Newly hatched Newtown bar Tandem lives up to its moniker in a multitude of ways, but, mainly, it speaks to the coming together of community that really makes a neighbourhood bar your local. "I was inspired by the level of togetherness I felt during my time working in bars in Copenhagen," explains owner Peter Lynn. "Something about riding your bike to a friendly café and having someone remember your order is both wholesome and satisfying." To that effect, the intimate Scandi-influenced cocktail bar boasts four distinct spaces, designed to feel cosy no matter how many people they're holding. There's the main bar, a comfy lounge dubbed the 'living room', an outdoor courtyard complete with fairy lights and an roomy upstairs 'loft'. Its vibe is comparable with that of Corridor, which sits just a few doors down on King Street. The thoughtful approach and community vibe extends its reach to the drinks offering, which shines a spotlight on passionate local businesses and producers. An environmentally conscious cocktail lineup features sips like the Lightly Buzzed, blending Adelaide Hills sparkling wine, Sydney's own Poor Toms Gin and eco-friendly sorbet from Gelato Blue down the street. Most of the bar's perishable ingredients get a second life, thanks to some clever upcycling in cocktails like the Thrift Shop Fizz, crafted with Scandinavian spirit Aquavit, lemon, tonic and a foam made of recycled rosemary and orange garnishes. Overall, it's a drinks list designed to inspire a sense of adventure and break you out of the ol' comfort zone. You'll find beers from female-led Two Birds Brewing on tap, an all Aussie selection of wines, and drink specials favouring the obscure over the tried-and-true. And things are sure to get extra interesting with the rotating Tandem Bike Crash cocktail, featuring some of the staff's favourite liquid experiments — head in now to try a questionable concoction of Monkey Shoulder Scotch and Mountain Dew reduction. Tandem is now open Wednesday to Sunday at 127 King Street, Newtown. Images: Newtown Photography.
World Chocolate Day (Wednesday, July 7) is on the horizon, so what better excuse for two of the country's top dessert masters to join forces? Aussie chocolate brand Koko Black and the ever-innovative, Sydney-born cake maestros Black Star Pastry have dreamed up some sweet-toothed magic, available for one day only this July. The Meteor Cake is the brainchild of Koko Black Head Chocolatier Remco Brigou and Black Star's Group Head Pastry Chef Arnaud Vodounou — some might say that this once-off dessert is 'out of this world'. It's here for a good time, but a very fleeting one, hitting stores for one day only on (you guessed it) Wednesday, July 7. The limited-edition cake is up there with some of the more extravagant treats you'll try this year. First up, there are the neat layers of dark chocolate financier, caramel-infused chocolate, muscovado sponge, dense hazelnut cremeux, choccy mousse and praline. Crowning that delicious tower is a flying 'meteor' — a hazelnut truffle coated in black cocoa nibs — trailing a blazing edible flame crafted from luxe Sao Thome chocolate. There's even a pile of meteor 'rubble', made of crumbled cocoa nibs. The Meteor Cake comes in at $15 a slice, available to purchase only from select Koko Black stores in Sydney (Strand Arcade) and Koko Black stores in Melbourne. You can also grab the takeaway treat from Black Star's Rosebery and Newtown outposts. Given the current lockdown and restrictions, Sydneysiders will also be able to pre-order here from July 2 to score a $55 four-pack that'll be delivered on World Chocolate Day. After the first half of this year, you bloody well deserve it. The Meteor Cake will be available from select Koko Black and Black Star stores, on Wednesday, July 7. Head to either website for further details.
2021 marks 23 years since '...Baby One More Time' rocketed up Australia's charts, and made sure that everyone in the country knew who Britney Spears was. In the decades since, the singer has enjoyed a slew of other hits, thanks to everything from 'Sometimes', '(You Drive Me) Crazy' and 'Oops!... I Did It Again' to 'Toxic', 'Everytime' and 'If U Seek Amy'. Yes, you now have at least one of these songs stuck in your head (or, let's be honest, a medley of all them). This year also marks the arrival of a must-see documentary about the pop star, which Aussies have heard plenty about but have been unable to watch for the past month. Part of The New York Times Presents series that streams in the US via Hulu, Framing Britney Spears examines not only the singer's life since she was a child — going back to before her first hit single, and before her time on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in the early 90s, too — but also the way she has been treated in the press, the fact that she has been under a conservatorship since 2008 and the #FreeBritney movement that's sprung up in response to the latter. Not by her own choice, Spears has been an almost-constant presence in the tabloid media for nearly quarter-century. The paparazzi has covered her every move and career with disturbing intensity, in fact. Everyone knows the details, because they've been plastered all over magazine front pages and internet headlines for years and years, to the point that they've been impossible to avoid. And, as this doco ponders, it's easy to join the dots between the relentless hounding by photographers, the endless mentions in gossip columns, the ridiculous way Americans reacted when she didn't meet their idea of what a 'girl next door'-style pop star should be, how she has been regarded by pop culture in general and how the US legal system has stripped away her right to control her own life for more than a decade. The film makes for important and grim viewing — and, although it premiered in the US in early February, Channel 9 just aired the Hulu doco this past week, and has also made it available on its online service, 9 Now. So, you can now spend 71 minutes stepping through a story that hasn't ended yet and doesn't wrap up happily in the movie, but is rightly sparking a reassessment of how female celebrities — and young women in the spotlight in particular — are treated, Spears included. Check out the Framing Britney Spears trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GEa844LCoI Framing Britney Spears is now available to stream on 9 Now.
Turning traditional painting into modern dance, Briwyant draws on bir'yun as a resource in the work. This form of Yolngu traditional painting works with intricate crosshatching patterns, creating a shimmering sense of movement on its surface. This movement is representative of ancestral forces, subtle yet woven throughout. It all sounds conveniently appropriate for transformation into movement. The collaborative team, with Vicki Van Hout at the helm, plays on the tensions between personal and community knowledge, light and shadow, and changes over time. In short, Briwyant is a uniquely creative take on traditional knowledge, meaning and spirit. Image: photo by Marion Abboud
Even when there isn't a cost of living crisis tightening our collective belts, the Christmas and New Year period can be eye-wateringly expensive. So, it's very welcome news that Concrete Playground's official pick for Sydney's best bar right now is launching one of the most generous happy hour deals in the city, just in time for the silly season. Golden Hour at Bobbie's in Double Bay will be available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night from 4–5.30pm. Guests can enjoy $10 cocktails — yes, just $10, you read that correctly — and better yet, there are also complimentary bar snacks to accompany your beverage including olives, nuts and Neil Perry's famous chicken Waldorf sandwiches. The discounted drinks menu, crafted by internationally revered bar tender Linden Pride, includes several signature mixes including Dante's Negroni, a mingle of Tanqueray 10, a blend of Italian vermouths and a splash of Campari; and Bamboo, a refreshing eastern-inspired sip combing Manzanilla, Dolin Blanc, Noilly Pratt, olive bitters and Fever Tree's Mediterranean tonic. For those who prefer bubbles — and after all, 'tis the season for popping corks — there's also the Sunrise Spritz, featuring Aperol, sunshine cordial and passionfruit, topped off with prosecco; and the Sbagliato Romano starring Campari, Aperol, Davidson's plum, dry vermouth and blood orange syrup, also finished with a fizzy hit of prosecco. Martini lovers are also well served with Bobbie's singular take on a dirty martini, featuring olive-oil-washed Absolut Elyx, Noilly Pratt, cerignola olive, elderflower and the surprising savoury tang of blue cheese-stuffed olives. Hopping on the ascendant trend, the New York mini martini is a small but mighty pour of Ketel Vodka, Noilly Prat, 50/50, orange bitters and a choice of garnishes. While we recommend booking to avoid disappointment, Bobbie's also welcomes walk-ins, so do your wallet a favour and enjoy a scenic stroll to Double Bay. Images: Yusuke Oba
For five hours on Sunday, March 20, restaurant Baba's Place in Marrickville will be transformed into a gallery. On display: Suburban Ghosts, an original photo series that tackles topics such as immigration, suburban beauty and cultural resilience. All photos — framed and unframed — will be available to purchase, and the images will also be printed in the first issue of Baba's new zine, which will be available to buy as well. The issue will also include other works, including an essay on the doily, plus half of the restaurant's recipe for its bouillabaisse bolognese. In addition to all those pics to peruse — and the zine to read — the event will also feature an exclusive range of t-shirts, a special Solo-inspired cocktail and the one-day-only return of Baba's cherry kofta wrap. Head along from 1–6pm, with Munasib and 700Feel providing the soundtrack to get you on the dance floor.
Famous for its 55-minute workouts and worldwide following, Barry's Bootcamp has become a fitness heavyweight since first setting up shop in West Hollywood back in 1998 — and now it's brought its studios to Australia. Since September 2018, Sydneysiders have been putting themselves through Barry's high-intensity interval training sessions in Surry Hills and at its flagship in Martin Place. If you're a gym junkie, celebrity obsessive or just familiar with the term "Barry's body", then you'll have heard of Barry's. Already active in 18 cities around the globe — including Los Angeles, New York, Milan, London and Dubai — it's claimed that the studio's sessions burn over 4000 kilojoules. That's thanks to a regimented program that incorporates 25 minutes of treadmill work, 25 minutes of strength and conditioning with free weights and resistance bands, and then a five-minute cool-down. The focus of each class changes daily across Barry's weekly schedule, with each session targeting a different muscle group. As extra motivation, Barry's classes are held in high-energy red rooms, complete with mood lighting and the kind of music you're more likely to hear in a nightclub. Adding to the vibe, each location features its own bar serving up locally designed shakes and smoothies — and patrons can buy workout outfits onsite. It's a full 'concept gym'. As expected, the world-renowned bootcamp class comes with hefty price tag — $36 a pop. You could, alternatively, purchase a 50-class pack for $1550, which works out at $31 a class.
