The news has been unbearably grim lately, so whenever we hear about people doing kind things we can’t help but execute a joyful slow-mo fist bump and Billy Elliot-style heel clicking sequence. This week’s proof that humanity isn’t thoroughly rotten comes from 202 Broadway in Chippendale. This week, The Two Wolves community cantina has opened its doors and also our hearts (sorry for the cheese, we can’t help it). It's a not-for-profit establishment run almost entirely by volunteers, that pours its profits into worthy charity causes and plans to create training opportunities for long-term unemployed young people. If there were an emoji that represented a ray of pure sunshine cutting through the gloom, you can bet your butt we would be using it here. And when we say it’s run mostly by volunteers, we truly mean it. The cantina has been in the works for some time now and is the love-child of an eclectic group of dreamers including hospitality bigwig Fraser Short, Jesuit priest Father David Braithwaite, Ben Sweeten owner of the Rose Bay Diner and the Kansas City Shuffle and design guru Michael Delany. The team have all come together to work pro bono on the project for the last two years and bring the cantina into being. Father Braithwaite told us that the generosity they’ve encountered from all levels in the production has been astounding, from architects and tradesmen to the 150 volunteers who signed up to keep the cantina running and the profit margins high. Busy day at The Two Wolves. There's a lot going on behind these doors as we charge towards opening day #twowolvescantina #openingsoon #socialenterprise #sydney #countdown #doors #bar #eatery #chippendale A photo posted by The Two Wolves (@twowolvescantina) on Sep 18, 2015 at 12:14am PDT All the money raised goes to projects facilitated by the Cardoner Project, an enterprise Father Braithwaite has been running for five years. During its time, the Cardoner Project has set up volunteer projects and immersion programmes around the world and provided seed capital to worthy causes to help them become self-sufficient. One such project included setting up a small water filtration system for an orphanage in Vietnam, which they use as part of an ice-selling business in the summer, and is in line with their ‘teach a man to fish’ ethos. David says the long-term goal is to replicate the The Two Wolves cantina around the world and raise even more money to pour back into needy communities. Once established, the next phase of The Two Wolves and Cardoner Project's plan is to train long-term unemployed young people onsite, then seek to place them in employment in other venues. Faith in humanity = restored. Now get down to Chippendale and give something back. The Two Wolves Community Cantina is now open for dinner at 202 Broadway, Chippendale, Sydney. To book call (02) 8039 3595.
Sydney's reached peak burger obsession. No longer confined to the realms of American chains and RSL bistros, burgers now clock up appearances on the menus of top-tier, hatted chefs, each putting their own contemporary, fine dining spin on the longtime casual favourite. So we reckoned it was about time for a good ol' fashioned burger battle — and so did Merivale. This February, we invited 16 of Merivale's top chefs to Ivy Ballroom to hit the kitchen and cook up their ultimate burger for March Into Merivale's Between Two Buns. Some, like Mr. Wong's Dan Hong, opted for their widely celebrated, longtime burger recipes (hel-lo Lotus Burger), while others dreamed up new and strange burger possibilities —Bistrode CBD's Jeremy Strode did a chicken and eel burger (and nailed it). From dozens of entries, our enviable panel of burger experts whittled down the shortlist to six. You'll be able to try every single one of these juicy delights at March Into Merivale, at Between Two Buns on Wednesday, February 17. After you've tried 'em all comes the most important moment: vote for your favourite. The winner will not only score a spot on Merivale's pub menus for a year, and bragging rights forevermore. So, who won over the judges? Which Merivale chef makes the best burger? Try these at MiM and vote. BETWEEN TWO BUNS FINALISTS Dan Hong (Mr. Wong) — Lotus Burger Alex Lewis (The Beresford) — The ultimate lamb burger Jeremy Strode (The Fish Shop/ Bistrode CBD) — The Fish Dog (chicken and eel) Jordan Toft (Coogee Pavilion) — Aged trim beef, cheese, burger sauce, B&B pickle Paul Donelley (Ms.G's) — Beef, bacon and cheese burger Patrick Friesen and Chris Hogarth (Papi Chulo/Queen Chow) — Canadian beef and bacon burger Watch the video: Concrete Playground x March Into Merivale - Between Two Buns from Concrete Playground on Vimeo.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, so we've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. And what's better than a barbecue? For advice, we asked the boys from Three Blue Ducks. Mark LaBrooy specifically — he's one of the co-founders of the restaurant-cafe hybrid that was born in Bronte but ended up being so popular it expanded to Byron Bay and, most recently, Rosebery. He and the team at Three Blue Ducks have made working with barbecue flames and smoke a priority at their venues. At their Rosebery location, there's a barbecue, a wood-fired oven and an outdoor charcoal pit. They're experts in barbecue. And more than that, they're experts in taking the standard barbecue fare you usually whip up to the next level, and LaBrooy has shared some tips so you can do the same. He's also given us some recipes, for a burrata salad, a seafood prawns main, and a charred pineapple dessert. "They're all about spring and summer flavours," he says. "Inspired by warm weather and catching up with friends." The burrata salad is a green (but hearty) vegetarian option for your barbecue friends who don't eat meat, while the prawn dish is "light, and great for entertaining because it's not rocket science to prepare". The pineapple recipe is LaBrooy wanting you to try something a little different by charring your fruit. "People should experiment more with fruit on the barbecue, vegetables too," he says. He says the first thing to think about when you're cooking is that produce is key to a good barbecue. He suggests going elsewhere than the supermarket to grab your ingredients. "Go to a real butcher, not a supermarket. Go to the fish markets to get your prawns, and a local organic growers market for your fruits and vegetables." Let the ingredients lead you — if the produce is good, just put it on the barbie and see what happens. "Like a whole bunch of Dutch carrots or something, just give them a wash, put on some good quality olive oil, salt and pepper and char it up. Don't be shy — the hotter the better." "Barbecuing is the cooking technique that fits in best with us," he says. "It's connected to the environment and there's something really intimate about using the fire — it's inconsistent, there's a real element of maintenance and care in the cooking process." When finished, all three dishes will look incredible, but don't get too caught up with perfection when you're hosting a barbecue. Part of the fun is that barbecue-ing isn't always pretty. "It's a bit ugly and charred," he says. "You can get those really aggressive, black tones in the appearance and colouration of your cooking." Follow these three recipes and transform your afternoon barbecue into one that's worthy of being on the menu at Three Blue Ducks. BURRATA WITH CHARRED ZUCCHINI AND SPRING ONIONS Ingredients: 4 pieces of burrata (about 100 grams each) ¼ bunch parsley ¼ bunch basil 1 clove garlic 100ml virgin olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon zest and juice salt and pepper 1 bunch spring onion 3 zucchini cut in ¼ 100g toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped Method: Make a nice coal fire on the grill side of your barbecue. Char off the zucchini and the spring onions after giving them a good season and a splash of olive oil. When the zucchini and spring onions get some good colour, take them off the heat and start plating up. Take a food processor and place the herbs, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, zest and Dijon inside. Give it a good whizz until a bright green paste forms. Season well and set aside. Take a plate or bowl and arrange the zucchini and spring onions around the outside, making a well for your burrata to sit in. Flick in a few teaspoons of the herb puree, place the burrata in the centre and sprinkle over some hazelnuts. Season the burrata and drizzle a bit of olive oil if you feel you need it. Squeeze a bit of extra lemon juice over everything to finish off. CONFIT GARLIC AND CHILLI BBQ PRAWNS WITH BUTTERMILK AVOCADO AND RADICCHIO Ingredients: 1 bulb garlic peeled 3 long red chillies deseeded 1 cup olive oil 16 large king prawns cleaned and butterflied 3 avocados 1 lemon juice and zest 2 tablespoons olive oil 100ml buttermilk 1 large radicchio with the outer leaves pulled off and cut in ¼ Salt and pepper Method: Take the chillies and garlic and place in a small saucepan. Add the cup of olive oil and cover with foil. Bake at 160-degrees for 1-30 mins, then place in a food processor and give it a whizz. Using a pastry brush baste the prawns just before grilling on the barbecue. Take your food processor and add the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice and zest and the buttermilk, give it a whizz and set aside for when your plating up. Grill your prawns and radicchio on super high heat, season well and brush with olive oil. This should only take a few minutes. Give a good whack of buttermilk avo purée. CHARRED PINEAPPLE WITH CASHEWS, THAI BASIL AND LEMONGRASS GRANITA Ingredients: 1 pineapple skinned and cut into quarters 1 tablespoon brown sugar For the granita: 350ml water 180g sugar 3 stalks lemongrass, roughly chopped 2 chillies roughly chopped 80g ginger roughly chopped 100ml lemon juice 100g yogurt 1 vanilla bean scraped and deseeded ¼ bunch Thai basil 80g toasted and salted cashews Method: The granita needs to be made the day before and set in the freezer over night. To serve all you have to do is scrape it with a fork or give it a quick whizz in a food processor. Make sure you put the bowl in the freezer first so you don't melt the granita too much. Take a medium sized pot and add the sugar, lemongrass, chilli, and water. Bring to the boil and then set aside and let it cool down on the bench, then strain and add the lemon juice, and put in the freezer to set overnight. Sprinkle the pineapple with brown sugar and place on the grill on high heat. You're looking to get some good colour and charring on the pineapple, cooking it at the same time. Cut into chunks and set aside. Take a small bowl and add the yogurt and the vanilla give it a good mix. To plate up, arrange the pineapple on the base of the plate and a few dollops of the vanilla yogurt. Take a large spoon of granita and place in the centre, then sprinkle with cashews and Thai basil. Images: Kimberley Low.
It's that glorious time of year, that judgement-free zone in which inhaling hot cross buns for multiple meals a day is a perfectly acceptable activity. Sydney's pretty damn good at a hot cross bun — there's even a few sourdough versions in this delicious list. But there's one Sydney mainstay that let us in on their little secret to hot cross buns — beloved foodie wonderland The Grounds of Alexandria. Gearing up for their huge Easter celebrations from March 25 to 27, The Grounds handed over their own hot cross bun recipe for you to make at home. The Grounds crew love a spot of Easter indulgence — from Good Friday to Easter Sunday they're transforming their Alexandria digs into a magical storybook land. There'll be a Golden Easter Egg Hunt, a Humpty Dumpty Wall built for selfies, real-life roaming children's storybook characters, the beloved petting zoo and Australia's largest chocolate Easter egg — a three-metre-high, 300 kilogram chocolate egg which you can destroy in in the 'community cracking' on Easter Sunday. They're also using Easter as an opportunity to show off their mad culinary talents — including the delicious, delicious aforementioned hot cross buns from The Grounds' head baker. Want to have a go at making them before Sunday? Here's the recipe. THE GROUNDS' HOT CROSS BUNS Hot Cross Bun mixture Plain Flour 377g Castor Sugar 34g Butter 34g Egg 1 egg Mixed spice 9g Milk 179g Fruit mix 286g Dry yeast 60g Salt 7g Improver* 7g Citric acid** 1g Cross paste Plain flour 75g Sunflower oil 25ml Spice glaze Mixed Spice ½ tsp Castor sugar 125g To make the buns 1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degree Celsius. 2. To create your fruit mix, combine 286g of your favourite dried fruits. We suggest branching out from the ordinary sultanas, try some of the suggestions below. 3. Next, knead flour, sugar, butter (softened), egg, mixed spice, milk, yeast, salt, improver & citric acid together. 4. Once completely combined, fold in your fruit mix. Be sure to wait until the end to fold in your fruit to ensure they stay whole. 5. Roll out dough flat to 1 inch thick, cut into 12 equal portions. 6. Place into rows on an oven tray lined with baking paper. To make the paste 1. Combine flour and oil together until it forms a smooth paste. 2. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle. 3. Pipe a cross onto each ball, or long lines across the buns. 4. Bake at 180 degrees celcius for 16 mins, or until the tops are golden brown. To make the glaze 1. Place spice mix, sugar and 100ml of water in a saucepan over medium heat. 2. Bring to a simmer, stiring to ensure all sugar is dissolved. 3. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Once hot cross buns are cooked 1. Using a pastry brush, generously glaze the buns. Suggestions on fruit: - Persimmon - Hawthorn - Red date - Thai loganberry - Pickled pineapple *Can be found in the supermarket. ** If you can't find citric acid, combine in a splash of orange juice. By using measurements all in grams you will ensure you get a consistence result every time. The Grounds of Alexandria's Easter shenanigans are happening Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27 at 2A Huntley Street, Alexandria. Entry is free.
The Dolphin Hotel is using the most basic of meals to take your lunchtime routine to the next level. Today, Monday, March 13, the hotel launched its Proper Sandwiches menu — a five-sandwich rotating lunch offering, featuring everything from baked eggplant parma and meatball subs to smoked trout and egg salad. The $12 menu will change daily and has a solid mix of vegetarian and meaty options. From the full menu of delicious possibilities, we're most excited to try their Reuben homage, the 'Pastrami Rye', and the 'Go Getta Porchetta' — herb roasted pork topped with crackling, mustard and sage aioli. These bad boys don't just look great, either — they're made using locally sourced ingredients, giving them that 'good for you and the community edge' as well. The meats are sourced from LP's Quality Meats, the bread from Brickfields Bakery, and other deli products from from The Dolphin's Salumeria collaboration with Victor Churchill's. These insanely good looking sandwiches will be available Monday through Friday from noon until 3pm — or until sold out. Considering our mouths are watering just from looking at those photos, we have a feeling sold out will be a daily condition.
