It's hard work taste-testing all the desserts in Sydney, but someone's got to do it. And here at Concrete Playground we've endured the sugar highs and lows, the jittery mornings and sleepless nights to bring you this list of the best — and most enduring — desserts in the city. Whether you're into crispy, creamy, crunchy or crumbly, here are the sweet treats worth losing your teeth for. SNOW EGG, QUAY This week is your last chance to farewell Peter Gilmore's Snow Egg, an edible masterpiece that was too good for this world and was cruelly taken from us too soon. The Snow Egg won the hearts and stomachs of the nation when it appeared on Quay's menu over a decade ago — it also made grown men cry when it appeared in a finale challenge on Masterchef. Ever since, we've been bewitched by its biscuity maltose casing and its poached meringue and custard apple filling. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to crack one open for yourself, you've got from now until April 1 to get your hands on one. After that, we're all just going to have to make do with whatever desserts Gilmore chooses for the new menu. Which I guess we can manage. POUDING CHÔMEUR, LP'S QUALITY MEATS It may not have the most glamorous name or even a particularly neat appearance but the pouding chômeur from LP's Quality Meats is hands-down one of the most delicious desserts in the city. The poor man's dish, which translates as 'unemployment pudding' is created by soaking vanilla cake batter in maple syrup and then baking it in the oven. The result is a warm and gooey, nana-like pud with sticky pockets of caramelised maple. LP's serves its version in a rustic tin foil pie pan with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a dusting of icing sugar. The generous serve is enough for you and your two best mates. STRAWBERRY WATERMELON CAKE, BLACK STAR PASTRY If you haven't already tried this dessert you've almost certainly seen it — after all it is the most Instagrammed cake in the world (allegedly). More than just a pretty picture, this pink-petalled gateau is impossibly light and fragrant, and with its hidden slab of watermelon I'm pretty sure it's good for you, too. Created by Christopher Thé of Black Star Pastry, the celebrated cake is made from two layers of almond dacquoise sandwiched with rose-scented cream and watermelon. It's then topped with dried rose petals, sliced strawberries and a scattering of pistachio kernels. Go on, Instagram it, you know you want to. DD SPECIAL, DEVON CAFE For a dish probably invented by a three-year-old, the classic combo of chips and soft serve works on so many levels. It's sweet and salty, hot and cold, crunchy and soft, it's actually genius. For the best version in town, head to fine-dining café Devon and order the DD special. There are two soft serve options to choose from, including a dual swirl of matcha and hojicha (roasted green tea) and the salted caramel with black sea salt flakes. Both come topped with hot chip dippers. Invite your nephew, invite your neighbour's kid, or who cares, just go by yourself. GINGER BRÛLÉE TART, BOURKE STREET BAKERY From all the delicious pastries on display at Bourke Street Bakery, the best would have to be the ginger brûlée tart. Inspired by a trip through the Indian Himalayas, the classic French dessert is given a chai kick, with zesty notes of ginger, cardamom and cinnamon. And the best part is, it's a perfectly snackable size, small enough that you can scoff one at any time of day. Oh and while you're there, you may as well get a chocolate ganache tart, lemon and vanilla ricotta cake, a sour cherry cookie and a pear Danish, too. [caption id="attachment_532255" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Brett Stevens[/caption] PAVLOVA, BENNELONG You really won't find a dessert more jaw-dropping than this sugary replica of the Sydney Opera House. Created by executive chef Peter Gilmore, Bennelong's signature dessert is made from poached seasonal fruits dotted in double cream and Italian meringue kisses and topped with crisp meringue sails. Gilmore has managed to get the angles just right — even Jørn Utzon would be impressed. Be mindful that this perfect pav doesn't come cheap. You'll need to order a two-($100) or three-course($135) set menu if you want to give it a try. Oh well, sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. SEA SALT SOFT SERVE, AQUA S Instagrammability aside, there's something special about the dreamy fairy-floss wrapped soft serves from Aqua S. Inspired by the Japanese island of Okinawa, the signature flavour is the sea salt, a bright blue coil with a strong briny taste. It's like licking the ocean, if the ocean was delicious. While the sea salt is always on the menu, Aqua S runs a number of rotating specials, including honey lavender, elderflower and lychee, which can also be double twirled with sea salt. Decorate your colourful creation with one of the indulgent toppings, from the nest of fairy floss, to grilled marshmallow, popping candy and mochi. BREWNUT, BREWTOWN NEWTOWN I think it's fair to say that cronuts are here to stay. For an exemplary version, head to Brewtown Newtown where the flaky deep-fried rings go under the name of Brewnut. Baked fresh in-store daily, the assortment includes cinnamon, glazed and Nutella as well as more elaborate flavours and creations — think blood orange and chocolate custard, Brewnut ice cream sandwiches, Brewnut burgers, Brewnut benedict and Brewnut French toast. It's sweet, delicious madness. Brewtown also sources, blends and roasts its own coffee, so order a takeaway cup for the perfect accompaniment. LEMON TART, SAINT PETER Saint Peter's Josh Niland has received a lot of attention for his culinary abilities over the last few years, but let's not forget the restaurant's co-owner — and Josh's equally talented wife — Julie Niland who has created the meanest lemon tart in town. Formerly a pastry chef at Sixpenny and the now-closed Marque, Julie's lemon tart manages to perfectly balance sweet and sour notes, while the shortcrust pastry is buttery, crumbly and melts on the tongue. She also makes a killer lemon and passionfruit version, too. RICOTTA CANNOLI, PASTICCERIA PAPA We all know that Pasticceria Papa's makes the best Italian sweets in town. The real argument is whether to order the baked ricotta cheesecake or the homemade ricotta cannoli. It's a tough call but we think the crunchy bubbly pastry shells give the cannoli an edge. However, you should probably just get both and test for yourself. Just be sure to get there early while there are still some left.
Listen to some of Australia's best emerging and early-career writers in a new podcast series produced by SBS. A tie in with the station's new crime-drama The Principal, which is set to premiere in the first week of October, True Stories consists of seven short stories written and performed by up-and-coming writers from all walks of life. Each story presents a different take on the Australian high school experience – and the six they've dropped so far have been really, really good. The young writers worked in collaboration with Sweatshop, a literary initiative by the University of Western Sydney founded by doctoral candidate and writer Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Ahmad also wrote one episode of the podcast, as did his fellow recipients of the SMH's Best Young Novelist award Luke Carman, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Omar Musa and Ellen Van Neervan. "I think the particular writers that SBS has engaged with are probably the best suited in the country to conform and adapt to the oral storytelling that these podcasts require," says Ahmad. "We're talking about the best up-and-coming writers in the country, and it just so happens that a vast majority of those writers represent traditions who come from rich oral storytelling practice. Omar Musa from a Malaysian background, Maxine Beneba Clarke an Afro-Caribbean background, Ellen van Neerven an Aboriginal background and myself an Arab background...if you look at our novels there is a strong oral technique that is being used most of the time, which is drawing from traditions that come from all over the world." You can certainly feel the influence of these different cultural backgrounds in the content of True Stories. Ahmad's episode, for example, was inspired by his time as a student at Punchbowl Boys High School during the late nineties and early two thousands, a time when the "Arab Australian Muslim community was one of the most stigmatised groups in the country." Loaded with profane language and instances of violence, his story reflects a troubled period in the school's history, yet refuses to indulge stereotypes about the students or their community. "I think if you listen to my story, there is undoubtedly an exploration of violence, sexism, misogyny, homophobia and classic cases of aggression and hostility that exist within certain underclass communities," Ahmad says. "But they're resilient spaces. They're not spaces that are miserable. The people in those spaces are intelligent, critical. They're aware of their circumstances, and most of the time they're responding, or even performing their underclass-ness, because that can be empowering." "It's very hard, I think, for the white imagination to see those places as joyful, resilient, critically conscious places," he continues. "I think there is an assumption that under every poor young man of colour is a middle class white boy yearning to break free." You can currently find the first six episodes of True Stories on the SBS website and on iTunes. The Principal premieres on Wednesday October 7 at 8:30pm.
Famed graffiti artist Banksy has unveiled a number of new artworks in response to the Syrian migrant crisis, including one piece featuring late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Sprayed onto the wall of 'The Jungle,' a refugee camp in Calais, France, which is currently home to thousands of people facing an uncertain future, the most significant of the new pieces depicts Jobs in his trademark black turtleneck, with an early generation Mac in one hand and a bag thrown over his shoulder. A photograph of the artwork on Banksy's website is accompanied by a caption that reads "the son of a migrant from Syria," in reference to Jobs' biological father who emigrated from Syria to the United States in the years following the Second World War. "We’re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country’s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant," said the anonymous artist in a statement to the British press. "Apple is the world’s most profitable company, it pays over $7bn a year in taxes – and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs." Authorities in Calais have pledged to preserve the mural behind glass or transparent plastic to ensure that it is not defaced or stolen. "It is very good and it has a message," said Mayor Natacha Bouchart to local newspaper Nord Littoral. Other pieces left by Banksy during his recent trip to the port city include a silhouette of a child with a telescope looking out over the ocean towards the UK, and an image of shipwreck survivors clinging to a raft and signalling desperately to a passing yacht on the horizon. The latter work is an homage to The Raft of the Medusa by 19th century artist Theodore Gericault, and is tagged on Banksy's website with the caption "we're not all in the same boat." Banksy has been focused on the Syrian refugee crisis for some time now. In September, he pledged to send the timber and fixtures from his pop-up amusement park, Dismaland, to Calais, where they could be used to build shelters for migrants. Via ABC News.
