Keen to get off the mainland for an immersive cultural experience that'll be sure to ignite your senses? Then make tracks to the East Coast Harvest Odyssey (ECHO Festival) happening in Tasmania this autumn. The 18+ event will be held from Friday, April 8 till Sunday, April 10 at Redbanks Farm near Swansea. Here, you and your mates can celebrate the rich cultural and culinary offerings that this region has to offer through a range of activities including grape stomping, morning mediations, inspiring talks and more. Love food? There'll be loads of tasty treats on offer from Cake & Honey Espresso, Tasmanian Oyster Company, Zen Gelato and more. Another highlight will be the Beaker Street Science Bar, a cosy yurt that's part-lab, part-cocktail lounge where you can sip on a cocktail while chatting with local scientists about Tasmania's giant (and disappearing) kelp forests, and the work being done to restore these treasured ecosystems. There'll also be a wine trail to explore, live music from the likes of Hayley Mary (The Jezabels) and Jem Cassar-Daly, kelp basket-making workshops and the immersive Womb Room — a pastel pink sensory space designed for wakening the senses of smell, sound and touch. Ready to explore a festival like no other? ECHO Festival will run from Friday, April 8 till Sunday, April 10 and tickets start from $125. To check out the full program and to grab tickets, visit the website.
Beer and yoga. The unlikely duo strikes again, with the trend expanding from Wayward's brewery classes and Urban Yoga's retox-to-detox session, and becoming so popular that Berlin's Bieryoga launched a month-long Australian tour last year and a Brisbane pub just hosted a Valentine's Day version. Now, Frenchies Bistro and Brewery will hop on the yoga-in-a-brewery bandwagon by hosting its Rosebery neighbours Modo Yoga in the mezzanine bistro. The restaurant tables will be moved aside for a 45-minute yoga class for all levels — a workout made even sweeter by the promise of booze and food to follow. After you stretch, sweat and meditate, your flow will roll into a seasonal two-course menu, along with a glass of in-house brewed craft beer or a glass of wine (for those who prefer wine and yoga). Tickets are priced at a pretty reasonable $60 for the lot. Or, if you book before Monday, February 26, the venue's offering five bucks off with promo code frenchies. Image: Alana Dimou.
What could be better than cracking a crisp, cold cider? Cracking one while breathing in the crisp, cool air of the Great Dividing Ranges, that's what. Cider-lovers, get ready to get your hands on some of Australia's premium fermented apple drops at the Batlow CiderFest. It's a street party of great proportions, with locals and visitors alike coming together to celebrate the end of the apple harvest and the best boutique ciders the region has to offer. There will also be gourmet food and other locally grown goodies on offer to satiate your hunger. Batlow's main street will host two stages where local talent will entertain you as you sit back, relax, bask in the refreshing mountain air and enjoy the glorious autumn leaves. There'll be buskers and street theatre performers, including a local troupe called the 'Apple Tarts' (yes, we're serious). And for those keen to learn more about the nitty gritty of the cider world, there's a cider industry conference the day before. Batlow CiderFest will run from 10am–4.30pm on Saturday, May 19.
Mary's monthly Monday night party is back. Jump in the Fire sees Australia's best chefs and sommeliers put their mark on the Mary's brand with one-off food and wine feasts. And the next one features a local favourite. From 5pm on Monday, August 26, award-winning chef Mat Lindsay of Chippendale's Ester will takeover the Mary's Newtown kitchen. He'll be serving up his spin on Mary's signatures, including a herbed falafel burger with tahini and harissa, fried dukkah chicken with garlic sauce and halal snack pack-style loaded fries. Alongside the eats, sommelier Nick Stewart will be pouring a range of natural wines — with blends created for Ester by the likes of Basket Range Wines, Commune of Buttons and Manon. Sydney's Wildflower Brewing and Blending and Gippsland's Memento Mori have also brewed special beers for the night, made using Ester's woodfired sourdough. And, of course, there will be raucous tunes blasting, curated by local musicians and Mary's mates. Entry to the monthly event remains free, but remember it's a small joint, so get in early to nab a table for your crew.
Do you remember the first time you complained, "I hate Christmas?" If you've never said it, can you pinpoint precisely when the build-up and family politics began to give you mild panic attacks? At the very least, carol fatigue syndrome? Chances are you weren't 10 years old. When you're 10, you're still in love with the Day itself (as well as counting down the days leading up to it). You've started to suspect that Santa Claus isn't really the red-suited sky ranger that you once thought, and realised that there are undeniable logistical problems with flying reindeer, pixies and elves. You may vaguely comprehend that the magic isn't in the man who drinks milk and eats cookies, it's in the spirit of togetherness. But you're still stubbornly clinging to the childish certainty that on the 25th of December, nobody fights, nothing goes wrong, and everyone is happy. For 10-year old Freya (an effervescent Holly Austin), her dad's casual announcement that he may spend Christmas working on an offshore oil rig is devastating. It steels her determination that the limited number of days they do have together be extra perfect. Freya's family is pretty fractured — her Mum is dead, her widowed Nan is sweet but totally out of tune with the needs of a young girl, and her best friend Poppy is just a tad unadventurous. Life gets pretty boring in the Tasmanian seaside town of Rainwood for Freya — it's no wonder Christmas is a big deal. She even feigns joy when her dad gives her a vintage air rifle. But then her Dad and Nan start fighting, and a body washes up on the shore. The set design of Boxing Day is simple and the stage is beautifully used. Co-presented by the Tamarama Rock Surfers, it is the first major work by Sydney-based Tin Shed Theatre Company, which writer Phil Spencer formed with the director, Scarlet McGlynn. It's hard to say too much about this coming-of-age story without giving away the ending. Suffice to say, there's a reason that it's called Boxing Day. Freya has a Christmas to remember — just not in the picture-perfect way she planned. https://youtube.com/watch?v=s2u0XDzL5ks
Kensington Street fine diner Olio is bringing together the land and the sea for an extravagant night of cooking from head chef Lino Sauro and Melbourne's Adrian Richardson (La Luna). Richardson, the co-host of the hit show Good Chef Bad Chef, will collaborate with Sauro and the Olio team to present a six-course feast that brings together the best of Sicilian and Australian cuisine. Each chef is taking charge of three courses on the set menu. Richardson will be bringing his focus on using every cut of meat from the animal, which he developed at La Luna, and applying it to crispy pigs ears, crackling-wrapped pork loin and filet mignon served with Café de Paris butter in the degustation. "We actually use a lot of cuts that aren't mainstream, so we're using the whole animal in our own particular, strange sort of way," Richardson said. As for Sauro's offerings, diners will be treated to triple-cooked octopus with lemon crushed potatoes and spicy capsicum aioli; a seafood-heavy tonnarelli made with squid ink spaghetti, then topped with a Australian Bay bug, shellfish and spicy pork 'nduja sauce; and a decedent chocolate mousse for dessert. This Good Food Month event offers a one-off opportunity to experience the cooking of two of the country's best chefs in one memorable night. [caption id="attachment_839202" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lino Sauro[/caption]
Gang, pronounced 'gung', is a creative network of artists from Sydney and Java. Taking their name from a variety of references — mostly the vernacular of both countries, such as the word for 'laneway' in Indonesian and closer to home 'gung-ho' (as in, gung-ho about Java!) — Gang are a fluid, free-loving group of artists doing their thing. They get together, they manage festivals, they talk and they rig. What was that? Yes, they rig. The newest incarnation of Gang includes their commercial enterprise: rigging for the arts industry. It is an interesting aside — an arts collaborative attempting to seek financial sustainability through the provision of services — perhaps not so gung-ho hippy after all. Unfortunately, this element of their team sits rather uncomfortably as it inhabits such a large presence throughout the exhibition at Gaffa. With a screen dedicated to stills of their rigging work, as well as business cards strewn throughout the galleries, we end up feeling like the whole exercise is just that — a marketing exercise. I don't wish to be totally dismissive of this decision as I was thoroughly impressed to find artists stretching the limits of that age-old struggle of how-to-make-a-living, but I don't necessarily want to have it stare me down amongst the glare of the white walls of a gallery. And yes, I am well aware of the stupidity of the above tirade because what is an exhibition but a marketing exercise for the artist? And secondly, of course the artist and art in general is totally dependent on the capitalist market. Oh, money. Us artists generally don’t like to talk about it, just count it in our bedrooms at night. In the dark. Anyway, if you haven't been down to the towering four-storey 19th century police station that is the product of the hard work of the ambitious crew at Gaffa, then make time during your lunch break today. With a wonderful street-side cafe, a fresh location for the in-house jewellery store and The Arcade Project shops opening to new vendors, it is just the right time to catch a glimpse of the vision that can be achieved when artists sit down to dream.
