It's absolutely true and absolutely about time. There's an official Hello Kitty diner coming to Sydney. Yep, it's not quite another kitten cafe, but we'll take it. Whether the establishment will be pop-up or permanent, the crew haven't revealed much at all yet, with a single Instagram post saying: The diner's Facebook page indicates the diner's cuisine will be primarily American, with hot dogs and burgers flagged; so it looks like it won't be the Hello Kitty yum cha style Hong Kong can look forward to at the world's first official Hello Kitty restaurant. This isn't the first Hello Kitty establishment for Australia — Sanrio's first licensed Australian Hello Kitty Cafe is in Adelaide, selling simply adorable cakes and baked goods. If you can't wait a few months until the Sydney diner reveals an opening date, just book a trip on the Hello Kitty airplane, regularly running from Paris to Taipei in all its Kitty glory. Watch this space for more info as it comes out, we're sure there's going to be adorable images of Hello Kitty-shaped burgs coming your way soon. Image: Hello Kitty pancake by Ellie, Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi. Not part of the upcoming menu but adorable anyway.
Spotlight is a 'deep breath' movie. The kind that holds you in your seat long after the final frame and leaves you staring at the credits lost in deep, uncomfortable thoughts. You find yourself at once furious and disconsolate, avoiding others’ gaze when possible, and offering mutual half smiles when not. Others simply cry. This is a film about child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, told through the eyes of the Boston Globe journalists who uncovered and exposed it in 2002. The name, Spotlight, refers to the Globe's long-term investigative unit, a four person team whose secretive research and day-to-day operations existed largely outside the newspaper’s conventional structure – a sort of journalistic special forces if you will. Directed by Tom McCarthy (Win Win), Spotlight is, in almost every respect, a masterclass in restraint. From the performances, to the writing, to the direction and, most importantly, to the actions taken by the reporters themselves, it is the definitive anti-clickbait film; an ardent dedication to both an age and institution when the priority of media outlets was not 'first' but 'right'. For the Spotlight team, the mere selection of a story might take months and its final form not see the light of day for more than a year. If something couldn’t be substantiated, the story would be held for a few more months until it could. To imagine that level of patience (and budgetary freedom) in the modern era of twenty-four hour news is all but inconceivable. Of the film's six Academy Award nominations, two are for best supporting performances by Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, though more could (and perhaps should) have easily been spread across the entire cast. Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci all contribute incredibly passionate and complex portrayals of the journalists and lawyers responsible for either exposing or protecting the church’s extraordinarily sordid past and practices. Indeed, there are no weak links in this confident, consummate picture, whose deft touch and understated approach neatly reflect the disciplined reserve of its characters. Powerful, absorbing and deeply moving, Spotlight is almost certainly the best film about journalism, and, specifically, print media, of at least the past decade. Probably more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5zSVxx9JM
When you picture a summer cocktail, you'll often picture a big, colourful jug filled to the brim with summer fruit and citrus. But more often than not, this grand idea doesn't become a reality. It's hot in summer. Who can be bothered to devote time to complex cocktails? You want something simple — something light and refreshing, in a cold glass with condensation rolling down the sides. At Grey Goose's Boulangerie Bleue waterside mansion party this summer, one of the summery drinks served was the Le Grand Fizz — a refreshing combination of vodka with soda water, elderflower liqueur and lime. We asked Grey Goose's lively global ambassador Joe McCanta to show us how to make this variation on the classic vodka soda combination we know and love — so we can whip it up the next time a cocktail craving strikes us on a summer afternoon. It's simple to make. Just pop some ice into a glass, then add vodka and sweetness (in the form of St Germain elderflower liqueur). Top the drink with two wedges of fresh lime, and stir with freshly opened, fizzy soda water. The result is an easy, refreshing cocktail with citrus and floral flavours. If you've never used elderflower in a cocktail before, St Germain has a bouquet of soft, sherbet lemon notes, with pear and passionfruit. It's a floral liqueur that easily spices up a simple drink. Follow Joe, and learn to recreate the Le Grand Fizz for yourself this summer. LE GRAND FIZZ 45ml Grey Goose Vodka 20ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur 3 lime wedges 3 wedges of fresh lime chilled soda water Build in an oversized cabernet wine glass with lots of ice. Add Grey Goose Vodka and St Germain. Squeeze two of the fresh lime wedges into the drink and discard. Top with chilled soda water. Stir and garnish with fresh lime wedge. Grey Goose Vodka's 'discover' function will tell you what cocktail you're perfectly suited for — answer four simple questions and start stirring. Dive into the luxury that your city has to offer — check out our Luxe Guide to Sydney and Melbourne. Food, spas, glamorous hotels and extraordinary experiences are waiting. Image: Steve Woodburn.
The Museum of Contemporary Art's Artbar has become a firm fixture on Sydney's after-dark cultural calendar. For the uninitiated, Artbar combines art, music, design and performance for a huge adults-only art party on the last Friday of every month, curated by a different artist each time. This month, the event will be held a week early, and comes under the direction of Melbourne-based artist Kate Beynon. Beynon draws on cultural identities — including her own upbringing in Hong Kong and the UK — to tell stories through paintings and soft sculptures. For Artbar, Beynon has chosen the theme of 'mixture' to run the proceedings, curating a night that explores multiculturalism and hybridity through fantastical installations, performances and, of course, a dance party on the MCA rooftop. Your ARTBAR ticket also includes free entry to Pipilotti Rist's Sip My Ocean.
It’s 6pm on a scorching Sunday afternoon. After a day soaking up the sun, stomachs begin to rumble. A quick consultation with the fridge reveals little in the way of sustenance. Forced to forage elsewhere, most of us would head for the nearest, nastiest fast food spot to get our fill. But if you’re hankering for some quality behind the calories, we have just the place. The Chicken Shop is a grab-and-go eatery set to open its doors to Paddington in December. With an unassuming Oxford Street shopfront, the venue is designed to bring back the nostalgic charm of an old English chicken shop — minus some of the dodginess, since these happy chooks will be free-range and hormone-free. A dual venture with neighbouring pub The Paddington (previously The Paddington Arms), the new establishment joins the ever-growing Merivale ranks. So who’s behind the pass? Chef Ben Greeno (Momofuku Seiobo) will be running the culinary show at both The Chicken Shop and its attached mother hen The Paddington. Swapping fine dining for a relaxed pub affair, Greeno sees this latest project as a much-needed change of scenery. "I want to be enjoying myself and hanging out, having a good time with everybody else," reveals Greeno. "It is what you make it, and I suppose I made my old place not as relaxed as it should have been. I’ve changed, I’ve got older and I’ve calmed down a little bit." Opening ahead of the attached Chicken Shop in November, The Paddington will be a laidback pub with a strong European influence, drawing upon Greeno’s time exploring the markets of France. From lamb rump, beef and whole stuffed fish to Jerusalem artichokes and celeriac, its dishes will feature top-notch ingredients treated with care. Plates are designed to be shared, and best of all, you can wash it all down with a ripper cocktail from The Paddington’s bar led by Palmer & Co.’s Sam Egerton. But the real point of difference is the three eye-catching rotisseries, each imported from France. This is what Greeno believes will set this pub apart. "Our chicken is cooked on the rotisseries, which not a lot of people in Sydney really do," he says. "The rotisserie is very much the focal point of the whole establishment." Given the prime position they hold, no effort has been spared in sourcing top-quality, accredited free-range chickens from the small town of Bannockburn, 22km northwest of Geelong. As well as being raised free of hormones, the chickens are processed without the addition of chemicals, using “air-chilling” methods, so you can be sure you're eating nothing but natural chook. Next door, The Chicken Shop exists as a stand-alone venue that cleverly uses the neighbouring rotisserie to dish up some of the juiciest roasts on the block, along with sandwiches, salads and spuds. They’ll be the "same chickens, but no seats, no nothing; just come up to the counter and order and take your food. Everything is going to be done with that same quality and care that we do in the pub as well." Sounds like our summer post-beach feeds are sorted. The Paddington is opening at 384 Oxford Street, Paddington in November. The Chicken Shop will open next door by the end of the year. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Bedroom producers are the self-publishers of the music world, DIY crusaders making music on their own steam and striving to be the next Flume, Grimes or James Blake. It's a pervasive assumption that home production is a stop-gap for struggling musicians before they manage to get themselves into a professional studio. In practice, electronic music in particular lends itself beautifully to MacGyvered production methods, not just as a way to keep costs down but for the gritty imperfections that come innately from making music in a home studio. For Melbourne's phreshest electronic duo Kllo (Simon Lam and Chloe Kaul), recording in their own home bungalow was as DIY as it gets. "We used a doona as the vocal booth," laughs Chloe, explaining that DIY production helps to soften the polished and artificial sheen that stigmatises so much electronic music. "We want a homely, organic sound, so we use analogue synths and home-made sounds like beating pots and pans. We didn't want it to be too clean." Kllo are having one hell of a year. They've got two singles under their collective belt, both well received, just nailed their appearance at Splendour in the Grass (for the second time), DJed at the official Splendour pre-party, and played a killer party set at Concrete Playground and Sonos's Beach Break with Good Manners labelmate Banoffee. This August, they'll be releasing their album Well Worn and touring nationally. They're proving exactly what a couple of DIY musos with drive can do when they put their minds to it. We sat down with Kllo to mine some of their best working-from-home advice. EVEN BEDROOM PRODUCERS DON'T SLEEP WHERE THEY WORK The first thing any work-from-homer will tell you is that you should never work in bed (and not just because you will get crumbies in the sheets). In fact, this was Simon's first suggestion and a tested truism. "You've gotta separate your living and working space. It's so important, even if you've only got one room to work out of, just draw a line down it," he suggests. "I've worked out of bedrooms for a long time and when it kind of all bleeds together, it becomes unhealthy. It's nice to shut the door at the end of the day and feel like you've left work". Separating work and play is universally acknowledged as a crucial part of not completely losing your mind while working from home. To this end, Kllo work out of two spaces, the bungalow (a room off Simon's house in the 'burbs) and a studio in the CBD. "The energies are different," says Simon. "It's good to be able to walk through the city and come [to the studio] and maintain that high-paced energy. Whereas at the bungalow, it's really isolated, we can work a whole day without talking to anyone but ourselves… you can really get into your own head." TREAT YOUR CREATIVE JOB LIKE A REAL JOB Like so many things in life, a big part of a creative career is turning up. Not turning up at the clurb but physically (and mentally) turning up to your work space and grinding away even when there's no-one but yourself to report to. Throw the sporadic nature of creativity into play and the isolation of working from home and you've got yourself a bit of a quagmire. "Sometimes you can be so disciplined, but then you go to make music in your scheduled time and nothing happens," says Simon. "You can't prepare for when blocks come on." "Times like those are when it's good to do other things and then come back to it," Chloe adds. IF YOU HAVE TO PROCRASTINATE, DO IT WITH A SIT-DOWN MEAL "When we're having a mental block, we eat. We congregate in the kitchen, kettle on, lots of food and coffees. Or treats if we're really down," Chloe says "Then we try to fill ourselves with a lot of carbs and then sugar." "We tend to just have full meals," Simon adds. "A lot of breakfast foods." "We'll have a sit down meal of eggs, avocado, toast," says Chloe. "I also like a Kit Kat Chunky, Sim got me into them. I love that first bite, when it's all chocolate — so good. I've got to stop talking about this, I want one now." MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR SPACE On screen, crispy, white, Tumblr-esque minimalism is king, but in real life it's unnatural, not to mention impractical. This rings especially true for electronic musicians. "Some studios are just so sterile, a vacuum for sound and creativity," says Simon. "I think being comfortable is more important, to make sure you're comfortable and not being put off by anything." Kllo's studio in the CBD is a collaborative space where they're currently working on their album. It's a busy space, littered with knick knacks, beer cans sprouting fluffy cacti, slick high-tech gadgetry including Sonos's smart speaker system, oddments of furniture, shelves clustered with figurines and piles of gear, hedged with endless bundles of cords. In the well-walked studio space of pre-tour musicians, in the midst of promoting an upcoming album, there's no room for impractical minimalism. "But plants are good. Plants are helpful, they bring some life amongst all the metal," Chloe says. "And for us, it's important to play a lot of music at home and in the studio to get inspired and feel at home. You've gotta have a good sound system set up, for sure." DON'T BE AFRAID TO DREAM A LITTLE BIGGER What does Kllo's ideal studio look like? "I reckon it's all wood, with a nice spa," Chloe says. "Big windows and a lot of forest around it." Simon's on board with the window game. "For me it's definitely big windows and when you look out of the window there's a huge garden but then it's actually somewhere really central," he says. And an in-house chef? "Oh, of course. That would be our main thing," Chloe says "if there was an in-house chef I'd just ask him to make me cocktails all day." "I think I'd like a private Coles or Safeway downstairs too," Simon adds. We couldn't agree more. And now for a little music. Here's what Kllo are listening to right now, crank it up. Want to have studio-level sound in your own home? We're teaming up with Sonos to giveaway one of their coveted PLAY:1 speakers, valued at $299. ENTER HERE. Images: Jam on Your Collar, Alexandra Anderson.