Just about every day it feels like Barangaroo announces a new addition to its eating and drinking repertoire. Last week the Bentley team launched sustainable seafood restaurant Cirrus and Belles Hot Chicken finally opened their much-anticipated permanent venue. And now, let us introduce Bel & Brio, a European-style emporium covering a whopping 800 square metres. As you might expect of such an epic space, Bel & Brio serves more than one purpose — in fact, there are five areas altogether. So you can swing by for a coffee, wine or a full-blown meal, and, while you're at it, take care of your entire weekly shop in the marketplace. In the 240-seater bar and dining space, you'll find European-inspired dishes designed for sharing. There's not one, but two, executive chefs on board: Sicilian-born Andrea Assenza who's worked all over Europe and Asia, and Vanessa Martin, former owner-chef at the now closed hatted Italian restaurant Il Piave. Grab a mate or two and tuck into slow-cooked lamb ragu with lemon ricotta ravioli or crispy pork belly with braised fennel orange salad. The cocktail menu is the work of mixologist James Snelgrove, who you might have met previously at Bentley, Ms.G's or Button. Meanwhile, wine guru Jon Osbeiston is taking care of the 400-strong wine list. He's also behind Bel & Brio's extraordinary cellar, where you can explore more than 2000 drops from Australia, Italy and France. If you don't have time to hang around for a meal, you can always stick to a caffeine hit in Coffee & Co, which is open from 7am. The beans are roasted by Will & Co and turned into excellent coffees by ex-Baker Bros folk Alessandro and Gianni Panetta. There's also a brekkie menu and pastries, baked daily in Bel & Brio's kitchen in Lane Cove. Alternatively, go for a spot of takeaway. The eatery sells a slew of ready-to-eat meals, including rotisserie meats, paninis, traditional pizza al taglio (the ones cooked as a rectangle) and fresh pastas. And, in the marketplace, you'll find loads of high-quality groceries, from pasture-raised eggs and cold-pressed juices to fresh bread and flowers. In-demand designers DS17 — who've recently done The Resident and the brand new Nour — took care of the interior, drawing inspiration from Europe's legendary food halls. Expect a classic, elegant look, combining timber, brass, copper, polished concrete and marble. Bel & Brio is now open at 300 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. For more info, visit belandbrio.com.au.
It's a fact of film-loving, cinema-going, Netflix-watching life: try as you might, you can't always catch them all. Maybe you saw all of this year's top films. Maybe you missed some great ones when they were first released. Maybe you've got a hefty list of flicks to seek out over summer. However you fared with 2016's crop of cinematic gems, they're about to have some friends, with a whole new year of films descending upon movie theatres in 2017. As always, both the big and the small end of town is covered. Keen for more fast and furious vehicle action? Eager to see a great Aussie novel make it to the screen? They're all coming. In fact, there's so much hurtling towards a darkened room near you that whittling our picks down to just ten was by no means easy. With that in mind, here's the films you absolutely shouldn't miss over the next 12 months. Happy viewing. JACKIE Natalie Portman doesn't need a second Oscar to validate her astonishing her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in Pablo Larraín's Jackie, but she's probably going to get one anyway. The whirlwind of horror, grief and trauma surrounding the First Lady's life following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy oozes from the actress in every scene — and she's just one of highlights of the film. After directing No, The Club and Neruda, Larraín remains in top form, the supporting cast of Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig and Billy Crudup are all stellar, and the overall effect couldn't be more haunting, revealing and devastating. T2: TRANSPOTTING Choose life. Choose catching up with the long-awaited sequel to the Danny Boyle-directed, Ewan McGregor-starring '90s hit that well and truly put both on the map. A small amount of apprehension about delving back into the Edinburgh drug life after more than two decades might've been understandable when the long-awaited film finally became a reality, but then the ace trailer quelled all those fears. On-screen and off, the gang's back — older, but not necessarily wiser, of course. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 If you'd told us a few years ago that a sequel to a Keanu Reeves-starring action flick would be so eagerly anticipated, we actually would've believed you, honestly — just watch the original Point Break, and then watch it again, and you'll understand. Thanks to the first John Wick film in 2014, everyone's a Keanu fan these days, and so they should be. The follow-up to that surprise hit promises more ultra-stylish shoot-em-up carnage and more Keanu at his cool, calm and collected best, plus a reunion with The Matrix's Laurence Fishburne. BLADE RUNNER 2049 Sequels, sequels, sequels seems to be the theme of every year at the movies (plus remakes, reboots and re-imaginings), however it's difficult not to be excited about a second Blade Runner. Even if you didn't love Ridley Scott's first film or just haven't seen it, a futuristic sci-fi starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, directed by Sicario and Arrival's Denis Villeneuve, and cloaked in a neon glow looks like more than just a replica. With Scott himself also helming 2017 release Alien: Covenant, the sequel to Prometheus, who knew it was going to be such a big year for follow-ups to his movies from more than three decades ago? THOR: RAGNAROK Like superhero films? Prefer the goofier, quirkier, weirder instalments to the grim and serious flicks? Us too. Given that it's about a hammer-wielding god, the Thor movies have always proven a little livelier than most of their Marvel brethren, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Taika Waititi certain to continue that trend on Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba all return, Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldblum join the cast, and the Gold Coast and Brisbane get starring roles. Following this year's Doctor Strange and April's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it's a busy time for fun comic book adaptations. THIS WINTER After directing the best Australian film of 2016, Goldstone (pictured), Ivan Sen jumped straight back behind the camera. Details are scarce about his next effort, This Winter, however it was made in Sen's hometown of Tamworth, tells the tale of an Indigenous family torn apart by suicide and incarceration, and was written, directed, produced, shot and edited by the multitalented filmmaker. Expect to see it on the festival circuit — and expect another powerful contemplation of issues of race in Australia. THE BEGUILED Sofia Coppola's latest film is called The Beguiled — and, call us suitably intrigued, entranced and all-round keen. Her first feature since 2013's The Bling Ring is a remake of a 1971 western melodrama of the same name, as set in a girl's boarding school during the civil war. The Virgin Suicides' Kirsten Dunst and Somewhere's (pictured) Elle Fanning feature among the cast, alongside Coppola newcomers Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell and Angourie Rice. HAPPY END Come 2017, it will have been five years since Austrian director Michael Haneke broke hearts with his harrowing elderly-focused effort Amour, and won his second successive Palme d'Or at Cannes in the process. After planning and then seemingly moving on from a film called Flashmob in the time since, he's back. In Happy End, he reunites with Isabelle Huppert after The Piano Teacher (pictured) and dives into refugee-centric family drama. If you've seen either version of Funny Games, or Cache or The White Ribbon, you'll know that that description could mean anything, really. LADY BIRD If you can't get enough of Greta Gerwig, and love the two films she has co-written with Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha and Mistress America, pictured), then Lady Bird should rocket right to the top of your must-see list. Gerwig doesn't feature on screen, but she does write and make her solo directorial debut (after co-helming 2008's Nights and Weekends with Joe Swanberg). The movie is set in Sacramento, where the actress-turned-filmmaker grew up, and stars Brooklyn's Saoirse Ronan. While the plot is yet to be revealed, it's a comedy, so you can already guess the kind of affable antics that are set to ensue. VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS Before there was Star Wars and its many episodes and side-stories, and before there was The Fifth Element, too, there was Valérian and Laureline. The French sci-fi comic series reportedly inspired George Lucas — and it definitely made an impact on Luc Besson, who is finally adapting it for the big screen. With Lucy bringing the director back to his best, here's hoping there's more where that came from. There'll certainly be time and space travelling, a cast that includes Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and Ethan Hawke, and futuristic visuals aplenty.
October, you minx. Taunting us with hot balmy nights only to have us shivering in our summer threads the very next day as the wind wails and the temp barely breaks the teens. Summer isn't quite upon us, but the good news is you can draw some stability in this month of seasonal transition from a consistent lineup of stellar art offerings. Snap up a piece directly from the artist at The Other Art Fair, take in an incredible festival, check out (yet another) art award and visit a smattering of thought-provoking solo and group exhibitions. With so much to do, November will be here in a flash — you'll be hearing the cicadas and craving a Calippo before you know it. By Lucy McNabb, Libby Curran and James Whitton.
Astral People, V Movement and the team at the National Art School are joining forces for a series of epic parties across four Sundays in January, February and March. Returning for its second year, the Summer Dance series will see the National Art School campus in the Old Darlinghurst Gaol transformed into a massive outdoor dancefloor, thumping to the tunes of killer house, techno and electronic artists from at home and abroad. The season kicks off on January 24 with sets by bigwig UK house producer Julio Bashmore and German drum machine specialist Florian Kupfer, as well as hometown heroes Andy Garvey and the EK Collective. Spend Valentine's Day with house veteran Nightmares on Wax, who'll take to the stage along with Belgian mixmaster Lefto and Sydney's own Mike Who. The following week will see The Netherlands' Hunee and the UK's Mark E take the stage along with local favourites Touch Sensitive, Love Bombs and Adi Toohey. Last but not least, pioneering Parisian house musician Jeremy Underground will join American DJ Sadar Bahar, Sydney's Ariane and Melbourne's Andras on March 6 to bring summer to a close. Clear your calendar. Tickets to Summer Dance are available through Moshtix for $40-45, although diehards may want to pick up a season pass for $140. To check out the program yourself, visit Summer Dance's website. Image: Sam Whiteside.
When the Vivid LIVE and Vivid Music (different things, it confuses us all) lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 22 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. With kitsch '80s Japanese pop, brash Sydney garage punk, shoe-shufflin' soul and heartfelt indie folk on the bill, you can choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with our top picks. So grab a pre-drink at Vivid's Opera House pop-up bar, the Deep Purple Pool Hall, before Sufjan. Lock down your favourite Studio party. Take in some Italo beats and noms before Grace Jones. Or roll the dice on a Freda's party (highly recommended). Just don't watch it all happen on Instagram. By the Concrete Playground team. Image: Prudence Upton.