The spookiest time of the year is here, which means different things to different people. Perhaps you think you're never too old to don a costume and go trick-or-treating. Maybe you just like the excuse to eat plenty of lollies. Or, you could enjoy diving headfirst into as much horror viewing as you can manage. For folks in the latter category — and those who like dressing up, too — the Georges River Council is hosting the type of event you'll want to add to your calendar. On Saturday, October 30, it's celebrating Halloween by bringing back its Frightful 80s Drive-In Cinema, which'll be free to attend at Donnelly Park in Connells Point. As for what you'll be watching, this pop-up drive-in is screening 80s vampire classic The Lost Boys. Get ready for a blonde-haired Kiefer Sutherland, not one but two Coreys (Haim and Feldman), and a tale of teenagers and the undead set in a Californian beach town. Entry opens at 5pm, with the film kicking off at 7.30pm. There are no bookings or tickets, so arriving early to nab a spot is recommended. Also, if you deck out your car in a costume — yes, you read that correctly — and you can win a prize for the best-dressed vehicle. Top image: Elder.
If it's been a while between Chardonnays with you and Orange, or if you've never actually ventured to the regional foodie hub of New South Wales, now's your time to make amends. On Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23, Sydneysiders can take in the best of Orange's food and wine right in the heart of the CBD, at the annual Taste Orange @ Sydney festival in Martin Place. Taste your way through NSW's 'food basket' with 19 of the regions best wineries offering tastings, including Phillip Shaw, Dindima, Logan, Ross Hill, Tamburlaine and more. Seriously, if you haven't tasted a Phillip Shaw Chardonnay, get amongst it. The festival will run from 11.30am till 2.30pm with food, wine tastings, entertainment and talks, while after-work drinks are made for the After Dark Pop-Up Wine Bar, open 5pm to 8pm both nights. But you're going to want some high quality, Orange-grown nibbles with that vino. Taste's lunch and dinner offerings include food from the incredibly Orange-proud teams at Agrestic Grocer, Chateau de Chocolate, The Second Mouse Cheese Factory and Franklin Road Kitchen. The Stinking Bishops crew will also be plating up cheese and charcuterie boards made exclusively with product from the region. Entry to the festival is free, but you'll have to purchase all food and wine once you're in. It's $5 for a wine glass and and then you can choose between $8 per full glass of wine (120 ml) or $4 per half glass of wine (60 ml) for the tastings. If you don't want to wait in line, you can purchase a $40 tasting pack online before you head in, which gets you ten tokens for either five glasses or ten half glasses.
We all know there are items we shouldn't be stockpiling right now, but when we're all spending more time at home than usual it's probably a wise idea to stock up on some creature comforts — whether that's making a long list of shows we're planning to binge watch or stocking up the cellar with our favourite wines. Online cellar door Naked Wines launched in 2012 with the aim of connecting at-home wine drinkers with winemakers across Australia and New Zealand. Since then it's grown to include more than 53 winemakers and more than 100,000 'wine angels' — people who pay $40 a month to their Naked Wines account to use as credit to support the wineries they like and to receive discounts on bottles of vino. And those winemakers include the likes of Enfant Terrible from Adelaide Hills, Le Petit Mort from Queensland's Granite Belt and Hilltops, NSW, plus Blindside from Margaret River. You can order cases of six, 12 or 15 bottles. If you're based in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, Naked Wines could be winging their way to you by the next working day. For Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, delivery is within two-to-four business days. It's also free delivery for members if you're in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, however there are delivery costs of up to $20 outside of those cities. And, as we're all in need of a little comfort right now, we've partnered with our friends at Naked Wines to offer first-time Naked Wines customers over 18 a $100-voucher to spend on your next case of wine. Simply head to this link to make your purchase and double-check the conditions below. To use the voucher you must be 18 years or older. The voucher entitles first-time Naked Wines customers to $100 off their first order of 12 bottles. All orders are a minimum of 12 bottles, and a minimum spend of $155.88. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. *Next day delivery is available to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth metro areas for orders placed before 3pm. Naked Wines does not ship to Northern Territory. Delivery not included. Offer is subject to change. See website for full Terms and Conditions. This story includes affiliate links, which means Concrete Playground may receive a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. This does not influence our editorial recommendations or content. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
The One Day crew just keep hitting their stride. A far cry from their humble 2013 pub beginnings as One Day Sundays, Sydney's favourite hip hop crew are getting bigger and bigger crowds with every event, throwing over 50 events across Australia in the last two years and blowing the roof of their monthly Factory mini-festivals. Now, they're ready to throw their biggest Sydney day party yet — One Day Only. Locked in for Saturday, November 21, One Day Only will take over three levels of Manning House — which has already proved its festival ability with years of Sydney Uni gigs and the recently moved-in OutsideIn festival. Building on the tried and true formula of the One Day Sundays parties, the event will see 3000 punters enjoying hip hop, future beats, neo-soul, R&B and electronica across three stages (full lineup announcement coming September 14). “The parties have exploded since we started back in 2013 and we felt now is the time to step things up”, said Nick Lupi of One Day. “One Day Only will build on the same party vibe that Sydneysiders have come to know and love, but we’re turning it up a few notches. The bigger lineup and extra stages will incorporate live acts and a wider mix of genres, plus we’ll be decking out Manning House like you’ve never seen it before.” Of course, music's not the only creative element running the One Day parties, so expect live graffiti art curated by international spraypaint brand Ironlak, and a cornucopia of Sydney's finest food trucks. Apparently the crew are taking cues from the most unlikely of hip hop places for the party's 'theming': the social revolutions of 18th century Europe. “The party will combine classical opulence and beauty with a slightly anarchic undertone” said One Day’s Raph Lauren. “We’re taking over the mansion to turn up and share the spoils with the people. This is a renaissance. A party for the ages.” One Day Only is hitting Manning House on Saturday, November 21 from 1-11pm. Tickets are $45/55 +BF, available from here. Full lineup released Monday, September 14.
