A new rooftop hotel in Melbourne is offering a luxurious alternative to the cramped family camper you would have piled into as a kid. Opening soon (mid-2016) atop a Flinders Lane car park in the CBD, this boutique venture will consist of six vintage airstream caravans transported from the US and completely refitted as "designer urban accommodation," complete with queen size bed, split system heating and cooling, and a fridge full of complimentary craft beer and wine. Throw in a little laneway graffiti art and this couldn't get any more Melbourne if it tried. In addition to the amenities listed above, each caravan at Notel Melbourne comes with a television, linen and an en suite bathroom with full height shower. Sounds a little cosy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need, especially when you're dealing with chilly Melbourne weather. The rooftop itself, meanwhile, has recently gotten a new lick of paint courtesy of local artist Ash Keating. Notel update!!! The Airstreams are being moved into their final position in preparation for the bathroom instillation. Won't be long now 😉 #openingsoon #Notel #notelmelbourne #rooftophotel #notahotel #airstreamhotel #lovethis #adventure #original #airstream #vintagecaravan #rooftopview #journey #view #melbs #melbourne #melbournetodo #ilovemelbourne #visitmelbourne #australia A photo posted by Notel Melbourne (@notelmelbourne) on May 16, 2016 at 1:44am PDT Guests will have access to tablets loaded with music and movies along with a virtual guide to help them explore the city. The space will also be available for functions, with room for up to 300 people on the roof. Notel Melbourne is not currently taking bookings, however you can sign up for their newsletter to stay in the loop with how things are progressing. Notel Melbourne will open in mid-2016 on the corner of Flinders Lane and Harper Lane, Melbourne. For more information visit www.notelmelbourne.com.au.
Since you can no longer have Margaret and David’s face on your TV screen for an hour a week, why not have them in your house, on cushions, 24 hours a day? What? Why and how are we sitting on Margaret and David? Sydney Film Festival's old marketing banners have been been repurposed into some of the most adorable home decorations we've seen in a while. You've seen the banners, hanging throughout Sydney to herald the coming of the city's biggest annual cinematic event. Each banner features a legendary film character, critic or audience member, stylistically depicted as though they were sitting in a cinema seat. You might have seen them while walking along George Street, oftening catch Princess Leia, Holly Golightly, Dorothy, Toto, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton dotted amongst the crowds hanging over the crowds. But now they're done with their time in the CBD. A creative trio from Sydney known as The Scallywag Society has turned the old banners into a series of oversized cushions, deck chairs, tote bags and tablecloths, which you can now buy. It's a total win all round: the banners have been upcycled rather than chucked out, and you get to give your house a permanent film fest vibe. What's more, a percentage of every purchase will go to SFF 2016. Every single creation in the collection is a one-off — and straight up adorable. You're going to want to pounce on these guys in particular; at $45/50 each they're going to sell out quicksmart. All items are currently on sale online and anything that’s left over by the time the festival opens on June 3 will be available at the Festival Hub. The only exceptions are two banners on which A Clockwork Orange's Alex DeLarge’s psychopathic visage appears. They’ll be given away via competitions, to be launched in June and announced at the festival’s end. The winners will get to decide exactly how they’d like Alex transformed. Doona? Wall hanging? Poncho? You'll decide. Shop The Scallywag Society's Sydney Film Festival collection over here. Want to know which films to see this year? Check out our top ten picks to book tickets to here.
It's a blight on the history of our nation that it took 66 years after federation to allow the first inhabitants of this land the right to be part of it. In 1967, over 90 percent of Australians voted to amend Sections 51 and 127 of the constitution, which allowed Aboriginal Australians to be legislated for by the government, and to be part of the census. In celebration of the people that made this essential change a reality, a collection of Australian musicians — including Dan Sultan, Thelma Plum, Radical Son, Leah Flanagan, Stephen Pigram, Yirrmal and Adalita — have collaborated to create a multimedia homage to the citizens that fought for civil rights and brought us closer to unity. Employing footage from the time and a soundtrack that harks back to our collective past, this one-night-only Sydney Festival show in the Opera House's Concert Hall is remembrance of what was achieved, and an exploration of what is still left to be done. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
Summer is here, Christmas is coming and everyone's looking for a ticket out of the city — for a few days, when the holidays roll around; or for a longer stay, should an extended getaway be in your future. If enjoying scenic nature sights in comfort sounds like your idea of bliss, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting another pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve. It's Flash Camp's second stint on the site, after first enjoying the location's charms earlier in 2017. This time, they're sticking around not only through the Christmas and New Year period, but until May 30, 2018. If you can't make the 2.5-hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney (or thirty minutes from Nowra) this year, start planning next year's Easter vacation or sneaky weekender. The remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site is located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $130 to $240 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the esky full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from through until May 30. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney. By Marissa Ciampi and Sarah Ward.
Vincent Corneille and Rubin Utama are the excellent gentlemen behind Son Valise, the company that builds the adorable and awesome JukeCase. You might have seen them at various markets, walked past their Collingwood store, or eyed one off with envy at your mate's place, either way, they're everywhere at the moment and not only they look great, but also the sound quality is top-notch. Vincent and Rubin recently launched a Pozible campaign to create a smaller version of the JukeCase, appropriately named the JukeCase Mini. As of Monday they reached their $16,000 goal and the JukeCase Mini is going ahead. (If you're pretty keen on these wonderful musical contraptions you can still pledge up until December 16 and receive a JukeCase Mini for below the RRP.) To celebrate their Pozible win, and the gorgeous summer that awaits us all, we asked Vincent and Rubin to compile some kick-arse playlists that are perfect for warm weather activities. Whether you're heading to the beach, getting out of town for a few days, or throwing a house party of epic proportions, here are a few tunes the Son Valise lads can recommend. Road Trip Songs A road trip playlist needs to cover a lot of ground. For starters, you need enough sing-along songs that your carload of people can scream along to that it keeps morale high. You also need songs that compliment your surroundings. A good way to do this is play artists who come from your destination of choice to get you in the mood. Finally, road trips are excellent introversion time, so if you're travelling solo, sometimes quieter, thinking music is best. Vincent and Rubin have covered all bases here, so grab your bags and let's hit the road. VINCENT Jackson Browne - Running On Empty: In the middle of the desert when you've been on the road for eight hours straight, this song propels you to keep on moving. The Doors - LA Woman: No road trip is complete without The Doors blaring out of the stereo (or JukeCase). This song has great pace and always gets you focused on the drive. Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire: Really chilled out and great for those really late nights in the middle of nowhere. Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon - Empire Ants: An amazing and powerful crescendo. The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar: Seeing the sunrise over the ocean and this playing in the background is a truly wonderful experience. RUBIN Kanye West - POWER: Always a good pump up if driving is getting a little dull. Dr Alban - Sing Hallelujah: '90s sing-along. Cake - The Distance: The title is self-explanatory I think. Time to drive! Todd Terje - Swing Star, Pt.1 & 2: Sometimes when you get in the zone it's good to listen to a bit of "in the zone" music that develops. No lyrics. Just a musical journey. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Don't Make a Fool Out of Me: A good sunny-day, window-down tune to sing along with. House Party Boogie Nights Whether it's a housewarming, Christmas party or NYE festivities, you can bet that there will be some banging house parties over summer. If you're planning to throw your own, make sure you pack your playlist with dancefloor-fillers from the now and yesterday. Old school hip hop and disco are excellent choices and have been favoured by Vincent and Rubin, as well as few saucy ones for a cheeky make-out sesh. You're welcome, future summer lovers. VINCENT Rick James - Give It to Me Baby: I'm a big Rick James fan and this one always sets the scene. Prince - Erotic City: Sleazy funk from the master himself. Talking Heads - Girlfriend Is Better: Unrelenting party jam Hot Chocolate - Heaven Is in the Backseat of My Cadillac: The name says it all really. The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On: Try to not dance. I dare you. RUBIN Oliver Cheatham - Get Down It's Saturday Night - Because that's what you should be doing on a Saturday night. Chic - The Chic Minimix: The best of Chic all mixed into one seven-minute ultimate minimix. Young MC - Bust a Move - Old-school hip hop song/dance-along. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: What's a house party without a little Michael? Thundercat - Oh Sheit It's X!: Upbeat, high energy, ridiculous bass line. Sure to get you moving in ways you never knew you could. Beach Time Chill Out Tunes It's time to kick back and let the hours pass you by with a blissed out soundtrack. Embrace the lazy, hazy days of summer either crashing amongst the waves or swinging in a hammock. Classics like The Beatles and The Beach Boys get a look in from Vincent's list, while Rubin has gone with local legends The Avalanches and the always perfect Will Smith. Surf's up, dude. VINCENT The Beatles - Side Two of Abbey Road LP: It doesn't technically count as one song, but they all intertwine without stopping so I can never bring myself to stop the music. Beach Boys - God Only Knows: Try and hunt down the a cappella, moving stuff. Cornelius - Beep It: One of my favourite artists, and it has such a beautiful melody. Daft Punk - Fresh: It starts with waves gently breaking and builds a chilled out groove. Fleetwood Mac - Albatross: Feels like you're sinking into the sand. RUBIN Will Smith - Miami: Will Smith, that's why. Air - La Femme D'Argent: Think dusk, hanging out in a hammock watching the orange sunset over the rolling sea. Washed Out - Feel It All Around - Poolside, ice cold drink. Maybe a Mojito. With a little umbrella in it. The Coasters - Down in Mexico: Drinking rum at a little bamboo beach shack. If that's not what you're doing then you should be. The Avalanches - Since I Left You: A feelgood song that makes you think of bright flowers and sunny days. Happy times.
If Easter doesn't scream barge party to you, then you'd do well to get down to Beach Club at The Island and damn well change that. The club, which literally floats on the water off Bradleys Head, is holding a weekend-long shindig, with day parties happening Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm. Check the website for details about tickets; they're available to 'Ambassadors', and you can 'request' to be one. The club is only accessible by water, and water taxis will run from Double Bay Wharf every half an hour from 1pm. So get on it and spend a long, lazy afternoon sipping cocktails, cosying up under stripy umbrellas and wiping back the tears as you say your farewells.
Amongst all the big-name acts hitting stages for Vivid 2015, a few talented up-and-comers are beginning to make waves. To celebrate the launch of new Sydney-based label Personal Best Records, five industry newbies will be hitting up the Oxford Art Factory this June. Proving independent music is still very much alive and kicking, this showcase offers a first live glimpse at Personal Best's fresh crop of talent. Founding member of Sydney act Van She, Matt Van Schie heads the lineup with his latest project Tear Council (who'll play the live debut of recent single release 'My Car').With appearances by MLHLND, Personal Best Orchestra, PhysiQue and Pretty Mess, this is your chance to catch these relative unknowns before they really hit the big time. Image: MLHLND.
Zip lines, bungee jumping and treetop obstacles are just the start of Australia's newest destination for adventure seekers. Set along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Live Wire Park is Australia's first outdoor adventure park that is completely powered by nature. Located within The Great Otway National Park, it's family-owned and designed with the environmental in mind, which means the park is completely off-grid, fully solar powered and all water is collected on-site — both reducing waste and taking advantage of the natural resources available. Apart from its minimal environmental impact, the park sounds like it packs in some serious fun, too. Set just 900 metres from the Lorne coastline, the elevated park is set among the treetops and boasts a 5250-metre-long zip line, a suspended 120-metre walking circuit among the native blue gums and even a "super circuit" of 53 physical and mental activities that test park-goers while suspended in mid-air. You'll scale trees, swing on ropes and plunge down a bungee jump, all while solving a few puzzles and problems. For kids, the short circuit is a milder version with only 26 obstacles. Plus, you can expect plenty of wildlife sightings among the pristine rainforest and waterfalls. Live Wire Park is now open seven days a week at 180 Erskine Falls Road, Lorne. For more information and to book tickets, head to livewirepark.com.au.
