The Kings Cross Hotel is about to be transformed into an immersive wonderland as part of this year's Vivid Sydney festival. As part of the truly epic Vivid Music program (which includes the world premiere of Björk's digital project), the hotel will be in full swing with a slew of live music, theatre and cabaret throughout the three weeks of the festival from May 27 until June 18. Relive the glory days of Sydney's late-night culture when things kick off with the Welcome to Kings Cross party on Saturday, May 28. With some of the city's best DJs across the pub's five floors, there'll be ample dancefloor action to satisfy your dancing feet. Not only that, but the party will also bring the legendary '90s Sydney party night Sounds of Seduction back to the Kings Cross Hotel. Not enough for you? Well, on Friday and Saturday evenings, some of Sydney's cabaret pros will be setting up shop in the Hotel's plush Red Room as part of Avant-Cabaret. And from June 1, the venue will go into immersive theatre mode on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Visiting Hours will see the Hotel become a mysterious old hospital with performances taking place across the five floors. It's been produced and directed by bAKEHOUSE Theatre, so you know it's going to be legit. And a little creepy. The Kings Cross Hotel's Vivid takeover will run for the length of the festival, from May 27 until June 18. For more information on what's happening at the Hotel, visit their website.
A preservative-laden candy made with rubbish meat and flavours that read like weather reports. That was the old style of jerky, and Darrell Beveridge, father of the Darling Jerky Co, says it's met its end. He's one of the new breed of dried meat revolutionaries, wrenching jerky away from its image as a cheap convenience store snack. “The old world of jerky doesn't understand," he says. "For them it was something eaten by real rough truck drivers from the service station.” Another comrade-in-arms, Brent Griffin of Griffin Jerky, has a nostalgic connection to jerky from his youth. "It was something we'd all do and feel bad about it,” he says. "I started making my own because a lot of that stuff is garbage.” He tells me this while we gnaw away on a stick of his own product, which I've just bought from behind the bar of Sydney's Arcadia Liquors, the kind of bar that's the 'service station' of new-wave, natural, handcrafted and excitingly flavoured jerky. Both Darrell and Brent want to bring their meat to Sydney's jerky virgins. One part of that is making a product that doesn’t ‘feel’ like jerky, the other part is simply making a bloody good product. DARRELL BEVERIDGE'S GUIDE TO RECOGNISING BLOODY GOOD JERKY First rule: “It has to be pasture-raised, roaming free range cattle”. Second rule: "Contemporary flavours and quality ingredients." Here's how to judge. Appearance: Every piece should look different he says, “If something looks like a Roll-Up, it's probably processed. It should look like a piece of meat shrunken down.” Texture: "You want it to almost chew like a steak. You want it to bend but not break.” It shouldn’t tear like crepe paper, having to fight a little to tear it apart is normal. If you need to gnaw for several minutes just to get a bite sized chunk, it’s too dry or too old. Taste: A good stick of jerky should have three stages of flavour. There’s the initial flavour Darrell calls the seasoning or bite that should come without any chewing. Next is the follow-through, a juicy release of flavour as the jerky softens. Last is the aftertaste. "It’s not like a chip," Darrell says; you should be able to savour it. A NEW WORLD OF FLAVOUR Darrell said when he first started making jerky at home five years ago, all the old companies were selling the same thing. “Flavour wise there was really a lot of boring flavours. It was really just original and hot," he says. "Pepper was the big spice. There was a lot of room to try different types.” Now Darrell’s making a 'pickleburger' flavour, which is as complex and layered as it is accurately burgery. He’s also experimenting with flavours like mee goreng, tobacco and ghost chilli. Brent’s main line includes chipotle adobo and a rich 'Srirachuan' (sriracha + Szechuan) flavour. In October he did a collaboration with Young Henrys where he made a real ale and toasted coriander seed batch. Another collaboration with Kakawa ended up with chocolate coated jerky. “The idea is grosser than what it’s like," he says. "It sold out really quick.” Now he’s working on a vegetarian variety. I asked him about it but it’s top secret until he nuts it out. BAKKWA, MOO DAD DEAW AND OTHER KINDS OF JERKY TO TRY Currently they’re both exclusively using pasture-raised grass fed beef but having tried and enjoyed jerkies from Thailand, China and South Africa, I asked Brent and Darrell whether they have any plans to make other varieties of jerky with different meat. Brent told me he’s experimented with pork and lamb, but nothing’s been put into production. Darrell, on the other hand, is too focused on perfection for any diversification. I decided to explore Sydney to see what else I could find. That’s how I met Jack Zhang. Jack’s the everything behind Singapore Famous BBQ Pork, a time-displaced storefront in Sydney's Chinatown. It would be barely noticeable besides the fact that it hasn’t changed in over 25 years. Jack started there as a jerky apprentice some two decades ago. Now the master makes fresh bakkwa and Singaporean-style jerky. Bakkwa is a sweeter and softer variety of preserved meat that’s air dried and then grilled over a charcoals. Jack dries and grills his bakkwa daily, but that's pretty much all he would tell me about what goes into the process (he thinks others might copy his business model). Then there's moo dad deaw, a Thai-style sun-dried pork. Chinatown's Do Dee Paidang make it in house along with a similar beef style. Unfortunately they’re not allowed to sun-dry it traditionally because some bureaucratic food prudes might complain, but that doesn’t stop it from having a delicious smack of spice. Often confused for jerky is biltong, which Stanley Street Butchery has been making since 1974. Biltong, unlike Jerky is cured in vinegar for several hours before being dried. Stanley Street serve theirs traditionally — fresher, fattier and thicker, all the better. Meanwhile, in good news for pescetarians, new Enmore bar The Gretz is doing a rotating menu of house-made jerky, starting with salmon. In Brisbane, your jerky go-to is Gypsies Wagon, who are known for their legendary Argentinian gaucho jerky. In Melbourne, head up to the bar at fancy Vue de Monde for ocean trout jerky (dine in the restaurant and you'll be treated to emu). For more down-to-earth jerky, there's the Meatball and Wine Bar's $9.50 Wagyu beef servings, which come in flavours such as Samboy (salt and vinegar) and Ninja (teriyaki). BACK TO THE REVOLUTION Despite eating enough jerky to devolve my throat into a desiccated husk, I found myself thinking back to Darrell and Brent’s revolution. How strange the two of them started at almost the same time with such similar ideas. "It's funny that we wound up both doing the same thing," Darrell says. "I mentioned it to a friend and she called it the great jerk off of 2014." You'd think they'd be fierce competitors, but they're not; they both just love jerky too much. "The longer both of us exist the better."
The Sydney Opera House's Summer Playground program is back this January for its fifth year running. This year, it's set to indulge the kidult within you with a vintage carnival theme – expect Coney Island vibes, fairground games (laughing clowns, anyone?) and maybe even fairy floss. Each year, the Summer Playground program features a pop-up bar with specialty drinks (think fresh flavours and fruity slushies), al fresco dining and activities for adults, kids and kidults alike (like the giant sandpit they're having this year). There's also always a stellar entertainment lineup – past performers have included Tim Minchin and Angus and Julia Stone. Spend a lazy summer afternoon (or three) on the Opera House's Western Boardwalk in January – and head here around January too for more info about the performers and menu, which you can be sure will be stunning.
Unfortunately for many Sydneysiders, the defining aspect of theatre is not the spellbinding performances but the daunting price tag. With tickets for Sydney's big theatre venues sometimes costing towards the three-figure mark, Sydney theatre, unlike its more government-subsidised European counterparts, can be derided as a middle-class luxury. What is the beleaguered theatre buff to do? Why, ring the Sydney Theatre Company first thing on Tuesday morning and get a ticket for $20, of course. Launched in mid-2013, the Suncorp Twenties initiative has been a great success, and thanks to the renewal of the STC's partnership with Suncorp, it's been confirmed to continue until at least the end of 2015. Even better, you can now buy the $20 tickets online, as well as using the existing methods of phone/stampeding the box office. What might you take this cheap-as-fancy-chips ticketing opportunity for? See Geoffrey Rush as King Lear, Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in The Present (it's not sold out if you go through Suncorp Twenties!), and the chilling South American thriller Death and the Maiden, and you'll come away with change from a $100. Suncorp Twenties was a labour of love for STC's former co-artistic directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, who spent their joint tenure searching for a sponsor to make theatre tickets more affordable. The partnership has now been extended beyond the initial two years, with the Suncorp Twenties tickets going on sale each Tuesday at 9am for the following week's performances. There is no transaction fee and tickets are sold in twos. Image: Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in The Present after Anton Chekhov’s Platanov, by Andrew Upton. Directed by John Crowley. 4 Aug – 19 Sep 2015 at Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay.