South Australia is coming for you in a big way, Sydney. A whopping 30 Adelaide Hills wineries are headed to Surry Hills for a four-and-a-half hour session of wine and food. Hills Heist will take over GoGo Bar and Chii Town on Tuesday, May 7 from 5–9.30pm. Expect a massive 60 wines on offer, giving punters a seriously wide ranging taste of the region's best drops. The wine region spans 70 kilometres and is known for its diversity, from sparkling to shiraz to pinot noir, along with gruner veltliner — an Austrian variety that the Adelaide Hills have become known for. Among the standout winemakers in attendance is Charlotte Hardy of Charlotte Dalton Wines, which won last year's Hot 100 Wines for its Eliza Pinot Noir. She's accompanied by Fox Gordon's Rachel Atkins and Shaw + Smith's David Le Mire MW, to name just a couple. After an hour-and-a-half of tasting at GoGo Bar, a shared Chin Chin menu will go down in Chii Town, featuring the eatery's well-known dishes such as kingfish sashimi, Thai fried chicken, chargrilled swordfish and roast duck — all with matched vino. Tickets are priced at $120, which includes plenty of wine and food. Image: Simon Peel.
In 2016, a French documentarian with Senegalese heritage attended the trial of a Senegalese French PhD student who confessed to killing her 15-month-old daughter, who was fathered by a white partner, by leaving her on the beach to the mercy of the waves at Berck-sur-Mer. The filmmaker was fixated. She describes it as an "unspeakable obsession". She was haunted by questions about motherhood, too — her mum's and her own, given that she was a young mother herself as she sat in the courtroom. That story is the story of how Saint Omer came to be, and also almost exactly the tale that the piercing drama tells. In her first narrative film after docos We and La Permanence, writer/director Alice Diop focuses on a French author and literature professor with a Senegalese background who bears witness to a trial with the same details, also of a Senegalese French woman, for the same crime. Saint Omer's protagonist shares other traits with Diop as she observes, too, and watches and listens to research a book. A director riffing on their own experience isn't novel, but Saint Omer is strikingly intimate and authentic because it's the embodiment of empathy in an innately difficult situation. It shows what it means to feel for someone else, including someone who has admitted to a shocking crime, and has been made because Diop went through that far-from-straightforward process and was galvanised to keep grappling with it. What a deeply emotional movie this 2022 Venice International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winning feature is, understandably and unsurprisingly. What a heartbreaking and harrowing work it proves as well. Saint Omer is also an astoundingly multilayered excavation of being in a country but never being seen as truly part it, and what that does to someone's sense of self, all through Fabienne Kabou's complicated reality and Laurence Coly's (Guslagie Malanda, My Friend Victoria) fictionalised scenario. As Laurence gets her time in court, Diop takes it all in. "It would make life easier" is the defendant's early characterisation of her crime, a gut-punch of a way to describe infanticide. But before Laurence unravels the minutiae of her life prior to and after moving from Senegal to study — and her daughter Lili's brief existence and death — Rama (film debutant Kayije Kagame) is dreaming, being comforted by her French partner Adrien (Thomas de Pourquery, Perfect Nanny), teaching and finally making the trip for the trial. When she packs, she grabs a sleeping bag. When she checks into her hotel, she replaces the bed's quilt with this small piece of home. It's a revealing gesture, conveying how intensely that Rama is already connecting with Laurence and her journey through the justice system; they're strangers but, as Rama gathers specifics for her book, which will compare Laurence's plight to Medea, this is never anything less than personal. The bulk of Saint Omer is chatter, as Laurence is questioned about what happened, why, her studies, her hopes and dreams, and her relationships with her mother (Salimata Kamate, Represent) and Lili's father (Xavier Many, Notre Dame on Fire). In France's legal setup, interrogating isn't limited to attorneys — the judge (Valérie Dréville, Wonder in the Suburbs) guides the proceedings, with Laurence's lawyer (Aurélia Petit, Rosalie) and prosecuting counsel (Robert Cantarella, My Best Part) inquiring sporadically. The defendant states from the outset that she killed her baby, but doesn't consider herself responsible. She wants the trial to inform not just the court but herself as to why this tragedy occurred. She brings up sorcery, and the immediate incredulity that hangs in the air in a room with only two other Black people, her mum and Rama, is among the plethora of ways that Diop calls attention to the contrast between France as a racially diverse nation and the truth of not being white in the European country. Befitting a movie about a writer, language is one of Saint Omer's stars, courtesy of a script co-written by Diop with the film's editor Amrita David, plus Marie N'Diaye (White Material). Often reworking text from Kabou's case, Laurence's story is told in such an evocative fashion that picturing what she's saying is a given. She talks, and cinematographer Claire Mathon (Spencer, and also Céline Sciamma's Petite Maman and Portrait of a Lady on Fire) hones in on that talking — always as Laurence wears skin-tone matching shirts that visually reinforce how invisible she feels; always standing against wooden panelling with the same effect; and always expressing as much in her stance, gaze and all the things she doesn't say. Occasionally, the judge takes the frame, or lawyers, witnesses or Rama, usually centred. Diop wants viewers to focus on their words, too, and the reactions betrayed by their faces and physicality. This is filmmaking at its most meticulous and emotional, with such carefully measured scenes proving puncturing and searing. As talk flows, so does judgement within the court and beyond. Rama begins querying herself — in her dreams, alone in her hotel, and via flashbacks to her childhood, where things with her mum (first-timer Adama Diallo Tamba) are complex and tense — but the scrutiny Laurence is placed under transcends her deeds. While Saint Omer doesn't excuse her actions for a second, it keeps illustrating how life in France has treated and continues to treat her, and why Rama can spy echoes between their otherwise vastly dissimilar predicaments. During a call after part of the testimony, Rama's editor (Alain Payen, Golden Moustache) notes that Laurence speaks "very sophisticated French". There's no doubting that that wouldn't be said about someone white with the same college background; Rama replies that she just "talks like an educated woman". When the judge also can't believe the claims of witchcraft, or entertain diving into what they mean, it too is a loaded response. There are no easy moments in Saint Omer, or easy answers. There can't be. Diop looks at this delicate situation with sensitivity and probing — and, in yet another parallel with Rama, questions why she's making the film, what she's saying about the situation, the role of myth in processing the incomprehensible, and motherhood's many intricacies and challenges. Indeed, this is a movie made with uncompromising rigour as well as understanding, as expected from a documentary filmmaker turning to fiction. It's a stunning legal drama that's as brilliantly crafted as Custody, another Venice standout from France about a grim situation. And, it's home to astonishing performances by Malanda and Kagame, each haunting in their own ways. Diop will never forget Kabou, and audiences won't be able to get her film, its extraordinary story or its exceptional lead actors out of their heads, either.
