March can often arrive with a pang of seasonal realisation — summer's done. But there are some who resist the change, especially those intent on creating an entire beach festival in Coogee. You'll quickly forget any farewells to the sunnier months at the Coogee Foreshore Festival, a seaside celebration transforming Coogee Pavilion's ground floor into a burgeoning marketplace. It's just one tasty, beachy adventure amongst five weeks of March into Merivale. The new Coogee Foreshore Festival arrives on Sunday, March 15, running 11am to 4pm at one of our favourite openings from 2014. The $45-a-head festival will see Merivale pop-ups such as Papi Chulo, Mr Wong, El Loco and sushi e all taking their spot along the promenade, while roaming entertainment, a Deus surfboard-shaping stand and face painting bubbles inside. Summer might be done according to the calendar, but there's no reason to dwell in melted daiquiris and uneaten Christmas chocolate. Forward march to autumn.
Having completely sold out tickets, beloved two-day camping festival Secret Garden Festival boasts one of its biggest music lineups to date. With over sixty bands and DJs across four stages, Secret Garden is cranking things to 11 — without losing that intimate Secret Magic magic. Headlined by two huge international slam dunks — New York City's brutally honest story-weaver Sharon Van Etten and punk-as-fuck Parquet Courts — the Secret Garden lineup has gone next level this year under returning festival programmer Adam Lewis (Opera Bar, formerly Goodgod Small Club). Loyal fans of synth, beats and glitches have a lot to look forward to, with Client Liaison, Donny Benet, Hot Dub Time Machine, Fishing, Japanese Wallpaper, LUCIANBLOMKAMP, Willow Beats, UV Boi, Stereogamous ft. Shaun J. Wright (AUS/USA), NO ZU, San Holo (NL), Holiday Sidewinder, Frames, Juan Du Sol, Luen, Oisima, RY4, Total Giovanni, Yon Yonson, Tees, Softwar B2B Slow Blow. Gear up for spontaneous dance-offs with Shantan Wantan Ichiban, Levins, Shag, Mike Who, Ariane, Love Bombs, I Oh You DJs, Purple Sneakers DJs, Le Fruit DJs, Yo Grito! DJs and Heartbeat DJs. If you're down for tossing the feathers to a different type of harmony, the folk, roots and country element of the lineup is top notch. Sharon Van Etten is joined by Sydney's harmonic trio Little May, the likes of Pepa Knight, Heather Woods Broderick (USA), Steve Smyth, Jeremy Neale, The Morrisons, Wintercoats, Stolen Violin and Luluc. Hip hop-wise, Secret Garden have handpicked some of Australia's best; the names changing the game for Aussie hip hop — Remi, Baro and Milwaukee Banks, alongside Canadian producer Lunice. Garage, punk, psych, indie and alt-rock blares thick and fast at this year's festival, with those cheeky Parquet Courts heading Gooch Palms, Oh Mercy, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Lake Street Dive (USA), Gang of Youths, The Griswolds, Devotional, Little Bastard, Joseph Liddy and the Skeleton Horse, Spookyland and Rolls Bayce. And if you thought call-and-response wasn't going to make an appearance at Secret Garden this year, Peter Combe and the Bellyflop in a Pizza Band are locked in to dredge up that nostalgia and have you washing your face with orange juice before you can clean your teeth with bubblegum. Secret Garden takes place 27 - 28 February on a 3,000 acre 'garden' on Sydney's fringe. Tickets are currently sold out. As always, the festival will be donating all proceeds to those who need it most, with all proceeds from ticketing and bar sales going to a range of charities. For more info on this year's festival, head to secretgardenfestival.com.au. SECRET GARDEN 2015 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): Ariane Baro Client Liaison Devotional Donny Benet (Solo) Fishing Frames Gang of Youths Gooch Palms Grace Heartbeat DJs Heather Woods Broderick (USA) Holiday Sidewinder Hot Dub Time Machine I Oh You DJs Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Japanese Wallpaper Jeremy Neale Joe Liddy & The Skeleton Horse JU?AN DU SOL Lake Street Dive (USA) Le Fruit DJs Levins Little Bastard Little May Love Bombs LUCIANBLOMKAMP Luen Luluc Lunice (CAN) Mike Who Milwaukee Banks No Zu Oh Mercy Oisima Parquet Courts (USA) Pepa Knight Peter Combe Purple Sneakers DJs Remi Rolls Bayce RY4 San Holo (NL) Shag Shantan Wantan Ichiban Sharon Van Etten (USA) Softwar B2B Slow Blow Spookyland Stereogamous ft. Shaun J. Wright (AUS/USA) Steve Smyth Stolen Violin Tees The Griswolds The Morrisons Total Giovanni UV Boi Velociraptor Willow Beats Wintercoats Yo Grito! DJs Yon Yonson
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 7, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its third year running. Last year, 415 cafes and 20 coffee roasters raised $120,000 to fund 91 community projects. Not too shabby. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 7. Check the website for participating cafes near you. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Frosted tips, mood rings, cargo pants — you know you owned 'em. Fish your best '90s gear out of the back of your parent's closet and head for a rather '90s New Year's Eve at The Bearded Tit. There'll be sets by Lorna Clarkson, Charlie Villas and the Tit's own Fleetwood Crack, alongside performances by Renny Kodgers and Captain Pipe, so expect this to be one eclectic affair. There'll be prizes for best dressed, so think big — you and five friends could easily pull a solid Spice Girl effort. There's no cover charge (which makes this a wildly affordable type of Sydney NYE), and there'll be '90s cocktails on the night.
Sydney abounds in whiskey bars, gin joints and wine libraries. But, until now, vermouth – that ancient potion of mystical, medical qualities – hasn't received its own shrine. Enter Banksii, a brand new bar-bistro, run by Bar H's cracking team and soon to open along the sparkling, harbour-side Streets of Barangaroo. On sommelier Rebecca Lines's drinks list, you'll find no fewer than 40 vermouth options. Drink 'em straight, drink 'em on ice, drink 'em while howling at the full moon and drink 'em in cocktails. In short, drink 'em anyway you like. "Vermouth has an exceptionally long history and by the 17th Century was incredibly popular in Europe and England as an aperitif," says Lines. "There has been a recent rediscovery of vermouth and we'll be focusing on it being served straight as an aperitif and in a tight cocktail list, focusing on classics such as martinis and negronis." What's more, she's organising a bespoke drop by the name of Maidenii, which you'll find on Banskii's taps, but nowhere else. Vermouth not your thing? Get into the 100-strong wine menu, emphasising both homegrown and Mediterranean wines. Meanwhile, chef Hamish Ingham — ex-Bar H, Pier, Becasse, Flying Fish and Billy Kwong, and 2004 Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year — has been busy coming up with contemporary dishes that combine Mediterranean influences with Australian botanicals. By the way, in case you're wondering, the name Banskii is not in homage to the homonym-nal street artist, but to Sir Joseph Banks, Australia's first European botanist. Ingham will be serving up his creations morning, noon and night. For breakfast, you'll be getting stuck into rosemary sheep's milk yoghurt with fresh honeycomb and brioche, or grilled Cumberland sausage, fried egg, organic chickpeas and tomatoes cooked in vermouth. Lunch and dinner will be all about keeping things light and fresh, with star dishes including vegetable crudité with sesame yoghurt and mountain leaf oil; and roast spatchcock, botanicals, fried bread and agro dolce. And, for sweet tooths, there's banksia flower trifle with banksia syrup, sweet vermouth, rosella jelly and burnt vanilla custard. Yep. Banksia flower trifle. "I can't wait to get into the kitchen at Banksii," said Ingram. "I'm really happy with how the menu is coming together. The Streets of Barangaroo is going to be one of the most exciting dining precincts in Sydney, with the likes of Belles [Hot Chicken] and Bentley as our neighbours, we're in extremely good company." Luchetti Krelle is taking care of design matters, incorporating indoor-outdoor seating for 200 people and drawing from 18th century ideas (because that's when Sir Banks was around). If you've ever hung out at ACME, Momofuku Seiobo or The Butler, you've luxuriated Luchetti Krelle's excellence. Banksii will open on The Streets of Barangaroo in September 2016.
Slip into a world of gangsters and glamour at a shindig inspired by one of Sydney's most notorious nightclubs. For two nights in October, The Festivalists will transform Sydney's Police and Justice Museum into a hive of shady activity, complete with go-go dancers, paparazzi and a backroom roulette table. Throw on your best '60s garb and leave your inhibitions at the door – they're not calling it Mayhem for nothing. Taking their cues from Chequers circa 1969, when the club famously hosted a party with Chicago mobster Joseph Testa in attendance, The Festivalists have teamed up with Sydney Living Museums on what promises to be the most scandalous ticket in town. On Thursday October 8 and Friday October 9, guests dressed to the nines will breeze past the photographers into a pop-up cabaret and bar, where Memphis Mae will take the stage for a 60s-style burlesque show. Maeve Marsden will emcee regular cabaret performances, while retired showgirl Elizabeth Burton spills her guts about life during Sydney's seedy hey-day. Venture a little deeper into the shadows and you'll find plenty more to get up to, including liquid light painting with Zender Bender, immersive theatre by The Jetback Collective, and pole-dancing 101 with Cody Cabana. There'll be prizes for best dressed – and if you're really feeling lucky, try your hand at the roulette wheel, or have a go at cracking open the club safe. In the meantime, The Festivalists' latest Hijinks event, a 007-themed cocktail party, is happening next Friday night at Madame Tussauds. Tickets to Mayhem: Chequers Club can be booked online or over the phone on 1300 488 849. $75 gets you in, and also covers food and your first drink of the night. Image by Brent Lederitz.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of brand new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Sydney for four days this March. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 40 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Marni, Kenzo, Stella McCartney, Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Karla Spetic, Christopher Kane, Elke Jewellery and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off and items for as little as $20, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that'll leave your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every man and lady for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale opening hours: Thursday, March 31 — 8am - 7pm Friday, April 1 — 8am - 6pm Saturday, April 2 — 10am - 6pm Sunday, April 3 — 10am - 5pm
George Miller has done the near-impossible and made car chases interesting again. Not just interesting, mind you. Sensational. Mad Max: Fury Road is electrifying, breathtaking, white-knuckle cinema at its masterful best, and — given the entire film is a car chase — that’s no mean feat. Consider the problem. Chase sequences become interminably dull as soon as you recognise they are restricted by just two possible outcomes: ‘pursuer catches’ or ‘pursued evades’. Subject to a few notable exceptions (French Connection and Ronin being the standouts), these scenes merely interrupt the narrative and contribute little or nothing to the character arcs or overall plot. The difference is the road movie. Miller, who practically invented the genre 35 years ago, understands that everything changes when the chase is the story. It's cinematic inverted spectrum, where action is transformed from interruption to character defining narrative — an extension of the their very lives and personalities. Traditional distinctions like age and gender become irrelevant, and how a person drives, fights, shoots and stares becomes more important than what they say. Demonstrating an astonishing paucity of dialogue, the action of Mad Max: Fury Road doesn’t just speak more loudly than words — it positively deafens. In a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland, earth’s survivors now exist in a collection of militarised tribes fighting over the remaining reserves of gasoline and subject to the tyrannical rule of self-appointed demigods like ‘Immortan Joe’ (Hugh Keays-Byrne). The chase begins almost immediately when a one-armed big-rig driver named Furiosa (Charlize Theron), attempts to liberate Joe's young wives from their servitude as ‘breeders’ and Joe goes all out to recover them. Caught up in the action is Max (Tom Hardy), a wasteland loner captured by Joe’s minions and being used as a living blood bank for one of Furiosa’s pursuers, Nux (an almost unrecognisable Nicholas Hoult). Plot wise, it’s far from innovative; effectively Waterworld on sand with the design aesthetic of Fallout. Cinematically, however, Mad Max: Fury Road is unparalleled. The action is choreographed to mesmerising perfection, offering a balletic pageant of destruction with a refreshing absence of CGI. The sound, too, is staggering, with the menacing roar of V8 engines mirroring the Inception-like ‘BRAMMM’ that seems an almost constant fixture throughout. The combined effect is ferocious and irresistible, encapsulating all that makes cinema a uniquely immersive and transportive experience. Miller has crafted something extraordinary here, a modern masterpiece that could very well redefine the action standard. Don't wait for DVD on this one. See it where it's meant to be seen, and see it now.
