On Friday, November 9, make going out for dinner about more than just a meal — make it a cooking class as well. Flavours of Auburn is combining the two at its session dedicated to vegan Ethiopian cuisine. You'll learn the basics, help prepare the food and then, yes, you'll get to tuck in. Tickets cost $70 — or $45 for students and concessions, and $50 if you live in the area — which includes everything you'll need to cook up and then feast upon. It also includes drinks, in a class that's designed to make you feel like you're in someone's house. And as for who'll be leading the charge, Flavours of Auburn's sessions are overseen by cooks from ASCON and House of Welcome. Bookings are essential, and must be made before 4pm on Wednesday, November 7. Vegan Ethiopian fare is just one type of cuisine on Flavours of Auburn's regular cooking class menu, with other Friday night sessions dedicated to Pakistani and Afghani food — and more.
Semi Permanent, Australia's three-day touring seminar that covers big ideas around design, tech, digital landscapes and the future of the internet, has a straight-up cray-cray 2016 lineup featuring speakers from Google, Uber, Netflix and Facebook. If you're in the market for some solid advice from the new generation of entrepreneurs, this is the event for you (you know you're growing up when the idea of a three-day seminar is more exciting than the idea of a three-day music festival, hey). Carriageworks is hosting the epic annual event in May and while tickets are a little pricey ($340 for a general admission single day ticket), but they always roll out mind-boggling content and installations — plus, the networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold. The theme of 2016 is the future of the internet/technology and the future of travel with two panels dedicated to the exploration of both themes. Speakers will include Hector Ouilhet (head of design research at Google), Dantley Davis (design director at Netflix), Jurgen Spangl (head of design at Atlassian), Ethan Eismann (director of product design at Uber), Jon Lax (director of product design at Facebook) alongside a whole slew of tech wizards an industry bigwigs. They'll be ready and waiting to answer your important questions, like is Steven Avery innocent, is uber legal and does Facebook read my messages. Or, you know, better questions. You'll hear from people who turned their ideas into thriving businesses that challenge the status quo and may just inspire you to pursue that tight app idea you have. The National Institute of Dramatic Art will be there too, hosting workshops on building confidence and engagement when in front of an audience (this will definitely come in handy if you ever have to do a TED talk, which we all will at some point because you're awesome).
Summer has come to Sydney Harbour, with the return of the Sydney Opera House's Summer Playground. For the fourth year in a row, the sun-soaked western forecourt and foyers will play host to a range of activities and pop-up dining experiences, all inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of an Italian Riviera. Open 9am until late, seven days a week, from now through to the very last day of January, this year's Summer Playground has been christened 'Salsedine,' an Italian word that describes the feeling of salt on your skin. There'll be free afternoon sessions featuring locals DJs and acoustic acts, plus on-site activations including a pop-up Chandon bar. Veteran chef Lauren Murdoch has taken care of the summer menu, which includes a number of salads, paninis and antipasto plates, as well as pizzas, grilled calamari and oysters with lemon. In the beverage department you can sip on a variety of beers, wines, bubbles and digestifs, along with a handful of classic and custom made cocktails. On top of all that, Bennelong Restaurant are currently operating a pop-up balcony bar, while Opera Bar are running twice weekly breakfast and yoga sessions – although all the spots to the latter have already sold out. Taking full advantage of the summer sun, The Opera House has also extended its tour hours for January, giving you some extra time to explore what's going on back stage. For more information about summer happenings at The Opera House, go here.
Sydney legends The Bearded Tit and Heaps Gay are teaming up to run an Aussie caravan-themed pop-up bar. We’re not sure we need to say anymore. Except that this could well be the collaboration of the millennium. The Pop-Up Patio is during Mardi Gras 2016. You’ll find it on the rooftop of the Captain Cook Hotel, Flinders Street, Darlinghurst for six nights only. In addition to glamming up the rooftop to look like an Aussie caravan and giving you an excuse to watch cracking sunset views, the event will be delivering music, art and good community vibes. If you’re a regular at The Bearded Tit, you might know already that it's Redfern's most eclectic watering hole yet — regularly featuring weird and wonderful local artists in their front window. Meanwhile, Heaps Gay is one of the quirkiest and friendliest parties in Sydney. The first shindig in the series is scheduled for Friday, February 26. Dubbed Patio Party, it’ll feature Charlie Villas and Lorna Clarkson, as well as performances by Lillian Starr and Deep Sea Astronauts. On the following night, Saturday Start Up, FBi’s Sweetie and HipHopHoe will be spinning tunes, alongside performances by Erica Englert. Sunday, February 28 is dedicated to a Russian Caravan Party, starring Sveta and friends. On Thursday, March 3, give your dancing shoes a rest and head along for a panel discussion titled ‘Queer Thinking: This is how we do it’, hosted by Archer Magazine. The next night is Mardi Gras Eve, so get ready for the party with Matt Vaughan (Loose Ends) and J Daddy, and a Banga performance from Canoe. Finally, on Sunday, March, things will wrap up with a post-Gras session, starring Heaps Gay DJs, Fleetwood Crack, DJ davO and boy_friend (Swagger Like Us), as well as an appearance from Show Us Your Teeth. The Pop-Up Patio will open from 6-11pm every night, except for on Sundays, when the hours are 2-10pm. Entry is $5 on the door. Image: Darren Davis, Flickr.
When it comes to dining out, Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice. So if you've ever wished you could experience all your favourite chefs in one place, you're in luck, because now you can. Introducing The Dining Table, a pop-up restaurant brought to you by the team behind Beer The Beautiful Truth, plus some of Sydney's coolest, most talented chefs. Across ten nights, a different chef will take over the pop-up to serve up a highly delicious three courses, each paired with a different beer. Expect an all-star line-up including Bar Brose's Adam Wolfer, Nic Wong from Potts Point's Cho Cho San, Luke Powell from LP's Meats and Acme's Mitch Orr — just to name a few. From Middle Eastern influences to a modern spin on Jewish-Hungarian food to contemporary Italian cuisine, each dinner will be dedicated to showing the magic that can happen when great food and beer come together. Get ready for an eye-opening culinary journey through ten tailor-made menus accompanied by delectable brews. There will also be a pop-up bar along with the restaurant where two of the chef's dishes will be on offer. So if you live life on the spontaneous side and haven't booked into the dinner, you can just walk in, grab a seat and have a mini food and beer pairing at the bar. Image: Kimberley Low.
Dropping in from the UK to play Groovin' the Moo, Brit singer-songwriter Charli XCX will be 'Boom Clap'ping her way through sideshows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In her own words, Ms XCX (AKA Charlotte Emma Aitchison) wants to give you "an hour of sweating and totally losing your mind, no matter what's going on that day or what you're worried about." Aitchison first attracted international attention in 2012, when she co-composed and performed on Icona Pop's hit 'I Love It', which played on Lena Dunham's Girls. In 2013, she released her own debut EP, True Romance, before joining forces with Iggy Azalea in 2014 on 'Fancy'. She and Azalea have since performed together all over the planet. Then, of course, along came 'Boom Clap', of The Fault in our Stars soundtrack, and the bratty 'Break The Rules'; confirming Charli XCX as a popstar in her own right. At the Metro, she'll be supported by Adelaide's rising rapper Tkay Maidza, another bright spark changing the rules of pop. Image: Mike Massaro.
Indigenous consultants for Sydney's new light rail service are calling for construction on a section of the line to be halted, following the discovery of a significant number of Indigenous artefacts in the area. More than 20,000 artefacts have already been recovered from the site (yep, 20,000), near the corner of Alison Road and Doncaster Avenue in Randwick. But while Transport NSW has acknowledged the momentous find, it has not yet confirmed whether it will delay construction on the $2.1bn project to allow for archaeological work to take place. One of the conditions for the light rail's construction was that the process be observed by four Registered Aboriginal Parties. A representative for one such party is Scott Franks, who emphasised the significance of the discovery when he told The Sydney Morning Herald that "there is nothing at all like this in Sydney." Among the more major finds are artefacts that appear to be from as far away as the Hunter Valley, suggesting that the spot may have served as a meeting place. "It demonstrates a trading route, or that the mobs out of the Hunter Valley were working with the mobs in Sydney," Franks told SMH. "Archaeological work undertaken in late 2015 and January 2016 identified a high density of Aboriginal artefacts on a specific section of the Randwick Stabling Yard site," said a spokesperson for Transport NSW. "Transport for NSW and ALTRAC Light Rail are investigating, in conjunction with the Aboriginal representatives, opportunities to recognise the items found on site, for example in displays or education programs." Greens MP David Shoebridge has called for an immediate stop to construction, saying, "It's downright criminal that what may well be one of the most important recent heritage finds is being literally torn up without even the most rudimentary consideration." Via SMH. Image: City of Sydney.
While Sydney's got no shortage of classic Aussie pubs, the traditional British boozer proves a little harder to come by — a tad surprising, given the city's heritage. But now the CBD is about to get its own proper nod to ye olde English tavern, by way of a new venture from The Barber Shop's Mikey Enright and Julian Train, which you'll find tucked down the award-winning gin bar's side alleyway (the same one that houses The Baxter Inn). Named after the gent who would go on to become King William IV, The Duke of Clarence is out to deliver a quintessentially British experience, and the owners aren't doing things by halves. With acclaimed UK set designer Sara Mathews (Moulin Rouge, Ned Kelly) heading up the design, there's little doubt the pub's going to look the part. Original furniture and building materials have been handpicked from pubs, churches and warehouses during the team's extensive UK travels — from the stained glass and the panelling, through to the 1850s-era floorboards. A portrait of The Duke greets punters at the entrance, while inside lies a stunning 12-metre bar and a library nook complete with open fire. Meanwhile, both the food and the drinks offering will take their cues from the proper English pubs Enright grew up with back in Northern England. A broad-ranging booze selection will include around 500 spirits from the homeland, with cask-conditioned brews the stars of the beer list. The eats, too, will be unmistakably British, the menu designed by Liverpudlian and former Merivale Executive Chef of Events, David O'Brien. The Duke of Clarence is slated to open mid-November. You'll find it at 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney. Stay tuned for more details and keep an eye on thedukeofclarence.com.
