We’ve all got that one friend. The friend who has literally everything but still organises a gift exchange for Christmas, like it’s a challenge to your ingenuity. And inevitably you wake up sweaty and stressed the night before and realise you’ve left it too late, but can’t stand the shame of handing over another expensive soy candle. Don’t worry, this year we’ve got you covered. How about you get them a BridgeClimb? It’s the perfect gift for a Sydneysider because they mightn't have done one and will thank you in video form from the top. And what better bridge to climb than Sydney Harbour Bridge? It’s THE bridge. The bridge that gives other bridges self-esteem issues. BridgeClimb Sydney will take you safely (big emphasis on ‘safely’ for all you worrywarts out there) up and down the iconic landmark in a small group. You can choose from day, night, twilight or dawn climbs (best to avoid a dawn climb if your gift recipient isn’t a morning person). You might even see Jon Snow up the top, searching for Ygritte (the climb will be totally worth it just to stand where they stood). All BridgeClimbers receive a group photo, cap, free pass to the Pylon lookout (a lookout atop the big stone tower at the south end of the bridge) and, best of all, a certificate of authenticity. Stick that one in your wallet for the next time you’re out and someone doubts your bravery. And for those of you who want a taste of the experience but are not entirely sure that going all the way to the top is for you, you can try the BridgeClimb Sampler. This means a leisurely 1.5 hour stroll to halfway up the bridge to a unique vantage point (minus the vertigo). Christmas is just around the corner so book your BridgeClimb gift certificate stat. Top image: Dollar Photo Club. Climber images: BridgeClimb.
At first glance, mid-week raving and healthy living don’t seem to go hand in hand. The energetic people behind Morning Gloryville turned that preconception on its head with their breakfast raves in Paddington Uniting Church last year. Now, Sydney's dawn party experts are back with a brand new venue — an Alexandria warehouse. Taking over All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory from March 18, the London-founded breakfast bash will ring in its first Sydney pop-up event for 2015 with a huge warehouse party. An early, early 6.30am warehouse party. Lockouts, consider yourselves excluded from this shindig. "Anything goes really," says co-organiser Max Becker. "The benefit of having a rave at 6.30am is that the lockouts are irrelevant, plus rather than ensuring people get home safely it’s actually trying to make them go to work that becomes the problem." So first-timers, what can you expect from this breakfast rave? The Morning Glory rave started in London’s Shoreditch — where else — by Sam Moyo and Nico Thoemmes. Like last time around, music will be pumping from 6.30am, with sets from some of Sydney DJ favourites Levins and Max Attack. You’re encouraged to jump around and shake those cobwebs loose before heading to work — there's even a few furiously energetic dancers around to show you some moves. To keep your energy up and legitimately kickstart your day, MG offer up a bunch of tasty breakfast options and juices, as well as free yoga and massages. The recommended dress code is simply 'dress to sweat', but loads of colour and festivalwear is also encouraged — anything to help you seize the day. The only real rule is sobriety; let your inner dance monster show the world what it’s made of unimpeded by plonk. It's all ages, just ten beans if you get tickets early, and probably the most fun you'll ever have early on a Wednesday morning. Find Morning Gloryville at All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory, 160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria on Wednesday, March 18. Runs 6.30 - 9.30am, tickets are $10 for early birds, $15 first release, $20 second release, more on the door. Grab 'em here. Words by Hannah Valmadre and Shannon Connellan.
More home-style Vietnamese fare (just like mama used to make) is coming to Sydney, with local favourite Mama's Buoi opening a Sydney third location this winter, following their Surry Hills and Crows Nest branches. It'll be their their fifth restaurant counting Melbourne's Chadstone and CBD locations. Located at Tramsheds, the heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot-turned-colossal European-inspired market hall, Mama's Buoi will be joining the likes of Belle's Hot Chicken, Bodega 1904, Gelato Messina and many more. The new venue will open later this month, with an exact date to be confirmed. On the menu, you'll find MB regulars like fresh rice paper rolls, variations of vermicelli salad, and bowls of that coveted six-hour broth pho, served in a casual setting — with playful cocktails to boot. And of course, it's all relatively cheap — you can expect to get a decent meal for under $20. Mama's Buoi opens at Tramsheds Harold Park, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge in August 2017. Images: Mathilda Hill-Smith.
With three holiday dates coming up, April is the month to plan a weekend getaway. If you're still looking for your ticket out of the city, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting a pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve from April 7 through 25, including the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays. Only a 2.5 hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney and thirty minutes from Nowra, the remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests will also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site will be located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $110 to $220 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the eski full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from April 7 through 25. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney .
UPDATE: DECEMBER 10, 2018 — As it approaches the one-year mark, The Book of Mormon has announced that its final performance will be held on February 8, 2019 — and 10,000 tickets have just been released. You can currently book $69 tickets for shows between December 16 and February 3 next year. If you're one of the few Sydneysiders that haven't seen it yet, you might want to jump on it while you can — the tickets will only be available until December 16. Book them here. First, posters popped up around Sydney saying 'the mormons are coming' and come February, they'll officially be here. If you thought you were going to have to head down to Melbourne to catch The Book of Mormon, think again, because Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hit musical is bringing its hilariously irreverent self to the Sydney Lyric Theatre. After playing most of 2017 down south, the multi-award-winning production will settle in for a Sydney season from February 28, 2018. Tickets are now on sale for its second Australian stint, and given that all of its 250-plus performances have sold out in Melbourne, it's certain to prove a hot ticket. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards, a Grammy and two Helpmanns since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". If you've been envious of the throngs seeing the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that you'll now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. The Book of Mormon has also introduced an online lottery for those wanting to nab some affordable $40 tix. Every week, eight double passes will be up for grabs for the week ahead — just enter the lottery here between midday on Wednesday and midday on Thursday. The show will still run a lottery at the theatre every night, but, this way, you don't have to actually go to the theatre without the promise of a seat. Image: Ryan Bondy, Zahra Newman, Nyk Bielak and company in The Book of Mormon, AUS 1411. (c) Jeff Busby. By Sarah Ward and Libby Curran.
Plant lovers of Sydney, you can now grab a coffee while shopping for your perfect tiny, tiny succulent. Garden Life, St Peters's beautiful store for urban green thumbs, is opening its very own onsite cafe. If you've ever been to Garden Life, you'll know that ordinary things don't tend to make it across the threshold. And the cafe's no exception. The coffee is coming directly from The Little Marionette, while Ovvio will be providing premium quality organic teas. Meanwhile, you'll be snacking on delicious treats from The Bread and Butter Project, a not-for-profit initiative by Bourke Street Bakery. And what better way to launch it than with free coffee and food? That's right, if you head along during the first two days of operation — Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3 — you'll be treated to a hot, steaming brew as well as a selection of treats without paying a cent. Once launch weekend is done and dusted, Garden Life cafe will be open during the week for tea and coffee, and on weekends for light refreshments. Find Garden Life at 158 Princes Highway, St Peters. Opening weekend for the Garden Life cafe is Saturday, July 2 (9am-5pm) and Sunday, July 3 (10am-4pm).
For all of us down here in the southern hemisphere, Christmas has never really aligned with the classic ‘snowy tree, Christmas jumpers, roast dinner and egg nog’ style of celebration enjoyed by the north. Frankly, the thought of eating a hot, greasy wad of ham on a 35-degree day is kind of gross — give us a tinnie and a prawn skewer anytime. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend, and the Hotham Street Ladies have just the thing. These cheeky Melbourne artists have created a sweet, sweet installation for the iconic Hotel Windsor that features a massive, traditional Christmas spread. There's a fat roast chicken, glazed ham, juicy lobster, baked whole fish (man, we sure eat a lot of meat at Christmas, Gaviscon must rake it in) and not to mention the succulent desserts and sides. This piece of art looks better than any Christmas meal you’ve ever made (hell it looks better than most things) and the kicker? It’s made entirely from icing sugar. The Christmas at The Windsor exhibit (which is on display from December 1 to January 5) took over a month to create and the gals used an incredible range of modelling and piping techniques to work in so much detail. Aren't across these bold, culinary artists? The Hotham Street Ladies are an artist collective of five women — Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price and Lyndal Walker — who derive their name from the days when they lived together in a share house in Collingwood. Their mutal passion for cakes, baking, feminism and craft has since informed their work and it’s pretty damned cute (with a big streak of feminist badassery). Check out some of their other work, including a puppy cake covered in iced flowers, candy beards, a table setting designed around leftovers and this gloriously graphic iced period stain installation in the men’s toilets at the Victorian College of the Arts. Christmas at The Windsor is on display at the Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring Street from December 1 to the January 5.
Finally, the Bloody Mary will have a breakfast bev companion. Bacardi has been cooking up what is thought to be the first spirit distilled from tea leaves, a new product they're calling Tang. Although we're pretty sure that's already a long-copyrighted drink name for a sugary orange fizz, Bacardi are running with it as inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty — when the country's obsession with tea really put down its roots. And with tea still the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (behind coffee, of course), it looks like Bacardi's capitalising on a still-travelling bandwagon. Someone at Bacardi obviously saw more than The Grim in their tea leaves. Apparently the company has been developing a brand new distillation process for four years, according to The Spirits Business. Releasing complex sugars from green tea leaves, the process makes the tea leaves fermentable — so able to become booze. Looks like someone at Bacardi left the leaves in their home teapot too long and had a Brilliant Idea. The fermented gloop then heads to distillation phase, before being blended to really get those tea flavours out. Then the whole thing is diluted with French spring water at Cognac's Grey Goose distillery and you've got yourself a 'tea spirit', designed to drink alongside Chinese food or dropped into cocktails. If you're all fired up to drop a little Tang in your morning cup, be warned; it's going to be exclusively distributed in China (initially only from DFS Hong Kong until May). Plus, it's not going to be cheap. Bacardi are only making small batches of 2000 500ml bottles a go (HK$1888 or AU$318), with the first 500 of the batch numbered, so you're going to see some pretty steep eBay prices on Tang. Via The Spirits Business.
Continuing in the tradition of online services that ensure you never have to leave your living room, a brand new website has recently launched in Sydney that will deliver groceries right to your door. Inspired by their success in Germany, ShopWings lets you select your groceries over the web, before dispatching one of its shoppers to do the busy work for you and deliver within about two hours. Basically it’s like The Iconic, but for food. After entering your postcode, visitors to ShopWings choose between three different grocery chains: ALDI, Coles and Harris Farm (sorry Woolies). From there, it’s simply a matter of filling your virtual shopping cart and heading to the checkout. The delivery fee comes in at a flat $8.90 — although in order to entice customers, your first use of the service is free. Once you’ve paid via credit card or PayPal, ShopWings guarantee delivery within two hours. They currently deliver to addresses in the CBD, eastern suburbs and beaches and the Lower North Shore, with plans for expansion already on the cards. Of course ShopWings isn’t Australia’s first online grocery service. Both Coles and Woolworths already offer home delivery, while Grocery Butler has been operating since mid-2013. Where this new operation aims to stand apart is in the quality of their service. ShopWings shoppers will even get in touch with you from the grocery store if an item you selected is out of stock, so that you can pick an alternative rather than going without dinner. Test out ShopWings over here. Image: ShopWings.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing a little adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the Sydney landmarks and institutions we all love. This week, discover and rediscover the things that make Sydney so great, with seven different detours through our city's classic spots. From Monday to Sunday, channel that Sydneysider spirit, and enrich your everyday with one completely achievable, time-honoured activity that helps bypass any mundane roadblocks in your routine. This week, rediscover the Sydney we know and love, with a massive plate of dumplings in Haymarket, a gig at the Metro followed by midnight Golden Century and a flick at an iconic Art Deco cinema. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Calling all Gordon Gekkos and Jordan Belforts, the UK's got a new bar for you. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange is London's new venue where drink prices fluctuate in real time according to their nightly popularity, opening on June 17. Set across three floors, Reserve is attempting to connect customers to the value of their cocktails, and how quickly one drink can rise in value while another crashes. It all depends on which drink is most popular on the night — classic supply and demand. There's a live market price board where you can see how different cocktails are doing, and the bar's smartphone app will let you keep track of things at your table — an app that also allows patrons to order cocktails right to their table. The bar's advice? "Buy low, play the market, and when the market crashes... everybody wins." We guess that means a sweet cheapo special. So who's the Wolf of Wall Street behind this whole deal? Reserve has been dreamt up by Alan Grant and his crew, whose former escapades include London's Cherry Jam, Supper Club and Notting Hill Arts Club. It's London's first bar of its kind, but it's not the world's — Austin, Texas has a stock market themed bar called The Brew Exchange, where the hundred beers on tap fluctuate according to popularity. If you happen to be in London (or you've got buds over there) before the bar opens on June 17, Reserve is offering punters the chance to feel like a right ol' Gecko — you can invest £25, £50 or £100 in the bar and you'll double your money instantly with a 100% return of £50, £100 or £200 in bar credit. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange opens on June 17 at 46 Gresham Street, London. Via The Drinks Business. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
This holiday season, there's only one decoration we want hanging from our Christmas tree. It's the latest absurd dessert from the team at Gelato Messina, who so far this year have created ice cream cigars, ice cream hamburgers and an ice cream inspired by an air freshener. Available just in time for a yuletide family feed, Messina's 2015 Christmas cake combines the tastes of gingerbread, pear and chocolate. With flavours that smooth, it's no wonder they called it the Michael Baulble. The limited edition dessert, which can be ordered now until December 22 through the Gelato Messina website, consists of burnt butter and gingerbread gelato with pear mouse and fruit mince florentine, enclosed in a chocolate dome and dusted with gold powder. It also comes with vanilla brandy custard, which should be warmed and applied generously before eating. The Michael Baulble costs $90 and can be picked up from select Messina stores in Sydney (Roseberry, Miranda and Parramatta), Melbourne (Fitzroy) and Queensland (Coolangatta). According to Messina it feeds 16 people, although let's be real here: there's no way you're sharing it with that many people. Sure, Christmas is the time for giving and all that, but everyone has their limits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=SUp6tmSbQN0 To order your own Michael Baulble, visit the Gelato Messina website. Via Good Food.
