Sydney chef Mike McEnearney, of Rosebery's beloved and now-closed Kitchen by Mike, finally opened the doors of his much anticipated new fine-dining restaurant No.1 Bent Street by Mike today. A huge departure from McEnearney's beloved canteen style dining, No. 1 embodies classy eating with a casual air. The location, adjacent to the CBD's Wintergarden, may not resemble KBM in style — except for a few old favourites — but the food is very reminiscent of the canteen's simple, generous food ethos. Mike's got a good team helping him steer the ship at No. 1 Bent Street, with longtime collaborator and general manager Greg Frazer (who has worked alongside Mike for around 25 years, including at Rockpool and Kitchen By Mike). He's also worked with David Lowe from Lowe Family wines to create the restaurant's house white, WHITE by Mike, and the house red (you guessed it) RED by Mike is a collaboration with Rose Kentish of Ulithorne wines SA. The market driven menu will change constantly — nearly daily — and focus on fresh, local and seasonal produce, much the way KBM did. Ethical eaters will be glad to hear that all meat served at No. 1 is sustainably farmed, grass fed, hand reared, hormone and chemical free. That's one big mouthful of moral eating right there that we're happy to get behind. Designed to share, the dishes just wouldn't work in a canteen style restaurant and deserve the fine-dining atmosphere they're given at No. 1 — KMB's beloved watermelon, haloumi and mint salad ($16) has made the journey, alongside blood orange cured mackerel ($19) and beef cheek, tail and suet pot pie ($36). The current menu includes a cup mushroom and chestnut soup ($15) that begs for Mike's homemade sourdough, back as an accompaniment ($4) served with Pepe Saya salted butter. The gorgeous desserts are on another level as well, like the woodfired quince, saffron custard and pistachio brittle ($17) that we hope claims a semi-regular spot on the menu, and the simple but delightful rice pudding with honeycomb and jam. Mike's signature nosh comes paired with the aforementioned RED and WHITE by Mike, alongside a generous wine list from around 50 options from small producers worldwide — with a strong Australian focus, of course. While McEnearney clearly has his hands full with this new opening and as the creative director for Carriageworks Farmers Markets, he hasn't given up on KBM either and is still looking for a new location in which to reopen his much loved canteen. "Kitchen By Mike will always be my love and passion, however there are dishes I am unable to execute within a canteen format. The more traditional style of No.1 Bent St provides me with the opportunity to offer a wider choice of more composed dishes," says Mike. "As a chef, and as someone who loves to take care of people, I still want guests to feel comfortable and welcome, as though they are eating at my house." No. 1 Bent St by Mike is now open at 1-7 Bent Street, Sydney. The restaurant will be open for lunch Monday through Friday and for dinner Monday through Saturday. Reservations are available here.
A woman and her young daughter, alone in their apartment, begin to worry that something is amiss. Personal items start disappearing, there's a feeling of tension in the air, and a shadowy figure seems to lurk just out of sight. On its face, Under the Shadow sounds like a fairly standard haunted house movie, but Iranian-born, London-based filmmaker Babak Anvari has delivered anything but. Setting his film in Tehran during the late 1980s, a time when the city was being bombed by neighbouring Iraq, Anvari uses horror movie trappings to explore the various social issues that have affected his native country for so long — from the rights of women under a religiously conservative regime, to the traumas of war creeping into everyday civilian life. After a rapturous premiere at Sundance back in January, Under the Shadow screened at the Sydney and Melbourne International Film Festivals, ahead of a planned theatrical release on October 7 (you can read our review of the film here). It was in Melbourne that Concrete Playground managed to catch up with the talented young writer-director, for a chat on everything from growing up during wartime to the challenges of funding a Farsi-language horror film in the West. A CLASSIC HORROR STORY IN AN UNFAMILIAR SETTING When talking about Under the Shadow, the most obvious comparison for critics is A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night – if only because it's the only other Farsi-language horror movie people have heard of. But where that film draws on vampire tales, Westerns and ultra-cool American indie flicks, Anvari's movie feels closer to classic psychological thrillers. Think The Haunting, Rosemary's Baby or even the recent Australian spooker The Babadook. "I love smart horror films," stresses Anvari. "I'm not one of those genre fanatics who watches every B-movie and grindhouse film. But I do love smart horror. With Under the Shadow, it just made sense to me, because I'm setting it in such a dark period... I just found it was a great setting for horror." In addition to his various filmic inspirations, he also drew on his own experiences growing up in Tehran. "Obviously it's not autobiographical, but a lot of it comes from a very personal place, tapping in to my memories from childhood," says Anvari. "I was born right in the middle of the Iran-Iraq war. [I took] stories I heard from relatives and family friends, combined them and added the genre beats, and [the film] became what you have now." CAN'T WE JUST MAKE IT IN ENGLISH? Of course it's one thing to write a horror movie in Farsi, and something very different to actually get it funded. "I met producers who were like, 'Great script, but is there any way we can shoot it in English?'" recalls Anvari. "I just thought it would look so fake and unbelievable if it was set in period Iran and people were walking around speaking English with a weird accent. Even for an international audience I think it would have been strange." While the language hurdle was eventually overcome thanks to the support of production company Wigwam Films, shooting the film in Tehran was never really an option. "I don't think there's anything offensive in the film, but [there are] limitations one has when making film in Iran," says Anvari, who ended up shooting in nearby Jordan instead. "Even very minor things like, in Iran, if you're shooting a female character, they have to cover their hair. But a majority of this film is a woman in her own personal space, and even the most religious person wouldn't go to bed wearing a head scarf." "There are fantastic filmmakers in Iran who are still working there, and they always find a way to go around these limitations and censorships," he adds. "But having worked in England, and having been so spoiled, I just wanted to tell my story the way I wanted." OPENING A WINDOW While the comparison to A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night can be a little misleading, one thing that both films definitely have in common is that they've sparked renewed interest in films about the Middle East that depict the region in ways that Western audiences may not be used to. "That was one of the reasons I was so interested in this story," says Anvari. "Not many people know about the Iran-Iraq war. So I just thought it would be great to use genre tropes as a hook to keep people interested, and open a window to that period and that region." Whatever the draw, Anvari just wants people to go and see the film — and preferably in a cinema. Recounting a story from Sundance where audience members were so frightened that they had to leave the cinema, the filmmaker stresses the importance of the atmosphere you get with a crowd. "It's great to watch such films in a cinema," he says. "The fear is contagious." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ATX4C8Pmw Under the Shadow is currently screening at Cinema Nova in Melbourne.
David Capra really loves his dachshund. Earlier this year, the Sydney-based artist was commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia to create an art project for the Jackson Bella Room – an interactive art space for students with special learning requirements. The result was Teena's Bathtime, a video installation piece in which members of the public were invited to give Capra's pet pooch Teena a wash. Now Capra, Teena and the team at Gallery 9 in Darlinghurst are launching a spinoff that may well turn up a few people's noses. Developed by Capra along with Jonathon Midgley at Damask Perfumery, Eau de Wet Dogge is a fragrance which combines the aromas of "moist fur, soap suds and soil" for a "uniquely musky charm," while "sour top notes of slobber and dog breath add alluring nuance." Riiiiiiight. The perfume can be sampled at Gallery 9 starting November 11. If for some inexplicable reason you like what you smell, you can pick up a 100mL bottle for $89.99, or an embossed cardboard car refresher for $15. Searching for that perfect Christmas gift? Because you should probably keep on looking. This year isn't the first time that Capra has incorporated Teena into his artwork. In 2013 he hosted a public dance inspired by the Wizard of Oz in which his sausage dog featured heavily. Man's best friend indeed. Image by Anna Kucera.
Mere days after Keep Sydney Open launched their commemorative plaques for live music venues campaign, Sydney's loudest anti-lockout lobby group have an even bigger surprise for Sydney, with fresh news that Flume has called in from the old US of A to release a brand new jam especially for KSO's new video today. Have a peep, below. Plaques organiser and KSO activist Jonno Seidler says: "This is such incredible news to receive at the 11th hour. Harley is currently on tour in North America, playing sold out theatres across the country. But he is proud of where he's from and really backs the Sydney scene, and this just shows how dedicated he really is to the future of local music." The track, called 'Heater' will presumably form part of Flume's next release, which is anyone's guess but could be an EP, coming off the international success of Skin, which dropped earlier this year. "The plaque for Harley was the easiest one to make, because I was there!" says Seidler. "It was a double header with him and Chet Faker [now Nick Murphy] at Goodgod Small Club, my favourite venue for years. Ask anyone who was in the audience, you could tell something was cooking even way back then. I've seen Flume play to tiny rooms in New York city and huge stages at Byron, and he's been world class the whole way." The video, prepared by Keep Sydney Open, features interviews with Gang of Youths Dave Leaupepe in Kings Cross and Jim Finn and Dan McNamee of Art Vs Science, who showed up at Oxford Street to play a trio of songs dedicated to NSW premier Mike Baird, including 'I Love The Nightlife', 'All Night Long' and 'Blame It On The Boogie.' "I met Jim and Dan seven years ago, and it was pretty much a mutual love fest from then on in," says Seidler. "I think they're largely seen as a festival band, but they have amazing musical chops. I've been lucky enough to jam with them a few times and they are the real deal. You have no idea how fast they learned all of those songs." The response to the plaques has been immediate, picked up by media across the country. Seidler says he that while he, Tyson Koh and the rest of Keep Sydney Open are beyond thrilled, they're not surprised at how quickly it took off. "The reason we went with this method is that everyone relates to music. We have so much incredible talent that started right here in small to medium venues that are now literally world-class talent, from Anna Lunoe and Alison Wonderland to The Preatures. When you see those names and you put the two things together, the lockouts starts to become a much bigger problem than just where you can have a drink late at night." More on Keep Sydney Open's plaque campaign over here.
There's no shortage of bright lights in Tokyo, but one particular patch of grass is currently shining more vividly than most. Indeed, located next to an inner-city mall until November 5, a pop-up plastic greenhouse is positively glowing — all in the name of combining agriculture, technology and design in a fun and immersive fashion, and with a swelling soundtrack to match. The interactive installation might be called Digital Vegetables, but no one in its vicinity will feel like they're being forced to consume something they don't want. Rather, trying to avoid The Garden Square outside Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi is futile — the lure of technicolour illumination paired with symphonic music is something you can't ignore. A project by creative firm PARTY, Digital Vegetables combines its greenery-filled structure with plenty of incandescent bulbs, and asks visitors to not only watch, but touch, play, wander, listen and drop their jaws in awe. As attendees walk through the free-to-enter space, they're encouraged to gently roam their hands over the cherry tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, radishes, carrots and cabbages blossoming in the soil inside. With patrons getting hands-on with the growing plants with each touch — and taking in not only their texture, but their scent — the LEDs and sounds respond. [caption id="attachment_644147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Ward[/caption] While the bright lights part of the piece may seem straightforward, the display includes animated projections of fresh produce twinkling up and down the greenhouse's ceiling. On the music side of things, sound designer Ray Kunimoto actually recorded real plants (that is, the sounds that emanate from rubbing their seeds, touching their leaves and eating their fruit). He then mixed them with orchestra instruments such as the violin, trumpet, oboe, flute, piano, harp and clarinet, and created a melody. Basically, if you've ever wanted to control your own multi-sensory, multi-coloured light show — and you happen to be in Japan at present — this is your chance. If you've ever wanted to use a veggie garden as a musical instrument, here's your opportunity as well. Unsurprisingly, the results are overwhelmingly gorgeous. Seeing folks audibly exclaiming in wonder (when they're not staring up and taking a constant stream of snaps, that is) is all part and parcel of the experience. https://vimeo.com/238703497 If you're in Tokyo, Digital Vegetables is now open outside Tokyo Midtown until November 5. For more info visit digivege.jp. Images: Sarah Ward and Kenta Hasegawa.
