UPDATE, February 5, 2021: Thor: Ragnarok is available to stream via Disney+, iTunes and Amazon Video. How many clues did you need before you knew that this one was going to be different? The choice of director alone ought to have gotten you most of the way there. New Zealand's Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows) doesn't do conventional. Then there was the trailer: a neon-infused, synth-rock-pumping Flash Gordon throwback that favoured humour over action. As it happens, so does the film – and it's a delight from the first frame to the last. Thor: Ragnarok is the third picture to focus on the eponymous God of Thunder, and the 17th in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe. Led by Australia's Chris Hemsworth, it also stars Cate Blanchett as the Goddess of Death, Tom Hiddleston as the God of Mischief and Jeff Goldblum as the Oh My God He's Just Fabulous. Mark Ruffalo also returns as The Hulk, having not been seen since The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Rounding out the cast are franchise regulars Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins in small but affecting roles. With Waititi at the helm, Ragnarok has a distinctly casual, cheeky and irreverent feel compared to Marvel's previous offerings, as well as a noticeable 80s aesthetic in both its style and soundtrack. It's a genuine breath of fresh air in a franchise within a franchise, and something that the MCU sorely needed. Waititi is obviously known for his sense of humour, yet what truly distinguishes him as a filmmaker is a pronounced absence of cynicism. No matter the theme or story (Wilderpeople dealt with some tragic issues amidst all the chaos), the overwhelming sensation upon leaving a Waititi movie is optimism. For Marvel, whose movies have grown darker as they hurtle towards the up and coming Infinity War, the contrast is as noticeable as it is necessary. Like a Roger Moore Bond film, Ragnarok still has its action and moments of gravity, but above all else it's fun. You can see it in the performances. Hemsworth's obvious comedic abilities – which were also on display in Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot – are given ample room to breathe in Ragnarok right from the opening scene. A significant portion of the film's dialogue was reportedly improvised, resulting in a free-flowing and naturalistic feel that also serves to accentuate the fractious relationships between the various lead characters – most notably Thor, Loki and Hulk. Then there's franchise newcomer Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. Most recently seen in HBO's Westworld, Thompson proves a genuine scene stealer, which is no small accomplishment given hers is an almost exclusively human performance in a movie jam-packed with special effects and CGI-characters. Through Valkyrie we see Marvel's ability to create lethal, confident, independent, wise-cracking female heroes who are every bit as capable (if not more-so) than their male counterparts. There are shortcomings, of course. For all its strengths, Ragnarok is not a perfect film. Blanchett and Elba are both seriously under-utilised, Hopkins comes face to face with some bewilderingly bad special effects, and Karl Urban's character has a clunky pro-gun schtick that feels entirely out of place with the rest of the film. The humour is refreshing, but comedy is not every actor's greatest strength, and at times Ragnarok feels too heavily skewed towards laughs when instead the scene calls for something a little meatier. Still, what Waititi and his team have crafted here is a remarkable reimagining of the MCU, one that is at once respectful of its place in the world, but still self-aware enough to never take itself too seriously. It's a big movie that somehow still feels small and intimate, and a near-perfect example of a blockbuster done right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg
The National Gallery of Victoria has revealed what will be on its agenda at the tail-end of this year, this evening announcing its summer centrepiece in the world premiere of Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo. Much like the NGV's 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei show, the blockbuster exhibition will celebrate two very different creators: Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. It will be the first to unite the two, bringing them together in an assembly of immersive art and design. More than 160 different prints and drawings created by Escher during his career that ran from 1916 to 1969 will be shown, the first time the Dutch artist has had a major exhibition in Australia. Optical illusion being what he is known best for, and the images on display will be drawn from the world's largest collection of his work at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. In tandem, Nendo will create an environment to house the works, taking inspiration from Escher to manipulate geometry and space to warp perception. This'll create a fully immersive experience in which to be boggled by Escher's works. It doesn't stop there for the upcoming season, though — the NGV's spring/summer is bursting with art shaped fruit ready for you to pick.Australian artist Polly Borland will also be celebrated via a display of her works of recent times at the Ian Potter Centre. Borland is a locally born, LA-dwelling photographer notable for her photos of well-known figures like Queen Elizabeth II and Nick Cave. Gravitating lately more towards surrealism in her photography and producing disquieting and abstract images, both recent and new works of Borland's will be shown. This'll run from September 28 until February 3. Also on the lineup is an exclusive showing of British artist Julian Opie's mixed media works. To be set in the NGV's gallery and gardens, the exhibition was created specifically to fill these spaces and will incorporate sculpture, video, and art specifically for the children's gallery. Try Hito Steyeri's landmark video installation Factory of the Sun, about workers in a motion capture studio whose actions are used to create artificial sunshine, becoming a metaphor for the way digital screens use and emit light. Or take a bite out of Willian Wegman's work — a man whose Weimaraner dog became his artistic muse, William Wegman: Being Human highlights the artist's versatility across different artistic methods and mediums. And don't forget Designing Women, a 40 year highlight of the role of female designers in shaping the culture and fabric of the design world. Drawing from the NGV's permanent collection, over 50 significant works will be showcased, icons by name and affect, and united by gender. This summer's Triennial was the most visited exhibition in the NGV's 157 years, and this exhibition is sure to get similar numbers through the St Kilda Road doors. Start planning your art viewing now. Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo will run at NGV International, Melbourne from December 2, 2018 until April 7, 2019. For more info, visit ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: 'Day and Night', M.C. Escher, © The M.C. Escher Company, The Netherlands.
Tucked away under a tree on Brown Street in Newtown, the Pie Tin is located in a heritage building, with an interior flanked with glass cabinets brimming with pastry delights and a communal dining table where friends and strangers alike can bond over their mutual love of pies. Start with a savoury pie, with a plethora of options to satiate both carnivores and vegetarians alike. The flavours are offered up on a rotational basis (although you can order any ahead of time with a day or twos notice.) Meat options include classics such as chicken and leak; classic mince with carrots and herbs; shepherd's pie with mash potato; and steak and pepper with green peppercorn gravy. If you're keen to challenge your taste buds and try something a little more daring, more exotic options which may pop up include a pizza pie with ham, artichokes, olives, mozzarella and tomato sauce; Moroccan lamb with pumpkin, raisins and pepitas; and a chicken "parmi" pie which is exactly what it sounds like. There are plenty of options for vegetarians, too, with the Jerusalem artichoke pie with leek and gorgonzola dolce in a white wine sauce unlike anything you've ever had before. It also makes lentil and coconut curry pies; mac 'n' cheese varieties; Mexican bean pies with casserole and topped with sour cream; and a mushroom stroganoff pie with roast potatoes. As you devour your pie you'll notice your eyes glancing over at the cabinet housing the sweet pies. And truth be told, you will probably need that long to decide which of the two-dozen-or-so options to go for. The apple and salted caramel pie is famous in Newtown, with fresh apples poached in a spiced butter, home made salted caramel and a coconut oat crumble. Another to look out for is the Nutella and banana mud pie, which is exactly as indulgent as it sounds.
