If you're a fan of the British version of The Office, you'll know what we mean when we say David Brent: Life on the Road is almost unwatchable, but still worth a watch. This big-screen sorta-sequel follows Brent (Ricky Gervais) around as he gives his music career one last shot. Set a dozen years after The Office, Brent is now a sanitary products sales rep who invests a huge amount of his pension money in touring himself, his session band and his incongruous (but very much appreciated) young rapper friend Dom (Ben Bailey Smith) around on a self-made tour of Slough and the surrounding counties. The resulting 95 minutes rapidly deteriorate into an awkward hellscape puppeteered by Gervais' masochistic desire to make the audience squirm. While it's no Oscar winner, fans of The Office, and Gervais in general, will still find plenty to enjoy. Whereas the OG David Brent was built on classic British humour, modern day Brent is a more international flavour and slightly more palatable for it. Some of the gags are far too obvious, most of the ancillary characters might as well be cardboard cut outs with looks of disgust on their faces, and the narrative is just a series of exponentially embarrassing moments. In truth, the superficiality of the narrative is almost a relief, since Brent definitely doesn't have enough depth as a character to carry the plot for the length of an entire feature. True to form, the most excruciating moments aren't Brent's absurd stage antics or his terrible music (including such hits as "Please Don't Make Fun of the Disableds" and "Lonely Cowboy"). Nor are they his creepy and frequently offensive attempts to hit on women, or the ratty little grin that's constantly smeared on his chubby face. Instead, it's the brief but devastating moments when Brent pulls the cartoon mask up and becomes a vulnerable man with no friends. The shots of his tiny apartment, his failed attempts to mingle, the cheesy outfits of which he's so proud and his desperate need to be liked are so real. Too real. The tender heart at the centre of so much bluff is what makes the franchise continue to work. Some of the more depressing elements that defined The Office have been spruced up for the big screen. Gone are the halogen lights, wobbly camera angles and general low-budget vibes. Instead we're served great production to smother the stink of desperation – and honestly, it's a better film for it. Like the series before it, Life on the Road isn't for everyone, but has enough weirdness and insight to age into a cult favourite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2THODznVOt8
We're getting together with General Assembly to celebrate the mavericks, mad folks and plain geniuses who make up Sydney's creative community. And you're invited to join us. Needless to say, one party won't do. So, we're holding three. Join us for the first on Wednesday, September 7 at 6pm, to catch up with of our city's food and drink legends and get Gelato Messina put straight into your hands. Five speakers from The Grounds of Alexandria, Deliveroo and Young Henrys will be spilling their secrets on starting businesses that challenge expectations in just five minutes each. Then on Thursday, September 15, it's time for Design Jam. We'll be presenting a bunch of designers and developers with an epic challenge: to re-design the census so it actually works (#censusfail). You'll be throwing your ideas into the ring, too, under the guidance of expert instructor Mike Biggs, who will teach you how you can apply design thinking strategy to your own creative projects or business. Finally, on Thursday, September 29, get in touch with Sydney's musical side. Gear up to meet, not only, musicians, but also industry figures who have grown Sydney's music scene and are propelling it forward. The plan is to discuss what makes the city's scene so special and throw around some ideas for the future. All three gatherings are free, but online registration is essential. So get over here and take care of it.
Global warming, renewable energy, sustainable farming and animal rights — these are just a few of the big topics on the agenda at this year's Environmental Film Festival Australia. Heading to Sydney for three days on October 20 after stints in Melbourne and Brisbane, the seventh edition of this green-themed film fest shapes up as the biggest one yet. Standout films on this year's program include Sonic Sea — about the effects of noise pollution on marine life — and Time to Choose, a climate change documentary by Oscar winner Charles Ferguson (Inside Job). Those of you with iron stomachs might also want to check out Bugs on the Menu, a sustainable food doco about exactly what it sounds like. In Melbourne they're even pairing it with a special gourmet dinner at Grub Food Van. Yum!(?)
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because a new film festival is heading to Australian screens. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there either. Hot on the heels of the Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival, Sydney's Hayden Orpheum is turning their attention to celebrating another movie master. This time, the one and only Stanley Kubrick is in the spotlight. From October 6-19, the two cinemas will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles. That means everything from his under-seen anti-war debut Fear and Desire to the controversial Lolita to his final completed effort, the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket — and even catch special screenings of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which Kubrick started developing in the '70s before handing the project over to Steven Spielberg in the '90s. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining pop up in retrospective programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way they were meant to be seen. Plus, catching every one of Kubrick's features in one lineup is quite rare. So rare, in fact, that the fest is calling itself a world premiere.
It's only taken a few short years for the British Film Festival to become a highlight of Australia's busy festival calendar, and their first titles for their fourth year demonstrate why. Fancy seeing this year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner? Or a host of high-profile titles direct from their premieres at the Venice and Toronto film festivals? Or a restored version of the David Bowie-starring sci-fi classic The Man Who Fell to Earth? Well, they're all on the bill when the festival returns to Sydney's Palace Verona and Palace Norton Street from October 25 to November 16. Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake — which took top honours in Cannes back in May — takes a look at the British welfare system through the filmmaker's usual social realist lens, and ranks among the most highly anticipated of the bunch. It's joined by the high-profile likes of opening night's A United Kingdom and closing night's A Monster Calls. The former tells the true tale of a Botswana prince (Selma's David Oyelowo) who caused a scandal when he married a white Englishwoman (Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike), and is also slated to open the London Film Festival. Directed by The Impossible's Juan Antonio Bayona, A Monster Calls adapts a fantasy novel about a young boy coping with his mother's terminal illness, and features Liam Neeson as the voice of the titular creature. Audiences will also get the chance to see crime-drama Trespass Against Us, which not only stars Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson, but marks the film debut of the Chemical Brothers' long-term visual collaborator Adam Smith. For cinephiles looking for something completely different, rom-com fans can get their fix watching Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin in Their Finest, from An Education helmer Lone Scherfig. And because all good film fests don't just look forward to future hits but also peer back to the greats of years gone by, this year's British Film Festival has curated a ten-movie tribute to some of the country's enduring cinematic heroes. As well as Bowie proving his out-of-this-world acting abilities, catch Gary Oldman getting his punk on in Sid and Nancy and feast on the epic action adventure that is Highlander.
Earlier this year, Groove Therapy busted out Bedroom Grooves, a series of free, five-minute dance classes held in neon, disco bedrooms. On September 21, they're bringing back the name — but this round of moving and shape-making is serving up a different kind of dancing fun. In fact, it's an ace themed session and the prelude for something more, all in one. For one hour at 107 Projects, attendees will dance in their pyjamas and help raise money for a bedroom-themed performance and immersive work that GT is putting together for the upcoming We're All Going To Die Festival. Held by Vanessa Marian, and set to tour around the country, the class invites eager PJ-clad folks to choose their best bedroom groove tunes for the evening's playlist — and gives one lucky person something special for their outfit-picking efforts. Don't overlook the dress code, because the coolest set of pyjamas or bedroom dancing themed outfit will win their own Chalmers Pyjamas set. Image: Chalmers Pyjamas.