This is karaoke attached to ten-pin bowling, and possibly a spot of laser skirmish if you're keen. Strike charges per room, as opposed to per person, so it works out well if you're in a big group. All the rooms are immaculately themed and clean - there's the polka dot room, the Victorian boudoir, the executive party room, and there's a pretty flash touch screen to order your songs, but sadly no soft-filter video clips to accompany your choices. Moreover, there's a prop box with wigs and over-sized glasses to enhance your performance, and a couple of tambourines and maracas to add a bit of pizzazz to your performance. They've also got an excellent menu of snacks and a decent bar serving cocktails for your tipsy lady-friends.
Hop on this train, it's smaller than your thumb but the destination is bigger than all the days of your life combined. At least that is what the Barumpool Film Museum wants you to believe. Childhood dreams of tourist traps are the fodder of this Imperial Panda gem, devised and built by Rhubarb Rhubarb, the team behind film re-dub masterpieces Wonka and Mad Max Remix. Some Film Museums I Have Known is the culmination of three years worth of body fluids, craft liquids and VHS material, with input from some of Sydney's top performance makers: Eddie Sharp (Erotic Fan Fiction), Kenzie Larsen, Natalie Randall (Team MESS) and Nick Coyle (Pig Island). Following a season at Melbourne's NextWave Festival in 2010, Some Film Museums I Have Known is one of the must-see shows of the 2011 Imperial Panda Festival. Grab a beer and laksa at the Old Fitz, then regress to either infantile make-believe or deranged atavism in this dark fantasy about two brothers, a crusty museum and the devilish power that G-rated films will forever hold over pre-teens.
Always wanted to be in a music video but don't play an instrument? Or think your voice might frighten the neighbours away? Here's your chance. Dutch design studio Moniker has created an interactive clip that records the movement of your cursor as you watch. Achieved through crowd-funding and titled Do Not Touch, it's the second Moniker project in a series celebrating the "humble cursor", whose demise may well be nigh, and was designed to accompany 'Kilo', the new single from Dutch folk noir/sleazerock supergroup Light Light. Since its launch on April 16, the clip has racked up over 1 million hits. To be a part of its rapidly growing cast, all you have to do is visit the Do Not Touch site and move your cursor according to the onscreen instructions. You'll have the chance to acknowledge your geographical origins and sexual preference, fight a rather fit female boxer, avoid touching a naked model and play the bass. Your browser records your cursor's movement and the information is uploaded to Amazon S3. Once an hour, the data gained from new visitors is added to the video and an updated version appears. Jonathan Puckey, one of Moniker's three key movers and shakers, told Creative Applications Network that one of the exciting aspects of Do Not Touch is its unpredictability: "We do not know what will happen with this project. Will people care? Will they follow our instructions? Will patterns emerge which we had not predicted? How many cursors will be too many? A thousand? Ten thousand? Fifty thousand?"
Take a must-visit Paris art museum, an acclaimed Victorian gallery, an iconic French painter and one of the world's most influential architects, mix them all together, and Australia's latest huge exhibition is the end result. So is something unsurprisingly stunning: the world premiere of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi at the NGV International in Melbourne. The National Gallery of Victoria's revolving door of blockbuster exhibitions shows no sign of slowing, with this exceptional meeting of creative minds announced earlier in 2023, and now gracing its halls from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. When the temperature dips each year, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series kicks in — and, as created in collaboration with the Musée d'Orsay, home to the world's largest collection of Bonnard works, this ode to Bonnard and Mahdavi is the current centrepiece. On display: more than 100 pieces by the famed French artist, but seen through a fresh lens. Helping provide that new perspective is scenography by internationally renowned architect and designer Mahdavi, in a major showcase that was originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic did its thing. An icon of late 19th- and early 20th-century art, and a good mate of Henri Matisse, Bonnard is known for his colourful, textural depictions of French life, offering stylised yet subtle glimpses of intimate domestic scenes, urban backdrops and natural landscapes. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi includes a hefty collection of the artist's own paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and other decorative objects, alongside works from his contemporaries — including Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton and cinematic pioneers the Lumière brothers. Attendees can expect to step through Bonnard's early artistic days in the 1890s, highlighting his focus on Parisian street life; his evolution from there, including when he started focusing on more domestic scenes as inspired by his relationship with his companion Marthe Bonnard; and his love of landscape, especially from 1910 onwards, and as influenced by his fellow pal Claude Monet. Numerous pieces are on loan from the Musée d'Orsay, as well as other museums and private collections in Europe, Australia and the USA. The NGV's own collection also includes significant works, however, including Bonnard's 1900 painting La Sieste (Siesta). Considered one of the world's most influential architects, multi-award-winning Mahdavi has been commissioned to help bring the historic pieces to life via her scenography, tasked with creating a setting that complements Bonnard's signature use of colour and light. The results aren't just spectacular — they're dreamy. "Monsieur Bonnard and I share the same passion: colour," Mahdavi explains of the exhibition. "I love his subjective perception of colour — the way he transforms the intimacy of everyday life into something sublime." "Pierre Bonnard is one of the most captivating artists of the post-impressionist movement. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience his work within a vivid scenography designed by India Mahdavi, one of the world's leading designers working today. Both the artist and the designer are celebrated for their ingenious use of colour, which made them a natural and authentic pairing for this NGV-exclusive exhibition," adds Tony Ellwood AM, the NGV's director. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi runs at the NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. For more information, see the venue's website. Images: Installation view of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, on display from June 9–October 8, 2023 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photos: Lillie Thompson.
A cocktail bar and restaurant honouring Taylor Square's designer has opened up in — you guessed it, Taylor Square. Founded by ardent Sydney restaurateur, Benny Sweeten, Sir Allen Taylor & Co. pays homage to the Sydney politician who made much-needed improvements to Oxford Street and redesigned the area around Taylor Square to improve traffic flow. Stationed right on the intersection, it opens early every day for coffee drinkers and stays open late on the weekends for evening cocktail fans. There's a full cafe menu — 'easy eats', consisting of banana bread, eggs on toast and smashed avocado; 'gangsta eats' which includes a Southern fried chicken burger, smoked beef brisket waffles, and leek and potato croquettes; and 'funky beats', offering sweet Tahitian vanilla crêpes, steamed salmon salad and a medley of mushrooms with poached eggs. After 3pm, the menu gets shorter, but there's definitely something substantial on offer to pair with a drink. Cocktails are served from 10am, perfect for the boozy brunch hunters. A particular standout is the espresso martini, which will come as no surprise to anyone considering that Sweeten opened Sydney's first espresso martini-focused bar. Sir Allen Taylor & Co. will also be hosting cocktail masterclasses, where you can learn how to perfect your martini or simply discover the basics of mixology. And if Sweeten's Kansas City Shuffle is anything to go by, your coffee will be made to meticulous standards. A convenient cart stationed out front pours your caffeine and also offers turmeric, matcha and red velvet lattes. Find Sir Allen Taylor & Co. on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, every day until 3pm, and until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit their website.
Some days, we all just want to want to wander through a vibrant, inflatable, lit-up dreamscape filled with billowing shapes. Sydneysiders, the time to do that is now with this collection of colourful inflatable characters popping up at Tumbalong Park as part of Sydney Festival. Created by Melbourne-based art and technology studio ENESS, Airship Orchestra is bringing sixteen bulbous shapes that glow, reach up to six metres in height, and come complete with a choir score. So, you'll be mesmerised by their appearance and their sounds alike. ENESS are the team behind the previous occupant of Tumbalong Park, Sky Castle. Both of these inflatable activations previously amazed Brisbanites as part of Brisbane Festival in 2021, with Airship Orchestra also being displayed in Melbourne, Shanghai and Washington D.C. Now in Sydney, the outdoor exhibition is free and running in Darling Harbour from Thursday, January 6 until Sunday, January 30. Top image: Ben Weinstein.
Forget those floury and dry monstrosities — Opus Coffee Brewers' muffins are glorious and come in flavours like strawberries and cream or caramelised peach, almond and white chocolate. The hip local coffee spot opened on Keira Street in 2016. Fair warning: seating is limited, so be prepared to wait. There's a communal table out the back and a few bench seats, too. Or takeaway — most of the menu is easily transportable. Opus uses Single O for its house blend for milk coffees and rotates its black coffee roast weekly. Tuck in to a hearty meal from the vegetarian-friendly menu, including a house-made bagel topped with Nutella and sea salt or haloumi, fried egg, jalapeño jam and green; a brekkie bowl with poached eggs, sesame black rice and kimchi; or, gluten free granola with coconut yoghurt. Images: Melanie Cox
Should you trip up and graze your knee, First Aid Kit will numb the pain. In fact, the mesmerising voices of these Scandinavian sisters could act as an alternative painkiller for any of the aches and grumbles that come from staring at a computer screen too long or hugging your iPhone to sleep. Johanna and Klara Soderberg, aged just 20 and 17, are creators of an enchanting collection of country-folk songs that have drawn comparisons with everyone from Joanna Newsom to Bon Iver and Laura Marling. These cute-as-a-button sisters, who grew up in the suburbs of Stockholm, initially turned to music through their love of pop princesses Britney and Beyonce. But after a friend recommended they turned their ears to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, the Soderberg sisters endeavored to learn guitar and pen some folk music. Their YouTube video cover of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by the Fleet Foxes caught the world's attention (one-and-a-half million hits — that's ten times more than the original), including a nod from the Foxes themselves. They were quickly signed to Rabid Records, the record label run by fellow Swedes The Knife. Now signed to London label Wichita, First Aid Kit have just released their debut album The Big Black and The Blue; an album that is both sophisticated and naive, dark and light all at once, with the quirk that comes from a Swedish tongue twisted into English. If you believe that music really does heal, let the girls work their powers on you when the duo play the Oxford Art Factory on September 9. They may just cure that funny rash or the wart on your big toe. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0VUIwtE8edY
A food truck park with laid-back summer vibes, games and mini-festivals is about to land in the northern beaches. Sydney's first permanent food truck destination, Truck Stop is set to makes its home inside Mona Vale's sprawling food and entertainment hot spot Park House. Opening just in time for Father's Day (on Sunday, September 2, FYI), Truck Stop will be home to a rotating lineup of food trucks as well as some pretty impressive permanent features — including a bar in an old-school 50s Airstream, a pizza kitchen and a taco truck in a vintage school bus. In between eating and drinking, if you get sick of doing only that, you'll be able to listen to live music, on a stage made from an old flatbed pickup truck, and play a round of hand ball, croquet or ping pong. On top of all that, the food truck park will also play host to a series of pop-up events, including Craftoberfest (September 28–October 7) and Pound Paws Doggy Day (November 3). So there's already a fair bit on the agenda to draw you north of the bridge (if you're not already there). Truck Stop will open on Sunday, September 2. It will be from Friday to Sunday throughout the summer.
