If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase, "How very droll," listen up. NPR humorist, bestselling author and creator of uncomfortably real windows into human existence David Sedaris is coming back to Australia. Returning for a national tour in January 2016, the beloved American humour writer will bring his trademark sardonic wit and social critique to the stage for An Evening with David Sedaris, his third tour to Australia. Celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances, must-read pieces in The New Yorker and his unputdownable books Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, Sedaris is no stranger to telling it like it is — and don't expect our own country to get away unscrutinised. "I love the airports of Australia," says Sedaris. "Security wise, they’re like stepping into a time machine and coming out in 1975. No one yells at you, you get to keep your shoes on. It’s heaven. Coming from the UK, I also appreciate how open the people are, how willing to talk about money. ‘How much did your house cost?’ I ask. ‘How much do you make per year?’ In Europe people pass out when you ask that question, but in Australia, they just jump right in and answer." Sedaris's last Australian tours sold out quicksmart, so you're going to want to lock these down when they're on sale 9am August 14. AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS TOUR DATES: January 17 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Tickets via ticketek.com.au. January 18 and 19 — Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall. Tickets via sydneyoperahouse.com. January 20 — Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane. Tickets via ticketek.com.au January 21 and 22 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne. Tickets via artscentremelbourne.com.au. January 23 — Theatre Royal, Hobart, Tickets via theatreroyal.com.au. January 24 — Octagon Theatre, Perth. Tickets via ticketswa.com. Tickets on sale 9am Friday, August 14. Image: Anna Fishbein.
Got brunch plans? Cancel them. Whatever they were, we just found a better option. House of Crabs in Redfern is relaunching its monthly Yum Cha brunch series, and the first sitting is happening today. Happening once a month between now and October, the Yum Cha series will bring an Asian twist to the crab shack's usual Louisiana-style menu, delighting diners with dishes such as steamed bao cheeseburgers, char siu octopus tacos, and pulled pork and prawn spring rolls. They've even got Chinese malted mantou served with caramel ice-cream for dessert. As for drinks, you can choose between a number of cocktails, including a Long Breakfast Martini made with gin, apricot brandy, lemon, mint and marmalade, and the Wasabi Mary, a Bloody Mary made with wasabi and soy sauce. The first iteration of House of Crabs' Yum Cha kicks off in...oh, about an hour. According to their Facebook there are still walk-in spots available though, so throw on your bib and scurry on down. Further dates are still being kept under wrap, although we'd suggest you keep any further long weekends in the next few months free. House of Crabs is located above The Norfolk at Level 1, 305 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. For more information about their Yum Cha sessions keep your eyes on their Facebook and Instagram.
Get up close and personal with Adelaide's Tkay Maidza this week, at two intimate gigs coming to Sydney and Melbourne. Presented by GiggedIn, the new live music subscription service that gets you unlimited access to gigs around Sydney, these two exclusive shows will feature Dew Process's popular young powerhouse MC performing at Melbourne's Howler on May 25 and Sydney's Plan B Small Club on May 26. Tkay's had a furiously busy year, with support spots for Mark Ronson, Years & Years, Charli XCX, high praise from Killer Mike, and festival appearances by the bucketload. Tickets to the gig are currently on sale via Moshtix — unless you're a GiggedIn member, in which case the whole thing is free. Doors open at 7.30pm. Thanks to GiggedIn, we've got ten double passes to give away to each show. And on top of that, they're giving you 30 percent off your first month if you sign up for a membership before June 25. Just enter the code CPFRIENDS at checkout. [competition]573724[/competition] Image: Dew Process.
If it's been a while between Chardonnays with you and Orange, or if you've never actually ventured to the regional foodie hub of New South Wales, now's your time to make amends. On Sunday, November 20, Sydneysiders can take in the best of Orange's food and wine on the waterfront — for the first time Taste Orange is headed for Barangaroo. Taste your way through NSW's 'food basket' with some of the regions best wineries offering tastings, including Boree Lane Wines, Dindima Wines, Gilbert by Simon Gilbert, Heifer Station, Highland Heritage Estate, Logan Wines, Philip Shaw Wines, Slow Wine Co. and Ross Hill Wines. Seriously, if you haven't tasted a Phillip Shaw Chardonnay, get amongst it. But you're going to want some high quality, Orange-grown nibbles with that vino. Taste's food offerings include Dreamtime Tuka, Indigenous Cultural Adventures Bush Tucka, Milla Cordial, The Molong Farm and 1803 Australian Deer among Sydney stallholders. Entry to the festival is free, but you'll have to purchase all food and wine once you're in. It's $5 for a wine glass and and then you can choose between $8 per full glass of wine (120 ml) or $4 per half glass of wine (60 ml) for the tastings. If you don't want to wait in line, you can purchase a $40 tasting pack online before you head in, which gets you ten tokens for either five glasses or ten half glasses.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. Our bars are more groundbreaking and imaginative, our events more unique and immersive, and our restaurants more inventive and experimental. With new openings abounding, Sydney is more vibrant, playful and fun than it ever has been. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, we are very pleased to announce Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Sydney's newest restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, adding in-house cinemas, recreating provincial French manors, and redefining nose-to-tail. Cafes continue to cultivate compelling coffee breaks, building neighbourhood haunts from pop-up to permanency, championing local producers and turning old bowling clubs into urban farms. Our bars that have been reclaiming the night in the face of prevailing lockout laws, one glass of frosé at a time; from WWII-inspired salons to Sydney's first dedicated vermouth bar. Our new (or renewed) pubs that have the biggest hurdle to face — history. Pub renovations in 2016 remained strong, moving into more contemporary, fine dining-focused territory with some of the city's best design teams at hand. Sydney's event producers that have found new ways to celebrate Sydney life, reinvigorating dwindling or hidden spaces, and taking us on wild adventures in our own home. And those aiming to truly transform the city permanently have made headlines with long-awaited new cultural and food precincts, transforming Sydney neighbourhoods with gargantuan, smart and beneficial developments. This year, we will be awarding both a reader voted People's Choice and Overall award in each of the following six categories: Best New Bar Best New Restaurant Best New Cafe Best New Pub Best New Event Best New Precinct These 36 outstanding Sydney (or Sydney-based) ventures have been handpicked by Concrete Playground for their combination of originality, innovation, creativity, approachability and sustainability. We straight-up love them. VOTE NOW. Cast your People's Choice votes below by 5pm on Wednesday, December 14 (you can only vote once per category, so make those votes count). People's Choice and Overall winners in each category will be announced on Thursday, December 15 at 3pm. Please note that your vote is recorded as soon as you make your selection in each category, but that you can edit your votes right up until when voting closes. If you have any questions or feedback, hit us up at contact@concreteplayground.com.au
