If you can remember the last time a Studio Ghibli film didn’t make you cry, then chances are you are some kind of robot. Under the leadership of co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the Japanese production house has been responsible for some of the most moving animated films in the history of the medium, from the powerful anti-war tale Grave of the Fireflies to the Oscar-winning fable Spirited Away. Inspired by this incredible legacy, and hastened by the rumours that the studio may be shutting up shop, the Golden Age Cinema & Bar have programmed a miniature Ghibli retrospective. Hop into your moving castle: it's time for a stroll down memory lane. The centrepiece of the season is the studio’s most recent work, Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s enchanting coming-of-age film When Marnie Was There. Complimenting the new film are titles from Ghibli’s back catalogue, including Isao Takahata’s swansong The Tale of Princess Kaguya as well as a date night double feature of My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away.
The beer barons at Young Henrys must lead busy lives. Between running their Newtonian craft beer brewery and dreaming up Road House-themed bar takeovers, they've been enlisted by Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan to team up with Kinkawooka Shellfish to bring you a month-long smorgasbord of mussels and beer. Yes, that’s correct. A month. Prepare your throat sack because like a pod of hungry pelicans, we’re going to be gulping bulk seafood. The festivities, aptly named 'Cook, Line and Drinker', kick off on June 9 with a four-course gala dinner at Mangan’s restaurant MOJO by Luke Mangan. Dishes will include crumbed mussel with hollandaise, Avruga roe and chives; pickled mussel accompanied by tiger prawn, witlof, radish, watercress and spicy herb vinaigrette; and pan-roasted salmon with Israeli cous cous, mussel (of course), tomato cucumber, dill and smoked butter. And dessert? A MOJO lamington that may or may not contain mussel — you’ll simply have to come along to find out. Kinkawooka Shellfish are providing the event with petit bouchot mussels, characterised by their small size, sweet flavour and buttery texture. These tasty mussels come from South Australia and are in season from May to September, so get 'em while they're hot, steamy and come with a side of expertly brewed craft beer. Don’t despair if the four-course affair exceeds your weekly mussel budget (gala tickets are a cool $110). You can rock up after June 9 to sample a bespoke mussel dish and a Young Henrys craft beer for $25 (small) or $29 (large). Cook, Line and Drinker is running from June 9 at MOJO by Luke Mangan, 8 Danks Street Waterloo. Tickets to the gala dinner are $110. To book, contact mojo@lukemangan.com or phone (02) 9002 5346.
Long gone are the days of hitting the gym in your baggiest, outdated sweats. The fitness world has gotten a taste for fashion-conscious luxury, and the trend only appears to be gaining momentum. For those of us struggling to fork out the cash for these designer threads, Mode Sportif is putting on a sale that'll give you no excuse not to hit the treadmill in style. This weekend the online activewear retailer will be slashing prices for its first warehouse pop-up appearance. Featuring brands like The Upside, Adidas by Stella McCartney, VPL, Equipment, Jac & Jack, Pierre Hardy and many more, it'll have you decked out in Lycra and neoprene before you know it. Times: THURSDAY, 7 MAY, 4–8pm FRIDAY, 8 MAY, 8am–7pm SATURDAY, 9 MAY, 9am–4pm
We've all been spending more time inside than usual this year. In the process, we've all been looking at our furniture far more often than we usually would. So, if you've been rocked by the urge to redecorate, rearrange and reorganise, that's hardly surprising — those well-loved cushions, that old couch or your overflowing shelves could probably do with sprucing up. If IKEA is your furniture go-to, then its end-of-year sale is here to help, too — offering discounts of up to 50 percent off on some items. Whether you're in need of something big like a bed, chair or desk, or you're eager to fill your walls and surfaces with frames and vases, you'll find slashed prices on a heap of products. And if you still have some Christmas gifts to buy, you might be in luck as well. The sale runs until Thursday, January 7 — and, for Sydneysiders, you have multiple options if you're eager to start buying. The best while the city's residents have been asked to avoid non-essential activities: browsing online, doing all your perusing and purchasing from home, then waiting for delivery.
2020 hasn't been anyone's favourite year — so if you're looking forward to it coming to an end, that's understandable. Fancy a stint of big-screen escapism before you escape this hectic 12-month period? That's on offer every day of the week at the Ritz Cinema, of course, but between Thursday, December 17–Wednesday, December 23 it'll only cost you $5. That's a mighty cheap price for a trip to the movies, and it means that you can even treat your bestie, date or mum to a flick and pay just ten dollaroos for both of you. Merry early Christmas, indeed. Some of the films you'll be able to catch during the week include David Fincher's Mank, top-notch concert film American Utopia, the excellent Riz Ahmed-led Sound of Metal and George Clooney space flick The Midnight Sky — plus rom-com Happiest Season, the new remake of The Witches and the true tale that is Misbehaviour. The $5 tickets are available at all regular sessions across the seven days — other than previews, special events, retro films, and sessions at the Ritz Laneway Cinema. To book your $5 tickets, just head to the Ritz Cinema website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nnV0fNd30
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese is upping its cruelty-free food game across a new food series. Called Soul Meets Cheers, the event consists of two regular parts: a five-course vegan banquet and a vegan cooking class. At the former, you'll tuck into an entirely plant-based menu, which'll feature vegan versions of Italian classics. For the feast's second outing, think pizzetta with sweet potato and truffle oil, orecchiette with broccolini and Tuscan kale pesto, and raspberry sorbet. The next vegan dinner takes place on Tuesday, September 8 at SMC's Circular Quay, Cronulla, Drummoyne and Dee Why venues, with bookings from 6pm. And, your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or or Young Henrys beer or cider upon arrival — or you can pay an extra $15 and get bottomless vegan wine and beer. At the latter, which is next being held on Sunday, October 4 at Circular Quay, you'll learn how to make your own SMC-style vegan dishes at home. In this year of lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, that's a particularly handy skill. If you're keen, tickets cost $89. Salt Meats Cheese's Soul Meets Cheers Vegan Series five-course banquet takes place from 6pm on Tuesday, September 8 at SMC's Circular Quay, Cronulla, Drummoyne and Dee Why venues, with the cooking class held on Sunday, October 4 at Circular Quay — and bookings are essential.
