Sydney's poké explosion continues, this time with Hooked on Poké opening its doors along Bondi Beach. Owned by the former manager of North Bondi Italian, Marcus Lalak, the joint focuses on locally and sustainably sourced fish in fresh-to-order dishes that boast sauces made from secret recipes. The menu at Hooked on Poké may have been inspired by the traditional Hawaiian mainstay but it also takes direction from the Los Angeles version and has adopted Japanese and Korean flavours. Customers can create their own bowl or order from five 'HOP Faves' with recommended ingredient combinations — among these is the signature tuna poké bowl, made with line-caught and sashimi-grade yellow fin which has been cubed and coated in a house-made, spicy soy sauce. Apart from the tuna, they're offering up salmon and snapper, as well as poached chicken and tofu options. If you're creating your own, you can choose from a base of soba noodles, iceberg lettuce and brown or white rice, along with a wide range of toppings, including wasabi peas, grated beetroot, spicy kimchi, wakame, house-made pickles and dashi daikon. For something significantly on-trend locally, you can pick toppings of sweet potato crisps and roasted miso cauliflower. Lalak brings two decades in the hospitality industry to this new venture, which is jumping on the poké train a bit late in the game. What could set Hooked on Poké apart from the competition, though, is its series of sauces and dressings that were specially developed for the restaurant and use ingredients including yuzu kosho, miso and sriracha. These 'secret recipes' took over one-hundred hours to perfect and are meant to give each bowl a signature flavour that you can't get anywhere else. Hooked On Poké is now open for lunch and dinner at 145 Glenayr Street, Bondi Beach. Images: Alana Dimou.
Get waxed and grab your flares. GiggedIn has announced a huge week of shows on offer as well as its first-ever members-exclusive show — an indie-surf and psychedelic rock affair. Taking over two rooms at the Oxford Art Factory, Lime Cordiale, Wax Witches, Ocean Alley, Mesa Cosa and more top one slam dunk of lineup. We introduced you to GiggedIn back in January. It’s a new service that gives members unlimited access to gigs, for one neat price — kind of like Spotify for live music. Every day, at midday, new shows appear on the website and you decide which you’re going to attend. What’s more, you get access to special events and festivals, like Mountain Sounds Festival, headlined by Art vs Science and Violent Soho this week. Then there's Raury and JOY at Oxford Art Factory, Illy at the Metro Theatre, Radio Moscow at Newtown Social and more. With GiggedIn’s premiere exclusive shindig coming up, now is a good time to sign up. The show will be happening at on Sunday, February 21. If you’ve been hanging out at any of Sydney’s staple live music venues during the past year, there’s every chance you’ve caught Lime Cordiale. They’ve sold out Newtown Social Club, The Standard, Oxford Art Factory and the Metro Lair, and have shared stages with The Delta Riggs, Ball Park Music, The Griswolds, Dispatch and Cosmo Jarvis. Meanwhile, Wax Witches, fronted by Alex Wall, will be delivering a massive dose of garage punk. If you’re tired of saccharine, smoothed-over pop and rock, you’ll get your antidote here. Mesa Cosa, garage punk legends from Melbourne will be there. Rounding out the night are Ocean Alley, a reggae psych-rock six-piece from the Northern Beaches; The Vanns, indie-poppers from Kiama; and The Ruminaters, who describe their music as “hillbilly-folk-psychedelic-garage-yiddish-rock”, among a slew of other acts. For a full list of more shows this week, see below: Mon Feb 15 — Radio Moscow (USA) at Newtown Social Club Tues Feb 16 — Raury with JOY. at Oxford Art Factory Wed Feb 17 — Waxahatchee at Oxford Art Factory Thurs Feb 18 — Juju Wings at Brighton Up Bar Fri Feb 19 — Black Aces at Brighton Up Bar Sat Feb 20 — Mountain Sounds Festival on the Central Coast Sat Feb 20 — Illy at the Metro Theatre Sat Feb 20 — Lunatics on Pogosticks at Brighton Up Bar Sun Feb 21 — Lime Cordiale, Wax Witches, Mesa Cosa, Ocean Alley + more at Oxford Art Factory And more to be announced. Find out more about GiggedIn here.
Sure, we might be begrudgingly closing in on the final days of summer, but at new pop-up, The Shuckery Oyster Bar, indulgent holiday vibes are fervently persevering. Taking over the plush surrounds of the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay's Stillery bar, The Shuckery will be open for oyster devouring every Thursday and Friday night. Bivalve buffs can indulge in oysters from the likes of Port Macquarie, Clyde River, Hastings River, and Nambucca, freshly shucked before their eyes. The best part? This chic little feast needn't break the bank — three oysters teamed with a flute of Perrier-Jouët Champagne will set you back a neat $20, while a share-friendly arrangement of 12 oysters and a bottle of the bubbly is just $95. Keep this one in mind for date night, we reckon. The Shuckery is open from 5-7pm, every Thursday and Friday night at Stillery, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay.
Eeeep. Looks like Spotify playlisters for Splendour in the Grass jumped the gun, and it appears that the 2015 Splendour lineup has been leaked as a result. Set to be announced by Matt and Alex on triple j next Wednesday as usual, the Splendour lineup could possibly have been revealed by a playlist called 'Splendour 2015 Line-up' which appeared earlier today. Noticed by eagle-eyed Geelong Advertiser reporter Paddy Naughtin, the now-deleted playlist contained some huge, we-hope-it's-real names. We're talking Blur, Mark Ronson, Florence + The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, The Wombats, Tame Impala and Of Monsters And Men, alongside Pond, Royal Blood and the Dandy Warhols. WAHOOLIE. Here's the screengrab posted by Naughtin on Twitter — he also posted on Splendour's Facebook page to confirm and they deleted the post. So there's a little confirmation for you. Yeesh. Probably going to be some stern words between Splendour and triple j. Here's hoping it's the real thing. Via triple j.
Won't be rolling in the grass this July? Missed out on yesterday's ticket blitz? Never fear, there's plenty of Splendour in the Grass shindiggery to be had in your own city. Splendour has announced its official 2015 sideshows this morning (as have many unofficial venues). From Blur's epic arena shows to the rowdy British garage pop team-up of The Vaccines and Palma Violets, to more niche hypecard gigs like MØ and Elliphant or Years and Years, here's your rundown of the official Splendour sideshows. Exclusive Secret Sounds presale tickets are on sale 10am local time on Tuesday, April 28, while general public tickets on sale 10am local time, Wednesday, April 29. But if you're keen to nab tickets to the Blur sideshows, tickets are on sale 10am local venue time on Friday, May 1. Visit secret-sounds.com.au for more details. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS OFFICIAL 2015 SIDESHOWS: BLUR With Jamie T Presented by Secret Sounds, supported by Spotify, Rolling Stone, The Music, Fasterlouder All tickets on sale 10am local venue time, Friday May 1 Sat 25 Jul — Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney Sun 26 Jul — Splendour In the Grass (SOLD OUT), Byron Bay Tue 28 Jul — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thu 30 Jul — Perth Arena, Perth THE WOMBATS With Circa Waves *exc Perth Presented by triple J, The Music, Channel [V], Spotify Thu Jul 23 — Metro City*, Perth Mon Jul 27 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tue Jul 28 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Thu Jul 30 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (*Circa Waves not supporting in Perth) THE VACCINES With Palma Violets Presented by Tone Deaf, The Music, Spotify Mon Jul 27 — Corner Hotel, Melbourne Tue Jul 28 — Metro Theatre, Sydney PORTER ROBINSON [live] With Wave Racer and Cosmo's Midnight Presented by triple j, Channel [V], inthemix, Spotify Wed 22 July — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Thu 23 July — The Forum, Melbourne AZEALIA BANKS Presented by Channel [V], Music Feeds, Beat & Brag, Spotify Fri 24 July — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sun 26 July — Prince Bandroom, Melbourne EVERYTHING EVERYTHING With Urban Cone Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Fasterlouder, The Music, Spotify Thu 23 July — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sat 25 July — The Corner, Melbourne KITTY DAISY & LEWIS Presented by Fasterlouder, The Music, Spotify Sat 1 Aug — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sun 2 Aug — 170 Russell, Melbourne Tue 4 Aug — Governor Hotel, Adelaide Wed 5 Aug — Rosemount Hotel, Perth MØ & ELLIPHANT Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Oyster, Spotify Tue 28 July — The Corner, Melbourne Wed 29 July — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney MARMOZETS Presented by Musicfeeds, Blunt Magazine, Beat, Brag, Spotify Thu 23 July — Newtown Social Club, Sydney Sat 25 July — Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne MS MR Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Spotify, Pages Digital Wed Jul 22 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Sat Jul 25 — Metro Theatre, Sydney YEARS & YEARS Presented by Channel [V], The Brag, Beat, Spotify, Pages Digital Sun Jul 26 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Thu Jul 30 — Howler, Melbourne WOLF ALICE Presented by triple j, Tone Deaf, The Brag, Beat, Spotify Thu Jul 23 — Corner Hotel, Melbourne Fri Jul 24 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney THE DISTRICTS Presented by Music Feeds, Spotify, The Music Mon Jul 27 — Northcote Social Club, Melbourne Tue Jul 28 — Newtown Social Club, Sydney Visit Secret Sounds for more details. Image: Linda Brownlee.
When Vivid Sydney hits town for 2017, expect bright lights aplenty — and bright ice cream too. With the festival extending its footprint to Barangaroo for the first time, Devon Cafe are getting in on the fun with psychedelic Purple Haze sundaes, made from an electric purple ube (aka purple yam) soft serve with leche flan and taro. That's just one of the food options available between May 26 and June 17, with a number of eateries serving up specials in the waterfront precinct. Over at The Rabbit Hole, colour-changing butterfly pea flower tea — which switches from blue to purple to pink with a squeeze of lemon — will enliven your visit, while Oh! Boo Chocolates are whipping up handmade chocolate lollipops and blue curaçao liqueur chocolates. Or, opt for glowing cocktails (yes, edible, drinkable concoctions that are vibrant and, well, vivid, are the theme) at the vermouth-focused Banksii's Belvedere light bar and Untied's winter-themed pop-up rooftop bar. You know you want to try beverages with names like Basil Dazzle and Vivid Spritz — and Anason, Shirt Bar and Zushi will all boast their own Vivid tipples as well. Over at the Japanese-inspired Ume Burger, devouring a Vivid Sydney Burger is on the menu; it comes stacked with beef, tomato, onion, and cheese, plus signature house-made wagyu mince sauce, spicy special sauce and fries with umami salt. Combine these culinary offerings with Vivid's light and art installations, and you'll be treating all of your senses to quite the feast. Vivid Sydney runs from May 26 to June 17. For the full range of Barangaroo food and beverage menus, head to www.thestreetsofbarangaroo.com.