Your days of stealing liberating those tiny IKEA pencils may soon be coming to an end. According to reports, the Australian arm of the Swedish furniture giant will launch its online store by the end of 2016, ahead of a global e-commerce platform in the next two years. About damn time. Now here's hoping it's less stressful to navigate than their actual physical locations. Due to go live in the next six months, the online store will let shoppers order IKEA's unpronounceable furniture from the comfort of their MALM bed frames. The company plans to trial various pick-up methods, including smaller physical stores that double as pick-up points, as well as the use of third party depots. IKEA Australia hopes the web initiative will help boost profits, which, as it stands, are expected to pass the $1 billion mark for the first time later this year. Their online store in the UK is the most popular IKEA outlet in the country, presumably because you don't need to pack a week's worth of provisions to make it to the checkout. Speaking of provisions, it is currently unclear whether you'll be able to use the online store to order IKEA's meatballs. Fingers crossed though. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Sydney nights in summer are unbeatable: balmy weather, rooftop bars abuzz, late night art adventures aplenty. The MCA's late-night program is your go-to inner-city art adventure in Sydney, with this summer's program brimming with activity after hours for Lights On Later. Every Thursday evening until 9pm, enjoy late-night access to Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career and other MCA exhibitions. Discover and design your alter ego in a hands-on workshop, listen to MCA curators and guides, rediscover Australian New Wave Cinema, join a Subversive Tour of the exhibition led by a cast of diverse and eclectic guests. Then wind down over a glass of wine, a bite to eat and live music on the MCA's Sculpture Terrace. Downstairs you can kick back among garden greenery and British pomp in the pop-up Gin Garden, or go all out with seafood bouillabaisse and Bombe Alaska at Graze MCA — open for dinner Thursday to Saturday in January. Image: Grayson Perry, The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal (detail) from the series The Vanity of Small Differences, 2012, installation view, Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2015.
Merivale has already expanded their relatively new Enmore digs, Queens Hotel, revealing a new hidden upstairs bar for private bookings. Zebra Bar will join the two-level venue as a cosy, indoor space that caters to group bookings or private events for up to 40 of your nearest and dearest. The hotel, which opened late last year, is already home to Queen Chow restaurant and The Smelly Goat cocktail bar upstairs. Zebra Bar is located just off of the upstairs dining room and its catered menu combines the best of both levels. The food menu is straight from Queen Chow — led by the team behind Papi Chulo and former Mr. Wong dim sum master, Eric Koh — and can be pre-ordered or chosen on the day. Dishes will include the Queens duck spring rolls, salt and pepper squid with chilli bean mayo, Sichuan pork noodle boxes and, most importantly, pan fried or baked dim sum platters. The Smelly Goat bartenders are making their mark on the new space as well and have curated the cocktail list with their wacky takes on classic cocktails — think the Genghis Can, a Bloody Mary with the addition of hoisin, sriracha and shiitake mushrooms, or the Churchill's Delight, which combines tequila, rose liqueur and Chinese black tea. The fitout is dark and moody, with the horseshoe-shaped bar — made of luxe onyx marble — at the centre of the space. The bar is surrounded by dark stained timber panels and tables, green and gold embellishments and checkered tiled floors, as well as a safari-inspired mural. Guests can either hire out the full space or reserve tables for smaller group bookings — they do take walk-ins, but only if there are no existing bookings. But really, this looks like the kind of spot you'd want to take over for a big life celebration, and it nicely rounds out the Queens Hotel trio. Zebra Bar is located upstairs at the Queens Hotel, 167 Enmore Road, Enmore. Open Monday through Thursday, 5pm until late, Friday and Saturday noon until late and Sunday noon until 10pm. For group bookings, call (02) 9254 8088 or head to the website. Images: Daniel Boud.
The coveted Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award has helped launch the careers of some of Sydney's finest. This years Young Chef's Dinner is set to be the best yet. Previous winners Mark Best (Marque – 1995), Hamish Ingham (Bar H – 2004), Daniel Puskas (Sixpenny – 2006), Phil Wood (Rockpool on Bridge – 2007), Dan Hong (Mr Wong – 2008), Mitch Orr (ACME – 2010) and Lauren Eldridge (Marque – 2015) will be cooking every course. If that doesn't make you just a little bit emotional, we don't know what will. For bookings call (02) 9252 1888. This event is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month 2015. Check out the other nine.
Street art began as a decidedly out-of-the-white-cube phenomenon. But, now that it's established itself, Aussie multi-disciplinary artist Phibs is taking it back indoors for a look. And, with these icy temperatures being not too conducive to trudging about outside, we say hallelujah to that. Curated by Phibs and produced by aMBUSH Gallery, Metro Luminescence brings together 13 artists who usually work in the street — grappling with whatever space they can get, battling the elements and often painting and drawing under cover of darkness. But, on Level 3 of Central Park, they've had to respond to a new set of constraints — those imposed by four walls and a ceiling. Between Tuesday, June 7 and Friday, June 10, the graffiti writers, muralists, fine artists, photographers and sculptors spent four furious days working, and the results are now on display until July 10, viewable for free. Expect everything from large-scale pieces on canvas and installations to sketches and experiments.
Dial your Christmas spirit up a notch at this year's Sydney Living Museums Christmas Fare. With over 40 of Sydney's best artisan food producers, this annual Christmas Fare will host some of the state's finest edible creations and provide plenty of inspiration for the looming Christmas lunch. There'll be more than 40 artisan stallholders including Pepe Saya, Coco’s Table, Cornersmith, Eat Me Chutneys, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, T Totaler, Pecora Dairy, Cicada Chocolates, Black Star Pastry, Handsome Devils Co, and many more. Plus, Young Henrys will be running a pop-up bar, food stalls and live music. Entry is by gold coin, which will also allow access inside the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Eat, drink and be merry — the Christmas season has spoken.
A long-time purveyor of natural wines online, Drnks has finally opened its first bricks-and-mortar store. Tucked away inside the newly renovated George Hotel, it's stocked to the brim with everything from salty white peach beer from NZ's Garage Project to coveted magnums of wine by Gabrio Bini. The bottle-o's labels are available for both takeaway or dine in, with an additional $20 charged for the latter. And if you don't feel like dropping $35 on a bottle pét-nat, cheaper cases of beer are available for takeaway, too. It's also open till 11pm, Monday–Saturday, so you can swing by after dinner. It's run by Drnks founder and The George co-owner Joel Amos, who you'll often find working in the shop himself — giving out handy tips on what new bottle to buy if you're a full-on wine nerd or have just decided to dip your toe into the weird and wonderful world of natural wine. If you have just decided to test the waters, you'll be happy to know that the bottle shop regularly hosts tastings — and, best of all, they're free. Keep an eye on the Drnks Instagram to catch the latest. As well as tastings, it'll also be hosting regular, bigger wine events, such as Loose Lips, which'll see over 30 winemakers and distributors from all over Australia descend on the Waterloo bottle-o — and the rest of the pub — for a wine-filled party. You will need to snag tix for this one. Next time you're hankering for a drop with a bit more funk than your local can offer, make tracks to Drnks — and stop to enjoy a taco or two in the George while you're there. Images: Kimberley Low.
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with a few supposed medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. At a new series of wine-tasting fun runs about to take place around Australia, however, you'll put in the hard yards before you get the boozy rewards. The Grapest 5K run consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. Don't worry, if you're not up to the first part and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option too. The run will take place on Saturday, May 6 at Domaine de Binet in the Hunter Valley.