"Ain't no American dream for Black folks," Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) is told partway through Miss Juneteenth by her boss Wayman (Marcus M Mauldin). The latter isn't being dismissive or pessimistic, just realistic — he owns the Fort Worth bar and barbecue joint where Turquoise works, and that she's always trying to spruce up; however, he's comfortable simply holding onto the place he's fought so hard to call his own. He outlines that struggle to his super-conscientious and hard-working number-one employee, including the efforts by developers to buy him out and gentrify this corner of Texas. He explains why the comfort-food menu, the boozy regulars and the fact that his joint is a beloved neighbourhood hangout spot all means so much to him. He not only utters a powerful line, but a potent explanation of how the US operates for people of colour, who often aren't even given the luxury of dreaming big. By this point in this observant, tender but clear-eyed film, it's already apparent that Turquoise's life hasn't turned out as she wished as a child, and that she's striving to ensure that things are better for her 15-year-old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Also evident: that Turquoise was on a different path a decade and a half ago, after winning the local Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant and earning a scholarship to the historically Black college of her choosing. Doing the math, it's easy to work out why Turquoise's plans faltered, and why she's so determined that Kai enter the upcoming pageant, wow everyone, win and make the most of the coveted opportunity. Miss Juneteenth is a movie about choices, though — a movie about grabbing what you can when so much is snatched away or simply out of reach for unfair reasons — and it never forgets that it takes strength and courage to truly understand what the best options are. For those wondering about the pageant's portmanteau name, and the movie's, it hails back to June 19, 1865, and the chapter of history it refers to is pivotal to the feature. More than two years earlier, slavery was outlawed in the US via President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation — but Black Texans weren't told until the date now celebrated as Juneteenth. Accordingly, the contest that gives the film its moniker is supposed to be a celebration, a recognition of the past, and a chance for young women to take a proud and empowered step forward. But, as Turquoise's very existence typifies even if she hasn't quite realised it yet, it also enforces a strict set of rules, standards and expectations upon Black teenage girls. It dictates who they should be rather than letting them dare to attempt to follow their own hearts, learn to be independent, shape their own identities, and accept that their own hopes and desires might differ from those imposed upon them. The feature directorial debut of writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples, Miss Juneteenth makes a careful and graceful effort to balance two ideas: that American society doesn't just have a problematic history with race relations, but that inequality is now engrained in everyday life; and that choosing one's own future, rather than ever simply towing a mandated line, is wholeheartedly worth fighting for even with seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way. Turquoise describes her 2004 crown win as feeling "like I was walking into a new life", while Kai would prefer to join her school's dance team and hang out with her boyfriend (Jaime Matthis) than don formal gowns, memorise Maya Angelou poems and learn which cutlery to use when; however, they're not the only people caught in the middle of this situation. Whenever Turquoise asks her mother Charlotte (Lori Hayes) for assistance — to watch Kai while she flits between her two jobs, trying to earn enough money for pageant fees, expensive dresses and to keep the power on — she's confronted by a disapproving woman who uses religion to escape her own deep-seated woes. And while Turquoise's ex and Kai's father Ronnie (Kendrick Sampson) wants to be part of their lives permanently, his unreliable choices — also endeavouring to push him ahead in life — repeatedly spark further worries. Little about Miss Juneteenth's message, themes or the clashing predicament the film covers is new, of course. Nor is the time spent watching, with a cynical eye, the pomp and ceremony of the eponymous pageant. And yet this affecting drama always proves keenly observed, sincerely handled and authentic. Naturalistic cinematography helps — the type that lets audiences see the grimy bathroom Turquoise has to clean at work, but also spots the vivid colours in objects around her — but the picture's naturalistic central portrayals are its biggest strength. Playing a woman who has spent her whole life thinking that success only looks one specific way, Beharie takes Turquoise on an internalised journey that makes its impact known in every gesture and gaze. It's a complex, nuanced performance, and one that demonstrates why the Shame, Black Mirror and Little Fires Everywhere actor should be a bigger presence on the big and small screens. The movie's scenes between Beharie and engaging first-timer Chikaeze are just as special, though, and give Miss Juneteenth its foundation. As a filmmaker, Peoples sees the past, present and future of her characters, and of Black Americans, in tandem — and while her feature doesn't pretend to speak to the entire Black experience, it eagerly, generously and openly endeavours to lay bare as much about its chosen slice of life as possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgUZ2AHp4rU
Keen to escape the heat in a cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then. For the week spanning Thursday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 16, the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem — as long as you purchase online, you'll only pay $8 for your movie of choice at Opera Quays or Newtown. With everything from Aquaman and The Favourite to Colette and Vice currently screening — plus Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Bumblebee, Mary Poppins Returns and Bohemian Rhapsody too — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. Many of these won awards at the recent Golden Globes, so you can start ticking them off your to-watch list, too. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless.
If sparkling wine puts some extra fizz into your life, then you'll want to drink your way through this Sydney event. Across Friday, May 28–Saturday, May 29, the Bubbles Festival is coming to town to celebrate the most effervescent boozy beverages there are. You'll sip, you'll chat, and you'll meet the folks who make and distribute the tipples in question as well. You'll also eat canapes — no one wants to down champagne, prosecco and other sparkling drinks on an empty stomach — while you're sampling and tasting across two hours. At least ten different wines will be on offer, and your $79 ticket also includes a champagne tasting glass to take home with you. The venue hasn't been confirmed yet, but tickets are available. You can take your pick of three sessions: from 6–8pm on Friday, and at either 12–2pm or 3–5pm on Saturday. If you're feeling like really treating your sparkling-loving self, you can pay an extra $55 for a VIP ticket, which gets you access to a special cuvée tasting before the regular doors open — and two tasting glasses, rather than one.
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese has been upping its cruelty-free food game at a series of monthly special events this year. Called Soul Meets Cheers, it serves up an entirely plant-based menu, featuring vegan versions of Italian classics — and it's doing just that for its Christmas edition. For the feast's December outing — taking place at all Sydney venues except Cronulla and Bar Ombre from 5pm on Tuesday, December 22 — it'll be focusing on festive dishes. Think roast pumpkin stuffed with lentils and cranberry, a star-shaped pizza topped with porcini and semi-dried tomatoes, and panforte with fruit and nuts for dessert. And yes, that just a few of the dishes on offer. Your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or beer upon arrival. Or, you can pay an extra $15 and go bottomless with your vegan booze.
In 2020, as Sydney kicks back into gear after COVID-19 shutdowns, hearing that one of the city's cultural institutions is reopening has become commonplace. But the latest venue to announce its return actually closed its doors long before the pandemic — and makes its comeback after a huge renovation. That'd be the Australian Museum, which temporarily shut in August 2019 to facilitate its $57.5 million makeover, called Project Discover. Come Saturday, November 28, Sydneysiders will be able to head back to the popular William Street site and see the results. Even better — you'll be able to do so without spending a cent, with the venue making general admission free for everyone for a limited time. That said, you will need to buy tickets for special exhibitions. [caption id="attachment_787666" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Alcock[/caption] As part of its renovation, the Australian Museum has added more than 3000 square metres of public space to its layout, including expanding its touring exhibition hall from 850 square metres to 1500 square metres and creating a Grand Hall in the centre of the museum. And, within the next 12 months, two new gallery spaces are also slated to open. Visitors can shop at a new Museum Shop, grab a bite to eat at a second onsite cafe, and store their belongings at new cloaking facilities, too. The Crystal Hall entry plaza and lobby space has also been expanded, as has the members lounge. A new central staircase has been added as well, plus new escalators. When the site welcomes patrons back in, it'll do so with two big drawcards: Tyrannosaurs — Meet the Family, which updates one of the Australian Museum's existing exhibitions; and the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020, the popular annual showcase that highlights stunning snaps of the natural world. Both will kick off on November 28, with the former making its return after touring the US and Europe, and the latter taking over the Grand Hall.
You can't shake a cocktail in Sydney without hitting a new espresso martini or espresso martini-themed event. We've had espresso martini pop-ups and festivals and a slew of bars now serve them on tap. Now, northern beaches distillery Manly Spirits Co is getting in on the action. Best known for its gin made with foraged native Australian botanicals, the distillery has just launched a cold brew coffee liqueur dubbed Blackfin. Created in collaboration with nearby roastery Seven Miles Coffee, the liqueur is made by distilling coffee, native botanicals and sea minerals into a smooth wheat vodka. To celebrate the launch of the new caffeine-filled drink, the distillery is hosting its own (mini) espresso martini festival. Tickets to the event — which is happening on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 — will set you back $60, but that includes a lot of caffeinated fun. As well as receiving a cocktail on arrival and a tour of the distillery, you'll be led through a espresso martini tasting flight, an espresso martini masterclass and a coffee session with Seven Miles. Coffee-insfued street food snacks by Manly's Peanut Better Jelly will also be included — and, most excitingly, you'll get your own bottle of Blackfin to take home, too. Tickets are selling quickly, so we suggest buying yours ASAP if you're keen to go. Images: Alana Dimou.
Four years ago, legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Fleetwood Mac toured Australia with Christine McVie, who'd just rejoined the band after a 16-year absence. This year, when the British-American group tours the country, the lineup will look a little different. Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, John McVie and Christine McVie will be joined on stage in August by Crowded House frontman Neil Finn and Mike Campbell, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with Lindsey Buckingham controversially axed from the band early last year. Despite the switch-up — it's not the band's first personnel change, and probably won't be its last — the band will be performing all its biggest hits, from 'Dreams' to 'The Chain' and 'Go Your Own Way'. The six will visit both the west and east coast, with four shows over two weeks at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on August 15, 17, 27 and 29. Fleetwood Mac is one of the world's best-selling bands, selling in excess of 100 million albums worldwide, with the album Rumours one of the best-selling of all time. The band's Aussie tour follows its 50-show tour of the US.
