Newtown's beloved brewery is about to have solar power on tap, all day, every day. The City of Sydney is running a new project to help community sustainability organisation Pingala build a solar power plant on top of the Young Henrys brewery. Yep, that's a whole lot of Sydney awesomeness in one sentence. Thanks to a grant from the City of Sydney, the Young Henrys brewery will be somewhat powered by electricity generated by the solar photovoltaic panels. This will apparently shirk 127 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the Wilson Street brewery per year. Cheers to that. It's all down to the enviro-conscious folks at Pingala, a Sydney-based community organisation who fight tooth and nail to make Sydney more sustainable, move the city away from fossil fuels and bring solar farms and plants to Sydney. The Pingala crew hope to set a precedent for other similar businesses across the city, who'll hopefully be inspired by the Young Henrys project to make their own breweries or the like cleaner. Plus, Sydneysiders will be able to more easily understand what Pingala can actually do. “Our vision is for a clean energy future where everybody can share in the benefits that come from solar,” says Pingala volunteer Jake Steele. “It’s exciting to give non-traditional solar owners an opportunity to participate in a local project. Now anyone from renters to students to pensioners can get involved in solar energy in their own neighbourhood." Young Henrys, with their longtime dedication to keeping things local and reducing their environmental impact, were an obvious choice for the project. They're already running a pretty damn sustainable joint— they not only encourage growler refills to save on glass but they donate around one tonne of spent grain to local farmers as chicken feed daily (instead of simply chucking the waste in landfill). The Pingala/Young Henrys project is all part of the City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan, which has seen solar power installed in 28 Sydney sites so far, from libraries to swimming pools. “It’s an amazing concept for us to be reducing our carbon footprint and producing local beer from locally owned, renewable green energy in the heart of our community," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. “This project shows it’s technically and economically feasible for Sydneysiders to get on board with community energy." Find out more about what Pingala do in this handy CP feature.
Berlin is a city that's constantly evolving. But despite the change, one thing will remain true – the German capital will always be cool. Yes, the days are gone when Berghain youths could pay a mere Australian $150 a month to rent a loft-like penthouse we could only dream of, but don't let the Berlin locals tell you that that means the city has been gentrified. The anarchist vigour that was born out of a city in political and economical shambles for the last 60 years lives on, and the middle finger to the man attitude in Berlin is present in almost everything. We asked an actual local to show us where we should spend our time in Berlin to ensure an unforgettable experience. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode one: Berlin. [caption id="attachment_589108" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @streethaus via Instagram.[/caption] PACK A PICNIC AND HEAD TO KORNERPARK Hidden in Neukolln, Berlin's answer to Fitzroy in Melbourne or Surry Hills in Sydney, Kornerpark is a pretty breath of fresh air compared to the suburb's usual grungy surrounds. Pack a picnic and enjoy the views of manicured flora while people-watching the local cool kids who hang out in this palace garden-esque retreat. On Sundays there's a free guided tour of the art gallery that overlooks the grounds. [caption id="attachment_589109" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @mr.akman via Instagram.[/caption] VISIT A GALLERY IN AN OLD RAILWAY STATION For all the contemporary art lovers out there, the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum boasts one of the best collections of Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Keith Haring you'll find in Berlin. The former railway station was turned into a gallery in the mid-90s and its architecture is just as impressive as the artwork inside it. Entrance to the main building and temporary exhibitions will set you back €14 but with over 10,000 square meters of gallery space the bang is well worth the buck. As with all museums and big city attractions, avoid going on the weekend. Instead, get in first at 10am, the earlier in the week the better. Still check out some of Berlin's street art though – there's a reason it's so famous. [caption id="attachment_589113" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @burgermeisterberlin via Instagram.[/caption] TRY A GERMAN BURGER AT BURGERMEISTER Berlin has a slight burger obsession. For the true enthusiasts, make your attempt at getting through a patty three thumbs thick at The Bird near Schonleinstrasse train station. Or, brace yourself for the omnipresent line at Berlin Burger International (BBI) on Neukolln's Pannierstrasse. The true Berlin burger experience can be found at Burgermeister on Shlesisches Tor in the original hipster town of Kreuzberg. It's underneath the train station built into what used to be public toilets. Yum. Nowadays It's totally sanitary and arguably the best burger in town. Don't forget to order chilli cheese fries on the side. [caption id="attachment_589220" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @olamajaw via Instagram.[/caption] FLY A KITE AT TEMPELHOFER FELD There are over 2,500 public parks and gardens in Berlin but Tempelhofer Feld is undoubtedly one of the most unique. A functioning airport until 2008, the city of Berlin eventually claimed back the space (it's 386 hectares) and turned it into the number one BBQ destination for Berliners in summer. Grab a kite, dust off your skates or bring some beers and a frisbee to enjoy the ultimate Berlin park experience. Whilst you're in the area walk through Schillerkiez, one of Berlin's most covetable living destinations, get a burger and Augustiner beer from one of the many restaurants, cafes and spatis (small milk bars that sell alcohol) that you'll discover walking through the streets. [caption id="attachment_589225" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @___feede___ via Instagram.[/caption] DRINK FREE WINE? AT WEINEREI In a city where beer is often cheaper than water, it's not hard to drink on a budget. Even still, a pay-what-you-want wine bar has its appeal. In the yuppie happy suburb of Prenzlauer Berg you'll find Weinerei. Dodge the prams and start-up entrepreneurs and head straight to the wine bar run by Bavarian and Argentinian connoisseurs Jurgen Stumf and Mariano Goni. There are three different locations but the Forum Cafe & Weinbar is easily the most popular. Get tipsy in atmospheric candlelight and when it's time to move on, use your discretion and pay what you think you owe in a small money box left at the bar. [caption id="attachment_589120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @markthalleneun via Instagram.[/caption] DEVOUR SOME MULTICULTURAL FOOD AT MARKTHALLE NEUN (MARKET HALL 9) Bringing all the multicultural food flavours you can enjoy in Berlin together under one roof, Markthalle 9 officially reopened in 2011, exactly 120 years after its first opening. Inside the huge hall, there's a Breakfast Market held every third Sunday of the month or the Naschmarkt (snack market) held once a quarter with all the snacks and sweet delicacies you could imagine. Your best bet though is Street Food Thursday. Get there early at 5pm to avoid the huge crowds and struggle with the agonising decision over what to order. British pies, Thai tapioca dumplings, Mexican tacos, Allgäu cheese spaetzle or Nigerian FuFu? It's a delicious smorgasbord. Don't worry if you can't make it on either of those special days, the market is open every day of the week. ENJOY AUTHENTIC GOZLEME AT THE TURKISH MARKET For a true local's experience, take a stroll along the Turkish Market on Maybachufer canal every Tuesday and Friday. Everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to flowers to yards of fabric is on offer at this sort-of farmer's market. It's organised by the Turkish community living in Berlin (the city is home to the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey), and the produce is fresh and unbelievably cheap. Snag a carton of avocados for under €5 (seriously) or grab a freshly baked spinach and cheese gozleme and join the crowd of impossibly cool kids listening to the busker who sets up shop at the end of every market. [caption id="attachment_589134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @chrisfosterrr via Instagram.[/caption] SAVOUR RARE TABLE SERVICE AT NATHANJA AND HEINRICH At the end of bar-laden Weichselstrasse in Neukolln you'll find Nathanja und Heinrich. With the typical Berlin bar vibe with raw walls, exposed brick and mismatched furniture, Nathanja's is equally as great for an afternoon coffee as it is for an evening gin and tonic. Order first and pay later, at this bar they often play the blues and even offer table service, a rare occurrence in Berlin. Like almost all places that serve alcohol in the city, smoking inside is allowed after 9pm. It's a popular local hangout so make sure you arrive before 8pm on weekends to grab a table. Visit Europe (including Berlin) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999.
Anohni (formerly known as Antony Hegarty) is coming to Vivid for the Sydney-only, Australian premiere of her ambitious new project, Hopelessness. A collection of electronic anthems, created in collaboration with super producer Hudson Mohawke and Warp's Oneohtrix Point Never, the album tackles climate change, drone bombing and mass surveillance, without holding back (but with insanely beautiful vocals). Prepare for disturbingly direct lyrics, soaring melody lines, synth surges, brass bursts and powerful percussion. At the Opera House, Anohni's work will be presented as an all-immersive, wall-shaking show, complete with visuals. "I haven't spent a lot of time expressing anger in my life, so this record is a new chapter," Anohni said at a press conference in April. "Anger is energising: it's quite an empowering feeling." This is one our our top ten picks of Vivid gigs you should buy tickets to right now. Check out the whole list.
A day without laughter is a day wasted, according to Charlie Chaplin, and the same rule applies to festivals. Not wanting to rock the boat, the Mardi Gras Comedy Gala is coming in hot with all the bells and whistles. The lineup this year is nothing short of magnificent, from the hosts to the headliners and everyone in between. Em Rusciano and Bob Downe have assumed MC duties, facilitating favourites like Hannah Gadsby, Tom Ballard, Axis of Awesome and English darling Stephen K. Amos, among a whole host of equally as talented comedians.
