The best thing on the menu at Bar Luca has long been their mouth-watering burgers. You know it. We know it. And, evidently, so do they. Because this week they opened BL Burgers, the no-frills Bar Luca takeaway spinoff you've been waiting for. The team at Oxford Street's brand new BL Burgers serve the same selection of burgers as they do at Bar Luca. That includes the Blame Canada, a mountainous concoction of a wagyu beef patty, maple-glazed streaky bacon, American cheddar, poutine and maple aioli that was recently named the best burger in Sydney by The Fatties Burger Appreciation Society. Other creations include a chicken karaage number with wasabi aioli, pickled veggies, coriander and coral lettuce, and a vegetarian option made with chickpea, sweet potato and spiced yoghurt, as well as a weekly special. Extras and sides include fried chicken, a fried cheese patty and shoestring fries with aioli. A photo posted by B L Burgers (@blburgers) on Mar 8, 2016 at 3:33am PST Primarily a takeout joint, seating in the space is minimal, with narrow benches along two walls. One wall features the menu, while the other boasts an enormous, burger-inspired mural by local artist Brent Smith. Find BL Burgers at 1/151 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. For more information visit blburgers.com.au or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Image: Bar Luca.
Spare a thought for the St George OpenAir Cinema team, the folks behind one of Sydney's favourite outdoor cinema spots. When picking their summertime lineup each year, they're battling fierce visual competition: Mrs Macquaries Point's spectacular panoramic view of the city. Accordingly, every movie that graces the cinema's big screen has to hold its own against the stunning sights glittering away behind it. Don't worry — boasting everything from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the music biz to an Australian premiere of Margot Robbie's latest transformative effort, their 2019 program achieves that feat. And the whole lineup hasn't even dropped. Kicking off on January 8 and running until February 16, the outdoor cinema's new season commences with the Australian premiere of Mary Queen of Scots, which sees Australia's own Margot Robbie and Academy Award-nominee Saoirse Ronan join forces for a powerful historical drama. It's just one of the movies making sure it'll be starry not only in the sky above, but on the 350-square-metre screen rising from the harbour. And with lineup featuring the likes of the aforementioned A Star Is Born, box office hit Crazy Rich Asians, Ryan Gosling heading to the moon in First Man, Rami Malek playing legendary frontman Freddie Mercury for Bohemian Rhapsody, the film adaption of Colin Thiele's famed Aussie novel Storm Boy and Bridesmaids' director Paul Feig's savagely entertaining A Simple Favour. Off-screen, expect culinary stars to join the fold as well, with OpenAir again partnering with Matt Moran's Chiswick. They'll be delivering a signature menu to hungry movie-goers each and every night during the cinema's 2019 run — but with 2000 patrons expected every evening, expect them to be busy. Booze, in the form of beers, wines and cocktails, will be available at the equally busy Kirin Bar. Speaking of, when tickets become available on Monday, December 10, they're likely to go quick. In 2016, more than 30,000 tickets sold within the first 30 minutes of sale. Tickets are on sale from Monday, December 10. We'll update you when the full lineup drops on December 1. Image: Fiora Sacco.
Now that you've seen how many cafes, bars and restaurants have popped up in the Hills region, you shouldn't be surprised by the fact that Castle Towers shopping centre is running a new program called The Cooking School over April and May—a series of food-focused events, workshops and cooking classes. Part of the range of food culture workshops is Bocconcini & Bubbles—a workshop where you can learn the art of Italian cheesemaking with the Omnom Cheese Company, all the while sipping on a glass of bubbly. During a hands-on class you'll learn how to create your own bocconcini from scratch and take it home to enjoy later (perhaps with another glass of bubbly). According to Omnom founder Marly Schimmelschmidt, bocconcini (as well as burrata and mozzarella) is one of the easiest and fastest cheeses to whip up in your own kitchen. Even with limited kitchen equipment and store-bought milk, it's easy to make your own in just one hour. The workshop will cover everything from milk selection to coagulation and turning milk curds into oozy burrata and stretchy bocconcini or mozzarella. You'll leave with recipe cards and half a kilogram of your own freshly made bocconcini, burrata and mozzarella. Delicious and informative—get your tickets here.
Yeah, yeah, so Meghan Trainor spent X weeks at the top of the charts with her multiplatinum mega-single and No 1. album at only 22 years old. Yeah, good. We're pretty set to continue burling 'ROBBED!' for a good few hours after Australia's Courtney Barnett just missed out on her first Grammy award for Best New Artist, with the 'All About That Bass' artist nabbing the gong. But the Melburnian/Hobartian won the live blogging for the event, taking over Tumblr's music page for the day. Apart from Kendrick Lamar rightly dominating errrrthing, Lady Gaga's Bowie tribute and Pharrell's quaint Chanel jacket, Barnett's quiet blogging stole the show for us. Takin' mad selfie GIFs before the show: http://music.tumblr.com/post/139381160531/just-me-and-then-dave-and-then-bones Rockin' the outfit we'd want to wear to the Grammys: http://music.tumblr.com/post/139388982451/me-on-the-red-carpet Waiting for Swifty and Selena to wrap up: http://music.tumblr.com/post/139390159691/taylor-and-selena-in-front-of-me-nbd Before and after-ing on the red carpet. http://music.tumblr.com/post/139390666806/pre-red-carpet-post-red-carpet-we-did-it Scoping out after-Grammy tacos: http://music.tumblr.com/post/139405254176/hanging-with-my-awesome-tour-manager-hook-waiting Go check it out here. What a boss.
Good (or just pretty good) news for the Australian arts community today. The federal government has once again redesigned its controversial arts funding scheme, following months of heavy campaigning by artists around the country. Communications and arts minister Mitch Fifield announced today that the widely maligned National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA), which was introduced by his predecessor George Brandis with next to no consultation with the artistic community, will have its funding reduced by $32 million over four years, with the money instead being reallocated to the independent Australia Council — from whose budget it was originally cribbed. Top stuff. The change comes after the government received significant pushback from artists and political opponents, who were outraged by the decision made under the Abbott government to redirect $104 million from the Australia Council to the newly created NPEA — a move many believed would prove fatal for small, independent arts groups. Calls were made for Turnbull to take over the troubled portfolio, and here we are. Under this latest round of changes (and let's be honest here, there'll probably be more down the line), the NPEA budget will drop from $20 million a year to $12 million, with the savings being returned to the Australia Council. Brandis' brainchild will also be getting a brand spanking new name, going from the National Program for Excellence in the Arts to Catalyst - Australian Arts and Cultural Fund. Yeah, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue either, does it? Now, while this definitely seems like a step in the right direction, don't start planning your celebratory interpretive dance show just yet. I'm no mathematician, but $32 million still seems like a lot less than $104 million. Let me just quickly check the numbers on that... yep, it's definitely less. Moreover, despite the budget cut and the name change, it appears that Catalyst will still function in much the same way as the NPEA would have. Like they say, a rose by any other name. Although in this case, a rose probably isn't the best analogy. Fifield is expected to announce further details regarding these changes later today. In the meantime, the National Association for the Visual Arts has issued a statement suggesting the fight is far from over. "We are relieved that the Minister is prepared to go some way towards alleviating the havoc being caused by the original decision of his predecessor," said NAVA Executive Director Tamara Winikoff. "However, the renamed Catalyst program is still being created at the expense of ensuring the survival of organisations that are the engine room for developing and presenting new Australian work." Via SMH. Image: Chunky Move.
Earlier this year, over a frosty July weekend, Spencer Tunick staged his latest mass nude photography work. After months of controversy, the New York artist snapped 860 naked Melburnians on Chapel Street, as well as in the rooftop car park of the Prahran Woolworths — with a brightly coloured series of images entitled Return of the Nude the end result. If you've been wondering what the finished product looked like, Tunick has now revealed the final four photographs. The Return of the Nude installations feature participants donning pink and red sheer sheets for separate shots — and, in another, wearing a vibrant palette of body paint. That's not all that Tunick has in store. Art fans will also be able to experience the installation via virtual reality, thanks to the release of a location-triggered VR app. Available from this weekend from the Apple and Google stores, it'll enable anyone visiting Artists Lane in Windsor — aka where some of the photos were taken — to not only feel like they're in the image, but like they're surrounded by 550 nude people covered in paint. Explaining Return of the Nude, Tunick notes that "my work has long brought out the common themes of community, individual identity, and the challenges of making the arts an inclusive experience rather than an exclusive experience. Working within the Chapel Street Precinct provides an amazing opportunity to let the citizens of Melbourne become the artist themselves. I believe these final images have captured an extraordinary moment in the timeline of Melbourne." The images and app come after after Tunick experienced quite the tumultuous journey in his efforts to stage the piece. First he was given permission to hold a mass nude photoshoot on top of the Prahran Woolworths car park as part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocaré Festival of the Arts. But then the store said that it wouldn't like to participate. The supermarket then reversed its decision a week later after a petition spearheaded by the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), the festival's host organisation, gained some momentum in the community. Return of the Nude arrives 17 years after Tunick assembled 4500 naked volunteers for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival. It also comes eight years after he photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras. Images: Return of the Nude by Spencer Tunick.
Your life is about to be filled with hand-knitted wine bags, minimalist bean bags and slick storage options. Japanese design and homewares retailer MUJI has opened its very first flagship store in New South Wales — the third MUJI in Australia. Opening on May 14 at 500 George Street, the huge 1344sqm corner space is located on level one of The Galeries (where the old Freedom Furniture was) — counting Kinokuniya, Incu and Sushi Hotaru as friendly new neighbours. If you're a bit vague on MUJI, they're a Japanese brand all up in simple, elegant homewares and consumer goods with an eco-friendly aim to reduce packaging. The company's Japanese name, 'Mujirushi Ryohin' means 'no brand quality goods', so we're talking no-name, minimal packaging products — everything from apparel and accessories, to furniture and homewares, stationery and skincare products, bedding and travel goods. Yep, they're into covering all bases with a stripped back simplicity similar to IKEA. We're keen on their Body Fit Cushion for autumn snuggling: And MUJI's classic crisp-as-furk weekendy fashion ranges: And these cute as hell 2009 MUJI penguin bowling pins clearly made for children but shoosh y'face you're not the boss of us: This is the first NSW MUJI, following Australia's first at Chadstone Shopping Centre in November 2013 and Emporium Melbourne's store opening in April last year. MUJI plan to open more Australian stores, with the promise of an online store in the near future. But MUJI are no spring chickens, having started in 1980 as a private offshoot of SEIYU (one of Japan's bigwig retailers) and growing to a total 703 stores worldwide. It isn't the only opening planned for The Galeries this year either, with more yet-to-be-revealed international and local retailers set to open throughout the year. Find MUJI at Level One, The Galeries at 500 George Street, Sydney CBD. Open from May 14.
Not travelling up to Splendour in the Grass this year? Just let the headliners come to you. Following Mark Ronson's star-studded sideshow lineup announcement yesterday, Florence and the Machine have announced two headlining dates for Melbourne and Sydney. And if the group's recent Coachella slam dunk is anything to go by, you'll want to lock these tickets down. Otherworldly powerhouse Florence Welch and her sizeable crew are set to showcase music from their soon-to-be-released third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; locking in Melbourne's Palais Theatre on July 22 and Sydney's State Theatre on July 23 before they headline Splendour's Saturday night. Having just nailed it at Coachella despite breaking her foot, Welch assures fans she'll be back on her tootsies in time for Splendour and these shows — and if you've seen Welch jig around a stage before, you'll know why a broken foot isn't surprising. You're going to have to be lucky to catch Florence though, tickets will only be available through a ballot system. All ballot entries must be received before 12 noon (AEST) on Thursday, May 28. Successful ticket applicants will receive an email after the ballot's closed, then will be able to buy tickets between 2pm (AEST) on Friday, May 29 and 2pm (AEST) on Saturday, May 30. FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE SPLENDOUR 2015 SIDESHOWS: Wednesday, July 22 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Thursday, July 23 — State Theatre, Sydney. Enter the Florence Splendour Ballot here.
