Kraków makes for an enriching stopover if you're travelling through Europe on an extended trip. Though the city carries a notoriously sombre history, Kraków is an endlessly charming and friendly place to visit with plenty to discover. On the long list of eye-opening sights, expect castles and churches in the medieval Old Town, lush parks and bike paths, as well as Oskar Schindler's famous Enamel Factory and the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. There's no shame in following the well-worn tourist route — but when your feet are weary, the crowd fatigue starts to set in or you simply wish to do as the Cracovians do, consult this list of less obvious activities in Kraków. In partnership with Topdeck, here's the instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode four: Kraków. SAMPLE LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS IN THE JEWISH QUARTERS Venture south of the Old Town and you will wander into Kraków's historic Jewish Quarters. Once an independent town, Kazimeirz is a bustling and bohemian neighbourhood packed with synagogues, bars, cafés, food trucks and street art. Sample some of the local food truck delicacies, like polish fries or pierogi (a type of Polish dumpling) and take yourself on a street art tour. In between cobbled laneways and quaint courtyards, the area has an eye-catching range of murals, some of which commemorate the displaced Jewish community and former inhabitants. HIDE FROM THE CROWDS AT MASSOLIT BOOKS & CAFÉ On the outskirts of the Old Town you will come across Massolit Books & Café, a cosy place to whittle away an afternoon. This English language bookstore is stocked with an impressive range of literature. Although they specialise in Eastern and Central European literature, you'll find everything from classic and contemporary fiction through to politics, poetry and philosophy. They also host events such as literary readings, lectures and political discussions (though these are mainly in Polish). Settle down with some baked goods and a cup of coffee and enjoy hiding from the crowds for a little while. [caption id="attachment_595236" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pierogi (polish dumplings).[/caption] DEVOUR HOME-STYLE POLISH CUISINE IN THE CITY'S MILK BARS Poland's milk bars are an easy way to avoid tourist traps. These unique and unassuming cafés were established as early as 1897, but became popular as government-subsidised worker's canteens in the Communist era. Typically, the menu is short and simple, consisting of pierogi (those Polish dumplings again), omelettes, goulash and potato pancakes. It's deliciously hearty, authentic and affordable Polish fare. Some old fashioned milk bars have recently been revitalised, such as Milkbar Tomasza in the Old Town which has a more modern touch. On the other hand, Bar Mleczny in Nowa Huta hasn't changed since the '70s. TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO NOWA HUTA For an alternative spin on the city, take the tram out to Nowa Huta in Eastern Kraków. Funded by the Soviet Union and built in the architectural style of socialist realism post WWII, the area was envisaged as a utopian testament to the humble proletariat. It was also the site of many protests and solidarity movements during the dying days of Communism. These days, you can find historical remnants, such as the Ludowy (People's) Theatre and the Arka Pana church. It's an interesting place to visit — just a short tram ride from Kraków's city centre, but what feels like a completely different place. GET CULTURED AT BUNKIER SZTUKI While the monumental Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK) is probably the cultural kingpin of Kraków, Bunkier Sztuki offers something slightly different. Burrowed in the lush gardens encasing the Old Town, this cutting-edge institution is fringed with a little café and publishing house. With a focus on innovative multimedia, the gallery spans three levels and features emerging and lesser-known artists, mainly from Poland and Eastern Europe. QUENCH YOUR THIRST AT HOUSE OF BEER While Poland is more famous for vodka than beer, House of Beer is a fun and relaxing place to sample a hefty range of brews, particularly after traipsing up and down cobbled streets. Many of the drafts come from small to medium-sized breweries across Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Ukraine. The knowledgeable staff will give you some pointers and knock together a tasting paddle. You can also curl your mitts around a mulled wine in winter. HANG OUT WITH HIPSTERS AT FORUM PRZESTRZENIE The Brutalist silhouette of the Forum Przestrzenie looms large over the Vistula River. Once a major drawcard, the Communist-era hotel has fallen into disrepair. However, it has been repurposed as a vibrant hub of cultural activity – there are a cluster of clubs, workshops, bars and art galleries surrounding it. As there's plenty of space for diversity and reinvention, it's always changing. Grab a beer and a deck chair by the river at dusk, and then explore some of the nightclubs once you're acquainted with the area. EAT ZAPIEKANKA IN KAZIMEIRZ This historic round building nestled in the heart of Kazimeirz (in Old Town) contains a number of food stalls. Built in 1900, Okraglak in Plac Nowy is a popular market square where many of the vendors sell zapiekanka, a Polish-style snack featuring your choice of topping on half a baguette. It's insanely cheap and filling, making for a satisfying stomach-liner before sampling some of Kraków's nearby nightlife. The locals have their personal preferences; however Endzior seems to be a firm favourite. ADMIRE AWARD-WINNING DESIGN AT THE MALOPOLSKA GARDEN OF ART This recent addition to Kraków's cultural landscape is renowned for its innovative architecture. Boasting a multifunctional space, the structure is sleek and skeletal – casting sharp, geometrical shadows across the street. Out the front you will see a garden with a scattering of benches and a maple tree in the middle. There's a theatre, library and exhibition centre to explore once you're inside, and plenty of festivals and events are hosted here, so you'll always have somewhere to go if you come across a spare moment on your Kraków adventure. Visit Europe (including Kraków) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999.
Scientifically, the only way to watch the entire Academy Awards sober and survive is if you actually win one on the night. For everyone else, there's booze. Presenting our best shot at a Best Original Screenplay: Concrete Playground's 2016 Oscar Drinking Game. Remember to always drink responsibly and don't forget to thank your fellow nominees. One Sip Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses. Harrison Ford wears an earring. Diane Keaton wears gloves. Jennifer Lawrence does something adorably "real". Three drinks if she trips and falls. Leo’s date is his mother. Host Chris Rock makes three or more jokes about the Oscars’ diversity problem. A non-human presents an award. Three drinks if it’s Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 or BB-8. Winner thanks God or Jesus. Winner pays tribute to their "extraordinary" fellow nominees. Winner is played off by the orchestra. Winner describes their film as "important". Winner describes their film’s director as "a genius" and/or "visionary". Kate Winslet talks on the red carpet about how happy she is for her "best friend" Leo. Two Sips Chris Rock dresses up as the other black storm-trooper. Sylvester Stallone wins for Best Supporting Actor in Creed and delivers his speech using only the ‘A’ and ‘O’ vowels. Chris Rock asks if Meryl Streep wouldn’t mind giving Kanye a few of her Oscars to melt down and pay off some of his debt. Winner describes their film’s director as "a high-functioning sociopath". Travolta jokes that Scientology documentary Going Clear was "the best comedy of the year". Tom Cruise and Will Smith laugh heartily. Paul Haggis does not. Ryan Reynolds arrives dressed as Deadpool, just so no one forgets he’s finally had a hit. Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson perform a scene from Ex Machina dressed as Poe Dameron and General Hux. You’ve actually heard of one of the nominees for Documentary Short Subject or Foreign Language Film. Three Sips Bryan Cranston wins Best Actor for Trumbo. Pulls face mask off to reveal he’s actually Dalton Trumbo. Chris Rock explains how he thought The Big Short was just a Tom Cruise biopic. Joaquin Phoenix comes dressed as a 19th century blacksmith. Winner thanks Allah or Mohammed. Jennifer Jason Leigh begins her acceptance speech with "REMEMBER ME!?" and then cackles maniacally until she’s forcibly removed from the stage. Kate Winslet’s accent changes markedly throughout her acceptance speech in a nod to her performance in Steve Jobs. Having scored acclaim for his last two roles as a cosmologist with a motor neurone disease and a transgender artist, Eddie Redmayne asks if anyone wants to cast him as an electrician or a plumber. Ridley Scott and/or Harrison Ford offers a plausible reason for making a sequel to Bladerunner that doesn’t include the words "pay cheque". You’ve actually seen one of the nominees for Documentary Short Subject or Foreign Language Film. Finish Your Drink DiCaprio declines to accept his award. God appears and says he can only claim credit for the Best Sound Editing winner. The performance of 'Earned It' from Fifty Shades of Grey features five minutes of graphic S&M on stage. Winner for Spotlight thanks the Catholic Church "for making all of this possible". Peter Jackson announces plans to turn his valet parking receipt into an epic nine hour trilogy. Chris Rock doesn’t mention the Oscars’ diversity problem but performs a song and dance number in white face.
Ivan Sen and Aaron Pedersen have become one of the great double acts of Australian cinema. The former is a writer, director, producer, cinematographer and composer who first burst onto the scene with his debut feature Beneath Clouds, while the latter has lit up the nation's big and small screens in everything from influential crime television series Wildside to expressive Indigenous dance film Spear. Together they're the driving force behind two of the best local releases in the last four years, as well as the reason that their central character of Jay Swan is fast becoming one of the nation's enduring screen heroes. First, they collaborated on the sun-drenched western 'noir' Mystery Road. And now they're back to serve up the second chapter that is Goldstone. Like its predecessor, this companion piece explores the efforts of Pedersen's Indigenous detective as he investigates unseemly dealings in the remote reaches of the Aussie outback. But Goldstone doesn't just offer up another Swan-centric story (as pleasing as that concept is). No, once again, it not only navigates the country's distinctive landscape, but also provides a politically-charged examination of the complex state of the nation's race relations in the process. With the feature currently screening in Australian cinemas, Ivan and Aaron sat down with Concrete Playground to discuss the conflicts of their protagonist, the process of making movies in the middle of nowhere and what comes next for the duo. ON TELLING POLITICALLY CHARGED STORIES WITHIN GENRE CONFINES Ivan: "It's all inbuilt into the fabric of the character. He's a character who's a political character. He's an Indigenous police officer, and those two words together immediately creates a conflict within him — and there's a conflict on each side of him. Not many people trust a black cop from the Aboriginal perspective, and he's looked at with suspicion from the white side as well. They see him as a tool for them to liaise with the community, whereas he's actually there in the centre trying to help this community and keep people from being locked up. So he's just got all these political, social aspects inbuilt. And I think that's why when you place that into a genre arena, automatically you're going to have a genre effort that's going to have political subtext that's inbuilt from the beginning." ON RETURNING TO THE CHARACTER OF JAY SWAN Ivan: [Looking at Aaron] "He wanted a job." Aaron: "Yeah, I wanted a job. Nah, look, I was very inspired by the first one. I thought it was saying a lot of things. I thought he [Jay Swan] walked quite strong in the world. And as Ivan says, he's just a good man doing the right things — and I liked that. It was a simple profile of the man, but it was such a beautiful in-depth conversation he was having about the type of person you should be in the world. So I just said 'let's do it again, brother', because it seemed like people had gravitated towards him in a lot of ways. And throughout the whole journey of Mystery Road, not one person questioned the colour of his skin — they just thought 'good on you, you're doing the right thing'. And that for me was a win — and a coup — because you're trying to paint strong, male Indigenous images that are pertinent to helping this country, rather than being looked down at as a lesser kind of a person. So I just wanted to bring him back. I thought he had an audience, and he had people there who loved him, and people wanted to see him again — there was a bit of a hunger there. And I wanted to work with Ivan again, which not a lot of actors get the chance to do. So, it was a great chance to work with him again. And Ivan's note was: 'well, we just fuck it up a bit. We reshape it. We make it more jagged — and make a different film'. And the truth is, it works — you know? He's a little bit more damaged, but people are with him, so immediately people are emotionally connected, like 'whoa, what's going on here?' So he's already got friends and family in amongst audiences, so it felt like a no-brainer really. Obviously it's a lot of work to do it, whether you ask it or not. Ivan had a couple of other projects he was working on that didn't go the way he thought they might at the time, so it opened the door to write it. He sat down in a small period time — less than a fortnight — and penned the film, and then called me and said 'wrote it, bro'. And I was like 'yes! Here we go!' It's one thing to ask [for a second film], but it takes a lot to [actually] do it. So I asked the question and Ivan did the hard work for it. I'm glad I asked him. I didn't push it too much, but I wanted to see if he thought it was possible. For me, Ivan is heading in a direction that, if I don't catch him and ask him to do it now, then the stratosphere is his world. In years to come, it might be something we revisit later, but it was worth asking now." ON SHOOTING THE FILM IN OUTBACK QUEENSLAND Ivan: "To us, it's nowhere. Middleton's a pub, right? There's three people who live there. To us, it's just land. There's nothing there — there's no services. There's nothing that you need to look after a crew and house them and all that stuff. And we had to actually build the sets as well as our accommodation. To shoot a film out there, full-time, for under $3 million is unbelievable. It feels like a much bigger film than what it is. It's a couple of hundred grand more than my first film in 2002. And to look at it, it's quite an epic film." Aaron: "And we worked every day, really." Ivan: "Me doing five jobs helps the budget — I don't get the money for that, by the way." ON TRYING TO MAKE GOLDSTONE BOTH MORE POLITICAL AND MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN MYSTERY ROAD Ivan: "It's another stepping stone to a wider audience...and that's partly why I wanted it to be a two-hander. So Alex Russell [who plays Goldstone's only permanent cop], his character is white, with a country background, and people connect with him. As they do Jacki Weaver, as they do to David Wenham. So that was all conscious, you know. And you've got [Indigenous actors] Tommy Lewis and David Gulpilil on the other side. And Cheng Pei-pei. It's inviting the audience in to see different perspectives. I was joking out on location that it's like a trifle. You've got your favourite piece of the trifle — whether it is the cake or the jelly or the custard — and you go for your favourite bit. But at the same time you're going to taste the custard and the cake as well." Aaron: "I like trifle." Ivan: "It was a very consciously-made trifle." ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A THIRD FILM Aaron: "I've already planted that one, too. But it's true. What happens in our careers — whether my career or Ivan's — is unbeknown, but I know Ivan is a great creator of his own destiny too. So the question is asked for that reason — but where's the window for it? That's really all it is, because I know maybe he'd love to revisit it or even just look at it, but where's the window for it? I asked the question a lot earlier in the piece. We had the discussion in the Middleton pub during the shooting of this one and talked about it in bits and pieces over the whole shoot. So, the seed has been planted and there's a little bit of watering going on, but it's just a matter of where the window is." Ivan: "I had an idea, actually, about two years or a year and a half ago about a story — and after talking to Aaron out on location I realised that that story could be the basis of another. I mean, that story could've involved Aaron and just a totally different character, but we could see how [this story and Jay Swan] could interconnect...And the whole thing would be quite radical. And very different to the other two films as well. And extremely political." Aaron: "Extremely political. It's outrageous." Ivan: "It'll blow the walls out. But in saying that, it's extremely accessible at the same time because of that. Because that outrageousness is also what's attractive at the same time." Aaron: "Yeah, totally. Look, there's a lot of unanswered questions still, as there was in the first. And the first and second complement each other in a lot of ways, and they're separate, too. It's just about the time it takes place. In the three years since Ivan and I did the last one, our worlds have shifted — personally and privately — and that happens with the characters too. And they can shift quite enormously, and there can be quite the chasm between them. I always say this: look at the last image of Mystery Road and the first image of Goldstone. There's this chasm. You go 'hang on, have I missed a film here? What the hell happened? That's not the same person'. But it is. There's great beauty in how people make that connection, too. So, whatever that is, the leap that we're talking about won't feel ridiculous — it'll feel like life has taken place, and things have happened. And that's exciting too, because the excitement of shooting this film was the fact that it's the same character, but it was like you stepped onto another planet." Goldstone is currently screening in Australian cinemas.