When I first signed up for a day of whitewater rafting on Tropical North Queensland's Tully River I was pumped. I can't say it had ever been on my bucket list, but as a new resident of North Queensland I was keen to do anything that meant I got to explore the deep north – so I couldn't turn down this RedBalloon experience. My alarm on the morning of the adventure went off at 5.15am, and my dreams of being flung out the raft and thrown into white water came to an end. Mild panic had begun to settle in. By the time I arrived at the meeting point in Cairns where our tour bus was waiting to drive us to the riverside destination, I was scheming ways to get out of it. We travelled down the Bruce Highway past sugar cane fields, banana plantations and cloud-covered coastal mountains. About an hour later, the road started getting narrower, the surrounding vegetation more lush, and glimpses of the river opened up to full views. We got off the bus and our guide Gregor helped with my helmet and life jacket, then I grabbed a paddle and headed down the path with five strangers towards our raft. As we paddled towards our first lot of rapids I tried to recall the instructions on what to do. I realised that upon entering the raft, I'd been way too focused on wedging my foot in between the seats to ensure I was attached no matter what and forgot to listen. As the menacing whitewater looked like it was about to engulf us I didn't know whether to squeeze my eyes shut or hold on tight, or both. Neither of the options included helping to paddle. [caption id="attachment_593255" align="alignnone" width="1280"] This is me terrified and holding on to the rope.[/caption] Then Gregor's clear, calm voice came from the back of the raft, "Okay guys, this is how today will work," he said. "Listen to me and you'll be fine. I promise to give really simple instructions. We're going to have heaps of fun getting to know this river." I wasn't 100 per cent convinced but I did listen to him. My life was in his hands. "Okay guys, here we go! Paddle forward, forward, forward aaaand relax. Now back paddle, back, back, back aaaand relax." I did relax. Honestly. As soon as we'd cleared the first lot of rapids I knew I was in safe hands with a pro river guide and a bunch of people who were a mix of fairly experienced thrill-seekers and newbie thrill-seekers like me. Gregor maneuvered the raft through the first lot of rapids expertly. With names like 'Double D Cup', I couldn't help but giggle (nervously) as we approached them and then scream/laugh as we rode through them. Gregor informed us they were the trickiest set we'd encounter. I didn't want to ask if he meant before lunch or throughout the whole day, so I kept my mouth shut and rejoiced with the rest of my team that we'd aced it. As we floated into calmer waters we got out of the raft for a swim, letting the cool, crystal-clear waters take us past springs and falls while the magnificent rainforest growth of the gorge towered overhead. Ulysses butterflies flying above us came along for the ride too. After a refreshing shower under Pony Tail Falls we hopped on to dry land for a barbecue lunch in the middle of the rainforest before setting off to tackle the rest of the rapids. This time around, it was panic-free. By the end of the day I was jumping off a 5-metre-tall rock formation. As I bobbed up to the surface, I was chuffed with myself for being a bit of a daredevil. I knew I would've regretted not giving the jump a go, which sums up how I felt about the whole day. From the first "aaaand relax" from Gregor, my worries seemed silly. Photos from the day show that I was holding on to the safety ropes a lot, which made my team mates ask whether I'd actually done any paddling. But I did. I promise. Book your white water rafting adventure (or gift it to someone else) at RedBalloon. Images: RedBalloon.
In the latest "hello young people" example of giant fast food chains desperately attempting to be cool, McDonalds has announced that a dedicated French fry 'concept store' will open tomorrow in Sydney and it's called, wait for it, Fries With That. You can probably hear us sighing from here. Located on Glebe Point Road in Glebe, Fries With That will throw its doors wide to the insatiably curious masses at 11am tomorrow and the menu is (as you may have guessed) dedicated solely to fries. It's a big trend-sucking gimmick to promote their new loaded fries menu, and they'll be test running six new varieties of toppings. The most popular topping will get the honour of becoming a permanent member of the illustrious Maccas menu. As is tradition in a democratic country, you vote by smashing down your fave French fry flavour. After Camperdown's new eatery The Corner turned out to be a Maccas in disguise last year, this is just some more casual bandwagon-jumping for Maccas. Just look at this on-trend interior, blonde wood, white tiles, exposed light bulbs — someone's been paying attention: It's only open for three days and will close up at 6pm on Sunday, giving you only three days to try all the new flavours — which are, quite honestly, boring as batshit. The six options include sour cream and sweet chilli, Caesar, curry, pesto and parmesan, chipotle cheese sauce and peri-peri cheese sauce. Yawn. They'll also be serving gravy loaded fries which launched nationally yesterday. Eh, we'll probably inhale some. Stop looking at us like that. Find Fries With That at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Opening hours Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29 11am-6pm.
Redfern gin haven Moya's Juniper Lounge is turning one-year-old this week and they're throwing a little hootenanny to celebrate. The Regent Street blink-and-you'll-miss-it bar has garnered a reputation over the last year as a delightfully hidden gin joint that pays homage to traditional cocktails in a low-key, no-fuss atmosphere. Staying true to form, they're throwing a laidback birthday bash with a classed-up flare. Stop by their old-world gin palace on March 22 from 5pm and enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne, along with some "custom-made gelato" which we're particularly intrigued by. On the no-frills side of things, they'll also be celebrating with a few slices of fairy bread — it is an Aussie bar, after all. The bartenders will of course be slinging their classic gin cocktails, including our favourites, the Charlie Chaplin and The Last Word, and serving up their small plates pairing menu. The event will round out with a live gig by The Squares, the perfect excuse to get stuck in to one of their cosy, plush velvet lounges, sip on an expertly crafted cocktail and toast to a year well done.
Dessert king Reynold Poernomo is expanding his sugary empire, with the former MasterChef contestant and co-owner of Chippendale's KOI Dessert Bar opening a second location on the other side of town. Slinging sweet treats as of today — Friday, April 21 — KOI Ryde will feature the same decadent creations Poernomo's fans have come to expect, while also offering cooking classes with some of Sydney's best dessert chefs. The Ryde dessert bar will be run by Reynold along with his mother Ike and his brothers Ronald and Arnold, but it won't be a carbon copy of the Chippendale venue. Although it will function as a cafe where you can eat your cake straight out of the cabinet, the team hopes to also introduce a brand new menu offering (brunch is on the cards) and even monthly chef's table dinners. The space will also function as the production facility for all the cakes and pastries sold at both KOI locations and a masterclass kitchen, which will host classes by Sydney's best bakers, along with Poernomo himself. As for what you'll be scoffing on, expect KOI staples including the bright green mango yuzu made with mango mousse, yuzu curd and almond sable, and the coconut kalamansi featuring coconut mousse, white cheese, kalamansi (like a Filipino lime) curd and chocolate sable. We are ready for you, tomorrow 10am! #koidb #dessert #pastry #sydneydessert #ryde A post shared by KOI Dessert Bar (@koidb) on Apr 20, 2017 at 3:03am PDT KOI Dessert Kitchen Ryde is now open from 10am till 10pm Tuesday to Sunday at Shop 3, 62-66 Blaxland Street, Ryde. For more info, visit koidessertbar.com.au.
Cammeray's go-to for laidback weekend tipples, Norths has undergone a multi million-dollar renovation over the last year — and they’ve just revealed the spoils. Now strongly focused on post-work drinks, big local family dinners and weekend wine sessions, Norths has a brand new bar, cafe and seasonal menu to boot. Using the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, Norths are now serving up a range of seasonal, internationally-inspired cuisine in Norths Pantry — from the porcini pesto arancini to the classic 200gm angus beef burger, 'The Bear' housemade range-fed beef pie with mash, crushed peas and red wine jus to Marrakesh grilled eggplant and tomato baked in Moroccan spices. Dessert is by no means a mere afterthought, with a Tim Tam and white chocolate brûlée, The Pantry Sundae and the epic Eton Mess just a snippet of the sweet tooth part of the menu. Where possible, the Pantry's ingredients are locally sourced from sustainable supply chains. If you’re looking for a solid lunch or light snack on the sunny terrace, the newly revamped, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired Norths Cafe is brewing up their own personal blend of coffee, with a large selection of Greek and Lebanese delicacies, Italian panini and salted caramel eclairs. Just keen for a few bevs with buds? Head for the brand new Bar and Lounge and kick back with a frosty craft beer, light aperitif or something neat from the lengthy spirits list. More into vino? Norths also has a brand new wine bar, offering a selection of boutique wines ranging from Orange to Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley to Margaret River, New Zealand to California. Norths also do Moet Magnum Fridays, if you’re looking for a weekend kick-off. Find Norths at 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray.