When the end of October rolls around, the Hayden Orpheum will be asking quite the iconic question: do you like scary movies? And, if you don't, don't worry. They'll also be pondering another query: if frightening flicks aren't for you, do you like like horror-themed comedies? From the sinister and unnerving to the amusing and quirky, the northside cinema's Halloween lineup has everyone covered, even those that aren't fond of jumps and bumps. Across three days in the lead up to the spookiest time of year, they'll be unleashing classic remakes, '80s greats and one of the most unsettling thrillers ever made as part of their Halloween Spooktacular. The Addams Family gets things started on October 27, for those keen on some '90s throwback fun. Then October 29 sees a double feature of Beetlejuice and The Lost Boys, combining laughs and scares. Finally, rounding it al out on All Hallow's Eve itself is multi-Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs. Hitting up all three nights is a nostalgic movie buff's idea of Halloween heaven.
If you could protest absolutely anything, what would it be? Marriage equality? Land mines? Freak shakes? Your neighbour's son's drumming teacher? Blank Placard Dance, replay, a free piece of performance art coming to the Sydney Opera House as part of ANTIDOTE, asks you to consider this question. On Sunday 3 September, keep an eye on the Western Boardwalk, where thirty performers clothed in white and bearing blank placards will be marching by. Ask them what it's all about and you'll only get a question in return: what do you want to protest? Blank Placard Dance first happened in San Francisco in 1967 (during the Vietnam War) at the hands of American artist Anna Halprin. This incarnation is a reprise by French choreographer Anne Collod, who co-founded the Quatuor Albrecht Knust (1993-2001), a dance collective that reenacted works from the early 20th century.
This Friday, April 17, set your alarm for 5pm. Why? Gelato Messina is giving away free cookie pies — and delivering them to you. Hang on, cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of choc chip cookie dough and topped with hazelnut crumble. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. It's a novel concept, but one we're sure Gelato Messina will execute well — and one we're sure Dean Martin would possibly even approve, too. To score yourself one of these, you need to log on to Deliveroo from the aforementioned time — 5pm, Friday, April 17 — and spend at least $32 on Gelato Messina. And, boom, free cookie pie. You'll need to get in quick, though, as it's only on offer while stocks last. The free cookie pie deal is available at all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores (except The Star, Circular Quay and Coolangatta) and Deliveroo pop-ups in Manly, Brighton-Le-Sands, Canterbury and East Brunswick.
The Rocks is hosting a five-day virtual Easter Egg Hunt leading up to Easter weekend — and it's not just for littl'uns. From Monday, April 6 till Friday, April 10, you can go online and find eggs to win one of five $100 e-vouchers for croissants, chocolates, spa sessions and more. Vouchers for French beauty brand L'Occitane, long-standing Sydney patisserie Le Renaissance (which is now home delivering), Endota Spa, Guylian Belgian Chocolate and fancy candlemaker DUX Collection will be awarded to the Sydneysiders with the best eye for egg hunts. The hunt will start at 9am every day. An easter egg will be hidden in an image featured in one of The Rocks' retailer pages. To enter the competition, go to this website and submit your information, along with your answer detailing where the egg has been hidden before 11.59pm. So, have some fun looking for virtual easter eggs this week, and you might be able to enjoy some delicious sweet treats, treat yourself to nourishing beauty products or book in for a post-COVID-10 pampering session. Insider tip: make sure to check The Rocks' Facebook page to get clues on the eggs' whereabouts.
Fancy spending a day (virtually) partying in the Old Melbourne Gaol, popping over to Henry Head Battery for a sunset session, then ending the night with some psychedelic light shows and tunes inside a sprawling airport hangar? If so, you'd better clear your schedule for Untitled Group's upcoming Virtual Day Party. Following a blockbuster debut event, which was beamed into more than half a million homes across the world in April, the minds behind Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts Festival will host a second digital day party on Saturday, May 30 that'll have you cutting shapes in your lounge room. With sets by Hayden James, DJ Boring, Lastlings, Made in Paris, Cassettes For Kids and Adult Art Club, the virtual party will kick off at the Old Melbourne Goal (where Ned Kelly was hanged) at 1pm, then travel to Henry Head Battery for sunset and finish inside the 8400-square-metre Avalon Airport Hangar. The event will be free to stream via the Untitled Group Facebook page, but virtual partygoers are encouraged to chip in and support the stream over here. Plus, if you register over here you can go in the draw to win $1000 worth of Lee, a Jimmy Brings voucher or JBL speakers, among other prizes. While some of Melbourne's COVID-19 restrictions are easing, festivals and big parties don't look like they'll be starting again too soon, so we'll need to make do with some dancing in our lounge rooms for the time being. More time to get your sock slides perfected, we say. [caption id="attachment_771608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hayden James by Pat Stevenson[/caption] Virtual Day Party #2 will run from 1–7.15pm. Top images: Lady Drewniak and Instant Crush.
Nothing inspires those carefree summer feels quite like a spot of outdoor cinema — especially when the flicks are free. This January marks the return of Darling Quarter's ever-popular al fresco film screenings, delivering two weeks of outdoor movie magic for young and old (an in between). Taking over the precinct's Village Green from January 4 to 20, the annual Night Owls Film Festival will this year kick off at 6pm nightly with a special family-friendly program — think kids' entertainment, a series of short films from Little Big Shots and a family feature film from 6.45pm. If your inner child (or actual child) loves flicks like Pixar's Coco, Paddington 2 and Hugh Jackman's The Greatest Showman head along then then. But come nightfall on weekends, it's the big kids' turn, with a program of grown-up movies screened from 8.30pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Titles such as dystopian sci-fi Maze Runner, rom-com The Big Sick and Black Panther are all on the lineup, rounding out with Australia period Western Sweet Country as the closing night film. Be sure to bring along your picnic rug and accompany your cinema experience with eats from one of the many nearby vendors — Nok Nok Thai Eating House, Umi Sushi & Udon and pizza joint Vesta are all a short stroll away.
A week of free coffees, your own stylish reusable cup and the satisfaction that comes from doing the environment a solid. Combine the three, and that's HuskeeWeek, which runs from Monday, December 3 to Friday, December 7. HuskeeCup turns recycled coffee husks into recyclable takeaway cups and, after a crowdfunding campaign, it has finally arrived in Sydney. To both celebrate the launch and to introduce their accompanying cup-swap initiative, they're getting you caffeinated without spending a cent — other than on your HuskeeCup and accompanying lid, that is. If you have them already, then rejoice. All you need to do is hit up Pablo & Rusty, Cross Eatery or Brew Collective in the CBD, or Zupano Espresso in Walsh Bay — and as long as you have your cup and lid, your takeaway flat whites, soy caps, lattes, long blacks, short blacks and quarter-cup piccolos are all on the house. If you don't have a set, you can buy one while you're there for $16, and the same week of freebies still applies. Once you have your mitts on a HuskeeCup and lid, each time you use it at a participating cafe, it'll actually be swapped and replaced for free. That way, it'll always be clean and ready to go — and, you won't have to worry about chips, stains or breakages either.