Hitting the indoor mini-golf course for a few holes of pop culture-themed fun and a few rounds of delightfully named beverages isn't just something Brisbanites should enjoy, or Sydney residents either. After launching in Queensland in late 2016, and announcing their first New South Wales venture, Holey Moley Golf Club officially opens in Melbourne today, Thursday, April 20. From noon, 590 Little Bourke Street will be home to 27 holes of club-swinging antics across two levels. It's Holey Moley's biggest venue yet, which means that there's plenty of room for the three nine-hole courses. The Brisbane bar is known for its creativity when it comes to creating courses, and this venue is no exception. Melburnians will be able to tap, tap, tap their way through rooms dedicated to The Simpsons and Game of Thrones and throwbacks to Pacman and Barbie dolls. Plus, everyone will be able to break out into song at the same time, with karaoke part of the antics. If you choose to work your way through the Happy Gilmore soundtrack, no one will stop you (at least not any of the staff). Drinks-wise, expect cocktails. The Caddyshack Bar boasts a pun-laden drinks list that includes the The Sugar Caddy, the Teeyonce Knowles and a Long Island Iced Tee (just what it sounds like, but with an appropriate name). Beer, cider and wine will also be available, but when you're aiming for a hole-in-one, it seems appropriate to be drinking from one (made from Pampero white rum, cinnamon whisky, half a banana, sugar syrup and a doughnut — yep, a doughnut) at the same time. Holey Moley Golf Club is now open at 590 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. It will be open noon till late Monday to Friday, and 10am till late on weekends. For more info, check out their website. Images: Lucas Dawson.
We've all got one. But we don't always feel brave enough to admit it. You know what I'm talking about: a conspiracy theory. A secret, maybe crazy, but more likely plausible, conviction that the CIA killed Princess Diana, Lizard People are running the White House, Elvis Presley is still alive and no one's ever, actually, really, truly set foot on the moon (except for David Bowie). Since July 2015, Giant Dwarf has been providing Sydney's conspiracy theorists with a monthly opportunity to let loose. With comedians Cyrus Bezyan (RAW Comedy National Finalist, ABC Fresh Blood) and Jack Gow (Sydney Comedy Festival, Break Out Comedy Showcase 2015, two-time The Moth StorySLAM winner) as your skivvy-wearing hosts, Conspiracy Theories sees a bunch of panelists spill the beans on who, in their opinion, really runs the world. The event's seventh edition, coming up on Tuesday, February 23, will feature Eddie Sharp (Versus on FBi, Erotic Fan Fiction), Kate Coates (iTS – Improv Theatre Sydney), Kara Eva Schlegl (SBS Comedy), and Alex Wilson (sleepmakeswaves).
The self-proclaimed 'queen of rice paper rolls' is expanding yet again, this time taking up residence along Glebe Point Road. Residing in the space which previously housed La Boheme European Restaurant, Miss Chu's new inner city tuckshop will surely be met with throngs of excited locals as she opens the doors today. Owner Nahji Chu hasn't changed her style over the years, despite the speed with which her empire is growing (and after wresting her business back from administrators). The Glebe Tuckshop, like the other venues, includes a kitschy interior and bustling service model. The major change, though, is the much larger space that better resembles a full-on restaurant. The menu may rely on the classics, but it's also seriously extended to match the larger space. From the aforementioned rice paper rolls, options will include old favourite tiger prawn rolls ($8) as well as the new sashimi tuna rolls ($13.50). The banh mi section has many of these Vietnamese sandwiches available throughout the day as opposed to lunch only — think braised beef brisket ($9) and grilled chicken and pate ($9). The steamed dumplings even include dessert options, from organic chocolate to Nutella buns ($3). Of the new offerings, we're most excited to try the vegan banh xeo ($14), a Vietnamese crepe which is on today's chalkboard specials. Vegetarian and vegan options take an even wider role across the Glebe menu. Sticking to her business model, the dishes are still made of sustainable, ethical ingredients and are, most importantly, fast food that doesn't taste cheap at all. From Melbourne to Manly, Miss Chu has fast become the majesty of Viet fare in Australia. Damn the administrators. Miss Chu's Glebe Tuckshop is located at 199 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Open seven days a week from 11am to 9pm.
Last September, John Malkovich took time off from being John Malkovich to be Everyone Else for a change. Shot by Sandro Miller in Los Angeles, the highly publicised series of photographs dubbed Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich recreated some of the most iconic portraits in recent history — from John and Yoko to Che Guevara, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Woman to Andres Serrano's Piss Christ. And now the series is coming to Sydney as part of this year's Head On Photo Festival (running May 1 - 31), showing at Darlinghurst's Black Eye Gallery from April 28 - May 5. According to the exhibition statement, Miller decided to undertake the project in 2013, wanting to honour the photographers whose work had inspired him and shaped his career. After selecting thirty five images to recreate, Miller got in touch with his ol' mate Malkovich — who apparently immediately agreed. "John is the most brilliant, prolific person I know," says Miller. "His genius is unparalleled. I can suggest a mood or an idea and within moments, he literally morphs into the character right in front of my eyes." All at once creepy and genius with Malkovich rocking an excellent Marilyn and a spot-on Dali, the series is actually less about Malkovich than it is an homage to the photographers responsible for the portraits themselves: Dianne Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, Art Shay, Dorothea Lange, Alberto Korda. That being said, it's supremely satisfying to see Malkovich in dress-up like this — his Jack Nicholson and Albert Einstein are top notch. Sandro Miller, Albert Watson / Alfred Hitchcock with Goose (1973), 2014 Sandro Miller, Philippe Halsman / Salvador Dalí (1954), 2014 Sandro Miller, Alberto Korda / Che Guevara (1960), 2014 Sandro Miller, Andy Warhol / Green Marilyn (1962), 2014 Sandro Miller, Annie Leibovitz / John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1980), 2014 Sandro Miller, Arthur Sasse / Albert Einstein Sticking Out His Tongue (1951), 2014 Sandro Miller, Andres Serrano / Piss Christ (1987), 2014 Sandro Miller, Dorothea Lange / Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California (1936), 2014 Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich is just the tip of the iceberg for Head On. The photography festival will showcase works from local and international photographers in over 50 featured exhibitions across Sydney, running from May 1–31. There's some pretty diverse exhibitions at the new Head On Festival Hub at Sydney Lower Town Hall. There's Georges Pacheco’s exhibition, Amalthée, which takes cues from Italian and Dutch renaissance painting to look at the universal and timeless act of breastfeeding. There's also Sydney-based photographer Nic Bezzina's show Cam Girls, which consists of screen grabs from 'Cam Girl' websites — where women enact instructed sexual fantasies via webcam. There are retrospectives aplenty this year too. Internationally acclaimed photographer Emmanuel Angelicas has a retrospective detailing his 45 years of documenting Marrickville's often overlooked residents, and portrait photographer to the stars George Fetting will also delve into years of shooting the likes of Buzz Aldrin, Cate Blanchett, Baz Luhrmann, Spike Milligan, Lee Lin Chin, Marcel Marceau, Barry Humphries, Ralph Fiennes, Billy Idol, and many more. For the whole Head On Photo Festival program, head to the website over here. Images: Sandro Miller.
You may have already seen them around town: posters depicting a heroic, vintage-looking image of a man in a turban with the word "AUSSIE" printed across the bottom. Starting this week, Adelaide based artist and filmmaker Peter Drew will be sticking up 1000 of these posters all over Australia, beginning with 250 around Sydney alone. The poster portrays Monga Khan, an Indian hawker who lived and worked in Australia in the early 1900s. He was one of thousands of people who applied for exemptions to the White Australia Policy and was granted exemption because he was considered essential to the Australian economy. As Drew explains, "Ultimately I want to find out if 'Aussie' really means what I think it does. Did Australia inherit its identity from the people who created the White Australia Policy…. or does 'Aussie' have more to do with the people who survived it?" "Because Redfern is a diverse community and we like helping people out" thanks Jamie from @scouts_honour !🐪👌☕️ This afternoon I'm going to hit the North side, any suggestions? #MongaKhan #RealAustraliansSayWelcome A photo posted by -- Peter Drew -- (@peterdrewarts) on Apr 4, 2016 at 5:23pm PDT This campaign, dubbed What is a real Aussie?, was successfully crowdfunded in March, grossing over $19K. The funds are being used to cover printing and transportation cost, as all of the printing and distribution will be done by Drew's own hands. Drew's artistic focus on national identity began in 2015 with his first poster project, Real Australians Say Welcome, a campaign that promoted openness toward asylum seekers. Also crowdfunded by Pozible, the success of this campaign was in a big way due to public collaboration and participation, so Drew has again called for creative assistance — including any creative ideas, guidance on best spots to post, and even someone to give him a lift or neighbourhood tour. Good morning beautiful Cronulla! #MongaKhan #RealAustraliansSayWelcome A photo posted by -- Peter Drew -- (@peterdrewarts) on Apr 1, 2016 at 2:01pm PDT The project has just begun, so if you're still interested in donating or getting involved you can contact Drew directly. He'll be in Sydney for the remainder of this week so you still have a few days to get involved firsthand with this bloody great project. It's great to be back in Sydney's Western suburbs, but the truth is my first visit was a little confronting. When I first walked down the streets of Auburn I realised what it must feel like to be a minority. I'd never felt that way in Australia, but these days it doesn't feel unusual at all, especially when I meet friendly people like Bassam! I'll be on the West side all day so which suburbs should I visit? #MongaKhan #RealAustraliansSayWelcome A photo posted by -- Peter Drew -- (@peterdrewarts) on Apr 2, 2016 at 6:01pm PDT Top image: Shannon Connellan.