The pairing of politics and satire have always occupied a special place in theatre, but the addition of race, power, and an upcoming NSW election is what makes Nakkiah Lui's new play How to Rule the World so topical. The 28-year-old playwright, who made a name for herself after the success of her breakthrough romantic comedy Black is the New White, is back with a satirical play destined for a few awkward yet telling seat-shifting moments. The two-and-a-half-hour work follows the political ventures of an Indigenous Australian (played by none other than Lui herself), an Asian, and an Islander as they devise to alter the Australian political climate through their calculated parliamentary 'in': a white male. We recommend heading along on a Wednesday night when the Opera House does two-for-one tickets on selected shows. Otherwise, tickets will set you back around $99, or $60 for under 30s Monday to Thursday. How to Rule the World will run at the Sydney Opera House until March 30 — after that it will, quite fittingly, move on to Canberra in April. Image: Prudence Upton.
Is there anything more romantic than a picnic under the stars? Probably not. So it's lucky then that Centennial Park is hosting a night of stargazing this Valentine's Day. This isn't your usual spot-the-Southern Cross affair, though — professions will be on-hand to show you what you should be looking for. Tickets are $19 each and allow you to share a telescope with your special someone. There'll be plenty of space to throw down a rug so pick up a picnic and a nice bottle of wine, and set up for the night. If you don't have time to get a hamper together, don't worry — you can pre-purchase one to collect on the night or buy snack from the bar as you like.
A couple embraces. A man thrusts. The next shot shows, from above, a car driving directly up a straight road. Viewers everywhere can put two and two together. The cut from one to the other is actually meant to be subtle, segueing from an adulterous duo to the man they've cuckolded — but it's also meant to complete a tastefully sensual picture. That's The Aftermath in a nutshell: prim, proper and discreet; brandishing plenty of emotions underneath; and obvious even though it's trying desperately to remain restrained. You could say the same about many period dramas starring Keira Knightley, and you'd be right, however this one particularly sticks to the familiar template. Dressing up in her 20th-century finest as she did in Atonement, A Dangerous Method and The Imitation Game, Knightley plays British military wife Rachael Morgan. After spending most of the Second World War alone, even when bombs were dropping on London, she now joins her colonel husband Lewis (Jason Clarke) in Hamburg. He's been tasked with overseeing the city's enormous rebuilding project, and she's once again left in their acquired home while he works. This time, she has the grand building's original owner, brooding German widower Stefan Lubert (Alexander Skarsgård), for company. Whether you've read Rhidian Brook's 2013 novel of the same name or you're coming to The Aftermath with fresh eyes, guessing what comes next couldn't be easier. No film is going to let Knightley and Skarsgård roam around a sprawling, stately mansion without taking the blatant next step, not even when the story is set immediately after such widespread devastation. Accordingly, while Knightley starts out staring daggers and Skarsgård smoulders sorrowfully in knitted jumpers, it doesn't take long for director James Kent to connect the dots. But in making its post-war romance so straightforward, the movie lacks the one thing every torrid affair thrives on: passion. An absence of passion isn't the same as an absence of emotion, and lacking one particular quality isn't the same as purposefully holding back in general. The Aftermath doesn't skimp on histrionics, or on creating an elegant mood, but the end result is just so dutiful and formulaic. Indeed, it's hard to feel for characters caught in a love triangle, let alone get swept away by their amorous entanglements, when every plot development is as glaring and forceful as the many bombed-out buildings lining Hamburg's streets. And the less said about the movie's unconvincing attempts to dig into deeper territory — courtesy of Stefan's Nazi-sympathising teenage daughter (Flora Thiemann), as well as his own thorny past — the better. Kent previously combined matters of the heart with the horrors of combat in 2014's First World War romance Testament of War, which proved both handsome and heartfelt. While The Aftermath isn't helped by its script, the filmmaker has only managed to tick one of those boxes here. There's no denying the film's rich imagery, which recreates the time with stellar detail. That said, there's also no denying that cinematography, costuming and production design rank among the movie's best traits. Pretty pictures are part and parcel of any period drama, but when they steal the show above all else, it's never a good sign. They mightn't always succeed, however Knightley and Skarsgård endeavour to stand out — against the eye-catching scenery and routine narrative, and despite their star-crossed lovers barely being given any depth. Although neither actor is asked to rise to any challenges, when sparks fly between them, it's easy to wish they were carrying a better film. In a way, that's The Aftermath's big problem. So certain of its stars' power, it thinks that the two can simply carry the entire movie. In fact, it largely squanders Clarke in the process. But, even with gorgeous visuals and a striving cast, the heart still wants what the heart wants: in this case, a story that doesn't feel finished before it starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPv3e2FZOgo
The world as we know it could do with some improvement. That's a bit of an understatement; however it's also the idea behind Sydney's returning Transitions Film Festival. This showcase of cinema aims to explore ways in which our future could be brightened, covering a huge range of topics such as food, climate change, animal welfare and renewable energy. Transitions doesn't just have an environmental focus, however. Refugees, social justice and artificial intelligence all rate a mention on the fest's seven-doco lineup. It screens for four days at Dendy Newtown, between Monday, April 1 and Thursday, April 4. Highlights include It Will Be Chaos, which charts an Eritrean refugee's attempt to navigate Italy's immigration system, as well as More Human Than Human, which ponders AI. A program of shorts also features, on subjects such as regenerative agriculture, tiny homes and the effects of plastics on marine life.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a dog-themed cinema showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last two years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Sydney's Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace on Sunday, August 4 as part of its 2019 run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only event is certain to be popular.
When Rocketman first hit the big screen a couple of months back, it immersed viewers in the glitz and glamour of Elton John's 70s-era rise to fame, while also delving into the darkness, drinking, drugs and depression that came with it. Starring an exceptional Taron Egerton and directed by Eddie the Eagle's Dexter Fletcher, the vibrant biopic also leaned into its genre — never stepping through Sir Elton's early years in a straightforward way, but instead turning his life into an expressive, fantastical blend of song, dance and spectacular musical numbers. A couple of things were always going to happen afterwards. We still predict that Rocketman will end up reaching the stage as a live production; however, until that eventuates, fans can now sing along with the movie in a cinema. Given the film's huge soundtrack, spanning everything from the titular track, 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Honky Cat' through to 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', 'Your Song' and 'I'm Still Standing', there's plenty to croon along to. Sure, Elton might think that Saturday night's alright for fighting, but Friday, August 9 is also mighty fine for heading to a Rocketman Sing-Along session. Tickets cost $20 and include a glass of bubbles on arrival — and wearing sequins, glitter and the most over-the-top glasses you can find is obviously recommended.
