwards we send them round to the local craft brewery for a few refreshing ales after the axe throwing." When we remark that axes and alcohol should probably be kept separate, he laughs. "It's a good combination in the right order," he agrees. "Axe throwing first, then the beer afterwards. Always in that order." Admittedly, not everyone is as keen on the idea of axe throwing as Thomas is. Maniax has already been approved by the City of Yarra, but is facing a battle at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after a member of the public lodged an appeal. Still, Thomas is confident that the decision will go in their favour, and hopes to be open for business by late October. Once they are up and running, Thomas has big plans, including league nights like the ones they've set up in Sydney. "We hope to eventually have a Melbourne champ and a Sydney champ and be able to fly the Melbourne champ up to Sydney or vice versa and have an Australian champion," he says enthusiastically. "And because we're actually part of the National Axe Throwing Federation in Canada, our league members qualify for the National Championships in Canada. I'd love more than anything to see us find an Aussie champ and then fly them over to Canada to compete." To stay up to date on Maniax Melbourne's progress, visit www.maniax.com.au/melbourne.
Sick of the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. One of the big highlights on this year's program is the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. It's one of a number of critically-acclaimed titles in the program this year, alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine, which played in competition at the Sydney Film Festival earlier this year. Check out our list of the five must-see films at this year's Scandinavian Film Festival, below. https://vimeo.com/166024818 WELCOME TO NORWAY The opening night film at this year's festival is the fittingly titled Welcome to Norway, a jet black comedy about the current European migrant crisis and the attempts of one intrepid businessman to cash in. Anders Baasmo Christiansen plays a casually racist Norwegian hotel owner who, due to mounting debt, is forced to turn his establishment into refugee housing. With a supporting cast made up of actual Syrian refugees, director Rune Denstad Langlo has created a timely piece of social satire that promises to be both funny and outrageous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShMAkhyC6bY THE FENCER One of two post-war dramas to feature on this list, The Fencer first caught our attention at the Golden Globes earlier this year, when it competed as Finland's nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by Klaus Härö, the film tells the story of a world class swordsman turned reluctant German soldier, who in the years following WWII finds himself hiding from the Soviets in a small Estonian village, where he finds work as a school P.E. teacher and fencing instructor. Critically acclaimed in Finland, The Fencer was described by one media outlet as "the best Finnish film in a decade". Good luck finding a more glowing recommendation than that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CLtk5NewrM LAND OF MINE In the aftermath of WWII, German POWs under the command of Allied forces were put to work clearing Denmark's western coast of more than two million German landmines. This gripping Danish drama follows one such group of prisoners, with director Martin Zandvliet drawing on historical events to craft a film that combines the stomach-churning tension of The Hurt Locker with the anti-war sentiment of Joyeux Noel. With the lives and limbs of frightened young soldiers hanging in the balance for much of its running time, Land of Mine is certainly not for the faint of heart. For anyone who can handle the anxiety, however, the film is an absolute must-see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XKM2zqzoMw THE TOGETHER PROJECT In a desperate attempt to get closer to a beautiful swimming instructor (Florence Loiret-Caille), a lonely crane driver (Samir Guesmi) signs up for lessons with her at the local pool — despite the fact he already knows how to swim. A sure-fire charmer, The Together Project is the final film from French-Icelandic filmmaker Sólveig Anspach, who passed away last year after a battle with cancer. The breezy, off-beat rom-com premiered posthumously at Cannes, where it scored strong reviews from critics and won the Directors' Fortnight SACD Prize for Best Screenplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6m9B-xk3sk THE PUSHER TRILOGY Long before anyone in the English-speaking world had heard of him, director Nicolas Winding Refn broke onto the scene in Denmark with this violent, kinetic crime saga set on the mean streets of Copenhagen. Crisscrossing the lives of various unseemly characters, the Pusher films, with their stylish aesthetic and searing central performances, are unmistakably the work of the same auteur who would go on to direct Ryan Gosling in Drive and Only God Forgives. Each film in the trilogy will screen just once over the course of the festival, in late night time slots befitting their underground status. Special discounted ticket prices are available to patrons who decide to see all three. The Scandinavian Film Festival runs July 5-27 in Sydney, July 6-27 in Melbourne and July 13-27 in Brisbane. For the full program, visit scandinavianfilmfestival.com.