I am yet to grasp the unending desire for converting plays/films/books/discographies into musicals. Though there are a few pieces of musical theatre that really excite me, I've sadly found that many are the theatrical equivalent of a mother bird eating and then regurgitating worms into the mouths of her squawking babies. Music as a medium can produce some of the most profound and moving experiences — whether in the nightclub or behind a red curtain — and so it disappoints me when good ideas are digested down into a sugar pop format. I am not a fan of Steven Sater's adaptation of Frank Wedekind's passionate caveat to nineteenth-century German parents and teachers. Sater has rendered down Wedekind's dark, provocative piece into something as confronting as the underwear section of a Target catalogue. Yes, they sing about rape, yes, they sing about masturbation and, yes, there is an abortion, but these issues appear and scatter across the stage quicker than cockroaches. Gone is the harsh act of fourteen-year-old Melchior raping Wendla (now they are little more than a self-aware Romeo and Juliet, cursing their fuddy-duddy elders), and the evolution of Hanschen and Ernst's homosexual affair is replaced instead with some limp wrists, a throw-away expository line and a "daring" kiss. The original Wedekind was banned numerous times throughout its 120 year history and only then it was performed after heavy censoring. I would argue that this melodious conversion happily upholds that tradition. How then has director Geordie Brookman (Baghdad Wedding) dealt with Sater's honeyed libretto? First, he's assembled an attractive cast that'll ensure a boom in opera glass sales amongst peeping toms. Second, he's cast performers who are primarily singers — a mixed bag of a decision, given that there are some long sequences of straight dialogue throughout the play. Third, and most brilliantly, Brookman has had lighting designer Niklas Pajanti create a frozen shower of countless naked light bulbs, all winking in and out of intensity as if communicating the true story of this tragedy via Morse code. Out of the leads, Akos Armont's Moritz Stiefel presents the most unique energy, creating a boy who is always on the verge of explosion from the pressures of his erupting pubescence. In contrast, Andrew Hazzard's Melchior and Clare Bowen's Wendla tend to err on the side of down tempo, giving their performances a very Home and Away feel, rather than that of an off-Broadway musical. Ultimately, Spring Awakening is going to appeal to a wide audience of music and dance lovers, especially those either in their teens or still connected to that adolescent essence. However, anyone anticipating the shock of Wedekind's words would be better off watching Harmony Korine's Ken Park. Image by Brett Boardman https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrc5c5tjWSw
Ruby's Diner is a thought-provoking stylistic mashup. By name and laminate tabletops, it’s definitely a diner. With tolix stools, small potted succulents and denim waiter aprons, it’s very on-trend too. The menu points to some healthy leanings and a giant tattoo-style mural is a stroke of swashbuckling pirate art. Yar me hearties, I had trouble with the elevator pitch for this one. The mix of influences makes it hard to know which way the wind is blowing at Ruby’s, but they are held together in an open, sun-flooded space in the quiet, gumtree-padded backstreets of Waverley. The crowd on Sunday is just as mixed — lots of pregnant women, smart-caj thirty-somethings and post-yoga soy latte drinkers. Happily, these pirates have a much more easygoing health food charter than than the paleo commandos down the road at Bondi. So there’s gluten-free banana bread, sugar-free (read: maple syrup sweetened) muffins, five grain this and quinoa that as well as brioche french toast. If your body is the temple you worship, there is also kale breakfast salad. Sinners that we are, we order the five grain porridge with quince and the poached eggs with house-made baked beans on an oat and wholegrain waffle instead. The Single Origin coffee is excellent; it’s speedily dispatched and breakfast sails over soon afterwards. I know we’re supposed to be in a diner, but a waffle is not the best raft for beans and poached eggs. ‘Things on bread’ dishes require an inverse relationship between the thickness of the topping and the carbohydrate on which they sit. So despite the perfectly poached eggs and brightly flavoured beans, the whole is an unbalanced ballast, that for $20, doesn’t sail. The porridge is a silky gloop of five-grain goodness where I suspect much quinoa lurks. Candied nuts on top provide texture rescue but the slivers of quince are are a little too few and too small. Again, without a leading flavour or spice it was likeable, but no hidden treasure. All hands are on deck for a fairly busy Sunday brunch. They are a merry crew, but a bit too swift. The bill is offered with a full coffee on the table (and no queue at the door) and as soon as we’re done the bill is offered again. This time we walk the plank, Sunday castaways.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Sunday, December 23 and 5pm on Monday, December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. The best news is that it's all Australian-sourced, with half of it from New South Wales. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter or stop by the on-site bakery and greengrocer. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist, bottle shop or even grab a voucher for a cooking class at the popular Sydney Seafood School.
If someone's trying to tell me to get a move on and they say "on your bike", I feel like popping them one to the jaw. However, if the bike on offer were an Original DM4 from Deus Ex Machina, I'd probably thank them kindly and be on my way. Those similarly reverent about nice bikes can get their fix (ha) at the 4th Deus Bicycle Swap Meet. There will be 10% off all cycle gear in the Deus store, as well as a lot of bike-related entertainment, trading and selling and a roller race.
Head down to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in the coming colder months and chances are — short of actually falling down a rabbit hole, because there are health and safety measures in place — you'll spend a couple of hours flitting about in Wonderland. Now on display at ACMI until October 7, the new exhibition celebrates Lewis Carroll's timeless Alice in Wonderland stories. Running as part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, Wonderland casts a wide net over the history and evolution of Alice, both in literature and on our screens. Sailing all the way back into the late 1800s to mark the very first sketches of the character, which led in turn to the first silent, black-and-white film of Alice in 1903, the exhibition leads a strollable path all the way through until Tim Burton's 2010 take. Visitors are handed a 'Lost Map of Wonderland' to navigate their way around: both a physical guide and a digital prop, it unlocks interactive parts of the exhibition — so keep it handy. From getting lost in the Hallway of Doors, perusing old prototypes and ancient scribbles that became Carroll's tangible character, to sitting yourself down at an entirely digitally projected Mad Hatter's Tea Party, there's be something to see here even if you're not an original Alice fan. Here's a list of the best five somethings we stumbled on while walking the wonderland trail — some will make you laugh, some might make children cry, but we think they'll all confirm Alice's role as an adventurous and enduring screen and literary icon of our time. [caption id="attachment_663373" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Liddell photographed by Lewis Carroll[/caption] EARLY ALICE SKETCHES THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR WONDERFUL FILMS The first section of the exhibition, Hallway Of Doors, contains — as you can probably imagine — more doors than strictly necessary. The idea here is to open, shut and explore, and you'll find yourself stumbling into rooms containing a plethora of late-1800s preliminary sketches by John Tenniel, who illustrated the original edition. You'll also find photos of the real-life Alice Liddell, who was said to be Lewis Carroll's inspiration for the stories. A couple of things to note: the real Alice had brown hair, so the blonde was a later fictive addition, and don't forget to open the drawers in the walls too — they're also full of interesting nuggets. As part of Alice's development throughout modern times, Tenniel's sketches helped lead to Cecil Hepworth's 1903 silent film Alice in Wonderland. Playing in a movie room you'll find yourself walking into (through, of course, another door), it's a fascinating look back not only at the Alice canon, but at early film as well. [caption id="attachment_663103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phoebe Powell[/caption] THE MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY You're beckoned into a white room and sat down at a white table filled with white cups and saucers. Looks like a bit of a beige tea party, really. But then the projections start: a stunning digital display sets up the walls as lurid forestry, and the table as stuffed full of food and treats. It's all projected — a trail of ants across the settings included — and it'll leave your head spinning, especially when you factor in the plates turning into clocks at the end. There was always going to be a tea party at this exhibitio, but this proves weird, wonderful and very clever. [caption id="attachment_647497" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jan Švankmajer's 1988 film Alice[/caption] THE UNSETTLING SIDE OF ALICE Just like some aspects of what Alice has encountered in Wonderland, it's not all sunshine and roses at the exhibition. Next you'll enter the section "The Rabbit Sends in A Little Bill", and any children you're walking through with will probably be hushed. A demonstration of the darker places that filmmakers have taken Alice, the most intriguing pick of the bunch is Jan Švankmajer's take on the tale. The Czech director and his wife Eva collaborated on his Alice in 1988, creating some terrifying imagery including strange skulls, teethy fish in wigs and creepy dolls (nope), as well as giving a whole host of young children with some enduring nightmares. It's fascinating though, and certainly on the darker side of the scale versus the Disney-esque, whimsy laden interpretation of Alice. [caption id="attachment_663372" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phoebe Powell[/caption] YOUR MAP IS PART OF THE EXHIBITION A guide you will definitely want to hang on to, you scan your map at the very start to see which pal will be accompanying you through the exhibition: mine was the Cheshire Cat, and at particular places I got to match my map up to the checkpoints and see the cool cat projected onto the actual map digitally. It's a cleverly used motif — and it's a pretty nice bonus to see your own character dancing around on a piece of paper. For those wishing there was even more interactivity and the chance to have a bit of a craft throwback, when you get to the Queen's Croquet Ground, you can cut out a character from disembodied parts and stick it onto your map, which then gets digitally fed into a projected screen of rose bushes. Next, your created character — with your real head, photographed and stuck on top — dances across the screen painting roses. It's great fun, and kids and adults alike will have a grand old time. MODERN-DAY ALICE AND THE COOL WOMEN THAT BROUGHT HER TO LIFE There's a lot to be said about the 2010 Alice in Wonderland and 2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass (and none of it about Johnny Depp). Mia Wasikowska was a more than fine Alice, giving the character just enough feyness yet pluck for audiences to still follow her willingly down holes and through doors more than 100 years after the character first appeared on screen. But the cool thing here is the fact that — Tim Burton, the first flick's director and both films' producer, aside — a lot of the work was done by some pretty awesome ladies. The exhibition showcases costume designer Colleen Atwood, whose incredibly intricate outfits for the first movie won an Academy Award — and the armour costume Wasikowska wore is a particular highlight. Then there's the contributions of the woman who gave a voice to these incarnations of the character in the first place: Linda Woolverton. Writing the screenplays for both recent Alice films, she was also the first woman to write an animated feature for Disney back with Beauty and the Beast in 1991. And for Alice? Woolverton was the first woman to be credited as a sole writer on a billion-dollar film. Perhaps Alice, all these years later, has now taken a tumble into the realm of girl power.