Palace Cinemas has gifted Sydney with an enormous new complex — and it's unlike any other cinema in the city. With ten theatres and a platinum area with three additional premium screens, Palace now fully commandeers level three of Chippendale's multi-purpose development Central Park. It's huge news for Sydney's cinephiles. There are multiple lounges and bar areas with views over the Central Park area, perfect for unwinding with a glass of pinot before or after a film. They've also put in a beer hall with local and international craft beer, a Champagne bar and a temperature-controlled wine wall offering bottles from Australia and abroad which, according to Palace's CEO Benjamin Zeccola, is an Australian first. "We have a passion for developing new opportunities within the cinema industry which allow us to engage with local communities throughout Australia," Zeccola said. "For some time now, I've felt there was a need for a superb, boutique cinema experience in central Sydney. I'm incredibly passionate about this project, it gives me great satisfaction to offer the best cinema in the world. Palace Central is my gift to the city of Sydney." There's an in-cinema menu unique to Chippendale with lots of local nosh. You can order dumplings from Din Tai Fung and desserts from Brickfields to your ergonomic leather seat — they've been imported all the way from Barcelona. While a film at Palace in generally a pretty lovely experience, with its multiple bars and designer fitout, the Central Park complex is set to take things up a notch. Palace is also opening a ten-screen complex in Double Bay, and is set to add a couple of extra screens to its Paddington venue. Palace Central Sydney is now open on Level 3, Central Park Mall, 28 Broadway, Chippendale. For more information, visit Palace's website.
If you, like us, have been struggling to maintain your bank balance this Christmas (the shopping, holiday plans and festival tickets all take their toll), we feel ya. To help you out, we've teamed up with Melbourne's biggest and best inner city festival, Sugar Mountain, and V MoVement, to give you the chance to win an epic festival experience. The stress of the festive season will melt away when you're grooving to Blood Orange with an 8bit burger in one hand and a beer in the other. Bliss. Up for grabs here are two VIP Sugar Mountain passes (yes), return flights to Melbourne from any major capital city (yessss) and we'll even put you up for two nights at QT Melbourne (a thousand times yes!). Prepare yourself for fluffy-robed luxury. But that's not all. Thanks to our buds at V MoVement, you'll be their VIP too with two side of stage passes to get up close and personal with the line-up on their own personal stage. V MoVement, just FYI, is an initiative by (you guessed it) V energy drink that aims to support grass roots dance music so it's no surprise they're popping up at the weird and wonderful Sugar Mountain. If you're a fan of EDM, this is the prize for you. Check out the line-up and read up on last year's Sensory Lab to yourself excited. We're even throwing in a year's worth of V energy drinks to bolster your energy levels after such an intense weekend. Damn. Not sure if anything under the tree can top this present. Head here to enter.
Having enriched the lives of Australians for 50 years with a range of groundbreaking contemporary pieces under its Making Art Public manifesto, Kaldor Public Art Projects is celebrating its noteworthy anniversary with a walk down memory lane. Being Kaldor though, this isn't just a run-of-the-mill retrospective. It's landed the services of celebrated British artist Michael Landy, who has created the group's 35th project: a reimagining of every one of the group's previous 34 pieces, each displayed in an oversized archive box. Landy takes a look at the entire history of Kaldor, from Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1969 piece Wrapped Coast — at the time the largest single artwork that had ever been made — to Asad Raza's Absorption, 300 tonnes of 'dirt' that was presented at Carriageworks earlier this year. Accompanying this celebration of the life and times of Kaldor, will be a range of public talks and events throughout the installation's five-month run, plus four new works that have been specially commissioned, including Lion's Honey, a daily performance work from Sydney artist Agatha Gothe-Snape. Making Art Public: 50 Years of Kaldor Public Art Projects runs until February 16, 2020 and can be found on Lower Level 2 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Entry is free. To see the full exhibition program, visit the website. Images: Daniel Boud via Art Gallery of NSW.
A design label born in South Australia, Acler is known for creating luxury fashion pieces. Creative Directors Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto expertly curate textiles and overlay classic silhouettes with draping techniques, producing self-assured and timeless statement garments. To celebrate the launch of their latest collection, Resort 23', Acler is popping up at Chatswood Chase's The Edit Collection until Monday, January 16. The pop-up will mark Acler's first brick-and-mortar shop since it first launched over eight years ago; and will be the only physical retail store customers can purchase Acler's Resort 23' collection in-person. The Edit Collection is Chatswood Chase Sydney's experiential retail space, in partnership with the Australian Fashion Council and Afterpay. An evolving concept that welcomes sustainable, creative and unique fashion labels, The Edit Collection has helped launch physical pop-up spaces for four emerging fashion brands since opening. Images: Jess Gleeson.
Spectrum Now is back. And this time, they’ve hired some of the best producers in town to sort out the music program: Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou of Splendour, Falls and Secret Sounds. Headlining the 11-day gig extravaganza, which is happening between March 3 and 13, and will be taking place in a 2500-capacity Big Top in The Domain, are Scottish post-punk legends The Jesus and Mary Chain. They’ll be playing on Saturday, March 5 as part of a 'festival-within-the-festival' called Divine Times, presented by Popfrenzy in collaboration with Yours and Owls. Also on the bill are Seekae, lo-fi poppers U.S. Girls (US), Canada’s Alvvays and Sydney's favourite multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Boulet. Another one to get your tix-buying mitts on is Perth’s Birds of Tokyo, scheduled for Friday, March 11. They’ve been busy working towards their new album, but will take an evening off recording to deliver some of their classics, including ‘Lanterns’, ‘Anchor’ and more recent hit, ‘I Go With You Anywhere’. Meanwhile, on Sunday, March 6, jetting in from the US are Arizona-based rockers Calexico, who’ll be supported by Augie March. The day following, Monday, March 7, catch Canada’s post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Then, on Thursday, March 10, watch Rockwiz Live, featuring a slew of talent and personality, including Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis, RocKwiz Orkestra, James Black (Mondo Rock), Peter Luscombe (Paul Kelly), Mark Ferrie (Models), Ashley Naylor (Even) and Vika and Linda Bull. Line yourself up for pre-sale tickets at the Spectrum Now site.
We're all up in cat cafes. We've lined up for cat video film festivals. Now your insatiable need for quality feline time without actually owning one has reached peak internet-happy headline — a new London start-up is planning to open the world's first ever cat cinema. Yep. Cat cinema. Great Kitten — possibly the most puntastic business name since Thai Tanic — is the grand crowdfunding project of mid-20s legends Paula Siedlecka and William Piper. Not only a cinema where you can cuddle up to a cat while taking in a film (really) but also as cafe and cat shelter (slam dunk), Great Kitten is looking for dosh on IndieGoGo to fund the idea you wish you came up with first. The goal is £120,000 (about $235,646), which seems pretty achievable with the amount of crazy cat lovers online. They're looking for a spot in Crouch End in London, hoping to deck it out like a wintry log cabin — fireplaces, hot cuppas and all. "Working in London for 18 months, we saw first hand the demand for constant innovation within London's entertainment scene," say Siedlecka and Piper on their IndieGoGo page. "As animal lovers with a flair for business, seeing the global popularity of Cat Cafes got us thinking — how could we add a twist to an already successful concept? Simple — we add a cinema." Now you won't have to cry all over your date through Infinitely Polar Bear. So what can you expect to be watching with your furry armrest? According to their IGG page, Great Kitten will be screening around ten films every week. While exact titles haven't been confirmed, it's not going to be all cat-themed, but sure, we're hoping some feline-inspired movies first-up — definitely The Aristocats, perhaps Catwoman, probably not Pet Sematary. Ticket prices have been set at $19 to $24 and you'll get to book in a one or two hour-long snuggle with one of the shelter's more people-friendly resident kits. One-hour cat-patting tickets will cost around $9 to $11 , and two-hour slots about $15 to $19. Sure, it sounds a tad brothelly, but these are rescue cats getting much-needed pats. Great Kitten isn't just a novelty trend concept though. The team are planning to invite children and adults who struggle with mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety), physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, for all-expenses-paid cinematic cat cuddle sessions and cakes and tea and all round loveliness. Very cool. Throw Great Kitten some dosh over here. Image: The Shiznit — Antonio Banderas stages 'special screening' for Puss in Boots at Montreal's 2014 International Cat Film Festival. Hopefully what you can expect from Great Kitten, Banderas included.
Sydneysiders have always liked cheese, but in recent years things have gotten serious. Dedicated fromageries have popped up across our fair city and recently we've enjoyed events featuring gin and cheese, wine and cheese and even vegan cheese. Our stomachs are working overtime to digest all the lactose — and, honestly, we've never been happier. And the love affair continues with this latest cheesy announcement. France (or more specifically, a Parisian centre for cheese, which is a real thing) is bringing Bon Fromage, a free two-day festival celebrating European cheese, to Sydney. The whole thing will happen at Carriageworks on October 14 and 15. First and foremost is cheese — the venue will be transformed into a cheese marketplace and wine bar from 11am till 6pm each day. Organisers will be bringing in half a tonne of cheese for the festival, and it will all be free of charge. Just to recap: free entry and free cheese. But the cheese festival isn't just about eating so much cheese you puke. Masterclasses will be held on how to match cheese with wine, how to tell the difference between varieties and, we assume, the correct way to draw a cheese fondue bath for yourself. There will also be a collection of stalls selling cheese for you to take home and eat later. The festival is supported by the European Union, presumably to get Australians on board with the European cheese industry. To us, this seems like a bit of a misfire because we're evidently already very invested in cheese, from Europe or elsewhere. But whatever — we'll be there regardless. Bon Fromage will run on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 at Carriageworks. For more info, visit the Facebook page.