There's more to going to the movies than just seeing the flicks that fill megaplexes, as Australia's thriving film festival scene demonstrates. The country's third-largest capital city might've just been robbed of its major annual cinema showcase, but our love of films beyond the mainstream can't be thwarted that easily. As far as Hollywood's addition to the movie-making fold is concerned, that's where the American Essentials Film Festival comes in. Founded in 2016 as a way to fill select Aussie cinemas with the kind of US titles that don't usually make it to our shores, the touring festival returns for its second run with another lineup of noteworthy inclusions — 31 films and 20 Aussie premieres, in fact. Making its way around the country in May, with a complete run in Sydney at Palace Verona and Palace Norton Street, the fest kicks off with an Oscar-nominated performance, boasts a documentary dedicated to a talent who makes films (and TV shows) like no one else, and features everyone from Greta Gerwig (twice!) to Australia's own Bond to Ewan McGregor jumping behind the camera. Prepare for a busy movie-viewing month. Fresh from earning a nod for best original screenplay at this year's Academy Awards — and garnering lead actress Annette Bening a Golden Globe nomination, too — 20th Century Women will get the festival started, marking writer/director Mike Mills' first movie since 2010's Beginners. Bening stars as a mother coping with the fact her son is growing up, and calling in pals played by Gerwig and Elle Fanning to help. As promised, Gerwig also features in Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog, which comes to the fest after having its Australian premiere at last year's Sydney Underground Film Festival. Also on the bill, and impeccably timed given that the third season of Twin Peaks starts airing during May, is highly anticipated doco David Lynch: The Art Life, while docudrama Becoming Bond keeps the factual fun going by delving into the Aussie that once played oo7. American Pastoral is the aforementioned McGregor's first stint as a director; California Dreams explores the real folks trying to make it in LA, La La Land-style; G-Funk dives into the style of hip hop started by Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg; and 2016 Cannes hit The Transformation follows a 14-year-old who thinks he's a vampire. As well as highlighting new flicks, with Are We Not Cats' magical realism and Detour's crime thrills also on offer, American Essentials shines a spotlight on classic titles in its Masters & Masterpieces retrospective. That's where audiences can watch Lynch's inimitable debut Eraserhead for its 4oth anniversary, as well as his 2001 standout Mulholland Drive — plus the Carrie Fisher-written Postcards on the Edge; Andy Warhol's Bad, which is the last film the artist produced before his death; and a Charles Bukowski double of doco You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski alongside the semi-autobiographical, Mickey Rourke-starring 1987 favourite Barfly.
The act of making a movie in Iran is saddled with restrictions; however that hasn't stopped the nation's filmmakers soldiering on regardless. From the late, great Palme d'Or recipient Abbas Kiarostami to A Separation's Asghar Farhadi to banned director Jafar Panahi, Iranian film is thriving. So is Australia's only festival dedicated to their output. For the sixth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia shines a spotlight on the country's cinematic voices, and on contemporary life as well. Kicking off in Sydney on Thursday, November 10, the four-day fest boasts yet another busy lineup of features, spanning opening night's highly anticipated drama Life and a Day, social-realist gang effort Lantouri and the award-winning Daughter. Elsewhere, Sound and Fury dives into the life of a pop singer who has an affair with a fan, Drought & Lies adapts a well-known Iranian play, and I follows a woman who acts outside the law under the police scrutiny. Add familiar faces and restored classics to the mix — including first Iranian New Wave feature The Brick and the Mirror — and audiences can explore both the history and the future of Iranian cinema. Opening night — which is a screening of Life and a Day — will be held at Event Cinemas Top Ryde, while all other screenings will be at Dendy Opera Quays.
You're bound to smell this one happening before you even get there. That's because barbecue master Carey Bingle is coming all the way from the U.S. of A. to light up Harpoon Harry's smoker for Good Food Month. Bingle is the man behind legendary Nashville restaurant Peg Leg Porker, where folk stars Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings dine regularly. And he has smoking running through his veins — he spent his childhood in the company of his barbecuing grandpa, hanging out at places like Bozo's Hot Pit Bar-B-Q, Lewis' Store, and Leonard's Pit Barbecue. For just 50 bucks, you'll be fed like royalty and given a welcoming drink to boot.
Early in Paris Can Wait, Anne (Diane Lane) and her busy film producer husband Michael (Alec Baldwin) take a start-stop ride to the Cannes airport. The sun streams down as they coast through the seaside town, but their driver, Michael's sometimes business partner Jacques (Arnaud Viard), keeps pausing to buy bread, sausage and strawberries for their flight. It's a kind gesture, and just the type of thing you'd expect holidays in France to include. Alas, they feel like frustrating interruptions for the visiting Americans. Far from improving their trip, the nitty gritty of actually embracing their surroundings gets in the way. Like characters, like filmmaker, like film. Jumping wholeheartedly into the narrative side of the family business by making her first non-documentary feature at the age of 81, writer-director Eleanor Coppola fills Paris Can Wait with detours and diversions. Unfortunately, they're unable to boost the final product, which is affectionately shot but uninspiringly scripted and assembled. While the film's premise revolves around an extended jaunt that takes its time to get to its eventual destination, tripping over cliches causes the leisurely romantic drama to stumble. A middle-aged woman doing some unexpected soul-searching, a connection arising out of nowhere, and broken-down cars prolonging the journey: Coppola throws them all in, along with long-held regrets, new awakenings and the difficulties of long-distance love. Inevitably they all arise as Anne treks across the country, not with Michael, who is always barking orders about his latest movie into his phone, but with the much more laid-back Jacques. The pair become unlikely road trip companions after an earache stops her getting on the plane, but their odd-couple awkwardness doesn't last long. He's a suave and shameless flirt fond of wining, dining and straying off the beaten path. Set free from her usual life, she soon finds her defences beginning to crumble. As a scenic travelogue complete with stopovers for picturesque picnics, swanky restaurant dinners and a visit to the Lumiere brothers museum in Lyon, Paris Can Wait is a Francophile's fantasy. If France's lavender fields and other rustic highlights weren't already on your must-visit bucket list, they will be after you've watch this film. Indeed, Coppola demonstrates a feel for both the road and for her locations, which is hardly surprising given that Paris Can Wait was inspired by her own post-Cannes Film Festival adventure back in 2009 (her husband Francis Ford Coppola had a feature screening at the festival that year). If only the story she spun had the same authenticity. Coppola might've taken the broad gist of the movie from her experiences, but the on-screen details prove disappointly stock-standard. And, if only her casting choices weren't so obvious. Lane is subtle and effective in rehashing territory that she previously played with in Under the Tuscan Sun. Baldwin, on the other hand, who is heard more than he's seen, may as well be playing Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock. Still, there's one area where choosing the easy option works, and it's one we'll choose to believe really is a case of art imitating life. As a soundtrack to her trip, Anne keeps listening to Phoenix. It's fitting: not only does the band's melodic pop-rock suit the mood of the film, but, thanks to her daughter Sofia, their frontman is Coppola's son-in-law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EiPR0TtHv4
Given its title, audiences could be forgiven for thinking that The Promise is a Nicholas Sparks-penned romance. It's not, although in truth this tale of love in the time of the Armenian genocide isn't all that different from the sappy fluff the author of The Notebook, The Lucky One and The Choice tends to peddle. Indeed, the latest effort from writer-director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) has a one-track agenda: bringing an attractive couple together, tearing them apart and then forcing them to overcome horrific obstacles in an attempt to reunite. Oscar Isaac and Charlotte Le Bon play Armenians during the First World War. He's Mikael, a poor village apothecary who agrees to marry a local girl so he can use the dowry to pay for medical school in Constantinople. She's Ana, a well-off tutor who was raised in Paris. When sparks fly, there's plenty of complicating factors keeping them apart — including his betrothed back home and her boyfriend Chris (Christian Bale), an arrogant but fearless American journalist. Then there's the matter of the Ottoman Empire's campaign of violence against their people, which hinders Mikael and Ana at every turn. If it sounds as though we're downplaying the horrors inflicted on the Armenian population, that's because we're taking our cues from the film. The Promise never pushes the Turkish military's eradication efforts to the side — in fact, there's plenty of bleakness and brutality on display. Yet by using the conflict as a backdrop for a sweeping love story, the end result is the same. Given that the movie is billed as the first major feature to explore these particular events, that's obviously an problem. It really should go without saying that such an awful chapter of history doesn't need to be packaged as a grand romance to evoke an emotional reaction, and that it clearly deserves more considered, thoughtful treatment. Of course, filmmakers have been pairing love and war for as long as they've been making movies. The problem is that The Promise doesn't even try to find the right balance. Instead, it turns a rising death toll into a glimmer of hope that the central duo will find a way to be together. When you think about what that could mean for the other players in their overlapping love triangles, it all seems not only calculated, but highly disrespectful as well. Two factors at least help The Promise look the part, even if it struggles elsewhere. Handsome cinematography gives the movie the requisite epic sheen, while Isaac, Le Bon and Bale all put in solid performances. There's energy in their portrayals that isn't evident in the material otherwise, although sadly the trio can't completely enliven bland characters. Rather, they're stuck being the best things about a film that doesn't know the difference between having good intentions and actually following through on them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxjkuy3c3Lw
Scouring every last corner of Etsy, scrolling through page after page, and stocking up on unique vintage and design items from the comfort of your home is all well and good; however when it comes to finding handcrafted wares, there's still nothing like browsing and buying in person. That's where the global online marketplace's IRL community market comes in. It gathers Australian makers, designers, artists and curators together in the one place, showcases their stellar goods and tempts your wallet. Taking over Brewery Yard at Chippendale Green from 10am on July 29, the day-long market promises your design dreams come true — aka Etsy come to life. Meet, chat, peruse and purchase, and then head home with all of the arty, crafty goodies your house and wardrobe can handle. More than 70 stallholders have been confirmed, which means that the physical experience of interacting with Etsy will be just like the virtual one: leaving empty-handed is impossible.