Three Malaysian architecture students have won the 2010 Skyscraper Competition for their revolutionary and ambitious design of a prison in the sky. Chow Khoon Toong, Ong Tien Yee and Beh Ssi Cze proposed the Vertical Prison System, a prison that would be suspended above a city with the prisoners living in a 'free' community that contributes to the host city below, with the only access via elevator pods that run from the prison down to the ground. The reasoning behind the design is that studies have shown that rates of re-offending are so high because prisoners are not given the opportunity to rehabilitate in a desirable community. As well as avoiding the need for prison bars, the design includes farms, factories and recycling plants to produce goods for the wider community and serve to rehabilitate the inmates. The Vertical Prison System would revolutionalise the penitentiary system in a sustainable and ecological friendly design. The design also makes potential escape from the prison more difficult or at the very least more exciting, there would be no scaling walls, no Shawshank Redemption tunneling, however there would be plenty of opportunities for Hollywood blockbuster escape plans involving helicopters, jetpacks or ridiculous parachute designs.
With 2014's Maleficent, Disney turned Sleeping Beauty into a dark fantasy, filled with magical forests, twisted fairies, and complicated battles between good and evil. When sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil hits cinemas this October, the Mouse House will do the same all over again — but the film's wicked delights won't just be confined to the big screen. In the huge entertainment company's latest collaboration with The Grounds of Alexandria (following The Nutcracker, Mary Poppins Returns and Aladdin-themed pop-ups), Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is taking over the Huntley Street spot until Sunday, November 3. This time around, the cafe's already-gorgeous garden is getting a misty, brooding and enchanting makeover, complete with black roses, gnarled branches, plenty of greenery, a smattering of feathers and an entry archway as striking as Angelina Jolie's eyebrows. The menu is also scoring a new short-term addition for the occasion — a dish The Grounds is calling 'The Dark Fairy'. Glazed milk chocolate mousse and passionfruit jelly on a bed of chocolate charcoal sable is topped with vanilla buttercream to create quite the decadent treat. It comes with edible glitter, rocks and horns, too, and costs $9. 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' at The Grounds is open from 7am–9pm daily until Sunday, November 3.
Staring contest? Hard. Marathons? Difficult. Being Tilda Swinton in a gallery? Effortless, apparently. Some things just seem naturally difficult. Some things seem like they would take a decent chunk of hard work. And some just feel like they belong another world of people with finer muscle control. To the latter belongs the latest effort of artist Frances Barrett. Her ambition is revolutionary, literally. Over the course of 12 hours she plans to make a glacier-speed revolution of Sydney Guild in the Twelve Hour Revolution. Simple? Yes. But given Barrett’s pedigree as a founder of local performance art star the Brown Council, you’d have to expect her slow turn around the art space will be worth some patient examination. Frances' performance runs from 8am — 8pm. Celebratory, closing drinks cover the final two, agonising hours from 6-8pm.
Two decades ago, the live-action Scooby-Doo movie was one of the Gold Coast's big claims to fame. While it was shooting, it was also the reason that plenty of Queenslanders tried to spot Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr and Linda Cardellini IRL, too. And if it also made you wish that you could drive around in a multi-coloured van with your mates — and dog — while solving crimes, you definitely weren't alone. In great news for meddling kids everywhere — well, former meddling kids who are now nostalgic meddling adults — hitting the road in the iconic Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine is actually a real thing that you can currently do. You'll need to swap Australia for a vanning holiday in Southern California, though, and you'll even be hosted by Lillard. In its latest pop culture-themed experience after the Bluey house and the Moulin Rouge! windmill already this year, Airbnb has listed the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine for stays, all to mark the movie's 20th anniversary. The word you're looking for is zoinks, obviously. Having a talking pooch to bunker down with you is optional. Like all of Airbnb's themed stays, this one is only available for a limited time — and by booking in a specific way. It'll be open for three three individual one-night reservations, for two guests per night, from June 24–26. And it'll only cost you AU$28 (US$20), but only if you're lucky enough to score a booking by hopping online from 3am AEST on Friday, June 17. Basically, you'll probably already want to be in the US over those dates anyway — or you'll need to be able to drop everything and make plans faster than Shaggy can pull off some scheming criminal's mask (because there's always a mask). If you do nab a booking, you'll be living like Shaggy and Scooby for a night, including listening to Sugar Ray on a portable CD player, lighting up the van with a lava lamp, soaking in plenty of 70s-style decor and wearing a puka shell necklace. Also included: a virtual greeting from Lillard upon your arrival, all-you-can-eat snacks, a dinner of Shaggy and Scooby faves such as hot dogs and eggplant burgers, and an outdoor lounge hangout area with a hammock. And yes, watching Scooby-Doo is also on the agenda, complete with popcorn, candy and bottomless Scooby Snacks. You'll also play mystery games, of course, because it wouldn't really me a night in the Mystery Machine without a bit of whodunnit action. "I've been channelling Shaggy since the live-action adaptation in 2002, and he's been a part of me ever since," said Lillard. "I can't wait to welcome guests into the world of the Mystery Inc gang as their Airbnb host and give them a summer vacation they'll never forget... monsters not included!" That AU$28 (US$20) price doesn't include getting to and from Southern California, so you'll also need to stump up for flights. While Airbnb has Lillard on the books, if it wanted to get him to host a Scream-themed stay, too — scary movies and all — we'd sign up for that as well. For more information about the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine listing on Airbnb, or to apply to book at 3am AEST on Friday, June 17, head to the Airbnb website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: Hogwash Studios/Ja Tescon.
Underground CBD favourite Burrow Bar moved from its original home in De Mestre Place to 96 Clarence Street with big plans to expand into two levels and open a restaurant above the bar. Those plans are now a reality with the opening of Cash Only Diner, a Vietnamese eatery serving up dishes with roots in owner Chau Tran's family heritage and the dishes of Hue, Vietnam. Tran has taken dishes she learned from her mother — a classically trained chef who studied at a French finishing school in Hue — and with the help of co-owner Bryce McDonough and the Burrow Bar team, has put together a menu that bursts with flavour and showcases the cuisine of the coastal Vietnamese city, which takes culinary elements from both north and south Vietnam. "Our team has worked for months to create contemporary versions of dishes that have decades of tradition behind them," says Tran. "We want this to be a place where people who love authentic Vietnamese food [will] come to, but we also want to share these new flavours with all Sydney foodies." Highlights of the menu include the cá kho tộ, caramelised and braised salmon served in a clay pot and dripping in marinade; the giò thủ, a pork and mushroom terrine; and C.O spring rolls filled with prawn and minced pork. Cash Only Diner sits above Burrow Bar, meaning you can bet the drinks are just as exciting as the food. Pair your Vietnamese feast with a selection from the cocktail menu that includes a green mango negroni, a pineapple and gin creation called Napoleon's 2nd Vice, and a boozy Vietnamese iced coffee, a creative twist on the espresso martini. The award-winning Burrow Bar team includes Rockpool, Spice Temple and Quay alumni, with the bar being named in the finalists of Australian Bartender Magazine's Bar of the Year, Bar Team of the Year and Small Bar of the Year. Tran has also claimed her fair share of accolades, winning Host of the Year at this year's Bartender Magazine Awards and being listed in the Top 25 Bartenders by DrinksWorld. Cash Only Diner is located at 1 Barrack Street, Sydney. It's open midday–11pm, Wednesday–Saturday.
Every winter, the streets and laneways of Circular Quay and The Rocks are filled with food, wine and art for the annual Bastille Festival. This year, the festival has been postponed — with the hope of going ahead in October — but you don't have to forego the French celebration entirely. The organisers of the Bastille-inspired celebration have launched Revolution Boxes, filled with wine, cheese and cured meats, which will bring some of the festival fun to you. Out of the four boxes on offer, two in particular piqued our interest. 'Why?', you ask — two words: melted cheese. With nights getting longer and days cooler, we're switching our focus from refreshing spritzes to warmer winter comforts. Revolution Boxes is helping in that department with its DIY raclette and fondue. The French Raclette Feast Box ($95) comes with a whopping 500-gram wedge of cheese, a bottle of Alsace white wine and all the edible accoutrements: 300 grams of charcuterie — salami, ham and prosciutto — potatoes, pickles and baguette. Supposedly, that's enough to feed three-to-four adults, but we think it's really the perfect amount for two. Also on offer is the Fondue Feast Box ($105), which is filled with everything you need to make fondue savoyarde, including not one but three French cheeses, two bottles of wine (one for 'cooking'), baguettes, garlic and a small bottle of Kirsch (cherry liquor). Both boxes come with tasting notes and cooking instructions, thankfully. Revolution Boxes are available to order now, with delivery across Sydney for $10. We'll let you know when dates for Bastille Festival in October are announced.