Costa Rica, the little nation that could, has achieved 99 percent renewable energy use in 2015 — and is subsequently putting us all to shame in the sustainable energy race. Capitalising on their abundance of jungles and waterfalls, Costa Rica are able to use hydroelectricity as their primary source of renewable energy, which has seen them achieve almost complete independence from fossil fuel use in the past year. Woah. We should really pay attention and learn from their example. By contrast, the Australian government leans further into non-renewables, actively takes backwards steps in regulating big polluters, and drags its feet on meeting renewable energy targets. In June of this year, the government even reduced our target of large-scale renewable energy generation from 41,000 GWh to 33,000 GWh, and made a limp little pledge to increase our renewables to 23.5% by 2020. We are literally the Daria playing volleyball of environmentalism. Even New Zealand has a 2025 renewable target of 90%. Like, come on Australia — you're not even going to pretend to reach for that volleyball, are you? The big bogeyman that's always rolled out in regards to renewable energy — or anything to do with environmental progress, really — is the cost to the consumer and the loss of jobs. But Costa Ricans have seen energy costs drop by 12% in the last year alone; New Zealanders too enjoyed price drops when they started to phase into renewable energy in 2014. Can we please get a slice of that action? AC has been so pricey this summer. What with all the global warming and all. Sigh. Costa Rica, we salute you. Via Inhabitat. Image: Dennis Tang via Flickr
After the announcement that Stereosonic will be going on a 'hiatus' for 2016 and other big music festivals — Future Music and Soundwave included — throwing in the towel due to poor ticket sales, it seemed that this big, bad world of the Australian festival scene was too brutal, too tough for anyone to even consider breaking into the market right now. Well, not exactly. Because while the big guys are struggling, boutique festivals seem to keep on thriving. And a new festival, Sandalphon, has even been announced for later this year. Sandalphon will commandeer 225 acres of private land in the Gold Coast hinterland for three days of music and general debauchery over the Queensland Queen's Birthday long weekend on October 1-3. The music acts are yet to be announced (although it's set to be a mix of indie bands, DJs and R&B artists), but it's all the other stuff that's got us pretty damn excited. There will be seven stages — one of which will be on a lake and can be viewed from the actual water while floating on inflatable pool toys (!!!) — a nightly outdoor cinema, daily yoga practice, round-the-clock bathroom attendants and free access to the things you don't think to take camping, like hair ties and straighteners. Other add-ons seem to take heed from other Australian festivals, like 'The Treehouse', a stage that will be hidden off the festival map in a secret location, a dress-up policy and a kissing booth. Looks like someone might have gone to Secret Garden. There'll be all the usual food vendors, of course, plus three sit-down restaurants, which are apparently five-star (whatever that means). Tickets start from $280 for a one-day pass, $290 for a two-day pass and $300 for a three-day pass. SO obviously it makes sense to go the whole hog and stick it out for three days. Tickets include camping and parking and can be bought here. According to Sandalphon's website, the lineup should be announced soon.
If you had to choose one drink that captures the essence of Sydney, what would it be? How about a handcrafted gin, made using a selection of botanicals picked from our own Royal Botanic Garden? Well, that's exactly what the folks at award-winning Distillery Botanica Gin have created with their just-released limited-edition Rather Royal Gin. In developing this one-off creation, master distiller Phillip Moore teamed up with the Botanic Garden's director of horticulture, Jimmy Turner, to pick out the most gin-worthy botanical haul this verdant, 220-year-old site had to offer. Botanicals from all over the Garden have leant their unique flavour qualities to the spirit, including mandarin leaf, lemon verbena, lovage, chamomile, and even Pope John Paul roses. An age-old technique called enfleurage was used to cold-extract the various perfumes and refine the gin to its final product — effectively, a trek through the Botanic Garden, in boozy liquid form. What's more, Rather Royal Gin will have you drinking for an excellent cause, with sale proceeds earmarked for the Garden's many conservation programs; from seed collection and banking, to research, training, and awareness. Plus, the bartenders are Bulletin Place are offering up a special limited edition cocktail using the gin. Just 1000 bottles of Rather Royal Gin have been crafted, so if you're keen to snap one up, you'd best get in quick. They're priced at $129 and are available from selected stockists, Distillery Botanica Gin's website, and over the bar at The Botanic Garden Restaurant.
If you've ever felt guilty about staying at home on a Saturday night to play video games, learn Beyoncé dance moves off YouTube or watch six straight hours of Netflix — don't. The Sydney Opera House is hosting an epic overnight 24-hour festival dedicated to binging on pop culture in a totally acceptable social setting. Think Buffy marathons, Street Fighter, Shia LeBeouf — and cats. Bingefest is a brand new festival for the Opera House (their first newbie in five years) and will pull together this year's pop culture phenomenons to discuss, celebrate and — most importantly — enjoy them for what they are when it comes to the Opera House for 24 hours (or so) this December 17 and 18. The biggest announcement is that actor and artist Shia LeBeouf — along with collaborators Nastja Säde Rönkkön and Luke Turner — will be coming along to the fest. Best known for their live performance art like Take Me Anywhere, where they posted their coordinates and waited for the first people to find them and pick them up, the trio will be creating a work especially for Bingefest. No word on what it is yet though. The program — which will run from about 3pm on Saturday until 6am on Monday morning — includes a whole range of things we consume on the Internet, from TV and video games to podcasts and viral videos. Running overnight on the Saturday will be a Buffy marathon, in which lovers of the kickass femme vampire can relive the best episodes all over again (and all night), as well as a 24-hour Street Fighter session. Those familiar with the cult '80s video game will be able to drop in at any point in the night for a go. Other highlights include Radiolab's Jad Abrumrad unpacking show anxiety on stage, and a talk from The AV Club, where four of their editorial staff will take you through all the TV you should have watched by now. Community's Dan Harmon and Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola (from the soon-to-air ABC show Rosehaven) will write a TV-show from scratch in front of an audience, Serial producer Julie Snyder will discuss binge-worthy journalism and Amrita Hepi will hold two Rihanna and Beyoncé dance clases in the Opera House's ballet rehearsal room (perfect post-Buffy binge). Redfern Convenience Store will even be holding a pop-up snack store. Also, in what could be the most captivating performance we've seen this year, the Internet Cat Festival will make its Sydney debut. It will be held in partnership with the RSPCA and will be goddamn adorable. The festival will function as a curated reel of videos, played in the Joan Sutherland Theatre Northern Foyer on Sunday, December 18 at 2pm as part of the Bingefest's free program. Bingefest founder and curator Danielle Harvey says the festival is an opportunity for people to consume pop culture together as a community. As something that's largely consumed personally at home, the live participation of festival makes it a whole different experience. Danielle is a co-curator of other Opera House events like All About Women and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, but unlike the other festivals that incorporate elements of pop culture, Bingefest will be 100 percent dedicated to featuring it in a more celebratory way.
Nothing warms the cockles of our hearts more than traipsing along to a warm enclosure and getting an educational experience while we fill up on the newest stout or IPA. And it's the perfect timing for such merriments, with Melbourne's Good Beer Week in full swing and the GABS taking over the Exhibition Building this weekend. With an impressive 15 beers being released every week in Australia alone, it can be hard to get a grasp on all the best brews on the block. To help, we tried and tested an innumerable amount on your behalf. You can find most of these ten beauties at your local craft beer bottle shop, or you can take your legs along to one of Melbourne's many beery events this weekend. So grab a glass and hop to it y'all. 10. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS — MOON DOG The experimental Moon Dog crew have created another taste-explosion, and it's the ideal choice for when you can't decide if you need the hair of the dog in beer or tomato format. Moon Dog's answer is to mimic the classic Bloody Mary — but instead of tomato juice, we're talking Red Ale. Three types of chillis have been infused but these aren't added to dominate. Instead, they leave a warm tingle on the tongue. Vonnegut might surely agree that this sort of nonsense is Moon Dog's strength. moondogbrewing.com.au 9. SUMMER ALE — MOUNTAIN GOAT When it comes to a supernatural weekend getaway, cruising the liquor isle in search of non-glass beers is a headache. Thankfully, the Mountain Goat lads are helping us out by packaging a passionfruit style favourite into cans. Not only will your beer be hoppy and aromatic, but it sure does make it easier having a chilly bin filled with tinnies so you don’t have to worry about security stealing your stash. Something to note for next summer. goatbeer.com.au 8. MISS PINKY — BOATROCKER There are not many beers the Germans didn't think of first, and sour beer is one of them. This sour style is called Berliner Weisse and is becoming increasingly popular on Australian palates. So how do you make such a sweet drink turn pink? Well, the Boatrocker Brewers have added 100kgs of sour raspberries to their ale yeast to create a cloudy pink beer. It's a tart, fruity character, yet surprisingly refreshing. Just make sure you get your lips wrapped around this lady at the beginning of the evening. boatrocker.com.au 7. WATTLE PALE ALE — BREWSMITH Using a 110-year-old recipe stolen from the beer gods, BrewSmith give you the chance to create your own batch at home. Their Aussie Wattle Pale Ale kit comes with a mix of wattle seeds, malt extract, hops and specialty grains, all of which you can leave in a dark nook for three weeks. What you're left with is a lighter pale ale (at around 4.4%) — one that will impress any backyard gathering. brewsmith.com.au 6. MOTLEY BREW — CAVALIER Collaboration is a beautiful thing. And so is the Motley Brew: a Summer Wheat IPA rocking those fruity and hoppy characteristics we’ve all come to enjoy. It's the love child of 15 different breweries (possibly the biggest beer collaboration ever achieved), using 5 different hops, which have all been left to ferment into one good taste. Although the Motley was only a limited release, the Brunswick-based brewers will be showcasing another collaborated tasty during Good Beer Week. Make sure you don’t miss their next one. cavalierbeer.com.au 5. GO FIGA — GRAND RIDGE BREWERY By substituting figs instead of sugar, the Grand Ridge Brewery have spiced up the classic ginger ale — and it's one to go wild about. It's long been their ethos not to add any sugars, chemicals or preservatives, so they’re sticking with organic figs. To top it off, there are even subtle hints of coriander, making this complex brew a real infusion of flavours. Their fig and ginger ale has even had a life as a sorbet — but with winter nearly afoot, we recommend lighting your inner fire with a bottle or two of this fresh, yet toasty delight. It will be available for the first time at GABS this weekend. grand-ridge.com.au 4. BLACKMAN'S UNFILTERED LAGER — BLACKMAN'S BREWERY A young couple from Torquay are naming their brews after family members; cousin Arthur might be a smoked porter and uncle Bob the spiced witbier. But it's their Unfiltered Lager that’s making us go all gooey – much like those delicate, honey-like malt flavours you'll find in this brew. Unfiltered lagers can tend to be difficult to make well, but Blackman's are using a mix of German and Czech styles to create one elegant, refined beverage. Notes of citrus hops are present, which is pretty ideal for a brewery based right near the coast. This lager just became your perfect accompaniment to your sunset feast of fish and chips. blackmansbrewery.com.au 3. BOHEMIAN LAGER — BROOKES BEER If you like your coffee Vienna style — you know, with a cheeky dollop of cream to smooth and cool your cup of joe — then you'll be keen on Brookes' Bohemian Lager. Full-on hops, cold coffee and chocolate notes are what you can expect from this copper-coloured beauty. These Bendigo-based brewers have been in the business for a mere 18 months, so you would be forgiven for not having heard of them already. Just make sure you don’'t forget them, as this malty Vienna lager is one to add to the 'session list'. brookesbeer.com.au 2. #003 MILK STOUT — EXIT BREWING Who doesn’t dream of throwing in their mundane day job and making a living from brewing beer? Well, it's the actual fairytale ending — or rather, beginning — for the two gentlemen who quit their IT jobs in the UK to create Melbourne-based Exit Brewing. The Milk Stout may have seemed a risky bet, at only their third release, but it's one stout that's firmly in our hearts. She's dark and nutty, but her velvety creams balance those hints of rum. If you are lactose intolerant, steer clear, as it's the real deal. exitbrewing.com.au 1. RAMJET WHISKY BARREL AGED — BOATROCKER What happens when you put imperial stout in just-emptied whisky barrels? The Ramjet, that's what. And with notes of caramel and toffee, this stout is out of this world. There's a reason this vintage, barrel-aged brew works so well — once the beer is removed from the barrels, they're bottled and left to age for another six months. The end results in roasted chocolate characteristics, followed by subtle hints of oak and whisky. The Ramjet Imperial Stout is our number one. And should be yours too. Roger that? Good. Over and out. boatrocker.com.au Hero image: Dollar Photo Club. Moon Dog image credit: formulatorrah via instagram; Boatrocker Miss Pinky image credit: gerert via Instagram; Grand Ridge image credit: sekainobeer via Instagram; Blackman's Brewery image credit: brewer_ash via Instagram; Brookes Beer image credit: beardface151 via Instagram
Taco King at The George Hotel may be no more, with the Waterloo pub reopening in 2019 under the direction of new operators, but the Taco King himself Toby Wilson has been pressing on with a new tortilla venture: Ricos Tacos. The Taco King is dead, long live the Taco King. The taco truck has popped up around town in a few guises over the past year, including in the car park of Gelato Messina's Rosebery HQ and at Rocker Bondi. It also spent some time at the Grifter Brewing Co, before making the brewery its permeant home. You can head to the Marrickville brewery every weekend to try some of Wilson's tasty taco creations. Each Saturday and Sunday, the cart is open from 12.30pm until sold out, for walk-ins only — and yes, pairing those tacos with beer is obviously on the menu. If you didn't try Wilson's tacos at The George, you may've encountered them at the various guises of Ghostboy Cantina (including at Dixon House and inside Tio's Cerveceria). Missed those, too? We suggest you make a beeline to Grifter once the weekend hits.