If you've long thought of The Rocks as a gimmicky tourist trap, join us for a rediscovery. Like so many of Sydney's villages, this one is continually reinventing itself. The cobbled lanes and sandstone buildings mightn't have changed since Sydney Town days, but, within them, there are ever-evolving adventures to be had. From small bars, boutique hotels and off-beat eateries to new festivals and imaginative pop-ups, here's your guide to avoiding the traffic and taking a little staycation right here in your home city. STAY If you're after a little history blended with modern creature comforts, book yourself into the Harbour Rocks Hotel on Harrington Street. Walking into the historic foyer feels like being invited into someone's lounge room — if that someone just happens to have the knack (and the cash) for arranging beautiful, beautiful objects in a welcoming, cosy way. From the street, dark wooden doors slide open — like curtains lifting on a play — revealing lounges, sculptures, bookshelves and an ethereal light feature that looks curiously like candles tumbling down a waterfall. The reception desk, tucked away to the right, is friendly and efficient. Now part of Accor's MGallery collection, the 59-room hotel occupies what were once two separate buildings: three sandstone terraces on one side and, on the other, a former store, originally built in 1887. In the early '70s a bunch of artists, who came to be known as the Harrington Street Cooperative, seized on its rundown state and moved in — though today you'll find them in Chippendale, still painting, drawing and sculpting away. It was in 1989 that the buildings merged to create a hotel, but it wasn't until 2007 that master hoteliers Robert and Ruth Magid (who also own Sebel Pier One) nabbed it. A few years later, a 10-month revamp peeled back interior layers to expose some stunning rough-hewn wooden beams and hand-chipped sandstone. Today, a stunning atrium forms the hotel's centre, with rooms on either side. Book a room, and you'll follow a winding staircase to an open-plan studio suite. As in the lobby, the interior achieves the right balance of style and comfort, of old and new. Dark taupe paint covers the walls, brightened by a series of vast, arched, New York loft-style windows along two sides. The furnishings, arranged to maximise the room's airiness, add subtle, earthy splashes of ochre, tan, maroon and yellow. There's a king-sized bed, a sofa, a desk, tea and coffee-making gear, a large LCD TV on a pole (so you can watch from anywhere you decide to drape yourself), a simple bathroom with a shower and aromatherapeutic toiletries by Appelles. Don't spend your whole weekend in the room, though — be sure to leave time for a tipple on the bamboo-filled terrace overlooking Nurses Walk. [caption id="attachment_554611" align="alignnone" width="1280"] SJB Architects[/caption] DRINK AND EAT In addition to the terrace, there are three spots to explore before leaving the Harbour Rocks Hotel's front door. For brekkie, head downstairs to the 40-seat Scarlett Restaurant. There's a bit of a wait by 9.30am, but once you're safely ensconced in a soft leather seat, you'll be adequately recompensed with a continental buffet featuring light, fluffy pastries, and an aptly named Healthy Start of eggs, avocado, truss tomatoes and Persian feta on Sonoma sourdough — just one of the a la carte offerings. For a quick dash to Paris, pop into Creperie Suzette, where you'll find a warming variety of galettes and crepes, and for boutique wines, cocktails and tapas later in the day, visit the hotel's classy yet warm Eric's Bar. [caption id="attachment_554593" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pei Modern[/caption] Meanwhile, at Mark Best's Pei Modern on George Street, things are even better than when we visited a year ago (and they were pretty damn fine then). The biggest news is that Joachim Borenius has taken over as head chef. He's spent ten years in Michelin-starred restaurants The Fat Duck and New York's Per Se, and six years as head chef and sous chef at Marque. Pei is sticking to the formula that it's known for, but continues to perfect the details; premium quality, locally-sourced ingredients are creatively combined with an absolutely cracking wine list, curated by 2014 Vin de Champagne champ Annette Lacey. Tuck into Pei's pork and fennel sausage, with impossibly smooth, creamy white polenta and sweet 'n' hot bullhorn pepper, and ricotta gnocchi with butternut squash, mint, parsley and pepitas. For dessert, you can't not order the duck egg sauternes custard that Best made famous — that delicious contradiction of burnt caramel and sugar, that ambrosial alcoholic follow-up is not to be missed. The roasted meringue with mango and coconut sorbet is like a brief, dreamy stopover on a tropical island. Contemplating a post-dinner night cap? There are more than 150 geographically diverse whiskies next door at Grain Bar. [caption id="attachment_546430" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ananas[/caption] For a fancy-schmancy outing, reserve a table at Quay, one of Sydney's four three-hatted restaurants. Head chef Peter Gilmore spends hours in his experimental garden perfecting heirloom varieties, which he then commissions local producers to grow, before turning them (the varieties, not the producers) into magical dishes. Also on the posh side is the one-hatted Sake, where traditional Japanese cuisine gets a contemporary spin, and the French-inspired Ananas, whose brunches are legendary for their 'edible graveyards', 'fairyland desserts' and bottomless champagne. For a post-dinner beverage worthy of your feast, trot across George Street to Bulletin Place for a cocktail made by the man who's actually been named the world's best bartender, Tim Philips. Thinking about going a bit more casual? Join the locals for a Golden Gaytime shake, Coffee Alchemy cold brew or house-cured salmon bagel at The Fine Food Store. Or, for harbour views (without Quay's price tag), dine in the company of giant-sized sculptures at the MCA's fourth floor terrace cafe. As far as a sweet hit goes, it's still hard to beat a Picasso Mousse in La Renaissance Patisserie's quiet, leafy courtyard, where the dessert making's been reaching Parisian standards for over 40 years. And, at The Tea Cosy, hidden away in a rambling terrace, the scones are made from scratch and the tea is the real, leafy deal. [caption id="attachment_554622" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Rocks Village Bazaar[/caption] DO Given the area's heritage significance, you may as well start with a historical refresh. The most fun — albeit cheesiest — way to go is with a Ghost Tour. Instead of hearing a dreary list of dates, you'll discover all the dirty, dingy stuff: murders, opium dens and disappearances. Or, if Sydney's been bearing down on you of late, do the opposite: wipe away the cobwebs with a Bridge Climb and re-appreciate the city from a whole new perspective. We know, we know, we're possibly sounding way too touristy right now. All right, you culturati, go on and get yourself down to The Wharf instead. Take an impromptu dance lesson with The Sydney Dance Company for all we care. Better still, book a ticket to one of their shows. The Sydney Theatre Company is in the same spot, and Rose Byrne will be dropping by later in the year. Alternatively, plan your stay to coincide with a festival or special event. One of our favourites is the Aroma Festival, a paean to the mighty coffee bean. Roasting, grinding, frothing, cupping and sampling happen throughout July, with the biggest day set for Sunday, July 26. It's a great place to stay for a night during Vivid mid-year, and we also love The Rocks Village Bizarre, which, in November and December, takes over every nook and cranny with magic, music, cabaret and unexpected occurrences. Jasmine Crittenden travelled as a guest of Harbour Rocks Hotel and Pei Modern.
Wondering what to say when you step inside Brisbane's new mini-golf bar? At Holey Moley Gold Club, it really is all there in the name. And, as awesome as the concept of having some drinks, donning a visor, hitting the indoor greens and taking a few swings on pop culture-themed holes sounds, the reality is even better (and weirder). Entering Holey Moley is like entering an alcohol-fuelled indoor amusement park for adults, even if the building it's in — a former church — makes that quite the surreal experience. So does the angel statue decked out with golf clubs, the pink-lit neon sign declaring "I like big putts and I cannot lie", and the twirling giant disco ball hanging in the centre of the venue, which visitors familiar to the site's many previous watering holes and live music spaces will recognise. Of course, with the right wall taken up by a stocked bar, it's obvious that this is a drink-focused spot with two nine-hole mini-golf courses inside, rather than a putting facility that happens to serve booze. Each hole has a six stroke maximum, however whether you decide to keep score is completely up to you — it's fun, rather than sports, that the venue wants to promote. Even taking a quick glance at the eighteen different holes on offer demonstrates that having a good time is the main aim here, unless you're scared of clowns and puppets, that is. Suspended from a frame and lurking on the ground, these vaudevillian creeps adorn the seventh stop on the ground level, which means anyone suffering from coulrophobia has plenty of time to work up the courage to play there. Beforehand, you'll hit your way through a beachy (fri)endless summer, enter a glow-in-the-dark space for three holes of luminous action, and play pinball and pool with a golf ball and club. Yes, really. Keeping with the arcade theme, a putting version of skeeball marks the end of the lower course — but don't worry, more holes await upstairs. That's where you'll show off your short game on a turntable, in a bathroom and a gym, and on a Twister board, to highlight just a selection of the standouts on the upper level. You'll also tap, tap, tap the ball into a Nintendo-focused hole that pays tribute to Super Mario and Donkey Kong, brave the Mad Putter's Tee Party, prove that you're obviously not a golfer at a bowling alley, and marvel at the glory of the nine-iron throne. You just know the latter is going to be mighty popular, particularly for selfies that'll clog up your Instagram feed. For something different between rounds, ping pong tables provide a break from the main action, as do a selection of old-school video games. Or, chew a couple of gum balls, grab a drink, and sit down and watch everyone else. In fact, the cocktail list is worth the trip alone, thanks to beverages like the Tee-quila Mocking Birdie (with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Blue Curacao, sour mix and sugar syrup), Teeyonce Knowles (Pampero white rum, soda, fresh mint, limes and syrup) and Happy Gilmoreo (Chambord raspberry liqueur, Smirnoff Red vodka, Baileys, milk, chocolate sauce, crushed Oreos and whipped cream). Yep, we're calling it: Holey Moley is about to become everyone's favourite new hangout. Holey Moley Golf Club opens on September 29 at 25 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
Brush up on your heaps sick macaroni necklace skills, coordinate your crew's dress-ups and dig out your ol' faithful tent. One of Australia's best and most beloved festivals, Secret Garden Festival, is back for another year. Returning to the festival's hallowed and not-so-secret-anymore location outside of Sydney, Secret Garden is celebrating its eighth year over February 26 and 27. Hold up, you haven't heard of Secret Garden? Grab a beer, line up for the egg and spoon race and we'll fill you in. Forget everything you know about big, personality-less, bro-zone festivals. If that's your thing, you enjoy that, but this little homegrown gem ain't for you. Secret Garden is Australia's most genuine, perpetually surprising, made-for-mates-by-mates festival, with a bigger heart than most festivals could hope to have. Directed by the inimitable, larger-than-life, outrageously hard-working Clare Downes, held annually on the idyllic Downes family farm outside of Sydney and brought to life by the ever-loyal Secret Garden family, this NSW festival reminds punters to ditch the attitude and remember what bloody good fun looks like. Secret Garden's more than a lineup (although said lineup is inevitably kickass each year, with Parquet Courts, Sharon Van Etten, Remi, Gang Of Youths, Client Liaison, The Griswolds, Japanese Wallpaper, UV Boi, Willow Beats, Milwaukee Banks, Total Giovanni, Peter Combe (PETER COMBE) and more playing last year). But with hidden handcrafted areas, drag queens, lawn games, facepainting, ballpits, pillow forts, craft tents, forest pop-up bars, huge art installations, local food, tiny rave caves, photobooths, birds nest-shaped DJ booths, kissing booths, ticket booths and a hell of lot more to be found at the festival, you'll be pressed for time. Importantly, you should start planning your costume, because if any festival goes above and beyond on the dress-ups, it's Secret Garden. Think big — this year's dress-up theme is 'Space Cowboy'. And the 2016 Friday dress up theme is... TICKETS ON SALE NOW >> http://bit.ly/SG_Tickets Posted by The Secret Garden on Thursday, January 7, 2016 Donning a bigger sunhat than ever for 2016, Secret Garden will be taking place over two full days and nights on Friday and Saturday, giving 'Gardeners' more live music, love and glitter than ever. But as usual, in true SG tradition, the festivals always sells out before the lineup's announced. As always, proceeds from ticket and bar sales will go toward charity — and these guys have donated more than $200,000 to Oxfam, The Boys and Girls Brigade and the Sarah Hilt Foundation. Noice. Capacity hasn't changed even though the festival program has, so tickets are going to evaporate. There's a couple of options for tickets: the 'Two-Day Celebration' ($209.65), 'One Hot Night' ($144.35) and the 'Office Worker Package' ($575.80). Head to Secret Garden's fancy new website for more details and to book tickets. And you'll want to — last year Client Liaison brought confetti cannons. In a highly ineloquent statement, Secret Garden rules. We should know, we put on a humdinger of an event with the SG crew last year, Cubby House, so ner. Secret Garden Festival returns to its (sort of) secret location on February 26 and 27, 2016. General tickets are on sale now from Secret Garden's website. Images: Anna Warr, Jack Toohey.
Each January, as the temperature rises and languid afternoons stretch into sparkling nights, the city comes alive with the three-week carnival that is the Sydney Festival. Now in its 41st year, Australia's biggest annual arts fest transforms our city into a creative playground, filling our summer with a generous helping of culture. With hundreds of performances ranging from thought-provoking theatre to innovative dance and awe-inspiring circus, the Festival's program is always packed with choices for a night out — and 2017 is no exception. To help you make the most of next year's panoply of offerings, we've highlighted eight stand-out shows. All world premiere performances that can be seen for the first time in Sydney, these performances and installations — including dance, opera, and visual arts — promise to be a feast for the senses. Sydney Festival is iconic for bringing together somewhat unusual collaborations, such as the Sydney Dance Company and the AGNSW for Nude:Live. All up there are 16 world premieres at Sydney Festival 2017. We've picked out our favourites. If you can only fit in a few shows this summer, make sure at least one of these is on your list. Top Image: Nude Live.
From Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, Wine Island is back, but not as you know it — for the first time, the festivities are departing Clark Island and coming ashore to Watsons Bay, taking over the Gap Bluff area of the Sydney Harbour National Park. What won't change, however, are the jaw-dropping harbour views and the holiday vibes, so prepare to sip your way around the world, one delicious drop at a time. Festivalgoers can embark on a global tasting adventure with Wine Island's top-notch drinks and culinary highlights. Savour your way through a curated lineup of top cellar doors from vineyards such as Kies Family Wines, DAS Juice, Chateau Tanunda and Rameau d'Or, to name only a few. You can also discover some of Australia's best distilleries and craft breweries, including Broulee Brewhouse, Papa Salt Gin and Lūla Rum. Once you've had a taste of home, it's time to experience the Mediterranean. You won't need your passport to access The Amalfi Beach Club, where stunning waterfront vistas go hand-in-hand with luscious Italian wines, spritzes and irresistible beachside pizzettes. Who needs a Euro-summer jaunt when you have this little slice of the Med right on your doorstep? From the shores of Italy, to the kitchens of South America — it's time to get a bite. The Flavour Fiesta dining precinct is bringing the heat with yummy eats from Carbón, Cancun Boat Club, Santa Catarina, Brazilian Flame and BrOz Burger. And of course, there will be plenty of Tequilas, Mezcals, and Margaritas to wash it all down. But Wine Island isn't just about sipping and snacking — it's also about diving into other kinds of fun (with a glass in hand). Unleash your creativity at the Pottery & Plonk workshop, find a moment of zen with Yoga & Unwined, or expand your vino knowledge at the Wine Selectors Tasting Terrace. In the mood to dance? Club Tropicana's silent disco blends good music and great wine for a playful twist on your typical weekend boogie. For those who want to take the experience up a notch, First Class (VIP) tickets offer a range of exclusive perks, including uninterrupted harbour views in a private seating area, an International Wine Bar, a Greek barbecue feast, and access to the Oyster & Yarra Valley Caviar bar. It's the luxury escape you've been dreaming of.