It's only been running since 2013, but the British Film Festival has achieved something most other fests can only dream of. In four short years, it has become the must-attend movie event brightening up cinema screens as the year comes to an end — and if you've been to one of the previous festivals, you'll know that it's always busy. Kicking off in Sydney on October 25 before making its way around the country, the 2016 instalment promises another jam-packed year of Old Blighty's movie delights. From opening night's real-life love story A United Kingdom to the spirit-soaked comedy hijinks of Whisky Galore — and including a doco about a man determined to swipe Banksy's street art, the latest film from the director of the glorious Sunset Song, and a chance to see the likes of Goldfinger, Highlander and Oliver! on a big screen as well — the 2016 fest has it all. We recommend grabbing a Pimm's cup, munching on some jam-smothered scones, and adding these five must-see flicks to your viewing list. I, DANIEL BLAKE Only eight filmmakers have won Cannes Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or more than once — and after nearly fifty years of making movies, the now-80-year-old director Ken Loach has become one of them. His latest feature, I, Daniel Blake, showcases just what the veteran does best: craft social realist dramas that get to the heart of British life. Starring English comedian Dave Johns alongside A Royal Night Out actress Hayley Squires, the film follows the titular character's attempts to obtain government support following a spate of health troubles, as well as the similar situation faced by a young single mother. Loach dissects the bureaucracy that comes with their predicament, resulting in an effort that's been called his angriest to date. It's must-see viewing. A MONSTER CALLS Things have been pretty hectic for Felicity Jones of late. She's currently running around Europe with Tom Hanks in Inferno, and will soon travel to a galaxy far, far away as the lead in forthcoming Star Wars side-story Rogue One. And, playing a mother with terminal cancer, she's also the reason that a young boy befriends a tree-shaped, Liam Neeson-voiced giant in A Monster Calls. Directed by The Orphanage and The Impossible's J.A. Bayona, the film adaptation of the beloved book promises to be that other kind of creature feature — you know, the heart-warming, spell-binding, moving and magical kind. OASIS: SUPERSONIC This one will have music doco lovers — and fans of the bad boy Britpop rockers who catapulted to fame, said they were bigger than The Beatles, and got into a top-of-the-charts tussle with Blur — rejoicing. Yep, Oasis made us wonder about champagne supernovas in the sky, asked "what's the story, morning glory?", and probably inspired you to call someone your wonderwall — however, they haven't received the comprehensive documentary treatment until now. Trust Amy filmmaker Asif Kapadia to be involved (though he's just an executive producer this time), with Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll's Mat Whitecross actually in the director's chair. You'll also spot the Gallagher brothers' names among the EP list, but that doesn't mean the doco presents a sanitised version of the band's tumultuous career. Noel and Liam have well and truly proven that they like a bit of drama, after all. TRESPASS AGAINST US In Trespass Against Us, Michael Fassbender plays a caravan-dwelling father and small-time crim who can't find his way away from his own not-so-positive paternal influence, who's played by Brendan Gleeson. Yep, the movie clearly delivers in terms of both casting and an intriguing tale — and then there's the behind-the-scenes talent. Filmmaker Adam Smith hasn't actually made a feature before, but the Skins veteran is known for his work with the Chemical Brothers — in fact, he has designed the visual elements for their gigs since their first show back in 1994, and also directed their stellar concert flick Don't Think. That's obviously why the electronic music legends are involved as well, lending their distinctive sonic stylings to the film's score. And yes, their first such effort since 2011's Hanna sounds amazing as expected. THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH Has ever a film's title described its star so perfectly? Has a performer ever been so accurately cast in a movie? We can only be talking about one feature and one musician-turned-actor, of course — and with David Bowie's passing in January, the British Film Festival is giving everyone the opportunity to see one of the big-screen highlights of his career. Playing the literally otherworldly Thomas Jerome Newton, Bowie really is a starman in this gorgeously restored version of the sci-fi classic. It's the role he was born to play, in a movie that's as astonishing today as it was when it was first released 40 years ago. The 2016 BBC First British Film Festival will be screening at Sydney's Palace Verona and Palace Norton Street from Tuesday, October 25 to Wednesday, November 16. For more information and the full program, visit britishfilmfestival.com.au.
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga yazz residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, the after-hours Twilight at Taronga series took it up a huge, cred-worthy notch last year. This summer, they'll be aiming even higher, returning with a new, eclectic lineup every weekend from Thursday, January 28 through Saturday, March 12. And this year's ARIA frontrunner, spinner of yarns and general face-melter Courtney Barnett is opening the whole thing. Bringing drawlin' ditties from her widely celebrated debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit to the zoo, Barnett kicks off one heck of a lineup for Twilight at Taronga 2016. Taking over the lawns of Taronga Zoo's fully-licensed natural amphitheater, this year's series is more locally-focused than last year's, with the likes of Violent Femmes, John Butler Trio, Birds of Tokyo, Josh Pyke, C.W. Stoneking and finishing up with Lady Black Mambazo. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, returning for two nights due to popular demand after last year. After one of the most contemporary changes the Twilight at Taronga series has seen in its 20 years running, the feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite — we tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's a bar onsite, and general nosh available from the canteen. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Sydney — lock those tickets down. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2016 LINEUP January 28 — COURTNEY BARNETT, supported by Jep and Dep January 29 — JOSH PYKE, supported by Winterbourne January 30 — FAR FROM FOLSOM featuring TEX PERKINS AND THE TENNESSEE FOUR February 5 — JOHN BUTLER TRIO, supported by Tinpan Orange February 6 — THE WAIFS, supported by Ruby Boots February 12 — BIRDS OF TOKYO, supported by Fractures February 13 — MISSY HIGGINS February 19 – MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW, supported by Ben Salter February 20 – JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND February 26 & 27 — BJÖRN AGAIN March 4 — VIOLENT FEMMES, supported by Xylouris White March 5 — COLIN HAY March 11 — C.W. STONEKING, supported by Marlon Williams March 12 — LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Twilight at Taronga 2016 is happening January 28 to March 12. The lineup will be announced Thursday, October 22. Tickets available from the website from Thursday, October 29. Image: Maclay Heriot.
Thursdays in March are looking mighty enticing as Art Month Sydney takes over the city with a celebration of all things contemporary art. Now in its ninth year, the much-loved festival is offering up a smorgasbord of tours, talks, workshops, exhibitions and — excitingly — the return of Precinct Nights. If you haven't been to one before, basically each Thursday, a smattering of galleries in one part of the city stay open late so you can peruse amazing exhibitions after-hours. And that's not all — once you've seen all of the art, you get to end the evening with an Art at Night Party. Hot tip: it's a pretty stellar date idea. Evade the Ides of March by spending an evening rambling around galleries for Art at Night in Kings Cross, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo on March 15. An awesome collection of galleries will be keeping their doors open late, including STACKS Projects, The Edge Project, COMA, ARO, Chalk Horse, Australian Design Centre and the inaugural Artgarages (which we definitely hope continues past the festival.) Once you've had your fill of gallery/garage hopping, wind your way to artist-run initiative Firstdraft in Woolloomooloo for an evening of live performance that kicks off at 7pm. Art Month Sydney runs March 1–25, 2018. Find out more information and download a precinct map here. Image: Tomorrow Girls Troop masked members, 2017. Courtesy of the artists, Ali-Groves.
Ah, those hazy childhood memories of when Mum and Dad still held wild parties with their mates (before you'd drained them of their lifeforce through puberty), where they could fight over the playlist in the form of stacks and stacks of alphabetised CDs. Or those happy days of embarrassing you in front of your friends by blasting their old favourites on the radio during afterschool pickup. So cute. This Saturday night, Goodgod Small Club wants you to accept your roots and determine once and for all which parent gifted you with the impeccable music taste you have today, at the ultimate Mum Rock versus Dad Rock dance night. Skipping over our half-second of cringing over false gender divisions, we're heading right to the part where we can't wait to battle out Rod Stewart and The Who, Fleetwood Mac and the Stones. There's some great local DJs lined up for the night, with Ariane, Palms DJs, Levins and more as well special guests performing Mum versus Dad karaoke duets. Door prizes for best dressed Mum and Dad duo, so best spend your morning raiding your parent's closets — you know they'll love a visit.