It's happening, you guys — we've arrived. We're living in the golden era of music festivals. In the same week as Meredith, Beyond the Valley and MoVement Sydney have revealed their jam-packed programs, Lost Paradise has just released their 2016 lineup for the three-day New Year's festival. We've been dealt such a glut of quality acts it's definitely going to spoil us. But resolutions can wait. In an effort to make you NYE not the shittiest, most over-hyped night of the year, LP are bringing you a slam dunk of a headliners Sticky Fingers, Flight Facilities, Gang of Youths and Fat Freddy's Drop to ring in a most auspicious 2017. The rest of the lineup is equally impressive, a great mix of local and imported talent. This is Lost Paradise's third year and while that's quite young in festival years, they keep proving they mean business. Their ethos extends past music too and the festival — held in Glenworth Valley (just an hour north of Sydney) — is built around a mix of art, yoga, performance and food. Because there's nothing like a little yoga to dust off a festival hangover. Anyway, we know what we're here for. Check it out. LOST PARADISE 2016 LINEUP Gang of Youths Hot Chip (DJ Set) Hudson Mohawke Eats Everything Big Scary Kölsch (DJ Set) Skream Harts Montaigne, Mark Pritchard Methyl Ethel Motez Lunice Doorly Bad//Dreems Heidi Optimo Young Franco Leon Vynehall Dro Carey The Belligerents Ocean Alley Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda No Zu KLLO Set Mo Luke Million Mossy Mosquito Coast Human Movement Goodwill Wild Honey Lost Paradise will take place from December 29-31 in Glenworth Valley, NSW. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, August 16 through their website.
Been wondering about the story behind those massive bullets in Hyde Park? You can now find out easily — and for free. At four spots near the sculpture, which is titled Yininmadyemi Thou Didst Let Fall, the City of Sydney has installed tiny transmitters. Known as iBeacons, these devices can talk to your smartphone. And, if you happen to be passing by, and have the City’s free Culture Walk App installed, they’ll let you know that they have a story for you. That story is the one that inspired indigenous artist Tony Albert to create the artwork. Yininmadyemi Thou Didst Let Fall is made up of four bullets, each weighing 1.5 tonnes and towering at 7 metres, as well as three fallen shells. These seven objects honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers — both those who were killed and those who made it home. For Albert, who hails from far north Queensland and whose family includes Girrimay, Yidinji and Kuku Yalandji people, the Second World War has personal resonance. His grandfather Eddie, along with six other soldiers, managed to flee from a German prisoner-of-war camp but fell into the hands of Italian soldiers. Their new captors lined them up for execution and, with three men down, suddenly realised they’d made a big mistake. As POWs, Eddie and his companions should not have been killed, but instead, sent back to Germany. Eddie survived, but, on returning to Australia, received vastly different treatment to that of his white counterparts. “I feel the most powerful artworks relating to war are those that use bold and evocative images to stir strong emotions in visitors,” says Albert. “In a similar vein, I feel the scale of the bullets, at 100 times their original size, also lends the power of abstraction to this artwork. I have chosen the very confronting image of the bullet as it is a universal signifier for conflict, and I have chosen to arrange the bullets with some standing and some fallen over to tell a story.” “Tony has created a striking and dramatic artwork that becomes even more meaningful when you understand the story behind it," adds Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "I encourage everyone to download the free app and visit Yininmadyemi Thou Didst Let Fall to hear the audio and to pay tribute to the sacrifice and commitment of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women.” The City of Sydney will trial the iBeacons for 12 months. The initiative is a collaboration with Meld Strategies, Brand Culture and Beaconmaker. So far, more than 20,000 people have downloaded the Culture Walk App, which covers more than 400 of Sydney’s historical and public art sites, and includes ten walking tours. Find out more about the City’s public art collection at the City Art website.
What is it? Can I sit on it? Do I put my coffee on it? Mindbending origami furniture that confuses us all is by no means a new idea, but this designer has put a stunning modern spin on a tried and true design tactic. UAE-based designer Aljoud Lootah has created a brand new furniture collection called the 'Oru Series', which both fascinates and terrifies us with its perplexing angularity. But yes, you can put your books, coffee and butt on all of them. Designed for Dubai's Design Days 2015 event, Lootah's series debuted this just week. Taking cues from the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, the bite-sized 'Oru' series is made up of a chair, table lamp, mirror and cabinet; all created from copper, felt and the glorious, glorious badassery that is teak wood. "The name 'Oru' originates from the Japanese words 'to fold', and the idea behind the designs is to show that folding a flat, two-dimensional sheet can create aesthetically appealing functional three-dimensional forms," says Lootah on her website. "The products, with their faceted design looking like complex folds but with sophisticated simplicity, are a modern interpretation of an ancient form of art." Oru collection Oru cabinet Oru lamp Oru chair Oru mirror Via Design Boom. Images: Aljoud Lootah.
With a steady string of new live venues opening across the east coast lately, seeing doors opening – rather than closing – has happily become the status quo. Alas, every now and then some bad news reminds us of the opposite extreme that we’d much rather forget. And when it comes to bad news, this could be right up there. The Music is reporting that the company behind The Hi-Fi has been placed into external administration over a dispute with a major creditor. Unable to resolve their differences with The Hi-Fi Group, the creditor has taken over running the business while a new buyer is sought. All three Australian venues have been affected, meaning Brisbane’s West End mainstay, Melbourne’s Swanston Street spot and Sydney’s recently revamped former Forum Theatre location as well. It was due to almost two decades of success in Melbourne that the company branched out into Brisbane in 2009, with Sydney following in 2012. All signs point to the venue remaining open and running — for now. "It's business as usual, see you at the gig," said a post on the venue's Facebook page. Shows are slated from now until June – including The Smith Street Band, Sticky Fingers, Seth Sentry, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, and the only just announced debut album tour by Courtney Barnett, depending on the city, so current ticket holders should be taken care of. As for what happens after then: watch this space. Via The Music.
If you only get stranded on one island this year, make sure to make it this one. After the colossal success of their inaugural endeavour, Wine Island is returning to Sydney Harbour this November for another long weekend of fun, food and sweet, sweet wine. For those who missed out last time, Wine Island is more or less what it sounds like, in that it's an island where you drink a lot of wine. More specifically, it's a three day mini festival on Clark Island in Sydney Harbour, where you can spend your time knocking back glass after glass while feasting on mouth-watering cuisine. If it's anything like last year, there'll also be a range of activities to enjoy – think cooking classes and treasure hunts. Yes, treasure hunts. No wonder we dubbed it the Best New Event of 2015. Wine Island 2016 is set to run from Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13, although tickets are yet to go on sale. Last year it was $79.90 for general admission, which included ferry transport, masterclass entry and a whole bunch of booze. In the meantime, we'd recommend watching their website and Facebook page like a hawk, because we reckon tickets will go fast once they're made available.
If you threw the best nosh in Newtown together, scrambled things 'round a bit, and served up the quintessential Newtown dish, what would it taste like? That's what Newtown Locals are about to find out, a relatively newish collective of Newtown foodies started by Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham of Mary's (of course). Doubling in size this year with new additions from the last twelve months, Newtown Locals are about to see their culinary powers combined with a collaborative menu specially made for Newtown Festival. So who's involved in this escapade of deliciously epic proportions? Take a breath... Mary's, Young Henry's, Bloodwood, Oscillate Wildly, Earls Juke Joint, Rising Sun Workshop, The Stinking Bishops, Oldtown In Newtown, 212 Blu, Black Star Pastry, Hartsyard, Brewtown Newtown, Continental Deli, The Bach Eatery, N2 Extreme Gelato, The Courthouse. Sweet mother of Tim Freedman that's a hefty Newtown pedigree. Aw, just look at 'em: There's so many different types of cuisine on the table here, we don't even know where to start imagining what this menu will look like. A Black Star Pastry Ginger Ninja crossed with a Mary's burger? Rising Sun ramen extreme gelato? Hartsyard buttermilk fried chicken natural lagers? Good god, the possibilities. All will be revealed this Friday, October 9, when the collaborative dishes are announced at a free public launch party for Newtown Locals — yep, you're invited. You'll be able to taste the whole Frankenmenu at Young Henrys Brewery in Newtown between 4-7pm, hosted by Mary's, Young Henrys and Bloodwood. There'll be free YH beer between 4-5.30pm, so you'll want to get there early. They'll also be announcing the winner of the new edition official Newtown Locals t-shirt design comp. Apparently there'll be some kind of pool. If you can't make it on Friday, you'll be able to taste the dishes when they're on sale at Newtown Festival on November 8. All proceeds go to charity, ain't that lovely? Newtown Locals launch party is happening this Friday, October 9 from 4-7pm at Young Henrys Brewery, 76 Wilford Street, Newtown. Free entry for everyone. Images: Kate Disher-Quill.
It's not just a case of the show needing to go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. It must, and it is. 17 years after the big-screen release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine has made its way to the stage in an expectedly spectacular fashion — and now it's headed to Broadway. The lavish adaptation premiered in Boston in July, and will bow on Broadway bow from June 28, 2019. If you're planning a New York visit next year, the official opening night will take place on July 25, 2019. Moulin Rouge! the Musical follows the tale film fans fell in love with, as well as the music, with the addition of new pop tracks that have hit the airwaves in the nearly two decades since the movie's original release. It's directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers — who also has a Golden Globe to his name for co-created TV series Mozart in the Jungle — with music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by his frequent collaborator Justin Levine. Aaron Tveit (TV's Gossip Girl; stage productions of Wicked, Rent and Catch Me If You Can) will continue in the role of Christian, as played by Ewan McGregor in the movie, while Tony-winner Karen Olivo (the revival of West Side Story, In the Heights, Hamilton) keeps stepping into Nicole Kidman's shoes as Satine. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement when the state adaptation was first announced in 2016. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Continuing the show's list of talent, writing duties fell upon acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes Skyfall, Spectre and Alien: Covenant as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. Tickets for the Broadway run go on sale at 10am on Monday, December 3 (US time), and you can sign up for updates now. If a trip to NY isn't on your agenda any time soon, fingers crossed that the production will make its way down under. Come what may, and all that. Image: Moulin Rouge the Musical/Matthew Murphy.
Winter has come to an end, so you can pack away the mittens and embrace the warm mornings with sunrise yoga on the Sydney Opera House steps. The ten-week program kicks off on October 10 with classes running three days a week. Yoga will be led by Crawf Weir (of Barefoot Yoga in Paddington) on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Following the popularity of last season's yoga, additional classes have been added on Wed and Sat — if you're not a morning person, you'll be happy to know they're later on, too. Tickets are a little steep at $25 each, but there's surely no better way to start your day than by saluting the sun as it shimmers over the harbour and those legendary white sails as your backdrop. If the weather's not brilliant, yoga will be held inside the Concert Hall Northern Foyer instead. Sunrise on the Steps will run from October 10–December 15 with classes held at 7am and 8.30am on Wednesdays, 7am Fridays, and 7.30am and 9am on Saturdays. Images: Ken Leanfore.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition. The 62nd edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition will touch down in Sydney this year and will be on display at the State Library of NSW from May 25 until June 23. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 78,000 photographs by 4738 photographers from 129 countries. The one that took top honours for 2019 is John Moore's Crying Girl on the Border. The image, which also won first prize in the spot news category, shows Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez crying as her mother is taken into custody at the US border. This will be on display alongside other finalists, including Pieter Ten Hoopen's series which documents a migrant caravan who were fleeing violence and harsh economic conditions, Nadia Shira Cohen's shot of beekeepers tending their hives in Yucatán, Mexico, and Enayat Asadi's striking image of an Afghan refugee comforting his companion. Further categories on show will include contemporary issues, environment, general news, long-term projects, nature, people, sports and spot news. To complement the exhibition, the State Library will stay open late on three Friday nights (June 7, 14 and 21) so you can check out the exhibition out of hours. It'll even open up the bar and chuck on some music. Otherwise, the Library is open up until 8pm Monday to Thursday if you'd rather check it out after work without the crowds. Image: John Moore, Getty Images, 'Crying Girl on the Border' (cropped).