Hendrick's, the Scottish gin distillers who would have you believe their product is harvested fresh from a Monty Python animation, are embarking on a 'horticultural quest' to make Australia their new veg patch. No longer content to raid Mr. McGregor's garden, the liquidologists and drinkticians at Hendrick's are teaming up with the University of Sydney to create the first truly Australian-grown species of cucumber. Despite the presence of a horticulture professor in their fellowship, Hendrick's are asking the public to head to Facebook and vote on soil ingredients that will produce the most distinctly Australian crop. Day One is a choice between kangaroo and emu poop. There's every reason to believe Day Ten will see Barnesy or Farnesy forced to stand waist-deep in fertiliser for six weeks. Planting begins on October 4 and the harvest will take place in mid-November, with a subsequent soiree for attendees to sample the cucumber from down under. To further celebrate the efforts of their botanical pioneers, Hendrick's are giving a Concrete Playgrounder and ten friends the chance to win a sumptuously provisioned cocktail masterclass valued at $3000. Enter below, and remember, you need to vote for your chosen ingredient on the Hendrick's Gin Facebook page to be eligible to win. [competition]589976[/competition]
Start planning a cheeky summer Tassie trip, Hobart's palace of next-level art MONA has just announced the first glimmer of their 2017 Mona Foma lineup. Returning to the Apple Isle's capital from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 January 2017, Mofo is one of Hobart's calendar cornerstones — and this year's shaping up to be as weird as ever. First off the rank is the world premiere of tētēma, the newest project from legendary Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. The project is a collaboration between Patton and Aussie experimental composer and pianist Anthony Pateras, who are bringing their ambient, experimental live show to us which explores the theme of displacement. The combo of Pateras' electro- orchestral style with Patton's insane vocal range and a 12-piece band is not to be missed. Second up, MONA has also announced that US comedic, storytelling/musical outfit Puscifer are on the festival bill. They're known for high-energy, narrative driven shows. This is only the first announcement, with the full program set to be announced on Wednesday, October 12. Looks like Mofo is shaping up to be another banger. Tickets go on sale on Monday, October 17, so keep an ear to ground for further announcements. Image: Mofo/Facebook.
In case you were lacking in things to furiously rant about at the pub later, let's fill you in on the newest, stupidest, frankly concerning health fad skulking into reality. Are you ready? It's called Fat Water. Yep, fat-infused water. Created by founder of Bulletproof Coffee (yep, the coffee that uses butter instead of milk) Dave Asprey, Fat Water isn't just adding a scoop o' lard to your Mount Franklin. According to Grub Street, Asprey is assuring us all that the bottles function instead as an energy booster without a sugar crash, mixing two grams of coconut oil (which is apparently about a tenth of your daily saturated fat) with regular water. So, you guessed it, it's basically oily water. Taste testers likened it to liquid soap. So how the heck is this healthy? Apparently the coconut oil enhances what's known as thermogenesis — a big ol' scientific word for the process of burning fat. The water apparently burns energy and also has an appetite-suppression effect, which quite honestly rings a few warning bells. Sounds like your one-way ticket to intensifying an eating disorder, frankly. Whether or not Fat Water takes off remains to be seen — but with the cheeky $9 million Silicon Valley bandwagon-jumpers poured into Bulletproof Coffee, and the desperate measures people will take to get some form of unattainable 'bikini body', this could be a scarily popular item. Fat Water is now available in the US only, exclusive to Dave Asprey's Bulletproof cafes and a few LA health stores. And stay there. Via Grub Street.
File this one under news that probably won't happen, but damn would it be cool if it did: Italian architect Piero Lissoni has won a competition to design New York City's new aquarium, and it's easy to see why. The proposed 'Aquatrium' would be situated at Long Island City's Anable Basin, and would consist of two circular elements submerged in the East River. Picture the underwater lair of a '70s era James Bond villain, and you probably won't be too far off the mark. The plans feature an open-air basin sitting just below water level, boasting eight clear 'biomes' that would house aquatic creatures from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans along with the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Red and Tasman seas. An iceberg in the centre would represent the poles, while at night the space would be covered by a sliding domed roof, transforming it into a planetarium (casually). You can't accuse this guy of having a lack of imagination. "Having the water level define the starting point of the project, the site is excavated to become a spacious and innovative water basin," Lissoni's team told Dezeen. "The main idea is to generate an environment whereby visitors feel that they themselves are entering the water to discover the beauty of the marine life on display." Sadly, the design competition isn't anything official, so don't expect to be walking through Lissoni's futuristic aqua-dome any time soon. But feel free to stare longingly at the pretty pictures. Via Dezeen.
Have you ever tried to do yoga with a pet around? They're a bloody nuisance, getting up in your face during Downward Dog, tickling your ankles in Warrior Two, nuzzling in while you're taking some much-needed Child's Pose time. But perhaps you're all for a little fluffball in your grill in Baby Cobra pose. Rest assured, you're not the only one. Joining cat yoga classes around the globe, New York City's only cat cafe (yep, they've surprisingly only got one permanent spot after this pop-up) has introduced kitty yoga classes. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane cat cafes, take note. Lower East Side cat cafe Meow Parlour has launched yoga classes instore, letting humans and Kitty Kind rescue felines find their centre. They're taking cues from an Illinois cat shelter, who started cat-flanked yoga classes as a creative strategy to boost adoption rates. All this extra harmonious time spent with the kitties will hopefully encourage you to adopt one of your zen little friends. Let's be clear here, the cats aren't doing yoga in these classes. That would be genuinely incredible, but no, you're doing the yoga, and the kitties will scurry around your Three-Legged Dog pose. Meow Parlour's hour and a half sessions are structured as 45 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of cool-down and 30 minutes of kitty snuggles (way more feline time than a usual cat cafe visit). "One of the funny things about cats is that the more you ignore them, the more curious they are about you," Meow Parlour co-owner Christina Ha told Yoga Dork. "Our instructor, Amy, loves getting the students to do animal poses as it feels very appropriate to start off with a cat pose in an environment surrounded by cats. We like to think that visiting Meow Parlour is great for reducing your stress level and reinvigorating your soul, and yoga just seems like an extension of that." If this ever comes to Australian cat cafes, a little tip from the Meow Parlour crew: cats do leave claw marks on the mat. If you're in NYC or planning a trip soon, you can find Meow Parlour at 46 Hester Street, Manhattan. MP's yoga classes are held on Tuesdays at 3pm. Check the website for details or too book a class. Via Yoga Dork. Images: Lisa Cee (Flickr CC), Ethan Covey, Meow Parlour.
By now you've been to (or at least heard about) Holey Moley, the mini-golf bar that has taken over the Newtown Social Club space — which, for some, has been a sad sight to see. And now the putt putt empire is adding another Sydney venue to its ever-growing family, bringing its signature novelty combo of multi-sensory mini-golf, karaoke and booze to Castle Hill. Set to open its doors within Castle Towers Shopping Centre at the end of November, Holey Moley's seventh iteration will feature 18 uniquely themed holes, across two indoor courses, as well as a private karaoke room, where you can give those vocal chords a post-putt workout. But as an added bonus, this sprawling venue also boasts ten bowling lanes and its own escape room — Holey Moley is owned by FunLabs, which is the group behind Strike Bowling. Plus, it'll have a sports bar, complete with private booths and a plethora of screens. Here, you'll be able to order beer by the stein, goblet or tower, along with signature cocktails and snacks like hot dogs and loaded fries. The Castle Hill launch is expected to be well-received — both because the Newtown venue has been hugely popular and because the Castle Towers location is a little less culturally sacred (that is, not a legendary live music venue). It follows just a few weeks after the opening of Holey Moley's recent Newcastle addition. A 27-hole Perth venue is also set to open this month, with another slated for Queensland's Sunshine Coast next year. Find Holey Moley & Strike Bowling at Castle Towers, The Piazza, 6-14 Castle Street, Castle Hills, from November 30. For more info, visit holeymoley.com.au.
If you're a Sydney-based cinephile, the end of daylight savings and the beginning of cooler weather means one thing: the Sydney Film Festival. Yes, the city's annual celebration of movies, movies and even more movies is fast approaching, with the 64th iteration of the festival taking place from June 7 to 18. Given that's just 63 sleeps away — and counting — it's time for a sneak peek of just what filmic delights will be on offer. While the full festival program won't be revealed until May 10, SFF has unveiled 28 titles that'll grace Sydney's screens in June as a teaser. They've also announced another screen, adding the Randwick Ritz to their slate of venues alongside the CBD's State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the SFF Hub at Lower Town Hall, plus Dendy Newtown, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne and Blacktown's Skyline Drive-In. So, that's where you'll be watching great flicks for 12 days, but here's what you'll be watching. Leading the pack is the Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck-starring A Ghost Story, which sees the duo re-team with their Ain't Them Bodies Saints director David Lowery — it sparked quite a buzz at Sundance earlier in the year. In the high-profile camp, it'll be joined by sweet and sensitive artist biopic Maudie featuring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, as well as gorgeous Swiss animated effort My Life as a Zucchini, which was a very deserving nominee for Best Animated Feature at this year's Oscars. The absolutely riveting Samuel L. Jackson-narrated race relations documentary I Am Not Your Negro is also on the bill, as is the Whitney Houston doco Whitney: Can I Be Me with director Nick Broomfield in attendance, as well as an extensive look at Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's life and impact in Winnie. The list goes on. Coming to Sydney straight from the Berlinale is genre-shifting Polish mystery Spoor, and the raw and resonant queer romance God's Own Country. Trust us when we tell you to add both to your must-see pile. SFF-goers can also look forward to female-focused martial arts flick Mrs K, Mexican sci-fi drama The Untamed, an on-screen friendship between an architect and an elephant in Thailand's Pop Aye, Afghanistan's first female feature directing making her debut with Wolf and Sheep, plus the unscripted, shot-in-one-night Indian road movie Sexy Durga. And, we know that we always say this, but it wouldn't be a major film festival without an epic Lav Diaz-directed effort. This time, it's his Venice Gold Lion winner The Woman Who Left — and it's only 226-minutes long. Hey, less than four hours is short when it comes to the Filipino filmmaker. On the local front, prepare to scale great heights with Sherpa's Jennifer Peedom once again thanks to her similarly lofty follow-up, Mountain. In fact, if you're eager to catch the documentary as early as you can, it's screening at the Sydney Opera House before the fest, with a live orchestra providing the score. Or, check out indie comedy That's Not Me by Melbourne husband and wife duo Gregory Erdstein and Alice Foulcher, with both writing, the former directing and the latter starring. Those keen on scary attractions won't want to miss Australia-New Zealand co-production Spookers, the latest film by Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets' director Florian Habicht, which looks behind the scenes at the Southern Hemisphere's largest horror theme park in Auckland. If that's not enough, docos about the first rock band to play in North Korea, the only zoo in the world located in an occupied territory, and the influence of Native Americans upon American blues music are also all on offer as well. So is a stint of outdoor movie-watching courtesy of a drive-in session of classic comedy-horror An American Werewolf in London. Already feeling spoiled for choice? That's okay. That's what film festivals are all about. Just remember that there's much, much more to come when the complete SFF lineup drops. If you haven't already, you'd best cancel all your other June plans right now. The 2017 Sydney Film Festival will run from June 7 to 18. Check out their currently announced titles by heading to the festival website. The full program will be released on May 10.