In the art world, getting your work seen is often half the battle. Competing with household names for gallery spaces can feel like a lost cause, leaving many to throw in the towel altogether. But what if there was an event designed specifically with emerging talent in mind? Imagine a festival open exclusively to the undiscovered, the hidden gems of the creative world, that promises to connect artists directly with buyers. Good news, The Other Art Fair is making this all come true. Established in the UK nearly five years ago and launched in Sydney last year, The Other Art Fair offers a one-of-a-kind experience, focused on demystifying the art buying process for all involved. Creating a direct link between artists and buyers, art industry experts hand-pick a top notch lineup of emerging talent to showcase to visitors across four days. Now in its second year, the Fair returns to Sydney in October to bring a fresh selection of contemporary works to art lovers, critics and collectors. And in 2016, the Fair promises an entirely new vision led by the new soon-to-be-announced International Fair Director. Plus, the Selection Committee director is none other than Tracey Emin — yep, the Tracey Emin. After the overwhelming success of last year's debut, the fair is currently on the hunt for a new crop of emerging artists to get involved. Think you might be the next big thing? Head to theotherartfair.com.au/applications and enter before submissions close Monday, July 11. For further information, contact Fair Manager, Zoe Edema (zoe@theotherartfair.com).
When we first meet Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor), it's over a doughnut in a dingy shop on the corner of Santa Monica and Highland, a notorious Los Angeles intersection known for its high numbers of transgender sex workers. Sin-Dee is back on the block after a month-long stint in prison, although she won't be getting back to the hustle right away. First, she's got to track down her pimp and boyfriend Chester (James Ransone), who according to Alexandra has been stepping out behind her back — and with a biological woman, no less. At first description, Sundance hit Tangerine sounds like it could be a bit of a slog to sit through — a micro-budget indie film about people on the fringe of society with no good options and no way out. Thankfully, that could not be further from the truth. What on paper has the makings of a despondent 'issues' movie is instead a loud, stylish, ultra high-energy romp — a film that is both uproariously funny and unexpectedly poignant without ever resorting to cheap tricks, condescension or cliche. Of course the first thing that makes Tangerine stand out is not its subject matter but its style. Director Sean Baker shot the entire film using tricked-out iPhone 5s, a cost-saving measure that proved to be a blessing in disguise. The jerky, unvarnished camerawork suits the film's characters to perfection, while filters added in post-production ramp up the colours to unnaturally vivid level; rarely has LA's ugly side looked so electric on screen. On a technical level alone, this is a truly exciting piece of art, one that raises the bar for low- and no-budget productions while at the same time demonstrating how technology is democratising moviemaking like never before. Still, even more so than its incredible aesthetic, the true success of Tangerine lies in the collaboration between Baker and his two leads. Despite a combined zero hours of screen acting experience between them, Taylor and Rodriguez, who Baker recruited from a local LGBT centre, give two of the best performances of the year. It's hard to imagine 'professional' actors bringing the same levels of authenticity – or attitude – to the film's immensely quotable dialogue, much of which was improvised on set. Indeed, the unvarnished, no-fucks-given edge that both stars bring to the film speaks volumes about the hardships faced by poor transwomen of colour. Tangerine, to its eternal credit, never shies away from these hardships. But it also refuses to paint its characters as helpless victims. These women don't want or need your sympathy, although they certainly deserve your respect. So too does this film. As transgender issues continue to get more of the spotlight, narratives such as this – unflinching and, perhaps more importantly, entertaining – have the power to alter public perception. Frankly, it's hard not to root for characters like these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU
The show must go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. 15 years after the release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine is coming to the stage. The lavish adaptation is currently in its early stages, and will be directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Writing duties will be handled by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes the recent James Bond outing Skyfall as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. The show is being developed by entertainment group Global Creatures, who previously worked on the theatrical adaptation of King Kong and helped bring Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom to the stage. A premiere date and location for Moulin Rouge! has yet to be announced.
Disney and Marvel. When the union was forged, many wondered whether it would be death of both or the start of something special. Then The Avengers made about a trillion dollars and it looked like things might be okay. Key to the acquisition was Disney’s hands-off approach, guaranteeing the gritty Marvel world would not suddenly be required to include musical numbers like: “I’m a Wolverine and I’m the best you’ve ever seen”. The latest offering — Big Hero 6 — is a Disney movie based on a Marvel comic that perhaps 11 people in the world have ever heard of. That meant the Disney team could largely ignore the source material and simply ‘Frankengrab’ the parts they liked, which in this case was little more than the film’s title. The action takes place in the city of San Fransokyo, a portmanteau blending not just names but also architecture, with the iconic San Francisco Bay playing backdrop to a very aesthetically Asian metropolis. Living in it are the bothers Hamada: technology prodigies who direct their talents in wildly different arenas. Hiro builds robots for underground gambling, while his older brother, Tadashi, tries repeatedly to entice him to the prestigious Institute of Technology. When tragedy strikes, Hiro finds himself inadvertently partnered up with Tadashi's prototype robot ‘Baymax', and it’s here that Big Hero 6 hits its stride. Baymax is, quite simply, a revelation. Tender, naive and scene-stealingly funny, he’s a bulbous inflatable carer-bot, a sort of Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with a med degree. Voiced by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Baymax is singular in purpose: he wants to help people. But with several kinks yet to be ironed out, his efforts often prove more troublesome than beneficial. Add to the mix a mysterious, murderous villain who compels Hiro to train Baymax in martial arts and you get a Kung Fu Panda adventure mixed with the traditional Disney themes of loss, love and learning. There is, of course, a video game undercurrent to the action, because tied into the release of Big Hero 6 is a video game; however, the blend of characters, comedy and carnage is in the right ratio. The animation is also spectacular. Speaking at the screening, producer Roy Conli showed us some of the new technology developed specifically for this film to be made, and none was more impressive than the world-building engine responsible for San Fransokyo. The city is enormous and unbelievably detailed. It feels real, which keeps the story grounded when it might otherwise stray too far into silliness. The star, though, is Baymax. Adsit’s ability to emote through an expressionless blob is a giant accomplishment, responsible for more than few tears and sniffles throughout. Big Hero 6 may not be quite up to the level of Pixar in terms of story, but it’s still a great addition to the Disney family of films and one that all members of the family will enjoy.
Time to wake your brain up from its summer slumber and get those mind grapes squeezing juice again, because Melbourne is getting a dose of none other than the inimitable Miranda July. In what can't be called anything less than a coup, the celebrated writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, handbag wizard and bona fide enigma will be gracing the stage with her talkher talk Lost Child! at Sydney Opera House's All About Women, then heading to Melbourne Town Hall on Monday, March 7. Recently read The Last Bad Man and wondered who the hell was this woman behind it? Or just fascinated by the whole persona of this wonderful woman? Well, she'll be talking through her very varied and unique works, from her time as an artist in Portland to where she is now. And we daresay she'll be answering a few audience questions — so get yours ready. Image: Miranda July.
While we suspect he'll always be remembered best as the world's most famous boy wizard, you certainly couldn't accuse Daniel Radcliffe of always playing in the same sandbox. Since wrapping up the Harry Potter series, the actor has played Alan Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, taken the stage in Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishman, and most recently appeared as a flatulent corpse in the surprisingly heartwarming indie film Swiss Army Man. His latest project is an Off-Broadway play, one that is noteworthy not just for Radcliffe's part, but for its unusual policy when it comes to mobile phones. While whipping out your cell is generally considered sacrilege in the theatre, Privacy takes the opposite approach — actively encouraging audience members to take selfies during the show in order to explore questions of privacy and accountability in an increasingly connected world. As Radcliffe dives into the open world of social media, audience members are able to post their photos to the theatre website, at which point they're projected onto a giant screen behind the actors. Further chances for crowd participation come when a character types "is it wrong…" into Google, with viewers prompted to shout out possible autofill possibilities. Of course Privacy isn't the first time theatres have allowed or even encouraged the use of mobile phones. Theatres in Melbourne such as Malthouse and La Mama have experimented with special 'tweet seats' in the past, sparking furious debate as to whether the practice should be allowed. What's interesting in this case is how the play actually incorporates phone users into the performance. This could very well be the beginning of a brave new world. Via PSFK.