Redfern's much-loved neighbourhood bar is turning two, and to celebrate it's throwing a month-long party. Swing by Misfits any evening in September and you'll find food, booze and good times aplenty. Between 5pm and 7pm every single day, you can feast on $2 oysters and enjoy a two-for-$10 deal on Young Henrys beers. On top of that, there'll be brand new two-for-$20 birthday cocktails, inspired by famous pairs: Batman and Robin, Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Simon and Garfunkel and Sonny and Cher. A new duo will be released each week, giving you good reason to get to the party more than once. Celebrating your birthday in September, too? Show your ID and Misfits will treat you to a shot — on the house. Plus, if you're planning a Tinder date, make it a Thursday, when shared platters will be two-for-one. In addition to all this merriment, the usual plethora of events will continue, including the free Misfits x Pirate Life music sessions. On September 5, catch gospel and R&B singer Jeremy Gregory live, while sampling Pirate Life's new Port Local Lager for just $5 a schooner. To make sure you don't miss out on the birthday action, book yourself a table now.
A trio of Sydney institutions are coming together to launch an inclusive community festival that celebrates three cornerstones of Sydney's cultural landscape: footy, food and music. The inaugural Welcome Day will arrive at Henson Park courtesy of the Newtown Jets, Heaps Gay and The Music & Booze Co, the team behind King Street Carnival, The Beer, Footy and Food Festival and The House of Music and Booze. One of the NRL's foundation clubs back in 1908 and a thriving force in the Inner West for over a century, the Newtown Jets pride themselves as a football club for all. As part of this push to make rugby league welcoming and inclusive, the club has teamed up with LGBTQIA+ party collective Heaps Gay and its founder Kat Dopper, plus longtime collaborators The Music & Booze Co, to celebrate Sydney's diversity and ensure everyone feels at home on the hill of Henson Park. Hitting the Marrickville oval on Saturday, June 24, Welcome Day will bring together a stellar lineup of local restaurants, food trucks, distillers, seltzer brands, winemakers and DJs in support of a jam-packed day of rugby league. The day's on-field action will be headlined by a NSW Cup clash between the Newtown Jets and the Parramatta Eels. The Jets are forgoing their cross-code differences with the Petersham Rugby Union Club for the day, and hosting two union games — one men's and one women's — as curtain-raisers. On the food lineup, you can expect eats from Rolling Penny, Pepitos, Baba's Place, Titos Tacos, Over Embers, Slick Ricks Pizza, Sparky's Jerk BBQ and Condimental. And what would a day at Henson Park be without a couple of choice beverages? Poor Toms, Archie Rose, Young Henrys (slinging gin and ginger beer), Lilyfields Gin, Este Spirits, Brix Distillery, Mobius Distillery, Kraken Spiced Rum and DNA Distillery will all be on hand to sample their expertly crafted spirits. You can also expect beers from the Jets and Henson Park's number-one supporter Philter Brewing, wines from Doom Juice and P&V, seltzers from Cantina OK! and Fellr, and cocktails courtesy of The House of Music & Booze in collaboration with Curatif Cocktails. Music-wise, FBi Radio will be supplying the DJs, so you can expect plenty of local Sydney dance floor-fillers to be represented, plus the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir will be singing the house down. You can nab tickets for $20 or $10 for kids under 12 via Oztix. Top image: Tom Wilkinson.
Due to the chilly weather, there are only some activities you truly feel like doing during the winter months. While cosying up by a fireplace and eating hot cheese are two of them, one involves actually going outside: ice skating. And this year Sydney has five top-notch ice skating rinks you can practise your best Nancy Kerrigan moves on. So don your warmest winter woollies, grab your bestie, date or fam, and head to your closest — or jump in a car, bus or train and visit all five. You'll find them by the beach and the harbour, decked out with stalls serving up mulled wine and gözlemes, and alongside giant ferris wheels and tobogganing ice slides.
Sydney's Japanese festival, Japanaroo, struggled to get off the ground this year after a lengthy lockdown. But there's one big, delicious silver lining — organisers have rallied to launch Japanaroo+, an extension of the original program, running across Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 19. It's a two-week, wall-to-wall celebration of everything Japanese — and everything Sydney. Here's the best bit: As part of Japanaroo+, the Fukuoka tourism board are teaming up with some of the city's best Japanese restaurants and hottest chefs to offer a limited-edition Tonkotsu ramen tasting trail as part of Flavours of Fukuoka. It kicks off on Saturday, December 4, with four restaurants set to serve up traditional Fukuoka dishes and a double helping of omotenashi (a term for Japanese hospitality). Tonkotsu-style ramen, a thick noodle soup usually starring a pork bone broth that's been simmered for hours, actually comes from Fukuoka city, on the southern island of Kyushu. If you haven't had it before, you're in for a treat (and some spicy meat sweats). The four restaurants participating in Flavours of Fukuoka will be GOGYO in Surrey Hills, Sekka Dining in St Leonards, Ramen Zundo in World Square and Chatswood, and Sakana-Ya in Crow's Nest, each doing a slightly different spin on the classic dish. Gogyo and Sekka will both serve up a traditional Tonkotsu ramen — order it with gyoza or a grilled M7 wagyu skewer from respective restaurants, and you'll also score a free Japanese bevvy. Ramen Zundo has created a Tonkotsu Ramen Fukuoka Special at both World Square and Chatswood locations, while Sakana-Ya will offer its range of hot and cold udon as well as a Fukuoka chicken teriyaki special. The special Fukuoka menus will run from Saturday, December 4 until Sunday, December 12 and will be available for dine-in and takeaway. Dine-in guests will also get a free glass of wine or sake with their tonkotsu. Flavours of Fukuoka will run from Saturday, December 4 until Sunday, December 12. You can check out the full run-down here.
Today, the Sydney Festival team announces the first shows of the 2018 program, spilling the beans on three major performances. And they're all not only Australian premieres, but Australian exclusives, too. To start, there's AquaSonic, which will see the festival return to underwater realms (remember 2014 when we saw Dido and Aeneas submerged?). This time, we'll be diving into the depths with Between Music, an experimental collective from Denmark. Five musicians will appear within dark, glittering aquariums, playing weird and wonderful instruments specifically designed for subaquatic jamming. Look out for the hydraulophone, the electromagnetic harp and a modified version of the violin. They'll also be drawing on a special vocal technique developed to make underwater singing possible, which sounds not unlike Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins. Have a sneaky AquaSonic preview over here, then see the show in real life at Carriageworks from January 6 to 9, with tickets at $59–69. Meanwhile, a cornucopia of Irish acting, dancing, circus-ing, joke-making, cabaret and singing talent will appear in RIOT between January 5 and 28. Winner of Best Production at the 2016 Dublin Fringe Festival, this is a mad, genre-obliterating variety show that's half-party, half-social and political commentary (without any boring bits). Among the cast, you'll spot Panti Bliss, lauded Irish drag queen and world-famous champion of marriage equality; former principals of Riverdance Up & Over It; and masters of comedic acrobatics Lords of Strut. RIOT is presented by THISISPOPBABY, a Dublin-based company that's been taking productions around the wold since 2007. Have a sticky beak at the show here, and catch the performance at the Meriton Festival Village with general admission tickets between $70–80. Last, but by no means least, is The Town Hall Affair — a theatrical recreation of Town Bloody Hall, a 1971 doco of a passionate debate about Women's Liberation between writer Norman Mailer and four prominent feminists: journalist Jill Johnston, literary critic Diana Trilling, American activist Jacqueline Ceballos and writer Germaine Greer. The adaptation is the work of The Wooster Group, a famed experimental theatre collective based in New York, and is directed by its co-founder Elizabeth LeCompte. Bringing the debate into the 21st century, doco footage interweaves with performances by live actors, including Maura Tierney (ER, The Affair) as Greer, asking audiences to reflect on feminism's evolution over the past 46 years. The Town Hall Affair is on at Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre from January 6–12, with A Reserve tickets at $86–96. "These three international shows are just a taste of what we have in store for you," said Wesley Enoch, director of the Sydney Festival. "From underwater music to the true Irish sense of a 'political party' and one of the most renowned experimental theatre companies in the world ... Sydney Festival is Sydney's cultural New Year resolution. We set the cultural agenda for the year ahead and bring you some of the wildest cultural adventures you're ever likely to see." Top image: Charlotta de Miranda.