We love gelato. You love gelato. Everyone loves gelato. But do you really appreciate it? Could you appreciate it more? When it comes to Gelato Messina's frosty sweet treats, you mightn't think that's possible. That's where their Gelato Appreciation Classes come in, however. For two hours on a Saturday morning — with Sydney's next sessions scheduled monthly from February to October in 2019 — you'll get a double scoop of gelato goodness. We're talking about learning plus eating (don't worry, you'll actually get much, much, much more ice cream than just two serves). Taking care of the first part of the class, Messina's gelato wizards will talk you through the company's story, share their secrets and show you how it's all done. If you've ever wondered how they perfect their flavours or what goes in to making one of their delectable cakes, you're about to find out. Then comes the main event, and we speak from experience when we say you'll want to wear something loose and comfy. Eat your way through a four-course gelato degustation, with the menu specially created for each session. Taste as many of Messina's flavours as you can (you can even taste everything in the cabinet if you can manage it). Finally, take your pick of flavours for a take-home pack, and enjoy your weekend-long gelato coma. Sessions take place at Messina's Rosebery headquarters, with tickets costing $160 per person. They're certain to book out fast — in fact, at the time of writing, only classes from June to October are still available.
Spend a cruisy Saturday afternoon listening to acoustic songs and staring at Sydney Harbour thanks to Cockatoo Island's new music series. Until January 27, sunset campfire music sessions are coming to the scenic spot, as well as stories about the performing artists. Venue 505 has curated the Campfire Sessions lineup, so you know you're in for an ace run of talent. January 13 sees Matilda Abraham take centre stage, followed by Wartime Sweethearts' experimental pop. On January 20, it's Darryl Beaton and Angela Rosero's time to shine, one offering up Aussie soul and the other accompanied by the guitar stylings Carlos Arango. Wrapping the series up on January 27 is Portuguese-born, inner west-raised Ines and the jazzy sounds of Lily Dior. Sets start at 5.20pm and 6.40pm during each session. And, if the combination great music and gorgeous views gets your stomach grumbling, Mcintosh and Bowman Cheesemongers will be on hand with the essential staples — aka cheese and wine.
Sun, surf, sand, sex and the seaside Gold Coast suburbs in the '70s. What a combination. Swinging Safari is every bit as over-the-top and outrageous as it sounds, but if anyone was going to try and make the chaos work, it's writer-director Stephan Elliott. The man behind The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert knows how to make a splash, paying tribute to Australia and our eccentricities in a manner that's both affectionate and tongue-in-cheek. Accordingly, his latest effort is a knowing love letter to a specific era and the freewheeling way of life that came with it — one spent surrounded by rayon clothes and shag carpets, slathered in sunscreen, chowing down on buckets of KFC and guzzling cask wine. In a cul-de-sac not far from the Queensland hotspot's scenic shoreline, three families spend their days and nights hopping between backyard parties, beach picnics and any other shenanigans that come about. Over at the Hall household, encyclopaedia salesman Keith (Guy Pearce) and the booze-addled Kaye (Kylie Minogue) can't manage their marital malaise, let alone their rowdy brood of kids. Next door at the Joneses, Rick (Julian McMahon) and Jo (Radha Mitchell) think they're the leaders of the pack, with a sunken conversation pit in the middle of their lounge room to prove it. That leaves Bob and Gale Marsh (Jeremy Sims and Asher Keddie) somewhere in the middle, complete with a daughter, Bec (Chelsea Glaw), who's a hit with the local boys, and a son, Jeff (Atticus Robb), who constantly has a camera in his hands. With Elliot himself a child of the 1970s, there's no escaping Swinging Safari's partly autobiographical nature. In fact, it's an adult Jeff (voiced by Richard Roxburgh) that narrates the movie, with the aspiring filmmaker looking back on his teenage years. Unsurprisingly, his younger self sometimes struggles to cope with the mayhem around him. While making his own stunt-filled movies helps, he really has eyes for the shy Mellie Jones (Darcey Wilson). Unfortunately, their budding romance hits a snag when their parents' key-swapping antics incite a neighbourhood war. Plus there's the not-so-little matter of the 200-tonne dead whale rotting on the local beach. Elliott might be turning what he knows into a movie, but diving headfirst into nostalgic memories isn't quite the same as stringing together a great story. Swinging Safari places less focus on its narrative, and pays more attention to moments, mood, outfits and ramping up the fun. With that in mind, the adult cast members are clearly having a ball reliving their younger years (and, in the case of Pearce and Minogue, reuniting nearly 30 years after they left Ramsay Street). Their irreverence and enthusiasm is infectious, even when the jokes don't land. Of course, the film always seems more interested in pushing boundaries of comedy, taste and political correctness than it is in fleshing out its characters. If Swinging Safari teaches viewers one thing, it's that fickle entertainment and amusement were high on everyone's agenda in '70s Australia, while seriousness and subtlety most definitely were not. The result is a movie that can't stuff its frames with enough raucous one-liners, polyester jumpsuits or instances of a woman urinating on a jellyfish-stung child. When that doesn't work, the crew – many of whom date back to Priscilla – helps pick up the slack with their attention to bright, sunny period detail. Oscar-winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner is one of them, and while it's usually not a good sign when the outfits steal the show, her outlandish creations hit the garish spot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB95v_pyQq8
Same-day succulent delivery service Little Succers is running a build-your-own terrarium bar in Chippendale for a two days only. Book in for a morning or afternoon session on January 27 or 28 and you'll be given the tools to build the terrarium of your dreams. The pop-up will stock a variety of succulents and plants of all shapes and sizes ready for you to take home. With custom-made pots and soil, crystals and other decorations, you'll have everything you need to create a masterpiece — and, aside from the $20 booking fee, you'll be charged only for what you use.
You can always count on Jurassic Lounge to produce the goods when it comes to an all-out themed super-fun time. Considering the location at the Australian Museum, it's easy to see why the Lounge is one of Sydney's favourite adult playgrounds. The museum usually turns things up for Halloween and Mardi Gras, but this time round it'll be throwing an adults-only party in celebration of Vivid Sydney and Comic Con. The theme? 2099. That means you can expect all things sci-fi and futuristic, including VR experiences, a silent disco an interactive wormhole installation that will let you virtually travel through space and time. On top of that, DJs will have you dancing into the next century and pop-up bars will keep you well watered like the half-robot, half-human you are. There'll also be a comp for best dressed if you have your Fifth Element costume ready to go. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the door. These events nearly always sell out, so we'd book in advance just in case. Image: Diabolique Photography.
The man behind some of Britain's best sitcoms is coming to Australia to share his expertise with the country's aspiring comedy writers. Best known for writing and co-creating Black Books, The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Big Train, Graham Linehan is heading to our shores to debut his one-day workshop Insights Into The Art Of TV Comedy Writing. In a world first, the six-hour sessions will give eager funny folk the chance to learn from the five-time BAFTA winner, with two classes taking place on June 17 and 18 at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre, and a further two being held on June 23 and 24 at Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre. Tickets range from $99 to $219, including both morning and afternoon tea, with limited spots available. Attendees will learn more than simply turning computers off and on again — or the fact that some ovens can cook anything. According to Lineham, figuring out comedy "is something I've been trying to do for the last twenty five years and I'm hoping that I've gained enough insights into my own process that I won't actually mess yours up too much."