Two consecutive 12-hour days of parties, lectures, performances, installations, and music from some of Australia’s and the world’s leading queer artists. If that doesn’t sound like an amazing way to spend a weekend then frankly we are no longer for this world. Presented by perennial creative risk-takers Performance Space and Carriageworks this monumental offering of queer creativity will take place over Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February. Running from midday to midnight the symposium will feature a highlight performance from legendary producers, DJs, and musicians Stereogamous aka Jonny Seymour and groundbreaking openly-gay electropop pioneer Paul Mac.
Thought meditation retreats were all about early wake-up calls and lots of serious silences? Well, not anymore. Say hello to Soundscape, a new three-day sensory experience to be held in NSW's Southern Highlands this March. A wellness getaway that breaks the mould, this one's focused on music, food and great company. It's the brainchild of the team at Surry Hills mindfulness studio The Indigo Project, a progressive practice that runs naptime and mindful pasta-making classes, and relatable courses like Get Your Shit Together. And it's being helmed by a trio that describes themselves as "an experimental chef, a rebel psychologist and an electronic music producer". Over one weekend at Highball House, they'll guide guests through an exploration of sound, designed to help recharge, connect and unravel all that stress. Forget about any 'hippy' stuff — here, you'll take meditative walks through the forest, feel inspired during guided creativity sessions and experience fun sound immersion sessions based around The Indigo Project's popular Listen Up workshops. And with Love Supreme chef Harry Bourne helping to run the show, boring food is definitely not part of the agenda. Instead, enjoy gourmet eats at every meal and have your mind blown wide open during a series of curated food and music experiences. "We felt that it was time to re-imagine your typical meditation retreat format," says The Indigo Project founder and head psychologist Mary Hoang. "People are in for a colourful, deep, creative journey into their minds." If this sounds like your bag, you'll probably be interested in Yoga Cucina, a yoga, wine and pasta-filled retreat that takes place a couple of times a year also in the Southern Highlands.
Chinese New Year is coming up on February 8 and in 2016 we’ll be ringing in the year of the monkey (goodbye year of the sheep, go sleep it off). And what’s the best way to partake of the celebration? We’ve got it right here and it’s more fun than a barrelful of monkeys. Well, actually it is a barrelful of monkeys. Dumpling masters Din Tai Fung are offering new limited edition ‘Monkey Buns’ for the month of February and they are literally the cutest food we’ve ever seen. Just look at them. Din Tai Fung are famous for their dumplings and are known to release beautiful and novelty dumplings for special occasions (check out these adorable little lamb buns from last year). The monkey bao buns are steamed-to-order and stuffed with a sweet filling of chocolate and banana. They’re part of a series of new dishes being added to the menu from February 1 including crispy golden seafood roll, braised Szechuan sliced beef noodle and vegetarian egg fried rice with mushroom and truffle oil. Unfortunately the monkey buns are only available in the Din Tai Fung restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne (not the food court outlets) so you’ll have to make an proper sit-down event of it. The only problem we can foresee is that eating those sweet little monkey faces may be hard… but we’ll probably manage it. Monkey Buns are available for $4.80 per piece from Din Tai Fung restaurants from February 1 – February 29.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual summer weekendery. The ever-popular So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to Sydney for its fourth year running — although it will be moving over to the Glebe waterfront at Bicentennial Park for 2017. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, furious outdoor chess, casual gypsy beats. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists you may be yet to meet. There's '60s French pop-American art rock hybrid outfit The Limiñanas (think Serge Gainsbourg meets The Velvet Underground), Parisian funk-folk poet and musician Bertrand Berlin, and Nouvelle Vague, who are no strangers to the So Frenchy setup. Last, but in no way, shape or form least, there's six-piece ex-busker band Deluxe — they will be belting out their unique blend of pop, hip-hop, funk, soul and big band elements to get everyone up off their picnic rugs and dancing the blazes out of that lawn. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with their beloved picnic boxes and cheese plates from Simmone Logue. Filled with buttery pastry quiches, salad jardinière and goose egg meringue, the picnic boxes are one to preorder if you don't want to miss out. But So Frenchy won't let you go hungry; there'll be a huge banquet of seafood, crepes, macarons and ice cream available on the day. And of course, there'll be plenty of Laurent Perrier Champagne, French beer, Provence rosé, Bordeaux reds and whites, and special cocktails at the SFSC vintage caravan. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi.
Deliciously messy Caribbean nosh is moseying over to Potts Point, as Surry Hills restaurant Jonkanoo prepares to open a pop-up canteen this Saturday. According to Good Food, Jonkanoo will pop-up in an existing gourmet catering business called Sides and Main on Orwell Street in Potts Point. Jonkanoo owner and chef Damion Brown told GF the kitchen was vacant on weekends, so the crew are scurrying in there for two days of playtime. It's right near new Potts Point resident Waterman's Lobster Co., which opened its lobster roll-lovin' doors last week. So what can you expect to gobble down over the weekend? Apparently it's going to be pretty basic, the goodies Jonkanoo has perfected over the years. Of course, there'll be jerk — jerk pork and jerk chicken — alongside two coleslaws, sweet potato and specials. Find the Jonkanoo pop-up at 7/5-15 Orwell St, Potts Point this Saturday, June 20. Via Good Food.
Every Thursday night from now until the end of May, QT Sydney's opulent city-slicker hideout Gilt Lounge is grabbing your Thursday nights roughly by the collar and dragging them away from your nerdy mid-week friends onto the cool table with Friday and the hot weekend twins. In collaboration with Perrier-Jouët, the cocktail bar is rolling out a regular evening of bubbles, beats and treats in their elegant and intimate CBD space. Soundtracked by luxe deep-lounge DJs Cassette and Alice Q, you can grab a bottle of NV Grand Brut champagne and spoil yourself with four premium freshly-shucked oysters from the bar's in-house European brasserie, Gowing's Bar and Grill, for $99 until 10:30pm each week. So you can properly take advantage of this decadent situation, we've partnered with QT Sydney and Perrier-Jouët, and we're giving away a mid-week city staycation. Enter your details below and you'll go into the running to win one night of accommodation at QT Sydney, along with a bottle of Perrier-Jouët and some oysters at the Gilt Lounge. When you wake up a little dusty on the Friday, you can also claim a free breakfast for two at Gowings Bar and Grill. [competition]618310[/competition]
Spare a thought for the St George OpenAir Cinema team, the folks behind one of Sydney's favourite outdoor cinema spots. When picking their summertime lineup each year, they're battling fierce visual competition: Mrs Macquaries Point's spectacular panoramic view of the city. Accordingly, every movie that graces the cinema's big screen has to hold its own against the stunning sights glittering away behind it. Don't worry — boasting everything from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the music biz to an Australian premiere of Margot Robbie's latest transformative effort, their 2019 program achieves that feat. And the whole lineup hasn't even dropped. Kicking off on January 8 and running until February 16, the outdoor cinema's new season commences with the Australian premiere of Mary Queen of Scots, which sees Australia's own Margot Robbie and Academy Award-nominee Saoirse Ronan join forces for a powerful historical drama. It's just one of the movies making sure it'll be starry not only in the sky above, but on the 350-square-metre screen rising from the harbour. And with lineup featuring the likes of the aforementioned A Star Is Born, box office hit Crazy Rich Asians, Ryan Gosling heading to the moon in First Man, Rami Malek playing legendary frontman Freddie Mercury for Bohemian Rhapsody, the film adaption of Colin Thiele's famed Aussie novel Storm Boy and Bridesmaids' director Paul Feig's savagely entertaining A Simple Favour. Off-screen, expect culinary stars to join the fold as well, with OpenAir again partnering with Matt Moran's Chiswick. They'll be delivering a signature menu to hungry movie-goers each and every night during the cinema's 2019 run — but with 2000 patrons expected every evening, expect them to be busy. Booze, in the form of beers, wines and cocktails, will be available at the equally busy Kirin Bar. Speaking of, when tickets become available on Monday, December 10, they're likely to go quick. In 2016, more than 30,000 tickets sold within the first 30 minutes of sale. Tickets are on sale from Monday, December 10. We'll update you when the full lineup drops on December 1. Image: Fiora Sacco.
