We don't know what you got out of your last road trip, but odds are it wasn't a 432-page cookbook profiling 100 food heroes and shot through with gush-worthy photography. Acclaimed food writers Helen Greenwood and Melissa Leong are different that way. After six months on the road with a production crew, they've emerged with The Great Australian Cookbook, a document that features recipes from leading chefs like Neil Perry, Dan Hong, Kylie Kwong and Anna Polyviou but also from farmers and producers such as Tathra Oysters, Bruny Island Food and the Pyengana Dairy Company — as well as Australia's original cookbook queen, Margaret Fulton. And how do you visually communicate this breadth of Australiana so the book might be judged by its cover? With a specially commissioned illustration from Mambo artist Reg Mombassa, of course. Topping off this love fest, royalties from the book will go to OzHarvest, the Australian charity distributing unwanted food to people in need. It's a pretty special project, one that meant figuring out what constituted Aussie cuisine in the first place — the modern version, not just sausage rolls and prawns on the barbie. For Greenwood and Leong, former collaborators on The Good Food Shopping Guide, it was a natural progression of their work in recent years. After the success of The Great New Zealand Cookbook, the pair were approached to do the same for Australia. They jumped at the chance. "We loved the idea of a cookbook that reaches into many regions of Australia, showcases many different kinds of cooks and presents a snapshot of how Australians eat today," says Helen. It was also an opportunity to present a contemporary and inclusive picture of Australian cuisine. "Australia has a great reputation overseas for its food," she says. "If we have any problem representing Australian cuisine, it’s that we struggle to define it." The pair set out to speak with foodies both familiar and lesser known. Considering the successes of Australia's produce and cooking on the international food scene, whittling down the 100 contributors to include was not easy. "We had to cover a lot of ground [in the road trip] ... and had to ask ourselves a lot of questions," says Helen. "Have we represented the regions and the cities? Have we covered the country and the coast? Do we have classic Aussie dishes? Do we have people who reflect our Indigenous and migrant heritage? Do we have the legends and emerging talents of food? When we’d answered these questions, we’d check and check again, and fine-tune it some more." The end result marries the recipes with personal reflections from each chef and photos taken in their private homes and gardens. While the co-editors are reluctant to name an all-out favourite recipe in the book, their personal highlights include superstar Aussie chefs like David Moyle (Tasmania's Franklin and Peppermint Bay), Nick Holloway (far north Queensland's Nu Nu Restaurant) and Scott Huggins and Emma McCaskill (South Australia's Magill Estate, the home of Penfolds). But Helen is quick to point out The Great Australian Cookbook is not just about chefs. "This book is about Australians who grow, harvest, cook and eat food for a living — chefs, cooks, bakers, fishers, farmers and more," she says. "It’s a snapshot of Australian food culture today." It's also a personal document in some ways, reflecting Helen and Melissa's years of gustatory discovery. "A lot of my first-time experiences as a food writer are in this book. The first time I tasted Jim Mendolia’s sardines and was transported back to a glorious holiday on a beach in Portugal," evokes Helen. "My first visit to Darwin when I ate at Jimmy Shu’s Hanuman restaurant and experienced his fusion Asian cooking ... My experience of being on the receiving end of a fork loaded with great food, and meeting the people who’ve grown or cooked or sold that great food, has shaped The Great Australian Cookbook." The Great Australian Cookbook is published by PQ Blackwell and distributed by The Five Mile Press. It's in bookstores now for RRP$49.95. Get a taste of what's inside by trying out this spring roll recipe from Angie and Dan Hong. ANGIE AND DAN HONG'S VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS Makes: 60 | Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 20–30 mins | Skill Level: 2 (Moderate) FILLING INGREDIENTS 500g minced pork neck 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup of each of the following, all shredded: -wood ear mushrooms -shiitake mushrooms -carrot? -onion -mung bean thread ?(1cm lengths, softened in cold water) METHOD In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients with the seasonings and mix thoroughly. Carefully pour hot water into a shallow, wide dish along with the soy sauce. Stir to combine. Take a rice paper wrapper and quickly immerse it in the hot water, then place on a clean, dry plate. Spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into the centre of the rice paper in a sausage shape. Fold the top and bottom ends in, then roll the rice paper up like a cigar. Set aside and repeat until all of the mixture has been used up. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot until it reaches 180°C. In small batches, fry the spring rolls for 7–10 minutes or until the outside is crisp and golden. Drain onto paper towel and serve hot with your favourite dipping sauce. Images by Lottie Hedley Photography.
Somewhere in Los Angeles right now, there’s a pretty good chance that Johnny Depp is getting fitted for an elephant costume. Proving once again that nothing in Hollywood is sacred, Walt Disney Pictures has recently revealed that they’re working on a live action Dumbo remake, with director Tim Burton at the helm. For those of you who didn’t have a childhood, the original Dumbo tells the story of a young circus elephant whose oversized ears made him the subject of ridicule, until it was revealed that they allowed him to fly. Released in 1941 (really), the film was a major hit for the then-fledgling animation studio, and is regularly listed amongst the greatest animated movies of all time. The Burton version will be the latest in a string of Disney reboots, a trend that, fittingly enough, began when Burton’s own Alice in Wonderland grossed more than US$1 billion at the worldwide box office. Since then, the House of the Mouse has scoured its own back catalogue for properties to exploit, with recent releases like Maleficent and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice paving the way for further films including upcoming remakes of Cinderella, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. While we’re pretty sceptical about the idea of a new Dumbo film, we have to admit that if the movie has to happen, the man who made Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice isn’t necessarily the worst choice. Although his recent track record has been somewhat hit-and-miss, Burton certainly knows how to put an interesting spin on otherwise child-friendly material. And let’s not forget that the original cartoon contains some pretty out there stuff, including this amazing scene when Dumbo gets hammered and hallucinates dancing pink elephants. We're also interested to see what Elfman does with Dumbo's long-recognised and controversial racial stereotyping. No news yet on a release date or casting, although we’re willing to bet money that Danny Elfman will work on the score. Burton's most recent film, Big Eyes, hits theatres on March 19. Via WSJ.
Sydney will become another star in British chef Jason Atherton's culinary constellation; Kensington Street Social opens today in The Old Clare Hotel. Yep, just when you thought Chippendale's snazziest destination couldn't fit in another eatery, the hotel has managed to loosen its belt for one, final mouthful. The Social is the third venue to open at The Old Clare, and keeps the esteemed company of degustation extraordinaire Automata and Silvereye's deluxe open-plan kitchen. Of the three, it's the biggest (with 120 seats) and the most casual. An all-day menu invites diners to eat any way they like, whether they're after a snack and a matching cocktail or a mega, multi-course feast with premium wines. Atherton, who has a Michelin star to his name, is acting as culinary director, with Rob Daniels (ex-Maze London) taking on the role of executive chef. Between them, they've come up with an ever-changing array of share plates, influenced by British and Mediterranean flavours and to the availability of quality produce. Samples on the opening menu include 'English breakfast tea and toast' (read: wild mushroom tea served in a teapot with relish and bone marrow toast), sea urchin risotto with Moreton Bay bug tail, and Zokoko alto beni chocolate soufflé with macadamia ice cream. Meanwhile turophiles (aka cheese piggies) will be over the moon. Atherton is promising a stack of tasty, cheese-focused morsels, such as Holy Goat La Luna goats' cheese, served with pickled fennel, bitter orange jam and cress. And breakfast will keep health-nuts happy, with dishes like organic seed and grain oatmeal porridge with pineapple, chilli and mint, and a lightly smoked flathead baked omelette with bacon and spring onion. Drinks have been planned by the man taking care of them everywhere else in The Old Clare, Matt Fairhurst, who’s been working with Atherton for years at City Social, London. He's been busying imagining, mixing and testing signature cocktails for every venue in the hotel. Kensington Street Social-ers can prepare themselves for the Fruit Looped Cereal Killer (vodka, Fruit Loop milk, apricot and Aperol served in a milk carton) and the Kahuna Colada (pineapple rum and Batch Brewing's coconut brown ale), which is already served in The Clare Bar. "I'm so excited to be opening my first restaurant in Sydney," says Atherton. "I'm all about sourcing the best produce, and here the ingredients are just incredible – Australian black truffles, the seafood – so I'm looking forward to using them to reinterpret a few of the signature dishes from my London restaurants." "I’ve had many Australian chefs in my brigade over the years, including my executive chef Rob and pastry chef Adrian Crabb, so it seemed like a natural step to come to Sydney and get the team back together." Shanghai's Neri & Hu came up with restaurant's design and Matt Darwon made it happen. It's a split-level affair with a feel that's contemporary, while still acknowledging the building's history as the long-time home of Carlton United Brewery. Kensington Street Social is open The Old Clare Hotel from Wednesday, January 13. For more information, head to their website. Image: KSC.