For chef Kylie Kwong, it’s artworks. For artist William Yang, it’s Chinese scrolls. For director Will Edwards, it’s marbles. The ancient, eccentric art of collecting continues. Despite virtualisation, there’s no substitute for an object with history. To celebrate this, Carriageworks and BresicWhitney have commissioned renowned photographer Daniel Boud to photograph ten notable Sydneysiders with the things they love. Between November 4 and December 7, the resulting artworks will appear on Instagram, hashtagged #TheThingsILove (with a heart emoji). We see Kwong in her Potts Point-based restaurant, Billy Kwong, holding a Tibetan yak’s skull, surrounded by statues and blown glass. “It was important to me that the space was filled with energy and soulfulness," she says. "[These artworks] are especially close to my heart because they remind me of how important the spiritual dimension is in life.” Meanwhile, Boud depicts artist Abdul Abdullah masked with the Australian flag. “I collect and use nationalist memorabilia in my work as signifiers of difference," says Abdullah. "The Southern Cross and Union Jack in recent contexts has become as much about what and who it doesn’t represent, as much as what it does … These symbols have become signifiers of rejection for large sections of the Australian community.” And a collection of resin and plastics back drops a close-up of artist Louise Zhang. “I collect [these] from my artworks because each piece is accidental and unique – bits that have fallen off, spills that solidified, hiccups in the way they've set," she says. "They remind me of fake gemstones, precious, but as plastic, and cheap as half the stock in the $2 shop. Perhaps it's the novelty of the unexpected.” The other five Sydneysiders depicted are architect Penelope Seidler with miniature building models from all over the world, fashion designers Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan (Bassike) with vintage kimonos and Levi’s, TEES front woman Elizabeth Tillman with pewter goblets, actor Rarriwuy Hick with badges and ABC Classic FM host Julian Day with books. Carriageworks and BresicWhitney invites you to join the Instagram exhibition, by posting a photograph of yourself with your unique collection tagged with @carriageworks and @bresicwhitney and the hashtag #TheThingsILove. The best photo will win a ten-year Carriageworks Friends Membership worth $1000 and a Daniel Boud print. Keep an ear out on Friday, December 11 for the announcement of the winner. Images: Daniel Boud.
When you first hear it described to you, Tangerine doesn't exactly scream 'comedy'. Set on the streets of Los Angeles one day before Christmas, the breakout feature at this year's Sundance Film Festival follows a poor transgender sex worker who has just gotten out of prison, only to discover that her pimp/boyfriend has been cheating on her. Sounds pretty grim, right? That's where you'd be wrong. Working closely with transgender actors Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, neither of whom had any prior screen experience, writer-director Sean Baker and his co-writer Chris Bergoch have crafted one of the boldest, funniest and most memorable independent features we've seen in quite some time — one that puts transgender issues front and centre without ever becoming preachy or resorting to cliche. As if that weren't impressive enough, there's also the story of how they physically made the movie, using little more than a pair of iPhone 5s. Originally a budgetary decision, it ends up being Baker's ace in the hole, lending the film a brash, in-your-face aesthetic that could hardly be more fitting. We spoke with Baker about what it's like to make a movie on your mobile, as well as the importance of giving narratives like these the spotlight they deserve. Tell us a little bit about how this project came about? I live about a half a mile from the intersection of Santa Monica and Highland, which is sort of an unofficial red light district. It's known, especially as of late, for transgender sex workers. That intersection in particular was always known for its drama, and I would pass it and wonder why there haven't been more films that have taken place there. I was also in a situation where I was trying to get money for a much bigger film, but it never happened. The industry is really upside-down right now, and I was waiting and waiting and waiting, and I knew that if I waited any longer I wasn't ever going to make a film again. So I turned to Mark Duplass and said, "hey, a couple of years ago you offered me a micro-budget. I think I'm in the position where I'm going to have to take it." So does that mean the decision to shoot on the iPhone was primarily a budgetary one? Yes. Or at least, it started off that way, and then of course it became an aesthetic. Were there other films that influenced you, in terms of the way the movie looks? No, that was the cool part about it — that it seemed to me to be a pretty original aesthetic. We combined a bunch of tools. This anamorphic adapter that we used allowed us to shoot in true scope; true widescreen cinema. Then there was an app called FiLMic Pro that has a bunch of bells and whistles and allows you to shoot at 24 frames per second. And then we used the Smothee, which is a handheld stabiliser that stabilises the iPhone. Then in post production we ended up pumping the colours through the roof, which really enhanced the LA sun. So all of a sudden you have these four tools working together creating this look that I'm really happy with. When you're on location, what are some of the advantages and/or challenges of shooting on a phone? What it did was that it allowed us to basically work clandestinely. If you saw us shooting from across the street, you'd never know we were shooting anything professional, except for the fact that we had a boom pole. We got permits, but we didn't have to announce that we were shooting, so we were able to capture real street life. Of course, then we had to ask them for their releases after I yelled 'cut', which is a risk because you then have to chase people down and beg. But for the most part people are pretty nice. From what we've read elsewhere, it sounds like a lot of research went into the film. How important was it that you immerse yourself in this world? I think it's the only way. I think it's best to allow the world to speak to you, as opposed to you speaking to a world that you're not a part of. That's just an irresponsible way of storytelling. Chris and I, we're cisgender white males who are not from that world whatsoever. So we needed to do a lot of research. We had to find a collaborator and put the time in. And the collaborators in this case were our leads. Mya especially. She was the first person we met who gave us the enthusiasm we were looking for. On its face, the film's subject matter sounds fairly grim. Was there ever a version of the script without the comedic elements that played like a more straightforward drama? It's funny that you mention that, especially with you being from Australia, because the cinema coming out of Australia has been incredibly influential on me. Snowtown is such an amazing masterpiece, and that's what I thought the film was going to be originally. Not the murders, but that social realist style with that really desaturated look. So then what changed your mind? Getting to know the women, and hanging out with them regularly, I saw that even though they were dealing with incredible hardships, they used humour to cope. And I knew that the film would be dishonest if I didn't incorporate that humour. It was actually part of Mya's request as well. She said to me point blank, "I've seen your other films and I trust you, and I want to make this movie with you, but you've got to promise me that it will be funny. You've got to make a film that is entertaining for the people out here. We don't want a 'plight of' film that's all drama, hitting people over the head and leaving the audience feeling terrible." And I'm really glad she sent me down that road. On that point, how has the transgender community reacted to the film? It's been really positive. I thought this film was going to divide audiences, but so far there's been a really nice amount of love given to us across the board. One of our first reviews from a transperson came from Australia, at the Sydney Film Festival, and she was very, very positive about it. And having travelled with the film a little bit already, I've been able to see how members of trans communities react in different countries. I was in Columbia, in Bogotá, and members of the local trans community came to the premiere, and they said to me afterwards through a translator that while there are lots of cultural differences, they really connected and indentified with the sisterhood between the two main characters, which was a real nice thing to hear. With television shows like Transparent and Orange Is the New Black, as well as all the recent media coverage surrounding Caitlyn Jenner, it feels as though transgender stories are finally getting attention in mainstream culture. How important is this, and are you pleased to be part of the trend? Most definitely. Setting down this road two and a half years ago, we had no idea it was going to be as much a part of the zeitgeist as it is now. Any time visibility and awareness is increased it's a positive thing. The unfortunate part of all of this is that the murder rate here in the United State has almost doubled from last year, assuming it stays at this rate. It's hard to get up-to-date statistics because of the fact that a lot of these murders aren't investigated correctly. But we're already up to 15 murders of transpeople here in the United States in 2015, and we're only at the end of August. The hope is that increased awareness and visibility will eventually lead to acceptance, but we still have a long way to go. I also think we need a number of these types of narratives. I'm making a film about a microcosm — about transwomen of colour who happen to work as sex workers in a very small area of Los Angeles. So this is only representative of a tiny, tiny portion of the transgender community. This has to be one of many, many different narratives that are being told. Tangerine is in cinemas in Sydney and Melbourne now.
Want to stick it to the Man with a bunch of Lego? The Man being Lego itself? After National Gallery of Victoria was been announced as the first international Lego collection point for the Ai Weiwei project in conjunction with the Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition coming to the NGV, Sydney's got its own collection point, announced today. Confirmed this afternoon, the Art Gallery of New South Wales will become the first Lego collection spot for New South Wales. From Friday, November 20, a red BMW will be parked out the front of the AGNSW and visitors are encouraged to bring in their Lego blocks and drop them through the sunroof of the vehicle. Postal donations can also be sent to the gallery via Ai Weiwei LEGO Project, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney NSW 2000. "We thought it important to be involved in the project as part of our role to support the broader artistic community and especially our art museum partners such as the NGV," says the AGNSW team." This comes just hours after the artist posted images of his first completed works on Instagram. Check them out over here.