Fans of tequila and mezcal, start loading up on salt and lemon. The biggest agave conference ever held in the Southern Hemisphere is about to be held in Sydney this March, the brainchild of Phillip Bayly, owner of Sydney's now-closed tequila institution, Café Pacifico. Held over March 22 and 23 in Darlinghurst, Agave Love is a colossal, two-day conference and networking event for bartenders, growers, producers and all-round agave enthusiasts. In a flurry of masterclasses, mixology sessions, talks, tasting sessions and tequila parties, Agave Love is one epic attempt to raise celebratory spirits like tequila to a higher shelf than shitty hens parties. Some of Sydney's best watering holes are to act as conference 'venues' for AL: The Cliff Dive, Shady Pines, The Winery, Hello Sailor, Casoni, Low 302 and Mr Moustache in Bondi. The team are expecting over 2000 people to attend, from bar owners to liquor industry reps and us lowly tequila-lovin' plebs. If you're after information on the day, the whole thing is set to hinge around a festival info hub dubbed 'Agave Central', stationed inside the National Art School from noon to 5.30pm on Sunday, March 22. If you're one for free samples, inside the hub you'll be able to sample and trade (yep, trade) over sixty tequilas and mezcals. There's also going to be a 'Margarita Brunch' with two official tequila ambassadors. Sure, everyone's going to be there for 'research' reasons. "The idea for Agave Love is to educate and recognise the rich cultural history of the agave spirits including the denomination of origin — tequila, mezcal and including other spirits like raicilla and sotol," says Bayly. "Agave Love is an opportunity to spread my love and passion for all things agave, a plant that dates back some 12 million years and has a history as an alcoholic beverage that dates back to Pre Columbian times. “This is about category not brand, with a focus on educating lovers of agave spirits and introducing it to people who have either never tried it or have had bad experiences, usually with ‘false’ or cheap versions of these unique spirits." Agave Love runs March 22 to 23 in Darlinghurst. For more info, head over here.
Back in March, Neil Perry posted an image on Instagram announcing that his Italian fine diner Rosetta was coming to Sydney. The much-loved Melbourne original has been teasing Sydneysiders for years, offering up Italian cooking from both the country's northern and southern regions. Come Tuesday, August 15, we too will boast our own version of this high-class Italian affair when the restaurant's second location opens at Grosvenor Place in the CBD. The restaurant will boast three levels on which to eat yourself into an Italian food coma, the most sought-after of which will be the ground floor outdoor terrace. While that area will be open for all-day dining and snacking with harbour views, the inside dining room — which has been fitted out in an Amalfi Coast colour palette of green and blue — will serve up the full affair for lunch (12–3pm) and dinner (from 6pm) seven days a week. Up one level sits a bar, and up again is a mezzanine dining space with room for 50 people. The menu is much more seafood-led than its Melbourne counterpart, with dishes like the spaghetti alla chitarra with prawns and pistachio, yellowfin tuna with salsa verde and fish soup. The mozzarella bar will look after all your cheese needs, and pizza is of course on the cards too. The bar will stock over 30 gins, make five types of Negronis, herald bellinis and specialise in Italian wine. Word of the restaurant's migration to Sydney was first heard back in November when Urban Purveyor Group acquired the Rockpool Group to form the Rockpool Dining Group. Their combined portfolio of eateries became 47 venues overnight, and they expect their portfolio to grow to more than 80 venues in 2017 alone. They've recently launched two take away spinoffs, Fratelli Famous and Saké Jr, and plan to open 100 of each (yes, of each) over the next five years. Rosetta will be in good company, with Perry's recently relaunched Jade Temple just down the block. Rosetta will open at Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney on Tuesday, August 15. For more information, visit rosettarestaurant.com.au. By Marissa Ciampi and Lauren Vadnjal. Images: Jason Loucas.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. After an little ol' Spotify playlist gave the game away last week before the official announce on triple j this morning, Splendour have released their 2015 lineup. Joining the already-leaked, epic likes of Blur, Mark Ronson, Florence and The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, The Wombats, Tame Impala and Of Monsters And Men, Pond, Royal Blood and the Dandy Warhols is one heck of a huge lineup. Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt is back, Australia's own dancefloor kings Flight Facilities are landing back home, Azealia Banks makes her Australian festival return and Spiritualised will play their only Australian show. Ryan Adams is comin' on over, Best Coast is bringing the beachery back to Splendour, while recent Coachella-smash Jenny Lewis is one of the non-leaked bigwigs we can all get squealy about. SXSW buzz artists like Gengahr and Elliphant are coming, UK producer Shlomo will take things down a notch (and King Khan will do exactly the opposite), while Canadian duo Purity Ring should be one packed-out, all-the-emotions must-see. Australian artists really dominate the lineup this year, including Client Liaison, Elizabeth Rose, Hayden James, Megan Washington, Thundamentals, Meg Mac, Japanese Wallpaper, Dune Rats and more. Plus, there's going to be four stages this year, with the new Tiny Dancer stage joining the Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan stages to host Splendour's DJ lineup. Anywho, here's what you came here for, get amongst it. Splendour In The Grass 2015 lineup Blur Florence + The Machine Mark Ronson Of Monsters & Men The Wombats Tame Impala Peking Duk Ryan Adams Flight Facilities Royal Blood (only Aus show) Death Cab For Cutie Earl Sweatshirt Boy & Bear Porter Robinson (Live) The Dandy Warhols (only Aus show) Xavier Rudd & The United Nations Azealia Banks The Rubens Jamie T Pond Spiritualized (only Aus show) Alison Wonderland Thundamentals Best Coast Everything Everything San Cisco MS MR Jarryd James Purity Ring Allday Carmada The Grates The Smith Street Band Tkay Maidza Johnny Marr Last Dinosaurs Megan Washington The Vaccines #1 Dads The Church Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The King Khan & The BBQ Show Alpine Catfish and the Bottlemen Paul Mac Dustin Tebbutt MØ Years & Years Jenny Lewis C.W. Stoneking Seekae George Maple Elliphant Client Liaison Palma Violets SAFIA Hayden James Dune Rats Wolf Alice Meg Mac Cosmo's Midnight Marmozets Oh Mercy Mansionair The Districts Shlohmo Elizabeth Rose The Delta Riggs Circa Waves Nancy Whang Eves The Behaviour Urban Cone Art of Sleeping Japanese Wallpaper Gengahr Bad//Dreems Ecca Vandal Holy Holy Vallis Alps UV Boi The Babe Rainbow Harts Generik Young Franco Mickey Kojak GL Benson Harvey Sutherland Total Giovanni DJs Dugong Jr I'lls Akouo Noise In My Head triple j Unearthed Winners Plus ... Joyride Post Percy Ara Koufax CC:Disco! Adi Toohey Set Mo Edd Fisher Mike Who Shantan Wantan Ichiban Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday 22 July. Tickets go on sale on 9am AEST, Thursday 23 April. More info available at the official Splendour In The Grass site.
One on one interviews, a pop-up tattoo parlour, and a live music lineup curated by the team from Splendour in the Grass are among the highlights of this year's Spectrum Now Festival. The 16 day creative arts extravaganza, launched last year by the Sydney Morning Herald, today revealed its complete 2016 program, featuring more than 100 free and ticketed events around the city. The Spectrum Now festival, which will run from March 1 to 16, is split into four sections: art, stage, talks and music. Included in the arts section will be an ambitious live painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where Western Sydney artist Tom Polo will spend two weeks creating a gigantic wall painting in view of the public. The stage category will likewise features several standout shows, including performances by the Sydney Dance Company and Bard on the Beach, a burlesque act at Crystal Bar, a performance of La Boheme transplanted to the 1930s, and a night of stand-up comedy with the stars of Workaholics. Two of the most successful events on last year's talks program will return in 2016. Pillow Talk features personal conversations with some of the country's leading creative couples, and will this year include the likes of David and Kristen Williamson, David and Lisa Campbell, and Max Cullen and Margarita Georgiadis. Cultural Crush, meanwhile, invites prominent journalists to interview their 'dream subject'. Those in the spotlight this year include investigative journalist Kate McClymont speaking with film director Bruce Beresford, and columnist Benjamin Law grilling Leigh Sales from the ABC. The previously announced music program features a number of prominent players, headlined by post-punk act The Jesus and Mary Chain. Other standouts include Birds of Tokyo, Calexico and a live edition of RocKwiz. This year's festival hub will be located at The Domain, and will feature fire breathers, burlesque dancers and free live music, as well as a sideshow alley where you can get inked by tattoo artist Leslie Rice or get a haircut from retro barber Tony Vacher. Hanging over the hub will be a giant balloon chain by US artist Robert Bose, who previously created similar works at Burning Man and Coachella. Spectrum Now begins on March 1. For the full program or to book tickets, visit the festival website.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer, as proven through a series of pop-ups it's dubbed Messina Eats. Every couple of months, the cult gelateria teams up with a savoury-focused culinary hero and throws a big ol' food party in the carpark at its Rosebery headquarters. On March 18, however, Messina's flying solo for its Pie Country pop-up, plating up both sweet and savoury iterations of that flaky favourite: the pie. On the menu, executive head chef Tom flaunts his passion for pies with a range that includes a nacho-style combo of chilli con carne, guacamole, corn chips, sour cream, and jalapenos. There's also one filled with slow-cooked Nepalese chicken curry and topped with mushy peas and mashed potato. Of course, the dessert game will be as strong as ever, with deep-fried apple pie, vanilla soft serve, and a salted caramel and coffee version of Messina Milk, all on offer. Messina Eats: Pie Country kicks off at 12pm this Saturday, March 18, at Gelato Messina HQ, 58 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery. It runs until all those pies have sold out.