The City of Sydney's Art and About program is all about showcasing the very best that Sydney has to offer the art world, which usually means pushing the envelope. Highly Sprung, the latest effort from Legs On The Wall, perfectly embodies this spirit. The production tells the story of inner city residents getting through the day, but the narrative is told through the re-emerging media of trampolines, parkour, wall running, and a slew of other physical art forms. We caught up with Legs On The Wall's Senior Creative Producer, Cecily Hardy, to talk about the upcoming performances that transport the audience through their own space and time. THE ARTISTRY OF THE TRAMPOLINE While trampolining might conjure images of the old double bounce, or epic YouTube fails, there's a distinct artistry in the way bodies move in mid air. "There are challenges, but there are also great avenues and successes in terms of utilising what you can do with the body," Hardy says. The performers drop from walls, they're shot into the air from the ground, and they manipulate themselves with a sense of zero gravity. There's a certain "weightlessness, but also the weight of a falling body" that drives the performance, and it creates "a sense of… being caught in time, being caught in mid air, of time slowing down." Getting vertical adds new layers to the performance, and explores the space in new and profound ways. TELLING A STORY WITHOUT WORDS "We are storytellers," Hardy says, "but we're using — and in this show particularly — more than the spoken word or text to tell the story." Rather than relying on traditional scripts and dialogue, Highly Sprung instead uses the bodies of the performers and their interaction with the theatre space to explain the narrative of the performance. "I think it also depends on what the director is trying to well up in people," according the Hardy, "and how they want to carry them away." In a situation where simple exposition isn't in the director's arsenal, "you've got to use the strength of human interaction and physical shape." TRANSFORMING A SPACE Legs On The Wall is famous for "throwing people beautifully off the side of buildings". The building, or stage, on which the performers will ply their trade is a pretty closely guarded secret, but will pop up somewhere in Martin Place just before Highly Sprung opens. "It's a bit like a TARDIS that's going to suddenly appear," Hardy says, and will encourage the audience further to abandon preconceptions about spaces and time, and instead engage with the new environment. The transformation of the public space, a core concept of the Art and About ethos, helps to transport the audience in to the acrobatic realm of Highly Sprung, and demonstrates the "really amazingly sort of svelte and sophisticated and challenging" apparatus of the trampoline. GETTING INVOLVED Each performance of Highly Sprung will be entirely unique, although a consistent narrative will run throughout every iteration. At the end of the performance, however, the audience is invited to have a go on the trampolines themselves. As well as adding an element of interactive fun, the audience is also "invited and enticed further in, and get to explore themselves." Instead of simply being passive observers, the audience engages with their own body, and engages with the unique space of the performance they just watched. "It may not be your traditional narrative," Hardy says, "but people will go away with the juices flowing and thinking about what it all means." Highly Sprung takes place at various times from March 29 to April 1 in Martin Place, Sydney. Images: Katherine Griffiths.
Ghostface Killah constantly features as an 'honourable mention' in countless publications' lists of the greatest rappers of all time — perhaps perceived as almost too smart a lyricist for his own good to attain too many top billings in his own right. Just as RZA’s overall production vision for the legendary Wu-Tang Clan has been the sonic foundation to the diverse crew’s raw power, Ghostface has been credited with holding the at-times fractious group together over twenty years at the cutting edge of the game. The 44-year-old New Yorker is the kind of rapper who's more at home sampling You Roam When You Don’t Get It At Home (from his acclaimed solo record Supreme Clientele) than repeating the mantra "Everyday I'm hustlin'". More recently he's embraced rap's intertwined foundations in classic soul even more fully, collaborating with Black Dynamite composer Adrian Younge and the Delfonics on Twelve Reasons to Die (soon to get a sequel) for a time capsule-like recreation of live 1970s instrumentation that spawned a series of unlikely singles, capped by 'Murder Spree'. Fresh off the back of a headlining slot at Meredith — where he invited Australian paralympian Dylan Alcott onstage for 'Protect Ya Neck' — Ghostface is playing an unmissable sideshow at The Metro. Co-headlining with Pharoahe Monch. Supported by The Tongue + Soul Benefits.