Portraits aren't all regal furs and awkward "Oh, didn't see you there," poses. Instead the genre now sees a bold, abstract lack of convention, a rebellion that runs through the Art Gallery of New South Wales' prestigious annual Archibald Prize exhibition, currently showing. Capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you've just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archie winners. At the risk of sounding like an HSC essay opener, the final image isn't the whole story. Here's eight of the Archibald finalists making us wake up and pay attention (whether for great or WTF reasons) to Australia's big ol' faces — as told to the Gallery in their own words. PAUL RYAN — THIRTEEN NOAHS Paul Ryan raided quite a few junk shops — and his own early work collection — to paint over these existing curiosities with Australian actor Noah Taylor's face. "I grew up watching Noah on the big and small screen. He is a similar age to me and it has been interesting to see him age and his acting skills develop, as I have also aged and developed as an artist," says Ryan. ‘With these works, I am painting Noah as a fictional character in fictional films. There is Noah the mysterious figure in Murders at the lake, Noah as a black American pimp in Hawaiian hustle, Noah in the Australian classic Death on the Murray, and Noah in Outback wanderer. "I met him through Olsen Irwin gallery who represent us both. Our relationship was born of a mutual respect for each other’s work. As I did successive studies and hung them at random on the studio wall, the idea of what to do for this year’s Archibald was born. Noah’s face is so interesting it practically paints itself. I painted more than the 13 studies that make up this piece, and spent a few days playing with different combinations." SOPHIA HEWSON — DELIVERED Paying tribute to different methods of pornography, Sophia Hewson's confronting self portrait came from one of her Melbourne public performance works. "I was using my body in this work to try to open up a dialogue on female self-objectification (when a woman intentionally sexually objectifies herself). Sometimes I think self-objectification can be constructive. It can be used to claim back ownership of the body or to assert: "I can exhibit my sexuality without it amounting to my sexual availability"." "Other times I think it can reflect the way the patriarchal value system has been internalised. But I don’t feel you can expect a woman, who has unconsciously internalised 'male' values, to see herself as a space where something has been lost. A new identity needs to be forged. I’m interested in this because I’m struggling with it myself. I have difficulty navigating the contradictions and differentiating between internal and external influences, but I see self-portraiture as a potent site for negotiating identity." JUAN FORD — A BUNGLED CLAIRVOYANCE The full title of Juan Ford’s self-portrait is: A bungled clairvoyance of William Buckley or Ludwig Leichhardt’s most intense moments (I can’t decide which, you choose). Attempted while atop a mountain. Phew. "Making straightforward portraits is something that bores me a bit," says Ford. "Sometimes boring is fine, but right now I feel adventurous. Take Ludwig Leichhardt, the Prussian explorer who disappeared mysteriously in the Australian interior. Idealistic and adventurous, he wandered off, never to be seen again. By all reports he went quite unprepared. Or William Buckley. An escaped convict, he lived for over 30 years with the Wathaurong people on the Bellarine Peninsula. He later married a woman so short she couldn’t loop her arm through his when they went for an evening stroll. What a character. "When I try to imagine such mythic men, I make a mess of it, applying my own conventions, thus misunderstanding them utterly. To do so on a mountaintop compounds the problem. But I like to get out into wilderness; it’s where many of my ideas come from. It helps me feel I’m insignificant in the grand scheme. I can’t hope to understand Australia: it’s too vast and unknowable. Buckley and Leichhardt signify this unknowability." MITCH CAIRNS — PETER POWDITCH The runner-up for the 2015 Archibald Prize, Mitch Cairn's portrait of renowned painter Peter Powditch takes the whole thing full circle — Powditch was the winner of the 1972 Sulman Prize. "I was drawn to the idea of painting Peter after attending the recent Pop to popism exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The inclusion of Powditch’s Seascape II 1969 to my mind reaffirmed the significance of his work,’ says Cairns. ‘In general, Peter’s work is characterised by a directness of purpose, exemplary draftsmanship and an incisive approach to painting problems. He is an unapologetic image-maker. "On accepting my invitation to sit, I spent a couple of days with Peter making drawings at his home and studio on the NSW North Coast. For this portrait, I chose to paint him in his studio. It had been raining heavily during my visit so the room was quite dark. We had a great conversation about his most recent assemblages. The beauty found and pleasure taken in the discovery of shape, here in the assemblages and also reminiscent of Seascape II, were the starting point of this painting." JASON PHU — LISA HAS A MUCH MORE PLEASANT FACE THAN GLENN... With Carriageworks director Lisa Havilah the subject of this strange portrait, the full title of Jason Phu’s painting is: Lisa has a much more pleasant face than Glenn. She also doesn’t sing horribly while playing a guitar or try to put a cat up a tree while I’m painting her. "I wanted to paint Noel but he hates doing that stuff," says Phu. "Lin was too busy with his footy schedule. Guan wasn’t in the country. So I had to settle for painting [curator] Glenn Barkley. Luckily while Glenn was distracted with showing me how much his cat loved climbing trees (which it definitely didn’t), Lisa was there so I painted her instead. Anyway, Lisa is much more prestigious in the arts and is also a lovely person. "I never really wanted to become an artist. I’ve always wanted to be a cartoonist, doing the Sunday comic strips, but I’ve been too scared to pursue it. In high school I decided I’d like to do engineering. I’ve always had a penchant for building little mechanical toys, but I didn’t have the marks to do engineering. So I had to do fine arts. It’s been all right and I’ve enjoyed it but I see myself becoming a chef in the not-too-distant future." SALLY ROSS — EVA This gorgeous portrait of Academy and Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Eva Orner (Taxi to the Dark Side) wouldn't be out of place on the cover of Frankie. But there's nothing twee about this kickass human rights crusader, whose upcoming Australian-focused doco Asylum is sure to ruffle a few feathers. "I met Eva Orner through our mutual association with HAGAR Australia, an organisation working with survivors of trafficking and abuse in Afghanistan, Vietnam and Cambodia. I instinctively knew I wanted to paint her — I was struck by Eva’s sheer unselfconscious drive and her large black spectacles,’ says Ross. "In our image-saturated world I would love to see less selfies, gourmet meals, renovations and lingerie models blowing kisses, and more pictures of women, humans like Eva Orner," she says. "After an art-binge in Holland earlier this year, my head was filled with mysterious early Flemish portraiture. I wanted to work within a flat, almost dull palette and contrast a certain restraint with decorative motifs in Eva’s distinctive robe made by Afghan architect/designer Rahim Walizada.’ TIM GREGORY — SELF PORTRAIT AS ANCESTORS Putting Australia's muddled national identity on show, Tim Gregory describes this self-portrait as ‘a response to the confused, prosaic and performed nature of white Australia’. "European painting in Australia was founded by convicts who were themselves forgers, producing replicas of a landscape and life, which were facsimiles of European fantasies. In the main, this tradition continues," he says. "The combination of the redcoat and the convict is not about my own personal heritage, but more broadly about how many Australians still view themselves – as both larrikin/underdog and defender. The costumes I wear are eroticised reconstitutions of colonial history from a sexy costume store. They are in no way authentic, but held together by velcro and tassels, ready to be ripped off after the obligatory role-play of identity. "The painting is deliberately superficial: shiny, saturated, decontextualised. White painters (particularly male painters) in Australia, and the white Australian population more broadly, cannot contribute in any significant way to cultural, political or social evolution until we acknowledge that we are still a colonial country, absurdly and violently layered on top of the world’s oldest, continuous culture." PRUDENCE FLINT — BABY Writer Urszula Dawkins, who is not a mother, has been Prudence Flint's closest friend for 30 years. "When we first met she was a singer in a band. She began writing fiction in the nineties and has become a frequent lone traveller to Arctic Europe. We have supported each other in our unconventional life choices, balancing the demands of our creative lives and questioning social expectations. "The idea for the work came after seeing the late Gothic paintings of the Madonna and child in the Musée de Petit Palais, Avignon. I related to the ambivalence and the unnerving fierceness in the gestures between the mother and child," says Flint. "I wanted to paint Urszula with baby to show how the presence of motherhood is in our lives, whatever choices we make, like a parallel world. The painting began as a tiny sketch and I tried to keep it true to the tension between the monstrous and the tender. It felt like a delicate radiation area between beauty and repulsion that was tricky to paint." See the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until September 27. For more info or to book tickets, head over here.
In 2010, director Matthew Vaughn gave us his tongue-in-cheek take on the superhero genre with the hyperactive action-comedy, Kick-Ass. Five years later, he turns his attention to the spy movie, with similarly electrifying results. Adapted, as was Kick-Ass, from a graphic novel by Mark Millar, Kingsman: The Secret Service is popcorn entertainment at its finest: funny, exciting and immaculately paced, never once bogged down by grit or self-importance. Colin Firth crackles as Agent Harry Hart, a gentleman spy for a privately run espionage agency operating “at the highest levels of discretion”. After the death of a colleague, Hart finds himself on the trail of nefarious billionaire Richmond Valentine (a lisping Samuel L. Jackson), whose plan to save the planet may come at the expense of the people living on it. At the same time, Hart also finds himself mentoring teenaged hoodlum Eggsy (Taron Egerton), in whose defiant eyes he sees a glimmer of Kingsman potential. Vaughn shoots the film with the giddiness of a 12-year-old, one who just stepped out of his very first spy movie with dreams of saving the world. The antithesis of the Craig-era Bond flicks, Kingsman never tries to justify its own absurdity, but rather rockets along with such irreverent energy that you can’t help but get caught up in all the fun. Explosions of over-the-top violence dominate the second half, although it’s all far too cartoonish to cause any serious offence. The action is propelled by a rousing orchestral score, courtesy of regular Vaughn collaborators Matthew Margeson and Henry Jackman. The movie’s cast is excellent across the board. Firth could play a suit-clad toff in his sleep, but he also makes for a surprisingly convincing action hero — and listening to him drop F-bombs while dispatching thugs with his umbrella is a singular pleasure no other film can provide. Jackson is a job as the villain of the piece, while young Egerton has the makings of a star. Mark Strong and Michael Caine round out the ranks of the secret service, although it’s a shame that the latter isn’t given a little bit more to do. After a January packed with high-minded Oscar films, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a much needed blast of fresh air. If you’re looking for a fun night out at the movies, don’t hesitate to pick up a ticket.
Looking for something romantic and unapologetically meaty to do on Valentine's Day? It would appear that you're in luck. Rolling into the Sydney Showgrounds for the very first time, Meatstock is a brand new two-day barnburner for all things barbecue. We're talking meat, beer, bourbon, meat, music, meat, beards, meat and of course, meat. Because nothing says 'I love you' like a plate of pork ribs bigger than your partners head. Part expo, part music festival and part gladiator-style cook-off, Meatstock will welcome the prime cuts of the local barbecuing fraternity to showcase their skills behind the grill. Headlining the event will be the A&E Sydney Barbecue Wars, in which 40 teams from all around the country serve up their best pork, beef, chicken, lamb and seafood for their chance to win more than $8000 in cash and prizes. They'll also be on the lookout for Australia's best butcher and its best barber — the latter in a competition called the Cutthroat Barber Wars, which doesn't sound terrifying at all. Meatstock will also welcome a number of special guest speakers and chefs, including Carnivores Ball creator Jess Pryles, Fancy Hanks' head honcho Mike Patrick and Bovine & Swine Barbecue Co. founder Hillbilly Wes. But the biggest get would have to be Tuffy 'The Professor' Stone, one of the most celebrated names in American competition barbecue and a judge on the reality TV show BBQ Pitmasters. Stone will be hosting a day-long cooking school on the Thursday before Meatstock begins. Of course, no one goes to an event called Meatstock just to learn about cooking barbecue. Let's face it: if you're there, you're there to eat. Catering will be handled by a range of carnivorous cooks, including The Smoking Brothers, Parilla Argenchino and Rangers Texas BBQ. And once you've eaten yourself into a stupor, you can waddle over and check out the live music offerings — a rip-roaring lineup of new bluegrass, rock and roll, country and everything in between: think The Snowdroppers, Henry Wagons, The Buffalo Grass Boys and The Beards. For more information about Meatstock, visit their website.
A Purity Ring gig is not just a concert, but an experience. This is due to three factors. One: their unrestrained dedication to deep, deep bass. Two: their hypnotising light show, which they've created themselves. And three: Megan James's extraordinary, soaring vocals. And their sci-fi costumes are pretty damn impressive, too. Hailing from Canada, the duo — who is made up of James and producer Corin Roddick — have been mesmerising crowds at festivals and clubs all over the planet. Following their breakthrough album, Shrines, they've since collaborated with the likes of Danny Brown and Jon Hopkins. Coming our way to play St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Melbourne and Perth, Purity Ring will make two headline appearances while they're here — one at the Sydney Opera House on February 9 and at Melbourne's Forum Theatre on February 11. Then they're off to the States to play a bunch of festivals, including Coachella.
Five sites along the future light rail line in Kensington and Kingsford will play host to public artworks by acclaimed local artists, as part of Transport for NSW and Randwick Council's ArtMoves program. The works will be gradually installed along the route from July, and will remain there until February 2018. At Southern Cross Close, the non-profit humanitarian organisation Ondru will install an enormous photographic mural featuring members of the Kingsford Community, while artists Sarah Barns and Michael Killalea, known collectively as Esem Projects, will celebrate music with their large gramophone sculpture. Meanwhile, Elliot Routledge, aka Numskull, will transform the site at Strachan Street with a brightly coloured mural; Nuha Saad will pay tribute to Todman Avenue's period architecture with a series of sculpted columns; and Adrienn Lord, aka Mandylights, will offer his very unique take on a park bench on Duke Street. Rounding things out, Borrodale road will benefit from the Chinese enamelware floral painting of Mimi Tong, as well as a new installation from Hand to Land Studios, the intriguingly named Surprise Dumplings. Construction on the light rail line has been dogged by long delays. On the plus side, at least now Sydneysiders will have something nice to look at.