Two years ago, Sydney Festival and Belvoir St Theatre transformed Sydney Town Hall into a Sri Lankan homestead for Counting and Cracking. This year, the festival is building a tennis court in the heritage building to tell the life story of Australia's former world number one, Evonne Goolagong. You'll sit courtside as Katie Beckett (Which Way Home) takes on the role of the tennis legend — the first Indigenous woman to win a Grand Slam, and 14 of them in total. Written by Andrea James, Sunshine Super Girl is a celebration of Goolagong's rise from country town beginnings to a household name. It promises humour, humility and a stellar ensemble cast, including Luke Carroll (Black Comedy), Jax Compton (Muggera Dance Group), Katina Olsen (Sydney Dance Company) and Kyle Shilling (Bangarra Dance Theatre). Images: Jamie James
Anything can happen in art in November. There's colour, movement and bold statements aplenty. Just don't get distracted and miss the month's major work from Kaldor Public Art Projects. It's highly revealing. Top image: Rosie Deacon live art at Sydney Contemporary 2015.
A collection of Australia's most talented street artists will transform Centenary Square in Parramatta into a temporary open-air art studio. Each morning for nine consecutive weekdays beginning on Monday March 14, a different artist will produce a brand new, large scale artwork live in front of the public, demonstrating their technique and turning the space into a vibrant artistic hub. An initiative of the Parramatta City Council and real estate developers Walker Corporation in partnership with creative arts organisation Work-Shop, the Live Walls Project has tapped a number of notable names to take part. Anthony Lister, Anya Brock, Guido Van Helten, James Jirat Patradoon, Sid Tapia, Georgia Hill, Aidan "Sprinkles" McKenzie, Phibs, Nico and Jumbo will all take part, each working from 10am to 3pm on their allocated day to create a new artwork on the hoarding in front of the Parramatta Square development. At the conclusion of the event, each work will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Parramatta Mission. Nice one. LIVE WALLS LINE-UP Monday 14 March – James Jirat Patradoon Tuesday 15 March – Sid Tapia Wednesday 16 March – Georgia Hill Thursday 17 March – Anthony Lister Friday 18 March – Aidan “Sprinkles” McKenzie Monday 21 March – Anya Brock Tuesday 22 March – Phibs Wednesday 23 March – Guido Van Helten Thursday 24 March – Nico & Jumbo For more information about Live Walls, visit www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/livewalls. You can also keep tabs on the project via Instagram.
At the end of any day of sightseeing in a foreign city, you know you're going to be hungry. So what better time to sit down to a feast you'll always remember? Kick that diet of Haribo packets and "that restaurant there, that's open, that'll do" to the curb. Here are 12 dishes to add/start off your next legendary itinerary. Just don't forget to book your table before you book your airline ticket. REINDEER MOSS & CEP MUSHROOMS AT NOMA, COPENHAGEN Named no.1 in the world's 50 best restaurants, Noma serves a reinvented version of Nordic cuisine focusing on ingredients foraged from nearby forests and shores. Image: Jose Moran Moya. CHARCOAL-GRILLED KING PRAWN AT EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA, GIRONA, SPAIN The full name of this dish is charcoal-grilled king prawn with king prawn sand, ink rocks, fried legs, head juice and king prawn essence. So, yeah. After relocating in 2007, family business El Celler de Can Roca now boasts the work of head chef Joan Roca; his brother, wine aficionado Josep; and their younger sibling Jordi, a popular local pastry chef. Together they have proved their heavenly status as a culinary holy trinity. Image: Love, August OOPS! I DROPPED THE LEMON TART AT OSTERIA FRANCESCANA, MODENA, ITALY Embracing imperfection, head chef Massimo Bottura has successfully turned a "back-of-house disaster into a front-of-house legend" (as his publishing house Phaidon puts it). Two surprises here: this dish is (a) precisely constructed and (b) surprisingly savoury, with capers, lemongrass and candied bergamot. Image: Paolo Terzi MARGHERITA PIZZA AT L'ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE, NAPLES With two options on the menu, you have the tough choice between margherita and marinara when you make it to this world-famous and always packed Naples pizzeria. Choose the margherita. One member of our team who's been says she's "still thinking about it years later". Image: Mike Valore ICE SHREDS, SCARLET SHRIMP PERFUME AT MUGARITZ, SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN In a bid to explore a fully immersive culinary experience, head chef Andoni Aduriz seeks to create masterpieces that dance with aroma, texture and flavour, while others are designed to be provocative and invoke particular emotions. Image: Foodie Date Night DUCK CARNITAS AT COSME, NEW YORK With this dish taking nearly four days to prepare (at one point it's even doused and cooked in Mexican Coke), the $59 price tag feels like a bargain, especially when split between 2-3 people. It's at Mexi-luxe Cosme, one of the most admired new openings in New York in 2014. CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES ANIMAL STYLE AT IN-N-OUT BURGER, CALIFORNIA Cult burger chain In-N-Out may pop up in Australia from time to time, but it's a well known fact the In-N-Out chain is resistant to expanding beyond the US west coast. Even franchising is a no-no. So if you're craving something 'Animal Style', your only safe bet is that plane ticket. ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER, CARAMELISED MILK, LAMB MARMITE AND BLACK WALNUTS AT RIVERSTEAD, CHILHOWIE, USA Culinary dream turned love story, head chef John Shields and lead pastry chef Karen Urie Shields opened their own restaurant in the sleepy Virginia town of Chilhowie, where the couple are delving into the world of experimental cooking and foraging. ABACAXI COM FORMIGA AMAZONICA AT D.O.M, SAO PAULO With a focus on simplicity, Chef Alex Atala's dishes still manage to burst with ingenuity and flavours. One such example is his signature dessert of just two ingredients: fresh pineapple garnished with a dried ant. Image: This guys food blog REAL PAD TAI AT THIP SAMAI, BANGKOK Thip Samai is Bangkok's most popular destination for what might be the most famous thing to come out of Thailand. Some people claim not to be so impressed at the end of this quest for the pad thai holy grail, but it remains the destination to beat for fried noodle pilgrims everywhere. Image: Delicious Conquests PORK SKIN WITH BLACK SESAME BRIOCHE, SALMON ROE AND CHERRY SAUCE AT DIVERXO, MADRID With their website looking more like an art film than a tool with which to make reservations, DiverXo pushes the limits of what food can be. Three Michelin star chef David Munoz has not only designed his dishes down the most precise speck of 'potato glass', he's designed what implement you should eat it with, from fork to chopsticks to spatula. Image: Spanish Hipster GUINEA FOWL CURRY WITH SHAMPOO GINGER AND HOLY BASIL AT NAHM, BANGKOK Australian-born chef David Thompson has created what's widely regarded as the best restaurant in all of Asia, so it feels only right to visit him at least once. This standout dish is your chance to eat 'shampoo' without gagging. Image: Rock Star Travel.\ Top image: Noma.
An enthusiastic clan of Sydney art lovers wants to bring you closer to contemporary art and the people who make it. They're organising pop-up exhibitions in unusual locations, private showings in artists' homes, exclusive talks and wine tasting weekends away. Best bit? Anyone can become a member. It's called Contemporaries, organised by Sydney art engagement company 10Group (responsible for producing the likes of Art Month and the City of Sydney's interest-free art loan initiative Art Money). Membership isn't cheap — $300 per year for single or $450 for doubles (the latter is transferrable, so you can bring various guests to various events) — but will give you access to some pretty awesome 'money can't buy' art experiences in Sydney. Contemporaries launched on October 29 with a party in Surry Hills' old Paramount building. Guests wandered through a four-dimensional landscape created by photographer Tamara Dean, watched Dr Lisa Cooper create a floral sculpture and drank courtesy of Lisa McGuigan Wines and Sydney Breweries Beer. So what's up ahead? 10Group have announced their first annual Contemporaries program. On November 19, creative couple Liane Rossler and Sam Marshall will host Contemporaries in their home in Queen's Park, with a poolside drink and seasonal catering. On February 18, Tamara Dean will present an exclusive preview of her latest series in a secret spot, discussing her career change from Fairfax photographer to full-time artist, as well as what inspires her. Winemaker Lisa McGuigan will run April's event, leading a gallery tour of Rushcutters Bay, taking in STILLS, the Art House stockroom and Dominik Mersch. At every stop, Contemporaries will meet artists and sample premium wines with matching canapés. On May 18, painters Neil Frazer and Joanna Braithwaite will open their studio, showing works in progress and discussing how they managed to combine art with love. Rounding out the program is an art and film evening at Golden Age Cinema in June and an Orange weekender in September, including a local gallery tour, a winery visit, a behind-the-scenes session at Bathurst Regional Gallery and a growers' lunch at the historic home of artist David Serisier and writer Gillian Serisier. To find out more about Contemporaries or to join, head to the website.
Before social media, the local milk bar was usually where youngsters went to socialise. Though there's still a few of them about (including 2223 in Sydney and Rowena Corner Store in Richmond), they're fast becoming a thing of the past. That's why Melbourne-based artist Callum Preston has gone to painstaking lengths to recreate one, detail by detail. You'll find his incredibly realistic, immersive artwork Milk Bar in RVCA Corner Gallery, Collingwood, from Friday 1 December. Walking in, it'll be easy to imagine you're in a bona fide corner shop, as the installation is fully operational. But take a closer peek and you'll notice the chocolate bars, magazines and soft drink cans aren't what they seem. They're pretend versions of themselves that Preston has created by hand. "For most of us, these simpler times might have passed," Preston said. "Sure, the memories may be a little blurry now, but it's my hope that when all the elements are recreated you can be transported right back to 'when going down the shop' was an experience of pure joy." This isn't Preston's first venture into nostalgia. In 2015, he revisited Back to the Future via his artwork Bootleg to the Future, which featured a life-sized replica of a DeLorean. Milk Bar will be at Melbourne's RVCA Corner Gallery, 82 Stanley Street, Collingwood. The exhibition runs from December 1-10.
Casula Powerhouse is hosting two exhibitions during the citywide Head On Photo Festival. First up is Platforms by Natan Dvir, a photo series that takes the New York underground, its architecture and its people as a subject. Dvir is interested in the way subway platforms, divided as they are by columns and pillars, often resemble a roll of photographic film, as well as the voyeuristic opportunities and subtle interaction — or studious avoidance of it — that commuting involves. Also showing is Spy/Spy, a series of portraits and candid/street photography by Julien Mignot and Fred Stucin shot during the 2015 and 2016 Cannes Film Festivals. Mignot and Stucin were there working for various magazine publications and the exhibition explores the private, less polished parts of the festival that didn't end up in glossy print. Think candid shots of models en route to red carpets, snaps of fans coordinating along the Croisette and reflective, shy portraits of celebrities normally known for their rambunctiousness. Both exhibitions open May 5 with Platforms ending on May 28 and Spy/Spy staying on till June 18. Image: Natan Dvir, Platforms (2014).
File this one under news that probably won't happen, but damn would it be cool if it did: Italian architect Piero Lissoni has won a competition to design New York City's new aquarium, and it's easy to see why. The proposed 'Aquatrium' would be situated at Long Island City's Anable Basin, and would consist of two circular elements submerged in the East River. Picture the underwater lair of a '70s era James Bond villain, and you probably won't be too far off the mark. The plans feature an open-air basin sitting just below water level, boasting eight clear 'biomes' that would house aquatic creatures from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans along with the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Red and Tasman seas. An iceberg in the centre would represent the poles, while at night the space would be covered by a sliding domed roof, transforming it into a planetarium (casually). You can't accuse this guy of having a lack of imagination. "Having the water level define the starting point of the project, the site is excavated to become a spacious and innovative water basin," Lissoni's team told Dezeen. "The main idea is to generate an environment whereby visitors feel that they themselves are entering the water to discover the beauty of the marine life on display." Sadly, the design competition isn't anything official, so don't expect to be walking through Lissoni's futuristic aqua-dome any time soon. But feel free to stare longingly at the pretty pictures. Via Dezeen.