Portraits aren’t all regal furs and awkward “Oh, didn’t see you there,” poses. They can be weird, abstract, figurative, unrecognisable, or downright adorable. That last one sums up French-born Sydney artist Bruno Jean Grasswill's portrait of Australian actor and The Castle legend Michael Caton, winner of the 2015 Packing Room Prize and one of the finalists for the Archibald Prize, announced today. One of 47 artworks picked as Archie finalists in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' annual Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, Grasswill's portrait of Caton took home a Packing Room cash prize of $1500, judged by the gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries. There's no jousting sticks in sight, but we're pretty sure this one's going to go straight to a lucky gallery's pool room. Caton apparently congratulated the AGNSW packing room staff “on their excellent taste in art.” What a boss. After 832 Archibald, 653 Wynne and 518 Sulman entries, this year, these 47 Archibald finalists are the top tier of artists trying to make us wake up and pay attention (whether for great or WTF reasons) to Australia’s big ol’ faces. It's not an easy task; capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you’ve just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archie winners. There's a few standouts for us this year, which you can see when the exhibition opens to the public on July 18. There's this striking portrait of Australian fashion designer Jenny Kee by Carla Fletcher: This pretty damn impressive self portrait of Australian artist and political activist Richard Bell: Adam Alcorn's sharply figurative portrait of Sydney award-winning writer, comedian, podcaster and radio host Alice Fraser: Julian Meagher's candy-coloured portrait of Daniel Johns: And Stewart MacFarlane's got Corey Bernadi holding some kind of whip? The Archibald Prize exhibition opens to the public at the AGNSW on Saturday, July 18. To view all the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne finalists, head over here. Images: Archibald Prize, AGNSW.
Good news for those who hate exercise — there are places you can go and actually have fun while you get fit. Beyoncé dance classes and fitness parties like No Lights No Lycra are all the rage, and gyms have started to follow suit by injecting a little fun into their regular proceedings. Fitness Playground, a colourful gym with locations in Surry Hills, Marrickville and Newtown, are leading the charge on having fun and getting fit, mainly by offering classes like aerial yoga, barre and our personal favourite, Circus Fit. We've only seen photos, and the name was a little vague, so we thought we would head down to the gym and find out what really happens (so we can let you know exactly what you're in for). SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS CIRCUS FIT? Circus Fit was invented by the bright and bubbly instructor of the Surry Hills class we visited, Laura Basta. She hails from Paris, where she worked as a fitness instructor by day and a circus acrobat by night. Two years ago she made the move to Sydney and began working with Fitness Playground. Together with founders Justin Ashley and Serra Burmin, she developed Circus Fit, a combination of strength and flexibility training routine, mixed with a healthy dose of aerial trapeze exercise. The class uses a low-hanging trapeze arrangement that detaches from the roof. Throughout the class, participants perform a series of exercises that focus on core stabilisation and strength building. The class is built to achieve results — to make your body stronger and more flexible — but it approaches strength building in a fun way. It's not a class where you spend an hour picking up heavy things up and putting them down again, and it's not 45 minutes of being yelled at because you can't sprint at the same speed at Usain Bolt. It's a class where you get fit, but you have a good time while you're doing it. WHAT ARE THE MOVES LIKE? To begin the class, everybody jumps up onto their bar and swings from the roof. Basta energetically leads everyone through the steps — she teaches a captive audience how to extend their legs off the trapeze while maintaining balance and use the supporting straps to achieve a 'look, no hands!' moment. Repetition is key to results — there are push ups, pull ups, swinging on the bar and balance exercises. The favourite move seems to be sitting side-saddle on the bar and extending the whole body until you're flat out, before a theatrical flourish of the arms to finish. The class focuses on results in areas that a lot of other classes miss. Acrobatic elements help members to work on core activation, upper body strength, co-ordination, mobility, and flexibility. It's all about using your own body weight and nature's gym equipment — gravity — to make you stronger and more bendy. It's not about power, and it's not about overdoing it — "too many repetitions," Basta says, "is what will injure your body." IS THE CLASS CHALLENGING? Like yoga, or pilates, each warm up exercise teaches participants part of a routine that the class finishes with. The toughest part of the class is the last ten minutes, where you use all the techniques you've learnt in one final routine. Even those who had a hard time grasping the hand-eye co-ordination necessary to partake in the class now look like they've been doing it for years by the end of the class, and everyone's having a giggle over the little mistakes that they may have made throughout. Basta moves expertly about the room, gently manipulating bodies, offering encouragement and correcting technique. The class ends with a gentle swing on the trapeze, during which Basta takes feedback and offers her own to her members. There's a collaborative, inclusive nature to the class that you don't often see in a workout. Even when things get tough and sweaty, there's an element of fun to the whole thing. WHAT'S THE CROWD LIKE? Don't let our photos fool you — the crowd at the Circus Fit class we attended represented a plethora of differing demographics (some people just weren't keen on being photographed). There's a guy who could probably lift you over his head. There are a few corporate ladies, some obvious female gym buffs, and there's a gentleman at the back who looks like he might be pretty new to gyms, but he's ready to give this class everything he's got. There's no common age or body shape. Instead, it's just a room full of people with one thing in common: they all want to swing around on a trapeze while burning off all the excess calories from the weekend. Circus Fit is one to try if you're a little bored with your current exercise routine, or you're keen for a challenge. What better way to shake things up than running away to the circus? If you're keen to check out Fitness Playground, head along to the Open Week exclusive to Concrete Playground readers or enter to win a one-year membership. Images: Steven Woodburn.
New South Wales' Three Blue Ducks is crossing state borders and laying down roots along the Brisbane River. The eatery has just been announced as the signature restaurant at the soon-to-launch W Brisbane this April. Set in the luxury hotel, the design will hone in on Queensland's laidback vibe and complement the brand's paddock-to-plate ethos by featuring earthy tones, hanging greenery and the use of raw materials. The restaurant is part of the lush new Brisbane Quarter development, which is slated to include an office tower, apartments and two levels of retail. Famed chefs Darren Robertson, Andy Allen and Mark LaBrooy will be serving up their signature menu of sustainably and ethically sourced eats all day, with the seasonal menu featuring local produce from both Queensland and northern New South Wales. The kitchen features a woodfired oven, a rotisserie and charcoal pit, along with a cold seafood section with Moreton Bay bugs, spanner crab and oysters on offer. Many of the venue's much loved dishes will also make an appearance, including the coal-roasted lamb with parsnip puree, burnt shallots and fresh peas; the crab scramble with green mango, bean shoot salad, house-made Sriracha and cashews; and the corn fritters with guacamole, fermented cabbage, herb salad, labneh and poached eggs. For drinks, they're slinging original cocktails, local craft beers and top-notch coffees, just like they do down south. "When approached by W Hotel to embark on a Three Blue Ducks venture in Brisbane, it was important to us to ensure that we shared the same values and sustainable business practices," says the brand's co-owner, Jeff Bennett. "Although our current venues greatly differ in aesthetic, our philosophy and ethos remain very much the same and we can't wait to work alongside W Brisbane with views over the Brisbane River." W Brisbane is set to open at 81 North Quay, Brisbane on March 15, with Three Blue Ducks opening in April. For more info on the hotel, visit the website.
Whether you're heading to the cinema with friends or curling up on the couch with your significant other, a night watching movies remains a fantastic source of entertainment, enjoyment and escapism. Sitting in the dark, switching your mind away from your regular worries and slipping into another world — if you're catching the right flick, few things can top it. Cinema-wise, 2019 has thrown up plenty of films that tick all of the above boxes — and now we're just past the halfway mark, it's time to look back. Maybe you missed one of this year's hits when it was in theatres. Perhaps it's still showing and you haven't made it yet. Or, there could be a few gems that just slipped your attention. Of course, there's always the ace movies you saw, loved and want to see again. Whichever category fits, here's 12 films from 2019 that you you need to catch up on. Head to the cinema and grab a choc top or organise your streaming queue and cook up some popcorn, as we've sorted out your viewing for the near future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoxKy3d7Wno EIGHTH GRADE What our critic said: As effective as every narrative beat, probing shot and well-deployed blast of Enya (yes, Enya) proves, writer/director Bo Burnham's savviest move is also his most straightforward. Actually casting a teenager in a movie about a teenager is much more rare than it should be, and Eighth Grade wouldn't be the success it is without Golden Globe nominee Fisher as its star. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XhsuT0xctI FREE SOLO What our critic said: As well as chronicling an awe-inspiring story, every frame of Free Solo offers a palpable, visceral reminder of life's enormous risks and immense rewards — and to the filmmakers' credit, you're all but certain to feel the impact in your constantly sweaty palms. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8qbq6Z6HYk IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK What our critic said: Black lives devastated by discrimination, young lovers braving seemingly insurmountable obstacles: both tales have played out across countless pages and screens before, although not as they do so here. There's a bewitching alchemy to the combination of James Baldwin's words and Barry Jenkins' direction — never shying away from the despairing truth of the situation, but never wallowing in inescapable bleakness either. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCYE9hKP68 VOX LUX What our critic said: In Vox Lux, the difficulties and complexities of success slash savagely and hack furiously, with Brady Corbet writing and directing a blunt yet brilliant onslaught of a movie. As he did in The Childhood of a Leader, the actor-turned-filmmaker relentlessly charts the ascension of an influential fictional figure who owes their rise to struggle and trauma. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcKinfILGDk DESTROYER What our critic said: Conflicted cop Erin Bell could walk alongside any of noir's dogged investigators and hold her own. Stepping into the character's shoes, Nicole Kidman could do the same among any of the genre's best stars. Destroyer lives and breathes through its complicated protagonist and phenomenal lead performance, with each putting on a stunning show. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bavqDA_3vIo US What our critic said: Us is a creeper in multiple senses of the word. It's disquieting from the outset (even more so when it spends its opening credits staring at caged rabbits), but Jordan Peele knows how to let that unease fester and grow. While the 'master of suspense' label was bestowed decades ago, the comedian-turned-filmmaker is just as devastating at cultivating distress as Hitchcock or any other iconic horror or thriller director. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9UYcEwUYA BURNING What our critic said: A ruminative mystery, a fine-tuned character study and an intricately observed examination of human relationships all at once, one of the joys of Burning is its wholesale aversion to simplicity. Here, as in reality, nothing is straightforward. Indeed, Lee Chang-dong takes life's enigmas and puzzles, thrusts them into view and forces the audience to ponder along with him. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 AVENGERS: ENDGAME What our critic said: There's very little that's simple about this picture, marking as it does the extraordinary culmination of several dozen intricate and intertwined story arcs that extend all the way back to 2008... Where Infinity War was all bombast, Endgame offers reserve. Where Infinity War wrought intergalactic devastation and destruction, Endgame delivers intimacy and an examination of grief, loss and very private regret. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw LONG SHOT What our critic said: After a five-year stretch that's included Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and Tully, Long Shot is the latest example of its star's chameleonic talents — a political rom-com that's as irreverent (and often inappropriate) as you'd expect of a flick that also features Seth Rogen, and genuinely heartfelt and hilarious as well. Charlize Theron, romantic-comedy standout? You'd better believe it. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BULB0aX4lA JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 — PARABELLUM What our critic said: Cinematic beauty comes in many forms, and the John Wick franchise perfects one of them. The term 'balletic' couldn't better describe the series' hypnotic action sequences, with its array of frenetic fights and carnage-dripping set pieces all meticulously choreographed like complex dance routines. In fact, when ballerinas actually pirouette across the screen in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, they seem bland in comparison. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZeIHrx7Oyc HIGH LIFE What our critic said: While shooting into the stratosphere to ponder what it all means has become a genre of its own, High Life proudly stands in its own space boots. Perhaps that's why both the film and Robert Pattinson seem like such a perfect fit, and why the final product both soars high and burrows deep: you won't catch either meekly treading where everyone else has before. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0KJAzyUJc PARASITE What our critic said: Parasite proves exceptional in every single frame and detail that it flicks onto the screen... Internationally renowned and beloved as the auteur behind The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja, Bong Joon-ho has crafted a bleak, twisty blend of black tragi-comedy, pulsating thrills and socially relevant horror — a movie that's such a phenomenal example of all that cinema can and should be that you'll want to high-five the filmmaker after watching it. Read our full review.
