Disney and Marvel. When the union was forged, many wondered whether it would be death of both or the start of something special. Then The Avengers made about a trillion dollars and it looked like things might be okay. Key to the acquisition was Disney’s hands-off approach, guaranteeing the gritty Marvel world would not suddenly be required to include musical numbers like: “I’m a Wolverine and I’m the best you’ve ever seen”. The latest offering — Big Hero 6 — is a Disney movie based on a Marvel comic that perhaps 11 people in the world have ever heard of. That meant the Disney team could largely ignore the source material and simply ‘Frankengrab’ the parts they liked, which in this case was little more than the film’s title. The action takes place in the city of San Fransokyo, a portmanteau blending not just names but also architecture, with the iconic San Francisco Bay playing backdrop to a very aesthetically Asian metropolis. Living in it are the bothers Hamada: technology prodigies who direct their talents in wildly different arenas. Hiro builds robots for underground gambling, while his older brother, Tadashi, tries repeatedly to entice him to the prestigious Institute of Technology. When tragedy strikes, Hiro finds himself inadvertently partnered up with Tadashi's prototype robot ‘Baymax', and it’s here that Big Hero 6 hits its stride. Baymax is, quite simply, a revelation. Tender, naive and scene-stealingly funny, he’s a bulbous inflatable carer-bot, a sort of Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with a med degree. Voiced by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Baymax is singular in purpose: he wants to help people. But with several kinks yet to be ironed out, his efforts often prove more troublesome than beneficial. Add to the mix a mysterious, murderous villain who compels Hiro to train Baymax in martial arts and you get a Kung Fu Panda adventure mixed with the traditional Disney themes of loss, love and learning. There is, of course, a video game undercurrent to the action, because tied into the release of Big Hero 6 is a video game; however, the blend of characters, comedy and carnage is in the right ratio. The animation is also spectacular. Speaking at the screening, producer Roy Conli showed us some of the new technology developed specifically for this film to be made, and none was more impressive than the world-building engine responsible for San Fransokyo. The city is enormous and unbelievably detailed. It feels real, which keeps the story grounded when it might otherwise stray too far into silliness. The star, though, is Baymax. Adsit’s ability to emote through an expressionless blob is a giant accomplishment, responsible for more than few tears and sniffles throughout. Big Hero 6 may not be quite up to the level of Pixar in terms of story, but it’s still a great addition to the Disney family of films and one that all members of the family will enjoy.
With patches of spring starting to infiltrate the city, one might be forgiven for assuming that winter has done its dash. Perhaps. But theatre is not a beast governed by the seasons and August has some seriously chilly offerings to impart. A bitter old man losing his mind and his furniture as he hurtles headlong into death's maw. A rebel racing to tear down an asylum before his brain fries. A Gordian knot of emotional destitution that its creator would never see performed. Dispense with the mittens, sure. But theatrically speaking, you're not out of the woods yet.
Time to wake your brain up from its summer slumber and get those mind grapes squeezing juice again, because Melbourne is getting a dose of none other than the inimitable Miranda July. In what can't be called anything less than a coup, the celebrated writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, handbag wizard and bona fide enigma will be gracing the stage with her talkher talk Lost Child! at Sydney Opera House's All About Women, then heading to Melbourne Town Hall on Monday, March 7. Recently read The Last Bad Man and wondered who the hell was this woman behind it? Or just fascinated by the whole persona of this wonderful woman? Well, she'll be talking through her very varied and unique works, from her time as an artist in Portland to where she is now. And we daresay she'll be answering a few audience questions — so get yours ready. Image: Miranda July.
While we suspect he'll always be remembered best as the world's most famous boy wizard, you certainly couldn't accuse Daniel Radcliffe of always playing in the same sandbox. Since wrapping up the Harry Potter series, the actor has played Alan Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, taken the stage in Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishman, and most recently appeared as a flatulent corpse in the surprisingly heartwarming indie film Swiss Army Man. His latest project is an Off-Broadway play, one that is noteworthy not just for Radcliffe's part, but for its unusual policy when it comes to mobile phones. While whipping out your cell is generally considered sacrilege in the theatre, Privacy takes the opposite approach — actively encouraging audience members to take selfies during the show in order to explore questions of privacy and accountability in an increasingly connected world. As Radcliffe dives into the open world of social media, audience members are able to post their photos to the theatre website, at which point they're projected onto a giant screen behind the actors. Further chances for crowd participation come when a character types "is it wrong…" into Google, with viewers prompted to shout out possible autofill possibilities. Of course Privacy isn't the first time theatres have allowed or even encouraged the use of mobile phones. Theatres in Melbourne such as Malthouse and La Mama have experimented with special 'tweet seats' in the past, sparking furious debate as to whether the practice should be allowed. What's interesting in this case is how the play actually incorporates phone users into the performance. This could very well be the beginning of a brave new world. Via PSFK.
Announced as the very first headliner for the 2017 Vivid program, indie folk-rock band Fleet Foxes are making their triumphant return to Sydney — for the first time in five years. The US band will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia, so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Those who miss out or can't make it to Sydney needn't despair, however — the final show will be live streamed on Facebook from 8pm on May 29. Fans of Fleet Foxes will know the band have been extremely quiet of late; they haven't released an album since Helplessness Blues back in 2011. The band is set to release their third album this year — which, according to Consequence of Sound, is called Ylajali — and has already locked in some European tour dates post-Vivid, meaning that we could potentially be the first to hear their new material.
A FREE concert by The Flaming Lips, a cardboard city with a FREE flying fox, a Birdman screening live scored by the film's drummer Antonio Sanchez, and a steamy story session with Sydney’s sexiest senior citizens are all happening in Sydney this January, when the Sydney Festival turns forty. Yep, as of 2016, the city’s biggest and best-loved arts shindig will be over the hill. And, by way of celebration, we’re being treated to a program of truly epic proportions. Today, the organisers spilled the beans on the 157 events (including 89 free ones!), 383 performances, 34 venues, 902 artists and 22 nations that will be coming together from January 7 to 26. Let’s start with The Flaming Lips. Oklahoma’s most famous psychedelic alternative rock outfit will be hitting The Domain to headline the festival’s legendary Summer Sounds concert, hopefully with clothes and without Miley Cyrus, and definitely pumping out their cult tunes alongside their chart triumphs. And it'll cost you zero dollars. Meanwhile, SydFest is expanding to a bunch of new spots, including Barangaroo Reserve and Vaucluse House. Barangaroo’s new cultural space, The Cutaway, is gearing up to host one of the festival’s biggest free events for the people. French artist Olivier Grossetête is inviting you to help build The Ephemeral City, an enormous, temporary urban development made of cardboard. Afterwards, you’ll be able to get a damn good view of your work, thanks to free flying fox rides on a mammoth 165 metre zip line. A strong sense of community spirit also informs the theatrical elements of the festival’s programming. Bursting onto new storytelling territory is a show titled All the Sex I’ve Ever Had, which sees a slew of Sydneysiders aged over 65 bring their experience and insight to personal stories of romance and sex. Then there’s The Object Lesson, an installation/performance inviting you to join illusionist Geoff Sobelle on a journey through an absolutely enormous pile of objects. You'll contemplate every "thing that ever passed through your hands — a massive, meaningful, meaningless pile of junk that describes in debris your tiny human history". On the music front, we’re excited about Cut the Sky, a powerful indigenous performance work meditating on a dystopian future and featuring songs by Nick Cave and Ngaiire. As we mentioned, quadruple Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez will be improvising a live score to a screening of Birdman (he improvised the actual score, so this will be the first and only time this SydFest score is played). And, for the first time ever, FBi is presenting its SMAC Awards as a huge festival, open to the general public. Other gigs on the schedule include the inimitable Joanna Newsom at the Sydney Opera House launching new album Divers, underground rock trio The Dirty Three and Mexrissey — a Mariachi-style revamping of songs by Morissey and The Smiths. There's also a new folk series happening amongst the gorgeous acoustics of St Stephens Uniting Church. As usual, Hyde Park's Meriton Festival Village is delivering a whizz-bang array of music, comedy, cabaret and circus acts, while About an Hour is heading back to Carriageworks for another season of 60-minute, $35 events featuring theatre, dance, music and storytelling. Clear your calendar, this is going to be a busy summer. Dive into the entire Sydney Festival program at the festival website. Check out our picks for the best 'bang for your buck' events and best gigs at Sydney Festival. Image: Todd Spoth.
Vivid Sydney is very nearly upon us and just when we thought it couldn't get any better — what with the lights and Bjork, Spike Jonze, Bon Iver and House of Cards creator Beau Willimon all coming out this year — they go and blow our wee minds by announcing this year's food hub, an all-star Sydney burger bar themed like a vintage arcade game. The pop-up, named 8Bits+Bytes, is a collaboration between local creative studios Motti+Smith and Paper Moose. They've got Sydney burg royalty on board to battle it out to get their name to the top of the leaderboard. Coming in to bat will be legends Mary's, Milk Bar by Café Ish, Pub Life Kitchen, Surry Hills' Bangbang Cafe, and Sammy's Burger Bar. Prepare your body. Aesthetics-wise, the pop-up will be styled to look like the inside of an 8bit arcade game with giant pixelated trees, burgers and storm clouds. A huge LED light wall (three metres tall by 30 metres long) will tell the tragic, pixelated tale of a burger's adventures through life. Be sure to play before you eat though, because the gaming is all interactive (hello motion tracking gaming technology). But onto the meat of the matter: the burgers. Each burg bigwig is in competition with the others to win your heart (and your vote) with a burger they've created especially for the occasion. Votes will be cast by hashtag across social media (as democratic elections have always been done), and will be tallied in real time on a digital scoreboard. So what's going to be on offer? Glad you asked. Mary's will be cooking up a Pac Man Burger, a tame twist on their classic with grass-fed beef, triple cheese, Mary's BBQ Sauce and onion rings. Café Ish has teamed up with the guys from The Jugernauts to create the Double Dragon: a milk bun filled with a double wagyu beef patty, double American cheddar, kimchi, green oak lettuce, miso sauce, seaweed, aioli and a milk bun (is your mouth watering yet?). Also teaming up with the food blog are Bangbang, who has designed the HACKRoulette (a cheeseburger topped with chilli con carne, more cheese and umami sauce served with a shot of pickle juice), and Sammy's Burger Bar on the Polish Pounder, a medium custom ground beef patty, cheese, sauerkraut, Polish slab bacon, horseradish mustard sauce and a dill pickle on a toasted brioche bun. Pub Life Kitchen have yet to announce their menu, but we're sure it will be just as enticing — there's some stiff competition after all. To be a fair judge, you will have to try all the burgers — perhaps several times each, and perhaps while playing motion tracking video games. Just to be fair. After all, you decide who wins, although what they win is unclear at this point...but really, at the end of the day, if we're stuffed full of burgers, don't we all win? 8Bits+Bytes will pop-up at Martin Place for the entirety of Vivid Sydney from May 27 - June 18. For more info on the festival, visit their website.