FOMO — Australia's clash-free, one-day summer festival — is back for a third year. After a Brisbane debut in 2016, this time, the event is hitting Melbourne for the first time too, with a new evening edition called FOMO by Night, as well as making a return to Sydney and Adelaide. Leading the program is California's RL Grime, who's been headlining festivals all over the world with his experimental, high energy mash-ups of sound, colour and texture. Hot on his heels is Montreal's Kaytranada, who was here last year and bass lines have had him topping hip hop and dance charts (that is, when he's not collaborating with Alicia Keys or Chance the Rapper). Meanwhile, New Jersey-based neo-soul singer SZA is making her Australian debut on the back of debut album CTRL, and Texan rapper-singer Post Malone is coming back, after winning a lot of love during his Australian tour earlier this year. Also on the schedule is Grammy nominee ZHU with a brand new show and a live band, performing tunes from his dark and mesmerising EP Stardustexhalemarrakechdreams, along with London-based Grammy winner Tourist, and LA's Drezo, whose underground house has won admiration from Diplo, Destructo and Porter Robinson, among others. As always, FOMO is lining up homegrown talent up next to international stars. Representing Australia are The Kite String Triangle, Nina Las Vegas and Sweat It Out signee Dena Amy. Plus, there's an Australia-wide competition on the boil, which will see four emerging local artists join the bill. FOMO will kick off on Brisbane's Riverstage on Saturday, January 6, before moving to Parramatta Park in Sydney, on Saturday, January 13. Melbourne will get a slightly smaller lineup at their FOMO by Night, which will take place at Festival Hall on Thursday, January 11. Pre-sales start at 10am on Tuesday, September 5 and general sales on Wednesday, September 6. $1 from every sale is going to music charity Heaps Decent and, if you can't afford your ticket in one fell swoop, you can opt for a payment plan, which lets you pay it off via monthly instalments. Here's the full lineup. FOMO 2018 LINEUP RL Grime Kaytranada ZHU Post Malone SZA Tourist The Kite String Tangle Drezo Stööki Sound Nina Las Vegas Dena Amy FOMO BY NIGHT 2018 LINEUP Kaytranada Post Malone SZA The Kite String Tangle Dena Amy Mimi FOMO 2018 DATES Saturday, January 6 — Riverstage, Brisbane Sunday, January 7 — Elder Park, Adelaide Thursday, January 11 — Festival Hall, Melbourne Saturday, January 13 — Parramatta Park, Sydney FOMO will take place in January 2018. Tickets go on sale this week. For more info, visit fomofestival.com.au. Image: Mitch Lowe.
Two Birds Brewing is celebrating five years of making stellar, award-winning beers. Australia's first female owned and operated brewery is celebrating in fashion with an Australia-wide, week long birthday bash. As a big thank you to patrons around the country, co-owners Danielle Allen and Jayne Lewis are offering up their Golden Ale and Sunset Ale flagship brews for just five bucks a schooner — in a whopping 25 venues across Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania. Lewis and Allen have also each brewed a birthday beer — the Two Birds G&T IPA and Two Birds PX Belgian Dubbel — which will be tapped at each venue on Thursday, June 16. This is one killer way to celebrate and we'll be raising a glass to these two badass birds throughout the week. The Two Birds $5 birthday schooners will be available from Monday, June 13 – Sunday, June 19, with the Birthday beer tapped on Thursday, June 16. Their beers will be tapped at the following bars and pubs. VICTORIA The Nest - Two Birds Brewery and Tasting Room, Spotswood The Valley Cellar Door - Wine Bar, Moonee Ponds Stray Neighbour, Preston Junction Beer Hall & Wine Room, Newport Freddie Wimpoles, St Kilda The Park, Werribee Beer Deluxe, Hawthorn Cookie, Melbourne CBD Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North Cambrian Hotel, Bendigo NEW SOUTH WALES Hotel Sweeney's, Sydney CBD Royal Albert Hotel, Surry Hills The Welcome Hotel - Ajò Restaurant, Rozelle The Public, Cammeray Grain Store, Newcastle East QUEENSLAND The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba Flux Restaurant & Lounge, Noosaville Lester and Earl, Palm Beach Death Valley Bar & Records, Morningside Woolly Mammoth, Fortitude Valley
The lockout laws may have temporarily slowed down Sydney's club scene, but you can't keep a good city down. We've seen protests and social media activism a-plenty and now a bunch of fun-lovers are putting together their own, late-night shindig at a BYO Warehouse. Dubbed Refractory 001 and happening on Saturday 26 March, the evening will rock on till 3am, with sets from Cliques, DJ Kiti, Cop Envy and Natalja making sure there's no lull in the action. "Thanks to the lockouts, we've had to make our own fun and Refractory is doing just that," reads the Resident Advisor event page. "We're about creating an inviting, carefree space for good, local music outside of Baird's bleak cultural wasteland. Sydney culture cannot be managed and this first party is our little attempt to resist." Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is set to double in size, with the NSW Government confirming a $224 million investment in the ambitious Sydney Modern expansion project. First proposed in 2013, the plan is to extend the historic gallery to the north east. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019, and is expected to be completed in time for the gallery's 150 year anniversary celebrations in 2021. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the extension will include eight low lying pavilions that will come to rest on two decommissioned oil tanks, that will themselves be turned into exhibition spaces. The additional floor space will allow the gallery to display more of its $1.3 billion collection, including a large amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, the bulk of which is currently in storage. It will also include areas for education programs, film screenings and live performances. "Our expanded gallery will deliver an iconic building that combines art, architecture and landscape in an extraordinary way, and in one of the most breathtaking locations in the world," said gallery director Dr. Michael Brand. It is estimated that the expanded gallery will attract around two million visitors a year, and is more likely to snag touring international exhibitions. In addition to the $224 million from taxpayers, the gallery will seek a further $100 million in private donations, $70 million of which has already been pledged. The plan is to launch a fundraising campaign to make up the remaining $30 million later this year.
Like mole people and the residents of Coober Pedy before them, New Yorkers are heading underground. Although New York City is traditionally famous for raised Chelsea-dwelling walkway The High Line, a space-hungry and innovative team headed by James Ramsay of Raad Studio have put together a Kickstarter campaign to fund a brand new underground park. Far more ambitious than anything imagined by Parks and Rec legend Leslie Knope (albeit with less miniature horses), the goal is set at $200,000. The money, earmarked to develop and test the solar, landscape and social components of such an ambitious scheme, is just halfway there. With the team's July 8 campaign deadline looming, there's never been a better time to throw some dosh at genuinely inspired urban development. While the team are still working towards New York City council approval, the project has been in development for five years, aiming to convert the unused Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal into a fully functional, naturally-lit park. Natural light will be channeled into the subterranean space using some sort of bizarre, above-ground flower system (we clearly don’t understand the science but the Kickstarter video will explain it better). The park itself looks like a combination of the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors in Raiders of the Lost Ark and the citadel from Mass Effect; in essence it looks amazing and we want to stroll through it immediately. In the modern context of urban density and population crises erupting across the globe, alongside the generally fast-paced craziness of street-level New York, it’s no surprise that the city is leading the way in environmentally and socially friendly solutions to complex space problems. You go, NYC. Watch Lena Dunham in the Lowline promo video here, because of course Lena Dunham's in it: You can contribute to The Lowline Kickstarter here. Via dezeen. Images: The Lowline.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and start that no-guarantees creative career you've always had in the back of your mind? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Who doesn't want to watch movies all day, and get paid for the privilege? That's not all Kate Jinx does as the director of programming at Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar; however finding challenging features you wouldn't see elsewhere and championing under-appreciated classics really is how she has made a living since the boutique theatrette opened in September 2013. You can read the interview over here. Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Kate's being a total legend and helping us give away a late night private screening party for you and up to 50 of your friends, so you can see for yourself what happens when bold humans take big creative chances with big payoffs. Pick a film from the current program, on a Friday of your choosing, invite your friends, complimentary popcorn and a Jameson for all! Enter here to win. And enjoy Jameson responsibly, folks.
Australian farmers put out some seriously delicious cheese, but, if you live in the city, the best stuff isn't necessarily easy to find. Most are made on country farms, several hours' drive away, and don't often make it to major supermarkets. The good news is that a cheese lover by the name of Anna Perejma wants to change all that. She's the founder of The Cheese Riot, a brand new service that will soon bring boutique Aussie cheeses to your doorstep. "I love Australian cheeses," says Perejma. "Our products are just as good as anything you'll find internationally, but don't get enough recognition." Before you start wondering about Perejma's credentials, her resume includes events officer at the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers' Association — yes, the ASCA really exists — where she recently organised the & Cheese event series that included a Young Henrys beer and cheese pairing and a Four Pillars gin cocktails and cheese pairing at Moya's Juniper Lounge. We're pretty confident you can trust her palate. If that isn't enough, right now Perejma is travelling the length and breadth of the country, sampling all the cheese she can get her hands on. Once she has made her picks, she'll be popping them into boxes and sending them to subscribers all over Australia. Each delivery will also include a bunch of Aussie-made accompaniments, such as chutney, pastes, honey and matching teas. "It's like the Dollar Shave Club, but for cheese," says Perejma. "Every month, you'll get a selection of cheeses delivered to your house, most made by small producers who live in the middle of nowhere. The idea is to unlock products people want but can't get." On top of that, Perejma wants to "take the wank out of cheese" and encourage a sense of community around sharing it. "You can enjoy cheese any way you like, be that on your own with Netflix and a glass of wine or with a bunch of friends at a picnic in the park." The Cheese Riot hasn't launched quite yet, but, to keep an eye on developments and go into a draw to win a free cheese box, head over here.
Knock three times on the brass pineapple and wait. Then head through the door, down a staircase and along a dark corridor. Enter the bar and drink. For those who were able to experience the Scandinavian affair that was Norsk Dor, you'll know what we're talking about. Unfortunately, Norsk Dor is no more — well, the concept, anyway. In its place is Door Knock, a similarly hard-to-find cocktail bar that has a distinctly different feel to its predecessor. The current project of Natalie Ng (Mojo Records) and Justin Best, the new cocktail joint offers a different pace to the outside world. "We think of it as a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the CBD," Ng says. "If you're after a quick bite to eat and a beer — or just have some fun over a cocktail — Door Knock will be able to cater to all." Jonno Carr is the bar manager, and you're in good hands here; he's worked at Archie Rose and Kittyhawk, and came runner-up in the 2016 Australian Bartender Awards. The fortified wine and sherry-heavy drinks list includes seasonal cocktails, such as the zero-waste Hey Macadamia, a refreshing kiwi spritz, and the Finogroni, a concoction for two served in a coconut. In sync with Sydney's current taste, there's also a wide selection of natural wines. And just because this venue is more of a bar doesn't mean the team is flaking out on the food. Voltaire Silva (ex-Fratelli Fresh) serves up lightly smoked beef tartare with egg yolk confit and crispy onion, barbecued pork belly burnt ends with cauliflower puree and watercress, and fried chicken with salted daikon. Door Knock is located at 70 Pitt Street. It's open Monday to Saturday, from 4pm midnight. For more information, doorknock.com.au.