How'd you like to drink a beer inspired by Diego Velazquez inside the Art Gallery of NSW? Sydneysiders, this is an actual thing you can do this summer. When the sun goes down every Wednesday, the AGNSW decks the halls with jam-packed evenings of talks, guided tours, and live music for a super-charged extension of the Gallery's usual Wednesday night Art After Hours program that will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, dubbed Up Late with The Greats. And while you're drinking in art history talks with Hannah Gadsby, taking a salon drawing class, or perusing The Greats, you can actually drink a special edition beer each night, inspired by the exhibition itself and created by none other than Young Henrys. Newtown's favourite brewers were invited to take a tour through the now-showing exhibition to come up with a very unique beer inspired by the Titians, Botticellis, Gauguins and Degas works all the way from the National Galleries of Scotland. "It's not often you get to work with Monet to brew a beer," Sam Fuss, Young Henrys' head brewer, told AGNSW. "We're drawing our inspiration from what's inside the actual painting, inside the art, whether it's the atmosphere, the colour." Fuss chose two 17th century paintings from the exhibition to draw beermaking inspiration from: Gerrit Dou’s An interior with a young viola player, and Diego Velazquez's Old woman cooking eggs (two of our six artworks you shouldn't miss at The Greats). "Smoked malt was a little reminiscent of being in a tavern," says Fuss. "We just thought that we would keep the hops to a minimum because it was probably a little bit more reminiscent of the beers back in that day." You'll be able to taste Young Henrys' creation Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights for Up Late with The Greats. After the Gallery's usual closing time of 5pm, you can take an extended jaunt through The Greats exhibition and partake in a ramped up range of activities. On Wednesday nights, celebrated comedian and SERIOUS art nerd Hannah Gadsby will be unveiling her SERIOUS art history chops and treating gallery-goers to a VERY SERIOUS rundown of different eras of Western art history each week. There'll also be salon drawing on Thursday nights, and live music by members of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra on Friday nights. Something’s brewing at the Gallery… We’ve teamed up with the motley crew at Young Henrys to create a beer fit for The Greats. Taste it at the Gallery this January: http://bit.ly/late-greats Posted by Art Gallery of New South Wales on Sunday, December 13, 2015 Up Late With The Greats will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from January 6 – 29. By Annie Murney and Shannon Connellan. Image: Young Henrys.
Some of the biggest names in burgerdom will descend upon Barangaroo to determine once and for all who has the best buns in town. For one day only, six of Sydney's finest chefs will fire up their grills at the Wulgulul pop-up, giving visitors the chance to decide which burger they like best. Will it be Neil Perry's mouth-watering Cape Grim beef creations, or can Belle's Hot Chicken take the crown? Whoever comes out on top, we guarantee you'll leave with a full stomach. Burger Kings, as the event has been fittingly titled, is scheduled to take place from 11am on Sunday March 20. In addition to Perry, and Belle's Morgan McGlone, chefs tapped for the cook-off include Kerby Craig from Ume Burgers, Jake Smyth from Mary's, Somer Sivrioglu from Anason, and Monty Koludrovic from Icebergs. The event is un-ticketed, so just rock up whenever you're feeling hungry. Although we can't promise they won't sell out. Popping up next Sunday @thestreetsofbarangaroo burger pop up. 🍤🍤🍤🍤🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔 Nothing but ebi Katsu burger, umami salt fries 🍟🍟🍟 20th March - 11ish until sold out A photo posted by Kerby Craig (@kerbstarr) on Mar 10, 2016 at 10:55pm PST Of course we at Concrete Playground have our own opinions on who makes Sydney's best burgers, having sampled more than our fair share. Here are a few of our favourites right here. For more information about the Burger Kings event at Barangaroo, follow this link. Image: Burger Project.
With the reopening of the Hotel Palisade, the controversial re-do of Durty Nelly's as The Village Inn, the revamp of the Bellevue Hotel, and the recent Vic on the Park-steered reno of The Lord Gladstone, the debate over great and terrible pub renovations is rife in Sydney at present. Now there's another on the table, with Petersham's White Cockatoo reopened as The West Village. Celebrated as a tried and true 'sham local with a schnitzel worth crossing the city for, the 130-year-old White Cockatoo is now under new ownership — ex-Drink 'n' Dine ownership. Locky Paech, former general manager of the Forresters in Surry Hills, is one of the new co-owners of the Petersham pub. Alongside business partner James Bodel, Paech has created a new Sydney hospitality group, Goodtime Hospitality. Sitting right across from Petersham station, West Village has been overhauled by lauded design crew Alexander and Co., renowned for such restaurant and bar fitouts as Surly's, Daniel San, The Print Room, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Morrison and the new Village Inn. If you're worried about the schnitties, Paech is apparently going to keep a version of the dish that made the White Cockatoo famous in Sydney over 12 years of glory (in case you're after the real deal, the original schnitties are now being served at The Goni's Schnitzelria in Marrickville). We're not completely sold, but we'll give it a go. Paech has also recruited former Catalina chef Sam Thomson to create an original, gastropub-style menu for the West Village, with a focus on organic, ethically-produced ingredients. Think kimchi poutine, blue swimmer crab rolls, vegetable tarts, herb-crusted pork loins, and huge seafood platters heaving with tempura prawns, natural oysters and crab claws. There's also a separate bar food menu filled with pub staples like fish and chips, cheeseburgers and the aforementioned schnitties. Tipple-wise, the whole wine list is Australian, with mainly NSW varieties on the menu. Cocktails are being served in bottles (looks like you started a trend, Dead Ringer), and there's negronis on tap. And of course, a big ol' selection of craft beer is available on tap. Best bit? They're open for brekkie. Serving 7-11am and ready to launch later this year, the outdoor Patio area will serve as a pub-cafe with coffee and breakfast options available (and yep, they do takeaway). The West Village is now open at 30 Terminus Street, Petersham. Open Monday through Saturday 10am – midnight, Sundays 10am – 10pm. Images: Alana Dimou.
Flume is teaming up with LA-based, Australian-born visual artist Jonathan Zawada for a blink and you'll miss it multimedia pop-up in Surry Hills this December. Named after the ARIA chart-topping musician's sophomore album Skin, for which Zawada created the cover art, live graphics, related videos and merchandise, the free exhibition will be open at Special Group Studios on Devonshire Street from Wednesday, December 7 through to Sunday, December 11, and will feature a series of new video works created exclusively for the show. "I've always been a huge fan of Jonathan's work so it's been a privilege to have him involved in the visual aesthetic around Skin, from the album art to the live show and merch," said Flume. "Visually I'm interested in the contrast of organic and synthetic, Jonathan's work so cleverly depicts this so it's been a natural fit for the music. I love the way he embraces technology to twist and contort things from the real world in alien ways." The pop-up will feature eight never-before-seen videos that combine fantastical animation by Zawada with ethereal sound design by Flume. Alongside these will be a series of large scale silk prints that further highlight the pair's unique creative partnership. Open daily from 10am - 6pm.
UPDATE: JANUARY 17, 2020 — The Sydney Opera House has today announced that, due to health reasons, Solange has cancelled two of her four January shows. Performances on Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 will no longer be going ahead, but those on Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31 will. The SOH has already begun processing refunds for the first two shows. If you'd like to get tickets to one of the latter shows there are, thankfully, some still available — but we suggest you move quickly. The below article has been updated to reflect the changes. After blowing Sydneysiders away with her singing, dancing and towering cosmic structures at the Sydney Opera House last year for Vivid Live, Solange is heading Down Under once more. The Grammy Award-winning singer — composer, choreographer, actress, filmmaker, fashion icon — is coming back to the Opera House for two shows in January 2020. Mark it in your calendars, friends. If you were one of the lucky ones to score tickets the sold out show last year, you'll know what to expect come January: a stunning 360-degree stage, a live band, a team of incredibly choreographed dancers. Although this time, instead of singing and dancing to A Seat at the Table under a giant moon-like sphere, Solange will be performing her new album When I Get Home in Australia for the first time. Featuring hits such as 'Way to the Show', 'Dreams' and 'Binz' — and collaborators such as Pharrell, Sampha, Gucci Mane and Tyler, the Creator — the album is an ode to Solange's hometown of Houston, Texas. It was released alongside a 33-minute art film of the same name, which you can watch on YouTube while you're waiting for her Aussie return. While the stage will look a little different this time round, we're told to expect something similarly impressive. You can get a glimpse of what to expect from the new choreography, too, by checking out Solange's Instagram. All the $99 tickets have already sold out, so you're looking at paying at least $129 for a spot. The Sydney Opera House performances will be Solange's only Aussie shows, so, if you're interstate we suggest you start keeping an eye on cheap flights. Image: Max Hirschberger
Artists, musicians and chefs representing more than 57 cultures are gathering in Sydney's inner west this week for Open Marrickville, a free, ten-day, annual festival. Running until June 26, the celebration fills galleries, halls, community spaces and streets. At Chrissie Cotter Gallery, artworks by refugees from diverse backgrounds are on show for New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival Exhibition, while Greek kitchens and gardens are being explored through images and cooking demos in The Community Kouzina, curated by Eleni Christou. On Thursday, June 23, catch Faraway… So Close to Homeland, a documentary telling the stories of ten Syrian refugees. Also on the busy program are several mini festivals-within-the-festival, including Pachamama, covering all things Latin American and Balkan Bonanza, featuring food, music and dance from Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia. And, for a free lunch (yep, there's such a thing), head to the Festival of the Olive, happening at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas on June 23 from 9.30am.
IT'S A GOOD DAY. A very good day. One of the world's most celebrated rappers, Kendrick Lamar, has been added to the Bluesfest lineup and has announced two huge performances in Melbourne and Sydney. Biaaaaaaatch, no way. Hitting Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on March 21 and Sydney’s Allphones Arena on March 23, Lamar will then join The National and Tom Jones to headline Bluesfest in Byron Bay on Thursday, March 24. More dates are expected to be announced, so keep those fingers crossed Brisbane. Lamar's quite the curveball for this year's Bluefest, with the festival already sporting quite the eclectic patchwork of a lineup — from Noel Gallagher to Tom Jones, Jackson Browne to City and Colour. This will be the first time Lamar has toured Australia since 2014's Rapture Festival, and since releasing his wildly critically-acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly, so expect tickets to go quicker than you can say 'Kunta'. KENDRICK LAMAR 2016 AUSTRALIAN DATES: MELBOURNE — March 21 (Rod Laver Arena) SYDNEY — March 23 (Allphones Arena) BYRON BAY — March 24 (Bluesfest) Tickets for Kendrick Lamar's Sydney and Melbourne shows will go on sale at 9am Monday, October 19. Telstra pre-sale from 10am Wednesday, October 14 until 10am Friday, October 16, those pre-sale tickets over here.