After years of popping up at farmers markets and on Sydney brunch menus, Brooklyn Boy Bagels has just opened their first Sydney bakery cafe. Claiming the title of 'Sydney's first true artisan New York bagel maker and bakery', BBB has now taken up a more permanent residence in a little shop on an otherwise unremarkable stretch of Bunnarong Road in Matraville. Previously only available through tracking down their pop-up stalls or by ordering delivery, BBB's delicious wares are some of the more authentic in Sydney. These bagels are about as traditionally New York-style as they get in Australia, made with the blood, sweat and tears of local self-proclaimed dough raiser and actual Brooklynite Michael Shafran, who first brought the power of the bagel to Sydney in 2013. With their slogan reading "If it ain't boiled, it ain't a bagel," BBB boasts traditional, handmade bagels. Shafran believes the most important aspect of creating is the boiling process, boasting on their website that they don't cut corners — rather, they go through the proper (and painstaking) kettle-boiling, hand rolling, cold fermentation process. Mastering the art of bagels is just the beginning for Shafran, who's slowly introducing his various other New York loves into the bakery, including Mecca coffee, NY-style pretzels, breves (coffee with half milk/half cream) and babaka, a Jewish rolled cake with his own personal spin of either salted caramel or the traditional filling of cinnamon and chocolate. Find Brooklyn Boy Bagels at 448 Bunnerong Road in Matraville, as well as at farmers markets, pop-ups and cafes around Sydney. Images: Brooklyn Boy Bagels.
Less is traditionally more in the tiny homes that have boomed in popularity over the last few years. This is not the case with Stella the Stargazer, an exceptional pop-up that will tour regional Victoria over the next six months. Stella's unique approach to luxury is considered and environmentally sensitive. The distinct interior design headed up by Port Fairy-based Ample champions upcycled and repurposed materials, including the use of corrugated iron and Victorian hardwood in the construction process. An indulgent, annular shower is surrounded by adjustable glass louvres designed to envelop you in the natural surroundings. Plus, there's an outdoor fire pit that doubles as a barbecue. Glass sliding doors open onto the modular deck with openair seating, and you'll find plenty of local wares featured throughout; from Dindi Naturals toiletries, to threads from Weave Home Australia, Society of Wanderers and Grampians Goods Co. [caption id="attachment_879299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Ample, Brook James[/caption] But the crowning jewel of this enchanting tiny palace is a roll-out, queen-bed-sized sleeping platform that's primed for stargazing on calm evenings. Provisions boast a local lean, with guests enjoying a curated welcome hamper of cheese and charcuterie, a bottle of wine and breakfast provisions — showcasing regional bread, bacon, eggs and granola. Famed chef Alejandro Saravia (Farmer's Daughters, Victoria by Farmer's Daughters) can also ensure you don't have to venture far, with a DIY dinner experience available to add to your stay. The evening's menu runs to the likes of Farmer's Daughters pork terrine served with Snowy River black garlic chutney; a warm roasted pumpkin on a bed of creamy stracciatella; and Cherry Tree Organics roasted lamb shoulder served with roasted carrot and marjoram. Currently, the limited-time tiny stay by Visit Victoria is situated at the idyllic Blue Gables vineyard in Maffra, but she'll move on from Thursday, December 15, and head to the Great Ocean Road for the end of summer. [caption id="attachment_879298" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Ample, Brook James[/caption] Stella the Stargazer will make her home in Maffra, Gippsland, from October 14–December 15, 2022. She'll then stop in a new location along the Great Ocean Road from February 3–April 6, 2023, before moving to the Grampians from April 17–June 18, 2023. Rates are $330 per night Monday–Thursday, and $390 per night Friday–Sunday.
UPDATE JULY 8, 2017: To mark the opening of their Westfield Burwood store on Saturday, July 8, Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is giving away a free tart to the first 100 customers that visit between 1–2pm. You just need to follow them on social media to redeem it. We know. We've all done it. Home alone with a block of cheddar, a few scraps of brie and a lone Kraft Single. It all seemed so promising. When your mum/housemate/significant other returned, though, the truth became apparent. You'd made a cheese quagmire in your microwave, hadn't you? Hadn't you. Fortunately, the guys behind PappaRich, the ST Group, have been helping us realise all of our cheese dreams without the weird kitchen smell three weeks later — bringing Malaysian chain Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart to Australia last year. With multiple stores in Kuala Lumpur and other areas of the country, the cheese tart connoisseurs have been opening Australian stores over the last year — they currently have five across Victoria, one in Sydney's World Square. Now, they're opening two more Sydney stores, launching one within Macquarie Centre on June 16 and a Burwood store inside Westfield opening Saturday, July 8. Their namesake is the cornerstone of their offering: a savoury-sweet three-cheese situation encased in a shortcrust shell, designed to be eaten either hot or cold. The cheese, while made with local produce, is based on the distinct taste and texture of the dairy products of Hokkaido. The Japanese island is known for their dairy — it produces half of Japan's total milk and a huge 90 percent of their natural cheese — and HBCT have worked tirelessly to replicate it. Malaysia has gone nuts for it, and Australia has jumped firmly on board —people have been queuing out the door to get their hands on one (or 12). You'd better believe further expansion is planned for 2017 — they just announced plans to open inside Queensland's Pacific Fair in July too. Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is now open at World Square, George Street, Sydney and Macquarie Centre, Kiosk MQ17, Herring and Waterloo Road, North Ryde. They're set to open at Kiosk K1, Westfield Burwood on July 8. For more info and to look out for an opening date, keep an eye on their Facebook page. Images: Tim Grey.
Melburnians now have even more of a reason to head down the Mornington Peninsula for a pampering session, as the acclaimed Peninsula Hot Springs unveils some swish new facilities as part of a $13 million upgrade. The award-winning wellness destination now has a revamped program of offerings as part of its biggest expansion since opening back in 2005. This includes the addition of two cold plunge pools and seven new hot spring pools — which, if you've ever jostled for a spot in the top pool on a busy Saturday, you'll know is good news. An impressive outdoor Bath House Amphitheatre has also been added to the Fingal site, which is set to host a whole swag of shows. Baths also now have views of the stage and underwater speakers have been installed so visitors can get stuck into some live entertainment while they're submerged. The Hot Springs is also delving into cryotherapy for the first time with a new 'ice and fire' experience. This will allow bathers to switch between hot and cold therapy — the hot being two new 30-person saunas, and the cold being a new (and Australian-first) ice cave and a 'deep freeze' treatment room, which will be kept at a cool 25 degrees below freezing. The idea is that, by jumping between hot and cold, you will sweat out toxins, cleanse your skin and potentially burn calories. The venue also has a new cafe, a cultural meeting space designed in collaboration with local Indigenous elders, and a multipurpose wellness centre for classes and talks. Meanwhile, a new on-site veggie garden marks the start of a planned three-acre terrace 'food bowl', which will grow produce for the Peninsula Hot Springs' kitchens. Thermally heated glasshouses and an underground mushroom cave are also in the works. If that doesn't sound like enough, there's more growth in store for the Peninsula Hot Springs, with glamping facilities and 126 rooms of accomodation to be built on-site over the next three years. The Peninsula Hot Springs is located at Springs Lane, Fingal. Booking is recommended on weekends. Updated: October 5, 2018.
We've all heard of paying more for a single origin or manual brew but how about for a good cause? Similar to CafeSmart, buy a Change Coffee on Friday, December 4 from a participating cafe and put your caffeine addiction to good use. Cafes all over Sydney are participating in #ChangeCoffee this year, from Hemingway's in Manly to Harry's in Bondi. Head out to your closest coffee shop and make your morning brew count. Basically, you pay for two coffees, but take away one. So it'll cost you twice as much as your regular cup but the extra half will go to the Eniwe Children's Fund. Since forming in 2010, the Fund has raised over $300,000 to help run community projects in South Africa's Western Cape — an area particularly affected by HIV and AIDS. We're all well aware of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. To put it in perspective, in 2014 there were an estimated 1.2 million AIDS-related deaths across the globe. The number of orphans due to AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa alone is staggering and nearly 90 percent of newly infected kids live in the region. Change Coffee initiative is all about doing what you can to help those kids. To put it in perspective, can you guess what the world's second most traded commodity is? It's coffee and there's no denying that us Sydneysiders consume a lot of it. That extra cup could go a long way in helping improving the lives of kids who have been affected by AIDS in the area. If you've sworn off caffeine (not for long) or can't handle more than one cup a day but still want to contribute, you can donate online. Here's the list of participating cafes for #ChangeCoffee.
After announcing its dates earlier this year, Moonlight Cinema has revealed the first part of its 2018–19 program. In short: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. Kicking off on Thursday, November 29 in Centennial Park, this initial lineup boasts plenty of this year's favourites, a smattering of all-time faves and a few sneak peeks at new movies coming out soon. Tried-and-tested highlights include A Star Is Born, A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians, plus Halloween, Bad Times at the El Royale and Venom if you're after something darker. And it wouldn't be a movie season under the stars (or a pre-Christmas lineup) without Love Actually, Elf and Dirty Dancing, now would it? You can also catch pre-release sessions of twisted period drama The Favourite, from The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, as well as Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. Or, opt for Viggo Mortensen-starring likely Oscar contender Green Book, or Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan battling it out in Mary, Queen of Scots. Heist flick Widows, amusing sleuths Holmes and Watson and the wizarding antics of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald are all also accounted for — as is Moonlight's usual food truck and licensed bar offering, and its reserved bean beds. This first announcement just covers the outdoor cinema's screenings until the end of January. A February and March lineup will be announced early 2019.
