How does Murray Bell have a moment to even look at design? For the past 15 years, he's been the head of Semi Permanent, the global design platform that he founded in 2002, curating live design events all over the country. The next of these events to hit Sydney was been announced today, and is the celebration of 15 big years of Semi Permanent. As if last year's lineup wasn't noteworthy enough, Bell has moved things into a different kind of topical territory this year, embracing the official theme 'Design for Change'. Semi Permanent's 2017 event will take over Carriageworks from Thursday, May 25 to Saturday, May 27 and features a cast of players so influential in the modern design game that while this event's in motion, the world will become a very desolate and tacky place. The headlining speaker is Oliver Stone, the Academy Award winning director behind such influential films as Scarface, Midnight Express, Platoon, Wall Street, Natural Born Killers, JFK, Nixon, and The Doors. Other speakers include Museum of Contemporary Art Australia director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Katherine Keating publisher VICE Impact, Nike design director Meirion Pritchard and Nike EMEA brand director Gary Horton, Jacqueline Bourke from Getty Images, animation studio Moth Collective, Design Studio's Paul Stafford, Frog Design and Australian designers David Caon, Henry Wilson and architect Kelvin Ho. The program also includes the Future State panels, a series of talks about the how the design world, and the world as a whole, is growing and changing. The themes for the panels will cover Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, immersive storytelling, and redesigning cities. Appearing on these panels will be representatives of Google, Netflix, Pixar, and Amazon. Plus, Google and Semi Permanent are launching an immersive experience with Tilt Brush in collaboration with contemporary artists. Murray Bell and Semi Permanent are not only collectors and sharers of good design, they aim to be influencers who enable the design community to improve and grow. The idea behind the project is to create a global platform of creating, networking, and sharing, and to bring top-notch original content to readers of their site. Semi Permanent's 15th birthday is part the Vivid Sydney program. Semi Permanent runs May 25-27 at Carriageworks. General one-day tickets are $340, two-day $544 and three-day $765. Premium one-day tickets are $540, two-day $864 and three-day $1215. Student tickets available too. Check semipermanent.com for more details. Images: Semi Permanent.
It was a sad day in the history of Sydney live music when the Lansdowne Hotel announced that they were shutting their doors for a final time. After years of giving a leg up to the lesser-known local acts and providing a stage for massive home grown artists like The Living End or You Am I, the Lansdowne Hotel called it quits for good. And then two years later, the team behind Mary's swooped in to resurrect the iconic pub. In some of the best news all year, the Lansdowne has thrown its doors open again and stretched its welcoming arms to draw everyone in for a warm hug of pub grub, cheap beer and good music. Image: Jack Steel.
Considered Brisbane's Banksy by many, famed Australian artist Anthony Lister is at it again. This time, he's launching a ten-year anniversary show in Kings Cross from Wednesday, July 17 — and it's free to the public. Culture is Over pays homage to the bygone era of Kings Cross as the thriving cultural hub of our city. The exhibition marks ten years since Lister's pop-up event No Win Sitch — which took place in the now-closed Porky's Nite Spot strip club, and helped the artist gain international recognition. Fittingly, Culture is Over will also take over the old Porky's digs with an exploration of just how much Sydney has changed in the past ten years. This latest installation is inspired by Lister's iconic artwork Moloch of Luna Park, which depicts the unidentified horned man that is said to have terrorised theme park guests back in 1979. Expect paranormal and mythical themes in a mix of painting, sculpture and video installation — all of which track how, according to Lister, our city has "lost its soul", thanks to the lockout laws. Opening night will take place on July 17 from 7–9pm. The free exhibition will then run for one week until July 24, with opening hours from Monday– Friday between 11am–3pm. For serious collectors (and serious fans with some cash to splash), some of Lister's artwork will be available to purchase, too. Images: Yasmin Suteja.
No nation did Beatlemania quite like we did. Perhaps that's because we had just one chance to express our adoration. The Fab Fours' only tour of Australia started with 1,000 fans, 100 journalists and a rainstorm at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on the morning of June 11, 1964 and finished up with John Lennon's summation, "It was good", on July 1. For two weeks, the country demonstrated a never-before-seen capacity for obsession (with the possible exception, of course, of 60s "egg man" Bob Katter). Fifty years later, we're invited to relive the fervour via the Beatles in Australia exhibition. Both Sydney's Powerhouse Museum and Melbourne's Art Centre are to be transformed into sites of Beatlemania. There'll be rare objects sourced from fans, collectors and museums; newsreels; television footage; radio excerpts and press clippings, exploring the before, during and after of the visit that, according to some, altered the Australian cultural landscape forever.
Let's face it — you don't normally expect to walk out of a bar feeling smarter. But global initiative Raising the Bar looks to do just that, pulling education out of classrooms and injecting it into unexpected locations. Hailing from New York, Raising the Bar is heading to Aussie shores, in partnership with the University of Sydney, to take over Sydney bars for one night only. Ten Sydney haunts — including Della Hyde, Since I Left You, Mojo Record Bar and The Taphouse —are getting involved in this free event, with each venue hosting talks at 6.30pm and 8pm. The bars will be open for business, too, so you can grab a beer to sip on while you try to memorise some new facts to share at parties. Some of Sydney's brightest minds will come together to discuss their research. And the conversation topics are about as varied as you can get — from heatwaves to happiness to the bioethics of human tissue. Registration for each individual event is a must, so head over here to check out the full program and nab your free ticket.
You can never have too many food trucks and chicken wings, and King of the Wings is hoping that the poultry-loving people of Sydney agree. After slinging their spicy pieces around Brisbane since 2014 — and proving one of the first purveyors of meals-on-wheels in southeast Queensland, in fact — they're heading south to bring their tasty morsels to a whole new batch of hungry customers. Come May, King of the Wings will pop up at The Observer Hotel in The Rocks for what they've dubbed 'Wing Week', serving up tender, tasty chicken galore. The full details of the event yet to be revealed; however, just running your eyes over their menu should be enough to motivate you to be there. It's about quality over quantity here, with the self-proclaimed wing kings specialising in five flavours: their signature Southern-style herb and spice rub, a sweet chilli-infused honey sesame sauce, traditional American barbecue, the extra hot 'Chillogy' and a Portuguese crumb. The Sydney pop-up comes hot on the heels of King of the Wings adding a second, split-level design truck to their fleet, as well as competing in last year's New York Wingfest — where they took out the best new vendor field, and came second in the best wing sauce category. Sydneysiders, if you want to find out why, you'll just have to head along. King of the Wings will pop up at The Observer Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney in May. For more information, keep an eye on their Facebook page.
The bond between Italians and their food and wine is a sacred one, and with the Sydney Italian Wine + Food Festival, Sydneysiders are invited to partake in this holy combination. Get ready to abandon any carbless aspirations and embrace gloriously hearty nosh as this festival returns to Sydney. With it comes the promise of produce that will dance upon your tastebuds in a merry cheese and basil-infused tarantella. This year, they're setting up shop for the day at the Barangaroo Reserve for the first time and they're bringing along some of the best names in Italian cuisine. Cooking demonstrations and talks will be on all day. Want to see mozzarella being freshly made? You can. Want to watch fettuccine be churned out from scratch? Go for it. As well as watching the creation of Italian food, you can also, of course, eat some. There will be fresh produce to purchase, with everything from gelato to coffee, pasta to pizza on offer. The marketplace will host pop-up restaurants from some of Australia's best chefs, including Sydney's Popolo and Balla, Brisbane's Otto Ristorante and Melbourne's 400 Gradi. Pair that with over 200 of Italy's finest wines and you've got yourself a damn good feast. Not to mention a casual Negroni Bar. Once you've eaten yourself silly, you can loll around in a semi-food coma in the wine garden while enjoying some live Italian jazz. As the day transitions into night, expect a full DJ set of Italian vinyl and European tracks until 9pm.