Pyrmont Festival turns six this year, and they're marking the occasion with one of their best programs yet. It's a whopping ten-day festival of wine, food and art, running from May 13-22. The annually beloved event promises a pretty well jam-packed program of live music, unique dining experiences, exhibitions and sculpture installations featured all around Pyrmont. Every day of the festival program is different — ranging from Persian feasts, five-star dining experiences to wine tasting. The whole festival's an appreciation of local fare, but also a particular ode to the tasty food and wine being produced by our friends up in Mudgee. The festival's kicking off with a free two-day headliner event in Pirrama Park on Saturday, May 14, with live music, art and rides. Be aware, it is a family event, but to counterbalance any possibility of delightfully vocal children is the existence of 100 food and wine stalls scattered around the park. You can chat to local producers and sample delicious local goodies. As well as food stalls, there are also wine testing packages available, with prices starting at $20. The Pyrmont Festival opens on May 15 at 11am for a two-day headliner event at Pirrama Park. Various events will be held throughout the week — the lineup can be accessed here.
This year the Sydney Fringe Festival's thematic sprawl is matched only by its geographical reach. With Festival Director Kerri Glasscock placing emphasis on the importance of discovering "new places, sounds, people and genres", this year's Fringe comprises over 300 ticketed events and commandeers close to 50 venues over 11 suburbs throughout the city. Darlinghurst will be one of the first suburbs to find itself under creative governance. To celebrate the opening of the festival, Fringe will take over Stanley Street for an epic street party on Saturday, September 3. Fringe Ignite will see shops, bars and cafes on the strip transformed into pop-up live music and performance venues, all of which will be curated by Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and composer Barney McAll. It's also followed by a drag disco at Oxford Street's Midnight Shift from 9pm. And that's just the start of it. This year, the festival will run from 1-30 September with a series of coordinated artistic invasions taking place throughout the month. Performances hit all points of the compass, from Melita Rowson's Giant Worm Show to the 17-piece Sirens Big Band. Rose Callaghan's Attention Deficit…Ooh a Pony! is just one plank in a raft of comedy acts, while dance and visual arts are strongly represented by Melbourne City Ballet and Polixeni Papapetrou, respectively. The Yoganauts — four heroes who introduce kids to the superpower of yoga, naturally — will be returning to ensure younger audiences lose their minds too. On the Thursday, August 11, musician and Festival ambassador Elana Stone will spearhead the carving out of a new artistic precinct along Parramatta Road. Aptly named Off Broadway, an army of local independent artists will descend to reinvigorate a part of the city that is often mistaken for the Soviet Union. Close by, the beautiful new Camperdown Commons urban farm site will also become a vassal state to the arts with a range of events, and Camperdown Park will host a vintage cricket picnic. The festival isn't going out with anything other than a bang either. The closing weekend will see last year's sold out Silent Dinner Party — where diners eat a three-course meal in total silence — will make a return, and, for the first time ever, Fringe will host a mini music festival at Glebe's waterfront Bicentennial Park. The call is to party, but make no mistake – this is annexation by art. Batten down the hatches or pledge your allegiance to culture in the streets this September. For the full Sydney Fringe Festival program, visit sydneyfringe.com. Image: Belina Dipalo.
Sydney CBD restaurant The Bridge Room has joined the upper echelons of Australian dining, winning a third hat and taking out Restaurant of the Year at last night's prestigious Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2016 Awards. Opened just four short years ago by husband and wife Sunny and Ross Lusted, The Bridge Room joins the likes of fellow three-hatters like Rockpool and Sepia as the top tier of Australian hospitality. The top gong was awarded last night at a fancy schmancy ceremony at the Ivy Ballroom, where the industry's best and brightest nabbed hard-earned assembly awards for their establishments. One of the most hotly-anticipated openings of the year, Bennelong, took out Best New Restaurant, while Chef of the Year was awarded to Pasi Petanen of Cafe Paci. Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt won Best Bar for Monopole, Rockpool Bar & Grill took out Best Bar Food and a few brand new awards were introduced — Best Cheap Eat went to Japanese grill house Chaco Bar, and the People’s Choice to waterside stalwart Catalina. Lauren Eldridge, pastry chef at Marque, nabbed the 25th anniversary Josephine Pignolet Award recognising the brightest young whippersnappers on the NSW dining scene. More Sydneysiders nursing a champagne head this morning will include Rob Caslick, who nabbed the Food for Good award for his Inside Out Organic Soup Kitchen, teaching young mothers and pregnant teenagers to eat well and how to cook, Two Good a social enterprise employing women affected by domestic violence, and the St Canice Rooftop Garden run by asylum seekers. SMH GOOD FOOD GUIDE AWARDS 2015: Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year: The Bridge Room Citi Chef of the Year: Pasi Petanen Best New Restaurant: Bennelong Santa Vittoria Regional Restaurant of the Year: Fleet (Brunswick Heads) Vittoria Coffee Legend: Janni Kyritsis Citi Service Excellence: Cam Fairbairn, ACME Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year: Lauren Eldridge Food for Good Awards: Rob Caslick Best Bar Food: Rockpool Bar & Grill Wine List of the Year: Bentley Restaurant & Bar Best Bar: Monopole Champagne Pol Roger Sommelier of the Year: Sebastian Crowther MS, Rockpool est. 1989 Regional Wine List of the Year: Monster Kitchen & Bar Best Cheap Eat: Chaco Bar People’s Choice: Catalina Here's the full list of Sydney hats for 2015: THREE HATS The Bridge Room, Rockpool est. 1989, Quay, Sepia TWO HATS ARIA, Bennelong, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Berowra Waters Inn, Cafe Paci, Cottage Point Inn, est., Ester, The Four in Hand Dining Room, Guillaume, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Lucio’s Italian Restaurant, LuMi Bar & Dining, Marque, Momofuku Seiobo, Mr. Wong, Ormeggio at The Spit, Oscillate Wildly, Pilu at Freshwater, Porteño, Rockpool Bar & Grill, sixpenny, Spice Temple, Tetsuya’s ONE HAT 10 William St, ACME, Ajo Italian Restaurant, The Apollo, The Bathers’ Pavilion, Billy Kwong, Bistro Moncur, Bistrode CBD, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Bodega, Buon Ricordo, Catalina, China Doll, Cho Cho San, Felix, Firedoor, Fratelli Paradiso, Gastro Park, glass brasserie, Izakaya Fujiyama, Jonah’s Restaurant, Kepos Street Kitchen, Longrain, LP’s Quality Meats, Monopole, Moon Park, MoVida, Ms.G’s, Nomad, Osteria Balla, Osteria di Russo & Russo, Otto Ristorante, The Restaurant Pendolino, Sagra, Sean’s, Sokyo, sushi e, Three Blue Ducks, Uccello, Ume Restaurant, Vini, Yellow
Balmain's historic Town Hall Hotel has reopened to the public, after being snapped up by the Balmain Pub Group and given a refurb across both levels — with a new outdoor 'Treehouse' space. "We wanted to completely change it from what it was," said Warren Livingstone, who co-owns the pub with Nick Wills. "We wanted to make it a bright, sunny open venue, which would be attractive during the day as well as night, and we wanted to have a completely different vibe to every pub in Balmain." On ground level, you'll notice the much-loved island bar hasn't gone anywhere. If you're looking to catch a match, settle in front of one of the big screens. And, there's a pool table, too. Head upstairs for a cosy fireplace and quiet chats in the balcony Treehouse area. It's been revamped, with input from designer Will Dangar, so you can expect bright colours, cane furniture and dashes of greenery. Plans are in the works for a rooftop bar, overlooking the city. Meanwhile, Balmain Pub Group's executive chef and former AHA Chef of the Year Brad Sloane has come up with a brand new menu. Sliding in somewhere between classic pub fare and the high-end, dishes include seared tuna salad with green beans and chick peas, naked burgers, lamb cutlets and fish tacos. "[Brad] has been an institution in the Balmain area for years, from when the Riverview Hotel was part of the group," Warren said. "The menu is light and clean, with an emphasis on fresh fish, salads and shared plates." Find Balmain's Town Hall Hotel at 366 Darling Street, Balmain.
Giving back and scoring some sweet new threads sound too good to be true? Naysayers, HoMie is here to dispel your doubt. A pop-up store with a heart of gold, HoMie is an initiative of Homeless of Melbourne, who put a creative spin on social justice. Boasting both up-and-coming as well as established local designers, the store will donate a piece of clothing to a member of the homeless community for each item purchased. For co-founder Nick Pearce, this 'one for one' policy "is a new way of trying to reinvigorate that whole outdated op-shop scenario and bring in something new and diverse, and hopefully have a bit of an impact in the homeless sector". With its first-hand clothes, new fit-out and mix of paying and non-paying clientele, HoMie aims to create a dignified shopping experience for Melbourne's homeless. Their crew of dedicated suppliers will be going that extra mile too, donating their time and expertise to running workshops that focus on increasing employability and life skills for Melbourne's most vulnerable. If their inventive project hasn't hooked you in already, a scroll through their Facebook page is sure to fix that. The charity has been collecting the stories of the city's battlers for the past eight months and sharing them online to debunk misconceptions about homelessness. They've garnered close to 15,000 followers. "We wanted to make people stop and think about where these people come from, so we're not just walking past, making judgements," says Marcus Crook, the other half of HoM. Marcus and Nick devised this latest three-month concept store following the success of HoM's Street Store in Federation Square in December last year. Armed with stacks of paper coat hangers and a budding team of eager volunteers, HoM gave Melburnians in need a chance to snag some pre-loved garments. "The response we got was unbelievable," says Nick, "we found that a lot of people on our page really wanted to help and donate stuff, but they just didn't know how to do it or where to go." That led them to look for a more permanent guise for the Street Store, and so shopfront HoMie was born. Speaking of dedication to the cause, Nick and Marcus are finding out just what it's like to live on the streets, spending two nights this week camping out in Melbourne's CBD for a humbling insight into the realities of life without a secure home. "We don't think its anything special because obviously people do it every night of their lives," says Marcus, "but we're going to be going out there with a sleeping bag and a phone in case of an emergency and just seeing what happens." Great intentions aside, these grand visions don't come cheap. As a grassroots organisation, HoMie is all too aware of the costs of CBD rent. They've turned to Pozible to raise $10,000 towards the rent and associated start-up costs, vowing to employ homeless labourers and designers as much as possible in the process. At time of writing, they're over halfway to their goal, with 17 days to go. Along with the Many Hands online art gallery and the Youth Food Movement Melbourne, the organisation is also in line for additional funds if they meet their target, thanks to burger chain Grill'd's Local Matters donation program. HoMie is vying for $2,000 that goes to the winner of the in-store customer vote at Grill'd restaurants. There's also $500 in it for each project that reaches its Pozible target. With goals of turning this three-month appearance into a long-term venture, HoMie hopes to open its arms to Melbourne this May. To help make it happen, grab a bite to eat at one of Grill'd Melbourne CBD locations or contribute directly to the Pozible campaign, which includes rewards like art prints and T-shirts.
John Cleese and Eric Idle are silly walking their way to Australia, for a brand new live show premiering early next year. The Monty Python co-founders will visit major cities around the country for a series of one night only performances, combining scripted comedy, improvisation, musical numbers, aquatic juggling and audience Q&As. John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time will begin on the Gold Coast on February 25, before travelling to the Brisbane Convention Centre on February 27, Adelaide's AEC Theatre on March 1, Canberra's Royal Theatre on March 5, Perth's Riverside Theatre on March 9 Sydney's State Theatre on March 14, and Melbourne's Hamer Hall on March 18. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10am on Monday, December 21. "Eric and I had huge fun touring the States in October and now we can bring our show to the friendliest people in the world," said Cleese. "No one show will be the same and all of them will annoy the Politically Correct." "Having enjoyed the World Tour of Florida, we were looking for somewhere else large aquatic reptiles of the sub family Crocodylinae also thrived," added Idle. "The Nile was booked, so we are coming to Australia. Having once married a Sheila and as the father of a half Australian son I look forward to touring one of my all-time favourite places." JOHN CLEESE AND ERIC IDLE: TOGETHER AGAIN AT LAST... FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME February 25 — Jupiters Theatre, Gold Coast February 27 — Brisbane Convention Centre March 1 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide March 5 — Royal Theatre, Canberra March 9 — Riverside Theatre, Perth March 14 — State Theatre, Sydney March 18 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Tickets on sale Monday, December 21 at 10am. Book at venue websites, Ticketek or Ticketmaster.