Enjoy a breakfast of champions at whatever hour you please, courtesy of Australia's first ever cereal cafe. Opening its doors in Melbourne in just over a week, this pop-up snack hub will be serving all your childhood and/or late-night share house favourites, including Froot Loops, Coco Pops and Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut. Launching February 12, Cereal Anytime is the latest temporary tenant of Richmond’s year-long food and retail precinct, Swan Street Chamber of Commerce. Supposedly, the aim of the cafe is “educating people on foods in moderation”, which might get tricky given the sugar content of what they serve. Perhaps a limit of one bowl of Frosted Flakes per customer? The cafe will operate via a “pay-it-forward” payment system. Upon entry, diners simply peel a Post-it note off the wall, which they can then use to pay for their bowl of cereal. The Post-its can be replenished for $4 a pop, ensuring that those who are a little less fortunate don’t miss out. A recent cereal cafe that opened in London served over 120 different kinds of cereal, 13 milks and more than 20 additional toppings, so our iteration has something of a reputation to live up to. It sparked huge demand, followed by something of a culture war when some very practical types balked at paying £3.50 for flakes out of a box. Melbourne's version, with its element of feelgoodery, should sidestep that issue. Hungry members of the public can help decide the cafe’s final menu and gain entry on day one (February 12) via a ballot on their Cereal Anytime Facebook page.
Australia's boutique camping festival descends on the small NSW town of Berry each December, taking over the local showgrounds with two days of stellar global and local musicians. The annual music, food and art festival somehow feels like a country weekend fete, but it's also where you'll catch a surprising number of big-name acts. This year one of Brit Pop's leading troublemakers, Liam Gallagher, sits at the top of the bill, followed by Triple J faves DMA's, Meg Mac, Hatchie, Dope Lemon and Julia Jacklin. But Fairgrounds isn't just about the tunes. Sydney-based vintage market host Dear Pluto has brought together over 20 different stalls of makers and collectors on the Saturday (11am–10.30pm), there's a vinyl record fair (also on Saturday) and Games on the Green with tug-of-war and egg-and-spoon races. Plus, the festival arranges for free use of the local swimming pool every evening until 7pm. And Jervis Bay's award-winning Paperbark restaurant is back with its popular pop-up — expect housemade ice creams, locally sourced seafood, flatbreads and dips, as well as spiced berries. See the full music lineup below. FAIRGROUNDS 2019 LINEUP Liam Gallagher Dope Lemon Meg Mac DMA's Julia Jacklin Kasey Chambers Hatchie The Babe Rainbow Fritz The Lazy Eyes The Buoys Nilüfer Yanya 100 Clews The Lemonheads Stevan Images: Ian Laidlaw and Gabriel Vallido.
Actual post-gender human and girl your mum definitely warned you about Peaches has been uncharacteristically quiet recently. It’s been a good six years since her last album I Feel Cream, which featured the super danceable ‘Talk to Me’, so seeing Peaches on the Groovin’ the Moo lineup was a pleasant surprise — if pleasant could ever be used to describe the woman behind lyrics such as “hair in a mullet, you know you gotta love it, so sexual and so conceptual” and, of course, “fuck the pain away” — and the announcement of a Hi-Fi (now Max Watt's) sideshow on May 8 even better. Peaches, of course, hasn’t been twiddling her thumbs this whole time. She’s done a film, put together a book (out in June, pre-order it here, you’re welcome) and just completed her sixth studio album Rub, which features Kim Gordon and Feist, and is due out later this year (fingers crossed we get a teaser). That title though. Oh, to be able transform a fairly innocuous one-syllable word into a blush-worthy imperative. No wonder we all wanna be her. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcKMg7eEjj8[/embed]
Hailing from Melbourne Camp Cope have only been kicking about together for the last couple of years after bonding in a friend's kitchen. After gaining significantly gargantuan hype in Australia and overseas, they're about to play one of the world's most hallowed stages: Sydney Opera House. No pressure. The trio's debut, self-titled album was released last year, and goes to show how much can really be achieved in two days, which is how long the album took to record. The LP harks to good ol' garage indie rock, but there's a real authenticity in the album, especially coming from the sharp lyricism and emphatic vocals from singer-guitarist Georgia McDonald, alongside bassist Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich and drummer Sarah Thompson. Unafraid to tackle topics others might avoid, Camp Cope should bring a killer live show to their Vivid Sydney debut.
Get a head start on Halloween at Insert Coin(s) Spooktacular for MoVement Sydney. Invading the Oxford Art Factory on Thursday, October 20, this horror show will bring with it blood-soaked pinball and thousands of Elm Street-worthy arcade games, overseen by the soon-to-be-released Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Delivering '70s and '80s party anthems to soundtrack your scares will be DJs Levins (The Rhythm of the Night/Halfway Crooks), Glenn Be Trippin and Martin Novosel, founder and manager of Purple Sneakers. Meanwhile, your energy lapses will be taken care of by Woofy's Hot Dog Cart and fistfuls of free candy. Bearers of best Halloween costumes will score prizes.
The folks behind profit-for-purpose eateries Gratia and Folonomo have come up with a brand new way for you to give to charity. And it's dead easy. All you have to do is shop online — in your regular fashion, at your favourite stores — and, with every purchase, a percentage goes straight to a not-for-profit of your choice. To make it happen, simply download the free Folo browser extension, which takes about 30 seconds. In case you're wondering, this miracle doesn't cost you (or your nominated charity) a cent. In fact, it's the retailers' pockets that cover your donations. "It works according to a cash back system," explains Folo's Jaimee Abict. "A percentage of what the user spends online goes into their Folo account. This money accumulates and, once a year, the user decides to keep it or give it away." More than 700 retailers are already on-board. These include big names like Expedia, Dan Murphy's, Eurocar, Woolworths, Coles, The Iconic and Sephora. And, later in the year, the Folo team plans to roll out across the US, where the online shopping industry is worth around $300 billion annually. "Folo has the potential to solve the age-old problem of regular fundraising. And its scale can't be overstated," Abict says. "500 users spending $95 a month would raise more than $30,000 in a year. Beyond that, the numbers get ridiculous. A million users could raise over $60 million per year." Users get to choose from hundreds of charities, including large organisations, like Medecins sans Frontieres, the Australian Red Cross and St Vincent de Paul, as well as smaller ones, such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association, Interchange Inner East and the Victorian Deaf Society. If you can't make up your mind, you can opt to support a cause, like climate change, indigenous equality or global education.