Now that you've seen how many cafes, bars and restaurants have popped up in the Hills region, you shouldn't be surprised by the fact that Castle Towers shopping centre is running a new program called The Cooking School over April and May—a series of food-focused events, workshops and cooking classes. Part of the range of food culture workshops is Bocconcini & Bubbles—a workshop where you can learn the art of Italian cheesemaking with the Omnom Cheese Company, all the while sipping on a glass of bubbly. During a hands-on class you'll learn how to create your own bocconcini from scratch and take it home to enjoy later (perhaps with another glass of bubbly). According to Omnom founder Marly Schimmelschmidt, bocconcini (as well as burrata and mozzarella) is one of the easiest and fastest cheeses to whip up in your own kitchen. Even with limited kitchen equipment and store-bought milk, it's easy to make your own in just one hour. The workshop will cover everything from milk selection to coagulation and turning milk curds into oozy burrata and stretchy bocconcini or mozzarella. You'll leave with recipe cards and half a kilogram of your own freshly made bocconcini, burrata and mozzarella. Delicious and informative—get your tickets here.
When news dropped of Sydney getting its own burger festival, many of you understandably lost your collective shit. And by many, we mean tens of thousands of you. When Hashtag Burgers announced the glorious, glorious news of the very first Burgapalooza back in February, over 10,000 clicked 'attending' on Facebook. For an event... at Marrickville's Vic on the Park pub. Due to this overwhelming response to an event at a pub, Hashtag Burgers found a new home for their whopper of a burger event. HB's Archie Saliba and Ben Kagan relocated Burgapalooza to a much bigger venue — University of Sydney's Manning House. Having already accommodated the likes of OutsideIn, One Day Only and many a student rager, Manning is a bloody good choice for an epic burger fest. Burgapalooza is now running over two whole days (April 16 and 17) instead of the original one. Now you have an entire weekend of burger scoffing to look forward to. And of course, those bigger numbers mean the event is indeed now ticketed to control the crowds — and will be split into lunch and dinner sessions. There are also a few lineup additions, thanks to the bigger venue. Sydney favourite One Tea Lounge has joined the party, bringing their beloved ice cream sliders to the table. They're joining an all-star cast of Sydney's most lauded burger crews including Bare Grill, Pub Life Kitchen, Barrio Cellar, Redfern's Milk Bar by Café Ish, Chefs Kitchen and Bar Luca — each bringing with them one burger creation exclusive to Burgapalooza. Bondi hot sauce specialists Handsome Devils Co. will be the official hot sauce supplier for the day. They'll be hosting a chilli eating challenge, while Foodora and Goodtime Burgers host the epic Man Versus Burger eating comp. There'll be live art from some of Australia's best street artists including CRISIS, Grizz, Dose-one and Mike Watt — artworks which will be auctioned off throughout the day, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish foundation. There'll be stocked bars on the day as well, alongside one heck of a set from Sydney lad Mike Who hits the decks alongside Hashtag's regular DJs. Burgapalooza is now running April 16-17 at Manning Bar at Sydney Uni. Stalls open from 11am until 4pm, with the second session kicking off from 5pm until 9pm. Image: Bonditonys/Handsome Devils Co.
Newtown's just landed itself a brand new deli and bistro, with some serious gourmet pedigree to back it up. Continental is the latest culinary venture from Elvis Abrahanowicz and Joe Valore, the same dynamic duo behind Porteno and Bodega in Surry Hills and LP's Quality Meats in Chippendale. Take a few minutes to drool, and then get to work on your shopping list. Located at 210 Australia Street, Newtown, just up the road from Black Star Pastry and Oscillate Wildly, Continental's launch is being split into two parts, with the deli section opened on September 28 and the upstairs bistro beginning service a month later. The deli will operate daily from 10am, while the bistro will be open for dinner Wednesdays through Saturdays, plus lunch on Sundays. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph earlier in the year, Abrahanowicz described the downstairs portion as a "classic deli" that would stock cured meats, vegetables and seafood. "We are going more for quality rather than quantity," he said. "Everything will be on rotation. Rather than stocking 80 cheeses, we will stock what’s ripe and ready to eat at the moment." The pair have even purchased a canning machine, so they can can their goods right there on site. The dining menu will consist mostly of European-style share food, while the duo's long time collaborator Mikey Nicolian will take care of things behind the bar. The space is expected to seat around about 50 people in total. The upstairs area will consist of two rooms, one of which will feature a large communal table with room for around a dozen diners. Via The Daily Telegraph and Gourmet Traveller. Image: Porteno.
For 19 years, Sydney Design Festival has been putting you face-to-face with the latest developments in architecture, fashion, technology, food and art. Gear up for yet another nine mind-blowing days, coming up on September 2. This time around, you'll be seeing the Goods Line in a whole new light, discovering the latest innovations from Indigenous designers, hearing from creatives about the fine line between success and failure, exploring artists' responses to the impact of digital manufacturing and cutting up bamboo bicycles. And that's just the beginning. Get amongst it.
Grammy-nominated New York duo Sofi Tukker have announced they'll be bringing their genre-blurring tunes to Aussie shores, set to take the stage in Sydney and Melbourne in February. Since releasing their debut EP, Soft Animals, early last year, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern have garnered fans worldwide, snapping up chart spots in more than 20 countries and landing festivals across Europe and North America. The pair's dance-worthy beats draw inspiration from all corners of the globe, resulting in a layering of sound unlike any you've heard before. And the Sofi Tukker live show promises to be every bit as spectacular, starring the duo's own unique instrument, called 'The Book Tree'. Expect a six-foot-tall 'creature', decked out in foliage and hardcover books, each tome engineered to create a different sound when drummed, to compliment that blissful melange of guitar, bass, and bongos. Sofi Tukker plays at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on February 17 and Melbourne's Howler on February 18. Tickets are available from Moshtix from January 12.
Cafe Freda's Head Chef Xinyi Lim is bringing back her charitable side project Family Meal to raise money for COVID-19 relief in India. This Sunday, May, 16, Xinyi and the Cafe Freda's team will be serving up a Indian-inspired vegetarian feast featuring flatbread, curry, rice, chutney and dessert. The servings have been designed to be shared between you and your guests, family meal-style. The set menu is $45 per person, with 100 percent of all profits going to the Hemkunt Foundation who helps supply oxygen cylinders, as well as Goonj, who provide food and medical support to marginalised communities in India including members of the Transgender community, migrants and sex workers. The Taylor Square spot is accepting bookings from midday through until 9pm on Sunday so you can head there for a hearty lunch, a dinner-time degustation or a golden hour feast while helping raise money for a good cause. [caption id="attachment_798926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Xinyi Lim (middle) with Carla Uriarte and David Abram of Cafe Freda's by Cassandra Hannagan[/caption]
Aussie chef Clayton Wells has no problem manning the kitchen at his Chippendale restaurants Automata and A1 Canteen. But, even so, he's inviting a few (highly lauded) mates over for a series of joint dinner parties at the latter. Next up in the A1 & Friends series, Wells is bringing in Belles Hot Chicken chef and founder Morgan McGlone — and the two of them are throwing a big ol' Kiwi clambake on Monday, August 26. For $55 each, the menu will start with bowls of clam chowder, clam po' boys topped with remoulade and steamed Tua Tua clams with anchovy butter. All of this will be followed by the main course: a New Zealand-style, one-pot clambake packed with chorizo, sweetcorn and potatoes, all doused in dashi butter. For drinks, the crew over at NZ's Garage Project will serve up its famed craft brews throughout the night (for an additional cost). There will be four sittings between 6–8pm, with reservations a must via the A1 website or via email.
Feel like greening up your life with and giving a little back to your city while you're at it? Good news. The City of Sydney is giving away one thousand trees next month, with the aim of increasing the size of the city’s urban canopy while promoting green action— all while helping you tick something off your bucket list. To nab your free tree, be at Sydney Park Road car park in St Peters on Saturday, March 12 from 10am. Like all good community weekend events, there'll be a tasty, tasty barbecue and experts on hand to give you planting, fertilising and nurturing tips. There'll be small or medium trees in native, exotic, evergreen and deciduous varieties, to ensure you find your perfect match. The free tree giveaway is only available to people living in Alexandria, Annandale, Barangaroo, Beaconsfield, Camperdown, Centennial Park, Chippendale, Darlinghurst, Darlington, Dawes Point, Elizabeth Bay, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Haymarket, Millers Point, Moore Park, Newtown, Paddington, Potts Point, Pyrmont, Redfern, Rosebery, Rushcutters Bay, St Peters, Surry Hills, Sydney, The Rocks, Ultimo, Waterloo, Woolloomooloo and Zetland. Make sure you bring along proof of residence, like a bank statement or driver's licence. The City of Sydney's Tree Giveaway is happening on Saturday, March 12 from 10am at the Sydney Park Road car park. For more information, go here.