Sydney, prepare to say ciao to Italian cinema throughout September and October, because the annual showcase of films from or about the European nation is back for another round. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival is back for its 17th year — and if the program is anything to go by, it's going to be another good one. Not only will the 2016 fest kick off with Italian box office hit Perfect Strangers and close with the digital restoration of the Audrey Hepburn-starring classic Roman Holiday, but it also boasts a world premiere. Local audiences will be the first on the planet to see the first-ever Australian-Italian feature co-production, The Space Between. Charting the intersection of an Italian ex-chef and a spirited Aussie in the scenic Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, it has been described as "a celebration of the Italian spirit of la dolce vita". All up, the program boasts 30 films. Because you probably won't have time to see them all, check out our list of the five must-see films of this year's Italian Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sYLibWZrRs THE SPACE BETWEEN The feature filmmaking debut of Melbourne director Ruth Borgobello, The Space Between marks the first ever co-production between Italy and Australia — and will fittingly make its world premiere at this year's Lavazza Italian Film Festival. A romantic drama, the film follows an ex-chef, Marco (Flavio Parenti) who falls for an Australian woman named Olivia (Maeve Dermody) after a chance encounter in the picturesque town of Udine in Northern Italy. Dermody and Borgobello are guests of the festival, and will take part in Q&A sessions following selection screenings in Sydney and Melbourne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBpVt7SiLVM FIORE Straight from the Directors' Fortnight section at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival back in May, the third feature effort from Claudio Giovannesi shapes up as one of the most intriguing titles in this year's IFF program. Fiore concerns a young woman, played by newcomer Daphne Scoccia, who must adjust to life in juvenile prison after being convicted of robbery. Giovannesi cast a number of non-professional actors, including several who had previously served time behind bars. The decision clear paid off, with the film — and Scoccia's performance in particular — scoring strong reviews from critics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9avYV3FPs ONE KISS Best known for penning the Tilda Swinton vehicle I Am Love, writer-director Ivan Cotroneo here adapts his own novel, about a trio of unlikely friends living in a small Italian town. High school students Blu, Lorenzo and Antonio might not have much in common, but their shared outsider status soon brings them together. A coming of age drama, One Kiss scored a gong for Best Screenwriting at Italy's annual film awards, and is described in the festival program as a story about "friendship, the limits of imagination, and the consequence of honesty". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3al1PBx09A WHERE AM I GOING? The new comedy from Gennaro Nunziante broke box office records in Italy, to the point that it even gave Star Wars: The Force Awakens a serious run for its money. Where Am I Going? stars Luca Medici as Checco Zalone, a lazy, middle-aged bureaucrat willing to go to enormous lengths to keep his cushy government job and benefits package. A scathing critique of the Italian public service, the film also reportedly thumbs its nose of the concept of political correctness. Whether its sense of humour will be embraced by Australian audiences, we'll have to wait and see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twi3lQIDkiU ROMAN HOLIDAY Of course, we had to include at least one retro title on this list — and, honestly, who could look past this Audrey Hepburn classic? William Wyler's 1953 romantic comedy, one of the greatest and most iconic of all time, has recently undergone a brand new digital restoration, and will no doubt look amazing when it lights up the big screen on closing night. Join Hepburn and Gregory Peck on a Vespa ride around the Italian capital and fall in love with the city all over again. The Italian Film Festival will run from September 13 until October 9 at Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Verona. See the full program at italianfilmfestival.com.au.
The brains behind The Butler, Bondi Hardware, The Botanist and SoCal, Applejack Hospitality is opening one grand, grand new bar, Della Hyde. Headed for the Hyde Park end of Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from November 25, this brand new 150-seat bar will take inspiration from the "luxe lobby bars of the grand hotels of the past", according to the Applejack team. With opulent interiors, brick columns, Chesterfield banquettes, period feature lighting and a focus on old world, glamorous cocktails, Della Hyde ain't no speakeasy. Think more Grand Budapest Hotel meets the decadent palaces of Rajasthan, India. Owners Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts have even given this fancy new character a sort of backstory — just for fun. “We like the idea that the Della Hyde site was ‘apparently’ once a grand hotel situated on Hyde Park and named after the famous American actress Della Pringle," says Watts. "We’ve taken design inspiration and a bit of artistic license from that — we reckon it would have had a touch of opulence based on the Hawa Mahal or 'Pink Palace' in Jaipur, India and that maybe it was a member of the revered 'Society of Crossed Keys'. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it!" Shall we check in and have a tipple? Cocktail-wise, Della Hyde’s general manager Joe Worthington (ex-SoCal Neutral Bay) and Applejack Group bars manager Lachy Sturrock have created a super sophisticated menu. We're pretty keen to try the cold-drip espresso aperitif-styled cocktails served over ice. There's nibbles afoot too — and the kitchen'll be open late (the bar's inspired by grand hotels after all). Executive chef James Privett has crafted a menu of European and North African influences, mainly share plates and bar food. Think spinach and labna pizza, paprika chicken skewers or pea and pancetta croquettes. This new bar will be Applejack's fifth venue to open in four years. Look out, Drink N Dine, Merivale et al. Della Hyde will open at 34 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst on November 25. It'll be open 5pm until late, seven nights a week. Images: The Butler.
Imagine that you could spend an entire week or so at an overseas film festival. If time and money wasn't a concern, and you could put your everyday life on hold, which movie bonanza would you go to? Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto: they're all good choices. If you're after new indie flicks, you're probably already thinking about packing your bags for Sundance. Of course, Robert Redford's annual Utah event isn't the only early-in-the-year American film festival worth dreaming about. Come March in Texas, there's another fest making movie buffs envious. Since 1987, South by Southwest has proven a launching pad for music and technology — and, from 1994, for indie flicks, too. On the film front, SXSW's 2016 program keeps the good stuff coming with 137 features, including 89 world premieres and 52 efforts by first-time filmmakers. Alas, here at Concrete Playground we're watching from afar between March 11 to 20, rather than hopping on a plane to Austin. To soothe our jealousy, we've put together a list of the ten films from SXSW we're hoping will come to Australia. If we can't go to them, fingers crossed that they can come to us. DON'T THINK TWICE If you saw Sleepwalk With Me back in 2012, you're probably a fan of Mike Birbiglia. The comedian's first directorial effort, based on his one-man off-Broadway show and accompanying book of the same name, offered a breezy but insightful look at the problems of relationships, careers and planning for the future. His next film effort sounds just as subtly charming, with an improv troupe at its centre. Birbiglia stars again, joined by Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs, should you need any more reasons to get excited. COLLECTIVE:UNCONSCIOUS Five filmmakers. Five dreams. Five attempts by the former to make movies out of the latter. Cinema is often called dreamlike, but collective:unconscious takes that description to another level. In stories involving the Grim Reaper hosting a television show and a sports class taking place inside of a volcano, among others, the group of indie directors doesn't just bring their own nocturnal imaginings to their screen. Instead, Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker and Lauren Wolkstein attempt to make movies out of each other's unconscious musings. BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN You might've heard of the Slenderman. The very thin, very tall creature started popping up online in 2009, and was rumoured to stalk, abduct and generally terrorise and terrify people, particularly children. Slenderman was actually the creation of an online forum user, who created the figure as part of a Photoshop contest. That didn't stop two 12-year-old girls from killing their best friend in the hopes of meeting the faceless man, with documentarian Irene Taylor Brodsky dissecting their story, the impact of the darker side of cyber space, and how an internet meme inspired a murder. UNDER THE SHADOW We might've left Under the Shadow off of our Sundance list, but we won't make the same mistake twice. There's a reason that the Farsi-language film from Jordan, Qatar and the United Kingdom is playing a US festival again so soon after its world premiere in January, after all. Compared to The Babadook, Babak Anvari’s feature debut tells of a mother and daughter who begin to suspect that they’ve been targeted by evil spirits. Netflix has the rights to the frightening flick, but this sounds like something that really needs to be seen on the big screen. MY BLIND BROTHER Admit it: even the most serious film fans out there can't resist the lure of an impressive cast. Getting a group of great actors together doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it's magic. Here's hoping that's the end result for My Blind Brother, which stars Adam Scott, Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate. Yes, the fact that they've all either starred or popped up on TV sitcom Parks and Recreation is part of their appeal, but they're not the movie's only drawcards. Director Sophie Goodhart might be a first-time feature filmmaker; however she's adapting her own short film of the same name, which screened in competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. TOWER Sadly, mass shootings in US schools are a much-too-common occurrence — but it wasn't always this way. In 1966, when an ex-Marine sniper turned University of Texas engineering student started gunning down people from a tower looming over the tertiary institution's campus, no one had ever contemplated the possibility of such horrors occurring at a place dedicated to learning and education. Keith Maitland's documentary explores this bleak chapter in American history, albeit in an unusual fashion. Telling the previously untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors, he not only delves into archival footage, but combines it with surreal, animated recreations. THE TRUST Two words: Nicolas Cage. We have more words to share about The Trust than that, of course — but we'd be lying if we didn't confess that the man who can be either the world's best or worst actor, depending on the film, wasn't the main attraction. With Elijah Wood, he plays a cop who stumbles upon a mysterious bank vault. If the combination of Cage and the storyline doesn't pique your curiosity, this might: writer/directors Alex and Ben Brewer are better known for their music video work, including winning an MTV Video Music Award for working with Justin Bieber. Yes, really. KARAOKE CRAZIES Karaoke and cinema go hand in hand. Plenty of movies feature everyone's favourite form of amateur singing; however surprisingly few make it their main focus (and yes, we're ignoring Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Duets for a reason). In Karaoke Crazies, Korean filmmaker Kim Sang-Chan sets his feature in a karaoke bar, lets a serial killer loose, and makes the latter obsessed with the former. If that's not an ingenious idea for a movie, well, we don't know what is. IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE Ti West has played with satanic panic in The House of the Devil, and toyed with found footage and religious fanaticism in The Sacrament. He also charmed Aussie audiences in person when he visited the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2011 to present his haunted hotel effort, The Innkeepers. In his next film, In A Valley of Violence, West swaps scares for revenge and horror for the western genre. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta tag along for the ride, stalking through a small town in the 1890s, and playing a drifter and marshal, respectively. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME Okay, okay, so Richard Linklater's latest film — and his first after the awarded and applauded Boyhood — is one of the titles we know for certain will grace Australian cinema screens. That doesn't make us any less enthused about Everybody Wants Some, which has the honour of opening SXSW's film lineup, and has been called a spiritual sequel to his 1996 effort Dazed and Confused. Don't expect a sleazy Matthew McConaughey trying to hit on high school girls, this time around. Do expect another wild series of events, this time set over a weekend in college in the '80s.
One of Sydney's favourite art events will turn 23 this year as Sculpture by the Sea returns for 2019. Kicking off on Thursday, October 24, two clicks of Sydney's most picturesque coastline will be even more breathtaking as it's transformed into a living, breathing artscape once again. Over 100 epic pieces from both Australian and international artists will be on show on the two-kilometre coastal track linking Bondi and Tamarama beaches. While the full list of works is yet to be revealed, you can expect one piece from NSW sculptor Dave Horton, whose work Yesternight reflected won the Sculpture by the Sea top prize in 2007. Use this handy map to plan your meander and keep your fingers crossed for good weather — the whole thing runs until November 10. There's also the chance for a chinwag with the artists themselves at the Aqualand Artist Talks series, which will take place each Saturday and Sunday of the exhibition. Plus, it coincides with this year's Sydney Sculpture Conference to be held at the Art Gallery of NSW if you can't get enough of the art form. This could be the last year Bondi hosts the event — Sculpture by the Sea has been at loggerheads with Waverley Council over the design of a new path that will 'greatly compromise' the exhibition. In July, organisers said they were actively looking for a new home, calling for expressions of interest from other coastal councils in Sydney and around Australia. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Multisensory cooking, auto suggestion and a robotic desserts trolley: these are just a few of the things diners can expect when famed chef Heston Blumenthal restarts service at his three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck later in the year. After undergoing extensive renovations — during which time Blumenthal popped up in Melbourne's Crown Casino — the original Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England is set to reopen this October. Interviewed by The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Blumenthal dropped a number of tasty tidbits as to what has changed. "The move to Australia was a great opportunity to question what the Fat Duck is," Blumenthal told Rayner. "In the sense that we cook food and it’s served to people, we’re a restaurant. But that’s not much, is it? The fact is the Fat Duck is about storytelling. I wanted to think about the whole approach of what we do in those terms." In addition to consulting with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall on the idea of turning the menu into a story — complete with introduction and chapter headings — one of the most intriguing/terrifying things Blumenthal mentioned in the interview was that he had spoken with mentalist Derren Brown, star of Derren Brown: Mind Control, about ways of extracting information about his customers "without them being too aware", and using auto suggestive techniques in order to convince diners they're getting what they most desire. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sinister at all. The Fat Duck (along with other destination restaurants) has apparently long been in the habit of Googling guests in advance, but such prosaic sleuthing is no longer enough to sate Blumenthal. Other features of the "maturing" Fat Duck include a £150,000 robotic sweetshop shaped like a dollhouse and a new online booking system to help sort through the more than 30,000 table requests per day. You can, naturally, expect the prices to go up too — although considering the tasting menu was £220 a head before the renovations, that might keep you, and your suggestive mind, out of Blumenthal's orbit. Via The Observer..
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
If playing with sweet fluffy kitties while sipping a latte isn't enough to ease these stressful times, Catmosphere is taking it to the next level this holiday season. The geniuses behind the space-themed cat cafe are bringing you cat yoga — every Thursday from 5-6pm, you can spend an hour in the cat room and indulge in the furriest yoga class yet. For a mere $25, participants get 45 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of cat cuddle time. Forget downward facing dog — poses to expect include the cat/meow and child's purr. The class caters to all experience levels, especially those who want their yoga session interrupted by the curious 'Castronauts' — rescues from the Sydney area who'd love to interrupt your zen with loud, adorable purring. Check the website for the next available booking. And meet the cats before you go. Catmosphere is located at 66 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. For more information, opening hours visit the website. Image: Andy Fraser.
As the year winds up, and party season enters into full swing, it’s time to give yourself a little treat. Aced that job interview? Nailed a new dinner party recipe? Or maybe it’s just been one of those weeks you’d rather forget? Whatever the reason, a spot of retail therapy is sure to be in order. Buyers remorse be gone, iconic Aussie designer Alice McCall is throwing a sample sale like never before. And this year’s edition is made for the bargain hunters among us, with items starting at just $10. Yes, we’re hyperventilating too. Since the debut of the label back at the 2004 Australian Fashion Week, Alice has channeled her stylish London-bred sensibilities into creating garments that are equal parts feminine and cool. Snatch up a playsuit or two from McCall’s stellar selection, or pick up the perfect frock for those looming office Christmas parties. You can thank us later. Open Thursday, November 19 (8am to 7pm) and Friday, November 20 (8am to 4pm).