Take a break from your shopping spree with a bowl of steaming-hot laksa at Temasek. This extremely popular Malaysian-Singaporean eatery looks no-frills from the outside, but, once you're tucking into your spicy feast, you'll understand why it's been packed since opening in 1992. The laksa list offers chicken, prawn, chicken and prawn, seafood and vegetarian versions. But, if none of that whets your appetite, there's a bunch of other dishes to choose from, including Singapore chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice and a spectacular oyster omelette. We started with a serving of vegetarian spring rolls and beef curry puffs which were deliciously light and crunchy. After that we sampled to Singaporean laksa with fishcakes and the vegetarian version. Both were perfectly spiced and fragrant and while a decent size, we were left craving more. A serve of Hainanese fried rice filled the gap and we washed it all down with some home made iced lemon tea. Can't get much better than that.
There more centenarians in Okinawa — Japan's island-dotted, southernmost region — than anywhere else in the world. Want to know why? Head to Life, by Okinawa, a pop-up at 46 Kensington Street, Chippendale, between now and Tuesday. Open between 11am and 8pm daily, the pop-up is a glorious escape from hectic city life. You'll be treated to free tea and Chinsuko cookies in a tea house, free yoga lessons, free meditation sessions and free karate classes. In between, relax in a hibiscus garden, wander through an exhibition showcasing traditional ceramics and textiles, and watch films that'll transport you to Okinawa's white sand beaches, subtropical jungle and magical coral reefs. Plus, if this taster event has you ready to book a trip, you'll be able to nab a pretty good flight deal on the spot. Workshops and classes are as follows: February 3 12.30pm and 7pm - karate class (30 mins) 6pm - yoga (30 mins) + meditation (30 mins) February 4 2.30pm - yin yoga (30 mins) 4:30pm - karate demo 5:30pm – karate class (30 mins) February 5 12.30pm and 6.45pm – karate class (30 mins) 5:30pm – yin yoga (30 mins) February 6 12.30pm and 7pm - karate class (30 mins) 6pm - yoga (30 mins) + meditation (30 mins) February 7 12.30pm and 7pm – karate class (30 mins) 6pm – lifestyle coaching (30 mins)
The boffins at Australia's leading scientific institution are branching out into the art world, in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to invest in renewable energy sources. The CSIRO Infinity Swing is a giant light-up swing set powered by the momentum of its users, turning playtime into clean, sustainable power. According to its creators, the light and sound installation came about in response to one of the most challenging questions facing the world today: "how do we make sure energy stays affordable and available while protecting our planet?" The eight-person swing serves as a timely visual reminder of the importance of clean, renewable energy, as well as the things that can be achieved when people work together. It's also given us a great idea about connecting the nation's playgrounds directly to the power grid – although we suspect that child protection services mightn't be quite so keen. The pop-up swing will open to the public at Sydney's Custom House between Wednesday November 4 and Sunday November 8, before travelling down to Federation Square in Melbourne from Monday November 16 until Saturday November 21. Representatives from CSIRO will be on hand to discuss their ongoing research into clean energy – and if you're extra nice, they might even give you a little push.
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (whos pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. [caption id="attachment_566976" align="alignnone" width="1200"] YouTube[/caption] The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. The DI$COUNT UNIVER$E It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition will run from November 29 - December 9 at 32-34 Wellington Street, Collingwood. Image: Daniel Good John.
A stretch of the iconic Route 66 in Missouri is getting a major upgrade — and an environmental one at that. As part of its 'Road to Tomorrow' initiative, Missouri's Department of Transportation is joining forces with an Idaho-based startup called Solar Roadways to repave with state-of-the-art solar panels. These specially engineered panels are made of tempered safety glass and are super strong — as they'd have to be to sustain constant use by heavy vehicles. Apart from the whole 'harnessing the power of the sun' bit, the panels also come with LED lighting, which can efficiently replace road lines and signage. Basically, they're a badass piece of technology. The installation will no doubt be pricey, but Solar Roadways is prepared for it — the group raised more than $2.2 million through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. In addition to these funds, initiative leader Tom Blair received a $100,000 prototype grant from the Federal Highway Administration and two $750,000 research grants from the US Department of Transportation. Yep, that's federal funding for solar. The other good news is that their modular design allows for easy and cheap repairs by just swapping out broken panels for new ones. These bad boys are sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly — a seriously awesome invention that we hope to see more of on our own highways. Missouri may not be the first to experiment with solar roads — we wrote about the possibility of a crowdfunding campaign to pave American parking lots with the things back in 2014 and the recent plans to create solar roads in France earlier this year — but it sounds like Route 66 will be the first of its kind to actual get to the finish line. The Solar Roadways panels are expected to be completed by the end of 2016. This achievement is, almost inconceivably, awesome and hopefully will pave the way for the rest of us. Images: Solar Roadways.
Batteries are pretty powerful things. And although the one in the back of your iPhone 5 can't seem to last the day without dying, there are batteries that power cars, batteries that take just 60 seconds to charge — and there are batteries that can power your entire home. On Friday, Tesla Energy announced the Tesla Powerwall: a battery that not only powers your home but one that stores power for when you need it. It's designed to hook up with your power source, which is either solar power, or the grid, where most people get their electricity from. And it's really smart, because depending on which power source you have, the Powerwall will either store the solar energy for later or charge itself from the grid in off-peak times. This not only saves you and your household some cash, but it's a step away from Australia's reliance on dirty coal and fossil fuels for power, and means that we can move towards cleaner energy like solar, wind and geothermal. And, at US$3,000 – $3,5000, it does it for a fraction of the price of similar batteries. Pretty cool, huh? Energy experts are excited about it too, and since the announcement, they've been quick to predict how this could affect the way we use and store energy in our homes and workplaces. THE POWERWALL COULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR DIRTY POWER According to Campbell Simpson of Gizmodo, the Powerwall isn't going to reduce your household’s grid energy usage to zero, but it will reduce the peaks in grid electricity reliance — therefore letting Powerwall users charge overnight instead of in the daytime when everyone else is using the network and increasing demand. "And because of that shifting of load, it will reduce the world’s need for peak power generation," he says. "Theoretically reducing the need for dirty power sources like fossil fuels." IT GIVES SOLAR POWER A CHANCE TO BE A SOLE PROVIDER OF ENERGY Stanford University's Vivek Wadhwa thinks the Powerwall is our chance to disconnect from the grid. Without the grid, we'll be able to raise the widespread usage of solar to the place where fossil fuels and nuclear power are at the moment. For Venture Beat, he writes: "Tesla is about to do to the power grid what cellphones did to the land line — free us from it. And it will dramatically accelerate the progress of clean energy." PRICES FOR BATTERY POWER COULD BE FORCED DOWN When crunching the numbers for Gizmodo, Dan Steingart found that the Tesla Powerwall can't compete with the price of electricity — at least not in the volume that a household would need to power it. But he believes that the release of the Powerwall can only make things cheaper. "Overall, if Tesla can deliver on what it claims here, it’s an important line in the sand for this market, and it can only force prices down," he says. "Until now, Sony and Panasonic have been selling similar systems for three times the price, with little market uptake." IT COULD ENCOURAGE POWER COMPANIES TO EMBRACE RENEWABLE ENERGY On the contrary, Forbes' Chris Helman is a little more cynical. He sees the Powerwall as an expensive "toy for rich green people", and doesn't think that the average homeowner should let the big power generation utilities take the risks and bear the costs when it comes to battery power. But he does hope that this could lead to big utility providers taking on this renewable energy, and investing money in perfecting the technology. "After all," he says, "any truly viable energy source is more economic when deployed on a large scale than on a small scale."