Party on a private island with a lineup of visiting music acts, thanks to the legends at Siberia Records. The local label has partnered up with Laneway for a special post-festival sideshow on an island somewhere in the Sydney harbour. Which one? Not sure yet. Who'll be playing? They haven't said. But given their track record with these kinds of things, we're willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Set for the evening of Monday February 8, not much has been revealed about the Sydney harbour shindig. Up to 700 ticket holders will be ferried to the undisclosed island via speedboat from King St Wharf, for an evening of sets and collaborative performances by local and international DJs, fresh from their appearance at Laneway. Island Getaway 3.0 marks the third time the record label has taken to the water, following a party on a barge in 2014 and a trip to Cockatoo Island in 2015. Guess we can cross the latter off our list of potential locations, with organisers promising this year's secret setting has "never been used like this before." Could it be one of these, maybe? Previous guests at Siberia's secret parties have included Jamie xx, Fourtet, Mark Ronson and Kirin J Callinan. They also co-hosted a massive laneway party with Young Turks in Wollongong for New Year's Eve, which saw both Jamie xx and Fourtet drop by unannounced. Like we said, they've got a pretty decent track record in this department. Siberia Record's Island Getaway 3.0 is happening on Monday February 8. For more information and to book tickets, visit Moshtix. Image: Clark Island.
Coming next month to Westfield in Chatswood, Royal Stacks is the brainchild of burger nerd Dani Zeini. That name might not mean much to Sydneysiders, admittedly, but trust us when we tell you this news should make you very excited. Zeini is the same guy behind Melbourne's awesome American-themed eatery Grand Trailer Park Taverna, not to mention Royal Stacks venues in Brunswick and the CBD. Now, after years spent lording over your hungry neighbours south of the border, Zeini is bringing his mouth-watering buns to NSW. Set to open on August 31, Royal Stacks have a fairly simple menu, by which we mean burgers, and plenty of them. Choices range from the classic Single Stack featuring a beef patty, tomato, lettuce, pickles, cheddar and special sauce, to more extravagant options such as the Prince Harry, which adds horseradish, shallots and gherkin mayo, and The King, which throws a gigantic mac 'n' cheese croquette into the mix. The King is here! Snap: @empthyplateblog #royalstacks #fullystacked A photo posted by Royal Stacks (@royalstacksau) on Jul 21, 2016 at 11:32pm PDT They've also got you sorted when it comes to dessert, serving frozen custard in a variety of flavours – think Ferrero Rocher, cookie dough and Nutella swirl, to name but a few. "I've been obsessed with US burger culture for several years," said Zeini. "Bringing this kind of culture to Australia but focusing on ethically and locally sourced ingredients is something I've always been excited about." Find Royal Stacks at Westfield, Chatswood from August 31. For more information visit www.royalstacks.com.au.
One of the best drinking spots for pre-Vivid LIVE shows last year, Sydney Opera House's pop-up pool hall is back for another round. Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd — whose work you already know if you've ever knocked back a tequila or two at Tio's or a tiki cocktail at The Cliff Dive — are bringing back the Deep Purple Pool Hall for just ten nights during this year's Vivid festival. The pop-up speakeasy, which last year genuinely resembled a dive bar plonked in Sydney's iconic arts venue, will be found inside the Concert Hall's northern foyer, where you can get cosy and warm while still taking in those epic harbour views. Expect a specially-curated menu from the team behind Tio's, served up by Aria Catering, alongside craft beer and wine from local Sydney producers, as well as live DJs and free pool. FREE. "I have wanted to set up a cool bar in this space for five years, ever since I arrived at the Opera House," said Ben Marshall, curator of Vivid Live, last year when the bar opened. "Whether you're up for a pre or post-gig drink or on the look-out for the neon eight-ball outside, you can sneak up the back stairs of the Opera House to the Deep Purple Pool Hall and settle into an incredible secret space in the heart of the city, in the middle of this incredible festival." The Deep Purple Pool Hall will open for ten nights only, May 27 – June 5, 6pm till late. Images: Daniel Boud.
Australian politicians, you'd better go incognito for the next few months. British-born, American-based comedian John Oliver is heading to Australia for a string of stand-up shows this August. The Emmy and Writer’s Guild Award-winning writer, comedic actor and politically-outspoken satirist is taking a short break from his Peabody-winning HBO show, Last Week Tonight, to jump on a plane and scatter truth nuggets around our shores. Heading back to his political stand-up roots, it's Oliver's first stand-up tour in Australia. Of course, this isn't his first time fiercely focusing on our great southern land; dropping plenty of not-so-flattering Australian takedowns on his own show and while guest hosting on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Expect uncomfortable Australian realities aplenty, with deep burns like this Tony Abbott roast: Or the time Oliver referred to Australia as 'comfortably racist' on his hugely popular, weekly satirical podcast The Bugle: But there was that one time we were praised for our gun control laws: And our plain packaging laws for cigarettes: This is Oliver's first ever Australian stand-up tour, so expect these tickets to go quicker than Australia's political credibility on late night American television. JOHN OLIVER LIVE DATES: Thursday, August 27 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Sunday, August 30 — State Theatre, Sydney Tickets go on sale Monday, May 11 at 9am from Ticketmaster.
Neil Perry's new Cantonese restaurant, Jade Temple, is all set to open in the original site of Rockpool Est. 1989. Open for business on Monday, July 3, the restaurant is the latest in what seems to be a neverending string of openings from the Rockpool Dining Group, who announced back in March that they'd be replacing the short-lived Eleven Bridge with a Cantonese restaurant. The fine dining establishment will feature classic dishes with an Australian produce twist and a tiki-style cocktail list to boot. The familiar sounding name is no coincidence — Jade Temple will act as the sister restaurant to Spice Temple, which is also contained in the group's portfolio. The redesign of the 11 Bridge Street space has been taken on by designer Grant Cheyne, who has been on Perry's payroll for some time, having also designed Rockpool Est. 1989 and Burger Project, as well as the Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple locations across Australia. The Jade Temple fitout features two cast iron Chinese guardian lions, traditional Chinese artwork and imported Chinese light fittings, including custom-designed chandeliers and handmade bamboo shades. The kitchen is located behind folding screens and comes complete with a duck drying cabinets and live seafood tanks. The space is also fitted with separate mezzanine and bar areas that are cosy and more intimate spaces for pre-dinner drinks or snacks. The menu focuses on classic dishes that use sustainable Australian produce, featuring dishes like char siu, whole roast duck, lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork and honey prawns, along with fresh seafood served with a variety of Cantonese sauces. For lunch, a menu of dumplings, steamed buns and wontons will be on offer. In proper Lazy Susan family style, all dishes are designed to share, though of course they'll be more high-end than your corner Chinese shop, with banquet menus on offer for $75-95 per person. On the drinks side, the Cantonese-inspired cocktails are made using house-made ingredients, syrups and infusions to achieve a 'Chinese-tiki' spin. They're also named after mythical characters from Chinese folklore, adding a touch of kitsch to the venue. The colossal wine list includes 300 labels from around the world with a focus on regions that pair nicely with Cantonese food — think whites from Austria, Germany and France's Loire Valley and reds from Burgundy and Rhone Valley. A selection of loose-leaf Chinese teas, infusions and tisanes will also be on offer. Jade Temple will open Monday, July 3 at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading 13 adventurers on a two-day Wilderness Yoga Escape for the weekend of May 13 through 14. Participants will hike through the Blue Mountains where they will be guided through yoga practice by Flow with Jo in an excursion that combines yoga, hiking and wild camping. The day will begin with pre-hiking vinyasa, followed by a five-kilometre hike to a secluded, 'secret' campsite. After a sunset Yin class, enjoy a healthy camp feast (provided) and a night under the stars. Day two will include pre-breakfast vinyasa and wild-swimming before making the trek back. Apart from yoga, ticket holders will learn meditation practices and useful hiking warm up/warm down techniques. On the camping side of things, you'll develop basic navigation skills, tent setup, water filtration techniques, fire starting and other camping hacks from professional wilderness guides.
American comedian Joel McHale is coming to Australia. The star of Community, The Soup and that one recurring daydream we have where he asks us to be his best friend (shut up, it could happen) has announced a one night only standup show in Sydney next fortnight. Tickets go on sale this Friday. Please remain calm. The last-minute show is set for Saturday, November 7 at Sydney's Theatre Royal. My Live Nation members can get pre-sale tickets from Thursday, October 22 at 10am, before they become available to the general public the same time the following day. McHale is best known for his role as Jeff Winger in Community, a sitcom that people apparently feel quite strongly about (#sixseasonsandamovie). He's also hosted pop culture current affairs program The Soup on E! since 2004 and last year headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner. Admittedly, he also had a role in Spy Kids 4D — but then again, nobody's perfect. At this stage there's no indication that McHale will perform any additional dates or locations. Tickets for his Sydney show will be available online via Live Nation. Image: Frank Ockenfels.
Easter is upon us once again, and that means that BAD Friday block party is only a few sleeps away. From their humble beginnings at the Annandale Hotel in 2010, the crew behind one of the best celebrations of local talent in the calendar year have ramped it up, year after year, and this year won't change that winning formula. Thrown in this year, however, is the maiden performance of A Band, the greatest band who have never played. In a tribute to The Band's final ever show, a host local musos and special guests are taking to the stage to present their own homage. The festival will take over Railway Parade in Marrickville from midday on Friday, with the tunes kicking off with Scabz at 12.30pm. From there, the lineup meanders through Flowertruck, Bec Sandridge, Green Buzzard, Shining Bird, Sampa the Great, Royal Headache and The Jezabels, with headliners DMA's capping off the day for another year.