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. From critically claimed indie flicks to an epic blockbuster about a man who can talk to fish, you're guaranteed to find something to enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8 COLD WAR We give it: 5 stars With Cold War, writer-director Pawel Pawlikowski achieves a plethora of astonishing feats. Constrained within 4:3 frames, his sumptuous black-and-white imagery immerses audiences in an intimate and complicated tale, with the filmmaker painting every possible emotion across the screen. The talent behind Oscar-winner Ida also turns his parents' own story into a heart-wrenching romance, and crafts a snapshot of Polish life as the Second World War gave way to the Cold War. Last by no means least, he gifts audiences with astoundingly intricate performances from actors Tomasz Kot and Joanna Kulig. The duo plays a couple who are desperate to be together, but live in a world that cares little about their desires — or about them at all. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-wkehT1g THE FAVOURITE We give it: 4.5 stars One queen, two women vying for her attention, and nearly two hours of acerbic and perceptive black comedy. That's The Favourite, a historical drama that looks like a lavish period picture, but boasts a savage wit — and savage insights into human behaviour — that's far from standard for the genre. The key is The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. Not only does he again showcase his winning ways with stilted conversations and his fondness for skewering social expectations; he also exhibits a knack for political comedy and even slapstick. Lanthimos is aided by his fantastic cast, including top awards contender Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as her bickering offsiders, and Nicholas Hoult as the wannabe leader with his own conniving plans. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaiR3zdv5cU THE WILD PEAR TREE We give it: 4 stars After Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and Winter Sleep, Nuri Bilge Ceylan crafts another slow-burning affair that combines probing insights into human behaviour with sublime imagery. A tale of dreams and disappointments both mundane and life changing, The Wild Pear Tree sprawls and spreads in its everyday drama and perceptive dialogue. The movie's protagonist is Sunan (Dogu Demirkol), a new graduate returning home with qualifications but no job, and with a manuscript but no means to publish it. Across the movie's 188 minutes, the aspiring writer walks the town's dusty farmland and quiet streets seeking financial help, while his father's (Murat Cemcir) gambling debts continue to mount. The result is a picture that fits firmly into the acclaimed Turkish filmmaker's exceptional oeuvre. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkg3h8PCVU AQUAMAN We give it: 3 stars The latest film in the DC Cinematic Universe is far from perfect. Its plot is a mess and its leading man, a roguish surfer-dude turned superhero (Jason Mamoa), is criminally underused. Despite these issues, it's also, for the most part, wildly entertaining. With dazzling visuals that, at their best, feel like Blade Runner (and, at their worst, The Phantom Menace), Aussie director James Wan never lets things slow down for too long, aided by a thumping electro soundtrack reminiscent of Daft Punk's work on Tron: Legacy. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman help round out a stellar cast, albeit one that commands far too much time away from the true star, Mamoa. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that DC is slowly, painfully but ever so positively clawing its way back to credibility with each new film not directed by Zack Snyder. In the wake of the enormously successful Wonder Woman, Aquaman represents another small foot forward for the franchise. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSGFt6w0wok VICE We give it: 3 stars Sporting a hunch and a paunch, speaking in gravelly grunts and side-eyeing everyone around him, Christian Bale turns in another committed, transformative performance in Vice. His vision of former US Vice President Dick Cheney is a sight to behold, and with Amy Adams suitably steely as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell in laidback mode as President George W. Bush and Steve Carell obnoxiously slippery as Donald Rumsfeld, he's in good company. But, as written and directed by Adam McKay in the same slick, jam-packed fashion as his previous film The Big Short, Vice never completely lives up to its performances. It's impassioned, amusing, designed to get audiences angry and stuffed with stylistic tricks to an almost overwhelming extent. However it also merely states the obvious rather than offers any new or deep insights. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8mdIB1WxHI KUSAMA: INFINITY We give it: 3 stars How do you capture the enigma that is Yayoi Kusama in a single 85-minute film? The short answer: it's impossible, but Kusama: Infinity gives the task an affectionate try. Unsurprisingly filled with dots and pumpkins, this documentary celebrates the Japanese artist and showcases her work, however it doesn't break the mould the way that Kusama always has across her seven-decade career. What the movie does do well is explore the battles that the nearly 90-year-old artist has faced again and again, both as a woman in Japan and as a foreigner abroad. For those new to Kusama's story — people who've marvelled at her infinity rooms but haven't delved any further — writer-director Heather Lenz also provides a Kusama 101 lesson. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcYBFC6zfY WRECK-IT RALPH 2: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET We give it: 2 stars A shadow looms over this Disney sequel — and, despite his hefty size, it doesn't stem from Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) himself. Rather, in taking the loveable video game character and his racer best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) out of the arcade and into the online world, the film brings one of 2017's worst movies to mind. Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet fares better than The Emoji Movie, but its efforts to both literalise and satirise cyberspace just keep falling flat. Worse: its straightforward vision of the internet instantly feels dated. With product placement and a pixel-thin emotional journey the flick's other main components, this pop culture-heavy affair proves visually lively but lacklustre overall. – SW
In 1963, Ersnt Fischer wrote that art isn't a luxury or a privilege, it's an essential part of human life, and Artbank reckons he was right. Run by the federal government, Artbank supports local Australian artists by buying their works and leasing them out to companies, individuals and public spaces all around Australia, and in 72 countries across the globe. Currently, they hold about 10,000 works. That's a whole lot of art, and they need somewhere they can show it off. On November 19, Artbank is hosting their annual Artbank Social Club, giving the general public a chance to check out the works that have been so lovingly and carefully curated. Held at Artbank HQ in Waterloo, the event will be a smorgasbord of local artists, food, drink, and entertainment, and will also see the launch of the inaugural Artbank Flea Market, where punters can buy works, watch live performances and mingle with the creators while getting amongst the 5000 original works in the Artbank collection store. Rather than your typical garage sale vibe, think the Grand Bazaar. If that wasn't enough, you can soothe your intellectual exertion with a drink at the gold coin donation bar in the pumping, pop-up garden party. Here are our six picks of things to look out for. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ART AT THE COLLECTION STORE The highlight of the Artbank Open Day is the collection store, where you can get up close and personal with over 5000 artworks by some of Australia's biggest names and possibly grab yourself a new piece to go above the dining room table for a few months. As seen in the above, there will be 120 floor-to-ceiling racks jam-packed with artworks from Australian artists. That's quite a collection. Old favourites, hidden gems, new pieces — it's all there among the racks and available to lease out. OK YEAH COOL GREAT This collective is comprised of artists Kate Beckingham and Anna McMahon, with the view of changing the perception on the delivery of art. Rather than slinging some oil onto canvas (not to disparage the medium), these two have crafted artworks from the seemingly innocuous in order to challenge what we consider art to be. They'll be set up in the Flea Market, vending wares such as shirts, tote bags and USB sticks from their most recent exhibition The Delivery, that emphasise the congruence of form and function. There's the chance to meet the artists, and get their take on their unique media. ROLLING RECORDS TRUCK SHOP George from Rolling Records has been banging about for a while, quietly getting around the country, shifting vinyl to his widely scattered disciples from his truck. His unique business venture achieves a higher goal that everyone can appreciate — getting good tunes into the hands of those that want them. Whether you're reminiscing on the times when vinyl was the dominant form, or you love its grainier sound, or even if you just like the aesthetics of having some vinyl hanging around the living room, Rolling Records has you covered. The truck comes to the Social Club to both buy and sell its pressed and sleeved wares, and will also be providing the beats throughout the day. CANTINA MOVIL No day of consuming All The Art that one person can handle would be complete without a decent offering of food and beverage. In this instance, legends of Sydney street food, Cantina Movil, will be on site to deliver. Cantina Movil have been truckin' around NSW since 2011, delivering a bespoke Mexican menu from the back of their vehicle. They've catered for weddings, corporate events, and festivals, and now they'll be plying their wares at Artbank. So see some art, grab a 'rito, and get some more art in you. MAKE OR BREAK Within the walls of the Artbank Social Club, absolutely everything is art. This even extends to an element of the currency of the Flea Market, with artists Connie Anthes and Rebecca Gallo creating their own alternative system that questions the role of artists, their labour, their audience, and how they all fit together. On the day, the artists behind Make or Break will pick one punter to wear the 'golden t-shirt', which grants them full access to selected elements of the event, and it is up to this punter to either share, hoard or sell their prize. Anthes and Gallo have been creating live exhibitions like this one since last year, aiming to contribute to the conversation surrounding the value of art in our society. SO MANY WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND ARTISTS TO SEE Artist Leecee Carmichael will weave a live artwork and sell her jewellery and textiles — her work pays homage to her hometown of Moreton Bay, Queensland and the Quandamooka people. She works in an array of colours and materials, exploring the beauty of nature and nurturing her strong connection to the sand and the sea. Drink tea with strangers and James Nguyen — he'll be serving fresh green tea and honey made from tea leaves he smuggled into Australia in 1999. They were from his grandmother's tea plantation in Dacat, and he sneakily hid them in his shorts pocket. After that, check out James Tylor — he'll be running a drawing workshop to go alongside his project Unwritten Race, which re-writes Charles Darwin's misleading theory on multi-racial identity. These guys are just three of our favourites — the full program includes many, many more artists to see and things to do. The Artbank Social Club will run on November 19. Entry is free, but registration for tickets is recommended.
When Lewis Carroll first sent Alice down the rabbit hole back in 1865, he couldn't have guessed just where she'd end up. While the English mathematician-turned-writer obviously knew she'd be wandering around Wonderland, that was just the beginning of her white rabbit-chasing journey. Countless film, TV, comic book, game, stage, music, music videos and ballet adaptations have taken the famous character far and wide — and, come 2018, she'll be stopping by Melbourne. From April 5 to October 7, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image will pay tribute to all things Alice in Wonderland, the centre's major exhibition for the year as part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. A world-premiere event crafted and curated by ACMI, the entirely original showcase will take fans through the screen history of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There — aka the two Carroll-penned books that introduced not only the titular heroine, but the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, and food and drink with "eat me" and "drink me" labels. Proving a date you won't want to be late for, fans can follow Alice on her voyage through more than 40 cinema and 30 television versions, as well as through popular culture in general. Spanning her first big screen appearance in 1903 to 2016's Alice Through the Looking Glass, the exhibition will step through her different guises, and the technologies that have brought her story to life, all in an interactive, experiential way. That includes animation, puppetry, live-action cinema, video games, CGI, 3D and more, as well as playful environments, digital activities and behind-the-scenes glimpses. "With Wonderland, ACMI has created an interactive exhibition where audiences will explore the magic of film craft and its integral role embedding this much loved story in our imaginations for generations," explains ACMI CEO and director Katrina Sedgwick. Given ACMI's two on-site cinemas, it's safe to assume that an enchanting lineup of Alice in Wonderland films will also feature. Wonderland will run 5 April to 7 October 2018 at Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving image. For more information, or to buy tickets from November 30, visit acmi.net.au/wonderland.
UPDATE 3/8, 12pm: Just when we thought things were rock solid, Huffington Post has reported the site previously hosting Citizenfour imported the film illegally. Dang. You can catch the movie in limited release at Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House. EARLIER: Here's a little Tuesday pressie to sweeten the start of your week. Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour, which delves into Edward Snowden's bold decision to leak NSA secrets in 2013, is now available to stream online for free. Directed by Laura Poitras and shot in cinéma vérité style, the film is now available to watch for free via Thought Maybe. Before taking out the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at this year's Oscars, this film premiered in the US in October 2014 at the New York Film Festival to high fives and critical acclaim all round. Citizenfour journeys through a series of Hong Kong-based meetings between former Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald and NSA whistleblower Snowden, conversations which would reveal history-changing information about widespread government surveillance and make us all a little freaked out about online privacy. There's only a few screenings left of Citizenfour — Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House are apparently still screening it – but this is a grand option if you find yourself with a few home hours up your sleeve. Check out the trailer below. Via Huffington Post.
In 2015, Volumes brought a new multi-venue live music journey to Sydney, establishing themselves as some of the city's finest purveyors of live musical, visual and electronic art. As part of their now annual mini-festival, the crew has hosted a wealth of local artists including Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda, Inkswel, and The Posse. It's all about pushing the envelope with these guys, and the launch of Volumes Monthly vows to be no different. A brand new monthly series of works from rising stars in electronic art, Volumes Monthly will be hosted at Cake Wines Cellar Door in Redfern. Expect an eclectic cornucopia of sounds, visuals and a healthy injection of energy as artists Anatole, Huntly, Marcus Whale, and Mira Boru take the stage. Despite legislative appearances, Sydney's electronic scene is alive and kicking, and the Volumes Monthly series looks to keep that scene growing in size and scope. Early bird tickets are available for $10, with first release tickets going for a cheeky $15. Image: Volumes.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being the latest additions to the lineup: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. They join legend Patti Smith and superstar Mary J. Blige on the heaving heaving lineup. BLUESFEST 2017 LINEUP Santana The Doobie Brothers Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Image: Andy Fraser.