The Coathanger, the Iron Lung, or, simply, the Bridge. However you refer to it, we can all agree that the world’s largest steel arch bridge is not only a powerful monument to humanity’s collective ingenuity but also just a dope addition to an already breathtaking harbour. Add on the fact that hundreds of thousands of vehicles cross its epic span daily and you’re dealing with an object of immense beauty and incredible civic utility. If you can’t tell by now, we're fans of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. What’s the best aspect of the bridge though? You can climb that motherflippin’ beast! It's one of the most satisfying touristy experiences for a local Sydneysider around — and also one of the best Christmas presents you can get someone who already has everything. From atop your mighty steel throne you gain some of the best views in the city, if not the world, thanks to the folks at BridgeClimb. So what’s good to peep? Concrete Playground took upon ourselves to find out, so we strapped on our harnesses, passed our compulsory blood alcohol check, and clambered up that mighty arch. THE MAZE-LIKE STREETS OF THE ROCKS With all that shimmering, resplendent water to catch your eye, the site of Australia’s first European settlement often gets ignored, but no longer! The Rocks is a labyrinthine warren of dense, intersecting, occasionally superfluous, lanes, alleys and walkways that are still in use today. A birds eye view of the maze of paths that make up The Rocks is like looking at a living breathing rendering of colonial Sydney. Each cramped stairway and cul-de-sac representing the frenetic energy of the early colonists and their impatience to try to come to grips with this foreign land. THE POORLY DESIGNED BUT LOVABLE FORT DENISION This literally used to just be a colossal sandstone rock jutting fifteen metres out of the briny depths. Then Governor Phillip decided that we needed all that sandstone to build ourselves a colony and lo, with the assistance of a bunch of convicts who probably suffered horribly but let’s not think too much about that, Fort Denison was literally hewn from the stone on which it rests. Pinchgut Island, as it came to be known, has had a macabre history as a penal site, a defensive fortress, as well as serving as the burgeoning colony’s preferred site for hanging recalcitrant convicts. While there’s no denying that a lot of blood has been spilled on that islet, the history of Fort Denison is not all doom and gloom. The centerpiece of the island is the distinctive circular Martello tower, it was the first built in Australia and the last built in the British Empire. This was presumably because poor designs meant that the cannons the tower was built to house were so powerful that their recoil had the potential to undermine the structural integrity of the tower they were in. Never have you seen a more scenic monument to the fine Australian tradition of giving it a red-hot go only to end up half-arseing it because disregarding architectural plans means you are a true-blue, dinky-di ‘Strayan. THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY HEADS Sydney Harbour, or Port Jackson for any cartographical purists, is the world’s largest natural harbour. The jewel in the Emerald City’s crown, the entrance to this expansive inlet is flanked by two imposing sandstone promontories, North and South Heads, that shelter us from the wrath of the Tasman Sea. Perched amid the scrub of North Head is the Sydney Quarantine Station, one of the last remaining facilities that were erected in each colony to ward off whooping cough, small pox and other nasty illnesses. If historical significance and communicable disease prevention is not your bag, don’t fret, the Sydney Harbour National Park has preserved as much of the heads as possible, leaving the undisturbed bush as a potent reminder of the thirty-thousand years of human habitation pre-1788 when the Gadigal people of the Eora nation walked its pristine beaches and byways. THE OTHER BRIDGE, ANZAC BRIDGE Often overlooked in favour of the larger and more grandiose eponymous bridge over Sydney harbour, the Anzac Bridge is a stunning example of architectural restraint. From a distance two soaring pylons appear to be trussed by metal gossamer, the sleek steel cables managing to make the bridge appear simultaneously buoyant and grounded. Formerly known as the Glebe Island Bridge before being renamed in a fit of nationalistic fervour, the Anzac Bridge is a gravity-defying memorial to the contribution of the Australian and New Zealand armed forces and a real pretty sight to boot. CUSTOMS HOUSE'S LOOMING CLOCK TOWER The tallest building in Sydney when the Harbour Bridge was built, you’ll recognise Customs House as that building everyone Instagrams when Vivid is on because there’s always some hectic display projected on to it. Located opposite Circular Quay, this iconic landmark is now dwarfed by skyscrapers in every direction, but don’t let that diminish its grandeur. Once the heart of colonial Sydney this imposing sandstone edifice is a heritage-listed reminder of the overwhelming isolation that early colonists must have felt when maritime trade was the only link to the outside world. On an equally historic but more tragic note, it’s said that the House is built on the spot where the Eora people witnessed the arrival of the First Fleet. Want to see one of the best views in Sydney for yourself? How about getting your nearest and dearest a climb for Christmas? Head to the BridgeClimb website and book your climb. Images: BridgeClimb, Dollar Photo Club, Bentley Smith (Flickr CC).