Things got feisty and fearless at the Opera House when the fourth All About Women Festival took over on Sunday, March 6. Leading the prodigious, 30-speaker-strong program? None other than the inimitable Miranda July, Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, and Orange Is the New Black memoir author Piper Kerman — not to mention one of the best Women of Letters events we've ever been to. Sleater Kinney and Portlandia's legendary Brownstein talked about her October-released book Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl — before Sleater Kinney melted faces the same night at the Opera House. And Anne-Marie Slaughter, who worked as the director of policy planning at the US State Department when Hillary Clinton was running the show, argued that we can't have it all — well, at least not all at once, anyway. Emma Jane, Ruby Hamad, Michelle Arrow and Charlotte Wood unpacked 'The Women We Love to Hate', while Masha Gessen, Crystal Lameman, Mallory Ortberg, Ann Sherry, Anne- Marie Slaughter and Jenny Brockie attempted to change the world overnight. Didn't get a chance to head along to All About Women? You're in luck. Sydney Opera House's Ideas at the House team just released a whole bunch of free podcasts from the day via iTunes. We reckon you should start with 'The Boys Club' if you want to hear total boss Van Badham slam the gender dynamic in the Australian theatre industry and contemporary culture. Phwoar. Download Sydney Opera House's All About Women 2016 podcasts on iTunes for free here. Images: Yaya Stempler and Prudence Upton. By Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
You're at a dinner party. Chats are going strong, your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving has been deconstructed, Australia's latest novelty dessert trend raved about. Then someone brings out a new bottle of red. "Pinot noir?" your host casually offers. Sweat beads form, hearts race, eyes shift. Without warning, the pop culture fiends in the room explode. "CAVIAR." "MID-SIZED CAR." "SMOKE A CIGAR." "MYANMAR." The Kimmy Schmidt fans in the house have been unveiled — and if you're one of those, we've got some solid news for you. Ready? Tituss Burgess, well known as Kimmy's roommate Titus Andromedon in the highly popular series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, stole hearts worldwide with his unforgettable masterpiece of an "ode to black penis", 'Peeno Noir'. Now, Burgess is releasing his own pinot noir, an actual wine called Pinot by Tituss. Announced on Instagram this week, Pinot by Tituss will sell for US$24.99 a bottle online. Unfortunately they're only shipping to the US so far, but if you have American mates who could send it over, you can preorder the pinot noir and smoke a cigar right now. The bottles will be shipped after March 14. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt returns on April 15, and if you're drinking anything else, au revoir. Via Refinery29.
Bondi's beachfront is about to get a whole lot busier — and it's not because of that postcard-perfect beach. Taking over the old Swiss Grand Hotel site, there's a huge new development erupting on the beachfront, dubbed Pacific Bondi Beach. We've been peering through the dusty construction and newly-installed windows to have a sticky beak into what's happening with the space, and now we've got a little bit more of a clue as to what's actually going into that prime piece of real estate. Sporting a Bondi-meets-Miami art deco style, the complex will combine one of Australia's most expensive apartments and residential lofts with a high-end boutique hotel, food outlets and retail stores. Already announced features of the complex include the QT Bondi, a highly anticipated new venture for the hotel group set to open in November 2015. Featuring lobby artworks by celebrated Australian artist Shaun Gladwell, QT Bondi will see 69 individually-styled luxury guest suites designed in collaboration with renowned hotel designer Nic Graham. It'll be the only the only boutique, high-end hotel on Bondi Beach, and guests will have access to Pacific Bondi’s services and amenities. But you won't have to stay at the QT or live in a crazy expensive 'Lighthouse Loft' apartment to check out the Pacific Bondi Beach, with a dining and retail precinct planned for the openair atrium. Good Food is reporting new foodie tenants confirmed for the space: the north shore's Scoop Wholefoods and Central Park Sydney's Anita Gelato. There's apparently a small bar operator set to join the party, with details yet to be revealed, and there'll be restaurants and an espresso bar of some capacity. And a grab-and-go, deli-focused Woolworths has already been announced for the space (quite the coup), so this space looks set to cater for locals and hotel guests alike. Retailers must be fighting tooth and nail to get a spot in the new complex, but Pacific Bondi Beach has only revealed one tenant so far. Back in September, we told you about Saturdays NYC opening their first Australian store in Bondi, and this will indeed be opened within the PBB space. Nice pull. Pacific Bondi is due to be completed by 2015, with concrete opening dates TBC. Saturdays NYC will open in Bondi this October, while QT Bondi will open in November 2015. Via Good Food.
How good at Pictionary would Grimes be? Would Mac Demarco's sketches found in an art gallery? How would Future Islands go in a life drawing class? Sydney's FBi Radio intended to find out, by inviting a list of over 30 musicians to try their hand at a handdrawn masterpiece. Bringing back their wildly successful 'Brush With Fame' art auction, FBi asked a serious banquet of bands, rappers, ARIA-nominees, folksters, singers and beatmakers to create drawings on canvas especially for the station, ready for auction from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). All proceeds raise funds for the independent, not-for-profit, top notch station. Kudos to FBi for one of the best group show lineups around, y'ready? You (YOU) can own a handdrawn work by these guys. FULL ARTIST LIST: Alabama Shakes Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes) Alison Wonderland Benjamin Booker Best Coast Cosmo’s Midnight Courtney Barnett DIIV Django Django Dune Rats Elliphant & MØ Future Islands Grimes Hot Chip The Internet Little Simz Mac Demarco Matt Huynh Metz Neneh Cherry Parquet Courts Perfect Pussy Perfume Genius Peter Bibby Purity Ring The Rubens Run The Jewels* Rustie Thundercat Total Giovanni TV On The Radio Tycho Vic Mensa * Two individual canvases by Killer Mike and El-P respectively, sold together All works are on display over here. The auction will run on eBay from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). Each piece comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity from FBi. Here's a couple of our favourites in the bunch, that you'll have to furiously outbid us on.
If anyone knows the recipe for an highly talked-about hospitality venue, it's the Merivale crew. As always with the Hemmes empire's new openings, there's been a whole lot of buzz surrounding the launch of the group's two latest ventures — and now they're set to open tomorrow on Oxford Street. Seasonally-focused restaurant Fred's and intimate basement bar Charlie Parker's are as ambitious as you'd expect, with some big guns at the helm and an exciting, produce-driven food philosophy at their core. Both venues have been designed by Justin and Bettina Hemmes, Vince Alafaci and Caroline Chocker of ACME & Co., and styled by Amanda Talbot. Inspired by provincial French manors, Fred's sees a light-filled, pared back interior detailed with old French oak timbers. Downstairs, Charlie Parker's cocktail bar is more of a cosy den of exposed sandstone. Steering the ship at Fred's, head chef Danielle Alvarez comes by way of the USA's acclaimed Chez Panisse and French Laundry, bringing a passion for sustainability and some serious farm-to-table flair to her new kitchen. She's spent the past year been scouting out the very best local producers (as well as likeminded chefs), and will be using a combination of old-world and innovative techniques to make those ingredients sing. Cooked on free-standing Tuscan grills and a large hearth, the menu's set to change regularly, based around whatever seasonal goodies Alvarez can get her hot little hands on. First up, leg of lamb a la ficelle with laver bread, broad beans and mint, or handmade cavatelli with rabbit and peas, or rhubarb and beaumes de venise mille feuille. Fred's also boasts handmade crockery, carefully handpicked artwork, and a carefully curated, 120-strong wine list from head sommelier Caitlyn Rees, boasting small-batch labels aplenty and a hefty lineup of pouring wines — the 'wine by the glass' list will change daily according to Alvarez's menu. Downstairs, the Charlie Parker's offering is similarly thoughtful. Duo Sam Egerton and Toby Marshall are throwing down an innovative, produce-driven cocktail list, backed by an Alvarez-designed menu of clever bar snacks — think Willowbrae feta with grapes and pickled chilies baked on lemon leaves. Find Fred's and Charlie Parker's at 380 Oxford Street, Paddington. Fred's is open for lunch Friday to Sunday 12pm-3pm and dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5.30pm-12am and Sunday: 5.30pm-10pm. Charlie Parker's is open Tuesday to Thursday 5pm-12am, Friday 3pm -12am, Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday: 12pm-10pm.
Give every one of your senses a break when you step into the Pleasure Garden. Making its world premiere at Vaucluse House, this enchanting project infuses the surrounding gardens with music and sounds. Everywhere you wander, you'll hear a new melody or discover a chance to 'play' nature, inviting you take a rest from your daily scurrying and listen as well as look. You're welcome to take on the experience as you see fit — be that walking, sitting, dozing or picnicking. Pleasure Garden is inspired by Jacob van Eyck, a 17th century musician, composer, improviser and nobleman. The music includes excerpts from his repertoire, alongside new compositions from Genevieve Lacey and Jan Bang, in collaboration with Jim Atkins, Robin Fox, Pete Brundle and Sera Davies.
Heads up, Sydney — it's almost that glorious time of the year when all your favourite burger shops join forces. Yep, the beloved Burgapalooza is back for 2019, taking over Parramatta's Prince Alfred Square Park for both lunch and dinner sessions on September 21 and 22. This year's lineup sees local legends like Mister Gee, Down N' Out, BL Burgers and Black Bear BBQ dishing up one-off creations to tempt the masses, with plenty of meat-free options to boot. There'll be joined by some star talent from further afield, too, including Brisbane's Fat Belly Jacks (and its Nashville hot chicken burger), Newcastle's Newy Burger Co and Burger Hounds from Wahroonga. You can make your burger even cheesier, by loading it up with cheese sauce from a free — yes, free — cheese fountain. Spice fans, on the other hand, can test their tastebuds over at a chilli eating competition. A selection of Coopers brews and Fireball whisky cocktails will be on offer, too, while a lineup of DJs play hip hop, funk and soul throughout the day. In between burgers, the fun continues with a Wipeout-style blow-up obstacle course, with winners scoring free burgers and Menulog vouchers. Burgapalooza will run from midday–4pm and 5–9pm on Saturday, September 22, and Sunday, September 23.
Camperdown locals have a new old local to revisit. Parramatta Road mainstay Deus Bar and Kitchen has opened its doors after a massive refurbishment. After ten years in the same spot, this epic revamp has been a long time coming. The once Deus Cafe has been completely re-imagined by Andy Ruwald (founder of Bucket List) and James Prier, who were brought on board by Deus Ex Machina founder Dare Jennings. Deus's new digs embrace their corner location on Parramatta Road, with big airy, bright, road-facing windows unveiled this week. Don't worry, you won't have to stare at traffic during your brekkie, the leafy shrubs placed at each window make for a hidden oasis. The biggest change at Deus, of course, is the dinner and bar service, which is a hard find in Camperdown. The concrete bar and open kitchen both have seating for casual patrons. The custom-made, comfy bar stools are designed to withstand long conversations over a few drinks and bar snacks — think eggplant fritters ($12), chicken crackling served with raw kingfish ($14) and mini braised lamb pita ($14). On the restaurant side of things, table service is available from morning until night, with a distinct emphasis on hospitality. "Our customers should have a great, friendly interaction with our servers and bar staff, while also receiving really professional and knowledgeable service," says Prier. The day is run as three extremely distinct services. While breakfast and lunch are kept simple to cater to the busy work crowd, the dinner menu is where head chef Tom Walton (ex-Bistro Moncur) really flexes his culinary muscles. The dishes stem from Walton's high-end training, along with the Middle Eastern flavours that seasoned his upbringing. As the menu currently stands, Walton recommends starting with the pickled cucumber with black olive labna ($7) and roasted tiger prawns in shellfish butter ($24). For mains, go for the whole roast chook ($39), which is perfect for sharing over a bottle of wine. "It's just good, honest food," says Ruwald. "We're trying to create a really nice neighbourhood vibe," adds Walton. On the drinks side, Prier curated the menu to feature classic cocktails done well. The Scorpio VI looks the best to us ($18) – it's a cold-weather spin on a jalapeno margarita using homemade 'winter syrup' of spiced rhubarb stalks from the kitchen. Taps (of course) include local legend Young Henrys and the wine list will soon include a Deus house label. Find Deus at 98 Parramatta Road,Camperdown.