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly 'Living Colour' floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Green Square, Town Hall, Alfred Street and the forecourt outside St Mary’s cathedral. But as the plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons, celosia, golden marjoram and bromeliads in your life? On Sunday, November 8 from 8am, St Mary's Cathedral will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Best of all, all funds raised will be heading directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Add some colour to your own space and feel good about it too. Who could resist adopting these little blooms that've seen it all? People can pick up plants from St Marys Cathedral forecourt on College Street from 8am on Sunday, November 8 while stocks last.
Sydney’s food and drink scene isn’t slowing down any time soon. We’re spoilt for choice at every turn, with new top-notch eateries cropping up faster than ever before. If you’re struggling to keep up — and who isn't? — never fear Taste of Sydney 2016 is the four-day foodie festival to get to up to speed on the cream of the culinary crop. Setting up residence in Centennial Park from March 10 to 13, Taste of Sydney in partnership with Electrolux is all about bringing diners and chefs together. Ticketholders will be treated with nosh from some of Sydney’s top restaurants, including Biota Dining’s sustainable modern Australian dishes, fire-cooked noms from Firedoor, nel.'s fine dining dishes, plus Middle Eastern street food from the crew at Glebe’s Thievery. Also joining the deliciousness will be Porteño, Kitchen by Mike, MoVida, Sake, and the newly opened Kensington Street Social, among others. Sounds like a lot to stomach in one sitting? Thanks to the festival’s bite-size portions, you’ll be able to try a sampling from all on show — and maybe go back for seconds too. There'll be six sessions over the four-day program, so all you have to do is choose one and you’ll have four hours to experience Sydney's best selection of signature dishes. Aside from stuffing your face, there are also plenty of masterclasses and demonstrations from Australia’s leading chefs, and even the Taste of Sydney Artisan Market, jam-packed with over 60 food and drink exhibitors. For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to cook like a professional chef at Electrolux Chefs’ Secrets. This intimate masterclass experience will allow visitors to cook alongside renowned chefs including Peter Gilmore (Quay) and Colin Fassnidge (4Fourteen), before sitting down at a communal table together to enjoy the meal with matched wines. You can also see your favourite chefs in the Electrolux Taste Theatre hosted by food writer Kate Gibbs, experience world class food and wine at the South African Garden with MasterChef South Africa judge Benny Masekwameng, get creative with Lurpak, plus many more. Let the food comas commence. [competition]560861[/competition]
Electronica megastar Omar Souleyman is on his way to engulf you in Arabic techno beats with a national tour this January. Souleyman has reached cult status internationally for his patented sound of insanely fast synths adapted to Syrian folk music and his "epitome-of-cool" persona, with Bjork herself labelling him as one of her favourites. Never seen without a pair of aviators and his red and white kaffiyeh, Souleyman has long been famous in his homeland of Syria, with, believe it or not, a rumoured 500 separate bootleg cassette releases recorded straight from his many performances at weddings around the country. His 2013 album, Wenu Wenu, was his first recorded outside Syria, and its blending of Western electronica beats and traditional dabke music (an Arabic form of folk dancing) promises live performances filled with electric sax solos, super high-tempo synths and vocals given alternatively in the tone of commanding pronouncements and trance-inducing chants. You can catch Omar Souleyman at The Aurora as part of Sydney Festival on January 16, Melbourne's Corner Hotel January 19 and The Brightside in Brisbane January 21.
Aid worker Jo Dunlop travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2011 in the aftermath of a bloody civil war. Unexpectedly, she found herself walking through streets of people oozing unique personal style, or, in her words, "Teeming with some of the most resourceful, brave and outrageous fashion decisions ever made." Dunlop began a fashion blog called Freetown Fashpack and it gained international attention, later sparking an eight-part web series filmed by ABC Arts. In this touring exhibition from Bega Valley Regional Gallery, footage from the web series will sit alongside 15 larger-than-life photographic portraits from Dunlop's collection. Exploring the connection between communication, fashion and the delightfulness of individual expression, Dunlop's photography exudes a sensitivity that allows her sitters to revel in their own personal brand of style. There's always plenty on at Casula Powerhouse during April, so you could make an afternoon of it.
Vegan sweet tooths tired of choosing between sorbet and fruit salad, get yourself and your sugar cravings to North Bondi. Long-time vegan and cake-maker extraordinaire Grace Watson has opened her 100 percent animal product-free Zeitgeist Mylk Bar, bringing you apple pie and custard mylkshakes, cinnamon doughnuts and peanut butter cookies, among other delightful, delightful treats. "As a vegan, dairy milk can be a problem," says Grace. "It's really pervasive, so it's hard for vegans to find creamy, indulgent desserts." Not so at Zeitgeist. Grace is busy turning house-made almond mylk and coconut ice-cream into all kinds of deliciousness. You've a choice of three mylkshakes — the aforementioned apple pie and custard, as well as red velvet and znickers. Match yours with a piece of passionfruit, a cinnamon doughnut made with a mix of soy milk and apple cider vinegar (instead of egg white) or a raw znickers bar, layered with nougat, dates and caramel and covered in hand-tempered, 100 percent organic chocolate. And they're just beginning of the menu. With treats in-hand, you can take a seat inside or outside — or head for nearby Sam Fiszman Park or the beach. "It's a milk bar set-up, with seating inside and outside, for about twelve people at once," Grace says. "The design is old-school, taken to a new, modern level. So, there are pastel colours and running writing, but we've also used polycarbonate and carbon-coated black steel. My partner and I worked on the interior together, with help from Liam Nugazin, who's creating a huge chandelier." North Bondi provides some solid vegan company, including Sadhana Kitchen, Bondi Wholefoods and Orchard Road. "North Bondi's really taking off as a vegan hub," Grace says. "Like Newtown, it's an awesome place for vegans to visit and a really supportive community." Despite opening just two days ago — on Saturday, April 9 — Zeitgeist has already been inundated. "It's been super busy," Grace says. "Much busier than we expected". Find Zeitgeist at 43 Gould Street, North Bondi.
The Plot is back. And this time, it’s heading for Parramatta Park. For those unfamiliar with the name, The Plot is a new music festival that first happened back in 2013 – in Sydney at Luna Park’s Big Top and in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre and Ding Dong Lounge. The lineup is yet to be announced. But we can give you a date and place to engrave in your diaries: Saturday, December 5 at Parramatta Park. So it’ll be an epic, summery, outdoor affair, with gorgeous Old Government House at its centre, and the beautifully revived Parramatta River alongside. We can also tell you there’ll be three stages, an abundance of locally-made food featuring local produce, craft beers, boutique wines and an eclectic mix of music from both Australia and overseas. What’s more, The Plot is promising to celebrate the diversity and community spirit associated with Sydney’s Greater West. To make sure you’re first to hear the programme, tune into triple j’s Lunch with Lewi on Wednesday, September 30. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 9am on Thursday, October 8 at $69 (+bf). But if you’re a Past Plotter, you’ll score the 2013 price of $45 (+BF). Just keep an eye on your inbox for a unique link that’ll allow you to take advantage of this bargain — it’ll arrive around 9am on Thursday, October 1 and will remain valid until midnight, Wednesday, October 7. After that, you’ll be paying full price. Image: Aleksandar Jason.
In the week leading up to Splendour in the Grass 2016, we dared to dream of blue skies and mild weather. The Bureau of Meteorology warned us the weather in coastal regions can be changeable but in the end we proved that if people want it enough, we can influence the weather with our thoughts alone. In the middle of winter (and after last year's Splendour in the Mud disaster) the last thing we planned for was balmy, 26 degree days and pleasantly crisp nights, but that's what we got (cue frantically buying up sunscreen, bucket hats and water vessels from highway petrol stations). Australia's biggest winter festival (and one of the country's biggest festivals in general) has become a well-oiled machine in recent years (for the most part, but we'll get to that). This year's lineup, from legends The Cure, Sigur Ros and The Avalanches to newcomers Kllo, Sampa the Great and Jess Kent, was more varied than ever — with a strong local flavour and something for every age group. This seemed to solve a lot of the timetabling problems as well as they produced one of the least clashy schedules we've had yet (praise be). But the weekend wasn't without incident. On Friday night, and to a much lesser degree on Saturday and Sunday night, long bus delays and general anarchy at the bus rally points saw off-site punters waiting for hours in the cold to get home and they were not happy about it. After social media erupted on Friday night and Saturday morning, Splendour released a statement the next day saying, "We had a significant change in the number of people getting dropped off and collected ... which threw our traffic plan into disarray." And they did fix it, eventually. Monday morning wasn't much better, thanks to a few bungles on the freeway. Camping punters waited in car lines for up to seven hours trying to get out of the campsite when they would really rather have been in bed. We only hope they sort it out for next year. Luckily, everyone was pretty well-behaved — and the po-po were pleased with our collective behaviour, citing only 323 drug related arrests (less than one percent of attendees) across the entire festival. Snaps all round, everyone. So what of the nosh and mosh scene for this year? We chomped and stomped our way through Splendour 2016, here's a little snippet of the best bits. EATS Like many festivals, the food lineup at Splendour is getting better each year and truly deserves a heading of its very own. Gone are the days spent subsisting on stale chips and soggy hot-dog buns, the SITG food offering is gourmet AF. Sydneysiders were suprised to see a recreation of The Unicorn pub right in the middle of the festival, from the brains behind Mary's, Porteno and Young Henrys. This pop-up pub would mark the entrance to The Very Small Suburb, with fellow locals Gelato Messina, Doughnut Time and Bourke Street Bakery peddling their wares to hungry punters. Single O, coffee roasters from Surry Hills, enjoyed lines around the (makeshift) block because if there's one thing hungover folk need, it's real coffee and lots of it. They were joined by Noosa's ever popular Nimo's Schnitzels, Sydney's Tsuru food truck serving up their fluffy pork belly bao buns, Govindas famous vegetarian fare (kofta balls will bring you back to life after a big one), best-in-show winners Brazza BBQ from the Gold Coast with their Brazillian chow and French fry cones, and everyone's favourite Hungarian festival treat, langos. And for dessert? Australia's insanely popular Doughnut Time even got their holey mitts on a Splendour stand — and it was bloody popular. Or you could have stood in line at the giant pink inflatable poo emoji (hilariously titled Mr Poopie by Cool Shit artists Hungry Castle) and grab a toilet ice cream. You heard me. But the real MVPs? Get Toasted, Byron Bay's OG toasted sandwich food truck, cranking out their insane mac and cheese toasties. The GT team served up their crispy, buttery life-saving sandies with more chirpiness and kind words than anyone has a right to expect at midnight on the third day of a festival. Hot tip for next Splendour, don't waste time with supermarket snacks — save up and ready yourself for a culinary tour of the festival grounds. [caption id="attachment_582301" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dro Carey[/caption] BEATS THE CURE What can be said about the Cure apart from lines of love-heart eye emojis? They're a band almost beyond critique and their tenure as the most relevant, long-serving players in rock is still deserved. Their physical vessels may have aged, but Robert Smith's voice has not and they're still as tight as a drum. They casually slayed a 2.5-hour set, breaking only occasionally and briefly to suck down essence of youth (and water, maybe). Tears flowed freely and 'Friday I'm in Love' was screamed to the stars. THE STROKES The Strokes played their only Australian show at Splendour and rounded out the first day of the festival with the veteran ease you'd expect, mixing fan service with some of their newer cuts and of course, encoring with 'Last Night'. If there is a better way to fall asleep than with Julian Casablancas' voice reverberating around your head, we haven't yet found it. THE AVALANCHES The Avalanches were the legendary wildcard of the lineup — and one of the most anticipated sets of the whole event. They haven't played a festival in over a decade and while the group has rocketed back into prominence recently thanks to their huge comeback album, Wildflower, they're as yet untested in the modern context. The result was little bit thrown together — including, y'know, lyrics read from an iPhone for 'Frankie Sinatra' — and there's something a wee bit unsatisfying about a sample-based show amongst a sea of live music. But we still loved it. Depending on how close you stood to the sound desk could have affected your experience, and we hope more intimate shows are ahead for this iconic crew. SIGUR ROS Icelandic angels Sigur Ros may have been the quiet hero of the whole festival. They didn't perform at the amphitheatre (which is a slight, in our opinion), but the Mix Up tent was more intimate and, thanks to a well-timed clash with Flume, the crowd was slightly older (imagine a lot of actual lighters in the air, coffees clutched to sensible skivvies and wet eyes). They brought their technical prowess to bear alongside their dramatic showmanship (there was a spine tingly-dingly moment when main man Jonsi held a sweet note for an inhumanly long time) and it was spectacular. They played a medley of their well-knowns and not-so-well-knowns to a backdrop of captivating, trippy visuals — quite possibly some of the best visuals of the festival, or were we just exhausted and emotional? We'll never know. JAMES BLAKE James Blake's music was made for festivals, not necessarily for the headbangers or kids who just want to see Flume, but for everyone who was after some texture in the lineup. Blake packed out the amphitheatre and from behind a synth, delivered his brand of crisp, complex, emotional music. His live show was impeccably timed, building in rhythm and intensity before unloading goosebumps on the crowd with feels-heavy hits 'Limit to Your Love' and 'Retrograde'. [caption id="attachment_582304" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kllo at the Tiny Dancer Stage[/caption] UP AND COMERS The SITG lineup always delivers some quality (and we mean quality) local talent. In fact, the pointy end of the lineup, usually housed at the Tiny Dancer stage, proved some of the most enjoyable surprises of the weekend. Melbourne cherubim Kllo destroyed the Tiny Dancer stage with their tight beats and clear vocals (their catchy AF single 'Bollide' sent shivers up collective spines). Brisbane boy and electronic muso Feki delivered a banging, dancey set, very different from his usual chill, and had the TD crowd frenetic at dusk on Sunday (check out his souped-up remix of James Blake's 'Retrograde' here). Melbourne producer Paces was joined by Guy Sebastian (can people stop robbing Shannon Noll of his due already?) to perform their Like A Version cover of LDRU's 'Keeping Score' (check out this vid of LDRU getting into it side of stage). While it's a disappointing to see only one woman and one female guest vocalist (Santigold and Avalanches guest vocalist Eliza Wolfgramm) in the first dozen acts on the lineup, the women who did make it absolutely nailed it. Big, official props to Melbourne's Sui Zhen and Banoffee, the OG babes Tegan and Sara, Courtney Barnett, Sampa the Great, Little May, Brisbane darling Emma Louise, Ngaiire, Kacy Hill, Lucy Cliché, Montaigne, Jess Kent, Wafia and all the other women grinding to make it in the music industry — you were splendid. Images: Luke Dalton.