“Right now, I’m at the House With No Steps in Hurstville,” says Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde. “We’re helping paint murals and hanging out with the people here. We’ve made some great new friends, who have some hilarious stories. It’s such a good time and it’s for a great cause.” Peking Duk, who will play at Luna Park’s Big Top on September 30 for Optus RockCorps 2015, took some time out from their hit-making schedule to volunteer. “When we arrived,” says Hyde. “The walls were dull, but now they’re very, very vibrant. There’s a beach with a massive whale and leopards and tigers in the jungle. In between painting, I’ve been rapping and having a little dance-off.” Hyde and co-Duk Reuben Styles were joined by loads of other volunteers, swapping four hours of their time for a ticket to Optus RockCorps, where Wiz Khalifa, Raury and The Veronicas will all perform. “I think it’s awesome, because you can’t buy a ticket, you have to do a good deed,” says Hyde. “It’s great that so many people are getting involved and a lot of them aren’t here just for the ticket. They’re here to help out of the kindness of their hearts. I’m blown away that there are so many young people getting amongst it. And I think more people should embrace it because it’s not hard at all.” Ready to take his advice? Here are five ways you can help out your community during the next week – and earn yourself a concert ticket. GET YOUR BANKSY ON AT COUNTERPOINT COMMUNITY SERVICES, WATERLOO Give Banksy a run for his money by helping to paint a new mural at Waterloo’s Counterpoint Community Services (the place that used to be known as the Factory Community Centre). Simply register your interest here and turn up at 10am on Thursday, September 10. Spray cans will be handed to you. And if you don’t feel ready to exercise your art muscle, you can still do your bit by taking care of cleaning and clearing. Counterpoint Community Services provides a meeting space for local organisations and runs helpful programmes dealing with particular issues, including employment, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, literacy, housing, parenting and immigration. FLEX YOUR GREEN THUMB AT MORT BAY COMMUNITY GARDENS, BIRCHGROVE Whether your thumb’s greener than Costa Georgiadis’s or the closest you’ve ever got to gardening is buying growing basil at Coles, you’re invited to join the Mort Bay Community Gardens working bee. It’ll be happening on Wednesday, September 9 from 10am in McKell Street, Birchgrove. The plan is to landscape, mulch and generally make beautiful a bunch of vegetable boxes. Mort Bay Community Gardens were founded in 2011 and have since expanded, thanks to support from Leichhardt Council and a 2013 NSW Government grant. Register for this opportunity right here. FIGHT AGAINST WEEDS AT CHOWDER BAY, MOSMAN Ever since the Brit colonists brought their strange beasts, seeds and people halfway around the world, Australia’s native environment has had to battle relentlessly against intruders. Right now, Chowder Bay, which is located on Middle Head’s south side and is one of Sydney’s most beautiful spots, is being strangled by nasty weeds and flora. But, as always, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is fighting the good fight and beating them back. And you can add your hands to their efforts by joining other Optus RockCorps volunteers on Sunday, September 6 from 10am. Sign up over here. TEST OUT YOUR LANDSCAPING IDEAS AT THE HOPE HOSTEL, PARRAMATTA The Hope Hostel and Crisis Apartments have been providing men in Western Sydney with emergency and long-term accommodation during times of crisis since March 2011. But they don’t just provide shelter, they also offer extensive support. So, on Wednesday, September 9 from 10am, Optus RockCorps volunteers will spend a few hours landscaping The Hope’s outdoor area, which is an important place for meeting, thinking and relaxing. You can expect to get creative, by contributing your aesthetic ideas, and practical, with tree-planting, gardening and rearranging. Find out more here. GET PAINT ROLLING AT ST GEORGE PCYC, ROCKDALE St George PCYC is ready for a paint job. And if you get down there on Thursday, September 10 you can make it happen. There’ll be two types of painting going on — a straightforward new coat in the corridors and murals in other areas. You can get involved with whichever takes your fancy. The St George PCYC provides local children with a gym, chill-out room for playing table tennis, pool and fussball, and organised activities like boxing, martials arts, basketball, indoor soccer, gymnastics, volleyball and baton twirling. If this sounds like the right volunteer opportunity for you, go here. Find out more about how you can volunteer for a ticket to Optus RockCorps here. Images: Aleksandar Jason and Dollar Photo Club.