First, there was Goodgod. Then there was Plan B. And now, Sydney's much-loved, inner city small club has relaunched with a brand new moniker: Hudson Ballroom. But, the plan is much the same as it's always been — to bring you new music, late nights, good times and friendly people. As in its incarnation as Plan B, the club is in partnership with Nathan Farrell Entertainment, to bring you artists from Australia and the world. On Thursday, October 6, catch DJ collective Fleetmac Wood (London/LA), who've been busy remixing Fleetwood Mac tunes for modern ears. Come Friday, Sidechains will be taking over the floor and, on Saturday night, you'll be hearing from Gassed. Keep an eye on the program, as there are loads more club nights coming up. Sydney favourites like Rhythm of the Night, Halfway Crooks, Player Haters Club, IZMZ Girls and Freshly Squeezed are all on the horizon. "For us, the priority was to keep the doors open to one of the few places you can still go for a dance and see a live music gig," said Clark Mak, who bought the venue with two of his mates. "We didn't have time to work out all the details, so we needed a 'Plan B' and the name stuck, but we've since been working away to develop our own identity … We're thrilled and honoured to keep this venue going and super excited to finally relaunch." In the kitchen, Belly Bao is still running the show, serving up their famous fried chicken, steamed bun bao and banana splits. And signature cocktails continue to reign at the bar, with offerings including an agave-glazed, bacon-flavoured old fashioned and an espresso martini with Barcardi Fuego foam. Find Hudson Ballroom at 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney. Gig/night details on the website. Image: Chris Frape.
Summer has come to Sydney Harbour, with the return of the Sydney Opera House's Summer Playground. For the fourth year in a row, the sun-soaked western forecourt and foyers will play host to a range of activities and pop-up dining experiences, all inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of an Italian Riviera. Open 9am until late, seven days a week, from now through to the very last day of January, this year's Summer Playground has been christened 'Salsedine,' an Italian word that describes the feeling of salt on your skin. There'll be free afternoon sessions featuring locals DJs and acoustic acts, plus on-site activations including a pop-up Chandon bar. Veteran chef Lauren Murdoch has taken care of the summer menu, which includes a number of salads, paninis and antipasto plates, as well as pizzas, grilled calamari and oysters with lemon. In the beverage department you can sip on a variety of beers, wines, bubbles and digestifs, along with a handful of classic and custom made cocktails. On top of all that, Bennelong Restaurant are currently operating a pop-up balcony bar, while Opera Bar are running twice weekly breakfast and yoga sessions – although all the spots to the latter have already sold out. Taking full advantage of the summer sun, The Opera House has also extended its tour hours for January, giving you some extra time to explore what's going on back stage. For more information about summer happenings at The Opera House, go here.
To usher in the Chinese New Year, artist Fan Dongwang is bringing you an exhibition bursting with colour, where traditional Chinese images meet Western icons. Titled Icons of Identity, the show is a celebration of multiculturalism in Australia. It's an exploration of the possibility of finding a common language through art. "[The images and icons] are not only beautiful but also powerful symbols of nationhood," said Dongwang. "It is through these symbols that the past continues to have a bearing on the present as well as the future." Dongwang moved to Sydney from China in 1990. By then, he was already a respected artist in his home country, have exhibited at Shanghai Art Gallery many times. Since then, he's completed a PhD at Wollongong Uni and held shows in galleries all over Australia, including the National Gallery. Head to 541 Art Space on 3 February between 6pm and 8pm, to catch Icons of Identity's opening night.
When you're home alone and looking to belt out a few tunes when nobody is watching (we've all been there), the tinny speakers on your laptop simply won't do. Prioritising high quality sound is often relegated to the realms of live music venues and exxy headphones, but fortunately, Sonos is upping the home stereo game. Thanks to their insanely high-quality wireless PLAY:1 smart speakers, audiophiles can crank up the crisp sound quality they deserve — and you can customise the sound in every room in your house. This is some gadget wizardry. Controlled using a free app for iOS, Android, Mac or PC, the compact smart speaker PLAY:1 boasts crystal clear sound and can stream your own music library to any room in your house — including your bathroom, if you so require. Seriously, close your eyes and you'll swear Aqua was performing in your living room. As it happens, we're such big Sonos fans that we threw a beach party with them in Byron Bay this past weekend (using those killer speakers) and we're teaming up with them on a giveaway that music lovers won't want to miss. Enter your details below and you can go in the running to win one of their coveted PLAY:1 speakers, valued at $299. [competition]582397[/competition]
Heineken are celebrating the launch of the new low-carb Heineken 3, by hosting a few free Sunday sessions across Sydney this summer called (Music + Art + Play)3. At The Port in Darling Harbour on December 4, Flight Facilities touring vocalist Michaela Baranov, DJ Matty Saville and GodWolf will perform a set together, which will be documented in artistic form by a portrait artist and photographer. It's all about three hours of art, music and play. But most importantly, there will be beer. Heineken 3 buckets are available to purchase, and some may be given out for free along with Heineken 3 merch by brand ambassadors.
Bring a little colour to your summer G&Ts, thanks to a new Australian made small batch gin. Produced by the family-owned Husk Distillers in Northern NSW, Ink Gin is made with organic botanicals and infused with the petals of the butterfly pea flower. The result is a spirit with touches of lemon myrtle, pepper and orange that stands out a mile away thanks to its royal blue hue. That's right, blue gin. The coloured spirit came about after three years of experimenting by Husk owner Paul Messenger. Botanicals used in its creation include citrus peel, juniper berries, elderflower and cinnamon, while its unique appearance comes from the butterfly pea, which is traditionally used in South East Asian cooking. The flower's pH sensitivity also means that the gin changes colour when mixed with tonic water, going from deep blue to pale pink. Not a bad trick to have up your sleeve the next time you invite somebody over for drinks. Speaking to The Gold Coast Bulletin, Paul's daughter Harriet said that the demand for the gin has been enormous. "We sold out of our first batch in three days," she said. "We have been keeping up the distilling to make sure we could meet demand but we really did not expect people to embrace it so quickly." So how can you get your hands on one? 700mL bottles of Ink Gin can be purchased online for $80 plus a $10 shipping fee Australia-wide. It is also available in select bars around Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA. Just make sure you store it somewhere dark, so that it retains its natural colour. Lastly and importantly, it won't stain your teeth. Via Australian Bartender and The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Summer is here, Christmas is coming and everyone's looking for a ticket out of the city — for a few days, when the holidays roll around; or for a longer stay, should an extended getaway be in your future. If enjoying scenic nature sights in comfort sounds like your idea of bliss, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting another pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve. It's Flash Camp's second stint on the site, after first enjoying the location's charms earlier in 2017. This time, they're sticking around not only through the Christmas and New Year period, but until May 30, 2018. If you can't make the 2.5-hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney (or thirty minutes from Nowra) this year, start planning next year's Easter vacation or sneaky weekender. The remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site is located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $130 to $240 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the esky full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from through until May 30. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney. By Marissa Ciampi and Sarah Ward.
Looking for an opulent, world heritage-listed B&B stay in Paris that'll make you feel like a pre-Revolution French monarch? The Palace of Versailles is opening a hotel and restaurant, where you can have your cake and eat it too. According to The Age, the world-famous 17th century palace has hit a spot of financial trouble, and is opening a hotel on the premises to raise much-needed funds. With more than seven million people wandering through the iconic grounds every year, it sounds like they're doing okay. But the state-owned palace has seen funding cuts from €47.4 million (around $70.7 million) in 2013 to €40.5 million (around $60.2 million) in 2015 — a hefty decrease when you're trying to renovate palatial Rococo apartments. Enter LOV Hotel Collection. The French-based hospitality group have just won the tender to transform the three 17th century buildings in the palace grounds right next to Louis XIV's beloved Orangerie into commercial accommodation. The Grand Controle, Petit Controle and Pavillon buildings — former treasurer and officers' mess buildings just 100 yards from the main palace — will be converted into 20 luxest of the luxe boutique hotel rooms. What's more, the 'hotel' — if you can call it that — will also house a world-class restaurant. Renowned Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse is locked in to open a fine dining venue on the premises. Exactly what the restaurant will be like remains to be seen, but we're thinking levels of opulent cakery like this: "There will be no other hotel in the world like this one," according to a Versailles palace spokesman. "This is an emblem of French history and a cultural landmark. It will be an authentically royal experience." Guests will apparently be able to eat cake, drink French champagne and generally live like a House of Bourbon monarch during their stay. One thing you can probably expect? One heck of a price tag, and a tidal wave of cashed-up honeymooners. Renovations are expected to cost upwards of €14 million (that's $20 million plus), and should be finished sometime in 2018. Stay tuned. Updated: April 11, 2016. Via The Age and CTV News. Top images: Dollar Photo Club.
The One Day crew is hitting the road, bringing their famous daytime block parties to live music venues around Australia. Between the end of October and the week before Christmas, DJs from the beloved Sydney hip hop collective will bounce from coast to coast, stopping by a dozen capital cities and country towns along the way. Taking its cue from the group's massive monthly blowouts in Sydney, the One Day Block Party National Tour will see the One Day crew team up with local DJs and artists as they roll through pub, beer gardens, courtyards and car parks. Expect food and booze, live graffiti and a whole bunch of hip hop. The tour will start on October 29 in Adelaide before rolling through WA, Queensland, NSW and Victoria, finally wrapping up in the nation's capital on December 18. ONE DAY BLOCK PARTY NATIONAL TOUR Saturday 29th October – The Ed Castle, Adelaide Sunday 30th October – The Rosemount, Perth Saturday 12th November – Kirwan Tavern, Townsville Sunday 13th November – Magnum's, Airlie Beach Saturday 19th November – Miami Tavern, Gold Coast Sunday 20th November – Ric's Backyard, Brisbane Saturday 26th November – The Rosemount, Perth Sunday 27th November – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough Saturday 10th December – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle Sunday 11th December – Beer Deluxe, Albury Saturday 17th December – Proud Mary's, Erina Sunday 18th December – Westside Village, Canberra To book tickets, visit www.onedayblockparty.com.
Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, is back for its seventh year — and it's set to be as boundary-pushing as ever. As always, the festival will take place in the lead up to the winter solstice, exploring connections between old and contemporary mythology through art installations, performance, talks and music — all taking place in the darkness of Tasmanian winter. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo will takeover most of Hobart between June 6–23, showcasing a melting pot of artists, creatives and thinkers who dwell in the shadows of mainstream culture. Just-announced musicians include FKA Twigs — who's also bringing her experimental dream pop to Vivid Sydney this year — New York-based composer Nicolás Jaar, American singer John Grant and multi-instrumentalist Roger Eno. Other highlights of the music program include an audiovisual 'soundbath' by Sigur Rós; an international metal program, featuring Brazil's Mystifier; and the return of Night Mass, a ritualistic series of multi-venue late-night parties featuring Sampa the Great, FAKA and Empress Of. These musicians and creatives join those announced in the first lineup drop last week, which included boundary-pushing speakers in the Dark + Dangerous Thoughts program, artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, and singer and actor Sharon Van Etten. The festival's dark and quirky arts lineup has grown, too, with the addition of a latex-filled installation and performance by Japan's Saeborg and an immersive group exhibition — of ten international artists, including Canada's Cassils, USA's Paul McCarthy and India's Shilpa Gupta — inside the former Forestry Tasmania Building. The award-winning building — which once housed its own forest — is just one of many new venues to join this year's program. Come June, revellers will also be able to party inside the Old Hobart Blood Bank, the Avalon and Odeon theatres, the Old Davey St Congregational Church and aboard a floating natural wine bar, dubbed Natty Waves. Of course, all the festival favourites are set to make a triumphant return, too. You'll be able to drink and eat amongst inverted crosses and candles at the Winter Feast, try not to freeze during the very cold Nude Solstice Swim and absolve your sins at Night Mass. Images: Rémi Chauvin and Rosie Hastie.