Music, as with any art form, can serve as a means to escape; therapeutic and magical, infectious and addictive. For Adit Gauchan of Horrorshow, making music is a labour of love — actually, it's his every waking moment. "I love and breathe music so heavily that it's all I can do," he says. Horrorshow is an Australian hip hop duo from Sydney's inner west. The band is made up of producer, Adit Gauchan, and Nick Bryant-Smith (or MC Solo) on vocals. The two met at high school and released their first album in 2008 through Sydney label, Elefant Traks. Adit explains, "we started out making music in our dad's houses. We'd write and record in our bedrooms and I guess that way of working has never really stopped for us". In partnership with Sonos, we've been delving into some of our favourite artist's home studios – here is where the Horrorshow magic happens. THE MAGIC HAPPENS IN A CONVERTED BEDROOM Three years ago, Adit moved in with Sarah Corry, his partner in life, love and music (she's one half of Sydney electronica duo, Left). They soon converted the second bedroom of their Newtown house into a studio space. "One of the best things about having a home studio is the creative people that come through regularly", he says. "Every couple of months we'll have a party, and what happens when you get a bunch of musicians in the same room, dancing and drinking? They want to record some demos in the studio". His second-bedroom home studio serves as a safe, creative space for many of the other musicians the pair work with (Left and the One Day project, to name just two). "This is where we write a lot of the music". 'Sleep', a song by Hau (the solo project of Hau Latukefu, formerly of Koolism) was worked out at one of Adit's parties. "Capturing that kind of energy, it's a real positive for me". Of course, music is played at parties and music gets heard at parties. If you create the right environment, music can be created at parties. He continues, "Luckily we have some very lovely neighbours who support us and don't mind the noise". THEIR HOUSE IS NEVER, EVER SILENT I ask him what's it's like living with another creative - after all, Sarah is a successful vocalist and musician herself. "It brings an interesting dynamic. Creatively, there's an understanding", he says. Music pulsates through their house almost constantly, through his Sonos speakers. Good sound is important to him. Especially, Adit says, when the pair (or anyone that happens to visit their house) are recording. Our conversation continues and he voices a well-humoured frustration with Bluetooth. "Like most people, I don't have the best relationship with Bluetooth. It's just so unreliable, which is why I'm so pumped that Sonos speakers connect with Wi-Fi". FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND RUN WITH IT After almost a decade, Horrorshow's method of writing and recording hasn't really changed. Adit's home studio functions as a writing space where he crafts and layers beats, usually on his own. Once he feels he's onto something good, Solo will come over and the two will jam out the direction the song will take. "We'll work on songs together, but Solo might go and chill in the back yard and work on raps and melodies for beats I've already laid down". Like many musicians, Horrorshow started out with home recording and stresses how important it is to figure out what works for you. "I would love to have a studio at my place of residence, but not necessarily inside the house. If one day, I had a bigger back yard and there was a bit more space, I'd love to house a recording space in a different building", he says. Everyone works differently and there are certainly challenges to working from home - concentration, motivation, loneliness. WORK EVERY DAY, UNTIL YOU LOSE YOUR FLOW. THEN GO TO THE BEACH There are few things more frustrating than a creative block, when the pace slows and your fingers are giving you nothing. For Adit, his creativity suffers when he loses momentum. "When I've been writing a lot, the ideas will flow. Shooting videos, going on tour - these things get in the way. I really find routine is the most important thing when it comes to creativity", he says. "Create a space that you want to spend time in and work on something everyday. That's how you'll make great stuff and get better". What about when the dreaded creative block hits? "Just stop. Go outside, have a meal, go to the beach, enjoy the sunshine". Yes, sir. SWITCH OFF, AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO When it comes to switching off, Adit doesn't struggle too much. "Being in the studio is never work to me. Sure, there is work relating to what I do — meetings, tour rehearsals, that sort of stuff — but when I'm in the studio, that's a whole different thing. It's important to have a space that encourages your creativity, that you're happy to use regularly". Naturally, when you spend every waking minute practicing your art, it can be difficult to switch off. "Even when I'm doing my tax, it's related to music in some way. Switching off can definitely be a problem, but it's not insurmountable. It doesn't make me want to change the way I do things, it's something I'm happy to put up with", Adit continues. "With music, it's fun and all that, but if you want to make a living out of it, you have to live and breathe it. But, if you love what you do, it's worth it right?" Get studio-level sound in your home with Sonos. Walk from one room to another and hear the same song in perfect quality – speakers are powered by wifi and tune automatically. Horrowshow are pumped for their thirteen date national tour. It's their first time on the road in nearly a year, and they're promising new tracks alongside old favourites.
Sometimes it can feel like making solid female friends is tougher than getting a Tinder date. Much tougher. Women often feel the pressure of social conditioning that encourages them to compete for male attention and view other women as threats. In this sort of landscape, it can be pretty intimidating to approach a fly girly at a party and say “I dig your vibe, let’s get a coffee sometime and validate the living shit out of each other”. Enter hey! VINA, an app created by developers VINA out of California, which is being touted as Tinder for girlfriends. The app matches you up with likely friends based on your preferences, location and existing networks of mutual connections (via Facebook), letting you swipe your way to the perfect pal. It’s a genius idea and women all over the world have been psyched for hey! VINA to kick off in their city. In fact, the VINA team can barely keep up with demand and have had a crazy few weeks trying to roll it out to all the women who want it. There’s a waitlist! And of course, the app is available for use by all women and everybody who identifies as female. But why is the app necessary and so incredibly popular? Olivia Poole, VINA co-founder and CEO alongside CTO Jen Aprahamian, says that strong female friendships are everything. Literally, everything. "Studies show that relationships are more successful when women have a strong circle of female friends, and we're in an era professionally where it's important for women to think like the "boys club" and support one another and push each other forward in our careers. There's the old saying that you're the sum of the five people you spend the most time with, so it's important to surround yourself with women that you admire and inspire you to be the best version of yourself." Poole says the overwhelming response may have something to do with the rise of the girl gang over the last few years and the prominence of non-competitive female friendships and #squadgoals, as demonstrated by girl-gang queen herself, Taylor Swift. Or it may be that more woman are finding themselves isolated from their friendship groups as life changes, such as moving cities and having babies start, to take a toll. "Our social circles are always in flux, and it's important to invest time in building new relationships with new friends on consistent basis," says Poole "Everything great that's ever happened in my life has generally come through my network of friends." Poole adds that Australia is definitely on their radar for hey! VINA. The best way to get the app out here faster is to sign up and get on the waitlist, which you can do over here. In the meantime, check out the VINA's air-punchy girl-power app Ladybrag, where women celebrate the little victories. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
The Palisade Hotel was once the highest building in Sydney. It's true, back in 1915 it was built as a pub for port workers and the residents of Millers Point; a feat of modern commercial development. After many long and hearty years as a Millers staple pub, hotel and prized Brian Sudek/Annie Parmentier restaurant, it closed in 2008. But now, the Palisade is finding new life in its 100th year, quietly reopening its ground floor bar. Quite the prime real estate spot, the Palisade has been snapped up for about $20 million by entrepreneur Richard Sapsford, according to Good Food. The pub is aiming to fuse boutique hotel accommodation with a brand new penthouse eatery and bar, under the direction businessman of Greg Walker. With the ground floor bar now open for business — serving hearty pub grub like soup and toasties alongside lighter fare like lentil and beetroot salads — the Palisade's fancier upper levels are tipped for a September opening. Owner of The Society Inc and interior stylist for the likes of Palings, Mr Wong, Palmer & Co, El Loco, 30 Knots, Upstairs at The Beresford, MsG’s and more Sibella Court is steering the revamp — one she 's claiming to have a "Soho House feel", nodding to the New York City Meatpacking District institution. The Palisade's ground floor bar is now open at 35 Bettington Street, Millers Point. Watch this space for more details on the upper levels. Images: Chris Court, The Society Inc.
After spending "many hours kicking the footy or pushing the kids on a swing and wishing we could get a good coffee nearby," Inner West locals Caleb and Belinda Maynard decided to make their hopes a reality. And the 1950s former baby health clinic in the outfield of Ashfield's Yeo Park was the perfect place to do just that. The duo converted the heritage-listed building into an "extension of people's backyards" where locals could get quality food and coffee in a relaxed parkside setting, and Outfield was born. Since opening in April 2019, the Inner West cafe has become a central meeting point for the community. "Bringing that cafe culture to the park means people will linger, connect and socialise...it's a no-brainer for anyone with kids of all ages," explains Caleb. "They can cry, play, laze about and drop their ice blocks on the grass." With no limit to outdoor seating, blankets to borrow and lots of friendly rounds of cricket between strangers, locals are making the most of the outdoors at this grassy eatery. The Outfield menu is, conveniently, a modern take on picnic fare, with a touch of green on every plate. There are hints of native ingredients like lemon myrtle and a focus on gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. There are also bagels with options including smoked salmon with lemon myrtle, capers, labneh and herb salad; mortadella with cheese, egg and a jalapeño pickle sauce; as well as a toasted mushroom panini with peptic butter and greens and a fritter bowl with corn and chickpea fritters, avacado, seeds, boiled eggs and tomato relish. Images: Kimberley Low Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
The team behind North Sydney's The Greens and Camperdown's Acre are at it again. This time, they're expanding operations on the lower north shore with the opening of The Fernery: a rooftop eatery and bar in Mosman. As you might expect, the venue is far from any old rooftop. Located above Mosman Club, it offers extraordinary views of, well, everything: the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the heads and the city skyline. And you'll be gazing at them all while immersed in greenery. Interior designers Pony Design Co have transformed the main space into a greenhouse-inspired oasis. If you're up for a more intimate chinwag, head into the sleek gin room overlooking North Head. Also on the rooftop will be a kitchen garden, cultivated by Adrian Baiada, the man responsible for Acre's urban farm. That means head chefs Gavin Gray and Mitchell Davis have plenty of opportunities for experimenting with new plants and drawing on seasonal ingredients. They'll be doing much of their cooking over a high-temperature Josper grill. In addition to the gin room, where the focus is on Australian distillers, there's a bar devoted to rosé. And yes, it's very much pink. A handpicked selection of wines, served straight from the barrel, is on the drinks list, as is a collection of signature cocktails flavoured with just-picked herbs. The Fernery opens on December 1 above Mosman Club, 719 Military Road, Mosman. For more info, visit thefernerymosman.com.au. Image: Acre.