On first sight, Stanley Donwood's retrospective exhibition, The Panic Office, is an impressive and ominous structure. Filling the centre of one of Carriageworks's largest spaces and pushing up against five-metre high industrial pillars on all sides, it looks like a bombarded barricade in a post-apocalyptic city. Corrugated iron, graffiti and rubbish. Most people visiting the Sydney exhibition (presented by Carriageworks and Semi-Permanent) will know Donwood best as the artist behind Radiohead's album covers since 1995, alongside other collaborations with lead singer Thom Yorke. But in this retrospective show — covering more than twenty years — we're given more than just a Donwood & Yorke nostalgia piece. The Panic Office, as you enter, has the feeling of an industrial labyrinth. Even more so, since the image of a weeping Minotaur fills the room dedicated to the Amnesiac album cover artwork. This maze-like space is a brilliant stroke in such a diverse exhibition. Each room feels complete and contains collections that, while focusing on a particular album cover's artwork, feel more like a glimpse at different narratives of Donwood's making. Perhaps in a play on the interpretive role he's often played for other people’s work, Donwood plans on completing the central room with a collection of public submissions where people have been asked to re-interpret his iconic pointy-toothed bear to adorn a grand obelisk. The role of collaboration in Donwood’s work is obvious, not least in the dominating audio piece produced by Yorke that soundtracks the exhibition. The process of putting together an exhibition covering decades has been daunting, but Donwood admits that in digging through the endless piles of work he has done with Yorke he has not been immune to the nostalgia of it all. "It's a bit like looking through old photograph albums, and you know, seeing your parents as young people. It seems like it's nice, but it's also a bit sad," he says. "I was thinking, when I was doing the first Radiohead album [Radiohead's third album, OK Computer], my daughter was two weeks old. Twenty years ago." While this collaborative relationship has clearly been very important to Donwood, it's his own distinct style across diverse subject matter that makes the exhibition interesting. His work seems to be filled with dystopic landscapes (much in the style of his favourite author JG Ballard) not least of which is the hellish 'goat boardroom' full of suited, hedonistic beasts covered in red paint. Donwood, however, is reluctant to find patterns in his own work. "I'm kind of worried about interpreting my own work too much. Because really I don't want that, I want other people to do that." Although he admits sometimes people have got it just plain wrong. He gives the example of one of his colourful landscapes chosen by the Glastonbury Festival organisers for last year's merchandising. "This painting made them think of the setting sun [at the festival] and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that what I intended it to be was a Ballardian nuclear flash, with the trees burnt leafless and dead. They thought it was a really cheerful image, and I was just like, OK. You want it on 15,000 t-shirts? That’s fine." Although this exhibition has allowed him to take stock of his career, Donwood promises that he won’t be slowing down in his art anytime soon. Right now, he's planning more collaborative work with Yorke in which he hopes he and the musician can together break habit and produce some non-narrative and non-figurative works. Asked what he would do with an unlimited budget, though, he has his own vision. "I'd like to build like a tower of Babel in this style," he says. "You can go up and up and up, but it's made of corrugated iron… It would be infinitely high and there would be no top and you'd just have to keep walking through this world." Semi-Permanent ticket holders have exclusive access to Stanley Donwood: The Panic Office from 21 - 23 May, including the opening party on Thursday 21 May. The exhibition opens free to the public Sunday 24 May – 6 June 2015.
Film buffs of Sydney, prepare to spend a whole lot of time in Double Bay. In the near future, heading to the eastern harbourside suburb to catch a movie or ten will become a reality thanks to Palace Cinemas' brand new location. Don't go jumping on a bus or train just yet, though — the just-announced site is still a couple of years away. In fact, an exact timeline for the Cross Street development hasn't been revealed, however, the new movie house will take over a space that's currently a carpark, and form part of a broader retail and residential precinct. Expect Palace to continue to showcase a lineup of arthouse and international fare, and add a new stopover to the itinerary of their many film fests (including Italian, British, Spanish, Latin American, American indie and Scandinavian-focused events), too. The state-of-the-art Double Bay venue isn't the only change that the cinema chain is making in New South Wales, with Palace Verona replacing its seating by the end of this year and upping their screens to eight by December 2017. Plus, up in Byron Bay, Palace is the middle of a revamp that will bring a nine-screen complex to the beachside town by 2018. The news of another cinema joining Sydney's array of film-going hotspots — and more screens being added to existing locations — is a far cry from the days when everyone one was worried about picture palaces dying out, and predicting that we'd all be spending our time streaming flicks on our phones. Okay, so the second part has actually come true, but the joy that comes from sitting in a darkened theatre, watching a film projected onto a giant screen and sharing the experience with a room full of strangers really isn't going anywhere. Instead, it's coming to even more places. If that's not cause for a celebratory trip to the movies, we don't know what is. Palace Cinemas opens in Double Bay soon, opening date TBC.
Long-time creative collaborators, Virginia Martin of Melbourne fashion label búl and photographer Kate Ballis have done it again. The quintessentially Melburnian team has come together anew, this time tempting us with easy, refined style and otherworldly prints for Autumn/Winter 2017. Ballis is renowned for her ability to transport you to surreal landscapes through her dramatic lighting and moody aesthetic. So, using the photographer's striking prints of mythical Icelandic landscapes, Martin and Ballis have gifted us with a capsule collection of wearable art and travel inspo in the form of five covetable pieces. Ballis' mossy mountains sloping into hazy waters create geometric effects across a simple búl shift. Her icy glaciers evolve into subtle motifs that ripple over a jacket, top and skirt worn all together or separate. The collaboration also yields a cushion capturing búl's understated sophistication and Ballis' ethereal landscapes. As a whole, the minimalist capsule is a dreamy, subdued mix of muted hues, clean lines and pared-back style, and we're ready to whip out our wallets to shop every piece. You may just find us packing our bags to go and become one with the mystical surrounds of Kate Ballis' Iceland like some immaculately dressed ice deity. Or you know, just donning fresh threads around the office like some immaculately dressed writer who's spent her last paycheck well. The búl x Kate Ballis capsule collection drops in store and online on March 17.
The Lobo Plantation crew should have no time for fun. Sydney legends and Lobo co-owners Jared Merlino, Mikey Hwang and Eddie Levy been way too busy of late. Jared's teamed up with Lewis Jaffrey (formerly of The Swillhouse Group) to create Oxford Street's hip hop cheese and wine bar Big Poppa's (opening next week), and Jared, Mikey and Eddie run one of the city's best cocktail spots, Lobo. But they've had even more on their epic to-do list of late: they're opening their highly-anticipated new cocktail bar next week. Named Kittyhawk, the bar will take over a space on Phillip Lane in the CBD, formerly occupied by short-lived '80s richo business bar Bondy's (the one with the $20,000 cocktail and a theme inspired by Alan Bond). It's a two-level space in the heart of the city, also once housing posh pub Bull and Bear. The ground floor will be opened first as cocktail bar Kittyhawk, and then word is that work will begin on a restaurant upstairs. Drinks-wise, their initial announcement suggested there'd be a focus on rum and rye whiskey, with super bartender Paige Aubort behind the wheel. And the trainings begin! Team Kittyhawk absorbing all of the Rum and Rye knowledge before we swing open the doors next week. Watch this space. @kittyhawksyd @paigeaubort @dre.walters A photo posted by Kittyhawk (@kittyhawksyd) on Jun 21, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT So, what theme have the Lobo crew chosen this time? AZBCreative has designed the joint, celebrated for their work with Lobo as well as Pink Salt, The Island, The Goodwill Society and pop-ups like Sydney's Duff Beer bar. Neither Kittyhawk's major owner Jared or his co-captains Mikey and Eddie haven't revealed much about the bar's layout or menu, we're taking clues from the name. Kittyhawk is an alternate name for a US World War II fighter aircraft, the Curtiss, and the bar's Instagram account seems to suggest a WWII-based theme, particularly focused around Paris during the Liberation in the 1940s. To give you more of an idea, the website looks pretty wartime: Kittyhawk opens in the CBD next week at 16 Phillip Lane, Sydney. Details TBC. Image: Lobo Plantation.
Gelato Messina has been around since 2002 and it aims to make ice cream the way it was done a hundred years ago. More than forty flavours are made daily on the premises and come at you via paper cup or waffle cone. Coffees and milkshakes are of a craftsmanship that tastes as artisanal as the main event, and there is a display of very beautiful ice-cream cakes before you even reach the main cabinet. Look out for the wild strawberry sorbet centre with vanilla semi-freddo and strawberry gelato, on a base of marsala and strawberry syrup-soaked sponge, finished with piped meringue and wild strawberries 'juliette' ( serves ten). And oh, the cabinet. Intensely-coloured sorbets in flavours like raspberry and blood orange; deep-coloured chocolates and caramels that seem to be made of velvet; swirls of cinnamon, fruit, nuts and biscuit that bear witness to the fact that these recipes get their flavour by actually putting in the things that they take their name from. Messina is a little bit of a hole in the wall and a very popular one at that, but it is worth fighting your way through for a look at (and a taste of) the wonders within.
In 1978 Robert Redford helped oversee the first Sundance Film Festival, an event originally designed to attract the cinema world to Utah. Four decades later, and that aim has well and truly been achieved. Come the end of January each year, the who's who of filmmaking rush to Park City for a feast of film surrounded by wintry snow. And, with good reason. Over the decades, Sundance has helped launch everything from Reservoir Dogs, The Blair Witch Project and Donnie Darko to Boyhood, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Manchester by the Sea. In 2017, two movies that we were excited about after their Park City debuts — Call Me By Your Name and The Big Sick — ended up on Concrete Playground's best movies of the year list. So did Get Out, which premiered at Sundance as a secret screening, wowed viewers around the globe afterwards and recently picked up four Oscar nominations. In short, the fest's lineup usually offers a reliable roster of the flicks to look out for in the months afterwards. With 110 feature-length films on Sundance's 2018 program, as selected from 29 countries, including 47 first-time filmmakers and culled from 3901 full-length submissions, there's plenty to tempt cinephiles on this year's bill. One of them, the amusing National Lampoon insider effort A Stupid and Futile Gesture, is already screening on Netflix if you're keen to jump right in. Another, Australia's own stellar Indigenous western Sweet Country, just opened in local cinemas. As for the rest, here's our picks of the flicks we're hoping to see on our shores soon. SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Earning more than a few comparisons to Get Out thanks to its smart social satire, Sorry to Bother You marks the directorial debut of The Coup frontman Boots Riley. A workplace comedy set in the world of telemarketing, it's the tale of a black salesman (Lakeith Stanfield) who suddenly discovers magical selling abilities. As his career takes a turn for the better, his artist girlfriend (Tessa Thompson) has some concerns. Acclaimed for its distinctive voice, its no-holds-barred humour and its provocative absurdity, it's one of the most talked-about flicks of the fest, and also features Call Me By Your Name's Armie Hammer in a memorable supporting role. Also watch out for: Blindspotting, the hip hop-style comedy co-written by and starring Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, who play two Oakland pals trying to get their lives on the straight and narrow. DAMSEL Two of cinema's best current trends combine in Damsel — everybody's making westerns, and Robert Pattinson is making, well, everything. Trust the folks behind Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter to bring them both together; if brothers David and Nathan Zellner can turn a Fargo-inspired urban legend into a thoughtful and intriguing film, then they can remake the Old West in their own comedic way, and take Pattinson along for the ride. The former Twilight star-turned-indie darling features opposite Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska, veteran Robert Forster, and the writing, directing and producing Zellners themselves. Also watch out for: The latest effort from Aussie filmmaker Claire McCarthy, Ophelia takes on Hamlet in a fresh, female-focused way, with Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay and Tom Felton among the cast. THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST You have to admire Desiree Akhavan's Sundance record. The writer/director's second feature marked her second stint at the festival, and it picked up the US Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic for its troubles. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, American Honey's Sasha Lane and The Revenant's Forrest Goodluck, and adapted from the novel of the same name, The Miseducation of Cameron Post follows a high schooler sent to a gay conversion centre. She might be stuck in a place of oppression and repression, but a sense of community springs among her fellow attendees. Four years ago, Akhavan's Appropriate Behavior proved astute, insightful and amusing, so expect good things. Also watch out for: Bisbee '17, the latest documentary from Kate Plays Christine's Robert Greene, this time exploring a different historical chapter: the Bisbee Deportation of 1917, where 1200 striking miners were taken from their home, banished from the town and left to die. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiakAVaXgU TULLY After completely hitting it out of the park on their first collaboration, Young Adult director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody and star Charlize Theron join forces again with Tully. Where their last effort was steeped in arrested development — the state of not quite growing up, not the TV comedy Theron once appeared on — this time around they're wading into the womb of motherhood. When Theron's stressed mother-of-three Marlo welcomes the titular night nanny (Mackenzie Davis) into her life, a bond blooms, as does an empathetic dark comedy anchored by two of today's best actresses. Your usual mum-focused movie, this is not Also watch out for: Laura Dern stars in The Tale, writer/director Jennifer Fox's handling of the tough topic of sexual abuse, following a journalist and professor forced to delve back into her childhood relationship with two adult coaches. KUSAMA - INFINITY Yayoi Kusama is everywhere. The Japanese artist's work is splashed across the walls of Australian galleries, she now has her own Tokyo museum, and she also features in a documentary at Sundance. Kusama - Infinity seems an apt title for many reasons, not only due to Kusama's famed mirrored 'infinity rooms', but also because the singular creative's adaptability, innovation and influence seems like it will go on forever. Understandably, writer, director and producer Heather Lenz spent years charting the course of Kusama's seven-decade career beyond the dots and pumpkins. Whether you're a fan or a newcomer, you're in for an informative ode to an artist like no other. Also watch out for: U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking winner Mind the Gap, the personal documentary not only made by Bing Liu, but interweaving his return to Rockford, Illinois to reconnect with his childhood skateboarding buddies with archival footage of their younger heyday. LEAVE NO TRACE It's been eight years since filmmaker Debra Granik made one of the first great films of this decade, won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and unearthed a star in the process. In Winter's Bone, the movie-watching world was gifted a tense family drama, as well as a career-making performance from Jennifer Lawrence — and Granik might've just done it again with Leave No Trace. Ben Foster features opposite acclaimed newcomer Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, playing a father and daughter living off the grid until their cover is blown. If you're thinking that it has been too long between fictional films for the exceptional writer/director, then you're right. Also watch out for: In Shirkers, Sandi Tan hunts down her own film — one she penned in the '90s, was shot on 16mm, but disappeared along with her mentor, friend and director Georges Cardona. THE GUILTY Winner of the audience award in Sundance's World Cinema Dramatic section, The Guilty is the latest Nordic noir effort exciting cinema-goers. And, following in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock, recent films such as Buried, Locke and more, it's the latest single-setting flick as well. From first-time Swedish helmer Gustav Möller, the movie finds its story in the police emergency dispatch department, as a cop takes a call from a kidnapped women. Starring Jakob Cedergren (The Killing, Those Who Kill), it's a claustrophobic ticking-clock thriller that has already started buzz about an inevitable English-language remake. Also watch out for: Idris Elba steps behind the camera with Yardie, a gangster effort that's also a tense coming-of-age film, as split between Kingston and London in the '80s. SEARCH Another favourite with the Sundance crowd, this time winning the audience award in the festival's Next section, Search gives viewers what we've always wanted: a decent online-focused thriller, and a showcase starring role for John Cho. Sure, other films have unfurled their content via on-screen computer screens, but this debut effort from 25-year-old writer/director Aneesh Chaganty has been pegged as a potentially huge hit — and it's likely a case of when, rather than if, it'll make it to Aussie cinemas. Cho plays a father worried about his teenage daughter when she doesn't come home one night, and doing what everyone would do in that situation these days, aka taking to his computer and phone to look for answers. With that in mind, Search also won Sundance's Alfred P. Sloan Prize, which is awarded each year to a film focusing on science or technology. Also watch out for: Pity, directed by Greek filmmaker Babis Makridis, and co-written with Dogtooth and The Lobster's Efthimis Filippou, about a man who proves happy when his wife falls into a coma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M HEREDITARY If it already sounds like this year's Sundance lineup has been doing what the festival always does best — that is, uncovering ace new talent — then Hereditary isn't going to change that perception. The first film from writer/director Ari Aster has been earning rave reviews for its take on haunting, grief-fuelled, despair-ridden horror, particularly in regards to its emotional depth and fleshed-out performances. Given the feature boasts an applauded turn by Australia's own Toni Collette, the latter is understandable. As for the story itself, it centres on a family's reaction after the death of their grandmother. Also watch out for: Nicolas Cage is back in the vengeance-driven Mandy, which sees Beyond the Black Rainbow director Panos Cosmatos dive head first into the pulpy genre realm. LIZZIE The story of Lizzie Borden has fascinated the masses for more than a century. Being accused and tried for the murder of your father and stepmother, but ultimately acquitted in a case that was never solved — well, that'll do it. Ballets, songs, operas, plays, novels, musicals, TV shows and films have all examined her story, with Lizzie the latest. Set in 1892 and starring Chloë Sevigny, it focuses on Borden's bond with her live-in maid, played by Kristen Stewart, while working towards the scandal that's now a matter of history. And if that doesn't intrigue you enough, it's billed as a psychological thriller, as well as a film that champions feminism and sexuality. Also watch out for: Four-time Independent Spirit Award-nominee The Rider, about a rodeo star yearning for the ring after suffering a head injury, from Chinese writer, director and producer Chloé Zhao. Images: courtesy Sundance Film Festival.