Announced as the very first headliner for the 2017 Vivid program, indie folk-rock band Fleet Foxes are making their triumphant return to Sydney — for the first time in five years. The US band will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia, so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Those who miss out or can't make it to Sydney needn't despair, however — the final show will be live streamed on Facebook from 8pm on May 29. Fans of Fleet Foxes will know the band have been extremely quiet of late; they haven't released an album since Helplessness Blues back in 2011. The band is set to release their third album this year — which, according to Consequence of Sound, is called Ylajali — and has already locked in some European tour dates post-Vivid, meaning that we could potentially be the first to hear their new material.
Vivid Sydney is very nearly upon us and just when we thought it couldn't get any better — what with the lights and Bjork, Spike Jonze, Bon Iver and House of Cards creator Beau Willimon all coming out this year — they go and blow our wee minds by announcing this year's food hub, an all-star Sydney burger bar themed like a vintage arcade game. The pop-up, named 8Bits+Bytes, is a collaboration between local creative studios Motti+Smith and Paper Moose. They've got Sydney burg royalty on board to battle it out to get their name to the top of the leaderboard. Coming in to bat will be legends Mary's, Milk Bar by Café Ish, Pub Life Kitchen, Surry Hills' Bangbang Cafe, and Sammy's Burger Bar. Prepare your body. Aesthetics-wise, the pop-up will be styled to look like the inside of an 8bit arcade game with giant pixelated trees, burgers and storm clouds. A huge LED light wall (three metres tall by 30 metres long) will tell the tragic, pixelated tale of a burger's adventures through life. Be sure to play before you eat though, because the gaming is all interactive (hello motion tracking gaming technology). But onto the meat of the matter: the burgers. Each burg bigwig is in competition with the others to win your heart (and your vote) with a burger they've created especially for the occasion. Votes will be cast by hashtag across social media (as democratic elections have always been done), and will be tallied in real time on a digital scoreboard. So what's going to be on offer? Glad you asked. Mary's will be cooking up a Pac Man Burger, a tame twist on their classic with grass-fed beef, triple cheese, Mary's BBQ Sauce and onion rings. Café Ish has teamed up with the guys from The Jugernauts to create the Double Dragon: a milk bun filled with a double wagyu beef patty, double American cheddar, kimchi, green oak lettuce, miso sauce, seaweed, aioli and a milk bun (is your mouth watering yet?). Also teaming up with the food blog are Bangbang, who has designed the HACKRoulette (a cheeseburger topped with chilli con carne, more cheese and umami sauce served with a shot of pickle juice), and Sammy's Burger Bar on the Polish Pounder, a medium custom ground beef patty, cheese, sauerkraut, Polish slab bacon, horseradish mustard sauce and a dill pickle on a toasted brioche bun. Pub Life Kitchen have yet to announce their menu, but we're sure it will be just as enticing — there's some stiff competition after all. To be a fair judge, you will have to try all the burgers — perhaps several times each, and perhaps while playing motion tracking video games. Just to be fair. After all, you decide who wins, although what they win is unclear at this point...but really, at the end of the day, if we're stuffed full of burgers, don't we all win? 8Bits+Bytes will pop-up at Martin Place for the entirety of Vivid Sydney from May 27 - June 18. For more info on the festival, visit their website.
After years of popping up at farmers markets and on Sydney brunch menus, Brooklyn Boy Bagels has just opened their first Sydney bakery cafe. Claiming the title of 'Sydney's first true artisan New York bagel maker and bakery', BBB has now taken up a more permanent residence in a little shop on an otherwise unremarkable stretch of Bunnarong Road in Matraville. Previously only available through tracking down their pop-up stalls or by ordering delivery, BBB's delicious wares are some of the more authentic in Sydney. These bagels are about as traditionally New York-style as they get in Australia, made with the blood, sweat and tears of local self-proclaimed dough raiser and actual Brooklynite Michael Shafran, who first brought the power of the bagel to Sydney in 2013. With their slogan reading "If it ain't boiled, it ain't a bagel," BBB boasts traditional, handmade bagels. Shafran believes the most important aspect of creating is the boiling process, boasting on their website that they don't cut corners — rather, they go through the proper (and painstaking) kettle-boiling, hand rolling, cold fermentation process. Mastering the art of bagels is just the beginning for Shafran, who's slowly introducing his various other New York loves into the bakery, including Mecca coffee, NY-style pretzels, breves (coffee with half milk/half cream) and babaka, a Jewish rolled cake with his own personal spin of either salted caramel or the traditional filling of cinnamon and chocolate. Find Brooklyn Boy Bagels at 448 Bunnerong Road in Matraville, as well as at farmers markets, pop-ups and cafes around Sydney. Images: Brooklyn Boy Bagels.
UPDATE JULY 8, 2017: To mark the opening of their Westfield Burwood store on Saturday, July 8, Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is giving away a free tart to the first 100 customers that visit between 1–2pm. You just need to follow them on social media to redeem it. We know. We've all done it. Home alone with a block of cheddar, a few scraps of brie and a lone Kraft Single. It all seemed so promising. When your mum/housemate/significant other returned, though, the truth became apparent. You'd made a cheese quagmire in your microwave, hadn't you? Hadn't you. Fortunately, the guys behind PappaRich, the ST Group, have been helping us realise all of our cheese dreams without the weird kitchen smell three weeks later — bringing Malaysian chain Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart to Australia last year. With multiple stores in Kuala Lumpur and other areas of the country, the cheese tart connoisseurs have been opening Australian stores over the last year — they currently have five across Victoria, one in Sydney's World Square. Now, they're opening two more Sydney stores, launching one within Macquarie Centre on June 16 and a Burwood store inside Westfield opening Saturday, July 8. Their namesake is the cornerstone of their offering: a savoury-sweet three-cheese situation encased in a shortcrust shell, designed to be eaten either hot or cold. The cheese, while made with local produce, is based on the distinct taste and texture of the dairy products of Hokkaido. The Japanese island is known for their dairy — it produces half of Japan's total milk and a huge 90 percent of their natural cheese — and HBCT have worked tirelessly to replicate it. Malaysia has gone nuts for it, and Australia has jumped firmly on board —people have been queuing out the door to get their hands on one (or 12). You'd better believe further expansion is planned for 2017 — they just announced plans to open inside Queensland's Pacific Fair in July too. Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is now open at World Square, George Street, Sydney and Macquarie Centre, Kiosk MQ17, Herring and Waterloo Road, North Ryde. They're set to open at Kiosk K1, Westfield Burwood on July 8. For more info and to look out for an opening date, keep an eye on their Facebook page. Images: Tim Grey.
If one dancer can convey a range of emotions with movement, then how about two? Four? Ten? Twenty? Choreographer Stephanie Lake's latest dance work invites the audience to consider a superorganism of 50 bodies, all moving together as one. However, not always in perfect synchronicity. This way, we get to experience both the beauty and the ugliness of collectivism — very much an allegory for the times in which we live. Both chaotic and beautiful, Colossus provides an immersive experience that's sure to stay with you long after the final, lone dancer has left the stage. Image: Mark Gambino.
Gelato appreciation class. It's a thing. A real thing. It's not some fake class like 'Video Appreciation Class' at high school which is straight-up just watching Ten Things I Hate About You every Wednesday. It's legit. And of course, Gelato Messina are behind it. One of Messina's fastest-selling event every time, gelato class is an event worth jumping on right now. We mean now. Join the team at Messina HQ in Sydney or Fitzroy in Melbourne every Saturday and you'll find out what goes on behind the scenes of everyone's favourite gelato joint. What a bloody glorious way to spend your Saturday morning. Classes are now open for booking from January to April 2016. There are two types of classes: a Gelato Appreciation Class for $160 per person, a part gelato making class, part info session, part science lesson, and part gelato degustation with Messina's chefs; and a Hands On Gelato Class for $250 per person, where you'll learn the finer details of making gelato — and pasteurise and plate your own gelato or sorbet. Dear sweet mother of Benedict Cumberbatch, what a classroom. Book your delicious, delicious education at Gelato Messina's website.
You may have noticed the unusual name on tap at your local craft brew pub: Akasha. Brewed in Five Dock, Akasha Brewing Company is pouring across Sydney at the likes of the Banks Hotel, Royal Albert and Baxter Inn. The etymology of the name, a reference to the 'fifth element', goes much deeper than Bruce Willis and multipasses. Similar to earth's four elements, beer too has four main ingredients: water, grain, hops and yeast. So, what is the fifth, 'mystery' element that makes a beer great? Well, that's the brewer himself. In Akasha's case, Dave Padden is the man behind the curtain. Formerly of Riverside Brewing Company, Padden struck out on his own last year and has been contract brewing from the Rocks Brewing Company in preparation of the grand reveal. With 20 years' brewing experience under his belt, the public opening of the Akasha brewery has been the talk of town for the better part of 2015. Now, with brewing well underway in their the Five Dock location, the cellar door opens this Friday with much applause from locals and the craft beer community alike. Padden brings a love of American style beers to the Australian market, but isn't brewing big beers just for the sake of it. Akasha is all about accessibility and making hoppy beers that can be loved by both IPA and lager drinkers. Their four core beers (not so surprisingly named after the four elements) are each hoppy in their own right. "The Tradewind Lager is a gateway beer, using Australian hops that add flavour without the bitterness," says Padden. Even the Fire Within Amber Ale is clean and refreshing while being obviously hop forward. "We're all about creating beers that satisfy the need for sessionable, easy-drinking while also appealing to the beer nerds out there" says head of marketing and sales Ben Galanos. Along with co-founder and business partner Wesley White, these three musketeers go way back and are committed to brewing the beers they, and we, love to drink. As their slogan goes, "It's all about the beer." The tasting room will take the place of the brewing floor, transforming the weekday workspace with upcycled share tables made from reused pallets. The cellar door is also one of the few places you can get Akasha to go — they won't be selling in bottles until the New Year, so make sure to grab a growler during your visit. With beer that "awakens the soul", we're certain you won't be disappointed. The Akasha Brewing Company cellar door will open at 10A Spencer Street, Five Dock this Friday, December 4 at 2pm. Their regular hours will be Friday – Saturday from 2pm – 7pm.