Get your wallets ready. London cult clothing label, Lazy Oaf, are bringing their signature graphic prints and colourful designs to Sydney for the first time. For three short weeks, Sydneysiders will be privy to Lazy Oaf's own pop-up store, housed alongside good company in the Paddington stretch of Oxford Street. Both men and women's clothing and accessories will be available at the store, including this year's bestselling 'Space Oddity' and SS14 collections, as well as pieces from Lazy Oaf's exclusive collaboration with Garfield and forthcoming Xmas Accessories line. Launched in 2001 by illustrator Gemma Shiel, Lazy Oaf has since become a fixture in the street fashion scene, with the likes of Lily Allen, Charlie XCX and Odd Future caught wearing their cool threads. What started originally as a market stall selling screenprinted tees is now an internationally stocked brand, with collaborations from Warner Bros. to Underground shoes keeping their line continually fresh and inventive. Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 6pm Thurs: 10am - 9pm Friday: 10am - 7pm Saturday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Kittyhawk — the much-anticipated second project from The Lobo Plantation team – has (finally!) opened to the public. That's right, since Tuesday, June 27, Sydneysiders have been exploring a 120-strong rye whiskey collection at a grand, 12-metre-long bar and tucking into Parisian street food, while surrounded by WWII paraphernalia at the Macquarie Street end of town. "It's inspired by the Liberation of Paris," says Jared Merlino, the bar's director and co-owner. "On August 25, 1944, Paris was freed from oppression by American and French soldiers. It must have been a jovial and joyous time." As such, interior designers AZBcreative have worked both French and American ideas into the 175-capacity venue. "You can see the French influence in the beautiful front bar, the marble mosaics, the brass tabletops and the balloon-backed chairs," Merlino explains. Meanwhile, the WWII aesthetic comes in the form of propaganda posters, a massive artwork featuring flying Kittyhawks and army green banquettes. The room is made up of various spaces, including an area resembling an "officers' lounge" and a raised section with a balustrade. The bar, which is being run by Lobo's Paige Aubort, holds up to 900 spirits. The focus is on rye, with about 120 drops available at the moment and another 300 or so still to be added. There's a healthy rum selection too (after all, the Lobo folks know their rum) and a 16-strong cocktail list, all wrapped up in an illustrated menu that cleverly resembles a warplane mechanic's manual. In the kitchen you'll find legendary Scottish chef Jason Wright. Creator of the best steak in Edinburgh, he's since run his own fish restaurant and, at Kittyhawk, has put together a Parisian street food menu. "The dishes have been going down a treat," Merlino says. "They're traditional, but with a bar-friendly twist." Snacks from the menu include mussel vol-au-vents, duck Scotch eggs and onion soup sticks. Kittyhawk is now open at 16 Phillip Lane, Sydney. They're open Monday to Thursday 3pm till midnight, and Friday and Saturday 3pm till 2am. For more info, visit kittyhawk.com.au.
The more niche the pop-up bar, the more squealing it usually incurs. This one's going to invoke some pretty intolerable decibels, as Sydney's king of macarons brings something sweet and Sicilian to Bondi this May. On Sunday, May 3, Adriano Zumbo is opening a one-afternoon-only pop-up cannoli bar. Yep, cannoli bar. Take a moment to find a good quality jacket to squeal into, you've got coworkers. Setting up shop at Bondi Icebergs in South Bondi, Zumbo's pop-up will serve up sweet, sweet cannoli pastries to nibble on while taking in that ever-postcard perfect, panoramic view. This filled-pastry-shell-extravaganza marks a departure from the usual moneymakers for Zumbo, leaving the macarons, croquemboche and hamburger pies behind for an afternoon of dessert burritos. Let's be honest here, cannolis are messy as fuck — maybe avoid as a date option unless you're ready to break down barriers. The Zumbo pop-up's only open from 3-6pm, so you're going to want to get there early to smoosh a Zumboli (not an official term) in your face. Bondi Icebergs seem to be enjoying quite the series of pop-ups of late; Zumbo's follows temporary food shindigs from the likes of Melbourne favourites like Belle's Hot Chicken and Supernormal.
'Tis the time of year when dropping a shot of Bailey's and Jameson into a pint of Guinness is genuinely applauded, blasting The Corrs on Spotify is forgiven, then promptly forgotten, and every last sticky-floored pub in The Rocks and the CBD is heaving with novelty wigs and slurred singalongs. Sure, this might be your thing. But if you're looking to celebrate St Patrick's Day without battling tinsel mullets, listening to U2's 'Elevation' or going anywhere near Scruffy Murphy's, the lads at The Wild Rover are throwing a St Patrick's Day celebration you can actually get excited about. Held over three days from Sunday, March 15 to Tuesday, March 17, the Rovers are cranking out live music, those Wild Rover Paddy's Day spuds with Guinness gravy, $5 Guinness, $10 Irish whiskey cocktails and $1 freshly shucked oysters until 6pm. On Sunday, the Rover will be open from 12pm, with a street barbecue and live music from Cruisin' Deuces from 5pm. On Monday, it's Irish whiskey tasting from 6.30pm with Jameson's Lexie O'Toole, who'll be sharing her whiskies out of the New Midleton Distillery. Then, on the day of days, Tuesday's St Paddy's celebrations will see 'drunken riddlers' during the day and live music from The Sweet Jelly Rolls from 5pm.
Canadian producer Dan Snaith, aka Caribou, is headed to Australia for one of summer's most anticipated tours. One of the major headliners for St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Caribou has locked in two extra special sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. Caribou's latest record, Our Love, features the feelgood lead single 'I Can’t Do Without You', released in August last year and placing a very respectable #55 in this year's Hottest 100. Playing with some very '90s inspired R&B beats and '80s synth, Our Love is a record that's not only danceable but also engrossing to sit back and absorb. Caribou's no spring chicken at the electronic game; Snaith boasts a career spanning ten years with an impressive back catalogue. Fans of Caribou will remember his 2010 album Swim, with tracks like the expansive 'Sun' and the alluring 'Odessa' that won the hearts of many. To see these wonderfully layered, intricate and incredibly beautiful songs played live comes highly recommended — so if you’re not heading along to Laneway, do not miss this. Want to lock in a double header of electronic bliss? Flying Lotus is playing right after Caribou on Tuesday, February 3 at the Opera House. Tickets for both here.
Where the hell did iOTA go? After melting faces in Smoke & Mirrors, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Baz Lurhman's The Great Gatsby and, most recently Mad Max: Fury Road (he was the Doof Warrior), and holding five albums, eleven singles, six ARIA nominations, and a Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award under his belt, the award-winning, gender bending glam rocker just disappeared into the night. We thought we'd said something, we thought he'd never call again. But it seems the performative prince is riding back into town, to break hearts, take names and bring a brand new stage production to the Sydney Opera House: B-Girl. Directed and co-written by iOTA and longtime collaborator Craig Ilott, B-Girl sounds like a whole world of unpindownable, glamorous drama. Part rock 'n' roll, part vaudevillian cabaret, the show follows the plight of B-Girl (played by acclaimed Australian performer and Belvoir/Bell Shakespeare favourite Blazey Best), a troubled lass whose less-than-desirable circumstances lead her to use her imagination to escape into glam rock euphoria and create her own powerful alter ego: Clifford North (played by iOTA). Sounds like Swan Lake meets Sucker Punch. If you're wondering whether this new production will come anywhere near as daring and heartbreaking as the sell-out festival smash Smoke & Mirrors, the entire award-winning S&M team are the ones cranking the gears on B-Girl. Think live onstage band, all-original music, epic production value — all housed inside the Playhouse Theatre. "Smoke & Mirrors was really our first go and the experience has brought us closer together as people," says iOTA. "We trust each other, we’re a better team — B-Girl will reflect that." Tickets on sale to the general public Tuesday, March 3.
Brisbane's Damian Griffiths is doubling down on his mission to put the entire population of Sydney — and indeed, Australia — into a diabetic coma. After giving us our first taste of his insanely popular Doughnut Time creations, the sugar-mad restaurateur is bringing his retro ice cream parlour, Mister Fitz, across the border. The first Mister Fitz opened in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane last December, followed quickly by a second location in South Bank. The Sydney move was first announced in April 2016, and while we're still waiting for a concrete opening date for the permanent store, Griffiths is kicking things off with a pop-up in Sydney's CBD, opening Friday, May 26. You will have to head into a shopping mall to find it though, one half of Myer's winter Alpine Village activation beside a sibling Doughnut Time pop-up. Mister Fitz's pop-up menu is just four ice-cream sandwiches strong including the Gimme Macklemore (chocolate cookie sandwich, s'mores ice-cream and hot chocolate sauce), and the 24 Carat Magic with a slim shady doughnut sandwich, milk and cookies ice-cream and unicorn crumb), and warm offerings like the Sticky AF (sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream topped with hot caramel sauce and unicorn crumb). The Mister Fitz and Doughnut Time Alpine Village is located on Level 6, Myer Sydney, 436 George Street, Sydney and will be open during Myer trading hours from May 26 to July 16. To celebrate the opening, both brands will be giving away free ice-cream sandwiches and doughnuts from 12-1pm on Friday, May 26.
Mexican chain restaurant Los Vida have been one of this year's big foodie success stories — so much so that, barely more than six months after their CBD debut, they're heading out to Crows Nest for location number three. In truth, it feels a little bit wrong to even refer to them as a chain, in that there’s something warm and authentic about their menu that seems incongruous with the restaurant franchise phenomena. In fact their only resemblance to a chain is the demand from Sydneysiders who are hungry for whatever Los Vida is laying down. Perhaps their success stems from the two co-founders Mexican heritage and upbringings, both hailing from Mexico City and bringing with them a bonafide, electrified slice of their national cuisine. Their Crows Nest location will offer a similar, homey decor, plus a ten metre cocktail bar where you can get friendly with their drinks menu, wile out with a tequila shot and then face off with the mezcal, tequila’s slightly wormier cousin. The food menu will offer the same variety, with no Western substitutions or naming conventions. You won’t be asked if you want fries with your tacos here (but if you do in fact want fries, get the patatas bravas — it’s the Mexican equivalent and you won’t be sorry). Los Vida at Crows Nest is open from July 30 at 419 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For further information, email info@losvida.com.au.