UPDATE, Friday, August 23: In the wake of the damning allegations reported in The Sydney Morning Herald about Swillhouse Group, Swillfest has been cancelled. All ticket holders will receive a full refund. It's billed as "the world's most original wine fair", which is a bold claim. But given the hospitality excellence on display at its venues — including Le Foote, Restaurant Hubert and Caterpillar Club — we're inclined to take Swillhouse Group at its word. The inaugural Swillfest, held on Saturday, September 21, will be a madcap melding of fine wine, gourmet eats, live performance, artisanal goods and party vibes — and it isn't merely for vino-philes and sommeliers. Sure, there will be an international spread of boutique, rare and small-batch drops to try, with producers on hand to guide revellers through this pop-up cellar door, but this is just the start. [caption id="attachment_906130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] While the wine on offer will awaken your palate, there will be plenty more to keep it buzzing, including pop-up food stalls from some of Sydney's top venues, craft and low-to-no brews from the likes of Young Henrys and Heaps Normal, and cocktails starring spirits from local distilleries including Papa Salt. Epicurean adventurers can even learn the secrets behind Swillhouse's delicious menus at culinary masterclasses. A pop-up market selling handcrafted goods, including ceramics and homewares, will take over the cobbled streets in front of Le Foote and from midday until late, there will also be a program of live bands and other avant-garde performances across two stages to enjoy, as well as roaming acts and tarot readers delighting visitors throughout the day. Top and bottom image: Andrea Veltom
Vivid Sydney's massive 2017 program landed earlier today and it's packing some serious punches, not least of which is a sneaky Sydney Opera House show by none other than The Avalanches. But it's not just a show, it's a casually large outdoor block party. The legendary Australian group has been stirring some heavy emotions since crashing back onto the live music scene in July last year, treating Splendour-goers to their first proper live onstage appearance in about a decade. Now, fresh off the back of festival shows at Falls and Sugar Mountain, The Avalanches have announced they'll be hitting the Opera House's Northern Boardwalk in May, for a Since I Left You 'block party' that'll see the band perform its seminal, sample-heavy album in full for the first time since 2001. They'll be performing with Sydney multi-instrumentalist Jonti Danilewitz, who performed Since I Left You for Vivid LIVE in 2014 with Astral People. Joining The Avalanches on May 27 and 28 is a top-notch lineup that includes renowned US producer DJ Shadow, 2017 Australian Music Prize winner Briggs, and rising hip hop star Sampa the Great. Vivid returns to Sydney from May 26 to June 17. Tickets to all shows, including The Avalanches' Block Party, go on sale Monday, March 20, at 9am. Check out the rest of the 2017 Vivid program.
It's fair to say that most Australians don't know as much about Africa as we should. Even saying the word 'Africa' does a disservice to this sprawling, fascinating continent that is home to 1.2 billion of our fellow earthlings. Well, the annual Africultures Festival is here to help. A celebration of the enormous, diverse African community living right here in Sydney, Africultures will have 40 of Africa's 53 independent nations represented through art, music and food. There'll be two stages packed with artists, dancers and drummers, a food court showcasing dishes from 16 different countries, a marketplace with over 40 stalls selling clothing, fabrics, homewares, jewellery and accessories. Add drumming and dance workshops, a fashion parade and a six-a-side soccer tournament, and there's a little something for everyone. Short of travelling there, you won't get a better taste of Africa than at Africultures. Taking place from 11am–6pm on Saturday, March 9 at Lidcombe's Wyatt Park, 2019's fest marks the event's huge 11th year. It's set to be huge in attendance as well — last year, 30,000 folks went along. Image: Teniola Komolafe and George Zieter.
PUPPIES! PUPPIEEEEEEES! Yeah, now you're on the page, we owe you the details. A highly enthusiastic, lick-happy, bouncy, fluffy wave of adorable, loveable puppies is going to cascade through Martin Place on Tuesday, March 15. It's free to attend, meaning you can stock up on pats and licks and Instagrams and generally have a bloody great Tuesday. It's all happening thanks to RSPCA NSW, who are putting on this puppy-palooza to raise awareness of the glorious annual event that is the Million Paws Walk — a yearly charity walk that raises much needed dosh for the RSPCA. You can sign up for the May event on Tuesday morning between pats and you damn well should — it's one of the greatest events our fine city does every year. The pups will be promenading, panting and playing in Martin Place from 8am until around 2pm. So ditch your puppyless pre-organised lunch plans and spend the time making friends with some four-legged bosses. Like all good RSPCA events, it's your chance to adopt a new family member too — so if you've been considering getting a dog (and we all have, don't even think about shaking that head), start here first. Image: Stocksnap.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with their instructor, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will be held at Sydney's Luna Park and is probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Silently.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Sydney Festival. Image: PUNCTURE. Ever since Grease, there’s been no doubt that summer lovin’ is the best kind of lovin’ there is. But imagine if Sandy and Danny had had Sydney Festival to spice up the action. Whether you’re on a first, nail-biting, triple-checking-my-outfit, to-hell-with-it-buying-a-whole-new-outfit kind of date, or the latest of many joint adventures, SydFest has some hot date opportunities on the boil. GET WICKED WITH LIMBO The fire-swallowing, though on the scorching side, is definitely not the hottest part of this act. The international LIMBO crew, who sold out their 2014 Sydney Festival season, return with their wild, sexy, wicked take on all-things circus. Expect scary stunts, extreme acrobatics, next-level magic tricks and anatomy-defying contortion that you really shouldn’t try at home (regardless of how potent this date idea might prove), performed to a live score. Composer Sxip Shirey has described his tracking as “a New York brass band marching through New Orleans on its way to an all-night party in Berlin.” So there's that. January 7-25 at The Aurora Spiegeltent, Festival Village, Hyde Park North. Tickets $62-$79. HAVE A DREAMY PICNIC UNDER THE STARS FOR SYMPHONY IN THE DOMAIN To recover from LIMBO, how about a picnic, soundtracked live by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra? It doesn’t get much more romantic, even, curiously, in the company of 100,000 people. Plus, it’s free, so you can seriously impress your date even if you’re not cashed up. (If you are, there’s always the option of going top-shelf on the champagne.) This year’s program takes on a distinctively Australian tone, with the appearance of ARIA Award-winning composer and didgeridoo-player William Barton, who’ll be joining the SSO for his own piece Birdsong at Dusk and the late Peter Sculthorpe’s Beethoven Variations. Between the music, Anita Heiss will be reading poetry and prose. January 18 in The Domain. Free. PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES FOR ATOMIC BOMB! THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM ONYEABOR Show your date you have the moves at what’s shaping up to be the festival’s biggest dance off. The fact that it’s all about William Onyeabor will add an air of mystique. Between 1975 and 1985, the synth hero, who hails from Nigeria, made eight Afro-funk, space-age albums. Then, he not only gave up music but also refused to utter a word about it, ever. Keeping his epic jams and super-grooves alive at Sydney Festival will be a mega, 18-strong, international band, led by Sinkane, Money Mark, Luke Jenner (The Rapture), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) and Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), with special guests in the form of Gotye and the Mahotella Queens. January 16-17 at Enmore Theatre. Tickets $85/77. TAKE A WALK INTO ANOTHER TIME WITH DISCO DOME There’s nothing like a bit of time travel to get the chemistry bubbling. With Disco Dome, you and your hopeful friend/confirmed partner get to traverse decades arm in arm, with plenty to see, do and talk about along the way. This part walking tour, part live art, part dance event takes you on a journey through Parramatta as it was back in the '80s. While sipping on cocktails, shaking your booty and exploring back streets, you’ll be surprised with sudden performances and digital/sonic installations. Pack your finest mirror ball earrings. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 January at ICE (Information and Cultural Exchange), Parramatta. Tickets $89. REMEMBER WHAT FALLING IN LOVE FEELS LIKE AT KISS AND CRY This one won’t just provide a backdrop to your canoodling; it embraces a hands-on approach to matters of love, involving, well, two hands. And two hands only. In a stage show performed in a teeny-tiny set — and combining poetic ballet, puppetry and live film — an old woman looks back on the romantic encounters that shaped her life. It is presented at Sydney Festival by Belgium's Charleroi Danses and draws on the talents of choreographer Michele Anne De Mey (a founding member of Rosas dance company) and filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael, director of 2009 sci-fi film Mr Nobody. 22-25 January at Carriageworks. Tickets $59-75. LET SEU JORGE PULL AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS Woo your amor in Portuguese by taking him/her along to see Seu Jorge live. His impossibly tender voice has transported him from homelessness in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to international musical success. So imagine what it might do for your romantic aspirations. If you’re a fan of The Life Aquatic, you probably know Jorge's mellifluous tones well. His David Bowie covers provided the soundtrack. And even Bowie was floored, discovering, he said, a "new level of beauty" in his songs after hearing Jorge’s take on them. He’ll be playing an array of his unique interpretations, as well as a bunch of originals, accompanied by a delicious mix of live and electronic Latin and Caribbean beats. January 10 in The Domain (free) and January 11 at The Star Event Centre. Tickets $45-89. The Sydney Festival is on from January 8-26. For the full program see festival website.