In the lead-up to the festive season, Sydney's weekend nights are set to become that little bit safer with the introduction of a volunteer-run 'Safe Space'. Between 10pm and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, the World Square-based area will be staffed with Salvation Army volunteers, who'll provide help to anyone who needs support — be it in the form of water, first aid, telephone calls or advice on how to get home. At the same time, the volunteers — who’ve been dubbed Take Kare Ambassadors — will be patrolling CBD entertainment precincts. They’ll keep an eye out for vulnerable individuals, offering assistance on the spot and, if need be, directing them towards the Safe Space. The initiative is a collaboration between the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, the City of Sydney and the New South Wales Police. It will be piloted for three months, before its permanency is determined. "There are currently no prevention services in place to assist young people who are ejected from venues due to being too intoxicated, and they can end up on the street in a vulnerable state with the potential of becoming either a victim or an offender," Mr. Kelly said in a media statement. "Tonight all that changes. Many parents will owe so much to the Take Kare Ambassadors, but few will ever know that their son or daughter got home safely because a team of people volunteered their time to come to their children’s side when they needed it the most." "It’s vital that we do everything we can to calm Sydney’s streets and curb alcohol-related violence," added the Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "The City will continue to work with NSW Police and the NSW Government to create the safest possible environment we can for young people out at night. This program will play a pivotal role in helping intoxicated young people in the city sober up, seek assistance from a responsible adult and get home safely late at night." The Safe Space trial is one of several moves by the City of Sydney to boost safety. Others include temporary toilets at Town Hall, Whitlam Square, Taylor Square and Springfield Mall, which will be open between 10pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights until next March; extended opening hours for the City’s info kiosks (until 9pm); the addition of crowd control barriers to the Bayswater Road taxi rank between 9pm and 6am on Saturday nights; and the installation of variable message signs in the CBD and Kings Cross, conveying safety and transport information. Image: Luke Reynolds.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being added to the lineup this morning: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. This big ol' announcement comes just a week after Bluesfest added superstar Mary J. Blige to already heaving lineup. THE THIRD 2017 BLUESFEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT: Santana The Doobie Brothers 2017 ARTISTS ALREADY ANNOUNCED: Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Bluesfest returns to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay over the Easter long weekend (April 13-17, 2017). More info on the Bluesfest website. Image: Andy Fraser.
Just when you thought ordering pizza couldn’t possibly require any less effort, the brilliant bastards at Domino's Pizza have gone and changed the game. Starting May 20, the US pizza chain will roll out a tweet-to-order system, removing the hassle of having to dial a phone or download a mobile app once and for all. No, this isn't a joke. Under the new system, regular customers will be able to tweet Pizza emojis at the @Dominos account, after which they can just sit back, relax and wait for their family-size BBQ meat lovers with extra cheese and hot dog-stuffed crusts to arrive. No word on whether they’ve yet developed a system that prevents you from having to get off the couch to answer the door, but surely that can’t be far away. We’re still waiting on exact details of how this emoji-based ordering system will work, or how Domino’s knows where to actually send it once it’s been made. Giving out your address via Twitter doesn’t seem like the greatest idea; although maybe that’s just the price you pay for not wanting to talk to a fellow human being. Not to mention, y'know, ordering pizza from Domino's in the first place. Domino's haven't announced plans to expand the system beyond the United States, which means for the time being we're stuck using the call function on our telephones like a bunch of neanderthals. Via Gizmodo.
Break out the light woollens, it's crisping up in Sydney. Autumn has well and truly dived into the icier end, but Sydneysiders aren't ones to restrict themselves entirely to Daredevil and Kimmy Schmidt binge-watching on Netflix (though there's always time for that, let's be honest). With festival-level exhibitions like Vivid, Semi-Permanent and Head On opening this month alongside new club kebab joints, kitten pop-ups and craft beer 'spectapulars', you'll be building up sweet, sweet body heat from all that running around town. We've pulled together Sydney's best happenings worth bundling up and snuggling up to; from citywide light festivals to Hollywood wax museum parties and all the food scrap pop-ups in between. Image: Lovebombs and Cake Wines (who are having a secret party this month. Read on.)
Heads up, Mother's Day is just around the corner. You can frantically message your siblings later, there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' Mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale gelato, Messina have been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired chocolate box of gelato-filled nibbles. These brownie point-winners launched in 2015 and revamped in 2016, and are sure to bring it home again this year. Each box comes with eight handmade, handpainted chocolate and gelato bon bons — best enjoyed with opera blaring in the background, with a strong, black cup of coffee and a shoulder massage. Go on, your mum put up with you through puberty, you owe her one massage. So which crazy tell-your-friends flavours have Messina come up with for their bitty bon bons? There's four in total, each more decadent than the last. Ready? There's fraise des bois sorbet, champagne gel, champagne soaked sponge in a white chocolate shell. Shut up. There's Messina's famous salted caramel gelato, caramel ganache and caramel crunch in a caramel chocolate shell. Yep. There's milk chocolate gelato, passionfruit puree and chocolate sponge all wedged into a tiny milk chocolate shell. Huh? How about pistachio gelato, rose jelly and vanilla sponge encased in a white chocolate shell? NUP. If you can find us something that says 'perfect Mother's Day gift' better than fragrant bloody rose jelly and vanilla sponge cake crammed into a fragile little choc-house, we'll eat this empty bon bon box. The Messina gelato bon bon boxes are going for $45 a box, available to order from May 3. They're available for collection from Tramsheds, Darlinghurst, Rosebery, Miranda and Parramatta in Sydney, Fitzroy and Windsor in Melbourne, and South Brisbane's new store.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and its Parade are synonymous: it's impossible to imagine one without the other. The historic centrepiece, the jewel in the sparkly tiara, the very raison d'être of the festival, is an important, entertaining, and uplifting celebration of all things LGBTIQA+. Hundreds of beautiful floats, themselves testaments to the immense creative talents of the queer community and drawn from all walks of life, glide down Oxford Street to the thunderous adulation of tens of thousands of revellers. The theme guiding the parade's 48th edition is ECSTATICA, which celebrates joy as power, protest and connection. Unfortunately, entries for this cavalcade of queerness have now closed, however you can still get down and share in the love. A word to the wise, though — unless you've bought tickets to one of the many Parade events held by pubs and clubs with a view of the route (or you have a friend with a balcony overlooking Oxford Street), get there early as spots will go fast. There'll be accessible viewing areas on Flinders Street, while Glitter Club at Taylor Square will put you as close to the action as possible without stepping onto the route itself — unfiltered, unforgettable and right in the heart of the Parade. Image: Ash Penin.
Take a trip back to '80s punk-rock heaven with this mega triple bill starring Models, Machinations and Dave Mason (of The Reels). These three acts were at the forefront of an Aussie music revolution, when they charged onto stages, armed with synths and fearless, original sounds, bringing a whole new edge to old-school rock. In 1985, Melbourne's Models' single 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight' reached #1, while Machinations' album Big Music made the Kent Music Report chart's Top 20. Meanwhile, Dubbo's The Reels, fronted by Dave Mason, smashed out a succession of hits through the late '70s and early '80s, including 'Love Will Find a Way', 'Prefab Heart', 'After The News' and 'Shout and Deliver'. Wear your dancing/jumping around shoes. Image: Models.
In just six years, Head On Photo Festival has more than doubled in size — from 70 events in 2010 to 150 in 2016. So, throughout the festival's duration (29 April to 22 May) you could pretty much go to three shows a day without seeing the same photo twice. This year's theme is the infinitely multifaceted 'self'. Who are you, in the eyes of both yourself and those around you? How do various spaces and societies influence your identity? Unable to make it to all 150 happenings? Make sure you at least get along to the highlights. Toby Burrows's spectacular Nothing To Lose captures plus-size dancers in motion (from the show we couldn't stop talking about last year), while Anna Fawcus's introspective MIXED EMOTION(M.E.). explores the complex nuances of the inner self. Meanwhile, several photographers journey through the relationship between self and place, with Amy Crawley taking you on a trip deep into rural Victoria in Suburban Endurance, Claire Reynolds reflecting on moving from the country to the city in The Lonesome Cowboy and Hiro Tanaka transporting you to New York City in Around 42nd and 7th, a series capturing Time Square's many rich layers.