Australia's 2017 tennis season is kicking off with a bang, with some of the world's fiercest talent descending on Sydney for the FAST4 Showdown on January 9. It's AUS v THE WORLD at the newly unveiled International Convention Centre, where this one-night event will see two of our Aussie tennis stars battle it out for glory on the court, taking on a team of international big-guns in two best-of-five matches. With the flash new venue, hot-ticket player line up and an equally buzzworthy entertainment program planned, FAST4 is heating up to be one of the most epic events on Sydney's 2017 sporting calendar. Serving up a showdown to remember (on and off the court) the crowd-pulling event will see the legendary Lleyton Hewitt helm an Aussie side of Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. The pair will be facing off against international greats, world number four and 14 time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and world number 5 Kei Nishikori. Meanwhile, Gold Coast DJ's The Stafford Brothers will be spinning tunes, both before the first match and throughout the rest of the evening. Tickets available here.
Melbourne boasts a George Costanza-themed hangout, Ipswich recently welcomed a German restaurant with a Breaking Bad twist, and now Brisbane has a bar and eatery inspired by a '70s television sitcom. That'd be Ginger's Diner — and don't be concerned if you haven't picked the reference yet. The new addition to Petrie Terrace is more than a little fond of M*A*S*H, but it is being rather subtle about it. Think of Caxton Street's latest hotspot as the kind of place the classic TV show's characters would frequent if they were on a break from their mobile army surgical army hospital. Yes, Ginger's has styled itself after a Korean hole-in-the wall joint — and yes, if you can't remember from stumbling countless reruns, M*A*S*H is set during the Korean War. Cocktails such as Klinger's Closet and Seoul Sojourn keep the theme going, while the snack-heavy menu surveys the best of the country's cuisine. If wasabi peas and nuts, kimchi pancakes with sesame and soy dressing, fried chicken with hot-sweet sauce and and bibimbap get your tastebuds tingling, then you're going to love Ginger's food lineup. And, it's available until midnight daily. Other than its TV ties and Asian dishes, there's another reason that Brisbanites should get excited about the 65-seat venue: its pedigree. There's a reason Ginger's is located right next door to Lefty's Old Time Music Hall, after all. They're both owned by Jamie Webb, the man behind Sonny's House of Blues, Gordita, Peasant and Los Villanos — aka some of the city's favourite restaurants and hangouts. For more information on Ginger's Diner, keep an eye on their website. Via Good Food.
Australia is well known for having some of the best dining in the world. Melbourne is a city where people happily spend an entire weekend rambling from restaurant to restaurant; from café to cocktail, on the hunt for a new favourite. And in Sydney, whether your tastes run to Frankie's Pizza or are more on the Quay side of things, you'll find bountiful opportunity to explore this foodie mecca. It doesn't matter if you're in a major capital or dining at a hidden local gem, Aussie restaurants and cafes consistently turn out incredibly fresh, vibrant and exciting tucker — inspired by access to some of the finest meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables in the world. We have two restaurants among the Top 100 Restaurants in the world (tip your hats Attica; Brae) and Aussie coffee champ Sasa Sestic scooped the World Barista Championships in 2015. With such a heady mix of talent hailing from Australia, it makes sense that the rest of the world would want a slice of our home-grown cuisine and expertise. We've partnered with Expedia to take a jaunt around the world and explore some Australian-owned restaurants in far-flung locales. Perhaps they'll inspire your next trip — they're definitely worthy of one. HARDWARE SOCIÉTÉ, PARIS The much beloved breakfast and brunch spot of 120 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, opened up shop in Paris recently and has been providing homesick ex-pats and Parisians alike with their petit-déjeuner since late 2016. You can get your 64-degree eggs with delights like ham hock (18€) or über decadent lobster (20€) and enjoy a genuine Melbourne Padre latte to sip as you dine. Aussie visitors to Paris looking for a little taste of home, and Parisians looking for a slice of Melbourne breakfast culture, will both find what they're looking for here. 10 rue Lamarck, 75018, Paris GERALD'S BAR, SAN SEBASTIAN Melbourne's long-beloved Carlton fave for wine lovers and good-time seekers has a new location. And while it's got that same Gerald's charm it's basically on the other side of the world; 17,195km away in San Sebastián, Spain. If it weren't for the fact that we have the original right here in Melbourne (thank the gods), we'd be on a plane right now for some of that exceptional wine and unbeatable Gerald's atmosphere. Eponymous proprietor, Gerald Diffey, took over an existing restaurant space in 2014 and gave it the Gerald's flourish. Now you can dine on mountain cheeses while sipping a curated list of local and international drops. If you're in San Sebastián it's a must-do. Calle del Ángel, 10, 20003 San Sebastián RUBY'S, NEW YORK CITY Visitors to Ruby's in NYC will be greeted by many things – tastes, smells, sights – but the first thing that may greet you on sighting Ruby's is a queue to get in the door. This decidedly bijoux eatery is so damn popular that people have no qualms about lining up just to take a seat inside. Enjoy nostalgic burgers like the Coogee ($12.50) with mushroom, romesco, cress, zucchini and goat's cheese; or tuck into the Whaleys ($13.50) and enjoy a classic Aussie burger complete with beetroot, pineapple and fried egg. Don't fancy a burger? No problem – order off the breakfast menu before 1pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends. The breakfast bowl is particularly good. If you're homesick and abroad or just want to tuck into a seriously good meal in NYC, you'll find it at Ruby's. 219 Mulberry St # A, New York DA MARIA, BALI Undoubtedly set to be one of the hottest places to see and be seen in Bali, Da Maria is the latest venture for Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini. He's behind Sydney classic, Icebergs, and is set to provide Bali dwellers and visitors alike with North Bondi Italian food (the website says they're bringing the Amalfi Coast to Bali) in a luxe Canggu locale. The venue has only just flung open its doors, and the tasteful interior and stunning luxe layout makes for the perfect spot to get a little bit fancy at dinner. Or, dance and drink the night away with DJs every evening from 10pm. If you're hungry at night they've got you covered with their delectable lava-oven baked pizzas available til late. Jalan Petitenget No. 170, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali CHINESE TUXEDO, NEW YORK CITY Aussies Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam set about with a single goal in mind: to modernise Chinese dining in NYC. Their pretty spectacular venue is housed in an ex-Chinese opera house and offers its diners a broad menu which has been carefully designed to tick all the boxes. There are traditional regional Chinese dishes on offer, creatively interspersed with exciting salads and flavoursome noodle dishes. They look set to make their mark on an exciting space, with the hope being that they'll be the go-to for high-end Chinese dining in NYC. Buckingham and Lam say that at Chinese Tuxedo the food speaks for them, so if you're in New York City we recommend you go and listen. 5 Doyers St, New York, NY PARAMOUNT COFFEE PROJECT, LOS ANGELES This industrial-chic Sydney café spread its wings to LA recently, opening up a similarly bright and airy cafe in the style of its Surry Hills sister venue, in late 2015. Los Angeles diners choose from a range of 'things on toast': soft scram ($11), avocado ($12) or local burrata ($14) – to name but a few; or other ubiquitous Aussie breakfast staples. Milkshakes run from the standard (vanilla malt, $7) to the downright awesome/weird (vegemite and butterscotch, $7) and you can rest assured that the hot drinks menu is just as impressive as the food. Discerning coffee drinkers have a veritable slew of Australian brews and other hot and cold options on offer. 456 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles ST ALI, JAKARTA The much-beloved Melbourne coffee spot and all-round brunch star, St Ali, recently exploded into Jakarta and has been making diners happy with their Melbourne-style menu. Feast on the smoked salmon omelette with a cup of their delightful coffee, or tempt yourself with a matcha chai parfait as part of your 'clean eating' kick. It won't last long when there are treats like fried chicken and slaw on offer as well, but you can try. Next time you're in the Indonesian capital be sure to pop by for a coffee at St Ali's new venue – in partnership with Indonesia's Common Grounds Roastery – to get a look in at this stunning spot. RT.6/RW.7, Karet Kuningan, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta THE APOLLO, TOKYO Greek food and Japan aren't usually two things that would spring to your mind at the same time. But then, you were probably thinking of The Apollo — the contemporary Greek restaurant that opened in Ginza in the middle of 2016 — weren't you? The star of Sydney's modern Greek scene, The Apollo, has landed bringing the same beloved, succulent, smoky flavours of Greek cooking to the heart of Tokyo. Choose from lemony pan-fried saganaki, or dine on meltingly tender ten-hour slow-cooked Aussie lamb. Best to book — this is a popular spot with ex-pats and locals alike. Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza FRATELLI PARADISO, TOKYO One of Sydney's most beloved haunts for fine Italian food is getting a new venue mid next year in a very special location: Tokyo. Owner Giovanni Paradiso decided on Japan as the spot for his expansion after exploring the idea of another venue in Sydney or Melbourne and realising that Japan ticked all the boxes. His new 90-seat venue is on track to open its doors in late April 2017. Toshi Nakayasu will helm the kitchen as head chef and will be offering familiar Italian classics as well as special local dishes too. The wine will be sourced from around the world and will be heavily based on natural wines, something that Paradiso is especially excited about. Keep an eye out for this one. HO LEE FOOK, HONG KONG Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong Kong must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). Owned and operated by the team at Black Sheep Restaurants, the name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong Become an Expedia+ member and book your food holiday in the January summer sale— you'll have access to prices that others don't see. By Laura Dawson and Shannon Connellan.
Global ride sharing service Uber have teamed up with the legends at Gelato Messina for a one day only office ice cream delivery service. This Friday July 24, heroic Uber drivers will be dispatched across Australia with ice cold scoops of fudgy, wafery, milk choc chippy goodness. As if you needed another reason to look forward to Friday. Here's how it all works: Step One – Starting at 11am, Uber users can log into the app and enter the promotional code 'IceCreamOz' along with their location. Step Two – There is no step two. Your tub of ice cream is already on its way. The #UberIceCream promotion is being run in Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Byron Bay, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Bunbury. Existing Uber users will be charged $15 for the transaction, while first time users get their ice cream free of charge. The company has also teased some less conventional delivery methods, including dog sleds and jet skis. This could be very interesting. Messina have even created a new flavour for the occasion, consisting of hazelnut gelato with white chocolate, hazelnut fudge, chocolate chips and cream filled wafers (unfortunately there's no backup option for people with egg or nut allergies.) Uber have actually offered ice cream delivery before, along with a number of other novelty promotions such as gourmet lunches and kittens (the kittens were not for eating, thankfully.) And while their legal status in Australia is still a little murky, as long as they keep pulling clever stunts like this – not to mention just being better than regular cabs in pretty much every way – we get the feeling that they won't be going anywhere.