In Italy, rather than having a national dish (spaghetti and pizza hold the title to those outside of Italy), each region has a speciality. You'll find an abundance of the particular product served in the osterias and tavola caldas of the region (only the locals know where to find the very best) and it would be a crime not to order the dish. For obvious reasons, this concept doesn't really exist in Sydney; instead we have a wonderful diversity of cuisines. However, the Italians certainly know what they are doing – eating only the most simple, fresh ingredients, served in a fairly untouched way. The Buffalo Dining Club is doing exactly this; it is a little piece of Campania (a region in southern Italy) dropped into the backstreets of Darlinghurst. As you can probably guess, buffalo mozzarella and buscata (a mozzarella that is mixed with cream in the middle, tied up like a money bag and much softer than the buffalo variety). For $17, you order one of the cheeses and two vegetable sides (each one is $5 after that). With options like Balsamic Carrots, Portobello Mushrooms, Chargrilled Broccolini and Marinated Fennel it is a seriously tough choice. Order it with the Prosciutto or San Daniele (bought by the gram) and you have, in my eyes, a perfect meal. With crunchy little breadsticks, I could eat this meal three times over, every night of the week. If you're not quite full yet, there is pasta of the day, a burger or salad. Wash it down with a Trumer pils or a glass of wine (stick with the Trumer, apparently the wine list is a work-in-progress but it is expensive and not very inventive, or Italian for that matter) and you'll be patting your belly and whispering 'mamma mia.' It would have been one of the best food experiences I'd had in a long time but unfortunately the acoustics upstairs aren't great and the service is a little lacking. The good news is, these things are ironed out over time so don't hesitate, get in there before everyone finds out about and the lines stretch around the corner to Una's. If you're not a huge fan of Italian food, this may not be the restaurant for you, as the menu is small and simple. If the above appeals, be wiping away tears of joy when you visit this ingenious new venture by the Sticky boys. Images: Kimberley Low.
There aren't too many shoes we'd put in our own mouths, but Nike's latest release is a top contender. Set for release on April 2, Nike SB's new edition of the Dunk High takes inspiration from the ultimate fusion of fried savoury goodness and dessert breakfast — chicken and waffles. Screw inspiration, it literally looks like the damn dish, with textured waffle imprints, syrup drips and insoles covered in waffle-chicken illustrations. Only available at select Nike SB stockists, the 'Chicken and Waffles' Dunk Highs will walk out the door with hungry sneaker fans worldwide on April 2 at 10am EDT. Feast on these close-ups in the meantime and pass the napkins. Via Sneaker News. Images: Nike, SN and Dollar Photo Club.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Rest assured, we would never joke about something this delicious. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering morsels, free of charge, at their Topshop pop-up stores. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Topshop in the Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane CBD once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Students keen on doing some shopping can also nab 10 percent off their Topshop purchases, in case you needed any more incentive to rush along. Basically, Monday just got a whole lot brighter and tastier. Free doughnuts will do that. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
It's official, Seadeck has finally made it to Sydney. It took 18 months, 10,000 nautical miles and a run in with Egyptian pirates to get her here, but Sydney's permanent floating venue is ready to set sail out of the harbour's Superyacht Marina. It's happening, people. The final product is a 42-metre, 450-passenger, handcrafted vessel — from the handmade tiles and custom-designed brass bar to the bespoke furniture from every corner of the glove, everything you see was tailored just for this experience. Even the palm trees, standing four metres tall, took a dozen specialists to make to the right specifications. Each of the three decks is connected by sweeping staircases and cast iron lace railings, an homage to Hollywood's golden age of the '20s, '30s and '40s. Yes, it's the epitome of swank. But don't hop into your flapper dress just yet, because the ship still isn't welcoming the public aboard. We know, mega bummer. Public cruises likely won't start before the end of 2016. As much has changed since word originally spread about Seadeck's existence, we sat down with the team behind this massive venture — that's managing partner Scott Robertson (Future Music Festival, DIVISION Agency), executive chef Drew Bolton (Vine Double Bay) and design director Alex Zabotto-Bentley (AZBcreative). To set the record straight, it's not the party boat everyone thought it would be. "It isn't a night club, it's all about impeccable service, beautiful food and nice drinks," says Robertson. Bolton is happy to help with that, bringing the Vine ethos to Seadeck. "At Vine, we reinvent modern European flavours with great respect for regional produce," says Bolton. "At Seadeck, our food will also be very produce drive but more casual and playful," he adds. The focus will be on bar friendly snacks, like fresh ceviche, oysters and lobster rolls, but patrons should still expect the refined food experience that Vine exudes. The music focus has unfortunately been cooled by the foreshore authority, which banned all water-based parties back in 2014. You'd expect this to be quite the blow to Robertson, who has eighteen years' experience in the music scene, but he takes it all in stride. "Seadeck is what Sydney needs and also fits into the current rigid framework," he says. "We have the most beautiful harbour in the world and we want to reflect that while providing a luxurious experience." Design-wise, this lap of luxury is the handiwork of Zabotto-Bentley, who radiates passion about the vessel. "Imagine it's the 1930s and you're cruising the Nile or the Dalmatia Coast," he says. "The people on board were seen to be on a floating oasis in the middle of the sea, and that's what we want to recreate here." Zabotto-Bentley went on to explain the vibe on board. "When you go to the bar you don't just order a glass of champagne. You feel like you're in a space where you should only ever be drinking champagne." We'll toast to that. For now, Seadeck is available for private hire only and will not be open to the public much before the end of 2016. Check the website for updates.
Cocktail lovers rejoice! After months of false starts and delays, the owners of Circular Quay's award-winning Bulletin Place have finally cut the ribbon on bar number two. Located on the old Emmilou Tapas Bar site on Bourke Street, Dead Ringer will be serving up a killer menu of intriguing custom-made cocktails, with tasty looking bar food to boot. As with the opening of any new bar, our first port of call is the drinks list, and at a glance Dead Ringer doesn't disappoint. Standout cocktails include the Pineapple Adonis (sherry, vermouth and pineapple skin) and the Dixie Cup (vanilla pisco, ruby port and fizz) along with a caffeinated concoction called the Obligatory (tequila, cold drip coffee and maple) and a redskin flavoured julep named Red Dinger (redskin gin, blood orange and vinegar). Those after something a little less extravagant can opt for beer, wine or cider. But come on. Live a little. The food, meanwhile, ranges from bar snacks like pork jowl with rye crumb and mustard, chicken liver parfait with pickled veggies, and a cheese board with flatbread and honey, to sit down dinner options such as blood sausage with kohlrabi, ocra and yoghurt, lamp rump with black garlic mustard, and barramundi with romesco, mussels and onions. If you're still hungry after that you can order dessert in the form of pickled pineapple, shortbread and yoghurt granita, toffee ice cream with bee pollen and malt crunch, or as many pear bonbons as you like. Alternatively, why not enjoy one final digestif? The hot and cold buttered toddy made with scotch, muscat and Messina gelato should do just nicely. Dead Ringer is now open at 413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. For more information hit up their website. Image: Bulletin Place.
For the past 11 years, wife and husband duo Sam and Michael Kern have been dishing up decadent breakfasts and sumptuous lunches from Parc cafe in Randwick. Now, it's time for the local mainstay to turn over a new leaf. On Friday, Parc reopened its doors as Tucker, with a renewed focus on wholesome eats and more options for foodies on the go. "Over the last three or four years, takeaway has grown incredibly," says Sam. "So we've changed the style of service to suit that." Rather than going for a complete renovation, the Kerns have instead rejuvenated, extending on what they've already found so successful. "We do heaps and heaps of takeaway salads and meals," Sam says. "We've got a big fridge in the front of the cafe, but we've found that we can't keep up with production." Cue the installation of a new production kitchen that'll keep their signature salads stocked constantly in the shop, ready to service everyone from long-staying brunchers to tradies swinging through between jobs. The menu has tightened, too, with a whole slew of new burger and sandwich options making an appearance at lunch time. "We do really great sandwiches," Sam says of the cafe's staple. "We've still got all our salads that we change seasonally." After more than a decade as a leader in the cafe scene in the Eastern Suburbs, and with the possibility of expansion on the horizon, Sam says that the longevity they've enjoyed is due to sticking to what they do and doing it well. "We're not a cafe that tries to follow trends," she says. Instead, Tucker will follow the same rules that have made Parc so successful, those being dishing out good, clean, wholesome food with an emphasis on quality over quantity — and that sounds like good tucker to us. Find Tucker at 30 Clovelly Road, Randwick. Open Monday to Friday from 6am until 3pm, and Saturdays from 7am until 3pm. They'll be opening nights, too, in April. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Following months of public consultation, expert consideration and filtering through more than 1850 written submissions, former High Court judge Ian Callinan has handed down his independent review of NSW's highly controversial lockout laws, suggesting an easing of the time the lockout takes effect for live entertainment venues and an extension of the opening hours for bottle shops and home delivery services. The report was a whopping 150 pages, so we put on some coffee and enlisted Concrete Playground's Tom Glasson to dredge through it. Formerly an intellectual property lawyer with global law firm Allens Linklaters, Tom is a writer, TV presenter, national public speaking champion and film critic best known for hosting Australia's daily satirical news show The Roast on the ABC. Tom distilled the critical points for you below — because knowledge is power. [caption id="attachment_560774" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] BEFORE WE START, HERE'S A REFRESHER ON THE LOCKOUT LAWS "This is not about penalising responsible drinkers. It is about attacking the irresponsible acts of those who allow themselves to be intoxicated, whether by drugs or alcohol." (Premier Barry O'Farrell, 2014) In February 2014, the NSW State Government passed two new pieces of legislation designed to combat a perceived growing problem of excessive alcohol consumption and related violence in certain 'precincts' within the Sydney metropolitan area. These two laws were the Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 and the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014, which collectively imposed highly contentions restrictions including: Lockouts from venues imposed upon patrons who arrive, leave or were ejected from licensed premises after 1.30am; A prohibition on licensed premises selling alcohol after 3am; A prohibition on bottle shops selling alcohol after 10pm; and A prohibition on the home delivery of alcohol after 10pm. WAIT, WHO IS IAN CALLINAN? Justice Ian Callinan served as a Justice of the Australian High Court from 1998 to September 2007 where he was regarded as a Constitutional conservative, a 'defender of federalism' and an innovator in common law cases. Callinan is perhaps best known for his work on the extradition of Christopher Skase and his role in the infamous Fitzgerald Inquiry into Queensland police corruption. [caption id="attachment_560775" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] THE FINDINGS: SYDNEY LIVE MUSIC HAS BEEN CRUSHED BY THE LOCKOUTS "Musicians and other entertainers have been adversely economically affected by the laws." There it is, folks. Straight up. Callinan didn't beat around the bush on this front, and if there's one beacon of hope above all others in this review for those seeking a relaxation or complete removal of the lockout laws, it is this. Callinan acknowledged the direct link between both sales of alcohol and door charges to the financing of live entertainment, and accepted from the submissions that the lockout laws had resulted in a decline in live music venues and the loss of jobs for a number of performers. But then... "The extent to which such entertainers' livelihoods have been adversely affected cannot, however, be calculated." In other words, 'I believe you, but I don't know by how much'. Callinan suggested that many of the venues voicing opposition to the laws had failed to adapt to the new environment ("new habits are not always easily learned") and concluded that many venue operators had failed to make sufficient efforts for long enough to re-educate their customers to the changed hours and circumstances applying under the laws, and it's here that it aaaaaall goes a bit Grandpa Simpson. In Callinan's view, the solution is to simply offer shorter musical performances and have them play earlier in the evening. In other words: Matinee rock and roll, baby! In an especially 'back in my day' paragraph, he explains how many great Australian bands like Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, The Angels and The Screaming Jets achieved their success in Newcastle when most hotels closed at 10pm, and all by midnight [his emphasis]. This seems to entirely miss the point raised by so many of the laws' opponents that the burgeoning late night music scene that had only just begun to take shape when the laws came into effect had a distinct personality, audience base and appeal for which shorter, earlier performances simply wouldn't apply. There's perhaps no better example of this than when Radiohead's Thom Yorke dropped a surprise four-hour DJ set in Goodgod Small Club (RIP) back in 2012 after completing his concert at the Entertainment Centre. Under the current laws, this extraordinary event would have failed before it began, with Yorke not even being permitted entry into the venue. [caption id="attachment_560786" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] THE FINDINGS: SYDNEY, CLEANER AND SAFER? "I have formed the view that the two Precincts at night were grossly overcrowded, violent, noisy, and in places dirty, before the Amendments, but that after them, they were transformed into much safer, quieter and cleaner areas." Even before their introduction, the efficacy of the lockout laws was brought into serious question, sparking a number of debates, rallies and online protests / petitions — the more highly publicised of which would be lead by Sydney lobby group Keep Sydney Open. Now two years on, and following a thorough review of the available data, Callinan's report has determined the laws have resulted in a marked improvement across almost all desired metrics, most importantly in a reduction to admissions to emergency departments and a diminution in violent behaviour in both Kings Cross and the CBD. Specifically, St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst reported "a reduction of 24.8 percent in critically injured alcohol-related presentations during peak alcohol periods, and a 60 percent reduction in admissions to the hospital for assaults and single punch attacks in the period since the Amendments [lockout laws] came in to force." [caption id="attachment_560788" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] THE FINDINGS: SYDNEY NOT SEEN AS A GLOBAL CITY, BUT AN 'INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT'? "I can find no evidence either way as to the effect, if any, that the Amendments have had on tourism." Many of the submissions made to the Review Board suggested that the lockout laws were anathema to Sydney's status as a 'global city', and instead resulted in an international perception that the city was a 'nanny state' and an 'un-fun destination'. References were made in these submissions to New York, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Berlin and Tokyo as examples of contrast, however Callinan largely rejected this argument, noting: all but a few major cities in the world impose restrictions on the hours during which alcohol may be sold in licensed venues; all specify an age below which consumption of alcohol is illegal; and many have restrictions on the hours during which packaged liquor may be sold 'off premises' He concluded this point by saying, "I have not found persuasive the assertion that the laws have turned Sydney into a international laughing stock, and that Sydney fails as a 'global city' because of the Amendments. "Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and Rome are all cities in respect of which some laws of a similar kind (except as to lockout) are in force." [caption id="attachment_560791" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] SO, BEFORE THE LOCKOUTS, WAS THE TIDE ALREADY TURNING? "Natural attrition." Interestingly, both sides of this debate have at times criticised the statistics involved, claiming pre-existing trends have confused the issue and failed to reveal the true impact of the legislation. On the one hand, for example, when NSW Premier Mike Baird announced on Facebook in February that assaults in Sydney were down 60 percent in the the Cross, and 42.2 percent in the city, statisticians and the laws' opponents noted that the decline in violence was already in effect before the laws came into being, meaning they had merely accelerated the downward trend rather than effected it. On the flip-side, Callinan noted in his review that — on the topic of businesses closing in the Precincts — this too had already been in effect long before the laws were introduced, reflecting a widespread gentrification that had seen the former mainstays of brothels, strip joints and pubs replaced by apartment blocks, cafes and wine bars. [caption id="attachment_560779" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] WELL, THAT'S THE REVIEW... WHAT HAPPENS NOW? "In the end, and not without some hesitation, I have formed the opinion that whether the withdrawal or variation of the measures would impair the achievement of the legislative objectives could only be determined after a trial period and experience of them in a reduced form." The success of lockout laws notwithstanding, Callinan's review ultimately concluded that the negative impact on businesses and the live music scene was significant enough to recommend a two-year trial period of relaxed laws, during which time: the 1.30am lockout would be extended to 2am; the 3am last drinks call would shift to 3.30am; and the home delivery of alcohol would be extended from 10pm to midnight. In response, Deputy Premier Troy Grant said the NSW Government would consider the recommendations and deliver its response before the year's end, with most observers expecting they'll be adopted in full. As to the public response, the Keep Sydney Open movement applauded the decision and gave particular thanks for the recognition of the importance of (and impact upon) the live music scene, but criticised the overall recommendation as being largely tokenistic by only offering a half-hour relaxation on most fronts. In their words: "Thirty minutes will not bring punters back into the city, it will not save businesses on the brink from closure, it will not bring a sense of pride back to Sydney and nor will it impress the international eyes who are watching this saga unfold from afar". Instead, they and other opponents argue, the solution lies not in the lockout laws, but rather in improved transport, better police strategies, expanded CCTV surveillance, better lighting, encouragement for more diverse and inclusive after-dark activities, extensive anti-violence education and intervention campaigns, expanded small-bar licenses, greater attempts at directing a cultural shift away from binge drinking and the appointment of a Night Mayor — all of which, Callinan notes, come at a serious financial cost. Will the public's desire for reform outweigh their reluctance to pay higher taxes in order to bring that reform about? Time will tell. Top image: Kimberley Low.