Sydney's reached peak burger obsession. No longer confined to the realms of American chains and RSL bistros, burgers now clock up appearances on the menus of top-tier, hatted chefs, each putting their own contemporary, fine dining spin on the longtime casual favourite. So we reckoned it was about time for a good ol' fashioned burger battle — and so did Merivale. This February, we invited 16 of Merivale's top chefs to Ivy Ballroom to hit the kitchen and cook up their ultimate burger for March Into Merivale's Between Two Buns. Some, like Mr. Wong's Dan Hong, opted for their widely celebrated, longtime burger recipes (hel-lo Lotus Burger), while others dreamed up new and strange burger possibilities —Bistrode CBD's Jeremy Strode did a chicken and eel burger (and nailed it). Sitting on the judging panel, our own fearless leader and founder of Concrete Playground Rich Fogarty, Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes, Merivale chef Danielle Alvarez (Fred's, opening soon), and Merivale marketing director Andrew El-Bayeh. Feasting on 16 top-tier burgers sounds like a tough job, but these guys pulled through (with many, many napkins). Watch it all go down here: So, who won over the judges? Here's the winning six burgers, and you'll be able to try every single one of these juicy delights during March Into Merivale, at Between Two Buns on Wednesday, February 17. BETWEEN TWO BUNS FINALISTS: Dan Hong (Mr. Wong) — Lotus Burger Alex Lewis (The Beresford) — The ultimate duck burger Jeremy Strode (The Fish Shop/ Bistrode CBD) — The Fish Dog (chicken and eel) Jordan Toft (Coogee Pavilion) — Aged trim beef, cheese, burger sauce, B&B pickle Paul Donnelley (Ms.G's) — Beef, bacon and cheese burger Patrick Friesen & Chris Hogarth (Papi Chulo/Queen Chow) — Canadian beef and bacon burger Best bit? We're giving you the chance to win a year's worth of burgers for free. A YEAR OF FREE BURGERS. More details this way.
Of all the ingenuity and creativity that helped make the original Star Wars films some of the most iconic sci-fi pictures of all time, one characteristic deserves credit above all others: it was a universe that had been lived in. Compared to the pristine, almost sterile visions of space portrayed by every other film of its kind, Lucas showed us something that felt entirely ‘real’, thanks to its grimy establishments, malfunctioning droids and a Millennium Falcon that only worked after a sturdy thump from its captain. Director J.J. Abrams has done well to remember this lesson. Things that were new at the close of Return of the Jedi are now old, and those that were old are now ancient, forgotten or gone entirely. Such is not just the feel, but indeed the very plot, of Episode VII: The Force Awakens. As the opening title crawl explains (yes, it's still there), Luke Skywalker has vanished and in his absence a sinister adjunct of the former Empire has arisen under the banner of ‘The First Order’. Led by a Sith-esque figure known as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the Order is scouring the galaxy for any information as to Luke’s whereabouts so as to finally erase all vestiges of the very last Jedi. In its way (and also seeking Skywalker) stands the small yet unshakeable Rebel Alliance, now marshalled by General Leia Organa. Each side has part of a map, but neither can yet complete the full picture, and time is of the essence. There can be few things more intimidating than embarking upon the production of a new Star Wars movie. So steeped is the series in lore, so fanatical its supporters, that even the tiniest of missteps will attract the most merciless and unceasing fury the galaxy has ever seen (i.e: sternly worded blog posts). Thankfully, via his Star Trek reboot, Abrams has already proven his extraordinary deftness when it comes to blockbuster space operas, and The Force Awakens is no exception. It is riddled with allusions to the past, yet few are accorded more than a glance (you will find no stormtroopers sporting ‘vintage death star t-shirts’ here, for example, unlike the indelicate homages of Jurassic World). Instead we are made to feel right at home amongst our new heroes (the exceptional Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac) thanks to familiar musical flourishes from John Williams, the spine-tingling sound and visual effects from Industrial Light and Magic, and the return of our beloved Han and Chewie. New planets and old faces, original characters and veterans to guide them – this is a franchise reborn but not reinvented. If criticisms are to be levelled, they fall mainly upon the villains. Few cinema foes will ever match the menace of Darth Vader and his Emperor mentor, however here the film’s antagonists feel particularly thin. Andy Serkis’ CGI overlord Snoke is more distracting than daunting, Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux is surprisingly hammy and Kylo Ren, whilst evil, is underscored by a petulance that borders on comedic. Thankfully, despite being masked and heavily synthesised, his voice does remain entirely comprehensible, as distinct from the recent broken PA system that was Tom Hardy’s Bane. Not to mention that his force grip is dead-set spectacular. Given the choice between normal and 3D, the latter does actually add that little bit extra here, and whilst parents will doubtless be eager to introduce their younglings to the franchise, be warned – Abrams shies not away from the ‘wars’ in Star Wars. Gritty, intelligent and utterly electrifying, buckle yourselves in folks, because we’ve got a damned good feeling about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE
From heavy equipment to smart phones, darkrooms to USB sticks and hour-long to instantaneous exposure, photography has come a long way in a few short centuries. The Photograph and Australia at the Art Gallery of NSW traces the origins of photography in this country. Parallel to the evolution of photographic technology is the story of a burgeoning national identity. The exhibition features iconic images such as Max Dupain’s bronzed Sunbaker and Mervyn Bishop’s photograph of the symbolic soil pour from Gough Whitlam to Vincent Lingiari in 1975. From documentary to conceptual photography, curator Judy Annear has dug up a vast collection of work from amateurs, artists, explorers and enthusiasts. “People know about Olive Cotton, Max Dupain and David Moore, but those artists make up a very narrow band from about the 1930s to '70s,” she says. Once restricted to specialists and aristocrats, photography as a medium has been democratised over the years, and that's reflected in the exhibition. “Now photography is ubiquitous, it has changed our entire social fabric,” says Annear. “Most of the time images become recognisable not because they have some local flavour but simply because of the confluence between popular media and chance.” PRIVATE MADE PUBLIC: THE DAGUERREOTYPE One section of the show pays homage to the daguerreotype. One of the first types of photographs made popular, it was developed without the use of a negative and printed on a polished sheet of silver-coated copper. The daguerreotype camera came in a range of shapes and sizes, though it typically resembled a wooden box. The tiny images featured from this era are cased in gilded frames and velvet covers. Looking at these little relics of intimacy, there are many unknown photographers and subjects. “I have to say, this is the hardest show of my entire career,” says Annear. “We all want stories to be nice and neat, but it’s like looking at your own family’s photo album; it never turns out the way you want. The whole thing is full of question marks.” One of the striking characteristics of the show is the way Annear pairs together contemporary and traditional photography. “I think the exhibition offered a unique opportunity in terms of the technology and what was happening here in Australia; you do see things growing up and you do see adaptation,” she says. For example, the way Tracy Moffatt’s Warhol-inspired Beauties has been positioned suggests a reworking of the daguerreotype. Three photographs of an Indigenous stockman have been dipped in tints of cream, mulberry and wine, mirroring early attempts to integrate colour into the production process. Image: Unknown photographer, Isabella Carfrae on horseback, Ledcourt, Stawell, Victoria c1855. THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER: OUT OF EUROPE AND INTO THE BUSH Taking photographs of people was one thing, but the practical challenges of venturing into the harsh Australian climate was quite another. The period from about 1850 – 1860 witnessed the birth of the professional photographer. However, the extreme heat made the process of taking and developing photographs very difficult and often required a portable or makeshift darkroom. “The colonisers were working out how to make photographs at the same time as they were working out how to grapple with the Australian environment and build towns,” says Annear. “That’s why the nineteenth century is such a strong part of the show.” "At the same time, the Indigenous people were trying to adapt to colonisation, since colonisation is never pretty," she says. The centrality of colonialism can be seen in the early ethnographic portraiture of Paul Foelsche and JW Lindt. The stilted quality of these images shows a romanticised version of Indigenous life. Complete with theatrical sets and costumes, the subjects are manipulated into artificial positions. While spontaneity is so easy to capture nowadays, these portraits are the product of painstakingly long sittings. Image: Paul Foelsche, Adelaide River (1887) THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE RISE OF EVERYDAY LIFE Prior to colour photography, images were touched up with oil paints or tinted with a single colour. From the '60s onward, the explosion of alternative lifestyles led to more recognition of amateur and conceptual photography. An easier process of reproduction meant a greater number of photographers. And importantly, the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera grew more sophisticated. Artists began to draw links to Australia’s migrant roots, Indigenous heritage and powerful women. In particular, the self-portrait became a vehicle for feminism in Australia, with artists such as Sue Ford and Carol Jones sharing snippets of their personal lives. Although these images have less of an artificial character, Annear maintains that “there are at least two modes of constructing a photograph. There’s what was going on at the time and what we bring to it. We bring a lot to photography because we want it to be real. And it is so close to reality but it’s not, it’s just a piece of paper or something on a screen.” Image: David Moore, Migrants arriving in Sydney (1966) DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY: PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE Often it can feel like 21st-century technology has no limits. Constantly connected to the web on a handful of different devices, we have instantaneous access to a whole world of images. The prowess of digital photography is showcased through the work of Simryn Gill and her aerial photographs of open-cut mines, exposing the geological history of Australia. It is particularly interesting to compare these vast holes in the earth to the bustling towns and erection of skyscrapers during the late 19th and early 20th century. Reflecting on this history, the transformation of photographic technology and what it can capture has had a profound effect on how we experience time. For instance, there is the duration of an exposure, the working life of an artist, the age of our continent and the time it takes to upload a photo, to name a few. “With this exhibition, I wanted people consider that we are in the present looking at the past and it is a highly speculative, partial story,” says Annear. “It’s a complex story but at the same time you need to let your imagination roam a bit. It’s not an easy story – there’s no straightforward chronology.” Image: Simryn Gill, Eyes and Storms #13 (2012), Art Gallery of NSW. The Photograph and Australia is showing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until June 8, 2015. Top image: Max Dupain, Sunbaker (1937).
If you're keen to cruise into 2016 to deep, deep house music, this is your party. Mad Racket are back with their annual NYE shindig, a no-stress alternative to the craziness of Sydney Harbour and the CBD's mega parties. With no fireworks, laidback party folks and seriously good tunes, Mad Racket's NYE party is for people after a no-frills good time at the Petersham Bowlo. This year, the crew are welcoming Hamburg house legends Smallpeople to the fore. They've been carving out a niche in the widespread, dense house scene for over ten years with their unique brand of hypnotic beatmaking, running their own Hambug label and record store and putting on their own nights in Europe. They'll be joined by Racketeers Jimmi James, Ken Cloud, Zootie and Simon Caldwell. Break out a mini champagne at the Petersham Bowlo and ring in 2016 with some of the world's bloody best house.