Simple Pleasures Camping Co. is taking over the grounds of Oberon's Mayfield Garden for its next luxurious eco-friendly camping retreat. Glamping in the Garden will pop up from March 23 through April 30 in one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens. Located three hours west of Sydney's CBD, the gardens are seriously impressive and include an 80-metre waterfall, a walled kitchen garden, an Islamic-style pond and a six-acre water garden — plus a bluestone chapel, aviary and rose garden. Bookings include three-day passes to all 160-acres, with exclusive nighttime access for glamping guests. There's plenty to do apart from moseying around, including romantic canoe rides, interactive garden games, tours and workshops, with the garden's Autumn Festival also on during April. The intimate campsite will include only 15 two-person tents, situated next to the picturesque obelisk pond. The bell-shaped tents are fitted with Hugo Sleep queen mattresses, IN BED linens, goosefeather pillows, bedside tables, solar lighting and vintage rugs from around the world. The experience also comes complete with towels, an outdoor table and chairs to sit at, lanterns and torches, along with on-site bathrooms and showers, which are exclusive to the glamping area. Bookings also include a 'paddock and garden-to-plate' barbecue menu for two, with 80 percent of the produce sourced on-site and 20 percent handpicked from local suppliers. The cook-it-yourself menu includes steaks, marinated chicken, a fresh vegetable platter and vegan salad, with all cookware provided and communal barbecues and alfresco dining area available on the campground. If you really want to be greeted to your personal oasis in style, you can add on a drink and food package, which includes bubbles, cheese and charcuterie on arrival. Bookings for Glamping in the Garden are now open. Each tent costs $290 per night and includes dinner for two, with the option of drinks ($45) and charcuterie ($26) on arrival and family packages are also available. If you're looking for more glamping options, check out our ten favourite glamping spots near Sydney. Glamping in the Garden will run from March 23 until April 30 at Mayfield Garden, 530 Mayfield Road, Oberon. Check out the website to book or for more information.
If you’ve eaten edible gardens at Ananas, sampled perfect sushi at Sake or dined like a New Yorker at The Cut, then you’re familiar with the culinary creativity of the Urban Purveyor Group. If you haven’t, we reckon it’s about time you gave them a good whirl. To that end, we’ve teamed up with UPG to give one of our clever, hungry readers 200 bucks worth of free nosh. Yep, 200 bucks. That’s enough cash to buy you and your loved one or mate or mum a serious feast. To enter, all you have to do is pop over here, fill in a quick form and write something vaguely interesting in ten words or less. That’s it. The winner will be free to spend their prize at any UPG venue. So, whether you fancy French glamour and cracking champagne at Ananas, premium steak in New York-style at The Cut Bar and Grill, the city’s finest contemporary Japanese at Sake, en epic European feast at The Lowenbrau or a lazy afternoon in The Argyle’s sandstone courtyard, the choice is yours.
Maintaining that perfect yoga pose may have just gotten a wee bit easier, thanks to the latest innovation in wearable tech. Australian company Wearable Experiments have developed a pair of yoga pants with electronic sensors that will vibrate when you're body is out of alignment. Thanks to the Nadi Smart Fitness Pants, you'll never have to feel self-conscious at beginner's yoga class again. Y'know, except for the fact you're wearing vibrating leggings. The unassuming looking pants come fitted with sensors that can sense your body's position. If you're not downward dogging quite hard enough, subtle haptic vibrations on the wearers skin let them know they need to adjust. And while you might think wearing vibrating pants would be distracting (get your mind out of the gutter), the vibrations are designed to be so subtle that you process the feedback subconsciously. "As someone who doesn't always know the correct form or alignment or pose, I find having that proper guidance is crucial," said Wearable Experiments co-founder and CEO Billie Whitehouse at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. "As a lifestyle product, Nadi not only acts as that guide, but also integrates into your everyday life – reminding you of something as simple as uncrossing your legs while sitting down." The pants, along with corresponding Android and iOS apps, will be available later in the year for an undisclosed amount of money. According to Mashable, the pants will last up to 25 washes, and can be recharged by a basket that is currently being developed. In addition to their yoga pants, Wearable Experiments also make smart rugby and football jerseys that let fans feel what the players on the field are feeling. What a brave new world. Via Mashable.