To hear the latest new tunes by Flume, you'll need to make a date with the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Volume music series when it returns for 2024. The Australian talent won't be performing at the event. There's no word of him popping up with Tkay Maidza, who is also on the festival's bill, following their 2023 single 'Silent Assassin'. But he has composed the soundtrack for a world-premiere installation in AGNSW's old Second World War oil tank that's been turned into a performance and art space. Featuring sound, projections, lighting and lasers, Every dull moment (EDM) hails from Flume and multidisciplinary artist Jonathan Zawada, and shows its inspiration right there in its name — EDM festivals, specifically. It has been designed for the unique site in Naala Badu, AGNSW's $344-million extension that opened in late 2022. Comprised of sequences spanning between ten and 90 seconds, the piece goes on continuously and randomly without repeating, paired with Flume's new compositions. It's also on the free portion of Volume's lineup. Not just Zimbabwean Australian singer-songwriter Maidza, but also André 3000's Australian-exclusive shows with his experimental jazz project André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and Ghanaian Australian talent Genesis Owusu are the event's headliners — all at ticketed gigs. As for the rundown of events that won't cost you a cent to enjoy between Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21, Every dull moment (EDM) has company from a heap of excuses to see live tunes for free, featuring more than 30 local and international artists in total. [caption id="attachment_954052" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Another huge highlight: Blak Country, a celebration of Aboriginal country music which will take place during 2024's NAIDOC Week. On the bill: Roger Knox, Kyla-Belle Roberts, Loren Ryan, Frank Yamma, Jarrod Hickling and Kathryn Kelly, as well as a playlist from musical talents from incarcerated First Nations communities as part of the Songbirds project. Volume is devoting another night, dubbed Extasis, to experimental sounds curated by Lawrence English, with Jim O'Rourke, Eiko Ishibashi and Hand to Earth among the artists featured. And, at Future Tilt, it'll spend an afternoon getting creative with salllvage, Lydian Dunbar, DeepFaith and more in experimental pop and electronic drone. Fennesz, amby downs, Jules Reidy, Seaworthy and Matt Rösner will be world-premiering new compositions across both AGNSW buildings — the new north building Naala Badu and the OG south building Naala Nura — in a program called Threshold, while Play on, play again, play forever will see musicians from Asylum Seeker Centre play tunes in response to the site's artworks each weekend. [caption id="attachment_880684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aerial view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new SANAA-designed building, 2022, photo © Iwan Baan[/caption] Top image: The Tank space in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new SANAA-designed building, 2022, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter,
Made a New Year's resolution to learn new skills, then noticed that the year is practically evaporating? We've all been there, watching lofty intentions fall by the wayside and retreating to the comfort of old habits. Of course, there's never a bad time to pick up something new, whether January 1 just ticked by or your new calendar started months ago. To help you stick to your plans to learn something new — or rediscover an old hobby — we've rounded up ten of the best short courses in Sydney. From woodwork to creative writing, you're sure to find something that piques your interest. Happy learning. LEARN HOW TO WORK WOOD AT MAKERSPACE & CO Imagine being able to tell your mates that the bench they're admiring in your living room was handmade. By you. In three hours. Marrickville's Makerspace & Co. is always running a few introductory woodwork courses, where you can learn how to make everything from a wooden bench to a picture frame. Even better? You'll be able to use the skills you learn to make whatever else you need, too. Before you know it, you'll be filling your home with handmade wooden furniture. When: Dates vary. Where: Makerspace & Co, 1/17 Barclay Street, Marrickville. Cost: $120–445. [caption id="attachment_658300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] LEARN HOW TO MAKE LASAGNE FROM SCRATCH AT BARBETTA Paddington's newest Italian eatery Barbetta wears many hats, including daytime cafe, gourmet smallgoods store and workshop space. The Elizabeth Street space is hosting workshops on how to make gnocchi, lasagne and pasta in general on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Classes include a hands-on cooking demo with antipasti and BYO wine, followed by dinner/lunch and the pasta you made to take home. When: Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. Where: Barbetta, 2 Elizabeth Street, Paddington. Cost: $120–445. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER WITH THE INDIGO PROJECT It's not easy being a creative and having to deal with the challenges of performance anxiety, creative blocks and procrastination on a regular basis. Luckily, the folks over at The Indigo Project are experts at helping people learn how to nourish a headspace where calmness and creativity flourish. In their eight-week 'Get Your Shit Together' course tailored especially for creatives, you'll learn how to use mindfulness to develop positive creative habits and gain skills to deal with common creative challenges. When: Dates vary. Where: The Indigo Project, 33 Foster Street, Surry Hills. Cost: $795 for the eight-week term. START CREATIVE WRITING AT THE AUSTRALIAN WRITERS' CENTRE If you fancy yourself a bit of a writer, sharpen your skills with the Australian Writers' Centre's Intro to Creative Writing five-week evening course. This class — taught by professional authors — will equip you with the tools to develop story ideas, create compelling characters, and structure your plots. You'll be penning an epic work of fiction in no time. When: Dates vary, but the next course starts on June 5. Where: Australian Writers' Centre, 55 Lavender Street, Milsons Point. Cost: $450. MAKE YOUR OWN ORGANIC SKINCARE AT SEW MAKE CREATE Self-confessed beauty product junkie? Save money (and the planet) by learning how to make your own organic skincare products at home. In this two-hour class at Sew Make Create, you'll learn how to prepare balms, body scrubs, and toners using things like tea leaves, citrus peels, and homemade essential oils. When: Dates vary, but the next one's on August 4. Where: Suite 4, 38 City Road, Chippendale. Cost: $80. START YOUR SOMMELIER PATH WITH SYDNEY WINE CENTRE If you still can't tell the difference between a Merlot and a Shiraz, get yourself enrolled in the Sydney Wine Centre's Intro to Wine course ASAP. This two-evening class will cover the basics of wine tasting, wine pairing, and how to choose the right bottle for an occasion. You'll get to try 25 wines in two two-hour sessions, so come thirsty. When: Dates vary, but the next one's on June 20 and 27. Where: Sydney Wine Centre, 119 Harris Street, Pyrmont. Cost: $200 for the two-week course. LEARN THE ART OF SWEET PRESERVING AT CORNERSMITH If you love jams and marmalades, you'll go gaga for this Cornersmith class that teaches you how to make your own at home. You'll learn all about the craft of sweet preserving, covering topics like acidity, sterilisation, and the difference between modern and traditional preparation. The class includes plenty of tastings and they'll also send you home with a bunch of sweet treats for your pantry. When: Dates vary, but the next one's on July 8. Where: Cornersmith Picklery, 441 Illawarra Road, Marrickville. Cost: $170. GET INTO CERAMICS AT KIL-N-IT If you've always been keen to give pottery a go, now's your chance with Kil-n-it's eight-week Training Wheels course. You'll learn how to make bowls and vases, as well as key techniques like centring, turning, and joining. Plus, you'll get your own pottery kit so you can keep practicing in the comfort of your own home. When: Dates vary, but the next course starts on August 1. Where: The Classroom at Glebe Town Hall, 160 St Johns Road. Cost: $395 for the eight-week term. BREW YOUR OWN BEER AT THE HOP AND GRAIN You really can't call yourself a beer aficionado until you've brewed your own beer. For a great starter course, head over to The Hop and Grain. Their intro class covers all the basics of preparing a homemade brew. You'll learn about brewing techniques, different beer types, how to care for your equipment, and heaps more. If you've already got the basics under your belt, enrol in one of their intermediate or advanced classes instead. When: Dates vary. Where: The Hop and Grain Brew Store, 50 Sydney Street, Marrickville. Cost: $35. [caption id="attachment_613334" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gaffa.[/caption] MAKE YOUR OWN JEWELLERY AT GAFFA Refresh your jewellery box by learning how to make your own rings and earrings in this short course at Gaffa. This seven-week class covers all the basics of jewellery making — including piercing, riveting, and soldering — and is tailored to complete novices. When: Dates vary, but the next course starts on June 13. Where: Gaffa, 281 Clarence Street, CBD. Cost: $330 for a seven-week term. By Yelena Bide and Sarah Ward. Have you done a killer short course in Sydney? Let us know about it, comment below.
When Kevin Bacon stood up in Footloose and said, “This is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life,” what he didn’t say was “but only for skinny people”. And yet, that seems to be what we mean these days. 'Fat' dancers and performers aren’t often seen, and so many people seem to have so many opinions on fatness and how fat people move through our society. We look at fat people and assume things — that the person is lazy, slovenly, unhappy and definitely, definitely ungraceful and unconnected to their bodily wellbeing. Now fat activist and artist Kelli Jean Drinkwater and resigning Force Majeure artistic director Kate Champion are working together to broaden our outlook on the body and the act of dancing. Playing as part of the Sydney Festival, Nothing to Lose is highly topical, audacious and — coming from dance-theatre masters Force Majeure (Never Did Me Any Harm, Food) — sure to be a powerful watch. Challenging as it is to our prejudices, it might even be the most important work you see at the festival. We spoke to Drinkwater and Champion about the thinking behind the provocative project. What troubles and interests you about the way our society views fatness? Kelli-Jean Drinkwater: As an artist and a fat woman, what I find fascinating and intensely frustrating is the one-dimensional view of fat people and the lives we lead. Fat is usually seen as something to be deeply ashamed of and avoided at all costs. The mainstream culture here in Australia still has an incredibly narrow view of fat people, our capabilities, our health, our relationships. There is so much more to our lives as individuals that is rarely given a platform to be explored. I think we need to engage in critical thinking about our relationships to our own bodies and why most people, regardless of their size, are unhappy with how they are physically. Let’s also investigate how this impacts our view of other people and their bodies. Hopefully then we can start to be more accepting and, dare I say, even celebratory of the many ways there are to have a body. What are we missing if we only see athletically built people dance? Kate Champion: Well it seems to me we’re missing out on about 95 percent of the population being represented on stage as dancers! Obviously there’s a certain athleticism that lends itself to achieving technically difficult physical feats and certain styles of choreography. I can certainly appreciate that for what it is, but there is so much more to dance and what dance can be than that. It can be quirky, soulful, intriguing, captivating and intoxicating when performed by a person with a less ‘typical’ dancer’s body who really owns their movement. What is it like to be a fat person in an un-fat-friendly world? KJD: I can only speak from my experience, but being a person of size in our relentlessly body-shaming culture is tough. We are constantly judged, mocked, berated, pathologised, patronised and silenced in really obvious but also often insidious and subtle ways. The flip side of that is you have to learn to have a thick skin and a strong sense of your self-worth to hold your head up. I just try and use any negativity that comes my way to fuel the fat activist fire. It feels like fat activists are making some positive strides, particularly on the internet through memes such as #fatkini. Do you agree? KJD: I do believe that there is a noticeable groundswell in body positivity and fat activism here in Australia, much more than there was ten or even five years ago, and it's long overdue! And for sure social media is playing a huge part in that by creating access to communities that encourage each other to critique dominant cultural ideas around fatness. It’s like this collective tipping point and I think people regardless of their size are sick of feeling pressured by a prescribed standard of 'physical perfection', whatever that means. I believe audiences are eager to see a broader scope of bodies on stage. That’s what is so refreshing about Nothing to Lose. It’s a really timely work. What aspects of fatness do you explore through Nothing to Lose? KJD: [We're aiming] to explore the often overlooked aspects of the fat experience as well as give a fresh perspective on the more obvious ones. We explore the strength, capability and complexity, both physically and intellectually, that our cast live every day. We are also not shying away from the controversial issues but are instead seeing this as an opportunity to present a different side of the story. Our fearless cast are as interested in going to the more unexplored places in this work, as Kate and I are. Nothing to Lose has been in development from an open call-out. What surprised you or went differently than you thought it would over the course of this development? KC: Through both the auditions and ... the relatively brief periods of development so far — two weeks in 2013 and the same this year — we have focused on developing our level of trust with each other in order to see just how far we can go with material both physically and psychologically. This is sensitive subject matter but we need to make sure we’re not tiptoeing around any important issues. If we can’t approach the work with a no-holds-barred attitude amongst ourselves, then we’ll miss out on the full extent of the cast’s movement capacity and the full impact and levels of complexity that the subject matter contains. It’s been refreshingly honest and extremely illuminating so far! I'm amazed by the range these performers possess. They have filled us with inspiration to create a truly original, thought-provoking performance. Why should people watch this show? KC: People should watch this show to broaden their appreciation of who should dance on stage and what dance can be. To my mind all good shows have elements that are unexpected, confronting, joyful, insightful, confusing and liberating. This show aims to realign conditioned response in order to see and value the dancing body afresh.
Taste of Sydney isn't just a case of 18 of the city's best restaurants setting up persnickety stalls in Centennial Park (though that's a pretty good start for any festival). It's 18 of the city's best restaurants setting up stalls and serving their latest and greatest culinary experimentations. Think chipotle tuna carpaccio, duck and burnt cinnamon burek and whatever happens when you combine "carrot, yoghurt and liquorice" (this last one's from Cafe Paci, so the scary-sounding result is almost certainly great). They're tasting-sized portions, so design-it-yourself degustations are the name of the game as you wander through the park. This year, the lineup features Bentley Restaurant and Bay, the aforementioned Cafe Paci, Monopole, Pei Modern, Porteno, Sake Restaurant and Bar, MoVida, 4fourteen, Ananas, Biota Dining, Bloodwood, Cafe Paci, Efendy, Jonah's, Otto Ristorante, Popolo, The Cut and Yellow. Each participating venue will serve up some classics, but there'll also be festival exclusives and one particularly innovative "icon dish" per station. The latter is available on a first come first served basis, so get scarfing. Here are 15 of the most impressive dishes we're making room for already. Glacier 51 Toothfish from Sake — Fishers travel a week to get to the habitat of the highly prized Glacier 51 (aka Patagonian) toothfish, so it's not your average barra on the barbie. This is almost certainly the most casual opportunity you'll have to try the fish, which as a protected species is supplied in very controlled circumstances. Tiramisu ice cream with marsala jelly, coffee soaked Savoiardi biscuits and cocoa nib tuile from Otto Ristorante — With the Italian translation of 'tirami-su' meaning "pick-me-up", this dish will leave dessert lovers euphoric. Dipped lamb caramel buns by Biota Dining — Save yourself the two-hour trip to Bowral; Biota Dining is coming to us, and bringing mouthwatering buns filled with soft lamb belly and hot lamb glaze. Excuse us while we wipe the drool off our keyboards. Ordek (duck, almond, fig and burnt cinnamon burek) from Efendy — Filled with ingredients that mesh together even better than avo on toast, these bite-sized burek will easily leave you reaching for more and more. And then a little more. Carrot, yoghurt and liquorice from Cafe Paci — Sounds improbable, but Cafe Paci have been impressing diners with this clean-flavoured dessert of liquorice cake, carrot sorbet and yoghurt mousse for many moons. Just do it. Organic vegetarian celery gratin, pickled black walnuts and Granny Smith apples by Ananas — Vegetarians are not forgotten at Taste. For this Sure to leave those crazy vegetarians scrambling like there's no tomorrow, this dish features various cooking techniques and methods. Chipotle tuna carpaccio with chutney and plantain chips from Bloodwood — Combining the smooth melt of a fish sliced needle thin, the crunch of a banana chip and the smoky whack of chipotle, Bloodwood's light dish provides a pairing in textures like no other. Leche merengada (citrus and cinnamon soft serve ice cream with fennel and olive oil pastry) from MoVida — It might sound like a crazy new combination of flavours, but this dish is old-school Spanish. Or at least, MoVida's rebellious take on old-school Spanish. French dip grain fed beef standing rib roast slider from The Cut Bar and Grill — This is 'French' only in the American sense of the word 'French'. It's hot, sliced roast meat in a bun generously slathered in the beef juice from the cooking process. The bread is traditionally baguette. Spanner crab salad with cos, papaya, avocado, ginger and lime from Jonah's — Centennial Park feels by the beach when you're munching on this summer salad. Purple potato gnocchi with mixed mushrooms, chilli, pine nuts, and salted dried ricotta by Popolo — Another dish featuring the diversity of Italian cuisine. With it's purple colour, it will certainly be eye catching. Roasted prawns with sea blight and buttermilk from Bentley Restaurant and Bar - Never thought you'd eat anything described as 'blight'? This dish, a twist on a Bentley regular, will change that. Thinly sliced wagyu beef with confit tuna, lemon, caper and date dressing by Porteno — Like surf 'n' turf, but fancy. And with its surprise friend, dates. Honey roasted paneer cheese with caramelised eschallots and peas from Bang — This new restaurant's contemporary Bangladeshi flavours are not what you expect, and this honey-touched cheese dish should be no exception. White chocolate and caramel popsicle with dark chocolate crumbs — Milk chocolate goes unloved in this otherwise all-in ultimate ice cream dessert. Perfect for licking while you stroll. Taste of Sydney is on from March 12 - 15 at Centennial Park. See the full program and buy tickets at the festival website.