UPDATE: JUNE 22, 2020 — Sephora has extended its sale for five days. It'll now end on Sunday, June 28. Sephora, aka the French-based perfume and cosmetics chain that has won fans the world over, has been opening stores around Australia for the last few years. And whether you're keen to head into your closest shop, or you're quite happy browsing and buying beauty products online, it's currently hosting a huge sale with prices up to 50 percent off. That's good news for everyone, including your bank balance. If you haven't jumped on the Sephora bandwagon yet, then prepare to nab all those prestige international brands you can't get elsewhere. In-person and virtually, it's a beauty product wonderland, with more than 1500 different lines on offer. The exact discount varies from product to product, but you can expect 30 percent off Fenty matte lipsticks, 50 percent off Marc Jacobs foundation, 30 percent off Tarte lipgloss sets and hefty savings on Sephora's own branded lines, too — just to name a few of the items on sale. If this is the excuse you needed to boost your makeup bag, the sale runs until Sunday, June 28.
Sydney's beloved bakers of Bourke Street have got Newtown in their sights. The team behind the iconic bread basket and cafe, which recently made our list of the best bakeries in Sydney, is getting ready to launch their latest location on King Street on Tuesday, October 4. The opening marks the 11th store in the growing Bourke Street empire, which now stretches all the way from their original digs in Surry Hills up to Neutral Bay in the north and west into Parramatta. Nestled in Newtown Central right by the railway station, their latest venture will cater to the suburb's steadfast cafe crowd, as well as anyone after a loaf of bread on the way home from work. "Newtown has always had a really good cafe trade on the weekend, so we want to increase our presence there," says Bourke Street Bakery spokesperson James Vacher. "It's an interesting crowd, but very much a coffee and cafe crowd down towards that end of the street, especially with Black Star, Continental Deli, 212 Blue all opening and building out towards Enmore." The new shop will save Newtown locals the walk to the Bourke Street site in Marrickville, while the proximity to the train line is also a major plus. And yes, they'll be stocking all your regular faves, including that heavenly ginger brulee tart. Bourke Street Bakery will open at 13/330 King Street, Newtown on Tuesday, October 4.
Backhands, beats and artisan eats will converge on Paddington's Trumper Park Tennis Centre on Saturday, October 15. That's when social tennis event Social Serve returns to raise money for Primary Club, an Aussie charity that helps people with disabilities to play sport. If your Lorna Jane activewear has never had more of a workout than a stroll to the corner shop, then here's your chance to put it to work. The good news is you'll only have to work as hard as you feel to. The sporty part of proceedings will take the form of friendly mixed doubles matches, open to players of all levels and kicking off from 2.30pm. Champs who kill it on the court will play in the finals, which start at 6pm. Not so keen on joining the game? That's more than fine. Instead, relax on the sidelines, listen to local DJs, munch on gourmet hotdogs and tacos courtesy of Woofy's, and knocking back4 Pines beers and cocktails by Poor Toms.
This ambitious exhibition at UNSW Galleries will showcase the rising stars of the Papunya Tjupi Arts Centre. Focusing on a group of women artists from the Western Desert, Streets of Papunya presents a history of the Papunya art movement — often seen as the generating force of contemporary of Aboriginal art. Curated by eminent scholar Vivien Johnson, the show aims to get Sydney up to speed on a painting renaissance that has been unfolding in Central Australia. Using short films and documentary footage to fill in socio-political context, the exhibition travels from the final paintings of Albert Namatjira produced during the 1950s, through dire poverty and the rampant spread of disease during the 1960s and '70s, to arrive at a 21st-century resurgence of Papunya paintings. Streets of Papunya will be shown in associated with Johnson’s book launch of the same name. Both the historical journey and artistic evolution of this movement invokes the deep power of community and ancestral connections in Central Australia.
The fight to get Sydney's polarising Sirius building heritage-listed and safe from demolition continues, with the latest initiative running in the form of an art exhibition, titled This Is Sirius. Featuring a whopping 60 works, the show is a celebration of both the building and its residents, featuring photographs, paintings, prints and sculptures. If you can't afford to take one home (they're rather reasonably priced, so there's a chance you will), then check out the Sirius zines, t-shirts, tea-towels and badges. The majority of artists will be donating proceeds to the Save Our Sirius campaign. The only catch is the exhibition isn't around for long. It launches on June 8 with a speech from Councillor Philip Thalis (founding principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects) on behalf of Lord Mayor Clover Moore and closes on the June 16. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm daily.
Summer might be winding down, but you can make the most of the remaining balmy evenings as Art Month Sydney kicks off a citywide celebration of contemporary art. The ninth annual festival is painting the town red (and every other colour) with exhibitions, workshops, talks, tours and — whip out your calendars — the much-loved Precinct Nights. Yep, galleries are keeping their doors open late across different parts of the city each Thursday (and the last Friday) in March, which means you can embark on a curated walking tour of local exhibitions, then round off the evening with an Art at Night Party. Dust off your multi-purpose walking/dancing shoes, and prepare for an art-venture. Art at Night in Paddington, Woollahra and Darlinghurst on March 8 invites you to visit a whole host of galleries staying open from 6–8pm, including Piermarq, Janet Clayton Gallery, Sabbia Gallery, Dickerson Gallery, Cooee Art Gallery, Arthouse Gallery and Australian Centre for Photography. Once your art-appetite is feeling adequately sated, dance your way down Oxford Street to the National Art School in Darlinghurst, which will be buzzing from 8pm with performances, interventions and a pop-up bar. Art Month Sydney runs March 1–25, 2018. Find out more information and download a precinct map here. Image: Leila El Rayes, Moments made of molasses, 2017. Image courtesy of the artist.
Celebrated Sydney-based painter Alesandro Ljubicic has teamed up with a florist, perfumer and scarf maker for his latest exhibition. So, anytime you walk into Michael Reid Gallery between February 5 and 27, you can expect a mega-explosion of colour and aroma. If you've had even a tiny squiz at Ljubicic's work, you'll know he loves thick, thick paint. He loves it in immense, luxurious dollops, lathered on the page, and he loves it in all kinds of colours. You'll also have noticed that he's pretty keen on a flower or two. So, this show, titled The Scent of Painting, makes a lot of sense. On the walls will be 55 works — 25 on linen, alongside 30 on birch board. Some will feature his texture-rich, almost sculptural, still lives of bouquets. Others will take the form of gestural colour studies. Complementing these works, will be an array of handmade, bespoke scarves by Kmossed, a scarf manufacturer from Edinburgh, Scotland; floral designs by Sean Cook; and a unique, magnolia-infused scent, which Ljubicic created in collaboration with Damask Perfumery, a Brisbane-based perfumer. "In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses," says Ljubicic. "This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way."
One of Sydney's more experimental, seasonally-focused openings of the last year, Automata, is getting collaborative. This year, the Old Clare Hotel-dwelling restaurant will launch co.lab, a series of events showcasing some of the best chefs from across the globe — particularly those who celebrate seasonally-changing menus. Kicking off February 20, co.lab will begin the series with one of London's top chefs, Lee Westcott of East London's Typing Room, teaming up with Automata's Clayton Wells (formerly of Momofuku Seiobo). For $100, you'll be treated to two snacks and six courses — one snack and three courses from each chef. For 100 beans, that's actually pretty damn reasonable. For an extra $60 they'll do beverage pairing. "Whilst we always try to utilise the best ingredients with minimal fuss, co.lab will be a fun way of switching things up and experiencing multiple concepts," says Wells. Bookings are now open from Automata's website or by buzzing (02) 8277 8555. Sittings available from 12pm on February 20. Future co.lab guests will be announced soon.