Whatever your plans are for Thursday nights in March, you might want to scrap them because Art Month Sydney is back. The city will be pulsing with exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops and the return of Art Month Precinct Nights. If you're a first-timer, basically for every Thursday (and the last Friday) in March, a cluster of close-enough-to-walk-between galleries will throw their doors open late, so you can hop between exhibitions after-hours then finish up with an Art at Night Party. Think of it as an art adventure trail — with a bar waiting for you at the end. For Art at Night in Waterloo and Green Square on March 22, the increasingly rich arts precinct will host a collection of awesome exhibitions, including Present Exhibition at Darren Knight Gallery (showcasing exciting emerging artists working in Sydney without gallery representation) and the infamous Collectors' Space exhibition at MAY SPACE, where viewers get to have a sticky beak at works from the personal collection of artists, curators and cultural leaders (think Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Emma Price, Tony Albert and Abdul Abdullah) in a show exploring the relationship each collector has to both the works and the artists who created them. Other galleries involved include Home@735 Gallery, The Bearded Tit and Sullivan+Strumpf. And once you've had your fill of gallery hopping, end the night rubbing shoulders with movers and shakers at the opening of The Other Art Fair 2018 from 6pm. Art Month Sydney runs March 1-25, 2018. Find out more information and download a precinct map here. Photo: Artists Martin Claydon and Katrina Garcia, featured in The Other Art Fair Sydney 2018.
Fresh from freaking people out at Tasmania's Dark Mofo festival, the House of Mirrors arrives in Sydney to mess with our minds. Far from your average house of mirrors, this bad boy alters your perspective — literally and figuratively — by altering dimensions among thousands of optical illusions, and promises to baffle the brain. Take on this epic labyrinth and discover the true art in getting yourself out of a maze. The House of Mirrors will be open from 4.30-11pm each day. House of Mirrors is open from 4.30-11pm from January 6 to 29. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
CBD foodies are in for a treat, with the imminent launch of Lotus Dining spinoff Papa Bo Min. Now open in Grosvenor Place, Lotus' little brother is a slightly more laidback affair, serving casual Chinese and cocktails. But as with its sibling, Papa's real drawcard is its eye-popping selection of desserts. Standout sweets at the 50-seat eatery include the macaron ice cream sandwich featuring lemongrass ice cream and burnt vanilla pineapple jelly, as well as an Asian-inspired lamington made from a flourless chocolate cake with black sesame, chocolate mousse and raspberry and hibiscus jam. They've also got a lime number with white beer mousse (which is shaped to look like an actual lime — similar to their passionfruit dessert at Barangaroo), and deep-fried mini ice cream cones in three different flavours. Chose from banana caramel, peanut butter chocolate, and passionfruit with salted vanilla marshmallow. Or, y'know, you could just get all three. Assuming you don't want to just gorge yourself on dessert, savoury dishes include BBQ duck with pancake and sweet and sour plum sauce, and vegetable san choy bao. "My take on san choy bao is made with zucchini, green apple, shiitake mushroom and water chestnut to create a lighter, healthier version of the popular dish," said Head Chef John Leong, who joins Papa Bo Min on the back of his tenure at Billy Kwong. On the beverage front, Papa Bo Min serves cocktails courtesy of cocktail artist Kate McGraw. A frozen rosé with orange blossom and rhubarb seems like an obvious choice for summer, although it'll be hard to say no to the Smokin' Coco made with coconut washed mescal, native flora, passionfruit and lavender bitters. Groups of four or more might also want to try one of Papa's cocktails to share. Kate's Hard Lemonade, for example, more than lives up to its name, blending gin, lemonade, lemon aspen, milk oolong and Prosecco. Papa Bo Min is the fourth restaurant to be added to Lotus' portfolio after their Mediterranean venture The Resident suddenly closed after just five months — they currently have Lotus outposts at The Galeries, Walsh Bay and Barangaroo. At Grosvenor Place they join Sake Restaurant's Sake Jr, who have also opened a casual spinoff for lunches and takeaway. Papa Bo Min is now open for lunch and dinner at Shop 3, Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney. For more information, visit their website. Images: Alana Dimou. Updated: February 1, 2017.
He's hung out in Nevada brothels, suburban swingers' clubs and high-security gaols in Miami. Does Louis Theroux have what it takes to survive Q and As across Australia? We'll find out when the fearless filmmaker, journo and social commentator heads our way this September for a national speaking tour. In his first visit to the Great Southern Land, Theroux will be joining ABC's Julia Zemiro for big chats in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. You'll be hearing all about how he's survived dens of iniquity all over the planet without losing his sanity or moral sense. He'll also be reminiscing about time spent with a nasty neo-Nazi gang in the United States and recounting his brief stint as a rap god on New Orleans radio. "For me, making my programs is quite a private process," Theroux said. "They are about forging a human connection with people whose lives are at the outermost edge of what we as people experience: the most forbidden impulses, the most frightening lifestyles, the most traumatic turns of events. To get inside the lives of those people — criminals, sex workers, people with mental illness, ultra-committed religious believers — is a kind of high-wire act." Theroux is looking forward to sharing the ins and outs of the filmmaking process with his listeners, while telling all the bizarre stories that didn't make the cuts. In between talking, he'll be screening footage from Weird Weekends, his famous series of one-off investigations and encounters with various celebrities and power brokers. When he and Zemiro are done, you'll have loads of time to ask questions of your own. "In his documentaries, Louis Theroux finds the extraordinary in the ordinary," says Zemiro. "Through patience, stillness and rigour, he reveals so much about human nature. I'm delighted to be hosting this tour and intend to pick up as many tips as possible in the art of interviewing." Image: Carsen Windhorst.
UPDATE, January 7, 2021: Lady Bird is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. As an actor, Greta Gerwig has mastered the portrayal of quarter-life malaise, with Frances Ha, Mistress America and Maggie's Plan on her resume to prove it. But though she might fit the part in her performances, you certainly couldn't accuse her of the same lack of direction in real life. Not only did she co-write Frances Ha and Mistress America with director Noah Baumbach, but she has now made history with Lady Bird, her five-time Oscar-nominated debut feature as a solo filmmaker. She's just the fifth woman ever to score a Best Director nod, and you just know her hapless yet charming array of on-screen alter egos would be proud. Hell, Frances Halliday would probably rank Gerwig among her idols. As impressive a list of plaudits as Lady Bird has amassed, they pale in comparison to the movie itself. While it can seem like high school coming-of-age films are more common than actual high schoolers, Gerwig gets everything right with her entry into the genre. Here, the minutiae matters, whether it's the sounds of Alanis Morissette's 'One Hand In My Pocket' playing on a car radio, or casually slinging the term "hella tight" into conversation. Specific yet always relatable, Gerwig stitches it all together like she's borrowing from shared memories. Swap in a song and slang phrase relevant to your own teen years, and she very well could be. Stepping through Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson's 2002 senior year, Lady Bird demonstrates its strength, intelligence and realism from its very first line. "Do you think I look like I'm from Sacramento?" the teenager (Saoirse Ronan) asks her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf), her recognisable desperation for a different life evident in every word. Like most folks so close to college, she wants to fly far away from her quiet patch of suburban California – to finally figure out who she is and start down a path of her own. "I wish I could live through something," she complains. The last thing she's interested in is exactly what she's facing for the next 12 months: more of what she's always known. Shot with a naturalistic glow and paced to mimic the urgency of just wanting adulthood to begin, every frame of the film feels familiar, even as the story dives into distinctive arenas, such as Catholic schooling and lower middle-class family life, as well as the struggles and class divisions that come with it. As Sacramento native Gerwig has described, "the more particular you make something, the more universal it becomes." Accordingly, though it's easy to pick where the narrative is headed, it proves authentic and lived-in rather than generic and derivative. Lady Bird chases vastly different boys (Manchester By the Sea's Lucas Hedges and Call Me By Your Name's Timothée Chalamet), auditions for school plays with her BFF (an excellent Beanie Feldstein), secretly applies to out-of-state universities, flits between groups of friends, and argues with her overworked mum. For all of the astute ways that Lady Bird captures what it's like to be a 17-year-old, it's the mother-daughter relationship that truly sits at the centre of the film. That's thanks not only to Gerwig's perceptive script and multi-layered characters, but also to Ronan and Metcalf's unaffected, emotionally complex performances. Take another of the movie's pivotal scenes as an example, with Lady Bird and Marion rifling through op shop clothes racks looking for an appropriate Thanksgiving dress. They bicker, ooze passive aggression, and actually fight about being passive aggressive — until they find the right frock, and the tension instantly dissipates. It's a scene that everyone watching has lived through in some shape or form, even if the precise details differ. Capturing the feeling of wanting to break free of your parents' control, while loving them all the same, it's a perfect encapsulation of this funny, heartfelt and wonderfully honest film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzgTHyEv5Ng
Next week marks the beginning of Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the biggest art fairs in Asia. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and installation will all be on display, in an event designed to showcase the work of thousands of artists from all around the world. But the work of one man in particular appears to be in particularly good taste (geddit?). Uwe Opocensky, the German chef at the Michelin-starred Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, has put together a menu that blurs the line between food and art. The aptly named Art Menu at the Mandarin Grill + Bar begins with an entree inspired by the most iconic artwork of Englishman Damien Hirst. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living features a 14-foot shark suspended in a tank of formaldehyde. Opocensky's version consists of a mackerel floating in horseradish-flavoured cucumber jelly. The main course is modelled after a box of paints, with different coloured purees including mashed sweet potato, brown truffles, black garlic paste and red peppers, as well as a slice of beef covered in edible flowers. And for dessert, an ice cream filled chocolate mountain on a bed of popping candy, inspired by the mountaineering photography of Chinese artist Xu Zhen. As with many things in the world of high art, Oponcensky's elaborate dinner doesn't come cheap: $HK1888 ($AU320) a head. Pretty pricey, especially when you won't have anything to show for it at the end of the night. "What we make has a very short life span," Opocensky said to Quartz. "It is very exciting though. I cannot draw to save my life, but I can put things on a plate, and I love that we can be associated with art as a movement" Via Quartz.