Brunswick Street Mall boasts a plethora of bars, markets on weekends and a once-a-year festival, but it doesn't have a permanent indoor space where thousands of people can watch a band or show. Come mid-2019, that will change, with the folks behind The Tivoli, The Triffid and Splendour in the Grass teaming up to build a brand new live entertainment venue. 312 Brunswick Street is the address that'll be undergoing quite the revamp, in what'll be a massive $40 million project bound to change both Fortitude Valley's and Brisbane's live music scenes. The 2500-square-metre site next door to McWhirters will be repurposed to become a mid-sized venue for concerts, events and productions, with a capacity of 3300. By comparison, The Tivoli holds 1500 and The Triffid only 800. In addition to theatre and functions facilities, the space — which was first built as a Coles in 1957 and most recently known as The Optus Centre — will include retail stores, restaurants, cafes and bars. Inside, the live venue will be designed by the same acoustic and service team responsible for The Triffid. Outside, the exterior will feature a modernised '50s-style exterior that nods to the place's history. Given the city's lack of comparable places since Festival Hall was turned into apartments over a decade ago, there's certainly room for it — and if anyone would know Brissie's needs in this area, it'd be Scott Hutchinson of Hutchinson Builders, who helped rescue The Tivoli when it was slated to become units; former Powderfinger bassist John Collins; and Paul Piticco from Secret Sounds, the group behind Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and more. Together, they own and operate The Triffid at Newstead — so they've all already played a part in adding a new live music venue and hangout to Brissie's cultural scene. "We've learned a lot since the early days of The Triffid," explains Collins. "I guess our hunch about the potential growth of the live music scene back then has paid off in spades… I think that venues created for music by musicians add something extra to the whole experience for both audiences and performers." Image: The Triffid.
Tired of only having sugary, soulless mixers to pick from in Sydney bars? PS40 opens in Sydney's CBD this week as the newest bar concept by the creators of PS Soda, an all-natural soda line. "Instead of an open cellar door, we have an open soda door," says co-founder Michael Chiem (ex-Sokyo, Bulletin Place and the Star's Black by Ezard). Along with business partner Thor Bergquist (ex-Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) and Der Raum) and creative director Livia Lima (ex-Maud), it's an all-star crew behind this factory's curtain. This warehouse gem is well-hidden down Skittle Lane and designed with a modern and bright fitout. "It's a soda factory, so we want it to be super playful," says Lima. "Everything is handmade and hand-designed." The homemade motif extends to the bar, with all PS sodas sourced from local, native produce and made with community input at that; Archie Rose Distillery helped to develop the tonic that would complement their gin and LP's Quality Meats' Luke Powell helped create the lemonade. An eight-tap bar will include soda taps, with one tap left open for experimental releases, like their collaboration soda made from leftover pomace supplied by Hunter Valley's Thomas Wines. "Collaboration is a big thing for us" says Chiem. "We have close relationships with our suppliers and want suppliers that care about what they're doing." The local love doesn't stop there, with the wine list curated by Lo-Fi Wines and taps from Sydney brewers Wayward and Young Henrys. All PS Soda will be made and bottled in-house and used for the line of signature cocktails available at PS40. "A mixed drink is the sum of its parts and making our own sodas gives us 100 percent control over the final flavour," says Chiem. The cocktail menu is as unusual as the sodas, each with its own story. The Stockholm Syndrome ($18) is inspired by Bergquist's time in Sweden. "I wanted to pack all of the flavours of Sweden into this drink — from the gravlax to the pickled things," says Bergquist. We gave it a whirl, and the drink does taste of fresh sea air with a mixture of cumin and dill infused vodka, Aquavit, lemon and pink Himalayan salt. Double the Funk ($19) is another crazy concoction that just works — bourbon mixed with passionfruit husk, fermented pineapple and pickled raspberry. "This drink is a bit of a tropical kitsch," says Bergquist. Many of the ingredients found in the cocktails will be reflected in the food menu, which is focused on "preserves and reserves" made in-house along with a selection of Banh Mi inspired by Chiem's mum. You won't find PS Sodas in the corner store, but for a taste outside of PS40 check out partner venues including Bennelong, The Old Clare Hotel, Firedoor and Archie Rose. PS40 is located at 40 King Street, Sydney. Open Monday – Saturday, 4pm - midnight (closed Sundays). Images: Marissa Ciampi.
When Pinbone, Woollahra's then favourite cafe, closed in August last year, brunch aficionados all over the Eastern Suburbs went into mourning. Time to try to those eyes. Ready? Pinbone chefs Jemma Whiteman and Mike Eggert are moving into 10 William Street for a five-month residency. Taking over from Luke Burgess (former co-owner of Hobart's Garagistes) on Feburary 8, the duo will be hanging about until June. Whiteman and Eggert are already familiar with 10 William Street's kitchen. Over the past few months, they've been working under Burgess. Their intention is to keep the venue's Italian-inspired ethos, but add some of their own ideas and creations. "It's definitely Italian, but with a bit of the Chinese and Japanese we're interested in," Eggert told Gourmet Traveller. "We basically want to keep it really fun and have a lot of snacky things. Jem's really excited about making a lot of different pasta, too." He described the position as a "real honour" and the restaurant as "probably the best in Sydney". Reaching for the phone to reserve yourself a brunch spot? Woah there. If it's a bacon-maple tart you've got your mind on, you'd better book for 'brinner'. The Pinbone team won't be bringing in a morning menu, but they are planning on cooking up night-time brunches. Find 10 William St at 10 William Street (der), Paddington. Via Gourmet Traveller.
Tramsheds Harold Park has announced another new tasty tenant ahead of its launch date on September 22. Sir Chapel Bistro and Brewery is the latest providore to join the menu at Sydney's highly anticipated new food precinct, with restaurateur Tom Chidiac set to serve up hearty bistro-style food alongside a selection of Australian craft beers — including one brew made right there on site. Sir Chapel will join the likes of Belle's Hot Chicken, Gelato Messina and a new restaurant from the team behind Tokyo Bird in the much-hyped new food hall at the heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot. "We are excited to launch our new concept at Tramsheds, side by side with some of the most exciting and revolutionary food providores around," said Chidiac, who also operates The Naked Duck in Darling Quarter and Sourdough Bakery & Co. in Westfield Hornsby, among a number of other culinary ventures. "We believe that the table is where memories are made – food is there to be shared, to be enjoyed amongst friends and family," he added. "Developing the concept and menu for Sir Chapel has been a really exciting process." What exactly that menu will include is being kept under wraps for the time being, although word is pizzas and roast dinners are a strong possibility. What we do know for sure is that there'll be a strong focus on locally made craft beer. And when we say local, we mean really local, thanks to an onsite brew team producing a homemade pint in a traditional copper brew house. Team members will even be on hand to offer tailored recommendations based on a drinkers' personal palate. Visit Tramsheds Harold Park at 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge from September 22. For more information head to www.tramshedsharoldpark.com.au.
Fans of stunning audio design and generally beautiful things, listen up. There's a father/son duo in Seattle who want to take your money and turn it into a stunning, stunning wood turntable. You've never played 'Norwegian Wood' like this. Silvan Audio Workshop is one of Kickstarter's latest gems, unearthed by Stoney Roads and seemingly worth every last cent in your piggy bank. Created from individual slices of wood, and audio components from English turntable specialists Rega — including a glass platter for your record, one beautiful tonearm and a low vibration, low noise belt drive — these Silvan turntables are all constructed by hand by the Walters. The Silvan comes in three different models: the Archer, the Champion and the Sampo (increasing in quality of parts as you spend more, obviously) and they'll even align the cartridge and set the counterweight so you can plug in and play. The turntables range from $750 up to $2250, so they're pretty exxy. But hey, handcrafted walnut decks were never going to come cheap. "Our vision is to make one-of-a-kind objects of art that will be the centrepiece of any home entertainment system," says the Kickstarter schpiel. "We believe that if your music is unique, if it has soul and life and beauty, the things you use to play it should have all the same character. Mass-produced just isn’t good enough." Silvan are looking for $14,000 to fund their workshop, so they can crank out more turntables in an more efficient space with less sawdust in every crevice — and get a little publicity while they're at it. Plus, they don't live in the same town, so schleppin' back and forth to your dad's house gets pricey. At the time of writing, they've raised $6,152 so far, from just 44 backers. Perks range from stickers and posters for teeny donations, and whole turntables in the $2250 realms. UPDATE 25/2: It's been brought to our attention that a company called Audiowood has been doing an undeniably similar design since 2009. Maker Joel Scilley told us, "The copy's concept is the same down to the same parts used, glass platter, spike feet, etc. My original design is the 'Audiowood Barky Turntable'. Silvan Audio knew the design already existed and are presenting it as their design... I've asked them to stop stealing my intellectual property, and to remove their Kickstarter, and so far they have refused. " Silvan Audio issued this statement yesterday on Facebook: "It's been a very big day, with coverage from a bunch of places (Hello, Boing Boing, Alternative Press, and Engadget! Thanks for the coverage!) and a good conversation with a great guy named Joel Scilley. Joel has a company called Audiowood, and he makes incredible things. One of them is a turntable very much like what we're making, so he's a bit put out that we'd be making what we're making. "It might cost us some support (this whole thing could rub some of you the wrong way, and we completely respect that), but regardless of the impact, we owe you the respect of being completely open and transparent. We added an FAQ to the page today with this info, but we want to be even more proactively honest with you: we're doing something very similar to what Audiowood has been doing for a while. We were pointed to Joel's work during the build of our first turntable, and we still think it's absolutely awesome. Our initial idea was "original" in that we weren't copying anything we knew of when we set out, but of course it's no more of an Original Idea to us than it was to Audiowood or anyone else who's brainstormed or made something similar at some point. (Google the back cover of Jethro Tull's "Songs from the Wood" at some point.) "Ultimately, what we're jumping into is the market of using factory parts in custom plinths. (Rega parts, specifically, because they're radically easy to work with, the quality is great, and the construction is very straightforward.) Audiowood is in that market, and others — hobbyists as well as resellers — are as well, making cool things from all kinds of materials. Our hope is that the world is big enough that all of us can continue to do a thing that we've really enjoyed so far without getting in each other's way. "We don't have a corner on or a legal claim to Rega's parts, and we certainly don't have a claim to trees either, so our intent is honest and completely friendly competition in an area we arrived at sincerely and really believe we're completely free to work in. "Some of you might be disappointed, or you'd rather support the guy who actually got into the shop and mass produced this idea first, and that's completely fine. The last thing we want is to damage Joel Scilley's business — he seems like a really good guy doing good, honest work. For those who want to enable us to go after an idea we also came by honestly, we appreciate the support." Check out the Silvan Audio Workshop Kickstarter page here. Check out Audiowood over here. Via Stoney Roads.