Sleepovers at IKEA are one thing, this is a little more intense. Inspired by similar epic events held in Europe stores, there's a giant game of hide and seek planned for the IKEA store in Tempe; with this Facebook event generating huge interest over the last few days and Sydneysiders upping their yoga quota to more effectively fit into tiny storage bins and blue bags. And with over 34,000 attending on Facebook, this was going to be one seriously huge game, locked in for May 23 at 1pm. But after days of waiting with baited breath for an IKEA response, we've finally got one — and it's predictably naysaying. In a statement on Facebook yesterday, IKEA has warned against playing hide and seek in store as it apparently raises security issues for both customers and co-workers. "As many of you may have heard, there are a couple of large hide-and-seek games being planned for IKEA stores in Australia. While the prospect of seeing many of you trying to camouflage yourselves among the meatballs has its appeal, we are unfortunately unable to host or support these games. Due to the level of interest these games attract we would not be able to guarantee everyone’s safety and the threat this poses to our co-workers, customers and game participants is just too great. We would still love to have you visit — no need to hide!" The Swedish furniture giant hasn't yet declared whether they'll be kicking people out for smooshing themselves into the store's display kitchens (would definitely aim for a cushy bedding spot). IKEA have held officially approved games in the past. Last year, about 500 people participated in a storewide hide and seek in Wilrijk, Belgium. But IKEA have also banned games in Holland after tens of thousands of people geared up to attend in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Utrecht in April and May — IKEA found out about it on Facebook and shut it down. Hopefully this doesn't happen to the Sydney edition. Apparently IKEA called the police on a Melbourne game in 2010, according to Huffington Post. We're hoping the Man looks the other way this time around. According to the Facebook event, meet-up is at the food court. Every player will receive a paper collar connected to their yellow fluro hat, and you'd better look out for the five people in orange — they're in. The game will commence at 1pm, within ten minutes of starting time you will be allowed to hide. It's a dollar coin entry fee, and goes to the last one found. If, by the end time, there's still more than one person left unfound, the prize pool money will be divided respectively to the number of players left — or donated to a charitable cause if everyone's unearthed. Rules? Don't create a public nuisance, run, be loud, break anything or steal. No hiding in fire escapes or toilets. Fingers crossed guys.
Good news for those who hate regular gyms — there are places you can go and actually have fun while you get fit. Beyoncé dance classes and fitness parties like No Lights No Lycra are all the rage, and gyms have started to follow suit by injecting a little fun into their regular proceedings. Fitness Playground, a colourful gym with locations in Surry Hills, Marrickville and Newtown, are leading the charge on having fun and getting fit, mainly by offering classes like aerial yoga, barre and our personal favourite, Circus Fit. In partnership with Fitness Playground, we're hosting four back-to-back Circus Fit classes on Saturday February 25 at the Surry Hills gym. There can only be 12 people in each class, so register your interest quickly and avoid missing out. If you like exercising with friends and want to bring a plus one along that's more than okay, just let us know in the form below. Classes are free to attend and exclusive to Concrete Playground readers. After the class you can roam the gym and check out the colourful space for yourself. Or, you could head to one of the many cafes in Surry Hills and grab a healthy brunch to complement your workout. Nothing like getting up early on a Saturday morning and starting off your day with a spot of acrobatics. If you want to know a little more about what Circus Fit actually involves, find out exactly what you're in for and read what happened when we did the class ourselves. [competition]608007[/competition] Learn more about the story behind Fitness Playground, attend the Concrete Playground exclusive open week, or find out what happens at a 'Circus Fit' class. Image: Steven Woodburn.
Grief can take any number of forms. Yet the same isn't necessarily true of funerals. While coming together with friends and family is a vital part of celebrating a lost loved one, the trappings that surround this process – the hearse, the funeral home, the traditional overpriced coffin – can often seem a little impersonal. It's for this reason that The House has us so intrigued. Co-founded by Kylee Stevens, Morna Seres and Christian Wills, all of whom share a background in design and the arts, this new Sydney-based funeral service is offering an alternative to the industry standard, allowing for a truly personal celebration of a person's life. "We service memory artistically through curated reflection, music, light, sound, performance, food and ritual held within our exclusive venues," reads a mission statement on the company website. "Whether it is a large affair, or a simple gathering of friends and family, The House provides the opportunity to say goodbye in a compelling, cultural and modern manner." "Our way of working with clients doesn't really exist in the industry," Stevens told Concrete Playground. "I believe there's space for tradition, particularly in a moment of grief...but if someone doesn't want something traditional, what are their options?" While The House has only been operating since the tail end of March, Stevens sees a world of "infinite possibilities." Their first service, for example, was held in a gallery, and featured a room full of suspended images and incorporated poetry written by the deceased. Friends and family were also invited to be involved in the planning and installation stages, which in turn became another way for them to process their grief. "I think each family will be quite different, said Stevens. "Some will want to come forward and work [with us], and some won't. It's our role to navigate that." Despite their ambitious and personalised approach, the cost of a funeral at The House is in line with industry standards. "We talk about substituting costs within the traditional framework," explains Stevens. "You can spend $3500 to $6500 on a coffin. Making a more ecologically friendly, better designed choice, you can go as low as $550. So you can substitute out existing cost structures that a traditional model offers, and replace them with things that are more memorable." For more information about The House, visit their website at www.thehouse.global.
Sydney's love affair with burgers is in no danger of slowing down. Yet another American-style burger joint is set to open, this time in Balmain on November 25. Meet Burgerhood — the new venture from the team behind popular Sydney haunts Grandma's Bar, The Wild Rover and Wilhelmina's, and their first step into the burger business. Located on a familiar Darling Street spot, they've split the space that Wilhelmina's wine bar currently occupies in half. On one side, Wilhelmina's will continue to serve the seasonal share plates and boutique wines that it's known for. On the other, Burgerhood will focus on the ever-popular American fare, complete with potato buns. The menu features a flagship American-style 'Hood Burger', as well as an intriguing Bloody Mary burger, fries, shakes and two salads. That all sounds fairly standard, but the team are confident they can deliver what they're dubbing "the best burger in Sydney, let alone Balmain". Big call, but they've done their research, feasting for months on burgers from here to Chicago (lucky them). There's also vegan, fish and gluten-free options, plus soda, beer and wine. To hit the post-burger sweet spot, Pats and Sticks Ice Cream will be on offer, but there's also an enticing alternative. Harping back to those golden Happy Meal days, every dine-in customer will also receive a free soft serve cone that you pour yourself on your way out. For a gold coin donation, you can double it, with the proceeds donated to nearby primary school Nicholson Street Public. Well, if it's for the kids… Plus, to celebrate the store's opening, Burgerhood will be giving out 700 free burgers across its opening weekend. We suggest getting in bang-on midday. Find Burgerhood at Shop 1/332, Darling Street, Balmain from Saturday, November 25. It will give out 700 free burgers on November 25 and 26. For further information, visit burgerhood.com.au. Images: Letícia Almeida.
Step into one of Australia's most iconic modern horror stories. To mark the launch of their new six-part Wolf Creek miniseries, streaming service Stan is opening a pair of roadhouse pop-up bars in Sydney and Melbourne. Sounds... fun? Maybe our April Fools' joke about that Making a Murderer bar wasn't as ridiculous as it seemed at the time. Opening in Federation Square from May 5-8 and Martin Place from May 11-14, the pop-ups were designed with the aid of the show's set designers, and promise to deliver a "fully immersive" experience. That last part may read as a little unsettling to anyone who has seen the original movie — or, y'know, knows anything about the actual murders that inspired it. But we guess you have to give them credit for really committing to the theme. The bars will serve limited edition beers by Two Birds Brewing, Mick's Bitter and Eve-ning Ale, along with non-alcoholic drinks and an outback-inspired menu. Those who attend on opening night will also get the chance to meet with the stars of the show, including John Jarratt, aka Mick Taylor — if you're game. Visit the Wolf Creek Roadhouse Bar in Federation Square, Melbourne from May 5-8 and Martin Place, Sydney from May 11-14. All six episodes of Wolf Creek will premiere on Stan on May 12.
Prepare yourself for a serious case of food envy. After months of hype and speculation surrounding the menu, Noma Australia is officially open for business, and it looks totally out of this world. Popping up for a ten-week residency at Sydney Harbour's new Barangaroo precinct, Noma Australia sees head chef Rene Redzepi and his world-renowned team working exclusively with local ingredients. The menu includes Kakadu plum, pepperberry, wattleseed and kangaroo, along with a vast assortment of Australian seafood. "On my many trips around Australia I’ve seen a larder that is so foreign to me," says Redzepi. "Foraging for abalone, eating fresh muntries, nibbling on pepperberries and cracking open a bunya nut — these experiences are so wild compared to what we're used to in Europe." Redzepi has also been influenced by local cooking techniques. "Spending time with indigenous communities in places like Arnhem Land have left the biggest impact on me and the Noma team," he said. "For instance, seeing the use of fire as the main way of cooking ingredients inspired us. Most of what we’re cooking at Noma Australia will be cooked over fire." Standout dishes on the Noma Australia menu include dried scallop and lantana flower pie, abalone schnitzel with bush condiments, a seafood platter of pippies, sea bounty mussels, strawberry clam, flame cockles, oysters and crocodile fat, and — the icing on the cake — a lamington made with rum, dried milk and tamarind. Oof. [caption id="attachment_557122" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wild seasonal berries flavoured with gubinge[/caption] [caption id="attachment_557123" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Unripe macadamia and spanner crab[/caption] [caption id="attachment_557124" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rum lamington[/caption] Now for the bad news: bookings for Noma Australia have long been snapped up, despite costing a whopping $485 a head. Still, we can dream. Noma Australia will be serving lunch and dinner at the Barangaroo pop-up until April 2. If you're optimistic, you can put your name on the waiting list at noma.dk/australia. Images: Jason Loucas
Since relaunching in 2016, Stockade Brew Co has made some waves in the craft brewing industry, having won over 50 Australian beer awards in the last two years and turning out some of the Great Australiasian Beer Spectapular's wackier drops. Now, it's finally opening its own joint this May in Sydney's booming craft beer suburb. Located in an old factory space in Marrickville, the production brewery and bar boasts a communal dining space for 250 punters, plus a 14-person tasting room for private parties. Designed by RAD Studios, the fit-out includes steel screens and timber furniture that gives the industrial space an art deco feel, plus a custom-built bar made with upcycled barrels, lightbox menu boards and LED lighting. Stockade's sessionable core four beers — an 8 Bit IPA, Chop Shop pale ale, Duel hoppy lager and Hop Splicer XPA — have been consistently outdone by some of the brewery's pretty out-there seasonal releases, like the maple syrup beer or the white stout with cacao and chilli. Now the brewery will also be home to the Stockade barrel-aged program. At the moment, that means a Kentucky bourbon barrel-aged double IPA, which will be on tap for the venue's launch. The Stockade brews will sit next to four guest taps pouring the likes of Marrickville locals Bucket Boys and Melbourne's Hop Nation. Patrons can also expect wines from Urban Winery Sydney blended on-site in Stockade barrels and hop-infused cocktails using spirits from Australian craft distilleries. For beer nibbles, the team has gone down the food truck route, and will be teaming up with Eat Drink Collective for an offering that changes each month. American burger truck Baby Rey's will kick things off when the brewpub opens. Then, tasting sessions, brewery tours, butchery and cocktail masterclasses and beer and cheese pairings will round out this massive offering as of early June. "We've been really fortunate to have earned a lot of support for our beers over the last few years, so opening a space in the home of Sydney microbrewing felt like the natural progression," says owner Anton Szpitalak. "A brewery is a place for a beer drinker to connect with brewers and the process behind it, so having the tasting room at the heart of the warehouse brings this to the forefront." The Stockade Brew Co brewery and bar will open in May at 25 Cadagon Street, Marrickville. We'll let you know when we get an opening date — in the meantime, you can keep an eye on the Facebook page.