With Kings Cross bearing more 'For Lease' signs than an estate agent's front window, the area's future as a nightlife hotspot has been looking bleak. So bleak, in fact, that two doco makers have taken it upon themselves to investigate the fallout from the lockout laws. But it's not all doom and gloom. Places are opening as well as closing — and a few savvy hospitality figures are even looking at the changes as an opportunity for reinvention. Among them are artist Orlan Erin Raleigh and her partner Jon Ruttan, founder and former owner of Mojo Record Bar. Along with consultant Nikita Ward, they've opened Jangling Jack's Bar & Grill at 175 Victoria Street, the spot formerly occupied by Bootleg Bar and Italian Food. Despite the lockouts, the couple believe quality operators will eventually revolutionise Potts Point. "Jon and I passionately believe that the main street of Kings Cross could be like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, with music and old cinemas," she says. "It's such a strong community vibe up here and the demographic is much older than people realise. It's not an 18-year-old nightclubbing haven anymore. So we set up Jangling Jack's to be a local, calm and mellow place, for people to enjoy dinner and phenomenal drinks." Starting from scratch, Raleigh and Ruttan built what she describes as their 'dream bar'. "All the design elements are based on our fantasy — where we would want to sit and drink," she days. "There's no theme. It’s more about classic elements. When you step inside, it's that feeling of being transported in time, like in Midnight in Paris. To some people it looks like Louisiana; to others, it looks like Chicago...[or] like Kings Cross in the '30s." The bar top is made of 120-year-old Australian spotted gum. The stunning lampshades, designed by Raleigh herself, were custom-made in Arkansas. The walls, which look like emerald pressed tin, are dotted with original, 1930s posters of blues musicians. Seating is a mix of booths and high stools, and an eclectic assortment of rugs cover the floor. The drinks menu doesn't follow a theme, either. This decision was to ensure that Jangling Jack's was an 'everyman's bar', says Raleigh. "We don’t specialise in any particular booze. It's the best of absolutely everything: curated gins, phenomenal scotches and blends, great vodkas." Expect the likes of Four Pillars Gin, the Melbourne Gin Company and West Winds, but don't be surprised if big names like Bombay are missing. Bar manager Adam Cork (ex-The Hazy Rose) is turning these spirits into classic cocktails with a twist. Take the Tiki's Hummingbird, for example; it's like a margarita, but has a homemade sherbet rim and a touch of orange blossom. Others are tributes to legendary local historical figures, like the Witch of Kings Cross — artist and occultist Rosaleen Norton — and the Juanita Nielsen, named after the publisher and anti-development campaigner who mysteriously disappeared in 1975, never to be found. Meanwhile, Canadian-born, Creole-trained chef David Ferreira (ex-Fat Rupert's) keeps the kitchen open as late as the bar, with a menu delivering moreish, value-for-money small and medium share plates. There's some delicious gluten-free fried chicken, drizzled in honey butter (for $16), and a hearty lamb roast, as well as a rotating weekly special. "The idea is that people can come in on a date, have a drink and a snack, and get away for about $50," Raleigh says. "We want it to be the sort of place where you come more than once a week." You'll find Jangling Jack's at 175 Victoria Street, Potts Point. They're open 4-11pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 4pm-1am Thursday to Saturday, and noon-11pm on Sunday. For more info, visit their Instagram. Images: Diana Scalfati
We know that most of you want to have your say in the postal vote on marriage equality, but we also know that you're probably going to put it off until the last minute. So do the organisers of the Festival for Marriage Equality, which is why they're encouraging as many people as possible put in their vote, en masse. After the success of the Yes Rally, Sydney's activist collective Reclaim the Streets has organised the largest collective 'yes' voting event, with thousands expected to rock up at Prince Alfred Park on Saturday, September 23, to put in their vote together. After posting your vote at Strawberry Hills Post Office just across the road, you'll be able to get amongst eight stages until sunset, including Deeper Than House, Swerve Saturdays, SYD DEF JAM, INPUT, Roots Odyssey, Rabbit Prawn Kollective, The Church of Screaming Electro and Umami. If you enrolled to vote — which Sydney bars went to get to great lengths to make sure you did — you'll receive your form at some point in the next five to seven days. Just take it along to the event to sign, seal and deliver it off to the government. If you can't make it, make sure you put in your vote before October 27 as the final deadline is November 7. Meet at 1pm at Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills for a 2pm vote at Strawberry Hills Post Office across the road. Image: Yes Rally for Marriage Equality by Letícia Almeida.
Rather than a wasted day of woe, Sundays are meant for nourishment, for homecooked meals, meaningful chats and creative beverages. We’re here to help. Secret Garden Festival and Concrete Playground — keen weekenders and lovers of good food, new friends and general tomfoolery — have teamed up with The Guardian to create the ultimate Sunday fortress of fun, Cubby House. Taking over the rolling lawns of Vaucluse’s historic Strickland House on Sunday, October 25, Cubby House is a temporary hidden haven of local food and drink, lawn games and talks, created purely for you to reclaim the weekend and stand you in good stead for the week to come. Eat a hearty Sunday roast from Newtowners Raven’s Eye, catch up on the news with talks curated by The Guardian, find comfort in a Golden Age Cinema cocktail, chuckle over comedy from Giant Dwarf, play your favourite lawn games, pop into a workshop or two and learn a few mad skills, then we’ll even help you sort out your errands in time for Monday. “We are celebrating Sunday by nourishing brains, playing games, learning new things, having a big belly laugh and making new mates,” says Secret Garden festival director Clare Downes. “People can kick off their shoes, drink a Bloody Mary, learn to fish, and complete some Sunday errands — all across Strickland House and its beautiful gardens. "Secret Garden and Concrete Playground are doing this because we believe it’s something that’s missing from our Sundays and we figure there are others who probably need Cubby House too." There’s nothing like a Sunday spent relishing local, damn good, nourishing food, so we’ve invited the weekend-happy crew from Raven’s Eye, Newtown’s first Italo-American diner, to do one heck of a sit-down Sunday roast. We’re talking slow-cooked meats and roasted veggies by head chef Matt Ouwerkerk, the whole shebang. Instead of filling your Sunday brain with the Blade trilogy and soulless junk food, find a spot on the lawn and listen to talks from Australia’s top journalists and funniest comedians, handpicked by our mates at The Guardian and Giant Dwarf. No time to read the paper this week? Settle in for our news wrap-up. Triple j’s Tom Tilley will unpack the headlines with some of Australia’s best journos, including Michael Safi (Guardian, previously Global Mail, SMH, ABC Radio National), Adam Brereton (editor of The Guardian's 'Comment is free' section) and Bridie Jabour (Guardian, previously NewsCorp, Fairfax). Take in comedy from The Bear Pack, then pull up a pew for an in-depth In Conversation talk, with some of Australia’s brightest minds. “Cubby House represents a meeting of likeminded people and businesses. The event will give our collective audiences a chance to connect with Concrete Playground and the Guardian in real life, designed with the sense of humour and fun that Secret Garden is so known and loved for,” says Concrete Playground founder and director, Rich Fogarty. "The Guardian is thrilled to be part of this special Sunday and supporting the speakers series. Instead of reading the news in bed, you can hear the latest stories live and dissected by leading journalists,” says Tory Loudon, Head of Events and Programs at The Guardian. “Get a taste of the news behind the headlines and hear how stories are put together, how the media works and snag a little gossip, all with a glass of wine in your hand and good food in your stomach — the perfect Sunday." Nourished your belly and your mind? It’s time to fill your ears with Sunday sounds. We’ve invited some very special guests over for sessions on the Cubby House lawn, Sydney's country-lovin' foursome All Our Exes Live in Texas. The Cubby House music has been handpicked by Sydney music guru, FBi Radio broadcaster and board member and Secret Garden music programmer Adam Lewis, responsible for introducing you to your new favourite bands at Goodgod Small Club and Solotel venues like Opera Bar and Goros. Sundays spent lazing on the lawn wouldn’t be complete without one thing: games. Find all your favourite lawns games waiting for you at Strickland House, probably the prettiest place to play croquet in Sydney. And if you’re going to spend Sunday lazing about, you might as well learn a bloody thing or two. Take a DIY workshop, from fishing tips to drawing classes. Feeling a bit all over the shop pre-Monday? Don’t get the Sunday guilts; get your boots polished, get your holey jeans mended, send a postcard to your Grandma, then visit Concrete Playground’s Event Concierge, to help you book a fun-filled, jam-packed week ahead. Don’t you feel more organised already? Cubby House will take over Strickland House, Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse on Sunday, October 25 from 12-5pm. Tickets are $85.20 (inc. BF) and unfortunately, it’s over 18s only, sorry kids. For more details and tickets, head to cubbyhou.se. Follow Cubby House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates. Images: Concrete Playground, Secret Garden, Voena, Beata Mazur.
If one dancer can convey a range of emotions with movement, then how about two? Four? Ten? Twenty? Choreographer Stephanie Lake's latest dance work invites the audience to consider a superorganism of 50 bodies, all moving together as one. However, not always in perfect synchronicity. This way, we get to experience both the beauty and the ugliness of collectivism — very much an allegory for the times in which we live. Both chaotic and beautiful, Colossus provides an immersive experience that's sure to stay with you long after the final, lone dancer has left the stage. Image: Mark Gambino.
Gelato appreciation class. It's a thing. A real thing. It's not some fake class like 'Video Appreciation Class' at high school which is straight-up just watching Ten Things I Hate About You every Wednesday. It's legit. And of course, Gelato Messina are behind it. One of Messina's fastest-selling event every time, gelato class is an event worth jumping on right now. We mean now. Join the team at Messina HQ in Sydney or Fitzroy in Melbourne every Saturday and you'll find out what goes on behind the scenes of everyone's favourite gelato joint. What a bloody glorious way to spend your Saturday morning. Classes are now open for booking from January to April 2016. There are two types of classes: a Gelato Appreciation Class for $160 per person, a part gelato making class, part info session, part science lesson, and part gelato degustation with Messina's chefs; and a Hands On Gelato Class for $250 per person, where you'll learn the finer details of making gelato — and pasteurise and plate your own gelato or sorbet. Dear sweet mother of Benedict Cumberbatch, what a classroom. Book your delicious, delicious education at Gelato Messina's website.
You may have noticed the unusual name on tap at your local craft brew pub: Akasha. Brewed in Five Dock, Akasha Brewing Company is pouring across Sydney at the likes of the Banks Hotel, Royal Albert and Baxter Inn. The etymology of the name, a reference to the 'fifth element', goes much deeper than Bruce Willis and multipasses. Similar to earth's four elements, beer too has four main ingredients: water, grain, hops and yeast. So, what is the fifth, 'mystery' element that makes a beer great? Well, that's the brewer himself. In Akasha's case, Dave Padden is the man behind the curtain. Formerly of Riverside Brewing Company, Padden struck out on his own last year and has been contract brewing from the Rocks Brewing Company in preparation of the grand reveal. With 20 years' brewing experience under his belt, the public opening of the Akasha brewery has been the talk of town for the better part of 2015. Now, with brewing well underway in their the Five Dock location, the cellar door opens this Friday with much applause from locals and the craft beer community alike. Padden brings a love of American style beers to the Australian market, but isn't brewing big beers just for the sake of it. Akasha is all about accessibility and making hoppy beers that can be loved by both IPA and lager drinkers. Their four core beers (not so surprisingly named after the four elements) are each hoppy in their own right. "The Tradewind Lager is a gateway beer, using Australian hops that add flavour without the bitterness," says Padden. Even the Fire Within Amber Ale is clean and refreshing while being obviously hop forward. "We're all about creating beers that satisfy the need for sessionable, easy-drinking while also appealing to the beer nerds out there" says head of marketing and sales Ben Galanos. Along with co-founder and business partner Wesley White, these three musketeers go way back and are committed to brewing the beers they, and we, love to drink. As their slogan goes, "It's all about the beer." The tasting room will take the place of the brewing floor, transforming the weekday workspace with upcycled share tables made from reused pallets. The cellar door is also one of the few places you can get Akasha to go — they won't be selling in bottles until the New Year, so make sure to grab a growler during your visit. With beer that "awakens the soul", we're certain you won't be disappointed. The Akasha Brewing Company cellar door will open at 10A Spencer Street, Five Dock this Friday, December 4 at 2pm. Their regular hours will be Friday – Saturday from 2pm – 7pm.