Common Spaces, Pocket City Farms and Acre Eatery are celebrating one year of farm-to-table goodness from Wednesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 25 with a whole lotta freebies. That means free talks, workshops, art, live music, tours and, of course, food. Wednesday, June 21 will welcome a community art installation titled Assembling Life, a collaborative project made of wild grasses and flowers that participants will contribute to while learning traditional weaving methods. Friday evening is a night of live music with tunes on the terrace and a separate 'kids disco' with toasties, snacks and supervision provided — so parents can let their hair down too. Saturday, June 24 brings a full day of free workshops, from DIY seed balls and still life drawing classes to compost, worm farm and native bee-keeping lessons. Tours, more live music, yoga ($15 per session) and a local's dinner at Acre ($30) are all on offer as well, along with free birthday cake from 2.30pm. While most events won't cost a thing, booking is essential for a good few of them. For a full list of happenings, check out the Camperdown Commons events page.
Think you've seen every underdog sports movie there is? Think again. The Golden Globe-nominated, Academy Award-shortlisted The Fencer doesn't quite thrust and parry its way into new territory, but it still does much more than offer an Estonian-set answer to The Mighty Ducks, or swap bobsleds for fencing foils. It's with tones of beige and grey that The Fencer tells its tale, made up of familiar components. Indeed, as a champion seeks a new life in a small town, largely by instructing eager students in the titular pastime, there's no escaping the been-there, done-that vibe that matches the film's colouring. And yet, feel-good sports films are typically shinier and more spirited as they work their way towards the uplifting outcome the audience knows is coming. Tempering Finnish director Klaus Härö's addition to the genre is the shadow of reality, with the film's narrative ripped from the plight of a man fleeing Soviet persecution in '50s-era Estonia. Part against-the-odds drama, part portrait of life after wartime, The Fencer doesn't attempt to brighten up the story of Endel Nelis (Märt Avandi). Instead, it offers a faithful depiction of a dark chapter in his life, coupled with hard-earned slivers of hope for viewers to hang on to. The bland shades that fill the film's frames reflect its quest to recreate a period and setting; however, emotionally, they couldn't be more fitting. Working with a script by first-timer Anna Heinämaa, Härö is keen to emphasise the dull drudgery that surrounds Endel in a place where fear or blind allegiance have become the only modes of thinking. The town is stifled, wearied and lifeless, and it's reflected in the film's visual palette. When Nelis takes a job as a sports teacher in Haapsalu, he's feeling much the same — and the way that his new headmaster (Hendrik Toompere) dismisses his fondness for fencing doesn't help. Add the fact that he's neither keen on children nor eager to get to know anyone, and he seems set for a dire time in hiding. Then he decides to start a weekend sports club, and is pleasantly surprised by the significant turnout. Standout pupils Marta (Liisa Koppel) and Jaan (Joonas Koff) prove particularly enthusiastic, welcoming the escape from their own respective troubles, and eventually pleading to participate in a national tournament in Leningrad. Despite its historical basis, there's little in The Fencer that doesn't play out as expected, but don't discount the impact a predictable tale can have when it's couched in empathetic performances and built from small, intimate moments. Even when the film threatens to overplay its hand — which is unsurprisingly often given the combination of a brooding protagonist, endearing kids, enduring hardship and a sporting competition — it still infuses recognisable scenes with intimacy and earnest affection. Here, seemingly simple exchanges between characters say more than clichéd training montages and climactic contests ever could.
If you're a fan of the British version of The Office, you'll know what we mean when we say David Brent: Life on the Road is almost unwatchable, but still worth a watch. This big-screen sorta-sequel follows Brent (Ricky Gervais) around as he gives his music career one last shot. Set a dozen years after The Office, Brent is now a sanitary products sales rep who invests a huge amount of his pension money in touring himself, his session band and his incongruous (but very much appreciated) young rapper friend Dom (Ben Bailey Smith) around on a self-made tour of Slough and the surrounding counties. The resulting 95 minutes rapidly deteriorate into an awkward hellscape puppeteered by Gervais' masochistic desire to make the audience squirm. While it's no Oscar winner, fans of The Office, and Gervais in general, will still find plenty to enjoy. Whereas the OG David Brent was built on classic British humour, modern day Brent is a more international flavour and slightly more palatable for it. Some of the gags are far too obvious, most of the ancillary characters might as well be cardboard cut outs with looks of disgust on their faces, and the narrative is just a series of exponentially embarrassing moments. In truth, the superficiality of the narrative is almost a relief, since Brent definitely doesn't have enough depth as a character to carry the plot for the length of an entire feature. True to form, the most excruciating moments aren't Brent's absurd stage antics or his terrible music (including such hits as "Please Don't Make Fun of the Disableds" and "Lonely Cowboy"). Nor are they his creepy and frequently offensive attempts to hit on women, or the ratty little grin that's constantly smeared on his chubby face. Instead, it's the brief but devastating moments when Brent pulls the cartoon mask up and becomes a vulnerable man with no friends. The shots of his tiny apartment, his failed attempts to mingle, the cheesy outfits of which he's so proud and his desperate need to be liked are so real. Too real. The tender heart at the centre of so much bluff is what makes the franchise continue to work. Some of the more depressing elements that defined The Office have been spruced up for the big screen. Gone are the halogen lights, wobbly camera angles and general low-budget vibes. Instead we're served great production to smother the stink of desperation – and honestly, it's a better film for it. Like the series before it, Life on the Road isn't for everyone, but has enough weirdness and insight to age into a cult favourite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2THODznVOt8
We're getting together with General Assembly to celebrate the mavericks, mad folks and plain geniuses who make up Sydney's creative community. And you're invited to join us. Needless to say, one party won't do. So, we're holding three. Join us for the first on Wednesday, September 7 at 6pm, to catch up with of our city's food and drink legends and get Gelato Messina put straight into your hands. Five speakers from The Grounds of Alexandria, Deliveroo and Young Henrys will be spilling their secrets on starting businesses that challenge expectations in just five minutes each. Then on Thursday, September 15, it's time for Design Jam. We'll be presenting a bunch of designers and developers with an epic challenge: to re-design the census so it actually works (#censusfail). You'll be throwing your ideas into the ring, too, under the guidance of expert instructor Mike Biggs, who will teach you how you can apply design thinking strategy to your own creative projects or business. Finally, on Thursday, September 29, get in touch with Sydney's musical side. Gear up to meet, not only, musicians, but also industry figures who have grown Sydney's music scene and are propelling it forward. The plan is to discuss what makes the city's scene so special and throw around some ideas for the future. All three gatherings are free, but online registration is essential. So get over here and take care of it.