The team at Gelato Messina are tipping their hats to molecular gastronomy, with a brand new range of limited edition desserts designed to tantalise the senses. The result of months of experimentation by the intrepid Messina chefs, who worked closely with leading academic food scientist Patrick Spicer, the Edible Life Scents range is being described as a "multi-sensory dessert," and will be experienced by a lucky few in Sydney later this month. Believe it or not, the desserts are actually part of a partnership between Messina and Air Wick. Yes, that Air Wick. Ice cream and air freshener: the pairing you never knew you needed, and probably don't but will anyway because Messina. Air Wick have commissioned Messina to create a dessert degustation with flavours inspired by their Air Wick Life Scents line. Mystical Garden combines marshmallow, rose and raspberry, Lush Hideaway mixes mint, fresh berries and coconut water, while Winter Moments consists of baked pear, pie crust and vanilla. "We’re suckers for a challenge," said Messina's Declan Lee. "We were intrigued by the science behind Life Scents and the opportunity it could give us to create an evolving dessert experience. Hopefully we’ve pulled it off and have been able to create something completely different: an evolving multi-sensory culinary experience. We think it’s pretty cool." While ice cream and air freshener might not seem like the most obvious of pairings, this isn't the first time that Messina has teamed up with unusual collaborators. Last year, for example, they created a food scrap flavour in partnership with OzHarvest, in order to raise awareness about food wastage. Still, it's a pretty ballsy move associating your gelato with a product whose primary function is covering up the odours from your toilet. Messina's latest creations will be available to sample at the invite-only Air Wick Life Scents Lab, which will pop-up in Sydney for three days starting on Thursday November 19. To get yourself on the guest list, you'll need to come up with an answer to the following ridiculous question: what does your favourite Air Wick Life Scents fragrance remind you of? Sigh. The things we do for free dessert. For more details on how to score tickets to the pop-up, visit Air Wick Australia on Facebook.
After 15 years as a major player on the Sydney art scene, Brenda May Gallery shut its doors last December. But the team quickly reopened in March with a new identity, May Space, and a fresh direction at a shiny new Waterloo address, not far from the previous Danks Street location. Now showing in the new space is the fifth exhibition in their Introducing series, which presents the work of a small group of artists new to the gallery. This edition presents the work of five artists working across a range of mediums including painting, sculpture and video. Anna Glynn's Above and Below celebrates the elegant, complex rhythms of the natural world. Shane Drinkwater's paintings use repetitive mark making to create visual intensity. Matt Chun uses a variety of media to capture people and places. Painter Natasha Walsh explores the fragility of the individual through self-portraiture. Dai Lai's stoneware Waiting Room series is also featured, which is inspired by his experience of waiting rooms, which he says "are like gathering places for strangers, each with different motives, emotions and moods, either excitement and/or trepidation of an unknown future". If you haven't seen the new and improved May Space yet, now's your chance. Image: Dai Li, Waiting Room series (2017).
Slurp down seafood in view of the ocean at Cronulla's new hip hop oyster hut. Located on Gerrale Street just opposite South Cronulla Beach, Shucked Oyster Bar opened for business earlier this month, serving shellfish, burgers and booze to the clamouring masses. Get it? Clamouring? See what we did there? Shucked is the brainchild of chef Luke Collins, who previously owned Luke Benchmark Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Sylvania. This new venture promises to be a more laid-back affair, with the chef telling Good Food that "people here want quality in a simpler, more relaxed setting." As you might have guessed, the main drawcard on the menu is the oysters. You can get them with a dash of lemon, or served with more extravagant toppings such as wasabi and pickled ginger. There's also a 'posh takeaway' section that offers burgers, calamari, battered fish and spicy fried chicken, as well as side options including fries, potato scallops and a gourmet cheese plate for one. On the beverage front they've got beer, wine and cocktails – basically everything you need for watching the sun go down over the ocean. The walls of the bar are decorated with graffiti portraits of famous musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse and Biggie Smalls. Starting Thursday, Shucked will also play host to a number of live music acts as part of Australian Music Week. For the full lineup, go here. Shucked Oyster Bar is located on Gerrale Street, Cronulla opposite South Cronulla Beach. Their opening hours are noon until late Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food.
Looking for a new hobby? We've got just the thing. A Slovenian company has created the world's first self-inflating stand-up paddleboard, after their runaway crowdfunding campaign rose more than $175,000 USD. The SipaBoard Air is the latest innovation in one of the world's fastest growing sports (and one of our favourite ways to get on the water in Sydney, mind you), and comes with an inbuilt pump capable of fully inflating the board in under five minutes. The initial Kickstarter campaign has closed, but units can still be ordered via Indiegogo, with the most basic model, the SipaBoard NEO, selling for $640 USD plus shipping. Each board comes with a rechargeable battery, a streamlined fin box, a board bag and a carry leash. You can also order a collapsible paddle, although that'll cost you extra. According to the Indiegogo page, production on the boards has already begun, with orders expected to ship sometime in August — perfect timing for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere. But why take our word for anything when you can watch the SipaBoard Air promotional video? Seriously, it might be the most endearingly cheesy thing we've ever seen.
Not everyone has the coin to be flitting off to Scotland, London or Rome to see a European masterwork, but luckily the new exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is bringing the art to you. Botticelli, Titian, Rembrandt, Monet, Gaugin, Boucher, Watteau — they're the stuff art history exams are made of, but unless you've made a trip to the National Galleries of Scotland, the Uffizi or the Louvre, you mightn't have seen one up close. Luckily, the Scots are lending a handful of their very best artworks to Sydney's AGNSW for The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland. Sure, Leonardo da Vinci sketches and Titian nudes sell themselves, but there's a handful of works you shouldn't miss — they've got some pretty damn awesome stories behind them if you look close enough (please do not actually look behind the paintings). JOHN SINGER SARGENT — LADY AGNEW OF LOCHNAW At first glance, American artist John Singer Sargent's 1892 work could be mistaken for the dreaded label: 'lovely'. But this work has a far more interesting story behind it, beyond being a beautiful portrait of Lady Gertrude Agnew, the wife of Sir Andrew Agnew, 9th Baronet. For the subject, the painting launched her as a society beauty. After the work received widespread praise, Lady Agnew would later establish her own private salon in London. Ironically, the costs of sustaining such fine style led Lady Agnew to sell her own portrait to the Scottish National Gallery in 1925. Mink ain't cheap. SIR HENRY RAEBURN — THE SKATING MINISTER Considered the 'Scottish Mona Lisa' and listed in a recent publication as one of the 1000 paintings you must see before you die, Sir Henry Raeburn's The Skating Minister is already one of the most Instagrammed paintings of the exhibition. Reverend Robert Walker is the subject in question, and received a whole lot of social thumbs ups for this stunning painting at the time. Minister of the Canongate Kirk and member of the world's first ever figure skating club, the Edinburgh Skating Club, Rev. Walker is pictured on Duddingston Loch. Best PR ever. JEAN-BAPTISTE GREUZE — A GIRL WITH A DEAD CANARY Full disclosure, this editor has a love/hate relationship with Jean-Baptiste Greuze. Constantly bringing his 'moralistic' paintings to the Salon from the 1750s onwards, Greuze was a strong believer in 'educational' paintings, hoping to make observers more 'virtuous' after viewing his paintings. It's 18th century, patriarchal France — you can probably see where we're going here. Many of Greuze's genre paintings and portraits meant to 'educate' young women in ways of behaving (classic), especially in the age ol' male-determined realms of promiscuity and sex. This painting in particular was praised at the time for being a metaphorical representation of lost virginity, with a young girl looking forlorn after the fact. In case you didn't get it, Greuze has painted a dead bird in the centre, to sledgehammer the point home. Greuze would repeat this lost virginity metaphor in multiple paintings, interspersed with broken eggs, broken mirrors, broken pitchers. GET IT? DO YOU GET IT? As stunning and technically beautiful as this work of pure realism is, the man and metaphor behind it make this writer want to use a Tardis simply to deliver a firm backhand. DIEGO VELAZQUEZ — OLD WOMAN COOKING EGGS Seeing a Velazquez is its own reward, but this one's a doozy. Painted in 1618 when the artist was just eighteen or nineteen years old, Old woman cooking eggs is one of the artist's earlier works, using striking chiaroscuro and figurative realism to illuminate a woman frying up a couple of eggs in a murky darkness. The detail is next-level in this work, from the cutlery to the egg whites. No Velázquez of comparable importance has been seen before in Australia, so you'd better pay it a visit. FREDERIC CHURCH — NIAGARA FALLS (AMERICAN SIDE) If you never thought looking at a painting could be compared to watching a whole film, get ready for a cinematic experience with Frederic Church's epic, epic, epic landscape painting. Before the advent of cinema, Church's spectacular paintings did the same job. He would organise one-work shows that travelled throughout the States and display the work in a darkened room with the painting spot-lit. The space where this painting is now hung in the Gallery has been designed to evoke this experience, where audiences can sit, stare and get lost in the drama of the painting. GERRIT DOU — AN INTERIOR WITH A YOUNG VIOLA PLAYER You'll have to watch your nose when you get up close to Gerrit Dou's tiny work, this is some serious detail. The father of the so-called fijnschilders (fine painters), Dou was committed to the little things, the tiniest elements ditched in later art movements. According to the AGNSW, this painting is rendered so precisely that you can identify the open book in the painting as popular Dutch songbook at the time De Friesche Lust-Hof (The Frisian Pleasure Garden). The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland runs October 24 to February 14. Tickets are $22 adult, $18 concession and available from the Gallery or the website.
Prepare yourself for a night of whimsy, wonder and a weird, scaly, hermaphroditic fish man named Old Gregg. Noel Fielding, the androgynous co-lead of the surreal British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, is bringing his live show, An Evening with Noel Fielding, to a capital city near you. Combining stand-up comedy with animation and original music, as well as special appearances from some of Fielding's most beloved and baffling characters, including Fantasy Man and The Moon, the April 2015 show marks Fielding's first time in Australia since his sold-out tour in 2012. This time he'll also be joined by his younger brother Michael, best known for his recurring role on The Mighty Boosh as Naboo the Enigma, an alien shaman from the planet Xooberon. Fielding previously played the part of Richmond in The IT Crowd, appeared as a team captain on the music comedy panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and helped create the comedy sketch program Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy. He is also a member of the band Loose Tapestries along with Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, whose music will be featured in the tour. This is one of our top picks of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Check out our full top ten.
Did you have a childhood dream of visiting the gingerbread house in Hansel & Gretel (sans witch)? It's about to become a reality. From December 2, the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney's lobby will be home to a life-size gingerbread house — Sydney's largest ever gingerbread house, in fact — complete with so much icing and lollies that we'll probably cry. Who else could be behind this creation but Anna Polyviou? The mad scientist of the pastry world and her team will be using 1500kg of gingerbread bricks to construct the house of your childhood dreams this Christmas. Polyviou is inviting Sydneysiders to "take a mad trip through the gingerbread house" but not only that, there will be plenty of treats to buy and try not to gobble up before you get home. Her mini gingerbread lolly bag houses, ginger ninjas and Connect Four macaron packs will have you squealing like a kid in a candy shop. Literally. You might as well buy a couple of gifts there too. Fruit mince tubes, white Christmas nougat and Christmas puddings should be enough to put your loved ones in a jolly mood. If you can't decide on a single item, why not make a day of it and enjoy Polyviou's Festive High Tea, running all throughout December. The three tiers of scones, sweets and savouries will set you back $55 per person. The menu features something called 'Christmas in a Jar'. How much more festive could it get? "BUILDING LOLLI-BAG HOUSE" thank you to my photographer Nikki To for capturing the making... Posted by Anna Polyviou on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Anna Polyviou's gingerbread house will be open to the public daily from 7am on Wednesday, December 2 in the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Festive High Tea will be running daily from 1pm – 5pm from December 1-30. Bookings essential, call (02) 9250 6000.