If you've ever lined up along Illawarra Road, waiting for a seat at Cornersmith, you probably won't be surprised to learn that they're expanding. On weekends, the uber-popular Marrickville cafe could serve all its ravenous fans twice over and then some. So, they're gearing up to take their seasonal produce, community spirit and pickles to a second branch. And its home will be Annandale. If everything goes to plan, Cornersmith 2.0 (yet to be named) will open in June or July, just opposite Hinsby Park, on the corner of View and Piper Streets. "It had to be a corner site," co-owner Alex Elliott-Howery told Good Food. "We chose Annandale because we were looking for another suburb in the inner west with a really strong community." You can expect all the things that have made the cafe such a hit. One of its biggest drawcards is its produce. 'Seasonal' and 'local' aren't used as buzzwords, but as actual principles. On the new autumn menu, for example, you'll find a breakfast bowl loaded with yoghurt made by Kristen Allan, nashi, persimmon, unwaxed apple and honey pepitas, as well as peach, macadamia and fennel loaf with nutmeg and yoghurt butter. Then, of course, there's the famous picklery. Set up in an open kitchen, it's where the team makes the pickles, chutney and preserved fruits that end up on your plate. You can find out how they do it by joining a workshop. In Annandale, there'll be the added bonus of a park just across the road. Armed with stacks of goodies, you'll be able to head over for a private picnic — no need to queue for a seat if you're not in the mood or in a hurry. Via Good Food.
Local craft beer and local beats are brewing in the west — The Plot is returning to Sydney (Parramatta Park, specifically) for another year. Taking over Parramatta Park's monument and Old Government House on Saturday, November 19, The Plot will see the likes of A.B. Original, Vera Blue, Alex Lahey, The Bennies, E^ST, Elizabeth Rose, Thelma Plum, Montaigne, Buoy, Japanese Wallpaper, Running Touch and more on the music lineup alone. We've got five double passes to give away so you can go see some of Australia's best local music, while sampling nosh from food stalls run by some of Sydney's best bakeries, burger maestros, distilleries, breweries — and enjoying an event that doesn't suck. If you win, you'll get a $50 Moshtix voucher to go see your next show. Enter your details below. [competition]588188[/competition]
Rosebery's Three Blue Ducks is renovating its bar later this month and, to celebrate, the team is putting out an open invitation to its massive relaunch party. Roll up on Friday, August 24, from 5.30pm, for free drinks, free food and live music. Supplying the complimentary beer will be Newtown's Young Henrys and Melbourne's Stomping Ground, while the wine will be flowing thanks to Riot Wine Co. In between sipping and sampling, you'll be feasting on an array of Three Blue Ducks' tastiest dishes, including BBQ peri peri chicken. Come dessert time, grab a marshmallow and roast it yourself over the fire pit. Once you've drunk the bar dry of freebies, don't fret – nor disappear; the party will kick on, with bevvies selling at just 5 bucks a piece.
Taking his fearless, self-reflective tracks on the road yet again, Perfume Genius gives Aussie audiences a brave insight into what makes him tick. This Seattle native has a knack for pushing boundaries, famous for his daring depictions of sexuality and high-strung ballads that bleed with angst, anger and alienation. Off the back of two soulful records, Mike Hadreas (the man behind the stage name) struggled his way to completing his third studio offering Too Bright, released late last year. Thwarted by expectation, Hadreas has overcome insecurity and doubt to return with sleek, spine-tingling songs notably richer in vocal textures than his previous works. Donning a sharp new look to accompany his shift in sound, Hadraes plays up his divisive trademark style with an album exploring the universal experience of self-awareness and discovery. Touring across Canada and the States later this year, catch Perfume Genius before he heads home at highly-anticipated shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is back in physical form. Usually it pops up several times a year; however 2020 is a year of changes. So, as well as hosting online sales, the shopping extravaganza has turned its Sydney showroom into a temporary outlet store. Located at Unit 19, 20–28 Maddox Street, Alexandria, this pop-up will let you browse the Big Fashion Sale's hefty range in person. You can't just drop by, though — walking through the door is by appointment only, and the outlet is only welcoming in shoppers on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until Thursday, October 8. As for what you'll be rifling through, the name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find a hefty array of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from a huge lineup of cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging — including Romance Was Born, Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, The Row, Dion Lee, Dries Van Noten and more. With more than 50 brands on offer, and discounts of up to 85 percent off, this is one way to up your count of designer threads while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too — whether you're keen on clothes, shoes, swimwear or accessories. The Big Fashion Sale's Sydney pop-up outlet is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until Thursday, October 8, with bookings via appointment only.
Sydney Dance Company kicks off 2016 with CounterMove, a cracking new show. It’s a double-bill, presenting work from two of the world’s most fearlessly creative choreographers: Alexander Ekman, who hails from Sweden, and Rafael Bonachela, SDC’s artistic director. In just ten years, Ekman has become incredibly sought-after. He’s now received commissions from more than 45 dance companies, including Nederlands Dans Theater, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. CounterMove will present his 2010 work, Cacti, an affectionate parody of contemporary dance, which begins with sixteen dancers trapped on huge Scrabble tiles. Providing a striking contrast to this will be Bonachela’s Lux Tenebris, making its world premiere. Choreographed in response to a commissioned soundscape by Nick Wales, the work explores the highs and lows — and light and shades — of human experience. Opening on February 26 at Walsh Bay’s Roslyn Packer Theatre, CounterMove combines dance with movement, philosophy and comedy. From Sydney, the show will move to Canberra Theatre Centre, where it’ll open on May 19 and then to Melbourne’s Southbank Theatre, from May 25. Later in the year, it’s making tracks to the outback, with regional showings across New South Wales, Queensland, Darwin and Western Australia between June 17 and August 27.
Animals are better than people, so this double header is as good as sold out — and back by popular demand. Brendan Cowell has written The Dog, about the love triangle created when two men share a dog, and Lally Katz has created The Cat, about sharing a talking, smart-arse cat with your ex. Directing both is Ralph Myers, former Belvoir artistic director, friend to all animals and real-life co-parent of Cowell's dog. Benedict Hardie (The Drover's Wife) returns to star as app designer Marcus, in The Dog and lovesick guy Albert in The Cat. Xavier Samuel (Twilight: Eclipse, Love and Friendship) returns as Ben in The Dog and the cat in The Cat. Sheridan Harbridge (Girl Asleep) joins the cast as Miracle in The Dog and Albert's ex Alex in The Cat. The show played Downstairs in 2015, and now it's headed for the Upstairs stage. Two plays, one night, funny, furry. Book it.
Want to see a burlesque show that tells it like it is? Or circus cabaret that contemplates race relations in contemporary Australia? How about singing and striptease while smashing stereotypes? Or a performance that packs a punch of hip hop politics? All that makes up Hot Brown Honey, as well as dance, poetry, drama and a reflection of everyday problems. Fresh from acclaimed seasons in Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival, these bold performers aren't just trying to entertain. They're also working through issues of colour and culture — and courting controversy — in a show that's certain to get people talking. The story jumps from the simmering shores of Polynesia to the bogan streets of Australia, peering through the eyes of an Indigenous drag queen and stepping through the life of a single mother who just happens to be a DJ. Hailing from Polytoxic Dance Theatre, Circus OZ and Briefs, the Luscious Lisa Fa'alafi, the Curvaceous Candy B and the Bodacious Busty Beatz package their tale and topics in spicy humour and simmering honesty. Some like it hot, indeed.