Each September, as the weather warms up and spring begins to truly blossom, music fiends head to Brisbane and spend some time in, well, dark rooms. Over a few days, the Queensland capital becomes the centre of the Australian music universe, with artists and industry practitioners doing what they do best — rocking out, discovering new talent, partying and discussing the future of Australian music. First appearing in 2002, BIGSOUND is a conference, festival and celebration of Australia's best musical talent. Each year, it takes over the inner city Fortitude Valley area, attracting 1300 delegates and more than 6000 music fans. The festival's previous lineups read like a dream: Flume, Rufus, Courtney Barnett, Megan Washington, The Temper Trap, A.B. Original, REMI and Gang of Youths have all graced its stages, while Nick Cave, Neil Finn, Kim Gordon, Billy Bragg and Amanda Palmer have shared their knowledge, experience and wisdom. The event itself isn't the only source of fun, however. At this time of year, the sun is shining, the vibe is buzzing and Brisbane is truly jumping. In fact, with a vibrant cultural scene and an array of delicious dining options on offer, it's the perfect time to discover just why Australia's third-largest city is one of the country's gems. Some Australian events (like this one) are worthy of a road trip, and aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing BIGSOUND into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you plan your out-of-the-city trips ahead of time, so you can detour from your regular routine and inject a little adventure into your life. Here's how to spend your days before, during and after your trip to Brisbane — where to stay, what to do, and what to eat and drink from September 5 to 8. [caption id="attachment_498758" align="alignnone" width="1127"] Limes Hotel Rooftop.[/caption] STAY Over the past decade, Brisbane has become a boutique hotel wonderland — the Fortitude Valley area in particular. If you have some cash to spare, the Emporium leads the pack with their rock star-like indulgence — think dark interiors, a rooftop pool and a killer view of the Valley. Still staying central, the nearby Limes Hotel remains a favourite for its plush rooms and rooftop bar, as well as its proximity to beloved local haunts like Alfredo's Pizzeria and Alfred and Constance. Looking for something a little bit different (or cheaper)? For the artistically inclined, TRYP Fortitude Valley wears its love of street art on its walls — once a warehouse, it's now an affordable option that's appealing to both the eyes and the wallet. Or, look to resident budget option, the Snooze Inn, to save as many pennies as possible for having fun rather than hitting the hay. It's cosy rather than fancy, and is located literally just down the road from the Valley — meaning you'll remain close to everything BIGSOUND, as well as neighbourhood arcade-game bar, Netherworld. [caption id="attachment_622127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tkay Maizda at BIGSOUND.[/caption] DO This year at BIGSOUND, Aussie icons Archie Roach and Tina Arena will lead the speaker program, as well as Quentin Tarantino's regular music supervisor Mary Ramos, aka the woman responsible for all of those ace tunes on the Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and Kill Bill soundtracks. As far as the band schedule is concerned, prepare to hop around faster than a rabbit on Easter, with every bar, space, nook and cranny around Fortitude Valley boasting a gig or party. The official program will include over 150 acts at more than 15 venues, and the unofficial parties — which have included backyard blowouts and ping pong showdowns in previous years — will likely double that number. When you're not experiencing sonic wonders, you should spend your time wandering around Australia's only designated special entertainment precinct, and venturing further afield. In the Valley, keep indulging your love of music with a record store crawl — starting at Foundry Records and ending at Tym's Guitars, where you can scope out a hefty range of instruments. And while you're strolling and perusing, drop by some of the many galleries in the area — Artisan, the Institute of Modern Art and Heiser Gallery are all worth a visit (keep your eyes peeled for street art as well). [caption id="attachment_622138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Institute of Modern Art.[/caption] If spending time inside during BIGSOUND has you hankering for some fresh air, sneak a trip to New Farm Park. Enjoy a picnic by the river, laze around on the grass, or just go for a walk through one of the city's best nature-filled spots. You could also stop by the neighbouring Brisbane Powerhouse — more often than not, there'll be an event on that's worth checking out. If the itch to keep exploring hits, jump on a CityCat and see the sights from the river. Go one way, and you can continue soaking in parklands at Northshore Riverside Park. Go the other, and you'll cruise right through the city. Disembark for a walk through South Bank, and go for a dip in the free, beach-like pools, before moseying around the Gallery of Modern Art. [caption id="attachment_581014" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gerard's Bistro.[/caption] EAT Spending four days listening to chatter about music is enough to work up an appetite. Thankfully, you're in the right spot. Heading down to Chinatown, which runs adjacent to the Brunswick Street Mall, is the best way to get the classic Fortitude Valley experience. You can easily pick a place at random, or opt for one of the mainstays. For Chinese and yum cha, that's King of Kings, and for Vietnamese, the appropriately-named The Vietnamese Restaurant will treat your tastebuds to an explosion of flavour. Try the salt and pepper quail, and thank us later. In the opposite direction, you'll find a few Brisbane faves. If you like burgers — and this is a burger town, believe us — then Ben's Burgers on Winn Lane will satisfy your cravings with their simple, delicious menu. Or, leap over the road to Bakery Lane, where newcomer Johnny's Pizzeria combines Italian staples with a disco theme, and I Heart Brownies will have you doing just that with their jaffa, salted caramel and cherry-coconut baked goods. Sticking with the area's laneways, wander down to New Farm and off James Street to Gerard's Bistro for a relaxed, award-winning sit-down lunch or dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Expect a blend of modern Australian and Middle Eastern dishes, including the adventurous likes of lamb's tongue toast, the meaty goodness of slow-roasted wagyu brisket for two, and sheep's yoghurt sorbet with honeycomb, milk and orange blossom for dessert. [caption id="attachment_619623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Newstead Brewing Co.[/caption] DRINK Think beer in Queensland, and everyone immediately thinks XXXX. Think breweries, though, and it's a trip to the inner north that's recently started topping booze-loving Brisbane visitors' wish lists. Newstead Brewing have spread their wings and opened a new Milton headquarters, but their original Doggett Street birthplace is always pouring something yeasty from their 12 taps. Green Beacon's multi-award-winning 3 Bolt Pale will ensure you know exactly where you are thanks to notes of fresh mango — and other fruits — in its fresh, golden ale. And a post-gig hang out over a few beverages in The Triffid's beer garden, owned by Powderfinger bassist John Collins, will do you well. Fans of spirits can get their fix at tequila bar Alquimia and whisky haven Nant, and if you like the bubbly stuff, even champagne gets its time to sparkle at Baedeker. As for every other bar in the area, you'll probably end up at most of them anyway, thanks to BIGSOUND's huge gig lineup. BIGSOUND 2017 takes place in various venues across Brisbane and Fortitude Valley from September 5 to 8. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
There's something about food trucks that will never go out of style. It's quality food, but instead of being artfully plated up on ceramics, the chefs lean down and hand you your meal in a paper tray. Sydney-based Eat Art Truck was one of the first to really take off, with its American barbecue street food infused with fine dining and bright, colourful trucks that feature the work of local artists. Specialities on the menu are the eight-hour smoked pulled pork bun, the slow-roasted beef brisket bun and the crispy fried chicken bun. There are nachos, salads, fancier dishes like the kingfish entrée, and desserts like flourless chocolate cake. Once a month an artist will paint a piece on the side of the truck, and at the end of the month the piece is auctioned off for charity — so folks get a serving of culture along with their fries. To celebrate the launch of the KitchenAid Mini in Australia, we created a Mini Dinners video series, asking two of our favourite Australian chefs to throw a dinner party. Brenton Balicki, one of Eat Art Truck's founding chefs, cooked us up a feast. He has a fine dining background, having spent years working at the iconic Japanese restaurant Tetsuya before moving on to Quay. When Eat Art Truck owner Mo Moubayed came to Brenton with the idea for the truck, it sounded like a challenge, so he got on board. He likes the relaxed nature of the truck in contrast to the precision of fine dining. "Fine dining is something you have to put in your calendar," he says. "But at the truck you can get the same quality food and we can share that fine dining experience without needing the fine dining environment." Brenton's professional background instilled in him the importance of good produce, so when he cooks at home he regularly takes trips down to the Sydney Fish Markets, where Australia is lucky enough to have some of the best produce in the world. "It's difficult to come up with the right outcome without the correct equipment — that includes the right produce." For his dinner party, Brenton rode down to the Sydney Fish Markets and picked up some kingfish, fresh vegetables and beef from the nearby Vic's Meat Market. It's a one-stop shop. Playing to his strengths, Brenton decided to cook up some of his specialities. All three of these dishes have appeared in some form on the Eat Art Truck menu. For entrée, beetroot-cured hiramasa kingfish, served on a plate that was given to him by Tetsuya Wakuda for his 19th birthday. It's his favourite thing to cook with. "The name really says it all — it's the best fish you can get. It's farmed in South Australia on a strict diet and grown in cold water, which is what gives it a high fat content." For the main course, a classic Eat Art Truck burger. "Everyone claims their burger recipe is the best. That's because when you make it yourself you can decide exactly what goes in there, you have more control over the flavour that you like." For dessert, he kept it simple with a flourless, sugarless chocolate cake made with almond meal. It's an easy dessert that anyone can whip up. Take a few minutes and watch Brenton plate up his Eat Art Truck food — and get inspired, his recipes are coming soon. Watch our Mini Dinner with Liam O'Driscoll, head chef at Sydney's Big Poppa's. He cooked up three courses of the rustic Italian food his Oxford Street restaurant is famous for. Images: Samantha Hawker.
Aspiring artists and functioning alcoholics will both feel right at home, in this brand new BYO art studio in Surry Hills. Located on Holt Street around the corner from Central Station, Cork & Chroma is a 'paint and sip' studio that embraces one of life's universal truths: everyone is more creative when they've had a little bit to drink. Open evenings Wednesdays through Saturdays as well as Sunday afternoon, the studio is run by artist Hillary Wall along with her husband B.J. A visit costs $60 for a three hour session, during which time an artist will run you through the basics of acrylics on canvas, before you're let lose to create a masterpiece of your own. They also host private functions and parties, if you're looking to make a mess with your friends. You don't need to bring anything to our sessions, except your favourite bottle of wine to share with your mates while painting! We have everything you need for your creative night out, just pick your session and book online at corkandchroma.com.au 🎨🖌🍷✌️ #sydney #corkandchromasydney #surryhills #sydneylife #corkandchroma #creativesydney #sydneycreatives #whatsonsydney A photo posted by Cork & Chroma Sydney (@corkandchromasydney) on Apr 14, 2016 at 11:13pm PDT Canvas, paints, brushes, easels and glassware all come provided, while they also have a selection of nibbles for purchase, including cheese, chilli spiced nuts and Dello Mano chocolate brownies. All you need to bring is the liquid inspiration. Cork and Chroma is located at 55 Holt Street, Surry Hills. For more information visit www.corkandchroma.com.au.
Dance music: it's a damn boys club behind the decks. Forbes World’s Highest-Paid DJs of 2014 List? Unsurprisingly, 15/15 are dudes. When it comes to the Australian dance music industry, things aren't too different. Don't get us wrong, there's plenty of straight-up excellent lady talent out there amongst the bros — think Aussie powerhouses like Alison Wonderland, Nina Las Vegas, Anna Lunoe, Luen, Chiara Kickdrum, J'Nett, YO! MAFIA, Bad Ezzy et al. And the She Can DJ crew are doing great things. But from EDM to house, drum and bass to psy-trance, dance music is generally dominated by dudes. Just look at Zac Efron's new thingo. But there are some who'd see things change. Sydney's beloved community radio station and general bunch of legends FBi Radio have had enough of this lad-heavy industry and have teamed up with V's MoVement to launch a brand new initiative called Dance Class, a means to get more female talent behind the decks. "It's been well established that there is a gender imbalance when it comes to female representation in electronic music," says FBi's managing director Clare Holland. "We see an underrepresentation of women as DJs and producers and it reinforces the false idea that men are more qualified to do this. It means that a young female music lover may not even consider the option of making this a career. "For those who do, it doesn't stop here. A number of high profile artists who have achieved major international success (Grimes, Anna Lunoe, Bjork) have publicly opened up about how their abilities have been doubted or they have received highly gendered criticism. This is not by any means limited to dance music." Running through October and November, five bright young trainees will start workshops covering basic DJ skills, radio presenting, how to navigate the industry and more handy DJ tips. Trainees will be paired with an FBi mentor (Andy Garvey, Adi Toohey, Kali (Picnic) and more) and join them on air for a month. Then, they'll get the chance to spin at their debut live gig and put those new skills into practice. Don't have a DJ skill in the world? No worries at all, Dance Class is open for grassroots, square one beginners — no previous skills needed to apply, just a damn fine taste in new dance music and the drive to be one heck of a DJ. "This is about breaking down barriers to entry," says Holland. "We just want people with great taste and real passion. We'll give them a solid grounding in DJ skills as well as some business know-how and radio presenting. Beyond learning skills we also think it's important to give them connections in the industry which is why we've chosen some of our favourite female DJs to mentor them." Music industry, take note. "How we achieve more equal gender representation in the music industry is something we often discuss at FBi," says Holland. "Ultimately we feel that as programmers we have a responsibility to take positive action. This needs to happen across the board from radio stations to festivals, venues, labels and media." Applications are now open for FBi Radio's Dance Class. For information on how to apply, head over here. Applications close September 27. To celebrate the launch of FBi’s Dance Class, there will be a free, all-ages party at the station with Catlips on Thursday October 22 as part of MoVement Sydney. More details on how to RSVP will be announced soon. Images: Hoops (Goodgod Small Club), Alison Wonderland, Anna Lunoe (FBi Radio), YO! MAFIA.
Melbourne-based artist Adnate was just a kid when his obsession with graffiti took over. "I had my first tag when I was eight years old," he says. "So, it's something I've always been into." Since then, his obsession has grown into a full-time occupation. He spends his days on the road, painting mural after mural around Australia and overseas, and has become famous for his enormous, realistic portraits, which are influenced by the great Renaissance artists, like Caravaggio. Just outside Sydney's Chinese Gardens, on Harbour and Goulburn Streets, you'll find his epic impression of Jenny Munro, who founded Redfern's Aboriginal Tent Embassy. In partnership with Sonos, we visited Adnate's colourful North Melbourne studio to find out a little more about his work. Explore the multi-room space where he finds inspiration and gets in the zone by playing his music loud and clear. GRAFFITI, STREET ART, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? "Once I was a teenager and started visiting friend's houses, I saw the huge amount of amazing work being done on Melbourne's train lines, especially the Hurstbridge line. I discovered people like WCA [Wild Child Artists]," he said. Ten years of feverish graffiti art followed, until Adnate reached a point where "he wasn't feeling stimulated anymore". So, he thought he'd try his hand at portraiture. As it turned out, it wasn't as far removed from graffiti as you might think. "With lettering, you try and put a lot of expression, style and subconscious emotions into what you do. It wasn't too hard to transition to portraiture because, in some ways, it's easier to put expression into a face than into letters." In 2012, he painted his first Indigenous portrait in Fitzroy. And the public reaction was a "big turning point". "I wasn't sure about it, but as soon as I painted it, it created a massive dialogue," Adnate says. "I started seeing it on the Internet, people were coming down and taking photos, and it was creating excitement and pride in Indigenous communities in Victoria. It was then I realised I'd done something really powerful." ON PAINTING INDIGENOUS CULTURE RESPECTFULLY Today, you'll find Adnate's portraits as far afield as the Frog Hollow in the East Kimberley, Singapore and New York City. Among his subjects have been Adam Goodes and the 14th Dalai Lama. "Every year, I have more incredible experiences, make stronger connections and travel to more amazing places. Half the fun of my work is getting to meet the people I paint … It has been a really powerful journey and I feel very much inspired by it." Along the way, Adnate is learning more and more about Indigenous history and culture. "You don't learn much at school, so when I started out, I didn't have much knowledge … I met a cultural advisor in Melbourne, Kimba Thompson, and she quickly and strongly told me what was right and wrong … It's important to be culturally sensitive, follow protocols and be respectful to local communities. Many people think that Indigenous culture is very similar – from Melbourne to the Top End – but it's massively different. We're talking about a distance that's as far as from Spain to Germany." THE MUSIC THAT INSPIRES HIM Right now, Adnate is in Dubbo, working on a 15-metre by 8-metre high mural. Even though he works both outdoors and indoors, he has long favoured painting in the streets, with the sun on his back and music blaring in his ears. "I can't paint without music," he says. "It puts me in the zone — in a meditative state — and helps me block out everything else. My music tastes are very eclectic. I grew up listening to all forms of electronic music and hip hop." At the moment, he's listening to Kiasmos, a minimal, experimental techno duo based in Iceland. When he's at home in his studio, music is even more important. His Sonos speakers tune themselves to the environment of his spacious studio, so whether he's painting in his garage or sitting at his desk doing admin, the sound is loud and clear. He plays his music loudly for inspiration — it's integral to his artistic work. WHEN HE'S OUTSIDE THE STUDIO Adnate's next stop is Townsville and then Tahiti. Even though he occasionally misses having "his own space", having spent just three weeks in Melbourne since June, he is living the dream. He said, "It's always been a great dream of mine, to travel and paint." And for anyone who aspires to the same, here's his advice. "Don't stop. Keep painting. Everything's worth doing – whether you're painting a chicken for a chicken shop or graffiti letters for yourself. Everything teaches you something different. Nothing's not going to benefit you, as long as you have a pencil or paint brush in your hand … Eventually, it all starts making sense, though, at the same time, it doesn't always make sense to me. I'm still learning." Get studio-level sound in your home with multi-room speakers by Sonos. You can walk from one room to another and hear the same song in perfect quality. Powered by wifi, easy to tune, controlled by the Sonos app — in two steps you're ready to go. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier.