It's telling that Knight of Cups features many a dive into a pool, seaside stroll and wave crashing against the beach. The latest movie from The Tree of Life and To the Wonder's Terrence Malick is awash in recognisable elements and seems as familiar as water. It's also as malleable as the wet substance that covers the bulk of the earth and comprises most of the human body — and as invigorating. Of course, places and people are the film's primary concerns, particularly Los Angeles and a screenwriter by the name of Rick (Christian Bale). In the city known for the emptiness beneath its allure — indeed, David Lynch (in Inland Empire) and David Cronenberg (in Maps to the Stars) have already plumbed its depths — he's a man plunged into a crisis, making a mess of his successful life as he searches for meaning. Rick drifts through his days, unhappy with his choices but uncertain about how to change them. His problems are many, and not just linked to his failed marriage to Nancy (Cate Blanchett), or spate of flings (with Imogen Poots, Freida Pinto, Teresa Palmer, Natalie Portman and Isabel Lucas) afterwards. Tragedy haunts his family, straining his relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). Though his career is beginning to take off, thrusting him into a glamorous world, it lacks fulfilment past the glitz and partying. As a result, Rick is both wading and paddling feverishly, and so is the film. Malick uses him not just as a protagonist, but as a buoy in a feature that lurches restlessly from place to place and person to person. Sometimes the movie stalks him as he floats through apartments and buildings, around sets and shindigs, and on walks over rugged terrain and by the ocean. Sometimes it adopts his perspective as it dashes around in fragments of his existence. That means that often, when you dip your toes in the feature, you get what you're expecting: a commonly told tale of mid-life malaise, Malick's roaming visuals and whispered layers of philosophical narration, and a focus on contemplation among them. Just as frequently, though, you get a burst that takes you by surprise: in dropping out of one tarot card-named chapter and into the next, in the symphony of classical music sounds and sun-dappled sights, and in the movie's dissection of hedonism, for example. Even when the surface appears still, something is always bubbling up below. Consider Knight of Cups, then, an ideal balance between relaxing and refreshing, and meditative and stimulating. Of course, with Malick at the helm, the film's reflective questioning becomes a gliding kaleidoscope of wide-angle images strikingly shot by Oscar-winning Gravity and Birdman cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, and a montage-heavy mood piece as much as a movie. Conversation rarely lasts beyond a single line, and the all-star cast — which includes brief appearances by everyone from Antonio Banderas to Jason Clarke and Nick Offerman to Fabio — exist more than they perform. And yet, as Knight of Cups ebbs and flows over the course of its fluid 118 minutes, there's no mistaking its emotional and sensory impact. Plus, if you're going to jump in a seemingly familiar body of water filled with hypnotic experiences and hidden depths, you want Malick as your guide. With him in charge, you haven't really swum there and splashed through this before.
Look, there's been a lot of big talk thrown around gelato forums in the last few years. Everyone's favourite cold treat is a certainly a divisive topic in Sydney, and there's an unsung Italian hero in the Messina/Cow and the Moon dominated ranks. RivaReno, whose original gelateria in Darlinghurst serves up some of the best pistachio gelato in the business, have been so quietly successful in the iced confection game they've announced a second location — the fresh foodie hotspot Barangaroo. RivaReno has won a whole swathe of awards in Italy (including 'Best Gelato in Italy' from independent food guide Golosaria — not too shabby) and it's not hard to taste why. They make their gelato fresh in house every day and will soon expand the menu to include crepes and waffles (which are not technically Italian but our mouths are filling with drool so they get a pass on that one), bombolini, Mecca coffee and Italian hot chocolate. For those of you who haven't tried it, Italian hot chocolate can be likened to hot, rich cake mix. Get excited. Get very excited. In the overhaul, the OG headquarters is getting a makeover as well. Think dark finishings, pristine marble slabs and state of the art gelato equipment to keep your gelato the perfect temperate. Bellissimo. RivaReno marks yet another foodie opening to look forward to at Barangaroo, joining the likes of The Rabbit Hole, Banskii and Bentley, also opening this year. Find RivaReno Barangaroo at Shop 4, 33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. Open all week from 12pm to 9pm. Images: Nikki To.
Clear your culinary calendar, Merivale’s epic food and wine festival March into Merivale is back for the eighth year in a row. From February 14, for five glorious weeks, you’ll be treated to pop-up feasts, international DJs, festivals-within-the-festival, dining specials, masterclasses and mystery banquets. Altogether, it’s more deliciousness and fun than we can handle — but we'll try. The extravaganza kicks off on Wednesday, February 10 with a huge launch party invading every nook and cranny of the Ivy – and spilling over into nearby laneways. Sample nearly all of Merivale’s creations in one spot, with pop-ups from Mr. Wong, The Paddington, Coogee Pavilion, est. and Papi Chulo, alongside Enmore’s soon-to-open Queen Victoria Enmore, The Newport and Fred's. In between grazing, keep your eyes peeled for live acts and roaming performers. An easy 45 bucks buys you eight food and drink tokens, which you can top up to your heart’s content all night long. When the festival starts proper on Sunday, February 14, each night of the week will be devoted to a different activity. On Fridays, the UK’s fabulous homage to pop, Guilty Pleasures, will take over Palings Kitchen and Bar with DJs, cabaret and Chandon’s Unplanned Band. Tix are $20 a pop. Meanwhile, every Saturday, Pacha will be presenting Absolut Nights, stacked with international DJs, including Trance Nation feat. EXIS (February 20), Thomas Jack (February 27), Yolanda Be Cool and Nicky Night Time (March 5), DJ Fresh (March 11) and Robin Schulz (March 26). Sundays are all about festivals. If you find yourself strapped for cash on March 6, the Coogee Rooftop will have you covered with live music and a free DJ set from Yahtzel. 20 bucks to spare? Head to the Ivy Pool Club, where L D R U will be manning the decks. Two weeks later, on March 20, it’ll be more of a family affair, when the Coogee Foreshore Festival hits the Coogee Pavilion with live music, roaming performers, games and food from Coogee Pavilion, Papi Chulo, El Loco, sushi e and Mr. Wong. Swap $25 for three food and drink tokens or $45 for six. Meanwhile, to get you through hump day, Wednesdays will be giving Merivale’s venues permission to ‘show-off’. The stand-out on this part of the program is The Establishment’s epic festival-within-the-festival, happening on March 9. All sixteen rooms of the luxurious hotel will be taken over with cocktails, theatre and tasty, tasty morsels ($75). The Wednesday before will see a return of The Establishment’s popular ‘Wok On’, combining Asian food, cocktails and hip hop beats ($45). Before that, on February 17, Palings will hold an epic ‘burger-off’ – you get to sample the work of six finalists and vote ($45); on February 24, Ash St. Cellar will transform its laneway into an outdoor European-style market, featuring stalls from from Felix, Ash St, Bistrode CBD, Lorraine’s Patisserie, The Paddington, Uccello and Palings ($45); and on March 16, Hemmesphere will be opening more than 20 top-shelf champagnes for you to work your way through ($85). For a quiet meal with a friend, look to Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays are dedicated to ‘Friends with Benefits’. Take a mate to Ash St. Cellar, Ms. G’s or Papi Chulo, and score a two-course meal, and a drink of your choice, as well as some unexpected happenings, for $45 a head. A bit more cash to splash? Do the same at Felix, Uccello, Bistrode CBD, The Paddington and sushi e for $55 or at est. for $75. Things get fancier on Thursdays with ‘Chef Signature’. If you’re willing and able to hand over anywhere between $150 and $300, you’ll be amply rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime banquet, be it a sneaker exhibition and curated Asian feast at Ms. G’s on 18 February or a five-course dinner, hosted by seven hatted chefs, in est.’s extraordinary dining room on 10 March. To get an education, check out Mondays, when ‘Show and Tell’ master classes will happen every week. Wondering why your Instagram posts aren’t going viral? Let social media stars DJ Dumpling, Dan Hong and Patrick Friesen show you how it’s done on 29 February for $45. Want to know why Merivale’s venues all look so damn good? Spend a night with the company’s designers on 7 March. On 15 February and 14 March, dessert chef Lorraine Godsmark will be talking – and eating – chocolate ($75), while on February 2, Villa Maria’s Josh Hammond and Merivale’s Franck Moreau will be cracking open a bunch of limited edition reserves for your sampling pleasure ($45). If, at any time during the festival, you’re feeling the need for an adventure, book yourself a Mystery Feast. For 75 bucks, score three courses with matching wines, or, for $35, one course with one glass of wine. You could end up at any of Merivale’s restaurants – from Ms. G’s to est. Can’t make up your mind? Grab a $150 Chandon Unplanned Pass, which seals you a Mystery Feast plus your choice of any two events. Head to the March Into Merivale website for more info and to lock down tickets (they go fast).
Graphic, now in its fifth year, is a Sydney Opera House festival dedicated to three art forms: graphic storytelling, animation and music. Writer Neil Gaiman reckons it's "the smartest, wisest, most cutting-edge festival and celebration of narrative literature and its intersection with culture in the world". At this year's incarnation, taking place on September 28, and October 10–11, we're being treated to ten film screenings, as well as appearances from some of the planet's finest storytellers. Taking centre stage this year is Mad Max: Fury Road, the movie that this year redefined our expectations of what an action movie could look like. Superstar director George Miller will be there for the event Max Max in Conversation, where he'll discuss Fury Road's 12-year journey to the screen with co-writer and illustrator Brendan McCarthy and co-writer and dramaturge Nico Lathouris. Get to the Concert Hall foyer at 10.30am to catch the opening of the Mad Max: Fury Road exhibition. Then, be one of the first to hear Sarah Blasko's fifth album, Eternal Return. On Sunday 11 October, in the Opera House's Concert Hall, she'll be performing the entire record live — before its release. The performance is one of Graphic's own commissions and will feature exclusive visuals created by filmmaker Mike Daly (Griffin Theatre Company, Ballet de Lorraine). Another commission comes from Icelandic pianist and composer Olafur Arnalds, who will premiere a series of new songs and new arrangements of old songs. He'll lead a 13-piece chamber orchestra arranged by Viktor Orri Arnason, accompanied by live visuals created by Mani N. Sigfusson. Other screenings and talks on the program feature Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, Kevin Smith, Nicola Scott, Animal Logic and Brendan Fletcher.