Vincent Corneille and Rubin Utama are the excellent gentlemen behind Son Valise, the company that builds the adorable and awesome JukeCase. You might have seen them at various markets, walked past their Collingwood store, or eyed one off with envy at your mate's place, either way, they're everywhere at the moment and not only they look great, but also the sound quality is top-notch. Vincent and Rubin recently launched a Pozible campaign to create a smaller version of the JukeCase, appropriately named the JukeCase Mini. As of Monday they reached their $16,000 goal and the JukeCase Mini is going ahead. (If you're pretty keen on these wonderful musical contraptions you can still pledge up until December 16 and receive a JukeCase Mini for below the RRP.) To celebrate their Pozible win, and the gorgeous summer that awaits us all, we asked Vincent and Rubin to compile some kick-arse playlists that are perfect for warm weather activities. Whether you're heading to the beach, getting out of town for a few days, or throwing a house party of epic proportions, here are a few tunes the Son Valise lads can recommend. Road Trip Songs A road trip playlist needs to cover a lot of ground. For starters, you need enough sing-along songs that your carload of people can scream along to that it keeps morale high. You also need songs that compliment your surroundings. A good way to do this is play artists who come from your destination of choice to get you in the mood. Finally, road trips are excellent introversion time, so if you're travelling solo, sometimes quieter, thinking music is best. Vincent and Rubin have covered all bases here, so grab your bags and let's hit the road. VINCENT Jackson Browne - Running On Empty: In the middle of the desert when you've been on the road for eight hours straight, this song propels you to keep on moving. The Doors - LA Woman: No road trip is complete without The Doors blaring out of the stereo (or JukeCase). This song has great pace and always gets you focused on the drive. Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire: Really chilled out and great for those really late nights in the middle of nowhere. Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon - Empire Ants: An amazing and powerful crescendo. The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar: Seeing the sunrise over the ocean and this playing in the background is a truly wonderful experience. RUBIN Kanye West - POWER: Always a good pump up if driving is getting a little dull. Dr Alban - Sing Hallelujah: '90s sing-along. Cake - The Distance: The title is self-explanatory I think. Time to drive! Todd Terje - Swing Star, Pt.1 & 2: Sometimes when you get in the zone it's good to listen to a bit of "in the zone" music that develops. No lyrics. Just a musical journey. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Don't Make a Fool Out of Me: A good sunny-day, window-down tune to sing along with. House Party Boogie Nights Whether it's a housewarming, Christmas party or NYE festivities, you can bet that there will be some banging house parties over summer. If you're planning to throw your own, make sure you pack your playlist with dancefloor-fillers from the now and yesterday. Old school hip hop and disco are excellent choices and have been favoured by Vincent and Rubin, as well as few saucy ones for a cheeky make-out sesh. You're welcome, future summer lovers. VINCENT Rick James - Give It to Me Baby: I'm a big Rick James fan and this one always sets the scene. Prince - Erotic City: Sleazy funk from the master himself. Talking Heads - Girlfriend Is Better: Unrelenting party jam Hot Chocolate - Heaven Is in the Backseat of My Cadillac: The name says it all really. The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On: Try to not dance. I dare you. RUBIN Oliver Cheatham - Get Down It's Saturday Night - Because that's what you should be doing on a Saturday night. Chic - The Chic Minimix: The best of Chic all mixed into one seven-minute ultimate minimix. Young MC - Bust a Move - Old-school hip hop song/dance-along. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: What's a house party without a little Michael? Thundercat - Oh Sheit It's X!: Upbeat, high energy, ridiculous bass line. Sure to get you moving in ways you never knew you could. Beach Time Chill Out Tunes It's time to kick back and let the hours pass you by with a blissed out soundtrack. Embrace the lazy, hazy days of summer either crashing amongst the waves or swinging in a hammock. Classics like The Beatles and The Beach Boys get a look in from Vincent's list, while Rubin has gone with local legends The Avalanches and the always perfect Will Smith. Surf's up, dude. VINCENT The Beatles - Side Two of Abbey Road LP: It doesn't technically count as one song, but they all intertwine without stopping so I can never bring myself to stop the music. Beach Boys - God Only Knows: Try and hunt down the a cappella, moving stuff. Cornelius - Beep It: One of my favourite artists, and it has such a beautiful melody. Daft Punk - Fresh: It starts with waves gently breaking and builds a chilled out groove. Fleetwood Mac - Albatross: Feels like you're sinking into the sand. RUBIN Will Smith - Miami: Will Smith, that's why. Air - La Femme D'Argent: Think dusk, hanging out in a hammock watching the orange sunset over the rolling sea. Washed Out - Feel It All Around - Poolside, ice cold drink. Maybe a Mojito. With a little umbrella in it. The Coasters - Down in Mexico: Drinking rum at a little bamboo beach shack. If that's not what you're doing then you should be. The Avalanches - Since I Left You: A feelgood song that makes you think of bright flowers and sunny days. Happy times.
Semi Permanent, Australia's three-day touring seminar that covers big ideas around design, tech, digital landscapes and the future of the internet, has a straight-up cray-cray 2016 lineup featuring speakers from Google, Uber, Netflix and Facebook. If you're in the market for some solid advice from the new generation of entrepreneurs, this is the event for you (you know you're growing up when the idea of a three-day seminar is more exciting than the idea of a three-day music festival, hey). Carriageworks is hosting the epic annual event in May and while tickets are a little pricey ($340 for a general admission single day ticket), but they always roll out mind-boggling content and installations — plus, the networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold. The theme of 2016 is the future of the internet/technology and the future of travel with two panels dedicated to the exploration of both themes. Speakers will include Hector Ouilhet (head of design research at Google), Dantley Davis (design director at Netflix), Jurgen Spangl (head of design at Atlassian), Ethan Eismann (director of product design at Uber), Jon Lax (director of product design at Facebook) alongside a whole slew of tech wizards an industry bigwigs. They'll be ready and waiting to answer your important questions, like is Steven Avery innocent, is uber legal and does Facebook read my messages. Or, you know, better questions. You'll hear from people who turned their ideas into thriving businesses that challenge the status quo and may just inspire you to pursue that tight app idea you have. The National Institute of Dramatic Art will be there too, hosting workshops on building confidence and engagement when in front of an audience (this will definitely come in handy if you ever have to do a TED talk, which we all will at some point because you're awesome).
At just 20 years old, LA's R&B disco-pop gamechanger Shamir is kicking some pretty massive goals. Fresh off the release of his first LP Ratchet, following his widely acclaimed 2014 EP Northtown, Shamir hits Australia this summer for a string of debut performances at venues across the country. But if you didn’t get along to Sydney’s Laneway Festival this past weekend, all hope is not lost. Shamir has shaken up the music world with his insanely catchy, soulful, dance-pop tracks. If you haven't heard 'On the Regular' or 'Call It Off' or 'Make a Scene', get on it. With wickedly catching beats and melodies that demand to be danced to, his live shows are renowned for their untamed sense of fun. Burning up the stage as a standout performing at SXSW 2015, Shamir is bringing the full band to Sydney for one night only at Oxford Art Factory. Trust us, you’ll regret skipping this one.
Sydney's been enjoying some serious wall work of late, with Austrian street artist Nychos recently dropping by to create a colossal piece in Chippendale, and Sydney artist MCRT taking over Paddington's walls. But we're about to get a good dose of international game-changer, with iconic US street artist Shepard Fairey heading to Sydney to install a brand new work for Vivid Sydney, announced this morning. If you're not across Fairey's work, just punch 'Obama Hope' or 'Obey Giant' into Google. Yeah, he's the guy. Instantly recognisable and internationally acclaimed, Fairey's works are dotted around the world, from street walls to major gallery institutions — and he's left around 70 large-scale public murals in his wake. Returning to Australia for the first time in 14 years, Fairey's been invited to Sydney as part of the 2017 Vivid lineup, making his first ever Australian mural while he's here. Head to 309 George Street in Sydney's CBD between June 12 and 17 to watch him work. Fairey will also be talking the talk while he's in town, topping the bill for the Vivid Ideas 'Game-Changer' talk series. He'll appearing at Sydney Town Hall on June 17, to talk eager ears through his body of work, his DIY style and his role in shaping global street art into its current state. Plus, Fairey will be putting on a free public exhibition of his music-themed work in Darling Quarter from May 26 to June 17 — looks like Vivid isn't planning on wasting the trip. Check out the rest of the Vivid lineup here. Images: Shepard Fairey, Barack Obama 'Hope' poster, 2009, Wikicommons, and Jonathan Furlong.