Staying ahead of the curve in Sydney's constantly evolving food scene is difficult. New restaurants, bars and cafes pop up every week, and in Sydney, a city already saturated with food and drink options, it's incredibly easy for hospitality businesses to fall behind. In partnership with William Blue at Torrens University, we're asking the hospitality graduates who run our favourite Sydney restaurants to talk about how they got started in the industry. In 2015, Adelene Stahnke helped to open Bang Street Food in Surry Hills with her partner Tapos Singha and designer Nicholas Gurney. In 2016, the same team opened Bang Street Food spin-off Trunk Road in Darlinghurst. Stahnke is only 23 years old, so helping to start up two successful Sydney restaurants is no small feat. We asked her how it all happened, and if she has any tips to share. FIND A GAP IN THE MARKET (AND STICK TO IT) "Tapos kept talking about wanting to open a Bangladeshi restaurant in Sydney. I thought it was a great idea, and really inspiring because nobody had brought great, traditional Bangladeshi food to the city yet. I encouraged him to stick to his dream because I could see that there was a gap in the market, and I had a really strong feeling that a space would open up in Sydney. Tapos pitched the idea to his business partner, and once a space appeared in Surry Hills everything took off from there." LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THE CUISINE YOU'RE COOKING "Tapos went back home to Bangladesh for a few months to get some ideas flowing for the menu, and I went to Melbourne to cook at Tonka [an Indian-fusion restaurant] with Adam D'Sylva. I wanted to get some experience in sub-continent food because I didn't know much about it beforehand, and I think it's important to learn everything you can about a style of food before you start a business with it. I worked at Tonka with the goal to learn as much as I could and it was a really great experience. When Tapos and I both arrived back to Sydney, he showed me the menu and I understood the dishes in a way that I wouldn't have, had I not worked at Tonka. The menu was great, but it needed some refining, which is where I came in. I made sure that the menu would appeal to Surry Hills, while making sure that the Bangladeshi soul was still there." KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ON TO A GOOD THING — AND RUN WITH IT "At Bang we have a dish that people really love called 'Bang Boti Kebab', which is a roti kebab with steak filling. That dish really blew up so we thought we would take the opportunity and run with it. We said, 'let's do a restaurant based on that dish but in a smaller space, something cheap where we can do take-away as well'. That's how Trunk Road, our second restaurant, came about. We waited until we found the perfect space — a little terrace house in Darlinghurst — and the boys built the whole restaurant while my dad tiled it. I moved over to run the kitchen at Trunk once it was up and running. It's just a one-person, solo kind of thing in a really small kitchen, very different from Bang. We only serve four types of the 'roadie' kebab, a curry and some snacks." SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE THAT SHARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS "In order to establish a really good business you need to have a concept and stick with that concept. It's also very important to have people around you that can compliment you and share your aspirations. Stay focused, and as long as it's still your hobby, you can make money from it because you love it. Having your own business is a lot of work, there are long hours right from the start. It's very different when it's your own project as opposed to working for someone else. Work everywhere you can and get experience in everything. I've studied hospitality and worked in hotels as well as fine dining, breakfast spots in Darlinghurst and Indian restaurants. You never know what will come in handy." William Blue at Torrens University offers courses in Culinary Management, Event Management, Tourism and Hospitality. Find out more about the diverse career options in hospitality, and kick-start your career via the website. Images: Kimberley Low.
Sydneysiders showed their determination to keep their city open on Sunday, February 21, with more than 15,000 people rallying in the streets to #KeepSydneyOpen. Ironically, the protest happened the morning after Melbourne’s White Night, which saw more than 600,000 people pass through the Victorian capital between 7pm and 7am, drinking, eating and dancing till the sun came up. Drawing Sydneysiders young and older, casually interested or passionately engaged, the Keep Open Sydney rally crowd showed remarkable diversity. Not only young partiers marched from Belmore Park along Elizabeth Street to Hyde Park, but also baby boomers, long-time residents, students, creatives, live music fans and business owners alike. Numerous prominent Australian musicians and music industry figures turned up to voice their support through speeches and performances. DJ and radio presenter Nina Las Vegas quipped, “You can’t expect an Olympic swimmer to win gold without pools, right?” continuing, “These lockout laws are destroying Sydney nightlife.” Dave Faulkner of The Hoodoo Gurus said that the venues he’d cut his teeth in “couldn’t operate under the current lockout laws” and pointed out that, according to a 2011 Ernst and Young study, “live music in bars, pubs and clubs in NSW contributed nearly $400 million dollars to the state’s economy, with a net flow on of $200 million into the wider community.” Isabella Manfredi, lead singer of Sydney band The Preatures, said, “The most distressing thing about these laws for me is that the way they were implemented with no consultation with the community. It took a whole lot of different venues, small businesses and entrepreneurs both young and old and lumped them in together under one blanket culture. And they called that culture anti-social.” Both Royal Headache and Art vs. Science performed live sets, before Future Classic's Chad Gillard dropped Tom Budin's recently released banger 'Mike Baird'. The brains behind the rally, Tyson Koh, founder and campaign manager of Keep Sydney Open, spoke passionately and rationally to wrap things up. “We believe that safety and late night socialising aren’t mutually exclusive. With considered, innovative policies we can achieve a desired outcome together and keep Sydney open.” Images: Kimberley Low.
If December doesn't already boast enough reason to celebrate, this Saturday, December 19 marks Batch Brewing Co's second birthday. Public House Petersham is on the case and is throwing the Batch guys a beer birthday party, featuring six iconic Batch brews, birthday games, live music, and beer goodies. The brewery is known for its bold, American style beers that use unconventional ingredients with even more unusual names; think sours like the Chapeau Raspberry and a wheat ale named Tiny Coconut Bubbles. The must try for this celebration, though, is the Macbatch – a two-month oak aged ale. Two tasting paddles will be on offer ($12 each) so you can try the range — the 'Beginners' and the 'Adventurous', each recommended with a matching food tasting plate. Not sure which category you fall into? Come 'round for the free beer tastings with the Batch crew from 4.30pm – 5.30pm. Saturday 19th December from 3pm at Public House Petersham; 292 Stanmore Rd, Petersham
Pinbone's great Kensington pop-up might be gone, but the good news is that fans of its fare won't be left hanging any longer. The pop-up pros are ready to launch their next culinary pop-up this week in an unlikely space within the Tennyson Hotel. In collaboration with Merivale – who acquired the Botany Road pub for $37.5 million last year — Pinbone chefs Mike Eggert and Jemma Whiteman have transformed the pub's drive-through bottle shop into Mr Liquor Dirty Italian Disco. In true bottle shop-style, guests will be able to select their own booze — including over 150 wines — out of the walk-in fridge. What's not so typical is that they'll then be able to order food at the counter and pull up a chair at one of the 90 seats set up in the driveway. The pop-up will kick off on Friday, October 20 and run for six months. For this venture, the duo have turned their focus to American-accented Italian fare. They've promised a food situation that's "fun and fast, simple and delicious", with a menu that centres around bruschetta, pasta and meats from the woodfired oven and grill. "We went with the classic trio of bread/pasta, cheese and meat," says Whiteman. "That's going to be the strong nucleus of how this restaurant's going to fall in line because, to us, that's what makes Italian food: simple, uncomplicated, rustic." But while that menu sounds basic, Pinbone's history promises anything but. Eggert and Whiteman are known for adding in a wild ingredient or two to classic dishes — if you visited 10 William Street during their takeover, you'll know what we're talking about. Dishes on the Dirty Disco menu will include meat loaf with dill pickle, pastas and bruschetta topped with raw veal, whipped tuna with bitter greens. "We've been really inspired by the red sauce joints of New York," says Eggert. "We'll be pushing ourselves to get to their quality, but it'll have our essence, our touches. There'll be a little bit of seaweed here and there, a little bit of soy sauce. It's our take on the red sauce joint." The venture is another new direction for the Pinbone trio, who, after running their much-loved Woollahra eatery and doing a takeover at 10 William Street, were most recently doing exceptional Chinese food in a no-frills restaurant space on Anzac Parade. The collaboration with Sydney hospo giant Merivale is their first. Mr Liquor Dirty Italian Disco by Pinbone and Merivale, will pop-up at the Tennyson Hotel, 952 Botany Road, Mascot on Friday, October 20 for six months. It'll be open Wednesday to Friday 6pm till midnight, Saturday noon till midnight and Sunday noon till 10pm. For more info, visit merivale.com.au/mrliquorsdirtyitaliandisco.
The Sydney Architecture Festival is back for its 11th incarnation and, this time, the event is focusing on the west. Between Friday, September 29 and Monday, October 2, you'll be treated to talks, tours, exhibitions and parties celebrating the city's most beautiful, unusual and controversial buildings — from Punchbowl's new contemporary mosque to The Rocks' Sirius, which was recently saved from demolition. To be among the first Sydneysiders to learn about the former, head to Punchbowl, on Saturday, September 30 at 11am. There, Harry Seidler Award-winning architect Angelo Candalepas, who designed the building, will be launching it to the public. He'll also be chatting about the "Aussie mosque" and the role of architecture in increasing cross-cultural understanding with a panel of commentators. Tickets, which include lunch, are free, but online bookings are essential. "We're inviting Sydneysiders to join the community of Sydney's newest mosque to experience this modern concrete masterpiece," said Tim Horton, festival director. "The festival is also embracing Sydney's love affair with concrete: not only as a brutalist material, but as one that is found in every building we make." It's difficult to imagine modern-day Sydney without the influence of brutalism, the concrete-driven movement that dominated architecture in the 1960s and '70s. To help you find out more about it, the festival is running brutalist history tours, starting at the festival hub — in the new Peter Shergold Building at Western Sydney University in Parramatta — and finishing at Millers Point. Along the way, you'll be led by architect Glenn Harper and comedian Tim Ross, as you take in Sirius, the Surry Hills Police Centre and the Masonic Centre, among other buildings. Tickets are $25 and can be booked online. Meanwhile, if you're wondering what Sydney might look like in another two decades, when another 1.7 million people have joined the multitude, then check out Missing Middle, an exhibition happening at the hub, where you'll see a bunch of solutions to population growth dreamed up by various architects. It's free and open every day during the festival. The festival's biggest party though, is the launch. Hosted in partnership with The Fifth Estate, it's a river cruise, departing King Street Wharf on Friday, September 29 at 430pm, and landing in Parramatta. Between drinks, you'll be invited to partake in a forum about sustainable and affordable development in Sydney's west, featuring experts in planning, government, community and design. Tix are available here. And closing proceedings on Monday, October 2 will be the World Architecture Day Oration, delivered by Kristien Ring, a Pittsburgh-born architect, curator and author now living in Berlin, who'll be discussing a citizen-led housing model, which has the potential to reduce Sydney's housing prices by 15-30 percent. If you're curious, tickets are $25 and include lunch provided by OzHarvest. Images: Steven Siewert.