Fresh off their epic car park screening of Fight Club featuring Ikea furniture, group therapy sessions and stuntmen beating the crap out of each other, clandestine cinema specialists Curious Cartel are back for their second top-secret event. The location? A mystery. The movie? Who knows. The dress code? High school formal. Curious Cartel's 'Prom Night' is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and is expected to run from 6pm through to midnight. While the specifics are being kept under wraps, we do know that there'll be music, food and a fully licensed bar as well as interactive activities and performers. Tickets to Prom Night are $60 from the Ticketbooth, but thanks to Curious Cartel, we have two double passes to give away to to the event on September 19. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
One of Queensland's favourite sources of doughy deliciousness has expanded pretty damn rapidly over the last 12 months. Brisbane's Doughnut Time has opened multiple pop-ups and a whopping 11 Australian stores across Brissy, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney, plus they've got a roving van in Brisbane — despite having been in business for just over a year. And now? They're headed for the beach. This Saturday, April 2, Doughnut Time is set to open their next Sydney instalment at Bondi. Located at Shop 1, 82 Gould Street, the store will be pumping out doughnuts seven days a week until 11pm. Of course, the full rotating range of delectable iced, filled bites will be on offer, so prepare to devour the Melon Degeneres with watermelon and sour green glaze, the pretzel-topped George Costanza, the Wake Me Up Before You Vovo (a doughy with a light strawberry glaze, jam and coconut marshmallows), and the Fruit Loop-laden Cereal Killer, among others. Picking something based on its name alone is completely acceptable. Every good store opening needs a celebratory novelty schtick to kick things off right? Doughnut Time will be handing out 1000 free giant inflatable doughnuts to first-in, best-dressed from 11am. You'll use this inflatable to redeem a free doughnut of your choice. And we'd use it on their limited edition Blue Crush doughnut, with honeycomb and blue cream glaze, crushed biscuits, a tiny chocolate surfboard and a candy beach ball. Doughnut Time have expanded incredibly fast in a very short amount of time despite having been in business for just over a year. In Sydney, you'll find them in Glebe, Central Park in Chippendale, Newtown and Topshops across the city. Next stop? Tokyo. Really. Doughnut Time opens at Shop 1, 82 Gould Street, Bondi Beach on Saturday, April 2 at 11am. Find more Doughnut Time locations on the website. By Shannon Connellan with Sarah Ward.
Seems this little Sydney balcony bar just can't stop changing outfits. Taylor Square's Lo-Fi is set to be replaced by a brand new Cuban-style cocktail bar. Sandwiched in between Kinselas on the ground floor and The Standard Bowl up top, the soon-to-open Middlebar will strip away the technicolour trappings of its Romance Was Born-designed predecessor, replacing them with warm, earthy timbers and the flavours of Havana. The Riversdale Group, who own the venue, have tapped bartending gun Lee Potter Cavanagh to design and reside over the drinks list. A multiple award-winner, Potter Cavanagh previously worked as the bar manager at the now defunct Victoria Room. But it was his recent trip to Cuba that inspired the direction of the Middlebar cocktail menu, which is made up primarily of gin-based libations served "without the wank factor of a neo-speakeasy bar." Live entertainment will be handled by venue manager David 'Rizza' Rozario, who like Cavanagh comes to Middlebar after a long stint at another highly respected Sydney venue — in his case, CBD whisky joint The Baxter Inn. Expect a regular contingent of local DJs plus the occasional international sideshow. And if the name Middlebar sounds weirdly familiar? It's probably because The Middle Bar was the name of the bar before it became Lo-Fi back in 2010. Circle of life, right? Located at Level 2, 383 Bourke Street, Taylor Square, Middlebar is due to open on Friday, July 24. Their regular trading hours will be Wednesday – Sunday, 5pm – 3am. For more information, visit their website.
CBD dwellers, your lunch time options have just gone gangbusters. Brand new, straightforwardly-named dining precinct Level One has landed, opening in Chifley in the CBD. With it comes a plethora of healthy eating options designed by some of Australia's favourite chefs. It's a novel idea wherein chefs curated their favourite dishes and, goddamn, do they sound delicious. Designed by design firm SJB, the precinct features 180 tonnes of New York and Nero Marquina marble, with 20,000 handcut Herringbone marble tiles. It's not your average food court. Especially when one of of the culinary offerings comes from the team behind Flying Fish. Entrepreneur Jack Fonteyn and chef Jason Roberts. have designed a concept based on Hawaiian fish salads (so hot right now, Hawaiian fish salads), dubbed Poku by Flying Fish. Furthermore, Chinta Ria's Simon Goh is serving up Malaysian food and jazz at his establishment Ella Blues, inspired by the American blues movement that hit Malaysia in the '60s. Maria Barona and Francisco Rodriguez are launching Encasa, a Spanish/Colombian style tapas bar. George Nahas of Romolo is contributing a New York style deli named Sal, inspired by the Italian-American delis of the big apple. Expect a few more pretty damn big names to grace Level One (announcements to come) but for now the prevailing ethos of the new foodie hub is clean and sustainable eats. Bring it on. Level One is open at 2 Chifley Square, Sydney.
One of Sydney's more experimental, seasonally-focused openings of the last year, Automata, is getting collaborative. This year, the Old Clare Hotel-dwelling restaurant will launch co.lab, a series of events showcasing some of the best chefs from across the globe — particularly those who celebrate seasonally-changing menus. Kicking off February 20, co.lab will begin the series with one of London's top chefs, Lee Westcott of East London's Typing Room, teaming up with Automata's Clayton Wells (formerly of Momofuku Seiobo). For $100, you'll be treated to two snacks and six courses — one snack and three courses from each chef. For 100 beans, that's actually pretty damn reasonable. For an extra $60 they'll do beverage pairing. "Whilst we always try to utilise the best ingredients with minimal fuss, co.lab will be a fun way of switching things up and experiencing multiple concepts," says Wells. Bookings are now open from Automata's website or by buzzing (02) 8277 8555. Sittings available from 12pm on February 20. Future co.lab guests will be announced soon.
So you have good aim, know how to throw and you need a bill paid? Head down to World Square this Thursday, June 22 between 10am and 2pm, and every 15 minutes you could have your rent, water, electricity or phone bills paid for by BPAY. All you have to do is dunk someone (who will also be dressed as a bill for your own entertainment). You only have three chances, so brush up on your hand-eye coordination before then. At the dunk machine you'll be given a raffle ticket, and if randomly selected, you will then get the chance to spin a wheel to determine which bill could get paid. It's like your favorite childhood carnival memories are resurfacing to free you of your adult worries. You could quite literally make a bill disappear — into the dunk tank and off your to-do list — and even if you don't, at least you're not the one getting soaked on a winter day. Didn't get a dunk? Find out how to set up paying your bills through your bank using BPAY. See full terms and conditions here.
This year has seen the term 'nasty women' become possibly the loudest call for solidarity by opponents to the Trump administration. As a feature event of the Sydney Writers' Festival 2017, Advice from Nasty Women will see seven globally-acclaimed female writers share cautionary tales, life lessons, wisdom and advice for an uncertain future. Australia's own Sophie Black (content strategist at the Wheeler Centre) will host the evening, bringing together both local and international writers, including Indigenous Literacy Foundation lifetime ambassador Anita Heiss, US cultural critic Chris Kraus, Eisner Award-nominated author Nadja Spiegelman, New York Times best-seller Brit Bennett, Italy's Premio Campiello Opera Prima award-winner Viola Di Grado and Montreal-born essayist Durga Chew-Bose. This incredibly impressive lineup of opinionated and successful women spans generations and cultures to find a unified voice against sexism and oppression. Despite the derogatory origins of 'nasty women', events like this have helped champion the term into an empowered battle cry. [competition]623066[/competition] Image: Prudence Upton.
Design and culture magazine FLUX Hawaii is headed to Sydney with its first Australian pop-up, The FLUX Hawaii Shop, which will open from Thursday, May 25 through to Sunday, May 28, 11am to 7pm daily. Presented by Hawaii Tourism Oceania, the shop will showcase fashion, accessories, stationery and art from 30 Hawaii-based and Hawaii-inspired brands. The Sydney pop-up will also be home to a new, Australian-exclusive line made in collaboration with Hawaiian vendors — including leather goods by Leather Soul and Reyn Spooner, apparel by Matt Bruening, Salvage Public and HVN Apparel, slip-ons by Island Slipper and accessories by Jana Lam, Beachcake, and Miemiko. The four-day pop-up will also host creative workshops, cultural discussions and live performances by Creative Lab Hawaii's immersive artists Kimié Miner (Best Contemporary Album of the Year 2016) and Izik, who is considered one of Hawaii's emerging pop and R&B artists to watch. The Sydney pop-up follows similar FLUX shops at New York Fashion Week and in Brooklyn, New York City, and Los Angeles. The team felt Sydney was the next obvious choice, considering our city's similar laidback, beachy vibes.
It has been two years since Moya's Juniper Lounge became Redfern's go-to gin haven. That's two years of serving up clear spirits aplenty, two years of making sure the gin-to-tonic ratio is just right and two years of mixing up juniper cocktails. Specifically, it marks two years of whipping up negroni after negroni after negroni — and they're not done yet. To celebrate the occasion, they're not only making more, but they're giving 100 away for free. Mosey on in to the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Regent Street bar at 4pm on March 28, and your first two beverages won't trouble your wallet — as long as they haven't served up more than 100 yet. Now that's how you throw a birthday party, and ensure that everyone has an ace time. Plus, if they can figure out just how to make it, there might also be negroni-flavoured fairy bread on offer. They'll be enforcing the two-drink-per-person limit, because you know free negronis are bound to be popular, but the old-world gin palace's usual menu will still be waiting once you've sipped your free beverages. As always, Moya's bartenders will be slinging their classic drinks, including our favourites, such as the Charlie Chaplin and The Last Word. And The Pocket Trio will be providing some tunes from 8pm.
Yep, it really has been that long since Heaps Gay rolled the party train into Sydney. And, as you might expect, the good folks will be capping off their third year with an absolutely massive bash, which happily coincides with V MoVement. Expect DJs, burlesque, drag, live performance and a whole lot of surprises. Plus, to fit everyone in, they'll be taking over the entire Imperial Hotel (yep, the now-closed palace itself). Among the epic lineup, you'll find Melbourne's CC Disco!, local rappers Kimchi Princi, futuristic electro producer Donatachi, glamorous burlesque queen Lillian Starr and live band the MAGDA Szubanskis, who do covers in drag. Grab your tickets online before the event for just $15 a pop.