With a towering collection of contemporary art, Artbank is the leader in art leasing in Australia. Established by the government in 1980, it serves a broad range of domestic and corporate clients, spending up to $1 million per year on new and diverse acquisitions. Now Artbank are moving out of their Rosebery headquarters and into the thick of things. The new purpose-designed space is adjacent to the Danks Street Gallery Precinct in Waterloo. And the inaugural exhibition, Loose Canon, is the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse into a frequently off-limits collection. Opening on Saturday, August 23, this show will present an updated and alternative version of Australia’s cream of the crop. Featured artists include Billy Kenda Tjampitjinpa, Vivienne Binns, Peter Maloney, Todd McMillan, Katthy Cavaliere, and many more. You’ll definitely want to stick around on Saturday for Artbank Social Club. This extended opening ceremony will be packed with performance artists, DJs, food and drinks. The Loose Canon exhibition continues until November, when all featured works are available for lease. Image: The Rights and Wrongs of Women by Katherine Hattam.
As an Annandale local, I can avow that Parramatta Road is a deeply depressing commute. Walking to the Johnston Street bus stop opposite shuttered shopfronts and treeless footpaths makes me feel like I have no life. But Leichhardt mayor and potential hero Darcy Byrne hopes to correct this sad situation, with his exciting proposal to transform the ugly blight of Parramatta Road from Sydney University to Lewisham into a hub of live music and nightlife, not unlike the venue-lined thoroughfares of New Orleans or New York's Broadway. Think music venues, comedy clubs and intimate bars open into the small hours. The proposal comes in the wake of the regrettable passing of the iconic and beloved Annandale Hotel, which went into receivership this summer after a slew of legal battles with neighbouring residents over noise levels. Now Byrne is taking measures to ensure other venues in the area don't share the Annandale's fate. These measures include the Good Neighbour policy, allowing for higher levels of noise and much later trading hours, and a plan to rezone Parramatta Road as Sydney's first dedicated live music and cultural precinct. If you think about it, the strip's current attributes lend itself perfectly to this proposal: near to the CBD but not overly residential, Parramatta Road offers easy public transport access and has a pre-existing community of musical instrument retailers and recording studios. If the plan goes ahead, Byrne could "transform this roadway into rock-and-roll central", a development that could do great things for both homegrown musicians and the young 'uns of the inner west alike. Image of New Orleans by benswing.
Did your New Year's resolution involve eating more of the things you love? Do cheese, charcuterie and pretzels fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. Throughout January and February, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat and cheese boards. They come stacked with German cheeses, Prager ham, schinkenspeck, lyoner, berliner, liverwurst, pretzels, gherkins, Kühne mustard and remoulade — and once you've finished your board, you'll get a new serving. You have 90 minutes to eat as much as you'd like, and it'll cost you $25 per person. There is a two-person minimum, so you'll need to take your fellow meat- and cheese-loving partner or pal along with you. You'll find The Bavarian at Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Penrith, Miranda, Macarthur, Green Hills, Entertainment Quarter, York Street, Wetherill Park and Chatswood in New South Wales. And if you want to pair your boards with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
There is a high chance you've already heard of Chet Faker, along with his soulful, trip-hop offerings and his mega-babin' beard. The Melbourne-based artist started making waves online with his cover of Blackstreet's 'No Diggity', which spread across the blogosphere like wildfire, making him an internet superstar in a very short period of time. One EP later — Thinking in Textures — and he's already toured around globally, including stellar sets at Austin's SXSW, the UK's Great Escape Festival and our very own Splendour in the Grass. Indulge in what will surely be a night of swooning, grooving and singing to the soulful sounds of Chet Faker and his band, as he digs deep to deliver some of the most heart-melting tunes and stories of love. https://youtube.com/watch?v=P9r7KJJYkYY
Darlinghurst's beloved laneway bar Love, Tilly Devine is celebrating the chilly season and longest night of year with a wine-filled winter solstice party. Imbibo — an acclaimed Melbourne wine importer — is arriving at the Crown Lane venue to pour top-quality drops from eight of its favourite winemakers. There will be a full spread of white, red, skin-contact and bubbles served across the night, paired with roasted Tathra Place porchetta rolls from Chef Tom Bromwich. Highlights from the roster of wines include a sweet, citrusy and bubbly Western Australian chenin blanc; a chardonnay from Little Reddie of Macedon Ranges; and a 170-day Mildura skin contact. There will be a range of snacks including Sydney rock oysters or spiced pea and paneer croquettes, but the star will be the porchetta rolls, topped with hot sauce, mayo and apple coleslaw. The Tuesday-night event will kick off at 7pm and is a walk-in-only affair, meaning you'll want to get in early to ensure you can nab a spot. Images: Bruno Stefani for Buffet Digital
It's a problem that everyone can relate to: your thirst needs quenching, but your tastebuds are craving two completely different things. You could make the hard choice and pick between them — or, if you happen to be hankering for dessert and beer (and getting your fill of dumplings, too), you could make a beeline to Harajuku Gyoza. From Thursday, December 10, the Australian gyoza chain is serving up a two new tap beers that taste like Japanese desserts. Obviously, they don't literally combine desserts with beer, but they're meant to taste that way. Come for the black sesame ice cream variety, which has been sweetened with lactose, takes its nutty flavour from black sesame seeds and features chocolate as well — and stay for the matcha ice cream version, which also uses lactose, plus matcha powder for a herbal green tea taste. Given that Harajuku Gyoza has already turned dumplings into dessert — via its salted caramel and Nutella varieties — pouring dessert-flavoured beers seems the logical next step. The brews come courtesy of Yoyogi Brewing Co, and use Japanese brewing techniques as well as Japanese-inspired ingredients. If you fancy pairing the new beers with two of Harajuku Gyoza's old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Usually the chain's special additions to its menu are only available for a limited time, so you might want to get in quickly. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese dessert-inspired beers will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, December 10.
The new program for The Moonlight Cinema kicks off with Sam Taylor Wood’s John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy. This beautifully constructed film steps behind the legend to reveal a young man torn between two mothers. Another masterful biopic sees the delightful Audrey Tatuou seamlessly embodying the modest beginnings of the fashion icon in Coco Avant Chanel, while Emily Blunt transforms the dour Queen Victoria into a beautiful and vibrant vision in Jean-Marc Vallee’s The Young Victoria.Other new releases include Spike Jonze’s much-anticipated adaptation of the childhood classic Where The Wild Things Are, James Cameron’s virtual odyssey Avatar, as well as Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl’s wonderful Fantastic Mr. Fox. For all the closet Twi-hards out there both Twilight and the sequel New Moon are screening, while on the other end of the literary spectrum are Peter Jackson’s ghostly Lovely Bones and Guy Ritchie digging into London’s crime roots with Sherlock Holmes. 
Australian cinema will also shine in the moonlight with screenings of Scott Hick’s look at single fatherhood The Boys Are Back (starring Clive Owen), Jane Campion’s portrait of romantic poet par excellence John Keats in Bright Star and Bruce Beresford’s graceful Mao’s Last Dancer. Geoffrey Rush and Australian Idol winner Jessica Mauboy will bust a move as well in Rachel Perkin’s youthful romp around Broome in the summer of 1969, Bran Nue Dae.