We've just a festival of barbecued meats and a ceremonious gathering dedicated to bacon kicks off next week, so it's not surprising that a burger festival is next up on Sydney's culinary calendar. In fact, it's hard to believe no one has done it before. Essentially herding Sydney's best burger venues into the courtyard at The Vic, Burgapalooza is a burger aficionados wildest dream. There'll be six stations, with Pub Life Kitchen, Barrio Cellar, Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Bar Luca, Chef's Kitchen and Bare Grill each creating a custom burg for the event. They'll go for $9 a pop, and drinks will be available from the pub's bar as per usual. As expected, the festival has been created by hardcore burgies — that is, the guys behind the epic burger loving Instagram Hashtag Burgers. The festival is free and unticketed, so you can used your saved pennies on an extra burger. Or three. Seeing as there's six on-hand less than two strides from each other, it would be rude not to try at least a few. Burgapalooza will take place on Satruday, March 19 at the Vic on the Park Hotel at 2 Addison Road, Marrickville. For more info and updates, visit their Facebook page.
Prize Fighter caused a stir when it premiered at Brisbane's La Boite theatre in 2015. The first play of Congolese refugee Future D. Fidel, it tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a boy named Isa, himself a Congolese refugee, who uncovers a talent for boxing. Poised to win the national title, he has to overcome the horrors of his past – losing his family and being enlisted as a child soldier to the army that killed them – to beat his opponents. It received rave reviews and was nominated for Best Play and Best New Australian Work at the 2016 Helpmann Awards. This month, La Boite is bringing the production to Belvoir for the Sydney Festival. It features nearly all of the original cast, though Sophie Emberson-Bain has been replaced by Zindzi Okenyo (from Play School and OKENYO). Okenyo joins Pacharo Mzembe, who is again playing Isa and returns to Belvoir for the first time since their production of Gwen in Purgatory in 2010, Margi Brown-Ash, Gideon Mzembe and Kenneth Ransom. Image: Dylan Evans.
Tucked away in our big island home, It's easy to romanticise the idea of going overseas (The art! The culture! The cheese!). But while adult life sometimes keeps you anchored in one place, exploring your own backyard can reap some surprising rewards. If you've got a hankering to see something new but have run out of vital organs to sell for travel money, there's actually quite a bit to see around the traps. You can experience a whole different cultural side to Sydney, especially in the CBD, if you know where to look. Check out our guide to some of the best public art permanently installed by the City of Sydney — you might have literally tripped over it. TANKSTREAM – INTO THE HEAD OF THE COVE Tankstream – into the head of the cove is a subtle installation, equal parts memorial and art piece that you might have walked right over. Artist Lynne Roberts-Goodwin wanted to pay tribute to the subterranean fresh water stream that is the major reason for the city's settlement. When Captain Watkin Tench, a marine in the Port Jackson settler party in 1788 surveyed Sydney Cove he noted in his diary, "Into the head of the cove, on which our establishment is fixed, runs a small stream of fresh water, / which serves to divide the adjacent country to a little distance, in the direction of north and south." This passage is inscribed on five plaques throughout Pitt Street Mall (to represent the flow of the stream) that runs through Sydney and each plaque is inset with a two glass rods, shimmering as though water lies just beneath. SWIMMING A LINE The Victoria Park swimming pool is a beautiful old space with some classic Australiana details (you could totally imagine your parents swimming here in the '70s and it probably wouldn't look any different) but one of the most intriguing features is actually in the foyer. Artist Sue Callanan has a long history of designing site specific public installations and she absolutely nailed Swimming a line. A piece of Perspex runs the length of the foyer that mimics the crystalline netherworld you encounter when swimming laps, and the interplay of light creates a rippling surface that seems to mimic the pool outside. One you've probably run straight past on your way to cannonball glory. THE CITY OF FORKING PATHS The City of Forking Paths is unlike any art installation you've experienced. The project, created by Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, is designed to take you on a walking tour around The Rocks and open your eyes to the oldest part of the city. The experience, delivered through headphones and a smartphone, has been described as disorienting as visual and aural elements pull you along a path laden with contemporary and historical clashes. This hour of stories interwoven with history, performance music and videos, is a road best trodden alone. You can download the app to your phone or pick up a loaner from Customs House on Alfred Street. Just try not to bump into anyone. FORGOTTEN SONGS You may have already noticed the Forgotten Songs installation that runs through Angel Place from George Street to Pitt Street in the CBD, and while you may have thought it looks cool (bird cages are so hot right now) the piece has is the basis for a sad underlying message. The installation, designed by artist Michael Thomas Hill and a research team, represents 50 native bird species that were forced out of central Sydney by European settlement. Field recordings of the 50 different bird songs play throughout the installation, making it a peaceful place to stroll under albeit with a sobering lesson about the effects of colonisation and our place in the urban environment today. IN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS In Between Two Worlds is an immersive mural-installation hybrid on Hay Street in Haymarket. In 2013, artist Jason Wing covered the service lane's walls and ground in a swathe of blue clouds to represent the traditional elements that feature prominently in both Chinese and Aboriginal spirit lore. In China, clouds are considered auspicious (luck-giving) and Wing says the repeating cloud motif represents never ending fortune (definitely worth a walk through, who doesn't want good fortune?). The best time to visit is at night when a series of eerie spirits figures light up the sky above the mural.
Anyone old enough to remember the mid-'90s will likely recall that something happened on the world’s tallest mountain back in May 1996. Something bad. But how bad? Well, the specifics are probably a bit hazy. That’s why there’s always the great temptation with movies based on real events to look up what happened before you see them. Sometimes it’s to make sure you’re across the facts or so that you don’t get confused, but usually, if we’re honest, it’s so that we don’t spend the whole film wondering who lives and who dies. Everest is one such film, and whatever you do, avoid turning to the internet until the credits have rolled. Genuine, compelling tension is such a rarity in modern cinema that to rob yourself of the experience when it finally presents itself would be madness. And boy does it present in Everest. To behold the ordeal at the centre of this tale is to almost endure it on a miniature scale. The film is relentless and punishing, leaving you exhausted, shaking and breathless. "Human beings,” explains the expedition’s leader Rob Hall (played by Jason Clarke), “simply are not built to function at the cruising altitude of a 747. Our bodies will be literally dying.” Thanks to the extraordinary team behind Everest, you believe it. Heck, you feel it. This is an ensemble movie done the right way, where nobody engages in scene stealing despite some big names scattered throughout. Sam Worthington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Josh Brolin, Robin Wright, John Hawkes and Emily Watson all join Clarke with committed but reserved performances that ensure the focus remains on the film’s true star: the mountain. Granted that sounds incredibly trite, but the scale of this film and its sumptuous cinematography all serve to reinforce both the grandeur and the peril of such an extraordinary place; “another beast altogether”, as Hall described it. To date, more than 250 people have died climbing the mountain, and the means of their demise are more varied than you might expect. The difference between this film and so many other recent offerings, however, it that instead of sensationalising nature, Everest simply shows humility towards it. In light of its wretched and treacherous conditions, one well might question why anybody would ever even consider summiting Everest, but the film has an answer for that, too. Several, in fact. Some try for the thrill, others for the challenge, and one extraordinary mailman attempted it purely for the symbol and inspiration it might provide others back home. More importantly, though, for those who actually make it — those few exceptional climbers who literally reach out and touch earth’s upper limit — the moment of exhilaration and accomplishment is so powerful and affecting that you’re moved to tears. It is, in short, an exceptional and experiential film with a story steeped in both tragedy and indomitability. Worthy of its name, Everest is a staggering and spectacular piece of cinema that deserves to be seen.
Fans of the explosively colourful world of Japanese-born, Tweed Heads-based contemporary artist Hiromi Tango, or those with a generally elevated appreciation for colour, should check out Healing Chromosomes at Sullivan+Strumpf this month. Tango's work scans sculpture, photography, wide-scale installation and performance, drawing inspiration from her environment and the wider scientific community. Her practice is increasingly focused on exploring neuroscientific concepts, posing questions in "a quest to effect healing and well-being through arts". Healing Chromosomes invites us to ponder whether our chromosomes need healing from the impact of modern society, or if they already hold the key to our healing. The exhibition continues Tango's fascination with the emotional impact of colour and questions its relationship with the brain. Why do certain colours provoke certain emotional responses? Does memory affect our emotional associations with a colour? Are there cultural factors at play? These questions aside, Tango's work is also just really, really aesthetically epic. If you aren't familiar with her work, this could be a beautiful introduction. Image: Hiromi Tango, Healing Chromosomes (2017).
Sydney's sunsets are about to get a whole lot more dramatic, with the Sydney Opera House this morning announcing that they will light up the sails of the landmark nightly. Tonight it will launch Badu Gili, a new sound and light set in celebration of Australia's First Nations culture. Basically, it's like what the Opera House does for Vivid, but very single night. As the sun goes down each day — and then again at 7pm — the House's iconic sails will be illuminated with a projection of a vibrant seven-minute animation. The animation will explore ancient Indigenous stories, First Nations artworks and stunning soundscapes from Damian Robinson of Wicked Beat Sound System. This new work will build upon Songlines, the visual story projection that curator (and Head of First Nations Programming at the Opera House) Rhonda Roberts launched at Vivid Sydney last year. Badu Gili — which translates to 'water light' in the language of the site's traditional owners, the Gadigal people — launches tonight, Wednesday, June 28. It comes on the eve of NAIDOC Week, and coincides with the world premiere of Bangarra Dance Theatre's new production, Bennelong. Heading up the launch will be a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony from 5.30pm, followed by a performance by the Jannawi Dance Clan. If you can't pop by after work to see Badu Gili tonight, the Opera House will be streaming it on their Facebook page from 5.45pm. Of course, it will be on every night, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to catch it — nightly showing times will be listed here. Images: Daniel Boud.
Business is blooming at Garden Life. Founder, intrepid traveller and writer Richard Unsworth has expanded the Redfern store to a massive new location in St Peters in 2015. With the new 1100 square metre space presenting an array of outdoor plants, pots, planters, plant specimens, ceramics and accessories from around the world, you'll not only be inspired to revamp your garden but you'll also take a trip to countries such as Burma, India, Africa, Morocco and Italy. Some of Unsworth's latest international finds include vintage beach resort furniture reclaimed from a Tangier hotel, which definitely sounds like the building blocks of a garden we'd like to spend time in. For the official opening weekend on March 21 - 22, 2015, Garden Life will turn on the charm with chef and provedore Martin Boetz from Cooks-Coop selling his Hawkesbury produce (plus his famous roast pork rolls), a workshop from Urban Growers' Byron Smith and free edible plants and herbs with any purchase over $25.
The craft beer evolution is continuing to revitalise our drinking culture and increasingly specialist online retailers are getting in on the action. Offering the best independent labels that you won't find at your local bottle shop, they offer an exciting range of new drinking options. Here's our guide to some of the best places to buy craft beer online and get it delivered in Sydney. BEER STORE Come here to order Piss. No really, they've got a lager from Geelong Brewing titled 'Piss' on offer. There's plenty more besides, including craft beer heroes Mountain Goat, James Squire and 3 Ravens. They're also particularly good at stocking little seen but intriguing independents — see, for instance, their stash of Skinny Blonde, the brew of former Vines Drummer and craft beer guru Hamish Rosser. Reminiscent of Japanese beers like Asahi, it's a beauty, though hard to find outside of inner Sydney. The website layout is simple and intuitive, making it easy to get the beer off the computer screen and down your throat. HOPS AND CRAFT A curated craft beer subscription service, Hops and Craft is an intriguing new option for fulfilling your craft beer needs. Each month you get a dozen different craft brews from across the country, and their wealth of online content gives you all the tasting notes and background on the beers you need to become an instant expert. There are no lock-in contracts, so it's easy to give it a trial run. They have hundreds of craft beers in stock, so expect the unexpected, but you could find the likes of Sydney Brewery's light Glamarama Summer Ale, a Quiet Deeds IPA or a Boatrocker SMASH! Ale in your mixed dozen. BEER CARTEL Boasting an impressive 1,100 beers in their catalogue and products from the likes of Nepal, Lebanon and Brazil, it's safe to say that the range here runs quite a bit beyond the standard slabs of VB and New. With beers arranged by country, style and brewery, it's an easy site to navigate and the staff recommendations are a nice touch. You can also sign up to their monthly beer club, or pick up a mixed pack, perfect for either a gift for a beer connoisseur mate or for a tasting session. With such an overwhelming range, choosing can be tricky, but for an easy drinking variety, you can't go wrong with the award-winning Two Birds Taco ($12.50 bottle), a wheat ale perfect for your new Mexican feast. BEER BUD For those who know what they want when they want it, you can search beers by their type, by brewery, or by Australian region at Beer Bud. If in doubt, you can go directly to their Craft Beer and Craft Cider pages, but we really do recommend having a snoop around; their selection is insane. Beer Bud also has access to rare and limited releases that are often a little experimental and packed with flavour, including brews from Doctors Orders and KAIJU!. Low prices and fast delivery are all part of the deal at Beer Bud. CRAFTY BREW It's all about supporting independent Australian breweries at Crafty Brew. The greatest thing to do on Crafty Brew is to play on their Build a Box page. Select the quantity of beers you're after, the style (or styles) you like, the ideal beer strength and the price range. They will bring you a selection of possibilities to match your wish list and you can either skip over them or add them to your cart. It's like a personality quiz, but with beer. By Daniel Herborn and Hannah Valmadre.
This mind-blowing photograph of an erupting volcano hit by a lightning bolt has just won Mexico's Sergio Tapiro Velasco the distinguished title of 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. Take a moment to just absorb how inconceivable that shot is. His prize-winning photo, titled The power of nature, was taken outside Colima, Mexico. Velasco has been studying and photographing the Volcán de Colima for over a decade, and for good reason — known as the 'Volcano of Fire', it is one of the most active volcanos in Latin America. As the award recipient, Velasco received a envy-inducing ten-day trip for two to the Galápagos Archipelago with National Geographic Expeditions, along with a cool $2500 USD prize. Selected from over 15,000 entries from participants in more than 30 countries, this year's contest recognised photos in three categories — 'Nature', 'People' and 'Cities'. Velasco's photograph was so impressive that it didn't only win the grand prize, but was also awarded top prize in the 'Nature' category. In order to capture the photo, Velasco closely tracked the increase in activity around the volcano for nearly a month. On the night this photograph was shot, Velasco was stationed only 12 kilometres away from the crater. "When I looked on the camera display, all I could do was stare," says Velasco. "What I was watching was impossible to conceive, the image showed those amazing forces of nature interacting on a volcano, while the lightning brightened the whole scene. It's an impossible photograph and my once in a lifetime shot that shows the power of nature." Apart from the grand-prize winner, other top photos were selected in each of the three categories, with first, second and third place winners also awarded sizeable sums of $2500, $750 and $500 USD, respectively. The entries must have been taken in the past two years to be considered. In the 'Cities' category, Hungarian Norbert Fritz was awarded the top prize for his photo titled Levels of reading, and Turkey's F. Dilek Uyar took home the top prize in the 'People' category with his photograph, Worship. Judges for this year's competition included Nat Geo's senior photography editor Molly Roberts, award-winning underwater photographer Benjamin Lowy and award-winning adventure sport and documentary photographer Jody MacDonald, The rest of the winning and honourable mention photographs are included in our photo gallery above, or can viewed on the Nat Geo website. There's some real good'uns in there.