Locked in to return to all three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, the boutique music festival cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its fourth instalment on Saturday, September 26. Forecast to sell out like its previous events, OutsideIn will spread its super solid lineup over three stages. Enough chatskies, who's on the bill? Headlining the bunch, Philadelphia's neo-soul gem and Common/Dilla/Kendrick Lamar collaborator Bilal will bring a full eight-piece band to the main stage. Then you'll be getting a big ol' dose of Southern rap with Big K.R.I.T and Devin The Dude, while Manchester producer Star Slinger brings new EP goodness to the table. Vancouver multi-instrumentalist producer Pomo will be there, alongside Mood Hut co-founders and progressive jazz soul beatsmiths Pender Street Steppers, while Sydney's own twin duo Cosmo's Midnight make their live set debut. The local love doesn't stop there, with dance-inducing crew Total Giovanni, Perth's electro-pop enigma KU KA and Melbourne's Harvey Sutherland cranking out an improvised show dubbed "equal parts 808 rattle and double disco". There's still over 20 international and local artists still to be announced, but just roll around in this first release for now. OUTSIDE IN 2015 LINEUP (FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT): Bilal Big K.R.I.T Devin The Dude Cosmo’s Midnight Star Slinger Pomo Total Giovanni Pender Street Steppers KU KA Harvey Sutherland OutsideIn 2015 will be held at Manning House, Sydney on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Early bird tickets have sold out. General admission tickets available from first announce at $85 +bf. Tickets over here.
If you'd like to pull up a seat and spend an hour, a day or even a whole week watching the best short films the world has to offer, you'll love Flickerfest Short Film Festival. Australia's most respected (and oldest) short film festival is celebrating 26 years and appearing at Bondi Beach from January 6-15. This year, the hardworking peeps behind the festival have watched over 2,400 entries from around the globe and whittled the options down to 100 for you to feast your eyes on. Amid the selection you'll be treated to no less than 22 world premieres, 9 Aussie premieres and 19 NSW premieres. Head along to watch the films battle it out for awards like Academy-accredited Best Short Film, Best Animation, Best Documentary and Best Australian Short Film, as well as other categories like Best Use of Digital Technology and Best Editing. As Australia's only Academy-accredited and BAFTA-recognised short film festival, this is the best spot to see the freshest and most innovative film talent from around the world. Watch the Swiss short OS Love (woman dives into the absurd realm of screensavers and desktop backgrounds until she merges with the operating system) or perhaps line up to see the Algerian short Battalion to My Beat, about a 13-year-old tomboy escapee who runs away from her West Saharan refugee camp to join the military. Among the full programme are six films that have been shortlisted for an Academy Award — including Timecode, Nocturne in Black, Silent Nights and Bon Voyage. After a ten-day stay in Bondi, the festival is off on a 50-date national tour to spread the Flickerfest love Australia-wide. A pop-up bar will serve Young Henrys and organic wine along with Vietnamese food by Nahji Chu. Make sure you head along to the opening and closing nights under the stars on Bondi Beach — tickets to all screenings are available here.
It was only a decade ago that fledgling market startup, Finders Keepers, launched with 20 stalls and a handful of eager design enthusiasts looking to score an artsy deal. Finders Keepers is now Australia's longest-running arts and design market and is celebrating 10 years of giving the city's artisan producers that much-needed exposure. And this season's going to be huge. The twice-yearly event hosts over 250 stalls for the multitudes of market-goers after a deal, amid a backdrop of live music, bars, coffee carts, food trucks, workshops and a dessert bar. And this season's market is being held just in time to knock out all that Christmas shopping you've been putting off. Yes, Mum will be upset if you don't get her a present and no, you really shouldn't get Grandpa a pair of socks again. But you don't need to bust your bank account, either, the market has a friendly entrance fee of just $2 (kids enter free). Inside, you'll find quirky doll- and cat-head shaped candles from You, Me & Bones, ceramics by Sydney-favourites Bridget Bodenham and Mukumono Ceramics, stunning hand-stitched quilts by Aneau, leather goods by Tammy Luk and pickles and jams from Cornersmith. There'll be wrapping paper and Christmas cards available, too. This year the three-day market will be held at Barangaroo's expansive Cutaway (a stone's throw from the water) and it has new extended trading hours on Friday and Saturday — because sometimes making decisions is difficult. The line-up continues to grow in the lead-up to opening night, so keep an eye on the Finders Keepers directory to see who else joins. Finders Keepers Spring/Summer Market runs from 8–10 December; 5pm–10pm on Friday, 10am–7pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday.
Thousands of punters attending Splendour in the Grass were left stranded for hours at the North Byron Parklands site on Friday evening, with bus and traffic wait times reaching into the early hours of Saturday morning. After The Strokes wrapped up on the main Amphitheatre stage, the masses flocked to the festival's shuttle buses — only to find almost empty bus bays and unbelievable queues. Oh man. #Splendour bottleneck is absolutely burying the vibe of thousands in one fell swoop. NOT COOL @SITG 😭 — Kira Puru (@kirapuru) July 22, 2016 In a pretty chaotic scene that resembled The Walking Dead, punters were jumping ditches, ducking under fences, pissing in fields and flocking to any maxi-cab (or moving vehicle, for that matter) that passed by. Concrete Playground even saw a woman with a walking frame having to walk the 1.25km from the festival entrance to the festival gate and duck under a fence, waved to do so by a NSW Roads and Maritime traffic controller. By 1-2am, many punters even waved $50 notes at passing cars in the hopes of catching a ride back to town. Traffic was no better, with early leavers waiting up to two hours just to leave the festival site, many returning to Byron Bay by 2-3am. The "line" for the buses at #SITG2016 been waiting for 65mins so far. Poor form #Splendour organisers @secretsounds pic.twitter.com/ojhl33RLmM — BrigFee (@boo_indeed) July 22, 2016 NSW Roads and Maritime officers corralled punters down into darker, less busy parts of the pre-highway road — with little time for compassion for the stranded punters. NSW Police rolled out the riot squad, patrolling with formidable casualness. This is not Splendour's first time at the closing time rodeo — so what the heck went wrong? Using data for non-camping ticketholders versus camping ticketholders should have offered a clue into Friday night's logistical nightmare — there were simply not enough buses for the number of non-staying punters. Here's hoping Saturday's three-hour set from The Cure staggers the leaving times. so we'll wait all damn niiight by the big floodlight towers they have the buses and also the powerrrr #SITG2016 pic.twitter.com/6zQvraIz7N — spicy cinnamon taco (@Caitlin_Welsh) July 22, 2016
The Art Gallery of New South Wales will be staying open after dark until the end of January, maximising access to its summer blockbuster, Pop to Popism. Swing by before 10pm on Wednesdays and 9pm on Thursday to Saturday for the opportunity to not only take in the exhibition — a survey of pop art to which we gave a big thumb's up — but also the Pop shop and Pop twister. Dinner at Chiswick at the Gallery kicks your night up a fancy notch, and there’s even a special event combining the culinary inventiveness of Matt Moran with a talk from exhibition curator, Wayne Tunnicliffe. After all, these balmy summer nights are for cramming in as much culture as you can. The gallery's regular Wednesday late-night event, Art After Hours, is going retro for the occasion, with a series of colourful parties organised around different decades' subcultural rivalries and soundtracked by suitably nostalgic live music. Wednesday, January 21, is all about the era of water beds and lava lamps: the '70s. Alongside the rise of Punk and Disco, look back on the progressive changes ushered in by Gough Whitlam. And on January 28, the spotlight will be turned towards the '80s with its stage-stealing New Romantics and Yuppies. The heyday of pop music and outrageous fashion, nothing screamed look-at-me like the '80s. Reminiscing on this loud and proud decade, Romance Was Born designer Luke Sales will be speaking about the influences that have filtered into his creative process. It was also the era that launched slick art stars like Jeff Koons, who is still going strong, and conceptual photographer Cindy Sherman. Rock up with shoulder pads and big hair to be in the running for best dressed.
The team behind our favourite Bangladeshi street eatery are taking the flavours of the subcontinent up the road. Throwing open their doors next month at 163 Crown Street, Darlinghurst just a couple of hundred doors up from its predecessor, Trunk Road is a spin-off of Tapos Singha's Bang Street Food, and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Named after the two millennia old road that stretches through Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Trunk Road will be smaller and more casual than its predecessor. According to Gourmet Traveller, the menu will feature a number of different roti kebabs, nicknamed 'roadies', including a traditional variety full of tandoori lamb, lettuce, chilli achar and coriander yoghurt, as well as a breakfast version featuring pressed rice, banana, yoghurt and honey – and another made with bacon and fried egg. Side dishes will include tandoori chicken wings and chilli cheese fries topped with curry. Drool. The drinks list will feature traditional loose-leaf and condensed milk teas, along with an array of beers, cocktails and local gins paired with Indian tonics. We're also kind of hoping they'll be serving Bang Street Food's rum spiked lassis. Trunk Road is expected to seat 34 people across two floors. The interior will be designed by Bang co-owner Nicholas Gurney, who took his inspiration from '60s era India. That means waiters in white shirts and bow-ties: "smart and always with a bit of theatre," said Singha to Gourmet Traveller. The restaurant is expected to open in early November, but you can get your first taste of the menu at the Good Food Month Noodle Night Markets, which kicks off in Hyde Park next week. Trunk Road will open at 163 Crown Street, Darlinghurst. Keep your eyes on the Bang Street Food Facebook for more information. Via Gourmet Traveller. Header image: Bang Street Food.
Is there anything better than a bit of creative, raucous fun after an opening night at a local art gallery? We think not. If you agree, you'll love the monthly after pARTy at Chippendale bar Freda's. Held the first Wednesday of the month and curated by a different artist each time, the after pARTy is invariably an epic affair. For the first edition of 2017, immerse yourself in a feminist punk Arabian night(mare) created by multidisciplinary artist Leila El Rayes. Expect live Arabian drumming, genre-bending music by Melbourne-based DJ SEZZO SNOT, and El Rayes bellydancing wearing a skirt of knives (yes, really). This is an afterparty that is bound to be particularly memorable. Image: Dancing in the Crevice of Desire, live performance by Leila El Rayes, photograph by Four Minutes To Midnight, 2016.
Looking for a mid-week pick-me-up? Marrickville’s favourite local hangout has just the thing to turn your week around. The crew at Batch Brewing Company are hosting their final Beer Geek Series for the season, divulging all the secrets behind the beauty of hops. For only $30 per person, you’ll get a tasting of six beers, each of which have been individually dry hopped. From Apollo to Galaxy and all the celestial favourites in between, you’re sure to find a newfound appreciation for those bitter beers. As usual, the tastings will be paired with a hoppy history by Batch’s resident Beer Ambassador (and beer geek himself) Johnathan Hepner. Worried about getting to and from? Batch has set up a VIP shuttle by Dave’s Brewery Tours ($10 extra), which takes you round trip from the Keg & Brew in Surry Hills.