What exactly does 'Australian life' look like, really? It's a pretty damn broad term, we know. If you were to capture a little glimpse of your own everyday Aussie existence, what would it look like? Each year, the City of Sydney holds their high profile Australian Life photography competition as part of Art and About. After a nationwide callout, 22 winning photos, all encapsulating the essence of Australian life, and taken by photographers at all skill levels, are presented in a free outdoor exhibition. Sometimes, the photos feature majestic Australian sunsets, bright outback-influenced colours or stunning beachscapes. Other times, the photos are of friends swinging off a Hills Hoist in the outback, or lying in the sun on a friend's deck. These photographs (all winners, or finalists in the competition) prove that you don't need to be a professional photographer to win the $10,000 prize. You could have a photo of your friends drinking tinnies by a campfire, or a majestic Bondi panorama you were going to post on Instagram. Think again — it could be the perfect image of Australian Life. [caption id="attachment_580209" align="alignnone" width="1280"] John Appleyard, Even When the Rain Falls (2015)[/caption] SIMPLE TECHNIQUES GO A LONG WAY Turn an everyday moment into a magic one by thinking about simple photography techniques, like framing and contrast. If you were at this football game, you may have just seen a team huddling in the rain. But John Appleyard, a 2015 finalist with Even When the Rain Falls, saw a team wearing dark colours, huddled in the foreground of an expansive, well-lit green field. The perfect backdrop for a stunning photograph. [caption id="attachment_580212" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mark Callanan, Sundeckers (2013)[/caption] ANY OL' MOMENT CAN MAKE A NEXT-LEVEL PHOTO Mark Callanan's Sundeckers proves you don't need to be a professional to take a great shot. This shot could have come straight off someone's Instagram account, a quick shot of a group of friends taking in the first days of summer sunshine (probably after a cold winter). Learning to recognise everyday moments like this as they come, and being able to turn them into something more, will make for great photography. [caption id="attachment_580213" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sally McInerney, Shark in Pool, Dover Heights (2012)[/caption] MAKE THEM THINK TWICE This stunning photograph by Sally McInerney, winner of the competition in 2012, plays with perspective in all the right ways. It matches the lines of a Photoshopped ocean up to the lines of a real-life Australian ocean — a detailed technique that makes you look twice, if only to figure out how the photographer achieved it. For an extra kick, she titled it Shark in Pool, Dover Heights, just to reel you in for another look. [caption id="attachment_580220" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jenny Evans, Eleanor, Portrait of a Boxer (2013)[/caption] GET YOUR TIMING RIGHT This street mural was already beautiful. But when Jenny Evans captured it in her winning photograph Portrait of a Boxer, she made it even more mesmerising. If you're shooting outside, choose a time of day that will make your subject go further. Sunset is the perfect time to shoot landscapes, or colours like those in the indigenous flag. Overcast weather, or shade, is the perfect time to shoot people. [caption id="attachment_580208" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Georgina Pope, A Great Day for Drying (2014)[/caption] FIND INSPIRATION IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD A Great Day for Drying is the photograph Georgina Pope took when she won the Australian Life competition in 2014. She gathered a few props from around the house, and then took them out to her own backyard to be photographed with an instantly recognisable Australian icon — the Hills Hoist. No professional photography studio needed. Inspired? Art & About Sydney is inviting professional and amateur Australian photographers to submit images representing Australian life, showing the country beyond the icons. Capture any aspect of Australia, from everyday occurrences to the diversity of subcultures, from celebrations/rituals to natural/man-made environments. You could be one of the 22 finalists who'll be chosen and exhibited in Hyde Park from 15 September – 9 October 2016. The winner of Australian Life will receive $10,000. Enter here. Entries close at midnight on Friday, July 29.
After the announcement that Stereosonic will be going on a 'hiatus' for 2016 and other big music festivals — Future Music and Soundwave included — throwing in the towel due to poor ticket sales, it seemed that this big, bad world of the Australian festival scene was too brutal, too tough for anyone to even consider breaking into the market right now. Well, not exactly. Because while the big guys are struggling, boutique festivals seem to keep on thriving. And a new festival, Sandalphon, has even been announced for later this year. Sandalphon will commandeer 225 acres of private land in the Gold Coast hinterland for three days of music and general debauchery over the Queensland Queen's Birthday long weekend on October 1-3. The music acts are yet to be announced (although it's set to be a mix of indie bands, DJs and R&B artists), but it's all the other stuff that's got us pretty damn excited. There will be seven stages — one of which will be on a lake and can be viewed from the actual water while floating on inflatable pool toys (!!!) — a nightly outdoor cinema, daily yoga practice, round-the-clock bathroom attendants and free access to the things you don't think to take camping, like hair ties and straighteners. Other add-ons seem to take heed from other Australian festivals, like 'The Treehouse', a stage that will be hidden off the festival map in a secret location, a dress-up policy and a kissing booth. Looks like someone might have gone to Secret Garden. There'll be all the usual food vendors, of course, plus three sit-down restaurants, which are apparently five-star (whatever that means). Tickets start from $280 for a one-day pass, $290 for a two-day pass and $300 for a three-day pass. SO obviously it makes sense to go the whole hog and stick it out for three days. Tickets include camping and parking and can be bought here. According to Sandalphon's website, the lineup should be announced soon.
When news dropped of Sydney getting its own burger festival, many of you understandably lost your collective shit. And by many, we mean tens of thousands of you. When Hashtag Burgers announced the glorious, glorious news of the very first Burgapalooza back in February, over 10,000 clicked 'attending' on Facebook. For an event... at Marrickville's Vic on the Park pub. Due to this overwhelming response to an event at a pub, Hashtag Burgers found a new home for their whopper of a burger event. HB's Archie Saliba and Ben Kagan relocated Burgapalooza to a much bigger venue — University of Sydney's Manning House. Having already accommodated the likes of OutsideIn, One Day Only and many a student rager, Manning is a bloody good choice for an epic burger fest. Burgapalooza is now running over two whole days (April 16 and 17) instead of the original one. Now you have an entire weekend of burger scoffing to look forward to. And of course, those bigger numbers mean the event is indeed now ticketed to control the crowds — and will be split into lunch and dinner sessions. There are also a few lineup additions, thanks to the bigger venue. Sydney favourite One Tea Lounge has joined the party, bringing their beloved ice cream sliders to the table. They're joining an all-star cast of Sydney's most lauded burger crews including Bare Grill, Pub Life Kitchen, Barrio Cellar, Redfern's Milk Bar by Café Ish, Chefs Kitchen and Bar Luca — each bringing with them one burger creation exclusive to Burgapalooza. Bondi hot sauce specialists Handsome Devils Co. will be the official hot sauce supplier for the day. They'll be hosting a chilli eating challenge, while Foodora and Goodtime Burgers host the epic Man Versus Burger eating comp. There'll be live art from some of Australia's best street artists including CRISIS, Grizz, Dose-one and Mike Watt — artworks which will be auctioned off throughout the day, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish foundation. There'll be stocked bars on the day as well, alongside one heck of a set from Sydney lad Mike Who hits the decks alongside Hashtag's regular DJs. Burgapalooza is now running April 16-17 at Manning Bar at Sydney Uni. Stalls open from 11am until 4pm, with the second session kicking off from 5pm until 9pm. Image: Bonditonys/Handsome Devils Co.
The modern world can be very demanding. Whether it’s the stress of dealing with an impossible letter lineup in Words with Friends or never feeling you're truly free from your work email, life's day-to-day pressures and our inability to switch off from screens and stimulus has led to a rise in mental health problems among young professionals. Luckily, the easiest way to counter stress and poor mental health (apart from jogging, which is the worst) is through meditation, which is what the good folk at Centred Mediation in Sydney’s CBD can help you with. Though it’s not the first modern meditation centre to crop up, but it’s Australia's first guided meditation drop-in studio. This means it's one of the best for busy people and full-time workers as their 30-minute guided meditation session are designed to chill you out on your lunchbreak and don’t even require you to sit cross-legged on the floor in your ironed suit pants. The centre is set up with comfortable armchairs, where you repose with a cup of tea and allow your brain to stop worrying about quarterly fiscal doodads and synergy feelings. Sounds pretty dreamy. Studies indicate that even a small amount of meditation is incredibly effective in preventing stress in the long term. Science folks in cool white coats will tell you that stress, the release of adrenaline and other fight-or-flight hormones in response to threatening stimuli, has a compounding effect. Those who are chronically stressed may develop an overactive amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for instinctive survival reactions) and beat neural pathways into the brains that take a fair bit of work to reprogram. So meditation, far from being a stereotypically hippy pursuit, is technically a life hack to help reduce your current stress levels and prevent stress from spiralling out of control in the future. Centred Meditation offers these bite-sized classes at optimally convenient times for workers, from Monday to Friday with sessions running in the morning, around lunchtime and after work. Classes start at $16 for a casual class, $14.50 per class with a ten-class pass, or they offer great value monthly passes for $139. Consider this your investment in a gym for your mind and remember: healthy bodies and healthy minds are never mutually exclusive. Find Centred Meditation inside the City Mutual Building, Level 10, 66 Hunter Street. Call (02) 8006 1403 or visit www.centredmeditation.com.au to reserve an armchair. Images: Dollar Photo Club and Centred Meditation.
With each passing festival season, music lineups dominate the hubbub. But with great grub now proving just as much a drawcard as those tunes, festivals are taking their food element next-level. Gone are the days of sad sausage rolls, scoffed speedily between stages — festival food is having a moment. Last year, Sugar Mountain Festival introduced a new onsite dining concept called Sensory, collaborating with some iconic Melbourne names to treat food-loving festivalgoers to an "immersive restaurant experiment". A mega success straight off the bat, Sensory is set to return for Sugar Mountain 2017, on January 21, having pulled together another cracking lineup of tastes, sights, and sounds. An indoor space within the festival's home at the Victorian College of the Arts will be transformed for the multi-dimensional event. There'll be multiple sittings throughout the day, with each 60-minute set-menu experience designed to take guests on a dazzling multi-sensory journey. Peter Gunn, the envelope-pushing chef behind Collingwood fine diner IDES, will be working his magic on the menu, sticking to form to deliver a cutting-edge culinary extravaganza. Meanwhile, the accompanying visual feast is sure to be every bit as impressive, with acclaimed multimedia artist Daniel Arsham taking the reins on the space design — fresh, might we add, from his collaboration with Pharrell Williams for Rules of the Game, which showed at Brisbane Festival this year. And all the while, those earholes will be in total aural heaven, thanks to a glittering, hour-long score crafted by S U R V I V E — yep, that's the Texan band behind the Stranger Things '80s-style hit soundtrack. Of course, the festival's foodie fabulousness extends beyond Sensory's walls, with eats from the likes of Kong BBQ, 8Bit, Pretty Mama and Pidapipo on hand to back up the musical treats. Summer-worthy cocktails will be shaken and stirred by the crew from The Top, while beer partner Sample Brew will be slinging a variety of tap beers and an exclusive range of tinnies. All-inclusive tickets to Sensory are priced at $70 each, and go on sale at 8am, November 16. Grab one separately, or bundle it together with a Sugar Mountain ticket.