Just when you thought you'd kicked back on every secluded beach in Sydney and plunged into every unusual swimming hole, another beach appears, just like that. Its name is MacKenzies and it's one of the teeniest-tiniest strips of sand in Australia, if not the world. In fact, it's so small that sometimes it's not there at all. Confused? Well, here's the lowdown. MacKenzies is a tucked away bay in the Eastern Suburbs, found about 100 metres north of Tamarama. Most of the time, its shoreline is made up of rocks and nothing but rocks. But, every now and again, enough sand washes up that it qualifies as a beach. And that's just what's happened over the past day or two. The bay goes from this... ...to this: If you get yourself down there for a bit of an explore, do take care. Underwater is laced with jagged rocks and the surf is rough and rippy. Swimming isn't particularly recommended. Images: Dave Keeshan.
When predicting what trends would dominate food and drink this year, eateries going vegan was on our list. After all, within Newtown alone, 2015 saw the opening of new joints Superfood Sushi and Bliss ‘n’ Chips, as well as the vegan-ification of Gigi Pizzeria. Now, Potts Point is taking on the animal-friendly mantle. Yellow has announced it’s going 100 percent vegetarian. That’s right, next time you drop by for brunch or a degustation, you won’t find any flesh on the menu. Yellow frequenters will know already that the restaurant has always had a big focus on vegetables. Owners Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt, who also run Bentley and Monopole, have long had a reputation for taking care of their vego diners, in all venues, with loads of options. Savage said, “I’ve always loved cooking with vegetables and having a solely vegetable driven menu gives me the opportunity to focus on interesting and heirloom varietals, grown by local suppliers. By treating vegetables with the same consideration as protein we hope to show that vegetarian dishes are just as delicious as any other menu item." Yellow’s menu will keep its share-ability, but veggies will get more love and creative treatment than ever before. Dishes to look forward to include yellow beans, pickled brassica and maple; raw radish, Japanese turnips and fennel butter; kohlrabi, fermented apple and enoki mushroom; salted carrot, quinoa and kale; and parsnip pappardelle with yolk and pine mushrooms. On the dessert list, you’ll find fennel pollen ice cream and plum broth, as well as citrus curd, carrot sorbet and brown butter. And you can rest assured that cruelty to fruit and veggies is being kept to a minimum. Rather than going through long, arduous flights or truck rides, they’re being grown and picked as close to diners’ plates as possible. Savage has close relationships with several local producers, including First Farm Organics in the Blue Mountains, who supply brassica leaves, turnips and squash, as well as Champion Organics, who take care of while beetroots, herbs and mustard flowers. Meanwhile, Zavaglia Produce is delivering all the Mexican cucumbers, heirloom zucchini and padron peppers, and Epicurean Harvest is responsible for the almighty radishes. There is one proviso on the all-vegetarian move — the brunch menu will remain the same with grilled licorice bread and poached eggs with charred corn and ham hock consommé still on the menu. You can get your vegetarian on at Yellow seven nights a week and from 8am on weekends. You’ll find it at 57-59 Macleay Street, Potts Point.
Cybershaming and cybersexism, drug addiction and neurology, the 'extreme centre' of politics, climate change and capitalism, robots and unemployment, and sugar. They're all on the programme for the seventh incarnation of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Coming to the Sydney Opera House over September 5–6, this year's event will be bringing us a stack of Damn the Man activists, provocative authors and controversial intellectuals from all over the world, including Jon Ronson, Naomi Klein, Peter Greste, Tariq Ali, Dr Marc Lewis, Gabriella Coleman, Sarai Walker and AC Grayling. And that's just a smattering. September's a while away, you still have plenty of time to arm yourself with knowledge. Many of FODI's 2015 guests have launched some pretty brave, important and confrontational books during the past few years. Get through these between now and the end of August and you'll be racing to the mic with your questions. SO YOU'VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED BY JON RONSON Another day, another weird or ill-informed or not-clearly-ironic-enough or plain-stupid tweet, another social media frenzy, another sacking, another life in tatters. Welsh journo, author, filmmaker and radio presenter Jon Ronson has delved into the phenomenon of cybershaming and come up with the insightful, honest, hilarious yet frightening book, So You've Been Publicly Shamed. He travels around the world, interviewing high-profile shamees, and exploring the dangers of the democratisation of judgement and justice. FODI TALK: Jon Ronson's 'Shame Culture' is on September 5 at 3.30pm. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING: CAPITALISM VERSUS THE CLIMATE BY NAOMI KLEIN Reckon you've heard everything there is to know about climate change? Let's face it, it's not until Naomi Klein has put her pen to a topic that we can really say it's had a thorough going-over. In 1999, she gave globalisation a serious shake-up with No Logo, and in 2007, challenged the so-called success of the 'free market' with The Shock Doctrine. In This Changes Everything, Klein argues that climate change isn't so much about carbon as it is about capitalism. If we're planning on the market saving us, we'd better make new plans quicksmart. FODI TALK: Naomi Klein's 'Capitalism and the Climate' is on September 5 at 11.30am. THE EXTREME CENTRE: A WARNING BY TARIQ ALI If the similarity of major political parties has been disillusioning your faith in the political system, Tariq Ali's your man. In his latest book, The Extreme Centre: A Warning, Ali argues that, in way too many countries, politics have been same-same since 1989; with world leaders continually promoting the market's needs at the cost of all else. He examines corruption in Westminster, the EU, NATO and the dominance of the American empire. But it's not all doom and gloom — Ali finds hope in the formation of new, visionary parties in Scotland, Greece and Spain, and in Latin America's Bolivarian Revolutions. FODI TALK: Tariq Ali's 'The Twilight of Democracy' is on September 5 at 12.30pm. DIETLAND BY SARAI WALKER Once you've made your way through all this heavy nonfiction here, you may well be ready for a little escape. You'll find it in Sarai Walker's debut novel, Dietland. That said, this imaginative, funny book doesn't come without a message. It tells the story of Plum Kettle, a girl who tries her hardest to be invisible, because she believes that the fact that she's 'too fat' means that any attention is bad attention. Then, one day, she falls down a rabbit hole, into an underground community of women, where everyone approaches their own body — and their life — on their own terms. FODI TALK: Sarai Walker's 'Radical Fat Acceptance' is on September 6 at 2pm. UNSPEAKABLE THINGS: SEX, LIES AND REVOLUTION BY LAURIE PENNY Laurie Penny is just 28, but her CV reads like that of someone much older. Right now, she's working as a contributing editor at The New Statesman, writing an Orwell Prize shortlisted blog and touring the world talking about her fourth book, Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution. In it, Penny defends her version of feminism, which is fundamentally about everyone's freedom to choose. In the process, she traverses poverty, prejudice, online dating, eating disorders and riots. FODI TALK: Laurie Penny's 'Lost Boys' is on September 6 at 3.30pm. HACKER, HOAXER, WHISTLEBLOWER, SPY: THE MANY FACES OF ANONYMOUS BY GABRIELLA COLEMAN Anthropologist Gabriella Coleman has spent six years delving into the deep, dark world of Anonymous. Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy is the product of her adventures and an incredibly detailed look at the world of hackers, pranksters and digital activists. Coleman reveals her chats with numerous of the subculture's best-known figures, from Topiary to Tflow to Jeremy Hammond, while recounting their roles in major events, including Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring and WikiLeaks. FODI TALK: Gabriella Coleman's 'Inside Anonymous' is on September 5 at 12pm. WITHOUT YOU, THERE IS NO US BY SUKI KIM Since 2002, Seoul-born, New York-living writer Suki Kim has travelled back and forth to North Korea, returning with essays and articles covering major events — from Kim Jong-il's 60th birthday party, to his death in 2011 at the age of 69. During that year, she spent six months teaching English to the sons of the North Korean elite at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). In Without You, There Is No Us, she gives us a detailed, intimate account of her experiences, providing a window into the education system of a nation we know so little about. FODI TALK: Suki Kim joins Michael Kirby and Anna Broinowski for the 'Inside North Korea' panel on September 6 at 2pm. COMMAND AND CONTROL: NUCLEAR WEAPONS, THE DAMASCUS INCIDENT AND THE ILLUSION OF SAFETY BY ERIC SCHLOSSER Eric Schlosser, author of 2000's Fast Food Nation, has turned his legendary investigative journalism skills to nuclear weapons. Like its predecessor, Command Control aims to make us feel very, very uncomfortable. We're not as safe as we like to think we are. Two plot lines drive the book's structure — the first is the 70-year history of America's nuclear arsenal. The second is the story of the 1980 Titan II missile explosion in Damascus, Arkansas — a 'mishap' that could well have led to a detonation. According to Schlosser, far too many of these types of incidents occur and it's only good luck, really, that's keeping us from a disaster. FODI TALK: Eric Schlosser's 'Nuclear Delusions' is on September 5 at 3pm. MEMOIRS OF AN ADDICTED BRAIN BY DR MARC LEWIS Neuroscientist Dr Marc Lewis first sought escape through drugs as a lonely, bullied boarding school student in New England. Starting with cough medicine, booze and pot, he made his way through the works; taking LSD, speed and heroin in California, nitrous oxide in Malaysia and opium in Calcutta. However, unlike many drug-addicted people, he eventually quit, and went on to become a neuroscientist and developmental psychologist. In Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, Dr Lewis recounts his experiences, focalising his drug-taking through its impact on his neurology. FODI TALK: Marc Lewis's 'Learning Addiction' is on September 6 at 2pm. RISE OF THE ROBOTS: TECHNOLOGY AND THE THREAT OF A JOBLESS FUTURE BY MARTIN FORD Fancy yourself as indispensable to your employer? Believe that, even if your job becomes obsolete, you'll be able to side step into another? Martin Ford thinks you should think again. The robots are coming. And they're going to be cleverer than most of us imagine. In his second book, Rise of the Robots, Ford argues that, unlike other technological developments, the advancement of artificial intelligence promises to leave numerous of us completely, utterly jobless, thereby causing a massive leap in economic inequality. FODI TALK: Martin Ford's 'Hello Robots' is happening on September 5 at 3pm. Learn more about this year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas program, running September 5-6 at the Sydney Opera House, over here. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. Or you could just go see the new Star Wars movie for the third time. That's also a totally valid option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMf9m7FXd4 LA LA LAND We give it: 4 stars A surefire contender at this year's Academy Awards, Damien Chazelle's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Whiplash is a bittersweet love letter to music, movies and the old school sense of romance we associate with both. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are at their charming best as a pair of dreamers who fall madly in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles, only for their creative ambitions to get in the way. The film is beautifully shot, and its toe-tapping song and dance numbers will leave you with a gigantic smile on your face. Also: tears. Oh boy, will there be tears. – Tom Clift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI MOANA We give it: 4 stars The latest film from the Disney animation juggernaut, Moana hits all the right marks. Indeed, it's a cocktail of all of the best elements of the Disney princess genre – a desperate quest, a charismatic supporting cast, catchy tunes and an animal sidekick – but with one subtle but important difference. Unlike most Disney princesses, Moana doesn't need a training montage to become a boss bitch, because she already is one. She's a beautiful role model, maybe the best Disney princess ever. And the score, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i, is the music she deserves. Prepare your ears to hear the main refrain 'How Far I'll Go' more than that damn 'Let It Go' song from Frozen. We ain't mad, though, because it's the perfect summer jam. – Imogen Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50 A UNITED KINGDOM We give it: 4 stars As far as rousing romances based on real-life stories go, Amma Asante's A United Kingdom hits the jackpot. Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo star as typist Ruth Williams and future president of Botswana Seretse Khama, whose romance in the years following WWII challenged racial divisions and provoked widespread international attention. The film provides an example of solid emotional storytelling from start to finish. Complications keep forcing the star-crossed lovers in opposite directions, but they never lose sight of what's important. Nor does Asante or writer Guy Hibbert, who are at their best when swapping easy sentiment for quiet fortitude. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl3sTpmEKIs RED DOG: TRUE BLUE We give it: 3.5 stars Five years ago, a little local film with a lot of heart scampered its way into cinemas — and into the country's box office records. Given the tail-wagging success of Red Dog, a follow-up was all but inevitable. Still, while there's much that's familiar about Red Dog: True Blue, it still earns every bit of emotion that oozes from this second trip into family-friendly territory. This time around, the eponymous pooch gets an origin story starting in 1968, and a lonely boy (Pan's Levi Miller) gets a new best friend. For their part of the bargain, viewers get a broad, crowd-pleasing, affectionate effort that's certain to make everyone fall in love with the red-coloured canine all over again. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qksQSt8K830 WHY HIM? We give it: 3 stars "Produced by Ben Stiller. Story by Jonah Hill. Starring James Franco." Put those things together and you already know what you'll get: fart jokes, dick jokes, poo jokes, semon jokes, stoners, swearing and sex. And yet, true to form, you also get laughs. Not as many as you might have hoped for given the involvement of Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally and Keegan-Michael Key, but maybe just enough to keep you entertained. In this modern day riff on Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, Cranston's daughter invites her family out to Silicon Valley to meet her eccentric tech millionaire boyfriend Laird, whereupon daddy decides to go to war with the very idea of their relationship. Too often the film turns to the loud and the wacky for easy laughs, when all the best material comes in the gentler, well-directed barbs at San Fran startup culture. Franco steals the show, forging Laird into a genuinely endearing character whose vulnerabilities lie bare like the tattoos adorning his torso. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlp94-C31cY ALLIED We give it: 3 stars Partially styled after and sharing its initial setting with classic World War II romance Casablanca, Allied poses an age-old question in a specific context: how well does anyone actually know each other, particularly married couples who've started a family together while the planet battles it out around them. Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard mightn't boast overwhelmingly convincing chemistry together, but each turn in fine performances as a Canadian intelligence officer and French resistance fighter, respectively, whose pairing on an undercover mission soon leads to a genuine connection. Obviously pitched at an older crowd, Allied is an elegant affair that seems like a response to the complaint that they just don't make them like they used to. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrWjjOOYxhI SING We give it: 3 stars On paper, animal karaoke caper Sing sounds like reality television turned into a star-studded cartoon – albeit in a form that aims to make viewers feel warm and fuzzy rather than inducing a serious case of cringe. On screen, the latest film from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow director Garth Jennings plays out just as you'd expect, though it thankfully remains fun enough despite its obvious formula. Think bright colours, a bouncy pace, recognisable songs a plenty, Matthew McConaughey voicing a theatre-owning koala, and the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon and Eddie the Eagle's Taron Egerton among the cast. If you're looking for a film to keep youngsters distracted, this animated effort should do nicely. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_3CL12eNaE ROSALIE BUM We give it: 2.5 stars While Rosalie Blum bears the name of Noémie Lvovsky's protagonist— a middle-aged corner store-owner saddened by past pain – the intertwined fates of three individuals sit at the centre of this light and breezy effort. Adapted from a series of graphic novels, the film – a hit at this year's Alliance Francaise French Film Festival – explores the story not just of Rosalie, but also the hairdresser who starts following her every move, and the college student (and Rosalie's niece) who starts shadowing him in turn. Coincidence and contrivance rear their head, though so does a genuine understanding of the interplay between unhappiness and escapism. The result is a well-acted but often a tad too convenient movie about coping with life's ups and downs. – Sarah Ward If you're looking to steer well clear of cinemas on Boxing Day, why not check out one of our favourite films from throughout the year instead. Words by Imogen Baker, Tom Clift, Tom Glasson and Sarah Ward.