While Australian winters can get pretty damn nippy (hello slanket, our old friend), unfortunately we're not often blessed with really fun cold weather. We don't get snow, sleet or iced-over lakes which means we don't get snow days, slush fights, skating, tobogganing or a plucky bobsledding team to represent us in the Olympics (OK, we do have that last one). The Winterlight wonderland in Parramatta's Prince Alfred Park is aiming to right this grievous wrong. From June 25, you can delve into the kind of winters that the Starks seem to fear so much — a snowy, fun winter. The installation boasts all the icy activities you could ever want. If gliding around a treacherous ice pond with knives attached to your boots is your bag (known as 'ice skating'), you'll be delighted to know there's a large ice rink planned. But if you're more of a demure ice frolicker, the elegant ice toboggan may be more your thing. Or perhaps a trip down a slick ice slide? It's just $5 for three slides. The world is your cold, wet oyster. A turn about the rink will set adults (14 years and older) back $20, but after you ease your tired feet back into normal shoes and try to remember how to walk, the real fun begins. Mulled wine fun, that is. Winterlight is decked out with a delicious, delicious village serving up mulled wine, hot chocolate pasties, bratwurst and burgers. And really, aren't bratwurst and mugs of mulled wine the real spirit of winter? Winterlight is on at Prince Alfred Park Parramatta, from July 1- 17. Open Sunday to Thursday 10am to 8.45pm and Friday to Saturday 10am to 9.45pm. Image: Benson Kua.
The time has come. No longer will you need to plan your night around a 1.30am curfew. No longer will you be denied shots after midnight. You might even be able to stay out past 3am. Because, from today, the five-year-old lockouts have been scrapped in the CBD Entertainment Precinct — a move that venue owners and punters alike hope will signal a new era of Sydney nightlife. It's huge news. And we thought the best way to celebrate it was with a big ol' party at Big Poppa's. This Friday, January 17, Concrete Playground and the late-night haven of cheese, hip hop and cocktails will break out the good stuff for a good time — and a good cause, too. Stop in for a cheesy dinner — Big Poppa's is known for its cheese and will be doing half-price burrata on the night. It comes with heirloom tomatoes, chilli oil, pangrattato and oregano — and will be an easy $11.50.Then head downstairs for the party. From 7pm, the bar will be mixing negronis (with Campari and Cinzano Rosso vermouth) and espresso martinis for just $12 and serving tins of Atomic Beer Project XPA for just six bucks. If it sways you, $6 from each cocktail — and all the cash from the $6 beers — will be donated to WIRES's Wildlife Emergency Fund, which is helping to care for animals injured and orphaned during this season's catastrophic bushfires. Bacardi cocktails will be available, too, and DJs will be keeping things going right up until 3am. You'll be able to catch Flux-3, and VJ Spook and DJ Adverse, who will come together as CutKlipz for a special visual set that blends hip hop videos and tracks. You've been with us as we've covered the closures, the rallies, the fight for Sydney's right to party and this bash will be an opportunity to kick off what we hope will be the re-ignition of Oxford Street. Entry is free but let us know if you're coming (or, fine, be non-committal and hit 'interested') on the Facebook event. You don't need a reservation for the downstairs bar — it's first in best dressed until it's full.
One of Sydney's hidden rooftop gems has reopened atop the recently revamped East Village Hotel. After much anticipation, the folks at Goodtime Hospitality Group revealed two of three newly revamped sections of the much-adored, 100-year-old drinking spot in late October — we've seen the Public Bar and Athletic Club, a slick, minimalist wine bar and a vintage-inspired sports bar, respectively. And now, the third and final space, Terrace, is open. We've been waiting to see what design team Alexander & Co.(Busby, The Village Inn, Surly's, Daniel San) do with this 100-square-metre rooftop space — it's got one heck of a CBD skyline view. Climb four flights of stairs and you'll find high bar tables, lower lounge-like seating, handcut terrazzo slabs, plenty of plants and a retractable roof. It's the perfect spot for lazy weekend cocktails, with general manager Lee Potter Cavanagh and bar manager Reece Griffiths putting together a Terrace-only menu. There's 'seasonal mimosa' on the bill, with interchanging fruit juices, a 'teetotallers' menu for non-drinkers, and 'holiday' cocktails each month with recipes from their overseas buddies. Plus, for the strong-stomached, there's a 'Squidmark Sour', with Bulleit rye whiskey, Tempus Fugit gran classico bitters, crème de cacao, cherry, grapefruit, shichimi togarashi and squid ink— yep, squid ink. Food-wise, the Terrace is offering up something a little more casual than its lower counterparts, where head chef Graham Johns (Quay) and executive chef Tom Kime (Ceru, Fish & Co.) are reimagining classic counter meals. Upstairs though, executive chef Tom Kime has crafted a summery, casual menu of grilled meats, salads and snack — think gazpacho soup with marinated blue swimmer crab and basil ($21), escabeche of seared fish with saffron and pickled vegetables ($24), and rare grilled veal with anchovy and herb mayonnaise, caper berries and fried anchovies ($24). Head downstairs to find out more about the East Village's other unique levels. Find the East Village at 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. Terrace is open this week on Wednesday and Thursday from 6–10pm, Friday – Sunday: 11am – 10pm. Then, from Monday 21 November, open 11am–10pm, seven days a week.
When Kevin Bacon stood up in Footloose and said, “This is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life,” what he didn’t say was “but only for skinny people”. And yet, that seems to be what we mean these days. 'Fat' dancers and performers aren’t often seen, and so many people seem to have so many opinions on fatness and how fat people move through our society. We look at fat people and assume things — that the person is lazy, slovenly, unhappy and definitely, definitely ungraceful and unconnected to their bodily wellbeing. Now fat activist and artist Kelli Jean Drinkwater and resigning Force Majeure artistic director Kate Champion are working together to broaden our outlook on the body and the act of dancing. Playing as part of Sydney Festival, Nothing to Lose is highly topical, audacious and — coming from dance-theatre masters Force Majeure (Never Did Me Any Harm, Food) — sure to be a powerful watch. Challenging as it is to our prejudices, it might even be the most important work you see at the festival. We spoke to Drinkwater and Champion about the thinking behind the provocative project. Read what they had to say over here. It's also one of our top ten picks of the festival.
Twenty years ago the Australian wine landscape was shaped by French viticulture. The grapes we grew and the wines we drank were dominantly French in origin — Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. But over the last decade, an influx of Italian, Spanish, and Greek varietals have begun to make their mark across Australia, and they're now commonplace on wine lists and retail shelves all over the country. The winemakers who saw the potential for these varieties, long before they were considered cool, deserve endless credit. Before Aussie Wine Month kicks off in May, we've partnered with Wine Australia to round up five bottles of Australia's most delicious, innovative wine — keep this list in mind for your next dinner party. ASSYRTIKO Because the temperature in Australia's wine regions is continually rising, the search for varieties that thrive in warmer environments has moved to the top of every winemakers to-do list. It's taken ten years and a long wait at Australian customs to get Santorini's indigenous white grape Assyrtiko into Australia (specifically, South Australia's Clare Valley). Producing a fresh, crisp, acidic style of white wine, it's the perfect accompaniment to contemporary Australian food, and a natural partner to Australia's climate and cuisine. Think grilled octopus, fresh seafood, slow cooked lamb shoulder and cured ocean trout. In a couple of sentences: Assyrtiko is native Greek white wine that we've recently started producing here in Aus, that thrives in a warmer climate and which will quench any thirst on a hot day. Try it if you like Sauvignon Blanc, if you're bored with the status quo, or have a seafood platter to devour. One to try: 2016 Jim Barry Assyrtiko, Clare Valley SA MENCIA A wonderful little region called Galicia is tucked up high in the North-West corner of Spain. Here, among some of the steepest wine-growing mountain ranges, a delicious red grape called Mencia was found, picked and brought over to our shores. What's exciting about this grape is that it can express so many different characteristics when it's made into wine. From light and fresh, with a powerful mid-palate concentration of fruit and an elegant finish, to a rich and opulent, dark and brooding beast with structure and density. No matter which direction the flavours go, the wine is always perfumed, with a persistent juiciness that lingers in your mouth for hours. In a couple of sentences: Tastes like Pinot Noir on steroids — loads of fruit, but a nice grip on your palate. Try it if you're eating pulled pork, and you need something to match it with. One to try: 2016 Oliver's Taranga '2 Chicas' Mencia Rosé, McLaren Vale SA ZINFANDEL Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a black-skinned grape variety that produces a robust red wine. Expect to experience jammy flavours of blueberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, and cranberry alongside characters of black pepper, clove and liquorice. When you taste Zinfandel, it often bursts on the palate with juicy fruitiness, followed by spice and often a tobacco-like finish. A pro-tip when searching for the right Zinfandel is to keep an eye on the back label and check the Alcohol by Volume (ABV). If you like a lighter, more red-fruited style, look for a lower ABV. If big dark fruits and savoury spices are more your speed, look for a Zinfandel with an ABV above 15%. In a couple of sentences: Originating in Italy, made famous in the USA and now found in our backyard, Zinfandel is your Friday night pizza wine. If Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot had a love child, Zinfandel would be the product. One to try: 2013 Lowe Wines Zinfandel, Mudgee NSW SKIN CONTACT/ORANGE WINE To make an orange wine you take white grapes and crush them slightly (usually under foot), and then put them in a vessel (often ceramic, or made of large cement) to ferment. The fermenting wine is left alone from anywhere between four days to over a year. The longer the time spent on skins, the darker the orange/amber colour and the more tannin (or structure) the wine receives. Orange wines are usually robust and bold, with honeyed aromas of sweet melon, hazelnut, brazil nut, bruised apple, wood varnish, lanolin, juniper, sourdough and dried orange rind. On the palate, they're big, dry, and tend to be overly acidic — not for the faint hearted. In a couple of sentences: The colour and tannin structure of orange wine comes from extended juice contact with the skin of the grape — it's white wine for lovers of red wine. Try it if you like sour ale, cider, bold flavours, tannic wines, or if you've got a lemon stuffed baked chicken in the oven. One to try: 2016 #003 by Tom Ward, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Orange NSW PÉTILLANT-NATUREL Pétillant-Naturel is a delicious, lightly-sparkling wine, unfiltered and often bottled with a crown cap (like a beer bottle) rather than a cork. Colloquially shortened to Pét Nat, it's lightly cloudy like a cider and holds the distinct vinous characters, aromas and flavours of the grape variety it's made from — meaning each bottle, or vintage will have its own unique flavour. A rustic style of sparkling wine, Pét Nat is made using mostly traditional production methods. Unlike classic sparkling wines and Champagne however, wine producers don't add sugar to kick off secondary fermentation in the bottle (the element that gives most varieties of sparkling a firmer, more pronounced bubble). In fact, most, if not all Pét Nats do not see any additions in their fermentation process. The literal translation of the name is 'natural sparkling' — meaning it's the truest essence of grape in a bottle that a winemaker can get. In a couple of sentences: Bursting with flavour, Pét-Nat is a lightly-sparkling wine with a stylistically softer bubble compared to more traditionally-made sparkling wine. Try it if you like cider. One to try: 2016 Delinquente 'Tuff Nut' Bianco di Alessandria Pét Nat Riverland, SA Celebrate all types of Australian wine by getting involved with Aussie Wine Month over May — there will be events and tasting opportunities all over the country. Images: Kimberley Low.