Seven premieres, thirteen previews and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s 21st birthday are all part of the 2015 St. George OpenAir Cinema programme, revealed today. Australia’s most legendary tour bus will celebrate her coming-of-age with a special Australia Day screening. And you’re invited to kit-up for the occasion, with the most outrageous tiaras, wigs, feather boas and heels you can lay your hands on. Opening night, happening on January 7, will double as the hotly-anticipated Australian premiere of The Theory of Everything. Featuring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, it recounts the early life of Stephen Hawking and his relationship with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Changing the mood entirely, but just as likely to draw crowds, will be the Australian premiere of crime-comedy-drama Inherent Vice. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch Drunk Love, Boogie Nights, The Master) and starring Joaquin Phoenix as detective Larry 'Doc' Sportello, it’s an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's hilarious novel, which places a twisted crime case in the bizarre, surfer, stoner world of late '60s psychedelia. There's five more premieres to look forward to this summer: Jon Stewart's directorial debut, Rosewater, which tells the true story of journo Maziar Bahari (Gael Garcia Bernal), arrested in Iran for espionage; Samba, the emotive yet humorous story of a love affair between a stressed-out executive-turned-immigration worker (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and a migrant from Mali (Omar Sy); Clouds of Sils Maria, in which Juliette Binoche plays an internationally-renowned actor who returns to the play that she acted in as a teen, but in a reversed role; The Rewrite, a romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant as a one-time successful screenwriter turned failure; and Diplomacy, a World War Two drama based on the historical events that prevented Paris’s destruction. All in all, 42 films will screen between January 7 and February 21. Tickets go on pre-sale on Monday, December 8, at 9am.
If you enjoyed the drum-heavy, jazz score of 2014's Birdman then you'll love getting to hear drummer and composer Antonio Sanchez perform his score live alongside the Oscar-winning film. A four-time Grammy Award winner himself, this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a bloody great movie coupled with incredible live jazz. Sanchez's performance will be improvised, just as it is in the film. While a showing will take place at the State Theatre in the CBD, insiders are headed to the Lennox Theatre in Parramatta, where tickets are only $49 a pop. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here.
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit all Seven Kingdom – by which we mean Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington and Auckland. Each event will welcome more than 40 different winemakers, including Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Tarrawarra Estate, Olivers Taranga and Paxton Biodynamic Wine (exact producers vary city to city). There'll also be a number of food vendors on hand, to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, vote for their favourite vintages as part of the People's Choice Award, and take part in a blind tasting 'torture chamber' that we promise is more fun than the name makes it sound. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone? GAME OF RHONES DATES May 1 – Adelaide May 22 – Perth May 29 – Brisbane June 18 – Melbourne June 19 – Sydney July 2 – Auckland July 9 – Wellington For more information and to book tickets visit the Game of Rhones website.
Inner west Gelato Messina fiends, forget that cross-city trek for salted caramel goodness. Messina have announced plans to open their very first inner west store, set for a 2016 opening at the former Rozelle Tram Depot in Forest Lodge. If you're thinking Messina would go near the Cow & Moon-dominated Enmore area, think again. According to Good Food, Oxford Agency's Steffan Ippolito has confirmed Messina will open at the former Rozelle Tram Depot, alongside a pasta bar from A Tavola's Eugenio Maiale and Jared Ingersoll's paddock-to-plate eatery Butcher & Farmer. The monarchs of gelato have been characteristically busy of late. Recently they’ve been teaming up with Andy Bowdy to create soft serve sundaes, delivering tubs of gelato to your office with Uber and creating handmade chocolate boxes for your mum. But they haven’t kept quiet on the store-opening front, recently opening stores in Richmond, Coolangatta and indicating a Rosebery opening. Gelato Messina will open at the former Rozelle Tram Depot in 2016. Via Good Food. Images: Messina Fitzroy.
Officially Sydney's newest rooftop bar, Coogee Pavilion Rooftop is set to open its highly anticipated sky-high space — just in time for New Year's Eve. Home to no less than four indoor and outdoor bars, Merivale's Rooftop is kicking things off on Tuesday, December 30, ready to make a breezy home for post-beach snacks, sunset cocktails and one of Sydney's best panoramic views over the warmer months. Plus, the Rooftop and Ground Floor will both be open on New Year's Eve — with no bookings or tickets required. Plans have changed. The crown of Coogee's three-level beach citadel, Coogee Pavilion, opened in July this year to big ol' snaps, the Rooftop has been designed by Kelvin Ho and Emilie Delalande of Akin Creative, Amanda Talbot, Justin and Bettina Hemmes. Get ready for a few surprises, the space has been designed "as if it was once the conservatory owned by an eccentric botanist" according to Merivale. Think epic greenery, mismatched Moroccan tiles and handpainted tables from the hand of local artist Mayriel Luke. Food-wise, expect Merivale-style decadence on the Rooftop, but with a laidback beachside vibe. Coogee Pavilion's executive chef Jordan Toft is taking his crafts upstairs, infusing the menu with inspiration from his travels through the Eastern Mediterranean. Think charcoal-grilled meats and smoked seafood — we're talking whole baby calamari with ink vinaigrette, haloumi wrapped in grape vine leaves and lemon oil, and adana (ground lamb and beef, washed onion and sumac). Post-swim tipples at the Pavilion? Drinkies have been designed by Merivale's group bars manager Paul Mant, and while the cocktail list is yet to be revealed, fresh fruit-laden sharing pitchers seem to be the go. Holding the Coogee Pavilion as Merivale's pièce de résistance, CEO Justin Hemmes is super keen to unveil the Pavilion's fancy new hat. "This is our most exciting venue to open yet and certainly the one I’m most proud of," he says. "We have been overwhelmed by the support of the local community since launching the ground floor and I can’t wait to unveil the next level of this iconic property." The new Rooftop stems from the already-applauded lower levels of the Pavilion — brimming with Will & Co coffee, a lovejuice cart, barber shop, florist, nostalgia-ruled games area, true-Italian woodfired pizza by Vincenzo Biondini, raw bar and a giant 45kg rope knitted lampshade — to casually gloss over the details. With the opening of Sydney's first free beach library, seems Coogee's staking a mighty claim as the go-to eastern summer hub this season. Coogee Pavilion Rooftop will open December 30, 2014.
Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well now it looks like you finally can. Cirque du Soleil, the world famous circus troupe, is heading to Australia, and they're inviting all of us to audition. What could possibly go wrong? Preliminary auditions will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth throughout the second week of February, with talent scouts on the lookout for artists, acrobats, sportspeople, singers, musicians and dancers, as well as "everyday Australians" who are looking to show off their "creative performance talent." We don't know about you, but that description sounds just vague enough to mean pretty much anything. Time to bust out the hula hoop people! If it all sounds a bit like an episode of Australia's Got Talent, you're actually not that far off the mark. Turns out the audition process is part of an as-of-yet unnamed reality show. A selection of talented and/or ridiculous candidates from each city will be flown down to Melbourne for a second audition on February 14. Hurrah! If you dream of being the next Philippe Petit or are just happy to make an idiot of yourself on TV, you can register for an audition in your home city at the following website. Registrations close at 5pm on Monday February 8.
Ah, the munchies. When entire value packs of Chicken Crimpys spontaneously vanish, and McDonald's just doesn't seem sufficiently mass-produced. Well 50 bucks can buy you a whole new level of stoner stomach satisfaction this August, when the most excessive gustatory combos imaginable dare to show themselves at Queenie's. Queenie's is holding its third stoner dinner where the entire concept of "three-course meal" is laughed at and spat upon. We're talking fourth and fifth courses of grease and fat, crunchy and smooth, sweet and sour united in unholy matrimony — last time around the whole meal was McDonald's themed. What's in store? We're talking Buffalo Tater Tots (franks, roasted peanuts, sour cream and celery), Pay Day Taco Bell (lobster, crisps, jerk mayo, chilli salsa and gold leaf) and the ever perplexing Double Donut Burger (fried buttermilk chicken, american cheese, glazed donuts and sprinkles). You need more? How about the Garbage Plate, a glorious heap of short rib, chilli beef, smoked beans, jerk mac n' cheese jaffle with onion rings? Or the Twinkie Weiner Sandwich, with salted caramel ice cream with raspberry sauce? Oh, you need a Blazed Toffee Apple with coconut and pineapple, too? And the tablecloth? Here, take it, but don't eat my jacket. Okay, take that too. Stop eating me. I'm not amused. Queenie's Third Stoner Dinner takes place on Thursday, April 23. It's $55 a head, and bookings essential. To reserve a spot email bookings@queenies.com.au or call (02) 9212 3035.
In delectable news for Chippo livers and lovers, Silvereye has confirmed via Instagram that it’ll be opening tomorrow (Tuesday, September 22). You’ll find Silvereye on the second floor of the revamped Old Clare Hotel. It’s the second restaurant to start serving there, with Automata having opened its doors on September 16 and the last member of the triad, Kensington Street Social, coming soon. Headed by executive chef Sam Miller (former executive sous chef at Copenhagen’s Noma), Silvereye’s open-plan kitchen is promising two tasting menus, driven by premium Australian produce and created with traditional techniques, like pickling, fermenting, salting, curing and smoking. Miller, who’s originally from York, UK, has teamed up with Orana’s Jock Zonfrillo to come up with unique recipes, featuring native ingredients. Current dishes include raws clams, raw cauliflower alongside yabbi a la pyramid; carrots with lingon berries and cream, alongside oyster, potato, melon; and Jerusalem artichoke alongside leeks with pig’s feet and white beer. Meanwhile, the drinks menu is inspired by sustainability, minimal intervention and terroir (i.e. expression of natural location). That means a varied and interesting list of premium boutique wines from both Australian and overseas. And there’s a serious focus on high-end champagne. Silverye opens at 20 Broadway, Chippendale on Tuesday, September 22 and will be open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are essential. Check out the rest of The Old Clare Hotel over here.