With his darkly funny scripts, quirky set-pieces and kitsch cinematography, director Taika Waititi is a little like a Kiwi Wes Anderson. Following on from the success of his vampire mockumentary hit What We Do In The Shadows, Waititi's new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople offers up another feel good alternative to just about everything else that's out there. Put simply, it's fantastic. Set in the dense bushland of New Zealand's east coast, the film tells the story of Ricky Baker, a troublesome ten year old orphan who, after years of delinquency, is on his last chance before being institutionalised. That last chance comes in the form of country couple Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and Hec (Sam Neill). Bella is an unflappably positive soul, the kind of no-nonsense straight talker you can't help but love from the moment you meet her, and her approach to Ricky is enough to quickly convince him to cease his nightly attempts at escape. Hec, by contrast, is the definition of loner. Bearded and bedraggled, he's an old-school bushman whose tolerance for companionship begins and ends with his wife and their scrappy old dog. The story takes a turn, however, when Hec and Ricky find themselves stranded in the bush and unable to return until Hec's fractured leg can heal. Worse still, to the outside world, it's assumed Hec has actually kidnapped Ricky, resulting in both police and rescue teams being brought in to hunt down the perceived paedophile. So begins a touching and terrifically funny odd couple on the run story that lovingly and faithfully harks back to various NZ comedies of the 80s. As Ricky, newcomer Julian Dennison puts in an accomplished and confident performance, imbuing his character with a lovely sensitivity masked by a veneer of wannabe gangsterism. Neill, likewise, is fantastic as the crotchety old Hec, pacing his inevitable softening towards Ricky with just the right amount of snarl and sneer. The other key performance of note comes from Rachel House as Ricky's dedicated child services appointee Paula. Playing it like a hard-edged cop from a film noir, Paula considers herself a relentless pursuer akin to the Terminator, and her verbal battles with Ricky offer up an almost unceasing stream of laugh-out-loud moments. Offbeat, intimate and impressively affecting despite its farcical nature, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one the year's strongest films to date. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Xvsjy57X0
Whenever an exciting tour announcement arrives, it usually heralds two pieces of good news. Firstly, someone ace is coming our way. Secondly, they probably have something new — an album or a book — to spruik. That's firmly the case with the latest revelation for 2023: David Sedaris' next Australia tour. This time, the author, comedian and NPR humorist has just dropped New York Times best seller Happy-Go-Lucky, and he's heading to Hobart, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to talk about it. Known for his snappy wit, as well as his discerning and astute ability to observe life's moments — both trivial and extraordinary — in both an observational and unique way, Sedaris is making his sixth trip Down Under to chat about the book, which focuses on the pandemic. If you haven't seen Sedaris live before, his shows are part of the reason that he's built up such a following. Onstage, he regularly weaves in new and unpublished material, too, so — and the satirist will throw it over to the crowd for a Q&A as well, and sign copies of his book. Sedaris is celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances, must-read pieces in The New Yorker and his past unputdownable books such as Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls and Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002). If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase "how very droll," this is it. His live evenings always sell out quickly — all of his Aussie tours have so far — so you'll want to jump on tickets ASAP when they go on sale on Wednesday, August 3. [caption id="attachment_862851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS 2023 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, February 1 — Theatre Royal, Hobart Friday, February 3 — Regal Theatre, Perth Saturday, February 4 — Adelaide Festival Centre Sunday, February 5 — Canberra Theatre Centre Monday, February 6–Tuesday, February 7 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Wednesday, February 8 — Brisbane Powerhouse Thursday, February 9 — Sydney Opera House David Sedaris tours Australia in February 2023. For more information, or to sign up for ticket pre-sales — which start on Tuesday, August 2, with general sales from 9am on Wednesday, August 3 — head to the tour website. Image: Anne Fishbein.
Alexandria’s hungry, thirsty workers and visitors are gaining a fun, fresh new haunt. On Thursday, September 17, a new specialty coffee and food bar known as The Grind & Co will open its doors in the Heritage Business Park. Not only is the venue promising excellent coffee and a scrumptious-sounding menu, but it also comes in a custom-made shipping container. So every snack break will feel a bit like a seagoing adventure. “I’ve long wanted to bring something exciting and unique to Sydney,” said Christine Ousman, who owns and runs The Grind & Co in collaboration with her husband, Rani. “I designed the plans twelve months ago and have been looking for the right location. I had such a strong vision for the look, layout and mood of the shipping container. I knew I needed to find a place where I could drop it — and build the place surrounding it — rather than the other way around.” The Ousmans are no newbies to the hospitality game. Rani has been a barista for fifteen years and the duo has run the successful Deluxe & Co Beverage Catering for the past four years. The Grind & Co’s big hook is its majestic, mirrored copper La Marzocco three-group coffee machine, where the coffee-obsessed Rani will be whipping up delicious brews made from Deluxe & Co’s premium, 100 percent Arabica, sustainable blend. You can also expect some innovative specialty coffee experiments, of the hot, cold drop and iced varieties. Meanwhile, on the food front, you’ll be tucking into gourmet sandwiches and wraps, made onsite every day. “There’s a massive focus on freshness and high quality,” says Christine. “One of our signature dishes will be our Middle Eastern-inspired zaatar wrap, with rocket, olives, tomatoes, onions and yoghurt mint dressing.” During summer, special barbecues will be held on Fridays, featuring special dishes, like barbecue burgers and gourmet sausages, accompanied by housemade lemonade and flavoured sparking water. In keeping with The Grind & Co’s emphasis on freshness, Christine has designed the shipping container to house multiple vertical herb gardens, while rustic benches will provide seating for up to 40 guests at a time. “We’re in such a great little spot. I’m really excited about doing something that I’m passionate about, that hasn’t been done in Sydney before.” The Grind & Co will open between 7am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, at Heritage Business Park, 5-9 Ricketty Street, Alexandria. Open from Thursday, September 17,
Another tempting group show from Firstdraft, who've been hitting it out of the park lately. You're My Number 1 examines celebrity, fandom and popular culture, drawing together a diverse group of contemporary artists from Thailand, New Zealand and Australia including Zoe Wong, Raquel Caballero, D.A.N.C.E Art Club and Low Cost Cosplay group. The inspiration behind the show is a bit of a strange story. Back in 2014, shortly after joining Gaffa Gallery, curator Talia Smith was cleaning out an office when she stumbled across a stash of fan letters written by various men to tennis star Pat Cash (it turns out Gaffa's address was once listed in a celebrity fan club address book). As she replied to them all one by one, Smith found herself unexpectedly moved by their earnest admiration and heartfelt confessions: "I became semi-obsessed with these letters and the men that wrote them: what drove them to send a hand-written letter detailing their lives and personal stories…to an ageing ex-tennis pro?" Three years later Smith is curating an exhibition that investigates our relationships — real or imagined — with our idols, and exactly what strange, inexplicable human compulsions drive us towards fandom. A must-see. Image: Zoe Wong, 'Uncle Jackie' (2017).
What is it like to speak, but not be heard? It's a conundrum most Australians don't necessarily have to worry about, but for many, it plagues every moment of their daily lives. Bringing much needed attention to the challenges of the migrant journey, Who Speaks for Me? presents unexpected stories of immigration, particularly focused on Western Sydney, in the first collaboration between National Theatre of Parramatta and Performance 4A. It's storytelling, but not as you know it. Taking audiences through the personal narratives of refugee and migrant families, this intimate show uses language to unpack the trials and triumphs of the inhabitants of Sydney's vibrant western suburbs. Hear tales like that of Cambodian mother Ly Heang Seang, who undertook 31 written examinations to finally succeed in obtaining an Australian driver's license, along with stories from Vietnamese and Bhutanese refugees fleeing by boat to resettle here on safer shores. Co-directed by storyteller and photography William Yang and writer/producer Annette Shun Wah, Who Speaks for Me? is a multi-lingual, multi-generational exploration of those living at the heart of the migrant experience.
Fresh off their epic car park screening of Fight Club featuring Ikea furniture, group therapy sessions and stuntmen beating the crap out of each other, clandestine cinema specialists Curious Cartel are back for their second top-secret event. The location? A mystery. The movie? Who knows. The dress code? High school formal. Curious Cartel's 'Prom Night' is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and is expected to run from 6pm through to midnight. While the specifics are being kept under wraps, we do know that there'll be music, food and a fully licensed bar as well as interactive activities and performers. Screenings take place in unique and unexpected spots and cult films feature in this creatively crafted immersive cinema experience. Tickets for Popcorn Therapy are not cheap, at $60, but this is a much, much bigger event than your last Netflix marathon. The event is strictly 18+.
Tuesdays couldn't get any cheesier. From June 20 through July 26, Handpicked Wines' cellar door is devoting every Tuesday evening to piping hot, melted cheese. That's right, from 5.30pm until 10.30pm, the team will warm a mammoth-sized wheel of raclette before your eyes, then slice it straight onto your plate. For $24, you'll be eating the raclette alongside premium pancetta, pickles and potatoes, with a vegetarian option also available ($20). And, before you ask, there's of course the option of matching wines as well. Just 25 bucks will buy you a "Swipe Right (perfect match)" four-wine flight, made up of Collection Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay, Regional Selections Heathcote Shiraz, Collection Barossa Valley Shiraz and Collection Margaret River Cabernet Merlot. Their Tinder joke, not ours. Check out a sneak preview of what you're in for over here. If this doesn't get you off your couch on a midweek's night then nothing will.