Global warming, renewable energy, sustainable farming and animal rights — these are just a few of the big topics on the agenda at this year's Environmental Film Festival Australia. Heading to Sydney for three days on October 20 after stints in Melbourne and Brisbane, the seventh edition of this green-themed film fest shapes up as the biggest one yet. Standout films on this year's program include Sonic Sea — about the effects of noise pollution on marine life — and Time to Choose, a climate change documentary by Oscar winner Charles Ferguson (Inside Job). Those of you with iron stomachs might also want to check out Bugs on the Menu, a sustainable food doco about exactly what it sounds like. In Melbourne they're even pairing it with a special gourmet dinner at Grub Food Van. Yum!(?)
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because a new film festival is heading to Australian screens. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there either. Hot on the heels of the Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival, Sydney's Hayden Orpheum is turning their attention to celebrating another movie master. This time, the one and only Stanley Kubrick is in the spotlight. From October 6-19, the two cinemas will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles. That means everything from his under-seen anti-war debut Fear and Desire to the controversial Lolita to his final completed effort, the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket — and even catch special screenings of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which Kubrick started developing in the '70s before handing the project over to Steven Spielberg in the '90s. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining pop up in retrospective programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way they were meant to be seen. Plus, catching every one of Kubrick's features in one lineup is quite rare. So rare, in fact, that the fest is calling itself a world premiere.
It's only taken a few short years for the British Film Festival to become a highlight of Australia's busy festival calendar, and their first titles for their fourth year demonstrate why. Fancy seeing this year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner? Or a host of high-profile titles direct from their premieres at the Venice and Toronto film festivals? Or a restored version of the David Bowie-starring sci-fi classic The Man Who Fell to Earth? Well, they're all on the bill when the festival returns to Sydney's Palace Verona and Palace Norton Street from October 25 to November 16. Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake — which took top honours in Cannes back in May — takes a look at the British welfare system through the filmmaker's usual social realist lens, and ranks among the most highly anticipated of the bunch. It's joined by the high-profile likes of opening night's A United Kingdom and closing night's A Monster Calls. The former tells the true tale of a Botswana prince (Selma's David Oyelowo) who caused a scandal when he married a white Englishwoman (Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike), and is also slated to open the London Film Festival. Directed by The Impossible's Juan Antonio Bayona, A Monster Calls adapts a fantasy novel about a young boy coping with his mother's terminal illness, and features Liam Neeson as the voice of the titular creature. Audiences will also get the chance to see crime-drama Trespass Against Us, which not only stars Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson, but marks the film debut of the Chemical Brothers' long-term visual collaborator Adam Smith. For cinephiles looking for something completely different, rom-com fans can get their fix watching Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin in Their Finest, from An Education helmer Lone Scherfig. And because all good film fests don't just look forward to future hits but also peer back to the greats of years gone by, this year's British Film Festival has curated a ten-movie tribute to some of the country's enduring cinematic heroes. As well as Bowie proving his out-of-this-world acting abilities, catch Gary Oldman getting his punk on in Sid and Nancy and feast on the epic action adventure that is Highlander.
Earlier this year, Groove Therapy busted out Bedroom Grooves, a series of free, five-minute dance classes held in neon, disco bedrooms. On September 21, they're bringing back the name — but this round of moving and shape-making is serving up a different kind of dancing fun. In fact, it's an ace themed session and the prelude for something more, all in one. For one hour at 107 Projects, attendees will dance in their pyjamas and help raise money for a bedroom-themed performance and immersive work that GT is putting together for the upcoming We're All Going To Die Festival. Held by Vanessa Marian, and set to tour around the country, the class invites eager PJ-clad folks to choose their best bedroom groove tunes for the evening's playlist — and gives one lucky person something special for their outfit-picking efforts. Don't overlook the dress code, because the coolest set of pyjamas or bedroom dancing themed outfit will win their own Chalmers Pyjamas set. Image: Chalmers Pyjamas.
When the end of October rolls around, the Hayden Orpheum will be asking quite the iconic question: do you like scary movies? And, if you don't, don't worry. They'll also be pondering another query: if frightening flicks aren't for you, do you like like horror-themed comedies? From the sinister and unnerving to the amusing and quirky, the northside cinema's Halloween lineup has everyone covered, even those that aren't fond of jumps and bumps. Across three days in the lead up to the spookiest time of year, they'll be unleashing classic remakes, '80s greats and one of the most unsettling thrillers ever made as part of their Halloween Spooktacular. The Addams Family gets things started on October 27, for those keen on some '90s throwback fun. Then October 29 sees a double feature of Beetlejuice and The Lost Boys, combining laughs and scares. Finally, rounding it al out on All Hallow's Eve itself is multi-Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs. Hitting up all three nights is a nostalgic movie buff's idea of Halloween heaven.
If you could protest absolutely anything, what would it be? Marriage equality? Land mines? Freak shakes? Your neighbour's son's drumming teacher? Blank Placard Dance, replay, a free piece of performance art coming to the Sydney Opera House as part of ANTIDOTE, asks you to consider this question. On Sunday 3 September, keep an eye on the Western Boardwalk, where thirty performers clothed in white and bearing blank placards will be marching by. Ask them what it's all about and you'll only get a question in return: what do you want to protest? Blank Placard Dance first happened in San Francisco in 1967 (during the Vietnam War) at the hands of American artist Anna Halprin. This incarnation is a reprise by French choreographer Anne Collod, who co-founded the Quatuor Albrecht Knust (1993-2001), a dance collective that reenacted works from the early 20th century.
This Friday, April 17, set your alarm for 5pm. Why? Gelato Messina is giving away free cookie pies — and delivering them to you. Hang on, cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of choc chip cookie dough and topped with hazelnut crumble. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. It's a novel concept, but one we're sure Gelato Messina will execute well — and one we're sure Dean Martin would possibly even approve, too. To score yourself one of these, you need to log on to Deliveroo from the aforementioned time — 5pm, Friday, April 17 — and spend at least $32 on Gelato Messina. And, boom, free cookie pie. You'll need to get in quick, though, as it's only on offer while stocks last. The free cookie pie deal is available at all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores (except The Star, Circular Quay and Coolangatta) and Deliveroo pop-ups in Manly, Brighton-Le-Sands, Canterbury and East Brunswick.