You don't need to spend big to fill your wardrobe with quality clothing. Instead, it can be just as simple as heading along to Round She Goes — Sydney's leading indoor market for women's preloved and vintage fashion. Returning to PCYC Marrickville on Saturday, July 19, this carefully curated one-day-only event features over 70 stalls dedicated to stylish second-hand designer labels, chic vintage finds and quality handmade accessories. With the doors swinging open at 10am, getting down early is your best chance to uncover the best finds. Along with coveted brands like Prada, Phillip Lim, Gorman and Zimmerman up for grabs, there's also 70s denim, unique jewellery and decades-old statement pieces to discover. Of course, Round She Goes is primed for savvy shoppers and fashion lovers. Yet it's also a sustainable way to shop, as these reclaimed garments still have lots to give. Entry is $5, with pre-booked tickets available online for those keen to skip the queue.
Nearly 100 years after the Titanic plunged into the freezing waters of the Atlantic, artist and inspirationalist Dodo Newman will commemorate the legendary journey and lives lost with the Titanic Project, a tribute that will combine the sorrowful history with the newest marvels of design. The project will erect a monument of the Titanic designed with luxury that the regal ship itself would not match. Newman's vision for the monument has a diamond and Swarovski crystal surface, 300 kg of jewelry and LED lighting all on a pyramid-shaped aquarium base structure. To add to the designer detail, over 50 luxury brands will be incorporated into the monument, the displays intertwined with sea life in the underwater enclosing. Newman has always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic, and has been hoping to finish the plan for the commemorative installation for the past several years. The project is intended to be finally completed by 2012, just in time to honour the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking in 1912. [via Extra Vaganzi]
Looking to brighten up your Monday? Mt Lewis Pizzeria in Bankstown and Hurstville is serving $1 za'atar manoush pizzas every Monday from Monday, June 30. The much-loved Middle Eastern pizza joint has become Sydney's go-to destination for authentic manoush, serving tasty pizzas from recipes passed down through generations. Combining traditional flavours with a cosy, modern setting, the pizzeria brings the spirit of Lebanon to Sydney. Usually enjoyed for breakfast, manoush is an authentic Lebanese flatbread-style pizza made combining za'atar spice and olive oil. The za'atar topping is a delicious blend of herbs including thyme and oregano. On top, toasted sesame seeds and sumac add the perfect subtle crunch. Enjoy it on its own or topped with fresh vegetables, labneh yogurt or melted cheese. Already salivating? We don't blame you. All you have to do is find $1 lying around and head into Mt Lewis Pizzeria in Bankstown or South Hurstville. Grab a manoush for a cheeky breakfast, lunch or snack anytime between opening and closing, which is 5am–4pm at Bankstown and 6am–6pm at Hurstville. $1 manoush is limited to three per customer. For the full menu, visit the Mt Lewis Pizzeria website. Images: Supplied.
Sydneysiders get short-changed when it comes to winter. Sure, its perfectly pleasant, but we miss out on actual winter, when temperatures plummet into the minuses. Waking up to a blanket of fresh white snow outside your window. Strolling around quaint European Christmas markets, clutching a comforting mug of gluhwein to your chest as you try to absorb all the heat that you can get. There's something special about feeling so cold that you're not entirely sure if your toes are still attached to your feet. Now we can have the best of both worlds with the Sydney Winter Festival at Darling Harbour. As of June 13, we can appreciate all that is winter without having to worry about the potential frostbitten feet that accompany it. Options are numerous. The event is a smidge bigger than winter festivals past — there's an ice-skating rink, food stalls from the likes of Eat Art Truck, an après skate lounge and beer garden, a giant inflatable 'Thredbo snow' slide and floating Lindt zorb balls. Finally, a way to eat all the Lindt chocolate you can handle and then float around in a giant plastic bubble in Darling Harbour. So, fellow winter enthusiasts, don your warmest beanie, down a gluhwein (or three) and go wrest Darling Harbour back from the tourists.
Australia's arts calendar is always world-class, but this year it is particularly jam-packed — not just with recurring festivals and events, but lots of things that will hit the city for the first time ever. Us lucky Australians will be the first people in the world to see Patricia Piccinini's Skywhalepapa take to the sky and, down in Melbourne, the works of 20th century French artist Pierre Bonnard reimagined by architect and designer India Mahdavi. Plus, we've got multiple big-name exhibitions and not one, but two new galleries. While more events, installations and and exhibitions will inevitably be announced as the year progresses, these are the ones you should get more excited about right now. THE RETURN OF PATRICIA PICCININI'S OTHERWORLDLY SKYWHALE At 34 metres long, more than twice as big as a regular hot air balloon and ripped straight from Patricia Piccinini's inimitable mind, Skywhale might just be one of Australia's most recognisable recent pieces of art. It's a sight to see, and the largest-scale example of the artist's fascination with the thin line that separates nature and technology — and it's about to meet its match. In 2020, the National Gallery of Australia will unveil Piccinini's new Skywhalepapa, which is designed to form a family with Skywhale. They'll both float through the Canberra skies from April, with the second bulbous sculpture commissioned as part of the gallery's Balnaves Contemporary Series. In total, the pair will take flight from a site near the NGA eight times during the nearly three-month Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition, with the exact launch dates yet to be revealed. Just how big Skywhalepapa will be is also yet to be announced, but given the impressive size of its companion, expect it to be hefty. If you can't make it to Canberra to see the growing Skywhale clan, they will also tour the country for an NGA touring exhibition, with locations and dates to be confirmed at a later date. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings will run Canberra's National Gallery of Australia in April 2020. A BRAND NEW MULTI-SENSORY DIGITAL ART GALLERY If you prefer an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall, prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new immersive digital art gallery. Set to open sometime in autumn, The Lume will take the form of a $15 million 2000-square-metre gallery, decked out with 150 state-of-the-art projectors. Projections of some of the world's most celebrated works will be splashed across various surfaces, backed by powerful musical soundtracks and complemented by aromas. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which, for the past 14 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. Known for celebrating art world greats like Vincent van Gogh and da Vinci through modern, multi-sensory technology, Grande Exhibitions will use a similar formula at The Lume. Instead of showcasing original works, the gallery will rely on a curation of music and moving image to create a tapestry of instantly recognisable artworks. The Lume will open in an unconfirmed Melbourne location in autumn 2020. We'll let you know when more details are announced. [caption id="attachment_750699" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top image: Chiharu Shiota b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. In Silence (2002/2019). Production support: Alcantara S.p.A. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.[/caption] A MAZE OF RED AND BLACK WOOL AT GOMA It's been home to David Lynch's eerie filmscapes, Yayoi Kusama's infinity rooms, a snowman and Patricia Piccinini's forest of flowers. Yes, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art loves an immersive installation — and it has more in store for 2020. Fancy wandering through a labyrinth of red and black wool? That's on next year's agenda. As part of its just-announced 2020 lineup, GOMA revealed it'll host Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, a showcase focusing on the Berlin-based Japanese artist and her work over the past quarter-century. In an Australian exclusive, the exhibition comes to Brisbane after recently premiering in Tokyo — and while it won't sit 53 storeys up or come with panoramic views of the city, like it did in Japan, Shiota's string-heavy installations are certain to garner more than a little attention. Fashioned from millions of strands, they resemble weaved, maze-like webs and take up entire rooms. The Soul Trembles is the largest-ever solo exhibition by the artist — and although GOMA hasn't revealed just how much of the Tokyo lineup is coming to Brisbane, art lovers can expect an array of sprawling installations, sculptures and video footage of Shiota's performances, as well as photographs and drawings. Highlighting her fascination with intangible concepts, such as memory, anxiety, dreams and silence, the ticketed display will run from June 27–October 5, 2020. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles will run at Brisbane's GOMA from June 27–October 5, 2020. THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S FIRST MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER ART There are plenty of ways to soak in the Great Barrier Reef's natural underwater delights — and the Museum of Underwater Art is the newest one. The attraction – created by marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor — has been a long time in the works, but just recently installed its first two artworks just off the shore at Townsville. The first artwork, Ocean Siren, can be found 30 metres from The Strand jetty — and while it actually towers above the water, it interacts with live water temperature data. Designed to resemble Takoda Johnson, one of the area's Wulgurukaba traditional owners, it receives information from the Davies Reef weather station on the Great Barrier Reef, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. This one can be visited now Coral Greenhouse, on the other hand, sits 18 metres beneath the ocean's surface on the John Brewer Reef. It's an underwater building filled with coral garden beds and more than 20 sculptures, many resembling local school children — and has been made to both stand up to wave pressures and cyclones, and remain visible to divers and snorkellers. While this one is installed, it won't be open for viewing until April 1, 2020. Four pieces are planned in total — another one at Palm Island is expected to be installed by the end of the year, and another at Magnetic Island will open once funding is sourced. MoUA's first artwork can be seen now just off The Strand jetty at Townsville, and the second one will be able to view from April 2020. [caption id="attachment_759712" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Reihana 'Tai Whetuki - House of Death Redux' (2016) at The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery.[/caption] SYDNEY'S BIANNUAL EXHIBITION THAT TAKES OVER THE CITY FOR 12 WEEKS The centrepiece of the 2018 Biennale of Sydney was Ai Weiwei's 60-metre inflatable boat, a critique and exploration of the global refugee crisis. This year, when the Biennale returns to art galleries across Sydney, the lineup of 100-plus artists will be examining another poignant issue close to the heart of Australia: First Nations sovereignty and intergenerational trauma. Running from Saturday, March 14 until Monday, June 8, the 2020 Biennale is entitled Nirin, which means 'edge' in the language of western NSW's Wiradjuri people. This year's theme is timely, for two reasons: the 2020 blockbuster falls on the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's voyage to Australia — and it will be helmed by a new First Nations artistic director: famed Sydney-born, Melbourne-based interdisciplinary artist Brook Andrew. Andrew has selected an impressive lineup of artists and creatives — many of them First Nations — from around the world to exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW, Woolloomooloo's Artspace, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Cockatoo Island, MCA and the National Art School for the exhibition's 12 weeks. On the just-announced program, you'll find the Southern Hemisphere premiere of Arthur Jafa's Golden Lion-awarded work The White Album, Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens's immersive work symbolising the disproportionate number of incarcerated Indigenous Australian women and a large-scale political protest piece by Pitjantjatjara artist Kunmanara Mumu Mike Williams (who passed away last year). Cockatoo Island will be home to a wide range of works, too, including Ghanaian-born artist Ibrahim Mahama's sprawling installation of coal sacks; Tony Albert's interactive greenhouse, where you'll be invited to write and plant messages; and Tlingit/Unangax̂ artist Nicholas Galanin's excavation work that'll 'dig up' the land beneath the shadow of Hyde Park's Captain Cook statue. The 22nd Biennale of Sydney runs from March 14–June 8 2020. [caption id="attachment_747305" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gallery at sketch designed by India Mahdavi, London, 2014, photo by Thomas Humery.[/caption] A WORLD-FIRST EXHIBITION BY PIERRE BONNARD AND INDIA MAHDAVI Heading the National Gallery of Victoria's autumn/winter program this year is a world-premiere exhibition Pierre Bonnard, created in collaboration with famed Parisian museum the Musée d'Orsay. It offers a glimpse into the life and work of acclaimed 20th-century French artist Bonnard through a sprawling collection of pieces on loan from the likes of London's Tate and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, along with other renowned French museums. A close friend of the legendary Henri Matisse, the artist is best known for his stylised decorative works evoking scenes of everyday domestic life. The Melbourne exhibition will see Bonnard's recognisable designs brought to life even further, with the help of famed Iranian-Egyptian-French architect and designer India Mahdavi. Mahdavi — who has designed eye-catching spaces like London's Red Valentino store and the famous all-pink Gallery at sketch — will use her signature colour palettes and love of textures to create an immersive, life-size version of one of Bonnard's domestic scenes. The exhibition will run at NGV International from June 5–October 4, 2020. [caption id="attachment_737971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White Night Melbourne by Gerard Dubois[/caption] A BRAND NEW MAJOR WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL Melbourne's arts calendar never fails to keep us busy, however, it's always had a bit of a lull in winter before Melbourne International Arts Festival and Melbourne Music Week take over the city in spring. But, this year, that's all set to change. In May last year the Victorian Government announced that it will launch a huge new citywide arts festival in the winter of 2020. It's set to shake up the Melbourne arts calendar as the new festival will merge the aforementioned Melbourne Festival and arts all-nighter White Night and move them into a winter timeslot. While White Night was originally held on a hot February night, in 2019 it was moved to August. Melbourne Fest, which was established in 1986, is usually held in October. Exact timings and details are yet to be revealed, but the new "global" festival — as it's being billed by the Andrews Government — will take over the city for several weeks, much like Melbourne Festival usually does in October. While it will no doubt combine the best bits of the two existing festivals, a new creative team will come on to develop a new program and vision. We're told the the 2020 program will feature a "diverse program of visual and performing arts" coupled with with "large-scale takeovers of precincts" after-dark. The inaugural festival — which is yet to be named — will kick off with a 'transitional' year in the winter of 2020. The new winter festival will hit Melbourne in winter 2020. We'll keep you updated when new details or dates are announced. Top image: Skywhale, 2013, Patricia Piccinini. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of anonymous donor 2019, Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Feeling spiritual this winter? The Paddo Inn is embracing all things divine and otherworldly this July, serving up a special Tarot & Tannins experience. Blending bold wines, Italian bites and an interactive tarot card workshop, the boutique pub's candlelit ambience is the ideal venue for this intimate affair. Held from 7pm on Monday, July 14, professional tarot card reader Ginny Shearer will use all 25 years of her experience to intuitively interpret the possible paths that lie ahead. She'll also delve into the basics of tarot, revealing how the cards offer insight and reflection for everyday life. You won't need to predict the future to know the accompanying cuisine will hit the spot. Feast on canapés by Il Baretto, like rigatoni alla norma, fennel salami with seasonal fruit compote, and homemade focaccia al rosmarino. These pair with a flight of three Alphabox & Dice wines, spanning prosecco, pinot grigio and grenache. Between the feel-good flavours and tarot insights, this session is bound to bring guests closer together. With tickets priced at $55, the Paddo Inn's latest happening is the ideal way to launch into the week, thanks to its holy combination of sips, snacks and stories.
If you think you don't know who Cody ChesnuTT is, then you will be pleased to learn that you are wrong. He is the soulful singer of the incredibly catchy 'Look Good In Leather', one of many brilliant songs from his debut album, The Headphone Masterpiece. The Roots (you will know them) also reworked ChesnuTT's song 'The Seed' for their famous album Phrenology. Since then it has been a long time between drinks — Australia last saw ChesnuTT in 2006. Thankfully, though, he is back with his second studio album and an Australian tour. Landing on a Hundred was released late last year and is well worth seeing performed live. In fact, anyone compared to music legends Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Jimmy Hendrix and Prince is worth seeing, especially for under $50. So hand over a gold note, get your change and enjoy an evening of musical artistry at The Metro Theatre. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8iTRRkOXIoI
I love a good rom-com as much as the next person. Austenland is not a good rom-com. The film tells the tale of Jane Austen-obsessed, 30-something singleton Jane Hayes (Keri Russell), who spends her life savings on visiting an Austen 'theme park' in England in her quest to find her own Mr Darcy. The foundations for a predictable and enjoyable rom-com are set. All we have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride as she battles obstacles before eventually learning that the fantasy exists in real life. Right? Right on all accounts except the most crucial: this film is not enjoyable. Actually, my apologies, there was one laugh, only it was so fleeting and unmemorable that I have already forgotten what induced it was. Likely it came from the repeatedly cumbersome attempts at a regal English accent by Miss Elizabeth Charming (played by Jennifer Coolidge in the same vein as every character ever played by Jennifer Coolidge). At least Austenland will not force you to think too much. It is predictable, which is a staple of most films of the genre — the protagonist will always find love. However, that is where we would like the predictability to cease. Unfortunately, the film's events and 'twists' are so glaringly foreseeable that you could sit at home and write the script in the time it takes you to watch it. In fact, just buy a Jane Austen novel with the money you would spend on seeing this. Perhaps the most frustrating element of this film is how unvisitable and inhospitable the actual resort it. From the instant Jane arrives she is treated horribly, due to purchasing the basic package. However, this unfathomable business plan destroys any realism in this resort, for me at least. It would have been better if this theme park had roller-coasters and fairy floss throughout. I will say that Russell is lovely to watch, and that JJ Feild will have ladies swooning as the film's resident Mr Darcy. However, that is it for the positives in this film. So use your sense and sensibility and give Austenland a miss, or at least wait until it ends up in JB Hi-Fi's bargain bin. Even then, save your $4.95.
Shakespearean enthusiasts Sport for Jove are at it again, this time returning with an encore production of their critically acclaimed production of Hamlet. The company has come a long way since it was founded in 2009 with the aim of establishing an original, compelling and energetic new theatrical voice in Australia. This has been achieved in only four years, but as Hamlet thankfully shows, there are no signs that the company will be resting on its laurels anytime soon. Director Damien Ryan, synonymous with Shakespeare in Australia, transposes the timeless tragedy to the modern stage through an inclusion of technology, creating a challenging and captivating production that rejuvinates the revenge tale, enthralling the audience to the point where you could hear a pin drop. Lindsay Farris leads an ensemble cast as the dark Hamlet and his support cast includes Sport for Jove favourites Christopher Stalley and Christopher Tomkinson seamlessly sliding between dual roles across the 110-minute staging. The production is running for a limited period only, and when a play is described as "one of the best productions of anything I have ever seen" it definitely warrants your attention. Weekdays offer a matinee alongside the evening show and both offer a Q&A post-performance where you can gain further insight into the show's commended production.
Take a seat. Please, I insist, just so that you can jump out of it and celebrate in true headbanging style at the news that Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age are heading Down Under in 2014 for a co-headline tour. Okay, now take a seat again and continue to read on. Two of the biggest acts in alternative rock are set to arrive on our shores in March next year. This is glorious news to Oceania fans who haven't seen Nine Inch Nails since 2009 and Queens of the Stone Age since 2011. Both bands have teased since May about heading this way, when Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme told triple j's Tom and Alex, "Everybody who knows me knows that Australia is my home away from home. I also think it's time that we come and tell our own stories, so we're gonna skip the round of festivals and see you in your fall." Nine Inch Nails lead Trent Reznor then revealed his band's intentions to head down under when they turned down Soundwave in favour of a "better scenario" for fans. Well, there is no better scenario than seeing them combine with QOTSA for a tour that is sure to go down in legend. The tour comes on the back of Nine Inch Nails' and QOTSA's recent respective releases, the much-heralded Hesitation Marks and ...Like Clockwork, and they will be joined on stage by Australian-born Brody Dalle, Mrs Josh Homme, of The Distillers and Spinnerette fame. Which one of the two bands will play first each night? That will be left to a flip of the coin. Seriously.