If you've ever dreamt of a Sydney made of chocolate, you're in some serious luck. Founded by Sydney pastry chef and scientist Tahra Camidge, Sydney Chocolate is a brand new company making chocolate bars out of Sydney suburbs — and they're pretty spot on. Seeking to accurately reflect the personality and distinct crisscross of patterns that make up Sydney's varied suburbs, Camidge's flavours are guaranteed to make you smirk. Bondi Beach? Milk chocolate, salted caramel and organic quinoa ('Don't in-salt the hipsters'). Vaucluse? Golden lumps of crunchy honeycomb smothered in couverture with a dash of sea salt ('Are you a gold digger?'). Marrickville? Milk couverture filled with dark ganache made from microbrewed ale, sprinkled with black sesame nougatine ('Are you a gin mill cowboy?'). Before Camidge made chocolate for a living, she worked in the affluent suburb of Mosman. It was within its leafy confines that she stood witness to multiple car altercations on a daily basis. "It's a beautiful suburb, full of quite wealthy white people and I saw four different almost car accidents there — in one day," she says with a laugh. For Camidge, this kind of incident was a fairly apt representation of the suburb. For Sydney Chocolate, a Mosman-themed bar (white couverture with organic dried apricots and lavender) can be pretty much summed up in its label: 'More dangerous than mum in a SUV'. This tongue-in-cheek approach is all about using flavours to harness the spirits of the suburbs that create a cohesive Sydney identity. With flavours such as 'so vanilla it won't wrinkle the sheets' (Palm Beach) to boot, the names usually come about from the general feel of the area — chats with residents, coffees in local cafes, or a funny anecdote at a dinner party. So what comes first – the suburb or the flavour? A little bit of both apparently. "We have to find a suburb that has really a strong identity in and of itself, and I find that in Sydney that's quite easy — because we're a city of villages but we're also quite tribal and proud of where we come from," she says. Take the inner west for example. Marrickville, an area that espouses alternative Sydney, while simultaneously flaunting its immigrant-influenced roots. "With the Marrickville flavour, there's a huge microbrewery subculture there. It's a little bit beatnik, it's a little bit seventies; so I thought we'll definitely have ales from one of the local breweries and make it a little bit funky, like the inner west," she says. Yep, involving the likes of Marrickvillian favourites, the folks from Young Henrys brewery, Camidge's gone ahead and combined chocolate with alcohol to create the 'Are you a gin mill cowboy?' flavour. Chocolate and alcohol. It's all they would have wanted in Marrickville. A Sydney local and scientist-turned-pastry chef, Camidge was inspired by the dedication and artistry of the chocolate makers she encountered in Europe — from Paris to Copenhagen. From Europe she made her way to Cuba, where she immersed herself in the distinct Cuban process of harvesting and growing cocoa beans for chocolate. Sensing there was an untapped market for good quality, ethically-sourced chocolate in Sydney, she embarked on a project to create quality coverture combinations (but with a niche Sydney twist). Sydney Chocolate uses cocoa beans sourced from Ghana. With two thirds of the world's chocolate coming from the African continent alone, ethical sustainability is top of her list. "Unfortunately Africa has a massive problem with abducting children and basically enslaving them on these cocoa plantations, so we wanted to make sure that we weren't supporting that part of the industry," she says. Sydney Chocolate works with the Aprocane Cooperative, a not for profit initiative that supports the ethical growing and marketing of cacao. It's important for Camidge to see every aspect of the chocolate process, not just the final stages. For now, Sydney Chocolate is a two-person operation – Tahra, making the chocolate in her brother's kitchen, and her best friend Lucas, who is in charge of marketing and graphic design. Having only been running for two weeks, Sydney Chocolate is the epitome of a grassroots company. Turning their attention next to hipster haven Newtown and the stretching monstrosity that is Parramatta Road, the team at Sydney Chocolate have many more suburbs in mind to inspire many tasty other chocolate concoctions. Can you ask a person who makes chocolate for their life's work to choose their favourite? "My favourite flavour is the Vaucluse ['Are you a gold digger?'], I just really like the honeycomb with the salt and the milk chocolate. I can't stop eating it. I probably should," she says. With chocolate this tasty, she probably shouldn't. SYDNEY CHOCOLATE FLAVOURS: Vaucluse — 'Are you a gold digger?' Golden lumps of crunchy honeycomb smothered in couverture with a dash of sea salt. Palm Beach — 'So vanilla it won't wrinkle the sheets.' Fresh Madagascan vanilla bean seeds in creamy white couverture. Marrickville — 'Are you a gin mill cowboy?' Milk couverture filled with dark ganache made from microbrewed ale, sprinkled with black sesame nougatine. Bondi Beach — 'Don't in-salt the hipsters.' Gooey salted caramel encased in couverture served with enough organic quinoa to keep the hipsters happy! Potts Point — 'All style, no sugar.' Delicious sugar-free dark couverture. Also available in milk. Goes down with no guilt! Mosman — 'More dangerous than Mum in an SUV' Luxurious white couverture with organic dried apricots and lavender. Check out Sydney Chocolate's website over here. Each bar will only set you back $9, available here.
Death and vengeance are the common threads in Damián Szifron’s Wild Tales, one of the most deliriously savage black comedies to hit cinemas in years. Argentina’s nomination to the most recent Foreign Language Oscar race, the film consists of six separate vignettes, following six everyday people driven to the point of no return. The ensuing mayhem resembles the spawn of the Coen Brothers, Almodovar, Tarantino and Bunuel; a wicked tour de force as sharp as a corkscrew and every bit as twisted. Anthology films can be a risky proposition, particularly when one or more segments falls short. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. Yes, every viewer will have their favourite (personally, I loved the opener), but even the ‘weaker’ episodes are catapulted along by an almost maniacal sense of escalation. Whether it’s a wealthy couple trying to cover up their son’s indiscretions, a lowly waitress taking revenge on the man who ruined her family or just two drivers struck down by a serious case of road rage, every chapter in the film is propelled by a wonderful inevitability: eventually, everything will be thrown horribly, hysterically and often violently out of control. And believe it or not, there’s actually method to Szifron’s madness — an intelligence lurking beneath all that wonderful chaos. The cathartic pleasure we feel watching his characters rebel against what’s socially (and ethically) acceptable comes directly from our own frustrations with the everyday world. Bureaucracy, class inequality and male impotence are but a few of the film’s more pointed areas of exploration, and while we’re hesitant to suggest that the people in the film get what’s coming to them, poetic justice certainly tends to prevail. Many of the shorts also offer a thinly veiled criticism of the country’s endemic political corruption, although you certainly don’t need to live in Argentina for that to strike a chord. The script is matched by top-notch technical specs, with crisp cinematography and eye-catching production design along with some extremely memorable music choices. The cast is likewise terrific across the board, although particular praise must go to Rita Cortese as a burly cook and Erica Rivas as a seriously pissed-off bride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTXKTj4XCs8
Looking for a little bit of renovation inspiration? In that case, you've come to the right place. Bestowed this week by a jury of respected Australian architects and designers, the House Awards celebrate the latest innovations in contemporary architecture. Reckon if we all pooled our money we could buy one of these? The top prize, Australian House of the Year, went to a wood-paneled apartment in Darling Point, Sydney – the very same apartment that took home the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design at the Australian Interior Design Awards just last month. It also won the House Awards' gong for Best Apartment or Unit, with the jury commending the "refined and surprising design" that contrasted "floating American oak and painted white steel joinery." The awards for Best New House Over and Under 200m² went to houses in NSW and Queensland, respectively, while a property on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra won prizes for Sustainability and Best Outdoor Design. Check out the full list of House Award winners, below. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE OF THE YEAR – Darling Point Apartment by Chenchow Little NEW HOUSE UNDER 200m² – Naranga Avenue House by James Russel Architect NEW HOUSE OVER 200m² – Deepwater by Tobias Partners HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION UNDER 200m² – Baffle House by Claire Cousins Architects HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION OVER 200m² – Project Zero by BVN APARTMENT OR UNIT – Darling Point Apartment by Chenchow Little OUTDOOR – Fairfield House by Kennedy Nolan HOUSE IN A HERITAGE CONTEXT – Bayside Fire Station by Owen Architecture SUSTAINABILITY – Fairfield House by Kennedy Nolan EMERGING ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE – Rob Kennon Architects
If you've ever tried to buy art, you'll know that it can often be an inaccessible, intimidating process where you can get so overwhelmed that you don't end up buying anything at all. That won't happen at The Other Art Fair. The London-founded contemporary art fair, running over four days at COMMUNE in Waterloo from October 27-30, is specifically designed to bridge the gap between artist and collector, making it easier for artists to sell their work, and for you to buy it. Returning to Sydney for its second year, the fair will feature over 100 contemporary artists all chosen on merit over experience. Last year's fair challenged artistic practice with live street art and 3D printing demonstrations. This year, there will be a surprise tattoo competition, the chance to participate in creating a wall mural, and workshops with The School of Life and Work-Shop among food from Three Blue Ducks and Black Pantry and a bar hosted by Young Henrys, Urban Winery with Archie Rose. Expect music, workshops, and contemporary art that will challenge your expectations (and eventually fill your living room). Plus, this year the fair is presented by Saatchi Art, which means that all the works showcased will be added to the Saatchi Art online gallery — at the moment, it features over 500,000 works from across the world so it's a pretty big deal. We're psyched on the whole program, so we picked out four things to focus our attention on — at least to start with. Plus, we've got 25 double passes to give away. You can enter at the bottom. 1. MAKE S'MORES WITH BLACK PANTRY Food is art too. Marshmallow makers Black Pantry will make an appearance at the fair, serving specialty handcrafted marshmallows alongside a toasting station, so you can create your very own art in the form of a delicious s'more. The Northern Beaches shop is famous for its rosewater flavoured marshmallow. They use the highest quality ingredients, making their marshmallows as soft as a cloud and unlike any marshmallow you've ever tasted. [caption id="attachment_595164" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Uprisings, Kozyndan.[/caption] 2. GET A SURPRISE TATTOO FROM RHYS GORDON Rhys Gordon of Sydney tattoo studio Little Tokyo will be tattooing four people — one for each day of the fair — as part of a very cool competition. The artwork will be created by LA-based husband and wife artists Kozyndan, and then be tattooed by Rhys onto the body of the winners. The catch? They won't know what the image is, or where on their body it will go. Gordon is famous for interpreting traditional Japanese tattoo design on his clients, often covering their bodies with hypnotic patterns and prints. [caption id="attachment_584363" align="alignnone" width="1279"] Mark Collis[/caption] 3. BUY SOME ART Buy art directly from the talented artists who will be exhibit at the fair. Both seasoned exhibitors and emerging artists — including some who have never exhibited their work before in Sydney — will be on show, all chosen by a high profile selection committee which included the likes of artist Ben Quilty and art dealer Roslyn Oxley. Buying direct from the artists often means the work will be a little cheaper (and it's a nicer experience all-round). Our pick of artists to look out for are conceptual artist Cathyann Coady, painter of the beautiful Pool seres Jordy Hewitt, collagist Mona Forghani, photographer Nick Akins and Indigenous artist Bianca Beetson. 4. LEARN UP AT A WORKSHOP The fair is promising to have a stellar music lineup running throughout, which will not only feature DJs, but immersive experiences that fuse music and visual art. Workshops and talks on the state of contemporary art will also be held throughout the weekend, with The School of Life running guided tours and Work-Shop covering off watercolour brush lettering, gin blending (with Archie Rose) and perfume making classes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 5. PAINT A MURAL WITH CHOCOLATE EINSTEIN Chocolate Einstein is an Australian/Chilean artist who paints colourful murals on canvas and on the street (this one is on Cleveland St, Surry Hills). On the opening night of the fair, he will paint a black outline of a mural. Guests will then be invited to choose a colour out of a hat and participate in creating the art by painting a section of the artwork under their own creative direction. Or you could just watch a real-time live artwork being created (and maybe watch people mess it up). [competition]595971[/competition] The Other Art Fair runs October 27-30 at COMMUNE, 901 Bourke Street, Waterloo. Tickets cost $18.36-28.88 here. For more info, visit The Other Art Fair website.
Ever wanted to live like a globetrotting interior designer for a day, sipping single origin coffee in the leafy outdoor courtyard of your snug, rustic Paddington terrace surrounded by all beautiful Australian design? Hit up Airbnb. Sibella Court, the internationally-acclaimed interior designer behind such Merivale establishments as Palings, Mr Wong, Palmer & Co., El Loco and MsG's, and the owner of Beautiful Things/hardware/haberdashery store The Society Inc, has turned her 1860s Sydney corner terrace into a pied-a-terré — one you can rent on Airbnb. Snuggled in the middle of Paddington, the space is filled to the brim of the stunning art, design, carpentry and textiles The Society Inc has been raving about and stocking over the years. Yep, it's pretty much the Sydney home of our Pinterest-loving dreams. "I am often asked by curious international parties about our favourite Australian furniture makers, artists, crafters, textile designers, dyers, tinkers and smiths and the like — this is where we will be showcasing some our favourites and sharing the love." "It is a sensory experience, forever changing, layered with travel mementoes, full of magic and fantasy, that will be as though being in the pages of one of Sibella's books," says the listing. There's a main bedroom, dressing room with daybed/single, bathroom, lounge room, living room, kitchen and outdoor courtyard all for a cool $305 per night. It's just a couple of minutes walk to Oxford Street, so you're super close to Centennial Park and buses to the city and beaches. Plus, there's a Tokyo Bike you can use while you're staying there, another of Court's favourite local crews. Take a little staycation and rent Sibella Court's Airbnb apartment in Paddington over here. Images: Airbnb.