The Rocks is hosting a five-day virtual Easter Egg Hunt leading up to Easter weekend — and it's not just for littl'uns. From Monday, April 6 till Friday, April 10, you can go online and find eggs to win one of five $100 e-vouchers for croissants, chocolates, spa sessions and more. Vouchers for French beauty brand L'Occitane, long-standing Sydney patisserie Le Renaissance (which is now home delivering), Endota Spa, Guylian Belgian Chocolate and fancy candlemaker DUX Collection will be awarded to the Sydneysiders with the best eye for egg hunts. The hunt will start at 9am every day. An easter egg will be hidden in an image featured in one of The Rocks' retailer pages. To enter the competition, go to this website and submit your information, along with your answer detailing where the egg has been hidden before 11.59pm. So, have some fun looking for virtual easter eggs this week, and you might be able to enjoy some delicious sweet treats, treat yourself to nourishing beauty products or book in for a post-COVID-10 pampering session. Insider tip: make sure to check The Rocks' Facebook page to get clues on the eggs' whereabouts.
Fancy spending a day (virtually) partying in the Old Melbourne Gaol, popping over to Henry Head Battery for a sunset session, then ending the night with some psychedelic light shows and tunes inside a sprawling airport hangar? If so, you'd better clear your schedule for Untitled Group's upcoming Virtual Day Party. Following a blockbuster debut event, which was beamed into more than half a million homes across the world in April, the minds behind Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts Festival will host a second digital day party on Saturday, May 30 that'll have you cutting shapes in your lounge room. With sets by Hayden James, DJ Boring, Lastlings, Made in Paris, Cassettes For Kids and Adult Art Club, the virtual party will kick off at the Old Melbourne Goal (where Ned Kelly was hanged) at 1pm, then travel to Henry Head Battery for sunset and finish inside the 8400-square-metre Avalon Airport Hangar. The event will be free to stream via the Untitled Group Facebook page, but virtual partygoers are encouraged to chip in and support the stream over here. Plus, if you register over here you can go in the draw to win $1000 worth of Lee, a Jimmy Brings voucher or JBL speakers, among other prizes. While some of Melbourne's COVID-19 restrictions are easing, festivals and big parties don't look like they'll be starting again too soon, so we'll need to make do with some dancing in our lounge rooms for the time being. More time to get your sock slides perfected, we say. [caption id="attachment_771608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hayden James by Pat Stevenson[/caption] Virtual Day Party #2 will run from 1–7.15pm. Top images: Lady Drewniak and Instant Crush.
Nothing inspires those carefree summer feels quite like a spot of outdoor cinema — especially when the flicks are free. This January marks the return of Darling Quarter's ever-popular al fresco film screenings, delivering two weeks of outdoor movie magic for young and old (an in between). Taking over the precinct's Village Green from January 4 to 20, the annual Night Owls Film Festival will this year kick off at 6pm nightly with a special family-friendly program — think kids' entertainment, a series of short films from Little Big Shots and a family feature film from 6.45pm. If your inner child (or actual child) loves flicks like Pixar's Coco, Paddington 2 and Hugh Jackman's The Greatest Showman head along then then. But come nightfall on weekends, it's the big kids' turn, with a program of grown-up movies screened from 8.30pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Titles such as dystopian sci-fi Maze Runner, rom-com The Big Sick and Black Panther are all on the lineup, rounding out with Australia period Western Sweet Country as the closing night film. Be sure to bring along your picnic rug and accompany your cinema experience with eats from one of the many nearby vendors — Nok Nok Thai Eating House, Umi Sushi & Udon and pizza joint Vesta are all a short stroll away.
A week of free coffees, your own stylish reusable cup and the satisfaction that comes from doing the environment a solid. Combine the three, and that's HuskeeWeek, which runs from Monday, December 3 to Friday, December 7. HuskeeCup turns recycled coffee husks into recyclable takeaway cups and, after a crowdfunding campaign, it has finally arrived in Sydney. To both celebrate the launch and to introduce their accompanying cup-swap initiative, they're getting you caffeinated without spending a cent — other than on your HuskeeCup and accompanying lid, that is. If you have them already, then rejoice. All you need to do is hit up Pablo & Rusty, Cross Eatery or Brew Collective in the CBD, or Zupano Espresso in Walsh Bay — and as long as you have your cup and lid, your takeaway flat whites, soy caps, lattes, long blacks, short blacks and quarter-cup piccolos are all on the house. If you don't have a set, you can buy one while you're there for $16, and the same week of freebies still applies. Once you have your mitts on a HuskeeCup and lid, each time you use it at a participating cafe, it'll actually be swapped and replaced for free. That way, it'll always be clean and ready to go — and, you won't have to worry about chips, stains or breakages either.
We love gelato. You love gelato. Everyone loves gelato. But do you really appreciate it? Could you appreciate it more? When it comes to Gelato Messina's frosty sweet treats, you mightn't think that's possible. That's where their Gelato Appreciation Classes come in, however. For two hours on a Saturday morning — with Sydney's next sessions scheduled monthly from February to October in 2019 — you'll get a double scoop of gelato goodness. We're talking about learning plus eating (don't worry, you'll actually get much, much, much more ice cream than just two serves). Taking care of the first part of the class, Messina's gelato wizards will talk you through the company's story, share their secrets and show you how it's all done. If you've ever wondered how they perfect their flavours or what goes in to making one of their delectable cakes, you're about to find out. Then comes the main event, and we speak from experience when we say you'll want to wear something loose and comfy. Eat your way through a four-course gelato degustation, with the menu specially created for each session. Taste as many of Messina's flavours as you can (you can even taste everything in the cabinet if you can manage it). Finally, take your pick of flavours for a take-home pack, and enjoy your weekend-long gelato coma. Sessions take place at Messina's Rosebery headquarters, with tickets costing $160 per person. They're certain to book out fast — in fact, at the time of writing, only classes from June to October are still available.
Spend a cruisy Saturday afternoon listening to acoustic songs and staring at Sydney Harbour thanks to Cockatoo Island's new music series. Until January 27, sunset campfire music sessions are coming to the scenic spot, as well as stories about the performing artists. Venue 505 has curated the Campfire Sessions lineup, so you know you're in for an ace run of talent. January 13 sees Matilda Abraham take centre stage, followed by Wartime Sweethearts' experimental pop. On January 20, it's Darryl Beaton and Angela Rosero's time to shine, one offering up Aussie soul and the other accompanied by the guitar stylings Carlos Arango. Wrapping the series up on January 27 is Portuguese-born, inner west-raised Ines and the jazzy sounds of Lily Dior. Sets start at 5.20pm and 6.40pm during each session. And, if the combination great music and gorgeous views gets your stomach grumbling, Mcintosh and Bowman Cheesemongers will be on hand with the essential staples — aka cheese and wine.