There's nothing like lacing up your hiking boots and discovering a new trail. To help shave down the Googling time for our next adventure, we've asked Concrete Playground readers to share their favourite trails. So, if you are planning to take advantage of the long weekend and stretch your legs, here are your tips for the best hikes to check out — plus suggestions for neighbouring campgrounds, as well as the nearest The Bottle-O so you can stock up on bevs for a winner weekend. Cape to Cape Walk Track, Gnarabup, WA Starting off with the big one, Cape to Cape in WA. This multi-day track is on every hike lover's hitlist, and for good reason, according to John, who submitted this tip: "The best views you will ever get in WA. You don't have to do the entire 130 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin — unless you have up to ten days to spare. You can break it up and do a smaller section, easy." So pack your gear, pick up your mates and head down from Perth to the starting point in Cape Naturaliste. Stop in Brunswick for hiking snacks, easy meals to enjoy and bevs from Brunswick's The Bottle-O to enjoy as the sun sets across the ocean as you camp at one of the many campsites along the trail. Closest The Bottle-O: Brunswick Forts Walk, Magnetic Island National Park QLD Are you keen on koala spotting, historical tours, and epic views? Find all three at the Magnetic Island National Park, just an easy car ferry from the mainland. The island is a frequent getaway for our reader Karen who says: "There's always rock wallabies hanging around the beaches and headlands in Arcadia. The best walk is the Forts Walk, hands down." Explore the rest of the island's rainforest, rocky coastline and local wildlife before stocking up on supplies including local Queensland craft beers from The Bottle-O in Arcadia. Then all that's left to do is chill at the campsite with your mates. Closest The Bottle-O: Arcadia Middle Brother National Park, NSW The biggest of the 'Brothers' parks, Middle Brother, is found on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales. Reader Alex recommends the Middle Brother Circuit: "It's a hard hike that covers most of the park, so you will see a lot. There's little signal and signage, so it's best to come prepared for this one. Or do the shorter Peak Loop — great for a trail run." After a long day on the trail, pack up your car and head to North Haven to stock up on supplies at the servo and drinks at The Bottle-O before kicking back at one of the caravan parks and enjoy the bush and the beach over the long weekend. Closest The Bottle-O: North Haven Nelson Falls, TAS Keen to chase waterfalls in the wild western side of Tasmania over the long weekend? According to our Instagram follower Natalie, the best track is Nelson Falls in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. She says: "It's not a long trek, but it's worth the scenery and a perfect sidetrack if you're road-tripping from Cradle Mountain to Queenstown or vice versa. The best time to visit the falls is after heavy rain — the waterfall will be raging!". There's a free campground nearby, Lake Burbury, where you can relax with your mates and a few cold ones from The Bottle-O in Queenstown. Closest The Bottle-O: Queenstown Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk, VIC Melburnians who want to get out of the city for the long weekend are so spoiled for choice. You could go north to wine country or west to the Great Ocean Road, but reader Steve says you should head south along the Bass Coast to Phillip Island: "The best spot for an epic walk is the Cape Woolamai Circuit — it's the highest point on the island, so it's perfect for sunset snaps." The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so it's super easy to get to, and everything you need is there. Plus, there are plenty of accommodation options, from farm stays and campgrounds to resorts and hotels — and The Bottle-O for all your beverage needs. So, whatever kind of adventure you want to take with your mates this long weekend, you are sorted. Closest The Bottle-O: Phillip Island Wherever the road leads you on your weekend adventuring, find your nearest The Bottle-O and stock up on some standout bevs. Ready to start planning? Head to the website. Top image: Canva Stock
Treat yo'self to something sweet, help save one of Australia's most beloved animals: that's what's on the menu right now thanks to Lindt. The brand has just launched a limited-edition item that not only looks adorable, but also assists a great cause — with its new koala-shaped chocolates raising funds for the Australian Koala Foundation. Everyone knows Lindt's gold Easter bunnies, so consider this the suitably silver and thoroughly Aussie version, all to support the AKF's work to ensure the Aussie marsupial's survival. Beneath that shimmering foil and its cute red ribbon with a heart-shaped pendant, the 100-gram chocolate is shaped like a koala, obviously. It's hollow inside, but you'll taste notes of both caramel and honey within the milk chocolate itself. For each koala purchased — with the new choccies only available via Lindt's retail stores and its website — the brand is donating $1 to the AKF. And, for every dollar that Lindt donates, AKF is matching it. Those funds are specifically earmarked for the foundation's 'Koala Kiss Project', which is all about finding where the species' fragmented habitat comes close to joining up, then regenerating the landscape to create a koala conservation corridor — with the first stage of the project focusing on developing software and collaborating with scientists to plot out all those 'kiss points' over a 1.5-million-square-kilometres patch between Cairns and Melbourne. "The Lindt koala is more than just chocolate. We want our Lindt koala to raise awareness and educate the community of the important role the Australian Koala Foundation plays in the long-term survival of our beloved native animal," said Lindt Australia CEO Michael Schai. "If we achieve contiguous habitat across the entire stretch of the koala range, then all creatures great and small could traverse through the bush unthreatened. With over 30 years of research behind the Koala Habitat Map, AKF's next grand vision could redirect the fate of the koala," added Deborah Tabart OAM, Chair of Australian Koala Foundation. "Lindt's support will help kickstart those efforts, with an ultimate vision to save the koala with 'kisses' through chocolate." Lindt's chocolate koalas are available to purchase for $6.25 at Lindt stores and via the Lindt website for a limited time.
With every new year comes new ambitions, goals and hopes for the next 12 months. Despite not quite ticking off everything from last year's resolutions list, there's something about a new year that restores your faith in your own ability to achieve your dreams this time around. And, if the world has shown us anything these past few years, it's to lean into fun while you can. While trying new things can be somewhat daunting, we hear that getting out of your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Whether you've been promising yourself to sign up to an acting class for years or you feel like trying a different sport, there are loads of ways you can get involved in a new activity this year. We've teamed up with Just Play to give you some inspiration for your extracurricular activities in 2022. PLAY A TEAM SPORT After so much time in solitude and indoors over the past few years, there's never been a better time to get involved in a team sport. Although this may sound very intimidating to some — especially if your high school dabbled in dodge ball — being part of a team sport can be a completely supportive and enjoyable experience. If you're ready to play but haven't got enough mates who are as keen you, Just Play is here to help find you a team. Simply sign up to one of the sports on offer — basketball, netball, futsal, soccer, touch footy, cricket, volleyball and more — as an individual or with a mate and you'll be added to a team in your area. How good. Once you've registered, Just Play will then send you a playing top and you'll be off and away with your new teammates. LEARN A NEW CREATIVE SKILL There's something super satisfying about getting your hands dirty to learn a new skill or to make something. And Work-Shop offer plenty of courses that will leave you feeling creatively fulfilled. You can try your hand at workshops across various art forms including ceramics, jewellery making, pot painting or simply sip on some wine as you paint a watercolour masterpiece. It even offers Kintsugi classes — the art of repairing broken pottery. By the end of each workshop, you'll leave with a beautiful piece of art and a story to tell your mates at dinner. Plus, classes fall on a range of different days and timeslots, making it easy to fit in around your busy weekly schedule. VOLUNTEER FOR A CAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT Volunteering is a top-tier way to get involved in your community and potentially discover new areas of interest. In Sydney, Story Factory has ongoing volunteer opportunities, both online and in person, focusing around greater western Sydney schools. If helping under-resourced communities through creative writing sounds like something for you, this will be right up your alley. There are heaps of other places you can volunteer, too. Consider yourself an animal lover? You could volunteer at an animal shelter. Love to read? Libraries could use your help. Or, if you like life on the more dramatic side, your local theatre is likely to love your creative input. Go Volunteer can help you get started with opportunities and organisations listed or Volunteer Match can help you find something that aligns with your interests. HIT YOUR MARK IN AN ACTING CLASS Ever think you could be the next Cate Blanchett or Eric Bana but just haven't been discovered yet? Well, it might be time to enrol in a NIDA Open course to help you discover your true acting ability or to simply have a bit of fun centre stage. There are intensive part-time courses and shorter weekend and evening classes available in stage acting, screen acting, stand up comedy, design, writing and more. Some courses require an audition to enter but many are available to anyone ready to take on a creative challenge. The best bit? NIDA Open offers regular classes in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. ELEVATE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS You can never stop learning when it comes to cooking. Some of us simply want to master the art of slicing things up a little more intricately. Others might want to figure out which spices should go with what dishes while some might want to perfect a pad thai recipe. Whatever skill you want to refine, a cooking class could be your answer. You can find a range of classes on Red Balloon to suit a range of palate preferences. Want to finally learn how to make some proper Italian pasta? How about delicious Japanese or Middle Eastern food? Either way, Red Balloon has you covered. You can even take a cocktail masterclass and impress all your mates next time they come over for drinks. ENROL IN A LANGUAGE COURSE Learning a new language is one of those things that perpetually seem to be on the 'I should get around to finally doing that' list. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer 'Parlez-vous Francais?' with more than 'Oui'? Well, this could be the year. There are plenty of courses to help. The Vocational Language Learning Centre offers courses in Arabic, French, Italian, Greek, German, Japanese, Indonesian, Russian and Spanish at centres in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. EXPLORE YOUR CITY ON SKATES Time to limber up those legs and get on some skates to see your city in a whole new way. Rollerskating is an excellent way to keep active and try something new and still maintaining an element of social distance (ideal in 2022). There are plenty of routes for you to roll around in our major cities. Hit up the St Kilda Beach Promenade in Melbourne, let loose on the long and scenic Brisbane River run or lap it up at Centennial Park in Sydney. In terms of purchasing the gear, Impala Roller Skates online store has plenty of good stuff. Or, there's Bayside Blades in Melbourne, Extreme Skates in Brisbane and Skater HQ in Sydney. Ready to try something new in your city this year? For more information on Just Play, visit the website.