The ever-popular Kitchen by Mike has long left Rosebery's Cannery precinct, with Mike McInearney moving to the CBD instead, but the team behind Koskela design store aren't going to let the shared warehouse space go to waste. Instead, they've repurposed the space themselves as a brand new restaurant. Meet Koskela Kitchen. Bright, airy and plush, the warehouse feel of KBM was swept out along with the canteen style service. "Canteen style is reaching the end of its lifespan," says co-owner Sasha Titchkosky. She started the design-loving business with partner Russel Koskela five years ago, during which time KBM took on a life of its own. The redesign allowed the duo to realise their original vision for the space, one that very much mimics what Koskela is all about — keeping it natural and local. Part-greenhouse, part-warehouse, the interior is "a more pleasant space for diners — relaxing, open, not as frenetic," according to Titchkosky. Ceiling fans and plants hang from the exposed rafters along with large wicker basket lights. The original concrete slab flooring remains and the spattered walls are intact, purposefully showing the age of the building — over a century old. The garden, a vast departure from the industrial street, is fully replanted with edible seeds, leaves and nuts for use in the kitchen. The herbs aren't the only garden item being used on the menu; honey from the rooftop is used in the grilled lamb ribs ($18) — think juicy, succulent, fall-off-the-bone goodness — and the grilled asparagus ($12.50). The muntries used in Koskela's wonderful crackling pork dish ($22.50) are from the garden as well, as is the kitchen vinegar, made from home-grown verbena. Koskela Kitchen's menu is seasonal, served up from the bustling open kitchen, with Mike Box behind the helm (Momofuku, Nomad). Yes, another Mike, but his menu is a complete departure from KBM. The fresh, bright ingredients well mimic the clean, crisp space. The dishes are simple with a fancy twist — a duck egg omelette with smoked eel ($15 - $18) and an avocado toastie with sesame nori ($13.50) sits alongside brekkie classics like croissant with jam ($5.50 - $5.80) and crumpets ($12). Overall, the menu is inventive, unusual, and best of all, great for sharing. Koskela aren't about to leave you thirsty either, with an all-Australian wine menu is also carefully selected to complimenting the food. The Swinging Bridge #003 amber wine ($12/$55) is the colour of summer and pairs well with the Hawkesbury squid ($21), which in itself is bright, beautifully plated and impeccably fresh. With local craft beers rotating on the taps, this place is local through and through. The Cannery precinct will continue to expand, with a butcher, Greek restaurant and cafe already in the works for the block. The like-minded restaurateurs will be incorporating Australian, home-grown ingredients wherever possible, and a boozy brunch at Koskela Kitchen is our number one reason to visit. Koskela Kitchen is located at 1/85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery; open Mon – Fri 7.30am – 4pm and Sat – Sun 8am – 4pm, with the possibility of extending to dinner hours in summer months. Image: Benedict Torrefranca.
If you're a female chef, sommelier, waiter, restaurateur or manager — in short, if you're a woman and you work in hospo — there's a brand new not-for-profit in Australia dedicated to you. It's called WOHO and it's already attracted the support of some big names in the industry, including Christine Manfield, Danielle Alvarez and Nadine Ingram, who'll be acting as mentors. Even though 51.8 percent of Australian hospitality workers are women, only 15.4 percent of CEOs in the same industry are. So, when it comes to the top jobs, females are seriously underrepresented. WOHO will be bringing educational opportunities and forums to professionals at all stages of their careers. Members will be able to share experiences, ask questions, discuss issues, seek advice and access a supportive network. There'll be a formal mentoring program, regular events and meet-ups. "It is a very exciting time for Australian hospitality, which is now getting more recognition on the world stage," says Julia Campbell, founder and chair of WOHO. "While our forward-thinking approach to food and concepts is well-recognised, it is imperative that we face the issue of female underrepresentation at a senior level in the industry. WOHO is a vehicle for us to inspire, recruit and retain more females and to give them the confidence to support themselves and each other in their professional development." The rest of the WOHO Board is made up of Anna Pavoni (Ormeggio), Jane Hyland (4fourteen), Claire van Vuuren (Bloodwood), Michelle Maiale (A Tavola), Jane Strode (Bistrode CBD), Lisa Hobbs (Dedes Group), Lisa Margan (Margan Estate), Kerrie McCallum (delicious and Stellar) and Lyndey Milan (OAM). WOHO will launch on May 29 at 6pm at Three Blue Ducks, 1/85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery. There'll be food by Bloodwood, 4Fourteen, Pastry Project and Bistrode CBD, and drinks by Printhie, Lisa McGuigan, Margan Estate, Young Henrys and Santa Vittoria. Tickets are $25 (members) or $30 (non members). WOHO membership is $10/month.
Melbourne's chilli powder-encrusted fried chicken specialist, Belle's Hot Chicken, is well worth the lengthy road trip. Luckily, you'll just have to brave the crowds at Bondi this summer to nab a little tasteroo of Nashville, Belle's Hot Chicken is going interstate and popping up at Bondi Icebergs for the season. Serving up those celebrated, Nashville-style, cayenne-crusted wings on Sundays 16 November, 28 December and 18 January, Belle's Hot Chicken is one for the spicy-inclined. Choose your level of intensity, from mild to 'really fucking hot' and lather up with Belle's specialty sauces. The team are also serving up Belle's special whiskey to wash it all down — or you might need a spot of Belle's locally-made natural wine if you're choosing from the end of the scale.