With so much space and so few people, Australia has the edge when it comes to country pubs. There are eccentric, outback institutions, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere, that have witnessed murders and shoot-outs and cattle stampedes. There are posh hotels with incredible views and gourmet menus featuring emu and camel and kangaroo. There are cosy joints with fireplaces where the locals will sidle up for a yarn within minutes and offer you a beer. Here are ten of the best of the lot. PUB IN THE PADDOCK, TASMANIA There are two reasons to visit Tassie's Pub in the Paddock. One, it's actually in a paddock. So, you'll find yourself in the country — seriously — and surrounded by spectacular, rolling green scenery. Two, it's home to a beer-sculling pig by the name of Priscilla, who can knock back a stubby in seven seconds. Don't fret; the alcohol content is significantly diluted. You can stay the night in one of six private rooms, and the pub, which has been licensed since the 1880s, is famous for its fresh-fuelled menu and hug-worthy hospitality. Find Pub in the Paddock at 250 St Columbafalls Road, Pyengana, 30 kilometres inland from St. Helens. Give 'em a call on (03) 6373 6121. GRAND HOTEL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Built in 1902, the Grand Hotel is as friendly as ever. Back in the day, it was an epicentre for local gold diggers, but these days it shares its home town of Kookynie with just ten people. Travellers still drop by, though, to hang out on the Grand's wide, shady verandahs and stay the night in its spacious, old-school rooms. Keep an ear out for ghosts. The Grand Hotel is on Kookynie Rd, Kookynie, which lies 200 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. Call on (08) 9031 3010. PRAIRIE HOTEL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Situated right where the Flinders Ranges turn into the outback, the Prairie Hotel, which has been licensed since 1876, serves up your cold one with excellent mountain views. It's also home to one of Gourmet Traveller's Top 100 Gourmet experiences, the Feral Mixed Grill. That's kangaroo fillet, camel sausage, goat chop and emu patty. There's enough accommodation for 90 people, from fancied-up heritage rooms to architect-designed executive studios to self-contained cabins. You'll find the Prairie Hotel on the corner of High Street and West Terrace, Parachilna, 90 kilometres north of Hawker. Make a booking on 1800 331 473. DALY WATERS PUB, NORTHERN TERRITORY It's possible that the Daly Waters has a bigger bra collection than any pub in Australia. The legend goes that, back in the '80s, a passenger passing through bet her coach driver that, if she couldn't drink a nominated number of beers, she'd leave her bra behind. She lost. Ever since, other patrons have felt the urge to donate their undergarments to the display. Built in 1930, the Daly Waters sits on the Explorers Way, 600 kilometres south of Darwin and 900 kilometres north of Alice Springs. Its official dress is 16 Stuart Street, Daly Waters. Call up on (08) 8975 9927. SCARBOROUGH HOTEL, NEW SOUTH WALES On a sunny Sunday, many a Sydneysider scoots down to the Scarborough Hotel for a lazy afternoon overlooking the sea. Situated just an hour's drive from the city, it's not quite as hardcore countrified as other pubs on our list, but you'd travel a long way to find one with better Pacific Ocean views. The spacious 'Seacliff' Beer Garden comes with both tables and island-inspired huts. Best to book in advance on weekends. The Scarborough Hotel is at 383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough. Make contact on (02) 4267 5444. THE LOADED DOG, NEW SOUTH WALES Country music fans crowd into The Loaded Dog every third Saturday of the month for its legendary live gigs. A stack of well-known country musicians have played there, including Amber Lawrence, Luke O'Shea and Felicity Urquhart. Built in 1848 in the then bustling, now disappearing town of Tarago, 69 kilometres northeast of Canberra, the pub used to be the main pit stop for travellers to and from the national capital. Now, it's on the scenic route, but worth the detour for its open fireplaces and hearty bistro fare. The Loaded Dog is at 1 Wallace Street, Tarago. The number is (02) 4849 4499. NINDIGULLY PUB, QUEENSLAND Daly Waters might have the bras, but Nindigully has the Akubras. One-hundred-and-forty or so of them hang on the walls, donated mostly by local farmers and stockmen. Situated on the banks of the Moonie River, Nindigully is the oldest continuously licensed pub in Queensland, having been in operation since 1864. Visitors are welcome to camp and park their caravans nearby, and there are free showers on tap. Find this one on the Carnarvon Highway via Thallon, 160 kilometres west of Goondiwindi, 45 kilometres east of St George and 70 kilometres of the Queensland-New South Wales border. Call in on (07) 4625 9637. BIRDSVILLE HOTEL, QUEENSLAND One of Australia's most famous pubs, the Birdsville Hotel perches on the edge of the Simpson Desert, in the town of Birdsville, 1,590 kilometres west of Brisbane and 720 kilometres south of Mt Isa. One hundred people live there. The pub was opened in 1884 and is a gathering place for locals, who are only too happy to shout visiting strangers a beer and a story or several. If you're keen to stay, there's plenty of room at the associated motel units. Stay over on a Sunday night and you'll be treated to a traditional roast. The Birdsville Hotel is on Adelaide Street, Birdsville, and can be reached on (07) 4656 3244. TINAMBA HOTEL, VICTORIA Tinamba Hotel makes the list for keeping its old-school, unassuming atmosphere, but introducing a delicious, locally sourced menu. The owners even list their producers on their website. Established in 1874, the pub has changed hands numerous times and is now owned by food-and-wine-loving pair Brad Neilson and Damien Gannon, who bought and revamped it in 2009. The pub is situated in Gippsland dairy farming country, in the small town of Tinamba. Find it at 4-6 Tinamba-Seaton Road and get in touch on (03) 5145 1484. TANSWELLS COMMERCIAL PUB, BEECHWORTH For getting in touch with your bush-ranging ancestry, Tanswells Commercial Pub in Victoria's northeast is the place to go. Ned Kelly and his Gang used to drink here while planning their next exploits. These days, there's an open fire and a long drinks list, featuring craft beers and wines from local, regional and international producers. Stay over and leave yourself time to wander through the historic goldfields town of Beechworth. Find Tanswells Commercial Pub at 50 Ford Street, Beechworth and phone in on (03) 5728 1480.
Some days are good days and some days are bad days but only one day is International Daiquiri Day. And what better way to heat things up this chilly July 19 than by visiting a cosy little cocktail bar in celebration of all things rum. Such as rum. And things that go well with rum. And also locations which are fit for the consumption of rum. In fact, this whole month is Bacardi Rum Month. Need we say more? First mixed back in 1898 by American engineer Jennings Stockton Cox while working in the humble Cuban mining town of Daiquiri, the iconic blend of Bacardi rum, lime and sugar has since become a specialty of mixologists all over the world — including several right here in Sydney. Over the years, the daiquiri been bastardised by slushy machines and TGI Fridays into pink, icy mush, but there are some noble bartenders taking this misunderstood cocktail classic back to its traditional form. As usual, we've done the dirty work and sorted out where to head this Daiquiri Day for the most delightfully rummy cocktails in town. Get sipping. EAU DE VIE SYDNEY For a killer cocktail, it’s hard to beat Eau De Vie Sydney. It’s cool, it’s romantic, it’s fun — and their drinks are top-notch. Watching the beverages being made is the real treat though — who would have thought there was such a stunning array of old-school cocktail-making contraptions out there? Eau De Vie Sydney does wonders with an original take on the Bacardi Daiquiri: rum, lime and sugar laced with a dash of egg white makes for a Sunday treat as silky and soft as you could possibly desire. And the iconic Bacardi Bat Logo in aromatic bitters provides a sensationally spicy floral aftertaste. 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst QUEENIE'S If you’re celebrating Daiquiri Day with a gang of mates, head down to Queenie’s and get your Jamaican vibe on. It’s cosy, colourful, and offers enough tasty food and drink options to put you in the best darn mood this side of the Caribbean. The Coconut Daiquiri is a signature Queenie's cocktail — as rich and creamy as Marley’s voice, the coconut puree with Bacardi Carta Blanca and fresh lime gives an old island favourite a new lease on life. Ask your bartender for a little salt and chilli around the rim for a kick up the proverbial you know what. Level 1, The Forresters, Corner of Foveaux and Riley Streets, Surry Hills STITCH Oh baby... you had us at three dashes of absinthe. Stitch slings a daiquiri better than most, and International Daiquiri Day is all the invitation you need to get down to their York Street basement. Try their house specialty — it's pineapple-infused Bacardi Carta Blanca, Cointreau, lime juice, vanilla sugar and three licks of absinthe. It's hard to be too troubled by anything after a couple of these bad boys in your life. 61 York Street, Sydney WORLD BAR A longtime Sydney stalwart, you can still get it all at World Bar. Beverages, tunes and even a ball pit in the mix now and then — what more does a Sunday need? Plus they love putting delicious things into teapots, which we're certainly not averse to. Here you'll find The Bacardi Blaquiri Teapot — lashings of Bacardi Carta Blanca, De Kuyper Blackberry Liqueur and fresh lime with a spot of added sweetness, shaken (not stirred). Perfect for sharing (although drinking the whole thing by yourself is also a very valid option). 24 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross VASCO Vasco is Cleveland Street's small Italian bar with a rock 'n' roll twist: think trucker caps, cut off denims and all things Vasco Rossi. They love the originals as well as the classics, and that goes for both their menu and their cocktail list. The team here are all about fusion, and this particular cocktail is sure to knock your winter stockings off. Bacardi Carta Blanca, green chartreuse, fresh lime and house falernum, shaken and strained in a vintage coupette. Goes down a treat at Vasco with an Italian hot dog. Happy Daiquiri Day! 421 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Sydney has a high volume of top quality cafes all over the city, but Marrickville is home to a big chunk of them. A boom circa 2012 and another one this year means that the inner west suburb can offer everything from all-vegetarian breakfasts to fresh pastries to some of the country's best coffee. But if there's one quality that ties these disparate breakfast-to-lunch hangouts together, it must be their sense of community. They all pride themselves on their local and hyperlocal produce, in-house preparation techniques, and nose for what their regulars want. If you live in the inner west, you've probably been to at least a few of these already. But for those who haven't (local or otherwise), here's the ranked list of Marrickville's best cafes. They've been judged on the tastiness of their menus, the quality of their coffee and the feel of their interior design. Go forth and brunch.
Feel a hankerin' for eggplant dumplings from Haymarket's Chinese Noodle Restaurant but they don't deliver? Want twelve original glazed Krispy Kremes in your couchbound face? Need some extra screws from Bunnings for that bed frame you're attempting to pull together? There's a new Australian company who'll bring pretty much anything (legal) you want to your door — beers, flowers, hangover kebabs — in under an hour. ASAP is a brand new company delivering anything and everything to Sydneysiders. Literally all you have to do is text 0437 825 625 and the ASAP crew will do everything in their power to bring you what you request — they launched the service with Tella Ball milkshake delivery (smart). There's no charge for a quote, and when you order you'll be notified of the total price so you can confirm before you pay. Also good to know ASAP use your credit card details safely — and they don't store 'em. ASAP's operating hours are from 10am - 10pm, seven days a week. They only operate in Sydney right now, although there are apparently plans to expand to Melbourne in the near future. The delivery network covers the Sydney CBD (+10km travel distance) towards the inner west, eastern suburbs and lower north shore. Check out ASAP on their website. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The two-kilometre coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama is always a stunning Sydney sight no matter when you mosey along it — and for locals and tourists alike — but it's especially impressive during Sculpture by the Sea. Once a year since 1997, except during the pandemic's early days, the outdoor art event displays large-scale pieces with the ocean as a backdrop. Understandably, it isn't just one of the annual highlights of Sydney's cultural calendar, but of Australia's. That excuse to soak up the great outdoors in the Harbour City returns again in 2023, from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. On the agenda once more: 100-plus artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along a two-kilometre walk. But this is the 25th Sculpture by the Sea, so it's celebrating notching up that milestone with pieces by artists who displayed at the event back at its beginning. Paul Bacon, Stephen King, Michael Le Grand, John Petrie, James Rogers and Margarita Sampson earn those honours, bookending a quarter-century run. [caption id="attachment_911393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist: Nigel Washington. Photo: Jack Bett.[/caption] Sculpture by the Sea 2023 also features works by Philip Spelman and Ron Gomboc, who reach double decades displaying at the event; Lucy Barker and Ayako Saito, who hit a decade; and Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Discovering exactly who'll be showing what and where is part of the fun of taking the spring stroll, but this year's event clearly won't be short on talent. Another huge must-see: the return of 2006's famous melting ice cream van, aka Hot with a Chance of a Late Storm by Glue Society + James Dive, which will display at Tamarama Beach. As always, the exhibition is set to draw a crowd. Each year, Sculpture by the Sea attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over 18 days, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. [caption id="attachment_922730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist: Glue Society + James Dive. Photo: Louise Beaumont.[/caption]
Sydney Harbour is bursting with waterfront bars and boat parties aplenty. But while the The Island and those tacky glass-walled party boats provide temporary shindig spaces, we've been missing a permanent go-to floating bar in Sydney. That hole in the waterfront nightlife market will be plugged, with the triumphant arrival of the Seadeck — a vessel that's set to become a Harbour-cruising venue, permanently. We gave you the heads up on this one back in December last year, but now the ship's physically made its way to Sydney, after a delay at one of the ports en route in the Middle East this past March. The creation of Scott Robertson, Mel Como and Gavin Douchkov, Seadeck is currently making its way here from Europe. Robertson used to be involved with Future Music Festival and now heads up DIVISION Agency, a full service music and hospitality agency repping the likes of The Bucket List, Harpoon Harry and Vine Double Bay. Specific details are yet to come about exactly what features the Seadeck will be touting, but we'll keep you updated. Seadeck will be ready to set sail this year. Check the website for upcoming events.