It's craft beer for a punk cause this Wednesday, April 6 at Wayward Brewing Co. with a screening of Punks 4 West Papua. The documentary follows the touching story of the Australian punk scene's fight for the West Papuans, who've experienced genocide at the hands of the Indonesian government since the 1960s. P4WP is an Australia wide movement organised by Jody Bartolo and his band, Diggers with Attitude. The film has already won the 2016 Documentary Feature Award of Merit at the IndieFest Film Festival in San Diego. The tragic story has been kept quiet by the ban on journalists and foreign aid in the region, so the film aims to raise money and awareness for the Free West Papua cause. Director Ash Brennan will introduce the documentary on Wednesday and the ten dollar entry fee will aid this rockin' cause. If you can't make the screening, you can rent or buy the film here. Proceeds from the rental of P4WP go to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
You might already be acquainted with the work of David Stephenson — a prominent American-by-birth photographer who now lives and works in Hobart, Tasmania. Human Landscapes at the Art Gallery of NSW showcases a collection of Stephenson's landscape photography drawn from the gallery's collection. The exhibition aims to highlight his subversion of traditional approaches to the medium, which charges his work with the ability to alter both the way we look at the world and how we consider our own place within it. Engaging with philosophical concepts using a poetic but minimalist sensibility, Stephenson's photography ultimately transmits the transcendental force of the landscape. Human Landscapes will collate a number of Stephenson's early works, including his romantic pinhole photographs of majestic seas, skies and expansive panoramas from the 1980s. Also featured are his starker — yet still poignant — pieces shot in the Antarctic during the 1990s. Fans of landscape photography definitely shouldn't miss this. Image: David Stephenson, The Zinc Works and Mount Wellington from Store Point, Tasmania (2004), from the series Marking time (2003-05). Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of the artist (2011) © David Stephenson. Photo: Diana Panuccio, AGNSW.
Kick off 2016 in serious style with an epic New Year's Day shindig at the Watson Bay Boutique Hotel. The harbourside destination is teaming up with the iconic Hamptons venue The Surf Lodge for a summer pop-up by the water — and it all begins on January 1 with a private beach party headlined by a top secret international act. Located in Montauk on Long Island, The Surf Lodge is best known for its outdoor music concerts featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Solange Knowles, Willie Nelson and the Flaming Lips. No confirmation yet on which famous face they've got locked for Sydney, although the supporting lineup will include Oli Benz, Dangerous Dan, Mo'Funk, Cloud Rider and Motorik Vibe Council. First release tickets are currently on sale for $200 plus a $7.50 booking fee. There are only a limited number available to the public, so if you're interested you'd better jump on it quick. The Surf Lodge x Watson Bay Boutique Hotel summer pop-up will run from New Year's Day through to Australia Day on January 26, and will feature various live music and lifestyle events to be revealed in the coming month.
With beloved cult series Broad City now entering its fourth season, co-creator Abbi Jacobson is taking on a new podcast project that could push My Dad Wrote a Porno off our daily hitlist. A Piece of Work delves into the enigma that is modern art and answers questions you may have been too afraid to ask — like what significance a bicycle wheel atop a stool could possibly have, or why Andy Warhol was so obsessed with soup cans. A collaboration with WNYC Studios and MoMA, the ten-episode series will premiere on July 10 and air twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each episode focuses on a different theme, from everyday objects and pop art to abstraction, performance and text-based art. Jacobson will specifically discuss individual works by big name (and at times, especially confusing) artists including the above mentioned Warhol, along with Jackson Pollock, Yves Klein and Marcel Duchamp, whose noted Bicycle Wheel will be topic of discussion in the first episode. Jacobson also welcomes a legendary roster of guests each episode, including musician Questlove, comedian Hannibal Buress, actress Tavi Gevinson and television personality RuPaul — who features in the not-to-be-missed episode six, in which they'll discuss Yoko Ono's provoking 1964 Cut Piece performance. If you're wondering how Jacobson became an authority on modern art, she actually holds a degree from Maryland Institute College of Art and has also published a colouring book series, Color This Book, and a book of illustrations, Carry This Book — in which Jacobson imagines items found in the pockets and bags of celebrities like Oprah, historical figures like Amelia Earhart and artists like Frida Kahlo and Banksy. A Piece of Work will be available on Apple Podcasts and WNYC, with a teaser and full list of themes, guests and artworks available on Entertainment Weekly. Via Entertainment Weekly. Image: MoMA.
Sculpture by the Sea turns 21 in 2017 and 104 artists — from both Australia and overseas — have come to the party. Until November 5, the two-kilometre stretch of coast between Sydney's Bondi and Tamarama beaches will be dotted with works — overtaking beaches, peeking out of rock platforms, emerging from the sea and towering over cliffs. Since starting up in 1997, the event hasn't changed much. It's still free. It's still all about plugging public art and boosting artists' careers. And it still brings in the crowds, with about 500,000 people visiting each year. Every Saturday and Sunday will also see artist talks give you the chance to kick back on a bean bag and find out what goes on inside a sculptor's head. Here are five sculptures to look out for while you're wandering the Sculpture by the Sea trail during the next couple of weeks. [caption id="attachment_642057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] JAMES DIVE: WHAT A TASTY LOOKING BURGER A giant hamburger, attached to a rope at one end and a fish hook at the other, lies on a rock platform. This, folks, is what artist James Dive imagined as the ultimate human bait. Dive last exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea 11 years ago with the now world-famous melting ice cream truck work Hot With a Chance of a Storm. [caption id="attachment_642056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] STEPHEN MARR: UNDER ONE SKY Two figures, dressed in suits covered in sky, against a backdrop of real-life sky, stand in an embrace, one another's limbs melting into one another's bodies. It's a beautiful moment of embrace and connection. [caption id="attachment_642110" align="alignnone" width="1920"] G Carr[/caption] KATHY ALLAM: PLASTIC PARADISE Kathy Allam creates art with items usually discarded. For Plastic Paradise, she collected 1000 green and blue bottles over three years to create this abstract plastic landscape that both glitters in the sunlight and makes a statement on single-use plastics. [caption id="attachment_642058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] HARRIE FASHER: THE LAST CHARGE Standing before this mini herd of mighty horses, it's not hard to imagine the terror of a stampede. Oberon-based artist Harrie Fasher built the sculpture as a centenary memorial to the charge of the Australian Light Horse in the Battle of Beersheba in Palestine on October 31, 1917. [caption id="attachment_642059" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] DAVID BALL: ORB Needless to say, you have to check out the winner of the $60,000 Aqualand Award, which is the wealthiest annual sculpture prize in Australia. Orb is the creation of Mittagong-based sculptor David Ball and, inspired by his experience exploring the outdoors of Sydney's bushland, puts a striking frame around a familiar view. "Orb is a visual metaphor for a break in unity but also conveys humour as such a small force cause's disconnection," Ball said in a statement after winning the prize. Sculpture by the Sea is on display between Bondi and Tamarama beaches in Sydney until November 5. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com.
Back in July, we told you about the opening of a booze-free bar in Auckland, whose owners hoped to tackle New Zealand's serious drinking obsession and simultaneously capitalise on council alcohol regulations that saw all city watering holes closed by 4am. It seemed like a nice idea in theory, but punters clearly didn't agree, and now just five weeks after opening, Tap Bar has shut its doors. Co-owner Grady Elliot admitted defeat to the New Zealand Herald, telling the paper, "We gave it a shot and Auckland drinking culture just didn’t tie in with the dry bar." Or, to put it another way, "No one showed up." Guys, this might be a reaaaaaal good time to start thinking about our relationship with alcohol. New Zealand's first and presumably last dry bar, Tap (briefly) served a mix of alcohol-free beer, wine and mocktails starting from around NZ$5. The absence of alcohol meant they could stay open all night, but according to Elliot, what few patrons they did get mostly stuck with the free water. The NZ$15 entry fee probably didn't help matters either. Perhaps the most depressing thing about this story is that Elliot was clearly well prepared for failure, and has already applied for a liquor licence for the location, which will reopen as a more traditional nightclub as soon as possible. Talk about sticking to your guns. On the plus side, now he'll be able to drink to forget about that pesky oversight. Meanwhile, the operators behind London's recently opened alcohol free bar Redemption are presumably rolling beer kegs in through the back door. Just in case. Via The New Zealand Herald. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Stop everything and find a Frenchie to flip. Instagram has finally created its own collage-creating software — yep, finally. The social media giant launched their brand new standalone app today, dubbed (rather uncatchily) Layout from Instagram. The new app lets you easily combine multiple photos into one masterpiece of a 'gram. Though it seems Instagram were a little slow off the mark with this, the Instateam have taken their time to create one genuinely great editing app. According to Instagram, one in five monthly active users are sharing images that combine multiple photos — using external apps like Framatic, Photo Collage Maker and InstaCollage and importing the photos into Instagram later. So the team decided to make their own little editor and keep things in-house. So how does it work? Super easy to use, Layout accesses your photo gallery and does most of the work for you. The Faces option shows you all the photos in your camera roll that feature people — so you can cut the crap and go straight to making hella sick selfies. Speaking of selifes, you can take countdown photobooth shots in the app, but only using the frontal camera — because YOU. Apparently 90 percent of photos in collage images shared to Instagram are of people, and 50 percent of non-collage photos on Instagram are of people. It's all about your big beautiful self-promoting faces. Once you've picked your image, you can drag and drop photos to arrange them all nice and pretty like, pinch to zoom or pull the sides of each image to tweak its size, even flip and rotate to mirror your face on your face. Like George here: Layout masterpieces can be shared directly to your Instagram or Facebook, or saved to your camera roll to access and glorious sharing later. Things are going to get freaky in your feed. Layout from Instagram is available from today for iOS devices in Apple’s App Store. It’s currently only available for iOS. Layout from Instagram will be available for Android in the coming months.
Ah vino. Best paired with a fine cheese or a hearty meal, or enjoyed around the fireplace with your oh-so-classy friends. Or at least, that's how it works in your mind. In reality, we're more likely to be inhaling a $6 vintage straight from the goon sack, or using the discarded bottle as a microphone in our solo rendition of 'All By Myself' – all before stumbling woozily off to bed. Hopefully your experience lies somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios. But the reality is that, for every bona fide sommelier out there, a large portion of the rest of us are more likely to pick our poison based on the price and how nice the label looks, as opposed to things like acidity, provenance or bouquet. And something about tannins. Those are a thing, right? Embracing this fact, VinePair co-founder Adam Teeter (which is an excellent surname for a wine buff, by the way) has teamed up with illustrator Jeff Licciardo to produce 26 hypothetical wine labels that better reflect the average wine drinker's true experience. Forget about drinking to forget: these vintages know you better than you know yourself, offering everything from handy pairing suggestions ("drink me with post-break-up anger and takeaway") to positive affirmations ("yes, you're definitely on key") to nuggets of brutal honesty ("you're turning into your mother"). Look, somebody needed to tell you. At least this way you can get drunk immediately after hearing it. For more honest wine labels, visit VinePair. Via BuzzFeed.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia this winter. 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. They took the show on the road, launching in Australia this June. In partnership with Wats On Events, Bongo's Bingo Down Under threw massive bingo raves at The Tivoli in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, Sydney's Paddington Town Hall and Melbourne's Collingwood Town Hall — and it went so well, they're doing it all again. Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including 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 a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. 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 — Thursday, August 24 at The Tivoli Sydney — Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26 at yet-to-be-announced secret location within five kilometres of the CBD Melbourne — Thursday, August 31 and Friday, September 1 at Collingwood Town Hall Doors from 6pm and shows kick off 7.30pm. Tickets are $55 per person from bongosbingodownunder.com.au — on sale from Friday, July 4 at 4pm AEST.