The balmy season's about to kick off on a ridiculously blissful foot, with Tame Impala announcing a huge national tour this morning, hitting some of Australia's biggest outdoor venues this November. Following one widely celebrated comeback set at this year's Splendour in the Grass, Perth's favourite psychedelic outfit are doing an epic tour through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and back to their Perth hometown. Tame brain and frontman Kevin Parker will be teaming up with Dom Simper, Cam Avery, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagello to bring the insanely successful new album Currents to venues like the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Melbourne's epic Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Brisbane Riverstage. Such big outdoor shows deserve one heck of a support, and you'll get it in Mini Mansions (Queens of the Stone Age bass player Michael Shuman's side project). Tame Impala will also be joined by Fremantle's seven-piece hip hop outfit Koi Child for the Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth shows. TAME IMPALA 2015 NATIONAL TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 7 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, November 10 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Wednesday, November 11 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Saturday, November 14 — Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth Wednesday. November 18 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Saturday. November 21 — Riverstage, Brisbane Tickets on sale Monday 31 August, 9am local time, from tameimpala.com. Image: Matt Sav.
Back in March, Neil Perry posted an image on Instagram announcing that his Italian fine diner Rosetta was coming to Sydney. The much-loved Melbourne original has been teasing Sydneysiders for years, offering up Italian cooking from both the country's northern and southern regions. And now, we finally have our own version of this high-class Italian affair with the opening of the restaurant's second location at Grosvenor Place in the CBD. The restaurant boasts three levels on which to eat yourself into an Italian food coma, the most sought-after of which is the ground floor outdoor terrace. While that area is open for all-day dining and snacking with harbour views, the inside dining room — which has been fitted out in an Amalfi Coast colour palette of green and blue — is serving up the full affair for lunch (12–3pm) and dinner (from 6pm) seven days a week. Up one level sits a bar, and up again is a mezzanine dining space with room for 50 people. The menu is much more seafood-led than its Melbourne counterpart, with dishes like the spaghetti alla chitarra with prawns and pistachio, yellowfin tuna with salsa verde and fish soup. The mozzarella bar looks after all your cheese needs, and pizza is of course on the cards too. The bar stocks over 30 gins, makes five types of Negronis, heralds bellinis and specialises in Italian wine. Word of the restaurant's migration to Sydney was first heard back in November when Urban Purveyor Group acquired the Rockpool Group to form the Rockpool Dining Group. Their combined portfolio of eateries became 47 venues overnight, and they expect their portfolio to grow to more than 80 venues in 2017 alone. They've recently launched two take away spinoffs, Fratelli Famous and Saké Jr, and plan to open 100 of each (yes, of each) over the next five years. Rosetta will be in good company, with Perry's recently relaunched Jade Temple just down the block. Find Rosetta at Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney. For more information, visit rosettarestaurant.com.au. By Marissa Ciampi and Lauren Vadnjal. Images: Katje Ford and Jason Loucas.
It’s the art event that kicked off the careers of leading contemporary artists such as Shaun Gladwell, Rebecca Baumann and Kate Mitchell. And this year Nicole Foreshew will be curating the MCA’s annual showcase of young and emerging artists. The 24th edition of Primavera is united by the theme Global South, which will probe long-held understandings of Australian culture, identities and power. Pulling together a diverse range of practices, the show will feature seven artists hailing from four states and territories — Abdul Abdullah, Heather Douglas, Taloi Havini, Vincent & Vaughan O’Connor, Steaphan Paton and Lucy Simpson. In terms of curatorial vision, Foreshew states the importance of Aboriginal art-making in the south-eastern region of Australia, aiming to counteract the assumption that these practices have ceased or evolved beyond recognition. Primavera will shed light on how Indigenous culture has come to be recognised as a central pillar of Australian art, casting off the shackles of colonialism along the way.
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Sydney is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday, March 9, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in Sydney's restaurant scene to cook up their signature dishes in Centennial Park. This year they've broken up their selection of restaurants into the precincts they reside. Representing Paddington (where everything seems to have opened this past year) will be two of Sydney's newer restaurants: Tequila Mockingbird and Saint Peter (which we named as one of our favourite new restaurants of last year). Respective chefs — Regan Porteous and Josh Niland — will make their Taste debut alongside Guillaume Brahimi, who'll be representing Paddo pub The Four in Hand. Tequila Mockingbird is planning Latin American signature dishes like ceviche tacos and goat shoulder empanadas, The Four in Hand will serve up French bistro classics, including Guillaume's marinated Berimigui octopus, while Saint Peter champions its favourite, Australian seafood, like sweet and sour Mooloolabah albacore with malt sourdough crisps. The CBD will be brought to Centennial by Bouche on Bridge and — another of our favourite restaurants of 2016 — Mercado, while vermouth bar Banksii and Turkish eatery Anason will rep Barangaroo. If you've been in previous years, you'll have sampled dishes from Porteño, Kensington Street Social and nel. — these guys will all be returning with new noms for 2017. Anason will be dishing up white cod roe taramasalata with finger lime and crispy simit, while Banksii enlivens Mediterranean dishes like pork sausage, vermouth plum jam and fennel salad — alongside their very own pop-up vermouth bar. Taste favourites Porteño will bring their signature Argentinean nosh to the table including those famous fried brussel sprouts. Kensington Street Social will wheel out their hotdog creation The Social Dog, while Nelly Robinson is finishing things up with his own dessert bar, Nel's Sweet Shop — featuring his version of a wagon wheel made of raspberry, yuzu and milk chocolate. When you're not busy stuffing your face (but let's be honest, that's why you're there), you can also try your hand at cooking school, learn some skills alongside one of the aforementioned chefs in a masterclass, or up your wine knowledge with an expert from The Wine Society. Tickets cost $25, which will get you entry to the festival and access to some workshops and free tastings. You'll have to purchase food separately, but it's still a pretty good way to try some of Sydney's fanciest food without committing to a whole meal (and hefty bill). TASTE OF SYDNEY 2017 LINEUP Saint Peter Banksii Mercado Long Chim Bouche on Bridge Tequila Mockingbird Porteño nel. Anason Kensington Street Social Gastro Park Taste of Sydney will return to Centennial Park on March 9–12. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydney.tastefestivals.com. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading nine adventurers on a two-day Wilderness Photography Escape for the weekend of May 6 through 7. Participants will meet in the Blue Mountains, where adventure photographer Jake Anderson will lead them on a ten-kilometre hike, through a waterfall and wild-swimming holes, before arriving at a secluded, 'secret' campsite — specifically positioned for sunset and sunrise shoots. After a campfire feast, Anderson will host an astro-photography session with the hopes of capturing the milky way, among other celestial bodies. This excursion combines a camping and photography workshop, teaching adventurers the core skills necessary to embark on your own adventure and capture it like a pro. Ticket holders will learn the basic fundamentals of photography, including shutter speed and aperture, composition and framing, long exposure and social media growth hacks, to name a few. On top of this, you'll also learn camping skills like basic navigation, where to pitch a tent safely, water filtration techniques, fire starting and overall camping hacks. Each ticket includes all of the above, as well as all food and snacks for the duration of the weekend. Image: We Are Explorers.
Sydney Fringe Festival is back with its first in-person program since 2019 and it's served up its biggest program to date. Get ready for six hefty weeks of performances, exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy, visual arts, film, dance, circus, literature and poetry, with the independent arts festival beginning two weeks earlier than normal to accommodate everything on this year's lineup. All up there are 500-plus events over 50 venues, including nine hubs, turning Sydney into an epicentre of entertainment between Tuesday, August 16–Friday, September 30. Among the highlights, free opening party Fringe Ignite is right up there. It'll take over The Rocks on Friday, September 2 — which is a few weeks after Fringe actually kicks off, but no one is complaining. Twenty acts will perform in pop-up locations, giving you plenty to see and roam between from 6pm till late. There's also Runaway Gardens, a six-week collection of cabaret, drag, comedy and live music taking over First Fleet Park in The Rocks headlined by the previously announced Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett. Also a standout is Indie Yarns, which gathers members of the fest's First Nations Advisory Panel for a Q&A session. There's also Dane Simpson's stand-up comedy show Didgeridoozy, as well as singer-songwriter Paul Ah Chee playing his debut solo EP Nowhere to Hide. The Limitless micro-festival will focus on artists with disability or who are deaf for two weeks, with must-sees spanning inclusive comedy night Crips and Creeps Comedy, plus Sam Kissajukian's 300 Paintings in Lockdown. Elsewhere, a comedic recreation of Titanic is coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum, comedy cabaret Cherry will celebrate one woman's love of Katy Perry, interactive theatre experience Gameshow will bring TV game shows to life, and YCK Laneways will host the Front and Centre Festival, which is all about female-identifying artists — including Jaguar Jonze, JOY, Kilimi and Pirra. Or, there's a four-show series of acoustic concerts at George Place foyer, featuring Elizabeth Fader, Declan Kelly with Daniel Pliner, Emily Granger with Andrew Blanch, and Emily Stephenson. Love hitting up festival hubs? Sydney Fringe loves hosting them, and will also include a bigger touring hub at The Seymour Centre that'll showcase award-winners from Adelaide Fringe, Perth Fringe, Melbourne Fringe, New Zealand Fringe and other fests. And, you'll be able to check out the emerging artists sharehouse at Erskineville Town Hall, too, plus the massive 100-plus comedy lineup at the Factory Theatre — while the musical theatre hub will sit at City Tattersalls and the cabaret hub at The Castlereagh. "There has never been a better time to get out and explore Sydney Fringe — this is our city's festival and a celebration of all we stand for," CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock said.