For those seeking a blast from the past, the timeless Breakfast at Tiffany’s is on offer, as well as Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Top Gun, Pulp Fiction and even The Godfather. More recent classics screening include Christopher Nolan’s superlative The Dark Knight, Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire and Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastical fable Ponyo. There are many more films besides, so be sure to check out the full program before packing your picnic basket and staking out your cinematic spot under the stars.https://youtube.com/watch?v=w8Xs4GfFrM8 https://youtube.com/watch?v=n2igjYFojUo https://youtube.com/watch?v=dyDQoXEBkGw https://youtube.com/watch?v=myJEh0fUalc
Art and science worlds collide at the 2012 BrainArt Exhibition, bringing you a free two-day event filled with workshops, live performances, and installations that explore neuroscience and its impact on our day-to-day lives. The exhibition, now in its third year, heavily incorporates social media and technology, with the aim to break the boundaries of the typical physical exhibition and transform the art space into a digital and virtual realm. Works from the BrainArt Awards Virtual Gallery will be on display via iPads and projections, which visitors are encouraged to interact and engage with. Keynote presentations and workshops will also be running across the two days to stimulate your mind. You can head along to an ink pressing workshop which will teach you about your brain’s creativity and pleasures as well as its link to depression, or join Billy Blue College of Design for the launch of an app to help kids to learn about their emotional lives.
It's been two years since Melbourne outfit the Stabs have ventured north to Sydney, to blow minds with their brutal, high-energy and borderline mayhem live show. To celebrate the vinyl re-release of their debut album Dirt and Dead Wood – they previously sold out two pressing of their debut – the three-piece will return in September to fill out GoodGod's Danceteria with a concoction of blistering noise and earsplitting feedback. There is only a limited number of copies of each title available, but you can purchase either of the two releases via Homeless Records. Kickin' around since 2003, the three-piece have performed along the likes of Mudhoney, Rowland S. Howard, The Scientists and more. They were also hand-picked to perform at the inaugural, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-curated All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in 2009. Get in early to have your ears buzzed out with the sounds of the Holy Soul and Treatment. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JT1tolu5aQE
CarriageWorks' brick nooks and cast iron crannies ooze with flavour, and the building’s trainyard surroundings make you feel like you’ve taken shelter in a decaying industrial landscape.In 2007, De Quincey Co wove themselves into this landscape for their entrancing work, The Stirring. Certainly they have woken some force within the building, because now the mechanical history of CarriageWorks tick-tocks back into life with DQC’s new piece, RUN – a performance engine.Mobility and momentum are the core principles of RUN, as DQC’s superhuman performers transform CarriageWorks into a living machine - an entity that evolves through live video capture and is heralded by Jim Denley’s harmony of flesh and musical instrument.
There hasn't been much to get excited about during the pandemic, but seeing fantastic film festivals jump online and offer their usually city-limited programs to Australians everywhere is definitely a rare silver lining in these difficult times. One such fest doing just that is the Sydney Underground Film Festival, which went completely virtual in 2020 and is repeating the feat in 2021. As Sydney's go-to event for all flicks weird, wonderful, out-there and anarchic, SUFF will keep doing what it's been doing well for 15 years now — but by beaming an impressive heap of movies into homes around the country. From Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26, cinephiles looking for something other than the usual streaming options can binge their way through the fest's 30 features and documentaries. If you like your strange and surreal movies in bite-sized servings, there'll also be nine short film programs featuring more than 100 titles. From the full-length selection, highlights include opening night's road trip comedy Sweetie, You Won't Believe It from Kazakhstan-based director Yernar Nurgaliyev; documentary Alien on Stage, about a group of UK bus drivers who decided to create their own amateur stage production based on Ridley Scott's famous sci-fi/horror classic; and Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, which explores X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene's story from her daughter's viewpoint. Other standouts span Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest, which follows an attempt to become the first in the world to play an arcade machine from the early 80s for 100 hours in a row; absurdist Japanese comedy Wonderful Paradise, as based around an eviction street party in the Tokyo suburbs; and coming-of-age comedy-thriller First Date. Or, there's Fanny: The Right To Rock, about the first all-woman band to release an album with a major record label; Ukranian effort Stranger, which sees people start to disappear from bodies of water; and Lorelai, starring familiar faces Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone in thoughtful drama about working class life in America. SUFF will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Miss Osbourne, which stars the inimitable Udo Kier and isn't your usual take on the famous tale — because, just like attending ace film fests, celebrating big cinematic milestones is also something you can do at home.
It was a sad day when Gastro Park closed its doors, and an even sadder day when Grant King's next restaurant in the space, Antipodean, closed after less than a year in operation. After being vacant for over a year, the Potts Point digs have finally been snatched up by chef and hospitality veteran Opel Khan, who has just opened French restaurant Métisse in the Roslyn Street corner spot. In French, Métisse means "mixed race", a nod to the way the menu blends cuisines and cultures. Khan has Bangladeshi Australian background and was classically trained in France. And he's signed on a team of all-French chefs in the kitchen. These include head chef Benoit Lollichon (from the three-Michelin starred Guy Savoy restaurant) and Khan's 19-year-old daughter Lucinda Khan as sous chef. Khan is no newcomer to the restaurant industry either, having managed and owned 15 Australian restaurants, including the now-closed Surry Hills' French-Indian resto Guru and Beluga. At Métisse, diners can taste fine-dining French fare without the completely out-of-control prices. All entrées are priced at $18, all sides (including truffled mash) at $10 and mains at $28. Expect beef tartare crostini prepared tableside; foie gras parfait served with brioche and air-dried beetroot 'snow'; and butter and saffron poached salmon with asparagus. A house specialty is the duck a l'orange — layers of crispy duck confit, potato and caramelised orange sauce, paired with a pure gold-dusted quail egg. Try the lot with the five course degustation dinner, which includes paired wines for a pretty reasonable $100 (and also comes with a vego option). These set menus will be available every night, and exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays. Metisse is now open at 5–9 Roslyn Street, Potts Point. It's open from 5pm–midnight, Tuesday–Sunday.
The organisers of the Antenna Documentary Film Festival have revealed their latest program, including a timely opening night film about a group of Syrian refugees — and the attempts of Good Samaritans to help get them to safety. Sydney's annual documentary film festival will commence on October 13 with the Australian premiere of On the Bride's Side. An Italian/Palestinian co-production, the film follows a small team of Milanese journalists and activists who orchestrate a fake wedding party in order to smuggle their Syrian and Palestinian refugee friends thousands of kilometres across Europe – risking arrest and imprisonment in the process. The documentary has already screened at a number of festivals including the Venice International Film Festival and HotDocs in Toronto, where it received critical praise for bringing "a more personal perspective" to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. As the heartbreaking images of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi recently showed, putting a human face onto these kinds of tragedies can have a huge impact on public and political discourse. Perhaps we should be lobbying for certain members of the government to attend the screening. In addition to On the Bride's Side, this year's Antenna will include a number of high-profile and critically acclaimed documentaries. Made with the participation of legendary actor David Gulpilil, Molly Reynolds' Another Country explores the ongoing conflict between Indigenous communities and government policy, while Danish documentary Warriors from the North probes the growing trend of young Western Muslims joining jihadist groups overseas. Also from Denmark, albeit slightly less sombre, comes Michael Madsen's The Visit, which ponders the likely human response to a visit from extraterrestrial life. We're also particularly excited to check out B-Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin, about the eponymous city's vibrant music scene during the 1980s, as well as environmental activism doco Racing Extinction, from the Oscar-winning director of The Cove.