Clubs are, generally, great fun. You get to hang out with your mates and bond over something you all love. In this case, the object of your mutual affection is cheese. Yes, smelly, gooey, melty, tasty cheese. A semi-regular event, this Cheese Club is held at Oxford Street's home of cheese, wine and hip hop: Big Poppa's. Running from 6.30–8.30pm on Sunday, February 16, the first club meetup for 2020 will see you pairing three different French cheeses with three different French bubbles from one of the world's oldest champagne houses, Ruinart. You'll start the night with a triple-cream brillat savarin from Normandy, served with spiced apricot and toasted breadcrumb, paired with a Ruinart blanc de blanc: a light delicate champagne made from 100 percent chardonnay grapes. Next up is a brie de meaux — a soft cow's milk cheese, served here with roasted pear, pecans and honey — and a rosé champagne. Then, you'll finish with a cendré de champagne, a smoky brie-like cheese with an ashen rind, and a Ruinart NV. Big Poppa's resident cheese nerd (and Restaurant Manager) Minna Hanson and Ruinart's National Ambassador Dan O'Riley will be on hand to chat you through the nitty gritty of each dish and drink, and tickets will set you back $75. That might sound a little steep, but these cheese and champagnes aren't cheap — with all bottles nudging $100 (retail). Images: Kitti Gould
Storytelling is as old as time. It's how we share experiences, knowledge and memories. Non-profit organisation The Moth is dedicated to sharing personal stories and celebrating the art of telling them. The New York-based initiative hosts over 500 live open-mic events across the globe each year, with people — from notable literary and cultural personalities to your average Joe — getting up on stage to tell their stories. In 2008, The Moth brought its communal open mic events Down Under and this year, on Tuesday, August 20, Sydney will hear some of the best stories of the city about animals — from ridiculous stories about road kill to warm and fuzzy anecdotes on man's best friend to thrilling tales of run-ins with scaly, furry or feathered creatures in the wild. Brandishing their weapons of word and wit, the storytellers will compete for the top gong at the Giant Dwarf in Redfern. You'll hear five-minute stories on the animal kingdom that are both tightly crafted and masterfully told. Come for stories that inspire, provoke, sadden and enlighten, told by some of Sydney's best. Or, if you consider yourself a wordsmith, you can drop your name in the bag to be selected at random, then grab the mic, hit the stage and tell your five-minute tale. The Moth StorySLAM: Animals will take place at Giant Dwarf on Tuesday, August 20. Doors open at 7pm, with stories beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets for this event are available on Thursday, July 18 at 3pm and can be purchased here.
Think watching a movie under the stars is a summer activity? Think again. Braving the elements to catch a film in winter comes with its own rewards: snuggling up next to your nearest and dearest, enjoying the brisk night air and sipping hot mulled wine, for example. As part of the broader Bastille Festival, the Tallowoladah Lawn outside of the MCA will become a pop-up openair movie theatre. That means settling in for a flick with a view not just of the screen, but vantages out over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour as well. Screening seven sessions over four days between July 11 to 14, Mulled Wine Cinema lets attendees get cosy in 100 chairs (with blankets, of course), and offers up a glass of mulled wine and popcorn to complete the outdoor film-watching experience. Movies include the Audrey Tautou-starring Coco Before Chanel, the animated Disney delight that is The Aristocats and musical French drama Les Misérables (the 2012 version, with Australia's own Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe). Mulled Wine Cinema has nightly screenings at 5.30pm and 8pm.
It may never snow in Sydney, but that's not stopping North Sydney's Greenwood Hotel from throwing a week of parties in honour of Snow Week. As is only fitting for this wintry celebration, one hundred tonnes of snow will be dumped on the venue every day from July 2–6. But, the festivities will all kick off on Saturday, June 29 with a Canada Day party, complete with poutine, hockey tournaments, Canadian trivia, caesar cocktails (like a bloody mary, but with clam juice) and Canadian brews. Next up is the Snow Week official launch party on Tuesday, July 2, with a ski lift simulation and free drinks and canapés from 5–7pm. Then, on Thursday and Friday (July 4–5), there'll be free hot chocolates and live bands on at lunchtime. Also on Thursday: two-for-one pizzas (for dinner) and inflatable snowmen. To round out the week, the North Shore Snow Festival will take place outside the pub from noon–10pm on Saturday, July 6. Expect snow rail competitions all day, with Australian Olympic snowboarder Jarryd Hughes showing off his skills on the ramp, too. DJ sets and giveaways are also on the docket — those include Thredbo lift passes and brand-new snowboards.
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin, here's your chance. For five days, Hugo Boss will be hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score 50 percent off a massive range of premium clothing — from comfy t-shirts and soft sweaters to suave suits and women's dresses. Hello, EOFY cash splash. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion or looking to prep your spring wardrobe early, Hugo Boss's mid-year outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score though, with the sale only running from Wednesday, June 26 to Sunday, June 30. In Sydney, you can head to Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre and DFO Homebush to get these quality threads for such a steal. Opening hours at Birkenhead Point are Wednesday, 10am–5.30pm; Thursday, 10am–7.30pm; Friday, 10am–5.30pm; Saturday, 9am–6pm; and Sunday, 10am–6pm. At Homebush, the Hugo Boss outlet is open from 10am–6pm daily, with the exception of Thursday, when you can shop until 8pm. Hugo Boss mid-year outlet sale will run from Wednesday, June 26 to Sunday, June 30. To find your closest outlet, visit the website.
One of this year's big Sundance hits is making its way to Australian cinemas next month, and the Ritz is marking the occasion in the appropriate fashion. Starring Awkwafina, The Farewell tells the tale of a family who gather around their beloved matriarch when she's diagnosed with terminal cancer, but decide not to tell her so that she can enjoy what time she has left. If that instantly makes you want to spend more time with your own nanna, the Sydney venue not only wants you to bring her along to see the movie — it'll let you do so for free. That's what this BYO grandma advanced screening is all about. Buy a single $17 adult ticket, and nab another one for your nan without spending a cent. You do need to select the appropriate package on the cinema's online ticketing page — and your gran will need to present a valid seniors card, or equivalent, when you collect your tickets — but that's all there is to it. Make a date in your diary for Saturday, August 24, with a free afternoon tea on offer from 1.30pm and the film kicking off at 2pm.
Mexican food and margaritas share a specific quality. No matter how many tacos you eat and salt-rimmed drinks you sip, you always want more. Given that El Camino Cantina specialises in both, it's easy to indulge your hankering at the lively bar — and even easier at its new Tex-Mex Fiesta. For $50, you'll tuck into a share-style feast of food. You'll start with buffalo wings with blue cheese mayo and mango chilli sauce, then move onto loaded nachos — with the latter coming topped with melted cheese, black beans, chilli con carne, smoked barbecue brisket, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. Then, it's time for chargrilled chicken fajitas (which feature house-made tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, seasonal veggies, melted butter and sauteed onions), before wrapping things up with hot churros drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce. That's the food side of the deal. If you're feeling thirsty, you can get drinking for an extra $29. That'll nab you two hours of bottomless margaritas, with the cocktails served in four flavours, and either frozen or on the rocks. You'll also get free-flowing house beer and wine as well. El Camino Cantina's Tex-Mex Fiesta is available all-day Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays weekly at all of the chain's stores — in Manly, The Rocks and Westfield Miranda.
Australia's touring celebration of genre cinema, Monster Fest loves all things weird and wonderful on the big screen. From outback-set horror flicks to eye-popping remakes to strange Lovecraftian tales, this festival fills its program with horror, sci-fi, and anything else that's dark and twisted — and likely destined for a cult following. Bringing its 2019 lineup to Sydney, this excuse to spend plenty of time in a darkened room boasts quite the program. From opening night's 3 From Hell, aka Rob Zombie's latest ultra-gory crime effort, to the mind-bending wonders of Vivarium, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots, you'd best prepare for plenty offbeat treats. Other standouts include Deerskin, in which The Artist's Jean Dujardin is creepily obsessed with a fringed jacket; Color Out of Space, complete with Nicholas Cage going crazy; and a restoration of 2000 Australian slasher flick Cut, which stars Kylie Minogue. Or, you can delve into the history of martial arts cinema with documentary Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks. A word of warning: if you like your movies happy and chirpy, this isn't your kind of festival. If you're eager for the exact opposite, Monster Fest takes over Event Cinemas George Street from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3.
You've probably been to Sydney's Urban Winery to drink rosé. But have you been there to drink bottomless glasses of the stuff and eat endless oysters? Maybe not. Well, that's exactly what's happening when the Moore Park spot brings back its unlimited oyster and rosé day for the second year on Sunday, December 1 — and you won't want to miss it. Held outside on the Heritage Lawn, the picnic sees the winery pouring A.Retief rosé and shucking oysters without limit between 1–4pm. There'll be free live music, too. And how much with all this al fresco revelry set you back? A very reasonable $65 a head. Not bad for 180 minutes of non-stop eating and drinking. As is the case with good deals, it's suggested you book in fast before it sells out. So, round up your mates, shake off your picnic rug and get ready for a day of eating and drinking in the sun. The unlimited oyster and bottomless rosé day runs from 1–4pm.