Jackson Browne dropping a cover of The Eagles' 'Take It Easy'? Classic Bluesfest. Kendrick Lamar echoing across Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm with "This. Dick. Ain't. Freeeeeeeee."? New Wave Bluesfest. Bringing over 200 performances to seven stages over five 12-hour days, Bluesfest returned to the hallowed, well-gumbooted grounds of Tyagarah just out of Byron Bay over the Easter weekend. This outrageously-loved festival brought in its 2016 chapter with one of its most eclectic lineups yet (but importantly, brought back the festival's renowned yearly menu of fish tacos, Yemen rolls and organic doughnuts). From Celtic voodoo to pre-WWII 'minstrel blues', Icelandic indie folk to truly avant garde performance art rock, this year's festival took the genre-spanning game next-level. Kicking off the first night, Kendrick Lamar drew one of the most dominantly Young Person crowds of the festival. Following widely praised shows in Melbourne and Sydney, the 'King Kunta' gamechanger brought his wildly eloquent unpacking of race and identity to the festival's opening night — from 'Backseat Freestyle' to 'Alright'. Lamar gave ups to fellow festival headliner and R&B legend D'Angelo, who, helped the Bluesfest crowd find new hinges in their pelvises with his two highly seductive sets — even though multiple reports from Thursday's set saw Kendrick fans actually booing the R&B icon. Really. Booing D'Angelo. Kids today. Big favourites Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grammy award-winning, face-melting multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter made most Bluesfesters highlight lists, alongside a swathe of relative newcomers to many Aussie ears. Jerron"Blind Boy" Paxton had the festival well abuzz, the twenty-something multi-instrumentalist specialising in '20s and '30s blues a la Fats Waller and "Blind" Lemon Jefferson. Our jaws are still on the floor in the Delta tent after seeing San Francisco's super fun outfit Con Brio, lead by the unforgettable Ziek McCarter — the lovechild of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars with better abs. Punters stood open-mouthed and wonderfully freaked out watching legendary avant garde experimental art rock collective The Residents. We raised plastic cups to Mojo Juju's "love song to Newcastle", attempted terribly to sing along Nai Palm-style with Melbourne's Hiatus Kaiyote, madly Googled 'Shooglenifty' and generally flailed around in bona fide Dad Dancing style to Mick Fleetwood. Big ups have to be paid to Friday night's heart-in-mouth set from The National, ending with frontman Bryce Dessner genuinely gobsmacked by one heck of an emotional, to-the-syllable singalong. Bluesfest delivered yet another feelgood, like-clockwork festival, nabbing only one and a half days of downpour and less mud than usual. More than one artist, including the legendary Jackson Browne, called it "the best festival in the world". With police happy, punters happy, sleeping kids in wheelbarrows happy and artists happy, we reckon that calls for another organic doughnut. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
Maser carved his name out (literally) on the streets and walls and trains of Dublin as a teenager, and has grown to become one of Ireland’s best loved street artists, with his public artworks found across Europe and North America and now, Sydney. His maze-like Higher Ground opens today in Hyde Park, looming over the spot where popular bouncing-castle Stonehenge Sacrilege stood in 2014. “Maser was originally just a tag that I made up around the age of 14 or 15 just so I didn’t get caught. And it stuck, it became a nickname,” he explains. Almost 20 years later, even though his art is well above board, Maser still prefers to maintain a low profile, and keeps his real name and age under wraps. “I’m not going miles out of my way to hide my identity, I just like the work to speak for itself. I don’t want to showcase myself too much, I’m just not really interested in that.” Higher Ground will speak with some volume. The monolithic, perspective-skewing, Op Art-inspired installation is being built in Hyde Park for Sydney Festival. “This is by far, definitely the biggest structural piece from the ground up I’ve designed and built, and yeah, it’s huge,” he says. “Having people engage with three dimensional painting, they become a part of it, take ownership of it, share it if they want, and you know it’s that experience of excitement that I love." Maser says his style has been largely influenced by audience responses to his work over the years. What began as a covert graffiti operation (“It was a subculture that basically only we could read,” he says of the abstract typography and skewed letter fonts synonymous with tagging) changed course when Maser realised he could use his art as a tool for garnering awareness about social issues. “I started engaging the public a lot more with writing social messages that at the time I felt were needed," he says. "Besides going into a recession [in Ireland], there were also mental health awareness and homelessness issues.” Maser took to writing political slogans inspired by the typefaces and colours from the hand-painted signs and adverts seen around the city between the 1930s and 1960s. “So I just continued that narrative, and got great feedback from that.” Higher Ground is an extension of a large-scale project Maser recently completed in Berlin. “But I wanted it bigger and better this time. I wanted elevations where people could go up and look down on other people within the space, so it’s creating more of a complete environment.” With its geometric lines and bright colours, the immersive sculpture is reminiscent of graphic artist MC Escher’s optical illusion sketches from the early 1900s. Upon receiving the commission, Maser looked at Hyde Park on Google Maps and took note of the cathedral and the natural environment of the park. “It’s the play, the juxtaposition of this almost synthetic minimalist form in this natural environment that I think is going to be really effective. I think if we put this in an industrial estate it wouldn’t have the effect that it will have when you put it on grass with trees around it and really strip back all the forms, really minimalistic 45 degree angles, flats, I think it’s going to work really well. I hope it does.” Not only is this Maser’s most ambitious work to-date, it’s also the furthest he’s ever had to travel and he hopes audiences will engage with the work openly. “Don’t try and figure it out,” he advises. “I have my reasons for creating it but you can just take what you want from it. If that’s sitting around and eating a sandwich in there or whatever, really don’t be intimidated by it. My reward would be to see people embrace it.” Higher Ground is on during Sydney Festival, from January 8-25 and open from 9am to sunset. It is closed Mondays.
Burgers flying through the sky in Melbourne? It's not a mere pipe dream. The wacky scientists at Monash University have teamed up with Mr Burger to create Future Burger, the new delivery service powered by drones and your insatiable love of burgers. If you’re in Melbourne and interested in receiving a burger that flies majestically through the air as if by magic and flutters delicately into your lap, oozing with cheese and relish (actual experience may be sloppier), you can sign up via the Future Burger website. A few caveats though. You have to be at the Monash campus at Clayton on August 2 (a Sunday on campus) and you'll have to actually be picked by the Monash Future Burger overlords as the chosen burger recipient. You have until July 28 to enter your details and be considered for this esteemed honour. We haven't been this excited about novelty food delivery since parachute jaffles. This seems to be an experiment coming out of Monash's drone department (or, more correctly Monash's Faculty of Information Technology, but we like 'drone department') and as such, we will strive do all in our power to help science — by stuffing our faces. Future Burger is brought to you by Monash University and Mr Burger. To be in the running for drone burger delivery, enter your details here.
Aunty's done it again; inviting the whole country round for a cup o' chai and a grand ol' hootenanny — the 2015 lineup for Meredith Music Festival is here. Returning to beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, near Golden Plains over December 11-13, Meredith's more eclectic than ever — it's the Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary after all. Following the recent major announcement of Ex-Fleet Foxes minstrel Father John Misty as this year's top headliner, Aunty's added the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ratatat, The Thurston Moore Band, Tkay Maidza, Neon Indian, Big Daddy Kane, Shellac, Fatback Band, Jessica Pratt, Briggs, and many more to the bill. As always, Meredith's a BYO paradise, and of course, the 'No Dickhead Policy' stands stronger than ever. There's just one ticket type (none of this fancy schmancy VIP tiered business) and it'll set you back $338.70 + $10BF + $7.50 post. Like every year, it's a ballot system and first round ticket offers will be made today, the second on August 20. Enter over here. But enough chatskies, here's who's ringing in 25 years of glorious Meredith fun with Aunty this year. MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP Big Daddy Kane Bully Father John Misty Floating Points Fatback Band GL Goat Harvey Sutherland Jessica Pratt Julia Holter Levins Lucy Cliche The Peep Tempel Master Khalil Gudaz MC Jane Clifton Mighty Duke and The Lords Briggs Moon Duo Neon Indian Optimo Pearls Power Ratatat Shellac Steve Miller Band The Thurston Moore Band Tkay Maidza Totally Mild Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats Unknown Mortal Orchestra Meredith Music Festival is happening December 11 to 13 in the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Meredith. Enter the ballot here. Image: Meredith Music Festival.
Surry Hills haunt Tio's is about to take its taco game to a whole new level. Ghostboy Cantina announced yesterday that, from July 20, the Dixon Street hole-in-the-wall will be taking up residence at the Mexican drinking den. Toby Wilson, former owner of Wedge Espresso and most recently head barista of Sample Coffee, took a distinct departure when he opened Ghostboy Cantina in the Dixon House food court at the start of this year. Serving a simple menu of tacos and sides, it's a taqueria with an Asian twist — no surprise considering his Haymarket location. Think tacos of shredded pork with Thai basil and sliced peach or a fried cauliflower taco with green chilli sauce and queso fresco topping. This 'Mexicasian' combination works all too well. But, with his six-month lease just about up, Wilson is moving on to bigger and better taco digs. The collaboration with Tio's is really a no brainer — get a Sydney guy already making world class tacos and put him up in a place that champions everything Mexican culture. Patrons should expect much the same style menu, with a few surprises on the horizon. Wilson has promised to start off with a brand new Tio's dessert, as well as a few new bar snacks that we expect will go deeper than bags of popcorn (love you, popcorn bags). We have our fingers crossed for taco-inspired drinks from the Tio's side of things. We'll see if Ghostboy's Asian flare holds up outside its Dixon Street debut. Either way, the previously unassuming food stall might take on a pretty different vibe moving into the late night game — you can't avoid it in the party atmosphere of Tio's. Ghostboy Cantina will open on July 20 at Tios Cerveceria, 4-14 Foster Street, Surry Hills.
He's collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Kendrick Lamar. Even Grumpy Cat wears that hat. Now, Pharrell Williams has teamed up with choreographer Jonah Bokaer and visual artist Daniel Arsham for a unique multidisciplinary dance project — and it's coming to Australia. From September 14 to 17, Brisbane Festival will host the Aussie premiere of Rules of the Game, which brings eight on-stage performers together in a combination of dance, music, video, art and theatrical expression. Williams crafts his first-ever orchestral score for the stage to accompany Bokaer's crisp, elegant dance moves and Arsham's offbeat, architectural environments. Loosely based on Nobel Laureate Pirandello's controversial play Six Characters in Search of an Author, the piece "recasts dance as something close to moving sculpture" as Bris Fest's artistic director David Berthold puts it. For Bokaer, who is as acclaimed and innovative in the field of contemporary dance as Williams is in music, it's a blending not only "of cultures, but a blending of forms, expressions, and of inheritance". Rules Of The Game's four-day, five-show Brisbane run will mark only the second time it will have be seen by an audience, after debuting in May at the SOLUNA International Music and Arts Festival in Dallas. In fact, the production won't premiere in New York until November. And if you're not in Brissie, you'd better book plane tickets fast, because it won't be showing anywhere else in Australia. Catch Rules of the Game at Brisbane Festival from September 14 – 17. Check out the Brisbane Festival website for tickets and further details.