The story goes that, in 1971, National Geographic's Loren McIntyre found the source of the great Amazon River. Earlier this year, author Petru Popescu published his version of the story, called Amazon Beaming, in which Popescu details how McIntyre found a tribal chief with whom he was able to communicate — telepathically. That is, with their brains. Yep. This instance of multimedia theatre, showing at the Opera House, really challenges the audience to approach the production holistically, in terms of their senses. Taking the idea of telepathic communication, legendary director Simon McBurney and theatre stalwart Richard Katz project all the sound from the piece straight into the ears of their audience through headphones. McBurney pushes the audience's imagination to immerse themselves into the humid and mysterious environment of the Amazon. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
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 Star Wars for the sixth time. That's also a totally valid option. JOY See it if: you can't get enough J-Law in your life. We give it: 3.5 stars Jennifer Lawrence stars in the latest film by David O. Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook), a fictionalised account of the rise of a real-life home shopping network star. Joy is a rags-to-riches tale of a battler trying to improve herself and her situation. Wrestling Russell's current patterns and preferences into a canny character study, the film watches on as a woman fights for agency and control, despite constantly being told that she should take care of others and rein in her go-getting ways. Weaving in surreal soap opera segments, it's an astute and engaging dissection of the power of selling a fantasy. Read our full review here. SUFFRAGETTE See it if: you want to be inspired. We give it: 3.5 stars Sarah Gavron's Suffragette may play out somewhat conventionally, but that doesn't make its impact any less resounding. Carey Mulligan is fantastic as Maud Watts, a downtrodden washerwoman in early 20th century London who becomes involved in the fight for women's suffrage. It's a timely tale that will no doubt strike a chord with many modern viewers, reminding us of how far we have come and how much further we still have to go. Just don't expect much Meryl Streep. Despite being a major part of the marketing campaign, she's in the film for less than five minutes. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9p0qnj4OC4 THE BELIER FAMILY See it if: you love a good coming of age tale. We give it: 3.5 stars A box office smash in its native France, The Belier Family is an immensely charming holiday crowd-pleaser. The film tells the story of 16-year-old Paula, who acts as an interpreter for her deaf parents and brother in the running of the family dairy farm. But her future becomes uncertain when her music teacher encourages her to apply to a prestigious singing school in Paris. The film is overlong, a tad melodramatic and gets bogged down at various points in underdeveloped side-plots. But the family drama remains compelling — and surprisingly poignant — throughout, as does the remarkable performance from singer-turned-actress Louane Emera. THE GOOD DINOSAUR See it if: you're hoping to get in touch with your inner child. We give it: 2.5 stars In their stories and themes, Pixar often play in the same territory over and over. And yet, when it comes to visuals, they rarely do the same thing twice; each new Pixar movie might feel somewhat similar, but they always look different. The Good Dinosaur, the animation studio's latest effort, demonstrates both extremes. The tale of a dinosaur and his primitive human friend trying to make their way back home, the film takes a routine narrative that pales in comparison to the animated splendour that surrounds it. It's not often that the background proves more engaging than the figures at the centre of the frame, yet that's frequently the case here. The photorealistic details evident in images of fields, mountains, waterfalls, trees and other natural features are the real stars of the show. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhVDSzj2Lrw YOUTH See it if: you want something pretty to look at. We give it: 2.5 stars Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel wonder about days gone by, while Rachel Weisz and Jane Fonda deliver verbal tirades designed to awaken the ageing men from their apathy. All four spend their time in an expensive Swiss spa, and in a film as visually luxurious as their lush surroundings, Paolo Sorrentino's Youth unravels — its seasoned cast and opulent images its obvious selling points. Musings about life, love and legacy have rarely looked as exquisite, even if the movie's charms remain somewhat surface level. It's a decadent picture about watching the world go by, rather than really experiencing it. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqe1kFb0xTk PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT See it if: you're an art addict yourself. We give it: 2 stars Audio snippets from the eponymous art addict are all that keep this unremarkable doco afloat. Director Lisa Immordino Vreeland struggles with tone, never quite knowing whether to interrogate the gossip that surrounded Guggenheim's personal affairs or to simply recount the rumours. It still makes for pleasant-enough viewing, particularly for art addicts themselves — but it just never manages to fully do Guggenheim justice. In fact, it's only her vocal presence that stops the movie from amounting to little more than an interesting video of a Wikipedia listing. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arhMMJx7tCU DADDY'S HOME See it if: you're a sucker for punishment. We give it: 1 star Apologies to fans of Will Ferrell, but watching Daddy's Home is one of the more agonising experiences we've had in a cinema all year. Ferrell stars as a dweebish music exec married to an improbably tolerant wife (Linda Cardellini), who is forced to compete for the love of his step-children when their cool but irresponsible biological father (Mark Wahlberg) rolls back into town. Cue a mind-numbing comedy that mixes kindergarten-level humour with weirdly adult sex gags and feels about three times as long as its 96-minute runtime. Stand-up comic Hannibal Buress manages to scrape a few laughs here and there, but otherwise it's slim pickings. Do yourself a favour and steer well clear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkSYE6HiOE ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROADCHIP See it if: ...yeah, we've got nothing. We give it: N/A Look, we're going to level with you here: we didn't actually see this. Life's too short. But if you want to go out and spend your hard earned money on a ticket for a film about a group of wise-cracking rodents, feel free to let us know what you thought. If you're looking to steer well clear of cinemas on Boxing Day, take a look at our list of the year's ten best films that hardly anyone saw here. Words by Tom Clift and Sarah Ward.
After announcing its dates earlier this year, Moonlight Cinema has revealed the first part of its 2018–19 program. In short: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. Kicking off on Thursday, November 29 in Centennial Park, this initial lineup boasts plenty of this year's favourites, a smattering of all-time faves and a few sneak peeks at new movies coming out soon. Tried-and-tested highlights include A Star Is Born, A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians, plus Halloween, Bad Times at the El Royale and Venom if you're after something darker. And it wouldn't be a movie season under the stars (or a pre-Christmas lineup) without Love Actually, Elf and Dirty Dancing, now would it? You can also catch pre-release sessions of twisted period drama The Favourite, from The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, as well as Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. Or, opt for Viggo Mortensen-starring likely Oscar contender Green Book, or Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan battling it out in Mary, Queen of Scots. Heist flick Widows, amusing sleuths Holmes and Watson and the wizarding antics of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald are all also accounted for — as is Moonlight's usual food truck and licensed bar offering, and its reserved bean beds. This first announcement just covers the outdoor cinema's screenings until the end of January. A February and March lineup will be announced early 2019.
One of inner city Sydney's favourite regular markets is bringing the magic to the south. As of Saturday, September 17, the locality will be getting a brand new market. To be held at Discovery Point and aptly named Discovery Markets, it's promising a fiesta of independently grown, baked, designed and made goodness — from local produce and tasty treats to fashion pieces and homewares. The brains behind this event are the same as those behind Chippendale's Brewery Yard Markets, Jacob Collier and Rupert Partridge. "Every stallholder has a unique story to tell," says Jacob and Rupert. "At Discovery Markets we want this to be recognised, by giving our visitors the opportunity to learn more about what they're buying and who they're buying it from." At the inaugural market, you can expect more than 40 stalls. Get set for sweet deliciousness from Donut Papi, super-fresh juices from Steve's Easy Squeeze, spicy feasts from Paella Del Mar, American burgers from East Coast Slider Shack and cracking caffeine hits from Black Market Roasters. Meanwhile, if it's gifts you're looking for, browse through Waja Creations' recycled flowerpots laden with cactii, hand-poured candles from Kandel, and designer dogwear from Haus of Harley. And it's not just shopping you'll be doing. Been meaning to pick up the ukulele ever since you saw Amanda Palmer in concert? Join Tom the Pom at 12pm and 1.30pm for a class presented by The Work-Shop. Alternatively, learn how to make pasta the Italian way at a session led by Steffen Achtmann, resident teacher at Vive Cooking School and head chef at Jamie's Italian. It's free, but you must be one of 20 quick people to register online, which you can do over here. After the launch, the Discovery Markets will be held on the first and third Saturdays of every month. Feel free to drive and load up your car with your loot — there's plenty of parking. Editor's note: This event was initially scheduled for Saturday, September 3 but has been postponed.
After last Sunday's epic Keep Sydney Open rally saw 15,000 anti-lockouts protesters take to the Sydney streets, momentum is officially picking up. This Thursday, three Sydney establishments are holding fundraisers to collect sweet, sweet moolah to keep fighting the good fight against the State Government's lockout laws. This Thursday, Freda's in Chippendale is hosting a KSO fundraiser party, with a performance from Future Classic's World Champion. The Freda's House Band — lead by Josh Beagley (Personal Best) and featuring Michael Di Francesco (Touch Sensitive), Andrew Elston, Rich Sanford, Ross Ferraro and Bret Hunt — will be performing a greatest hits set. They'll be joined by some pretty big gun guest vocalists, from Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures), Jack Ladder, Rainbow Chan, Marcus Whale (Black Vanilla) and more. There'll also be DJ sets from Adi Toohey (FBi Radio), Marcus King and more. Vibe Positive is holding a 2.0 edition at The Chippendale Hotel in tandem with Freda's, so they can accommodate the hoards of people, and there'll also be the Late Night Edition at Tatler Sydney, with live techno and dance from Phile, Simon Caldwell, Kali, Paul Jextra and Grand Jeté. "We all want a safe city," says the KSO team. "We all want a vibrant city. We all want a city that elevates art, music and culture. And we want a city we can engage with as adults at any time of the night. This is only the beginning of a long fight, and Keep Sydney Open needs our help." Image: Kimberley Low.
Ever wanted to get into the Guinness Book of Records? Here's your chance. Stoney Roads is hoping to host the biggest, longest ever back-to-back DJ relay for MoVement Sydney. So, on Friday, October 21, more than 150 DJs will be gathering at 107 Projects to add their tunes to the marathon. The aim is to keep the music going, non-stop, for a minimum of ten hours straight — and, chances are, much, much longer. The good news is the event will be kicking off from 10.30am, so, even if you're not a night owl, you'll still be able to get in on the action. For DJs who'd like to get involved, it's not too late to register. RSVP online for a free ticket.