If you've a hankering for a culture injection, but can't afford to hit up every blockbuster exhibition that rolls into town, just look a little harder in the streets around you. There's art literally everywhere and we don't mean 'art' like the wisp of a cloud or the smile of a baby, but tangible, meaningful art that crowds the streets without our noticing. We can still be guilty of thinking of art as picture frames on walls in a white cube gallery, but these installation pieces in the City Art Collection defy the stereotype and crop up where you least suspect them. [caption id="attachment_581253" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Caroline Rothwell, Youngsters (2012). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] YOUNGSTERS - CAROLINE ROTHWELL The CBD is always jam-packed with people, so you'd be forgiven if you locked eyes on Caroline Rothwell's sculpture piece Youngsters, put your headphones in and kept on walking. The duo of bronze statues stands on the northern side of Barrack Street on the corner of Barrack and George Street and portrays two small figures in hoodies. On closer inspection you'll notice the figures are actually children, with plaits under their hoodies , one standing and one hand standing. Rothwell's sculptures are classically proportioned but make a comment on contemporary urban stereotypes while cutting through the noise of the busy district with their diminutive but sinister stance. [caption id="attachment_581268" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fiona Foley, Bibles and Bullets (2008). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] BIBLES AND BULLETS - FIONA FOLEY Prolific Brisbane-based installation artist Fiona Foley is the mind behind Bibles and Bullets, an interactive playscape for children installed in Redfern Park. Her work manages to be a playground and a piece of art with a lesson in Indigenous bush tucker, as her metal sculptures reference seeds from the local area. The individual elements of the park are laden with meaning. Intuitive Play creates climbing frames in the shape and texture of seed pods (wrinkly nut, mangrove seed and yam seeds) while Lotus Line is an interactive water feature made from a splay of lotus flowers in the shape of a crucifix, a comment on the colonisation of Indigenous lands to be read in the context of salient quotes from Paul Keating and an inscription commemorating artist Michael Riley engraved in the pavement near the park. [caption id="attachment_576740" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Robyn Bracken, The Archaeology of Bathing (1999). Image: City of Sydney.[/caption] ROBYN BACKEN - THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF BATHING You may have looked at Robyn Backen's piece The Archaeology of Bathing in Woolloomooloo Bay and mistook it as part of a (very odd) dock. It's actually a tribute to the traditional use of Woolloomoolloo Bay: bathing. Since the time the Gadigal people were the only inhabitants of the land and right through to 1955, the bay was used as a big bath for all and sundry. Of course, ladies and gents had separate bathing facilities (because of modesty and all that). The metal enclosure represents protection from not only sharks but also the shark-like attention of Peeping Toms. [caption id="attachment_581270" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Herbert Flugelman, Dobell Memorial Sculpture (1979). Image: Paul Patterson, City of Sydney.[/caption] DOBELL MEMORIAL SCULPTURE - FLUGELMAN Herbert Flugelman's sculpture stands proudly on the intersection of Bond, Spring and Pitt Street in the CBD, and upon previous inspection you might have thought it a tribute to, say, shiny things or a neat stack of energised tesseracts, but you'd be wrong. The sculpture is called the Dobell Memorial Sculpture and it represents a man named Sir William Dobell, one of Australia's most prized landscape and portrait artists. Dobell won the Archibald Prize three times and was knighted in 1966 (a very worthy subject for an abstract memorial). Flugelman, the artist, is renowned for his concentric, geometric sculptural work. So now, when you stroll past the glinting, glorious memorial sculpture, you can break out some esoteric as heck facts to wow your pals. [caption id="attachment_581252" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fiona Hall, A Folly for Mrs Macquarie (1999). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] A FOLLY FOR MRS MACQUARIE - FIONA HALL In the Royal Botanic Gardens, looking east over the harbour, you'll find a cast iron gazebo that's part bird cage and part Elven masterpiece. Its accurate title, as defined by artist Fiona Hall, is a 'folly' – a costly, ornamental structure with no practical purpose. It's a dig at Lachlan Macquarie, the governor of Sydney from 1810-1821, who tried to impose a neoclassical order to the city that staunchly resisted it. It's an allegory for the rigid way Britain colonised Australia (another folly in the artist's view) and attempted to impose their values on society along with their taste in architecture The flowery style of the folly is, upon closer inspection, made up of native plant and animal species (that were bred out of the harbour by foreign species) and barbed wire that divided the land. A Folly For Mrs Macquarie is a superficially pretty structure with a powerful message about colonisation. Want more Sydney art? Let's go find five hidden artworks around the city.
About damn time, Pinterest. The global social media giant and lover all things wedding-related has joined the world of e-commerce; revealing a 'Buy It' button to allow users to shop their favourite pinned products. Revealed on Tuesday at a big ol' shindig at the San Francisco Pinterest HQ, the new 'buyable pins' have been a long time coming for the globally-celebrated website worth a cheeky $10 billion and singlehandedly dedicated to sharing pretty, pretty thingies users immediately want to hand over their dosh for. According to TIME, 50 billion pins have been added since the company's launch and 93 percent of active Pinners were keen to use the site to plan purchases — that's a genuinely gargantuan customer base eager to throw their money at someone, anyone. Plus, 80 percent of users access the site through their phones (prime online shopping grounds), so the whole thing's a no-brainer (albeit a late-to-the-party one) for Pinterest. So how does it work? After clicking on select pinned products, users will be able to scope out the price, size and colour options of their chosen Pretty Thing and select the quantity to order. You'll be able to use credit card or Apple Pay to nab your chosen item and you'll pay no additional fees. Crazy. So far, even Pinterest merchants won't have to pay commission to sell their wares — all of which makes it a little ambiguous how Pinterest will make any money out of this. We're guessing, with the recent introduction of promoted pins for big advertisers, merchant fees will be introduced down the track after everyone signs up. Pinterest will roll out the buyable pins in the US on iPhone and iPads in late June. Already signed-up merchants include Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Kate Spade and Cole Hahn. We're still waiting to hear when Australia will get its mitts on the buttons. Instagram just revealed a 'buy it' button for advertisers and Facebook's apparently also working on one too. Social media e-commerce, come at us. Via TIME. Images: Pinterest, Dollar Photo Club.
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (whos pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. [caption id="attachment_566976" align="alignnone" width="1200"] YouTube[/caption] The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. The DI$COUNT UNIVER$E It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition will run from November 29 - December 9 at 32-34 Wellington Street, Collingwood. Image: Daniel Good John.
Australia has a love affair with bartenders. Photographing these women and men about town, known for their prowess behind the bar and sought after for their mad mixology skills, has become quite the artform of late. Our obsession with bar teams and their unique concoctions has been realised in a nationwide competition run by Auchentoshan, dubbed Distilled Different. Twelve of Australia's best bar teams have created a cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. They're going head-to-head to win bragging rights, an epic photo shoot and a huge team trip to Glasgow. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will appear in the national Dare to be Distilled Different photography exhibition. Their talented faces and creative cocktails will be captured by three up-and-coming photographers, all chosen by Art Pharmacy. We asked them how they plan to bring the multi-sensory world of the cocktail — and the unique story behind each bar team — to life. [caption id="attachment_584663" align="alignnone" width="1279"] Oli Samsom[/caption] OLI SAMSOM (MELBOURNE) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? I'm excited to bring my love and fascination of the dim, grim and classical to help represent a glorious bunch of artists in a craft pretty far removed from mine. Collaboration is king and I'm pretty stoked to make something that the teams and folks within them are all proud of. Has social media, particularly Instagram, changed the way you photograph cocktails? I try not to let mediums change how I shoot. I'm aware of little tricks and approaches that work best for the platform, but I think the devil is in trying to get a maximum arbitrary return each and every time. There's a lot to be said for doing stuff the way you feel is right, even if it means admitting the 'engagement' suffers. It's that old quality vs quantity chestnut. And really, if I wanted the most amount of engagement the quickest, I'd just be posting landscape shots and swimsuit images in alteration. If anything though, Instagram in particular has encouraged me to do what I love, which is write in my own voice. It hits sleeper followers in ways that you only find out about later. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? They're more revered than ever now. It's no secret and should be no surprise to anyone that the current movement across hospitality, or anything remotely craft-related, centres on celebrating the folks behind the product. We're seeing that in mass media with cooking shows shifting spin to the makers being held up as 'rock stars'. This also goes along with the whole 'care economy' happening everywhere: a competition for who gives a shit the most — which has been a great thing for culture, tourism, the lot. We're competing on who does things best, not so much price, speed, or geographic factors. With the general standard being lifted, folks are wanting to experience more of the story of those behind the curtain, they're wanting to see that care first-hand, and enjoy that romance of skill and attention to detail. Photography plays a huge role in that. Much like photography has been the underrated force in driving the feel and magic/mystique of our favourite musicians over the years, a strong image that sets the scene for a maker, in this case a bartender, can really help cement them as a maker and give an intelligent and artistic glimpse into their world and what's involved. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bar's aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. Bars are an interesting old beast, not only are they dim, but there are a lot of competing light sources, reflections, and surfaces that are sometimes ideal as a punter in the space, but more of a challenge to represent photographically. So it becomes a mix of celebrating the light and mood as it exists through longer exposures, while bringing out the subjects with artificial light in a tasteful way. I'm a fan of subtle composites so that will form part of the approach too. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? With these shoots all being on location, ultimately they'll be pretty informed by the space they're set in. So I'll be keeping the focus simple, on what's driven most of my existing work: mood, stillness, and a dash of old-world. [caption id="attachment_584659" align="alignnone" width="1279"] Savannah Van Der Niet[/caption] SAVANNAH VAN DER NIET (BRISBANE) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? I enjoy the challenge of capturing people — meeting a stylistic brief but also trying to show a bit of the character in the subjects as well. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? I think it's about connection. People want a human element in the imagery they see to make them feel comfortable and enticed. Photographers can use their skill to shed light on a bartender's personality. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bars aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. I generally shoot with natural light and focus more on people and food than bars. So usually I'll shoot during the day. Or I will bring my lights along. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? My creative concept is to focus on the personalities of the bar staff and the cocktail they will be making. I can't wait! [caption id="attachment_584661" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Brendan Fitzpatrick[/caption] BRENDAN FITZPATRICK (SYDNEY) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? Photography allows me to draw back the curtain on subjects and learn something from the time spent in their world. The science of bartending and cocktail making has a long history and a nuanced culture. The best bartenders are artists in their field. I learn a lot listening to them talk about an art crafted from a very different palette of materials from my own. Has social media, particularly Instagram, changed the way you photograph cocktails? Nothing will ever change the way I shoot cocktails. I am entirely platform-agnostic when it comes to my cocktail shoots. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? They're more revered than ever now. Digital platforms have allowed businesses to communicate directly with their customers. Each bartenders and team has their own personality — I intend to capture this through this competition and share it with the world. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bars aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. The main thing to have to hand in a dark space is a light. The light banishes the dark. No matter if you're a photographer in a bar or just a civilian at home minding your own business, there's nothing like a light to get you over the line. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? The bars have worked hard to differentiate themselves through their design and branding. I hope some of the techniques and ideas I use will be inspired by what they've created. In broad terms I see the bar as a stage and the bar teams themselves as actors on that stage. Right now I'm researching, meeting everyone and listening to their stories. The more I understand them and why they do things in the manner specific to them, the better I can convey their unique personality in a single image.