The team behind The Grounds of Alexandria has been teasing us with whispers of a new CBD outpost for a while now — the venue, which is to be their second, was announced almost two years ago. Since then it's been in development, but the team behind the wildly popular Alexandria venue has confirmed The Grounds of the City will finally open later this month inside The Galeries on George Street. The new venue will be a 'nod to times past' with throwbacks to 1920s hospitality, and will be a distinct departure from The Grounds' existing vibe. "The Grounds of Alexandria is all about bringing families and the local community together, so we started off thinking about who it is that we want to bring together and connect in the city," says The Grounds co-founder and creative director Ramzey Choker. "We really got inspired by the 1920s, a time when the inner city was a place for real social gathering and connection between professionals." Design studio Acme & Co. have again worked with The Grounds, creating a truly 'spare no details' kind of space, from the antique theatre pendant lighting, up-cycled timber floors and marble details to the hand-crafted stained glass windows and custom-made enamel fridge doors. Even the light fixtures have been carefully curated and the cast iron doors were actually hand-casted by The Grounds team. "The building took a lot of craftsmanship and is going to be really different than what you're used to," says Choker. The Grounds of the City will also aim to bring socialising back to the hustle and bustle of city life. Shoe shines for waiting customers, a cake and tea trolley that circles the room and a top-of-the-line barista's bar with 'coffee sommeliers' on-hand will be just a few services on offer at the new venue. For truly next-level service, the new members app allows customers to let The Grounds get to know them a bit better – from where they work to their favourite coffee order, which will be ready for you on arrival. "When corporate workers come for a morning coffee we want to make their time pleasurable and really get to know them as individuals," says Choker. "We want to give them something a bit extra." "We want to create a place that becomes like a city home away from the office and somewhere you want to go that is just really comfortable. It's going to be really different, really unique and really special." The Grounds of the City will open late May inside The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney. We'll update you with an opening date, but for more information, visit thegroundscity.com.au.
Brisbane's Damian Griffiths is doubling down on his mission to put the entire population of Sydney — and indeed, Australia — into a diabetic coma. A mere six months after giving us our first taste of his insane Doughnut Time creations, the sugar-mad restaurateur is bringing his retro ice cream parlour, Mister Fitz, across the border. The first Mister Fitz opened in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane last December, followed quickly by a second location in South Bank. Speaking to Good Food, Griffiths confirmed that he's already found a location in Glebe and is currently looking for real estate in Surry Hills. "I'd plan to have them both open by the start of summer," he said. Plans for stores in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are also on the horizon. Like the doughnuts at Doughnut Time, the ice cream at Mister Fitz is pretty damn ludicrous — and we mean that in the best possible way. Their homemade creations include pink sea salt and caramel, coffee and oreo, and banana, brown sugar and bacon. You can get it in a waffle cone or build your own ice cream sandwich. A photo posted by @misterfitz_ on Feb 26, 2016 at 9:27pm PST A photo posted by @misterfitz_ on Mar 13, 2016 at 1:32am PST They also offer seriously epic milkshakes, including the Gold Digger, made with banana, brown sugar and bacon ice cream with whipped cream, candied bacon, crushed chips and salted caramel, and the Boom! Shake The Room, made with Nutella ice cream, whipped cream, Nutella drizzle, crushed hazelnuts and feuilletine. The news of Mister Fitz coming to Sydney's streets follows the opening of Nathan Sasi's wildly popular soft serve parlour Good Times in Potts Point and Messina's announcement that they're opening a degustation bar this month. Doesn't look like our love for ice cream is slowing down any time soon. And if it does, these guys will sure be in a spot of trouble. Follow Mister Fitz on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with their Sydney expansion plans. Via Good Food.
If you think you know the Godzilla story inside and out, Nacho Vigalondo begs to disagree. The Spanish director has released his latest film, Colossal, and although it's not specifically a remake of the legendary franchise, the film takes a massive reptilian monster and plonks it smack-bang in the middle of Seoul. And that's when the story starts to get interesting. The film is told through the eyes of party-girl burnout Gloria (played by Anne Hathaway) who moves back to her childhood town after a break up brought about by her free-wheeling ways. After a night out with old school friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), the pair awake to the news that the South Korean capital is being laid to waste by a gargantuan lizard. The catch in the story, which we'd obviously never tell you but you can find quite easily here in the trailer, is a unique twist on the classic story, and one that Marc Walkow of Film Comment has called "a surprisingly touching take on female self-empowerment and overcoming one's worst addictions". We've got ten double passes to see Colossal to give away, which can be redeemed at any time after the film's release in cinemas on April 13. The film has been getting great reviews and has garnered a more than respectable 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. All you have to do is fill in your details below, and you're in the running. [competition]615376[/competition]
N2 delivers gelato as fresh as it gets. As in, frozen right there, on the spot, within a few minutes of you placing your order. If you've already seen this miracle at work in Haymarket, you'll know that the secret to its extreme speed is liquid nitrogen. And if you haven't, there's now a new shopfront where you can watch it happen: 184 King Street, Newtown. Since setting up their first Sydney store in 2012, and expanding to Melbourne in 2013, N2 has had no trouble attracting queues. This is due not only to the fact that their gelato seems to appear by some magical spectacle — created by goggled, white-coated lab workers and accompanied by billowing water vapours — but also to their focus on left-of-field flavour profiles, often inspired by local happenings. The Newtown N2 team has already used T2 products to create a Flutterby iced tea and turkish apple sorbet and Young Henrys lager to whip up a beer and prawn crackers gelato. There's also a Thai-influenced number, yuzu coconut sorbet, which features cocoa nibs, freeze-dried mandarin, a choc top and a syringe of kaffir lime syrup. The menu is always changing, and you can even contribute by submitting your very own flavour idea. Do be aware that any requests calling for fat-free, diet-style desserts or requiring artificial flavours or colours won't be fulfilled. N2 prides itself on its use of full-cream dairy products, sourced from local farms, and its 'real', fresh ingredients. The menus at both the Newtown and Haymarket shops will evolve in sync — you'll find the details plastered in chalk across the walls. Aesthetically, they're in league, too, with the new shop taking on the original's industrial look: step ladders instead of conventional seating and a black interior splashed with yellow hard hats and bright scaffolding. N2 Newtown is open between 1pm and 11pm every day. You'll find it at 184 King Street. Image by Eddie Hart.
Successful documentaries are often boiled down to a well-worn old adage, with the best films frequently benefiting from filmmakers simply being in the right place at the right time. The saying seems to ring true for Australian Jennifer Peedom, although calling the experienced high-altitude director 'fortunate' isn't quite appropriate. When she went to Nepal in 2014, she was motivated by reported tensions between travellers and their Sherpa guides. With the chasm between the two groups screaming for more attention, Peedom planned to make a movie about one of the local workers, the unassuming Phurba Tashi Sherpa, who was on the cusp of making history. But then nature struck, and the movie had to change. A time capsule of the toughest climbing season imaginable, as well as an exercise in quick-thinking filmmaking at its best, Sherpa is undoubtedly the superior Everest-based movie of the last 12 months. Forget re-enactments, high-profile actors looking frosty, strained accents and 3D special effects. In capturing the blackest day the mountain has ever seen with on-the-ground footage of a tragedy unfolding, as well as the build up to the Khumbu Icefall avalanche and the harrowing, heartbreaking aftermath, the film presents devastating details that could only spring from real life. Phurba's feat — ascending the world's highest peak for a record-breaking 22nd time — would've made a rousing story in its own right, as well as a powerful testament to the largely unrecognised role the Sherpa people play in the mountain's growing tourism industry. The weather had other plans, however. As the ice and snow began to move, his tale became even more emblematic of the broader situation facing Nepalese residents, and brought the appalling labour conditions of the Sherpas, who make wealthy Westerners' treks possible, sharply into focus. With the precision of a master craftsperson and the breathtaking vision to match, Peedom balances the personal plight of one pivotal figure with the anger-inspiring human rights issues that surround the mountain. Viewers will find themselves simultaneously marvelling at the images Peedom and her trio of cameramen have recorded, and wanting to leap out of their seat with frustration at the dangers the Sherpas face just to make a living. In that way, Sherpa is more than just a tale of triumph over adversity. Instead, it's a high-stakes, high-altitude dissection of commercial and financial interests triumphing over a very human cost, as pieced together with an insider's perspective and understanding. Interviewees hail from all sides of the business of climbing, but there's never any doubting the film's allegiances. That's not a consequence of Peedom's lack of balance, but simply a reflection of the galling reality on the mountain. Offering an astonishing account of a just-as-astonishing slice of life, documentary filmmaking doesn't get much better than this.