Stories of Love and Hate draws upon a fairly unpleasant event in Australia's recent past. The Cronulla Riots in 2005 saw a crowd of mostly white young men take to the streets with violent passion to reclaim the beach from those of Middle Eastern appearance. Instead of dismissing it as an unfortunate act of racism, director Roslyn Oades has attempted to understand what, but more importantly, why the riots occurred. The play, developed by Sydney's Urban Theatre Projects, the Bankstown-based company renowned for presenting gritty stories of contemporary Australian life, weaves together personal stories about the often tenuous bonds that hold us together and how easily they can begin to fall apart. More importantly, it considers the idea that hate is a consequence of feeling the things we love most are under threat. The piece was created through two years of research alongside those affected by the riots from Bankstown and the Sutherland Shire. Rather than reiterating media hype or erring on the side of judgment, the project attempts to grasp the issues from firsthand accounts, with just the right amount of humour to make you appreciate things without wringing your hands in a fit of communal cultural guilt. Presented by the Sydney Theatre Company as part of it's education series, the play uses a technique they're dubbing 'Headphone Verbatim', where the actors wear headphones and recite their lines in accordance with a carefully edited audio script, channelling multiple characters, to recreate every cough, tic, stumble and inarticulation of authentic human communication.
Adelaide Hills gin distillery Applewood wants to help brighten up your time spent inside with a boozy gift: a free Quarantini. If you're yet to hear of this magical creation, here's a quick breakdown: it's a martini cocktail, drank in quarantine. While many Australians aren't quite in quarantine, some are self-isolating and everyone is social distancing and encouraged to only leave the house when it's absolutely necessary. So, a martini can't hurt. Especially when it's free. Applewood has bottled up 1000 200-millimetre bottles of pre-batched martini made with its famed gin, and is giving them away to the first 1000 people who sign up to its mailing list over here, before Wednesday, April 15. If you're one of the first, all you need to do is cover the $10 flat-rate postage fee and it'll arrive at your doorstep. The giveaway is only available to Australian residents over 18 years of age. If you miss out on the free Quarantini, Applewood Distillery has a lot of other fun tricks up its sleeves. As well as selling its usual tasty gins, liqueurs and limoncello, it has Isolation Gin Packs (for $199.99) and Espresso Martini Packs ($110). And it's running nightly Digital Happy Hours where you can learn to make your own Quarantinis and chat about all things gin with Brand Ambassador Henry Hammersla. To win a Quarantini, you'll need to be one of the first 1000 people to sign up to the Applewood Distillery newsletter before April 15.
Attention flower children and psychedelic rockers: prepare to lose your minds. Perth-based rockers Pond are coming to Sydney to deliver you a night of hallucinogenic head banging. The group (who claim to have been ‘born under a mulberry tree in Danglish’) is part of the Western Australian rock scene home to the likes of Tame Impala, The Silents, and These Ship Wreks. Garnering attention from Stereogum and The New York Times, Pond shined on the stages at South by Southwest in 2012 with their tunes from Beard, Wives, Denim. Their fifth studio album, Hobo Rocket, was released at the end of the past winter, and ready to be performed live on their Australian tour this summer. Hear (and see) for yourself what the hype is all about; it’s sure to be a mind-numbing experience.
Water Polo by the Sea, a highlight of the sporting/social/summer calendar, will return to Bondi Icebergs this January. Come watch our Aussie Sharks — including Olympians Rhys Howden, Richie Campbell, Billy Miller and Johnno Cotterill and Aaron Younger — as they take on the International All Stars in what’s sure to be a fantastic match. This is no normal sporting game. The event is an opportunity to meet the players, mingle with VIPs, extend the summer holiday vibe and sip cocktails (served by shirtless athletes) against the stunning backdrop of Bondi Icebergs. Gates open at 3.30pm, and the game is on from 4-5.30pm. The marquee stays open until 7.30pm.
Have a field day and show 2014 who’s boss with a New Year's Day marked by dehydration, selfies and shared sweat from a mosh pit. Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Flume, Solange, The Wombats, London Grammar, Ta-ku, Hermitude, Chet Faker and Flight Facilities will be playing into the night at the Domain event. Neatly tucked between the city and the Botanical Gardens, Field Day is one of the best for New Year's Day. So make use of your public holiday and put your hangover on the backburner.
Not every Sydneysider has the luxury of being able to nab a cheeky beach dip in Tamarama after work. The words "hectic traffic", "epic trek", "generally CBF" start a long list of pretty solid excuses. If you're an inner-city dweller, chances are you've found your nearest community pool for cooling off and doing mad laps in. Luckily, the City of Sydney's built a fair few aquatic centres around town. And the first weekend of summer's the perfect time to try 'em all. For free. On Saturday, December 7, the City of Sydney is opening up all five of its swimming pools for free from 10am till 3pm, inviting locals to try out everything each 50-metre pool has to offer — including the insanely pretty Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool located on the edge of the harbour, Redfern's lovely yellow-hued Prince Alfred Park Pool, Victoria Park Pool in Camperdown, Cook + Phillip Park Pool on the edge of Hyde Park and Ultimo's Harry Seidler-designed Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. You could hop between each one for a full comparison. There'll be a range of activities for all ages on the day, including tours, fitness classes, aquatic inflatables, learn-to-swim information, barbecues and face painting. Plus, you get to swim for free.
What's better than watching the New Year's Eve fireworks than Sydney Harbour's Cockatoo Island? Waking up to the same incredible harbour views on January 1. It sounds a bit wild, but it could be your reality, as Cockatoo Island prepares to open up its annual New Year's Eve program to punters. Yes, we know NYE is still months away, but the we're bringing it up now because the ballot for accommodation on the island has just opened. If you want to stay in the island's super exclusive accommodation as the decade ticks over, you'll need to enter — there are only a few houses up for grabs. There are an assortment of premium accommodation options, including two heritage houses and three waterfront apartments. The houses sleep up to 12 guests, while the apartments can fit up to five — and all are decked out with all the luxury trimmings and an outdoor viewing area across the harbour. You can try your luck at nabbing one by entering your name in the ballot, which runs from now until Sunday, August 25. And you'd best start saving those dollars ASAP – depending how big your crew is, the ballot stays have to be for five nights and range from $800–1750 per person. [caption id="attachment_738268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The view from one of Cockatoo Island's two heritage houses.[/caption] If you miss out, or simply prefer to keep things a little more low-key, Cockatoo Island is also offering up its regular camping and glamping packages for its New Year's festivities. Tickets for deluxe one-night glamping experiences are on sale from Monday, September 2, with prices starting at a more affordable $400 per person. If you want to bring all your own great (including a tent), you can nab a site for around $100–200 per person. While these might not be quite as fancy as the balloted digs, they do get you front and centre to all of the Island's NYE fun – think, live tunes, guided tours, DJ sets, eats and pop-up bars, teamed with those world-famous firework displays. Cockatoo Island's New Year's Eve program will take place on December 31, 2019 to welcome in 2020. The ballot for houses and apartments is now open and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, August 25, while camping tickets will go on sale here at 9am on Monday, September 2.