Staying ahead of the curve in Sydney's constantly evolving food scene is difficult. New restaurants, bars and cafes pop up every week, and in Sydney, a city already saturated with food and drink options, it's incredibly easy for hospitality businesses to fall behind. In partnership with William Blue at Torrens University, we're asking the hospitality graduates who run our favourite Sydney restaurants to talk about how they got started in the industry. In 2015, Adelene Stahnke helped to open Bang Street Food in Surry Hills with her partner Tapos Singha and designer Nicholas Gurney. In 2016, the same team opened Bang Street Food spin-off Trunk Road in Darlinghurst. Stahnke is only 23 years old, so helping to start up two successful Sydney restaurants is no small feat. We asked her how it all happened, and if she has any tips to share. FIND A GAP IN THE MARKET (AND STICK TO IT) "Tapos kept talking about wanting to open a Bangladeshi restaurant in Sydney. I thought it was a great idea, and really inspiring because nobody had brought great, traditional Bangladeshi food to the city yet. I encouraged him to stick to his dream because I could see that there was a gap in the market, and I had a really strong feeling that a space would open up in Sydney. Tapos pitched the idea to his business partner, and once a space appeared in Surry Hills everything took off from there." LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THE CUISINE YOU'RE COOKING "Tapos went back home to Bangladesh for a few months to get some ideas flowing for the menu, and I went to Melbourne to cook at Tonka [an Indian-fusion restaurant] with Adam D'Sylva. I wanted to get some experience in sub-continent food because I didn't know much about it beforehand, and I think it's important to learn everything you can about a style of food before you start a business with it. I worked at Tonka with the goal to learn as much as I could and it was a really great experience. When Tapos and I both arrived back to Sydney, he showed me the menu and I understood the dishes in a way that I wouldn't have, had I not worked at Tonka. The menu was great, but it needed some refining, which is where I came in. I made sure that the menu would appeal to Surry Hills, while making sure that the Bangladeshi soul was still there." KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ON TO A GOOD THING — AND RUN WITH IT "At Bang we have a dish that people really love called 'Bang Boti Kebab', which is a roti kebab with steak filling. That dish really blew up so we thought we would take the opportunity and run with it. We said, 'let's do a restaurant based on that dish but in a smaller space, something cheap where we can do take-away as well'. That's how Trunk Road, our second restaurant, came about. We waited until we found the perfect space — a little terrace house in Darlinghurst — and the boys built the whole restaurant while my dad tiled it. I moved over to run the kitchen at Trunk once it was up and running. It's just a one-person, solo kind of thing in a really small kitchen, very different from Bang. We only serve four types of the 'roadie' kebab, a curry and some snacks." SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE THAT SHARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS "In order to establish a really good business you need to have a concept and stick with that concept. It's also very important to have people around you that can compliment you and share your aspirations. Stay focused, and as long as it's still your hobby, you can make money from it because you love it. Having your own business is a lot of work, there are long hours right from the start. It's very different when it's your own project as opposed to working for someone else. Work everywhere you can and get experience in everything. I've studied hospitality and worked in hotels as well as fine dining, breakfast spots in Darlinghurst and Indian restaurants. You never know what will come in handy." William Blue at Torrens University offers courses in Culinary Management, Event Management, Tourism and Hospitality. Find out more about the diverse career options in hospitality, and kick-start your career via the website. Images: Kimberley Low.
Sydneysiders showed their determination to keep their city open on Sunday, February 21, with more than 15,000 people rallying in the streets to #KeepSydneyOpen. Ironically, the protest happened the morning after Melbourne’s White Night, which saw more than 600,000 people pass through the Victorian capital between 7pm and 7am, drinking, eating and dancing till the sun came up. Drawing Sydneysiders young and older, casually interested or passionately engaged, the Keep Open Sydney rally crowd showed remarkable diversity. Not only young partiers marched from Belmore Park along Elizabeth Street to Hyde Park, but also baby boomers, long-time residents, students, creatives, live music fans and business owners alike. Numerous prominent Australian musicians and music industry figures turned up to voice their support through speeches and performances. DJ and radio presenter Nina Las Vegas quipped, “You can’t expect an Olympic swimmer to win gold without pools, right?” continuing, “These lockout laws are destroying Sydney nightlife.” Dave Faulkner of The Hoodoo Gurus said that the venues he’d cut his teeth in “couldn’t operate under the current lockout laws” and pointed out that, according to a 2011 Ernst and Young study, “live music in bars, pubs and clubs in NSW contributed nearly $400 million dollars to the state’s economy, with a net flow on of $200 million into the wider community.” Isabella Manfredi, lead singer of Sydney band The Preatures, said, “The most distressing thing about these laws for me is that the way they were implemented with no consultation with the community. It took a whole lot of different venues, small businesses and entrepreneurs both young and old and lumped them in together under one blanket culture. And they called that culture anti-social.” Both Royal Headache and Art vs. Science performed live sets, before Future Classic's Chad Gillard dropped Tom Budin's recently released banger 'Mike Baird'. The brains behind the rally, Tyson Koh, founder and campaign manager of Keep Sydney Open, spoke passionately and rationally to wrap things up. “We believe that safety and late night socialising aren’t mutually exclusive. With considered, innovative policies we can achieve a desired outcome together and keep Sydney open.” Images: Kimberley Low.
Although saying goodbye to Pei Modern's ricotta dumplings and cracking Chardonnay selection has been one of the toughest calls of 2017, we do, at last, have a replacement. From today — Thursday, July 20 — Francesco Mannelli (ex-est., Balla, and Uccello) has settled into the space on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel as head chef of Mode Kitchen & Bar. Like Pei Modern, the restaurant will fall somewhere between bistro and fine dining. On the menu are simple dishes based on Mannelli's favourite produce, such as kingfish with the surprising addition of macadamias, sultanas and pickled onion, risotto heaped with fresh Tasmanian truffle and a melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef cheek with chestnuts and cabbage. Match your choice with a pick from the 200-strong wine list or go for a cocktail such as the Negroni-like Contessa, which swaps out Campari with Aperol for a lighter finish. ACME designer Luchetti Krelle — who is also behind the fit-outs for Bar Brosé, Banksii, The Butler and Barrio Cellar — has taken care of the interior for the 200-seater with a glamorous, 1920s art deco-inspired revamp. The entire restaurant is now encircled by fluted glass, giving it an intimate feel and, most importantly, successfully separating it from the hotel foyer. The furnishings include flashes of velvet, dashes of brass, marble and leather, as well as a variety of seating options, including bar stools, lounges, banquettes and semi-private spaces — meaning you can stop by for a drink, a group dinner or a spanner crab sandwich between meetings. Mode Kitchen & Bar is now open on the ground floor of the Four Seasons, 199 George Street, Sydney. It will be open lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more info, visit modekitchenandbar.com.au.
If the words bubbly and antipasto are your requirements for a damn good time, read on. Sydney's first ever Italian sparkling wine festival, Bolle Italia is coming to the recently opened Bar Machiavelli in Rushcutters Bay this October. This brand new festival will give wine enthusiasts and people who just really like the sound of a popping cork the chance to taste a glass (or a bottle) of some of the world's best sparkling wines — in particular paying tribute to world-class Italian sparkling wines from Friuli to Sicily and Piedmont to Sardinia. Festival founders and Italian sparkling wine importers Heath Felton and Marco Zaccariotto created the festival after they noticed the increased demand for quality sparkling wines in Australia over the past few years. "The Bolle Italia wine festival will give Australians the rare opportunity to taste quality Italian sparkling wines coming into the market, and learn how to recognise the difference," said Felton. For those wanting to improve their dinner party chit chat, sommeliers will be running masterclasses, so you can drop comments like 'creamy' or 'nuanced flavours of brioche and lemon zest' and actually know what you are talking about. If pairing your bubbly with a meal is more your thing than swilling the cheapest sparkling from a plastic flute at the races, be sure to nab a ticket to the Bolle Italia Degustazione — a six-course degustation with an exclusive menu designed by Bar Machiavelli's owner and chef, Paola Toppi, for 2016's Good Food Month. Bolle Italia will be happening on October 9 and 10 at Bar Machiavelli. More information about the festival and tickets are available at bolleitalia.com.
If December doesn't already boast enough reason to celebrate, this Saturday, December 19 marks Batch Brewing Co's second birthday. Public House Petersham is on the case and is throwing the Batch guys a beer birthday party, featuring six iconic Batch brews, birthday games, live music, and beer goodies. The brewery is known for its bold, American style beers that use unconventional ingredients with even more unusual names; think sours like the Chapeau Raspberry and a wheat ale named Tiny Coconut Bubbles. The must try for this celebration, though, is the Macbatch – a two-month oak aged ale. Two tasting paddles will be on offer ($12 each) so you can try the range — the 'Beginners' and the 'Adventurous', each recommended with a matching food tasting plate. Not sure which category you fall into? Come 'round for the free beer tastings with the Batch crew from 4.30pm – 5.30pm. Saturday 19th December from 3pm at Public House Petersham; 292 Stanmore Rd, Petersham
Run away with the circus on New Year's Eve (and stay there for early morning on New Year's Day). If your new year celebrations are often filled with unrealised expectations and warm beer, this year could be the year you vow to make it different — and the perfect solution might be Sydney's Harbour Hoopla, a new event looking forward to shaking its sequins and twirling its hoops at you. Harbour Hoopla is 'vintage-circus themed', meaning there will be some highly sassy costumes as well as props popping up everywhere. Held at Tarpeian Way (inside the Botanic Garden Sydney), there will be games, a theatrical photo booth, circus performers a-plenty, and a DJ once the night gets into swing. It's the perfect location to watch the iconic New Year's Eve fireworks, the harbour bridge is right next door and it's sure to supply incredible views. You and your mates can come dressed in your circus best (or your stroke-of-midnight-best will do), or hit up the photo booth props at the venue for some snaps. Hungry after all that frolicking? You get a picnic hamper upon entry with a salad, poached chicken main, dessert and cheese plate, and there's a (cash only) bar on premises. BYO rug, that ridiculous dress at the back of your wardrobe, and cash (no ATMs on site). We also suggest you start practicing your cartwheels for when you decide that joining the circus is the best thing to do with your life this year. Tickets are selling fast — two out of four of the Royal Botanic Garden's events have already sold out. We've got six tickets to Harbour Hoopla to give away — enter your details below and you're in the running to head along and take five of your friends. [competition]599091[/competition]
Pinbone's great Kensington pop-up might be gone, but the good news is that fans of its fare won't be left hanging any longer. The pop-up pros are ready to launch their next culinary pop-up this week in an unlikely space within the Tennyson Hotel. In collaboration with Merivale – who acquired the Botany Road pub for $37.5 million last year — Pinbone chefs Mike Eggert and Jemma Whiteman have transformed the pub's drive-through bottle shop into Mr Liquor Dirty Italian Disco. In true bottle shop-style, guests will be able to select their own booze — including over 150 wines — out of the walk-in fridge. What's not so typical is that they'll then be able to order food at the counter and pull up a chair at one of the 90 seats set up in the driveway. The pop-up will kick off on Friday, October 20 and run for six months. For this venture, the duo have turned their focus to American-accented Italian fare. They've promised a food situation that's "fun and fast, simple and delicious", with a menu that centres around bruschetta, pasta and meats from the woodfired oven and grill. "We went with the classic trio of bread/pasta, cheese and meat," says Whiteman. "That's going to be the strong nucleus of how this restaurant's going to fall in line because, to us, that's what makes Italian food: simple, uncomplicated, rustic." But while that menu sounds basic, Pinbone's history promises anything but. Eggert and Whiteman are known for adding in a wild ingredient or two to classic dishes — if you visited 10 William Street during their takeover, you'll know what we're talking about. Dishes on the Dirty Disco menu will include meat loaf with dill pickle, pastas and bruschetta topped with raw veal, whipped tuna with bitter greens. "We've been really inspired by the red sauce joints of New York," says Eggert. "We'll be pushing ourselves to get to their quality, but it'll have our essence, our touches. There'll be a little bit of seaweed here and there, a little bit of soy sauce. It's our take on the red sauce joint." The venture is another new direction for the Pinbone trio, who, after running their much-loved Woollahra eatery and doing a takeover at 10 William Street, were most recently doing exceptional Chinese food in a no-frills restaurant space on Anzac Parade. The collaboration with Sydney hospo giant Merivale is their first. Mr Liquor Dirty Italian Disco by Pinbone and Merivale, will pop-up at the Tennyson Hotel, 952 Botany Road, Mascot on Friday, October 20 for six months. It'll be open Wednesday to Friday 6pm till midnight, Saturday noon till midnight and Sunday noon till 10pm. For more info, visit merivale.com.au/mrliquorsdirtyitaliandisco.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia last year. If you didn't make it along, Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. It's hardly surprising that taking the show on the road — that is, launching Bongo's Bingo Down Under — went well. And now, it's hardly surprising that is's coming back for yet another round either. What you mightn't expect is the event's new special guests: British boy band royalty, aka Westlife's Brian McFadden and Boyzone's Keith Duffy. Under the name Boyzlife, they'll perform their respective groups' biggest hits while all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo gets underway. That includes rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to some absolutely ridiculous surprises, which is all part of the fun. Australia is the second international location for Bongo's Bingo, which recently launched in Dubai as well and, based on popularity, we imagine the event will continue to expand around the globe. BONGO'S BINGO DATES: Brisbane — Saturday, March 24 at The Tivoli Sydney — Saturday, March 31 at Big Top Melbourne — Thursday, April 5 at St Kilda Hall Doors from 6pm and shows kick off 7.30pm. Tickets are $40 per person and go on sale on Monday February 5 — the Brisbane show at 4pm AEST via Ticketmaster, and the Sydney and Melbourne shows at 6pm AEDT via Moshtix.