There's a brand new festival coming to New South Wales, sporting a mini-Meredith lineup, an outdoor cinema and an independent record market. Plus, it's in one of Australia's prettiest coastal towns. Fairgrounds is Australia's newest boutique music festival, coming to the NSW town of Berry this December. It's just two hours out of Sydney on the south coast, so one easy peasy road trip. Pioneered by Handsome Tours, the shiny new festival fuses local food, boutique beverages, markets, movies and music in one sweet-sounding event. Taking cues from the recently-announced Meredith lineup, Fairgrounds' folk, pop and garage-focused lineup will see LA-based crooner Father John Misty headline, with Brooklyn glitchy duo RATATAT and dream pop legends Mercury Rev at the top. San Francisco's quirky characters Unknown Mortal Orchestra will be there, alongside folk-rocker Jessica Pratt, Sydney's immortal Royal Headache and the gospel dancehall blues of C.W. Stoneking. While music is your main drawcard to most festivals, Fairgrounds has given more weight to the in-between elements than many festivals do. Foodies will find a gastronomical paradise at the event, with wines and local nibbles sourced from neighbouring estates. There'll be markets and field games — sounds like someone enjoyed Secret Garden Festival — and the best bit? There'll be an outdoor cinema: Fairgrounds' Cinema Under the Stars, presented by Madman Films. FAIRGROUNDS 2015 LINE-UP (SO FAR): C.W. Stoneking Father John Misty Jessica Pratt Mercury Rev RATATAT Royal Headache Unknown Mortal Orchestra Fairgrounds Festival is happening on Saturday, December 5 in Berry, NSW. Earlybird 'Fairgrounds Founder' tickets are $110 and go on sale on Thursday 20 August at fairgrounds.com.au and moshtix.com.au. Kids under 12 enter the festival for free. You can choose to stay offsite in a B&B, or Fairgrounds offers in-site camping. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
No longer will denizens of the west have to venture into the Sydney CBD for a high quality hamburger. Following on from the success of his first budget burger venture The Burger Project in World Square, Rockpool executive chef and fancy pants restaurateur Neil Perry is firing up the grill on a second Burger Project location in Parramatta. The first Burger Project began its life primarily as a means of bringing the next best thing to Perry's much drooled-over $24 Rockpool beef burger to the masses – without the prohibitive price tag. Parramatta diners can expect a number of delicious variations on the humble hamburger, including the Chilli Cheese, the Magic Mushroom and the Spicy Fried Chicken, the names of which are all fairly self explanatory. You can also get your burger in a lettuce bowl, sans bun, at no extra cost. Tasty sides include chips with salt or chipotle chilli, and crispy hot wings with Sichuan pepper. Just make sure you leave plenty of room for dessert, since you'll be selecting from a fairly ridiculous lineup of ice cream creations including The Bounty Hunter (vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce, toasted coconut and crushed meringue) and the Marsh-Cara-Mallow (salted caramel ice cream with hazelnut praline, burnt marshmallow and chocolate sauce). You can also get ice cream by the scoop, or have it blended up in a shake. No word yet on exactly when or where this second Burger Project will make its debut, but we do know that Parramatta isn't the only location Perry is said to be eyeing. Earlier this month The Australian reported that the chef has plans to open four additional Burger Project stores in the next sixteen month (two each in Sydney and Melbourne) and that he envisions having up to 50 stores nationwide within five years. In the more immediate future, however, Burger Project number two will mark the latest in a string of foodie coups for Parramatta. Salt Meats Cheese recently announced their plans to open a 4000 square metre store in EcoWorld's West Village development, with Simon Goh's Chinta Ria as their neighbours. Throw Jamie's Italian into the mix and Parramatta natives will never need to venture far from home again. Via Good Food and The Australian.
The legendary, controversial, performance artist who does 'nothing' is finally returning to Australia after a 17-year absence. The subject of two major projects (at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and at Pier 2/3 with Kaldor Public Art Projects), Marina Abramovic is heading our way this June. Beloved and equally criticised, 67-year-old Abramovic has been invited by both MONA's David Walsh and John Kaldor to create a two experiences for the public — a retrospective solo exhibition at MONA called Private Archaeology, beginning June 13 and running to October 5, followed by Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence, with a series of 'exercises' from the Abramovic Method happening over twelve days at Pier 2/3 from June 24 to July 5. Leading on from the Serpentine Galleries exhibition 512 Hours, the artist's Sydney project will focus on audience participation with intense works like Counting the rice and her famous 'gaze' work — a play on her work The Artist is Present performed in New York's Museum of Modern Art, where you're asked to sit face-to-face with a stranger for a certain period (apparently Kaldor's still in contact with the stranger he sat opposite at the Serpentine). Abramovic will work with collaborator Lynsey Peisinger to create a series of spaces for exhibition visitors that invoke certain physical and psychological states. "We constantly like to be entertained, to get things from outside. We never taketime to get in touch with ourselves... our inner self," says Ambramovic. "My function in this new kind of performance situation is to show you, through the Abramovic Method, what you can do for yourself." There will also be artist residencies, which will see 12 lucky Australian artists in-house for the twelve-day exhibition, all of whom will have mentoring from Abramovic herself and will hold workshops and performances. From 5-7pm each day, they will share the films that have inspired them and the ideas that keep them awake at night. The 12 Australian artists are Nat Abbott (Melbourne); Frances Barrett (Sydney); Clark Beaumont — comprised of Sarah Clark and Nicole Beaumont (Brisbane); Lottie Consalvo (Newcastle); Nicola Gunn (Melbourne); George Khut (Sydney); Sarah Jane Norman (Berlin & the Blue Mountains); Sarah Rodigari (Sydney); Christian Thompson (London); and zin — comprised of Harriet Gillies and Roslyn Helper (Sydney). If you want to see Abramovic throw down her ideas on a pedestal, she'll be giving a keynote address in the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Walsh Bay on Tuesday, June 30 at 8pm. This will be her only public talk during her 2015 Australian visit, so you're going to want to lock down tickets asap. This is a big time pull for Australia, with two of the country's leading private arts patrons, Walsh and Kaldor, both separately approaching Abramovic, and both landing a 'yes'. Kaldor approached Abramovic following her successful involvement in Kaldor Project's applauded group exhibition 13 Rooms at Pier 2/3 — the work, Luminosity, which saw a naked artist wall-mounted on a bicycle seat for long periods of time (and didn't star Abramovic herself). Walsh approached the artist after meeting her over five years ago in Amsterdam. But this isn't the first time Abramovic has been to Australia; before presenting Gold found by the artists with Ulay at the 1979 Biennale of Sydney, the artist spent a cheeky five months with an Aboriginal community in central Australia in the '80s (and raised a baby kangaroo and cuddled this sheep). Read our feature on Understanding the work of Marina Abramovic in Five Phases.
The Australian Open of Surfing, which is gearing up to take over Manly between February 25 and March 5, isn't just about seeing some of the world's best surfers, skateboarders and BMXers in action. It's also about live music, designer pop-ups, craft beers and delicious food. That's why more than 300,000 punters roll up each year. In 2017, headlining the music program will be Sydney's Hermitude, who'll be playing the first of two free concerts on the MTV stage on March 4 and 5. Warming up for them will be Elk Road, an electronic producer from Western Australia, who'll be mixing ambient beats, soul, trap, hip hop, pop and mash-ups. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel will be jumping the Harbour to set up a Beach Club on the Manly beachfront. Fitted out with comfy lounges and stripy umbrellas, the pop-up will be dishing out fresh seafood and coconut cocktails, in between hosting morning yoga, acoustic sessions and DJs. And, once the sun goes down, you'll be heading to Daniel San, the Open's official afterparty venue, for Japanese street food, 4 Pines beer and neon lights. Check out the rest of the program on the website.
Chippendale's Kensington Street Precinct is adding yet another eatery to the mix. The latest venture from executive chef Stanley Wong, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants whose resume includes the likes of New York's Spice Market, Hong Kong's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and Kensington Street's own The Private Kitchen pop-up, Eastside Grill will fuse American and Japanese influences from the moment it opens on January 28. Wong's cross-culinary approach can be seen in his selection of starters, where standouts such as buttermilk-marinated calamari with ginger chili dip, and Moreton Bay Bug sashimi with Nashi pear, black garlic, and jalapeño, should help prime patrons for a mouthwatering main course. On that front, bourbon-brined Kurobuta pork chop with smoked apple and fig chutney will be hard to resist, although red wine-braised octopus with rice crisps and smoked eggplant doesn't sound half bad either. As for dessert, cinnamon-dusted vanilla cream doughnut holes with mocha ice cream should do quite nicely. Sadly, the venue has yet to lock down its liquor license — but you can expect a mix of international wines, classic cocktails, boutique whiskies and sake the moment they can legally serve them. The restaurant will be located in Kensington Street's The Old Rum Store, downstairs from The Private Kitchen. The aesthetic will be inspired by the Manhattan meatpacking district — think exposed brick walls, herringbone flooring and a massive mural by Belgian-born graffiti artist Caratoes. Wong is joined by head chef Angie Ford (Navarra, Ottawa) and restaurant manager Ivan Gasparini (Marco Pierre Grill, Dubai). Find Eastside Grill at The Old Rum Store, Level 1, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale, from January 28. For more information visit www.eastsidegrill.com.au. Images: Alana Dimou.