With the beginning of Art Month coming up on March 1, the program of one of Sydney's foremost art festivals is one of the more impressive in its history. The program includes a wild array of exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences that celebrate the vibrant art scene in Sydney, from the artists to the galleries and creative spaces. The 2017 program includes the return of Art at Night (presented by your friends Concrete Playground), a series of after-hours parties and gallery takeovers in the creative spaces in Paddington/Woolahra, East Sydney, and Chippendale/Redfern. Some of Sydney's best galleries will open their doors after closing time to wanderers of the Art Map trail — a journey that culminates in a trip to the Cake Wines Art Bar. Inner west renegades The Bad Bitch Choir (BBC) will be performing. Architect Tao Gofers will give a special tour of the contentious Brutalist Sirius building in The Rocks. Artist Chris Fox will be attached to a large steel drawing machine in Redfern. Sri Lankan-born, Sydney-based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran will take over Paddington with his large scale sculptures. Intellectual disability-supporting Studio A will be creating a colourful courtyard site-specific work in Chippendale. And Nothing to Lose creator Kelli Jean Drinkwater is commissioning a new work that explores trends in representations of women's bodies. Sticky beaks will get their nosey fix at Art Month as usual, as private collections and home studios open up to the public. The private collection of the legendary Margaret Woodward will be on display inside the home of Wagner Contemporary director Nadine Wagner. The works will be for sale, so if you're in the market, this would be the time to snap up something that'll be priceless one day, if not already. Plus, Guy Maestri, Laura Jones, Julian Meager and Louis Pratt will open their impressive Marrickville studios to the public. Or pop into the Collectors Space, where the personal collections of Archibald winning artists Del Kathryn Barton and Nicholas Harding, among others, will be on display. Want to hear directly from an artist? Sam Holt will be on hand at the Artereal Gallery in Rozelle, where he'll be delivering a talk on his latest exhibition, The space between… The artworks on display are comments on the life of the individual versus the need of society, reflections on the choices that we all make along our very unique paths. There'll be forums surrounding Myuran Sukumaran's posthumous exhibition, Another Day in Paradise, and two members of the boundary-pushing Ikeyan group, Aoki and Yokoyama, will discuss contemporary Japanese ceramics at the Japan Foundation. Tours throughout living creative spaces are on offer, too. Art walking tour crew Culture Scouts will take groups on artistic adventures through Sydney's suburbs, including a saunter through the bohemian borough of Redfern. Those in attendance will be treated to the tales of local artist Randal Arvilla, as well as an expert on Indigenous art and culture. That's just a snippet of the Art Month program. Check the website for the whole month-long lineup. Art Month runs throughout March across Sydney.
Do you like Italian food? Then let us introduce you to the happiest place on earth. Due to open in Bologna, Italy in the middle of next year, Eataly World will be the world's first Italian food theme park, featuring nearly 20 acres of restaurants, kitchens, grocery stores, classrooms, farms, laboratories and more. The park is the latest venture from Oscar Farinetti, the founder of Italian food and grocery chain Eataly. It was first announced a few years back, with an opening set for last November. Fingers crossed they stick to their revised schedule, because we're already looking into flights to Europe. Speaking to Eater, Eataly vice-president and Eataly World CEO Tiziana Primori said the park would mix entertainment with education. "We call it from the farm to the fork because you can see all the steps of the chain, from the animals to the raw materials and workshops and restaurants." The hope is that the park will attract as many as 10 million visitors each year, providing a boost to Bologna tourism in the process. The city already boasts a number of gastronomic attractions, including a medieval marketplace and the world's only gelato university. Via Eater. Header image via Dollar Photo Club
It's great that rum is no longer only associated with pirates and over the top tiki bars. In the past few years we've seen a resurgence of this spirit that's born from sugarcane — it now doesn't just appear in the mojito, but is a staple of the bar menu. Bartenders regularly use rum to spice up classic cocktails and create over the top drinks. Sydney has many specialty rum bars in which knowledgeable bartenders (who know the difference between light and dark rum) perfectly mix up rum cocktails and know exactly what to mix with each type. In partnership with Baron Samedi Spiced, we asked our friends at The Lobo Plantation in Sydney for a few ways to use rum — so we can reignite our love for this tropical spirit and shake up our at-home cocktail routine. TASTE THE FLAVOURS IN AN OLD FASHIONED An old fashioned is a classic cocktail, often enjoyed with whisky, but best enjoyed with rum. It's a simple combination of rum, bitters and orange peel — easy to make, and a great way to take time to taste the flavours in your rum (rather than having it mixed into a tropical cocktail where the other flavours will overwhelm it). To make the The Lobo Plantation old fashioned, simply fill an old fashioned glass (the same size as a Negroni glass) with ice, add a shot of Baron Samedi Spiced (4oml), a splash of bitters and sugar syrup and stir it all together gently for 30 seconds. Top with an orange peel for a little citrus twist. TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE TROPICAL Another classic way to enjoy rum is to mix it into a tropical, colourful cocktail and pretend you're on holiday. This type of drink should preferably be served in an extravagant glass, or served with a creative garnish (The Lobo Plantation serve theirs with a mini pineapple on top). To make The Lobo Plantation's Carribean-inspired Bajan Julep, build crushed ice into a tall glass and add a shot (40ml) of Baron Samedi Spiced. Mix in a dash of blackberry liqueur and a dash of fresh lemon juice, then add a teaspoon of passionfruit, a teaspoon of sugar and top it all off with ginger beer. ENJOY ON ITS OWN If you've decided that you really like rum, an easy, delicious way to enjoy it is to drink it on its own, stirred with a little ice. Rum was manufactured, distilled and made long before any other spirit was, and each brand has developed its own particular flavours and methods of distillation. Baron Samedi Spiced is infused with vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon that give off rich flavours of butterscotch, coffee and vanilla. Like whisky, when you sip rum the flavours are much more apparent. Although rum is made by distilling the byproducts of sugarcane — that long grass that's prevalent in countries like the Carribean and the Philippines, it tastes much more complex than that. It's delicious. Images: Kimberley Low at The Lobo Plantation.
Sydney's got plenty of good sports bars, but how many are flanked with leather Chesterfield booths and bespoke poker tables? Darlinghurst's East Village Hotel has reopened, with one of the slickest sports bars we've seen in an age — sorry, Athletic Club. After much anticipation, the folks at Goodtime Hospitality Group have reopened two of three newly revamped sections of the much-adored, 100-year-old drinking spot, the East Village. Among the pub's four levels, you can now check out the Public Bar and Athletic Club, a slick, minimalist wine bar and a vintage-inspired sports bar, respectively. Unfamiliar with the name Goodtime? Co-owned by young entrepreneurs James Bodel and Locky Paech, Goodtime rocked onto the Sydney hospitality scene in November 2015, with their purchase of Petersham's White Cockatoo Pub. Renaming it the West Village, they installed a fresh, organic menu and, within weeks, were attracting the local hungry hordes. But back to the East Village, which will keep its current name. The pub's been redesigned by the likes of Alexander and Co. (Busby, The Village Inn, Surly's, Daniel San, The Morrison, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel), who've attempted to keep those 100-year-old bones intact but with a modern finish. Let's start with the real star of the show sports bar, or Athletic Club, up two flights of stairs. Inspired by old-school 'gentleman's sports clubs' (or y'know, exclusive sports clubs that ladies could have thoroughly enjoyed back in the day too but weren't privy to because women, right?), this bar sees worn leather Chesterfield seats, private bottle lockers, a bespoke poker table, vintage sporting memorabilia and probably smells of rich mahogany. You'll be able to watch the game (every game!) on TV screens wrapping the room. Toast your wins or drown your losses with dark spirit cocktails and boilermakers, because a Cold Buttered (whisky, Pepe Saya syrup, walnut bitters, sesame) is the only thing that'll soothe a Grand Final obliteration. Want to book a private room for game day? There's the Red Room, a private 10-seater space with table service and a wall-length TV. Plus, they'll be offering 'club memberships' in the future. Downstairs, there's the Public Bar or 'Wine Pub' on the ground floor. While the Athletic Club is dark and broody, this bar is light, minimalist and airy with 20th century Serge Mouille wall lights, smoky walls and blackboard wine menus. The wine list and cocktail menu are in bloody good hands, with general manager Lee Potter Cavanagh (2015 Australian Bartender of the Year, Australian Bartender) and bar manager Reece Griffiths behind the wheel — they've even developed a string of wine-based cocktails. Food-wise, you're in good stead too, with head chef Graham Johns (Quay) and executive chef Tom Kime (Ceru, Fish & Co.) reimagining classic counter meals for the East Village — think half roast chicken with sweetcorn, shallots, roasted heirloom tomato, basil and crispy bread ($24), or roast hake fillet with spicy green lentils and pickled cucumber salad ($26). The East Village's Public Bar and Athletic Club are now open, but the third and final space, Terrace, will open in November. We've been waiting to see what the Goodtime crew do with this underrated rooftop space — it's got one heck of a CBD skyline view. Find the East Village at 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. The Public Bar is open Monday to Saturday, 11am - midnight, Sunday, 11am – 10pm, while the Athletic Club is open Wednesday to Friday, 5pm – midnight, Saturday, 11am – midnight, Sunday, 11am – 10pm. By Shannon Connellan and Jasmine Crittenden. Images: Brett Stevens.
Newtown's beloved brewery is about to have solar power on tap, all day, every day. The City of Sydney is running a new project to help community sustainability organisation Pingala build a solar power plant on top of the Young Henrys brewery. Yep, that's a whole lot of Sydney awesomeness in one sentence. Thanks to a grant from the City of Sydney, the Young Henrys brewery will be somewhat powered by electricity generated by the solar photovoltaic panels. This will apparently shirk 127 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the Wilson Street brewery per year. Cheers to that. It's all down to the enviro-conscious folks at Pingala, a Sydney-based community organisation who fight tooth and nail to make Sydney more sustainable, move the city away from fossil fuels and bring solar farms and plants to Sydney. The Pingala crew hope to set a precedent for other similar businesses across the city, who'll hopefully be inspired by the Young Henrys project to make their own breweries or the like cleaner. Plus, Sydneysiders will be able to more easily understand what Pingala can actually do. “Our vision is for a clean energy future where everybody can share in the benefits that come from solar,” says Pingala volunteer Jake Steele. “It’s exciting to give non-traditional solar owners an opportunity to participate in a local project. Now anyone from renters to students to pensioners can get involved in solar energy in their own neighbourhood." Young Henrys, with their longtime dedication to keeping things local and reducing their environmental impact, were an obvious choice for the project. They're already running a pretty damn sustainable joint— they not only encourage growler refills to save on glass but they donate around one tonne of spent grain to local farmers as chicken feed daily (instead of simply chucking the waste in landfill). The Pingala/Young Henrys project is all part of the City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan, which has seen solar power installed in 28 Sydney sites so far, from libraries to swimming pools. “It’s an amazing concept for us to be reducing our carbon footprint and producing local beer from locally owned, renewable green energy in the heart of our community," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. “This project shows it’s technically and economically feasible for Sydneysiders to get on board with community energy." Find out more about what Pingala do in this handy CP feature.