For most creative types, the dream is to create whatever one wants, whenever one wants and somehow make a living out of it. In reality, though, a professional creative career often involves some form of compromise — be that financial (i.e. I'll make the art I want to make and earn money some other way) or artistic (i.e I'll live off my art, but I accept that, every now and again, I'll have to accept commissions). This is true of architecture as of any other field. So, a bunch of high-flying designers are getting together at the Golden Age Cinema to discuss the matter. They include Domenic Alvaro (director, Woods Bagot's global studio), Kelvin Ho (founder, Akin Creative) and Isabelle Toland and Amelia Holliday (founders, Aileen Sage Architects — recent brains behind The Pool at Venice Biennale's Australian Exhibition). Their chats will cover balancing commercial demands with the drive to innovate, the characteristics of Australia's design identity and its impact internationally, the meaning of success and the latest changes in visual languages. The event is presented by The Office Space and is part of Sydney Architecture Festival.
Sydneysiders have now been treated to two very special Secret Suppers, courtesy of Red Rock Deli. And, for its final immersive dinner experience in Sydney, the crew at Red Rock Deli has enlisted Shanghainese chef Chris Yan to create a delicious feast. Yan is the group executive chef of Lotus Dining Group — the restaurant group with eateries in Walsh Bay, The Galeries, Darlinghurst, the Chinese Garden of Friendship and Barangaroo (with a third Barangaroo spot due to open in July). And, on Thursday, August 8, Yan will be serving a unique three-course feast that combines his signature Shanghai-style cooking with the flavours found in Red Rock Deli's new Thai red chilli and creamy coconut flavour. The exact menu will remain a secret until the night, but here's what we can reveal: if you nab a ticket, you'll receive instructions to meet somewhere in Sydney's CBD for collection. Then, you'll be whisked away to a mystery location for the intimate three-course dinner. Chris will be on-site to talk you through the menu, and you'll have the opportunity to chat with him, and other food lovers, throughout the night. There are two sessions of this lavish dinner, with room for just 20 guests at each. Tickets to Chris Yan's secret supper cost $110 per person. Enter the ballot below to be given the chance to purchase tickets. The lucky winners will receive a secret link to buy tickets to the evening on Thursday, August 8. Please note, the Secret Supper menu will not cater to ANY dietary requirements or allergies. There are strictly no changes to the menu. [competition]728205[/competition] Image: Kitti Gould.
Professor Robert Baines: artist, goldsmith, scholar, gentleman, and now Living Treasure. As one of Australia's most internationally acclaimed and exhibited jewelers, Baines' work is being honoured as part of the Living Treasures: Master of Australian Craft series at Object Gallery. Baines is a professor of Gold and Silversmithing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and his accolades include the prestigious International Friedrich Becker Prize for jewellery. The works of this extraordinarily gifted and prolific artist are held in a number of the world's most prestigious galleries including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Ville de Cagnes-sur-Mer (France), the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, USA) and the National Gallery of Australia. As the title suggests, Baines works his magic using precious metals and wire to construct his beautiful and complex pieces. Object Gallery has released a stunning 120-page monograph of Baines' work, which is available to purchase at the gallery or in bookstores. Baines will present a floor talk at 11am on 23rd October and will be available for Q&A time afterwards, along with co-author of the monograph Ruediger Joppien.
After weeks of Facebook guessing games, the OutsideIn festival lineup has been announced. Locked in to be held over three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, the boutique music festival cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its third instalment on Saturday, November 29. Forecast to sell out like its 2012 and 2013 events, OutsideIn will spread its super solid lineup over three stages. Enough chatskies, who's on the bill? Headlining the bunch, '90s US hip-hop legends The Pharcyde are sure to draw the surefire nostalgics. Sydney's beloved electronic trio Seekae will crank out tracks from their recently-released album alongside Germany's Pantha Du Prince and America's Giraffage. Rounding things out with some solid '80s synth and the best hair in Australian music right now, Melbourne duo Client Liaison take the last spot on OutsideIn's first main bill announcement. Keeping the beats rolling from a kickass program at Splendour in the Grass, Red Bull Music Academy will dominate one of the three OutsideIn stages; with UK garage legend Wookie, US fancy dancer DJ Spinn, Four Tet-produced MC Rome Fortune (US), Jubilee (US), Fishing, Guerre, Black Vanilla and local favourites Preacha & Moriarty, with Aussie RBMA alumni Sui Zhen, opening the stage. To the DJ roundup, OutsideIn have booked some serious house-loving, party-inducing talent this time around. Sweden’s HNNY, Melburnian Tornado Wallace and Plastic World’s Retiree join local Astral People kids Andy Webb and Ariane. With a host of both local and international artists yet to be announced, OutsideIn is back for another year of beats-you-may-have-missed and downright shindigging. OutsideIn is happening at Manning Bar, University of Sydney on November 29. Early bird tickets go on sale Friday 8th August - $70 + bf, until sold out. General admission to follow for $80 +bf. All tickets are available through Oztix. OutsideIn 2014 Lineup: THE PHARCYDE (US) SEEKAE PANTHA DU PRINCE (GER) GIRAFFAGE (US) CLIENT LIAISON HNNY (SWE) DJ SPINN (US) TORNADO WALLACE WOOKIE (UK) ROME FUTURE (US) FISHING JUBILEE (US) GUERRE BLACK VANILLA RETIREE SUI ZHEN PREACHA ANDY WEBB MORIARTY ARIANE Photo credit: Voena.co
Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And, like last year, it's also bringing the decadence to you. Whether you're a Melburnian who can't make it to one of the three venues outside of town, or you're located elsewhere and you really love hot chocolate, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in Bellbrae and the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie are churning out at-home kits filled with creative hot choccie flavours. Like this year's physical fest, there's a wild range of flavours — and whichever you choose, you'll receive couverture flavour-infused melts, a giant marshmallow and interactive elements to add to your choice of hot milk at home. Wondering which inventive flavours will tempt your tastebuds? The 2022 lineup is as OTT and indulgent as ever — and as tasty. Kicking things off: the Top Gun, which comes with red, white and blue marshmallow, as well as a jam-filled donut and dark choc moustache. Keeping things movie-themed, there's also a Hocus Pocus hot choc as well. Or, you can pick from salted caramel pretzel, honeycomb macadamia kronut, Iced Vovo and Milky Way hot chocolates — and vegan caramel surprise as well. The kits are available to order throughout August, and there's a flat-rate shipping fee of $15 to anywhere in Australia.