Any self-respecting Melbourne foodie has knelt at the food altar that is Chin Chin. Now Sydneysiders will be able to feast on celebrated Melburnian Thai excellence; Chin Chin has found itself a permanent home in Sydney. After announcing the search for a Sydney spot last April, it appears the restaurant has picked a rather dramatic spot to arrive in — by taking over the ground floor of the Griffiths Teas building on the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, right near Central Station. Chin Chin has been planning on a Sydney expansion for a while now. Back in April 2014, owner Chris Lucas told Good Food he was seeking the right spot. "We are looking for an old building," he said. "I’m surprised how many beautiful, old buildings Sydney has." After plenty of Sydney artist collectives, hospitality groups and property developers had their eye firmly on it, the Griffiths Teas building went up for sale last year. The Cornerstone Property Group bought it from Isaac and Susan Wakil for a cool $22 million. Cornerstone's plan is to turn the upper floors into New York loft-style apartments and give Chin Chin the street level. The property group has a thing for transforming former industrial buildings into contemporary residential and retail premises, having revamped the ex-Classic sportswear factory on Cleveland Street into an apartment block, making $37 million in the process. They also bought adjacent properties, 119-121 Kippax Street and 10-14 Waterloo Street, in 2014. Apparently Chin Chin’s Sydney escapade is still being finalised, but an architect has been employed. Watch this space. Via Good Food.
Somebody's closer. Netflix announced its Australian pricing today, officially giving the finger to main schoolyard rivals Presto and Stan. The US streaming service has officially set its pricing tiers, with entry level membership sitting at $8.99 a month — cheapest of 'em all in Australia — then $11.99 (high definition, can stream on two screens at once), and $14.99 for the big kahuna (fastest, high def 4K streaming, can stream on up to four screens at once). Pricing leaked online yesterday thanks to the snooping legends at Reddit, but was announced formally today. This pricing is cheaper than Fairfax/Nine's unfortunately-named Stan service, priced at $10 a month. But according to Fairfax, it's all about definition (because of course they'd bring that up). Netflix's lowest tier will apparently only stream in standard definition, whereas Stan's will be all up in high def. Foxtel/Seven's Presto service is sitting at $9.99 (also a big ol' one-cent-less ner to Stan), but is in the same situation as Netflix — streaming in standard def. If you're thinking of sneakily buying Netflix's US version and streaming via proxy (Who said that? Was it you? Nothing to see here.) the US prices are pretty similar: $US7.99 for the lowest, standard definition tier. Netflix launches in Australia on March 24. What's in store for users? Reddit posted this image of what you can expect from the Australian Netflix library, whether it's real or not. Hold on to your butts. Via SMH.
Peter Bibby might be based in Melbourne, but this spinner of VB-soaked yarns calls Perth home. Having recently returned from the USA (seems like Americans have a thing for earnest, self-deprecating Aussie guitarists at the moment — see Courtney Barnett), the hugely hyped crooner is about to kick off his first national tour. You can expect a damn fine show from the 'Hates My Boozin' singer — not for nothing has he played Sydney Festival, Laneway and SXSW already. Releasing his debut album Butcher/Hairstylist/Beautician in November last year, Bibby named his first release for a hidden Perth gem that brings all three businesses under one roof. So we thought we'd put his local knowledge to the test, asking Bibby to unearth five hidden treasures only Perth locals would be able to recommend. From pubs filled with kangaroo regulars to go-to guitar shops and super glam petrol station cafes, let's take a bonafide Bibby tour through Perth. MOJOS BAR "The best bar in Australia in my opinion, besides maybe Dan's Pub in Tasmania. Pool, beverages and live music on offer every night of the week." 237 Queen Victoria St, North Fremantle STRUMMERS GUITARS "To my knowledge, the best second-hand guitar dealer/repair shop anywhere near Perth. Huge range of rare guitars and equipment at very reasonable prices and run by two very lovely fellows." 811 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley MIDLAND GATE SHOPPING CENTRE "Everything you could ever hope for in a shopping centre. Likely to see some of Midlands finest scumbags on every visit." 274 Great Eastern Highway, Midland JOHN FORREST TAVERN "This little tavern is a great place to get a bit merry before you walk around a pretty beautiful part of the world. They have a resident kangaroo and there is usually native birds just hanging out inside the pub. It’s pretty legit." Park Rd, Glen Forrest VIBE CAFE "Situated on Charles Street in North Perth, the Vibe Cafe offers a range of fine delicacies at affordable prices. You can also buy petrol there." 427 Charles Street, North Perth Peter Bibby is currently touring in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this week and next. By Jessica Surman and Shannon Connellan. Top image: Matt Sav. Images: Mojos, Strummers, Caputi Enterprises, Publocation, Vibe.
Grab yourself a pint and your groceries to go. The Henson corner pub has been a favourite of Marrickville residents since it reopened its doors a few years back — and with the recent launch of a deli and bottle shop onsite, this solid local has just made itself one highly indispensable member of the neighbourhood. The shelves of the fittingly-named Grocery and Grog are laden with gourmet foodstuffs, including fresh fruit and veggies, housemade pickles, milk, eggs, dips and preserves. Their handpicked selection of cured meats includes smoked wagyu beef, duck prosciutto and a fennel and garlic salami, while they also offer a similarly extensive array of hard and soft cheeses. If you feel like eating in, you can order cheese and meat boards at the bar, or you can opt for one of their handmade panino sandwiches. They're also hosting daily tasting sessions, the crafty devils. That's how they hook you. Oh, and did we forget to say they sell Pana chocolates too? Because that seems like something we should mention. The bottle shop is well-stocked with organic and minimal intervention wines, alongside a range of beers from local breweries. The more adventurous among you may also want to peruse their selection of bespoke spirits, ports and sherries. How fancy. Grocery and Grog is located at The Henson, 91 Illawarra Road, Marrickville. For more information visit their website. Via Good Food.
Turns out Neil Armstrong was lacking foresight when he first stepped on the moon. What he actually should have announced was, "One small step for man, one giant leap for beer." Last year, Oregon-based brewing company Ninkasi ran their very own space programme (classic forward-thinking Oregon). Yep, they got hold of a couple of rockets and sent a bunch of brewer's yeast into outer space and back. It's since been turned into beer and as of April 13, will be available for sampling. Wonderfully-named Ground Control, the brew blends well-travelled ingredients with local ones. Ninkasi have described it as a "rich, complex imperial stout", made with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs. Take. Our. Money. Getting the yeast into outer space and back successfully took two missions. The first, which left on July 2014, carried sixteen vials. But, on returning to Earth, it wound up somewhere in the Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, which meant that the Ninkasi team didn’t find it for 27 days — way too late for brewing purposes. The second mission, carrying six vials, left on October 23 from New Mexico's Spaceport America. After journeying to 408,035 feet, and reaching a maximum speed of Mach 5, it came back to Earth safely — ready for fermenting. Ground Control will be sold in limited edition 22-ounce bottles at selected retailers across the United States. Keep your eyes on the eBay stars. Via io9.
Less than a month after being cancelled due to alleged financial mismanagement, the iconic Tropfest short film festival has been thrown a much needed lifeline. On the very day that the festival was originally meant to take place, Tropfest founder John Polson has announced the event will instead be held on Valentine's Day next year, after securing a last minute sponsorship deal with CGU Insurance. "It’s incredibly encouraging to see that the Australian public and corporate community really want to see Tropfest return," said Polson, who was forced to cancel the festival after discovering what he, at the time, called "a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds." No word yet on whether the CGU deal extends beyond this year, or whether it will help Polson cover the festival's six figure debt. Details on how the money was actually lost likewise remain unclear, although it's worth mentioning that Polson is currently engaged in legal action against Tropfest managing director Michael Laverty. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that "in my opinion, we've done nothing wrong but respond as best we can to a terrible situation brought about by bad management." Polson also took a swipe at the lack of assistance from the NSW government, saying "many people have asked what has the NSW government done since this crisis…the truth is not a lot at this point." "Tropfest is a great festival, providing unique platforms for talented filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and we are excited to be able to help them get back on their feet," said Ben Bessel, Commercial Insurance Chief Executive for IAG, which owns CGU Insurance. "Supporting this fantastic cultural event is about creating a renewed opportunity for Tropfest and all those small businesses associated with the event to continue to thrive and get some business done." In recent years Tropfest has attracted a national live audience of up to 150,000 people along with hundreds of thousands more via live TV broadcast. Polson confirmed that all 16 of this year's finalists will make their premiere as planned – albeit a few months late – live in Sydney's Centennial Parklands on February 14. Trop Jr., the festival's competition for filmmakers aged 15 years and under, will also go ahead.
Reach the top of one of Australia's most iconic structures and then celebrate with a song. For the second year in a row as part of Sydney's Chinese New Year's celebrations, BridgeClimb Sydney are offering Karaoke packages at the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Karaoke Climb will run throughout the first three weeks of February, with climbs departing at 9:30am, 3pm and 7:30pm each day. Once you've reached the top of the bridge, you'll be given a selection of Chinese and K-Pop songs to choose from, for you and your friends to belt out at the top of your lungs. Your performance will be captured on an eight second video – although whether you want to share it will probably depend on your singing ability. Now before you go out and book yourself a spot, you should know that these climbs are being run exclusively in Mandarin. Still, we're hoping they offer an English option down the line, if only because we've got about fifty different song ideas. Starting with this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjGoJFgI71I If you're not much of a singer, Bridge Climb will be offering a number of other themed experiences this year, including climbs for Mardi Gras and Vivid Sydney. You can even get married up there, although how you're expected to keep your hair straight we just don't know. For more information about the Karaoke Climb, go here.
Chippendale's late-night warehouse hangout Freda's have worked with Vivid Music curator Stephen Ferris to craft a predictably eclectic lineup of shenanigans for Vivid Sydney 2015. Kicking off with a technicolour explosion of lights and sound, good times are pretty much guaranteed with opening party Vibe Positive. There's two overseas trips to take, to Japan and Africa — see Rainbow Chan, Ryan Powderly and CORIN spin the synth classics of '80s Japanese pop legends Yellow Magic Orchestra (with matching Japanese-style food and cocktails), and YEVU takes you on a tour through African music (also with paired snacks and bevs). Odd Waves throw in some new-wave visuals, plus expect appearances from The Cut Silk Dance Band's dizzying disco-meets-house mixes and Freda's 'voodoo bongo jam'-lovin' party crew Jingle Jangle. Align your chakras and bliss out with Celestial Bodies, with A.R.T. Wilson (Andras Fox) playing live alongside Mongolian Horse Fiddler and Throat Singer Bukhu, and DJs Ariane, Long John Saliva, and Wild Sunset. Head over here for the whole Freda's x Vivid program.