Winter is coming, as Game of Thrones has been telling us for years — but the show's final season is coming first. Before the weather turns cold again in the southern hemisphere, fans of the epic HBO series will be able to discover how the popular series wraps up, so mark your calendars accordingly. After leaving everyone hanging for the entirety of 2018, HBO has announced that Game of Thrones' eighth and final season will hit the small screen on April 14, 2019, US time — so Monday, April 15 in Australia — nearly two years after season seven premiered in July 2017. If you're eager to get your fix of the series' staples — that is, battles, bloodshed, betrayal, bare chests, family bickering, Jon Snow knowing nothing (including about his long-lost aunt) and plenty of dragons — then you can start counting down the days: there are 90 to go. HBO revealed the launch date this morning at the end of slightly creepy new teaser, featuring Jon Snow and Sansa and Arya Stark in the crypts of Winterfell. They're faced with the talking statues of Lyanna, Catelyn and Ned Stark, and look set to battle White Walkers, but you can watch it all below. You can check out the other season eight teasers here. Of course, we all know that this isn't really the end of the world created by author George RR Martin — and no, we're not talking about the now seven-year wait for his next book in the literary franchise, The Winds of Winter. A prequel TV series to Game of Thrones is in the works, set thousands of years before the events we've all be watching since 2011, with Naomi Watts set to star. Come next year, you'll also be able to tour original GoT filming locations in Northern Ireland. https://youtu.be/wA38GCX4Tb0
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for Titus Jones's latest trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. The big night in question is free (huzzah) with B99-themed cocktails available to purchase on the night and a heap of prizes up for grabs. It all kicks off at 4pm on Sunday, January 13. Book a table for you and your mates and it may be your night to shine (and that can be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). To book, call (02) 8068 4955 or email mez@titusjones.com.au.
Put your laughing pants on Sydney, because the Sydney Comedy Festival is back and it's too much for non-laughing pants to handle (so don't say we didn't warn you). This year marks the festival's tenth birthday, and yet the festival is giving you all the gifts. There's gifts for those who want to rip through the paper and find a stand-up comic, and gifts for those who want to gently unwrap the surprise of an offbeat and hard-to-describe show. Gifts for all comedic persuasions. This year includes a spelling bee with dubious consequences for the English language, the funniest PowerPoint lecture around and a supremely entertaining Eastern-European (impersonator) improv team. Here are our top ten picks and remember: laughing pants.
We picked Steen in our top ten last year and he thoroughly deserves his spot on our list again. In the past year he has gained international fame, having been nominated for the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer award before returning home with his brand new show and getting nominated for MICF’s Barry Award. He’s likely to take out another Sydney Comedy Festival award to go with his 2013 Best Newcomer trophy, so make sure you catch him before he’s crushed by silverware. This is one of our top picks of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Check out our full top ten.
The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has announced announced one of its most all-round thumbs-up inducing lineups yet, with one big name at the top: Tyler, The Creator. The chart-topping American rapper will be heading to Australia for the first time since releasing his highly lauded album IGOR. He'll be joined on stage by fellow American and trap master RL Grime, gold masked German DJ duo Claptone, British rapper Skepta, dancefloor starters Disclosure and electro duo Snakehips, among one heck of a killer lineup. Local legends aren't scarce this year, either, with the likes of Hatchie, Pnau, Hayden James and more locked in for NYD sets. Returning to The Domain on New Year's Day, January 1, 2020, Field Day proves once again that some lineups are worth skipping the last NYE UDL for. [caption id="attachment_735766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tyler, The Creator by Sam Rock[/caption] Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after. FIELD DAY 2020 LINEUP Tyler, The Creator Antony & Cleopatra Chris Lake Claptone Dena Amy Disclosure Dom Dolla Eves Karydas Glades Green Velvet Gunna Hatchie Hayden James IAMDDB Jauz Lastlings Nyxen Pnau RL Grime Running Touch Skepta Snakehips The Japanese House Tokimonsta Ybn Cordae Field Day returns to The Domain on January 1, 2020. Tickets on sale at midday on Tuesday, August 27 via Field Day's website. Image: Field Day/AP Photography.
The duo behind Bourke Street's Japanese-inspired burger haven have just opened a new chapter, with a second Ume Burger opening at Barangaroo at the end of October. Owners Kerby Craig and Regina Jose have taken up residence on Wulugul Walk, the waterfront suburb's new dining precinct, and the simple, sustainably-focused menu itself bears a fraternal twin-like resemblance to the original Bar Ume's, but with one notable exception. With Japanese-inspired street food and burgers the cornerstone of Ume, the Bacon Cheeseburger has been tossed aside, and replaced with the younger, sexier Menchi Burger, made with handmade pork katsu, tonkatsu sauce and cabbage. They have, of course, retained the Kakiage Burger for plant-loving burger aficionados. Aside from the main attraction, Ume Burger has a whole lot on offer. The drinks list has a sweet spread of wines, beers, Japanese spirits, as well as intriguing house-made sodas like yuzu brown sugar or strawberry vanilla. Plus, and I mean plus, there's a soft serve station, in all its glory. The flavours rotate with regularity so expect a lucky dip, from lavender and white chocolate to sweet potato. The whole joint is rounded out by some pretty slick décor, with the kooky creations of Sydney paper engineer Benja Harney dotted about the place. With burger restaurants multiplying like a year three maths class, Craig and Jose stand out from the crowd with their bold flavours and unique take on Japanese cuisine, so there's no doubt they'll be right at home in Sydney's new home of high-end interpretations of street food — just take a wander past neighbours like Anason, Zushi, Belle's Hot Chicken and Lotus Dumpling Bar. Find Ume Burger at Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo and 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Open Monday to Saturday 11am–10pm and Sunday 11am–9pm.
International Margarita Day may fall on Wednesday, February 22, but why settle for only one day of citrusy, salty, tequila-y celebration? Solotel is spreading the love with a week-long tribute to all things margarita, taking place from Monday, February 20 until Sunday, February 26. For the whole week, eight of Solotel's venues are serving up watermelon and raspberry margaritas — with Patrón on the pour — for just $12 (plus $15 margies at The Golden Sheaf). It's the ideal bev to sip while you farewell the last few weeks of summer sun. Perhaps you'll choose the sunny courtyard of The Courthouse in Newtown, or the locally loved Public House in Petersham. Or, maybe level up your after-work drinks with margaritas at Barangaroo House's House Bar. Though, you're sorted at any of the other participating spots: The Erko, Edinburgh Castle, Sackville Hotel, Regent Hotel and Bridgeview Hotel. If you're into the Mexican cocktail, now's the time to enjoy it all over Sydney. If you know what's good for you, you'll pick a spot and get ready to raise a glass and celebrate the ultimate cocktail for a full seven days. Solotel's Margy Week hits a standout lineup of venues from Monday, February 20 till Sunday, February 26, with Patrón Tequila watermelon and raspberry margaritas for $12 ($15 at The Golden Sheaf). For all the details, head to the website.
If movies are anything to go by, then the 1980s represented the golden age of comically inept kidnappings. Ruthless People (starring Bette Midler) set the standard in 1986, and the following year Joel and Ethan Coen released their own kidnap farce – Raising Arizona – starring Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter. While successful in its day, Arizona has since acquired cult status amongst movie fans, both as a fine example of the Coen Brother’s unique vision and quirkiness, and as one of cinema’s all-time classic ‘crims-on-the-run’ road movies. Cage plays the recidivist petty crook Hi, whose regular encounters with police photographer Ed (Hunter) eventually lead to the most unlikely of romances and marriage. The clucky couple soon discovers, however, that they’re unable to have children, and thanks to Hi’s criminal record – adoption is similarly unavailable as a recourse. As Hi puts it: “Biology and the prejudices of others conspired to keep us childless”. All that’s left, they reason, is to kidnap someone else’s baby and raise it as their own, choosing one from a local businessman’s newborn quintuplets as the target. Cage is the standout of the cast, displaying all the qualities that made him, at least for a time, one of Hollywood’s most bankable and fearless actors. His performance is hilarious and his facial ticks somehow wildly expressive despite their utter impassiveness, yet it’s his florid narration throughout the film that’s its most charming feature. Hunter is similarly excellent, along with John Goodman as an escaped convict possessed of his own designs on the souvenired child. The film lacks some of the polish that the Coen Brothers would come to display in their later films, however it still retains all of their trademark dark comedy, crackling dialogue and extraordinary empathy for characters both good and bad. The team behind the much-anticipated event Downtown Drive-In has announced Carriageworks in Sydney’s Eveleigh, just three kilometres from the Sydney CBD, as the location for its three-night season, which will run from November 29 to December 1, 2012. A seldom-used section of the 120-year-old heritage listed building will form the perfect backdrop for the Back Roads USA season of films. The films to be screened include On The Road, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Raising Arizona, Stand By Me and Vanishing Point. Downtown Drive-In will also feature a custom menu with individual items designed by The Dip, Sydney’s favourite American-style diner, playfully paying tribute to the films and shared Americana settings and atmosphere. Major sponsor Audi will supply a range of luxury cars for the ultimate drive-in experience. The cars will also feature razor-sharp sound from audio partner Bang & Olufsen. Entry into Downtown Drive-In will cost $50 for vehicles of up to four people. Walk-in deck chair seating is also available near the screen, at $25 per person. For more information on the film schedule, drive-in experience and participating partners, visit www.downtowndrive.in Concrete Playground has five double deckchair passes to giveaway to see Raising Arizona at Downtown Drive-In on Friday, November 30 at 9.30. To enter, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au
To make a proper weekend escape from the city, head to Lady Carrington Drive in the world's first national park after Yosemite in the USA. The Royal National Park south of Sydney has 10km of track starting at Audley in the north, following the Hacking River upstream, and ending at Sir Bertram Stevens Drive in the south. In the late 19th century the track functioned as a carriage route, but these days it's only open to walkers and cyclists. As you make your way through the Nasho, keep a look out for some pure Australiana in the form of lyrebirds, lace monitors, echidnas and sugar gliders. Post bike ride, make sure you leave time for a picnic at one of three dedicated areas, and stop at Palona Brook for an extra detour to explore one of the nearby caves. Image: NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services.