International chef Frederic Colin is bringing the elegance and flavours of France to Chippendale. Set to open tonight, Thursday, March 17 on Kensington Street, Bistrot Gavroche will be Colin's first Australian endeavour, having previously trained in Michelin-starred Parisian restaurants and opening his own venue, Brasserie Gavroche, in Singapore. Not a bad resume. So what can we expect? For one thing, Bistrot Gavroche is going all out on the interior. Housed inside what was once an old rum warehouse, the restaurant space boasts high ceilings, amazing windows and furniture imported from Europe, including antique items such as a wood and marble bath cabinet and a four-metre table previously used by silk manufacturers in Lyon. The menu consists of traditional French cuisine, bolstered by a selection of French and Australian wines chosen by co-owner and sommelier Lionel Richard. Entrees include bone marrow on toasted sourdough with confit garlic, Burgundy snails baked in their shells with parsley and garlic butter, and Grandpa Henri's pork terrine, named after Colin's grandfather with whom he cooked as a child. Heartier fare includes shredded duck confit with crushed potatoes and bacon gratin, and pike fish quenelles with crayfish sauce, while desserts feature all the French favourites such as crêpes Suzette, profiteroles and tarte Tatin. Bistrot Gavroche is located at Level 1, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale. It will be open for dinner only for the rest of this week, and will open for both lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday from Monday, March 21. Sunday service will start from April 4. For more information, visit bistrotgavroche.com.au.
Your Christmas lunch will soon be soundtracked by Bill Murray. We squealed about it back in October 2014 — Hollywood's quirkiest legend has teamed up with Sofia Coppola for a festive TV special involving him singing a variety of Christmas carols and decking the halls with one heck of a cast. Murray and Coppola's new project will be undoubtedly somewhat different to their last collaboration, Lost in Translation. The synopsis? The trailer came with a little peek: "This winter, Bill Murray brings an extra-special dose of holiday cheer to Netflix with the premiere of an all-star musically-driven holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas. Set inside New York City’s iconic Carlyle hotel, A Very Murray Christmas opens with Murray preparing to host a live, international holiday broadcast. After a blizzard shuts down the production, he makes the best of the situation by singing and celebrating with friends, hotel employees and anyone else who drops by." Dropped this morning, the trailer's a pretty quick look at a pretty damn big cast. Set to Murray's 'Let It Snow' duet with Miley Cyrus, the trailer revealed one heck of a lineup: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, George Clooney, Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman, Maya Rudolph, Chris Rock and Paul Shaffer. Watch it here and try not to squeal: 'A Very Murray Christmas' is coming to Netflix on December 4. By Meg Watson and Shannon Connellan.
Nakkiah Lui's new comedy could be a riff on Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer and going places, fast. Her parents are stoked, but they don't know that Charlotte's also procured herself a fiancée. He's white and unemployed, a composer. His upper-middle-class parents are at the stuffier end of conservative and they're headed over for Christmas dinner. But Lui says the idea came from somewhere else entirely. "I just wanted to write something for Aboriginal actors that didn't have death in it. I wanted to write something that didn't come from a place of sorrow… This was actually something that had hope, that had happiness in it." Director Paige Rattray has the helm for this one with a cast that includes Shari Sebbens, Luke Carroll and Geoff Morrell. Christmas may be over half a year away, but if Lui's other work is anything to go by, there'll be enough cheer in Black is the New White to stave off the encroaching winter. Image: James Green.
No, it's not surprising, but it certainly is exciting — after months of deliberation and speculation, Netflix has officially announced it will be launching in Australia and NZ this coming March. The wait is nearly over. In just a few months time you'll be able to stream the solid gold original programming of this American behemoth while being 100 percent within the confines of the law. Get ready for some epic marathons. You certainly have a lot to catch up on. The announcement was made initially this morning by this sneaky tweet: http://t.co/8kKEzEtyq8 ??pu?u?o?x?????N# u??? ???u? ¡ZN & sn? ????W u? no? ??S — Netflix US (@netflix) November 18, 2014 Scamps. The local TV markets have been in a total tizzy since rumours started circulating earlier in the year about this. It's thought that around 200,000 Australians already access the US version of Netflix via cheeky, semi-legal VPN software, and the thought of legitimate and widespread access to the service seemed all-round damning for local competitors. Though Australia has various streaming options like ABC's iView, Foxtel's Presto, Quickflix, and Channel Nine's promising yet decidedly poorly named Stan, none have the same hype or popular appeal as Netflix. But don't go crazy just yet. Though the platform is best known for its critically-acclaimed original shows such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, the full range of our access is not yet known. A press statement released this morning announced that we'd be getting a range of great movie options as well as exclusive Netflix shows such as historical drama Marco Polo and the Will Arnett-voiced cult favourite BoJack Horseman, but it was suspiciously quiet about the better-known flagship titles. In fact, there's not too much we know right now. Though the overseas service costs US$8.99 per month, we're yet to receive a price point either. We know there'll be an option for a one-month trial, but that's about it. You should also be tugging at your shirt collar if you're one of the tens of thousands currently accessing the US service — there's a good chance they'll stop turning a blind eye and pressure you to sign up for the (almost definitely limited) Australian alternative. Don't get us wrong — it's not all doom and gloom. With Netflix officially on the scene, there's bound to be some serious movement on important industry issues like local licensing, fast-tracking of overseas shows, and the quality and price of online streaming. With everyone stepping up their game to compete, we could even see a decrease in piracy and copyright infringement. Despite what George Brandis may say, there's a reason why Australians are among the world's worst offenders. Imagine how good binge-watching is going to be when you don't have to feel guilty about it?
Update September 28, 2018: Due to popular demand, Ételek is sticking around. Stretching its stay from October till New Year's Eve, 2018, the pop-up restaurant will transition into a lighter menu in the warm months — we don't think you'll find matzo ball soup during summer. To book your visit, head to the website. Following the success of last year's stints at Bar Brosé and The Gretz, Adam Wolfers and Marc Dempsey are back with the next instalment of their pop-up restaurant Ételek. Wolfers, who is known for his work at establishments such as Monopole and Yellow, and Dempsey, a sommelier and front-of-house powerhouse who is currently manager at Cornersmith Marrickville, will come together to showcase a blend of Hungarian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. The duo will takeover the site of the now-closed Antipodean restaurant in Potts Point from July 25 to October 13. Drawing on inspiration from his own Eastern European heritage — Ételek means 'food' in Hungarian — Wolfers will bring back pop-up signatures like his meat-free parsnip schnitzel and lángos (Hungarian fried bread) and will introduce newbies like nokedli (Hungarian dumplings) with sea urchin and walnut. Other dishes include everything bagel 'bites' — which we're expecting to become an Instagram favourite — and, for dessert, Jerusalem artichoke ice cream with matzo praline. Wolfers also plans on returning to his Yellow roots by featuring vegetable-focused dishes that showcase "ingredients through contemporary interpretations of the dishes [he] was raised on". While Wolfers masters the food, Dempsey will provide a fitting drinks menu. The wine list is set to focus on small "producers with heart" that work with ethical practices. "There will be wine for all palates and budgets,' Dempsey assures. While the three-month pop-up won't last nearly as long as we'd like, Wolfers hopes to create the feeling of a permanent fixture with "a regularly changing menu allowing for multiple visits". The Potts Point space has had an eye-catching makeover, too, with bright orange and pink material hanging from the ceiling and colourful tape wrapped around the seats and tables — a stark contrast to the otherwise industrial space. The duo will also collaborate with other industry favourites for one-off events, including a New York-style Sunday brunch session with Hartsyard's Gregory Llewellyn on Sunday, August 26, and a party with the talented team from Canberra's Bar Rochford on Sunday, September 16. The Ételek pop-up will be open for dinner from 5pm Wednesday to Saturday and for lunch and dinner from 2pm on Sunday from July 25 through to December 31. Images: Jun Chen
Cousins-in-law George Kaldas and Ishac Soliman are the joint owner-operators of El Qahirah, the first Egyptian food truck to hit the streets of Sydney — aptly named after the Arabic word for Cairo. After years of cooking delicious street food for their family and friends, Kaldas and Soliman decided to literally take the show on the road. The simple, Egyptian menu at El Qahirah is made up three street food staple dishes — all with origins that date back to when the pharaohs were building pyramids, and Brendan Fraser was fighting mummys. Koshary is the Egyptian equivalent of our humble meat pie, served in every shop and on every street corner in Egypt. It combines lentils, noodles, and rice, and is topped with spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and onions. The second option is taameya — a delicious fava bean and herb patty served in flatbread with cucumber, tomato, radish, and tahini. If that sounds familiar, it's because the Turkish appropriated the dish way back when, and they called it the falafel. The third option is fuul medames, a delicious flatbread filled with fava beans, spices, lemon juice, garlic, and onion. If you didn't notice, all three options are vegetarian, and the only drink option is a refreshing cup of cold hibiscus tea. The duo will be parking their bright, red, white and blue truck at some of Sydney's major breweries over the next few weekends, including Grifter Brewing Co. on the February 18 and 19, Batch Brewing Company on March 3, and Young Henrys on March 10. Prime opportunity to wash down a few beers with some delicious, nutritious Egyptian falafel.
A collection of Australia's most talented street artists will transform Centenary Square in Parramatta into a temporary open-air art studio. Each morning for nine consecutive weekdays beginning on Monday March 14, a different artist will produce a brand new, large scale artwork live in front of the public, demonstrating their technique and turning the space into a vibrant artistic hub. An initiative of the Parramatta City Council and real estate developers Walker Corporation in partnership with creative arts organisation Work-Shop, the Live Walls Project has tapped a number of notable names to take part. Anthony Lister, Anya Brock, Guido Van Helten, James Jirat Patradoon, Sid Tapia, Georgia Hill, Aidan "Sprinkles" McKenzie, Phibs, Nico and Jumbo will all take part, each working from 10am to 3pm on their allocated day to create a new artwork on the hoarding in front of the Parramatta Square development. At the conclusion of the event, each work will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Parramatta Mission. Nice one. LIVE WALLS LINE-UP Monday 14 March – James Jirat Patradoon Tuesday 15 March – Sid Tapia Wednesday 16 March – Georgia Hill Thursday 17 March – Anthony Lister Friday 18 March – Aidan “Sprinkles” McKenzie Monday 21 March – Anya Brock Tuesday 22 March – Phibs Wednesday 23 March – Guido Van Helten Thursday 24 March – Nico & Jumbo For more information about Live Walls, visit www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/livewalls. You can also keep tabs on the project via Instagram.