Have you found yourself standing in the Australian breeze lately and thought, "Do I feel in this breeze a touch of whimsy; whimsy and the slight lilt of literary references spoken in Glaswegian accents?" You have? Sure sign that Belle and Sebastian are on their way. After four years the ever-enduring Glaswegian collective, who have long held the title of indie-pop royalty, have released their ninth studio album just in time for an Australian tour. Belle and Sebastian are never a band to ignore their roots, so longtime fans can look forward to performances that celebrate everything from indie-pop classics from early albums Tigermilk and If You're Feeling Sinister to their newest dance-y ventures 'The Party Line' and 'Enter Sylvia Plath' off the new album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. Sydneysiders can catch a special performance at Taronga Zoo as part of the Twilight sessions, where you can pair the sweet as honey vocals and pensive lyrics of frontman Stuart Murdoch with the sounds of the animal kingdom. Belle and Sebastian are playing two Sydney dates for 2015: January 29 — Enmore Theatre (Supported by Twerps) January 31 — Twilight at Taronga (Supported by Darren Hanlon) We caught up with Stuart Murdoch for a chat about B&S's stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one’s honour and putting politics in pop. Check out the interview right here.
The team at the Sydney Film Festival have revealed their full 2015 program, and it is seriously impressive. Once again headed by ace festival director Nashen Moodley, this year’s festival boasts more than 250 titles, including hotly anticipated works from some of the biggest name in international filmmaking as well as plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered. To help make your scheduling process a little bit easier, we’ve locked down ten of the most exciting titles that no self-respecting film lover can afford to miss. Whether you’re taking annual leave and pulling a five-film-a-day marathon, or just looking to catch the crème de la crème, make sure you leave room in your schedule for our selections. STRANGERLAND It speaks to the quality of domestic cinema in recent times that the festival will be opened and closed by Australian films, in the form of Ruben Guthrie and Holding the Man, respectively. Of all the local entries though, our pick would have to be Strangerland, a gritty outback thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes as the distraught parents of two missing teenagers, and Hugo Weaving as the local cop trying desperately to track the kids down. Alternatively: Other notable Australian titles in the program include Last Cab to Darwin, a film about a terminally ill taxi driver travelling to the Northern Territory to commit medically assisted suicide, as well as The Daughter, theatre director Simon Stone’s modern-day take on Henrik Ibsen’s play The Wild Duck, starring Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie and Miranda Otto. TEHRAN TAXI The winner of the prestigious Golden Bear at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, and a competitor in this year’s SFF Official Competition, Tehran Taxi is the third film made in secret by acclaimed director Jafar Panahi after being struck with a 20-year ban on filmmaking by the Iranian regime. Shot entirely within a taxi with Panahi himself at the wheel, the film provides a humorous meta-commentary on the director’s legal troubles while addressing many of the broader problems facing Iranian society at large. Alternatively: Panahi’s dashboard camerawork isn’t the only formal boundary being broken in competition at the festival this year. Taking its cues from Rope and more recently Birdman, German heist film Victoria tells the story of a bank robbery gone wrong in a single elaborate take. American director Sean Baker, meanwhile, gets low-tech with Tangerine, a bawdy comedy about a pair of transgender sex workers shot entirely on an iPhone 5. A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE With a name like that, you know it’s got to be funny. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence marks the third and final part in a loose thematic trilogy from master Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson. Made up of a series of strange, deadpan, tragicomic vignettes, this is a must-see film for anyone who likes their comedy a little left of centre. Alternatively: While some people tend to think of film festivals as being mostly dour affairs, there are plenty of laughs to be found in this year’s program. American coming-of-age film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl follows a pair of tragically nerdy movie buffs making parodies of classic films, while French comedy The Price of Fame recounts a bumbling criminal plot to kidnap Charlie Chaplin’s corpse. GOODNIGHT MOMMY With almost half the films in the Freak Me Out section screening at the Dendy Newtown rather than in the city, horror buffs could be forgiven for feeling a little bit marginalised by festival organisers. Still, there are a number of creepy gems in the program, including this stylish Austrian entry about two young boys who suspect something is terribly wrong with their mother. Alternatively: Kiwi horror flick Deathgasm got strong reviews out of SXSW, while anthology movie German Angst is three scary stories in one. There’s also a nice nod to retro horror, with a double feature screening of Them! and Invasion of the Body Snatchers at the Skyline Drive-In. AMY As always, this year’s festival has a number of must-see films for music lovers — and none more so than this hotly anticipated doco about the life of Amy Winehouse. Directed by Brazilian filmmaker Asif Kapadia, the man behind the absolutely masterful F1 documentary Senna, this new film makes extensive use of never-before-seen archival footage to paint a portrait of the pop star and her struggles with her unexpected fame. Alternatively: Paul Dano and John Cusack star in Love & Mercy, a biopic about Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson, while Australian documentarian Marc Eberle chronicles the rise of a Cambodian rock band in The Cambodian Space Project. PHOENIX One of the best reviewed pictures at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Phoenix marks the latest collaboration between award-winning German director Christian Petzold and lead actress Nina Hoss, whose previous film together, the Cold War drama Barbara, was one of the highlights of SFF 2012. In Phoenix, Hoss plays a concentration camp survivor who undergoes facial reconstructive surgery, only to be caught up in a strange, Hitchcockian inheritance scheme when her own husband doesn’t recognise her face. Alternatively: Toronto isn’t the only major film festival represented at SFF this year. John Maclean’s Slow West, a western starring Michael Fassbender and Ben Mendelsohn, won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, while Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Our Little Sister is one of a number of films that will arrive in Sydney directly after their premiering at Cannes. SONG OF THE SEA A surprise nominee in the Best Animated Film Category at the Academy Awards back in February, Song of the Sea is the new hand-drawn fantasy film from Irish animator Tomm Moore. Drawing from Celtic mythology, the film follows two children attempting to find their way home to their father with the aid of various mystical guides. Alternatively: Get the full picture of what's going in the independent animation scene by attending the International Animation Showcase (for ten diverse shorts) and the Animation After Dark Showcase (for just the weird stuff). Avoid these if you have an actual child in tow; instead, the Kids Animation Showcase will have you both smiling. THE TRIBE Meanwhile, no child should be allowed anywhere near Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy’s The Tribe, which is unquestionably one of the most shocking and unsettling films you’ll see at the festival this year. Set in a Kiev boarding school for deaf teenagers, the film is told entirely through Ukrainian sign language, with no spoken dialogue or subtitles. It’s a fascinating formal exercise, albeit one that’s made very hard to watch due to the film’s unflinching depiction of sexual exploitation and violence. Obviously, this one’s not for the faint of heart. Alternatively: Suckers for punishment can follow up The Tribe with South Korean people-smuggling drama Haemoo, or Kirby Dick’s rape-on-campus documentary The Hunting Ground. That said, we’d probably recommend getting something a little lighter in there as well, just to help break up the misery. THE LOOK OF SILENCE Sydney has had a remarkably strong slate of documentaries in recent times, and this year is certainly no exception. Of all the true-life stories on offer, it’s hard to go past Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence, a companion piece to his masterful The Act of Killing, about the perpetrators of Indonesia’s violent anti-communist purges that left more than half a million people dead. Alternatively: Honestly, we could have almost made a list of ten must-see documentaries (and maybe we will), the lineup is just that strong. In addition to the already-mentioned films from Kapadia, Oppenheimer and Dick, Oscar-winner Alex Gibney has two films in the program: Going Clear tackles the murky world of Scientology, while Mr. Dynamite chronicles the life of musician James Brown. We’re also keen to see the Australian documentaries Sherpa, about disaster on Mt Everest, and Gayby Baby, which has been gathering goodwill since its 2012 crowdfunding campaign. JOE BULLET One of the festival sidebars this year focuses on the cinema of South Africa. Rather than single out a contemporary film, however, we're giving the nod to this recently rediscovered blaxploitation film from 1973. Like Shaft if it had been produced under apartheid, the film follows a martial arts expert named Joe Bullet who is hot on a tail of a vicious gangster after the murder of a local soccer team. Unsurprisingly, it was banned by the South African government after just two screenings, but has now been digitally restored. Alternatively: Necktie Youth paints a portrait of disaffected youth in modern-day Johannesburg, while award-winning documentary The Shore Break depicts a battle between local communities and developers on South Africa's Wild Coast. The Sydney Film Festival runs June 3–14. For the full program and to book tickets, visit the festival website. Top Image: The Look of Silence
Anyone who's familiar with The Whitlams' back catalogue knows that the scourge of the poker machine has long been a concern of Tim Freedman's. His 2000 hit 'Blow Up the Pokies' was a response to the gambling addiction of the band's original bassist, Andy Lewis. Now, he's getting behind a new movement called Proudly Pokies Free, which aims to draw attention to — and reduce — the destructive impact of pokies in communities across Australia. The initiative has been instigated by sibling duo Anna and Tom Lawrence, whose late father, Neil Lawrence, created 2015 ABC doco Kaching! Pokie Nation. Proudly Pokies Free will kick off on Sunday, October 23 with a launch party at the Oxford Art Factory. There'll be performances from Freedman himself, alongside Joyride, Wild Honey, Left. and Bad Deep DJs, as well as guest speakers. "I'm proud to be involved with the Proudly Pokies Free movement to hopefully encourage a mindset that rewards and encourages venues that show imagination in programming and curating their activities," said Freedman. "It's time for the people of Sydney to push back against the pokies."
Anohni (formerly known as Antony Hegarty) is coming to Vivid for the Sydney-only, Australian premiere of her ambitious new project, Hopelessness. A collection of electronic anthems, created in collaboration with super producer Hudson Mohawke and Warp's Oneohtrix Point Never, the album tackles climate change, drone bombing and mass surveillance, without holding back (but with insanely beautiful vocals). Prepare for disturbingly direct lyrics, soaring melody lines, synth surges, brass bursts and powerful percussion. At the Opera House, Anohni's work will be presented as an all-immersive, wall-shaking show, complete with visuals. "I haven't spent a lot of time expressing anger in my life, so this record is a new chapter," Anohni said at a press conference in April. "Anger is energising: it's quite an empowering feeling." This is one our our top ten picks of Vivid gigs you should buy tickets to right now. Check out the whole list.