Wiseman's Ferry is a teeny, tiny village perched on the banks of the mighty Hawkesbury River, surrounded by national park and with a population of just 220. The settlement gets its name from one Solomon Wiseman, an ex-convict who, in 1827, organised the first river crossing by ferry. And his service still runs today. A weekend at Wiseman's usually involves hours lolling by, on and in the river; pretty walks through nearby Dharug and Yengo National Parks; a beer or two at Wiseman's Inn and perusing paintings by local artists. On top of that, the annual Return To Rio rolls into town in November for three days to add even more reason to make your way to the idyllic village. This year, revered house duo The Martinez Brothers will be taking the stage alongside Hernán Cattáneo and Nick Warren (reunited), and Acid Pauli, who is known for his Burning Man sets. In the mood for soul? Be sure to check out Nightmares on Wax as they create a sun-drenched dance town by the pool. Plus, when you're not furiously making shapes, you can take a break with crazy golf, cool down at the water park and hang out with kangaroos. Camping costs an extra $75, but you can turn things up a notch — both glamping houseboats are available for the weekend.
After months of closed curtains, Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company has turned the lights back on. After its first post-lockdown production Superheroes back in October, the Company is forging ahead with its final mainstage production of 2020, Wicked Sisters, taking over the Seymour Centre's Reginald Theatre. Written by awarded playwright Alma De Groen in the late 1990s, revenge tragicomedy Wicked Sisters is De Groen's response to the lack of women aged over 50 on stage (let alone as leading roles), offering a looking glass that sees the world, in all its humour and horror, through the lens of four divergent, middle-aged women. Following the death of Meridee's (Vanessa Downing) artificial intelligence researcher husband, her friends Judith (Hannah Waterman) and Lydia (Deborah Galanos) come over to cheer her up — and to get her to stop tiptoeing around her late husband's AI computer much like she did around him throughout their marriage. However, comedy soon turns to tragedy when Hester (Di Adams) arrives, bringing with her some unsavoury truths that nag at the four's (so-called) friendship. Sure, it is a feminist play in a sense, but it'd be remiss to think it was just a bunch of greying gals chatting away about ambition and men on stage; Wicked Sisters tosses up ideas such as the ever-growing presence of artificial intelligence, Darwinian-like competition and, more simply, growing old and the struggle to stay relevant — all with explosive force. In the play's latest iteration, director Nadia Tass has wrangled such conceptional grenades to ensure Wicked Sisters is as relevant, if not more so, in 2020 as it was when it premiered at Griffin's Stables Theatre back in 2002. Catch 'Wicked Sisters' at the Seymour Centre till December 12. To buy tickets, head here.
Have your weekday lunches been lacking in lustre a bit recently? Are you ready to retire the soggy sandwich, or underdressed salad, and make your meals a little more exciting? Thanks to the Rockpool Dining Group you can — without breaking the budget. A heap of the group's fancy Sydney restaurants, which are overseen by chef Neil Perry, are serving up tasty dishes — and a glass of wine or beer — for a mere $25 at lunch throughout January. Head out for a weekday meal before the end of the month and you can pick from the likes of a David Blackmore wagyu burger at Rockpool Bar & Grill, pizza at Rosetta, a prime rib french dip sandwich at The Cut Bar & Grill, a bowl of noodles at regional Chinese fine-diner Spice Temple or sushi and sashimi at Saké in The Rocks. And all of them will set you back just $25. It doesn't stop there, either. Included in the $25 price is a beer or a glass of red or white wine. To snag the deal head in to any of the below restaurants for lunch from Monday–Friday — the only catch is you'll have to sit at the bar. [caption id="attachment_757802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rockpool's David Blackmore wagyu burger[/caption] ROCKPOOL DINING GROUP'S $25 BAR LUNCH LOCATIONS Rockpool Bar & Grill Spice Temple Rosetta Trattoria The Cut Bar & Grill Saké The Rocks
The annual Orange Wine Festival is back for its 16th run this spring. This time, however, it's going for a whole month rather than its usual ten-day stint. Running from Thursday, October 1 right through to Saturday, October 31, the program celebrates the region's winemakers, unique altitude and diverse culinary culture. Adapting out of necessity (ahem, global pandemic), this year's festival has been reimagined with a bunch of small-scale, intimate events hosted at independent wineries and restaurants. Overall, the program includes over 80 events, which are open to all wine lovers, from the connoisseurs to those still getting to know their palate. There'll be everything from wine tastings to pop-up cellar doors, vineyard tours, food and wine-pairing masterclasses, insights on organic and sustainable winemaking, long lunches and vino-fuelled picnics with croquet. Other highlights include yoga classes among the vines, local artist studio sessions and a movie night, complete with a three-course dinner. Even with all the events, you won't have much time to sit still when you visit — Orange and its surrounds is home to more than 60 vineyards and over 40 cellar doors. The Orange region is known for its cool climate, which creates wines with bright fruit and deep, balanced flavours, making them some of the best drops in the country. We recommend organising a driver so you can taste it all. Can't make the journey? In true COVID-19 fashion, the program also features virtual wine tours, tastings and masterclasses, so you can explore the stunning region — and sample its top-notch vino — from your couch. Orange Wine Festival 2020 is a month-long celebration of the region's local wine and food industries, running from October 1–31.
Dendy Newtown's big screens are back in action and, throughout the month of August, the inner west venue is screening a particularly vibrant array of features. Get ready for a lineup of top-notch anime — and yes, that means there are plenty of gems. Screening until Wednesday, August 26, this Anime Festival will let you feast your eyes on an array of creative delights. On offer: huge Japanese hit Weathering With You, the gorgeous and charming film from director Makoto Shinkai; the moving Mirai from filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, as well as his The Boy and The Beast; and the all-round classic that is Akira. Also on the bill are One Piece: Stampede and Dragon Ball Super: Broly — and yes, that's your next few cinema outings taken care of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d-lsJZgmJs Dendy Newtown's Anime Festival runs at various times until Wednesday, August 26 — check the cinema website for specific session details.