Banaras Backs, the newest exhibition at Darlinghurst photography Black Eye Gallery, offers a unique glimpse into contemporary Indian life. The work of Aussie photographer Terry Burrows, this new show features photos of people sitting on the steps of the river Ganges. A riff on classic portraiture, each of the photos is taken from behind, with the viewer unable to see any of the subjects' faces. At once intimate and distant, this intriguing series invites you to spend long moments in front of each image, admiring the composition or, for more creative types, inventing stories about the photos' anonymous subjects. Copies of Burrows' publication, The Banaras Back Book — a whopping collection of 1008 photos from which the Black Eye Gallery exhibit is curated — will be available for sale during the exhibition. Black Eye Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm. Images courtesy the artist/Black Eye Gallery.
While Australia is still a ways off legal weed yet, our friends in California appear to be living in a stoner's paradise. One of the more laissez-faire places when it comes to marijuana – it's legal for medicinal use, while possession will cop you a $100 fine at most – the state already caters to smokers with dispensaries and delivery services. So really, a cannabis social club was the next logical step. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Nexus Social Lounge is an endeavour of Nexus Glass, a company that specialises in pipes and other glassware, and provides a welcoming place for patrons to, uh, medicate. The bar is decked out with a full blown arcade, complete with retro games and pinball machines. Elite Daily went along to the venue earlier this week and caught a performance by Waka Flocka Flame – who also spent some time interacting with patrons from behind the bar. Who want some Flockaveli OG ???? Coming soon to dispensary near you. @wakaflocka A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:48am PST @wakaflocka at the dab bar A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Feb 4, 2016 at 6:34pm PST Recap | 2015 NYE Party A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:23pm PST Recap | NYE Party @808mafiaboss @westcoastcure A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:05pm PST Tag someone who you'd go head to head with. #highscore #110 #nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Nov 26, 2015 at 6:26pm PST We offer exclusive parties in collaboration with some of the industries finest to provide a unique experience like no other, our private member-only lounge cannot be matched. #nexussociallounge @nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Nov 25, 2015 at 2:07pm PST On a semi-related note, Victoria recently became the first state in Australia to take steps towards legalising medicinal marijuana, with the Andrews government tabling a report in parliament by the Victorian Law Reform Commission that recommended legalising the drug for the treatment of serious illnesses. Baby steps, people. Via Elite Daily.
Myer and eBay have joined forces to take online shopping to the next level with their creation of the world's first Virtual Reality Department Store. Available today, their cardboard 'shoptical' device allows users to browse, personalise, and purchase over 12,500 Myer products just with your face. The best part — they're giving out 15,000 of them for free. For our sceptical readers who didn't automatically click away at the word free, here's the deal. The 'shoptical' device seems pretty simple — you download the eBay VR Department Store app on your smart phone and insert the phone into the cardboard shoptical — very, very similar to Google Cardboard's design. You can then browse, research and eventually purchase any item in the catalogue by holding your gaze on a product. The VR store is continually personalised while you use it and will suggest products based on what it knows about you. Creepy? Yes. Convenient? Also yes. While the new VR Store doesn't quite diminish the age old online shopping problem of ordering without trying on, the shopticals do give an unprecedented, up close and personal view of products – think 3D images that take you inside the jumper you're looking at. The product range, pricing and stock information will also be updated in real time, which is a brand new feat for virtual reality experiences. For those looking to try before they buy, you can trial the VR Department Store by booking your place at a special exhibition on Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20 at The Harbourside Room, Level 6, 140 George Street in Sydney. While this device may not be for the old school shoppers out there, it's definitely a huge leap forward for online converts. If you made it this far and still think this sounds bloody brilliant, we just want to repeat that they're really giving out 15,000 for free.
Despite claims by the University of Technology Sydney that some people actually like the UTS Tower, it's known to haters citywide as one of the ugliest buildings in Sydney. But this serious eyesore is finally getting proper attention from the powers that be, with new multi-million dollar plans for an attached 'student hub' announced this morning — though not quite as much attention as we think it needs. Broadway's soulless tower of concrete will not be demolished — for reasons we still don't understand. Instead, Building 2 of the tower will get a complete makeover and act as a shiny new distraction from the structure allegedly designed so students couldn't meet each other, form groups and protest (it's a myth but we love it). The team from Tattoo Nightmares probably would have done a better cover up job, but unfortunately they don't do 1960s abominations. The 16-level, glass-sheathed student hub will replace Building 2 on the corner of Broadway and Jones Street. The project, titled UTS Central, is said to start this year and finish in 2019, costing a whopping $278 million. You'd think for that amount of dollarydoos they'd be able to get rid of the UTS Tower once and for all, but someone up at the top must really, really want to keep it around. The new development does sound pretty swank, though — there are plans to include a library with a twisting tri-level reading room, research areas, teaching spaces, a student centre, the student union, and a dining hall. Top it all off with an outdoor terrace and rooftop garden and the futuristic glass structure will at least be keeping students happy. UTS Central is the next in the campus revamps, following the recent $180 million Frank Gehry-designed business school that has also received mixed reviews. Via Sydney Morning Herald. Image: NSW Department of Planning.
Mead is making a comeback as of late, though most people still have no idea what the fuck it is. Stone Dog Meadery will give guests all of the answers (and tasters) of one of the world's oldest alcoholic beverages while Yulli's serves up their top-notch vegetarian dishes. Even the know-it-alls in the craft beer world will learn something, and love something, at this Sydney Craft Beer Week event.
Not going overseas this winter? Luckily, you'll still have the chance to take a bite out of some Big Apple arts and culture, as Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria plays host to an exclusive exhibition showcasing works from New York's prestigious Museum of Modern Art. Debuting today and set to run until October 7, MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art will feature over 200 modern and contemporary masterpieces, many on their first ever visit to Australia. Taking over the entire ground floor of NGV International, it's certifiably huge. The exhibition will present pieces from all six of MoMA's curatorial departments, meaning the works will span Photography, Film, Architecture and Design, Painting and Sculpture, Drawings and Prints, and Media and Performance Art. You'll catch works from all of the big names of the 19th and 20th century art world, including Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol. Capturing the spirit of more recent times, will be pieces from the likes of Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Olafur Eliasson, Rineke Dijkstra and Camille Henrot. Examining over 130 years of innovation, MoMA at NGV sets out to explore all the major art movements, with the exhibition spread across eight themed sections. Here are a few of the big-name works on display. [caption id="attachment_672010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roy Lichtenstein: Drowning girl (1963)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Warhol: Marilyn Munroe (1967)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672011" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frida Kahlo: Self portrait with cropped hair (1940)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672012" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salvador Dali: The persistence of memory (1931)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672013" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kara Walker: Gone: An historical romance of a civil war as it occurred b'tween the dusky thighs of a one young negress and her heart (1994)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shigetaka Kurita et al.: Emoji (1998–99)[/caption] Needless to say, the partnership with MoMa is a pretty huge coup for both the NGV and Australian art lovers. "The collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria provides a unique opportunity to see extremely important works from nearly every area of our collection in an exhibition that simultaneously explores The Museum of Modern Art's history as well as the history of modern and contemporary art in general," said MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry. As an added bonus, NGV members who are hitting New York while the exhibition is running will score free admission to MoMA, and vice versa. MoMA at NGV runs from June 9 until October 7, at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Grab tickets here. Images: NGV/Tom Ross.
After taking a big chunk out of the hotel business, Airbnb are finally getting into… the hotel business. The online marketplace has just launched Samara, an urban planning and design studio that recently put the finishing touches on its inaugural design project — a cedar wood guest house soon to open in the small town of Yoshino, Japan. Designed in conjunction with local architect Go Hasegawa, the dwelling features multiple bedrooms, a communal living area and a 16-foot-long dining table. It's currently on display in Tokyo as part of the House Vision exhibition, but will be transported to Yoshino in October, where it will function as a community centre that doubles as visitor accommodation. "Imagine it's lunch time and you're eating and at the end of the table there's a community meeting taking place," Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia told Fast Company Design. "I picture Western guests walking up, stepping inside, and you're interacting with the community from the minute you arrive. If you want to tour the sake factory, or the chopstick factory, or take a hike, the locals are right there." Apparently the whole idea was inspired by an elderly woman in Tsuyama Okayama, who created a mini tourism boom in town after listing her home on Airbnb. The hope is that the Yoshino house generates similar interest. Of course, that's assuming that locals actually want an influx of Western visitors — although the town did donate the land for the project, so presumably they're on board. "If this works, there are a lot of villages in Japan that could benefit," said Gebbia. Indeed, the plan seems to be to expand the project globally, with Gebbia mentioning that the company had received calls from people in places such as the UK, China, Korea, Spain, France, and Italy. Via Fast Company Design.
All you need for a beautiful day on the beach is yourself, some togs and a few hours of unburdened, gloriously free time. But wouldn't it be an even better day if you had these movie-set perfect beach and pool accessories with you? Yes. Yes, it would. Read on and cast your mind forward to a time when your aqueous outing is framed by the style, ingenuity and inflatable Pegasus-ry here collected. THE BEACH MAT: BEACHILL SMART MATTRESS Barely out of development, the Beachill can be a tough product to get your hands on — at the moment, the company's Facebook page asks that you get in touch via email to order. Nevertheless, the bubblegum-bright beach mat is so good that it's already moderately internet-famous. That's because it actually solves three common beach trip dilemmas: how to support your back (i.e. the usual beach mat mandate), how to keep your drink cool and how to charge your dwindling phone battery. It accomplishes the latter by way of a 7 watt solar panel on the back of the cushion. High five, Beachill. Price on enquiry from the Beachill Facebook page. THE BEACH TOWEL: THE BEACH PEOPLE ROUNDIE Throw away your old rectangular towel (read: leave it in the linen cabinet for a bit), because this season everyone's drying off with a whole new shape. That shape? The circle. Luxe and oversize, this new breed of towel is an extravagance, but one you'll be thankful for when you're wrapped in its embrace from head to fringe-tickled toe. Byron Bay company The Beach People do them best, in bold, monotone prints inspired by beach cultures from all over the world. $110 from The Beach People. THE BEACH SUNGLASSES: KREWE DU OPTIC ST LOUIS What's going on on that nose bridge there? Well, that would be a brushed metal architectural detail inspired by New Orleans' French Quarter's iconic 1800s cast iron balconies. Swoon. Krewe Du Optic are a brand you want to get in on — started in 2013, they handcraft all their frames using premium acetate, lenses and hinges. The sunset-hued mirrored pair above is a 'Bengal', but the St Louis style alone comes in 11 different colourways, each more fetching than the last. Just look. US$195–255 ($270–354) from Krewe du Optic. THE BEACH BALL: SUNNYLIFE INFLATABLE WATERMELON BALL If you're anything less than impressed right now, it's only because the full significance of Sunnylife's inflatable watermelon ball is yet to hit you. This ball is not just a toy to be tossed; it is a trompe l'oeil that will turn heads in wonder at your ability to keep a half-watermelon aloft with a few blasé taps. Not only that, but have you played with any beach ball lately? The things run away from you at the slightest suggestion from the wind. Hours of active fun right there. $18.95 from Sunnylife. THE INFLATABLE: FUNBOY PEGASUS POOL FLOAT The game of inflatable animal one-upmanship has gone so far it's crossed into mythical creature territory. Following summer after summer of the swan, the flamingo and the toucan, we now have in our midst the Pegasus, from LA brand Funboy. You know you want it. Though it's definitely not for open ocean beaches, take along Peggy to a pool, harbour beach or lake as desired. US$99 ($137) from Funboy. THE BEACH GAME: MEN'S SOCIETY ALOHA PADDLE BEACH BALL GAME SET What's with all the dude-centric brand names in the beach toy industry? Remedy this, someone. But for now let's plough ahead and appreciate this neat paddle tennis set anyway. It's designy, but not too designy. You could probably leave it unattended while you went for a swim and nobody would steal it. Note the colour palette; it seems to invoke the Pacific islands, the Rene Lacoste days of tennis and your primary school athletics uniform all at once. A real achievement. £29 from Men's Society. THE BEACH BAG: THE SHAKE TOTE The Shake Tote is okay-looking, but where it wows is on its bottom. Open the flap and all the sand that's inevitably made it into your bag during a day at the beach will just fall straight through the mesh lining and out of your life. Whataworld. The Shake range also comes in a small backpack and clutch, in two different colourways. US$80–90 ($111–124) from Amazon. THE BEST SUN PROTECTION: INVISIBLE ZINC 4HR WATER RESISTANT SPF50+ What's this guy doing here? Well, if your best accessory is the skin you're in (and let's say it is), then you're going to want to take care of it. Invisible Zinc makes it into our beach bags year after year because it's super effective at reflecting UVAs and UVBs, low irritant, Australian owned and a real leader in the physical sunscreen game, with a natural Zinc Oxide formula that rubs in nearly as well as chemical sunscreens. The latest addition to their product line is 50+ and 4 hours water resistant. $21.99 from Priceline.