Like a diamond in the rough, Waterloo stalwart Wild Cockatoo is set in the most unassuming of spots on Botany Road — and it's turning out some of the best sourdough in the city. The bakery's organic bread is lovingly displayed in baskets set atop a massive, wrap-around display case. The sourdough is available in heaps of flavours that change daily, including daily specials such as saltbush, nigella seed, rosemary and potato, raisin and wholemeal. The bakery also bakes baguettes, rolls, flatbreads, flaky meat pies and decadently buttery croissants. Wild Cockatoo is open six days per week until sold out — you can bet it'll sell out. While you wait, be sure to check out the many colourful cockatoos that adorn the walls and have a perfect cup of coffee. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
While Reykjavik is praised for its "ability to make the most of an inhospitable climate", Auckland for its "unbelievably friendly folk", Budapest for "music... not just concerts, but in the streets, on the radio, and in cafés," and "wonderful pubs filled with laughter", Sydney has taken out the top spot as the friendliest city in the world. Run as a Reader’s Choice award by Condé Nast Traveler and focused on how a visitor feels in each city, the Friendliest and Unfriendliest City in the World poll asks readers to submit reviews of each city with a focus on the overall warm fuzzies generated by their experience. “Everything from location (no one likes an airport city) and political perception (everyone watches the news) to size and basic language barriers can make a destination unattractive to tourists and be a factor in their evaluation of a place’s ‘friendliness’," according to CN. Sydney's been praised for its people skills, regardless of what you might see on George Street any day of the week. "Such friendly people," enthused one voting reader. "So much so that after we met an Australian woman on our flight there, she offered to pick us up at our hotel and spent a whole day showing us her favourite parts of the city." Sydney earned snaps for the Bridgeclimb, the Cruise Like a Local Sydney Harbour boat tour, and Bonza Bike Tours got a big ol' high five as "a great way to see some of the lesser-known sights." Overall, readers found simply "nothing to not like" in Sydney, although importantly, all mentioned experiences are tourist-focused. Last year's friendliest winners were tied: Melbourne and Auckland. Sydney came in at number five; tied with Dublin, who just narrowly missed out on the top spot this year. Of course, Sydney was supremely modest about it. Ha! IN YOUR FACE @dubcitycouncil!! We're the friendliest city in the world! http://t.co/T1WgOPUVu7 via @CNTraveler pic.twitter.com/9rIafVZ59o — City of Sydney (@cityofsydney) August 18, 2015 Australia and New Zealand have done pretty nicely on worldwide city rankings of late — the Great Barrier Reef nabbed #2 on Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist and Melbourne ranked #1 Most Liveable City on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) liveability survey. So Sydney's apparently the friendliest, Melbourne's the most liveable, what do you reckon? CONDE NAST'S 2015 FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Reykjavik, Iceland 9. Auckland, New Zealand 8. Budapest, Hungary 7. Kyoto, Japan 6. Edinburgh, Scotland 5. Bruges, Belgium 4. Kraków, Poland 3. Queenstown, New Zealand 2. Dublin, Ireland 1. Sydney, Australia But what of the jerks? The Unfriendliest Cities in the World side of things is a little hairier, with no Australian or New Zealand cities making the cut for another year. Up high. Cannes was dissed for being expensive and "bloated simply by the prestige of its famed film festival," while Jakarta was called "dirty and congested," despite gaining praise for its food.” Moscow got a bad wrap for "dour, unfriendly people" and "deplorable traffic", while Nairobi was flagged as "dangerous and volatile". But Caracas, Venezuela took out the top unfriendly spot as a place of "rampant crime, a scarcity of basic necessities, and a poor quality of life." CONDE NAST'S 2015 UNFRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Cannes, France 9. Jakarta, Indonesia 8. Moscow, Russia 7. Cairo, Egypt 6. New Delhi, India 5. Nairobi, Kenya 4. Guatemala City, Guatemala 3. Guangzhou, China 2. Casablanca, Morocco 1. Caracas, Venezuela Via Condé Nast Traveler. Image: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.
There's a brand new player in Sydney's thriving theatre scene that's looking to give the more established companies a bit of a run for their money. Launching this week after years in the pipeline, the boldly titled National Theatre of Parramatta will set out to showcase the artistic talent found within Greater Western Sydney while reflecting Australia's cultural diversity on the stage. The upstart company will be based out of Parramatta's Riverside Theatres, and has recruited talent from all around the state. At the helm are a directorate of four veteran creative practitioners: Founder and Director of CuriousWorks and Associate Artist at Carriageworks S. Shakthidharan, Executive Producer of Performance 4a Annette Shun Wah, Chief Creative Officer for Spiegelworld International Wayne Harrison, and community cultural development writer and creative producer Paula Abood. Alongside them will be the former Artistic Director for the Sydney Improvised Music Association and Business Manager for Programming at Sydney Opera House, Joanne Key, as the company's Executive Producer. "National Theatre of Parramatta aspires to create bold, contemporary works that draw their inspiration from the rich diversity and untold stories of Western Sydney and beyond, adding to our cultural landscape a company that truly reflects the nation on stage," said Shun Wah in a statement that accompanied the launch. The company's inaugural season will begin in April next year with the Australian premiere of Swallow by Olivier award winning playwright Stef Smith, directed by the founder and former Artistic Director of Force Majeure Kate Champion. That production will be followed in June by Jane Harrison's Stolen, directed by Vicki Van Hout, which tells the stories of members of the Stolen Generations. Then in October, the theatre will launch Telling Tales, a festival of storytelling featuring works by the theatre's directorate using traditional and alternate spaces. For more information about the National Theatre of Parramatta, check them out on Facebook or visit www.riversideparramatta.com.au/ntofp
After a hugely popular debut event last year, New Years Eve at Barangaroo returns for 2016, with 12,000 tickets set to be snapped up by punters. New Years Eve revellers will get to see Sydney's fireworks from a prime spot at Barangaroo Reserve, as the park will again be hosting its own waterfront party. Tickets have been released on pre-sale for subscribers to the Barangaroo e-newsletter, and the remaining 6000 tickets are now on sale to the general public via the website. Last year, tickets sold out in four weeks — and, at $29.50 a pop (or $14.50 for concession holders), we can see why. According to Craig van der Laan, CEO of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the 12,000 cap aims to keep visitors safe and comfy, while keeping neighbourhood hassle to a minimum. The park's Hickson Road gates will open at 6pm on Thursday, December 31. There'll be ample space for picnicking on the Stargazer and Walumil lawns. BYO alcohol isn't allowed, but licensed areas will be offering celebratory beverages — and of course, there'll be food stands for those who didn't plan their picnic effectively.
Sure, you've paid tribute to your favourite Japanese animation house by watching and re-watching their films over and over again, but have you partied like you were in a Studio Ghibli movie? On August 12, Sydney events crew The Bait Shop wants to spirit you away to a world of castles in the sky, flying pigs, talking cats and princesses grown from bamboo shoots. Just don't expect to go catching a catbus to get home — and if the house starts moving, maybe it's because you've had a drink or two. To be held at Hudson Ballroom, this Studio Ghibli-themed shindig will have plenty of those: Ponyo Punch, EspressNo Face, Mononoke Mojitos, Totoro Slushies... the list goes on. Themed beverages cost $5 or $10 depending on the type; however, they're not the only fun part of the evening. Dressing up is heartily encouraged, with the best Ghibli-inspired outfit winning a $50 bar tab. You'll also be able to get a photo with life-size cutouts and face cutouts of your favourite characters, feast your eyes on Studio Ghibli visuals and pop into the Ghibli photobooth.
If you've lived in Sydney long enough, we're sure there's been at least one time when you've found yourself in the food black hole between UTS, Haymarket and the Powerhouse Museum. But new development Darling Square will provide a much-needed sanctuary between those landmarks when it opens on the old site of the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Along with the residential and business buildings for 2500 CommBank employees, 3000 residents and 1300 students, Darling Square will also set up a food precinct with some of Sydney's cult names in coffee and food. And it's quite the roll-call. Darlinghurst's Edition Coffee Roasters, fried chicken slingers Belle's Hot Chicken, Marrickville Pork Roll and poke specialists Fishbowl are among the announced vendors opening up before May. Toby's Estate is already open in the building's lobby. Melbourne burger bosses 8bit are also setting up shop in the development, bringing their audience favourite burgers — and arcade-style fit-out — to Sydney for the first time. Head chef Shayne McCallum is excited to be pushing the business into new turf. "The menu will be the same as our three other Melbourne stores, but we will mix it up and do something different for the Sydney launch," McCallum says. "Although each store is an evolution of each former store, we will always have the design of the arcade games we loved back in the day." Edition's new outfit — which will be their first permanent venue outside of Darlinghurst — will serve coffee along with the Japanese-Scandi dishes the cafe is known for. "I think the most exciting change will be going from a modern cafe menu to focussing more on all-day dining," Edition Darling Square chef Jack New says. "We'll have a gas kitchen, a yakitori charcoal grill, a much bigger Scandinavian-inspired pastry section and an alcohol list, all of which will characterise our darker, sexier sister venue at Darling Square." According to Domain, the precinct will be one of the most convenient in Sydney, with a 'walkability score' of 100. Last year, all 391 apartments at Darling Square were snapped up in a matter of hours. The project has been developed by Lendlease, who also worked on Barangaroo. While some residents and workers have already moved into the building, the retail and food precinct is expected to be open for business by May 2018.
For the first time this year, New Years Eve revellers will get to see Sydney’s fireworks from a no-longer-under-construction Barangaroo Reserve. The park will be hosting its own party, with 10,000 tickets going on sale on Wednesday, November 11 at 9am. And, at $29.50 a pop (or $14.50 for concession holders), they’re not too pricey. The park’s Hickson Road gates will open at 6pm on Thursday, December 31. There’ll be ample space for picnicking on the Stargazer and Walumil lawns. Ticketholders can order a gourmet hamper in advance or grab a snack onsite. BYO alcohol isn’t allowed, but licensed areas will be offering celebratory beverages. And, in addition to the fireworks, there’ll be live music and performances. This year, the City of Sydney has set ‘City of Colour’ as its fireworks theme. Barangaroo carousers will be in a prime spot for checking out the world’s most famous pyrotechnics, as well as for viewing a new series of illuminations, set to appear on the Harbour Bridge’s western face. “We are delighted to be able to offer the public one of the most affordable and best value-for-money New Year’s Eve tickets in Sydney,” said Craig van der Laan, CEO of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority. “The Authority has run ticketed New Year’s Eve viewing in previous years, while Barangaroo Reserve was still under construction. These were a tremendous success. This year will be so much better with Barangaroo Reserve now complete. Guests will be able to sit on the lawns, buy food and beverages, and enjoy one of the most spectacular new views of Sydney in comfort.” He added that the 10,000 cap aims to keep visitors safe and comfy, while keeping neighbourhood hassle to a minimum. New Year's Eve at Barangaroo tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 11 at 9am from the website.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. It's hard to imagine a city with better BYO potential than Sydney. We've got huge parks with panoramic views and tiny parks with secret gardens than any other Australian city. You name it, we've got it. Here's a list of spots in Sydney where you can BYO food and drinks. Knock off work, phone a friend, swing by a bottle shop and settle in to soak up the afternoon sun. SOUTH HEAD At South Head, you can take your pick of settings. Hang out beside candy-striped Hornby Lighthouse and contemplate your smallness against the dramatic cliff faces and crashing waves, or plan your next beyond-the-horizon adventure. If you're feeling active, sip as you stroll – the South Head Heritage Trail is a one-kilometre loop surrounded by epic views. If you're keen for a dip, follow the stairs down to clothing-optional Lady Bay Beach. PARSLEY BAY At Parsley Bay, your BYO experience comes with water dragons, a lush bush walk that ends with a waterfall and a dip in a shark-free swimming enclosure. That's why people have been visiting this impossibly cute park, which occupies a narrow valley in Vaucluse, since 1907. No one knows where the name came from - some say a savvy hermit called Parsley once lived in a cave nearby; others reckon that a parsley-like plant used to grow here. CENTENNIAL PARK Keen to take your extended family on your BYO extravaganza? There's oodles of space at Centennial Park. 189 hectares of it, in fact. Picnickers have been frolicking here since 1888, when Sir Henry Parkes declared the park public. Get into history with a wander around Federation Pavilion, acquaint yourself with some local bird life at Duck Pond or try out your labyrinth navigating skills a la David Bowie. Centennial Park is easy to reach, being a ten-minute bus ride from the CBD. WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN For the past two decades, Wendy Whiteley - partner of the late artist Brett Whiteley - has been creating an Alison In Wonderland-worthy garden behind her home in Lavender Bay. Dotted with sculptures, stone feature walls, Bangalow palms and a famous fig tree that appears in many of Whiteley's paintings, Wendy's Secret Garden welcomes wanderers, dreamers, artists and picnickers alike. Arm yourself with some friends and a six-pack or two and find a foreshore spot overlooking the Harbour Bridge. Or, hide yourself away in one of the many peaceful, shady corners. PARRAMATTA PARK Sydney's beaches get so much attention that it's easy to forget the many beautiful rivers our city is home to. Over the past few years Parramatta River has had a serious clean-up, and in January 2015, it became officially swimmable. One of the loveliest spots along the waterway for a sneaky beer is among the birds and green, green grass of Parramatta Park. While you're at it, have a gander around the grounds of Old Government House and pay a visit to the chatty grey-headed flying fox colony. BENTS BASIN The mighty Nepean River flows through Robertson in the Southern Highlands and goes just north of Penrith, where it joins the Grose to form the Hawkesbury. There are many gorges along the way and one of the most spectacular – and accessible – is Bents Basin, located about 50 kilometres west of Sydney CBD. Spend all afternoon lazing about and cooking up a barbecue feast to go with your BYO, or grab a lilo and launch yourself on the rapids. Should you happen to want to stay the night, there's a camp ground for sleeping over. PATONGA CAMPING GROUND Pack your tent along with your esky - you'll definitely want to spend the night here. The 200-person settlement of Patonga lies on the Hawkesbury River's northern bank and the cheapest way to experience it is in the Patonga Camping Ground. Catch the ferry from Palm Beach if you're not keen on driving. You can spend your time kicking back and taking in the views or get active with a spot of tennis, a paddling escapade or a stroll through the Brisbane Water National Park. [caption id="attachment_593190" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Instagram: @hannah.qnn.[/caption] MCCARRS CREEK RESERVE For a tranquil beer beside stunning Pittwater, head over to McCarrs Creek Reserve. You'll find it at Church Point, between 10 and 12 McCarrs Creek Road. There's a lovely sandy beach and a spotted gum forest which flowers through the winter. You can swim in the shallow waters straight off the reserve or journey upstream (in your car) to visit the Duck Holes. BURNUM BURNUM SANCTUARY Burnum Burnum Sanctuary is an unspoilt bush reserve on the banks of the Woronora River, which runs for 21 kilometres from the Illawarra escarpment to the Georges River, taking in sections of the Sutherland Shire along the way. Here, with beer in hand, you can rest and unwind by the water or conquer a bush trail or two, investigating some excellent lookouts as you go. Birds flock to this tree-filled spot, so keep an eye out for honeyeaters and robins. There are barbecues, too. BONNIE VALE CAMPING GROUND Just across the water from Cronulla lies Bonnie Vale, on the northern brink of the Royal National Park. It's do-able as a day trip, but once you're there, you're bound to want to stay over, so don't forget your tent. There's a massive sand spit which makes for easy swimming and gives a Pacific Island-esque sparkle to the water. If you find yourself in the mood for a paddle, hire a boat from Bundeena Kayaks and venture inland, up Port Hacking River. Alternatively, try your hand at fishing at nearby Jibbon Beach and fry up your catch on the gas barbecues provided.