It has been four years since the Sydney Film Festival closed out its 2014 fest with What We Do in the Shadows, giving the event one of its most memorable nights yet. To open this year's 65th anniversary celebration of cinema, SFF is once again showcasing a top New Zealand comedy — this time it's The Breaker Upperers, which Taika Waititi executive produced. The flick tells the tale of two cynical best friends who turn their romantic woes into a thriving business. Yes, as the movie's moniker suggests, they break up unhappy couples for cash. It's written and directed by its stars, Kiwi comedians Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, both of whom actually appeared What We Do in the Shadows and Waititi's Eagle vs Shark. The former also popped up in New Zealand TV series Funny Girls and 800 Words, and the latter featured in Sione's Wedding and its sequel, plus the first season of Top of the Lake. On-screen, van Beek and Sami are joined by Boy's James Rolleston and Rosehaven's Celia Pacquola, while off-screen, their debut collaborative effort is produced by the same team behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The film premiered at this year's SXSW Film Festival to positive reviews, and will open in Australian cinemas on July 26 — but those heading to SFF's opening night on June 6 will get to see the movie early, obviously, with the cast and crew in attendance. Tickets for opening night are $30 for the screening, or $130 for the film and after party at Town Hall. If you're purchasing online, you'll notice the fest's website has a had a revamp. It's set to include a new discover function that'll offer up recommendations, plus a visual planner so that festival-goers can better map out their schedules. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phMlkRiWIg
If you're anything like us, you probably overindulged a bit over Easter and need to get movin'. At Urban Sessions this April you can do just that — on the dance floor. The R&B party will be headlined by soul master Jay Sean, who will be accompanied on stage by a solid mix of international and local artists, including Timomatic, Suite Az and DJ Nino Brown. On top of all the beats, Wu-Tang Clan will be launching its new premium vodka. And you'll be able to try it for a very reasonable price — cocktails made with the New York rappers' vodka will be $7.50 and vodka mixers will set you back a smooth $5. Which is pretty exciting news, because we all know that there are only two drinks between the average person and their Beyoncé-level dance moves, right? And the kicker? The event is free, so you can dance without spendin' a dollar. Just head to the ticketing website and punch in "wanttogetdown" and your free ticket will be sent to your mobile.
Since opening in 2016 and establishing itself as a firm Sydney favourite, PS40 hasn't just showcased its own wares to eager drinkers. From its home on King Street, it has also brought some of the best bars in the world to our shores. And, they're showing no sign of stopping that trend. Following in the footsteps of Mace, Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog and Operation Dagger, Employees Only and 28 HongKong Street are the latest to join the fold. If their names don't sound familiar, that's probably because you haven't grabbed a drink in New York City or Singapore of late — but trust us, these are tipples that you don't want to miss out on. Both ranked in the top 40 on this year's world's best bar list, and they're sending their bartenders our way to mix up a storm of delicious beverages. You know, the type you literally won't get in Sydney everyday. From 5pm on December 18, Michael Callahan will be doing the honours for Employees Only, while Celia Schoonraad will be flying the flag for 28 HongKong Street. Unsurprisingly, even in a city that keeps enjoying international bar pop-ups, it's expected to be busy. Get there early for plenty of pandan, split milk boulevardiers and even more inventive creations.
If you've never attended a big community Syrian barbecue, Almond Bar is giving you the chance to get in on one. Head down to the laneway behind the Darlinghurst restaurant on Sunday, November 19, and you can load up your plate with Syrian-style lamb skewers and pumpkin kibbeh, and enjoy the accompanying music and dancing. All for $20. This successful event has been a staple in Darlinghurst for the last four years. The scent of grilling meats sends a siren call throughout the area, bringing people together to celebrate cultural diversity and togetherness. Syrians love a feast, and they love a party — their cooking traditions are among the oldest in the world and the government itself produces two varieties of beer, Al-Shark Beer and Barada Beer. There's no need to book, but seating is limited — so get there early.
The so-called 'voice of the Tunisian revolution' during the Arab Spring, Emel Mathlouthi fuses traditional North African sounds with ultra-contemporary electronic production. The result is a pulsing, intense and raw musical experience. Also featuring on this unique double bill is famed Iraqi composer Rahm AlHaj, appearing alongside Iraqi cellist and conductor Karim Wasfi. This evening is sure to be a touching and moving experience, a poignant reflection on music's ability to inspire, uplift and outrage, even in the most fraught moments. Image: Michael G. Stewart
When it comes to prime spring drinking turf, Chiswick's sprawling green lawn is up there with the best. And you can bet it's set to get a solid workout this season, as the Woollahra restaurant plays host to a series of weekly Wednesday evening pop-up bars, running for all of November. Join in the al fresco fun from 5.30–7.30pm each week and make the most of those balmy pre-sunset temperatures with some hard-earned hump day knock-offs. The pop-up Bombay Sapphire bar will be slinging a selection of spring-perfect gin cocktails, including the Garden G&T ($10) with elderflower tonic; the Summer Twist ($12) with gin, peach bitters and mint; and the Passionfruit Collins ($14) with passionfruit liqueur, lemon and soda. There'll also be 4 Pines pale ales ($10) and house-made lemonades ($5) — if gin isn't your thing. And, to cap it off, there'll be live acoustic tunes setting the mood, games of bocce, plus some free canapés making the rounds. Gin will be served on the lawn every Wednesday in November.
A new fashion market is joining Sydney's growing array of weekend shopping spots; however this one-off event has something other than bargain purchases or vintage finds in mind. At the Slow Fashion Market, attendees will browse through racks of clothing and shelves of accessories that fit two criteria. Firstly, everything on offer is made from sustainable, non-toxic materials. Secondly, it all hails from retailers that either make the fashion themselves or pay their workers fair wages. It's the latest venture from Emma Morris and Lee Glezos — aka the team behind The Makers & Shakers Market and the Round She Goes Preloved Fashion Market — with the duo aiming to raise awareness about the slow fashion movement. With mass-produced, over-produced 'fast fashion' having an enormous environmental impact, resulting in around 85 percent of new textiles eventually ending up in landfill, the Slow Fashion Market "will bring together people who care about how their fashion is made," explains Morris. "Consumers are reaching their threshold for clothes that is made cheap and fast, that falls apart after a couple of washes, and potentially exploits the people who made them." Taking place from 10am–3pm on Saturday, September 1 at Petersham Town Hall, the market will feature more than 40 independent brands selling womens, mens and children's fare. Entry costs $2, so keep your gold coins handy. While there's a serious and important topic behind the one-day event, the Slow Fashion Market not only endeavours to educate consumers, but to celebrate makers. "We create an environment where everyone is comfortable asking questions — and 'who made my clothes?' is the core question at this event," says Morris. Image: Alana Dimou.