At the words 'Pastry Party' you are no doubt salivating like Pavlov's dog and dreaming of a room filled with coloured balloons and enough chocolate croissants and cinnamon doughnuts to drown you in a blissful sugary tsunami. If you can believe it, it's actually better than that. At Anna Polyviou's Pastry Party, the expert chef (executive pastry chef at Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel, to be exact) will give you a cooking workshop where you'll learn how to make your own amazing pastry treats at your leisure so that you can throw out your Jamie Oliver and Ottolenghi and devote yourself to the most important food group: sugar. Polyviou's is even adding her own personal DJ to the mix so you can learn to make push pops to Salt-N-Pepa's 'Push It' or pina colada wagon wheels while you dance around your mixing bowl to 'Tequila'. All ingredients and equipment are provided, meaning all you have to do is show up ready to bury yourself arm deep in pastry. Image by Eddie Hart.
Kino Sydney is a monthly short film night with a unique concept: all the films screened are made specifically for the night and they are not competing against one another. The result is a free forum for ideas, where filmmakers collaborate with one another to produce short works that defy their lack of financial support.It is no surprise then that such a great idea is part of a global movement. Born in Montréal in ‘99, Kino has cells in Canada, the US, France, Germany, the UK, South Africa and Australia. Sydney’s particular chapter was founded by The Festivalists, a non-profit film festival company headed by Mathieu Ravier and Marianne Alla.For those only wishing to participate from the safety of a comfy cushion, Kino nights also offer the best cinema deal in Sydney: an open slather of hot food, Coopers Pale Ale and Jamesons Irish Whiskey for a modest $15 cover charge. An interview with Mathieu Ravier can be found here.https://youtube.com/watch?v=x6OeuAJCwu4
There is absolutely no time to sleep this October long weekend. Begin early, Thursday morning, and jump onto a train to Newcastle. Sit back quietly with some knitting as the train winds through Hawkesbury River, take a quick nap, then erupt out of Newcastle station and into the whirlwind affectionately known as TiNA. Despite an intense lead-up, including an unexpected funding crisis, the show must go on. And what a show it is! Five days of performances, workshops, parties, panels and much much more. Our picks include the Word-Hurl Anti-Slam, an epic battle of Novocastrian poets, the Human Drum Machine, including a take-home starter pack, and Cy*Bent*Ity, which promises to be the latest Facebook-spread party gone wrong (or right). Haven't really prepared? Never fret, we've got you covered. Accommodation is a breeze in Aunty Jenny's Tent City, and thanks to Newcastle's geography, it's easy to ride your way around town on a bicycle hired from the Community Bike Library (for a refundable deposit). Almost all events are free, so a limited budget is no problem. In short, there's absolutely no excuse not to join in and have a grand old time. Image: courtesy of Crack Theatre Festival, photo by Holly Orkin
When LP's opened its doors on Chippen Street back in August, 2014, our reviewer wrote "if you're not addicted to smoking, then you haven't tried LP's Quality Meats". Unfortunately, Sydneysiders must now prepare for some serious withdrawals, with the haven of smoked and cured meats set to close its doors on February 1, 2020. Thankfully, though, you won't be going cold turkey — while the LP's restaurant will be closing for good, its house-made smoked goods will be living on in the space, which'll transform into a wholesale business, shop and events space. Set to reopen later in February, LP's will become a purpose-built meat processing plant to "support the demand for [its] wholesale products" and "broaden [its] production repertoire". There's the silver lining: more mortadella, more sausages, more extremely tasty smoked meats. [caption id="attachment_724983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Powell by Kitti Gould[/caption] While it'll be closed during the week, the shop will open to the public on Saturdays on Sundays, so you can, importantly, stock up for summer and autumn picnics. It'll also play host to sausage making and small goods classes run by owner Luke Powell (the LP in LP's), and there'll be space for 40–50 seats for possible collaboration dinners and events. While it closes for renovations, you'll be able to find LP's mortadella, sausage and salami atop pizzas at Powell's second restaurant Bella Brutta, a next-level pizza joint in Newtown. You'll also find its various smoked meats on the menu at A1 Canteen, Reuben Hills, Paramount Coffee Project and The Dolphin — and, we're sure, many many more restaurants, bars and cafes come next year. Find LP's Quality Meats at 16 Chippen Street, Chippendale until February 1, 2020. It'll reopen as a wholesale small goods shop later in the month, opening to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Top image: LP's Quality Meats by Destination NSW.
Open to runners of all ages and abilities, Run West follows a 12-kilometre course through several major landmarks. It sees runners race through the new Sydney Zoo while waving at lions, rhinos and giraffes. The 12-kilometre run kicks off at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, March 28, before traversing the zoo, Western Sydney Parklands and winding up at West HQ. If 12 kilometres sounds too far, you can conquer the more friendly four-kilometre Family Run instead — but, that doesn't go through the zoo. If you're a City2Surf regular, this might be a good race to enter in the off-season — although, being March, chances are the weather will be pretty warm. But, like City2Surf, you're encouraged to raise funds for a charity of your choice, so your sweat will be all worth it. If you're ready to commit, sign up right now at super early bird rates, which are $30 per person for the fun run and $50 for the 12-kilometre event.
Sculpture by the Sea didn't grace the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk last year, and isn't set to until October this year. But if you're eager to go for a wander, check out large-scale pieces of art and enjoy the great outdoors, you can head to The Rocks this May and June for a new free exhibition called Sculpture Rocks. Set to display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3, Sculpture Rocks will feature 18 works from 14 sculptors, with Japanese artists in the spotlight. You'll be peering at pieces by Keizo Ushio, Takeshi Tanabe, Mitsuo Takeuchi, Ayako Saito and Akira Kamada, among others — and from artists who currently hail from both Japan and Australia. As for what you'll be seeing, expect plenty of stone. "Each of these artworks in thought and practice stems directly from the ancient rock gardens of Japan," explains Sculpture by the Sea Founding Director David Handley. As well as linking in with Japanese cultural traditions, the exhibition will also feature "kinetic and abstract sculptures to provide a cross section of Japanese sculpture today," Handley advises. [caption id="attachment_808636" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hiroyuki Kita, aguidepostforthewind (2010)[/caption] Presented by the Sculpture by the Sea team alongside Place Management NSW and the Port Authority of NSW, the exhibition will ape one of the most stunning — and most popular — things about its sibling event, too: the waterside view. You'll be moseying along the Sydney Harbour foreshore area, including between the Overseas Passenger Terminal, along Campbells Cove and up to Hickson Reserve next to the Park Hyatt Hotel. Basically, think of it as a smaller version, in a similarly striking spot, and with a specific focus. A smaller indoor exhibition, called Sculpture Inside Rocks, will also take place at the same time at Campbell's Stores. Sculpture Rocks will display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3 at various locations around The Rocks. Head to the exhibition website for further details.
Feel like treating yo'self? This autumn you'll find an abundance of indulgence over at The Star Sydney, which is dedicating two whole months to the concept. Right through April and May, its many venues are joining forces for a full-blown Indulgence Festival, featuring decadent food, multi-sensory art, luxurious experiences and more. At Sokyo, you can sit down to a high-end whisky flight matched with premium beef tataki ($80–210), all soundtracked by a Saturday night vinyl residency from DJ Alex Dimitriades. Flying Fish is plating up a lavish long lunch menu ($130) studded with seafood, while Black Bar & Grill has created a top-shelf tasting plate of Australian meats ($290) to complement a dramatic magnolia-filled art piece by florist Lisa Cooper. Fancy new cocktails are being whipped up tableside from a fleet of drinks trolleys, too, and each of the eateries is also serving up its own limited-edition dessert creation, crafted on primo Valrhona chocolate. Even The Darling Spa has unveiled a decadent new spa offering — a sonic bath with sounds curated by Tame Impala's Cam Avery, designed to level-up the indulgence factor of the Lit'Ya Mala Mayi full-body treatment ($280). As the prices above indicate, this festival won't go easy on your wallet. But hey, that's what indulgence is all about.