UPDATE, March 8, 2021: Brazen Hussies is available to stream via ABC iView. Chatting to activists involved in Australia's women's liberation movement during the 60s and 70s, Brazen Hussies doesn't lack in witty and wise ladies making pivotal points. But it's filmmaker Margot Nash (The Silences) who offers one of this documentary's most telling observations, and the one that crystallises exactly why this movie had to be made. "History has to be told over and over again," she advises. She's a talking head in the film, rather than the writer or director behind it — those roles fall to first-timer Catherine Dwyer — but she couldn't encapsulate Brazen Hussies' purpose any better if she was the doco's driving force. As the feature explains, it's easy for people to overlook this chapter of history, and the fact that it all happened so recently. It's easy to forget that women's lives were drastically different, as was the way they were regarded by the world around them. It'd also be easy to keep using Nash's words, and those of her fellow activists, to demonstrate why Brazen Hussies is vital, too — as a record and a reminder, and as viewing in general. Dwyer has amassed a formidable array of ladies, all of which could fuel their own documentaries. In fact, many of her subjects could make them. Cinematographer and filmmaker Martha Ansara (Changing the Needle) explains how she realised as a teen that her future was supposed to involve finding the right man. Author and journalist Anne Summers recalls how, when she became the first woman in her family to go to university, it dawned on her that she'd still be paid less than her male counterparts when she graduated. And filmmaker and writer Jeni Thornley (For Love or Money) describes her experiences as a pregnant woman after the death of the man she would've likely married, and how she was treated as if the situation was her fault. The list goes on. Academic and critic Barbara Creed notes that the word 'lesbian' just wasn't something that was uttered in Australia at the time, for instance. The first Aboriginal Australian to earn a law degree, Pat O'Shane talks about the impact of race, and the gulf between the white women's movement and the plight of Indigenous women. Elizabeth Reid shares memories from her stint as the first Advisor on Women's Affairs to a head of government anywhere in the world — to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in the 70s — and steps through the way that the media responded to her position. Dwyer counts more than 25 women among her eponymous group, and their tales cover everything from tackling domestic violence and the victim-blaming that can go along with it, to the simple struggle to survive that single mothers faced. Indeed, Brazen Hussies packs not only a wealth of women into its frames, but a plethora of topics. There's a noticeable focus on Sydney and Melbourne over the rest of the country, and not every interviewee or issue is covered in-depth, but the film isn't short on breadth. Brazen Hussies' survey of all of the aforementioned matters — plus legal abortion, funding for childcare and society's abhorrence of female sexuality as well — happens in tandem with a historical recounting of Australia's actual fight for women's liberation. Inspired after working on 2014 documentary She's Beautiful When She's Angry, which did the same from a US perspective, Dwyer examines what drove these women to act and what they achieved, of course. At every moment, however, she's just as interested in how they battled for that change. Having access to a treasure trove of materials helps considerably. If the doco's talking-head lineup is impressive, it's bested only by the immense range of archival images and footage that Dwyer and editor Rosie Jones (director of The Family) splice together. With the rest of the filmmaking team, the pair sifted through more than 4000 photographs, journals, artworks and posters, and 800-plus news clips, documentaries and dramatic movies — and, unsurprisingly, Brazen Hussies is all the more detailed for it. All those pictures and and all that footage allows the film to show, not just tell. It also lets audiences witness key moments as they happened. Brisbanites should already know that the Regatta Hotel was once the site of an infamous 1965 protest by Merle Thornton and Rosalie Bogner, who chained themselves to the public bar to draw attention to the fact that women weren't legally allowed in. Still, seeing it occur is something else entirely. That also applies in Melbourne, with Zelda D'Aprano chaining herself to the city's Commonwealth building in 1971 to rally for equal pay. And the same feeling emanates from clips of author Kate Jennings addressing the crowd on the front lawn of Sydney University in 1970, too, which marked the first time that the male left had allowed a woman to speak at a public event. The impact of these specific actions, and of efforts big, small, headline-grabbing and routine by all the ladies seen in Brazen Hussies, is still being felt today. Paying tribute to these pioneering women is clearly another of the film's aims but, again, recognising and remembering what they did and how it echoes now couldn't be more crucial. Dwyer also serves up clips that contrast the present situation with the scenario a half-century ago, to put the bulk of the film in context for viewers. As everyone watching should already be well aware, much has changed for women since the documentary's subjects first started marching, protesting and pinching men's bums in the streets to show them how it feels; however, striving for progress remains an ongoing job. Not that any further motivation is needed, but Brazen Hussies is it: an engaging, informative and impassioned snapshot of a reality that's still so recent, and of the hard work that was required to even reach the current imperfect status quo. https://vimeo.com/451401547
Showcasing Latin American culture, Inner West Fiesta brings the sights, sounds and tastes of the region to Sydney. First held back in 2018, the annual event is returning for a third year — so get ready for a whole day of food, music, dance, arts and crafts in Marrickville. Sunday, January 19 is the date to pencil into your calendar, with the fun kicking off at the Sydney Portugal Community Club from 11am. That's when you'll watch samba, salsa, tango and flamenco performances, then listen to Latino bands, musicians and DJs across two stages. You'll also browse markets and — if you're feeling like picking up a new skill — maybe even take part in a dance class. Food-wise, prepare to snack on Brazilian barbecue, Argentine empanadas, Spanish paella and Venezuelan arepas. Hankering for something sweet? Gelato, cakes and other desserts will also be on offer. Tickets are on sale online in advance for $10, available until Friday, January 17. Or, you can pay $15 entry on the day.
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, and they just keep coming, with the outfit's next Sydney outing happening across the weekend of Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1. Gorgeous green babies are the main attraction — and more than 170 varieties of them, too. You'll pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as oh-so-many ferns and hanging plants. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots and get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite. Oh, and if you wear a Hawaiian shirt — this is a tropicana party, after all — you'll receive $5 off your purchase. It's all happening at Precinct 75, at 75 Mary Street, St Peters, with sessions held at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday. Entry is free, but you'll need to register for a ticket — which you can do from 12pm on Monday, February 24.
Last year, Jim Beam once again proved its love and support for live music via its hit series Welcome Sessions. The online event series was aimed at bringing people together, albeit virtually, by connecting music lovers and artists when they needed it most. It's returning for 2022, only this time it'll be stepping outside of the digital realm. Sydney music fans, listen up. You have the opportunity to score a free ticket to an exclusive and intimate Flight Facilities set on Saturday, June 11, at CBD spot The Rooftop Sydney. As far as we're concerned, electronic beats on a long weekend — with a Jim Beam in hand — is a recipe for a great Saturday arvo. Want to head along to this money-can't-buy experience? You'll need to enter the ballot. Simply enter the competition and you'll go in the running to win one of 50 double passes up for grabs. All you have to do is tell Jim Beam what your most memorable live music moment is and why. But be quick, entries close June 3. Want to find out what's happening at the Brisbane and Melbourne Welcome Sessions? Visit the website.
UPDATE: June 06, 2022 — Theatre Royal Sydney is running a special offer on tickets for An American in Paris. For performances between Tuesday and Thursday, you can save up to $279 by purchasing a four-ticket bundle. For more info, check out the website.* In April, Broadway and West End smash An American in Paris sung and danced its way into Sydney. The four-time Tony-winner is currently running at the Theatre Royal Sydney for a limited season, ending July 2. The big budget Broadway extravaganza wows with exorbitant sets and Tony Award-nominated stars Robbie Fairchild and Leanne Cope centre stage, with a stellar Aussie cast and orchestra rounding out the brilliant production. The show is based on the 1951 film of the same name, so yes, if you're a fan of classic movies — and classic big-screen musicals starring none other than the inimitable Gene Kelly at that — its name will definitely sound familiar. Story-wise, the musical follows the Parisian exploits of ex-US GI Jerry Mulligan (because its moniker is that straightforward). Set at the end of the Second World War, it charts the budding romance between the newly-free American and a French woman, Lise Bouvier. Your classic boy-meets-girl, with old-world charm, the beauty of Paris and Broadway class. Bringing the Oscar-winning film to the stage, this version of An American in Paris is directed by acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. (You can also expect to see dancers from The Australian Ballet bring the musical to life.) George and Ira Gershwin's songs make the leap to the theatre as well, including 'I Got Rhythm', 'S Wonderful', 'But Not For Me' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'. An American in Paris debuted in Paris — where else? — in 2014, before racking up an impressive catalogue of 5-star reviews and award nominations on Broadway, as well as Boston and West End. If you are after a night of spectacular dance and the joy of new romance, with all the Broadway dazzle, this is the show for you. To book your tickets, head to the website. Images: Darren Thomas *Subject to availability. Full T&Cs apply. First published on April 14, 2o22. Updated on June 6, 2022.