The Sydney Architecture Festival is back for its 11th incarnation and, this time, the event is focusing on the west. Between Friday, September 29 and Monday, October 2, you'll be treated to talks, tours, exhibitions and parties celebrating the city's most beautiful, unusual and controversial buildings — from Punchbowl's new contemporary mosque to The Rocks' Sirius, which was recently saved from demolition. To be among the first Sydneysiders to learn about the former, head to Punchbowl, on Saturday, September 30 at 11am. There, Harry Seidler Award-winning architect Angelo Candalepas, who designed the building, will be launching it to the public. He'll also be chatting about the "Aussie mosque" and the role of architecture in increasing cross-cultural understanding with a panel of commentators. Tickets, which include lunch, are free, but online bookings are essential. "We're inviting Sydneysiders to join the community of Sydney's newest mosque to experience this modern concrete masterpiece," said Tim Horton, festival director. "The festival is also embracing Sydney's love affair with concrete: not only as a brutalist material, but as one that is found in every building we make." It's difficult to imagine modern-day Sydney without the influence of brutalism, the concrete-driven movement that dominated architecture in the 1960s and '70s. To help you find out more about it, the festival is running brutalist history tours, starting at the festival hub — in the new Peter Shergold Building at Western Sydney University in Parramatta — and finishing at Millers Point. Along the way, you'll be led by architect Glenn Harper and comedian Tim Ross, as you take in Sirius, the Surry Hills Police Centre and the Masonic Centre, among other buildings. Tickets are $25 and can be booked online. Meanwhile, if you're wondering what Sydney might look like in another two decades, when another 1.7 million people have joined the multitude, then check out Missing Middle, an exhibition happening at the hub, where you'll see a bunch of solutions to population growth dreamed up by various architects. It's free and open every day during the festival. The festival's biggest party though, is the launch. Hosted in partnership with The Fifth Estate, it's a river cruise, departing King Street Wharf on Friday, September 29 at 430pm, and landing in Parramatta. Between drinks, you'll be invited to partake in a forum about sustainable and affordable development in Sydney's west, featuring experts in planning, government, community and design. Tix are available here. And closing proceedings on Monday, October 2 will be the World Architecture Day Oration, delivered by Kristien Ring, a Pittsburgh-born architect, curator and author now living in Berlin, who'll be discussing a citizen-led housing model, which has the potential to reduce Sydney's housing prices by 15-30 percent. If you're curious, tickets are $25 and include lunch provided by OzHarvest. Images: Steven Siewert.
National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all people of Australia to learn and acknowledge the nation's shared history, to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and reflect on how we can each contribute to reconciliation. Reconciliation requires more than listening, learning and reflecting, which is powerfully summarised in this year's theme: More than a word. Reconciliation takes action. As always, hundreds of events are occurring around the nation in schools, community centres, workplaces, cultural institutions and sporting clubs. All these events embrace the theme and recognise that for reconciliation to occur in Australia, more impactful action is required. Reconciliation also requires the active participation and involvement of wider Australia. So this year, you can also host an event as well as attending a suite of unique educational discussions and workshops. National Reconciliation Week is convened annually by Reconciliation Australia, the national body on reconciliation. Significantly, this year marks twenty years since Reconciliation Australia was established in 2001. The start and end dates of Reconciliation Week are the same each year— May 27 and June 3. These dates celebrate two significant achievements in the reconciliation journey: the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision which saw the rightful recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of the land. [caption id="attachment_813142" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: City of Greater Geelong, City Hall[/caption]
After last Sunday's epic Keep Sydney Open rally saw 15,000 anti-lockouts protesters take to the Sydney streets, momentum is officially picking up. This Thursday, three Sydney establishments are holding fundraisers to collect sweet, sweet moolah to keep fighting the good fight against the State Government's lockout laws. This Thursday, Freda's in Chippendale is hosting a KSO fundraiser party, with a performance from Future Classic's World Champion. The Freda's House Band — lead by Josh Beagley (Personal Best) and featuring Michael Di Francesco (Touch Sensitive), Andrew Elston, Rich Sanford, Ross Ferraro and Bret Hunt — will be performing a greatest hits set. They'll be joined by some pretty big gun guest vocalists, from Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures), Jack Ladder, Rainbow Chan, Marcus Whale (Black Vanilla) and more. There'll also be DJ sets from Adi Toohey (FBi Radio), Marcus King and more. Vibe Positive is holding a 2.0 edition at The Chippendale Hotel in tandem with Freda's, so they can accommodate the hoards of people, and there'll also be the Late Night Edition at Tatler Sydney, with live techno and dance from Phile, Simon Caldwell, Kali, Paul Jextra and Grand Jeté. "We all want a safe city," says the KSO team. "We all want a vibrant city. We all want a city that elevates art, music and culture. And we want a city we can engage with as adults at any time of the night. This is only the beginning of a long fight, and Keep Sydney Open needs our help." Image: Kimberley Low.
The story goes that, in 1971, National Geographic's Loren McIntyre found the source of the great Amazon River. Earlier this year, author Petru Popescu published his version of the story, called Amazon Beaming, in which Popescu details how McIntyre found a tribal chief with whom he was able to communicate — telepathically. That is, with their brains. Yep. This instance of multimedia theatre, showing at the Opera House, really challenges the audience to approach the production holistically, in terms of their senses. Taking the idea of telepathic communication, legendary director Simon McBurney and theatre stalwart Richard Katz project all the sound from the piece straight into the ears of their audience through headphones. McBurney pushes the audience's imagination to immerse themselves into the humid and mysterious environment of the Amazon. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
When the Vivid LIVE and Vivid Music (different things, it confuses us all) lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 22 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. With kitsch '80s Japanese pop, brash Sydney garage punk, shoe-shufflin' soul and heartfelt indie folk on the bill, you can choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with our top picks. So grab a pre-drink at Vivid's Opera House pop-up bar, the Deep Purple Pool Hall, before Sufjan. Lock down your favourite Studio party. Take in some Italo beats and noms before Grace Jones. Or roll the dice on a Freda's party (highly recommended). Just don't watch it all happen on Instagram. By the Concrete Playground team. Image: Prudence Upton.
Next week marks the beginning of Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the biggest art fairs in Asia. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and installation will all be on display, in an event designed to showcase the work of thousands of artists from all around the world. But the work of one man in particular appears to be in particularly good taste (geddit?). Uwe Opocensky, the German chef at the Michelin-starred Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, has put together a menu that blurs the line between food and art. The aptly named Art Menu at the Mandarin Grill + Bar begins with an entree inspired by the most iconic artwork of Englishman Damien Hirst. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living features a 14-foot shark suspended in a tank of formaldehyde. Opocensky's version consists of a mackerel floating in horseradish-flavoured cucumber jelly. The main course is modelled after a box of paints, with different coloured purees including mashed sweet potato, brown truffles, black garlic paste and red peppers, as well as a slice of beef covered in edible flowers. And for dessert, an ice cream filled chocolate mountain on a bed of popping candy, inspired by the mountaineering photography of Chinese artist Xu Zhen. As with many things in the world of high art, Oponcensky's elaborate dinner doesn't come cheap: $HK1888 ($AU320) a head. Pretty pricey, especially when you won't have anything to show for it at the end of the night. "What we make has a very short life span," Opocensky said to Quartz. "It is very exciting though. I cannot draw to save my life, but I can put things on a plate, and I love that we can be associated with art as a movement" Via Quartz.