For craft beer lovers, there's no better way to fill up on your favourite brews than with a growler. Equal to a six-pack in volume, it's the most sustainable, cheapest way to drink your craft. Not unlike a first-born child, growlers are much loved by their owners. Even better, when you use a growler, you're helping the entire brew process — from packaging to distributing and buying. As Pete Rose from Balmain Wine Shop says, "It saves time, money, and it's cheaper for local beer lovers. There's a sense of community in the growler refill, and it frees up more time for brewers create your next favourite beer." Whether yours is glass, aluminium or PET, check out these shops that will fill you up. ANNANDALE CELLARS This proudly independent and family-owned bottle shop is also a champion of all things local — from craft beer to organic wines. Their newly installed growler machine will continue to promote local craft — the three keg rotation currently has Willie the Boatman's ESB, golden and dark ale on. It's $20 to purchase their snazzy aluminium growlers, or bring your own for a $20 refill. Supporting the community with great local beer and wine? Now that's a bottle shop we can get behind. 119 Johnston Street, Annandale STEVE'S COOL BOOZE Steve's has been filling growlers for three years, with a four-tap rotation focusing on limited release and seasonal brews. His counter pressure machine is no behemoth, but it does the job right for a perfect quality pour every time. It rotates with local favourites like Lord Nelson as well as international beers from Belgium, the Netherlands and the like. If you're in the market to buy a new growler, Steve has options of PET or glass growlers and squealers ($3 - $16) and even a growler koozie cover ($18.99) to protect your beer from the destructive effects of UV light. Better yet, you'll get a complimentary tasting of the beers before you buy. 686 Anzac Parade, Kingsford WAYWARD BREWING Recently opened down a hidden laneway in Camperdown, Wayward Brewing doesn't just offer up their own award-winning Wayward beers; they have three guest taps of local favourites like Akasha and Shenanigans as well. It's like going to a bottle shop inside a brewery. Buy a Wayward growler or bring your own, filled off the tap. With new Octoberfest-inspired brews now on tap and summer brews out soon, there's more than one reason to visit Sydney's newest brewery. 1 Gehrig Lane, Camperdown NEWTOWN GROWLER DEPOT The famous Rosie, an arcade machine of growler fillers, is not your ordinary tap refill. With separate compartments for sanitising and filling with counter pressure, this machine guarantees you one month of shelf life. At Newtown, they're filling 300 growlers per week, with the option to bring your own glass growler to be filled or use the swap-and-go method. If you're in the market for your first, growlers are only $10 to buy. The bottle-O also hosts 'meet the local brewers' nights on Friday arvos and is now distributing to their sister shops in Balmain and Glebe, which operate strictly on the swap-and-go system. 145 King Street, Newtown; Balmain Wine Shop 292 Darling Street, Balmain; Glebe Wine Shop 345 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. ttp://concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2014/12/cp-line.jpg" alt="cp-line" width="825" height="3" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-503581" /> MODUS OPERANDI Home of the CANimal machine, this brewery not only offers growlers and squealers but also has their own master sealer for cans to go, poured straight from the tap. With 12 taps and cheeky stories to accompany each beer, you'll have a lot to choose from. Their seasonals brws include a coffee lager and a Russian imperial, with all the fan favourites alongside. A brewery counting four Champion Craft Beer Awards is worth getting to go. 14 Harkeith Street, Mona Vale. Image courtesy of Modus Operandi. BONDI BEACH CELLARS This family-owned operation has been a Bondi institution for 27 years and has just recently added three growler taps to amp up their eastern suburbs craft beer haven. With Rogue Dead Guy Ale and Riverside 777 currently on tap, they'll continue the trend of mixing local and international breweries. This well matches their range of beers, which hits 300 varieties. Going back for more? Their growler refill loyalty program gets you every 10th refill free. 50 Hall Street, Bondi. Image courtesy of Bondi Beach Cellars. BEER CARTEL It's easy to get overwhelmed at Beer Cartel, which boasts the biggest beer selection in Sydney at 1100+ brews. Instead, head in for their two beer taps, housing a lot of Stateside favourites like Rogue, Sierra Nevada and Founders. Filling both squealers and growlers and constantly rotating their taps, this shop continues to live up to its name. 9/87 Reserve Road, Artarmon BATCH BREWING CO The Batch guys are never resting. They constantly pump out new and interesting brews. Your growler fills could look completely different from one week to the next. Right now, they have their core range on, including the signature APA and west coast IPA, along with the German-inspired Das Helles and Das Dunkel. The local hangout is a great place to spend an afternoon, and afterwards, takeaway is a must. 44 Sydenham Road, Marrickville. Image courtesy of Batch Brewing Co. THE OAK BARREL Oak Barrel's undeniably impressive stock doesn't stop, and their rotating, refillable growler taps are the cherry on top. The craft beer corridor that will seal your inevitable doom could take days to navigate and can make even the biggest beer snob's jaw drop, so always good to go for the growler and simplify your beer buying experience. 152 Elizabeth Street, Sydney ROCKS BREWING CO The Rocks Brewing has brought happy hour to growlers. From 3pm–5pm, Monday–Friday, their core range is available for $15, including Hangman Pale Ale, Governor Golden Ale and the Convict Lager. At regular price, you can still get a fresh batch of local craft brew for $20. A brewery involving six generations of Australians and two brewpubs is a very smart place to get your growler filled. 160 Bourke Road (Driveway J), Alexandria. Image courtesy of Rocks Brewing Co. Top image: Young Henrys, available at Newtown Growler Depot and Young Henrys. Annandale, Balmain Wine Shop, Newtown Depot and Steve's Cool Booze images by Marissa Ciampi.
If you like your TV viewing as deconstructed as you like your cheesecake, the new web comedy The Katering Show is for you. Written and directed by coincidentally alliterative comedians Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, the series takes aim at our food-obsessed culture and its raft of related cooking shows. The "food intolerant" (McCartney) and "intolerable foodie" (McLennan) spend each episode trying to find the middle ground between the food that one loves and the food the other can digest, all while exploring such key culinary topics as Mexican cuisine, ethical eating, quitting sugar and food porn. The duo already have one award-winning web series, Bleak, behind them, as well as a combined CV that name checks It's a Date, Offspring, Adam Hills Tonight and Kath & Kim. Now the The Katering Show's hilarious and on-point references to paleo, locavores and food trucks should get them even more notice. How close to their real-life counterparts are the characters in the show? We'll probably never know, but they sure did turn it on for this interview. Read on for McLennan and McCartney's personal food philosophies, opinions on kale and feelings for Heston Blumenthal. Then head to ABC iView to watch all of season one of The Katering Show, with series two out very soon. Where does your passion for food come from? Or, for McCartney, your aversion? McLennan: I grew up in the country, so I've always had a strong connection to the food that we were killing and eating. One of my earliest memories is slaughtering a sheep with my grandfather and then feeding its shanks to my dolls. McCartney: From hanging around people like McLennan. See above. How would you describe your food philosophy? McL: Cook from the heart, but also use your hands. And your eyes. McC: If it's good enough for my cat, it's good enough for me. When did you realise your food journey was one you had to share with others, via your web series? McL: When we received funding from Screen Australia. McC: When we received funding from Screen Australia. What is the best use for kale? McL: Kale is great to use in salads, frittatas, and to take to a picnic, if you want to meet like-minded people with no personality. McC: I find if you soak it for an hour in cold water, it makes it easier to throw out. What hybrid food (eg cronut, ramen burger) would you like to try inventing? McL: I'd like to create a giant hotdog filled with Mac'n'Cheese and I'd call it "DON'T LOOK AT ME! STOP LOOKING AT ME!" McC: I'd to combine macarons and dry-rubbed chicken to create something called a "MacChicken". Actually, I just want a McChicken. I'll probably just get a McChicken. Who wants a McChicken? What is your relationship with sugar? McL: Lately I've cheated on it with stevia, rice malt syrup and agave (I hope sugar isn't reading this) *giggles* McC: Well, I can't have most alcohol, cheese, breads, cakes, which means I also can't have friends. So sugar is literally all I've got. If sugar leaves me, I'll have nothing. I'll have to embark on a life of crime just to feel something. What's your favourite kitchen gadget? McL: I have a smoking gun. It's a great little gadget, and if you don't qualify what it is, it's a great way to liven up a dull dinner party! McC: I have a butcher's knife that was given to me by a very nice gentleman who I met a train station. How do you make sure you're eating ethically? McL: I honour the life of every living thing I eat by preserving their memory in a handmade quilt. It's getting very big. McC: I personally kill every packet of two-minute noodles that I eat. What is your rule of thumb for wine matching? McL: Shiraz goes well with brisket, chardonnay goes well with barramundi, and chilled rosé goes well with drunk women at the races. McC: From experience, any bottle of anything goes well with an $8 price tag. Would you rather (a) eat at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, or (b) not? McL: Not, because there are so many starving people in the world, and I think I could probably do a better job at home. McC: I'd eat there. I feel sorry for Heston, given his name in Greek means "to poop oneself". Watch The Katering Show on ABC iView.