Here's one surefire way to make Christmas shopping more enjoyable. A bunch of independent designers and artists have popped up in a gorgeous residential space in a leafy back street in Paddington. It's named Wilderness and you can visit anytime between now and Wednesday, December 23 to get your mitts on some beautiful, original objects — whether you're in the market for jewellery, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, paintings and more. Wilderness is a project of Darlinghurst's Artisan Guild and Curiosity Shop, which has been operating pop-ups since 2009 — before they were everywhere. Created by jewellery designer Chrissy Hammond, the organisation is all about encouraging and promoting local creatives, while fostering community connections. At Wilderness, you'll find work from more than thirteen artists and designers. These include jewellers and sculptors Lyn and Tony, illustrator and printmaker Franz Anthony, sculptor Aesha Henderson, designer Matthew Lawrence (The Earbud Taco), photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick, knitter of home wares Michelle Davies, painter and drawer Raj Panda, illustrator Sarah Baron, ceramicist Jemima Woo (Woo Ceramics), artist Isabelle Gerrard, and, of course, Chrissy Hammond. Wilderness is at 48 Gurner Street, Paddington between now and Wednesday, December 2316. It's open weekdays between 11am and 5pm and on weekends between 10am and 6pm. In the lead-up to Christmas — from Monday, December 21 — opening hours will be extended to between 10am and 7pm.
After years of gigging and tireless campaigning from the likes of FBi Radio, Sydney-based foursome Gang of Youths are nationally-appreciated hot stuff right now. They’ve played sold-out shows alongside Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit and Foster the People, done the Aussie festival circuit, toured the States, and been compared to Arcade Fire and Bruce Springsteen — and that was all before their debut album The Position was released last month. Now they’re setting off on a national tour, and the GOY-hungry public can’t seem to get enough of them; lapping up tickets faster than the band can announce new shows. GOY play rock that’s big on catharsis. Frontman David Leaupepe’s inspiration for the band’s raw, guitar-heavy debut was the emotional rollercoaster of his four-year long-distance relationship with a girl who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. It makes for a sound that seems bound to fill stadiums one day — so consider yourself lucky if you manage to bag a ticket to one of these more intimate gigs. Supported by ECCA VANDAL + Big White.
As any published author will tell you, settling on a cover design is tricky. But California-based designer Maria Mordvintseva-Keeler has come up with a novel approach. She's repackaged classics in cans — with labels that reveal their 'ingredients' without giving away their storylines. Titled Food for Thought, the design series features three classic books, each of which contains a foodie reference in its title — Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's, William Burroughs' Naked Lunch and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. The label lets the reader know if the book suits his/her mood and literary diet. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, for example, reads: "[It] has the characters, serving size, with the number of pages, and emotions in the daily value sections," Mordvintseva-Keeler told Mashable. "I sometimes wish they featured something like that on the cover, since the right book at the right moment is better than any sort of therapy. Reading is certainly better than stress eating." Originally from Moscow and now based in San Diego, Mordvintseva-Keeler's previous projects include Packaged Pets, which promotes the adoption of animals from shelters; EcoBag, a biodegradable plastic-bag replacement containing seeds (and similar to these coffee cups); and Bold as a Rooster, a typographical study exploring the "potential of roosters’ combs, feathers and legs to become legible letters". Take a leaf out of this artist's book. Via Mashable. Images: Maria Mordvintseva-Keeler.
Some big things have been gracing the polished cement floors of Eveleigh's contemporary arts precinct, Carriageworks, this year. Off the back of the first major exhibition of El Anatsui's work for Sydney Festival in January comes the arrival of acclaimed Italian artist Francesco Clemente, as a part of the Schwartz Carriageworks project series. Taking over an enormous 30,000 square feet of exhibition space, Encampment brings six of Clemente's embellished large-scale tents to audiences for a two-month stint. Referencing the last three decades of his nomadic existence, living in transit between India and New York, this exhibition sees an epic culmination of his craft. In collaboration with a community of talented artisans from Rajasthan, India, each temporary dwelling is layered with intricate, bejewelled patterns and evocative imagery depicting physical love and bodily pleasure. Paired with Clemente's four altar-like sculptures Earth, Moon, Sun and Hunger, plus the inclusion of 19 erotically-charged paintings from the series No Mud, No Lotus (2013-2014), the space functions as a place of visceral introspection.
Sydney's got plenty of good sports bars, but how many are flanked with leather Chesterfield booths and bespoke poker tables? Darlinghurst's East Village Hotel has reopened, with one of the slickest sports bars we've seen in an age — sorry, Athletic Club. After much anticipation, the folks at Goodtime Hospitality Group have reopened two of three newly revamped sections of the much-adored, 100-year-old drinking spot, the East Village. Among the pub's four levels, you can now check out the Public Bar and Athletic Club, a slick, minimalist wine bar and a vintage-inspired sports bar, respectively. Unfamiliar with the name Goodtime? Co-owned by young entrepreneurs James Bodel and Locky Paech, Goodtime rocked onto the Sydney hospitality scene in November 2015, with their purchase of Petersham's White Cockatoo Pub. Renaming it the West Village, they installed a fresh, organic menu and, within weeks, were attracting the local hungry hordes. But back to the East Village, which will keep its current name. The pub's been redesigned by the likes of Alexander and Co. (Busby, The Village Inn, Surly's, Daniel San, The Morrison, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel), who've attempted to keep those 100-year-old bones intact but with a modern finish. Let's start with the real star of the show sports bar, or Athletic Club, up two flights of stairs. Inspired by old-school 'gentleman's sports clubs' (or y'know, exclusive sports clubs that ladies could have thoroughly enjoyed back in the day too but weren't privy to because women, right?), this bar sees worn leather Chesterfield seats, private bottle lockers, a bespoke poker table, vintage sporting memorabilia and probably smells of rich mahogany. You'll be able to watch the game (every game!) on TV screens wrapping the room. Toast your wins or drown your losses with dark spirit cocktails and boilermakers, because a Cold Buttered (whisky, Pepe Saya syrup, walnut bitters, sesame) is the only thing that'll soothe a Grand Final obliteration. Want to book a private room for game day? There's the Red Room, a private 10-seater space with table service and a wall-length TV. Plus, they'll be offering 'club memberships' in the future. Downstairs, there's the Public Bar or 'Wine Pub' on the ground floor. While the Athletic Club is dark and broody, this bar is light, minimalist and airy with 20th century Serge Mouille wall lights, smoky walls and blackboard wine menus. The wine list and cocktail menu are in bloody good hands, with general manager Lee Potter Cavanagh (2015 Australian Bartender of the Year, Australian Bartender) and bar manager Reece Griffiths behind the wheel — they've even developed a string of wine-based cocktails. Food-wise, you're in good stead too, with head chef Graham Johns (Quay) and executive chef Tom Kime (Ceru, Fish & Co.) reimagining classic counter meals for the East Village — think half roast chicken with sweetcorn, shallots, roasted heirloom tomato, basil and crispy bread ($24), or roast hake fillet with spicy green lentils and pickled cucumber salad ($26). The East Village's Public Bar and Athletic Club are now open, but the third and final space, Terrace, will open in November. We've been waiting to see what the Goodtime crew do with this underrated rooftop space — it's got one heck of a CBD skyline view. Find the East Village at 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. The Public Bar is open Monday to Saturday, 11am - midnight, Sunday, 11am – 10pm, while the Athletic Club is open Wednesday to Friday, 5pm – midnight, Saturday, 11am – midnight, Sunday, 11am – 10pm. By Shannon Connellan and Jasmine Crittenden. Images: Brett Stevens.
Puffy shirts and cereal bowls at the ready. It's been 17 years since Jerry Seinfeld shut the door to his New York apartment, but for just five days lucky New Yorkers can relive the finicky glory of Larry David's immortal sitcom. There's a Seinfeld pop-up museum opening for just five days in New York City, featuring a replica of Jerry's apartment 5A, the gang's favourite diner booth, a Festivus Pole, a host of original props and scripts, yada yada yada. Held at New York's Milk Studios in the Meatpacking District, the pop-up is a publicity stunt by Hulu — US users (or sneaky VPN-wielding fiends) can stream all 180 episodes of the series online from today. Actor Patrick Warburton (Elaine's boyfriend David Puddy) told the New York Daily News it was "like the Smithsonian of Seinfeld." Larry Thomas (who played the formidable Soup Nazi) instead said, "It’s like Disneyland for Seinfeld fans." We get the drift, schmoopies. Set around an eight season replica of Jerry's apartment, the museum is brimming with niche props only real fans would genuinely squeal over: Jerry's Superman figurine (lurking in the background of almost every single episode), George's Frogger arcade game, Bachman pretzels — "These pretzels are making me thirsty." You can sift through Jerry's VHS collection (featuring a copy of Pretty Woman), check out the Bryan Cranston-signed wall logo from the taping of the final episode, and there's even a couch where you can recreate George's highly erotic pose from 'The Package' episode. Of course, super fans have already picked out the one fatal flaw in Hulu's installation — Jerry's computer. Mashable pointed out that Jerry's beloved Apple computer has been traded for a dastardly retro PC. No dice. Eh, computer schmomputer, at least the Soup Nazi's endorsing it: The Seinfeld pop-up museum is open June 24–28 from 10 am–7pm at Milk Studios, 451 West 14th Street, NYC. Via New York Daily News and Gothamist. Images: Tod Seelie.
Touring outside of France for just the third time since it was designed in Paris circa 1500, medieval masterpiece The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle comes to the Art Gallery of New South Wales this month and everyone's pretty excited. On special loan from impressively named Musèe de Cluny – Musèe National du Moyen Âge, the six exquisitely beautiful, mind-blowingly intricate wool and silk woven tapestries span over 20 metres in length and are considered to be some of the greatest surviving textiles from the European Middle Ages — the French national treasure has been dubbed the 'Mona Lisa of the Middle Ages', after all. (Can you imagine being in charge of packing these things up and getting them to — literally — the other side of the world? No pressure.) Embodying meditations on earthly pleasure and courtly love, they depict a bejewelled lady in richly adorned costume alongside a majestic unicorn set against a luscious millefleur ('thousand flowers') background. Five tapestries explore the senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, with the sixth said to represent an internal sense — usually interpreted as the heart, desire or understanding. There's a whole host of talks, activities and workshops designed to complement the exhibition (textile fans may want to take Natalie Miller's tapestry masterclass) so you can make an entire morning or an afternoon of it. Take note: this is going to be busy. It's not every day that you get to see a 15th-century national treasure up close, not to mention one that has directly inspired everyone from George Sand to Rilke to Jean Cocteau. You'll want to book ahead. Image: Sight c1500 (detail), from 'The lady and the unicorn' series, Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris Photo © RMN-GP / M Urtado.