Just a few weeks after revealing plans for a huge, magical North Sydney venture, The Grounds of Alexandria has announced another new project for their foodie empire — one that involves heaving mounds of lime and meringue tartlets, salted caramel and chocolate goodies, freshly baked loaves of pigeon seed and ash white sourdough. You got it, The Grounds has opened its own bakery. Taking over an adorably quirky space at The Grounds' Alexandria headquarters, The Bakery extends the crew's already well-known love of baked goods to its own dedicated shop. Designed by an award-winning dream team — interior designer Caroline Choker and ACME&Co architect Vince Alafaci — The Bakery is an elegant 600 square metre, 40-seat, open format space, peppered with The Grounds' signature repurposed salvaged timber, hand-painted tiled artwork and signature green (you'll find it adorning the awesome new vintage fridge). While you're enjoying a cheeky scroll or two at the long table, you'll also be able to peek inside the bakery's open prep area and watch the wizards at work. "Like all that we create at The Grounds, The Bakery started with a feeling," says The Grounds co-founder and director Ramzey Choker. "The smell of fresh baked goods fills you with a sense of warmth, of family and of contentment; it's a smell that takes you home. And so I wanted to recreate a space that mimics those emotions, and allows people to immerse themselves in the beauty and feeling that the smell and taste of a fresh baked loaf can bring." Lead by group executive chef Paul McGrath, the team have been experimenting with a few new additions to The Grounds' celebrated baked good lineup, including an Asian-inspired version of European sourdough, the bamboo charcoal loaf. There's also the Lentil Du Puy, a new loaf made with French du puy lentils, yellow mung beans and red lentils. There's also the salted caramel and chocolate tartlet, or the pistachio olive oil and polenta cake with strawberry confit (gluten-free y'all). The Grounds HQ has been a hive of development activity, following the opening of the site's new soda bar and express bus service this year. The Bakery is open at The Grounds of Alexandria, 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria. Open Monday to Friday 7am-4pm and Saturday to Sunday 7.30am-4pm.
Australia’s first ever eatery dedicated to vegan superfood sushi is heading to Newtown this May. Vegan. Superfood. Sushi. That’s a whole lot of goodness rolled into one: delicious looks, cracking taste and insane levels of healthiness — plus no little critters had to lose life over your meal. But, to turn this culinary utopia into a reality, the team behind the operation needs your help. Love for all creatures great and small might come free, but cooking gear and refrigerators can get exxy. So a Pozible campaign is underway, with the goal of raising $9000 by May 2. The team is made up of mother and son duo and Superfood Sushi founders Pepe Marshall and Guy Renner. Pepe trained as a chef and owned a cafe in Auckland before moving to Australia a decade ago. She and Guy are already vegan superfood sushi experts, and have been serving up their creations at markets and special events for the past six months. “We developed the concept when we couldn’t find any plant-based sushi around, except for the boring, unhealthy, white rice rolls filled with avocado or cucumber,” says Pepe. “So we decided to make our own. Our main aim is to try and seduce people with food. Many people are under the misconception vegan food is boring; it is anything but boring. In fact, I think some of the most creative recipes I have followed and created have been plant-based.” Proof of that is Superfood Sushi’s current menu. Examples include Saigon Pickle (forbidden black rice, Vietnamese pickled carrot, daikon — a mild winter radish — baby corn and avocado) and Magic Mushroom (forbidden black rice with Portobello, enoki, oyster and shitake mushrooms roasted with garlic, balsamic and rosemary). But the favourite of Kym Staton, founder of the Sydney Vegan Club, is Mango Chick (eleven grain rice, asparagus, red capsicum, cucumber and rocket, topped with a mix of mango, chick peas, chilli and chives). “The flavours are to die for,” he said, “except no one had to die for it”. Pepe is continually experimenting with new flavour combinations, so diners can expect an evolving menu. “Cooking and food constantly consume me,” she said. “Whether I am reading, travelling or researching, I am trialling new ideas... Really, the possibilities are limitless in terms of variety.” The only boundaries are her insistence on seasonal produce — organic and locally sourced wherever possible — and her aversion to mock meats. “Personally, I am not a fan,” she said. “So I’ve steered away from them, focusing on flavoursome combinations of vegetables only.” The eatery’s exact location can’t be revealed until the DA is signed off, but we do know it’ll be at the Sydney University end of King Street, Newtown. “It’ll be an uncomplicated, cosy space with a central bar area, offering self-serve of individual pieces. We figure it’s good for people to be able to try a variety,” Pepe said. “Our ambition is a light carbon print, so our fittings will be mostly wooden and upcycled, but with a modern twist and some quirky additions. Needless to say, we’ll also have greenery around us. Knowing how much Sydney siders love their brew, we’ll have Chemex coffee and cold brew available, alongside an open fridge stocked with salads and wraps, plus a few sweety bits.” Superfood Sushi will join more than thirty vegan eateries in Sydney. “It’s great,” Kym said, “as it gives Sydneysiders another way to make kinder, greener and healthier choices via what they put on their plate.” Make Australia's first vegan sushi cafe happen by throwing the team some dosh right here.
Gone are the days when coeliacs and gluten-intolerant Sydneysiders had to live without buttery croissants, fresh loaves of sourdough, sausage rolls and eclairs. And it's all thanks to 100-percent gluten-free cafe Wholegreen Bakery. Opening its first permanent venue in Waverley last year, the bakery sells its goods outside of the eastern suburbs, too — including at some cafes, and at Carriageworks Farmers Market and the North Sydney Produce Market — but most gluten-free Sydneysiders make the journey to the east to pick up a haul. As of March 2020, though, they can also load up on their lunch break, with Wholegreen opening a second outpost in the CBD. To accommodate the crowds, the Clarence Street cafe is much bigger than its Waverley predecessor, with room for 60 diners. And it's baking bread and pastries each morning (six days a week) — unlike at Waverley, where some treats are only available on weekends. This means you can always get your hands on one of Wholegreen's golden croissants, pain au chocolats and loaves of sourdough to take home. That sourdough is made from organic quinoa, sunflower oil and organic brown rice syrup. Choose between plain, seeded, olive and rosemary, fruit (figs, raisins and orange) or activated charcoal and turmeric. Baguettes and dinner rolls are also up for grabs. Then there's the wide range of cakes and sweets, including dark chocolate and beetroot cake, espresso or caramel eclairs, lemon tarts, chai spiced carrot cake, banana bread and frangipane tarts. Plus dairy-free, vegan and sugar-free options. [caption id="attachment_764501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption] The lunchtime crowd can also tuck into spinach, silverbeet and feta pasties; ham and cheese croissants; slow-cooked beef and onion pies; seasonal veggie frittata; and quiche with smoky bacon, cheddar and caramelised onions. The cafe is licensed, too, so a cheeky lunchtime bevvie is on the menu — in the form of gluten-free wine and beer, of course. Cherie Lyden, Wholegreen's owner, got into gluten-free when her daughter was diagnosed as coeliac and needed to eliminate gluten from her diet. She quickly found she was "disappointed with what was available on the market" and, in an effort to lift the — sometime dismal — standards of gluten-free products, she started doing what no one else was doing at the time: making actually good gluten-free bread. She's operated the wholesale side of the business for six years now, and the Waverley cafe for four. Both cafes are 100 percent gluten-free — which is important because those that suffer from coeliac disease have a sensitive reaction to even a small trace of gluten — and are currently in the process of getting accreditation from Coeliac Australia. Images: Leigh Griffiths Appears in: The Best Bakeries in Sydney for 2023
Australia’s leading food rescue organisation is getting in on the pop-up trend. Opening in Pyrmont on Tuesday, May 12, harvested will serve up high-quality meals made entirely from ingredients destined for landfill — and they're calling on you to help generate buzz. Ready to spend the next three months making you rethink your lunch, the cafe is the brainchild of Travis Harvey; a chef with more than ten years experience in restaurants around the world. He's also the man behind OzHarvest's Cooking for a Cause program, which each year helps prepare thousands of meals using surplus food collected from supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and catering companies, and delivers them to people in need. "The idea behind harvested is simple," says Harvey. "It takes a challenge that OzHarvest and our food recipients have to face every day... what to do with surplus food that society has rejected because of its appearance, discolouration or slight imperfections? We wanted the public to experience this too, and see how good it can be." In order to help spread the message, the pop-up cafe will be giving away free lunches (free lunches!) on opening day, in exchange to photos shared on social media using the hashtag #mealforameal. Seems like a pretty good deal, especially since you'd probably have Instagrammmed your deliciously newsworthy lunch anyway. Harvested will be open for lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays until the end of July, operating out of a restaurant space donated by City West Housing located at 56 Harris St, Pyrmont. The menu will change daily depending on available ingredients, although they've already teased the likes of slow cooked lamb with vine leaf, house dried fig and walnut sauce, pumpkin quinoa burger with beetroot relish and chilli macadamia butter, double roasted spiced pork with rustic potato and house pickled cues, and spice crust chook with carrot puree and labneh. And to think, this was food people were throwing out. Meals will cost a flat $15, money that OzHarvest can use to feed up to 30 people. Thursday through Sunday evenings, the temporary space is also home to Baraka, a pop-up Middle Eastern restaurant run by Fouad Kassab, which also donates a portion of its proceeds to OzHarvest. It goes without saying, this is probably the most worthy pop-up of your time this week. Harvested opens on Tuesday, May 12 at 56 Harris St, Pyrmont. The pop-up will be open every Tuesday and Wednesday for lunch only from 11.30am – 2.30pm (until end July). For more information, visit www.ozharvest.org.
Have you ever felt the need to catapult through a cardboard city on a zipline? You're in luck, niche adventurer. Sydney's Festival's highly anticipated installation at Barangaroo, Olivier Grossetête’s The Ephemeral City, is already one of the festival's big drawcards this year. Taking over The Cutaway, this large-scale work will see Sydneysiders building an entire pop-up city in the cavernous space — one of the largest collaborative, hands-on events the festival's ever attempted. But before the city is destroyed on Australia Day, you can hurtle through the temporary city on a free flying fox. There'll be a first-in-first-flight free ticketing system in the venue — so get there bloody early. Find your way to the Cutaway, register for your flight and help build the city while you wait for one heck of a ride. The Ephemeral City's flying fox will be operating January 8–24 from 2pm–8pm. Closed Mondays. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
"The things you own end up owning you." With that one memorable line, Fight Club's Tyler Durden became an unexpected forebear to the current trend for minimalism. But we've got news for you, declutterers and ascetics: even with all that absence of stuff in your life, the experts can still tell a lot about you as a person. Meet Sam Gosling, professor of psychology at the University of Texas and self-styled 'snoopologist' (good word, you have to hand it to him). He's the author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, a book that explores how we project our personality in the spaces we create, and also how the spaces we inhabit influence our inner lives. He literally spends his life poking around bedrooms, offices, wardrobes, cars — anything you think is private is Gosling's lab. Ahead of his talk at Wired for Wonder in Sydney, we spoke with Sam about interior decorators, capitalism and our definitely awesome book collections. Can you give me a quick rundown of what you’ll be discussing at Wired for Wonder? I’ll be discussing how people affect space and how spaces affect people — both deliberately and inadvertently. There are things we can do — obvious things — to try and signal something to someone, but there are also things we’re less self-aware of. It’s these things that I pick up on and use to reveal things about the person who lives or works or socialises in that space. Based on what you see in someone’s house, can you tell what someone’s political leaning might be? We did some research in the US a few years ago which produced some surprising results. I think most people think that people interested in the arts tend to be closer to the left. But we found art and books about art have no relation to political orientation. However, we did find that someone who has sports-related decor in their space is likely to be more conservative, politically speaking. That said, it’s not so much what someone's interested in, as the number of things they're interested in. On average, if you have a narrow scope of interests, you’re more likely to be politically conservative. What do you think about professionally designed interiors? They can work ... but only if the client is genuinely able to convey what it is that they really want. Most people are actually pretty clueless about what will make them happy. When it comes to interior design people see things in magazines or on Pinterest and go, “There! That’s exactly what I want!” But the problem with this kind of wish-list making is that it’s impersonal. I work with the architect Christopher Travis – he’s amazing, a real visionary. He doesn’t ask his clients to describe their dream house. He starts by asking things like, “Tell me about a time in your life when you felt protected, loved. Now tell me about the physical space you were in.” And people will say things like, “My best memories are weekends away at my grandparents’ house when I was a kid learning to ride my bike on the gravel side road.” He’ll then somehow incorporate gravel into the design. Then again, trying to replicate an interior someone found on Pinterest might be important to them because they want their space to be on trend. So Christopher will ask other questions like, “What is it you want the space to say to your friends? Who do you want to be to these people?” I saw In the Basement at Sydney Film Festival. It’s an Austrian documentary about what some people get up to in their basements. There was an older, childless woman who kept a collection of dolls in shoes boxes. They were those dolls that looked incredibly life-like. She nursed them like real babies. I felt sad that these people had to hide away their passions, that their home wasn’t really a place they could express themselves. The thing is, the home has both public and private spaces. People put very different things in the living room than in their bedroom or the guest bedroom. That’s obvious enough. People may hide things away in a basement because those things are shameful — they may not be ashamed, but they think others will judge them. The other reason is because most of us want a space of our own even if we live with other people. The garden shed is at the back of the garden because it’s full of clutter, but it’s also out of the way because people go there to disconnect physically and psychically from the people they live with. Book collections can be revealing. Of course, what you own doesn’t always represent what you’ve actually read. I'm always a bit suspect when I see a whole shelf of those orange-covered, new-release Penguin Classics. Right. Apparently there are more Ramones T-shirts in circulation than there are Ramones records! That is, if you signal that you like The Ramones people will think you like a fleet of other stuff and have certain values. Our music and reading materials are increasingly being digitised. What are literary types turning to to flaunt their cultural cred? It might be harder for literary types to flaunt their hard copy libraries, but for researchers, the switch to soft copies of everything makes it much easier to gather data. I don’t just look at homes and workplaces; I’m very interested in how people display themselves on social media, too. Of course, on social media you can signal to your community what you’ve bought or what you’re listening to. In an article about the rise of minimalist living in this month’s New Philosopher, Oliver Burkeman writes, “Minimalism might be little more than the purging phase of consumer capitalism’s cycle of binge and purge.” Do you think it’s a genuine revolt or just a trend? Trend. Sam Gosling is the author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You. He will be speaking at Wired for Wonder, which is on in Sydney on August 26–27 at the NIDA Parade Theatre and Melbourne on August 28 at Central Pier Shed 14. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