Each year, Sydney says a big screw you to its regular programming and turns things up to 11 for Vivid Sydney. That counts for extra gigs at the Opera House, parties at galleries and talks at various institutions, but it also gives the city the opportunity to turn on every bright light it can get its hands on. And the result is always impressive. This year is no exception, of course — like last year, the trail will stretch from Kings Cross to Barangaroo and over the Bridge to Luna Park and Chatswood. There's a lot of ground to cover and — especially during the opening weekend — a lot of crowds. So put on your walking shoes and your most patient face, because here's what's happening at each precinct every night until June 15. Lights come on at 6pm (5pm at Darling Harbour and 5.30pm at Taronga and Chatswood) and turn off at 11pm. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN The city's oldest green space is has been transformed into a lit-up wonderland yet again — and it's a great place to start your light walk. This year, it features 15 captivating installations. Peppered throughout the site will be a colourful assortment of characters, from giant bees and a field of fireflies to exotic birds. And you can expect plenty of food and drink options to fuel your after-dark adventures, including glowing gin cocktails and mulled wine served up from the old school fisherman's wharf- inspired bar. Take a stroll through the sprawling River of Light to the multicoloured satellite, KA3323, which interacts with sounds from outer space. Behind it, you'll cop a glimpse of the Sydney Opera House, which will be lit up with hypnotic images of Australian flora from LA artist and video maker Andrew Thomas Huang (who has previously created music videos for Björk). Then wander through these giant glowing green blades of grass in the Dancing Grass installation or visit the magical shimmering Firefly Field, made up of 500 individual lights, that will transport you to the Australian forests and mangroves in which they live. CIRCULAR QUAY The centrepiece of Circular Quay is always Customs House — this year, it will be illuminated with a surreal underwater projection named Under the Harbour. It's the work of Melbourne-born, LA-based designer Ben Alpass, and takes you on a rainy twilight tour of the harbour that lies mere metres away. It's worth watching in full if you can get an unobstructed view. If you're more into shooting stars, you can instead avert your eyes to the 62 lights that will be shooting out around the Harbour as part of City Sparkle. The beams are placed on top of the Harbour Bridge, as well as above the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Cahill Expressway and the Bennelong Apartments, and form part of a show each night. Other things to visit in CQ: a bubble installation, an infinity room and a hanging light installation that makes it feel like it's snowing. THE ROCKS After you've conquered the crowds at Circular Quay, join the flow of people being herded towards the MCA (you may need to be patient — lots of punters complained of bottlenecks last year). In First Fleet Park, an interactive playground for kidults has popped up with a range of light, sound and physical interactions for you to ogle, climb on and interact with. Inside, you'll find an interactive 'field' of 320 light poles, a reactive LED dance floor, a neon hula-hooping station and a custom-built 'sky walk' that will let you take selfies with the sweeping Vivid views. And that's not to mention the 6.5-metre-tall slide that you can launch yourself down if you so desire. Wander on to Argyle Cut where beloved animation studio Pixar will have a 30th-anniversary projection set up — expect all of your favourite characters to make appearances, including Finding Nemo and Toy Story (plus a sneak peek of Toy Story 4). Time your visit with The Rocks' Friday and Saturday night markets or head to this rooftop lounge to get a view over the harbour (without the crowds). BARANGAROO AND DARLING HARBOUR Yep, that's a giant puppet, and it'll be moving around on the Barangaroo esplanade every night of Vivid for the second year running. The six-metre-tall figure is named Marri Dyin and pays tribute to the Indigenous women who once called the Harbour their home (including Barangaroo herself) and is part of Winter Camp installation along Wulugul Walk. On the other side of Darling Harbour, you can walk under the Milky Way and check out a 16-metre0tall 'Ecobot', which has fictitiously been tasked with saving Earth from extinction and advancing its sustainable initiatives. If you need a drink at this point, we recommend popping into Banksii on the esplanade or Barangaroo House, and make sure you pay a visit to Gelato Messina's glowing pop-up dessert bar at Darling Square — it'll be serving all sorts of glow-in-the-dark goodies. LUNA PARK Back for a second year, the Luna Park precinct is offering heaps of over-the-bridge Vivid activations, plus harbour views aplenty. Thousands of LED lights will be strung across the ferris wheel and thrill ride Volaré, with ride passes starting at just a tenner. There will also be roving street performers in glowing costumes and Mediterranean-inspired dining at the park's restaurant, Altum. From there, the spectacular lights on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay are all in view. TARONGA ZOO Once again, the famed grounds of Taronga Zoo will come alive with four brand new captivating installations. As the zoo continues its mission to raise awareness and support for endangered species in Australia and Sumatra, this year's Lights for the Wild gives zoo visitors the opportunity wander the harbourside site after dark, encountering everything from multi-coloured elephants to giant redback spiders along the way. The light show begins from the moment you hit the zoo's heritage-listed archway. This year, the giant light projection features images representative of the ten fragile species across Australia and Sumatra that the zoo has made a commitment to protect. These include the yellow and black Southern Corroboree frog, the platypus and the Asian elephant. You'll also have the chance to snap a photo alongside three glowing Sumatran tigers, created in celebration of the zoo's brand new cubs: Mawar, Tengah Malam and Pemanah. This is the only light show that is ticketed — you can buy tickets to the nightly 5.30pm and 7.30pm sessions here. CHATSWOOD Even if you don't live on the lower north shore, Chatswood Interchange is worth a visit for Vivid. This year there will be 18 installations across the precinct, including a multi-sensory floating sculpture depicting the Chinese mythical creature Qilin, a giant harp-like 'wind chime' and many different projections at Chatswood Interchange. To enjoy the latter, grab a snack from one of Chatswood's many eateries, find a spot and settle in for an hour or so. Images: Destination NSW.
Beneath its glory and grandeur, Paris offers adventures a-plenty at ground level. For every 16th-century art gallery crowded with tourist snappers, there's a neglected street art masterpiece on a corner somewhere; for every ritzy hotel foregrounded with limousines, there's a quirky hideaway concealed behind a secret door; for every Michelin-starred restaurant, there's a laneway shopfront peddling regional produce. Thanks to the city's spiralling, snail-like arrangement, a diverse array of neighbourhoods is easily accessible from the centre. With only a week to dig up the picks of the Paris underground, I asked a few of the locals to show me around. DRINKING Unlike Australian wines, which are labelled according to grape variety, French ones are classified based on region. If you've been to neither Burgundy nor Bordeaux, ordering can be confusing and, occasionally, intimidating. One express way to get your head around this is at a tasting session. I found Alexis, a Parisian-born wine expert, through Localers, a company that organises left-of-field activities led by locals, from like-a-local crash courses, to macaroon classes, to games of petanque. His father started teaching him the difference between a decent drop and a dud when he was in his early teens. I met Alexis at Le Pharamond (24, Rue de la Grande Truanderie), one-time preferred eatery of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tucked away in a side street amid the cocktail bars of the first arrondissement, it's a direct link to the Belle Epoque, with its gilded mirrors, glazed tiles, high ceilings and hardcore traditional cuisine: offal, pigeon, escargot and tripe served up at boiling point. While these delicacies are available to anyone with a dinner reservation, Le Pharamond's shadowy, candle-lit wine cellar, dug out in the Middle Ages, is accessible only in the company of a guide – via secret hatch behind the bar and a series of steep staircases and ladders. This was where our class began. Filling our glasses with champagne, Alexis started explaining the rules of French wine, "Under no circumstances can champagne be referred to as champagne, unless it comes from Champagne." Then, whipping out a map, he pointed out which varieties grew where. Ask for a Burgundy red, and you'll be drinking a pinot noir; request a Chablis and you can expect a chardonnay. If you're in Bordeaux, don't even think about requesting a bottle from Burgundy, or anywhere else for that matter. Keeping things local is a pretty new trend in Australia, but the French have been fiercely defending their regionalism for centuries. After that we were ushered to a private dining room on the Pharamond's third floor, with a view to the street below. We sampled five more wines, representing a north to south journey through France, and matched with several premium cheeses and cured meats. "When you cut cheese in France," Alexis explained, "you must do it from the centre outwards, so that everyone ends up with an equal share of the rind." Armed with my new working knowledge of French wine and cheese etiquette, I was ready to brave Paris's culinary specialties. If not the tripe. EATING It's not difficult to find the city's renowned high-end restaurants, but scoping out the mid-range gems is tougher. The sheer volume of visitors has pushed up prices, especially on the major thoroughfares. So I enlisted the help of Lisa, a Canadian who's been living in Paris for two years. She runs her own small tour business, Flavors of Paris, which promises to take travellers "off the eaten path". We gathered at Les Deux Magots (6, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés), where the likes of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Ernest Hemingway penned masterpieces in between coffees and cocktails. These days, Lisa told us, the Saint Germain area is quite "shi shi", but, despite the trendy stores, it's still bustling with students and writers. On a circuitous journey down cobbled alleyways and through courtyards, we visited independent boutiques where we sampled olives, olive oils, pastries, breads, cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates, jams, spreads and wines. On my own, I'd have had little chance of finding them. At chocolate concept store Un Dimanche à Paris (4, Cours du Commerce Saint-André) we indulged in the must-try creations of Pierre Cluizel, whose lifelong dedication to chocolate began when he was six; at Ma Collection Marchande de Saveurs (33, Rue Mazarine), we sampled a curated collection of local gourmet products; at the Marché Saint-Germain (14, Rue Lobineau), we bought direct from farmers; and at Bacchus et Ariane (4, Rue Lobineau), we tasted wine sourced from propriétaires récoltants (winemakers who grow their own grapes). ARTING Despite the crowds, the Louvre is always a magnificent experience. But if you prefer your art with some personal space, Paris's smaller galleries are worth a visit. Head to the Marais district, which is like Sydney's Paddington in its emphasis on independent design, but more intense. For new, challenging work, check out La Maison Rouge (10, Boulevard de la Bastille) a converted factory that's been exhibiting since 2004. Or for an element of surprise, step through the heavy, green doors of the Passage de Retz (9 Rue Charlot), whose maze of rooms started life in the 17th century as a hotel and now hosts temporary shows. Alternatively, take to the streets. Numerous corners, archways and parks act as canvases for street art, accessible 24 hours a day. Having spied various space invaders and OBEY references, I decided to get some context via a walking tour with Underground Paris. Beginning at the'70s-inspired Café Place Verte (105, Rue Oberkampf), the journey took us on a three-hour long saunter through the Oberkampf and Belleville, where low rents and warehouse spaces have been drawing Paris's art community since the '80s. We learned what inspired Space Invader's obsession, found out more about 'photograffeur' and TED-prize winner JR and discovered works by numerous lesser-known local artists. Using individual stories as a springboard, our guide carved out a broader history of street art, from graffiti tagging to multi-million dollar successes. We ended up in Parc de Belleville (47, Rue des Couronnes), one of the few places in Paris where you can picnic with panoramic city views minus the crowds. SLEEPING (ON THE RIGHT BANK) Wandering around the Madeleine district, on Paris's Right Bank, felt like walking through the set of a Baz Luhrmann film. Everything was grander, more beautiful and more decadent than real-life, from the golden Gucci dog collars, to the glittering macaroon sculptures, to the gilded statues atop the Palais Garnier. It's also a really visitor-friendly location, with the Champs Elysées within walking distance. The Hotel Chavanel (22 Rue Tronchet) is hidden behind an unobtrusive sliding door, just a few hundred metres from the spectacular Corinthian columns of the Madeleine Church. Sophie Charlet took over as hotelier in 2013, intent on turning the hotel into a bit of an artwork. Each of the 27 rooms has been designed individually, but they're linked by an aesthetic that combines traditional haute couture with bold, fun, contemporary concepts. It looks like what might have emerged out of a Christian Dior and Pierre Paulin collaboration. I stayed in the junior suite, on the sixth floor. It was furnished like the guest room of some cutting-edge interior designer: an enormous oval bed draped with cashmere, mushroom and tulip stools, a recliner shaped like a cloud, lamps made of silkworm cocoons from Thailand and lace-curtained windows affording district views. I wasn't surprised to learn that Sophie had overseen the placement of every single object and that she's big on ethical supply chains and supporting independent artists. The lobby's street-facing window is dedicated to exhibiting locally-made creations, from jewellery to sculptures, while breakfast comes in the form of a 100 per cent organic buffet. SLEEPING (ON THE LEFT BANK) Not far from where my Flavors of Paris tour started, and just around the corner from the Luxembourg Gardens, the Villa Madame (44, Rue Madame) inhabits a quiet street. On first impressions, it feels more like a welcoming private mansion owned by an arts philanthropist than a hotel. Sculptures and drawings dot the lobby-bar-restaurant, leading through to a secluded, leafy courtyard. Monthly live shows feature local artists, from musicians to storytellers to magicians. Owners Giles Delfau and Thérèse Tafanel employed specialist boutique hotel designer Michael Jounnat to create the Villa's artsy yet luxurious feel. His passion is restoring 'identity' and 'soul' to places, rather than following trends; some of his other projects include St Petersburg's Grand Hotel Europe, Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Palace and Oran's Royal Hotel. The atmosphere established from the outset extends seamlessly into the rooms. I stayed in a suite, made up of a courtyard-facing ground-floor room, a loft-style lounge room and an oversized bathroom. It was a classically Parisian experience - and a warm, cosy hideaway at the end of the day. Jasmine travelled as a guest of Localers, Flavors of Paris, Underground Paris, Hotel Chavanel and Villa Madame.