Keen to embrace slow fashion, but have a hard time sorting the best brands from the rest? Sydney stylist Aleysha Campbell is here to lend a helping hand, with the next edition of her carefully curated luxury pop-up, The Sustainable Wardrobe. Taking over Darlinghurst's ceramics studio Studio Enti from August 1 to 14, the mini marketplace will showcase high-end threads and accessories from 18 of Australia's top ethical and sustainable fashion labels. It's creating a space where customers can engage with the stories behind what they're buying, making more informed fashion choices and throwing their support behind local labels doing good. Mindful shopping will prove a breeze when browsing this conscious collection, including boldly printed silk and wool designs from Annie Hamilton, handcrafted leather goods from Empire Of Bees, Natalija's line of long-wearing silk nightwear, Spirit Natural Clothing's hemp jeans, and handmade jewellery from Melbourne's Maekar. The Sustainable Wardrobe is open from 10am–5pm daily.
Fans of Dolly Parton, Dolly the sheep and anyone who's spent time thinking about cloning, branding or death, this show's for you. Written and performed by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit — the duo behind multi-award winning UK duo Sh!t Theatre — it's an exploration of the legendary country singer that's at once adoring and cynical. DollyWould comes our way after selling out a UK tour, which included a month on the West End and two runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Expect a cappella singing, lines from actually Dolly Parton interviews, wigs, references to that other Dolly (the sheep), mash-ups of familiar images and general chaos. DollyWould runs from Saturday, September 1 to Saturday, September 8 with showings every night at 8pm, except Saturday, September 7's 2pm showing.
Maybe you've heard about that burger joint in Penrith named Burger Head. Maybe you've wanted to go but you live in the inner west and rarely leave. Well, here's your chance to get your hands on one of the much-loved burgers, with Newtown brewhouse Young Henrys hosting the burger joint for a two-day pop-up. This Saturday and Sunday will be the second time Burger Head's burgers have hit the inner west. For the occasion, the team will be cooking up some crowd favourites alongside a one-off creation, which includes a smashed Angus beef patty, beer tempura onion rings, beer cheese sauce (both making use of Young Henrys, of course), American hi-melt cheese and a smothering of dill and jalapeño mayo. If you've never tried Burger Head's burgers before, we suggest trying The Americana (with a smashed Angus patty, pulled barbecue brisket, grilled onions and mustard mayo) or The Clucker (a fried buttermilk chicken burger seasoned with 16 herbs and spices, pickled onion and mayo). The pop-up will be open from noon until 7pm both days.
Sure, you might live every week like it's negroni week, but the actual event will be here from June 4 to 10. Not that anyone needs an excuse, but that's when knocking back gin, vermouth rosso and Campari cocktails is on the agenda — and, at The Clock, so is building your own. Extending its celebrations from May 30 to June 10 — because, well, why not? — the Surry Hills pub will boast an entire bar solely dedicated to negronis. In fact, it'll have a whole room. Say goodbye to the Whisky Room and hello to the Negroni Room, complete with Italian theming and snacks to go with it. We know, we know, you're here for the negronis — and you can create your own from over 40 different types of gin. Eleven special negroni cocktails will be available on a one-per-day basis, and your sipping and general negroni-loving will also help a good cause, with $1 from each negroni being donated to Oz Harvest.
Vivid might've been and gone for 2018; however it's not the only event that brings brightness to Sydney's dark corners. Antony Youssef's Organism takes inspiration from the city's annual arts, culture and light show, as well as events such as Dark Mofo — and it's illuminating the University of Sydney's Courtyard Restaurant & Bar between August 13 and 17. Here's how it works: you head along, walk through a tree-filled space, and then watch as the installation responds to your presence. The piece's lights and music change to interact with visitors, in a gorgeous — and luminous — blend of technology and nature. "People are momentarily removed from their environments, forgetting the mundanities of everyday life, ensconced in the possibilities, wonder and 'magic'," explains artist and University of Sydney student Youssef. If that sounds like a big call, then consider the specifics: one of the trees in his installation deploys sensors and lights to show how humans impact upon the environment, another triggers animations through the use of water, and another can receive text messages from participants. Entry is free, with the installation open from 5–8pm across its five-day run. Attendees can also nab a drink special, including Iron Jack schooners for $6 or $20 growlers.
Cocktails are unanimously a pretty good thing, and so are cool ladies being great at things. And Speed Rack, a nationwide cocktail-making competition, combines the two. Created by pro-bartenders Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero, Speed Rack throws together some of the most talented up-and-comers in the bartending industry and gets them to compete in timed challenges. While the competition has been running in the US and Canada for a while, it's the first time finals have been hosted down under. All female and all pretty boss at whipping up a margarita, the sixteen women competing in Speed Rack hail from as close as Wollongong and as far away as Perth. There's a slew of Sydney bartenders partaking, too, including Jenna Hemsworth from Restaurant Hubert, Alissa Kate Grabriel from Mjølner and Priscilla Leong from The Baxter Inn. Judges include Kathleen Davies, founder of spirits distributor company Nip Of Courage, Paige Aubort, local bartending legend and founder of Coleman's Academy, Sam Bygraves, editor of Australian Bartender Magazine, and Tash Conte, owner of Melbourne venue Black Pearl. And, apart from maraschino cherries, a sweet thing about the event is that it gives back to charity — Speed Rack has already raised more than $850,000 for breast cancer research charities. Tickets are $25 (or $30 on the door), with all proceeds being donated. Your ticket price includes cocktails and spirit samples, as well as snacks. Speed Rack National Finals will run from 3pm–7pm.
In summer, we had bottomless frosé and sorbet cocktails. Now, it's winter, and the last thing we feel like doing is chugging endless alcoholic ice slushies. Thankfully, the team at Neutral Bay bar Firefly knows this, and is serving up bottomless mulled wine — five nights a week. Throughout July, you'll be able to warm your belly with 90 minutes of unlimited hot and spicy wine between Sunday and Thursday, for just $28 per person. It's available from when the doors open — so head in anytime after 5pm during the week and from midday on Sunday. On July 27 and 28, the bar is upping the ante, again, hosting a Christmas in July banquet with all the trimmings — including bottomless Christmas beverages, such as mulled wine and egg nog. The six-course feast will set you back $63, with an extra $39 for 90 minutes of unlimited drinks. To book in, head to the website.