What happens outside an upstate New York strip club at 10am on an ordinary weekday? Nothing — nothing good, or that anyone pays attention to, at least — deduces the unhappy Val (Jerrod Carmichael, Rothaniel) in On the Count of Three. So, he's hatched a plan: with his lifelong best friend Kevin (Christopher Abbott, The Forgiven), they'll carry out a suicide pact, with that empty car park as their final earthly destination. Under the harsh morning light and against a drably grey sky, Carmichael's feature directorial debut initially meets its central duo standing in that exact spot, guns pointed at each other's heads and pulling the trigger mere moments away. Yes, they start counting. Yes, exhaustion and desperation beam from their eyes. No, this thorny yet soulful film isn't over and done with then and there. There are many ways to experience weariness, frustration, malaise and despair, and to convey them — and On the Count of Three surveys plenty, as an unflinchingly black comedy about two lifelong best friends deciding to end it all should. Those dispiriting feelings can weigh you down, making every second of every day an effort. They can fester, agitate, linger and percolate, simmering behind every word and deed before spewing out as fury. They can spark drastic actions, including the type that Val and Kevin have picked as their only option after the latter breaks the former out of a mental health hospital mere days after his last self-harming incident. Or, they can inspire a wholesale rejection of the milestones, such as the promotion that Val is offered hours earlier, that everyone is told they're supposed to covet, embrace and celebrate. On the Count of Three covers all of the above, not just with purpose but with confidence, as well as a much-needed willingness to get messy. It knows it's traversing tricky terrain, and is also well-aware of the obvious: that nothing about considering taking one's own life is simple or easy, let alone a laughing matter. Working with a script by Ramy co-creators Ari Katcher (also a co-creator of The Carmichael Show) and Ryan Welch, Carmichael doesn't make a movie that salutes, excuses or justifies Val and Kevin's exit plan. His film doesn't abhor the emotions and pain behind their choices either, though. Instead, this is a complicated portrait of coping, and not, with the necessities, vagaries and inevitabilities of life — and a raw and thoughtful piece of recognition that the biggest standoff we all have is with ourselves. Rocking a shock of dishevelled bleached-blonde hair, and looking like he hasn't even dreamed of changing his wardrobe since the early 00s, Abbott could've wandered out of Good Time as Kevin — he and Robert Pattinson could/should play brothers some day — including when he's staring down Val with a gun. First, On the Count of Three jumps from there to the events leading up to it, including an earlier attempt by landscaping supply store worker Val in the work bathrooms, his response to hearing about that aforementioned climb up the corporate ladder. In hospital, Kevin is angry; "if any of you knew how to help me by now, you would have fucking done it!" he shouts. But when the time to shoot comes, it's him who suggests a reprieve to take care of a few last items — revenge being his. Calling On the Count of Three a bucket-list movie isn't quite right, because there's a difference between checking off your wildest dreams and working through the essentials that gnaw at you. Accordingly, and in its nervy, restless, go-go-go energy, too, the film is in day-in-the-life territory — focusing on Kevin's score to settle with a child psychologist, Dr Brenner (Henry Winkler, Barry), from his past, and Val getting his issues with his slippery dad Lyndell (JB Smoove, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Natasha, the woman he thought he was going to marry (Tiffany Haddish, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), off his chest. In-between, its main twosome relive minor past glories, whether it's breakfast at a favourite diner or returning to the dirt-bike park job they loved as teens. Those guns have to go off in one way or another, though; Chekov demands it. If On the Count of Three wasn't so deeply felt — so bitterly, unapologetically dark as well — and anchored by such compelling performances, it could've easily gone astray. Tragicomedy isn't straightforward, or simple to pull off. But Carmichael shows his skills as a director (he has TV documentary Sermon on the Mount and a Lil Rel Howery comedy special among his past helming credits otherwise) by skewing both intimate and wide. The film's one-on-one exchanges are candid and revelatory, while pivoting to tensely staged car chases and shootouts still feels natural. The crime-thriller sheen of Marshall Adams' cinematography helps, as does Owen Pallett's evocative score (especially during a climactic pursuit). And, that bickering, bantering, ride-or-die dynamic between the exceptional Abbott and the devastatingly understated Carmichael is captivating to watch. It's a great time for seeing two well-paired actors bouncing off of each other and wanting more — see also: Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan in the vastly dissimilar See How They Run — but On the Count of Three's on-screen chemistry is hardly surprising. Abbott keeps going from strength to strength in complex parts, such as James White, Black Bear and Possessor, while Carmichael knows how to match vulnerability with truth, as his comedy special Rothaniel made plain. Such a key factor here is balance, the elusive concept that Val and Kevin are searching for even if they don't necessarily know it. It bubbles through in the movie's comic moments, too; when On the Count of Three chuckles, it directs is humour at Val cathartically screaming along to Papa Roach's 'Last Resort' in such on-the-nose circumstances, Papa Roach in general, the way that minutiae always gets in everyone's way — whether they're planning to see another day or not — and only starting to live when you want to die.
Camperdown mainstay Deus Cafe is hosting a one-night-only seafood takeover on Saturday, February 12 with chef Manny Paraiso (Mr. Wong, Automata, Spice Temple). Paraiso's menu brings together an eclectic range of dishes all designed to champion the seafood. You'll start off with an albacore tuna crudo, Port Lincoln sardines served on fried bread, peking squid pancake and a prawn san choi bow. The main course is a monkfish shish served with toum, tabouli, flat bread pickled radish and a sides like fried cauliflower and chips. Closing out the meal is a sweet and citrusy dessert to balance out the flavours you've just indulged in. This mango cheesecake is made with white chocolate cream cheese ouse, ginger crumble, lime leaf and mango sorbet from Art of Gelato. This three-course delight will set you back $80 a head, however if you're one to really let loose on the weekend, you can add on a half-a-dozen Pacific oysters for an addition $27 or WA rock lobster in a kobu butter bechamel for $160.
Thanks to the name of its latest film series, Golden Age Cinema and Bar will get an excellent song stuck in your head — but the Surry Hills spot isn't dedicating the next month and a half to movies about the Beastie Boys. Instead, the venue's Intergalactic, Planetary program is looking into space, telling tales about otherworldly visitors and also throwing some love towards another music icon: David Bowie, who plays an alien in the phenomenal The Man Who Fell to Earth. The lineup's ten-title selection celebrates out-of-this-world movies in a big way — xenomorphs, close encounters and body snatchers all included. It all starts with Alien and Aliens, as every sci-fi film program should, before featuring everything from the animated gem that is Fantastic Planet and the original version of The Day the Earth Stood Still through to John Carpenter's eerily prescient They Live. You'll also want to grab your multi-pass for The Fifth Element, and remember back when Bruce Willis wasn't getting his own Razzies category for starring in so many terrible flicks in a single year. Intergalactic, Planetary kicks off on Friday, March 4, then screens twice a week — on Fridays and Sundays — from Friday, March 11–Sunday, April 10.
Were you on your best behaviour to ensure Santa paid you a visit in December? Well now that's all over, it's time to let your hair down a little at the Imperial Hotel's X-rated Drag 'N' Dine event, Rood Food. Across Friday and Saturday nights from January 14 till February 26, you and your friends can enjoy an unforgettable dinner alongside incredible drag performances at this popular inner west pub. Tickets start at $89 and include a cocktail on arrival, a delicious three-course meal and a high-octane drag production. If you're feeling extra thirsty, you can nab a drinks package for an additional $45 to ensure the drinks are flowing and your thirst is quenched throughout the night. Shows will run twice at night at 6pm and 8.30pm. Plus, if you want the fun to continue after dinner, you can head downstairs to the basement for the venue's late night show — Rood Food After Hours. Ready for a night of shimmering performances and irresistible food? Book yourself a table at The Imperial Hotel's Rood Food this summer. For more information and to book, visit the website.