Filipinos may drink the most gin in the world, but they're not simply lovers of this botanical libation. While San Miguel makes the region's most popular, easy-drinking beers, Manila's emerging craft beer market has swiftly become the talk of the town. When it comes to craft beer, Manila is way ahead of the pack and on the level of Hong Kong and Japan as a leader of the craft beer revolution in Asia. While the country's capital alone houses over ten microbreweries already, a few smaller breweries are also popping up in the southern islands, including Cebu and Palawan. Filipinos are going for the range, brewing everything from deep stouts and bold IPAs to tropical, fruity beers and highly alcoholic ginger beers. If you're a craft beer fanatic heading to Manila, we've got your back — here's which beers to drink and where to find them. [caption id="attachment_618703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katipunan Craft Ales.[/caption] WHERE TO DRINK You're spoilt for choice with Manila's nightlife, which rivals New York City in its love of late-night partying and all-hours dining. It seems there's always a new joint popping up, and this is especially true of the budding craft bar scene. It's always a party at Big Bad Wolf, with live acts a constant accompaniment to their craft brew offering. Beers to keep an eye out for here are Summer Sessions blonde ale by Craftpoint and 'Signal No.1', a stout made by Katipunan Craft. Both are Manila-based breweries so you know the brews will be fresh as. Another, simply called The Brewery at the Palace, serves up its own brews from gorgeous copper tanks visible from the restaurant floor. The rustic interior well matches the old-world-looking brewing equipment and the beers are as impressive as the place makes them look. They're brewing up some serious beers here, including an alcoholic ginger beer at a surprising seven percent ABV. The Perfect Pint is your go to for an ever-changing, extensive craft beer list and fusion Filipino-Western food that goes all too well. If you're lucky enough to find Pedro's Procrastination pale ale on tap, don't pass it by. These brewers were inspired by the craft beer scene in Hong Kong and turn out some of the most impressive brews in Manila. Out of all of the craft beer joints in the city though, Kabisera is not to be missed. They're serving up authentic Filipino pulutan, or drunk food, and craft beer in a relaxed, well-designed dining room playing some killer tunes. The menu of street food, including fish balls and kwek-kwek (deep fried quail egg) is a great drinking accompaniment, as is the sisig bangus (sizzling fish) and array of noodle dishes. Kabisera houses all of the usual craft beer suspects, along with speciality brews from the southern islands, including Cebu's Cebruery and Palaweño Brewery — Palawan's first and only craft brewery. [caption id="attachment_618701" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nipa Brew.[/caption] WHAT TO DRINK When in Manila, keep an eye out for these locals in the craft brew scene: Pedro Brewcrafters Katipunan Craft Ales Craftpoint Brewing Co. The Brewery at the Palace Baguio Craft Brewery Palaweño Brewery Cebruery Turning Wheels NIPA Brew
Finding yourself smooshed between a shove-happy tween and a dirty ponytail-touting brick wall at the front of the mosh could be a thing of the past — virtual reality concerts are here, from Coldplay's Ghost Stories concert to Paul McCartney's VR concert app and a brand new Opera House VR experience, released today. If you didn't nab tickets to Future Classic's 10th anniversary concert at the Sydney Opera House this past May, you can now experience part of the sold-out Vivid concert through a cheeky new virtual reality experience. Samsung, principal partner of the Opera House, put their tech to work on the day, recording sets for virtual reality, specifically made for YouTube’s new 360° video service. The recently unveiled YouTube app allows you to watch VR videos, including Future Classic and Samsung's brand new recorded Opera House performance of Flight Facilities’ ‘Heart Attack’ performed with Melbourne’s Owl Eyes and Julian Hamilton of The Presets. Samsung created the video from more than 20 remote-controlled cameras, shot from three vantage points to capture this 360° x 180° immersive view — in Ultra High Definition, of course. The team-up was an experiment by the Opera House to let more than ticketholders experience Future Classic's sold-out show long after the date. This isn't the first time an Australian organisation has used virtual reality to create a new audience experience, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra put 3D goggles on audience members this July and let them watch an entire concert from the perspective of the musicians. The technology has also been used by the Sydney Opera House before, also at this year's Vivid, by UK drum and bass artist Squarepusher. Dubbed the Stor Eiglass Virtual Reality Experience, Squarepusher worked with artists, artistic studio Marshallow Laser Feast, BAFTA-winning animators Blue Zoo and illustrator Rob Pybus to create a a fully immersive 2D and 3D virtual reality experience in the Main Box Office Foyer. But this new Flight Facilities video, shot from three different vantage points, is the first time we've seen a virtual reality concert experience like this. Watch the video here (if you've got a VR viewer like Google Cardboard, it's even better): Then watch the behind the scenes making of here: Image: Daniel Boud.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. Or you could just go see the new Star Wars movie for the third time. That's also a totally valid option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMf9m7FXd4 LA LA LAND We give it: 4 stars A surefire contender at this year's Academy Awards, Damien Chazelle's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Whiplash is a bittersweet love letter to music, movies and the old school sense of romance we associate with both. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are at their charming best as a pair of dreamers who fall madly in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles, only for their creative ambitions to get in the way. The film is beautifully shot, and its toe-tapping song and dance numbers will leave you with a gigantic smile on your face. Also: tears. Oh boy, will there be tears. – Tom Clift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI MOANA We give it: 4 stars The latest film from the Disney animation juggernaut, Moana hits all the right marks. Indeed, it's a cocktail of all of the best elements of the Disney princess genre – a desperate quest, a charismatic supporting cast, catchy tunes and an animal sidekick – but with one subtle but important difference. Unlike most Disney princesses, Moana doesn't need a training montage to become a boss bitch, because she already is one. She's a beautiful role model, maybe the best Disney princess ever. And the score, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i, is the music she deserves. Prepare your ears to hear the main refrain 'How Far I'll Go' more than that damn 'Let It Go' song from Frozen. We ain't mad, though, because it's the perfect summer jam. – Imogen Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50 A UNITED KINGDOM We give it: 4 stars As far as rousing romances based on real-life stories go, Amma Asante's A United Kingdom hits the jackpot. Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo star as typist Ruth Williams and future president of Botswana Seretse Khama, whose romance in the years following WWII challenged racial divisions and provoked widespread international attention. The film provides an example of solid emotional storytelling from start to finish. Complications keep forcing the star-crossed lovers in opposite directions, but they never lose sight of what's important. Nor does Asante or writer Guy Hibbert, who are at their best when swapping easy sentiment for quiet fortitude. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl3sTpmEKIs RED DOG: TRUE BLUE We give it: 3.5 stars Five years ago, a little local film with a lot of heart scampered its way into cinemas — and into the country's box office records. Given the tail-wagging success of Red Dog, a follow-up was all but inevitable. Still, while there's much that's familiar about Red Dog: True Blue, it still earns every bit of emotion that oozes from this second trip into family-friendly territory. This time around, the eponymous pooch gets an origin story starting in 1968, and a lonely boy (Pan's Levi Miller) gets a new best friend. For their part of the bargain, viewers get a broad, crowd-pleasing, affectionate effort that's certain to make everyone fall in love with the red-coloured canine all over again. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qksQSt8K830 WHY HIM? We give it: 3 stars "Produced by Ben Stiller. Story by Jonah Hill. Starring James Franco." Put those things together and you already know what you'll get: fart jokes, dick jokes, poo jokes, semon jokes, stoners, swearing and sex. And yet, true to form, you also get laughs. Not as many as you might have hoped for given the involvement of Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally and Keegan-Michael Key, but maybe just enough to keep you entertained. In this modern day riff on Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, Cranston's daughter invites her family out to Silicon Valley to meet her eccentric tech millionaire boyfriend Laird, whereupon daddy decides to go to war with the very idea of their relationship. Too often the film turns to the loud and the wacky for easy laughs, when all the best material comes in the gentler, well-directed barbs at San Fran startup culture. Franco steals the show, forging Laird into a genuinely endearing character whose vulnerabilities lie bare like the tattoos adorning his torso. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlp94-C31cY ALLIED We give it: 3 stars Partially styled after and sharing its initial setting with classic World War II romance Casablanca, Allied poses an age-old question in a specific context: how well does anyone actually know each other, particularly married couples who've started a family together while the planet battles it out around them. Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard mightn't boast overwhelmingly convincing chemistry together, but each turn in fine performances as a Canadian intelligence officer and French resistance fighter, respectively, whose pairing on an undercover mission soon leads to a genuine connection. Obviously pitched at an older crowd, Allied is an elegant affair that seems like a response to the complaint that they just don't make them like they used to. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrWjjOOYxhI SING We give it: 3 stars On paper, animal karaoke caper Sing sounds like reality television turned into a star-studded cartoon – albeit in a form that aims to make viewers feel warm and fuzzy rather than inducing a serious case of cringe. On screen, the latest film from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow director Garth Jennings plays out just as you'd expect, though it thankfully remains fun enough despite its obvious formula. Think bright colours, a bouncy pace, recognisable songs a plenty, Matthew McConaughey voicing a theatre-owning koala, and the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon and Eddie the Eagle's Taron Egerton among the cast. If you're looking for a film to keep youngsters distracted, this animated effort should do nicely. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_3CL12eNaE ROSALIE BUM We give it: 2.5 stars While Rosalie Blum bears the name of Noémie Lvovsky's protagonist— a middle-aged corner store-owner saddened by past pain – the intertwined fates of three individuals sit at the centre of this light and breezy effort. Adapted from a series of graphic novels, the film – a hit at this year's Alliance Francaise French Film Festival – explores the story not just of Rosalie, but also the hairdresser who starts following her every move, and the college student (and Rosalie's niece) who starts shadowing him in turn. Coincidence and contrivance rear their head, though so does a genuine understanding of the interplay between unhappiness and escapism. The result is a well-acted but often a tad too convenient movie about coping with life's ups and downs. – Sarah Ward If you're looking to steer well clear of cinemas on Boxing Day, why not check out one of our favourite films from throughout the year instead. Words by Imogen Baker, Tom Clift, Tom Glasson and Sarah Ward.
Obliterating your eardrums by throwing mad shapes too close to the speakers at Listen Out is one thing. Wearing a subwoofer on your own personal wrist so you can feel that bass is another. One of these things is much better for your body, and it's being funded on Kickstarter as we speak. Because 2016, the world's first wearable subwoofer is seeking crowdfunding, claiming "sound is meant to be felt, not just heard." Created by a Berlin-based startup founded by Daniel Büttner and Gwydion ap Dafydd from Ableton and Native Instruments, The Basslet is a watch-like gadget that sits on your wrist and delivers the beats directly to your body, letting you "experience powerful bass — anywhere you go." Best bit? It's 100 percent silent to the rest of the world. Y'hear that, beats-hungry commuters? SILENT. Intending to block out every other sound from the world around you, The Basslet works with music, gaming and VR, connecting to your smartphone, laptop, console, VR headset — even with your old Walkman. It doesn't need an app and promises a powerful, wholly immersive sound experience beyond headphones — with the full bass spectrum (10-250 Hz). Rather than being just a mere force to eat up hectic Hud-Mo drops, The Basslet could have some serious potential for people who are deaf or have limited hearing. Sound isn't the only way to enjoy music. Check out The Basslet's Kickstarter page. Via Protein.