If you've been looking for an excuse to book a mid-week date night, then here it is. The Winery, Surry Hills, has extended you a standing invitation. Take your date (or mate) on any Wednesday evening, for a night dubbed Je T'Aime Date Night, and you'll score three share plates plus a bottle of red or white wine for 89 bucks. Among the delectable morsels on the menu are arancini, ricotta baskets, squid, sausage rolls, sweet potato fries, marinated beetroot and cauliflower florets. Book online over here to nab your spot. Can't wait till Wednesday? Get in early on Mondays, when two steak frites (that's French for steak and fries) will only set you back $30 from 5pm. There's no better match for a good steak than a good red and, as you'd expect, The Winery offers a massive list, covering everything from Yarra Valley pinot noir to Italian nebbiolo to a selection of Super Tuscans. To really celebrate your date, treat them to the Road to Rhone dinner, coming up on Thursday 28 June. For $85 each, you'll work your way through a four-course sharing menu and matching wines from the Rhone, one of France's most famous wine regions. Its vineyards are among the oldest in the world, many having been planted 2,000 years ago. To find out more about Je T'Aime Date Nights and the other special offers at The Winery, head to thewinerysurryhills.com.au. Images: Letícia Almeida
Rolling Penny is opening its doors after hours for another community dinner showcasing the wonders of local produce. The feast is a collab betweena local and organic food delivery service Ooooby Eats, Hara Wholefoods, Kurrawong Organics and Trolley'd. On Sunday, July 1, Chefs Cass and Carmen from Hara Wholefoods will prepare meals and demonstrate how you can use your Ooooby produce to the fullest. The power pair is looking to build a community around the seasonal and local harvests they work with, so expect delicious and heartfelt plant-based dishes. Kurrawong Organics is contributing its knowledge and fresh produce to the event. Everything on your plate will be from the farm so you can judge for yourself how good their Brussels sprouts are. Farmers Quentin and Lesley will be at the dinner for a chance to learn about what goes into harvesting and other seasonal details. When it comes to drinks, the mobile Trolley'd bar will serve up native cocktails — you'll get two included with your ticket price. If you've been saving a special vino for the night, you can also BYO after the complimentary drinks.
She was once one of the most famous movie stars in the business, with an Oscar to her name and roles in everything from It's a Wonderful Life to Oklahoma! to The Big Heat. But in 1981, Gloria Grahame (played here by Annette Bening) was worlds away from her '50s Hollywood heyday. Preparing to take to the UK stage in a version of The Glass Menagerie, she collapsed in pain just before the curtains opened. Refusing medical treatment, Grahame instead asked to recuperate in Liverpool, at the family home of her younger ex-boyfriend and local actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell). Adapted from Turner's memoir of the same name, Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool doesn't play shy with its narrative. Even for those unfamiliar with this particular chapter in tinseltown's history, there's no prizes for guessing where it's all heading. And yet, much like the movie's multifaceted protagonist, first appearances soon prove to be misleading. Grahame was known for her brash femme fatales in the days of black-and-white cinema, but her on-screen persona only told part of her story. Directed with period flair and eye-catching scene transitions by Paul McGuigan (Victor Frankenstein), the film that charts her final years likewise does more than just combine a tear-inducing tale of sickness with an unlikely romance. Both love and illness feature prominently in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, with Grahame and Turner's time together unfolding in flashbacks while she's convalescing under the care of his mother (Julie Walters). In sequences from their early days together, she's spirited and sultry, and he's instantly smitten — whether they're trading lines to help her rehearse, catching a showing of Alien, or enjoying a sensationally seductive disco session in her London living room. Later, as she tries to ignore her worsening condition, she's defiant and he's doting, even as her impending demise hangs between them. From these contrasting glimpses, a touching portrait forms not only of a fading star, but of a fascinating, complicated woman and an equally intricate relationship. As such, those eager for a full rundown of Grahame's career would do well to read up before (or after) they hit the cinema. Matt Greenhalgh's latest celebrity-focused screenplay (after Control, Nowhere Boy and The Look of Love) is more a character study than a cradle-to-grave biopic, evoking a entrancing sense of the actress' presence and personality rather than dwelling upon her work. In Grahame's contemplative backstage moments, her flirtatious looks and her all-round fighting spirit, the film serves up a multi-layered portrayal of a multi-layered figure. In doing so, it says as much about its subject as it does the industry's disdain for ageing, and society's lack of regard for older women in particular. With all that in mind, it's hardly surprising that Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool benefits enormously from Bening's stellar performance. Despite missing out on well-deserved awards acclaim for both this and last year's 20th Century Women, the four-time Academy Award nominee just keeps going from strength to strength. Digging beneath glamour and vanity, and painting Grahame as vibrant and vulnerable all at once, Bening's work makes it easy to understand why Turner melts in her company. For his part, in his best role (and with his best dance scene) since Billy Elliot, Bell delivers a tender and textured performance. But when Bening shines, the whole bittersweet film shines with her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnE7jdOfp3E
Now in its eighth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia returns with another lineup of cinema straight from the Middle Eastern country — with 12 features and three shorts in 2018, in fact. Running between Thursday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 23 at Event Cinemas Top Ryde and Dendy Newtown, it's a lineup that both highlights old masters and showcases new talent. And yes, there's plenty of both. In the tried and tested category sits Jafar Panahi's Three Faces, which sees the filmmaker get playful and star on-screen in his latest combination of fact and fiction. Or, viewers can check out Bahmam Farmanara's Tale of The Sea, a family drama that's also dedicated to the late Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami. Then there's Kamal Tabrizi's Sly, which opens the fest with a fictional account of a political leader — and features Mani Haghighi, who also directs IFFA dark comedy Pig, about a filmmaker suspected of murder. If you're keen to check out up-and-coming voices and see different interpretations of classic material, As I Lay Dying offers an Iranian take on William Faulkner's tale of the same name. And, in only their third feature, filmmaking brothers Jamshid and Navid Mahmoudi achieve something extraordinary with Afghan-Iranian co-production Rona, Azim's Mother, with the movie their third title to be entered into the Oscar foreign-language category by Afghanistan.
Chicken-devouring people of northern Sydney, another Chargrill Charlie's is coming your way. As of Saturday, September 15, Frenchs Forest will be home to the eleventh incarnation of the Sydney institution. And, to celebrate, the Charlie's team is giving away free food. Get there between midday and 1pm on opening day to score a free quarter barbecue chicken with chips, then make a return between 5pm and 6pm to tuck into a whole family size chicken, also gratis. There should be plenty of room — Charlie's is transforming a huge shop on the edge of the Forestway Shopping Centre into a huge open-plan space, with seating for 80 people inside and 20 outside. In keeping with the eatery's usual look, you can expect a modern industrial feel, with recycled timber and splashes of black metal. As well as burgers, chicken and chips, the menu will offer all the other goodness for which Charlie's has become legendary. That includes up to 15 types of salad on any one day, chicken schnitzel, creamed potato, rolls, DIY dinner plates and desserts, including apple pie. Chargrill Charlie's will open at 22 Forest Way, Frenchs Forest on Saturday, September 15. Details of the other nine eateries across Sydney are chargrillcharlies.com.
Sydney Opera House isn't just home to big concerts and performances. Thanks to the venue's versatile studio space, it's also a place for intimate gigs. That's what's on the agenda during the aptly named Studio Series — three gigs across December 1 to 4 that are as far from big and cavernous as you can get. Of course, while the atmosphere is small and cosy, the talent is huge, with Korean-American singer, DJ and producer Yaeji doing the honours on Saturday, December 1; indie folk artists Waxahatchee and Kevin Morby teaming up on Sunday, December 2; and West Chicago rapper — and Chance the Rapper collaborator — Saba hitting the mic on Tuesday, December 4. While Yaeji's show is already sold out, tickets are still available for the other two gigs, from $54.50–$62.50 including booking fees.