The service industry has really been through some things lately. 'Shake up' doesn't even come close. Crowd-sourcing, app-ification, and hyper-localisation mean that the service industry we enjoy looks nothing like what our parents knew. And the latest offering from the team behind Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills and Melbourne's Seven Seeds is a testament to this brave new world. When it was announced back in August, Paramount House Hotel promised it wouldn't be a hotel in the traditional sense of the word. It won't be a glitzy chain where everything looks and feels the same no matter which country you're visiting. It aims to be an immersive local experience and give visitors a genuine slice of life in Surry Hills. And soon you'll be able to check it out for yourself — it's set to open on April 1. The hotel is part of Paramount House, which currently houses Paramount Coffee, a co-working space and Golden Age Cinema. The downstairs cafe will act as the entrance to the new hotel lobby, and a two-storey extension will provide 29 rooms. The hotel will contain a rooftop gym and outdoor cafe — dubbed Paramount Recreation Club — and a brand new restaurant from Ester names Poly. (Yes, it'll do room service.) "We hope to encapsulate the spirit of Surry Hills and offer the guest an immersive local community experience," said Ping Jin Ng, who co-owns the hotel along with Russell Beard and Mark Dundon. "We are considered but not staged, generous but not lavish and we will offer a memorable and inspiring stay — not just comfortable and slick." The vision for the hotel has been realised by Melbourne architecture firm, Breathe. You may know them for their work on Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Host, the Collingwood Arts Precinct, The Commons and Transformer. It's connected two buildings on Commonwealth Street, added a copper-clad extension to the roof and decked it out with little luxuries like private terraces and generous spots of greenery. Rooms start at $225 a night, and have a mini bar stocked with snacks from LP's Quality Meats and Tom Shobbrook wines, and Aesop products in all the bathrooms — of course. Paramount House Hotel will open to guests on April 1, 2018 at 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. Bookings are now being taken at paramounthousehotel.com. Images: Tom Ross and Sharon Cairns.
It's an oldie but a goodie. Jimmy Kimmel pulled one of his most loved pranks at SXSW this week, asking punters whether they knew fake bands with his 'Lie Witness News' crew. Unknowing SXSWer after SXSwer praised the likes of Mary-Kate and Nasty, Cheese Whiz Khalifa and DJ Gluten — "hard to tolerate?" — with one punter even going so far as to describe DJ Underwire as "mixing it up with turntablism". Heh. It's straight-up baffling how Kimmel (and subsequent spin-offs) has managed to do this at festival after festival and catch starry-eyed posers in the act of posing, having pulled this stunt year after year, Coachella after Coachella. But my giddy aunt, it's fun to watch. These aren't the only shenanigans going down at SXSW. Check out our roundup of nine incredible things you're missing at this year's festival.
As if ringing in the new year isn't exciting enough, January, as always, will also bring with it the dazzling, vibrant carnival that is Sydney Festival. Turning the city into a creative playground for a full three weeks, the Festival brings a (very generous) dose of culture to the sizzling days and balmy nights of Sydney summer. Today the festival has unveiled its 2018 program — and it's an absolute cracker, packed with hundreds of events ranging from mind-boggling circus to cutting-edge theatre and awe-inspiring musical performances. Whatever art experience you're after, you'll find it in Sydney between January 6–28. While this year doesn't have an installation quite as interactive as Snarkitecture's giant ball pit or the House of Mirrors (which is currently on display in Melbourne), Sydney Town Hall will become a shrine to 50,000 of Japan's unwanted plastic toys with Hiroshi Fuji's large-scale work Jurassic Plastic. It looks like a kid's paradise but there will be adults-only nights too. Four Thousand Fish will be an immersive work where participants will help create ice sculptures of fish and then return them to the harbour to commemorate Barangaroo and the Warrane women. On stage, we ecstatic to hear that Tree of Codes will be coming to Sydney after performances at Melbourne Festival; the visually stunning ballet — which we really, really hoped would come to Australia — combines the talents of choreographer Wayne McGregor, visual artist Olafur Eliasson, musician Jamie xx and the Paris Opera Ballet. [caption id="attachment_642587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jurassic Plastic, shot by Keizo Kioku[/caption] On the musical side of things, not only are Opera in the Domain and Symphony Under The Stars back for another year of dreamy music performed under the open night skies, there are also a host of gigs, most notably from NZ's Aldous Harding and Argentinian three-piece Fémina plus a tribute to The Go-Betweens' 16 Lovers Lane album and an otherworldly concert performed entirely underwater called Aquasonic. Five iconic Harry Siedler buildings will also host a series of talks and concerts, blending architecture and music on the program. Theatre buffs, meanwhile, should nab tickets for Barber Shop Chronicles. Offering a juicy peek into the vibrant life of barbershops across the world, this delightful show took British audiences by storm. Burlesque aficionado? Don't miss iconic Aussie boylesque troupe — and Syd Fest regulars — Briefs in all its glamorous, saucy glory in sci-fi spectacle Close Encounters. Don't miss My Name Is Jimi, where, Jimi Bani will call up four generations of his family to take you on an evening of music, dance and comedy at Belvoir. Head over to Parramatta's Circus City to catch the always-impressive Circus Oz in top form with Model Citizens, a satire that lampoons the suburban Aussie dream with impressive physicality and a foot-tapping soundtrack. Also in the environs is Highly Sprung, a soaring performance by Legs on the Wall, which tells the story of inner-city residents through the media of trampolines and other physical art forms. Punters will get a chance to have a go on the trampolines and even take part in an aerial workshop in-between shows — all for gratis. You can also sign up for a flying trapeze workshop for $49. In addition to the many ticketed events, there is also a panoply of free offerings, from art exhibitions and thought-provoking talks to interactive installations. As always the Meriton Festival Village will have heaps to offer between shows — dance to your fave song in a transparent, glitter-filled cube, swim in a shipping container pool, go for a spin on a karaoke carousel or join a 10-minute dance party in a shipping container. Whether you're in it for the inspiration, a shock, or just a whole lot of fun, this year's festival is sure to delight. Sydney, you're in for a summer treat. Sydney Festival will run from January 6–28, 2018. For more information visit sydneyfestival.org.au. By Yelena Bidé and Lauren Vadnjal. Image: Tree of Codes, shot by Joel Chester Fildes.
It was an ill-designed defence mechanism at the time of the first white settlers, then a pretty awful place for convicts. Now, one of Sydney's most historic harbour spots and recently a pretty fancy schmancy dining destination, Fort Denison has announced the return of its summer drinks and dining series, Sunday Sunsets. That's right, Sundays from now on? Fortress parties y'all. You'll be able to sail on out to Fort Denison Restaurant for Sunday afternoons of cocktails, food and live music every Sunday from November 29 until January 2016. You can book a sit-down sunset dinner at the restaurant, or play it super casual on the outdoor couches — there's a 'drinks and bites' menu that'll see you loaded up on lamb sliders, fish tacos, Alaskan crab tostadas, Sydney rock oysters, fine cheeses and charcuterie boards. Chuck in a little acid jazz and R&B from resident DJ and saxophonist Zak (a multitalented, multitasking dude is Zak), and you've got yourself a supremo Sydney date. There'll be special extended ferry services from Circular Quay, alongside shuttles from Manly and Watsons Bay. The last ferry departs from CQ at 8pm, so you can make a pretty long lazy Sunday. You'll have book though, to ensure your spot on the fortress, so check out the session times and prices on the website and lock in your spot. Fort Denison's Sunday Sunsets run every Sunday from November 29 to January 2016. Check the website for the weekly music lineup.
Need to get across town without owning a car? You've got Uber, GoGet etc. Want food delivered straight to your mouth? There's Suppertime, Deliveroo, yadda, yadda, yadda. But what if you're needing to find a top notch, independent, peer-reviewed cleaner who'll do a grand ol' job? There's Whizz. Whizz is Australia's newest app for booking cleaning services. They'll connect you to qualified, experienced and pre-screened independent cleaners — Whizz's cleaners must pass a seven-step qualification process before being approved as a 'Whizzard' — through the desktop platform or award-winning mobile app, and you can book in your cleaning service. There's a secure payment function and (incredibly) a 100 percent money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the service. Whizz offers residential cleaning and the ever-awful end of lease cleaning, alongside commercial/business cleaning and short-term accommodation/holiday rentals cleaning. They adhere to their own 'five-star hotel finish' mantra, leaving the place with toilet seals on every toilet, toilet paper tabs, a checklist of everything they cleaned, at least two chocolates (snaps), and their own 'bespoke Whizz scent'. Best bit? You can leave a cleaner review on Whizz's Facebook page, which makes the service kind of like Uber for cleaners. Check out Whizz's website to get started.
Bad news for online shopping addicts: Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has declared his intention to abolish the $1000 GST-free threshold on overseas purchases by July 1, 2017. The announcement, which came after a day of tax reform talks between state and federal treasurers, means that all items purchased from overseas retailers, including those bought through online shopping services such as Amazon, will soon be subject to the same standard 10 percent GST surcharge as items purchased in Australia. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Hockey said that the change will help deliver "competitive neutrality for Australian businesses, and ensure fair and equal treatment of goods and services. If goods and services would have the GST applied in Australia, then the same should apply for goods from overseas." He also stated that the decision had been made "with the unanimous agreement of Labor and Liberal states and territories". Hockey told the ABC that "what it effectively means is that we're going to have taxation officials travel around the world and visiting these companies and asking them to register for GST purposes." Only those companies with an annual GST turnover of more than $75,000 will be affected. This will also include companies that provide digital content services, such as Netflix and Facebook. If overseas companies prove unwilling to comply with Australian government requests, an alternative method of collecting the GST could be for Australians to pay the surcharge separately upon receipt of their purchased item. The potential issue with this method would be the cost of assessing each item as it reaches the border – something that Hockey as dismissed as "plainly ridiculous." The treasurer is apparently confident that the amount of revenue raised by this new scheme will outweigh the costs of enforcing it – despite recent findings by the Productivity Commission to the contrary. According to news.com.au, however, a spokesperson for Mr. Hockey yesterday admitted that the treasury has yet to perform any modelling on the economic impact of the proposed changes. Ultimately, the most depressing thing about this story is that regardless of whether we end up paying the GST, it may still be cheaper to purchase things online — which does rather put a damper on Hockey's 'levelling the playing field' rhetoric. As it stands now, you've got just under two years to get in all your impulse buying before you get whacked with an additional fee. Image: Dollar Photo Club
A stretch of the iconic Route 66 in Missouri is getting a major upgrade — and an environmental one at that. As part of its 'Road to Tomorrow' initiative, Missouri's Department of Transportation is joining forces with an Idaho-based startup called Solar Roadways to repave with state-of-the-art solar panels. These specially engineered panels are made of tempered safety glass and are super strong — as they'd have to be to sustain constant use by heavy vehicles. Apart from the whole 'harnessing the power of the sun' bit, the panels also come with LED lighting, which can efficiently replace road lines and signage. Basically, they're a badass piece of technology. The installation will no doubt be pricey, but Solar Roadways is prepared for it — the group raised more than $2.2 million through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. In addition to these funds, initiative leader Tom Blair received a $100,000 prototype grant from the Federal Highway Administration and two $750,000 research grants from the US Department of Transportation. Yep, that's federal funding for solar. The other good news is that their modular design allows for easy and cheap repairs by just swapping out broken panels for new ones. These bad boys are sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly — a seriously awesome invention that we hope to see more of on our own highways. Missouri may not be the first to experiment with solar roads — we wrote about the possibility of a crowdfunding campaign to pave American parking lots with the things back in 2014 and the recent plans to create solar roads in France earlier this year — but it sounds like Route 66 will be the first of its kind to actual get to the finish line. The Solar Roadways panels are expected to be completed by the end of 2016. This achievement is, almost inconceivably, awesome and hopefully will pave the way for the rest of us. Images: Solar Roadways.