“Your nose like a delicious slope of cream. And your ears like cream flaps. And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream.” Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry Booshers, the fourth Sydney edition of this event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris just under three decades ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, around 4000 of Sydney's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, November 28, for the event held at a predictably stunning and highly Instagrammable location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. (But don't get any ideas: a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a $43 ticket (+$11.50 membership fee). Diner en Blanc returns to Sydney on Saturday, November 28 at a mystery location. For more info, check out the website.
The Kings Cross Hotel is about to be transformed into an immersive wonderland as part of this year's Vivid Sydney festival. As part of the truly epic Vivid Music program (which includes the world premiere of Björk's digital project), the hotel will be in full swing with a slew of live music, theatre and cabaret throughout the three weeks of the festival from May 27 until June 18. Relive the glory days of Sydney's late-night culture when things kick off with the Welcome to Kings Cross party on Saturday, May 28. With some of the city's best DJs across the pub's five floors, there'll be ample dancefloor action to satisfy your dancing feet. Not only that, but the party will also bring the legendary '90s Sydney party night Sounds of Seduction back to the Kings Cross Hotel. Not enough for you? Well, on Friday and Saturday evenings, some of Sydney's cabaret pros will be setting up shop in the Hotel's plush Red Room as part of Avant-Cabaret. And from June 1, the venue will go into immersive theatre mode on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Visiting Hours will see the Hotel become a mysterious old hospital with performances taking place across the five floors. It's been produced and directed by bAKEHOUSE Theatre, so you know it's going to be legit. And a little creepy. The Kings Cross Hotel's Vivid takeover will run for the length of the festival, from May 27 until June 18. For more information on what's happening at the Hotel, visit their website.
Hitting Sydneysiders with an epic program of immersive, challenging, and mind-blowing art for another year, the Biennale of Sydney 2016 is an art lover's event like no other. Spanning multiple locations across the city and surrounds every two years, it's not hard to feel a little spoilt for choice. But before the festival wraps up in early June, we thought we'd save you some time and hand over our pick of the artworks you can't afford to miss. CHIHARY SHIOTA'S 'CONSCIOUS SLEEP' (2016) Insomniacs beware, this one might hit too close to home. Taking over the convict barracks of Cockatoo Island, Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota shows just how chilling a few hospital beds suspended by thousands of metres of black thread can be. Replicating the conditions encountered by prisoners back in 1861, Shiota's installation feels like stepping into a giant arachnoid's underground lair. It might seem like the stuff of nightmares, but the artistry of this space makes it a hauntingly beautiful experience. KEG DE SOUZA'S 'WE BUILT THIS CITY' (2016) Creating a cubby house from laundry bags, tarps and hessian sacks is just the start of Keg De Souza's contribution to this year's Biennale. As a unique, technicolour display of makeshift architecture, We Built This City has turned 16 Vine Street, Redfern into a hub of conversation for all the right reasons. The largest of her constructions to date, this tent is set to host The Redfern School of Displacement, bringing audiences talks and tours discussing global issues of displacement. Head along to this installation, and make sure to swing by for a guided 'Tour of Beauty' of Redfern and Waterloo, presented by SquatSpace. WILLIAM FORSYTHE'S 'NOWHERE AND EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME NO.2' (2013) It's difficult to detach from your roots. For choreographer and artist William Forsythe, his longtime association with the Frankfurst Ballet and later the Forsythe Company has gone on to inform much of his recent artistic installations. Connecting the movement of dance with a spectacular series of 40 hanging metal pendulums, audiences are invited to navigate this unpredictable architectural space. The challenge? To avoid actually touching the objects themselves. MELLA JAARSMA'S PERFORMANCE 'DOGWALK' (2015-16) Taking things to a whole new level of bizarre, Mella Jaarsma is putting on a fashion show like no other. Alright, 'fashion' might be the wrong term to use here. But with costumes as elaborate as these, it's tempting to believe you've stumbled into some twisted couture show. Every Wednesday evening until June 1 head along to Jaarsma's installation Dogwalk at The Art Gallery of NSW, a 60-minute dog-walking performance filled some seriously creepy animal-skin costumes. Picking a part the bond between humans and animals, this show is definitely one to get you talking. DON'T FOLLOW THE WIND'S 'A WALK IN FUKUSHIMA' (2016-ongoing) Get a dose of global history at this one-of-a-kind Carriageworks installation. Brought to you by the curatorial collective Don't Follow the Wind (featuring Chim↑Pom, Kenji Kubota, Jason Waite, Eva and Franco Mattes), A Walk in Fukushima sees their collaboration efforts with 12 artists following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Step inside an inaccessible radioactive area of the Fukoshima Nuclear plant through 360-degree virtual reality headsets. You'll be intrigued and immersed in an abandoned landscape unlike anything you've seen before. BO CHRISTIAN LARSSON'S 'FADE AWAY, FADE AWAY, FADE AWAY' (2016) Camperdown Cemetery is home to some of colonial Australia's biggest names, but that doesn't concern Swedish artist Bo Christian Larsson. In fact, he's taken matters into his own hands by dressing each tombstone in a custom-made white cover. By obscuring the identities of each grave, Larsson hopes to rid this historic cemetery of its ingrained class hierarchies. And with nearly 2000 of these stones to see on site, this is sure to be one unnerving art excursion. LEE MINGWEI'S 'GUERNICA IN SAND' (2016) As kids, mastering the art of constructing the perfect sandcastle was a pretty tough gig. Protecting our sandy creations from trampling feet and rising tides certainly seemed like an almighty challenge to our younger selves. But imagine taking on the task of reproducing a famous Picasso creation with only one humble ingredient: sand. Taiwanese artist Lee Mingwei took this on, using the fragility and impermanence of this work to reveal the creative power transformation allows. With the help of eight dedicated volunteers, Mingwei has transformed the concrete floor of Carriageworks into a stunning recreation of Guernica. Audience members were encouraged to literally walk across the work on April 23 (later swept and restored by Lee Mingwei and his team). TARO SHINOD'S 'ABSTRACTION OF CONFUSION' (2016) Prefer things a little more zen? Why not make a trip to AGNSW and transcend the daily grind with Taro Shinoda's work Abstraction of Confusion. Take a seat on his tranquil tatami mat and let the simplicity of this installation wash over you. Drawing inspiration from philosophy and the power of meditation, you'll leave feeling as if you've been wandering through the paths of a beautiful Japanese garden. APICHATPONG WEERASETHAKUL'S 'HOME MOVIE' (2016) Film lovers, this is one to watch. Thai artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul brings his distinctive cinematic style to Carriageworks with his latest short, Home Movie. As a way of reflecting his time spent in Chiang Mai during turbulent political events, this seven-minute creation symbolises the relentless violence and instability that continues to terrorise the Thai nation. ALEXIS TEPLIN'S 'ARCH (THE POLITICS OF FRAGMENTATION) (2016) Consider the future of our world in a whole new light with Alexis Teplin's latest performance and installation Arch (The Politics of Fragmentation). See her abstract linen paintings act as the backdrop to this thought provoking performance, which poses the question "when decadence fails us in our quest for utopia, where do we end up?" This is one depiction of a fictional reality we are intrigued to see play out. Learn more about the Biennale program here.
Ever wanted to own your own Banksy original? Well now for a mere $435,000 you can. And while that may sound a bit steep, the price actually isn't that bad when you consider that it includes the entire three bedroom house on which the mural is painted. Located on the side of a two-story terrace in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Spy Booth depicts three secret agents dressed in trenchcoats and dark glasses monitoring a nearby phonebooth with surveillance equipment. Painted in April 2014, it's viewed as a comment on the global surveillance scandal caused by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The house is located just a few kilometres away from the headquarters of the GCHQ, Britain's security and intelligence agency. But while you might imagine that having a Banksy on the side of your house would be a blessing, the owner of 159 Fairview Road says he has experienced constant stress since the appearance of the artwork, which he's been unable to remove or sell since council planners granted it retroactive planning permission. So instead, he's selling the whole building. "If Cheltenham want it, they can have it," 45-year-old David Possee said in an interview. "Just buy the building off me, I just want to get on with my life. Cut me free, you can have the Cheltenham Banksy." Fair warning to any potential bidders out there: while the artwork may be great, the house itself is in need of serious renovations. Or, as real estate agents Peter Ball & Co put it, "requires a comprehensive schedule of refurbishment." To view the listing, go here. Via Domain.
With its breezy, modern fitout and completely vegan offering, Eden Bondi proves a fitting addition to area's collection of culinary hot-spots. The work of Bondi locals Simon Hill and Tanya Smart, the 80-seater is heroing food and cocktails that are both healthy and animal product-free. Across a lush, tropical-inspired restaurant space and fairy light-lit courtyard garden, Eden's dishing up a lively dinner menu. Without an animal product in sight, the offering features veggie-packed hero dishes, alongside vegan reworkings of some of your favourite snacks. Dinner time might see you matching an organic Aussie wine with some popcorn cauliflower bites, vivid green sliders with pickled jalapeño and souvlaki tacos. You'll spy a mushroom-based take on the classic ragu, a range of colourful loaded bowls and plant-based pizzas like the Green Goddess with kale pesto, baby spinach, smoked tofu and cherry tomatoes. Eden Bondi caters well for allergies too, with a stack of options that are free of nuts, gluten, onion and garlic. You can wash it all down with a smoothie or pressed juice, though there's plenty more fun to be had with the signature cocktails list. All-vegan sips like the gin and raspberry Cotton Candy Sour, and the Appletini with vodka, apple liqueur and lemon juice are sure to hit the spot after a long day at the beach.