Hitting New Zealand for the weekend isn't as much of a faraway adventure as it seems — the flight's just over three hours from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. That's almost similar to visiting Canberra or Byron, and there's better wine at the end. And if you're looking for a holiday that ticks multiple boxes, Nelson is a strong choice. An easy 35 minute flight from Wellington, Nelson is one of New Zealand's genuine all-rounders, with a bustling city centre, beautiful breezy seaside and those iconic misty mountains. Outdoorsy types can head for the Abel Tasman National Park, art lovers can find multi-million dollar collections and local galleries in one place, and if you're an enthusiast in the food and wine game, you'll have a hard time leaving. Take Friday off and spend 72 hours in one of New Zealand's most creative cities — heck, check out our Weekender's Guide to Wellington and make a double header of it. EAT/DRINK If you're a wine lover, you'd better get yourself to Nelson quicksmart. There are no less than 28 wineries in the region, all nestled amongst the kind of insanely beautiful rolling hills you'd expect in a world class NZ wine region. Take an easy drive out to Mahana, formerly Woollaston Estates, one of the region's best organic wineries with one of the prettiest cellar doors in the country. Run by vagabond winemaker Michael Glover, Mahana isn't your textbook winery — and they've got the next-level contemporary art collection to prove it. Sculptures, paintings and installations from countless famed Nelson artists are dotted through the cellar door and grounds. Come hungry, because Mahana boasts one of the best restaurants in the region, run by executive chef Alistair Forster. Picture yourself hoeing into a Mahana Riesling poached pear tart with pesto popcorn on the patio overlooking the vineyard across to Tasman Bay and the Southern Alps. Classic Instagram fodder. Got a hankering for good ol' fish and chips? Let's take a little drive to Mapua, a gorgeous little seaside town where a cluster of local businesses draw quite the weekend crowd. Visit The Smokehouse for award-winning fish and chips, taste crisp craft beer from brewpub Golden Bear Brewery, have a hearty lunch at longtime Nelson favourite The Apple Shed, and stock up on local artisan cheese, meats and other yummo things at KETE deli. Back in town, Nelson's got some serious restaurant game. If you're looking for the one restaurant everyone Instagrams, head for The Boatshed, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. After more hearty New Zealand seafood fare? Head for the Cod & Lobster on Trafalgar Street in town. Established by Nelson couple Nick and Kymberley Widley in 2015, this multi-storey brasserie focuses on fresh regional produce with a daily changing menu. DO Saturday mornings in Nelson mean markets. Pay a visit to the Nelson Market, a bustling smorgasbord of local food, art, sculpture, jewellery, design and fresh, regional, seasonal and organic produce over 200 stalls. It's the perfect place to get a handle of Nelson's local food scene, as you'll find a lot of these products on menus and in stores across the city. Be sure to pick up a jar of Pic's peanut butter from the stall — America wishes this product was closer. Head into a rather unassuming jewellery shop on the edge of the town centre, on a quest to find the One Ring to rule them all. Jens Hansen gold and silversmith has been a Nelson treasure for decades, then Peter Jackson tasked them with making the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings and they quickly became a hallowed stop on the LOTR fan crawl. The gold and silversmith made around 40 rings for the production, including a giant ring for close-ups. They sadly didn't get one ring back from the LOTR crew (come on, Jackson) but still sell at least one a day — you can watch on their website. [caption id="attachment_576573" align="alignnone" width="1280"] RED Gallery.[/caption] If you're an art and design lover, Nelson's got plenty for you. There are over 200 working artists in the city, from modernist ceramicists to abstract expressionist painters. Time your visit with the Nelson Arts Festival, Nelson Fringe Festival or make a trip to the World of WearableArt and Classic Cars Museum — the annual Wearable Art Awards began near Nelson after all. Drop into RED Gallery on Bridge Street, run by Caroline Marshall and Sarah Sharp, for a coffee and a peruse of the region's best local art and design — perfect for non-tacky-fridge-magnet souvenirs. Outdoorsy types will have trouble fitting everything on a trip to Nelson. Surrounded by insanely beautiful mountains, lakes, forests and meadows, Nelson has all your mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing etc. etc. needs covered in one epic spot. If you're a camper or hiker, you probably already know the name Abel Tasman National Park, but if you haven't, consider this one for the bucket list. Sitting just an hour and 20 minute drive from Nelson, the park is a heaving natural cornucopia of activities, from overnight hikes to paddleboarding day trips, kayaking adventures to easy breezy picnic spots. If you don't have enough time to get to the park, you can always go paddleboarding right in Nelson or easy bike riding from Mapua (above). [caption id="attachment_576577" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mahana Villa.[/caption] STAY Whether you're after a stunning seaside B&B by the bay, a cosy Coventry cottage, or an easy motel/motor lodge, Nelson's home to a host of accommodation to suit all budgets. We snuggled into our own little lodge at the Grand Mecure Nelson Monaco Apartments, which is like a little English village on the outskirts of town. If you're the type who likes to curl up beside your own personal fireplace watching a terrible late night movie with a big cuppa, this place is for you. Looking for a truly local, luxurious stay? Nelson has a handful of genuinely stunning B&Bs worth spending a little more on. There's Te Puna Wai Lodge, and The Wheelhouse Inn and Captain's Quarters, but we'd pick Wakefield Quay House, run by larger-than-life pair Woodi and Johnny. They were married at the Nelson lighthouse, so can spin you quite a few yarns about the area. Woodi's one of the biggest characters around; she'll sit you down for a wine, some local cheese and ocean trout and while the sunset away with fantastically woven tales. If you're a high roller and you're looking to stay in something worth more than your HECS debt ten times over? Mahana Villa. To put this place's importance in context, Charles and Camilla had this place on their itinerary for Nelson. It's an epic Pacific modernist palace sitting at the apex of the 25 hectare Mahana Vineyard, with four private ensuite rooms in the owner's house and two in the Loft. But the real drawcard of the villa? It's home to a multi-million dollar art collection that we can't believe you're allowed to bunk in with. Seriously, you'll be hanging out with some of the country's most impressive modern art while you're watching TV, cooking or doing yoga on the balcony. Just don't touch anything. LET'S DO THIS, HOW DO I GET THERE? Flights to Wellington from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are super short — around 3.5 hours on average. Jetstar have just launched a direct route from Melbourne to Wellington (from $159) and Queenslanders can fly direct from the Gold Coast (from $169). Air New Zealand fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Wellington (from $297). From Wellington, flights to Nelson from on Jetstar and Air Nelson can go for as little as $55 (or there are indirect flights from Melbourne or the Gold Coast from around $170), just check the website for some sweet cheap deals. Shannon Connellan travelled as a guest of Nelson Tourism. All images SC unless otherwise specified. Want to make it a week? Check out our Weekender's Guide to Wellington and make a real NZ holiday of it.
If you missed having your heart broken and lovingly repaired again and again this past winter by Sufjan Stevens, you're in luck. The Michigan-born songwriter is returning to Australia, announcing a huge national tour playing tunes from from his 2015 album, Carrie & Lowell as well as selections across his dreamy, dreamy back catalogue. Bringing a full band and an immersive lighting production, Stevens will be celebrating ten years since Illinois and five from his Age of Adz, so expect quite a few throwbacks between the album that made us cry every last salty, salty tear in our bodies this year, Carrie & Lowell. Tickets are on sale now. If you're not on it, you're probably an emotionless stone. SUFJAN STEVENS 2016 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Monday 22 February — State Theatre, Sydney. Tickets available via www.ticketmaster.com.au. Friday 26 February — Hamer Hall – Melbourne, Tickets available via www.artscentremelbourne.com.au. Wednesday 2 March — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth. Tickets available via www.oztix.com.au. Friday 4 March — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. Tickets available via www.qpac.com.au.
Last year, Sydney's inner west got in on the openair cinema action, with Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema opening their very first inner west cinema, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. And they're back for 2016. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema shows new releases and cult classics including Hollywood blockbusters Inferno, Doctor Strange, Hacksaw Ridge, The Accountant and Arrival, comedies Bad Santa 2 and War on Everyone), Oscar contenders The Light Between Oceans and Nocturnal Animals, and controversial Cannes feature The Neon Demon. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, The Runaway Horses and Naomi Sequeira. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar and gourmet food stands. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a VIP Star Lounge ticket with lounger, a blanket, seat side service and a glass of wine. For the full program or to buy tickets, head to the website. Check out CP's roundup of Sydney's best openair cinemas over here.
Chef Darren Robertson's reputation proceeds him — those who do not already know how from his time at the tremendously luxe Tetsuya's or as one of the main minds, and palates, behind Australian restaurant group Three Blue Ducks, will surely recognise him as the newly appointed judge on My Kitchen Rules. With full steam ahead, the famed chef will now add yet another project to his resume — this May he'll open a new, more personal restaurant in the former site of The Hill Eatery. While still keeping the North Bondi venue's name and menu pretty close to his chest, Robertson did divulge that it will focus on his personal tastes. "The dishes will be bits and pieces from my favourite restaurants all around the world," he told Concrete Playground. He's promising pastas and a dedicated bar snacks menu, along with a lot of fresh salads and seafood — the latter fitting right in with the Bondi surroundings. Aiming to open the doors on May 15, this collaborative project will see a quick turn around, with Robertson joining forces with Ian Clark and Bondi local Cam Northway (Sweet & Chilli) only a few short months ago. Robertson has worked with Northway on several projects in the past though, and is quite comfortable with the partnership. "We're fairly similar and Cam is a very driven person, a total professional and he just has a good energy about him," he says. The duo both lived in Bondi for years (before Robertson moved to Byron), and it still feels very much like home to the chef. "North Bondi is a little neighbourhood in itself, I love the area and I always really liked this space specifically." Despite his already busy schedule, preparations for this new project seemed to just fall into place. "I wasn't planning on opening a new restaurant, but sometimes you have to just go with your gut," says Robertson. "It's never the right time — it all happened quite quickly, but it 100 percent feels like the right thing to do." Darren Robertson's new restaurant, title TBC, will open on May 15 at 5/39-53 Campbell Parade, Bondi.
Award-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is bringing a project to Australia for the first time. On March 25, he'll be taking over the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation with installations showcasing his dedication to humanitarian work. In the courtyard, you'll find two signature relief shelters. One was developed in the wake of the Great Hanshin earthquake, which hit Kobe in 1995. The other was a response the earthquake that rocked Eucador's coast in 2016. Step inside to immerse yourself in scaled models of Cardboard Cathedral (2013) and Japan Pavilion, surrounded by a handpicked selection of works and elements of works, capturing the evolution of Ban's output between 2000 and 2014. Ban has spent most of the past 20 years helping out in disaster zones, working out how to turn affordable, local materials into housing. In 2014, he won the Pritzker Prize (pretty much the Nobel Prize for architects). "Architects mostly work for privileged people, people who have money and power," says Ban. "Power and money are invisible, so people hire us to visualise their power and money by making monumental architecture. I love to make monuments, too, but I thought perhaps we can use our experience and knowledge more for the general public, even for those who have lost their houses in natural disasters." Image: Shigeru Ban Architects, Centre Pompidou-Metz, France, 2010. Photo: Didier Boy de la Tour.