Vivid Ideas is bringing innovative humans from all over the world to Sydney stages. Championing change-making creative voices, you can hear Troye Sivan explore beauty and fluidity, delve into the experiences of those who were raised in cults with filmmaker Sarah Steel or listen as experts discuss the ethics and potential ramifications of a future reliant on artificial intelligence and QR codes. Joining a lineup that's not lacking a lick in talent is Gretchen Carlson in conversation with Lisa Wilkinson. The prolific journalists and media personalities will dissect power (specifically the fallout when it's out of balance), toxic workplace culture and finding the courage to expose wrongdoing. As well, the pair discuss the intricacies of what's needed to make it easier for people to come forward after experiencing sexual assault. In 2016, Carlson — the highly respected and acclaimed US journalist and ex-Fox News anchor — successfully sued Fox founder and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This win, which inspired 2019's Bombshell, saw Carlson receive an unprecedented apology and settlement. The landmark case laid the foundation for the #MeToo movement's catapult to the global consciousness, as well as take down a predator who was in a position of immense power. [caption id="attachment_813274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2019, Destination NSW[/caption] Bound by an NDA, Carlson has tirelessly fought to break the culture of silence and remove protections from perpetrators — working to ban NDAs, enact legislative change and encourage survivors to share their experiences of harassment (which has resulted in the most significant changes to labour laws — passed by Joe Biden in March, 2022 — in over 100 years). The trailblazer was also named in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2017). With a social climate that's been immersed in the courage of those sharing their stories of trauma in the quest for justice and a safer existence — the Grace Tames, the Brittany Higgins, the Saxon Mullins — the pair will discuss the shifting media and legal landscapes both here and in the US. They will look at what still needs to change so survivors are encouraged to draw upon reserves of bravery and resilience to keep pushing forward — for the good of others, for safer communities and to upend the status quo. Sydney's Town Hall will host Gretchen Carlson and Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out on Sunday, May 29 at 1pm. Head to the website for details. Top image: Destination NSW
Five generations back, the Hamilton family planted some of the first vineyards in South Australia. It was 1837, a mere year after the arrival of European settlers in the state, and to this day they continue to produce top-quality, award-winning wine under the name Hugh Hamilton Wines. Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton’s daughter, has been the CEO for the last seven years and explains that her father has always been considered the black sheep of the Hamilton flock. “He was a very spirited young boy and got up to a fair bit of mischief," she says. "He was never going to be corralled into anything and has always remained an elusive character.” Hugh’s lively sense of humour and his ability to march to the beat of his own drum has never wavered, so it makes sense then that the wines have names such as The Scallywag Chardonnay and The Scoundrel Tempranillo. Quality, flavoursome wine is the number one priority for Hugh Hamilton Wines and they have ensured this by sourcing grapes from their three vineyards. McLaren Vale hosts perfect conditions for ripening grapes and viticulture, as it’s located between the Adelaide Hills and the coast. “Most people are not aware of this, but McLaren Vale has the most diverse geology of any wine region in the world,” explains Hamilton. Each of the three vineyards have very different soil types which greatly influence the flavour of the grapes, from the black clay at their cellar door vineyard, producing darker-style shiraz (think bitter dark chocolate and black olives) to their next vineyard 500 meters down the road that produces more red-fruit flavours due to a different soil type and climate. Hamilton refers to this as their "big comfortable red velvet chair" with a generous and juicy yield. As part of the FreeWines app, Hugh Hamilton Wines have contributed two of their expert drops; 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and 'The Rascal' Shiraz. The Trickster is made from grapes sourced from the Adelaide Hills and came about due to Hugh’s love of freshly shucked oysters and his desire to create a wine that would pair with it perfectly. Described as “racy, upbeat and brisk,” Hamilton would recommend pairing this wine with seafood dishes such as salt and pepper squid, prawns and, of course, fresh oysters. The Rascal, described as “the quintessential McLaren Vale Shiraz, with lots of fruit ripeness but also elegance,” goes beautifully with a scotch fillet or beef casserole. When it comes to selecting a wine for herself, Mary is often influenced by her mood first, rather than having a constant go-to drop. At the moment Hamilton is particularly taken with the medium-bodied 'The Mongrel' Sangiovese, “It’s got lots of lovely, juicy cherry-flavoured fruit, and it tends to be a great partner with the food I cook, which is often Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”
If you've been languishing in the absence of Goodgod, here's your chance to get that basement mojo working again. The Goodgod folks are back. Their first move? A reassembling at the Opera House during Vivid LIVE for a four-night extravaganza, happening over two weekends. Dubbed Goodgod Super Club, the event will take over the Studio, turning it into the nightclub of Goodgod's dreams. Every evening, a genre-smashing, powerhouse DJ will team up with a like-minded Aussie for extended sets, designed to make you dance until you're free. "For decades people have gone to nightclubs to dance their troubles away," said Goodgod's Jimmy Sing. "But nowadays it feels that clubs are rarely designed with that dancefloor experience and its liberating potential in mind. So that's what Goodgod Super Club's purpose will be — a seriously incredible dancefloor journey." Opening proceedings on Friday, May 27 will be Simon Caldwell (Mad Racket) and Bradley Zero, who hails from Peckham in the UK. If you've checked out the Boiler Room, listened to NTS Radio or ever made it to a Rhythm Section pool hall party, you'll be familiar with this underground dance hero. Get grimy when Mike Who (Astral People, FBI Radio) and Oneman (aka Steve Bishop) hit the decks on Saturday, May 28. Oneman has built a major following on the back of his flawless mixing of grime, old-school UK garage, DMZ-era dubstep and Atlanta's purple haze rap. Just a handful of the names he's played sessions with are Major Lazer, SBTRKT, Jamie xx, Jackmaster and Ben UFO. After a week's rest, you'll be hankering to get back into the action. Magda Bytnerowicz (4our) and Kyle Hall (Wild Oats) are your hosts on Friday, June 3. Hall, who comes from Detroit, is the progeny of techno's second wave pioneers: Omar-S, Theo Parrish and Carl Craig, and his latest album, Joy, is an homage to the Motor City. By way of grand finale, Chanel (LOW TON) will be arriving on Saturday, June 4, alongside New Yorker Joey LaBeija and Brooklyn rapper Junglepussy. LaBeija's album Shattered Dreams has featured in the world's leading galleries, including MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum. His relentless creative mix is a mashup of ballroom, rap, Rihanna and reggaeton, underpinned with addictive percussion.
The images on the walls of the Art Gallery of NSW's latest exhibition, The Photograph and Australia, span the whole history of photography, from daguerreotypes to digital. But there's one important historical chapter missing: Instagram. Love it or love to hate it, that contemporary mode of communicating the expansiveness of a harbour horizon and the calorific-ness of a weekend brunch has made photography more central to our lives than ever. And that's why it has a place in the AGNSW's exhibition: in the #myaustraliais Instagram competition. Look beyond the walls of The Photograph and Australia using the #myaustraliais hashtag and you'll find a repository of the nation's visual riches. From latte art and sculptural waves to redback spiders and improbably long bus queues, the growing collage has been built by people answering the question 'what does Australia really mean to you?'. But what really caught my attention and compelled me to tell my friends to enter? There's a $2000 Canon e-store voucher in it for the person with the best photograph. That gets you halfway to an EOS 5D Mark III, your go-to professional DSLR for photos and video. Or you can outright buy the mid-range EOS 70D and still have change for accessories. A $200 dining voucher for CHISWICK at the Gallery and a Photograph and Australia merchandise pack complete your prize. To be in the running, you just upload your photo to Instagram with the tags @artgalleryofnsw and #myaustraliais. Meanwhile, even though I'm not eligible to win ("companies associated with the promotion are ineligible to enter the competition", boo), I'm throwing in my iconographic two cents repping Migrant Australia. #MyAustraliaIs a place where every Christmas is different. Our tree = Croatian traditional hearts x Mid Eastern hand blown glass x Australian minimalism. @artgalleryofnsw A photo posted by Rima Sabina Aouf (@rimasabina) on Apr 12, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT Here's another I prepared earlier. Nefertiti's first outing. #operaharbour #nofilter #umwow A photo posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on Mar 25, 2015 at 2:59am PDT And here's one our deputy editor Shannon editor took at the Secret Garden festival. Massage train @secretgardenfestival. @artgalleryofnsw #myaustraliais #secretgardenfestival A photo posted by Shannon Connellan (@shanconnellan) on Apr 12, 2015 at 5:49pm PDT Because Australians are all about caring and sharing and festivals. This is such an easy contest to enter; almost anything can justifiably be tagged #myaustraliais. But our favourite images are both aesthetically wow and really do say something about Australia. 1 x 1 boxes of visual poetry, each one. Like this flyscreen cam: #MyAustraliaIs A photo posted by @connieparker13 on Apr 11, 2015 at 10:33pm PDT This classic Bondi: Rays And Shine #bondi #bondibeach #autumn #light #sun #beach #beachlife #beautiful #seeaustralia #ilovesydney #sydney #Australia #igs_oceania #Ig_Australia #ocean #tv_sea #sunset #love #MadeOfOcean #TLPicks #nikon #mynikonlife #myaustraliais # @artgalleryofnsw #anchorandcrew A photo posted by Rosie English (@rosiebondi) on Apr 11, 2015 at 5:36am PDT This beachside queue for the bus: Sydney buses are never on time ???? @folkmagazine @instagood #featuremeinstagood #fujiaus #magichour #ilovesydney #livefolk #liveauthentic #createexploretakeover #createexplore #myaustraliais #visualsoflife #allhailsymmetry #ink361 #vscogoodshot #vscogood_ #awesupply A photo posted by langshton (@langshton) on Apr 9, 2015 at 2:11pm PDT This carved aquamarine: #surfsup #barrels #waves #ocean #sand #sun #shore #longweekend #easter #boomerang #midnorthcoast #nsw #lifeisbetteratthebeach #setitfree @artgalleryofnsw #myaustraliais A photo posted by SET IT FREE PHOTOGRAPHY (@setitfreephotography) on Apr 7, 2015 at 3:20pm PDT These camels: “One who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure” #WHPcandid ???????? (04.06.15) A photo posted by France N. (@furansu) on Apr 7, 2015 at 9:07am PDT This cheeky composition: ???? Double Take // #WHPcandid @instagram @artgalleryofnsw #artgalleryofnsw #myaustraliais #streetdreamsmag #peoplescreatives #createexplore #createexploretakeover #finditliveit #skrwt #doyouskrwt #allhailsymmetry #welltravelled #citylimitless #herschelsupply #vscocam A photo posted by Benjamin (@itchban) on Apr 4, 2015 at 12:37am PDT This weather scene: Sydney and it's many shades of grey. A photo posted by Yvonne (@halle5462) on Mar 29, 2015 at 2:42am PDT Though, look, it's not all positive. There are always abandoned dreams: A photo posted by @ieyeaye on Mar 21, 2015 at 6:20pm PDT Those details again: to enter, take a photo of what Australia really is to you and upload it to Instagram with the tags @artgalleryofnsw and #myaustraliais. Entries will be judged by Judy Annear, the Gallery’s senior curator of photographs, and Isobel Parker Philip, the Gallery’s assistant curator of photographs. The competition closes May 17, 2015, with the winner announced on May 20, 2015. See the AGNSW website for terms and conditions.
Dig out and dust off your very finest Wedding Singer-inspired formalwear, you're going to a fake '80s wedding. You'll be dancing to David Bowie, drinking champers and, right when you're least expecting it, encountering an overly enthusiastic bridesmaid. Named Dance Magic Dance: Wedding Reception, this immersive live theatre party is being brought to you by Melbourne's The Boon Companions, in their first-ever appearance in Sydney. They've previously won over Victorian crowds with sell-out events I Am Woman and Cast Party, and now they're taking over Glebe's new co-working cafe, The Works, with their latest work. Show your ticket at the door and you'll be ushered back to July 1989. You've just watched Peter and Sherry Entwhistle tie the knot and now you're at the reception, in the role of a close connection of the wedding party. Raising a glass, you, along with close friends and family members, will send the Entwhistles deep into blissful eternity. Even Lindsay McDougall and friends are forming a house band playing live '80s wedding songs. But don't go getting too misty-eyed – you'll need to keep your eyes and ears open all night long. Dance Magic Dance: Wedding Reception is being held at The Works, 62 Glebe Point Road, Glebe on Saturday, July 9, from 7.30-11pm. Tickets are available online and a cash bar will be open throughout the evening.
Spring is in the air, bringing with it that niggling sense that we should probably embrace that balmy outdoor air and get healthy. But why go to the gym when you can hit up the Museum of Contemporary Art, who'll be hosting free evening Vinyasa yoga sessions under the sky? Starting October 15 and running through to January 28, the daily yoga sessions are the result of a partnership between the MCA and mighty athletic apparel company and apparent craft brewery lululemon athletica (no, seriously, they actually made their own beer). The free 45-minute sessions will start at 5.30pm sharp in the museum's rooftop Sculpture Terrace, providing panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while you're finding your centre. The classes will cater to both beginner and experienced yogis, and will be taught by a number of acclaimed guest instructors from around the country and the world. Although the sessions are free, bookings are highly recommended, and can be made via the MCA website. MCA's Spring Yoga Series is part of the Lights on Later initiative, which will see the museum host an after-dark program of performances, talks, workshops and live music on Thursday evenings throughout the warmer months. For more information, go here.