Sun, surf, sand, sex and the seaside Gold Coast suburbs in the '70s. What a combination. Swinging Safari is every bit as over-the-top and outrageous as it sounds, but if anyone was going to try and make the chaos work, it's writer-director Stephan Elliott. The man behind The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert knows how to make a splash, paying tribute to Australia and our eccentricities in a manner that's both affectionate and tongue-in-cheek. Accordingly, his latest effort is a knowing love letter to a specific era and the freewheeling way of life that came with it — one spent surrounded by rayon clothes and shag carpets, slathered in sunscreen, chowing down on buckets of KFC and guzzling cask wine. In a cul-de-sac not far from the Queensland hotspot's scenic shoreline, three families spend their days and nights hopping between backyard parties, beach picnics and any other shenanigans that come about. Over at the Hall household, encyclopaedia salesman Keith (Guy Pearce) and the booze-addled Kaye (Kylie Minogue) can't manage their marital malaise, let alone their rowdy brood of kids. Next door at the Joneses, Rick (Julian McMahon) and Jo (Radha Mitchell) think they're the leaders of the pack, with a sunken conversation pit in the middle of their lounge room to prove it. That leaves Bob and Gale Marsh (Jeremy Sims and Asher Keddie) somewhere in the middle, complete with a daughter, Bec (Chelsea Glaw), who's a hit with the local boys, and a son, Jeff (Atticus Robb), who constantly has a camera in his hands. With Elliot himself a child of the 1970s, there's no escaping Swinging Safari's partly autobiographical nature. In fact, it's an adult Jeff (voiced by Richard Roxburgh) that narrates the movie, with the aspiring filmmaker looking back on his teenage years. Unsurprisingly, his younger self sometimes struggles to cope with the mayhem around him. While making his own stunt-filled movies helps, he really has eyes for the shy Mellie Jones (Darcey Wilson). Unfortunately, their budding romance hits a snag when their parents' key-swapping antics incite a neighbourhood war. Plus there's the not-so-little matter of the 200-tonne dead whale rotting on the local beach. Elliott might be turning what he knows into a movie, but diving headfirst into nostalgic memories isn't quite the same as stringing together a great story. Swinging Safari places less focus on its narrative, and pays more attention to moments, mood, outfits and ramping up the fun. With that in mind, the adult cast members are clearly having a ball reliving their younger years (and, in the case of Pearce and Minogue, reuniting nearly 30 years after they left Ramsay Street). Their irreverence and enthusiasm is infectious, even when the jokes don't land. Of course, the film always seems more interested in pushing boundaries of comedy, taste and political correctness than it is in fleshing out its characters. If Swinging Safari teaches viewers one thing, it's that fickle entertainment and amusement were high on everyone's agenda in '70s Australia, while seriousness and subtlety most definitely were not. The result is a movie that can't stuff its frames with enough raucous one-liners, polyester jumpsuits or instances of a woman urinating on a jellyfish-stung child. When that doesn't work, the crew – many of whom date back to Priscilla – helps pick up the slack with their attention to bright, sunny period detail. Oscar-winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner is one of them, and while it's usually not a good sign when the outfits steal the show, her outlandish creations hit the garish spot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB95v_pyQq8
Same-day succulent delivery service Little Succers is running a build-your-own terrarium bar in Chippendale for a two days only. Book in for a morning or afternoon session on January 27 or 28 and you'll be given the tools to build the terrarium of your dreams. The pop-up will stock a variety of succulents and plants of all shapes and sizes ready for you to take home. With custom-made pots and soil, crystals and other decorations, you'll have everything you need to create a masterpiece — and, aside from the $20 booking fee, you'll be charged only for what you use.
You can always count on Jurassic Lounge to produce the goods when it comes to an all-out themed super-fun time. Considering the location at the Australian Museum, it's easy to see why the Lounge is one of Sydney's favourite adult playgrounds. The museum usually turns things up for Halloween and Mardi Gras, but this time round it'll be throwing an adults-only party in celebration of Vivid Sydney and Comic Con. The theme? 2099. That means you can expect all things sci-fi and futuristic, including VR experiences, a silent disco an interactive wormhole installation that will let you virtually travel through space and time. On top of that, DJs will have you dancing into the next century and pop-up bars will keep you well watered like the half-robot, half-human you are. There'll also be a comp for best dressed if you have your Fifth Element costume ready to go. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the door. These events nearly always sell out, so we'd book in advance just in case. Image: Diabolique Photography.
The man behind some of Britain's best sitcoms is coming to Australia to share his expertise with the country's aspiring comedy writers. Best known for writing and co-creating Black Books, The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Big Train, Graham Linehan is heading to our shores to debut his one-day workshop Insights Into The Art Of TV Comedy Writing. In a world first, the six-hour sessions will give eager funny folk the chance to learn from the five-time BAFTA winner, with two classes taking place on June 17 and 18 at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre, and a further two being held on June 23 and 24 at Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre. Tickets range from $99 to $219, including both morning and afternoon tea, with limited spots available. Attendees will learn more than simply turning computers off and on again — or the fact that some ovens can cook anything. According to Lineham, figuring out comedy "is something I've been trying to do for the last twenty five years and I'm hoping that I've gained enough insights into my own process that I won't actually mess yours up too much."
It has been four years since the Sydney Film Festival closed out its 2014 fest with What We Do in the Shadows, giving the event one of its most memorable nights yet. To open this year's 65th anniversary celebration of cinema, SFF is once again showcasing a top New Zealand comedy — this time it's The Breaker Upperers, which Taika Waititi executive produced. The flick tells the tale of two cynical best friends who turn their romantic woes into a thriving business. Yes, as the movie's moniker suggests, they break up unhappy couples for cash. It's written and directed by its stars, Kiwi comedians Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, both of whom actually appeared What We Do in the Shadows and Waititi's Eagle vs Shark. The former also popped up in New Zealand TV series Funny Girls and 800 Words, and the latter featured in Sione's Wedding and its sequel, plus the first season of Top of the Lake. On-screen, van Beek and Sami are joined by Boy's James Rolleston and Rosehaven's Celia Pacquola, while off-screen, their debut collaborative effort is produced by the same team behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The film premiered at this year's SXSW Film Festival to positive reviews, and will open in Australian cinemas on July 26 — but those heading to SFF's opening night on June 6 will get to see the movie early, obviously, with the cast and crew in attendance. Tickets for opening night are $30 for the screening, or $130 for the film and after party at Town Hall. If you're purchasing online, you'll notice the fest's website has a had a revamp. It's set to include a new discover function that'll offer up recommendations, plus a visual planner so that festival-goers can better map out their schedules. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phMlkRiWIg
If you're anything like us, you probably overindulged a bit over Easter and need to get movin'. At Urban Sessions this April you can do just that — on the dance floor. The R&B party will be headlined by soul master Jay Sean, who will be accompanied on stage by a solid mix of international and local artists, including Timomatic, Suite Az and DJ Nino Brown. On top of all the beats, Wu-Tang Clan will be launching its new premium vodka. And you'll be able to try it for a very reasonable price — cocktails made with the New York rappers' vodka will be $7.50 and vodka mixers will set you back a smooth $5. Which is pretty exciting news, because we all know that there are only two drinks between the average person and their Beyoncé-level dance moves, right? And the kicker? The event is free, so you can dance without spendin' a dollar. Just head to the ticketing website and punch in "wanttogetdown" and your free ticket will be sent to your mobile.
Since opening in 2016 and establishing itself as a firm Sydney favourite, PS40 hasn't just showcased its own wares to eager drinkers. From its home on King Street, it has also brought some of the best bars in the world to our shores. And, they're showing no sign of stopping that trend. Following in the footsteps of Mace, Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog and Operation Dagger, Employees Only and 28 HongKong Street are the latest to join the fold. If their names don't sound familiar, that's probably because you haven't grabbed a drink in New York City or Singapore of late — but trust us, these are tipples that you don't want to miss out on. Both ranked in the top 40 on this year's world's best bar list, and they're sending their bartenders our way to mix up a storm of delicious beverages. You know, the type you literally won't get in Sydney everyday. From 5pm on December 18, Michael Callahan will be doing the honours for Employees Only, while Celia Schoonraad will be flying the flag for 28 HongKong Street. Unsurprisingly, even in a city that keeps enjoying international bar pop-ups, it's expected to be busy. Get there early for plenty of pandan, split milk boulevardiers and even more inventive creations.