French filmmakers are a busy bunch. Every year, the country's cinematic talent pumps out nearly 300 new movies — enough to rank among the top five film-producing nations in 2016, behind only India, the US, China and Japan. It's no wonder, then, that Australia's annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is always jam-packed with flicks, spoiling viewers for choice when it comes to Gallic cinema's latest and greatest. The fest's team clearly has plenty of picks to choose from, with their 2018 event touring 47 features, two documentaries and one television series around local screens until mid-April. This year's fest kicks off with the laughs of C'est la vie! thanks to The Intouchables duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, ends with rom-com 50 Is the New 30, and features everything from multiple Isabelle Huppert appearances to multiple César Award winners among its lineup. In short: there's more than enough on offer to make you think you're on the other side of the world, and not just in your nearest cinema. And if you need some help deciding what to see, that's where we come in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ietLhsUOuQ BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) When last year's Cannes favourite (and award-winner) BPM (Beats Per Minute) didn't make this year's Oscars shortlist for the best foreign-language film category, it was considered quite the shock. Come French cinema's own night of nights, the Césars, and the AIDS activism drama fared much, much better, taking out best film, editing, screenplay, score, male newcomer and supporting actor. It's easy to see why, the latest from Eastern Boys' filmmaker Robin Campillo is both intimate and wide-ranging as it explores the efforts of a passionate group to fight for acceptance and affordable HIV treatment in the early '90s. The writer-director himself was a member of ACT UP, the organisation at the movie's centre, adding an extra layer of authenticity — something the film already oozes courtesy of its naturalistic style, personal approach and exceptional performances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-haop2Ini0 LET THE SUNSHINE IN In Let the Sunshine In, Juliette Binoche plays a just-divorced 50-something artist attempting to find love again — and causing audiences to fall for the great French actress's many charms in the process. Take our word for it: if you weren't already a fan before seeing this thoughtful romantic comedy (and if not, why not?), then you will be afterwards. Headlining a distinctive change of pace from acclaimed filmmaker Claire Denis, Binoche glows even as her character struggles with re-entering the dating scene, navigating the ups and downs that go with it, and working out what she actually wants as she flits through a series of varying dates. When we saw and loved the feature at last year's Melbourne International Film Festival, we said it was "a smart, spirited and soulful exploration of affection and intimacy — as driven by Binoche's enigmatic candour — that cuts deep". We still think so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1KzHPDN1JI MRS. HYDE Another year, another Isabelle Huppert film in the AFFFF program. Anything else really is virtually unthinkable. The adored French star actually features in two of this year's festival flicks, but if the prospect of seeing the inimitable actress in a version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde doesn't get you excited, then nothing will. Lighter in tone than Robert Louis Stevenson's literary classic, and filled with commentary about class clashes in contemporary French society as well as laughter, Serge Bozon's effort is set within a Parisian high school. It also features a pivotal lightening strike and sees Huppert's stressed teacher undergo quite the transformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXSnlxctWLY BARBARA French singer Barbara gets the biopic treatment in the film that shares her name, but it's also much, much more than that. The third feature directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Mathieu Amalric, it's a tale about an actress (Jeanne Balibar) preparing to play Barbara in a biopic, and a director (played by Amalric) who's obsessed with his subject. Yes, there's a film within a film, as well as archival footage of the real figure herself, just to keep things even more ambitious. Adding further layers to the flick, Balibar — who just won the Cesar for best actress for her excellent efforts — was once married to Amalric. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihiS-A8yT2c REDOUBTABLE What's the French Film Festival without a dose of French film history? This year, they're delivering it in biopic form, focusing on one of the country's great directors and pioneers of the French New Wave. In Redoubtable, Louis Garrel steps into Jean-Luc Godard's shoes, following his relationship with his Weekend and La Chinoise muse Anne Wiazemsky (Stacy Martin), his career in the late '60s, and the surrounding French political and social unrest. Plus, for director Michel Hazanavicius, it's a return to making movies about movies after his Oscar-winning The Artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iIkM6OvK78 CUSTODY The heartbreaking drama, anxiety and tension of a hard-fought custody battle sits at the centre of this aptly titled effort, which first premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and has been garnering praise ever since. Actor-turned-writer/director Xavier Legrand plunges viewers into a social realist look at a divorcing couple and the 12-year-old son stuck in the middle, which might sound like a familiar situation. It is; however the first-timer favours naturalism and observation over heavy sentiment, and has earned many a comparison to the Dardenne brothers (Lorna's Silence; Two Days, One Night) as a result. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KK-uzPspoA DOUBLE LOVER Another AFFFF favourite — but behind the lens — François Ozon (Frantz) is back in psychological sexual thriller territory with Double Lover. Yes, as the name gives away, there's duplicity involved. It's rarely a good idea to fall in love with a psychoanalyst in these kinds of films, so when former model Chloé (Marine Vacth) does just that with Paul (Jérémie Renier), there's unexpected consequences. Fans of Swimming Pool, In the House, Young & Beautiful and The New Girlfriend will know just the mood, tone and simmering unease they're in for, as well as the all-round provocative air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgHtE9OzrhU ISMAËL'S GHOSTS Films about filmmakers are a definite trend at this year's AFFFF. And not just that — films starring Mathieu Amalric as a filmmaker, too. The aforementioned Barbara director and star plays the titular Ismaël in Ismaël's Ghosts, who's just about to get immersed in his latest project when the past comes calling. Also featuring Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Redoubtable's Louis Garrel, the movie is the latest from My Golden Days' Arnaud Desplechin, and opened the Cannes Film Festival last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbsuPXa9KJA THE WORKSHOP Another effort with a connection to Cannes, The Workshop not only premiered there last year, but was directed by 2008 Palme d'Or winner Laurent Cantet (The Class) and co-written with BPM's Robin Campillo. The drama unfolds at a creative writing workshop, where participants clash over more than just writing, and their novelist teacher (Marina Foïs) doesn't quite know how to react. With Cantent known for his naturalism, like Campillo, a portrait of modern-day France emerges as the feature plays out, delving into fears, fractures and friction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7nw6RhYwgI IF YOU SAW HIS HEART It mightn't be a French Film Festival without Isabelle Huppert, but it's often not a film festival at all without Gael Garcia Bernal. This time, the Mexican favourite stars in this French-language effort from first-time writer/director Joan Chemla. Taking inspiration from the work of Cuban author Guillermo Rosales, If You Saw His Heart follows a man holed up in a hotel and at a loss after the death of his best friend. The result promises a hefty dose of existential malaise, plus South of France scenery, all served up with Bernal's usual charm. The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from February 27, screening at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace from February 27 to March 27; Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from February 28 to March 27; and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from March 8 to April 4. For more information, visit the festival website.
Ever wanted to work directly with the world's most recognised performance artist? Here's your chance. Kaldor Public Art Projects are looking for project facilitators to lend a hand for their upcoming escapade, Marina Abramovic: In Residence, in which the controversial artist brings new and existing performance works to Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay. Yep, Marina Abramovic wants you for her Sydney army. Over June 22 June to July 5 (with three full days of personal Abramovic training from June 15 - 17, alongside collaborator Lynsey Peisinger), you'll be part of the Gallery Team, present in Abramovic's installations with the artist herself, helping guests with guided interactions in the works, coordinating visitors amd supporting Abramovic to deliver one kickass exhibition all-round. Keen? Let's see if you've got the goods. According to Kaldor Projects, "Applicants should have an interest in long-durational performance art and be comfortable interacting with the public. Performance experience is not required but is welcomed. The role requires the ability maintain focus for long periods; people with long-durational practices, such as dance, meditation, sports and yoga, are encouraged to apply." You'll also need to be over 18, and experience interacting with an audience and engaging with the public is preferred. Got that CV ready? If you're interested in applying, you'll need to submit a short biography by Monday, April 13 April "detailing your artistic practice, professional experience or interests that relate to the requirements of the role" to project30@kaldorartprojects.org.au. For more info on Abramovic's Sydney project, click here. For more info on the facilitator role, click here.
Horse racing has copped a fair bit of criticism over the last few years, and with the internet bringing to the table new and fun ways to throw money away (Kim Kardashian’s phone game, eBay and this wonderful device) why would a sane adult waste time on fascinators and animal cruelty when you could, you know, go to the pub and bet on where exactly a Shetland pony will lay a turd? This is an elaborate way of saying that The Vic is putting on an anti-Melbourne Cup day event that defies the nation's obsession with watching horses race and gives birth to a new obsession: watching them crap. The ‘Shitting Shetland’ game is, um, exactly what it sounds like. A live Shetland pony will spend the afternoon in its own VIP fenced off area, marked with a grid. Punters can buy a square on the grid and at the end of the day, the square with the most horse poop on it wins the kitty. The rest of the takings will generously go to the NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust, a charity that helps rehabilitate former race horses. It’s… it’s… well it’s actually genius and sweet and a little weird in a good way and probably stinky and sounds so much better than paying through the nose for a watery champagne in a plastic glass at the race track. They’ll also be donating to the same charity through drink sales, which is a hope-4-humanity moment if ever we’ve seen one. Here’s hoping this idea catches on in pubs and malls across Australia.
The art of a restaurant reopening is a subtle one. If you skew too far away from the original vibe of the establishment, you risk isolating your loyal clientele. But if you play it safe, you lose that wow-factor allure (which is surely the whole purpose of a reopening in the first place). Thankfully for Paddington residents, the beloved Bellevue Hotel — which has stood stoically on the corner of Hargrave Street since 1880 — is reopening after seven long months of renovations, and it looks like they've really hit the mark. The Bellevue building always had good bones but now it’s gone under the knife and has been totally transformed. The renovations have classed the place up a bit and the vibe is now more of a gastropub with an impressive-sounding menu to match. The bar menu offers the kind of fare you want to shove down your cake hole after a bottle of shiraz. Start with the cheese board with five types of cheese and complementary accompaniments ($29), pretend to be healthy with the kale chips drowned in salt and vinegar ($6) and once you’re warmed up, grab the Bellevue burger ($19) with a dry-aged beef patty, cheese pickles and fries. Did we mention that this is just the bar menu? If you want something a little fancier, book in for a one-, two-, three- or six-course winter menu experience, which sounds nothing short of life-changing. A main of roasted pork jowl with parsnip, kale and malt vinegar jus? Yes please. And we don't think we'll be able to walk past the chocolate tart with salted caramel and earl grey ice cream. On top of this bounty of goodness is an impeccable-looking wine list, classic cocktail menu and wide choice of international and craft beers. Oh Bellevue, we have a feeling we’re going to like the new you. The Bellevue is located at 159 Hargrave Street, Paddington. For trading hours visit their website.
There's a reason Sydneysiders love their city so much. Beneath the reputation that our lovely lockout laws have un-wilfully bestowed on us, there's an unbeatable combination of food, drink, beaches and atmosphere that you won't find anywhere else in Australia. The trick is that you just have to know where to look for it. That's why we're here. If you're in the mood to treat yourself, book yourself a flight, then book yourself a room at Pullman Hyde Park (try and get the suite that's designed by Matt Blatt) then indulge in the luxury that Sydney has to offer. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we've created a guide so you can make sure you're getting the best of the best in a limited time frame. When you're in the mood for some sunshine — what's better than a spontaneous weekend trip? [caption id="attachment_587798" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kepos Street Kitchen. Image: @stillsbyrash via Instagram.[/caption] SATURDAY On a quiet, leafy corner in Redfern, you'll find a laid back cafe serving some of the best brunches in town. It goes by the name of Kepos Street Kitchen, and it's the perfect place to start your weekend in Sydney. Israeli-born chef Michael Rantissi has earned a Good Food hat for his creative Middle Eastern dishes. Try the warm hummus with burnt butter, poached egg and taboon bread, or granola with berries and halva yoghurt. Whatever you order, the plates are designed for sharing, so get into sampling as many flavours as possible. From there, it's a half-hour stroll westwards through Redfern's park-dotted streets to Carriageworks. This left-of-field arts centre is housed inside the huge spaces of a former rail yard. At any given hour, you'll see art installations, dance experiments and live gigs. Saturday, though, is always farmer's market day, an event overseen by chef Mike McEnearney. More than 70 growers and producers congregate to peddle their organic and biodynamic wares. Try handmade sweet treats from The Dessert Makers, truffles from Hartley, the latest bakes from the Bread and Butter Project, goat's cheese from Willowbrae and loads more. You can coffee and dine on the spot, as there's plenty of freshly-cooked fare available, or stock up on picnic supplies. [caption id="attachment_587145" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Chowder Bay walking track.[/caption] Speaking of which, your next stop takes you to the harbour, where a good portion of any Sydney weekend should be spent. Jump on a ferry at Circular Quay bound for Taronga Zoo. Walk east and you'll soon find yourself on a track surrounded by bush, and weaving in and out of secret harbour beaches and lookouts. Keep an eye out for water dragons and kookaburras, as you continue for four kilometres, eventually landing in Chowder Bay. If the weather's nice (which it will be, it's Sydney), pack your swimmers because there's a harbour pool. A fine glass of red is on offer afterwards in the East Coast Lounge, alongside hand-stuffed olives with almond, lemon and chilli. Come evening, make your way to Potts Point, where a string of small bars and eateries have popped up over the past few months. A favourite with the locals for pre- (and post-) dinner cocktails is Jangling Jacks, opened in January this year by artist Orlan Erin Raleigh and her partner Jon Ruttan, founder and former owner of Mojo Record Bar. The walls are covered in classic rock 'n' roll posters — from Tom Waits to David Bowie — and the signature cocktail list features classics with a creative twist, like the Tiki's Hummingbird, which is margarita, with the addition of a homemade sherbet rim and a dash of orange blossom. [caption id="attachment_587146" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Powder Keg.[/caption] Just a stumble down the road, you'll arrive at The Powder Keg. This 17th century inspired hideaway owns the biggest collection of gin in the Southern Hemisphere. Take your pick with your tonic of choice or go for a cocktail, like the Honeymead Sour (vodka, apple liqueur, honeymead and organic cider). The quirky menu includes quail scotch egg with smoked potato, crispy pancetta and mushrooms, as well as oysters with gin and tonic sorbet. [caption id="attachment_587154" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rose Bay.[/caption] SUNDAY There's no brighter way to start a Sydney Sunday than with a trip to Bondi Beach for brunch overlooking the ocean at Jo and Willys Depot Cafe. You can expect high standards — it's owned by a former Olympic sprinter by the name of Heather Turland and her son Guy, who's CV includes Icebergs. Tuck into the ultimate hippie breakfast: poached eggs on red rice and organic quinoa, piled with toasted seeds, hummus and kale chips. For the least interrupted views, grab a seat on the pavement. Once you're fuelled up, you'll be ready for a paddling adventure. Pop over to Rose Bay and hire a kayak from Rose Bay Aquatic Hire or Point Piper Kayak Centre. If you feel like playing it safe, keep to the shore, following it towards Point Piper or Vaucluse. Otherwise, get brave and paddle out to Shark Island, which lies about a kilometre from the shore. With its sandy beaches and grassy slopes, it's one of the prettiest islands in the harbour. Before landing, call (02) 9253 0888 to buy a national park entry ticket or, should you have a spare $3300 on you, hire the entire place for your own private use for the day. [caption id="attachment_587156" align="alignnone" width="1280"] 10 William St.[/caption] Next up, you're heading into town for a spot of lunch. In Paddington, swing by 10 William Street. Owned by the team behind Fratelli Paradiso, this pocket-sized bar is a simple, stripped-back and has excellent food and wine. On the international drinks list, you'll find drops from Italy, Portugal, France and Switzerland, while the tapas-style menu features dishes like citrus with white radicchio and black olives, and quail with sesame and daikon. Post boozy lunch, leave time for a casual stroll around Paddington. William Street is home to a handful of super-cute boutiques, selling everything from antiques to hair cuts to fancy clothes. Wander to Oxford Street, heading towards the city, to visit Parlour X, an extraordinary collection of designer fashion handpicked by Eva Galambos and occupying St Johns Church. Just down the hill, you'll come across Paddington Reservoir. Once Paddington's main water supply, it's now a sunken garden, inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. For the grand finale, you're heading to Circular Quay to visit the Pullman's newly opened Hacienda. This Cuban-inspired bar calls itself a 'botanical oasis'. Garden trestles and luxe pastel furniture are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, looking over Sydney Harbour and the city. The folks behind the design — Applejack Hospitality - have also taken care of Bondi Hardware, The Butler and Della Hyde. As you might've guessed, you'll be sipping on Cuban-influenced cocktails, like the Old Smoked Presidente (aged rum, orange curacao, dry vermouth, house-spiced raspberry syrup and Angostura bitter). Meanwhile, the menu represents a Cuban-American reunion, with fusions like yuka fries, buttermilk fried chicken and pork neck mojo. You also have the option to finish off your weekend with a drink at Mobius Bar and Grill — it's a convenient 500 metres away from the terminal at Sydney airport. Pullman Hotels and Resorts make a great base to explore Sydney for a weekend.