If you're a North Shore local or frequent visitor, consider yourself onto a winner with Goodfields. The brainchild of father-and-son duo George and Anthony Karnasiotis (The Butcher's Block), it's a charming, contemporary corner spot perched just across from Lindfield Station. Inside, good feels abound, with the cheery mix of polished concrete, crisp white tiles and foliage spilling from above. From 6am daily, the coffee window is open and the machine up and running, tempting early morning commuters with brews from Five Senses. Meanwhile, the kitchen is turning out a memorable all-day brunch offering that sits classics alongside fun, modern revamps. There's an indulgent lobster benedict with roasted lobster tail bites, grilled garlic brioche, spinach and hollandaise, and an avocado smash served with heirloom tomatoes, feta, poached eggs and sourdough. Lunch might call for the slow-roasted lamb shoulder pita, crispy-skinned salmon with charred broccolini, or a fried chicken burger with bacon, maple aioli, American jack-cheese and thick-cut chips. Littlies will be kept busy, too, with options like house-made buttermilk chicken nuggets and maple syrup-drenched hotcakes. To accompany those long lunches or weekend brunches with mates, you'll even find a tidy range of beers and wines at Goodfields. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
You've had a shit week, huh? Things have been a little humdrum, a little less than awesome? Sure, you could binge-watch The Handmaid's Tale and know everything could just be a little bit worse or you could take your sorry ass to an entire market dedicated to candy, pastry and chocolate — a thing that is happening in Sydney this weekend. We're here for you. Coming to you from the ever-markety folks behind the Discovery Markets, Brewery Yard Markets and this weekend's Truckstop, Sweets and Treats is a one-day event dedicated to Sydney's finest lolly maestros, pastry practitioners and saucy, saucy chocolatiers. Forget your August, 2017 troubles with food stalls brimming with sugary business, have a little boogie to live music and hope no one social media-savvy sees you take on the doughnut eating competition. Not convinced? Put this free mulled wine by Handpicked Wines in your skeptical face and we reckon you'll have a good time. Best bit? It's happening in two places over the weekend. You'll find Sweets and Treats at Discovery Markets (8 Brodie Spark Drive, Wolli Creek) this Saturday, August 5 from 9am-3pm, and at the Brewery Yard Markets at Central Park Mall, Chippendale on Sunday, August 6 from 10am-4pm.
For anyone who doesn't live in Surry Hills, the epicenter of casual dining, the name may be misleading. This venture by the owners of the Bronte-based Vacanza pizzeria didn't opened in the north-western suburbs of Sydney. The Hills district in this case is the upper end of Bourke St, opposite where the former Hopetoun Hotel used to be. Vacanza took over what was an average corner Italian fast food joint. Upping the ante, the Bronte team did a little makeover on the interior, exposing the brickwork and darkening the mood, but it's not too flash. The prices for sit-down pizzas in nice surroundings are reasonable, and are actually standard compared to the average takeaway pizza. Less is more here, at least in terms of toppings. Emphasising the southern Italian connection, the kitchen staff are from the home country and slide out thin-based pizzas of the more traditional variety. "The Vacanza" is sprinkled with truffle oil and grated pecorino, "Il Sacaceno" peppered with prosciutto and parmesan, and "Il Capitano" laced with fennel sausage, goats cheese and roasted mushroom. Elsewhere on the menu, there's four choices of insalate and a mozzarella bar with starters such as bufala arancini, two lightly crumbled rice balls with buffalo mozzarella and porcini mushrooms. "Changes and modifications are politely declined unless it is a small matter of life and death" is Vacanza's philosophy and is word around these traps. And if you don't believe us, just sight it on the menu. They're clearly taking this pizza business seriously, dead seriously. They've certainly breathed life into a corner of Surry Hills that was in need of resuscitation. And while its fully licensed, they'll allow BYO at one bottle, per person, for a fee.
The ultimate boy band party welcomes two of Korean pop's finest — Boyfriend and JJCC — live in concert to help celebrate the 2016 Chinese New Year Festival. Gear up for Carriageworks' K-Pop Party. For those unversed, K-pop hails from South Korea and covers everything from pop to rock, electronic to hip hop and R&B. It isn't all about the music though, as K-pop fuses hypnotic dance moves with elaborate fashion and hairstyles — and considering it walks the line of both alternative and exceedingly sweet, K-pop's transcendence into the mainstream was only a matter of time. Boyfriend, a six-member band of bashful smiles, has been touted as one of the top K-pop boy bands you should definitely know about. They'll be bringing to the stage a mix of both their Korean and Japanese singles. The other act, JJCC, are the first K-pop idol group formed by actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, and produce a pleasing confusion to the senses with their androgynous beauty and hip hop pop charms. As well as being transfixed by the hyper-energised choreography and endurably catchy tunes, there's a chance to learn more about the bands from SBS PopAsia's hosts, Jamaica dela Cruz and Andy Trieu, who will be holding on-stage interviews. K-Pop Party is presented by Carriageworks, SBS PopAsia and the City of Sydney and will kick off the 2016 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival. K-pop is bigger than Bieber, and rightly so – they've got moves as sharp as Mr Chan's, and tighter than the jar of beans we just spilled to let you know that this is one event not to miss. Carriageworks' K-Pop party is happening on February 5 and 6. Tickets are $70-120 but thanks to Carriageworks, we have two double passes to give away. For your chance to win, just subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and email us at win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
In huge news for the Australian music industry and fans alike, US music events giant Live Nation has announced it's snapped up a controlling stake in Secret Sounds Group — the organisation behind both Falls Festival and Splendour in the Grass, run by Jess Ducruo and Paul Piticco. This 51 percent stake marks the first Aussie acquisition for the enormous LA-based company, which already lays claim to over 80 global festivals, including Lollapalooza, Reading, Leeds, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Governor's Ball, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Rock Werchter. According to Music Business Worldwide, the deal excludes Secret Sounds Group-owned record labels Dew Process and Create Control, and Dew Process Publishing. Helmed by Michael Rapino, Live Nation has been buying up especially big in the music biz of late, with France's Nous Productions, South Africa's Big Concerts, and a majority stake in Tennessee's AC Entertainment just some of the 2016 additions to its ever-bulging portfolio. Nine months into this year, the group had already forked out a cool $113.1 million on net acquisitions. "Splendour in the Grass and Falls are the two most iconic festivals in Australia," said Rapino in a statement announcing the deal. "Jess and Paul have created events that attract the biggest artists in the world but still feel uniquely Australian. We look forward to partnering with them to find new ways to grow our live event footprint across Australia." Secret Sounds co-CEOs Ducrou and Piticco echoed the sentiment in their statement. "We started Secret Sounds with the sole mission of introducing Australians to the best artists, events and music possible, and Live Nation is the perfect partner to help us take this goal to the next level. With their support we can continue to curate the lineups that fans love, while also experimenting with new exciting ways for fans to experience live music." That such a big global player is now shouldering in on the Aussie festival scene and in control of two of our most prominent music events, could spell dramatic changes ahead. Via Pedestrian and Music Business Worldwide. Image: Splendour/Bianca Holderness. Home page image: A. Catt.
Having said au revoir to the French Film Festival, it's now time to slip over the border into Spain. Returning to Palace Cinemas around the country, this year's Spanish Film Festival will once again showcase some of the biggest and most critically acclaimed Spanish and Latin American films from the past 12 months. How's that for a cinematic siesta? The festival — which will feature at Leichhardt's Palace Norton Street and Paddington's Palace Verona — begins with the highest grossing film at last year's Spanish box office: rom-com sequel Spanish Affair 2. Other comic standouts include espionage spoof Spy Time, madcap ensemble My Big Night, and dark domestic comedy Happy 140. Of course, not everything on the program is quite so light and breezy. Critically acclaimed drama Much Ado About Nothing confronts legal and political corruption in modern day Chile, while Ma Ma stars Penelope Cruz in one of her most nuanced roles to date, as a put-upon single mother diagnosed with breast cancer. Below, we've put together a list of the five films on the lineup that have caught our eye. For the full program, go here. https://youtu.be/K_NMyRjL8dM THE THIN YELLOW LINE This comedy-drama hybrid, directed by first time writer-director Celso Garcia, is a road movie, but not in the way you'd expect. The Thin Yellow Line follows a misfit group of five cash-strapped men tasked with painting the dashed yellow line along more than 200 kilometres of Mexican highway. You only need to take a brief look at the trailer to appreciate the film's gorgeous cinematography and bittersweet tone. If that's not enough to convince you, consider the fact that it's executive produced by Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak director Guillermo del Toro. https://vimeo.com/131531005 THE CLAN Based on a chilling true story, this Argentinean thriller tells the story of the Puccios, a seemingly normal family living in Buenos Aires in the 1980s who made their living kidnapping people and holding them to ransom. The film broke box office records in Argentina, screened in competition at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, and has scored plenty of positive critical buzz, with Variety comparing it to the movies of John Carpenter, Brian De Palma and Martin Scorsese. Consider our expectations set very, very high. https://vimeo.com/153227513 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Another true story from Latin America, Much Ado About Nothing is a far cry from the light-hearted Shakespearean comedy with which it shares a title. Instead, Alejandro Fernandez Almendras' film takes place in present day Chile, and follows a young man who finds himself framed for a fatal hit-and-run committed by the son of a powerful politician. A grim indictment of corruption in the upper echelon of Chilean society, the film received strong reviews and a Grand Jury Prize nomination at Sundance earlier this year. https://youtu.be/I8TiFAdvqLM EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT This year's closing night film floored audiences at Cannes and scored a 2016 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Inspired by the journals of two separate Western explorers who travelled to the Amazon decades apart, Embrace of the Serpent is described in the festival program as "a breathtaking cinematic odyssey". With startling, unsettling imagery shot in hypnotic black and white, and dialogue spoken in over ten different languages, the film promises to be like nothing else you'll see at the festival — or indeed, the movies — this year. https://youtu.be/XIwPPoWPlmo NOTHING IN RETURN In Daniel Guzmán's Nothing in Return, 16-year-old Dario finds himself on the search for a surrogate family in the wake of his parents' divorce. Enter his best friend Luismi, a car mechanic named Caralimpia and a sweet little old lady named Antonia. At first glance the film looks like a fairly standard coming-of-age tale, but the fact that it scored a pair of gongs — for Best New Actor and Best New Director at Spain's most recent Goya Awards — has us curious to check it out. And as an added bonus, Guzmán is a guest of the festival this year, and will be on hand at screenings in Sydney and Melbourne for a post-film Q&A. The Spanish Film Festival will run from April 12 until May 1. For more information, visit the festival website.