If you're one to simultaneously munch a durrie and schnittie combo, we've got some bad news for you. Smoking in all outdoor dining areas in New South Wales is banned from today, thanks to the implementation of the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. From July 6, 2015, all commercial outdoor dining areas in licensed venues (including clubs and hotels), restaurants and cafes must be smoke-free. Basically, if food is being served, there's no smoking. There's going to be some serious penalties (we're talking fines up to $5500) for venues who don't comply with the new smoking bans, enforced by NSW Health Authorised Inspectors — so you can rule out a cheeky smoke, even if you 'know the owner'. Plus, you could land yourself a $300 fine for gettin' y'puff on. It's not just courtyards and beer gardens that are about to clear the air; areas within four metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a licensed venue, restaurant or cafe must be smoke-free (so on-street dining and footpath areas too). But venues are allowed to create designated smoking areas — so beer gardens are still allowed to section off glamorous shame corners or build blue-lit miscreant booths (lookin' at you Beach Road). From today, venues will have to put up 'no smoking' signs of approved size and staff will be trained to deal with the new laws. Let's be honest, this was always coming. The 2013 NSW Smoking and Health Survey showed 75 percent of surveyed folks approved banning smoking in all outdoor areas in hotels, restaurants and cafes. And really, trying to enjoy a burg with cigarette smoke in your face isn't the best. But we're pretty sure this one's going to stir up some furious pub debate. Via NSW Health.
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “How old is too old to use a ball pit? Will it be creepy if I dive right in?” Well, wonder no more (although for the record, the answer to both is 'never, if it's art'). NY studio Snarkitecture have created a massive, minimalist ball pit at in the National Building Museum in DC that will transport you to another dimension (one populated with opaque white balls and fulfilled childhood dreams). The project, titled The Beach, utilises 750,000 recyclable (thank god) plastic balls enclosed in the towering, Grecian columns of the National Museum to create a surreal beach scene; a bizarre juxtaposition of old and new. White deck chairs are lined up along the artificial shore and the mirrored wall at the back of the space makes Snarkitecture's beach seem to go on forever and ever. Like most high-fiveable things these days, the project was crowdfunded by the people of Washington DC who said definitively, “Yes, we do want a giant ball pit, kthnxbai,” and raised $12,155 in a month. The funding has gone towards building the beach and stocking it with deck chairs, pool toys and snack vendors to create the perfect beach experience for people who generally hate the outdoors. The interactive exhibit patriotically opened on July 4 and will run until September 7, which is still enough time to buy a plane ticket, escape winter and get away to the beach. Watch a nifty timelapse of the buiding of The Beach here: Via designboom. Images: Noah Kalina and snarkitecture.
Banaras Backs, the newest exhibition at Darlinghurst photography Black Eye Gallery, offers a unique glimpse into contemporary Indian life. The work of Aussie photographer Terry Burrows, this new show features photos of people sitting on the steps of the river Ganges. A riff on classic portraiture, each of the photos is taken from behind, with the viewer unable to see any of the subjects' faces. At once intimate and distant, this intriguing series invites you to spend long moments in front of each image, admiring the composition or, for more creative types, inventing stories about the photos' anonymous subjects. Copies of Burrows' publication, The Banaras Back Book — a whopping collection of 1008 photos from which the Black Eye Gallery exhibit is curated — will be available for sale during the exhibition. Black Eye Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm. Images courtesy the artist/Black Eye Gallery.
While Australia is still a ways off legal weed yet, our friends in California appear to be living in a stoner's paradise. One of the more laissez-faire places when it comes to marijuana – it's legal for medicinal use, while possession will cop you a $100 fine at most – the state already caters to smokers with dispensaries and delivery services. So really, a cannabis social club was the next logical step. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Nexus Social Lounge is an endeavour of Nexus Glass, a company that specialises in pipes and other glassware, and provides a welcoming place for patrons to, uh, medicate. The bar is decked out with a full blown arcade, complete with retro games and pinball machines. Elite Daily went along to the venue earlier this week and caught a performance by Waka Flocka Flame – who also spent some time interacting with patrons from behind the bar. Who want some Flockaveli OG ???? Coming soon to dispensary near you. @wakaflocka A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:48am PST @wakaflocka at the dab bar A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Feb 4, 2016 at 6:34pm PST Recap | 2015 NYE Party A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:23pm PST Recap | NYE Party @808mafiaboss @westcoastcure A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:05pm PST Tag someone who you'd go head to head with. #highscore #110 #nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Nov 26, 2015 at 6:26pm PST We offer exclusive parties in collaboration with some of the industries finest to provide a unique experience like no other, our private member-only lounge cannot be matched. #nexussociallounge @nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Nov 25, 2015 at 2:07pm PST On a semi-related note, Victoria recently became the first state in Australia to take steps towards legalising medicinal marijuana, with the Andrews government tabling a report in parliament by the Victorian Law Reform Commission that recommended legalising the drug for the treatment of serious illnesses. Baby steps, people. Via Elite Daily.
Myer and eBay have joined forces to take online shopping to the next level with their creation of the world's first Virtual Reality Department Store. Available today, their cardboard 'shoptical' device allows users to browse, personalise, and purchase over 12,500 Myer products just with your face. The best part — they're giving out 15,000 of them for free. For our sceptical readers who didn't automatically click away at the word free, here's the deal. The 'shoptical' device seems pretty simple — you download the eBay VR Department Store app on your smart phone and insert the phone into the cardboard shoptical — very, very similar to Google Cardboard's design. You can then browse, research and eventually purchase any item in the catalogue by holding your gaze on a product. The VR store is continually personalised while you use it and will suggest products based on what it knows about you. Creepy? Yes. Convenient? Also yes. While the new VR Store doesn't quite diminish the age old online shopping problem of ordering without trying on, the shopticals do give an unprecedented, up close and personal view of products – think 3D images that take you inside the jumper you're looking at. The product range, pricing and stock information will also be updated in real time, which is a brand new feat for virtual reality experiences. For those looking to try before they buy, you can trial the VR Department Store by booking your place at a special exhibition on Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20 at The Harbourside Room, Level 6, 140 George Street in Sydney. While this device may not be for the old school shoppers out there, it's definitely a huge leap forward for online converts. If you made it this far and still think this sounds bloody brilliant, we just want to repeat that they're really giving out 15,000 for free.
Perler beads aren't just for making and ironing into cat pendants any more. Swedish artist Pappas Parlor has teamed up with duo The Very Best to create an 8-bit video for the duo's newest single 'Let Go'. With all the nostalgic joy of a platform, 8-bit game, the video was actually created using tiny perler beads (yep, those beads you used to make gerberas, cats and unicorns out of as a kid and iron them into permanence). Unsurprisingly, Parlor's video took over a month to create; painstakingly arranging the perler beads as 'pixels' and editing the whole thing as stop motion. The clip follows The Very Best bandmates Johan Hugo and Esau Mwamwaya scurrying through different platform environments in a two-player set-up, and meeting Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio and The Vaccines’ Freddie Cowan along the way. Mwamwaya and Hugo run through their homelands, hotfooting it away from 'enemies' specific to their locations — in Mwamwaya’s southeast African home of Malawi, they run from the local street dogs, in Hugo's Swedish homeland, they run from a fox, polar bears... and the ring-wing political party. "We tried to come up with funny things that could happen in the video as well as address some of our more serious concerns," Johan told Wired. Most importantly, how do they beat the bosses in each level? Dance-offs, naturally. Try that, Mario. The Very Best’s new album Makes a King drops April 7. Check out the video for 'Let Go' here. Via Wired.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. More groundbreaking and imaginative than ever, Sydney bars have been reclaiming the night in the face of prevailing lockout laws, one glass of frosé at a time; from WWII-inspired salons to natural soda factory bars, hip hop and cheese-fuelled wine bars to Sydney's first dedicated vermouth bar. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new bars, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Bar in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
Multisensory cooking, auto suggestion and a robotic desserts trolley: these are just a few of the things diners can expect when famed chef Heston Blumenthal restarts service at his three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck later in the year. After undergoing extensive renovations — during which time Blumenthal popped up in Melbourne's Crown Casino — the original Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England is set to reopen this October. Interviewed by The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Blumenthal dropped a number of tasty tidbits as to what has changed. "The move to Australia was a great opportunity to question what the Fat Duck is," Blumenthal told Rayner. "In the sense that we cook food and it’s served to people, we’re a restaurant. But that’s not much, is it? The fact is the Fat Duck is about storytelling. I wanted to think about the whole approach of what we do in those terms." In addition to consulting with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall on the idea of turning the menu into a story — complete with introduction and chapter headings — one of the most intriguing/terrifying things Blumenthal mentioned in the interview was that he had spoken with mentalist Derren Brown, star of Derren Brown: Mind Control, about ways of extracting information about his customers "without them being too aware", and using auto suggestive techniques in order to convince diners they're getting what they most desire. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sinister at all. The Fat Duck (along with other destination restaurants) has apparently long been in the habit of Googling guests in advance, but such prosaic sleuthing is no longer enough to sate Blumenthal. Other features of the "maturing" Fat Duck include a £150,000 robotic sweetshop shaped like a dollhouse and a new online booking system to help sort through the more than 30,000 table requests per day. You can, naturally, expect the prices to go up too — although considering the tasting menu was £220 a head before the renovations, that might keep you, and your suggestive mind, out of Blumenthal's orbit. Via The Observer..
Despite claims by the University of Technology Sydney that some people actually like the UTS Tower, it's known to haters citywide as one of the ugliest buildings in Sydney. But this serious eyesore is finally getting proper attention from the powers that be, with new multi-million dollar plans for an attached 'student hub' announced this morning — though not quite as much attention as we think it needs. Broadway's soulless tower of concrete will not be demolished — for reasons we still don't understand. Instead, Building 2 of the tower will get a complete makeover and act as a shiny new distraction from the structure allegedly designed so students couldn't meet each other, form groups and protest (it's a myth but we love it). The team from Tattoo Nightmares probably would have done a better cover up job, but unfortunately they don't do 1960s abominations. The 16-level, glass-sheathed student hub will replace Building 2 on the corner of Broadway and Jones Street. The project, titled UTS Central, is said to start this year and finish in 2019, costing a whopping $278 million. You'd think for that amount of dollarydoos they'd be able to get rid of the UTS Tower once and for all, but someone up at the top must really, really want to keep it around. The new development does sound pretty swank, though — there are plans to include a library with a twisting tri-level reading room, research areas, teaching spaces, a student centre, the student union, and a dining hall. Top it all off with an outdoor terrace and rooftop garden and the futuristic glass structure will at least be keeping students happy. UTS Central is the next in the campus revamps, following the recent $180 million Frank Gehry-designed business school that has also received mixed reviews. Via Sydney Morning Herald. Image: NSW Department of Planning.