A new rooftop hotel in Melbourne is offering a luxurious alternative to the cramped family camper you would have piled into as a kid. Opening soon (mid-2016) atop a Flinders Lane car park in the CBD, this boutique venture will consist of six vintage airstream caravans transported from the US and completely refitted as "designer urban accommodation," complete with queen size bed, split system heating and cooling, and a fridge full of complimentary craft beer and wine. Throw in a little laneway graffiti art and this couldn't get any more Melbourne if it tried. In addition to the amenities listed above, each caravan at Notel Melbourne comes with a television, linen and an en suite bathroom with full height shower. Sounds a little cosy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need, especially when you're dealing with chilly Melbourne weather. The rooftop itself, meanwhile, has recently gotten a new lick of paint courtesy of local artist Ash Keating. Notel update!!! The Airstreams are being moved into their final position in preparation for the bathroom instillation. Won't be long now 😉 #openingsoon #Notel #notelmelbourne #rooftophotel #notahotel #airstreamhotel #lovethis #adventure #original #airstream #vintagecaravan #rooftopview #journey #view #melbs #melbourne #melbournetodo #ilovemelbourne #visitmelbourne #australia A photo posted by Notel Melbourne (@notelmelbourne) on May 16, 2016 at 1:44am PDT Guests will have access to tablets loaded with music and movies along with a virtual guide to help them explore the city. The space will also be available for functions, with room for up to 300 people on the roof. Notel Melbourne is not currently taking bookings, however you can sign up for their newsletter to stay in the loop with how things are progressing. Notel Melbourne will open in mid-2016 on the corner of Flinders Lane and Harper Lane, Melbourne. For more information visit www.notelmelbourne.com.au.
Home to much of the festival's music, two Spiegeltents will be anchoring the expanding Festival Village, one of the real successes of last year and a true hub for hanging out in. Also within it will be a huge-scale art work from Ireland's answer to Banksy, street artist Maser. The maze-like, colour-splashed, two-storey-high installation, called Higher Ground, is said to be "a dream come true for those who always wished they could step inside a painting", and will be the focus of everyone's Instagramming this festival (which for the first time in two years, is Rubber Duck-less). Maser will be the artist-in-residence at the Village, though as he operates in anonymity, we don't expect to see too much of him. Read our interview with Maser and find out why he's happy for you to eat a sandwich in his art. Higher Ground is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Festival. Check out our other favourite events over here.
Since it first opened its doors in 2012, 107 Projects has been a great creative hub for Sydney artists to exhibit, perform and workshop their work. Every year, 107 Projects really opens its doors with Open 107, the space's annual open day, where Sydneysiders can have a stickybeak and get among the art. It's basically an all-access pass to check out what goes on behind the gallery, complete with music by the New Sound Waves crew and artist talks and other creative fun like performance art and life drawing. Expect to see works from artists Alexandra Clapham and Penelope Benton, the peeps from the Sydney Story Factory, films from Kino Sydney and activities with Milkwood Permaculture, who crowdfunded a rooftop garden atop the building. If you're looking for some inspiration, definitely make a day of it — there'll be food and drink, the opportunity to get your hands dirty in artsy workshops and time to stop and reflect on your past, current or future creative pursuits in that rooftop garden.
If you're one to simultaneously munch a durrie and schnittie combo, we've got some bad news for you. Smoking in all outdoor dining areas in New South Wales is about to be banned, thanks to the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. From July 6, 2015, all commercial outdoor dining areas in licensed venues (including clubs and hotels), restaurants and cafes must be smoke-free. Basically, if food is being served, there's no smoking. There's going to be some serious penalties (we're talking fines up to $5500) for venues who don't comply with the new smoking bans, enforced by NSW Health Authorised Inspectors — so you can rule out a cheeky smoke, even if you 'know the owner'. Plus, you could land yourself a $300 fine for gettin' y'puff on. It's not just courtyards and beer gardens that are about to clear the air; areas within 4 metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a licensed venue, restaurant or cafe must be smoke-free (so on-street dining and footpath areas too). But venues are allowed to create designated smoking areas — so beer gardens are still allowed to section off glamorous shame corners or build blue-lit miscreant booths (lookin' at you Beach Road). Venues will have to put up 'no smoking' signs of approved size and staff will be trained to deal with the new laws. NSW Health will undertake a public notice campaign in the lead-up to the smoking ban, so expect to see something pleasant along the lines of all the unbranded cigarette packaging the NSW government has rolled out. Let's be honest, this was always coming. The 2013 NSW Smoking and Health Survey showed 75 percent of surveyed folks approved banning smoking in all outdoor areas in hotels, restaurants and cafes. And really, trying to enjoy a burg with cigarette smoke in your face isn't the best. So suck 'em down while you can, guys. Via NSW Health.
Yes, Rhianna snuffed Big Bird and made an omelette out of him. Yes, Solange looked like she was wearing a Sliders portal. But there were more than just celebrity fashion moments happening at yesterday's 2015 Met Gala — something only the likes of Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton would make you appreciate. Making ordinary people of celebs and stars out of ordinary people, the HONY photographer took the best snaps of the night; bringing that tried and true human interest formula to the most star-studded event on the damn calendar. Waiters become stars, pop singers become regular folk. Slam dunk, HONY. “I tried to prank him one time by putting a tuna fish sandwich in his bedside drawer. But the prank ended up being on both of us because I forgot about it for weeks.” “There’s a secret addict in me that I’m always trying to tame.” “I was too hard on my son because I couldn’t understand why he didn’t love to compete as much as I do.” “I hope to be as selfless as my mother. My father died when I was seven months old. She had to raise five kids on her own, but she made time for all of us. We used to have these days called ‘Mommy Holidays.’ She’d choose a normal school day, wake us up, have us get ready for school, cook breakfast in a hurry, and right before we walked out the door, she’d scream ‘Mommy Holiday!,’ and she’d let us skip school and go somewhere fun.” “They forced me into having an Instagram.” "I'm trying to look at my phone less." “We managed to raise two teenage girls and not get divorced.” “It was hard to see my father not become all that he wanted to be. He brought my family here from Trinidad. He really believed in the marketing of the American dream, and he thought that he’d become a DJ on the radio. He loved music and had the gift of gab. But he didn’t understand the system and he came too late in life to make the proper connections. So he ended up using his gift of gab to sell cars.” “What’s your favorite thing about each other?” “We’re fine with just a picture, thanks.” Images: Brandon Stanton/Vogue.
NSW Premier Mike Baird has had a long week. His condescending and ill-advised Facebook rant has accumulated thousands of angry comments (not counting the ones his social media team is working around the clock to delete), his shady dealings with casinos have spawned the hashtag #casinomike and the people are literally braying for his blood (nah, but you get it). No doubt he really wants it to be the weekend already so he can just chill out with a beer and relax. Unfortunately for the State leader, he might find that a bit difficult now that venues across Sydney are enacting a complete Mike Baird and Barry O'Farrell ban. That’s right, friends, the people are hitting back. It started at Redfern small bar Arcadia, but is reportedly spreading to many other venues as hospo workers and venue owners band together to take back the night. Any and all Mike Bairds and Barry O'Farrells will be refused service at these venues and may even be refused entry. They will not be harmed. They will simply be released back into the wild where they will continue to decimate the natural population of partygoers and fun-havers. It’s completely legit and within the law to do so, as well. Joe Worthington, general manager of Della Hyde, from the Applejack Hospitality group has stated publicly that Baird won’t be allowed into his venues. It's not clear whether this translates across all of Applejack's venues yet (The Botanist, The Butler, Bondi Hardware). Worthington is pushing the hashtag #lockoutmikebaird, a sentiment which is gaining traction on social media and across Sydney’s biggest night spots alike. Looks like Mike Baird better look elsewhere for night time fun. Let's see how many venues jump on board. In the meantime, this petition could use your signature. Vive la Sydney! Via Pedestrian.
If you're heading to New Zealand's Christchurch region for a short holiday, you can't leave without going bungy jumping. There are plenty of opportunities to get your adrenaline going, so why not live on the wild side of life? Experience breathtaking views of the Southern Alps, beautiful coastal vistas and lush green forest while you get reacquainted with the thrill-seeking side of yourself. If you're into the kind of fun that leaves your stomach in knots, then this guide will not disappoint. The adrenaline-junkie kiwis seem to know a thing or two about going on an adventure. TACKLE THE RAPIDS IN HANMER SPRINGS Drive for 90 minutes to Hanmer Springs and book yourself in for a white water rafting adventure. You'll find yourself situated within a stunning mountain range, with pink marble land formations heading all the way down the Waiau River canyon. The rapids are Grade 2 in Hanmer Springs, so expect medium-size rapids and low drops with waves less than a metre high. After all the twists, turns and drops you can still get your fair share of serenity — Hanmer Springs is known for its beautiful blue water and stunning scenery. Don't forget to pack something to swim in, there's no doubt you're going to want to relax with a swim at the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools after a day out on the rapids. Even adrenaline junkies need some time to chill out. GO JET BOATING IN WAIMAKARIRI GORGE The Waimakariri River, translating to 'cold water' in Māori, is the home of jet boating in Christchurch, with canyons, gorges, rock faces and native forest lining an adventure trail through the water. You can choose between a 30- or 60-minute jet boating adventure in the beautiful blue water — expect 360-degree spins, hairpin turns and a high-speed ride that'll get your heart racing. The Waimakariri river is 90 minutes from Christchurch, but Alpine Jet organises transfers that pick you up from the city and drop you back when the day is done. Because there are so many beautiful rivers in the Christchurch region, there are many places to go jet boating. Another option is at Hanmer Springs. Once you've tested the strength of your stomach there'll be plenty of opportunities to sit back and take in the fresh air in both locations — catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Southern Alps if you're lucky. BUNGY JUMP AMID STUNNING SCENERY You're heading to New Zealand, which means you're going to want to throw yourself from a tall structure connected to an elastic cord — this is the home of bungy jumping after all. Why not let yourself free fall from a bridge for 35 metres towards a surging river to get the blood pumping and the bones jumping? It's an adrenaline rush like no other and one that you're bound to get addicted to. The idyllic Hanmer Springs Bungy, 90 minutes from Christchurch, is the perfect spot for first timers who may need to distract themselves with stunning scenery before taking a leap of faith. MOUNTAIN BIKE THE EDGE OF THE CITY The Christchurch region's beautiful scenery and stunning mountains make it an ideal destination for avid mountain bikers. There are many cycling tracks to discover, but the Port Hills is one of Christchurch's best kept secrets and one of our favourites. With its dramatic landscape of tussock grasslands and rugged mountain terrain, it's easy to see why. Ten different trails in this area each have their own unique highlights — and they're perfect for both new and experienced riders. The new Christchurch Adventure Park is another mountain biking option. The huge trails inside range in difficulty — from beginner courses to those designed for experts only. If you're new to mountain biking and want to learn some skills in a safe environment, head here. It's the biggest mountain biking path in the Southern Hemisphere — you won't be short on space. FLY THROUGH THE ADRENALIN FOREST If you consider yourself to be a little bit of a George of the Jungle, here's your chance to prove yourself in the tree tops. A 20-minute drive from Christchurch is the Adrenalin Forest, a two-kilometre aerial obstacle course set in the beautiful Spencer Park. We can't promise you'll have the opportunity to hang from vines, but there's more than enough to keep you challenged with over 100 activities and six courses to sink your teeth into. If you're a real adrenaline junkie, tackle the high-wire course. It's not quite walking between the twin towers Man On Wire-style, but you're sure to get up to 20 metres into the forest canopy — that's at least two or three stories off the ground and more than enough to get you shaking in your boots. Maybe you've been to New Zealand's North Island, but have you ever ventured down South? Christchurch, and New Zealand's surrounding Canterbury region, is the perfect place for a quick holiday. Use our planning guide to book your trip, then sort out your itinerary with our food, nature and relaxation guides.