Celebrate all things soil this Thursday, April 14 with the not-for-profit Nourish, who are hosting the next instalment in their bi-annual gourmet dinner and talk series, Nourish Talks: 'The Ground Beneath'. Nourish gives attendees the chance to connect with Mother Nature and eat a fantastic meal, all while donating to a great cause. Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis will lead a panel discussion on the importance of soil to the health of our food, community and personal wellbeing. The eclectic guest speakers will include Young Henrys brewer Agnes Gajic and popular Sydney yoga teacher Stella Chambers, both supporters of Nourish and their commitment to local, social outreach programs. The Thai menu of organic and locally sourced ingredients will be served by chef Ty Bellingham (ex-Sailors Thai) and a team of refugees and migrants from Bright Hospitality. On the drinks side, Young Henrys, Krinklewood Wines and Trolley'd are partnering up and also using locally foraged produce. Tickets are on sale through Eventbrite with all proceeds going toward St Canice and women in community domestic violence shelters.
This holiday season, there's only one decoration we want hanging from our Christmas tree. It's the latest absurd dessert from the team at Gelato Messina, who so far this year have created ice cream cigars, ice cream hamburgers and an ice cream inspired by an air freshener. Available just in time for a yuletide family feed, Messina's 2015 Christmas cake combines the tastes of gingerbread, pear and chocolate. With flavours that smooth, it's no wonder they called it the Michael Baulble. The limited edition dessert, which can be ordered now until December 22 through the Gelato Messina website, consists of burnt butter and gingerbread gelato with pear mouse and fruit mince florentine, enclosed in a chocolate dome and dusted with gold powder. It also comes with vanilla brandy custard, which should be warmed and applied generously before eating. The Michael Baulble costs $90 and can be picked up from select Messina stores in Sydney (Roseberry, Miranda and Parramatta), Melbourne (Fitzroy) and Queensland (Coolangatta). According to Messina it feeds 16 people, although let's be real here: there's no way you're sharing it with that many people. Sure, Christmas is the time for giving and all that, but everyone has their limits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=SUp6tmSbQN0 To order your own Michael Baulble, visit the Gelato Messina website. Via Good Food.
Spend a day immersed in Aboriginal culture and wander around Sydney's Barangaroo Reserve at the next edition of Blak Markets. In celebration of NAIDOC Week, the festival will take over the park on Sunday, July 2 from 11am–5pm, showcasing artists from 11 remote Australian art centres. Learn up at bush tucker cooking demonstrations, peruse Rarrk painting exhibitions and watch dance performances. Among the 30 stalls, there'll be an array of Aboriginal artwork, sculptures and textiles. If you want to get hands-on, you can sign up for a weaving workshop. Blak Markets is a project of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation. With the help of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Aboriginal artists come together to celebrate their culture.
For the second instalment of The Midnight Special's pop-up restaurant series, the Newtown small bar is teaming up with Petersham's retro diner Daisy's Milkbar to create a menu of boozy treats that will bring out the kidult in you. The Midnight Milkbar will take over the kitchen for two weeks starting May 24, and feature twists on Aussie classics like toasties and fairy bread, along with boozy shakes and spider cocktails. The menu will include three signature jaffles — barbecued pulled pork with mac and cheese ($10), house-made meat pie ($10) and a vego option which is stuffed with baked beans, gooey cheese and oregano ($8). Late night snackers can also enjoy sides like mac and cheese ($5), vegemite roasted nuts ($5) and savoury fairy bread with bacon crumbs and garlic butter. On the booze side, specials include vanilla malt and bourbon shake ($17) or lime and tequila and creaming soda and vodka spiders ($15 each). Any bar that lets one drink like an adult and eat like a kid is alright by us, especially if there's some form of fairy bread involved. The Midnight Milkbar is open open 5.30pm till late daily for the pop-up run.
Sydney, we know you love a burger pop-up. The news that Vivid was setting up an arcade game burger bar in Martin Place went nuts, the announcement that Hashtag Burgers is running In-N-Out-inspired pop-up was warmly received (to say the least), and 10,000 of you clicked attending to Sydney's first burger festival earlier this year. Now, Gelato Messina has got on board, with their own two-day burger and ice cream pop-up, aptly named Messina Eats. Fortunately, Messina hasn't created a pizza gelato (although we wouldn't put it past them). Instead they've lured one Melbourne's best burgermeisters, Huxtaburger, up north to flip some seriously delicious burgs over two days. They'll also be joined by their lobster roll counterparts Mr Claws, who'll be dishing out buttery beacons of goodness alongside some seriously good looking cremino choc tops from Messina. The whole thing will go down over two days on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ. They'll be open from noon for lunch and dinner until sold out. And considering how popular the Huxtaburger pop-up at Harpoon Harry was last year, it's a real possibility. Messina Eats will run from noon until sold out on June 17 and 18. Find more information here.
Openair shopping sprees are an inevitable weekend plan for Sydneysiders, so a monthly outdoor market is a permanent thing at the Central Park development off Broadway. The Brewery Yard Markets are set on sunny Chippendale Green on the first and third Sunday of every month, with stalls selling artisanal foodie-heaven fare beside stands of vintage and locally-produced wares. Though the markets are a radically different retail approach to the franchises currently populating Central Park's vertical 'living-mall', they're a boost for the densely-populated inner city complex. And why not make the most of the development's specially-landscaped outdoor areas? There's live music and art demonstrations in it for you. Image: Brewery Yard Markets.
Newtown's getting a brilliant new festival, giving the spotlight to female and transgender musicians. Named Earopund, this new event's epic program includes not only a slew of live performances, but also spoken word, talk and light projections. At Part One, happening from 7.30pm on Saturday, January 23 at Newtown Social Club, there'll be tunes from Astrix Little, Chunyin (Rainbow Chan), Imperial Broads, Fabels and Bree van Reyk (Synergy Percussion, founder of Girl's School of Rock); light projections by JAX (Slinky & Snudis); and spoken word by Sara Saleh and Justina Ray. Part Two, taking place from 2pm on Saturday 30 January at Alpha Gallery (226 Union Street, Erskineville), will feature no fewer than thirteen performers, plus projections by VJ Amla. The event is the brainchild of musician Astrid Zeman, who's received a sizeable dollop of triple j love for her tracks 'Counting Sheep' and 'Imagination'. She came up with the concept after repeatedly attending gigs where women were underrepresented. “I’ll sometimes see a few bands in a row, maybe 15 musicians, and there won’t be a single woman on stage. Male bands will sometimes be singing about how hot a chick is, or how they enjoy relaxing with their girlfriends on the weekend, or about doing guy stuff with their mates … and I just find it hard to relate to this material. Seeing performances that are repeatedly male-dominated makes me feel frustrated and disempowered," she told Music Australia. "We want to reverse the trend, promoting female and LGBTQIA+ musicians in the scene and raising awareness of gender equality.”
Hardcore foodies, this one's for you. Chef Rene Redzepi, the man behind Noma and its super expensive, impossible to get into Sydney Harbour spinoff, is organising a day-long symposium featuring some of the biggest names in food. Set to take place at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday, April 3, MAD SYD: Tomorrow's Meals will welcome a number of world renowned chefs and culinary professionals for "a day of talks and ideas exploring the future of food". Confirmed speakers include Redzepi, David Chang (Momofuku), Kylie Kwong (Billy Kwong) and Massimo Bottura (Italy's Osteria Francescana), as well as food activist Chido Govera and social researcher Rebecca Huntley. MAD is heading down under! On April 3rd we will present our first large scale public event at the Sydney Opera House - visit madfeed.co for more info #MADSYD A photo posted by MAD (@themadfeed) on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:40am PST Founded by Redzepi, MAD (the Danish word for 'food') is a non-profit organisation that, according to their website, "works to expand knowledge of food to make every meal a better meal; not just at restaurants, but every meal cooked and served". They've hosted similar symposiums in Copenhagen since 2011, but this is the first time they've held one outside of the Danish capital — and the first one that will be open to the public. "Back when we started MAD in 2011, we found ourselves on a field, in heavy rain, in a tiny circus tent that ultimately collapsed during lunch," says Redzepi. "MAD has been on an incredible journey since then, but the culmination of our long relationship with Sydney and Australia taking place in one of the world's most iconic spaces is the greatest privilege. We cannot wait to share this day with everyone - friends and family, old and new." Anyone interested can register for pre-sale tickets through the Sydney Opera House website, and tickets will go on sale to the general public at 9am on Monday, February 22. We can only hope they don't sell out as fast as bookings to Noma Australia did. MAD SYD is happening on Sunday, April 3 — one day after the last service of Noma Australia. Register for tickets here. Image: Daniel Boud.