Summer's not the only time of year Sydneysiders can wander through night markets brimming with freshly cooked local nosh. Carriageworks plans to continue this insanely popular Sydney pastime into the colder months, with a brand new winter night market for Vivid. It's (somewhat straightforwardly) called The Night Market, with over 50 stallholders taking over Carriageworks on two winter evenings: June 4 and June 18. Expect to sample goods from NSW's top tier of restaurants, winemakers, spiritmakers, breweries and providores, including Archie Rose, Cornersmith, Porteno, Billy Kwong, Icebergs, Efendy, Thievery, Young Henrys, Cake Wines, Single Origin Roasters, Pepe Saya and more. Curated by Sydney chef (of the just-opened No. 1 Bent Street) and Carriageworks Farmers Market creative director Mike McEnearney, The Night Market is inspired by the theme 'Cooking with Fire' — and the chefs involved will be doing just that, cooking live over open flames. Each stallholder will be able to clue you into the regional source of their produce — a requirement that could only come from the paddock-to-plate-focused McEnearney. The Night Market marks the second Vivid food-focused project for Carriageworks this year, following the sold-out Sydney Table series announcement. Both ride the success of the recent Carriageworks Christmas Twilight Market, which saw a casual 8000 visitors/late present buyers. THE NIGHT MARKET STALLHOLDER LINEUP: A&W Muscat Archie Rose Ashtons Australian Coffee Billy Kwong Blini Bar Brilliant Food Burrawong Gaian Cake Wines Ce Ce Liqueur Chrissy's Cuts Sausages Cornersmith Country Valley Dairy Dessertmakers Ding the Recipe Efendy Freeman Vineyards Gumnut Chocolates and Biscuits Hand N Hoe Organic Macadamias Icebergs Jollie Gourmet Jonima Flowers Juicing by Colours Kemps Creek Farms Kitchen Green Kurrawong Organics La Bastide Linga Longa Farm Melanda Park Pasture Raised Pork Millamolong Australia Moobi Valley Mountain Goat Naturally Falafel Neo Organic Tea Pasta Emilia Pepe Saya Porteno Prickle Hill Produce Pukara Estate Salads Direct Shepherd's Artisan Bakehouse Single Origin Roasters Slow Wine Co. Sweetness the Patisserie The Herb Store The Pines Kiama Thievery Thirlmere Poultry Vale Creek Wines Watkins Family Farm Willowbrae Chevre Cheese Yalla Foods Young Henrys Brewing Company The Night Market is coming to Carriageworks on June 4 and 18. Entry is free. Image: Andrew Quilty.
Should you notice more buskers than usual in Newtown than usual on Saturday, you're not imagining it. They're taking over the inner west suburb for the inaugural Busk For A Cure. Founded by local singer-songwriter Helmut Uhlmann, this event hopes to raise loads of dosh for the Cancer Council NSW, as well as Crohn's and Colitis Australia. "It's a way of combining my love of music and entrepreneurship with a cause that is deeply embedded within my heart," he said. Helmut's mother passed away in August 2015, following a ten-year battle with cancer. But don't expect any guilt-tripping or hard sales. Although Busk For A Cure's basis is in tragedy, the event itself is about celebrating life and having fun. "We want the community to have such a great time that they forget about the causes they are supporting, only to have moments where they remember, 'Oh, this is raising money for cancer research, I feel good about that'," says Helmut. You'll find the buskers performing between 10am and 7pm at Newtown Town Hall Square (opposite Newtown station), 'I Have a Dream' Square, Newtown Mission, Camperdown Park and on the corner of Alice and King Streets. There's more info about the event over here and, to keep up with the group running it, jump on this page.
Twelve of Australia's best young winemakers will be gathering in Sydney on June 25, and you're invited to spend an afternoon in their company. You'll be sampling their latest drops, asking all the questions and, ultimately, deciding who decides to get take home the 10th Young Gun of Wine People's Choice Award. The best bit? You won't have to pay a pretty penny for the pleasure. All you have to do is register online and turn up at 2pm. The event, being held by Nomad Wine Store, will be happening at Cleveland&Co. It'll be your only chance to get inside the building before its imminent transformation into a hospitality and retail hub. Every state and some of Australia's most famous wineries are represented in the Young Gun list of finalists — including Chris Tyrrell of Tyrell's, Hunter Valley, Michael Downer of Murdoch Hill, Adelaide Hills, and Richard Evans of Two Tonne Tasmania. If, on the day, any particular drops takes your fancy, you'll be able to buy bottles at cellar door prices.
If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase, "How very droll," listen up. NPR humorist, bestselling author and creator of uncomfortably real windows into human existence David Sedaris is coming back to Australia. Returning for a national tour in January 2016, the beloved American humour writer will bring his trademark sardonic wit and social critique to the stage for An Evening with David Sedaris, his third tour to Australia. Celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances, must-read pieces in The New Yorker and his unputdownable books Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, Sedaris is no stranger to telling it like it is — and don't expect our own country to get away unscrutinised. "I love the airports of Australia," says Sedaris. "Security wise, they’re like stepping into a time machine and coming out in 1975. No one yells at you, you get to keep your shoes on. It’s heaven. Coming from the UK, I also appreciate how open the people are, how willing to talk about money. ‘How much did your house cost?’ I ask. ‘How much do you make per year?’ In Europe people pass out when you ask that question, but in Australia, they just jump right in and answer." Sedaris's last Australian tours sold out quicksmart, so you're going to want to lock these down when they're on sale 9am August 14. AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS TOUR DATES: January 17 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Tickets via ticketek.com.au. January 18 and 19 — Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall. Tickets via sydneyoperahouse.com. January 20 — Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane. Tickets via ticketek.com.au January 21 and 22 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne. Tickets via artscentremelbourne.com.au. January 23 — Theatre Royal, Hobart, Tickets via theatreroyal.com.au. January 24 — Octagon Theatre, Perth. Tickets via ticketswa.com. Tickets on sale 9am Friday, August 14. Image: Anna Fishbein.
Get up close and personal with Adelaide's Tkay Maidza this week, at two intimate gigs coming to Sydney and Melbourne. Presented by GiggedIn, the new live music subscription service that gets you unlimited access to gigs around Sydney, these two exclusive shows will feature Dew Process's popular young powerhouse MC performing at Melbourne's Howler on May 25 and Sydney's Plan B Small Club on May 26. Tkay's had a furiously busy year, with support spots for Mark Ronson, Years & Years, Charli XCX, high praise from Killer Mike, and festival appearances by the bucketload. Tickets to the gig are currently on sale via Moshtix — unless you're a GiggedIn member, in which case the whole thing is free. Doors open at 7.30pm. Thanks to GiggedIn, we've got ten double passes to give away to each show. And on top of that, they're giving you 30 percent off your first month if you sign up for a membership before June 25. Just enter the code CPFRIENDS at checkout. [competition]573724[/competition] Image: Dew Process.