Chef Clayton Wells has won over many a Chippendale foodie's heart since opening Automata on the ground floor of the Old Clare Hotel in 2015. And now he's set to extend his reach with the opening of a casual all-day eatery, just 20 metres away. A1 Canteen will open on the ground floor of The Old Rum Store on Kensington Street on Wednesday, June 20 — the same building that houses Olio, Bistrot Gavroche and Eastside Kitchen. Whatever the time of day — and whatever the nature of your hunger — you'll be able to satisfy it. A1 will be open for brekkie, lunch, dinner and snacks, including pastries and sandwiches, so you can sit down and take your time or grab a tasty morsel and run. "I've been working on a casual concept for a while now," Wells said. "We tested it out last year with auto.lab and we've been waiting for the right space to open something permanent. Finding a site directly across the road from Automata is a dream. A1 will be much simpler and more casual than Automata." At breakfast, you'll find a takes on a ploughman's plate — with boiled egg, shaved ham, fermented cabbage and pickled chilli — a grilled mortadella and fried egg sanga, eggs benedict with blood cake and breakfast doughnuts (with mandarin curd and clotted cream, no less). The restaurant soft-opened over the weekend, and, if first reactions are anything to go by, the curried egg scramble with LP's sausage and english muffin is set to become the restaurant's most popular (or, at least, most Instagrammed) breakfast. https://www.instagram.com/p/BkG6LpwlFAW/?hl=en&taken-by=levdawg At lunch, Wells is catering to those who need to get in-and-out quick with an "easy, one plate situation". You'll be able to choose a protein — roasted lamb shoulder, hot smoked trout, spiced chicken or roasted celeriac — and pair it with two salads of your choice for $22. For those who prefer their lunches a bit carbier, there's also a lineup of sandwiches, ranging from a salted beef bagel, to a fried eggplant sandwich and a pressed baguette, which is Wells's take on a New Orleans muffaletta. Return at night and you'll find a menu with slightly more similarities to sister-venue Automata. Split into small and large plates, a steamed clams with anchovy butter sit in the former and a black angus hanger steak with pine mushrooms in the latter. Drinks, as you'd expect, are equally impressive and extensive, with Single O coffee and cold-pressed juices in the morning, and batched cocktails, local beers, an interesting — and affordable — wine list available from lunch. Wells will be joined by chef Scott Eddington in the kitchen, while in the role of restaurant manager will be Rachael Trewin, who's the current assistant manager at Automata. Meanwhile, Matt Darwon is overseeing the design. The fit-out is inspired by the Bauhaus movement of the late 20s, with cantilever chairs, cherry marble table tops and dark vinyl flooring filling the warehouse-style space. Wells has just returned to Australia after spending some time in Singapore, where he opened Blackwattle, his first venture in Asia. A1 Canteen will open on Wednesday, June 20, on the ground floor, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale.
For one magnificent spring day, Surry Hills will turn itself over to its beloved annual festival this Saturday, September 26. You can expect the usual explosion of creativity and music, with pop-up spaces, laneway experiments and hidden pop-up bars complementing all-day live music and markets in Shannon Reserve and Ward Park. And it's all free, free, free. Heading the music lineup are triple j favourites I Know Leopard, who'll be bringing their '70s inspired, celestial pop to Shannon Reserve at 9pm. Preceding them is quite the epic, eclectic programme, including the reggae-soul sounds of Lyre Birdland, indie-rock from The Civilians, The Stiffys and acoustic-folk from Sons of the East. When you're not kicking back to the music, you can get active on a self-guided tour of the Surry Hills creative trail, along which you'll meet all kinds of local artists and creatives. Or check out performance art piece Soapbox, inspired by the Speakers' Corner tradition.
The name Knowles may be synonymous with Beyoncé — AKA Kween Bey— but her li'l sis Solange isn't standing in any shadows. The singer, songwriter, actress, model and fashion icon has won a Grammy, starred on the front covers of magazines and released a chart-topping album — and now she's coming to Sydney. Solange will be headlining Vivid 2018's LIVE component, performing four shows on June 1, 2, 3 and 4. They will be her only Aussie performances this time round, and her first since she toured back in 2014 (aside from a one-off performance at H&M in 2015). And she has released a tonne of sweet tunes since — including her award-winning album A Seat at the Table, which hit number one in the charts in late 2016. So, in June, expect to hear Solange belt out hits such as 'Don't Touch My Hair' — the lyrics of which the London Evening Standard's editors probably should've heeded — and 'Cranes in the Sky', which won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. To get your hands on tickets, you'll need to enter a ticket ballot. To do so, head to the Opera House's website before midnight on Sunday, March 4 and register. Successful applicants will be notified on Thursday, March 8.
Make a list of the rare '70s and '80s classic vinyl titles you've long been hankering after, dust off your own collection, and get yourself to Cafe Lounge on Saturday, October 22. From midday, DJs and collectors will be gathering at the Liquorice Pizza Vinyl Swap-Meet to spend four uninterrupted hours immersed in records forMoVement Sydney. Show off your own cracking collection, flog your best ones for a small fortune and haggle till you get a good price for a rarity. While you're wheeling and dealing, party starters Rimbombo, whose members hail from Sydney and London, will be providing you with a soundtrack. Image: Edu Grande.
The end of the year is upon us, which means you've only got a few more weeks to get your art fix before 2018 rolls around. Stand out new exhibition will offer gallery-goers a look at the work of pioneering Australian female artists from the first part of last century, emerging photographers from the Australian Centre for Photography's student community and one Victoria-based artist who specalises in crochet. Plus, there's a couple of big summer blockbusters that launched in November you should try and see before 2018 is out. Below, we've put together a list of ten must-see exhibitions in Sydney this month.
We don't usually have to twist your arm to get you to sink a cold one or two. But, just in case you're in need of another excuse to go drinking this weekend, why not pair it with some social good? Presenting Wayward Brewing Co.'s Craft for a Cause. Yep, it's as good as it sounds. All you have to do is drop by Wayward Cellar Bar on Sunday, May 1 and try the brand new Rose Kölsch, which has been created specifically to raise cash for Cystic Fibrosis NSW. To make your beering experience extra-pleasurable, there'll be live music from 3pm and tasty bites courtesy of Jarrod's Shakes and Dogs. Can't make it this weekend? Panic not. Rose Kölsch will be on tap throughout May. Plus, on May 25, Cystic Fibrosis NSW will host Festivale, a blowout party at Wayward, featuring surprise guests, merch and more beer than you can handle. (Dare you to prove us wrong). Tix for that are available over here. "Many other countries have a rich tradition of the local brewery being a cornerstone for the community rather than a massive factory run by a faceless corporation," said Wayward owner Peter Philip. "Craft beer is different — it's small, hand-made locally and run by people you know who are part of the community. At Wayward, we aim to make local breweries a vital contributor to the community and we encourage local publicans and other craft breweries to do the same." Make Wayward one of your stops on a DIY inner west brewery walking tour...
For a whole year now, MakerSpace and Company has been providing Sydneysiders with a place to make, build and create. Hundreds of folk who'd long dreamt about blacksmithing, pottery, jewellery-making and bicycle-building have been getting their hands busy, while avoiding the costly overheads of workshop rent and gear purchases. Now, MakerSpace is turning one, and the team wants you to join them for a makery celebration. Head along on Saturday, November 19 for tours, demos, workshops and exhibitions. Everyone is invited, from curious newbies to regular visitors. One of the biggest drawcards is a collaborative blacksmithing project — loads of smiths will be getting together to hammer, bend, cut and weld before your eyes. Then, at 7pm, a street party will kick off. Expect a herd of food trucks, oodles of booze courtesy of Batch Brewery and a market, where you can get your Christmas shopping done before mad season hits properly.
If you're still mourning the extinction of Jurassic Lounge at the Australian Museum, time to stop your weeping; the brand new Tequila Sunsets is riding in on a white horse to rescue your summer nights. The Australian Museum will be bringing back the booze, the music and the general good times every Thursday night until the end of January for Tequila Sunsets - Aztecs After Dark. In keeping with the current Aztecs exhibition, which follows the blood-drenched rise and fall of the empire, the after-work crowd can enjoy the likes of Mexican food, Latin DJs and a "pinata installation" by Mexican visual artist Sergio Plata (who you may have seen at the museum decorating skulls earlier in the year). "The tremendous success of Jurassic Lounge has shown us that people enjoy coming to the museum to socialise after hours," says Tequila Sunsets program manager Sophie Masters. "Everyone is time poor ... Opening up the museum after hours gives everyone a chance to catch up with friends after work, enjoy a drink and explore the galleries and exhibitions at their leisure." Both the name and program suggest Tequila Sunsets is a more chilled take on the after-hours museum event. One absolutely mouthwatering highlight will come on December 11 when — in honour of the blessed fact that Aztecs introduced the world to chocolate — there will be a chocolate and beer tasting session, with beers provided by 4 Pines Brewing Company and acclaimed food scientist Galit Segev discussing the complex appreciation of both vital foodstuffs. Other talks in the program include discussions of ritual sacrifice in Aztec culture, Aztec astronomy and a feminist critique of the indigenous life before and after the empire's fall. Even after Tequila Sunsets wraps up, Masters says the Australian Museum is dedicated to the kind of community engagement that's enabled your nights of dancing next to dinosaurs. "At this stage [Tequila Sunsets] is being offered for a limited time only, as our Aztecs exhibition must close 1 February, but we may look at other after-hours programming in 2015 — so stay tuned for more." Tequila Sunsets is on every Thursday from December 4 until January 29, except for Boxing Day and New Year's Day. For more information and to book tickets, head to the Australian Museum website. Admission to the Aztecs exhibition will be two-for-one during Tequila Sunsets, so $12 if you go with a friend.