When Boxing Day rolls around each year, it brings sales, heat, a huge food hangover from Christmas lunch and a reminder to take down your festive decorations. Increasingly, it also sparks the beginning of the annual hot cross bun debate. Should those baked morsels of bread pop up on supermarket shelves the moment that the Christmas merriment is over? Does selling hot cross buns before the new year epitomise commercialism at its worst? Or should the tasty treats simply be available all-year-round, voiding the whole argument? Now, there's a new question to be bandied about: should you opt for traditional hot cross buns in a variety of flavours, or should you enjoy your them in ice cream form? Yes, the latter exists thanks to Woolworths, with the supermarket chain giving the whole notion of slinging hot cross buns at this time of year a summery twist. Currently available in stores, the limited-edition dessert features raisins, Australian cream and a ripple of flavour that tastes like hot cross buns. That's good news for everyone who loves their Easter treats in classic mode with fruit baked in, and bad news for anyone who prefers chocolate, salted caramel or basically anything other than raisins in their rolls. The tubs of hot cross bun ice cream aren't quite as decadent as New Zealand's version — a hot cross bun impaled on a waffle cone then filled with ice cream, which became available in 2018 at Auckland's Giapo. Still, if you love a good hot cross bun regardless of the time of year, then it just might be the new dessert to get you from summer until Easter. Image: Dallas Kilponen/PPR.
"When you see the movie Deep Throat, you are watching me being raped," Linda Boreman (aka Linda Lovelace) told a 1986 official inquiry into the sex industry. "It is a crime that movie is still showing. There was a gun to my head the entire time." When Deep Throat — one of the first 'skin flicks' to feature a plot and characters — hit cinemas in 1972, porn crossed over into the mainstream. Linda Lovelace, a willowy contrast to the voluptuous blondes that had dominated American erotica, with an out-of-the-ordinary capacity for fellatio, became the face of 'porn chic' and a symbol of sexual liberation. Eight years later, however, her third autobiography, Ordeal, revealed that her entry into the porn industry had been anything but a fling with freedom. Beaten, raped and threatened at gunpoint by her husband and manager Chuck Traynor, she was, she wrote, a prisoner "just as much as if I was in Alcatraz". While the creators of Deep Throat — possibly the most profitable feature film ever made — divvied up their $600 million, she limped away with just $1250. Lovelace, directed by the award-winning Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, tells the Deep Throat tale in two halves. The first is more or less the real-time, 'public' version; the second depicts the harrowing inside story of Boreman's private life. It's a structural decision with the potential to devastate. However, too much is given away in the former chapter to allow the latter to deliver the shock intended. We hear alarm bells ringing within the first ten minutes of meeting Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard), and it's obvious from the outset that the naive Boreman (Amanda Seyfried) is putty in his hands. That's not to say Lovelace doesn't have its disturbing moments. Sarsgaard, who did the parent-charming sleaze-bag so well in An Education, brings an unnerving edginess to the psychopathic Traynor, and Seyfried, a wide-eyed and prettier-than-real-life Lovelace, is believably vulnerable. Her severe Catholic mother, played by a hard-faced, domesticated Sharon Stone, so changed in the role that even Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein failed to recognise her, and her complacent father (Robert Patrick), succeed in provoking our frustration and anger. However, a simplistic script lets this strong cast down. The characters are drawn as types, demonstrative of one or two traits, lacking meaningful development. We walk away, having once again been witness to the exploitative nature of the porn industry and the horrors of domestic violence, but none the wiser when it comes to either their implications or the life of Linda Boreman. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HPJY-g-WoQo
After opening several colourful Mexican cantinas around the city last year, Rockpool Dining Group continues to expand its Sydney footprint — this time, with a European and American-inspired joint that specialises in wings. Opening in Circular Quay's Gateway Centre in late January, Winghaüs by Bavarian will have room for 145 people across a range of high-tops table, benches, bar stools and leather booths. It's the second Bavarian offshoot of its type to open in the country, with the inaugural Brisbane outpost launching last September. Chicken is the main culinary attraction — buffalo wings specifically — although you'll also be able to tuck into fried wings dusted in either chipotle or habanero powder, or opt for boneless chicken tenders. They'll all be available in servings of ten, 15, 20, 50 or 100 pieces, with eight hot sauces on offer — ranging from mild Texas barbecue to super-hot habanero — and five dips. For folks hankering for other US diner-style bites, chicken burgers, sides such as onion rings, potato gems and deep-fried pickles, plus New York-style cheesecake will all be available. And if you like your desserts both sweet and warm, a selection of deep-fried chocolate bars are likely to prove a highlight, with hot, gooey Mars, Snickers and Picnics all on offer. [caption id="attachment_745181" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winghaus Brisbane[/caption] While the menu skews American, European influences will come through in the drinks and decor. Like The Bavarian, Winghaüs will feature a stein chandelier made from 500 one-litre glasses, and will serve German brews such as Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Franziskaner, Spaten and Hofbräu. US tipples like Budweiser, Stella Artois and Goose Island will also feature, plus Aussie beers like Pines and Pirate Life. And, cocktail-wise, the bar's taps will pump out margaritas, old fashioneds, spritzes, negronis sand espresso martinis. Sydneysiders can also expect plenty to keep them entertained at the diner-style spot, whether you're settling in at the long bar or getting cosy in a leather booth beneath neon signs. Given that sports memorabilia will line the walls, it should come as no surprise that big-screen TVs will play up to 20 live sports attempts at a time. Find Winghaüs by Bavarian at Gateway Centre, Alfred Street, Circular Quay from late January — we'll update you with an opening date when we have one.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Sydney. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, book in an after-work bowls session, duck into the last late night with the Archibald and go on a second-hand bargain treasure hunt across the city. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
The year of the dog is fast approaching and, to celebrate, the Sydney Fish Market is staying up late to host its inaugural Chinese New Year night market on Friday, February 16. Done up with red hanging lanterns, the boardwalk will become a bustling nighttime hub and traditional red envelopes and special fortune cookies will be passed around — the former of which are meant to bring happiness and prosperity, and latter of which will include "fishy puns" for the new year. This will all go on from 4–10pm amidst the madness of the fish market, which will include red fish species that are seen as a sign of good luck and fortune. The licensed restaurants will also have the requisite yum cha and other traditional Chinese dishes to feast on. The market's expecting over 100,000 visitors throughout the week, so it's sure to be one helluva celebration of 2018.
If you ever needed a reminder of why people run, the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is a fine justification — beautiful morning views of our favourite city, actually running on Australia's most iconic bridge and, of course, the seemingly endless health benefits from the heart-pumping act itself. And with four events (Marathon, approx. 42.2km; Half Marathon, approx. 21km; Bridge Run, 9km; and the Family Fun Run, 3.5km) it doesn't matter whether you are a seasoned athlete or have just pushed past that beginner, clutching-at-the-heart feeling. Entry fees range from $50-$195, which covers your event kit and the various administrative costs that make it possible for everyone to run safely without beeping city cars. Alternatively, you can fundraise for a good cause, meet your target and run for free. Last year, the Sydney Running Festival saw over 4000 participants and raised $2 million for charitable organisations. Planners are hoping to top both of these figures this year. Online standard entries close 20 September (the day before the run) at 3pm (subject to availability).