The advertising will tell you that Brisbane's BIGSOUND is all about a whole lot of music, played by whole lot of bands, at a whole lot of venues over a whole lot of nights. And it is. But there is a deeper subtext to the festival — it's a deliberate symposium of an important cross-section of 'the music industry'. Music label representatives, radio producers, agents, artists, producers and even lawyers descend upon the Valley in an expedition to unearth and support Australian talent. BIGSOUND 2017 had an especially broad and eclectic showcase this year, guaranteeing no two punters had the exact same experience. But, in an attempt to compress four nights worth of amazing performances into a list, here's the ten most kickass, going places artists we came across. [caption id="attachment_636231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BOAT SHOW Boat Show might be one of the most important bands that played BIGSOUND this year. They've opened for San Cisco and Pond, yet still haven't reached the acclaim one would expect for possibly the best punk band in Australia at the moment. Punk — not post-punk. Boat Show don't just play sharp and sweet compressed guitar lines with nonsense lyrics about petty modern gripes. Boat Show are angry, and their tracks are poignant, feminist anthems about the many patriarchal constructs in society that need to change — and the energy Boat Show brought to Heya Bar made the entire audience embrace the notion that it can be achieved. Lead singer Ali Flintoff jumped from amp to amp, got amongst the crowd, and demanded to be heard. She even approached the lanyard-wearing audience members and made a public, ironic, and hilarious attempt to 'network'. Boat Show has big things ahead of them. [caption id="attachment_636279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] OH MERCY Oh Mercy aren't exactly undiscovered as such — they've been around since 2008, have four studio albums under their belt and an ARIA. But the aesthetic of Oh Mercy, canvassing both the ensemble and the sound of the band, is perpetual, and the band we saw at BIGSOUND 2017 seemed to resemble a contemporary take on Brit-Pop, with some remnant of resemblance to the Hoodoo Gurus. The founding member Alexander Gow took to the Woolly Mammoth stage looking like a dashing Garth Marenghi with his leather jacket, and sung of love and heartbreak in that way only an acoustic guitar-playing front man can. His backing ensemble was tight and rich, and it was evident Gow had complete faith in his band, and this afforded him the complete freedom to engage with the audience in an authentic way. [caption id="attachment_636239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DONNY BENET There's nothing about Donny Benet and his big band that doesn't scream '80s, with his killer saxophone solos, rippling, almost ironic synth tones and endless hip movement. Benet himself might have been one of the most personable performers at BIGSOUND. At both his shows he danced with the crowd and was seen around the Valley inviting people to rub his bald head. A man you could call the king of anachronistic fashion (a heavily contested title amongst the BIGSOUND crowd), he was a favourite for photo opportunities, and embraced the role with relish. His songs are sensual synth-pop anthems detailing sexual ballads, all homages to the age of shoulder pads and powersuits. As a musician, Benet is doing something no-one else is in Australia is — and as a live-act he's wickedly fun. [caption id="attachment_636252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] SLOW DANCER Slow Dancer (Simon Okely), along with Didirri and Stella Donnelly, completed the trio of the most beautiful, simplistic artists at BIGSOUND 2017. His whispered anthems and minimal instrumentation made for one of the most heartwarming sets of the festival. His music is deeply thought-provoking — best listened to with closed eyes, prompting reflection on childhood memories and lost loves. His set at the Blackbear Lodge was one of the last acts of night one of the festival, and the crowd sat absorbed in an appreciative silence. [caption id="attachment_636230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BIG WHITE Big White is Australia's answer to Pavement, almost two decades later. Their distinct jangle rock filled The Zoo on the second day of BIGSOUND to a solid crowd. The five-piece seem to be an ensemble in the truest meaning of the word, a single pulsing organism working as one to produce technically fanciful yet fun music. Their almost ineffable stage demeanour is that of a band of brothers (and sister), and is one expressed well by their music. While they haven't made the festival headlines yet, if their insanely dedicated fanbase keeps growing as they are, it won't be long before Big White are an established name in the national scene. [caption id="attachment_636255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BRIGHTNESS There is a certain kind of band where someone can listen to the lead singer and think "gosh, I hope he's okay". Such are the lyrics of Brightness. Lead singer Alex Knight conducts his backing ensemble as an iconoclastic figurehead. His sound is an angry indie-rock but the resounding authenticity of the sound lies in Knight's acoustic guitar and gripping vocals. One only needs to listen to their hit single 'Oblivion' to perfectly understand the allure of Brightness. Simple lead guitar and bass lines (usually played on one string) create a musical vacuum in which Knight's art is free to grow and dominate the stage. [caption id="attachment_636258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DIDIRRI