When the foodie gods close a door, they often open a window. Such is the case with Devon on Danks. After two years of serving up 63° eggs and 8am soft serve sundaes, the beloved Waterloo café, a spinoff of Devon Cafe in Surry Hills, will cease service in mid-September. That's the bad news. The good news is that before you can say "brunch", a brand new member of the Devon family will have popped up at Barangaroo. Devon's latest digs are expected to open by the end of October. Of course, it's far from the first big gastronomic get for The Streets of Barangaroo: Anason, Rabbit Hole and RivaReno to name a few are already trading, Matt Moran's three-storey salad bowl thing is coming, even the beloved Belle's Hot Chicken's pop-up is set to become permanent on the waterfront soon. "It's where the big players are going with some great restaurants, and we felt like we are ready to take that next step," said Danks owner Derek Puah. He also said that diners should expect something "a little different" from Devon 3.0. Now before you start fretting, that doesn't mean they'll be ditching their signature menu items. Rather, they're adding a bunch of new strings to their bow, including Asian style tapas and Japanese katsu sandwiches. Throw in a selection of beers, wines and cocktails, and suddenly the closure on Danks Street doesn't seem quite so bad. Look for Devon Café at Barangaroo in late October.
It's been 11 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival has announced its 2016 lineup. Returning to Singapore, Auckland and the five established Australian Laneway go-to cities, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a killer lineup. Following the previously leaked Hudson Mohawke and Purity Ring headliner announces, Laneway will see one heck of a crew on their unconventional stages. Odd Future's super outfit The Internet will be here, alongside Ninja Tune's bass monarch Thundercat and the return of Grimes (start losing your collective shit). Epic Scottish electronic crew CHVRCHES are headed back to Australia, with a few fellow return trippers — Baltimore dreamboats Beach House, American math rockers Battles are back with their new album, as well as Brooklyn's atmospheric foursome DIIV. Plenty of love for the onstage return of Big Scary after Tom Isanek finished up with #1 Dads, and there's sure to be a big ol' ruckus for Sydney wonderkid Flume back on stage. You'll be hard pressed to find a spot at Las Vegas hypecard Shamir's set, watching young Washington rapper GoldLink or the pretty, pretty Beatles-y Tobias Jesso Jr. Odd Future's Vince Staples is headed here too, following his OFWGKTA bud Tyler the Creator's ban from Australia. With beloved local artists like Hermitude, Violent Soho, The Smith Street Band and DMA's, this year's lineup is more eclectic than a Jenny Kee jumper. Enough talk, here 'tis. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP: Ali Barter* Banoffee Battles Beach House Big Scary Blank Realm** Chvrhces DIIV DMA’s East India Youth FIDLAR Flume GoldLink Grimes Health Hermitude High Tension Hudson Mohawke Japanese Wallpaper Majical Cloudz Methyl Ethel METZ Purity Ring QT Shamir Silicon Slum Sociable** Sophie The Goon Sax*** The Internet The Smith Street Band Thundercat Tobias Jesso Jr. Vince Staples Violent Soho * Exclusive to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne only ** not playing Fremantle *** Exclusive to Brisbane only ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL DATES AND VENUES FOR 2016: Saturday, January 30 — SINGAPORE (THE MEADOW, GARDENS BY THE BAY) Monday, February 1 — AUCKLAND (SILO PARK) Friday, February 5 — ADELAIDE (HARTS MILL, PORT ADELAIDE, 16+) Saturday, February 6 — BRISBANE (BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS, 16+) Sunday, February 7 — SYDNEY (SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, ROZELLE) Saturday, February 13 — MELBOURNE (FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) + THE RIVER’S EDGE) Sunday, February 14 — FREMANTLE (ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END) Tickets on sale September 30 at 9am from Laneway Festival. Image: Andy Fraser. Here's one for getting psyched up.
Warm your insides this weekend at the second annual Sydney Tea Festival. Hosted at Carriageworks, this daylong interactive event pays tribute to all your favourite teas, from specialty brews to the timeless English Breakfast. With dozens of stallholders, vendors, workshops and events, it seems like the ideal location for your Sunday afternoon cuppa. This year's tea market will feature 50 different stallholders from Altitude to Zensation. Sample as much tea as you like — tasting cups are only $4 at the door — and then relax in the Brew Lounge with some music. There will be food vendors on site selling an array of tasty snacks, as well as a number of stalls who specialise in teaware and ceramics. For those not content to simply sit back and sip, there are also a number of ticketed events throughout the day. Learn how to blend chai, participate in a Japanese tea ceremony, or find nirvana with tea meditation. There's even a workshop on pairing teas with desserts — and yes, you will get to sample both.
After 15 years as a major player on the Sydney art scene, Brenda May Gallery shut its doors last December to the disappointment of many. Now, luckily for all you art aficionados, it's reopening with a new identity and a fresh direction. Come March 1, MAY SPACE will be launching at a shiny new Waterloo address, not far from the previous Danks Street location. To celebrate, MAY SPACE is presenting FOURTEEN, an inaugural exhibition featuring works by each of the gallery's — you guessed it — 14 represented artists, with the aim of introducing new and old audiences to the renewed vision and orientation of MAY SPACE. The artists, who range from emerging to established, will show one standout piece of work that displays their artistic talent and distinct style. The exhibition runs until March 25, after which MAY SPACE's impressive line up of exhibitions is set to keep you occupied for the rest of the year. Image: Catherine O'Donnell, Urban perspective 2017, charcoal on paper, charcoal wall drawing, 277 x 160cm (overall).