“Have you skied before?” This is the question I am asked — repeatedly — on the way to Thredbo: at reception when checking in at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, at a five-course champagne brunch in an inflatable igloo on the ski slopes (a combination of words I never thought I'd say), while dancing and chatting to strangers during a poolside party started by French phenomenon La Folie Douce and, of course, when collecting gear and being assigned to a ski lesson on the final day of this weekend celebrating the Thredbo Top2Bottom race. The answer is sort of, once, when I was in high school and spent a day tumbling down Friday Flats. But if you think Thredbo isn’t for you, it’s time to think again. There’s a lot more than just skiing on offer in this alpine village getaway. ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL; DON'T LEAVE THE HOTEL From outside, the Thredbo Alpine Hotel (Friday Drive, Thredbo Village Resort, +61 2 6459 4200) looks austere — with a grey timber exterior capped by an aggressively sloping roof. But inside, it’s warm and wood-panelled, the staff are chilled out and friendly and there is a roaring log fire in the middle of the lobby lounge. The setting is pretty spectacular too. From the hotel room window, I can see a snow-covered mountain that reflects the pink morning light, and a pristine landscape of sky and trees. The rooms are small and haven’t been refurbished since the ‘80s, but this adds a rustic charm and comfort. The hotel breakfast is deliciously comprehensive, and the restaurant windows look out onto the slopes. Whether you’re into the bircher muesli or hash browns (or both), you can sit in your warm smugness and watch early morning skiers tear down the Supertrail at their own peril. The hotel also has an outdoor spa, an in-house massage therapist and sauna. So you basically have no reason to leave. OPEN CHAMPAGNE THE RIGHT WAY: WITH A SWORD On the first morning, I am whisked away to Crackenback Drive and treated by Mumm Champagne to a five-course champagne degustation with chef ambassador Josh Lopez (from Brisbane’s GOMA restaurant). The pop up restaurant is set on the snow in an inflatable igloo by the ski slopes. Mumm ambassador Chris Sheehy introduces the champagne at the beginning of each course, followed by Josh Lopez, who explains his approach to each dish. I learn how to open a bottle of champagne with a saber (the essential trick is to chill the neck of the bottle for a couple of hours to get a clean break), eat black rose caviar off the back of my hand and appreciate how truffle coated in 24 carat gold goes marvellously with a cordon rouge (that’s a type of champagne). The dessert is the highlight (or perhaps my head is rather light by this point), an architectural feat with macadamia, berries, vanilla and rose petals, matched with a light rosé. An evening champagne and caviar masterclass with Sheehy and Lopez was also available to Thredbo visitors at the Segreto Restaurant back at the Alpine Lodge Hotel. PARTY LIKE IT'S -5ºC (IT IS) Thredbo Alpine Hotel is known for its afternoon après-ski parties, and from 3-6pm international party-starters La Folie Douce took to the poolside stage, pumped up the beats and got the crowd going. It’s hard to explain the magic of La Folie Douce and exactly what happens up there on stage, but they charmed us with what essentially is a glorified karaoke-cross-Rihanna-inspired dance routine, hollering and grinding to a set of pumping music, encouraging the audience to follow suit. And before long, half the audience was up on stage, a squish-friendly party of ski jackets and champagne-fuelled shenanigans. And amazingly, it was finished in time for dinner. CELEBRATE OTHER PEOPLE'S ATHLETIC VICTORIES Upon assignment to this story I had a momentary freak-out where I thought I might have to actually ski in the 25th Anniversary Top2Bottom race — a kind of City2Surf for the slopes. Each year, a slew of skiers, snowboarders and even a select few fatbike racers (literally people riding fat bicycles down the slope) compete on Australia’s longest run (3.2km) for a $1200 prize pack. Luckily, all I had to do was hang out at the finish line by the Mumm Champagne pop-up bar and cheer them on. There were dramatic crashes, narrow finishes and plenty of champagne-popping to start the day. ATTEMPT TO SKI, DECIDE TO INVEST IN A TOBOGGAN The opportunity to ski came on the last morning of the trip. I quickly realised that the preparation for this sport takes more energy than the sport itself. I wore way too many layers of clothing, struggled to get my ski boots on and then walk in them (skis in tow) to the shuttle bus. But once on the magic carpet at the bottom of Friday Flats, under the friendly guidance of Albert our ski instructor, the snowplough position came rushing back to me and I went rushing down Friday Flats. It was exhilarating! But next time I think I'll invest in a toboggan. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Thredbo is open 365 days a year, though the ski season runs from the June long weekend to the October long weekend. By air: Qantas and Virgin Australia service Canberra Airport from major Australian cities. Canberra Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Thredbo and shuttle transfers to and from the airport can be arranged. Several major car hire companies also hire from Canberra. By bus: Greyhound Australia run daily services from Canberra and Sydney, Murrays run daily services from Canberra during July and August and other service operators also offer transport and packages. By car: Thredbo is approximately 500km, or 6 hours' drive, from both Sydney and Melbourne. If you’re cruising to the mountains from Sydney, once you’re on the Eastern Distributor there are only a few sets of traffic lights to Thredbo. From Melbourne, the fully sealed Kosciuszko Alpine Way is your scenic window as you wind through the spectacular Kosciuszko National Park. The National Parks and Wildlife Service collect park use fees upon entry to the park. You can purchase your pass from the Entrance Station 13km before you get to Thredbo, the Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne, the National Parks Visitors Centre in Khancoban, or the Thredbo Information Centre. Check out some tips for safe snow driving before you leave home. Roslyn travelled to Thredbo as a guest of Mumm champagne.
Remember a couple of weeks back, when the internet collectively lost its shit over the existence of that mind-blowing Nutella doughnut milkshake? You know, the one that looks like a massive coronary waiting to happen, but who cares because after drinking it you can basically just die happy then and there? You do, huh? Well how would you like to get a free one delivered directly to your desk? For free? Free. Probably taking cues from Uber's kitten/Messina/pure joy delivery stunts, the mad, Nutella-loving geniuses at Erskineville's Foodcraft Espresso — from whose blessed milkshake mixer the Tella Ball Milkshake first sprung — have teamed up with text message concierge service ASAP for a one-day promotion that no self-respecting dentist could possibly have signed-off on. The long and short of it: 150 thirsty folk in the Sydney CBD are about to be very, very happy. Details of the giveaway will go live on the ASAP Facebook page sometime later today — at which point the first 150 people to tag three of their friends and text their preferred delivery address to 0409 777 917 will be locked in for an injection of sweet, sugary goodness. From there, all that's left to do is count down the minutes until next Thursday, when the ASAP team will start ferrying their precious cargo across town. As it happens, ASAP don't just deliver ridiculous milkshakes. You can text these guys for just about anything — they're basically a Yellow Pages combined with a tiny butler who lives in your phone. They only operate in Sydney right now, although there are apparently plans to expand to Melbourne in the near future. Not that'll be much comfort next Thursday when Sydneysiders are literally drinking Nutella through a straw. For more details about how you can snag yourself a free Tella Ball Milkshake, keep your eyes glued to the ASAP Facebook page.
Sydney's favourite pre-theatre dumplings have moved a little closer to the city, with the team behind Lotus Dumpling Walsh Bay opening a brand new chapter in the CBD. Making neighbours of Muji and Kinokuniya, Lotus at The Galeries is the shiny new 270-seater eatery from the lauded dumpling team; located on level one of the Galeries Victoria between George and Pitt Streets. According to Hospitality Magazine, the crew have gone with a completely different design to the Walsh Bay venue. DS17's Paul Papadopoulos and Kathryn Ashley have designed the new Lotus to allow as much light as possible through the space; think stripped-back, minimalist white and blue interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, Fibonacci stone and ceramics errrrwhurrr. So what's in store for your hungry, hungry, dumpling-loving self? Shaking things up from the Walsh Bay menu (but keeping the plethora of shitake mushroom, violet, and scallop dumplings on offer), Lotus Galeries is more focused on fresh seafood (yep, we're fresh oysters, mud crab, snow crab, lobster, the works). But we're keen to try the restaurant's newest novelty dining style: a Lotus high tea. You can sit down to a traditional Chinese afternoon tea (or LoTea) from 3-5pm daily, feasting on little handmade Lotus dumplings, and pretty artisan Asian-style sweet goodies — like Szechuan pepper, toasted sesame and goji berry chocolates — served with the restaurant's own brand of Chinese tea. We'll raise a pinky to that. Lotus Dumpling Bar is open on level one of the Galeries Victoria. Lunch runs from 11.30am-3pm, LoTea runs 3-5pm, and dinner is from 5.3-10pm. Via Hospitality Magazine.
How Kevin Hart's never made it to Australia for a stand-up tour before is beyond us (apart from a one-off set at Sydney's Comedy Store), but the celebrated US comedian is about to rectify that. Off the back of an epic US arena tour, Hart will bring his What Now? tour to Australia this February. Hitting Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from Wednesday February 3, Hart will take over some of our biggest venues for a four-date run of shows. Both a stand-up veteran and a comedy film actor you might have seen Hart in Get Hard opposite Will Farrell, Little Fockers, Death at a Funeral, Fool’s Gold, Soul Plane, the Chris Rock-directed Top Five, or getting coffee in a car with Jerry Seinfeld. He's also starring in Ride Along 2, but Australia hasn't seen that sequel just yet. But Hart's going back to his roots with this tour. The 36-year-old really got his start while sizing men and women for footwear, when he performed at an amateur night in Philadelphia, subsequently quitting his job and ending up as a regular at lauded joints like The Boston Club, Caroline’s, The Laugh Factory, and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His 2011 Laugh at My Pain tour hit it out of the ballpark — in February 2011 he sold out LA's hallowed Nokia Theater for two nights in a row, breaking the record previously set by the great Eddie Murphy. KEVIN HART WHAT NOW? AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Wednesday, February 3 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, February 5 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Staurday, February 6 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Sunday, February 7 — Allphones Arena, Sydney Tickets on sale 10am Friday, September 4. My Live Nation and ticket agent presale starts 2pm September 2 until 5pm September 3. For more info, head over here. "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" Kevin Hart from Peter Holmes on Vimeo.
Portraits aren't all regal furs and awkward "Oh, didn't see you there," poses. They can be weird, abstract, figurative, unrecognisable, or downright adorable. It's not an easy task; capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you've just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archibald Prize winners. Australia's top portraiture prize is back for another year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales's annual celebration of Aussie faces. The Archibald finalists will be exhibited at AGNSW from July 29 to October 22, along with the finalists for the Wynne Prize (which awards the best landscape painting of Australia or figure sculpture) and the Sulman Prize (for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project). After exhibiting in Sydney, the finalists will then tour regionally, after which time the winner will be announced by the trustees of AGNSW. The winner will be awarded $100,000 in prize money and some serious bragging rights to boot. The prize was created by Jules Francois Archibald, the founding editor of The Bulletin magazine. He established the prize with the goal to promote both great Australian portraiture and great Australians. The only real stipulation within the contest is that the painting must have been created in the last 12 months and include at least one live sitting with the subject. The award is an open competition, which means that any resident of Australia or New Zealand can enter. Something to keep in mind for next year. And while you wait to potentially enter the next Archibald, we have another competition for you to enter — we're giving away ten double passes to the Archibald. [competition]630952[/competition] By Marissa Ciampi and Shannon Connellan. Image: Dee Smart, The mayor of Bondi, oil and acrylic © the artist. Photo: Jenni Carter, AGNSW.
For anyone who doesn't live in Surry Hills, the epicenter of casual dining, the name may be misleading. This venture by the owners of the Bronte-based Vacanza pizzeria didn't opened in the north-western suburbs of Sydney. The Hills district in this case is the upper end of Bourke St, opposite where the former Hopetoun Hotel used to be. Vacanza took over what was an average corner Italian fast food joint. Upping the ante, the Bronte team did a little makeover on the interior, exposing the brickwork and darkening the mood, but it's not too flash. The prices for sit-down pizzas in nice surroundings are reasonable, and are actually standard compared to the average takeaway pizza. Less is more here, at least in terms of toppings. Emphasising the southern Italian connection, the kitchen staff are from the home country and slide out thin-based pizzas of the more traditional variety. "The Vacanza" is sprinkled with truffle oil and grated pecorino, "Il Sacaceno" peppered with prosciutto and parmesan, and "Il Capitano" laced with fennel sausage, goats cheese and roasted mushroom. Elsewhere on the menu, there's four choices of insalate and a mozzarella bar with starters such as bufala arancini, two lightly crumbled rice balls with buffalo mozzarella and porcini mushrooms. "Changes and modifications are politely declined unless it is a small matter of life and death" is Vacanza's philosophy and is word around these traps. And if you don't believe us, just sight it on the menu. They're clearly taking this pizza business seriously, dead seriously. They've certainly breathed life into a corner of Surry Hills that was in need of resuscitation. And while its fully licensed, they'll allow BYO at one bottle, per person, for a fee.
Want to take a journey through post-lockouts Sydney in two pretty sad minutes? Sydney-based production company Shifted Pictures have created a haunting timelapse video of the effects of the NSW lockout laws on various venues around the CBD. Released online today, stunning new short film Closed Sydney documents venues that have closed down or were sold in the time since the lockout laws were introduced by the State Government in 2014. As we've seen too many times in the last two years, a significant amount of Sydney venues claim that since the introduction of lockout laws, venue patronage has decreased casting financial strain on business owners and employees. Hugo's threatened to sue the NSW Government after they closed down in August 2015, and just today, the Keystone Group counted the lockout laws in their reasons for financial stress and move into receivership. And that's just two examples. Closed Sydney was produced using motion control timelapse technology, with the final film using over 3800 still images. Tim Pass, one of the film's producers shared his inspiration behind the visuals. "It's been an idea that's been kicking around since the Hopetoun closed down. Not long after the lockouts came in, it seemed we were losing a live music venue, nightclub or restaurant every other week. If we didn't document them now, we'd be too late. "It might be too late for the venues shown in the video, but hopefully if people keep talking about these issues and come up with some real solutions, we don't have to lose the nightlife of an entire city." The footage is set against an original composition written by avid Keep Sydney Open supporter and Art Vs. Science keys player Jim Finn. Be warned: it's best to grab a box of tissues before you hit play.