It has been a busy two years for Timothée Chalamet, aka the internet's current boyfriend. Not too long ago, he was best known for a bit part in Interstellar, and now he's one of cinema's biggest talents. Chalamet swooned over first love in the gorgeous Call Me By Your Name, and was nominated for an Oscar for his impeccable performance. He played one of the titular character's first loves in Lady Bird, a film that nabbed Oscar nominations for almost everyone else involved. In his latest movie, Beautiful Boy, he's grappling with addiction — and he'll likely receive plenty of awards love again. This true life drama stands out from Chalamet's recent hits, however, and not in a positive way. His work is exceptional once more, inhabiting rather than performing his troubled character, but the film doesn't do its star justice. Or, to be more accurate, it doesn't do its stars justice. Beautiful Boy is a father-and-son drama as much as it is a deep dive into the trauma wrought by drugs, with Steve Carell as journalist David Sheff and Chalamet as his bright, thoughtful, college-bound son Nic. David can only watch on as Nic escalates from casual marijuana use to an insatiable crystal meth habit, and the respective tolls of bearing witness to, and spiralling through, the depths of addiction are written across Carell and Chalamet's faces. Each actor plays their character like a man possessed, one by trying to understand what drove his boy down this path, the other by an urge that he can't and won't stop indulging. Or perhaps it's that they both seem like they're haunted — by dreams, wants, needs and choices, and by a life that's not what either originally planned. Based on separate memoirs by the actual David and Nic, Beautiful Boy's details are familiar. Viewers first meet David when he's asking an expert exactly what all of these illicit substances are doing to Nic, before the movie jumps back to show the progression to that point and beyond. The Sheff household is happy, with David remarried to painter Karen (Maura Tierney), and Nic getting along with both his stepmother and much-younger half-siblings. But then, suddenly nothing is happy. All that's changed is Nic, and his newfound penchant for getting high rather than burying his head in a book. Soon he's withdrawn and sullen, out late and disappearing for periods of time, and hiding his soulful gaze further and further behind his dark, wavy locks. Every moment that Chalamet and Carell are on screen, either individually or together, it's easy to believe the Sheffs' plight. Beautiful Boy can't answer why Nic dissolves into his addiction, other than the fact he enjoys taking drugs. It can't explain why this thoroughly middle-class family is put through such an ordeal, other than the fact that the unexpected happens. With images that feel both dreamy and gritty simultaneously, what it can do instead is depict the torturous aftermath. The results are authentic and heartfelt, thanks to the film's basis in reality, its brilliant leads, and the stellar support offered by Tierney and Amy Ryan (as David's first wife and Nic's mother). And yet, while the actors make the most intimate, internalised and difficult of emotions ring true, conveying the pain and suffering that clearly changed the Sheffs' lives, the movie itself couldn't be more heavy-handed. Even if it actually happened, having one character read "I just love drugs" in another's diary, or words to that effect, isn't the most subtle of moves. The same applies to Beautiful Boy's use of Nirvana, Neil Young, John Lennon and more on its soundtrack — songs which may stem from the Sheff's real-life music choices, yet are always deployed to obvious effect. While nuance wasn't in director Felix Van Groeningen's wheelhouse when he helmed the heartstring-tugging Broken Circle Breakdown in 2012, he's made a much less effective melodrama this time around. Beautiful Boy is still a moving, affecting picture — with its two main stars putting in some of their best work, how could it not be? — but it never trusts that viewers will respond accordingly. Chalamet and Carell show the audience what the Sheffs went through, however the film itself doesn't just want to tell their story. Rather, it wants to scream it, and to push every sentimental, blunt and cliched button. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaOhgZez1Nk
While many of Australia's film festivals showcase the cinema of a particular country, region or genre, the Jewish International Film Festival embraces an entire culture. From films about famous comedians to thrilling docos about strange-but-true tales to award-winning dramas, if it ties into JIFF's Jewish focus in any shape or form — and from almost any country or filmmaker — then it's probably on the fest's program. In 2018, that means Love, Gilda, about original Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner; The Twinning Reaction, which uses a different angle on the real-life situation also chronicled in Three Identical Strangers; and Israeli effort Redemption, about an devout musician contemplating returning to his rocker ways in a time of personal crisis. In a star-studded lineup, other highlights include Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy as a writer who dabbles in literary forgery, Matthew Broderick in buddy comedy To Dust and Charlotte Gainsbourg in French biopic Promise at Dawn. From Tuesday, October 23, JIFF runs across two Sydney venues: at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction until Wednesday, November 21, and at the Roseville cinemas from Saturday, November 10 until the same end date. Marking its 29th year, the full program features more than 60 films from 23 countries — and, if you're keen to hear more about some of the flicks, plenty of post-screening Q&As.
This summer, Archie Rose and York Street's The Rook are teaming up for a heap of sky-high gin-fuelled shindigs. Think garden-style soirees paired with plenty of juniper spirits, plus the kind of 80s outdoor furniture you might remember from your childhood. There'll also be ten types of cocktails and three kinds of lobster dishes — including lobster spaghetti with Archie Rose vodka marinara sauce. To kick off the seasonal shenanigans, The Rook is throwing a huge Archie Rose Summer Gin Garden Launch Party on Thursday, October 18 as well. In addition to offering everything that you'll find onsite for the next month and a half, there'll also be free finger food if you stop by between 4–5pm. DJs will spin tunes to suit the mood as well, and, drinks-wise, the $7 Archie Hour will run from 4–6pm. In fact, you'll be able to nab a cheap beverage between those times from Monday to Saturday until December 1.
Some pretty big names in indietronica will be descending on Sydney Harbour this summer. Kicking off on Friday, November 2, Tropicool and UNDR Ctrl are bringing back their insanely popular electronic music series, The Island LIVE, to Sydney's floating stage. The Island has played host to some seriously impressive artists in the past, and many of the nights have sold out in under 48 hours. This time round, the first event will be celebrating 10 years of Sweat It Out, the label founded by dance legend AJAX, with a huge lineup headlined by indie house duo Parachute Youth. The pair'll be pumping out hits like 'Can't Get Better Than This' and 'Awake Now' on stage alongside Melbourne's Miami Horror, Sydney's Tonite Only, The Bang Gang Deejays, Yolanda Be Cool, K.I.M (The Presets) and more. The floating party coincides with the release of the Sweat It Out 2008–2018 vinyl, a tribute to AJAX, which you can pre-order here. And this is just the first event in The Island LIVE's 2018 series — there'll be more events announced down the track. Tickets include a return water taxi from Double Bay and complimentary drinks (worth $20) on arrival. Pretty excellent deal. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 16. You can signup for pre-sale here.