At the risk of setting too great store by a Disney film... scratch that, too great store by the single greatest Disney film ever produced we don't want to hear any questions — we're here to tell you this is your ultimate chance to become one with the Circle of Life. The 1994 Disney classic that ruled your life as a child, The Lion King, is celebrating its 21st birthday this year and to mark the entrance into its lion prime Goodgod are throwing a no holds barred Lion King extravaganza. A 7pm screening of the film is just the beginning, followed immediately by trivia where you can desperately try to justify the hours you've spent watching the VHS and singing along to Elton John. The truly inspired part of this night though, is a performance of the entire blessed soundtrack by Sydney's own psych pop legends Richard In your Mind. Wednesday night, it means no worries.
Leave everything to the chef at the expansive and moody omakase restaurant, ŌRA. Make your evening even more special with a complimentary Haku martini paired with the first choice of the special omakase menu. ŌRA is located down an unassuming street in a renovated warehouse. You could walk past and never even know that a culinary haven awaits inside. We sat down with Head Chef Nobuyuki Ura to chat about his history of becoming a hatted chef and what he loves about omakase. What sets ŌRA apart from the other stunning omakase restaurants in the city is the unique use of space. Unlike many of the other small and intimate venues, ŌRA makes use of its warehouse surroundings to provide three different offerings to its guests: a central bar with fusion food offerings, a cocktail lounge and a marble ten-seater chef's counter for omakase. Omakase literally translates to 'I'll leave it up to you' — it's a culinary performance where diners can witness the skills of the chef as each dish is carefully created and presented to the trusting guests. Each month, a new menu is created by Chef Ura, showcasing the freshness and seasonality of the produce. If you want to level up your omakase experience, from Wednesday, November 1, until Sunday, December 3, all seatings at ŌRA will begin with a complimentary bespoke Haku martini, the Barley Breeze Plum martini. Haku Vodka's signature serve is the Haku martini — a drink that showcases the craftsmanship, nuanced flavour and exceptional quality of the premium Japanese liquid. To learn more, head to the House of Suntory website. Images: Brooke Zotti
She became the Queen of France at the age of 18, is famously associated with the phrase "let them eat cake", and got the biopic treatment courtesy of Sofia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst. Now, Marie Antoinette has her own bar. Not bad for someone who lost her head, literally, back in 1793. No, you won't need to travel back in time to check out the long-deceased monarch's new digs — but you will need to head to New York. Brooklyn restaurant Chez Moi has converted the basement space beneath their French eatery into a decadent lounge bar fit for royalty, using Antoinette's own bedroom in the Palace of Versailles as inspiration. Adorned with all things velvet and vintage as far as the eye can see, Le Boudoir endeavours to recreate Antoinette's inner sanctum, complete with reproductions of 18th century oil paintings, sconces sourced from actual French castles, an exact replica of her private powder room and an original monogrammed doorknob from Versailles. Plus, patrons enter through a secret passageway hidden behind a bookshelf — just like the Queen's had in her personal library. It's a very lavish, rouge-laden, late-night version of the royal boudoir. Here's Sofia Coppola's pastel-happy interpretation: And here's Brooklyn's: The theming doesn’t stop there, courtesy of snacks ranging from French fries to crispy frog's legs to truffle mushroom croquettes, and a drinks list boasting plenty of wine from the Austrian-born Antoinette's adopted country. Alas, cake isn't on offer — but cocktails served in silver-plated and crystal goblets are. With concoctions such as the 1793 (with toasted sunflower seed-infused rye and oloroso sherry) and the Guillotine (mescal, blended scotch, banana liqueur and honey), you'll want to have a tipple and drink it too, of course. Book that airfare and this'll be you: Via Travel and Leisure. Images: Nicole Franzen, Le Boudoir.
UPDATE: JUNE 3, 2020 — Nimble has postponed its sale for a week, until Thursday, June 11. The below article has been updated to reflect this. There's nothing like a fresh haul of shiny new workout gear to inspire a little fitness kick. Especially when that workout gear takes the form of some high-performance threads from sustainability focused label Nimble Activewear. Well, this June, you're in for a treat, as the local brand pulls together a swag of great pieces for its huge permanent markdown sale. Running online and in-stores from 10am on Thursday, June 11 until stock sells out, the sale will be packed full of bargains, offering a hefty range of outerwear, tights, sports bras, sweats, shorts and more, with discounts of up to 40 percent. You might even be able to catch discounted pieces from the label's core CompressLite line, which is cleverly crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Nab one of these and you'll really have something to feel good about — Nimble's saved over 900,000 plastic bottles from heading to landfill since 2015. Nimble's permanent markdown sale kicks off at 10am on Thursday, June 11 and runs until stock sells out.
People who live in Manly have always thought they had it all. It 'all' used to be the surf, the sand, the pub, a 18-minute alcohol-serving fast ferry into the city, and a home within walking distance to all these things. But things are changing in the north shore suburb — and it's giving locals even less reasons to leave the Manly bubble. And more reasons for you to see what it's like inside. Reason one: the food. It's not just Hugo's, Manly Wine and Papi Chulo anymore. If you haven't visited in a while, you might be surprised to find the Chica Bonita team have opened a Japanese joint, The Boathouse has settled at Shelley Beach, there's a whole bar dedicated to charcuterie and cheese (!!) and even a cafe dealing in fermented foods — and that's all happened in the last year months alone. Reason two is not a new one — it's the water. The surf isn't as life-threatening as Bondi, and Shelley Beach is prime for snorkelling on a clear day. If you want to explore past the esplanade (and you do), there's plenty of kilometres for you to walk and even a few hidden coves to discover. The best part about this Manly + weekend + you equation though is that it's right down the coast or across the harbour (if you don't already live there). Sure, it's only the north shore, but it's all surf, sand, spritzes and toned beach volleyballers — tell me that doesn't sound like a holiday, inner westsiders. So forget all those reasons you don't want to go to Manly; there's some seriously good, little-talked about tasty things going on here. And they shouldn't be ignored. FRIDAY NIGHT: DINNER AT SUNSET SABI Most destinations that aren't bed are a bit tough to get to on a Friday night, but not Manly. Knock off work, head straight for Circular Quay and you could be there before you can even finish a beer. Try it: the fast ferry only takes a very precise 18 minutes, and it has a bar on board — which everyone is most definitely taking advantage of on a Friday eve. For accommodation, there are plenty of Airbnb options, but if you want to stay right across from the beach, the Novotel Manly Pacific is your best bet. While watching the sun go down over the beach is highly recommended, stray away from the beachfront to Pittwater Road for a sunset of a different kind. At Sunset Sabi, food is done in an izakaya style, but it sure ain't tradition. Ingredients like jalapeños, bacon, parmesan and Kettle chips (the chilli kind) all make their way into sushi rolls and other bite-sized morsels. Make sure you try the teeth-gluing caramel miso popcorn, the deep fried rice balls and the sweet heat roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, green beans and avocado inside, and tuna, white onion, shallots, chilli roe with sabi'q sauce on the outside. Book in advance to ensure you get a seat — this place is busy. SATURDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST BOWLS AND A BIG WALK Healthy eating seems to be synonymous with beachside suburbs, but this ain't Bondi — well, not yet anyway. Manly does have its own little health hub though, with Pure Wholefoods, Ora and Bare Naked Bowls. A contender for the best breakfast bowls in Sydney, this hole-in-the-wall cafe does seven different acai bowls, along with oats, porridge and smoothies. Best to get there early as the post-yoga crowd fill it out quite quickly — or get it takeaway, get a coffee from Barefoot around the corner and eat it by the beach. After you've finished breakfast, pull your walking shoes on and join up with the Manly Scenic Walkway and head in the direction of North Head. The track will take you past Spring Cove, uphill to the North Head sanctuary, right out to the killer views at Fairfax Lookouts and back down the other side of the head to Shelley Beach (see map). All up, it's about nine kilometres. You might want to wear your bathers for a post-walk dip. [caption id="attachment_557644" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Boathouse[/caption] MIDDAY: LUNCH AT THE BOATHOUSE Every challenge must have its reward and after that hefty, hilly walk, your reward is this: lunch at The Boathouse. Securing the absolutely kickass location with frontage at pedestrian-only Shelley Beach, the newest Boathouse has really outdone itself. You can head in salty and sandy or recently showered in your crisp white linens — it doesn't matter here. Order seafood, perhaps in the form of the tuna crackers, the trout board (with sliced trout and trout pate) or the decadent seafood platter. The hectic 'order at the counter and find a table' system still stands, so come with both patience and an appetite. It's worth it. [caption id="attachment_560528" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Kayak Centre[/caption] AFTERNOON: KAYAK TO STORE BEACH Manly Beach is great for a surfing lesson (see Sunday's activities) or a quick dip, but it's pretty busy and generally feels a bit hectic. So we suggest going somewhere a bit more secluded for the afternoon. Store Beach on Manly's North Head is accessible only by water, meaning its visitors are restricted to boat owners, stand-up paddleboarders and kayaks. Rent a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre at Manly Wharf, take in a few tips and paddle around the head to the small beach. It only takes about 30 minutes, and it's well worth it for this little patch of paradise. EVENING: BEER, WINE AND CHEESE Did you know that 4 Pines was named after the pine trees that line Manly beach? Did you even know Manly had pine trees? Well, you'll be able to get a good look at 'em from the 4 Pines Brewpub, which sits just across the road from the beach on the East Esplanade. Here you can try a pint of their pale ale or their stout, or give them all a go with a tasting rack. When you're feeling peckish, wander over to Cured, which sits in one of Manly's little laneways off the main mall (which, we're warning, you should probably avoid on a Saturday night). Cured has only been open since September, and it's a wonder nothing like this has been opened before. This small bar ticks all the small bar boxes with its triple threat offering of cheese, charcuterie and wine. They've got 18 meats — most of which come from a farm up at Byron Bay — and ten cheeses, which include an epic triple cream brie, a tasty blue and some seriously milky burrata. They'll also help you out with some chicken liver pate, an Aperol Spritz if you're so inclined, or some local beers from Dad & Dave's Brewing. Buy a bottle and settle in. SUNDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST AT ORA You've ticked breakfast bowls off your list, and at Ora you can cross off fermented foods as well. Ora have a long mission statement — of which is literally written on their walls — but here's the short of it: all their ingredients are organic, healthy and locally grown. Much of their menu is good for your gut too; the fermented oatmeal with carrots and spices may just be the thing to settle your wine-addled stomach. Their breakfast plate is much more satisfying though, with eggs fried in ghee, mushroom, greens, avo, sauerkraut and their seedy 'sai' bread. Naturally, they serve kombucha, as well as tumeric lattes (and, thankfully, normal lattes) and — for the really committed — cups of bone broth for $6. [caption id="attachment_561211" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Surf School[/caption] MIDDAY: JOIN A SURFING LESSON As one of our best beaches to learn how to surf at, it would be remiss for you to spend a weekend in Manly without catching a wave. Book a lesson with the guys at Manly Surf School — they'll get you kitted out with a wetsuit and a board, and then take you out for two hours on the waves. Their groups are small, the instructors are literal pros, and they're very patient with even the most unpromising of surfing students. Lessons run for two hours and cost $70. Book in advance and hope for some sweet surf. Or, head along to the Australian Open of Surfing from February 27 to March 6 to watch instead. AFTERNOON: LUNCH AT THE HERRING ROOM There's just something about swimming in the ocean that inspires a tummy to rumble, and after two hours in the surf it's probable that yours will be absolutely roaring for something to eat. If you can manage to shower without wasting away with that empty stomach, know that lunch is going to be worth it at The Herring Room. Having opened in August last year in a renovated surf shop on a quiet part of Pittwater Road, it's away from all the hubbub of Manly's main drag and is an absolute delight. The space is cosy, bright and feels somewhat like a friend's home, making it perfect for Sunday lunch. Order a bottle of sparkling (or bring your own for $6 corkage per person) and tuck in. The salt and pepper squid are a must if you're dining post-surf, and the scallops with cauliflower puree and pancetta are top notch. Cut into the squid ink ravioli and watch it ooze with egg yolk, then eat it up with the crabmeat, salmon roe and lemon thyme buerre blanc it's served with. The service here is excellent, and it's the ultimate way to wind down your weekend in Manly. Lauren Vadnjal stayed as a guest of Destination NSW and Novotel.