This time last year, Hartsyard became Hartsyard 2.0 when then owners Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart swapped the deep fryer for the charcoal grill. Then, late last year, they sold it. Now, to kick off 2019, the much-loved Newtown restaurant has reopened with new owners. Except they're not exactly new. One, Jarrod Walsh, has been Hartsyard 2.0's head chef for the past year, and the other is Momofuku Seiobo chef and Walsh's partner, Dot Lee. "We were wanting to open our own restaurant, then Greg and Naomi told us they were thinking of selling and that was it," says Walsh. "It was too good an opportunity not to miss." To celebrate the takeover, the two have added a splash of paint, in the form of black-and-white tattoo-inspired artworks by local artist Isabel Williams. Besides that, the 50-seater space has keep its light, fresh look, dotted with oak, tan, black steel and greenery. "Food-wise, it's the same style — share plates and snacks designed to be eaten with your hands," says Walsh. "There are lots of vegetarian and vegan options." Take your pick of 13 individual dishes or one of two set menus ($75/95). Among Walsh's new creations are marinated and grilled Clarence River baby octopus with roasted peppers and smoked charcoal potatoes, stone fruit with smoked sheep's milk yoghurt and yukari shiso (an umami-heavy seasoning made from shiso leaves) and Geraldton kingfish tartare with seaweed chips. [caption id="attachment_705252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] But the one that's already won over the crowd is the fried cheese. "It's like a cheese toastie, but with layers of cheese on cheese on cheese," says Walsh. "We start with Parmesan, with roasted black pepper stock — cooked with tapioca pearls, so it's gluten free — then, we add hot mustard sour cream, which we top with gruyère, gouda and roasted black pepper salt. We served it last night and customers were ordering it again and again." Behind the bar, restaurant manager and sommelier Andrea Spagna has expanded the wine list with a bunch of Australian and international drops. Look out for several experimental, organic numbers, too. Meanwhile, bartender Paddy O'Rourke (The Gretz, Bulletin Place, Dead Ringer) is pouring local craft beers and signature cocktails, which change every week. Kicking off the inaugural list are the Stonefruit Slipper (stone fruit vodka, maraschino cherry and lemon sherbet) and the Pepito (spiced coconut rum, mango, yoghurt, honey and pistachio). The new-look Hartsyard is now open at 33 Enmore Road, Newtown. Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 6pm till late, and Sunday 12pm to 3pm. Saturday lunch will follow in February. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Does your version of celebrating whichever occasion takes your fancy involve eating more of the things you love? Do pork belly, chicken schnitzels, chicken wings and German sausages fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. On Wednesdays, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat platters. They come stacked with all of the aforementioned meats — and yes, the pork belly includes crackling — plus sauerkraut and gravy as sides. And, once you've finished your board, you'll get a whole new serving. On All-You-Can-Meat Wednesdays, there's no time limit to your eating, so you can pace yourself — and it'll cost you $35 per person. There is a two-person minimum, however, so you'll need to take at least one meat-loving pal along with you. Feel like you can fit in fries, mash and salad as well? That'll cost you an extra $5 for each one, or you can get all three for $10. You'll find The Bavarian at Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Penrith, Miranda, Macarthur, Green Hills, Entertainment Quarter, York Street, World Square, Wetherill Park, Chatswood and Wollongong in New South Wales. And if you want to pair all that meat with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
Legendary Paris bar The Cambridge isn't just an award-winning, world-renowned drinking spot — it's also got some pretty fierce climate action ambitions. In fact, the British pub-inspired boozer has mapped out a whole Global Community Plan aimed at building a more sustainable future. And next up on that to-do list is a visit Down Under for a few special guest appearances at some like-minded bars. The team's dropping by Sydney for a whirlwind visit this week, popping up at both Re and PS40. As you might know, the former took out 87th place in The World's 50 Best Bars 51–100 List last year, while the latter is one of our top 20 picks for Sydney's all-time best drinking spots. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] PS40, by Alana Dimou[/caption] First up, from 12–3pm on Wednesday, May 3, the Parisian crew will hit PS40 to chat all things sustainability for an event dubbed Climate Bar Talks. They'll be joined by Re's eco-focused drinks innovator Matt Whiley, diving into ideas around sustainable bar practices and minimal-waste approaches. It's for walk-ins only, though spots are limited. From 5–8pm on May 3, you'll catch the Cambridge team doing a guest shift behind the bar at Re, serving up a menu packed full of native Aussie ingredients. Then, from 5–9pm on Friday, May 5, it's PS40's turn for a bar takeover — our Parisian visitors will be shaking up another lineup of sustainability-driven concoctions for the occasion. [caption id="attachment_899072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Cambridge team[/caption]
It's footy season and we've got the ultimate prize for sports fans. We've teamed up with the Sydney Swans to give away two double passes to the Sydney Swans VS. St Kilda Saints Pride game on Thursday, June 8 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The prizes don't end there. Not only will each winner get to watch the action from their own reserved seats at the SCG, but they'll also score their own Sydney Swans pride scarves to show their true colours and get amongst the atmosphere. We can't have the winners celebrating on an empty stomach. Merivale, the official food supplier for the Sydney Swan's home, has teamed up with the Swans to sweeten the prize pool. One lucky winner will receive $250 worth of food gift cards to use inside the SCG — we're talking Queen Chow dumplings, cheeseburger spring rolls, Jinny's Falafel, sushi and even pizza. The other lucky winner? They'll receive a $250 dining gift card to use at the Merivale venue of choice across the city (valid until June 2024). Whether you're a Swans' superfan or haven't watched a game since Buddy kicked his 1000th goal, this is one prize you won't want to miss. This Pride game is happening at the SCG — Thursday, June 8. Thursday is pretty much the weekend after all, enter the competition and be in the shot for the perfect footy night. [competition]902231[/competition]
White Night might not be lighting up the Melbourne CBD this year, with the event's inner-city edition bowing out to make way for the new Rising Festival. But if you're willing — or even eager — to get out of town, you'll still be able to treat your eyeballs to that famously vibrant program of large-scale projections and light installations when White Night makes its much-anticipated return to the streets of Bendigo and Geelong this spring. After the two regional events were postponed last year due to the pandemic, they're now back on the arts calendar. White Night Bendigo firing will fire up on Saturday, October 2, followed by White Night Geelong on Saturday, November 6. As always, the program will see each regional city come alive after dark for one jam-packed night, with a mix of illuminations, projections, music, art, performance, culinary experiences, and interactive artworks from leading local and international talent. Public spaces including laneways, streets and parks will be brought to life with striking installations and audio-visual delights. Even the Geelong foreshore is set to score some extra decoration of its own, playing host to a major hub during the festival's local run. All up, it's set to be as diverse a program as ever — with artists guided by the theme 'everything on the land is reflected in the sky', and globally renowned artist Joseph O'Farrell heading things up as the festival's new creative director. When White Night Geelong made its grand debut back in 2018, the event pulled around 70,000 attendees. The same year, White Night Bendigo also proved a roaring hit, with a crowd of over 60,000. The call is now out for expressions of interest from artists for both events — and stay tuned for more program details to be unveiled in the coming months. White Night Bendigo returns on Saturday, October 2, while White Night Geelong follows on Saturday, November 6. For more information, jump over to the White Night website. Images: White Night Bendigo, Visit Victoria
Sydney Good Food Month, the city's always jam-packed month filled with one-off and limited-time food and drink events, has returned for a special summer edition throughout January. The annual culinary festival puts Sydney's world-class food scene front and centre, taking over restaurants around town, hosting food pop-ups and serving up dinners from some of the world's best chefs. If you're looking to get into the spirit of the month, the choice is overwhelming — with events spanning everything from luxe French champagne nights to all-star chef collaborations. You can look through the full lineup at the Good Food Month website or, to make your decisions easier, we've put together a list of five of our favourite events you can still nab a spot at this month, ranging from affordable nights out to unforgettable multi-course feasts.