After a little time off to rest those weary limbs, Sydney Dance Company and artistic director Rafael Bonachela are back in business with the world premiere of Ocho, created by Bonachela, and Full Moon, choreographed by Tapei-based Cloud Gate 2 artistic director Cheng Tsung-lung. The two acts, exploring the mysteries of the universe and the deep connections between all of us, come together to form Orb, an ethereal exploration of mystery, myth, and mankind. Ocho, which celebrates Bonachela's eighth season with the company, will feature eight dancers working with an hypnotic, electric score and dreamlike stage design to look at the ways in which humans form unseen connections. The act will be followed by Tsung-lung's Full Moon, which explores the power of our celestial satellite, and how humans are affected by it. Orb asks the audience to step outside their bodies and explore the intangible realm of the non-corporeal, and, as Cheng Tsung-lung has said, "uncover the mysteries of the unconscious world which I do not know, yet I feel exist." Images: Pedro Greig.
Pizza Birra and Vacanza better watch out, Lane Cove's Via Napoli is moving into Surry Hills. The lower north shore's home of crazy long pizzas and seriously friendly staff is opening a new branch on Crown Street in September. Via Napoli is incredibly popular in Sydney's north-west and rightly so. The Italian eatery, with packed-out restaurants in Hunters Hill and Lane Cove, has been lauded by eaters, bloggers and critics alike for their authentic Napoli-style pizzas. Hands-down one of the best pizza places in Sydney, Via Napoli possesses a winning of combination of super friendly service (we've been treated to many a post-meal hug) and their trademark smoky, soft and light dough. What more could you want? The hype surrounding this inner-city opening is very real; there are over a thousand RSVPs to the VIP opening on Facebook. You may be wondering how everybody is going to get fed/fit in the door. The answer? A bucketload of two-metre pizzas. Omg 2m pizza at #vianapoli #sydney! So yum! A photo posted by Steph T (@virconium) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:13am PDT Yes, two metres. Hit #vianapoli on Instagram and you'll be met with reams of photos of their signature long pizzas. The mammoth two-metre creations are their claim to fame and come topped with Via Napoli's top five pizzas: vesuvio, diavola, crudo e rucola, margherita and marinara. Pizza isn't the only thing they do well; their cheeses are straight-up insane. Watching fresh burrata explode over a plate of prosciutto di parma is something truly tear-inducing. Previously a $40 cab ride away from the CBD, Via Napoli have brought their famed Italian delicacies to the other side of the Harbour Bridge. Many pizzerias claim to have the best pizza in Sydney but we reckon they're a serious contender for that title. The good people of Surry Hills know their pizza, so the game is set. Via Napoli opens at 628 Crown Street, Surry Hills on Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm.
Tilda Swinton's signature perfume, international denim and coffee cupping workshops will combine at this epic attic party, happening above Brewtown Newtown at O'Connell Street Merchants on Saturday, July 9. Starting at 11am, the all-day extravaganza is a celebration of O'Connell's introduction of Scandi-inspired, London-based denim brand Waven. At the same time, the store will be showcasing cult French perfumery Etat Libre d'Orange's entire range — the first event of its kind to happen outside France. Back in 2010, the brand collaborated with Tilda Swinton to create Like This. Not sure which perfume's right for you? A consultant will be on-hand, giving out free, personalised advice. And, if you're keen to evolve your coffee palate, join Brewtown's master roaster Chris Bonney for a free cupping workshop, which'll have you tasting your way around the world with a curated selection of single origin brews. Meanwhile, the Pastry Pop-Up will be peddling cakes, Brewnuts and sweet treats, while DJ Josh Leenaars of newly launched Network Connection Records will be spinning live tunes. The action's set to kick on until 4pm.
There's a little bit o' Surry Hills coming to the inner city, as Sydney's coffee aficionados Single Origin Roasters prepare to open their own takeaway coffee joint in the CBD on Monday, June 15. It's good news for jaded CBD workers wanting a change from their ground floor go-to; the Surry Hills cafe crew are bringing their signature roasted beans, mad barista skills, eco-friendly packaging and a solid brekkie menu to York Street — right beside The Barber Shop. Set to replicate the Single O's Sideshow takeaway bar, the new CBD spot will be serving up the team's Reservoir house blend, alongside select single origins and the 'filter of the week' to change up your daily cup. When the doors open, you'll be sippin' on La Roda Colombia, Mimba AA Tanzania and Seka Forest, Ethiopia. Channelling an Italian cafe feature, Single O boasts a 'standing bar' where you can take a damn second to enjoy your cup and admire a ceiling installation by artist Renuka Fernando, painted with coffee and cascara (coffee fruit tea). The whole thing's designed by big gun design firm Luchetti Krelle, best known for Momofuku Seiobo, Adriano Zumbo, The Butler, ACME and the upcoming Hello Kitty Diner. But you can't start the day with only a coffee in your paws (no, no you can't). Single O's CBD venture sees a menu created by head chef Troy Cotton, with plenty of solid morning breakfast options; we like the sound of waking up with a cappuccino rice pudding ($8). You'll be able to pick up Single O's signature banana bread with espresso butter ($6), or something more substantial like the bacon roll with red eye mayo, fried eggs and tomato apple ketchup ($12) or Cotton’s interpretation of a Croque-Monsieur with smoked leg ham, cheddar béchamel and pickled vegetables ($11). There are lunch offerings too, from salads to coffee braised beef brioche with pickles and slaw ($15). And because they're total legends, all their takeaway food and coffee packaging is recyclable and/or compostable. Top marks. So why the venture into the CBD? Single O's Lirie Chen says they're keen to bring a little life into the daytime city slog. "York Street has had a string of bar openings and has some great nightlife. We’re excited to join the York Street party, to be the ‘daylife’ and service the CBD crowd” says Chen. "We’re most look forward to bringing damn fine coffee and food to people who are on the go, and if they want to hang out and explore the world of specialty coffee, it’s all there for the taking." Find Single O CBD at 89 York Street, Sydney from Monday, June 15. Open Monday to Friday from 6.30am – 4pm.
Dredging up your dusty CD collection, you may come across the jagged mountains of Kid A or the ghostly freeway of OK Computer. Conveniently for you and your ‘90s nostalgia, the reclusive artist behind Radiohead will be exhibiting at Carriageworks as part of Semi-Permanent. Stanley Donwood, aka Dan Rickwood, has designed the band’s posters and album artwork since 1994. The Panic Office is a major retrospective that will feature a whopping number of pieces, both seen and unseen. Donwood’s haunting imagery is full of vortexes and post-apocalyptic landscapes. His work is often introspective, as if wandering through the chaos of the mind. Capturing the sense of alienation stirred up by a group of alternative rock icons is no mean feat. This exhibition is a rare opportunity for fans to embrace the visual trajectory of Donwood’s career and Radiohead’s rise to fame. Semi-Permanent ticket holders will have exclusive access to the exhibition before it opens to the public.
After a sold-out debut event in May 2016, Sydney's dedicated fried chicken festival, Birds of Redfern, is back for round two — this time dubbed Birds of the Inner West. The aim? To celebrate not one but two of our all-time favourite things in life: fried chicken and wine. Sydney is home to a tonne of top-notch poultry chefs, whose hot 'n' greasy bits of bird would make Colonel Sanders embarrassed. Now they're flocking together at Public House Petersham for a dedicated fried chicken and wine fiesta. Set for October 23, Birds of the Inner West has been curated by the Cake Wines team along with food writer, DJ and podcaster Andrew Levins. The lineup features some of the biggest cluckers in town. These include Butter, whose fried chicken was so loved by Wu Tang Clan when they toured Australia it was requested backstage at Qudos Bank Arena, Belly Bao, who'll be doing a 'Chicken Baoger', The Erko, who'll be doing smoked buffalo wings, Down N' Out, who'll be doing their DNO Zinga burger, Public House Petersham and Mary's, both who know what's up when it comes to fried chicken burgs. Of course, you'll probably want a little liquid refreshment to wash down all that chook. PHP will be serving their selection of craft beers and Cake will pop the cork on a number of their locally-made Art Series wines. Birds of the Inner West is happening on October 23, with two sessions 12-3pm and 4-7pm available. Tickets are $15 available here. By Tom Clift and Shannon Connellan.
For so long, rotisserie chickens and their ilk have been associated with grim supermarkets and thought of as last-minute dinner options when you just can’t be bothered to adult. Well, not any more. The latest in a cornucopia of recent openings, from whisky bars to pool club revamps, Merivale has just announced the opening of The Paddington — a dining establishment focusing on rotisserie-style fare. The venue will be headed by Ben Greeno and sits next door to his other rotisserie chicken venture, The Chicken Shop (the man loves his slowly rotating chooks, it seems). The menu at the Paddington is a little more expansive however, venturing so far as lamb rump with red peppers and almonds, wagyu beef with artichokes, pickled mustard seed and watercress, whole fish stuffed with olives, lemon and time. Of course, Greeno's signature roast chicken and French fries will be the cornerstone of the whole thing. It seems that if you can stick it on a spit and stuff it with something tasty, you’ll find it on this menu. And if anyone can bring world class flavour to the humble rotisserie chook, it’s Greeno. His resume includes Momofuku Seiobo, Sat Bans and Noma, so you can rest assured he’ll do rotisserie justice. The booze (because what is a rotisserie chicken without booze?) is being supplied in bulk by Sam Edgerton and Toby Marshall of Palmer & Co, who are setting up a cocktail bar within the pub, boasting a specially curated cocktail list. They blind taste-tested over 600 cocktails to craft the final menu, which is really not a bad job if you ask us but we certainly appreciate their effort. The Paddington opens on November 24 at 384 Oxford Street, Paddington. Open Sunday to Thursday 12pm - 12am, Fri and Sat 12pm - 3am.