Something remarkable takes place in Captain America: Civil War. Or rather, it doesn't. For this is a superhero movie in which not a single building falls. Not one. No skyscrapers tumble, no factories collapse, not even a tiny workman's shed lists slightly to one side and crushes some petunias. In a cinematic world now so inured to (and bored by) the sight of 9/11-esque dust clouds chasing hapless citizens through crumbling streets, Civil War doesn't just eschew this trend, it centres its entire story on the consequences of those kind of destructive nightmares. That's not to say there isn't any action. Quite the opposite. Civil War features some of the most exhilarating chase sequences and fight scenes in recent memory, choreographed with a balletic-like precision in which the emphasis is on small, considered flourishes rather than sheer brute force. Every punch, block, shot, weave and parry has been painstakingly conceived to reflect the personalities of each character involved. We see Cap (Chris Evans) bouncing his shield off walls like Ronnie O'Sullivan on a 147 break; Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) dispatching villains with scientific swagger; and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) trapping explosions instead of creating them. It's exactly the opposite of the kind of 'mindless violence' of which superhero flicks are so often accused, and it's as refreshing as it is electrifying. The other key feature of Captain America: Civil War is its story, in part because it actually has one. There's no fighting for fighting's sake here. Indeed most of the action is driven by a determination to stop the violence. As with its previous instalment The Winter Soldier, this is a film about oversight and accountability – acknowledging the terrifying (and unchecked) power of the Avengers, then seeking to control, regulate and restrict it by way of a UN accord. The world knows it owes an unpayable debt to these heroes, but collateral damage and civilian casualties can only be excused for so long.Here lies the conflict at the heart of the so-called civil war. Self-determination versus oversight. Freedom versus control. Team Cap versus Team Iron Man. It's a compelling and plausible fissure along which the line in the sand is drawn. And as with any great story, neither side is entirely in the right. Marvel, to its credit, knows its tone better than perhaps any other franchise, and here again we find its signature combination of edge-of-the-seat action and laugh out loud comedy. The performances teem with an emotional complexity rarely found in blockbusters, and the new character additions – whether they be previous Marvel Universe ring-ins like Spidey (Tom Holland) and Ant Man (Paul Rudd), or totally fresh inclusions like the outstanding Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) – ensure that no single actor commands too much screen time. Plot driven, fast-paced and terrifically funny, Captain America: Civil War is an outstanding film and the most fun you'll likely have in the cinema this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKrVegVI0Us
The end appears to have come for one of Sydney's most iconic LGBTIQ venues. After a difficult few months that included two 72-hour closure orders by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing on drug-related offences, The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville was this week sold to new owners, who intend to reinvent the venue as a high-end restaurant. According to Gay News Network, former owner Shadd Danesi has sold the troubled venue to Fraser Short and Scott Leach, who between them operate a number of sites around town including The Morrison, Watson’s Bay Hotel and Rose of Australia. The pair told the news service that the hotel would remain closed for the next few months while they locked down plans for its future, and have promised to consult with members of the local LGBTIQ community. "We recognise the Imperial’s importance to the LGBTIQ community and we will be reaching out to the community in coming months as we try to create something unique and special with the venue, whilst acknowledging its LGBTIQ heritage," said Leach. The sale was apparently inked for around $6.5 million, and the duo plans to commit an additional $3 million for renovations. "We are injecting funds immediately to start creating a modern food and beverage option for the venue," said Short. "This will include the introduction of a custom kitchen and high end restaurant business to meet the local community demand." A stalwart LGBTIQ venue for the past 13 years, and one the stars from 1994's iconic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Imperial ran into troubled earlier this year when Danesi leased the venue to Spice Group International, who previously ran the Spice Cellar in Martin Place. Police raided the premises in June, leading to the first 72-hour closure after staff members were alleged to have been caught using illicit drugs. The venue was again closed in July, and has remained that way ever since. Via GNN. Image: J Bar, Wikimedia Commons.
Get ready for a night of raucous entertainment, as one of the biggest names in Sydney's underground cabaret scene returns to the Beresford in Surry Hills. Presented by Artbank and MC'd by the legendary Renny Kodgers, this one-off event will see an epic lineup of performance artists take the stage, for a variety show unlike anything you've ever seen before. "Events like Renny Kodgers and Friends provide us with the opportunity to engage all of our audiences — showing art isn't always a serious, sombre affair," says Artbank director Tony Stephens. "It's a common misconception that Artbank is just an art rental service. In reality, we are a leading government program charged with supporting and promoting the incredible work of Australian artists." The event is set to take place on the evening of April 21, with Stephens promising "a unique celebration of Australian art and artists in an unconventional setting." "Guests who attended the last sell-out Artbank event hosted by Renny Kodgers at the Beresford in 2013 still talk about it as one of their art world highlights for the year and have been after us ever since to present it again," said Stephens. "This time there'll be even more performance artists, Australian art infused trivia and the launch of an Artbank sculpture commission. We're also embedding two Australian artists on every table so guests can expect an intimate evening of non-stop thrills and laugh out loud fun." Alright, so you're not entirely caught off-guard, here are five unexpected, flashy, glamorous, far-out things to expect at Renny Kodgers and Friends this April. BETTY GRUMBLE WILL CONJOUR THE SUPERNATURAL WITH HER WITCH DANCE A former child pageant star turned self-described "feminist contagion," Betty Grumble's act is fierce, provocative and titillating all at once. Expect ample nudity and plenty of fake blood. YOU'LL LEARN TO TWERK WITH CAROLINE GARCIA Perfect the art of the twerk with Caroline Garcia, a Sydney-based performance artist who specialises in cross-cultural dance and its intersection with popular culture. YOU'LL SEE RENNY MEET HIS MATCH AGAINST ADONIS Adonis is a mainstay of the local art scene, having collaborated on numerous projects including Force Majeure's audacious dance work Nothing to Lose. Here's hoping Renny is up to the challenge. GANG OF SHE WILL BELT OUT THE MUSIC OF TINA TURNER What could possibly suit a surrealist drag act better than the music of Tina Turner? This disco-obsessed art collective will be belting out the hits, and we can't image they'll object if you decide to sing along. LIAM BENSON WILL THROW DOWN AND CHANNEL HIS INNER-DIVA Liam Benson has been performing in Sydney for over a decade. Unashamedly political, his act interrogates contemporary Australian attitudes towards race, sexuality and gender. Artbank presents Renny Kodgers and Friends on Thursday, April 21 from 7-10pm at Upstairs Beresford. Limited tickets on sale from artbank.eventbrite.com. Header image: Rowan Conroy.
Your Christmas lunch will soon be soundtracked by Bill Murray. We squealed about it back in October 2014 — Hollywood's quirkiest legend has teamed up with Sofia Coppola for a festive TV special involving him singing a variety of Christmas carols and decking the halls with one heck of a cast. Murray and Coppola's new project will be undoubtedly somewhat different to their last collaboration, Lost in Translation. The synopsis? The trailer came with a little peek: "This winter, Bill Murray brings an extra-special dose of holiday cheer to Netflix with the premiere of an all-star musically-driven holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas. Set inside New York City’s iconic Carlyle hotel, A Very Murray Christmas opens with Murray preparing to host a live, international holiday broadcast. After a blizzard shuts down the production, he makes the best of the situation by singing and celebrating with friends, hotel employees and anyone else who drops by." Dropped this morning, the trailer's a pretty quick look at a pretty damn big cast. Set to Murray's 'Let It Snow' duet with Miley Cyrus, the trailer revealed one heck of a lineup: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, George Clooney, Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman, Maya Rudolph, Chris Rock and Paul Shaffer. Watch it here and try not to squeal: 'A Very Murray Christmas' is coming to Netflix on December 4. By Meg Watson and Shannon Connellan.
If you're one to buy a whole new wardrobe every season, we can't change you. But what if you bought sustainably, invested in eco-friendly fabrics, or bought second-hand? What if... you repaired your jean crotch hole instead of buying a new exxy pair? Sustainable fashion is something Sydney folk trio Little May feel pretty damn passionate about, and seeing as though they're about to kick off a national tour at Sydney's Metro Theatre, we thought we'd hand over the reins to multi-instrumentalist and eco-boss Annie Hamilton and let her school you on their favourite places to buy sustainable fashion. Handing over to Annie. Hello! I've just finished a year of buying-no-new-clothes in an effort to be more sustainable and to force myself to put more thought into the things that I buy and what impact they have on other humans, the environment and my own body. I studied textile design at uni and have always been interested in sustainable and ethical fashion, so I put together a list of a few Australian/NZ brands that are doing pretty awesome things in the world of sustainable fashion. In the wake of Fashion Revolution Week, it seems that more and more people are starting to question where and how their clothes were made, which can only be a good thing in the world of mass-produced, trend-driven fast fashion. Everyone has their own personal values and you should think about what yours are and try to reflect those in your purchases. But for a start, you can look for organic natural fibres, buy either locally-made or fair-trade, and look for traceability throughout the supply chain. And of course, buy clothing that is made to last, that won't fall apart or go out of fashion after a couple of wears. NUDIE JEANS CO In terms of sustainable clothing brands, Nudie ticks a lot of boxes. Nudie clothing is organic, traceable and made to last. Check out their website and you can find out exactly where the organic cotton for their jeans was grown in Turkey, or where the organic, fair trade cotton used in their shirts was grown in India. Information regarding their entire supply chain is available to the public, all the way down to the origins of their buttons, zippers and care labels. My favourite thing about Nudie is that they offer free lifetime repairs of their garments from their Paddington store, so if your much-loved jeans start to come apart at the seams, they will patch them right up for you. VEGE THREADS You can't make a list of sustainable designers without including Vege Threads. Every piece in the Vege Threads range is organic and locally made, utilising organic vegetable-based dyes. They have also collaborated with BB Shoes to create hand-made vegetable-tanned kangaroo leather sandals. They're based in Adelaide, mainly stocked online, but also available in Sydney at Newtown's You, The Earth and Me. HER SWIM It seems weird to be talking about swimwear when it is technically almost winter, but considering the fact that we're enjoying sunny, 26-degree days in Sydney, it seems evident that this summer may never actually end. This Sydney-based swimwear label uses 100 percent recycled post-consumer polyester and nylon to create simple, clean and minimal swimwear designs. NICO Nico is a Brisbane-based basics and underwear label with a huge focus on ethical and sustainable production and materials. With a minimal aesthetic, their pieces are all made of organic cotton, bamboo or modal, because who wants to be wearing chemicals-laden synthetics near your hoo-ha? Not me. KOWTOW Kowtow is a NZ based label that is truly committed to traceability and sustainability in their production. They use 100 percent fair trade organic cotton grown in India, with the entire production chain explored in the 'Seed To Garment' documentary on their website. Kowtow has several Sydney stockists (including the Somedays store in Surry Hills, which also stocks organic and ethical BaseRange underwear/basics). YOUR LOCAL VINNIES After all, nothing is more sustainable than buying second-hand (especially when that money is going back into charity). Go find yourself a bargain. [caption id="attachment_571217" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Celeste Tesoriero, Winter 2016 for Fashion Revolution Week.[/caption] WELLMADECLOTHES.COM A pretty awesome resource for buying ethically and sustainably. Full stop. SWEDISH STOCKINGS They're not Australian, but they make stockings out of 100 percent recycled plastics, and will offer you a discount if you send them your old/ripped stockings to recycle. GOOD ON YOU An Australian app that rates the sustainability of different brands to help shoppers make informed choices. Now you're all dolled up in eco-friendly threads thanks to Annie, go see Little May. Here's where: LITTLE MAY 2016 AUSTRALIA TOUR DATES Thursday, May 5 — Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong Friday, May 6 — Metro Theatre, Sydney Saturday, May 7 — Small Ballroom, Newcastle Thursday, May 12 — ANU Bar, Canberra Friday, May 13 — Max Watts, Melbourne Saturday, May 14 — Waratah Hotel, Hobart Friday, May 20 — Adelaide Uni Bar, Adelaide Saturday, May 21 — Amplifier Bar, Perth Friday, May 27 — Solbar, Sunshine Coast Saturday, May 28 — The Zoo, Brisbane Sunday, May 29 — Studio 56 @ Miami Marketta, Gold Coast Tickets on sale now from littlemaymusic.com/tour.