Berlin is a city that's constantly evolving. But despite the change, one thing will remain true – the German capital will always be cool. Yes, the days are gone when Berghain youths could pay a mere Australian $150 a month to rent a loft-like penthouse we could only dream of, but don't let the Berlin locals tell you that that means the city has been gentrified. The anarchist vigour that was born out of a city in political and economical shambles for the last 60 years lives on, and the middle finger to the man attitude in Berlin is present in almost everything. We asked an actual local to show us where we should spend our time in Berlin to ensure an unforgettable experience. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode one: Berlin. [caption id="attachment_589108" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @streethaus via Instagram.[/caption] PACK A PICNIC AND HEAD TO KORNERPARK Hidden in Neukolln, Berlin's answer to Fitzroy in Melbourne or Surry Hills in Sydney, Kornerpark is a pretty breath of fresh air compared to the suburb's usual grungy surrounds. Pack a picnic and enjoy the views of manicured flora while people-watching the local cool kids who hang out in this palace garden-esque retreat. On Sundays there's a free guided tour of the art gallery that overlooks the grounds. [caption id="attachment_589109" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @mr.akman via Instagram.[/caption] VISIT A GALLERY IN AN OLD RAILWAY STATION For all the contemporary art lovers out there, the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum boasts one of the best collections of Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Keith Haring you'll find in Berlin. The former railway station was turned into a gallery in the mid-90s and its architecture is just as impressive as the artwork inside it. Entrance to the main building and temporary exhibitions will set you back €14 but with over 10,000 square meters of gallery space the bang is well worth the buck. As with all museums and big city attractions, avoid going on the weekend. Instead, get in first at 10am, the earlier in the week the better. Still check out some of Berlin's street art though – there's a reason it's so famous. [caption id="attachment_589113" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @burgermeisterberlin via Instagram.[/caption] TRY A GERMAN BURGER AT BURGERMEISTER Berlin has a slight burger obsession. For the true enthusiasts, make your attempt at getting through a patty three thumbs thick at The Bird near Schonleinstrasse train station. Or, brace yourself for the omnipresent line at Berlin Burger International (BBI) on Neukolln's Pannierstrasse. The true Berlin burger experience can be found at Burgermeister on Shlesisches Tor in the original hipster town of Kreuzberg. It's underneath the train station built into what used to be public toilets. Yum. Nowadays It's totally sanitary and arguably the best burger in town. Don't forget to order chilli cheese fries on the side. [caption id="attachment_589220" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @olamajaw via Instagram.[/caption] FLY A KITE AT TEMPELHOFER FELD There are over 2,500 public parks and gardens in Berlin but Tempelhofer Feld is undoubtedly one of the most unique. A functioning airport until 2008, the city of Berlin eventually claimed back the space (it's 386 hectares) and turned it into the number one BBQ destination for Berliners in summer. Grab a kite, dust off your skates or bring some beers and a frisbee to enjoy the ultimate Berlin park experience. Whilst you're in the area walk through Schillerkiez, one of Berlin's most covetable living destinations, get a burger and Augustiner beer from one of the many restaurants, cafes and spatis (small milk bars that sell alcohol) that you'll discover walking through the streets. [caption id="attachment_589225" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @___feede___ via Instagram.[/caption] DRINK FREE WINE? AT WEINEREI In a city where beer is often cheaper than water, it's not hard to drink on a budget. Even still, a pay-what-you-want wine bar has its appeal. In the yuppie happy suburb of Prenzlauer Berg you'll find Weinerei. Dodge the prams and start-up entrepreneurs and head straight to the wine bar run by Bavarian and Argentinian connoisseurs Jurgen Stumf and Mariano Goni. There are three different locations but the Forum Cafe & Weinbar is easily the most popular. Get tipsy in atmospheric candlelight and when it's time to move on, use your discretion and pay what you think you owe in a small money box left at the bar. [caption id="attachment_589120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @markthalleneun via Instagram.[/caption] DEVOUR SOME MULTICULTURAL FOOD AT MARKTHALLE NEUN (MARKET HALL 9) Bringing all the multicultural food flavours you can enjoy in Berlin together under one roof, Markthalle 9 officially reopened in 2011, exactly 120 years after its first opening. Inside the huge hall, there's a Breakfast Market held every third Sunday of the month or the Naschmarkt (snack market) held once a quarter with all the snacks and sweet delicacies you could imagine. Your best bet though is Street Food Thursday. Get there early at 5pm to avoid the huge crowds and struggle with the agonising decision over what to order. British pies, Thai tapioca dumplings, Mexican tacos, Allgäu cheese spaetzle or Nigerian FuFu? It's a delicious smorgasbord. Don't worry if you can't make it on either of those special days, the market is open every day of the week. ENJOY AUTHENTIC GOZLEME AT THE TURKISH MARKET For a true local's experience, take a stroll along the Turkish Market on Maybachufer canal every Tuesday and Friday. Everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to flowers to yards of fabric is on offer at this sort-of farmer's market. It's organised by the Turkish community living in Berlin (the city is home to the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey), and the produce is fresh and unbelievably cheap. Snag a carton of avocados for under €5 (seriously) or grab a freshly baked spinach and cheese gozleme and join the crowd of impossibly cool kids listening to the busker who sets up shop at the end of every market. [caption id="attachment_589134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @chrisfosterrr via Instagram.[/caption] SAVOUR RARE TABLE SERVICE AT NATHANJA AND HEINRICH At the end of bar-laden Weichselstrasse in Neukolln you'll find Nathanja und Heinrich. With the typical Berlin bar vibe with raw walls, exposed brick and mismatched furniture, Nathanja's is equally as great for an afternoon coffee as it is for an evening gin and tonic. Order first and pay later, at this bar they often play the blues and even offer table service, a rare occurrence in Berlin. Like almost all places that serve alcohol in the city, smoking inside is allowed after 9pm. It's a popular local hangout so make sure you arrive before 8pm on weekends to grab a table. Visit Europe (including Berlin) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999.
Anohni (formerly known as Antony Hegarty) is coming to Vivid for the Sydney-only, Australian premiere of her ambitious new project, Hopelessness. A collection of electronic anthems, created in collaboration with super producer Hudson Mohawke and Warp's Oneohtrix Point Never, the album tackles climate change, drone bombing and mass surveillance, without holding back (but with insanely beautiful vocals). Prepare for disturbingly direct lyrics, soaring melody lines, synth surges, brass bursts and powerful percussion. At the Opera House, Anohni's work will be presented as an all-immersive, wall-shaking show, complete with visuals. "I haven't spent a lot of time expressing anger in my life, so this record is a new chapter," Anohni said at a press conference in April. "Anger is energising: it's quite an empowering feeling." This is one our our top ten picks of Vivid gigs you should buy tickets to right now. Check out the whole list.
A day without laughter is a day wasted, according to Charlie Chaplin, and the same rule applies to festivals. Not wanting to rock the boat, the Mardi Gras Comedy Gala is coming in hot with all the bells and whistles. The lineup this year is nothing short of magnificent, from the hosts to the headliners and everyone in between. Em Rusciano and Bob Downe have assumed MC duties, facilitating favourites like Hannah Gadsby, Tom Ballard, Axis of Awesome and English darling Stephen K. Amos, among a whole host of equally as talented comedians.
In 1963, Ersnt Fischer wrote that art isn't a luxury or a privilege, it's an essential part of human life, and Artbank reckons he was right. Run by the federal government, Artbank supports local Australian artists by buying their works and leasing them out to companies, individuals and public spaces all around Australia, and in 72 countries across the globe. Currently, they hold about 10,000 works. That's a whole lot of art, and they need somewhere they can show it off. On November 19, Artbank is hosting their annual Artbank Social Club, giving the general public a chance to check out the works that have been so lovingly and carefully curated. Held at Artbank HQ in Waterloo, the event will be a smorgasbord of local artists, food, drink, and entertainment, and will also see the launch of the inaugural Artbank Flea Market, where punters can buy works, watch live performances and mingle with the creators while getting amongst the 5000 original works in the Artbank collection store. Rather than your typical garage sale vibe, think the Grand Bazaar. If that wasn't enough, you can soothe your intellectual exertion with a drink at the gold coin donation bar in the pumping, pop-up garden party. Here are our six picks of things to look out for. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ART AT THE COLLECTION STORE The highlight of the Artbank Open Day is the collection store, where you can get up close and personal with over 5000 artworks by some of Australia's biggest names and possibly grab yourself a new piece to go above the dining room table for a few months. As seen in the above, there will be 120 floor-to-ceiling racks jam-packed with artworks from Australian artists. That's quite a collection. Old favourites, hidden gems, new pieces — it's all there among the racks and available to lease out. OK YEAH COOL GREAT This collective is comprised of artists Kate Beckingham and Anna McMahon, with the view of changing the perception on the delivery of art. Rather than slinging some oil onto canvas (not to disparage the medium), these two have crafted artworks from the seemingly innocuous in order to challenge what we consider art to be. They'll be set up in the Flea Market, vending wares such as shirts, tote bags and USB sticks from their most recent exhibition The Delivery, that emphasise the congruence of form and function. There's the chance to meet the artists, and get their take on their unique media. ROLLING RECORDS TRUCK SHOP George from Rolling Records has been banging about for a while, quietly getting around the country, shifting vinyl to his widely scattered disciples from his truck. His unique business venture achieves a higher goal that everyone can appreciate — getting good tunes into the hands of those that want them. Whether you're reminiscing on the times when vinyl was the dominant form, or you love its grainier sound, or even if you just like the aesthetics of having some vinyl hanging around the living room, Rolling Records has you covered. The truck comes to the Social Club to both buy and sell its pressed and sleeved wares, and will also be providing the beats throughout the day. CANTINA MOVIL No day of consuming All The Art that one person can handle would be complete without a decent offering of food and beverage. In this instance, legends of Sydney street food, Cantina Movil, will be on site to deliver. Cantina Movil have been truckin' around NSW since 2011, delivering a bespoke Mexican menu from the back of their vehicle. They've catered for weddings, corporate events, and festivals, and now they'll be plying their wares at Artbank. So see some art, grab a 'rito, and get some more art in you. MAKE OR BREAK Within the walls of the Artbank Social Club, absolutely everything is art. This even extends to an element of the currency of the Flea Market, with artists Connie Anthes and Rebecca Gallo creating their own alternative system that questions the role of artists, their labour, their audience, and how they all fit together. On the day, the artists behind Make or Break will pick one punter to wear the 'golden t-shirt', which grants them full access to selected elements of the event, and it is up to this punter to either share, hoard or sell their prize. Anthes and Gallo have been creating live exhibitions like this one since last year, aiming to contribute to the conversation surrounding the value of art in our society. SO MANY WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND ARTISTS TO SEE Artist Leecee Carmichael will weave a live artwork and sell her jewellery and textiles — her work pays homage to her hometown of Moreton Bay, Queensland and the Quandamooka people. She works in an array of colours and materials, exploring the beauty of nature and nurturing her strong connection to the sand and the sea. Drink tea with strangers and James Nguyen — he'll be serving fresh green tea and honey made from tea leaves he smuggled into Australia in 1999. They were from his grandmother's tea plantation in Dacat, and he sneakily hid them in his shorts pocket. After that, check out James Tylor — he'll be running a drawing workshop to go alongside his project Unwritten Race, which re-writes Charles Darwin's misleading theory on multi-racial identity. These guys are just three of our favourites — the full program includes many, many more artists to see and things to do. The Artbank Social Club will run on November 19. Entry is free, but registration for tickets is recommended.
When Lewis Carroll first sent Alice down the rabbit hole back in 1865, he couldn't have guessed just where she'd end up. While the English mathematician-turned-writer obviously knew she'd be wandering around Wonderland, that was just the beginning of her white rabbit-chasing journey. Countless film, TV, comic book, game, stage, music, music videos and ballet adaptations have taken the famous character far and wide — and, come 2018, she'll be stopping by Melbourne. From April 5 to October 7, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image will pay tribute to all things Alice in Wonderland, the centre's major exhibition for the year as part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. A world-premiere event crafted and curated by ACMI, the entirely original showcase will take fans through the screen history of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There — aka the two Carroll-penned books that introduced not only the titular heroine, but the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, and food and drink with "eat me" and "drink me" labels. Proving a date you won't want to be late for, fans can follow Alice on her voyage through more than 40 cinema and 30 television versions, as well as through popular culture in general. Spanning her first big screen appearance in 1903 to 2016's Alice Through the Looking Glass, the exhibition will step through her different guises, and the technologies that have brought her story to life, all in an interactive, experiential way. That includes animation, puppetry, live-action cinema, video games, CGI, 3D and more, as well as playful environments, digital activities and behind-the-scenes glimpses. "With Wonderland, ACMI has created an interactive exhibition where audiences will explore the magic of film craft and its integral role embedding this much loved story in our imaginations for generations," explains ACMI CEO and director Katrina Sedgwick. Given ACMI's two on-site cinemas, it's safe to assume that an enchanting lineup of Alice in Wonderland films will also feature. Wonderland will run 5 April to 7 October 2018 at Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving image. For more information, or to buy tickets from November 30, visit acmi.net.au/wonderland.
UPDATE 3/8, 12pm: Just when we thought things were rock solid, Huffington Post has reported the site previously hosting Citizenfour imported the film illegally. Dang. You can catch the movie in limited release at Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House. EARLIER: Here's a little Tuesday pressie to sweeten the start of your week. Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour, which delves into Edward Snowden's bold decision to leak NSA secrets in 2013, is now available to stream online for free. Directed by Laura Poitras and shot in cinéma vérité style, the film is now available to watch for free via Thought Maybe. Before taking out the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at this year's Oscars, this film premiered in the US in October 2014 at the New York Film Festival to high fives and critical acclaim all round. Citizenfour journeys through a series of Hong Kong-based meetings between former Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald and NSA whistleblower Snowden, conversations which would reveal history-changing information about widespread government surveillance and make us all a little freaked out about online privacy. There's only a few screenings left of Citizenfour — Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House are apparently still screening it – but this is a grand option if you find yourself with a few home hours up your sleeve. Check out the trailer below. Via Huffington Post.
In 2015, Volumes brought a new multi-venue live music journey to Sydney, establishing themselves as some of the city's finest purveyors of live musical, visual and electronic art. As part of their now annual mini-festival, the crew has hosted a wealth of local artists including Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda, Inkswel, and The Posse. It's all about pushing the envelope with these guys, and the launch of Volumes Monthly vows to be no different. A brand new monthly series of works from rising stars in electronic art, Volumes Monthly will be hosted at Cake Wines Cellar Door in Redfern. Expect an eclectic cornucopia of sounds, visuals and a healthy injection of energy as artists Anatole, Huntly, Marcus Whale, and Mira Boru take the stage. Despite legislative appearances, Sydney's electronic scene is alive and kicking, and the Volumes Monthly series looks to keep that scene growing in size and scope. Early bird tickets are available for $10, with first release tickets going for a cheeky $15. Image: Volumes.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being the latest additions to the lineup: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. They join legend Patti Smith and superstar Mary J. Blige on the heaving heaving lineup. BLUESFEST 2017 LINEUP Santana The Doobie Brothers Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Image: Andy Fraser.