Ever been at an outdoor cinema, and wished you could just jump into bed? Well, of course you have — bed is the one thing we can rely on to always be there for us, and we all wish it could follow us around for intermittent lie-downs. That's presumably why the geniuses at Mov'In Bed Cinema decided to incorporate beds into their outdoor setup when they launched the event back in April. Well, that, and they're probably aware of the struggles of keeping your head propped up on a packet of chips while lying on a picnic rug trying to drink wine. And, after a wildly successful, sold-out debut season, they're bringing back the beds. Mov'In Bed Cinema (previously known as PicNic Cinema) will take over The Crescent at Parramatta Park for an extended season of 45 days in March and April 2017. Instead of just the usual picnic rug and bean bag sitcho, the cinema will bring in a whopping 150 queen size beds to relax on. And because it's happening at the end of summer when the nights are cooling down a little, you'll even get a blankie in case it gets chilly. Next year's film program is quite varied and international, with everything from Star Wars: Rogue One to Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke to Oscar-nominated Turkish film, Mustang. The food lineup was similarly diverse last season, with Cuban, African, Brazilian and Lebanese dishes on rotation, but the edibles have not yet been confirmed for 2017. Tickets are on sale now for $34.90 per person, which gets you a spot in bed and a pillow and blanket. Better snap them up quickly though — last season sold out in about two weeks.
Lobo Plantation is tossing out most of its cocktail menu and bringing you a brand new one. And they're celebrating in the best way possible — with a big party involving free drinks, free food and you. Taking over the Plantation on Saturday 1 April, the shindig is called 'Don't Forget The Rum!', in honour of senior bartender Ryan Snedden. In 2017, he was one of three finalists in the annual Bacardi Global Legacy Competition. But, when mixing his final concoction, he left out the rum — the main ingredient. There'll be 12 new creations to try, including the Twill Serve (a take on the Mojito, with Bacardi Superior, white creme de cacao, peppercorn syrup, lime and mint) and Don's Juan (Bacardi Oro, pimento dram, cashew milk, lemon, passionfruit). RSVPs aren't available. Getting your free cocktails is a matter of turning up and trying your luck. Doors open from 4pm, with drinks served between 6pm and 8pm.
North Sydney is welcoming the start of autumn atop its multi-award winning rooftop oasis. Waverton's Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability is offering up sky-high live music and entertainment for free on Saturday, March 30 from 4–9.30pm. The waterfront digs — Sydney's largest rooftop garden — will be taken over by acoustic acts and performances, with stages spread across the lush rooftop and its many tunnels and chambers. While the daytime hours will have family-friendly vibes with activities aplenty, there'll also be a pop-up bar where you can grab a drink to accompany the sunset (if you please). Food and drinks will be available throughout the day, but BYO picnics, keep cups and reusable water bottles (with refill stations on site) are also highly encouraged — this is the centre for sustainability, after all. On that note, expect Earth Hour celebrations to run throughout the evening, too. Picnic on the Platform will run from 4–9.30pm.
When Woody Allen started shooting Wonder Wheel back in 2016, perhaps it seemed like a good idea. Or maybe he just picked an old script up off the pile and didn't think much more about it. Either way, there's no escaping the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies the film. For decades, the prolific writer-director has continued to work while immersed in controversy stemming both from his marriage to his stepdaughter, as well as from allegations of abuse made by his adopted daughter. That his latest movie is about a writer falling for his former actress girlfriend's stepdaughter is particularly astounding, and feels well and truly on the nose – especially at a time when Hollywood's look-the-other-way attitude to inappropriate sexual behaviour is finally starting to change. Even if Allen's own past didn't loom over the film's narrative, and even if the #metoo movement wasn't moving forward in leaps and bounds, Wonder Wheel wouldn't rank among his best work. Pumping out a movie a year has given the director more misses than hits in recent times – and his latest definitely falls into the first category. It doesn't help that Allen attempts to pre-emptively counter criticism of his approach by having his narrator highlight the movie's melodramatic nature via to-camera addresses. Calling something out yourself, via Justin Timberlake as your screen-surrogate, doesn't make it go away. Timberlake plays lifeguard and aspiring playwright Mickey. It's the 1950s, and with summer in full swing on New York's Coney Island, Mickey has a crowded beach to patrol — and, before too long, a waitress to woo. Sweating it out serving clams while she dreams of a stage heyday long passed, Ginny (Kate Winslet) warms to her younger lover easily. After all, he's certainly an improvement on her lunk of a husband Humpty (Jim Belushi), and a distraction from her fire-starting pre-teen son Richie (Jack Gore). But things are soon complicated by the arrival of Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty's daughter from a previous marriage, who runs from her mobster husband straight into Mickey's affections. It all plays out as predictably as it sounds, but credit where credit's due: even saddled with problematic material and trying dialogue to match, Winslet knocks her performance out of the (amusement) park. In her hands, Ginny's furrowed brow is lined with both well-worn creases and years of wearying disappointment, while the glint in her eye when someone finally starts seeing her as more than a wife, waitress and mother could light up a room. Like Blue Jasmine's Cate Blanchett, the British actress knows how to find depth in a character that could've been an over-the-top joke (and, given the real-life history tying into this film, it's easy to assume Allen intended for Ginny to amuse). Though a committed Belushi does his best alongside her, with Temple proving dutifully alluring and Timberlake routine, Winslet is the movie's undoubted wonder. That said, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (Cafe Society) comes a close second. As Wonder Wheel tries to turn fact into overheated fiction, its visuals positively glow — in sunny beachside encounters, in its use of shadows, and whenever the light of the titular attraction shines on the movie's frames. Subtly infusing the alternating red and blue hues of the ferris wheel's neon sign over the drama not only results in gorgeous images, but also mirrors the changing mood as scenes move from rosy to sorrowful. If only they belonged to a movie worthy of such eye-catching charms. Wonder Wheel might be the story of a man won over by something pretty, but viewers are unlikely to make the same mistake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx4Jp13Afpk
When most filmmakers look back at American frontier life, they spin tales of conflict. The inimitable Kelly Reichardt does just that, too, but her sublime new film First Cow tells a story you definitely won't see in any other movie. Here, the talented director explores the fallout when a chef and his resourceful pal decide to steal milk from the new, only and first-ever cow in town — and then use the pilfered dairy product to make oily cakes that become a must-eat item in their community. One of the year's absolute best movies, First Cow is now showing at Golden Age Cinema. To mark the occasion, the Surry Hills venue is also diving deeper into Reichardt's cinematic catalogue. As part of Quiet Determination: The Films of Kelly Reichardt, four of her other features will grace the big screen — so you can check out her first two films, as well as two of her collaborations with Michelle Williams. The pictures aren't showing in any particular order, but seeing them all is highly recommended. With an all-star cast that includes Williams, Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone, 2016's Certain Women kicks off the retrospective at 5.30pm on Sunday, May 16. At the same time on Sunday, May 23, 2006's Old Joy will follow two longterm friends reuniting on a camping trip — and at 3.30pm on Sunday, May 30, Reichardt's vivid 1994 debut River of Grass will screen. Wrapping things up is Wendy and Lucy, the tender and heartwrenching 2008 drama about a woman driving to Alaska with her dog, which plays at 5.30pm on Sunday, June 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pASs3rerRCY
If you're yet to catch Hannah Gadsby's award-winning comedy show Nanette, you'd better jump to it. Having announced her impending retirement from stand-up, the Tassie-born comedian will be hanging up her comedy boots at the end of the year. Thankfully, she's leaving Australians with a parting gift, premiering the show at the Sydney Opera House in September and October. Head along to catch the well-loved funny lady as she exits with a bang, the show a hilarious and raw account of taking on the world as a 'not normal'. Audiences will get a glimpse into Gadsby's life and her many capers during a recent year spent in solitude. And if the accolades are anything to go by, Nanette is a show you don't want to miss. She was just named joint winner of Edinburgh Fringe Festival's Best Comedy Award — one of the biggest comedy titles in the world — and the show also scored plenty of local love this year, scooping awards for Best Comedy at Adelaide Fringe Festival, Best Comedy Performer at the Helpmann Awards and the Barry Award for Best Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Image: Jim Lee.