Spring, with its abundance of whimsy and wildflowers, is a perfect season for a cute date. Whether you're meeting a new prospect or treating your forever boo, the park should be your first port of call. But don't worry about organising all of the park paraphernalia (rugs, picnics and the like) because Good Food Month has you covered, hosting a pair of events for the lovers amongst you. Date Nights, running on the 13th and 20th of October, pair gourmet food with classic rom coms. You can expect balmy spring nights in Hyde Park watching either '80s cult-classic When Harry Met Sally on October 13 or The Wedding Singer on October 20. Food is being provided by Ume Burgers and Gelato Messina. As well as your choice of bevvy, you can choose between the classic Ume Burger (made up of beef pattie, American cheese, mayo, tomato and lettuce), the fish katsu burger (served with tartare sauce, lettuce and cheese), or the kakiage burger (veggie fritter, nori mayo, cabbage and tonkatsu sauce). Of course, a burg wouldn't be complete without fries and they're serving 'em up with their iconic Umami seasoning. And to polish off a fancy (but fun) evening, chow down on a Messina choc top and a recline in the park with a very contented date on your arm. Image: Gelato Messina.
If you're after an excellent day on the water in the Tweed Valley, look no further than Tweed Eco Cruises. This family-run business specialises in First Nations-led tours and river cruising in the Bundjalung Nation with a number of unique food experiences to enjoy. Our pick? The sunset picnic filled with locally produced cheeses, dips, antipasto, sparkling wine and more. You can also join them for a sumptuous three-hour floating dining experience against the backdrop of Wollumbin (Mount Warning) during the North Coast Festival of Flavour. The cruise will make its way down the Tweed River through mangroves and rainforests while you enjoy a banquet of freshly caught local seafood. Oysters, prawns and Tweed River mud crabs will be served alongside produce from local farmers while the family's fishers take you through their sustainable fishing process in this incredible 'sea-to-table' experience.
If you've ever driven to Sydney's eastern beaches via Old South Head Road, you've probably noticed the mammoth sign about truffles, caviar and mushrooms hanging outside Gourmet Life. When you enter the shop, it's as if you're in some sort of specialty food wonderland, with aisle upon aisle of delicacies that will make your jaw drop and your stomach rumble. Not only that, but they also have an incredible variety of cured meats, cheeses and hard-to-find delicacies, such as tinned asparagus with lobster, blocks of foie gras and octopus legs imported from Spain. You won't leave without at least one thing that is 'truffled' — whether it be truffle sea salt, truffle brie or truffle anchovies marinated in olive oil and, yes, you guessed it, truffle.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual Saturdaying during SydFest time. So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to St John's College, an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, quaint puppet shows, furious outdoor chess, casual bongo drum lessons — So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of some of France's best: Emile Simon, The Dø, La Femme and Francois and Atlas Mountains will crank out live sets on the lawn this year. Formidable. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi. Presented as part of the 2015 Sydney Festival.
Alaskan-bred, Portland-based indie foursome Portugal. The Man will be hitting the road for an epic string of Australian dates this November. We're talking a whopping 25 shows — and all free. Presented by Corona Extra, the tour kicks off in Western Australia on October 31 and travels through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria before finishing up in Melbourne on November 30. With seven albums under their belt — including their most recent, Danger Mouse-produced, 2013 album Evil Friends — and playing up to 200 shows a year since they started, Portugal. The Man aren't ones to shy away from a long touring stint. They're big ol' festival favourites, making highlight lists at all the big guns from Coachella, Lollapalooza to Laneway Festival and Splendour. After their huge US tour wraps up, the foursome are going to bring their psychedelic, indie outdoorsiness to Australia's snuggly pubs and bars. Corona's last epic Australian tour saw Sydney's beloved Cloud Control hit the road for an unfathomable amount of free shows, so we'll see how the Portland locals go with such a schedule. Get along, burl out 'Got It All', 'Evil Friends' and 'So American' like you're front and centre for a P.TM festival set. It's freakin' free. New South Wales dates: Saturday, 15 November — Hotel Brunswick, 4 Mullumbimby St, Brunswick Heads at 3.30pm, then Beach Hotel Crnr Jonson & Bay St, Byron Bay at 7.30pm. Sunday, 16 November — Park Beach Hotel, 84 Ocean Parade, Coffs Harbour at 5pm. Friday, 21 November — Towradgi Hotel, 170 Pioneer Rd, Towradgi at 7.30pm. Saturday, 22 November — Bucket List, Shop 1, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi at 2pm, then Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade Shop 19, Manly at 10pm. Sunday, 23 November — Watsons Bay Hotel, 1 Military Rd, Watsons Bay at 3.30pm, then Old Joes, Crnr Kingsway & Erouera Rd, Cronulla at 8pm. All tour dates are 18+ only and free entry. More info here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EITwxJrZKj0
Following the announcement of Nils Frahm's return to Sydney, electronic classical music fans have plenty to salivate over this week. Minimalist, ambient electro-acoustics will bring in 'The Four Seasons' this Spring, the legendary Max Richter is set to make play his first ever Australian show. One of the most influential composers in recent times, the German born, British neoclassical mastermind is set to present the Australian premiere of his celebrated reworking of Vivaldi's masterpiece, 'The Four Seasons', with New York City's 22-piece Wordless Music Orchestra. Following a sold-out Royal Albert Hall show showcasing his seminal 2002 album Memoryhouse, the 48-year-old composer is heading to Sydney on Sunday, November 23 to present both his recomposition of Vivaldi's masterwork and his own sparse 2010 album, Infra — an expansion of his poignant, ambient score composed for a Wayne McGregor ballet once staged at the Royal Opera House. Following piano and synthesiser studies under the great Luciano Berio and ten years with the neo-classical quintet the Piano Circus, Richter has been long-celebrated for countless projects including 2004's Tilda Swinton collaboration, the spoken word full-length album The Blue Notebooks, alongside reams of cinematic scoring to films like Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Clint Eastwood's I. Edgar. "Max is someone we've wanted to have perform here for a very long time and to be able to present this vivid, fresh, mesmerising and precise composer performing his Vivaldi The Four Seasons Recomposed with the vibrant restlessness of the Wordless Orchestra from NYC is something of a dream come true for us," said Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at Sydney Opera House. The pairing is a solid catch for the Opera House (presented as part of Music at the House), with the Wordless Music Orchestra set to perform Jonny Greenwood's world premiere performance of his There Will Be Blood score in New York City in September. Originally premiered at London's Barbican Centre in 2012, Richter's Vivaldi, The Four Seasons Recomposed apparently discarded 75% of Vivaldi's original material, with Richter using the remainder to loop, phase and rework into a postmodern, minimalist triumph — one that topped the iTunes classic chart in the UK, US and Germany. It's an exciting time for Sydney-based, contemporary classical fans with a love for electronic innovation. "Every now and then when programming music it becomes clear that something new and significant is emerging. There is currently a strand of rigorous, talented and acclaimed contemporary classical composers who are as comfortable with electronics as they are with formal composition," said Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at Sydney Opera House. "The Opera House has been proud to present the Australian debuts of Nils Frahm and Ludovico Einaudi in this area and we are absolutely thrilled to now welcome Max Richter's first ever performance in this country." Image credit: Yulia Mahr. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qTapNp-31rU