Easter is one holiday that can lose its sheen pretty quickly. Usually once your parents decree you’re “too old” for Easter egg hunts. But with the four-day break and eating-centred celebrations (because you fasted for the last six weeks for Lent, right?), there’s plenty to get excited for. While some venues shut, others turn on the charm. Only the best have made it into this list, our ultimate Easter Weekend itinerary. Top image: Soda Factory.
Lovers of mountains and adrenaline junkies, meet your new bucket-lister. An old-school ski resort in Switzerland's Kandersteg Mountains is giving you a way to get your thrills and your incredible panoramas at the same time. It's an epic bobsled (better known in Europe as rodelbahn) that twists and turns down nearby mountains for 750 metres. Introducing Mountain Coaster. Frequenters of attractions Jamberoo Action Park or Merimbula's Magic Mountain might already know the drill — both parks are home to bobsleds that have featured in many a South Coaster's childhood. But the Mountain Coaster experience is looking far more spectacular. Rather than cruising around open hillsides, it plunges you down steep slopes and deep into some of Switzerland's most famous wilderness. In fact, its territory is smack bang in the centre of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is renowned for its extraordinary High Alps and numerous glaciers. Actually, you'll find the biggest glacier in Eurasia right here. Watch some of the runs on YouTube, they're nuts. Once you've conquered the Mountain Coaster, you might want to consider taking matters to scarier heights with the Alpine Coaster. Also found in Switzerland, it's the highest rodelbahn in the world and takes you through a kilometre of curves, waves, jumps and bridges, including a giddying 520-degree spin. Via Infinite Legroom. Image: Aleš Novotný.
Melbourne has long suffered aquatic inferiority to its Australian (okay, Sydney) counterparts. It doesn't have a Bondi, more harbour beaches than it does train lines or a slew of pools where you can catch a glimpse of the Harbour Bridge while doing a few laps of backstroke. But that could all be about to change. In what could be the final thing to make Melbourne the greatest city in the world (subjective, of course), a local non-profit has released a concept for a goddamn swimming pool in the Yarra River. According to The Age, the designs for the Yarra swimming pool were announced last night at as part of Australia's Venice Biennale Exhibition, The Pool. The concept has been jointly created by Melbourne non-profit Yarra Swim Co and UK architects Studio Octopi, who are responsible for proposing a similar concept on London's River Thames. We could probably jump in the Yarra for our excitement. Together they've created a concept for the Yarra pool, which includes a 25-metre lap pool and a smaller children's play pool with planted pontoons off Enterprize Park, which is down under the train lines next to the aquarium. Of course, this doesn't include simply setting up some booms and some lane ropes and charging people six dollars a pop to do some laps. The Yarra is filthy (thanks to that time it was a dumping ground for industrial run-off) and that water needs to be filtered. According to the project's website, they are looking into locally developed technology that may allow river water to supply the pool. The proposed aquatic structure would also have spectacular views from the water and surrounding decks, as well as a cafe and an activated riverbank. 'Ave a look at this render. Inevitably this thing is set to cost a lot of cash — six to eight million, in fact. At the moment the project is just a concept, and Yarra Swim Co will be looking at sponsorship, grants and perhaps even crowdfunding to make up the money. Whatever it costs though, now we know it's an option, we will not rest until we can swim in the Yarra and get a specialty coffee on the banks of the river when we're done. Via The Age.
It's a fact of film-loving, cinema-going, Netflix-watching life: try as you might, you can't always catch them all. Maybe you saw all of this year's top films. Maybe you missed some great ones when they were first released. Maybe you've got a hefty list of flicks to seek out over summer. However you fared with 2016's crop of cinematic gems, they're about to have some friends, with a whole new year of films descending upon movie theatres in 2017. As always, both the big and the small end of town is covered. Keen for more fast and furious vehicle action? Eager to see a great Aussie novel make it to the screen? They're all coming. In fact, there's so much hurtling towards a darkened room near you that whittling our picks down to just ten was by no means easy. With that in mind, here's the films you absolutely shouldn't miss over the next 12 months. Happy viewing. JACKIE Natalie Portman doesn't need a second Oscar to validate her astonishing her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in Pablo Larraín's Jackie, but she's probably going to get one anyway. The whirlwind of horror, grief and trauma surrounding the First Lady's life following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy oozes from the actress in every scene — and she's just one of highlights of the film. After directing No, The Club and Neruda, Larraín remains in top form, the supporting cast of Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig and Billy Crudup are all stellar, and the overall effect couldn't be more haunting, revealing and devastating. T2: TRANSPOTTING Choose life. Choose catching up with the long-awaited sequel to the Danny Boyle-directed, Ewan McGregor-starring '90s hit that well and truly put both on the map. A small amount of apprehension about delving back into the Edinburgh drug life after more than two decades might've been understandable when the long-awaited film finally became a reality, but then the ace trailer quelled all those fears. On-screen and off, the gang's back — older, but not necessarily wiser, of course. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 If you'd told us a few years ago that a sequel to a Keanu Reeves-starring action flick would be so eagerly anticipated, we actually would've believed you, honestly — just watch the original Point Break, and then watch it again, and you'll understand. Thanks to the first John Wick film in 2014, everyone's a Keanu fan these days, and so they should be. The follow-up to that surprise hit promises more ultra-stylish shoot-em-up carnage and more Keanu at his cool, calm and collected best, plus a reunion with The Matrix's Laurence Fishburne. BLADE RUNNER 2049 Sequels, sequels, sequels seems to be the theme of every year at the movies (plus remakes, reboots and re-imaginings), however it's difficult not to be excited about a second Blade Runner. Even if you didn't love Ridley Scott's first film or just haven't seen it, a futuristic sci-fi starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, directed by Sicario and Arrival's Denis Villeneuve, and cloaked in a neon glow looks like more than just a replica. With Scott himself also helming 2017 release Alien: Covenant, the sequel to Prometheus, who knew it was going to be such a big year for follow-ups to his movies from more than three decades ago? THOR: RAGNAROK Like superhero films? Prefer the goofier, quirkier, weirder instalments to the grim and serious flicks? Us too. Given that it's about a hammer-wielding god, the Thor movies have always proven a little livelier than most of their Marvel brethren, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Taika Waititi certain to continue that trend on Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba all return, Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldblum join the cast, and the Gold Coast and Brisbane get starring roles. Following this year's Doctor Strange and April's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it's a busy time for fun comic book adaptations. THIS WINTER After directing the best Australian film of 2016, Goldstone (pictured), Ivan Sen jumped straight back behind the camera. Details are scarce about his next effort, This Winter, however it was made in Sen's hometown of Tamworth, tells the tale of an Indigenous family torn apart by suicide and incarceration, and was written, directed, produced, shot and edited by the multitalented filmmaker. Expect to see it on the festival circuit — and expect another powerful contemplation of issues of race in Australia. THE BEGUILED Sofia Coppola's latest film is called The Beguiled — and, call us suitably intrigued, entranced and all-round keen. Her first feature since 2013's The Bling Ring is a remake of a 1971 western melodrama of the same name, as set in a girl's boarding school during the civil war. The Virgin Suicides' Kirsten Dunst and Somewhere's (pictured) Elle Fanning feature among the cast, alongside Coppola newcomers Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell and Angourie Rice. HAPPY END Come 2017, it will have been five years since Austrian director Michael Haneke broke hearts with his harrowing elderly-focused effort Amour, and won his second successive Palme d'Or at Cannes in the process. After planning and then seemingly moving on from a film called Flashmob in the time since, he's back. In Happy End, he reunites with Isabelle Huppert after The Piano Teacher (pictured) and dives into refugee-centric family drama. If you've seen either version of Funny Games, or Cache or The White Ribbon, you'll know that that description could mean anything, really. LADY BIRD If you can't get enough of Greta Gerwig, and love the two films she has co-written with Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha and Mistress America, pictured), then Lady Bird should rocket right to the top of your must-see list. Gerwig doesn't feature on screen, but she does write and make her solo directorial debut (after co-helming 2008's Nights and Weekends with Joe Swanberg). The movie is set in Sacramento, where the actress-turned-filmmaker grew up, and stars Brooklyn's Saoirse Ronan. While the plot is yet to be revealed, it's a comedy, so you can already guess the kind of affable antics that are set to ensue. VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS Before there was Star Wars and its many episodes and side-stories, and before there was The Fifth Element, too, there was Valérian and Laureline. The French sci-fi comic series reportedly inspired George Lucas — and it definitely made an impact on Luc Besson, who is finally adapting it for the big screen. With Lucy bringing the director back to his best, here's hoping there's more where that came from. There'll certainly be time and space travelling, a cast that includes Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and Ethan Hawke, and futuristic visuals aplenty.