Life moves very slowly on the Con Dao Islands. Lying just 45 minutes by plane from Ho Chi Minh City, the archipelago of 16 mountainous outcrops couldn’t be further away from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s frenzied capital. Our destination is Con Son, the largest in the chain, covering roughly 50 square kilometres. Once considered ‘the devil’s island of Indochina’, Con Son is ringed by golden sand beaches and covered in verdant rainforests, and looks anything but intimidating. Now, the island is better known as a luxury spa destination thanks to the arrival of Six Senses Con Dao, named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s best ecolodges. ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE EARTH Described by chief designers Parisian architecture firm AW2 as ‘luxury at the end of the earth’, Six Senses Con Dao is first glimpsed across the waters of a large turquoise bay. Arriving at the property’s front gates, the sleek design lines and playful colour palette of the resort’s 50 villas becomes apparent, with swaying palms framing a scene that’s custom-built for Instagram. Reclaimed teak and sustainably-sourced materials abound but the aesthetic remains a contemporary one; less Robinson Crusoe than other Six Senses properties around the world. We’re quickly introduced to the effervescent Minh, our dedicated ‘Guest Experience Maker’ for the duration of our stay, before being whisked off to our villa in a golf cart. Minh insists that she unpacks our bags so that we can get straight down to relaxing, and we’re not inclined to argue. But with a host of activities, beachside restaurants and bars, an outdoor cinema, private infinity pools, a Vietnamese cooking school and a world-renowned holistic spa all waiting to be explored, it’s hard to sit still for long. SETTLE INTO YOUR BEACH VILLA Our room, the self-explanatory Ocean Front Deluxe Pool Villa, has an open plan layout that proves fluid and functional. Moving from the back to the beachfront, the villa contains a large private garden (complete with a mandatory outdoor shower), an enormous bathroom containing an oversized bath and multiple day beds, a large bedroom and sitting area, and an outdoor sun lounge area that overlooks the private infinity pool and ocean beyond. Rounding out the villa is a Bose sound system, a rather nifty espresso machine (that I have absolutely no clue how to operate), free and insanely fast wi-fi, tablets, and a well-stocked wine cabinet, ensuring that you want for nothing during your stay. All of the resort’s villas come served with stunning views of the sea, and are offered as single-level and duplex standalone structures containing anywhere from one to four bedrooms. An efficient timber frame construction means that each building operates at low energy levels, designed to maximise natural ventilation provided by the prevailing trade winds. Materials and labour for the property were locally sourced, as were more than a quarter of the resort’s employees. Even the drinking water is eco-friendly, bottled to the sound of classical music in a desalination plant on site. Yep, to classical music. PLAY 'FEED THE FISH' GOLF AND STUFF YOURSELF SILLY Minh works with the Experience Team to make sure that the coming days are as full as our oft-fed bellies, and some of the highlights on offer include fishing trips, kayaking, diving, snorkelling, sunset boat charters and ‘feed the fish golf’, a driving range that provides guests with biodegradable golf balls which dissolve into fish food in less than 24 hours. Myriad beach activities are available along the one kilometre stretch of sand too. The heart of the property was dreamt up by AW2, responsible for the design of some of the world’s more opulent hotels. Their intention was for the main collection of buildings to resemble a Vietnamese village-style market, complete with dining, drinks and shopping. The openair Vietnamese Kitchen quickly becomes a favourite pit-stop, where delicious pho, banh mi and rice paper roll creations are the order of the day. At night, we’re talked into the traditional hot pot for two, and we’re blown away by its rich flavours and spices. The transition from our table onto the designer hammocks placed in front of the outdoor cinema screen is not a complicated one, and as we sit back with home-cooked popcorn and freshly-made ice cream (which is on offer for free in the deli at all times of the day and night) the opening credits of Four Weddings and a Funeral start to roll. DISCOVER THE ISLAND'S DARK HISTORY Like much of Vietnam, history is all around you here, and the island is best explored on bike or scooter. We commandeer one of the resort’s bright red Vespas and navigate our way across most of Con Son, winding around spectacular hillside roads that drop hundreds of metres into the waves below. Of most interest is the island's dark military history. Con Son served as a prison island during the French colonial era, then later housed Vietcong political prisoners from the North during the Vietnam War, where inmates were imprisoned in infamous ‘tiger cages’ until 1975. Some 20,000 inmates lost their lives in custody here, and the jails and museums dotted around Con Son town prove at once interesting and eerie. A large group of ex-VC soldiers, on the island to pay their respects to fallen comrades, does little to lessen the intensity as we meander through Phu Hai, the largest of the island’s prisons. PREPARE TO TAKE YOUR NEWFOUND ZEN HOME Before we depart for the Vietnamese mainland Minh makes sure to book us into the Six Senses Spa, recently a winner at the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards. Sculpted bamboo fences frame numerous indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, pools and salas, and the Six Senses spa menu provides endless ways to spend inordinate amounts of time and money indulging. We meet with Dr Aneesh, an ayurvedic consultant at the Six Senses Spa who originally hails from India, and he takes us through a 60-minute consultation to determine our overall ‘wellness’, providing some tips to help take the slower pace of Con Dao back into our everyday lives. LET'S DO THIS, GIVE ME THE DETAILS: To get there, fly to Ho Chi Minh City — Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), then take a 45-minute commercial or chartered plane to Co Ong regional airport (VCS) for a short transfer to the resort. The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao is around 230 kilometres or 145 miles. Rooms start at US$428/night and can be booked online at the Six Senses Con Dao website. The writer stayed as a guest of Six Senses.
Australia’s first ever eatery dedicated to vegan superfood sushi has opened in Newtown. Vegan. Superfood. Sushi. That’s a whole lot of goodness rolled into one: delicious looks, cracking taste and insane levels of healthiness — plus no little critters had to lose life over your meal. Opened in a heritage-listed space at 69-77 King Street, Newtown, opposite fellow vegan retailers Suzy Spoon, Superfood Sushi is the first of its kind in the country. To turn this culinary utopia into a reality, the team behind the operation ran a highly successful Pozible campaign, raising a total of $9441. This team is made up of mother and son duo and Superfood Sushi founders Pepe Marshall and Guy Renner. Pepe trained as a chef and owned a cafe in Auckland before moving to Australia a decade ago. She and Guy are already vegan superfood sushi experts, and have been serving up their creations at markets and special events for the past six months. “We developed the concept when we couldn’t find any plant-based sushi around, except for the boring, unhealthy, white rice rolls filled with avocado or cucumber,” says Pepe. “So we decided to make our own. Our main aim is to try and seduce people with food. Many people are under the misconception vegan food is boring; it is anything but boring. In fact, I think some of the most creative recipes I have followed and created have been plant-based.” Proof of that is Superfood Sushi’s menu. Examples include Saigon Pickle (forbidden black rice, Vietnamese pickled carrot, daikon — a mild winter radish — baby corn and avocado) and Magic Mushroom (forbidden black rice with Portobello, enoki, oyster and shitake mushrooms roasted with garlic, balsamic and rosemary). But the favourite of Kym Staton, founder of the Sydney Vegan Club, is Mango Chick (eleven grain rice, asparagus, red capsicum, cucumber and rocket, topped with a mix of mango, chick peas, chilli and chives). “The flavours are to die for,” he said, “except no one had to die for it”. Pepe is continually experimenting with new flavour combinations, so diners can expect an evolving menu. “Cooking and food constantly consume me,” she said. “Whether I am reading, travelling or researching, I am trialling new ideas... Really, the possibilities are limitless in terms of variety.” The only boundaries are her insistence on seasonal produce — organic and locally sourced wherever possible — and her aversion to mock meats. “Personally, I am not a fan,” she said. “So I’ve steered away from them, focusing on flavoursome combinations of vegetables only.” Superfood Sushi will join more than thirty vegan eateries in Sydney. “It’s great,” Kym said, “as it gives Sydneysiders another way to make kinder, greener and healthier choices via what they put on their plate.” Find Superfood Sushi at 69-77 King Street, Newtown, (02) 9519 0100, superfoodsushi.com.au. Open Monday to Sunday 11am to 9pm. View all Sydney Cafes.
Year on year, Sydney's weather is becoming more unpredictable. Cold snaps and untimely rain can decimate your outdoor workout plans just as often as heatwaves and unbearably humid evenings. But, fear not, because fitness never sleeps. From boxing to pole dancing, it may be chilly outside but the burn is real in here. We've got ten refreshing indoor workouts to get you up and moving even when it's gross outside. And, don't worry — they're are nothing like your average treadmill slog. SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY, ULTIMO If you've ever gone down a dance-related YouTube rabbit hole — for the uninitiated, begin your binge with videos of the renowned Royal Family Crew — it might be time to hit up a dance class and test out your moves away from the screen. Ultimo-based Sydney Dance Company is one of the heaviest hitters in this arena, offering drop-in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, JFH, lyrical and tap in spacious professional studios. Check the timetable to find out when classes are on for your particular level. The teachers are excellent and lay down straight-fire choreography to the latest Drake, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande and Cardi B on the regular. So, channel your inner-Beyonce and slay away. NOMAD BOULDERING GYM, CAMPERDOWN Hone a new skill whilst sculpting some serious abs at NOMAD Bouldering Gym, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Bouldering is like rock climbing but it's done without a harness or rope and you climb shorter routes — also known as 'problems' — close to the ground. But don't confuse 'shorter' for 'less intense' — boulderers are always looking for new ways to push their minds and bodies to the max. It's very sociable so it's also a great workout to do with a small group of friends. HUMMING PUPPY, REDFERN Humming Puppy is a spiffy (bougie) inner-city yoga studio in Darlington. Enjoy a complimentary coconut water pre-practice, then settle down onto your preassigned mat for class. Everything is provided, including towels, mats, blocks and belts — so you can just jump on the mat and sink into savasana. That weird humming noise coming from the concealed speakers? Yeah, that's kind of Humming Puppy's thing. At first, you won't know what to make of it — but by the end of class, you'll be used to it and so relaxed you may as well have been hypnotised by the mystery hum. Also, the shower facilities are some of the best any gym in Sydney has to offer. Once you're sufficiently sweat free, head to the adorable Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar for an after-class treat. XTEND BARRE, DRUMMOYNE If you don't feel the burn, you're not doing your barre workout right. At Xtend Barre, hit your glutes, quads, triceps, abs, those other abs, inner thighs, and what feels like literally every muscle in your body in a 60-minute ballet-pilates hybrid workout. The studio also offers reformer pilates classes, if that's your thing. Grip socks are required for class, which are available for purchase. So, go ahead and enjoy your classy ballet moment — by which, of course, we mean grace on the outside, low-key crying on the inside. SKY-LAB, SURRY HILLS Nestled several stories up in the unlikely location of Hibernian House is an oasis of calm known as Sky-Lab. Here, stretch like you've never stretched before in an aerial yoga class. Suspended yoga helps to strengthen your core muscles and increase spinal and shoulder flexibility. You will feel a satisfying elongation of your spine difficult to achieve in other stretch classes, and may even walk out of class feeling a little taller. If you're looking for a super chill class — maybe you're just getting back into exercise or you're having a recovery day — the Aerial Yoga Melt class is a good option. It's a low- to no-sweat workout that focuses mostly on releasing and relaxing different aspects of your musculature and fascia. MY BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, CAMPERDOWN What do Wiz Khalifa, Milla Jovovich and Demi Lovato all have in common? They all train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Really. Try your hand at this martial art-combat sport mix at My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While it looks a bit like wrestling, it's actually super technical and challenging. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves or another against a bigger, stronger, heavier person by using proper technique, leverage and, most notably, by taking the fight to the ground. The ethos behind BJJ makes it a particularly empowering sport for women, or smaller folk in general, as it challenges traditional notions of strength and power. SYDNEY POLE, CAMPERDOWN, PARRAMATTA OR GLADESVILLE Pole dancing is having a well-deserved moment in the fitness sun at the moment. And rightly so — the fun and liberating strength-based training combines dance, music and gymnastics-style tricks to get you moving. Sydney Pole regularly runs free intro classes and the welcoming studio is inclusive of all ages and body types. Ready to expand your horizons? Try Hip-Hop Pole, Sexy Floorwork or 80s Pole to really start feeling yourself. Shorts and sports bras are recommended instead of full-coverage leggings as you need exposed skin to grip to the pole properly. But, for your first time, wear whatever you feel most comfortable in. Also, don't lather yourself in body lotion beforehand, you'll slide right off the pole if your skin isn't dry — which is not ideal. AERIALIZE, CANTERBURY Concept: hula hoops, suspended mid-air, with tricks. Yes, things just got real. Your fledgling circus career awaits you at Aerialize — the Canterbury studio's drop-in classes cover a range of pursuits from Lyra, Static Trapeze, Silks, Acrobatics and more. The skill-based nature of these classes will help you to channel your energy into focusing on learning a new move rather than worrying about burning calories or how you look as you contort your body. It's all about having fun and, maybe, just a little bit about getting sweet shot for Instagram. BOXING WORKS, SURRY HILLS Boxing has been ranked the number one sport for increasing overall athleticism. And, adding boxing to your fitness regime can sometimes be the shock your system needs to stay engaged and receptive. At Boxing Works, you can sample Muay Thai, kickboxing and regular boxing to see which style has you feeling most like Michael B. Jordan in Creed. Unlike running on a treadmill or doing the same old squats, again and again, you won't be looking at the clock every ten seconds. Boxing requires total focus and, once you get into it, it's so much fun you'll only notice how much your shoulders are burning at the end of the session. Probably. THE MOVEMENT ACADEMY, ROSEBERY Go from 'master of none' to 'master of at least one cool thing': handstands. That's right — that move you spent hours perfecting as a kid is about to saunter back into your adult life in a big way. This time, place yourself under the tutelage of trained gymnasts — rather than your obliging sibling — and sign up for handstand classes at The Movement Academy. You'll improve alignment, balance and shoulder health, strengthen your core, condition your wrists and increase overall body awareness with training and drills suited to your level.