El Camino Cantina's approach to margaritas is like Gelato Messina's to frozen desserts, taking inspiration far and wide from other beloved foodstuffs. In the past, the lively Tex-Mex chain has served up candy-flavoured margs, Long Island iced tea-flavoured ritas and soft drink-influenced tipples. Next on the list: Vodka Cruiser versions. On offer at the chain's Sydney venues in The Rocks, Manly Wharf, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield Miranda: nine flavours of its beloved ritas that pay tribute to the ready-to-drink staple. You'll be able to knock them back until Saturday, September 30 — in 15-ounce ($21) and 24-ounce ($25) glasses topped with a Grand Marnier float, and as happy-hour specials from 4–6pm Monday–Friday (costing $12.50 and $15). Flavours on offer include Summer Peach, Lush Guava, Pure Pineapple and Wild Raspberry — and also Ripe Strawberry, Sunny Orange Passionfruit and Bold Berry. Or, you can sip Juicy Watermelon and get some tang with Zesty Lemon Lime. If you're a fan of its margs, you'll probably have noticed that El Camino mixes up its menu regularly with specials like these — which gives you more excuses to try more flavours.
After five months of deliberation, Nestlé has announced the new names for two of its classic lollies. Those chewy red lollies FKA Redskins are now Red Ripper and the brand's chocolate-flavoured, people-shaped Chicos are now called Cheekies. The names may not seem dramatically different at first glance, but they no longer have the racist overtones the company says are "out of step" with its values. "Nestle has an unwavering commitment to upholding respect for our friends, neighbours and colleagues," General Manager Confectionery Chris O'Donnell said in a statement about the name changes. Redskins is an antiquated and derogatory term for Native Americans, while Chicos means 'children' in Spanish and is considered offensive to people of Latin American descent. The lolly monolith first announced the decision to change the Allen's brand lollies' names back in June, when discussions around race and discrimination were thrust to the fore due to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, and protests over the death of American George Floyd at the hands of a police officer — as well as, at the local level, the ongoing fight to end the systemic mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori by law enforcement. Calls for Nestlé to change the names of its two products aren't new, however — with the debate raging when they were featured in a 2013 episode of MasterChef Australia — and they're not the only controversially named product on Australia supermarket shelves, either. Cheese brand Coon also recently announced it will change its name. A similar long-running debate about the offensiveness of the Washington Redskins NFL ramped up in the US this year, too, and led to the team removing its logo and temporarily changing its name to Washington Football Team for at least the 2020 season, before deciding on a new permanent name. While the Nestlé lollies will have different names when the new packaging lands on supermarket shelves in 2021, the company promises the lollies themselves "remain unchanged". Red Ripper and Cheekies will hit supermarket shelves in early 2021.
We're not quite sure how it happened but Valentine's Day is once again on the horizon. Whether you're part of the group that considers V Day a corporate conspiracy or are totally into the opportunity to get all unashamedly romantic, coming up with a creative way to celebrate can be a tall order. To help, we've rounded up five ideas guaranteed to make this V Day memorable — without breaking the bank. So, whether you're with a date, the mates, or gloriously solo, you can kiss the cliched set menu dinner goodbye and do something different. [caption id="attachment_760737" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Silversalt courtesy of Artbank[/caption] CELEBRATE L-O-V-E WITH A FREE EXHIBITION ABOUT THE FOUR LETTER WORD For art-lovers — and romantics — this is the one for you. Head down to Waterloo for The Four Letter Word: Artbank's latest exhibition celebrating love in all its forms. Covering topics from intimacy and desire to vulnerability and self-expression, you (and your special someone) can explore 25 artworks from Artbank's collection and select loans curated by Sophia Cai. If you're happy to have you date night on V Day eve, you can also catch a free love letter reading at 6pm on Thursday, February 13 — RSVP over here. PICNIC BY STARLIGHT IN CENTENNIAL PARK If there's anything more romantic than a picnic under the stars, we've yet to find it. So it's a good thing that Centennial Park's annual Valentine's Day stargazing night is returning this year. This isn't your usual spot-the-Southern Cross affair, though — professionals will be on-hand to show you what you should be looking for. Tickets are $19 each and allow you to share a telescope with your special someone. There'll be plenty of space to throw down a rug so pick up a picnic and a nice bottle of wine, and set up for the night. Or, if you run out of time, goods will be available on the night. [caption id="attachment_757115" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bit[/caption] CHECK OUT THE MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL Want to go to the cinema but don't want to sit through another heteronormative rom com? Check out the annual Mardi Gras Film Festival instead and choose between three queer flicks that are premiering for the first time. For those looking for a laugh, there's The Shiny Shrimps a French flick that sees a former champion swimmer overcome his prejudice as the coach for a flamboyant water polo team. Fans of horror and 90s nostalgia can check out Bit, where a young transgender woman finds her place in LA among a group of lesbian vampires. Finally, romantics can go see Season of Love, a Christmas rom-com following six queer women navigating the ups and downs of relationships. Tickets are $19.90 each and you can catch all three at Event Cinemas George Street. GET LOST IN THIS IRIDESCENT INSTALLATION AT THE GROUNDS If you're angling for a smooch with someone special this Valentine's Day, you might as well line up a spectacularly photogenic backdrop for the occasion. And we doubt you'll find any quite as OTT as the one that awaits at The Grounds of Alexandria. The lush greenery-filled venue is turning the charm up to 100 for lovers this romance season, unveiling a shimmery laneway installation that's sure to sweep just about anyone off their feet. Sticking around for only a limited time, it's decked out in a rainbow of iridescent hues and comes complete with a neon-lit kissing booth to spark that ol' romantic spirit. But the real theatre happens at 9am and 11am each day, when a bunch of glistening bubbles are sent cascading over the entire space. Brownie points for aesthetics, right there. INDULGE YOUR INNER KIDS AND PLAY SUPER SMASH BROS Feel like a kid again by heading out for a night of classic video games from the 80s and 90s — without paying a cent. The team at 1989 in Newtown is offering everything from Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles to Street Fighter II — which would usually cost $1 a game — for free on Valentine's Day. You'll just have to pay for your pizza and drinks, the latter of which includes some quirky brews — think gelato ale and watermelon pilsner — and will be cheaper during happy hour from 5–7pm. Or, if you're not near Newtown, hit up B. Lucky & Sons in Moore Park or Archie Brothers in Alexandria — both are open until midnight on Friday nights. Top image: B Lucky & Sons
For the better part of 80 years, a biannual charity event has been putting clothes on the backs of customers and vulnerable children alike. Hosted by Barnardos Australia and the Peter Pan Committee, the Peter Pan Winter Op Shop brings together donations from everyday Aussies as well as designer brands for a three-day event of clothing bargains. All the proceeds go to Barnardos, a charity dedicated to helping vulnerable children who suffer from abuse or neglect. The upcoming Peter Pan Winter Op Shop will be hosted at the Paddington RSL from Friday, June 2, to Sunday, June 4. On offer will be a massive haul of wearable items, including a surplus of designer goods, pre-loved favourites, vintage pieces or end-of-season stock from local retailers. Donations are still welcome and encouraged, so if your wardrobe is overflowing with outfits you never wear anymore, this is a great reason to send them to a new home. Your clothes will join a catalogue next to brands like Bianca Spender, Sass & Bide and Zimmermann. If you want to take it a step further, you can also volunteer to help set up, manage and pack away the event. Check the Barnardos website to find out how. The Peter Pan Winter Op Shop runs from 10.30am to 5pm on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, then 10.30am to 3pm on Sunday, June 4. For more information, visit the website.