If you've never attended a big community Syrian barbecue, Almond Bar is giving you the chance to get in on one. Head down to the laneway behind the Darlinghurst restaurant on Sunday, November 19, and you can load up your plate with Syrian-style lamb skewers and pumpkin kibbeh, and enjoy the accompanying music and dancing. All for $20. This successful event has been a staple in Darlinghurst for the last four years. The scent of grilling meats sends a siren call throughout the area, bringing people together to celebrate cultural diversity and togetherness. Syrians love a feast, and they love a party — their cooking traditions are among the oldest in the world and the government itself produces two varieties of beer, Al-Shark Beer and Barada Beer. There's no need to book, but seating is limited — so get there early.
The so-called 'voice of the Tunisian revolution' during the Arab Spring, Emel Mathlouthi fuses traditional North African sounds with ultra-contemporary electronic production. The result is a pulsing, intense and raw musical experience. Also featuring on this unique double bill is famed Iraqi composer Rahm AlHaj, appearing alongside Iraqi cellist and conductor Karim Wasfi. This evening is sure to be a touching and moving experience, a poignant reflection on music's ability to inspire, uplift and outrage, even in the most fraught moments. Image: Michael G. Stewart
When it comes to prime spring drinking turf, Chiswick's sprawling green lawn is up there with the best. And you can bet it's set to get a solid workout this season, as the Woollahra restaurant plays host to a series of weekly Wednesday evening pop-up bars, running for all of November. Join in the al fresco fun from 5.30–7.30pm each week and make the most of those balmy pre-sunset temperatures with some hard-earned hump day knock-offs. The pop-up Bombay Sapphire bar will be slinging a selection of spring-perfect gin cocktails, including the Garden G&T ($10) with elderflower tonic; the Summer Twist ($12) with gin, peach bitters and mint; and the Passionfruit Collins ($14) with passionfruit liqueur, lemon and soda. There'll also be 4 Pines pale ales ($10) and house-made lemonades ($5) — if gin isn't your thing. And, to cap it off, there'll be live acoustic tunes setting the mood, games of bocce, plus some free canapés making the rounds. Gin will be served on the lawn every Wednesday in November.
A new fashion market is joining Sydney's growing array of weekend shopping spots; however this one-off event has something other than bargain purchases or vintage finds in mind. At the Slow Fashion Market, attendees will browse through racks of clothing and shelves of accessories that fit two criteria. Firstly, everything on offer is made from sustainable, non-toxic materials. Secondly, it all hails from retailers that either make the fashion themselves or pay their workers fair wages. It's the latest venture from Emma Morris and Lee Glezos — aka the team behind The Makers & Shakers Market and the Round She Goes Preloved Fashion Market — with the duo aiming to raise awareness about the slow fashion movement. With mass-produced, over-produced 'fast fashion' having an enormous environmental impact, resulting in around 85 percent of new textiles eventually ending up in landfill, the Slow Fashion Market "will bring together people who care about how their fashion is made," explains Morris. "Consumers are reaching their threshold for clothes that is made cheap and fast, that falls apart after a couple of washes, and potentially exploits the people who made them." Taking place from 10am–3pm on Saturday, September 1 at Petersham Town Hall, the market will feature more than 40 independent brands selling womens, mens and children's fare. Entry costs $2, so keep your gold coins handy. While there's a serious and important topic behind the one-day event, the Slow Fashion Market not only endeavours to educate consumers, but to celebrate makers. "We create an environment where everyone is comfortable asking questions — and 'who made my clothes?' is the core question at this event," says Morris. Image: Alana Dimou.
Keen to embrace slow fashion, but have a hard time sorting the best brands from the rest? Sydney stylist Aleysha Campbell is here to lend a helping hand, with the next edition of her carefully curated luxury pop-up, The Sustainable Wardrobe. Taking over Darlinghurst's ceramics studio Studio Enti from August 1 to 14, the mini marketplace will showcase high-end threads and accessories from 18 of Australia's top ethical and sustainable fashion labels. It's creating a space where customers can engage with the stories behind what they're buying, making more informed fashion choices and throwing their support behind local labels doing good. Mindful shopping will prove a breeze when browsing this conscious collection, including boldly printed silk and wool designs from Annie Hamilton, handcrafted leather goods from Empire Of Bees, Natalija's line of long-wearing silk nightwear, Spirit Natural Clothing's hemp jeans, and handmade jewellery from Melbourne's Maekar. The Sustainable Wardrobe is open from 10am–5pm daily.
Fans of Dolly Parton, Dolly the sheep and anyone who's spent time thinking about cloning, branding or death, this show's for you. Written and performed by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit — the duo behind multi-award winning UK duo Sh!t Theatre — it's an exploration of the legendary country singer that's at once adoring and cynical. DollyWould comes our way after selling out a UK tour, which included a month on the West End and two runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Expect a cappella singing, lines from actually Dolly Parton interviews, wigs, references to that other Dolly (the sheep), mash-ups of familiar images and general chaos. DollyWould runs from Saturday, September 1 to Saturday, September 8 with showings every night at 8pm, except Saturday, September 7's 2pm showing.
Maybe you've heard about that burger joint in Penrith named Burger Head. Maybe you've wanted to go but you live in the inner west and rarely leave. Well, here's your chance to get your hands on one of the much-loved burgers, with Newtown brewhouse Young Henrys hosting the burger joint for a two-day pop-up. This Saturday and Sunday will be the second time Burger Head's burgers have hit the inner west. For the occasion, the team will be cooking up some crowd favourites alongside a one-off creation, which includes a smashed Angus beef patty, beer tempura onion rings, beer cheese sauce (both making use of Young Henrys, of course), American hi-melt cheese and a smothering of dill and jalapeño mayo. If you've never tried Burger Head's burgers before, we suggest trying The Americana (with a smashed Angus patty, pulled barbecue brisket, grilled onions and mustard mayo) or The Clucker (a fried buttermilk chicken burger seasoned with 16 herbs and spices, pickled onion and mayo). The pop-up will be open from noon until 7pm both days.
Sure, you might live every week like it's negroni week, but the actual event will be here from June 4 to 10. Not that anyone needs an excuse, but that's when knocking back gin, vermouth rosso and Campari cocktails is on the agenda — and, at The Clock, so is building your own. Extending its celebrations from May 30 to June 10 — because, well, why not? — the Surry Hills pub will boast an entire bar solely dedicated to negronis. In fact, it'll have a whole room. Say goodbye to the Whisky Room and hello to the Negroni Room, complete with Italian theming and snacks to go with it. We know, we know, you're here for the negronis — and you can create your own from over 40 different types of gin. Eleven special negroni cocktails will be available on a one-per-day basis, and your sipping and general negroni-loving will also help a good cause, with $1 from each negroni being donated to Oz Harvest.
Vivid might've been and gone for 2018; however it's not the only event that brings brightness to Sydney's dark corners. Antony Youssef's Organism takes inspiration from the city's annual arts, culture and light show, as well as events such as Dark Mofo — and it's illuminating the University of Sydney's Courtyard Restaurant & Bar between August 13 and 17. Here's how it works: you head along, walk through a tree-filled space, and then watch as the installation responds to your presence. The piece's lights and music change to interact with visitors, in a gorgeous — and luminous — blend of technology and nature. "People are momentarily removed from their environments, forgetting the mundanities of everyday life, ensconced in the possibilities, wonder and 'magic'," explains artist and University of Sydney student Youssef. If that sounds like a big call, then consider the specifics: one of the trees in his installation deploys sensors and lights to show how humans impact upon the environment, another triggers animations through the use of water, and another can receive text messages from participants. Entry is free, with the installation open from 5–8pm across its five-day run. Attendees can also nab a drink special, including Iron Jack schooners for $6 or $20 growlers.