Like Slow Dancer, Didirri was one of the more acoustic, meditative sets of BIGSOUND. Comparable to Slow Dancer's beautiful lyrics and stage presence, and Stella Donnelly's endearing modesty, Didirri is a natural performer. Even when only using a nylon-string guitar, Didirri, in his recordings and in his live performances, fills all spaces in an uncanny way. Didirri might actually be magical — or a great vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and gripping storyteller, at the least. [caption id="attachment_636248" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] MADDY JANE Maddy Jane's entry on the Spotify BIGSOUND playlist was 'No Other Way', a dole-wave, blues pop hit that's fiercely catchy and reminiscent of Courtney Barnett. With interesting guitar lines and endearingly peculiar lyrics, one might have expected her BIGSOUND sets (of which she played an above-average, three) to mimic Barnett. But her sets were far beyond this scope. Maddy Jane's musical prowess, lyricism, and engaging stage presence is amazing for someone of only 22 years old. Both Jane and her band seem to truly enjoy performing, and the audience of 256 Wickham couldn't help but get on board with this compelling energy. [caption id="attachment_636225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BAKER BOY A lot is said about Australia's hip hop and rap scene, and most of what is said is generally valid criticism. Which is why talented Australian rappers are such diamonds in the rough and usually cause a good deal of excitement. Based on Baker Boy's set at Oh Hello! on the second day of BIGSOUND, he's an Australian rapper to get very, very excited about. This 20-year-old artist is from remote Northern Territory and he is doing everything right — poignant lyrics (some of which he sings in the language of his people, the Yolgnu), a bit of didgeridoo, and the best dance moves of BIGSOUND. Baker Boy told the crowd we could expect new music from him shortly — so look out for that. [caption id="attachment_636263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] STELLA DONNELLY Stella Donnelly was one of the last acts of BIGSOUND. This may have been a deliberate choice as her performance was nothing short of emotionally draining (in the best conceivable way). She is an endearingly human performer and engages her audience in frank conversation. She committed herself fully to her performance at the Heya Bar, from crossing her eyes when she hit her high notes, to throwing her body into each and every rhythmic beat. With only an electric guitar and a microphone as her instruments, every member of the crowd was moved by Donnelly's performance, laughing and even crying together as a single presence. In the course of half an hour she sung little comedic ditties, and deeply heartbreaking ballads — an especially impressive juxtaposition to her equally striking work as the rhythm guitarist for Boatshow. Go listen to her stuff.
It's such a shame David Bowie's not around to see this. Sydney installation artist Michaela Gleave has come up with an app that translates constellations into musical scores so you can 'play' the stars above you. Wherever you are in the world, at anytime of night, A Galaxy of Suns can read your geolocation and plays the music it transcribes from the constellations within your view. But don't expect space to sound like Ziggy Stardust or Sun Ra. Instead, the app reads the galaxy as though it's a score. The transposing — which has been years in the making — was a collaboration between Gleave, composer Amanda Cole and programmer Warren Armstrong. What's more, every 'song' comes with a matching light display, choreographed according to the stars' movements, as they rise, cross the sky and set. Gleave launched the A Galaxy of Stars app at Dark Mofo's Dark Park this month, where the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra helped to bring the night sky's songs to life. She'll be doing a similar performance with the Bristol Choir at the Bristol Biennial in September this year for the work's international premiere. But you don't need a choir to do this thing. You can download the app for yourself via iTunes (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android).
Dumplings and beer: two things that make us glad to be alive. Brews and piping hot dumplings go together so well, in fact, that Potts Point has an entire restaurant and bar named after the combo. Dumplings and Beer has been doing a roaring trade since opening in late 2014, to the point that even now you may find yourself struggling to get a table without a wait. It's little wonder then that the owners have decided to open a second store. The second iteration of Dumplings and Beer can be found at 83 Stanley Street in Darlinghurst. Open from noon until 10pm Tuesday through Sunday, the menu at D&B 2.0 is the same as in Potts Point. That means steamed and pan fried dumplings and gluten free gow cee, plus a number of other bites including eggplant and tofu wraps, and crackling pork belly sliders. Of course dumplings are only half of the equation. The drinks list at Dumplings and Beer includes brews from Asia, Europe and right here at home, along with a small selection of Chinese teas. Come visit our new shop #new #opennow #food #yum #dumplings #foodporn #sydneyeats #foodies #artwork # A photo posted by D&B (@dumplingsandbeer) on Jun 5, 2016 at 2:34am PDT Find the new Dumplings and Beer at 83 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst. For more information visit their website or check them out on Facebook. Images: D&B.