From Barangaroo to Green Square, Parramatta to Circular Quay, Sydney's seen more than its fair share of construction lately. Newly proposed, multi-million-dollar developments are popping up all over the city, employing forward-thinking architectural teams and designers to transform the city visually and practically into a city prepped for the future — however either celebrated or controversial plans may be. From new food-focused precincts to world-class horticultural experiences, Sydney's newest design projects are aiming to take the city into a new realm of urban possibility. Here are ten paving the way for things to come. You'll note the Powerhouse Museum isn't in here, we'll bring you more on its impending Western Sydney move soon. By the Concrete Playground team. HAROLD PARK TRAMSHEDS They've kept us in suspense for an age, but one Sydney's most talked about developments, Tramsheds, has finally announced an opening date: September 22. The Tramsheds project, built in the bones of the heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot in Harold Park by developers Mirvac, will house a European-inspired market hall, lined with small, high quality and bespoke food retailers, alongside a 2440 square metre IGA Supamart supermarket (try saying that ten times fast). Now, in your mind, a giant grocery chain might not mesh well with local providores, but the Supamart is less like your local Woolies/Coles than you might think. It's a family owned and run business — by brothers Andrew and Vasilli Karellas — with a focus on organic and local produce . There's a host of already announced Tramsheds foodies planned for the site too, including Tokyo Bird (to open Japanese restaurant Osaka Trading Co.), Melbourne chicken kings Belles Hot Chicken, Butcher and The Farmer (a deli/butcher/restaurant triple threat run by Jared Ingersoll); sustainable seafood restaurant Fish and Co; tapas restaurant Bodega 1904; ice cream kings Gelato Messina and Flour Eggs Water, a new establishment run by Eugenio Maiale. We can expect a dozen more foodie announcements over the coming months, giving fellow rosy suburb Rosebery a run for its money. There's also a medical centre, gym, hairdresser and nail bar planned for the Tramsheds, and a number of cycle paths are currently under renovation — with plans for over 80 bike racks to be installed across the site. Tramsheds will open September 22. THE CALYX Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden turned 200 in June — and it landed itself one humdinger of a birthday present. Meet The Calyx, the Garden's new world-class horticultural experience. Opened to coincide with the official opening date of the Botanic Gardens on June 13, 1816, 200 years ago, this dazzling new UFO-shaped public space not only houses thousands and thousands of plants, but gives Sydneysiders an escape from the city's busy streets and relentless traffic. It also provides a new outdoor home for fun, innovative exhibitions. The first, now open, is Sweet Addiction, the botanic story of chocolate from bean to bar. Starting your journey deep in a tropical rainforest, you'll make your through ancient history and chocolate plantations, before reaching a tasty pop-up shop — the site for many future chocolate activities and tastings. Also part of the show is a collection of 18,000 plants, which are arranged as living artworks. Together, they form the biggest green wall in the Southern Hemisphere, measuring six metres in height and 285 square metres in area. Move over, Patrick Blanc. (Mind you, we can't deny that One Central Park's wall is looking prettier with every passing day.) The Calyx is open now at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, 10am to 4pm daily. GREEN SQUARE One of Sydney's industrial heartlands is going to look pretty different by 2030, as the City of Sydney designs a new town centre for the area — by then the suburb will be home to more than 54,000 people. The 278-hectare Green Square development includes a creative hub, an aquatic and childcare centre, and more than 15 new parks and open spaces, set to be revealed at staggered times between now and 2030. One of the most exciting aspects is a coast-inspired aquatic centre by Andrew Burges Architects, in association with Grimshaw and T.C.L., who won the City of Sydney's Green Square Design Competition. The plan includes a 50-metre outdoor pool, built within a larger, organically-shaped 'beach pool'; a 25-metre indoor pool; and a health and fitness centre. These facilities will be encompassed by Gunyama Park, which is to be revamped with the addition of a promenade, native landscaping and play equipment. All in all, the development will cover an area equivalent to three football fields. But Green Square won't be a plain practical canvas of a space. For about 18 months now, the City of Sydney has been promising an epic public art program. Well, it wasn't a hollow proposal, with artworks planned for reveal by 2018. For a start, the precinct's futuristic, architect-designed library will be scoring two brand new works by Aussies, selected from 90+ submissions — Cloud Nation by Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro (a vintage Beechcraft Travel Air plane, suspended in mid-air and covered in a teeny-tiny miniature world) and Sydney's Michael Thomas Hill and Indigo Hanlee (Lightwell) will be installing their High Water, in the library's external public plaza (a mammoth-sized LED display of local weather patterns and tidal information, fed by live data). Green Square will be completed by 2030, with staggered reveals until then. DARLING SQUARE LIBRARY A spiralling, futuristic community library is in store for Darling Square. Across its two floors, you'll find not only tens of thousands of books, but also a bunch of extra facilities, including a 'makerspace' and an 'Innovation Exchange Program' for creative startups. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and proposed by Lendlease, the building will have six storeys altogether, with another two floors occupied by a commercially-run childcare centre — as long as all plans get the green light. The agreement means that the City of Sydney will lease the 2225 square metre space for 99 years. The rest of the terms are confidential at this stage, but we're expecting them to be ready to go by the end of 2016. And, if everything runs according to plan, the library will open in 2018. "The redevelopment at Darling Harbour includes a new residential and commercial area with 4200 new residents and 2500 new workers," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "High-density living is an important part of our city's future, but to be a success it must be supported by great community facilities, which is why we're so pleased to see a project like this that meets the city's standards of design excellence." Darling Square Library is planned to open in 2018. CENTRAL PARK AND THE ABERCROMBIE HOTEL The State Government has given the go-ahead to a controversial development project on the site of the heritage-listed Abercrombie Hotel, one that will see the shuttered corner pub dwarfed by a 16-storey apartment building and office complex. The imposing glass tower was designed by the award-winning London architecture outfit Foster and Partners alongside Sydney-based firm PTW, and is the latest step in Frasers Property Australia's $2 billion Central Park development. It will contain commercial offices along with a childcare centre and 48 apartments, while an adjoining 18-story tower will house 293 hotel rooms. As for the pub itself, Sydney mega-restaurateur and MasterChef hanger-on Matt Moran is taking over ownership of the Abercrombie Hotel. The iconic Chippendale venue, officially known as The Australian Hotel, was renowned for its sticky floors and raucous club nights, but ceased operation in 2014. A resurrection has been on the cards for a while now, with Moran's company Solotel Hospitality Group inking the deal this week. Just don't expect the return of S.A.S.H. or Purple Sneakers. "Our refurbishment of The Australian Hotel will see the pub restored to its original art-deco glory including its rear courtyard beer garden," said Solotel co-owner Bruce Solomon. "Solotel will deliver a contemporary expression within the original heritage character of the pub reminiscent of this bygone era whilst ensuring its seamless integration into the broader Central Park precinct." In addition to the main building, Moran and Solomon have acquired the three adjacent terrace houses facing Abercrombie Street, with an eye to opening a European-style wine bar. With work on final Central Park plans still ongoing, however, neither venue is expected to begin trading before 2018. The Abercrombie Hotel is expected to begin trading sometime in 2018. THE STREETS OF BARANGAROO With various elements already in full swing (and plenty to come) Barangaroo is one of Sydney's most visible new precincts — and one of the most controversial. Although the City of Sydney (for one) slammed certain elements of it, James Packer's $1.5 billion casino tower project has been approved, Barangaroo has successfully generated positive buzz by appealing to our stomachs — the food and drink aspects of what's known as The Streets of Barangaroo. We've brought you plenty of news of bars, restaurants and cafes opening already in this waterfront precinct, from Anason to Rabbit Hole, Belle's Hot Chicken to Noma. But one of the most exciting developments up ahead for the area is a giant, three-storey salad bowl. Just one of a host dining precinct plans for the billion-dollar waterfront, leading Australian chef Matt Moran has announced he will create a three-level dining experience with business partner Peter Sullivan, along with Bruce and Anna Solomon of Solotel. The formidable MorSul/Solotel foursome, who have previously teamed up to deliver ARIA Sydney, ARIA Brisbane, CHISWICK and North Bondi Fish, make up the dream team who revamped Opera Bar. Moran's three-level Barangaroo offering is set to open in 2016. Designed by Sydney architects Collins and Turner, the epic new establishment will resemble a series of stacked shallow bowls or varying sizes — glorifying your everyday kitchen essentials in a colossal waterfront palace. Moran's pet project will sit at Barangaroo's southern end, marking a grand entrance point for the waterfront dining precinct. "When we were first approached by Lend Lease about joining the precinct, it was the location of the site which was key in our decision making," says Moran. "We intend to deliver a truly Australian experience at this world-class waterfront venue. Whether you are looking for a casual bar and restaurant, a more premium restaurant or a rooftop garden bar, we will have it all with our offering at Barangaroo and use only the best locally sourced produce to create a showpiece of Sydney dining." Matt Moran's yet-to-be-named Barangaroo establishment will open in 2016. [caption id="attachment_573019" align="alignnone" width="1280"] NSW Department of Planning.[/caption] UTS STUDENT HUB Despite claims by the University of Technology Sydney that some people actually like the Brutalist-style UTS Tower, it's known to haters citywide as one of the least subtle buildings in Sydney. But UTS has new multi-million dollar plans for an attached 'student hub'. Building 2 of the tower will get a complete makeover and act as a shiny new distraction from the structure allegedly designed so students couldn't meet each other, form groups and protest (it's a myth but we love it). The 16-level, glass-sheathed student hub will replace Building 2 on the corner of Broadway and Jones Street. The project, titled UTS Central, is said to start this year and finish in 2019, costing a whopping $278 million. The new development does sound pretty swank, though — there are plans to include a library with a twisting tri-level reading room, research areas, teaching spaces, a student centre, the student union, and a dining hall. Top it all off with an outdoor terrace and rooftop garden and the futuristic glass structure will at least be keeping students happy. UTS Central is the next in the campus revamps, following the recent $180 million Frank Gehry-designed business school that has also received mixed reviews. UTS Central is set to open in 2019. [caption id="attachment_576936" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Century.[/caption] CAPSULE HOTEL Sydney's CBD is getting a major dose of the Tokyo-esque practical and compact, with plans to renovate Bar Century, rebrand it as The Century, and fit it out as a three-storey, luxury capsule hotel being announced last week. The George Street institution, which closed earlier this year, has been taken over by developer Walter Yao, who is investing a massive $5 million on a full interior refurb, which will be carried out by interior design consultants Giant Design. The heritage building will retain its vintage fit-out and have a "Soho House vibe", with the bar and hotel running as separate entities. The first two levels will act as The Century's cocktail bar and nightclub, while the top three floors of the building will be dedicated to the Century Capsules. These capsules are certainly more luxe than most you'll find in Asia. Each of the 72 capsules will contain a large LED screen and entertainment system, Wi-Fi, and even 'mood lighting' (whatever that means). Guests can choose from single or deluxe beds with entry from either the side or the end of the capsule. The communal facilities include a kitchen space, breakfast bar, lounge area, rooftop terrace and individual bathrooms. If you're worried about security, don't be — each capsule is fitted with a secure lock and the security desk runs 24-hours. But let's set the record straight — The Century is not going to be a hostel, and it's not aimed at overindulgent locals that can't seem to make it back home. And while the CBD haunt may have closed because of the lockout laws — and been a central part of a huge lockout protest as a result — these new digs are not meant as a lockout solution either. The Century is set to open in late November 2016. [caption id="attachment_510690" align="alignnone" width="983"] City of Sydney.[/caption] THOMAS STREET, HAYMARKET Come future Friday nights, you're soon going to have another excuse to grab Emperor's Puffs from the Chinatown markets. The streets of Haymarket will be transformed into a pedestrian friendly, tree-lined space in a move to refurbish the area announced by the City of Sydney. Now under construction, the proposed new plaza in the heart of Chinatown promises to put pedestrians at the top of the priority list. Thomas Street will become a pedestrian-friendly walkway and public space, with more lighting, seats, wider footpaths and a no-car policy during busy periods — so you can finally enjoy your street food goodies distraction free. Road closures are planned between Ultimo Road and Thomas Lane, while Thomas Street will become one-way only between Thomas Lane and Quay Street to make things safer for pedestrians. Visitors will also be able to enjoy public art from Australian contemporary artist Lindy Lee while walking through the streets of Chinatown. Lee's work is preoccupied with the idea of self in the world, as captured through her own negotiations with her divided Chinese-Australian heritage. Chinatown's revamp is currently under way, installation dates TBC. [caption id="attachment_513652" align="alignnone" width="1280"] City of Sydney.[/caption] CLOUD ARCH We're keeping everything crossed for this one, just to see if it actually works. Teetering over 50 metres above George Street beside Sydney Town Hall, a streamlined, cloud-shaped arch is one of three brand new public artworks coming to Sydney's CBD — to be installed as part of the City of Sydney's George Street-based revamp. Designed by Tokyo-based architect and artist Junya Ishigami — winner of the coveted Golden Lion for Best Project at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale and visiting professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design — Cloud Archwill act as a gateway to the soon-to-be pedestrian-friendly George Street, with the brand new light rail passing right underneath it — kind of like an elegant, minimalist Colossus of Rhodes for Sydney's CBD. "Green, global and connected are the characteristics of the new Sydney, and this new public space about to be created in George Street will be the exact manifestation of these qualities," says Ishigami. "Good public policy is not, in itself, enough — there is a need for a new symbol to embody and communicate these qualities to the world. The Cloud is that new symbol, comprehensible to all. The Cloud evokes comfort, openness and freedom." At 50 metres high and significantly ribbony, you might be wondering how Cloud Arch will stand up to those pesky CBD wind gusts or densely-populated flocks of art-hating birds. Using a single box beam as the central construction framework, Ishigami's tapered steel plates will apparently stand up to the elements without a hitch. Cloud Arch will also change shape from wherever you're getting a crick neck looking at it around the CBD, classic perspectival win (it should be visible from as far north as Wynyard station, the old site of the Coca Cola sign on Darlinghurst Road to the east and Liverpool Street to the south). Dates for Cloud Arch are yet to be announced.