For many moons, there’s been a secret passed around the ranks of students and young adults: Aldi sells $5 wine that’s actually not awful. In fact, those who’ve sampled it would know that ‘not awful’ isn’t strong enough. Now an official ruling body has declared what we young bohemians have known for a while now: Aldi’s $5 wine is objectively good wine. The Sydney International Wine Competition has announced its winning wine list for 2015, judging the top 100 wines from an entry pool of nearly 2000 and Aldi’s $5 bottle of 2014 South Point Estate rose has picked up a Blue Gold award in its blend category (just FYI the Blue Gold award is official proof that Aldi wine drinkers actually have good taste and aren’t just peasants). Aldi also won awards for their $12.99 bottle of Tudor Central Victorian shiraz and a $14.99 Blackstone Paddock “The Player” Barossa. So ner. So what do the judges look for in a good wine? Well firstly, the competition acknowledges that not all wines are created equal so they divide the plonk into categories according to palate weight – lighter, medium, fuller bodied dry whites (lol at wine terminology sounding like a sick burn) and dry reds. The wines are judged solo, then judged against other wines in each category. Then they pair each category with appropriate food and score on how well each variation complement the flavours of the meal. Then, and only then, do they aggregate the scores and hand out awards in each category. Check out the website to scope out the rest of the results and figure out the best and cheapest wine for your taste. But how do Aldi manage to sell an award winning wine for only $5? Aldi’s buying director told The Huffington Post that the secret is in the low overheads, a simplified range to cut distribution costs and understanding the young consumer. Oh Aldi, you do understand us. All we want in this life of sin is a $5 bottle of award-winning wine. We're just gonna leave this link to Aldi Liqueur online here, along with the fact that they deliver a case of 12 wines to metro areas for only $7. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. Via The New Daily. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
In the wonderful world of booze, Drambuie is one of those quiet achievers. It's had a colourful history – it was invented by a Scottish prince in the 1740s and spent years in the spotlight as the key ingredient in classic cocktail The Rusty Nail. It's been a back bar staple for decades, but it often hides in the background, subtly sneaking into your cocktails without drawing attention to itself as the star. Just like all of the best old-school gems, Drambuie is making a comeback. Bartenders all over the city are getting creative and giving the whisky-based liqueur screen time in their contemporary cocktails, shaking and stirring it into popularity once again. Sydney jazz club The Swinging Cat is celebrating the notorious liqueur with A Night With The Nail, a series of Prohibition-themed pop-ups every Thursday night throughout October and November. Peter Fischer, owner of The Swinging Cat, tells us that Drambuie is infused with a blend of heather honey, herbs and spices. It's 40% alcohol per bottle (that's high), but it has a sweetness that balances out the intensity of the whisky and the alcohol content. Historically, Drambuie is a solo drink, usually served neat or on the rocks. For those keen to try out an old-school Drambuie fix at home, Fischer recommends serving 60mL on the rocks, with a lime wedge to cut through the liqueur's sweetness. Passionfruit or other citrus works brilliantly too. It's not a liqueur that's renowned for being used in cocktails, but that's something he is trying to change. Drambuie plays the starring role in the specially curated cocktail list served at A Night With The Nail. To help you acquaint yourself with Drambuie, Fischer has kindly provided us with a couple of cocktail recipes. The first is the Rusty Nail, in which Drambuie is mixed with a dark spirit like Monkey Shoulder whisky – the Swinging Cat's bartenders are tipping this as their personal favourite match. It's sophisticated and complex, yet simple enough for you to whip up at home after a long day at the office. The second cocktail is the Ella Fitzgerald – a blend of passionfruit and caramel. With it's vodka base, it's perfect for those curious to try Drambuie, but who aren't so keen on those dark spirits. So head to the bottle shop, grab a bottle of Drambuie for your cocktail cabinet and get experimenting. THE RUSTY NAIL 40ml Scotch Whisky 20ml Drambuie Lemon twist Method: Serve in a rocks glass. Build over ice in a rocks glass and stir. Garnish with a lemon twist. THE ELLA FITZGERALD 30ml Vodka 30ml Drambuie 20ml Passionfruit puree Dash Lemon juice Dash Apple juice Edible Orchid (for garnish) Serve in a Martini glass. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice, shake and double strain into Martini glass. Serve with an edible Orchid garnish. A Night With the Nail is on at The Swinging Cat every Thursday for three months from September 7.
Sydney bakeries these days are in hot competition for your dough. There aren't many left just churning out simple loaves of white bread — now it's all about sourdough, fruit loaves, croissants, cronuts and cruffins. But not all of them rise to the occasion, so we're here to sort out which establishments you knead to visit, and which crumby ones you can be gluten-free of. It's the Concrete Playground Crust-See Sydney Bakery list — so use your loaf and follow it. BOURKE STREET BAKERY It's been written about, blogged about, hyped by almost every foodie and has queues out the door every single day — so is Bourke Street Bakery actually all that good? Um yes. Yes it is. One bite of their buttery and crisp ginger brulee tart and you'll be working out how you can schedule in a visit here every day of the week. The loaves of bread for sale are excellent — all the sourdoughs are solid and last for about a week, but the fig and cranberry is our favourite served toasted with butter or with ham and brie for an incredible sandwich. The beef brisket pie and lamb and harissa sausage rolls are so good you won't even need a squeezy packet of tomato sauce. Grab a dark chocolate and sour cherry cookie for later — you won't regret it. Various locations, but the original is 633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills IGGY'S BREAD There's a reason so many cafes around Sydney trumpet the fact that they use Iggy's bread on their menus. It's got an intensity of flavour, a solid crumb and a chewy density that somehow never feels too heavy. The queues spilling down the street will alert you to exactly where this humble shopfront is, though the staff are efficient and the wait is never all that long. The dark rye is our pick — malty and slightly sweet, it's perfect paired with fresh tomato, avocado and just a sprinkle of salt. The cranberry pecan rolls are also amazing warm with a dab of butter. Textbook croissants and legit bagels are perfect morning snacks, as you trot home with the weekend's bread wrapped snugly in your bag. 49 Belgrave Street, Bronte BREADFERN We like puns. We also like the smell of hot, fresh bread spreading through the streets of Redfern. Breadfern's ethical and organic approach to bread making also ticks a lot of boxes, as do their custard tarts and cheesy spinach rolls. In short, there is a whole lot to love at this corner bakery. Run by the legends at Tapeo (literally across the road, and yes they use their own bread in those legendary breakfasts that you've probably inhaled many times), all the loaves are made daily and onsite. Tuck a crusty olive sourdough under your arm to take home, but first grab a chicken pie and chocolate caramel tart to smash in the park that's also literally across the road. 308 Chalmers Street, Redfern OREGANO BAKERY It's like a sweet snowstorm. What seems like three kilos of icing sugar is somehow packed on top of the best cinnamon scroll you've ever tasted, all buttery gnarled layers coated in spicy deliciousness. The scrolls at Oregano Bakery may have made this place famous, but their pizzas are also mindblowingly good — try a 'meat pizza' with lamb, onion, tomato and herbs scattered across a traditional Lebanese-style pizza base. But you'll want to save room for those scrolls, whether you go for the cookies and cream, salted caramel or tahini and sesame you won't be disappointed. Grab a box to take home — they'll disappear in minutes. 56 Connells Point Road, South Hurstville GLENORIE BAKERY There's outdoor seating, a decent breakfast menu and award-winning pies but it's the quality of the bread that keeps us going back to the Glenorie Bakery. The seven-seed sourdough is golden brown, crusty and coated with seeds – hunks of it are perfect with a hearty winter soup. The ciabatta is great to take on a picnic with some sliced meats and cheeses. You may also get distracted here by the pastry counter – dozens of éclairs, tarts, cupcakes and other sweet treats vie for your attention. The quiches are also better than your average bakery, while the beefy meat pie has been voted Sydney's best in past years so try one to see if it makes your list. Shop 4, Old Northern Road, Glenorie GOOSE BAKERY It's the pastries that set this place apart. Croissants that are somehow dense with butter, yet light and flaky. Try one of them spiked on top with toasted coconut for a flavour combo you will want to come back for. The golden danishes and brioche studded with fruit are also worthy partners to the bracing cups of coffee served here. It will come as no surprise that the owners and bakers trained at Bourke Street Bakery — the cake counter and loaves of bread wordlessly attest to that. The only real shock is that this place doesn't yet have massive queues out the door, despite the incredible reasonably priced breakfast menu. 38 Ross Street, Forest Lodge SONOMA Another bread brand that Sydney restaurants and cafes boast on menus about stocking, Sonoma sourdough loaves are dense, chewy and delicious — reflecting the years of work that went into perfecting the recipe in the NSW country town of Bellata. The family-run business now has seven cafes spread across Sydney selling this bread, as well as treats like the signature 'Morning Bun' that's like a cronut on citrusy steroids. The cafes also take coffee super seriously, so make sure you grab a takeaway when you pop in for a morning loaf. Various locations including 32 Birmingham Street, Alexandria BAKEHOUSE ON WENTWORTH Maybe it's the cold mountain air, maybe it's the hike we just finished but the pies at Bakehouse on Wentworth are just totally irresistible. The beef and Guinness has crisp, short pastry and rich gravy as well as recognisable chunks of wonderful quality beef. The almond croissant is also worth a mention — it tastes of actual almond meal rather than artificial almond flavouring. Loaves of bread are also available for takeaway — the garlic loaf has whole cloves of caramelised garlic studded across the top. Keep the winter vibes going and rustle up a casserole to serve it alongside. 105 Wentworth Street, Blackheath ST HONORE Good French-style bread is surprisingly hard to find in Sydney. Finding a baguette with a light, moist crumb and chewy intensity of flavour is rare in this city of sourdough, but St Honore wears its Coeur on its sleeve, serving traditional, excellent loaves and breadsticks. The sourdough here is also excellent, with a starter that's been passed down so long that a baker tells me he's not quite sure exactly how old it is. Add in moist banana bread, creamy and moreish fruit tarts and a large variety of choux pastry treats and you're in for a French flavour explosion. 2/40 Miller Street, North Sydney KNAFEH It's a bakery, but not as you've ever seen it before. This pop-up bakery is inside a shipping crate, and moves locations every couple of days. You won't find loaves of sourdough inside – instead turn your attention to a plate of their namesake 'knafeh' dessert – pronounced ku-nah-feh – which is sort of like a baked cheese pudding with a crunchy coating. It's served piping hot and has a stretchy, oozing quality. You add your own sugar syrup so make it as sweet as you like – and don't even think about sharing because you'll want the plate all to yourself. It moves – check their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for the latest location HONOURABLE MENTIONS Infinity Sourdough Luxe Bakery Wild Cockatoo Black Star Pastry Brickfields Top image: Oregano Bakery. All other images c/o venue except Breadfern (Shannon Connellan).
For eight years, Pilu Kiosk — the cafe-shack at Freshwater attached to the eponymous double-hatted restaurant — was a Northern Beaches go-to for coffee and paninis. After closing down and being revamped, it reopened in March 2017 as Pilu Baretto. For avid food connoisseurs, this means Italian wines, cocktails and fresh Sardinian dishes within view of beautiful Freshwater Beach. Design-wise, the team kept the space's beach shack look and feel, with the addition of a copper-topped bar, timber surfaces, greenery and seating along the existent hedge overlooking the water. During the day, beach-goers can expect traditional cafe fare including muffins, toasties and paninis. As the sun goes down, Pilu Baretto's menu shifts to a sophisticated selection of Italian dishes — think cured meats, slow roasted pig with pumpkin, quince and buffalo fru, scallops with chickpea cream, chestnut mushrooms and Pilu bottarga, or squid ink spaghetti with mussels, cuttlefish, tomato and friarielli. Match your choices with Italian wines by the glass, craft beers and creative takes on classic cocktails. Appears in: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney for 2023
The inner west officially gets all the Fringe fun. After hunkering down in Newtown last year, this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival has its sights set on Erskineville, with the suburb tapped as the home of this year’s official Festival Village, a suburb-wide hub. The 2015 program includes more than 300 performances across 50 different venues in five different main locales — Newtown, Erskineville, Marrickville, Redfern and Surry Hills. Erskineville's Festival Village will play host to the official opening night party, Fringe Ignite, on September 5, with a prohibition-themed gin bar run by Young Henrys and a 1920s-style speakeasy lounge. Other festival highlights include a day of Indigenous art, music and performance in Redfern; a silent dinner party hosted by internationally renowned artist Honi Ryan at Marrickville Town Hall; a masquerade horror installation (whatever that means) in a warehouse; and a two-week partnership with the Chaser's Giant Dwarf theatre. Image: Late Night Library at Sydney Fringe.
In the space of one month, you can learn the 'Nutbush' for six hours, check in with Sierra Leone's courageous fashion choices post-civil war, and find neon caves, giant, glowing phalluses and large-scale demon murals lurking inside the Art Gallery of NSW, MCA and Carriageworks. Paradigms be damned, this month, Sydney galleries are putting eclecticism first. Whether an autumn storm's raging or the city's immovable humidity is too much for you to bear, find your way to Sydney's best galleries this April for candy-coloured models of Palm Springs, eerie landscape photography and Xanadu roller skating displays. By Lucy McNabb with Matt Abotomey, Imogen Baker and James Whitton.
No doubt you're pretty busy keeping up with Australia's gangbusters craft beer scene. Whether your go-to is Four Pines, Young Henrys or James Squire, our local brewers are always on-the-go with cracking new ideas — from beer that tastes like Anzac biscuits to a porter that lives up to any chocolate dessert you can throw at it to a drop that doubles-up as breakfast, made from banana bread and coffee beans. As it turns out, our international beer-worshipping brothers and sisters are far from dragging the chain. Here are ten of the best craft brews you'll find outside of Australia right now. FUBAR BY TINY REBEL (WALES) Introducing the 2014 Champion Beer of Wales. This unique brew, first released in February 2012, arrives on your tongue with a floral, hoppy blast and leaves with a satisfying, spicy aftertaste. FUBAR is the flagship for Tiny Rebel, a craft beer company started in 2008 in a Welsh garage, where founders Brad and Gazz would home brew for fun on the weekends. Last year, the duo opened Cardiff's first craft beer dedicated bar and, in August, followed up FUBAR's triumph when their red ale, Cwtch, was named 2015 Champion Beer of Britain. PELICAN NOIR BY PELICAN BREWING CO. (US) Pelican Noir's cinnamon-chocolate flavours and caramel-raisin aromas inspired a Gold Medal win in the Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale category at the 2015 North American Beer Awards. Three sources of hops go into its creation: Aramis, Goldings and Nugget, as does a trio of malts, giving it a delicious, well-rounded taste. Pelican Noir is made by Oregon's Pelican Brewing Company, which has won literally hundreds of national and international awards in its 14-year lifespan. BOURBON COUNTY BRAND STOUT BY GOOSE ISLAND BEER COMPANY (US) Bourbon County Brand Stout offers one of the densest, darkest, foamiest stout experiences on the planet. And you know it from the moment the bottle opens, releasing a heady mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoky goodness. It's made by Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company, which a man by the name of John Hall started 25 years ago after a brew-focused journey through Europe. “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too,” he thought to himself, and set about making it happen. Bourbon Country Brand Stout won gold at both the 2006 World Beer Cup Awards and the 1995 Great American Beer Festival. BEER GEEK BREAKFAST BY MIKKELLER (DENMARK) This beer single-handedly gave Mikkeller legendary status. Back in 2006, maths teacher-turned-brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergso came up with the ingenious idea of adding French press coffee to oatmeal stout. And Beer Geek Breakfast was born, shooting straight to first position on global beer popularity platform ratebeer.com. Since then, Mikkeller has used the recipe as a base for all manner of craft beer wonders, like Beer Geek Breakfast Brunch Big Blend and Beer Geek Vanilla Shake. THE VANDAL IPA BY PANHEAD (NEW ZEALAND) According to the Society of Beer Advocates, this was the best beer made in New Zealand in 2014. It's a potent 8% Indian Pale Ale (IPA) made with a serious dose of hops from Kohatu, Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin that tastes like tropical fruit. The Vandal is made at Panhead Custom Ales, a brewery housed in a former tyre factory in Upper Hutt, Wellington, established in 2013 when brewer Mike Neilson quit his full-time job at Tuatara Brewery to go solo. AMA BIONDA BY AMARCORD (ITALY) Italy might be traditionally known for wine, but microbreweries are on the up. One of the best is Amarcord, located in the medieval village of Apecchio, which is close to both the Adriatic Coast and the Appennini Mountains. Amarcord's AMA Bionda is a Belgian pale ale, made with Sicilian orange blossom honey, spring water and three types of hops. It's complex, floral and fruity. HOMMAGE BY DRIE FONTEINEN (BELGIUM) Made of 30% raspberries and 5% cherries, this sour beer is dark red in colour, big on flavour and heavily carbonated. It's definitely not for drinkers looking for something light. Drie Fonteinen, a brewery in Beersel, near Brussels, has made just two batches — the first in 2007 and the second in 2013 — and released only 5,000 bottles globally. So the only catch is that it's not easy to get your hands on. Image: 3 Fonteinen Hommage 2007 via photopin (license). YUZU WHITE ALE BY MINOH (JAPAN) Most wheat beers (like Hoegaarden, for example) are brewed with orange peel. But a couple of years ago, Minoh, a family-owned and operated microbrewery in Japan's Osaka prefecture, came up with a twist, instead using a local citrus fruit named yuzu and adding a dash of coriander. Their experimentation paid off — in 2012, Yuzu White Ale won gold in the fruit wheat beer category at the World Beer Cup. DOREE BY BOREALE (CANADA) This smooth, easy-to-drink beer is made with tasty Quebec honey and a decent dose of malt. In 2012, Doree topped the specialty honey beer section at the World Beer Cup and won silver in the special honey category at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Its home is Les Brasseurs du Nord, a microbrewery in the Lower Laurentians, where the brewing ethos is all about keeping things natural. OLD FREDDY WALKER BY MOOR BEER CO. (ENGLAND) This old ale has won no fewer than 20 prizes, a run that began back in 2004 when it took out CAMRA supreme champion winter beer of Britain. It's so rich and dense that you can drink it like a vintage wine. It is made at the Moor Beer Company in Bristol by an ex-soldier who hails from California.