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." Mark Twain knew. Bourbon, along with its siblings scotch and rye, has long cemented its place as one of the world's go-to spirits around campfires, in dark desert highway saloons, and in the most dim-lit of speakeasies. Barrel-aged and distilled in the United States (particularly in the South) since the 18th century, bourbon's an oft overlooked but beloved spirit, forming the base for some of cocktail history's biggest classics. We've delved into the history books to find the source of our favourite bourbon cocktails, from Don Draper's favourite, the Old-Fashioned, to the elegant Boulevardier, named after a 1920s Parisian magazine Hemingway contributed to. Plus, we've found some of the best in Sydney, so you can try them for yourself. Once you've made your way through the list, we reckon you'll be keen to get really into your bourbon. Thanks to Wild Turkey, one lucky Australian bourbon aficionado could be off to the US for a VIP behind the scenes experience at the home of Wild Turkey Bourbon in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It's a very special five-day 'Behind the Barrel' event hosted by legendary distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell from October 5-9, 2016. Head to Wild Turkey's Facebook page to enter. [caption id="attachment_576748" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Edsel Little.[/caption] BOULEVARDIER A strong-as-blazes bourbon cocktail named after a 1920s Parisian magazine? We're on board. It's said the Boulevardier was created by American writer Erskine Gwynne, who moved to Paris and founded The Boulevardier magazine in 1927. It apparently channelled The New Yorker, was targeted at upper-class expatriates, and included a casual piece or two from Hemingway. The publication ran monthly until 1932, but its eponymous cocktail is still alive and well on cocktail menus Sydney-wide today. If you love a Negroni (gin, Vermouth, Campari), you'll probably love a Boulevardier — it's essentially almost the same drink but with bourbon in place of gin, and slightly different ratios in the prep. High West Distillery in Utah even does a barrel aged Boulevardier, left to develop in American oak bourbon barrels for 120 days. Pew pew. Where to get a good one in Sydney: Nomad, Earl's Juke Joint. [caption id="attachment_576755" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Todd Page.[/caption] MINT JULEP A traditional Southern favourite in the States, the Mint Julep is a classic day drink for the picnickers and brunchers among you. This fresh little number sees a silver julep cup filled to the rim with bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup and crushed ice. It's pretty much been the official cocktail for the Kentucky Derby for around 100 years (around 120,000 Mint Juleps are served every year over just two days). The cocktail has been sweetening up social gatherings since around the 18th century. Kentucky-raised US senator Henry Clay is attributed to its invention, whipping up a few at Washington DC's Willard Hotel. Every ingredient from the cup to the ice was originally meant to blatantly show-off wealth — not everyone had ice boxes or top shelf bourbon lying around in the 18th century. Where to get a good one in Sydney: Shady Pines, Papa Gedes. [caption id="attachment_562218" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] OLD-FASHIONED The very definition of an 'oldie but a goodie', the Old-Fashioned is one of the greats (and Don Draper's go-to). It's often referred to as one of the first ever cocktails, developed in the US in the 19th century in various concoctions of spirits, bitters, sugar and water, and officially called an 'Old-Fashioned' (as a bourbon-based cocktail) at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a gentlemen's club founded in 1881. Robert Simonson, drinks writer for The New York Times, wrote an entire book on the history of the cocktail. "No single cocktail is as iconic, as beloved, or as discussed and fought-over as the Old-Fashioned," he wrote. "Its formula is simple: just whiskey, bitters, sugar, and ice. But how you combine those ingredients — in what proportion, using which brands, and with what kind of garnish — is the subject of much impassioned debate." One of the most debated components? Using rye, scotch or bourbon. Try all three, see how they compare and make sure someone else drives home. Where to get a good one in Sydney: Stitch, Grain, Surly's, Ramblin' Rascal Tavern, Easy Eight (for a popcorn version). [caption id="attachment_576754" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] WHISKEY SOUR Not always a rye venture, the whiskey sour gets a little sweeter with a bourbon base. Like all good cocktail histories, there are many versions of the drink's origin. The original recipe was included in Jerry Thomas's 1862 book The Bartender's Guide, and according to the Seattle Whiskey Collective, the earliest mention of the whiskey sour was on a Toronto saloon menu in 1865. Peruvian newspaper El Comercio de Iquique claimed the "whisky sour" was created by English steward Elliott Stubb in 1872. And there's a mention of a whiskey sour in Wisconsin newspaper Waukesha Plain Dealer in 1870. But the basic instructions for the cocktail could be much older than that. The constant? Those classic ingredients: whiskey (bourbon or rye), lemon, water and sugar (or simple syrup). The cocktail's defining touch, egg white, was added a little later — but makes all the difference. Where to get a good one in Sydney: The Baxter Inn, Surly's, The Whisky Room, Shady Pines, The Wild Rover. [caption id="attachment_576749" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dexter (yeah, it's in Melbourne, but look how cute it is).[/caption] PAPER PLANE An easy mix of bourbon, amaro, Aperol and lemon, the Paper Plane is a well boozy but refreshing cocktail for those keen for a libation with legs. It was created not too long ago by Melbourne-raised, New York-based bartender Sam Ross, according to the Village Voice. Apparently Ross named it after M.I.A.'s single of the same name. It's a great intro to amaro (a bitter Italian herbal digestif), as the bitterness of the liqueur is nicely balanced with the sweetness of the bourbon. Some modern mixologists sub out Aperol for Campari, however controversial or whatever that may be to you. Where to get a good one in Sydney: The Gilt Lounge.
Tuck into a lobster roll as tasty as they make 'em in Maine, when Sydney’s newest seafood eatery opens in Potts Point early next month. Co-founded by the owner of Darlinghurst speakeasy Love Tilly Devine, Waterman’s Lobster Co. will be located on the corner of Orwell Street and the outdoor dining hub that is Llankelly Place. Serving a mix of Australian and American-style seafood, Waterman's plans to present a simple, no-frills menu that you can actually afford. Serving lunch for seven days a week and dinner Monday through Saturday, the menu at Waterman’s will be split into three separate sections. Entrees including fresh clams, smoked mussels and fish rillettes with pickles will be priced between $12 and $17, while sides such as fish Caesar and purple cabbage slaw will cost you around $4 to $8. But the main attractions, of course, are the lobster rolls. Setting you back a pretty roll-standard $16 to $18, they'll be made with a range of local produce including Balmain bugs, swimmer crabs and Spencer Gulf prawns. Purists will also be able to enjoy a more traditional Maine or Connecticut style roll, with lobsters sourced straight from the Atlantic. "In our opinion, the cold water variety just has much better flavour and texture than the local spiny rock lobsters," says Waterman’s co-founder Matt Swieboda. "But in every other aspect, we’ve gone for local, sustainable ingredients, and some very un-American flavours." The owner and operator of Love Tilly Devine in Darlinghurst, Swieboda grew up catching and eating crayfish in Waterman’s Bay in Perth. Along with his childhood friend and co-founder Tristan Blair, he’ll be joined at Waterman’s by other co-founder Nate Hatwell (also ex-Love Tilly Devine) and bar manager Alex Carter (ex-Rockpool Bar & Grill). The latter will be responsible for the restaurant’s extensive drinks menu, with options ranging from East Coast American cocktails, American and Australian beers and a selection of local wines. Swieboda and co. recommend pairing your lobster with chardonnay, which sounds pretty damn good to us. Waterman’s Lobster Co. opens for business on June 9 and is located at 29 Orwell Street, Potts Point. For more information, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
For playwright David Greig, Norwegian Anders Breivik's shooting of 69 young people at a summer camp in 2011 stuck a chord too deep to ignore. Translating emotions into art certainly isn't a new notion, but his socially aware play The Events has really got us thinking about the aftermath of these tragic experiences. While gun-related violence is a huge global issue affecting countless lives, individual people turn to art to help them understand such heinous acts on a personal level. When it comes to The Events, we're focused on one woman and her story. Written with reference to the Anders Breivik case of 2011, the play won over crowds at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival for its delicate contemplation of community and compassion in the face of gun-related violence. Closer to home, director Clare Watson brings The Events to life for Australian audiences. Showing at Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre from May 12 to June 12, this powerful play explores theatre as a medium for social commentary and a means to personalise the events we see splashed across the headlines. Set in the halls of a fictional community centre, Catherine takes to the stage as Claire, a church minister responsible for leading the local community choir. After a young gunman tears the fabric of this group apart, Claire is forced to rebuild herself and her band of singers. We caught up with actress Catherine McClements, the lead in The Events.
Nothing screams spring quite like the bountiful new season menus popping up at cafes and restaurants across town. And now, the best of this local spring harvest is coming right to your doorstep, as Matt Moran delivers free (yes, free) produce boxes from his new Chiswick Veggie Van across the city this month. Celebrating the new spring menus launched at his Chiswick restaurants in Woollahra and at the Gallery, the acclaimed Aussie chef will work alongside Woollahra's head chef Tom Haynes to handpick a bounty of fresh produce from the restaurant gardens. Moran and Haynes will then load it into a converted 1960s van decked out in veggie illustrations and deliver the haul to a few lucky kitchens all over Sydney each Friday throughout November. The first round of produce boxes will be filled with the likes of blood oranges, eggplants, kale and golden nugget pumpkin, along with a guide for how best to use them all. Recipients will even score the recipe and ingredients for Chiswick's famed mint salsa, so they can recreate it in their own kitchen. "Spring is such a beautiful time at Chiswick," says Moran. "We are really excited to be able to bring a selection of our favourite spring produce items to our customer's door, so they can create their own dishes." Chiswick Veggie Van boxes will be delivered on November 10, 17 and 24. For the chance to score your own restaurant-quality veggie bonanza, register your interest here.