With multi-screen technology and life's general background noise perpetually present, many of us have lost touch with music, you know, actually listening to it. We've wound up with some not-so-flash listening skills, putting a playlist on in the background and switching off. But psychology and mindfulness studio, The Indigo Project, has discovered a nifty way to help you tune back into that big, beautiful world of sound. Once a month, the Surry Hills space hosts a music-driven meditation session called Listen Up, drawing on a mix of modern mindfulness, psychology, and music therapy techniques. No phones allowed. By channelling strong attention to those tunes, students can work on clearing focus, opening the mind, and getting those creative juices flowing the way they should. Not to mention, they'll likely discover a newfound appreciation of music. Each of the hour-long sessions will centre on a different acclaimed artist's album. This month's will find you meditating to Spaces, the 2013 beauty from Berlin-based composer Nils Frahm. Image: Kimberley Low.
Sydney foodies, we're spoilt for choice at every turn. New top-notch eateries are 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 Middle Eastern street food from the crew at Glebe's Thievery, Porteno's famously hearty fare, Biota Dining's sustainable modern Australian dishes, nel.'s fine dining dishes, plus fire-cooked noms from Firedoor. Also joining the deliciousness will be Kitchen by Mike, MoVida, Sake, and the newly opened Kensington Street Social, among others. But we can't wait until then. We annoyed the Thievery team to give us a recipe, NOW. NOOOOOOW. So they relented and told us how make their mouthwatering baba ghanoush with sheep's milk yogurt, pinenuts and burnt butter. You can make it too! Thievery's Baba Ghanoush with Sheep's Milk Yogurt, Pinenuts and Burnt Butter 2 eggplants 25g tahini Juice of one lemon 1 clove of garlic 25g olive oil Salt and pepper (to taste) For pinenut burnt butter 75g pinenuts 120g unsalted butter For sheep's milk yoghurt dressing 100g sheep's milk yoghurt ¼ clove of garlic 15ml extra virgin olive oil Chervil leaves, to garnish Lebanese bread Method Prick the eggplants with a fork all over. Over an open flame, using tongs, grill the eggplant whole under tender and soft. Juices should bubble and start to flow. Alternatively, roast in oven at 190 degrees until tender and soft. Cut eggplants in half, length ways, and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Allow to cool. Add remaining ingredients to the eggplant flesh in the bowl. Using a whisk, gently combine all the ingredients together, keeping the texture thick to avoid turning the eggplant into a paste. Season to taste. On medium heat, melt unsalted butter in a saucepan until butter starts to turn an amber colour with a nutty smell. Just before beurre noisette (brown butter) add the pinenuts, tossing until noisette stage is achieved. Remove from heat. Set aside and keep warm so that butter does not solidify, allowing the pinenuts to infuse the flavour. Finely grate ¼ clove of garlic. Add sheep's milk yoghurt and olive oil, combining all ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste. Place baba ghanoush in a serving bowl. Dollop sheep's milk yoghurt dressing around the baba ghanoush. Using a spoon, mix the pinenut burnt butter and spoon over the top. Garnish with chervil leaves and serve with warm Lebanese bread.
By now, most Melbourne (or Melbourne-visiting) food lovers have visited Chin Chin. And ever since we announced that the Flinders Lane Thai restaurant was coming to Sydney (way back in May 2015, by the way), Sydneysiders have been anticipating its arrival in the ground floor of Surry Hills' 100-year-old Griffiths Teas building. And now, two years on, we finally have an opening date: Monday, October 2. Yes, that's this coming Monday — the Labour Day public holiday. So, first things first: make a booking. Now, here's what to expect. Chin Chin Sydney is the first offshoot of the original, which opened in Melbourne's CBD back in 2011. While number two looks entirely different to its sister restaurant, it has employed many of the tried-and-tested formulas that has made it one of Melbourne's best. In addition to the 160-seat restaurant, Chin Chin Sydney will have its own GoGo Bar. Here, you'll be able to grab a drink while you wait for a table (and you will have to wait). In Melbourne, you can also order food off the extensive bar menu, so here's hoping this is carried through here. So what's on the menu? Well, if you've dined at Chin Chin in Melbourne you'll find many of Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper's familiar dishes here — like the pork roll-ups and the crispy barramundi and pork salad — with the addition of a few new ones courtesy of a custom-built charcoal pit and rotisserie. Expect some barbecued cauliflower with curry-spiced coconut cream and a rotisserie pork belly with fennel and some hot chilli sauce. Cocktails come from Michael Chiem (of PS40) and wine has been selected by an all-female wine team led by Jacqueline Turner. The team has also created a custom 4 Pines chilli lager for the restaurant. The whole thing has been put together by designer George Livissianis, who is responsible for the interiors of The Dolphin, The Paddington Inn and countless other Sydney venues. He's gone for a much softer look with blonde wood and duck feather-topped seats for the Sydney restaurant, which gets a lot of natural light. The signature Chin Chin neon rabbit ears have still found a place in the design though. The basement will house events space Chii Town. A new concept for Chin Chin, this area has three bookable spaces (for 12, 25 and 80 people) for special occasions. There's also the option to book the chef's table if you have a group of ten to 16 mates. For week one the restaurant will be open for dinner only, with lunch service starting the following week, on Monday, October 9. From there on in, it will be open from 11am till late, seven days a week. Chin Chin Sydney will open at 69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills on Monday, October 2. To make a booking, visit chinchinrestaurant.com.au.
The latest exhibition at Brett Whiteley studio, West of the Divide celebrates what was a lifelong affinity between Whiteley and the land west of Sydney — encompassing Bathurst, Oberon, Sofala and beyond. Showcasing his iconic, inspired translation of the Australian landscape that combined elements of abstraction and realism in an incredibly lyrical, expressive way, you'll see both intimate studies and larger poetic works filled with birds, nests, trees, rocks and rivers. This particular collection of paintings, sculpture and drawings — arguably some of his most magical — spans three decades of Whiteley's career and were personally selected by Wendy Whiteley and Alec George. If you're a fan of Whiteley's work you should also check out the upcoming documentary Whiteley by James Bogle (released May 11), promising to be a "raw and intimate" insight into his both his life and his creative legacy. Bogle and co-writer Victor Gentile have drawn from personal letters, notebooks and photographs and combined them with interviews, re-enactments and animations. Check out the trailer. Image: Brett Whiteley, Autumn (near Bathurst) — Japenese Autumn, 1987 - 1988.
Fans of photography and public art should head down to OPEN at Darling Quarter this month for Sweet Country Stills Exhibition, a collection of stunning behind-the-scenes images captured by four stills photographers during the shooting of Warwick Thornton's new Australian period western, Sweet Country. You'll be able to see 16 large-scale photographs by Tamara Dean, Warwick Baker, Mark Rogers and Michael Corridore, who captured portraits of the cast and locations on the fly during the movie's tight filming schedule in Alice Springs. Expect shots of actors (including Hamilton Morris, Natassia Gorey-Furber, Anni Finsterer, Thomas M. Wright, Bryan Brown and Sam Neill) alongside breathtaking desert landscapes. Bill Dimas from Sydney's aMBUSH Gallery — who is producing the exhibition — says the photographs allow viewers a glimpse into a process normally hidden to them, revealing "both the intensity and pure joy of filmmaking". The exhibition is free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Catch it before February 25. Image: Tamara Dean, Still, Sweet Country Photo Series, 2017.
You may have noticed The Grumpy Baker bakery chain expanding Sydneywide (they’ve just opened their fifth store in Maroubra), but the Vaucluse cafe has recently landed itself two delicious new siblings. In the most mouthwatering venue sandwich ever, The Grumpy Baker is now flanked by gelati store Coppetta and Bazaar Deli. As if that’s not enough choice for local Vauclusians, in the coming months The Grumpy Baker will undergo renovations for a genuine Middle-eastern wood fired pizza menu. Lord, give us the strength to choose or the expansive stomach required to nom it all. The concept for all branches of the Grumpy Baker family is, well, families. It’s a family-run enterprise owned by Michael and Deborah Cthurmer and aims to accommodate families of all sizes as well as support the local community of producers. The Cthurmers have a knack for opening up shop in areas that aren’t renowned for their eateries and creating a food community based around paddock-to-plate ideals. Coppetta and Bazaar Deli are no different. At Copetta, all gelato is made on-site with biodynamic milk and shifting seasonal produce with some intriguing results such as lavender honey brulee and toasted marshmallow. The Bazaar Deli is also a treasure trove of locally produced wonders and a walk-in cheese room (walk-in cheese room: your new bedroom goal). Check out The Grumpy Baker and pals Coppetta and Bazaar Deli at 767 Old South Head Road, Vaucluse. Images: Liana Lorenzato/Two Quirky Birds.
One of Sydney’s prime pieces of culinary real estate could be revamped and reopened. Three years after being placed into liquidation, the legendary Manly Pavilion looks poised to make a comeback, with several suitors within the local hospitality scene expected to make a play for the location when it's put up for tender in the next few weeks. The news makes sense given Sydney’s enduring love of waterside dining, which was recently driven home by the success of the Coogee Pavilion. The brainchild of Justin Hemmes and the Merivale hospitality group, the three story beachfront location includes a restaurant, a coffee spot and a rooftop bar with panoramic views. Since its 2014 opening, the site has quickly become one of Coogee’s premiere hotspots, and could easily serve as inspiration for what might be in store for Manly. According to Good Food, Hemmes had reportedly shown interest in the Manly Pavilion, but has apparently opted against the investment. In his absence, current frontrunners for the site include Cafe Sydney and hospitality company Doltone House. In its heyday, Manly Pavilion was considered one of Sydney’s finest restaurants, winning a Michelin Star as well as the 2011 Best Restaurant Award from the SMH Good Food Guide. Its demise was one of several in the city’s high-end restaurant world, with closures attributed to changing tastes and tighter economic conditions. At the time it shut down, Manly Pavilion's owners were more than $590,000 in debt. Interest has swirled around the location for some time now, although forward momentum has been stifled by a number of issues, including the death of one of the owners and concerns over a nearby colony of penguins. Via Good Food.