It's craft beer for a punk cause this Wednesday, April 6 at Wayward Brewing Co. with a screening of Punks 4 West Papua. The documentary follows the touching story of the Australian punk scene's fight for the West Papuans, who've experienced genocide at the hands of the Indonesian government since the 1960s. P4WP is an Australia wide movement organised by Jody Bartolo and his band, Diggers with Attitude. The film has already won the 2016 Documentary Feature Award of Merit at the IndieFest Film Festival in San Diego. The tragic story has been kept quiet by the ban on journalists and foreign aid in the region, so the film aims to raise money and awareness for the Free West Papua cause. Director Ash Brennan will introduce the documentary on Wednesday and the ten dollar entry fee will aid this rockin' cause. If you can't make the screening, you can rent or buy the film here. Proceeds from the rental of P4WP go to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
You might already be acquainted with the work of David Stephenson — a prominent American-by-birth photographer who now lives and works in Hobart, Tasmania. Human Landscapes at the Art Gallery of NSW showcases a collection of Stephenson's landscape photography drawn from the gallery's collection. The exhibition aims to highlight his subversion of traditional approaches to the medium, which charges his work with the ability to alter both the way we look at the world and how we consider our own place within it. Engaging with philosophical concepts using a poetic but minimalist sensibility, Stephenson's photography ultimately transmits the transcendental force of the landscape. Human Landscapes will collate a number of Stephenson's early works, including his romantic pinhole photographs of majestic seas, skies and expansive panoramas from the 1980s. Also featured are his starker — yet still poignant — pieces shot in the Antarctic during the 1990s. Fans of landscape photography definitely shouldn't miss this. Image: David Stephenson, The Zinc Works and Mount Wellington from Store Point, Tasmania (2004), from the series Marking time (2003-05). Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of the artist (2011) © David Stephenson. Photo: Diana Panuccio, AGNSW.
Kick off 2016 in serious style with an epic New Year's Day shindig at the Watson Bay Boutique Hotel. The harbourside destination is teaming up with the iconic Hamptons venue The Surf Lodge for a summer pop-up by the water — and it all begins on January 1 with a private beach party headlined by a top secret international act. Located in Montauk on Long Island, The Surf Lodge is best known for its outdoor music concerts featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Solange Knowles, Willie Nelson and the Flaming Lips. No confirmation yet on which famous face they've got locked for Sydney, although the supporting lineup will include Oli Benz, Dangerous Dan, Mo'Funk, Cloud Rider and Motorik Vibe Council. First release tickets are currently on sale for $200 plus a $7.50 booking fee. There are only a limited number available to the public, so if you're interested you'd better jump on it quick. The Surf Lodge x Watson Bay Boutique Hotel summer pop-up will run from New Year's Day through to Australia Day on January 26, and will feature various live music and lifestyle events to be revealed in the coming month.
With beloved cult series Broad City now entering its fourth season, co-creator Abbi Jacobson is taking on a new podcast project that could push My Dad Wrote a Porno off our daily hitlist. A Piece of Work delves into the enigma that is modern art and answers questions you may have been too afraid to ask — like what significance a bicycle wheel atop a stool could possibly have, or why Andy Warhol was so obsessed with soup cans. A collaboration with WNYC Studios and MoMA, the ten-episode series will premiere on July 10 and air twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each episode focuses on a different theme, from everyday objects and pop art to abstraction, performance and text-based art. Jacobson will specifically discuss individual works by big name (and at times, especially confusing) artists including the above mentioned Warhol, along with Jackson Pollock, Yves Klein and Marcel Duchamp, whose noted Bicycle Wheel will be topic of discussion in the first episode. Jacobson also welcomes a legendary roster of guests each episode, including musician Questlove, comedian Hannibal Buress, actress Tavi Gevinson and television personality RuPaul — who features in the not-to-be-missed episode six, in which they'll discuss Yoko Ono's provoking 1964 Cut Piece performance. If you're wondering how Jacobson became an authority on modern art, she actually holds a degree from Maryland Institute College of Art and has also published a colouring book series, Color This Book, and a book of illustrations, Carry This Book — in which Jacobson imagines items found in the pockets and bags of celebrities like Oprah, historical figures like Amelia Earhart and artists like Frida Kahlo and Banksy. A Piece of Work will be available on Apple Podcasts and WNYC, with a teaser and full list of themes, guests and artworks available on Entertainment Weekly. Via Entertainment Weekly. Image: MoMA.
Sculpture by the Sea turns 21 in 2017 and 104 artists — from both Australia and overseas — have come to the party. Until November 5, the two-kilometre stretch of coast between Sydney's Bondi and Tamarama beaches will be dotted with works — overtaking beaches, peeking out of rock platforms, emerging from the sea and towering over cliffs. Since starting up in 1997, the event hasn't changed much. It's still free. It's still all about plugging public art and boosting artists' careers. And it still brings in the crowds, with about 500,000 people visiting each year. Every Saturday and Sunday will also see artist talks give you the chance to kick back on a bean bag and find out what goes on inside a sculptor's head. Here are five sculptures to look out for while you're wandering the Sculpture by the Sea trail during the next couple of weeks. [caption id="attachment_642057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] JAMES DIVE: WHAT A TASTY LOOKING BURGER A giant hamburger, attached to a rope at one end and a fish hook at the other, lies on a rock platform. This, folks, is what artist James Dive imagined as the ultimate human bait. Dive last exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea 11 years ago with the now world-famous melting ice cream truck work Hot With a Chance of a Storm. [caption id="attachment_642056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] STEPHEN MARR: UNDER ONE SKY Two figures, dressed in suits covered in sky, against a backdrop of real-life sky, stand in an embrace, one another's limbs melting into one another's bodies. It's a beautiful moment of embrace and connection. [caption id="attachment_642110" align="alignnone" width="1920"] G Carr[/caption] KATHY ALLAM: PLASTIC PARADISE Kathy Allam creates art with items usually discarded. For Plastic Paradise, she collected 1000 green and blue bottles over three years to create this abstract plastic landscape that both glitters in the sunlight and makes a statement on single-use plastics. [caption id="attachment_642058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] HARRIE FASHER: THE LAST CHARGE Standing before this mini herd of mighty horses, it's not hard to imagine the terror of a stampede. Oberon-based artist Harrie Fasher built the sculpture as a centenary memorial to the charge of the Australian Light Horse in the Battle of Beersheba in Palestine on October 31, 1917. [caption id="attachment_642059" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wyld[/caption] DAVID BALL: ORB Needless to say, you have to check out the winner of the $60,000 Aqualand Award, which is the wealthiest annual sculpture prize in Australia. Orb is the creation of Mittagong-based sculptor David Ball and, inspired by his experience exploring the outdoors of Sydney's bushland, puts a striking frame around a familiar view. "Orb is a visual metaphor for a break in unity but also conveys humour as such a small force cause's disconnection," Ball said in a statement after winning the prize. Sculpture by the Sea is on display between Bondi and Tamarama beaches in Sydney until November 5. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com.
Back in July, we told you about the opening of a booze-free bar in Auckland, whose owners hoped to tackle New Zealand's serious drinking obsession and simultaneously capitalise on council alcohol regulations that saw all city watering holes closed by 4am. It seemed like a nice idea in theory, but punters clearly didn't agree, and now just five weeks after opening, Tap Bar has shut its doors. Co-owner Grady Elliot admitted defeat to the New Zealand Herald, telling the paper, "We gave it a shot and Auckland drinking culture just didn’t tie in with the dry bar." Or, to put it another way, "No one showed up." Guys, this might be a reaaaaaal good time to start thinking about our relationship with alcohol. New Zealand's first and presumably last dry bar, Tap (briefly) served a mix of alcohol-free beer, wine and mocktails starting from around NZ$5. The absence of alcohol meant they could stay open all night, but according to Elliot, what few patrons they did get mostly stuck with the free water. The NZ$15 entry fee probably didn't help matters either. Perhaps the most depressing thing about this story is that Elliot was clearly well prepared for failure, and has already applied for a liquor licence for the location, which will reopen as a more traditional nightclub as soon as possible. Talk about sticking to your guns. On the plus side, now he'll be able to drink to forget about that pesky oversight. Meanwhile, the operators behind London's recently opened alcohol free bar Redemption are presumably rolling beer kegs in through the back door. Just in case. Via The New Zealand Herald. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Stop everything and find a Frenchie to flip. Instagram has finally created its own collage-creating software — yep, finally. The social media giant launched their brand new standalone app today, dubbed (rather uncatchily) Layout from Instagram. The new app lets you easily combine multiple photos into one masterpiece of a 'gram. Though it seems Instagram were a little slow off the mark with this, the Instateam have taken their time to create one genuinely great editing app. According to Instagram, one in five monthly active users are sharing images that combine multiple photos — using external apps like Framatic, Photo Collage Maker and InstaCollage and importing the photos into Instagram later. So the team decided to make their own little editor and keep things in-house. So how does it work? Super easy to use, Layout accesses your photo gallery and does most of the work for you. The Faces option shows you all the photos in your camera roll that feature people — so you can cut the crap and go straight to making hella sick selfies. Speaking of selifes, you can take countdown photobooth shots in the app, but only using the frontal camera — because YOU. Apparently 90 percent of photos in collage images shared to Instagram are of people, and 50 percent of non-collage photos on Instagram are of people. It's all about your big beautiful self-promoting faces. Once you've picked your image, you can drag and drop photos to arrange them all nice and pretty like, pinch to zoom or pull the sides of each image to tweak its size, even flip and rotate to mirror your face on your face. Like George here: Layout masterpieces can be shared directly to your Instagram or Facebook, or saved to your camera roll to access and glorious sharing later. Things are going to get freaky in your feed. Layout from Instagram is available from today for iOS devices in Apple’s App Store. It’s currently only available for iOS. Layout from Instagram will be available for Android in the coming months.
Ah vino. Best paired with a fine cheese or a hearty meal, or enjoyed around the fireplace with your oh-so-classy friends. Or at least, that's how it works in your mind. In reality, we're more likely to be inhaling a $6 vintage straight from the goon sack, or using the discarded bottle as a microphone in our solo rendition of 'All By Myself' – all before stumbling woozily off to bed. Hopefully your experience lies somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios. But the reality is that, for every bona fide sommelier out there, a large portion of the rest of us are more likely to pick our poison based on the price and how nice the label looks, as opposed to things like acidity, provenance or bouquet. And something about tannins. Those are a thing, right? Embracing this fact, VinePair co-founder Adam Teeter (which is an excellent surname for a wine buff, by the way) has teamed up with illustrator Jeff Licciardo to produce 26 hypothetical wine labels that better reflect the average wine drinker's true experience. Forget about drinking to forget: these vintages know you better than you know yourself, offering everything from handy pairing suggestions ("drink me with post-break-up anger and takeaway") to positive affirmations ("yes, you're definitely on key") to nuggets of brutal honesty ("you're turning into your mother"). Look, somebody needed to tell you. At least this way you can get drunk immediately after hearing it. For more honest wine labels, visit VinePair. Via BuzzFeed.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia this winter. Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. They took the show on the road, launching in Australia this June. In partnership with Wats On Events, Bongo's Bingo Down Under threw massive bingo raves at The Tivoli in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, Sydney's Paddington Town Hall and Melbourne's Collingwood Town Hall — and it went so well, they're doing it all again. Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. Australia is the second international location for Bongo's Bingo, which recently launched in Dubai as well and, based on popularity, we imagine the event will continue to expand around the globe. BONGO'S BINGO DATES: Brisbane — Thursday, August 24 at The Tivoli Sydney — Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26 at yet-to-be-announced secret location within five kilometres of the CBD Melbourne — Thursday, August 31 and Friday, September 1 at Collingwood Town Hall Doors from 6pm and shows kick off 7.30pm. Tickets are $55 per person from bongosbingodownunder.com.au — on sale from Friday, July 4 at 4pm AEST.