Enjoy a breakfast of champions at whatever hour you please, courtesy of Australia's first ever cereal cafe. Opening its doors in Melbourne in just over a week, this pop-up snack hub will be serving all your childhood and/or late-night share house favourites, including Froot Loops, Coco Pops and Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut. Launching February 12, Cereal Anytime is the latest temporary tenant of Richmond’s year-long food and retail precinct, Swan Street Chamber of Commerce. Supposedly, the aim of the cafe is “educating people on foods in moderation”, which might get tricky given the sugar content of what they serve. Perhaps a limit of one bowl of Frosted Flakes per customer? The cafe will operate via a “pay-it-forward” payment system. Upon entry, diners simply peel a Post-it note off the wall, which they can then use to pay for their bowl of cereal. The Post-its can be replenished for $4 a pop, ensuring that those who are a little less fortunate don’t miss out. A recent cereal cafe that opened in London served over 120 different kinds of cereal, 13 milks and more than 20 additional toppings, so our iteration has something of a reputation to live up to. It sparked huge demand, followed by something of a culture war when some very practical types balked at paying £3.50 for flakes out of a box. Melbourne's version, with its element of feelgoodery, should sidestep that issue. Hungry members of the public can help decide the cafe’s final menu and gain entry on day one (February 12) via a ballot on their Cereal Anytime Facebook page.
A few months after Tropfest's near-death experience, founder John Polson has gone into greater detail on the alleged "financial mismanagement" that almost led to the festival's downfall. Appearing on triple j's Hack with Tom Tilley, Polson spoke about the moment when he first found out about the event's economic woes, and appeared to imply that blame lay at the feet of his business partner, Tropfest managing director Michael Laverty. "We raised well over a million dollars towards Tropfest last year and I got an email in early November saying we had not enough money to move forward with the event," Polson said on the Thursday, February 12 radio show. "It was obviously an incredible shock and a devastating blow." Polson claims to have documents proving the financial mismanagement, but declined to share them due to his impending court case against Laverty's company. "I don't believe Michael Laverty did the cliche thing of going off and spending it in the Bahamas but clearly something went wrong," he said. "There was massive, massive financial mismanagement that went down with this event and it's terrible and I'm trying to fix it." Tropfest was thrown a lifeline in December when CGU insurance stepped in to fund this year's festival, which will take place this Sunday in Sydney's centennial gardens. Polson is currently working on plans to secure the festival's long term future, and recently launched a crowdfunding campaign which has a week left to reach its $100,000 target. Polson also spoke about Hollywood star Mel Gibson, who was this week announced as a Tropfest judge alongside actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney, director Jocelyn Moorhouse and cinematographer Don McAlpine. The news raised some eyebrows, given Gibson's unfortunate habit of saying appalling things whenever he's near a microphone. Nevertheless, Polson defended the choice, calling Gibson "an Australian icon." "As a 15-year-old in 1980 I went to see Mad Max and watched it three or four times over," said Polson. "What's happened to him in the last few years you'd have to ask him about." Via Hack. Image: Tropfest.
How's this for a way to blow off steam at the end of a working week: Abbotsford is about to become Melbourne's official home of casual and competitive axe throwing, which is exactly what it sounds like. Maniax is the brainchild of Stephen Thomas, who first came across the sport while living in Canada. "My wife and I used to go every week to watch the league," he tells Concrete Playground. "Down this back alley in Toronto there's this small warehouse with a bunch of targets set up, and a fire burning out the front. Everyone was right into it, and it was a really cool atmosphere." Upon returning to Australia, Thomas opened Maniax Sydney, and it soon proved to be a bit of a hit. "Think of it as an alternative to bowling or lawn bowls," he says. "We get birthday parties, hens parties, bucks parties, even family groups. Then midweek, we do corporate team building sessions. Google, Spotify, Australian Navy, Commonwealth Bank, IKEA, Qantas, you name it, they've been in." For Maniax Melbourne, Thomas has secured a warehouse just east of Hoddle Street, around 100 metres from Collingwood Station. "We've got six dedicated throwing areas, so we can take six separate groups at a time," he says. "It's going to have a very rustic, very industrial feel with lots of iron and wood." Thomas also plans to partner up with local bars and restaurants. "In Sydney we've got a guy called the Pig Baron who comes and sets up a pig on a spit," he explains. "Then afterwards we send them round to the local craft brewery for a few refreshing ales after the axe throwing." When we remark that axes and alcohol should probably be kept separate, he laughs. "It's a good combination in the right order," he agrees. "Axe throwing first, then the beer afterwards. Always in that order." Admittedly, not everyone is as keen on the idea of axe throwing as Thomas is. Maniax has already been approved by the City of Yarra, but is facing a battle at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after a member of the public lodged an appeal. Still, Thomas is confident that the decision will go in their favour, and hopes to be open for business by late October. Once they are up and running, Thomas has big plans, including league nights like the ones they've set up in Sydney. "We hope to eventually have a Melbourne champ and a Sydney champ and be able to fly the Melbourne champ up to Sydney or vice versa and have an Australian champion," he says enthusiastically. "And because we're actually part of the National Axe Throwing Federation in Canada, our league members qualify for the National Championships in Canada. I'd love more than anything to see us find an Aussie champ and then fly them over to Canada to compete." To stay up to date on Maniax Melbourne's progress, visit www.maniax.com.au/melbourne.
Sick of the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. One of the big highlights on this year's program is the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. It's one of a number of critically-acclaimed titles in the program this year, alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine, which played in competition at the Sydney Film Festival earlier this year. Check out our list of the five must-see films at this year's Scandinavian Film Festival, below. https://vimeo.com/166024818 WELCOME TO NORWAY The opening night film at this year's festival is the fittingly titled Welcome to Norway, a jet black comedy about the current European migrant crisis and the attempts of one intrepid businessman to cash in. Anders Baasmo Christiansen plays a casually racist Norwegian hotel owner who, due to mounting debt, is forced to turn his establishment into refugee housing. With a supporting cast made up of actual Syrian refugees, director Rune Denstad Langlo has created a timely piece of social satire that promises to be both funny and outrageous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShMAkhyC6bY THE FENCER One of two post-war dramas to feature on this list, The Fencer first caught our attention at the Golden Globes earlier this year, when it competed as Finland's nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by Klaus Härö, the film tells the story of a world class swordsman turned reluctant German soldier, who in the years following WWII finds himself hiding from the Soviets in a small Estonian village, where he finds work as a school P.E. teacher and fencing instructor. Critically acclaimed in Finland, The Fencer was described by one media outlet as "the best Finnish film in a decade". Good luck finding a more glowing recommendation than that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CLtk5NewrM LAND OF MINE In the aftermath of WWII, German POWs under the command of Allied forces were put to work clearing Denmark's western coast of more than two million German landmines. This gripping Danish drama follows one such group of prisoners, with director Martin Zandvliet drawing on historical events to craft a film that combines the stomach-churning tension of The Hurt Locker with the anti-war sentiment of Joyeux Noel. With the lives and limbs of frightened young soldiers hanging in the balance for much of its running time, Land of Mine is certainly not for the faint of heart. For anyone who can handle the anxiety, however, the film is an absolute must-see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XKM2zqzoMw THE TOGETHER PROJECT In a desperate attempt to get closer to a beautiful swimming instructor (Florence Loiret-Caille), a lonely crane driver (Samir Guesmi) signs up for lessons with her at the local pool — despite the fact he already knows how to swim. A sure-fire charmer, The Together Project is the final film from French-Icelandic filmmaker Sólveig Anspach, who passed away last year after a battle with cancer. The breezy, off-beat rom-com premiered posthumously at Cannes, where it scored strong reviews from critics and won the Directors' Fortnight SACD Prize for Best Screenplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6m9B-xk3sk THE PUSHER TRILOGY Long before anyone in the English-speaking world had heard of him, director Nicolas Winding Refn broke onto the scene in Denmark with this violent, kinetic crime saga set on the mean streets of Copenhagen. Crisscrossing the lives of various unseemly characters, the Pusher films, with their stylish aesthetic and searing central performances, are unmistakably the work of the same auteur who would go on to direct Ryan Gosling in Drive and Only God Forgives. Each film in the trilogy will screen just once over the course of the festival, in late night time slots befitting their underground status. Special discounted ticket prices are available to patrons who decide to see all three. The Scandinavian Film Festival runs July 5-27 in Sydney, July 6-27 in Melbourne and July 13-27 in Brisbane. For the full program, visit scandinavianfilmfestival.com.
Northern Beaches residents rejoice. If you've already made your way through the area's selection of top-notch beachside breweries, there's another spot to add to your must-try list — Freshwater Brewing Company. It unveiled a 120-capacity taproom and restaurant in 2022, pouring its approachable craft beer creations. This fresh-fish face on the local brewing scene was established in 2020, releasing its first beer, the Freshie Pils. Since then, the Freshwater Brewing Company stocklist has expanded to include two more pilsners — the Pacific Pils and the Duke's Czech Pilsner — the Mexican-style Wedge Cerveza and the Secrets Hazy Pale. All five beers are available across the Freshwater Brewing Co's 14 taps, accompanied by a bright, welcoming space and a memorable food menu. Behind the bar sits a range of wines, curated alongside a bright summery spritz to accompany frothy beers on warm Sydney days. "Community is in the brand's DNA, and this gives us an opportunity to create a space for our friends, family and neighbours, and create a brewery for all that embodies the Australian surf lifestyle," Freshwater Brewing Company co-founder Jonny Bucknall said. The best part of all this? Freshwater Brewing Co is pooch-friendly, so you'll never have to leave your best four-legged mate behind again. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
There's no better way to discover Parramatta's hidden lanes than with Parramatta Lanes. For four nights only, street food, craft beer gardens and art installations will pop up where you'd least expect it. To give you an idea of what's on offer, Knafeh, Happy as Larry, Piccolo Me and Temasek will all be there. Grab a bite to eat white you peruse the Shoot the Chef exhibition, which will be on display. The event runs nightly from 5–10pm. This event is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month 2015. Check out the other nine. Image: Parramatta Lanes.
The City of Sydney's Art and About program is all about showcasing the very best that Sydney has to offer the art world, which usually means pushing the envelope. Highly Sprung, the latest effort from Legs On The Wall, perfectly embodies this spirit. The production tells the story of inner city residents getting through the day, but the narrative is told through the re-emerging media of trampolines, parkour, wall running, and a slew of other physical art forms. We caught up with Legs On The Wall's Senior Creative Producer, Cecily Hardy, to talk about the upcoming performances that transport the audience through their own space and time. THE ARTISTRY OF THE TRAMPOLINE While trampolining might conjure images of the old double bounce, or epic YouTube fails, there's a distinct artistry in the way bodies move in mid air. "There are challenges, but there are also great avenues and successes in terms of utilising what you can do with the body," Hardy says. The performers drop from walls, they're shot into the air from the ground, and they manipulate themselves with a sense of zero gravity. There's a certain "weightlessness, but also the weight of a falling body" that drives the performance, and it creates "a sense of… being caught in time, being caught in mid air, of time slowing down." Getting vertical adds new layers to the performance, and explores the space in new and profound ways. TELLING A STORY WITHOUT WORDS "We are storytellers," Hardy says, "but we're using — and in this show particularly — more than the spoken word or text to tell the story." Rather than relying on traditional scripts and dialogue, Highly Sprung instead uses the bodies of the performers and their interaction with the theatre space to explain the narrative of the performance. "I think it also depends on what the director is trying to well up in people," according the Hardy, "and how they want to carry them away." In a situation where simple exposition isn't in the director's arsenal, "you've got to use the strength of human interaction and physical shape." TRANSFORMING A SPACE Legs On The Wall is famous for "throwing people beautifully off the side of buildings". The building, or stage, on which the performers will ply their trade is a pretty closely guarded secret, but will pop up somewhere in Martin Place just before Highly Sprung opens. "It's a bit like a TARDIS that's going to suddenly appear," Hardy says, and will encourage the audience further to abandon preconceptions about spaces and time, and instead engage with the new environment. The transformation of the public space, a core concept of the Art and About ethos, helps to transport the audience in to the acrobatic realm of Highly Sprung, and demonstrates the "really amazingly sort of svelte and sophisticated and challenging" apparatus of the trampoline. GETTING INVOLVED Each performance of Highly Sprung will be entirely unique, although a consistent narrative will run throughout every iteration. At the end of the performance, however, the audience is invited to have a go on the trampolines themselves. As well as adding an element of interactive fun, the audience is also "invited and enticed further in, and get to explore themselves." Instead of simply being passive observers, the audience engages with their own body, and engages with the unique space of the performance they just watched. "It may not be your traditional narrative," Hardy says, "but people will go away with the juices flowing and thinking about what it all means." Highly Sprung takes place at various times from March 29 to April 1 in Martin Place, Sydney. Images: Katherine Griffiths.