Nearly 400 films reached cinemas in this part of the world in 2017. That's not going to change in 2018. Whether you're the kind of cinephile that heads to the movies several times a week or you'd rather save your big-screen viewing for the flicks you're most excited for, the result is the same: you're spoiled for choice. Indeed, whether you've worked through all of last year's great movies or you're still playing catch-up on some you might've missed, a new annual calendar means a whole new batch of must-sees. In the twelve months ahead, that includes the usual onslaught of sequels, remakes and ongoing sagas, plus plenty of movies that have been winning awards — including recent Golden Globes recipients The Shape of Water and Lady Bird. And then there's these, our ten picks for 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89OP78l9oF0 ANNIHILATION No longer one of the sci-fi big-screen highlights of 2018, the second film from Ex Machina writer/director Alex Garland is heading straight to Netflix in this neck of the woods. And while it's incredibly disappointing that audiences won't get to see this journey through an environmental disaster zone in a cinema as it was meant to be seen, it still looks like it'll be a thrilling, unnerving, immersive treat no matter how you watch it. Based on the novel of the same name, the movie follows a biologist, Lena (Natalie Portman), who goes searching for answers when her soldier husband (Oscar Isaac) returns injured from his own jaunt. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Thor: Ragnarok scene-stealer Tessa Thompson also feature, and we're guessing Isaac probably won't tear up the dance floor in this. On Netflix in early March. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhZ56rcWwRQ A WRINKLE IN TIME After giving quite the inspirational Golden Globes speech, everyone's talking about Oprah. Expect it to continue come March. She mightn't take acting roles all that frequently, but playing a celestial being in the long-awaited adaptation of 1962 science fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time seems the perfect part. As directed by Selma's Ava DuVernay, and also featuring Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Andre Holland, Zach Galifianakis and Aussie Levi Miller, the film focuses on Meg Murry (Storm Reid), who has to save her astrophysicist father (Chris Pine) from a distant galaxy. Sure, there's another Star Wars movie out this year — but notch this one up as a different type of space story. In cinemas March 22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt__kig8PVU ISLE OF DOGS Wes Anderson making a stop-motion animated movie about a dystopian future where dogs have been quarantined on their own Japanese island? Shut up and take everyone's money. Four years after The Grand Budapest Hotel, the American filmmaker is back with what might be his cutest flick yet — and given how gorgeous his general aesthetic is, including his previous animated effort Fantastic Mr. Fox, that's saying something. A high-profile roster of Anderson regulars and other famous names voice canines and humans alike, such as Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and Frances McDormand. And as for Isle of Dogs' story, it centres on a boy who makes his way to the island in search of his beloved pet pooch. We can already hear you saying awwwwwwwwwwwww. In cinemas April 19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLjLbl4G1wA OCEAN'S 8 Most franchises, as the chapters roll on, aim for bigger and better. Don't mistake Ocean's 8 smaller number for doing the opposite. This all-female heist flick doesn't need 11, 12 or 13 folks to pull off the ultimate job: at the Met Gala. Leading the formidable gang of law-breaking ladies is Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, while Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter and none other than Rihanna are also among the cast. And, given the setting, expect more than a few high-profile cameos. Given the gender-swapped premise, expect an entertaining new instalment in the series as well, as directed by The Hunger Games' Gary Ross. In cinemas June 28. [caption id="attachment_653695" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Juno Temple in Vinyl[/caption] UNSANE Steven Soderberg mightn't be sitting in the director's chair for the latest Ocean's effort, but the ever-prolific filmmaker has something else up his sleeves. For part of last year, it was his iPhone — which the Logan Lucky and The Knick director used to shoot his latest flick, a mind-bending psychological horror flick. Called Unsane, it's unsurprisingly set in a mental institution, though that's probably the last part of the movie that'll play to your expectations. As for everything else, it was filmed in secret so much is clouded in mystery, although The Crown's Claire Foy and Vinyl's Juno Temple star, and the narrative revolves around a patient forced to face her greatest fear. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_529773" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Rachel Weisz in Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster[/caption] THE FAVOURITE If Yorgos Lanthimos knows just how to press your buttons — and if The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer managed to do exactly that — then pencil his 2018 release into your diary. With The Favourite, the acclaimed Greek filmmaker appears to be in new territory, though you can bet his biographical drama about Anne, Queen of Britain won't be the usual monarchy-focused effort. Joining him in this exploration of the 17th- and 18th-century sovereign are The Lobster's Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman, plus Emma Stone and Nicholas Hoult. With Lanthimos proving a director that's continually fascinated with the transactional nature of our society, setting his sights on royalty seems an absolutely natural fit. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_629012" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Robert Pattinson in Good Time[/caption] HIGH LIFE 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for sci-fi fans. Case in point: High Life. It's not what you'd expect from almost everyone involved — other than Robert Pattinson, who has well and truly been filling his post-Twilight resume with interesting and downright excellent choices. He's among a group of criminals sent towards a black hole, all as part of a quest to find an alternative energy source. And, he's starring alongside French great Juliette Binoche, A Cure for Wellness' Mia Goth and Outkast's Andre Benjamin, under the direction of iconic filmmaker Claire Denis (35 Shots of Rum, Bastards, Let the Sunshine In), who is making her first English-language feature. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_653679" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Suspiria (1977)[/caption] SUSPIRIA Horror remakes aren't always met with excitement, particularly when a classic of the genre gets the second go-around. Suspiria, however, shouldn't earn your caution — thanks to Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino sitting at the helm. The original is the darkest dance-related movie you're likely to see, as well as a wonder of Italian giallo cinema, delving into the sinister secrets behind a prestigious dance academy. Living up to it is quite the task, but the I Am Love and A Bigger Splash director has been on a very impressive streak of late. On-screen, Dakota Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz and Tilda Swinton are among the stars sashaying (and screaming) their way through the end result. Release date TBC. PSYCHOKINESIS There's no shortage of superhero films due on our screens this year, including Black Panther, Venom, Aquaman, a couple of X-Men-related efforts, Daredevil 2 and more. Yes, the list goes on. And yet, a Korean black comedy about a man who discovers he has superpowers might be the one to beat. Seeing something other than the fiftieth instalment in a cinematic universe is always welcome, and director Yeon Sang-ho already turned his take on one busy genre — zombies — into an engaging thrill ride courtesy of Train to Busan. Fingers crossed Psychokinesis make the big screen on our shores, but if not, look for it to stream on Netflix. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_653694" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Happytime Murders concept art[/caption] THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS There aren't enough movies about puppet private detectives. Really, there isn't. This adult-centric film comes with quite the pedigree, however, with Bill Henson — son of The Muppets puppeteer Jim Henson — in the director's chair. A comedy and a thriller all in one, it's set in a world where people and puppets live (and kill) side-by-side. Only one can hunt down a serial murderer targeting the cast of a famous '80s TV show, and that'd be ex-cop Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta). Amongst the mountains of felt, Melissa McCarthy stars as his ex-partner, Maya Rudolph as his secretary, Elizabeth Banks as a former flame and Joel McHale as an FBI agent. Release date TBC.
Whatever the new year may bring, one consistent silver lining is the inevitable return of Sydney Festival, which will once again transform our city into a cultural carnival this January 9–27. It's a collective festival which spans visual art, performances, theatre, live music, installations and immersive classes that express multicultural voices and ideas. The diverse 2019 program features 18 world premieres, five Australian premieres and eight Australian exclusives. Sydney Festival's always-packed Indigenous program Blak Out continues to remain a central focus of the festival and this year will feature First Nations stories from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. As part of Blak Out, an overnight vigil will be held on the eve of Australia Day at Barangaroo, from sunset right through to the morning of January 26. It's a reflection on the impact of the arrival of the First Fleet and Australia's colonisation on its native people, with musical performances and stories told by community Elders throughout the night. Alongside this vigil will be a large-scale sign spelling ALWAYS, designed by Bangarra artist-in-residence Jacob Nash. It will remain on the Barangaroo headland for the entire festival as a declaration that it 'always was, always will be, Aboriginal land'. Another highlight of this part of the program is the Bayala language class series, which offers free entry-level and intensive courses in Indigenous language and culture. These have booked out for the last two years. If you missed Blak Box — a glowing structure that provides a surround-sound way to listen to the voices of Elders and future leaders in Blacktown's Indigenous community — during its time in Barangaroo earlier this year, you'll be able to catch it in western Sydney when it makes its way to the Blacktown Showground Precinct from January 9 until February 9. There's also a varying musical lineup to look forward to, from 13-piece Cuban mambo band Orquesta Akokán and South African neo-soul singer Nakhane to acoustic 'desert-blues' trio Les Filles de Illighadad and pop legend Neneh Cherry. Plenty of other pop artists made the docket, too, with Jonathan Bree hosting a songwriting masterclass at Carriageworks on January 17 and American pop composer Julia Holter performing in the Festival Garden's Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent on January 20. Performing in the same tent is Irish musician Camille O'Sullivan, who will extol the songs of icons David Bowie and Leonard Cohen with her own interpretation from January 10–13. As usual, the festival has wrangled its fair share of big theatre productions. A new commission from Sydney Festival is 1930s Shanghai-inspired cabaret Shànghǎi MiMi, which will make its world premiere at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre. It features award-winning director Moira Finucane, a cast of acrobats and aerialists, and a rare Chinese jazz and blues band. Another new commission is Pigalle, which will see the Spiegeltent turned into a Parisian nightclub for a delightfully over-the-top show of disco, cabaret and burlesque. Home is yet another must-see from acclaimed theatre-maker Geoff Sobelle. His interactive show blends aspects of theatre, choreography, illusion and live music that reaffirms the meaning of home. This one includes lots of audience participation — you can expect to be pulled on stage to become a part of the show and occupy the on-stage house. You can also get involved with Counting and Cracking, which tells the story of a Sri Lankan family migrating to Australia and includes a communal feast. Spoken word poet Omar Musa will take the stage in both Sydney and Parramatta for Since Ali Died — a politically focused story, rap and song inspired by Muhammad Ali. Also coinciding with the festival is an installation by American artist Nick Cave, which will exhibit at Carriageworks from November 23–March 3. Titled Until, the giant and multi-dimensional artwork speaks to the critical issues of gun violence and race in the States. And Paddington's Cement Fondu art space will host The Ropes video installation by renowned dancer and choreographer Amrita Hepi from January 11–March 3. And, as a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, three interstellar-themed art precincts will pop-up around the city. Multiple 'moon drops' — that is, large water bed-like pillows — will allows guests to experience the weightlessness of walking on the moon at Darling Harbour, while a pop-up at World Square will allow you to contribute kilometres to help Sydney 'cycle' 384,400 kilometres to the moon.
Gowns made from parachutes, clothes embedded into other clothes, ribbed jumpers coated in plastic — this is the future of fashion according to the UTS 2017 honours fashion graduates. Over the past year, the students have been developing and experimenting with fabrics, prints and techniques, which all culminated in this week's grad show. 16 designers showed off how they've mastered the precise skill of tailoring, only to deconstruct the pants, jackets and suits to create entirely new silhouettes; of weaving and knitting incredibly intricate fabrics; and of taking fashion norms and standing them on their head. The grads toyed and experimented with outdated cultural standards, establishing an upcoming generation of designers not constrained by gender, not threatened by diversity, but devoted to openness and ethical practices. These are the disruptors. Each designer sent out something completely different. Yael Frischling was inspired by Japanese architecture and took an ethical approach, creating exaggerated, red and white woven wool — a collection made with zero wastage. Gina Snodgrass fused typically 'masculine' and 'feminine' fabrics together into hybrid garments reminiscent of kilts — a Scottish symbol of masculinity — all while asking, "when does it stop being a kilt and start being a skirt?" And though sisters Tess and Mikala Tavener Hanks were both on the program, each of the designers stood out in her own right. Through her collection of silks and wool coated in silicone, Tess challenged our use of plastic as something that normally, cheaply imitates or wraps products, while Mikala warped our sense of clothing through visual illusion using tactile imagery and embedded garments — clothes were fused into and onto other clothes with the idea of breaking tradition and subverting common styles. Sure, this wasn't a Gucci, Louis Vuitton or even Romance Was Born runway show, but it was a show of innovation, creativity and a no-holds-barred approach to design. With these grads, there's no sales manager pushing them to create an easy sell. There are no trends they must follow or categories they must design to. This was simply raw, fresh talent given the platform and resources for total exploration, disruption and creative expression. Showcase images: Kimberley Low.
Whole pigs on spits, huge cheese wheels, ale and wine a-flowin', fire-blowers and aerial artists — just your standard night at The Grounds of Alexandria. In one of the biggest events the Grounds crew has ever created, Feast will take you away to the medieval circus you never thought you'd find in Alexandria. Planned for two nights over September 4 and 5, Feast will see the Grounds collaborate with international theatre spectacle Limbo to transform the beloved Alexandria space into a sensory banquet of interactive performance, live music and medieval-style nosh. Haven't heard of Limbo? They're the internationally-acclaimed performance group who blew minds at Sydney Festival this year and last, and describe themselves as 'dirty and dangerous' — think acrobatics, fire-blowing, aerial feats of WTF magnificence. While Limbo's crazily talented performers scatter throughout the space, you'll be feasting on The Grounds' specially-crafted menu for the night. Inspired by the merry ole banquets of medieval times, there'll be pigs on spits with meat carved right off the bone, giant wheels of cheese with freshly baked bread, wine and ale aplenty, baked and fresh vegetables and cocktails brewed with ancient techniques. There'll be two sections on the night: Section A has a better vantage point and will set you back $195 per person, while Section B, at $180 per person, is slightly back from the stage but apparently still has a great view. Tickets are supposedly selling fast so get on it — this is going to be pretty damn spectacular. Feast is happening at The Grounds of Alexandria at 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria, on September 4 and 5. Gates open at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. For tickets, head over here.