January has already baked Sydneysiders with its heat, but the hot and dry conditions have sparked more than just soaring temperatures. Near Bundeena, the city's Royal National Park has been closed due to out-of-control bushfires, with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) instructing people to avoid the area. According to the emergency warning posted on the RFS website, two fires are burning in the park — along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive at Flat Rock, and south of Wattamolla Road. While firefighters and waterbombing aircraft are currently responding, the fire is causing plumes of smoke to billow over the area, which is visible across the city. https://twitter.com/NSWRFS/status/954553567754403840 https://www.instagram.com/p/BeKD9fVF4Lq/?taken-by=txmmy90 https://www.instagram.com/p/BeKDDQTFJAA/?taken-by=mntaylz https://www.instagram.com/p/BeJ5CSrn1iz/?taken-by=_malone_ranger_ The park is closed at Mckell and Farnell avenues. Anyone inside has been advised to leave only if the path is clear, or if they've been directed to move by emergency services. Visitors have also been told that beaches may offer safety. Via the ABC. Image: Peter Reid via Instagram.
In the weekly spin-the-bottle game of 'what are we gonna do on Friday night?', the weight of expectation for that ever-elusive Good Time can send us wayward. One wrong spin, and we might end up cowering in the corner of a deadbeat house party clutching a warm beer, accosted by that too-loud girl and desperately planning our escape route. So the promise of something a little more substantial to do with our weekend is always welcome. FBi is coming the rescue with their new Pot Luck. A tantalising mix of zine stalls, bingo, art installations, readings, skits, film, crafternoons, bands, DJs and more, it's the ultimate pick 'n mix for a Friday night. You never know what you're going to get (pretty sure there'll be a healthy dose of F-U-N, though). Roll down this week for launch night, which includes a live Renny Kodgers Quiz Hour, set by band The Preachers, stories from Penguins Plays Rough, free drinks for the early birds, and loads more. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q8MPlmtS1o4
Following the news last week that Carriageworks had officially been saved, thanks to a multimillion-dollar lifeline from a group of philanthropists and NSW Government funding, the Sydney multi-arts centre has announced the opening dates for some new and long-standing events. And, yes, that includes the Carriageworks Farmers Market. Those Saturday morning markets are set to make their triumphant return on August 8. Running from 8am–1pm every week, the markets will have the same loved stalls — with coffee from Single O and sweets from Crumpets by Merna — but new health and safety measures. Expect plenty of hand sanitiser, capacity limits and new shop-and-go rules (no more hanging around eating on milk crates). On the arts front, eight exhibitions as part of Nirin: 22nd Biennale of Sydney will be making Carriageworks their home from Friday, August 7 to Saturday, September 26. Originally appearing at the National Art School back in March (before the city-wide exhibition was forced to close during lockdown), the exhibitions include Mexican artist Teresa Margolles' powerful memorial to murdered women, Hannah Catherine Jones' video installation exploring the lives of plants and Homeless in my homeland, a work by 14 artists from Iltja Ntjarra. [caption id="attachment_765015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teresa Margolles, Aproximación al lugar de los hechos (Approximations to the Scenes of the Facts), 2020. Installation progress view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020), National Art School. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with assistance from Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), Embassy of Spain and Galerie Peter Kilchmann. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Photograph: Zan Wimberley.[/caption] Elsewhere in the multi-arts centre, Reko Rennie's large-scale piece Remember Me — a 25-metre-long, five-metre-high installation recognising frontier wars, massacres and the survival of Australia's First Nations peoples — will be on show, as will a brand-new exhibition. Created by Australian artist Giselle Stanborough, Cinopticon was physically installed back in March, but will be unveiled to the public for the first time on August 7. Featuring searchlights, sculptures, mirrored surfaces and large-scale wall diagrams, the exhibition explores ideas of social media algorithms, internet narcissism and corporate surveillance by playing with what it means to observe and be observed. Carriagworks' exhibitions will be open (and free to view) from 10am–5pm Wednesday–Sunday from August 7. Carriageworks Farmers Market will take place from 8am–1pm every Saturday from August 8. Top image: Giselle Stanborough, Cinopticon, 2020, Carriageworks. Photo by Mark Pokorny.
Earlier this year, Rushcutters Bay's much-loved Acme closed its doors. Thankfully (for us), though, chef and co-owner Mitch Orr is heading back to another Sydney kitchen very soon. In a couple of months, he's opening a restaurant in Bondi — dubbed Ciccia Bella — with Maurice Terzini and the Icebergs team. In the meantime, he's cooking up super-affordable snacks at the group's Surry Hills restaurant, The Dolphin. From 5–7pm, Monday to Thursday until August 22, Orr will be whipping up tasty bites (and testing out dishes for the new restaurant) in the Wine Room — all for just $5–7 a pop. Initially, Orr was only meant to be sticking around until August 8, but, because Sydney really loves its Prince of Pasta, his residency was extended by another two weeks. While the snacks will change weekly, this week's menu includes artichoke with smoked mayo ($5), salt and vinegar onion rings ($5), vitello bonito ($7) and pasta and beans ($7). To pair with this, there'll be daily drink specials, too, including $5 glasses of prosecco, $7 wines and a $7 spritz. When Orr's reign is over, the happy hour(s) will continue with a new menu and guest appearances from star chefs from around the country. Delfino Aperitivo runs from Sunday–Thursday 5–7pm. Images: Elise Hassey Updated August 22
After joining Sydney's events calendar last year, Output Festival is returning for a second year. Music lovers, it's time to indulge your love of house, disco and techno once more — on Goat Island on Saturday, November 24. The boutique festival's second effort sees the private island transformed into a one-day, bass-driven dance party, complete with multiple outdoor stages set up throughout the island. You'll be dancing your heart out on a private island, sipping craft beers and cocktails, and catching that sun set majestically over the harbour. As far as festival settings go, this one's downright epic. Organisers have dropped a cracker of a lineup too, featuring local legend Mall Grab for the second year running, plus international acts DJ Seinfeld, HAAi, Nicola Cruz, Amotik and Von Party — and a heap of local talent as well. 2018's event is also adding a rooftop silent disco and a pre-fest harbour cruise, and will be operating a cashless RFID system for food and drinks. And, although it won't be included in the initial $115–119 + booking fee ticket price, details of an after party are set to be announced too.