Indigenous consultants for Sydney's new light rail service are calling for construction on a section of the line to be halted, following the discovery of a significant number of Indigenous artefacts in the area. More than 20,000 artefacts have already been recovered from the site (yep, 20,000), near the corner of Alison Road and Doncaster Avenue in Randwick. But while Transport NSW has acknowledged the momentous find, it has not yet confirmed whether it will delay construction on the $2.1bn project to allow for archaeological work to take place. One of the conditions for the light rail's construction was that the process be observed by four Registered Aboriginal Parties. A representative for one such party is Scott Franks, who emphasised the significance of the discovery when he told The Sydney Morning Herald that "there is nothing at all like this in Sydney." Among the more major finds are artefacts that appear to be from as far away as the Hunter Valley, suggesting that the spot may have served as a meeting place. "It demonstrates a trading route, or that the mobs out of the Hunter Valley were working with the mobs in Sydney," Franks told SMH. "Archaeological work undertaken in late 2015 and January 2016 identified a high density of Aboriginal artefacts on a specific section of the Randwick Stabling Yard site," said a spokesperson for Transport NSW. "Transport for NSW and ALTRAC Light Rail are investigating, in conjunction with the Aboriginal representatives, opportunities to recognise the items found on site, for example in displays or education programs." Greens MP David Shoebridge has called for an immediate stop to construction, saying, "It's downright criminal that what may well be one of the most important recent heritage finds is being literally torn up without even the most rudimentary consideration." Via SMH. Image: City of Sydney.
After months of anticipation, the revival of Chippendale's Old Clare Hotel has at long last been completed. Spearheaded by Singapore-based hotel and restaurant entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng of Unlisted Collection, the revamped watering hole as boutique hotel on Kensington Street is finally open for business — and it's spectacular. Reborn from the (metaphorical) ashes of the historic (and dearly beloved) Clare Hotel and adjoining Carlton United Brewery Administrative Building, the newly-opened hotel boasts 62 rooms and suites featuring high ceilings, heritage timber panelling and exposed brick walls, furnished with PSLAB pendant lighting, vintage furniture and cushions 'inspired by Australian flora and fauna'. Further hotel amenities include a rooftop pool and bar, private gym and a heritage meeting space, as well as a day spa expected to launch early next year. Guests can also take advantage of custom-made bicycles to explore the surrounding neighbourhood, or simply relax at the indoor bar near reception and enjoy the honest-to-god bespoke scent created by local perfumed candlers Maison Balzac. That being said, the biggest drawcard might be The Old Clare's three new high-end restaurants. Automata, the first solo venture from Momofuku Seiobo sous chef Clayton Wells, opened earlier this week, with a rotating five-course menu laden with such extravagances as storm clam with rosemary dashi, cream and dulse, and partridge with witlof, burnt apple and caper. Noma alumnus Sam Miller, meanwhile, opened Silvereye on September 22, offering short and long seasonal tasting menus featuring young coconut and mud crab, pumpkin with pomello, leeks with pig feet and white beer, and a plum and coffee tart. Last but not least, there's the Kensington Street Social, by Michelin-starred globetrotter Jason Atherton. Based on the competition, we have to assume they'll be bringing their A-game.
Whether you're on a date, catching up with your friends, or just looking for a way to kill a few hours on a gloomy Tuesday night, there are few modern indulgences that beat settling into a dark cinema and letting your worries escape you as you slip into another world. Spies, superheroes, lovers, musicians, presidents, dictators, robbers and cops: you'll encounter them all as the lights go down and the projector begins to whir. There's plenty afoot a the pictures this month, so we're here to give you a little bit of help with choosing tonight's movie. See you at the candy bar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWbk3-gEBRU GOLDSTONE Australian cinema has a new hero — or heroes, to be exact. In case 2013's neo-western crime thriller Mystery Road didn't make that apparent, Goldstone shouts it across the outback. On screen, Indigenous police detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) stalks through another remote desert town searching for the truth. Behind the camera, writer-director Ivan Sen guides another insightful examination of race, prejudice, inequality and exploitation inextricably linked to the Australian landscape. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2IBHNUl5I LIGHTS OUT If all a horror movie needed was a killer concept, then Lights Out would sit at the top of the spooky cinematic heap. At its core is an idea that's equally obvious, ingenious and universal: the unsettling feeling that springs in children and adults alike when a flick of a switch plunges a room into darkness. In fact, when Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg first toyed with the notion in his two-and-a-half-minute short film of the same name, it became a viral sensation, catching the eye of horror producer James Wan in the process. Three years later, Sandberg has fleshed out the attention-grabbing effort into his feature film debut. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAoEoWrOe8g MAGGIE'S PLAN In Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig became the on-screen embodiment of a predicament most twenty-somethings can relate to: knowing what you don't want out of life, rather than what you do. In Mistress America, she offered a different side of failing to achieve your dreams, this time from a slightly older perspective. Now, in Maggie's Plan, she grapples with the fact that you can't control everything, no matter how hard you try. Consider it the next phase in her ongoing examination of the idiosyncrasies of quarter-life malaise. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJyR3Atf5q8 SING STREET Who amongst us hasn't used music to process their thoughts and feelings? The right song can convey things that words alone cannot, as writer-director John Carney understands. In his films, moving ballads and catchy melodies intertwine with life and love, providing a killer soundtrack to memorable moments and an effective method of expressing emotions. When his characters pen lyrics, strum instruments and grab the mic, they're not just creating tunes and chasing dreams — they're helping make sense of everything around them. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVD32rnzOw STAR TREK BEYOND Space, the final frontier. An infinite continuum capable of sapping morale and robbing voyaging crews of both purpose and progress since, by its very definition, there can never be an end in sight. Such is the existential crisis facing Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) at the beginning of this third instalment in the revised Star Trek franchise – a notably low-key opening compared to its bombastic predecessors. Read our full review.
It's been 11 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival has returned. Returning to Singapore, Auckland and the five established Australian Laneway go-to cities, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a killer lineup — and Kirin J Callinan as MC. Following the previously leaked Hudson Mohawke and Purity Ring headliner announces, Laneway will see one heck of a crew on their unconventional stages. Odd Future's super outfit The Internet will be here, alongside Ninja Tune's bass monarch Thundercat and the return of Grimes (start losing your collective shit). Epic Scottish electronic crew CHVRCHES are headed back to Australia, with a few fellow return trippers — Baltimore dreamboats Beach House, American math rockers Battles are back with their new album, as well as Brooklyn's atmospheric foursome DIIV. Plenty of love for the onstage return of Big Scary after Tom Isanek finished up with #1 Dads, and there's sure to be a big ol' ruckus for Sydney wonderkid Flume back on stage. You'll be hard pressed to find a spot at Las Vegas hypecard Shamir's set, watching young Washington rapper GoldLink or the pretty, pretty Beatles-y Tobias Jesso Jr. Odd Future's Vince Staples is headed here too, following his OFWGKTA bud Tyler the Creator's ban from Australia. With beloved local artists like Hermitude, Violent Soho, The Smith Street Band and DMA's, this year's lineup is more eclectic than a Jenny Kee jumper. Enough talk, here 'tis. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP: Ali Barter* Banoffee Battles Beach House Big Scary Blank Realm** Chvrhces DIIV DMA’s East India Youth FIDLAR Flume GoldLink Grimes Health Hermitude High Tension Hudson Mohawke Japanese Wallpaper Majical Cloudz Methyl Ethel METZ Purity Ring QT Shamir Silicon Slum Sociable** Sophie The Goon Sax*** The Internet The Smith Street Band Thundercat Tobias Jesso Jr. Vince Staples Violent Soho * Exclusive to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne only ** not playing Fremantle *** Exclusive to Brisbane only ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL DATES AND VENUES FOR 2016: Saturday, January 30 — SINGAPORE (THE MEADOW, GARDENS BY THE BAY) Monday, February 1 — AUCKLAND (SILO PARK) Friday, February 5 — ADELAIDE (HARTS MILL, PORT ADELAIDE, 16+) Saturday, February 6 — BRISBANE (BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS, 16+) Sunday, February 7 — SYDNEY (SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, ROZELLE) Saturday, February 13 — MELBOURNE (FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) + THE RIVER’S EDGE) Sunday, February 14 — FREMANTLE (ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END) Tickets on sale September 30 at 9am from Laneway Festival. Image: Andy Fraser. Here's one for getting psyched up.
Anita Sarkeesian is one of the world’s bravest women. One of the key players taking aim at misogyny in the world of video games, Sarkeesian has been both applauded and attacked worldwide for her outspokenness about the gaming industry — she even explained #Gamergate to Stephen Colbert. Her blog Feminist Frequency and video series' Tropes vs. Women and Tropes vs. Women in Video Games have seen anti-feminist trolls sending serious threats her way — Sarkeesian even had to cancel a speaking appearance at Utah State University after terrorist threats. But haters be damned, the feminist critic at the forefront of gaming debates is finally coming to Sydney, one of All About Women’s most important speakers. Returning to the Sydney Opera House as part of the Ideas at the House program, All About Women returns for its third year in 2015 for one day of panels, readings and talks, celebrating, discussing and analysing women and their stories. Ideas at the House have attracted the likes of Tavi Gevinson, Yoko Ono and Alice Waters to the SOH stage over the years, and this year's AAW is one of their most ambitious programs yet. Most fittingly this year, AAW lands smack bang on International Women's Day, March 8, joining a global high-five to women worldwide. Joining Sarkeesian for this year’s festival is a powerhouse of a lineup over 19 sessions. Sarkeesian will join the ever formidable Germaine Greer — wouldn’t be AAW without her — for a panel called How to Be a Feminist, alongside ever outspoken novelist Tara Moss, feminist pop culture writer Clementine Ford, The Atlantic contributing editor Kate Bolick and kickass author, editor and English professor Roxane Gay. Ever the provocative writer, Gay will lead her own talk, Bad Feminist, focused around her controversial book of the same name which debates, “We don’t all have to believe in the same feminism.” Gay loves Sweet Valley High and blasting rap with degrading lyrics, can she still identify as a feminist? National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence and modern day Steve Zissou, 79-year-old Sylvia Earle, will teach us How to Save The Planet, while Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert picks up where her straight-up killer TED talk left off (that one with the cheeky nine million views), reflecting on the handicaps of creative ‘genius’. Amazingly, Gilbert’s hairdresser is also a boss writer; Syrian-born, US-raised Rayya Elias talks ‘80s New York City, drug addiction, homelessness and the punk/performance scene. Contributing editor for The Atlantic and author of one of their most successful cover stories, 'All the Single Ladies' (with over one million readers), Kate Bolick will unpack the idea of singleness ahead of her 2015 book release, Spinster, while Washington Post staff writer and New York Times bestselling author Brigid Schulte delves into her book Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has The Time. The ever convivial Annabel Crabb will unpack her book, Breaking the Wife Drought, Judith Lucy discusses her new ABC show All Woman, while author of Hideous Kinky, Esther Freud (yep, of those Freuds), talks about her own childhood — imagine growing up a Freud. Greer brings in her Emeritus Professorship in English Literature to team up with her contemporary John Bell for the talk Shakespeare’s Women, then returning after two sold-out years at AAW, the Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe tell stories of survival, human resilience and joy. Being a woman in 2015 has never been more discussed, with Emma Watson carving up the UN, Beyonce flashing the F word in our faces, Jennifer Lawrence sticking it to the perves and Malala Yousafzai showing us all what true bravery looks like. Let's rep it on the home front shall we? All About Women comes to Sydney Opera House on March 8, 2015. Check out the full program and the AAW festival calendar at sydneyoperahouse.com/aaw. Tickets from $25, on sale 9am Monday 15 December through SOH or 02 9250 7777. Top image: Alex Lazara.