If it's been a while between Chardonnays with you and Orange, or if you've never actually ventured to the regional foodie hub of New South Wales, now's your time to make amends. On Sunday, November 20, Sydneysiders can take in the best of Orange's food and wine on the waterfront — for the first time Taste Orange is headed for Barangaroo. Taste your way through NSW's 'food basket' with some of the regions best wineries offering tastings, including Boree Lane Wines, Dindima Wines, Gilbert by Simon Gilbert, Heifer Station, Highland Heritage Estate, Logan Wines, Philip Shaw Wines, Slow Wine Co. and Ross Hill Wines. Seriously, if you haven't tasted a Phillip Shaw Chardonnay, get amongst it. But you're going to want some high quality, Orange-grown nibbles with that vino. Taste's food offerings include Dreamtime Tuka, Indigenous Cultural Adventures Bush Tucka, Milla Cordial, The Molong Farm and 1803 Australian Deer among Sydney stallholders. Entry to the festival is free, but you'll have to purchase all food and wine once you're in. It's $5 for a wine glass and and then you can choose between $8 per full glass of wine (120 ml) or $4 per half glass of wine (60 ml) for the tastings. If you don't want to wait in line, you can purchase a $40 tasting pack online before you head in, which gets you ten tokens for either five glasses or ten half glasses.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. Our bars are more groundbreaking and imaginative, our events more unique and immersive, and our restaurants more inventive and experimental. With new openings abounding, Sydney is more vibrant, playful and fun than it ever has been. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, we are very pleased to announce Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Sydney's newest restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, adding in-house cinemas, recreating provincial French manors, and redefining nose-to-tail. Cafes continue to cultivate compelling coffee breaks, building neighbourhood haunts from pop-up to permanency, championing local producers and turning old bowling clubs into urban farms. Our bars that have been reclaiming the night in the face of prevailing lockout laws, one glass of frosé at a time; from WWII-inspired salons to Sydney's first dedicated vermouth bar. Our new (or renewed) pubs that have the biggest hurdle to face — history. Pub renovations in 2016 remained strong, moving into more contemporary, fine dining-focused territory with some of the city's best design teams at hand. Sydney's event producers that have found new ways to celebrate Sydney life, reinvigorating dwindling or hidden spaces, and taking us on wild adventures in our own home. And those aiming to truly transform the city permanently have made headlines with long-awaited new cultural and food precincts, transforming Sydney neighbourhoods with gargantuan, smart and beneficial developments. This year, we will be awarding both a reader voted People's Choice and Overall award in each of the following six categories: Best New Bar Best New Restaurant Best New Cafe Best New Pub Best New Event Best New Precinct These 36 outstanding Sydney (or Sydney-based) ventures have been handpicked by Concrete Playground for their combination of originality, innovation, creativity, approachability and sustainability. We straight-up love them. VOTE NOW. Cast your People's Choice votes below by 5pm on Wednesday, December 14 (you can only vote once per category, so make those votes count). People's Choice and Overall winners in each category will be announced on Thursday, December 15 at 3pm. Please note that your vote is recorded as soon as you make your selection in each category, but that you can edit your votes right up until when voting closes. If you have any questions or feedback, hit us up at contact@concreteplayground.com.au
It's only been running since 2013, but the British Film Festival has achieved something most other fests can only dream of. In four short years, it has become the must-attend movie event brightening up cinema screens as the year comes to an end — and if you've been to one of the previous festivals, you'll know that it's always busy. Kicking off in Sydney on October 25 before making its way around the country, the 2016 instalment promises another jam-packed year of Old Blighty's movie delights. From opening night's real-life love story A United Kingdom to the spirit-soaked comedy hijinks of Whisky Galore — and including a doco about a man determined to swipe Banksy's street art, the latest film from the director of the glorious Sunset Song, and a chance to see the likes of Goldfinger, Highlander and Oliver! on a big screen as well — the 2016 fest has it all. We recommend grabbing a Pimm's cup, munching on some jam-smothered scones, and adding these five must-see flicks to your viewing list. I, DANIEL BLAKE Only eight filmmakers have won Cannes Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or more than once — and after nearly fifty years of making movies, the now-80-year-old director Ken Loach has become one of them. His latest feature, I, Daniel Blake, showcases just what the veteran does best: craft social realist dramas that get to the heart of British life. Starring English comedian Dave Johns alongside A Royal Night Out actress Hayley Squires, the film follows the titular character's attempts to obtain government support following a spate of health troubles, as well as the similar situation faced by a young single mother. Loach dissects the bureaucracy that comes with their predicament, resulting in an effort that's been called his angriest to date. It's must-see viewing. A MONSTER CALLS Things have been pretty hectic for Felicity Jones of late. She's currently running around Europe with Tom Hanks in Inferno, and will soon travel to a galaxy far, far away as the lead in forthcoming Star Wars side-story Rogue One. And, playing a mother with terminal cancer, she's also the reason that a young boy befriends a tree-shaped, Liam Neeson-voiced giant in A Monster Calls. Directed by The Orphanage and The Impossible's J.A. Bayona, the film adaptation of the beloved book promises to be that other kind of creature feature — you know, the heart-warming, spell-binding, moving and magical kind. OASIS: SUPERSONIC This one will have music doco lovers — and fans of the bad boy Britpop rockers who catapulted to fame, said they were bigger than The Beatles, and got into a top-of-the-charts tussle with Blur — rejoicing. Yep, Oasis made us wonder about champagne supernovas in the sky, asked "what's the story, morning glory?", and probably inspired you to call someone your wonderwall — however, they haven't received the comprehensive documentary treatment until now. Trust Amy filmmaker Asif Kapadia to be involved (though he's just an executive producer this time), with Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll's Mat Whitecross actually in the director's chair. You'll also spot the Gallagher brothers' names among the EP list, but that doesn't mean the doco presents a sanitised version of the band's tumultuous career. Noel and Liam have well and truly proven that they like a bit of drama, after all. TRESPASS AGAINST US In Trespass Against Us, Michael Fassbender plays a caravan-dwelling father and small-time crim who can't find his way away from his own not-so-positive paternal influence, who's played by Brendan Gleeson. Yep, the movie clearly delivers in terms of both casting and an intriguing tale — and then there's the behind-the-scenes talent. Filmmaker Adam Smith hasn't actually made a feature before, but the Skins veteran is known for his work with the Chemical Brothers — in fact, he has designed the visual elements for their gigs since their first show back in 1994, and also directed their stellar concert flick Don't Think. That's obviously why the electronic music legends are involved as well, lending their distinctive sonic stylings to the film's score. And yes, their first such effort since 2011's Hanna sounds amazing as expected. THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH Has ever a film's title described its star so perfectly? Has a performer ever been so accurately cast in a movie? We can only be talking about one feature and one musician-turned-actor, of course — and with David Bowie's passing in January, the British Film Festival is giving everyone the opportunity to see one of the big-screen highlights of his career. Playing the literally otherworldly Thomas Jerome Newton, Bowie really is a starman in this gorgeously restored version of the sci-fi classic. It's the role he was born to play, in a movie that's as astonishing today as it was when it was first released 40 years ago. The 2016 BBC First British Film Festival will be screening at Sydney's Palace Verona and Palace Norton Street from Tuesday, October 25 to Wednesday, November 16. For more information and the full program, visit britishfilmfestival.com.au.
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga yazz residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, the after-hours Twilight at Taronga series took it up a huge, cred-worthy notch last year. This summer, they'll be aiming even higher, returning with a new, eclectic lineup every weekend from Thursday, January 28 through Saturday, March 12. And this year's ARIA frontrunner, spinner of yarns and general face-melter Courtney Barnett is opening the whole thing. Bringing drawlin' ditties from her widely celebrated debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit to the zoo, Barnett kicks off one heck of a lineup for Twilight at Taronga 2016. Taking over the lawns of Taronga Zoo's fully-licensed natural amphitheater, this year's series is more locally-focused than last year's, with the likes of Violent Femmes, John Butler Trio, Birds of Tokyo, Josh Pyke, C.W. Stoneking and finishing up with Lady Black Mambazo. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, returning for two nights due to popular demand after last year. After one of the most contemporary changes the Twilight at Taronga series has seen in its 20 years running, the feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite — we tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's a bar onsite, and general nosh available from the canteen. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Sydney — lock those tickets down. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2016 LINEUP January 28 — COURTNEY BARNETT, supported by Jep and Dep January 29 — JOSH PYKE, supported by Winterbourne January 30 — FAR FROM FOLSOM featuring TEX PERKINS AND THE TENNESSEE FOUR February 5 — JOHN BUTLER TRIO, supported by Tinpan Orange February 6 — THE WAIFS, supported by Ruby Boots February 12 — BIRDS OF TOKYO, supported by Fractures February 13 — MISSY HIGGINS February 19 – MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW, supported by Ben Salter February 20 – JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND February 26 & 27 — BJÖRN AGAIN March 4 — VIOLENT FEMMES, supported by Xylouris White March 5 — COLIN HAY March 11 — C.W. STONEKING, supported by Marlon Williams March 12 — LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Twilight at Taronga 2016 is happening January 28 to March 12. The lineup will be announced Thursday, October 22. Tickets available from the website from Thursday, October 29. Image: Maclay Heriot.
Thursdays in March are looking mighty enticing as Art Month Sydney takes over the city with a celebration of all things contemporary art. Now in its ninth year, the much-loved festival is offering up a smorgasbord of tours, talks, workshops, exhibitions and — excitingly — the return of Precinct Nights. If you haven't been to one before, basically each Thursday, a smattering of galleries in one part of the city stay open late so you can peruse amazing exhibitions after-hours. And that's not all — once you've seen all of the art, you get to end the evening with an Art at Night Party. Hot tip: it's a pretty stellar date idea. Evade the Ides of March by spending an evening rambling around galleries for Art at Night in Kings Cross, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo on March 15. An awesome collection of galleries will be keeping their doors open late, including STACKS Projects, The Edge Project, COMA, ARO, Chalk Horse, Australian Design Centre and the inaugural Artgarages (which we definitely hope continues past the festival.) Once you've had your fill of gallery/garage hopping, wind your way to artist-run initiative Firstdraft in Woolloomooloo for an evening of live performance that kicks off at 7pm. Art Month Sydney runs March 1–25, 2018. Find out more information and download a precinct map here. Image: Tomorrow Girls Troop masked members, 2017. Courtesy of the artists, Ali-Groves.
Ah, those hazy childhood memories of when Mum and Dad still held wild parties with their mates (before you'd drained them of their lifeforce through puberty), where they could fight over the playlist in the form of stacks and stacks of alphabetised CDs. Or those happy days of embarrassing you in front of your friends by blasting their old favourites on the radio during afterschool pickup. So cute. This Saturday night, Goodgod Small Club wants you to accept your roots and determine once and for all which parent gifted you with the impeccable music taste you have today, at the ultimate Mum Rock versus Dad Rock dance night. Skipping over our half-second of cringing over false gender divisions, we're heading right to the part where we can't wait to battle out Rod Stewart and The Who, Fleetwood Mac and the Stones. There's some great local DJs lined up for the night, with Ariane, Palms DJs, Levins and more as well special guests performing Mum versus Dad karaoke duets. Door prizes for best dressed Mum and Dad duo, so best spend your morning raiding your parent's closets — you know they'll love a visit.
Vivid Sydney's massive 2017 program landed earlier today and it's packing some serious punches, not least of which is a sneaky Sydney Opera House show by none other than The Avalanches. But it's not just a show, it's a casually large outdoor block party. The legendary Australian group has been stirring some heavy emotions since crashing back onto the live music scene in July last year, treating Splendour-goers to their first proper live onstage appearance in about a decade. Now, fresh off the back of festival shows at Falls and Sugar Mountain, The Avalanches have announced they'll be hitting the Opera House's Northern Boardwalk in May, for a Since I Left You 'block party' that'll see the band perform its seminal, sample-heavy album in full for the first time since 2001. They'll be performing with Sydney multi-instrumentalist Jonti Danilewitz, who performed Since I Left You for Vivid LIVE in 2014 with Astral People. Joining The Avalanches on May 27 and 28 is a top-notch lineup that includes renowned US producer DJ Shadow, 2017 Australian Music Prize winner Briggs, and rising hip hop star Sampa the Great. Vivid returns to Sydney from May 26 to June 17. Tickets to all shows, including The Avalanches' Block Party, go on sale Monday, March 20, at 9am. Check out the rest of the 2017 Vivid program.