There's no shortage of Italian fare in Abbotsford. But, as of last 2018, the inner west riverside suburb has been home to a pizzeria that's doing things a little differently. Donny's Pizza takeaway joint is offering an authentic menu, house-made everything and a self-professed Big Poppa's-inspired hip-hop backdrop. The rustic 60 seater boasts a trattoria-style fit-out with exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors and stripped-back furnishings. While the atmosphere aims to cater toward modern Sydney sensibilities, the Italian authenticity can be found in the quality of the ingredients — which are both imported and locally sourced. Impressively, everything is made in-house. To this end, the team is using all high quality Italian flour with a 48-hour rise time to create classics like margheritas, capricciosas and supremes. Though the pizzas may sound like your average styles, the difference is in the toppings. For example, the Meatlovers uses house-made sausage and smoked brisket, while the Pineapple Express uses maple-glazed bacon instead of deli ham to take the stock-standard Hawaiian up a notch. There's also the Trufflemen up for grabs, topped with fior di latte, mushroom, truffle, prosciutto and Sardinian pecorino. All pastas are made in-house every day, too — think fettuccine or lasagna with six-hour braised pork and veal ragu, or the gnocchi with creamy gorgonzola sauce. For shared starters, there are polenta chips and traditional pork and veal meatballs. For the time being, Donny's is BYO wine only — and will continue to be even after a liquor licence is secured. Once the licence is in place, though, expect Italian offerings aplenty, including imported beers and spritzes.
We've tried everything. Berocctails, toasted sandwiches, Icy Poles, B&E rolls, gallons and gallons of water, even military-grade cures. But there's been an cheeky little hangover cure lurking in fruit shops Australia-wide, the humble, oft overlooked nashi pear. According to ABC, new results suggest Korean pear juice could stop your hangover before it starts — the ultimate pre-game bev. Valiant scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have been hard at work delving into the unsung benefits of the pear, and while the study is still ongoing, they've apparently uncovered some pretty high-fiveworthy results. According to the study, people who drank Korean pear juice before a big night on the turps experienced milder hangovers the next day. It seems there's certain components in pears that speed up your ability to metabolise alcohol — this usually sits at around one drink per hour for your average human. You'll need to drink about a cup (seven ounces) of pear juice to get the shield going. Importantly, the pear juice must be sculled before drinking, not after, as there's no evidence the liquid gold will save you once you've got a hangover. So let's crank a nashi before we head on out on the whiskey. Here's a recipe we've pulled from Serious Eats' Carolyn Cope. PRE-GAME HANGOVER-FIGHTING NASHI PEAR JUICE INGREDIENTS: 1 cup fresh pear juice from about 4 nashi pears 1/4 cup (2 ounces) fresh basil juice from about 2 packed cups basil leaves and stems 1/4 cup (2 ounces) fresh lemon juice from about 2 lemons, peel and pith removed 2/3 cup (about 5 ounces) fresh celery juice from about 4 large celery stalks DIRECTIONS: Blend/juice ingredients together thoroughly, divide between two glasses, and serve immediately. Servings: 2 Via ABC, Shape, Serious Eats. Images: Dollar Photo Club, Carolyn Cope.
Sydney Harbour's Pullman Quay Grand has opened a new bar — and it looks tremendously luxe. Located within the Circular Quay hotel, Hacienda is a brand new "vista bar", taking inspiration from Cuba's grandiose, plantation-style architecture and the vintage hotels of 1950's Miami. Applejack Hospitality — whose venues include Bondi Hardware, The Butler and Della Hyde — have teamed up with AccorHotels to pull off this stylish throw-back "botanical oasis" of a space. And it's stunning. The harbourside space is filled with luxurious, pastel lounge furniture, brass details and lush roof greenery, all surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows which showcase panoramic views of the city, the bridge and Sydney Harbour. Plus, they can all open to create a terrace-like feel. The drink menus mimics the venue design by using Cuban flavours, slinging cocktails which include classic ingredients like banana, guava and custard apple. The Tropical Sour – banana-infused Encanto pisco, Tío Pepe sherry, lime and honey — sounds especially tasty, as is the Old Smoked Presidente: a concoction of aged rum, orange curacao, dry vermouth, house-spiced raspberry syrup and Angostura bitters. The bar also has an impressive stock of rum and American whiskey for those looking for something neat. The food offering, curated by Executive Chef Stefan Brademann, will complement the drinks and have a Cuban-American flare. Fusion dishes like the yuka fries, buttermilk fried chicken and a pork neck mojo will sit on the menu alongside a Cubano-Reuben hybrid and burgers galore. The menu will be balanced between bar snacks and more substantial dishes to accommodate for anything from nibbling patrons to hangry ones. This little slice of Cuban culture may play to cliches but we're not fussed — especially considering the iconic views that come with it. Hacienda is now open inside the Pullman Quay Grand, 61 Macquarie Street, Sydney Harbour, from noon till late seven days a week. For more information, visit their website.
Boasting programs where anything and everything can and does happen, fringe festivals are an ode to leaping out of your comfort zone, revelling there and never wanting to leave. New South Wales' largest independent arts fest, Sydney Fringe Festival fits that bill perfectly. Each year, it amasses a jam-packed lineup that's never the same twice, and splashes its playful vibe all around the Harbour City. Get ready for four hefty weeks of performances, exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy, visual arts, film, dance, circus, literature and poetry. The festival will serve up over 400 events between Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 30. There are plenty of highlights across the 30 days including a brand-new festival hub. This year's fest features a big new spot to hang out thanks to the Spiegeltent Festival Garden at the EQ Showring in Moore Park. The Entertainment Quarter will host Sydney Fringe's big top, which is where The Marvellous Elephant Man the Musical will entertain audiences — and 300-seater circus dome The Vault, which'll be home to GODZ. The lineup also spans the return of pop-up musical-theatre club Lola's Piano Bar, Young Henrys' Best Served Loud live music series hitting Parramatta for the first time and free morning concerts courtesy of proven favourite Acoustic Ritual at George Place, too. To kick things off, Fringe Ignite will take over The Rocks with an opening-night shindig, while a closing-night party on Kensington Street will bookend the fest with a celebration of Caribbean culture. Other events to look out for at this year's Sydney Fringe Festival include award-winning performer Tessa Redman's new show Love/Love/Love/Love/Love; comedian Jenna Suffern's one women show It's Not Funny, It's Private which tells the story of a week where she was dumped, made redundant and started doing standup comedy; an absurdist dramedy centred around Cate Blanchett; and a duel-headline stand-up show from Becky Lucus and Cameron James. Explore the full program at the festival website.
How much do you know about Australian Jewish culture? Jessica Bellamy (writer of Sprout and Bat Eyes) knows a lot, she’s just written a play about it, and she's preparing to cook you a Jewish dinner. It's Shabbat Dinner, an immersive play directed by Anthony Skuse (4000 Miles, Punk Rock) which looks at the place of women, family and food in contemporary Jewish culture. The play weaves in traditions and rites over the course of a Shabbat dinner prepared by Bellamy herself. As the feast is served to you and the performers, everyone becomes involved in the story. While you eat you take part in the creation and eventual disintegration of a new community. Like Bellamy's previous works, it promises to be poetic and questioning. Shabbat Dinner plays at a pop-up space in The Rocks during the Spectrum Now festival from March 24-29. Dinner is included in the ticket and vegetarians are catered to.
N2 Extreme Gelato, BlackStar Pastry, Doughnut Time, Butter, Bearded Bakers, Good Times Artisan Ice Cream, MakMak Macarons, Cacao Barry Kids and Thievery. You've seen their goods all over Instagram. We've sent you news about 'em. You've probably gone looking for those sweets. Now you need look no further than Sweet Street. In its third year, Sweet Street is a dessert festival designed to showcase some of Australia's leading pastry chefs and give you a serious sugar high. Three rooms of the Shangri-La Sydney will be converted into a Willy Wonka's factory-level wonderland. There will be awesome giveaways, and in the spirit of street: graffiti artists, DJs and break dancers. Entry includes eight tokens to start your #SweetStreet adventures. For one night only, you'll get to enter your the Candy Land of your childhood dreams, and you'll be the one to decide when you've had too much sugar (hint: never). Image: Eddie Hart.
It's hard to think of an artist more recognisable than Andy Warhol. His pop art featuring Campbell's Soup, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley is iconic — even art novices know about Warhol and his influence on the world. Adman: Warhol before pop is a new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW running from February 25 to May 28. It will examine Warhol's early career and reveal the origins of his dream to become both a successful visual and commercial artist. Before his famous pop art paintings, Warhol was one of the most sought after commercial illustrators in the New York advertising industry. The exhibition will feature 300 objects — including drawings, photographs, books, shop-front window displays, vintage advertisements and personal items. The emphasis will be on Warhol's work before he began to create pop art, revealing his origins in the world of advertising and art and helping us to understand his formative years — from the influence that his sexual identity had on his work, to the influence of artists such as Matisse and Cocteau. Much of the exhibition will be taken from the extraordinary art collection at The Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburg. Tickets are available via the Art Gallery of NSW. Image: 'Andy Warhol in New York City'. c1949. Philip Pearlstein papers. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