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and this year's theme for Reconciliation Week echoes that same sentiment. To take action yourself this year during Reconciliation Week, join First Nations experts and community leaders for the panel discussion Yuin Byalla in Burramatta (Truth Talking in Parramatta) at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre. On Thursday, June 3, join award-winning writer Bruce Pascoe (Dark Emu), astronomer Karlie Noon First Nations youth-led climate network Seed, Aboriginal rights advocate Monica Morgan and Kamilaroi water scientist Brad Moggridge as they discuss the theme 'More Than A Word. Reconciliation Takes Action' for Reconciliation Week 2021, as well as NAIDOC Week (July 4–11) theme 'Heal Country'. Arrive at 6pm for the smoking ceremony at Riverside Loggia, then head inside for the panel discussion. The talk is recommended for audiences ages 15 years and over and will cover topics from deaths in custody, the stolen generation to climate change. Tickets are $10 for adults and can be purchased online. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Thanks to Parasite's 2020 Oscar sweep and Minari's strong showing at this year's awards, it's tempting to say that it's been a big few years for Korean cinema — whether made in Korea or focusing on Korean characters in America. The country's films have been gaining greater attention with Hollywood awards bodies, that's for sure; however, Korea has been making exceptional movies for not just a few years, but for decades. For the past 12 years, the Korean Film Festival in Australia has been shining a spotlight on those top-notch flicks, celebrating all the latest and greatest movies made by Korean filmmakers — or about Korean figures. 2021 is no different, with the fest nicknamed KOFFIA set to bring its Sydney leg to Event Cinemas George Street from Thursday, October 21–Saturday, October 30. On the lineup: Minari, because this moving gem about a Korean family in America should keep getting all the love; entertaining and frenetic crime thriller Deliver Us From Evil, starring Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae; Waiting for Rain, a box-office smash on home turf that follows a long-distance relationship that plays out through letters; and comedy Samjin Company English Class, about three female office workers fighting against unfair corporate practices. Other highlights include documentary The Wandering Chef, about Korean celebrity chef Im Jiho's search for authentic and unique ingredients with medicinal properties; drama Paper Flower, which follows an elderly mortician; 17th century-set action epic The Swordsman, which comes complete with eye-catching fight choreography; and mystery-thriller Recalled, about a woman who loses her memory but starts to hallucinate visions that may foretell future events. Updated October 11.
Treating yo'self to tastebud-tempting dishes is what winter is all about — and for one entire month, Salt Meats Cheese is serving up a rather appetising menu that'll do the trick. That'd be its Everyday We're Truffling — Truffle Month lineup, with truffles popping up in all kinds of dishes. Usually, SMC only celebrates truffles for a week this year. But in 2022, to the delight of your stomach, it's expanding the deliciousness across all of July. Accordingly, from Friday, June 1–Sunday, July 31, the Italian chain will be adding truffles to pizza, arancini, gnocchi and pappardelle — so that's four of Italian staples covered. It'll also be whipping up baked truffle brie, if you feel like getting extra cheesy with your truffles. And, for even more truffles on more food, you can add shaved truffles to any dish you like from the a la carte menu as well. The Everyday We're Truffling menu is taking place at all SMC venues during its month-long period, which spans Circular Quay and Cronulla in Sydney. And if you're wondering why the Italian chain has suddenly gone truffle crazy, it's to celebrate the Australian truffle season — which is as good a reason as any.
If you, like us, see truffle listed on a menu and instantly know what you'll be ordering, then oh boy, do we have something for you. On Saturday, August 13, Sydney CBD restaurant Abode Bistro & Bar is serving up a special menu loaded with, yep, you guessed it, truffles. And it's for one night only. The indulgent evening will start with a cocktail on arrival and a selection of snacks curated by the chef. Then, four courses of delectable black truffle dishes will follow. To enhance the dining experience, you can treat yourself to matching wines for an additional $45. Can't make it August 13? Abode will be serving up select truffle-inspired dishes all throughout truffle season. But if you want the full-blown truffle experience, head there August 13. You can feast on Abode Bistro & Bar's one-night-only Truffle Menu from 6.30pm Saturday, August 13. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Back in 2018, Gang of Youths announced its very own music festival, taking over Brisbane's Riverstage with the likes of Luca Brasi, Thelma Plum and Jack River. Four years and a whole new album cycle later, the band is returning with A More Perfect Union part two, taking over a new Queensland venue and expanding to a new state much further afield. The festival will be popping up in Tasmania on Sunday, August 14 at MAC 2 in Hobart before it heads to Queensland. Each date for the festival has a unique lineup personally curated by Gang of Youths, both headlined by the band, of course. Tasmania's edition will feature sets from UK singer-songwriter and Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks, as well as local Australian favourites Cub Sport, Gretta Ray, The Lazy Eyes and Adam Newling. If you can't make it to the festival, the band will be touring their latest record angel in realtime and new EP immolation tape across the country in August, popping up in Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne. Tickets are $121, with VIP passes available for $201. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QsAO4BU28 Image: Sergey Osipov.
With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. There's also a penchant for twists upon twists, including toying with the film's premise. Those zigs and zags are obviously best discovered by watching, but Pleskof and Marpeau know the genre they're diving into — and its tropes, customs and drawcards. They know the kind of flicks they're parodying as well, nodding and winking at everything from Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers to cutesy Gallic comedies. That isn't the same as making the most of their influences, or thoughtfully satirising stereotypical on-screen French quirkiness, however. It doesn't result in a game-changer of a mystery-comedy, either. To Murder Party's misfortune, the small screen has been awash in excellent comic whodunnits in the past year, spanning Only Murders in the Building, The Afterparty and The Resort. If you've seen even just one of those three shows, it'll linger in your mind while watching Jeanne navigate the Daguerre family's mayhem. Still, there's an enticing air to Murder Party's aesthetic, with production designer Jérémy Duchier (Perfumes), art director Jean-Baptiste Rodet (Agatha Christie's Criminal Games) and costume designer Dorothée Guiraud (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) showering the featuring in a rainbow's worth of shining shades. The film colour-codes its characters just as Cluedo always has — in their outfits, rather than their names — and also turns its vibrantly decorated labyrinth of a mansion into the game-playing version of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Visually, Murder Party is exactly what it's meant to be: a sweet treat. And, just like in Roald Dahl's beloved book and the movies that've brought it to the screen, exactly who endures and who gets eliminated is guided by personality, and by riddles and quests that know their players' strengths and weaknesses. Fluffy, flashy, sugary, elaborate — yes, Murder Party is the dessert of whodunnit flicks in several ways. In-depth characterisations aren't a particular murder-mystery strength (see: the recent versions of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile), but for everyone except Jeanne, the film remains especially light. There's a reason behind that, linked to the plot's biggest twist of all. Still, in the overall puzzle, that's also too much of a telltale sign. Murder Party wants to ponder the fun and escape of moving tokens, shuffling cards, making guesses and other frivolous trivialities, but getting immersed in the sleuthing, and also invested in each character's fate, proves a slipperier and trickier prospect when it's instantly clear that almost everyone is just a pawn.
If Opera Bar's panoramic harbour views, seafood platters ad live music wasn't enough, the Circular Quay venue is rolling out roving carts serving up a whole host of wintery treats. Tableside raclette? Tick. S'mores toasted on your table? Check. Plus a set of Bacardi cocktails designed to warm you as they go down. The carts will be doing the rounds Thursdays–Sundays between July 21 and August 28 from 4pm to 8pm each day. Start with the raclette ready to be melted straight onto crispy potatoes and garnished with bacon and shallots. Your next move is to order a s'more. The campfire treat is made with a chunky marshmallow that's toasted on-site before it joins a helping of chocolate sauce on two crunchy biscuits. Last but not least, there are the cocktails. Take your pick from a mulled rum and ginger drink; the Hot Buttered Rum which combines salted butter, demerara, nutmeg and anise; and The Blazer, an inventive combo of Bacardi Reserva Ocho, spiced rum, pedro ximénez, fruit oils and popcorn. There are no bookings available, so you'll just have to rock up and hope you can nab a spot with views of the iconic Sydney skyline.
Got a passion for fashion? Specifically of the sneaker variety? Then head to Stockland Wetherill Park for House of Kicks — a must-do fashion event featuring music, workshops and New York-inspired photo ops. Running from Monday, April 19–Sunday, May 2, this two-week takeover is the ideal hangout for all things sneakers. Ever imagined having your own personalised pair? You can make it a reality by booking into a sneaker customisation workshop. Use stencils and paints to design your dream shoes on a 2D render, or bring in your own kicks to customise. There'll also be street styling and street art workshops to explore your creative side. While you're there, grab some free nail art and then elevate your socials with a pic of you having your very own moment on a quintessential New York stoop. Plus, if you spend $150 during the House of Kicks campaign, you can enter a competition via Stockland's event page to win one of six new season sneakers from JD Sports. House of Kicks will run from April 19–May 2 at Stockland Wetherill Park. To secure your place at a sneaker customisation, street styling or street art workshop, head this way.