Batteries are pretty powerful things. And although the one in the back of your iPhone 5 can't seem to last the day without dying, there are batteries that power cars, batteries that take just 60 seconds to charge — and there are batteries that can power your entire home. On Friday, Tesla Energy announced the Tesla Powerwall: a battery that not only powers your home but one that stores power for when you need it. It's designed to hook up with your power source, which is either solar power, or the grid, where most people get their electricity from. And it's really smart, because depending on which power source you have, the Powerwall will either store the solar energy for later or charge itself from the grid in off-peak times. This not only saves you and your household some cash, but it's a step away from Australia's reliance on dirty coal and fossil fuels for power, and means that we can move towards cleaner energy like solar, wind and geothermal. And, at US$3,000 – $3,5000, it does it for a fraction of the price of similar batteries. Pretty cool, huh? Energy experts are excited about it too, and since the announcement, they've been quick to predict how this could affect the way we use and store energy in our homes and workplaces. THE POWERWALL COULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR DIRTY POWER According to Campbell Simpson of Gizmodo, the Powerwall isn't going to reduce your household’s grid energy usage to zero, but it will reduce the peaks in grid electricity reliance — therefore letting Powerwall users charge overnight instead of in the daytime when everyone else is using the network and increasing demand. "And because of that shifting of load, it will reduce the world’s need for peak power generation," he says. "Theoretically reducing the need for dirty power sources like fossil fuels." IT GIVES SOLAR POWER A CHANCE TO BE A SOLE PROVIDER OF ENERGY Stanford University's Vivek Wadhwa thinks the Powerwall is our chance to disconnect from the grid. Without the grid, we'll be able to raise the widespread usage of solar to the place where fossil fuels and nuclear power are at the moment. For Venture Beat, he writes: "Tesla is about to do to the power grid what cellphones did to the land line — free us from it. And it will dramatically accelerate the progress of clean energy." PRICES FOR BATTERY POWER COULD BE FORCED DOWN When crunching the numbers for Gizmodo, Dan Steingart found that the Tesla Powerwall can't compete with the price of electricity — at least not in the volume that a household would need to power it. But he believes that the release of the Powerwall can only make things cheaper. "Overall, if Tesla can deliver on what it claims here, it’s an important line in the sand for this market, and it can only force prices down," he says. "Until now, Sony and Panasonic have been selling similar systems for three times the price, with little market uptake." IT COULD ENCOURAGE POWER COMPANIES TO EMBRACE RENEWABLE ENERGY On the contrary, Forbes' Chris Helman is a little more cynical. He sees the Powerwall as an expensive "toy for rich green people", and doesn't think that the average homeowner should let the big power generation utilities take the risks and bear the costs when it comes to battery power. But he does hope that this could lead to big utility providers taking on this renewable energy, and investing money in perfecting the technology. "After all," he says, "any truly viable energy source is more economic when deployed on a large scale than on a small scale."
In an inspiring display of hospitality — one that you’d rarely associate with anyone in the moneymaking tourism industry — a new hotel in Vienna has been set up to provide accommodation to both tourists and refugees forced to flee their native countries. Recently opened just a stone’s throw away from the centre of the Austrian capital, the magdas Hotel boasts 78 furnished rooms for visiting tourists, right alongside two residential units providing housing for up to 25 young asylum seekers displaced by persecution and war. The hotel is an initiative of the Austrian arm of the international Catholic aid collective Caritas. In addition to providing temporary accommodation, magdas Hotel also offers employment opportunities, with a majority of the staff being refugees. No two guest rooms are the same, with most of the furnishing having been donated or purchased from second-hand stores. Don’t let the ramshackle set-up fool you though. This place looks nice. Basic rooms start from around €60 a night, although you might well be tempted to upgrade to a suite. Amenities include a breakfast buffet and a fully-stocked bar, while the front door is located just a few minutes away from the Praterstern Transportation Hub as well as the Prater Recreation Park. Fingers crossed that the magdas Hotel does well. It’s always nice to see social enterprises like this succeed, especially when you’re in a country whose own track record with refugees is a little... uh... less accommodating. That being said, certain Australian entrepreneurs have been taking steps in this regard, such as the recently opened migrant-run clothing manufacturer Social Outfit in Sydney and Melbourne. In the mean time, if you’re going to be in Vienna any time soon, you can book at room at the magdas Hotel via their website. Via Design Milk. Images: AllesWirdGut Architektur/ Guilherme Silva Da Rosa.
Famed graffiti artist Banksy has unveiled a number of new artworks in response to the Syrian migrant crisis, including one piece featuring late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Sprayed onto the wall of 'The Jungle,' a refugee camp in Calais, France, which is currently home to thousands of people facing an uncertain future, the most significant of the new pieces depicts Jobs in his trademark black turtleneck, with an early generation Mac in one hand and a bag thrown over his shoulder. A photograph of the artwork on Banksy's website is accompanied by a caption that reads "the son of a migrant from Syria," in reference to Jobs' biological father who emigrated from Syria to the United States in the years following the Second World War. "We’re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country’s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant," said the anonymous artist in a statement to the British press. "Apple is the world’s most profitable company, it pays over $7bn a year in taxes – and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs." Authorities in Calais have pledged to preserve the mural behind glass or transparent plastic to ensure that it is not defaced or stolen. "It is very good and it has a message," said Mayor Natacha Bouchart to local newspaper Nord Littoral. Other pieces left by Banksy during his recent trip to the port city include a silhouette of a child with a telescope looking out over the ocean towards the UK, and an image of shipwreck survivors clinging to a raft and signalling desperately to a passing yacht on the horizon. The latter work is an homage to The Raft of the Medusa by 19th century artist Theodore Gericault, and is tagged on Banksy's website with the caption "we're not all in the same boat." Banksy has been focused on the Syrian refugee crisis for some time now. In September, he pledged to send the timber and fixtures from his pop-up amusement park, Dismaland, to Calais, where they could be used to build shelters for migrants. Via ABC News.
The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular returns to Sydney for its second year in 2016. After humble beginnings in Melbourne six years ago, it's now expanded to cover three cities, with the festival travelling to Auckland for the first time this year. This mouthful of a festival — which is now considered one of the best beer festivals in the world — doesn't just bring you the best in craft beer anymore, either. Creators Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone (The Local Taphouse, Stomping Ground Brewing Co.) are now representing cider and food at this behemoth as well. GABS is best known for its 120 'festival beers': specialty brews created just for the event. It gives attendees the rare chance to try brand spanking new beers while meeting the teams behind them. Really loving one brew or brewer? The People's Choice Awards allow you to have a say. In previous years, this segment has been known to launch some of the best and brightest into the craft beer scene.
Fire up the cornballer and bust out your best chicken dance, because it would appear Arrested Development is on the verge of making a return. Almost two years after our last excursion into the lives of the dysfunctional Bluth family, executive producer Bill Glazer has confirmed 17 new episodes of the cult comedy, although he neglected to mention where and when they’ll be released. But they're coming. Glazer made the casual announcement while speaking to Grantland founder Bill Simmons on an episode of the B.S. Report Podcast. “I love Arrested Development, but it was never a huge thing,” said Grazer, referring to the show's less than stellar ratings during its initial three season run between 2003 and 2006. “But people are loyal to it. We're going to do another 17 episodes, so stay tuned.” Rumours of additional episodes are nothing new to Arrested Development fans, who suffered seven years in the wilderness before the show was resurrected by Netflix for 15 episodes in 2013. The streaming service has always maintained that a fifth season was likely, but Glazer’s comments seem to be the most concrete confirmation so far. That said, he did leave out a few important details, most notably an air date. Clearly, he never learnt to always leave a note. Netflix declined to comment on Glazer's announcement, but given the busy schedules of the show’s ensemble cast, it’s safe to assume that a trip back to the Bluth model homestead is still a ways away yet. Until then, take 15 minutes for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcsIMKAvUw Via A.V. Club
Potts Point laneway anchor Waterman's Lobster Co. is in for a real overhaul this month, as owner Matt Swieboda brings the original team from Darlinghurst small bar Love, Tilly Devine back together in their newest venture. They'll be transforming their Lankelly Place digs off Orwell Street from a restaurant obsessed with the perfect lobster roll (only Maine or Connecticut style, no exceptions) to a moody, late night wine bar. Rebranded as Dear Sainte Eloise, the new venue's name is taken from George Orwell's first full-length book Down and Out in Paris and London, in which the destitute narrator prays to a photo of (who he thinks is) Sainte Eloise for enough money to buy bread and wine. "To us, this passage shows the joy that these really simple things can bring and that's what we're all about," says Swieboda. It turns out the photo in the book is actually of an infamous brothel madame, which the team saw as another sly nod to their Tilly Devine days. Dear Saint Eloise will have a strong emphasis on wine, with a whopping 350 list to choose from. "Like at Tilly, we want to over-deliver on people's expectations and show them the diverse kind of wine list you can have in a small space," says Swieboda. The menu spans from Austrian and German to Spanish and Portuguese varieties, as well as South African, Georgian, and the requisite Australian and New Zealand bottles. A section of the wine list titled 'The Less Popular But Very Delicious Wines Of The World' also includes some more obscure French varietals, along with Greek and Hungarian. The rest of the drinks menu will be paired back to keep the focus on wine, but will include a very small, four-cocktail list featuring a 'premium' Negroni using Tasmanian gin, Spanish vermouth and Adelaide's Applewood Distillery liqueurs. Joining Swieboda in this venture is a crew of Tilly alumni, from business partner Nate Hatwell (head sommelier at Mercado) and manager Jasmin Natterer (London's Sager and Wilde) to head chef Ben Abiad (co-founder Brickfields Bakery, ex-Sean's Panaroma and Mecca). Abiad will oversee the venue's two kitchens which include a restaurant kitchen and a front-of-house/bar kitchen. Menu highlights include burrata topped with smoked oil and served with charred bread to start, and a Gundooee sirloin served with radish butter and silky fennel for main. The venue will also put a focus on oysters, which they're sourcing fresh for each service from the farmers at Australia's Oyster Coast Co-op. The existing fitout will be transformed to take on this small bar persona, swapping out the outdoor seating and bright, open space of Waterman's for an indoor-only, intimate 45-seater with warm lighting and dark timbers. Dear Sainte Eloise is looking to become the next late-night haunt for the area, with the kitchen open until 11.30pm five nights a week. Dear Sainte Eloise will open next Tuesday, May 16 at 5/29 Orwell St, Potts Point. Opening hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm until midnight, Friday through Saturday noon to midnight and Sunday noon to 6pm. Image: Waterman's Lobster Co.
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. Image: Todd Spoth.
The four time number one on the World's Best Restaurants list is headed to Sydney Harbour. Rene Redzepi, owner and head chef at Copenhagen's two Michelin starred eatery Noma, will fly his entire team (including 35 chefs and 30 wait staff) more than 16,000km around the world for a ten week Australian pop-up due to kick-off in late January. You'd best start saving your pennies now though, since seats at the restaurant are expected to cost upwards of $400 a head. According to a post on the restaurant's website, the Noma Australia project was inspired by their five week pop-up in Tokyo earlier this year, which Redzepi called "the greatest learning experience of my life." The chef has been sighted in Australia a number of times over the past few weeks, meeting with local producers and sourcing ingredients for the restaurant. "Australia has always drawn me in; its great cities, its generous people, and of course its ever-present sun," wrote Redzepi in his online statement. "But what really boggles my mind is the differences you find in its landscapes and ingredients, because honestly I have never seen anything like it." Supported by Tourism Australia and property firm Lendlease, Noma Australia will be located on the ground floor of the Anadara building on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo. The restaurant will serve just 50 people per sitting, and will be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. The menu itself is yet to be finalised, although Redzepi has said he'll be leaving his regular ingredients back in Copenhagen, and told Good Food to expect locally-inspired dishes made with shellfish, sea succulents and native herbs and spices. As for how much it'll cost you? While a final figure is still being decided, Redzepi estimates a meal at Noma Australia will cost somewhere between $400 and $500. Don't expect that to deter people though. Bookings at the similarly expensive Tokyo pop-up sold out in just hours, with the restaurant eventually racking up a waiting list of over 60,000 people. Sydney bookings will open later in the year – so if you're keen (and rich), we highly recommend registering your interest online. Via Good Food. Image: cyclonebill cc.