One of the best drinking spots for pre-Vivid LIVE shows last year, Sydney Opera House's pop-up pool hall is back for another round. Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd — whose work you already know if you've ever knocked back a tequila or two at Tio's or a tiki cocktail at The Cliff Dive — are bringing back the Deep Purple Pool Hall for just ten nights during this year's Vivid festival. The pop-up speakeasy, which last year genuinely resembled a dive bar plonked in Sydney's iconic arts venue, will be found inside the Concert Hall's northern foyer, where you can get cosy and warm while still taking in those epic harbour views. Expect a specially-curated menu from the team behind Tio's, served up by Aria Catering, alongside craft beer and wine from local Sydney producers, as well as live DJs and free pool. FREE. "I have wanted to set up a cool bar in this space for five years, ever since I arrived at the Opera House," said Ben Marshall, curator of Vivid Live, last year when the bar opened. "Whether you're up for a pre or post-gig drink or on the look-out for the neon eight-ball outside, you can sneak up the back stairs of the Opera House to the Deep Purple Pool Hall and settle into an incredible secret space in the heart of the city, in the middle of this incredible festival." The Deep Purple Pool Hall will open for ten nights only, May 27 – June 5, 6pm till late. Images: Daniel Boud.
There is a theatre work so famous in New York City that it has inspired plots on both Law & Order: SVU and Gossip Girl. It's not a Broadway show full of catchy songs and film stars. In fact, it's pretty experimental. The work, Sleep No More, is the most well known example of a medium known as immersive theatre, and it's been running in a disused warehouse in Chelsea for three-and-a-half solid sold-out years. Immersive theatre is having a moment in the world's cultural capitals, but we've seen little of it in Sydney (or Australia, for that matter). Out to change that is Mongrel Mouth, a production company whose second show, The Age of Entitlement, is taking over a 166-year-old mansion in The Rocks. It will be the most ambitious and whole immersive work in this city to date; a show about love, growing up and political corruption that audiences explore and influence through their own actions. "I've worked in festivals and things for quite a while as well as theatre, and what always excited me is the way that people move freely throughout a festival," says Mongrel Mouth director Duncan Maurice. "They go to this tent and that tent, and though they have a program, which you don't have in our show, it's up to you. It's your responsibility to see, to walk out, to leave whenever you want." But for Maurice and his collaborators, there's more to the form than just injecting some fun and spontaneity into your night. It's about speaking up, if that's what you want to do, or choosing another part of the performance to watch, or Instagramming that irresistible slice of mise en scene. It's about not sitting passively, in the theatre or otherwise. "Metaphorically what it says is we are not bystanders in our life," he says. "That's why I want to make theatre where the audience is in control, to a certain extent. Essentially [proscenium arch theatre] is a really tyrannical form. You're told when to sit, you're told when to clap, you're told when to laugh, and I think that the way that we make entertainment now is much more dynamic than that." As well as taking inspiration from the active and interactive spirit of social media, Maurice is driven to immersive theatre by something quite different: the participatory theatre culture of Latin America. Having spent years working in Peru and Argentina documenting the biographies of political refugees and dissidents, he saw that theatre there was integral to people's lives, forwarding public discourse and dealing with trauma. "The art is in the street, the protest is the celebration, it is the fiesta," he says. "It's very different." Australia is not lacking for trauma — just perhaps the will to talk about it. Maurice and The Age of Entitlement writer Saman Shad, who when she's not writing plays is a columnist for the Guardian and SBS, were united by the desire to put politics front and centre. They do it through the character of Lara, a 20-year-old, left-wing activist who's also a 40-year-old conservative party leader with good intentions that have fallen by the wayside. The 19-member cast acts out Lara's journey across two levels of the historic mansion. It's a space that has become deeply ingrained in the work following the team's three-month residency. "There's a dark energy there I think, in terms of if you look at what was going on in Australia when that was built [in 1848]," says Maurice. "The house represents a time when white people weren't doing such great things in this country, and I think that has informed our work." Mongrel Mouth's last work, The Silence Came, which told the inter-connected stories of the residents in an other-worldly apartment building, was set across several floors of atmospheric Darlinghurst bar The Commons. It sold out almost before the season had even started — sure evidence of the appetite for this kind of unusual theatre experience in Sydney (several nights of The Age of Entitlement are also fully booked). Immersive theatre already has its committed fans (we at Concrete Playground among them), but Maurice has his eyes on the newcomers. "I think the ideal [experience] would be to know very little about the content, to be dragged along by a friend," he says. "Maybe your friend's read something about it, and you just turn up at this address that you've never even known about before, and you find a doorway that's got some lights in it, and you allow yourself to not fully understand everything." So having read all this information, you know your duty: bring along an unsuspecting friend and pull them down the rabbit hole.
Hold onto your doughnuts and prepare to say ay, caramba! more than once, because the Sydney Opera House has just announced a huuuuge headliner for this year's GRAPHIC festival: Matt Groening. The comedic cartoonist genius responsible for The Simpsons and Futurama will make his way to Australia for the very first time to speak at the two-day festival this November, which celebrates pop culture and graphic storytelling, animation and music. Considering most of us probably acquired the large majority of our pre-Internet knowledge on global popular culture from Groening's work (well, when we could wrangle watching The Simpsons instead of the 6pm news), it seems like a brilliant full circle that we're now able to see him speak IRL as adults. He will deliver a talk titled Secrets of The Simpsons, and a Couple of Milhouse Fun Facts, which will delve into the making of the show, include hardly-seen clips and apparently even some full-frontal cartoon nudity. He will also join a session with his friend and fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry. "The most intense Simpsons fanatics I've met are from Australia, so I'm coming to Sydney to check out all you lunatics," Groening said. "I'm going to share stories of the making of The Simpsons and show embarrassing home movies and rarely-seen animation, including oddball outtakes and uncensored Itchy & Scratchy cartoons." Other highlights from the GRAPHIC 2016 program announced this morning include a screening of George Lucas' 1971 sci-fi epic THX 1138, which will be re-scored live by Asian Dub Foundation. There will be a heap of free talks from cartoonists including Leunig and First Dog on the Moon, as well as two film premieres from Nail Gaiman, who has previously called the festival "the smartest, wisest, most cutting-edge festival and celebration of narrative literature and its intersection with culture in the world". GRAPHIC will take place at the Sydney Opera House from November 4-5. Tickets go on sale on Friday, September 16 here.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. More inventive, forward-thinking and experimental than ever, Sydney restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, adding in-house cinemas, recreating provincial French manors, and redefining nose-to-tail. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new restaurants, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Restaurant in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
The office cubicle. Its powers have been known to reduce any nine-to-fiver to a groaning, listless puddle by the end of the day. Thankfully, its tenure as a mainstay in our working lives might soon be over, with a revolutionary office pitched by interior designers Sean Cassidy and Joe Wilson, whose entry won top gong in the Workplace of the Future 2.0 Competition. Cassidy and Wilson's vision of the future workplace is one where the employees' needs always come first. In their aptly named plan, Organic Grid+, workers can seek respite from long hours staring at computer screens in the form of a high-rise sky garden, right in the office. The space itself is designed to be flexible, with customisable walls, desks and meetings rooms to whatever suits the employees' best. The balance of sustainability and ergonomics is ultimately a move to encourage higher productivity and morale at work. And if you're feeling peckish, you can say goodbye to trips down to the local cafe; instead you'll be able to harvest and grow your own food right in the heart of the office. However, on a more freaky note, the duo have dreamed up the idea of 'health-conscious plug-ins', that is, wearable technology that will monitor your well-being and be the voice of reason when you're hankering for that afternoon pick-me-up. And there's indoor abseiling, why not. We spend on average one-third of our lives at work, so it's all the better Cassidy and Wilson are leading the charge to turn our working space into an environment that repackages the comforts of nature and the home. There's already been similar constructions incorporating greenery into the corporate world: New York's office garden terrace, and in London, a three-storey indoor public park. The only downside? After this, we'll probably never leave our offices ever again. Via Fast Company. Images: Organic Grid+.