If you've a hankering for a culture injection, but can't afford to hit up every blockbuster exhibition that rolls into town, just look a little harder in the streets around you. There's art literally everywhere and we don't mean 'art' like the wisp of a cloud or the smile of a baby, but tangible, meaningful art that crowds the streets without our noticing. We can still be guilty of thinking of art as picture frames on walls in a white cube gallery, but these installation pieces in the City Art Collection defy the stereotype and crop up where you least suspect them. [caption id="attachment_581253" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Caroline Rothwell, Youngsters (2012). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] YOUNGSTERS - CAROLINE ROTHWELL The CBD is always jam-packed with people, so you'd be forgiven if you locked eyes on Caroline Rothwell's sculpture piece Youngsters, put your headphones in and kept on walking. The duo of bronze statues stands on the northern side of Barrack Street on the corner of Barrack and George Street and portrays two small figures in hoodies. On closer inspection you'll notice the figures are actually children, with plaits under their hoodies , one standing and one hand standing. Rothwell's sculptures are classically proportioned but make a comment on contemporary urban stereotypes while cutting through the noise of the busy district with their diminutive but sinister stance. [caption id="attachment_581268" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fiona Foley, Bibles and Bullets (2008). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] BIBLES AND BULLETS - FIONA FOLEY Prolific Brisbane-based installation artist Fiona Foley is the mind behind Bibles and Bullets, an interactive playscape for children installed in Redfern Park. Her work manages to be a playground and a piece of art with a lesson in Indigenous bush tucker, as her metal sculptures reference seeds from the local area. The individual elements of the park are laden with meaning. Intuitive Play creates climbing frames in the shape and texture of seed pods (wrinkly nut, mangrove seed and yam seeds) while Lotus Line is an interactive water feature made from a splay of lotus flowers in the shape of a crucifix, a comment on the colonisation of Indigenous lands to be read in the context of salient quotes from Paul Keating and an inscription commemorating artist Michael Riley engraved in the pavement near the park. [caption id="attachment_576740" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Robyn Bracken, The Archaeology of Bathing (1999). Image: City of Sydney.[/caption] ROBYN BACKEN - THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF BATHING You may have looked at Robyn Backen's piece The Archaeology of Bathing in Woolloomooloo Bay and mistook it as part of a (very odd) dock. It's actually a tribute to the traditional use of Woolloomoolloo Bay: bathing. Since the time the Gadigal people were the only inhabitants of the land and right through to 1955, the bay was used as a big bath for all and sundry. Of course, ladies and gents had separate bathing facilities (because of modesty and all that). The metal enclosure represents protection from not only sharks but also the shark-like attention of Peeping Toms. [caption id="attachment_581270" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Herbert Flugelman, Dobell Memorial Sculpture (1979). Image: Paul Patterson, City of Sydney.[/caption] DOBELL MEMORIAL SCULPTURE - FLUGELMAN Herbert Flugelman's sculpture stands proudly on the intersection of Bond, Spring and Pitt Street in the CBD, and upon previous inspection you might have thought it a tribute to, say, shiny things or a neat stack of energised tesseracts, but you'd be wrong. The sculpture is called the Dobell Memorial Sculpture and it represents a man named Sir William Dobell, one of Australia's most prized landscape and portrait artists. Dobell won the Archibald Prize three times and was knighted in 1966 (a very worthy subject for an abstract memorial). Flugelman, the artist, is renowned for his concentric, geometric sculptural work. So now, when you stroll past the glinting, glorious memorial sculpture, you can break out some esoteric as heck facts to wow your pals. [caption id="attachment_581252" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fiona Hall, A Folly for Mrs Macquarie (1999). Image: Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] A FOLLY FOR MRS MACQUARIE - FIONA HALL In the Royal Botanic Gardens, looking east over the harbour, you'll find a cast iron gazebo that's part bird cage and part Elven masterpiece. Its accurate title, as defined by artist Fiona Hall, is a 'folly' – a costly, ornamental structure with no practical purpose. It's a dig at Lachlan Macquarie, the governor of Sydney from 1810-1821, who tried to impose a neoclassical order to the city that staunchly resisted it. It's an allegory for the rigid way Britain colonised Australia (another folly in the artist's view) and attempted to impose their values on society along with their taste in architecture The flowery style of the folly is, upon closer inspection, made up of native plant and animal species (that were bred out of the harbour by foreign species) and barbed wire that divided the land. A Folly For Mrs Macquarie is a superficially pretty structure with a powerful message about colonisation. Want more Sydney art? Let's go find five hidden artworks around the city.
About damn time, Pinterest. The global social media giant and lover all things wedding-related has joined the world of e-commerce; revealing a 'Buy It' button to allow users to shop their favourite pinned products. Revealed on Tuesday at a big ol' shindig at the San Francisco Pinterest HQ, the new 'buyable pins' have been a long time coming for the globally-celebrated website worth a cheeky $10 billion and singlehandedly dedicated to sharing pretty, pretty thingies users immediately want to hand over their dosh for. According to TIME, 50 billion pins have been added since the company's launch and 93 percent of active Pinners were keen to use the site to plan purchases — that's a genuinely gargantuan customer base eager to throw their money at someone, anyone. Plus, 80 percent of users access the site through their phones (prime online shopping grounds), so the whole thing's a no-brainer (albeit a late-to-the-party one) for Pinterest. So how does it work? After clicking on select pinned products, users will be able to scope out the price, size and colour options of their chosen Pretty Thing and select the quantity to order. You'll be able to use credit card or Apple Pay to nab your chosen item and you'll pay no additional fees. Crazy. So far, even Pinterest merchants won't have to pay commission to sell their wares — all of which makes it a little ambiguous how Pinterest will make any money out of this. We're guessing, with the recent introduction of promoted pins for big advertisers, merchant fees will be introduced down the track after everyone signs up. Pinterest will roll out the buyable pins in the US on iPhone and iPads in late June. Already signed-up merchants include Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Kate Spade and Cole Hahn. We're still waiting to hear when Australia will get its mitts on the buttons. Instagram just revealed a 'buy it' button for advertisers and Facebook's apparently also working on one too. Social media e-commerce, come at us. Via TIME. Images: Pinterest, Dollar Photo Club.
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (whos pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. [caption id="attachment_566976" align="alignnone" width="1200"] YouTube[/caption] The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. The DI$COUNT UNIVER$E It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition will run from November 29 - December 9 at 32-34 Wellington Street, Collingwood. Image: Daniel Good John.
Australia has a love affair with bartenders. Photographing these women and men about town, known for their prowess behind the bar and sought after for their mad mixology skills, has become quite the artform of late. Our obsession with bar teams and their unique concoctions has been realised in a nationwide competition run by Auchentoshan, dubbed Distilled Different. Twelve of Australia's best bar teams have created a cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. They're going head-to-head to win bragging rights, an epic photo shoot and a huge team trip to Glasgow. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will appear in the national Dare to be Distilled Different photography exhibition. Their talented faces and creative cocktails will be captured by three up-and-coming photographers, all chosen by Art Pharmacy. We asked them how they plan to bring the multi-sensory world of the cocktail — and the unique story behind each bar team — to life. [caption id="attachment_584663" align="alignnone" width="1279"] Oli Samsom[/caption] OLI SAMSOM (MELBOURNE) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? I'm excited to bring my love and fascination of the dim, grim and classical to help represent a glorious bunch of artists in a craft pretty far removed from mine. Collaboration is king and I'm pretty stoked to make something that the teams and folks within them are all proud of. Has social media, particularly Instagram, changed the way you photograph cocktails? I try not to let mediums change how I shoot. I'm aware of little tricks and approaches that work best for the platform, but I think the devil is in trying to get a maximum arbitrary return each and every time. There's a lot to be said for doing stuff the way you feel is right, even if it means admitting the 'engagement' suffers. It's that old quality vs quantity chestnut. And really, if I wanted the most amount of engagement the quickest, I'd just be posting landscape shots and swimsuit images in alteration. If anything though, Instagram in particular has encouraged me to do what I love, which is write in my own voice. It hits sleeper followers in ways that you only find out about later. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? They're more revered than ever now. It's no secret and should be no surprise to anyone that the current movement across hospitality, or anything remotely craft-related, centres on celebrating the folks behind the product. We're seeing that in mass media with cooking shows shifting spin to the makers being held up as 'rock stars'. This also goes along with the whole 'care economy' happening everywhere: a competition for who gives a shit the most — which has been a great thing for culture, tourism, the lot. We're competing on who does things best, not so much price, speed, or geographic factors. With the general standard being lifted, folks are wanting to experience more of the story of those behind the curtain, they're wanting to see that care first-hand, and enjoy that romance of skill and attention to detail. Photography plays a huge role in that. Much like photography has been the underrated force in driving the feel and magic/mystique of our favourite musicians over the years, a strong image that sets the scene for a maker, in this case a bartender, can really help cement them as a maker and give an intelligent and artistic glimpse into their world and what's involved. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bar's aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. Bars are an interesting old beast, not only are they dim, but there are a lot of competing light sources, reflections, and surfaces that are sometimes ideal as a punter in the space, but more of a challenge to represent photographically. So it becomes a mix of celebrating the light and mood as it exists through longer exposures, while bringing out the subjects with artificial light in a tasteful way. I'm a fan of subtle composites so that will form part of the approach too. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? With these shoots all being on location, ultimately they'll be pretty informed by the space they're set in. So I'll be keeping the focus simple, on what's driven most of my existing work: mood, stillness, and a dash of old-world. [caption id="attachment_584659" align="alignnone" width="1279"] Savannah Van Der Niet[/caption] SAVANNAH VAN DER NIET (BRISBANE) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? I enjoy the challenge of capturing people — meeting a stylistic brief but also trying to show a bit of the character in the subjects as well. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? I think it's about connection. People want a human element in the imagery they see to make them feel comfortable and enticed. Photographers can use their skill to shed light on a bartender's personality. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bars aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. I generally shoot with natural light and focus more on people and food than bars. So usually I'll shoot during the day. Or I will bring my lights along. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? My creative concept is to focus on the personalities of the bar staff and the cocktail they will be making. I can't wait! [caption id="attachment_584661" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Brendan Fitzpatrick[/caption] BRENDAN FITZPATRICK (SYDNEY) Why are you excited about shooting bartenders for the Auchentoshan competition? Photography allows me to draw back the curtain on subjects and learn something from the time spent in their world. The science of bartending and cocktail making has a long history and a nuanced culture. The best bartenders are artists in their field. I learn a lot listening to them talk about an art crafted from a very different palette of materials from my own. Has social media, particularly Instagram, changed the way you photograph cocktails? Nothing will ever change the way I shoot cocktails. I am entirely platform-agnostic when it comes to my cocktail shoots. How do you think photography has played a role in making people more interested in getting to know their city's bartenders? They're more revered than ever now. Digital platforms have allowed businesses to communicate directly with their customers. Each bartenders and team has their own personality — I intend to capture this through this competition and share it with the world. Take us through the process of shooting in low light — bars aren't the brightest or easiest to shoot of places. The main thing to have to hand in a dark space is a light. The light banishes the dark. No matter if you're a photographer in a bar or just a civilian at home minding your own business, there's nothing like a light to get you over the line. What's your creative concept for capturing the bar teams you'll be shooting? The bars have worked hard to differentiate themselves through their design and branding. I hope some of the techniques and ideas I use will be inspired by what they've created. In broad terms I see the bar as a stage and the bar teams themselves as actors on that stage. Right now I'm researching, meeting everyone and listening to their stories. The more I understand them and why they do things in the manner specific to them, the better I can convey their unique personality in a single image.
Any self-respecting Melbourne foodie has knelt at the food altar that is Chin Chin. Now Sydneysiders will be able to feast on celebrated Melburnian Thai excellence; Chin Chin has found itself a permanent home in Sydney. After announcing the search for a Sydney spot last April, it appears the restaurant has picked a rather dramatic spot to arrive in — by taking over the ground floor of the Griffiths Teas building on the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, right near Central Station. Chin Chin has been planning on a Sydney expansion for a while now. Back in April 2014, owner Chris Lucas told Good Food he was seeking the right spot. "We are looking for an old building," he said. "I’m surprised how many beautiful, old buildings Sydney has." After plenty of Sydney artist collectives, hospitality groups and property developers had their eye firmly on it, the Griffiths Teas building went up for sale last year. The Cornerstone Property Group bought it from Isaac and Susan Wakil for a cool $22 million. Cornerstone's plan is to turn the upper floors into New York loft-style apartments and give Chin Chin the street level. The property group has a thing for transforming former industrial buildings into contemporary residential and retail premises, having revamped the ex-Classic sportswear factory on Cleveland Street into an apartment block, making $37 million in the process. They also bought adjacent properties, 119-121 Kippax Street and 10-14 Waterloo Street, in 2014. Apparently Chin Chin’s Sydney escapade is still being finalised, but an architect has been employed. Watch this space. Via Good Food.
Somebody's closer. Netflix announced its Australian pricing today, officially giving the finger to main schoolyard rivals Presto and Stan. The US streaming service has officially set its pricing tiers, with entry level membership sitting at $8.99 a month — cheapest of 'em all in Australia — then $11.99 (high definition, can stream on two screens at once), and $14.99 for the big kahuna (fastest, high def 4K streaming, can stream on up to four screens at once). Pricing leaked online yesterday thanks to the snooping legends at Reddit, but was announced formally today. This pricing is cheaper than Fairfax/Nine's unfortunately-named Stan service, priced at $10 a month. But according to Fairfax, it's all about definition (because of course they'd bring that up). Netflix's lowest tier will apparently only stream in standard definition, whereas Stan's will be all up in high def. Foxtel/Seven's Presto service is sitting at $9.99 (also a big ol' one-cent-less ner to Stan), but is in the same situation as Netflix — streaming in standard def. If you're thinking of sneakily buying Netflix's US version and streaming via proxy (Who said that? Was it you? Nothing to see here.) the US prices are pretty similar: $US7.99 for the lowest, standard definition tier. Netflix launches in Australia on March 24. What's in store for users? Reddit posted this image of what you can expect from the Australian Netflix library, whether it's real or not. Hold on to your butts. Via SMH.