If we've said it once, we've said a thousand times: spring is an absolutely stellar time to be in Sydney. But we're not going to stop because it's just the weather is glorious and primed for outdoor activities — and our fair city follows suit, serving up countless springtime happenings. As its Spring Carnival continues, we've teamed up with Australian Turf Club to bring you five top-notch ways to celebrate the season this week. [caption id="attachment_745411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Gittany[/caption] EAT, DRINK AND DANCE YOUR WAY THROUGH A NEARBY STREET FESTIVAL When? Tuesday, October 15–Sunday, October 20 Spring is the season for street festivals — and this week, you can find one in almost every corner of the city. In the inner city, there's Paddington's long-running William Street Festival, which will see local shops, bars and cafes throw open their doors for an all-day celebration on Saturday, October 19. Meanwhile, on Sunday, October 20, you (and your dog) can make tracks to Marrickville's street party, featuring live music, free workshops and plenty of food trucks, or head over the bridge to Crows Nest's own party, which is celebrating its 30th year. Oh, and to get you geared up, head west to Parramatta for its expansive laneway festival — it's on from Tuesday, October 18–Friday, October 18, and will feature a 90s-themed club, a Pac-Man maze, roving performances and much more. [caption id="attachment_745951" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Unbearable Darkness' by Choy Ka Fai[/caption] WITNESS A BOLD PERFORMANCE AT THIS EXPERIMENTAL ART FESTIVAL When? Thursday, October 17–Sunday, October 27 Spring is all about shaking the winter shackles off and mixing up the routine after months of cosy nights in under your doona. And catching a bunch of outrageous performance art fits the bill perfectly. This week sees the return of Carriageworks' annual experimental art festival Liveworks. For eleven days, the expansive space will be filled with bold experiments by innovative artists and curators — think interactive installations, live performances, workshops and parties. This year's celebration has two central themes: championing female and non-binary visionaries and telling stories through the lens of cultural identity. The festival will feature five newly commissioned works — including Chicks on Speed's performance art piece I'll Be Your Body Instrument using wearable music devices — alongside three world premieres and three Australian premieres. [caption id="attachment_746452" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul McMillan[/caption] CATCH SUPERSTAR KELLY ROWLAND AT THE EVEREST RACEDAY When? Saturday, October 19 The six-week Everest Carnival culminates this weekend in a rather lavish event day. It's the biggest day on the spring carnival calendar — and there'll be plenty of action happening off the track at The Everest Raceday that you can get involved in, too. Alongside a bevvy of food trucks, pop-up bars and champagne vending machines, you can expect entertainment in the form of a roving brass band, a DJ set from Nat Sax in the Palm Springs-inspired oasis Pony Palms, and none other than global pop star Kelly Rowland closing out the day with an energetic live performance. SIP MANY PINK DRINKS AT THIS BAR'S ROSÉ-INSPIRED FESTIVAL When? Any day Rosé may not be the official drink of spring — despite the fact that we all start ordering it in copious amounts as soon the weather warms up — but it might as well be at Barangaroo House. For the entire month of October, the harbourside bar has transformed its entire three-storey venue into an homage to the blush drop — think hot pink decor (including a hidden all-pink room), rosé vending machines, pop-up bars, themed cocktails and even $55 bottomless rosé lunches, which you can enjoy from Friday to Sunday. SNAG A PRELOVED GEM AT A LOCAL GARAGE SALE When? Saturday, October 19–Sunday, October 20 We know what you're thinking: aren't garage sales for... grandpas? Not so, dear bargain hunter. If you like your stuff to be one-of-a-kind, garage sales are an opportunity to uncover some truly fantastic finds — and also unload a few items of your own that have been collecting dust in your wardrobe, under your bed or (shocker) in the garage for a while. This weekend, more than 18,000 garages are expected to open their doors for the tenth annual Garage Sale Trail. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. Head here to find your closest sale. Everest Carnival runs until November 2 at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick. For more information, head this way. Image: Paul McMillan.
Suckers for good selvage will dig this one. Denim fans and jeans enthusiasts should squeeze into their skinnes and get to The Grounds of Alexandria on Saturday, July 12 for a one-off exhibition of jeans owned by famous peeps. Check out Anthony Kiedis' painted pants, the baggy straight-legs of Adam Sandler and the unfathomably tight pants of the now presumably pantsless James Franco. Strutting into The Grounds as part of Jeans for Genes Day (Friday, August 1), the exhibition will also include the denim favourites of Eric Bana, Gene Simmons, Maroon 5 and the previously paraded pants of those wonderfully abominable Kardashians. Keeping on the yearly tradition of donating a dollar and donning your denim, the Jeans for Genes Denim Exhibition is raising some sweet moolah for Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) — dedicated to finding out why one in 20 children worldwide is born with a birth defect or genetic disease. Kiedis' jeans mark the cornerstone of the exhibition, donated by the Red Hot Chilli Pepper himself and glorified by Australian artist Kathrin Longhurst. “What an absolute treat to be given Anthony Kiedis jeans to paint this year. My artwork is really a collaborative effort — part of it is not mine. The man himself creates the portrait on the right leg of the jeans," says Longhurst. "Anthony is a great philanthropist himself, giving charity concerts and donating time and money to many good causes." Jeans for Genes will auction off celebrity jeans at a big ol' gala event later this year, where the denim delights are expected to fetch up to $25,000. Not bad for a pair of jeans.
Sometimes, waiting in line at a restaurant is inevitable. Heading out to dinner and planning ahead don't always go hand-in-hand, or maybe you're travelling, or perhaps you're simply keen on a particular type of popular cuisine. Of course, no one likes standing about, biding their time and hoping for a table. It might be a part of life, but even the most patient among us can get frustrated — particularly when your stomach is grumbling. Now, thanks to Google's latest feature, you can find out just what kind of delay you're in for — even when you're grabbing a bite to eat on the fly. The technology company has added estimated wait times to Google Search, expanding upon its popular times and live status function. You won't just discover when an eatery is typically busy, or how hectic it is at the moment, but when your chances are of getting a seat. The feature will also be rolled out to Google Maps, in excellent news anyone looking for some nosh while they're in an unfamiliar city or part of town. Almost a million places currently have their wait times included, as based on anonymised historical data, with that number set to increase. And, even if you're just trying to do something simple like treat yourself to something sweet, you can work out if that decadent dessert is really worth the wait.
The volume dial will be turned down on Sydney's nightlife for five minutes at 9.30pm tonight, Friday, March 24, with a host of the city's venues shutting off all music in support of the Vote Music campaign. Vote Music is an organisation that encourages government investment in live music and arts. With the New South Wales state election coming up on Saturday, March 25, the organisation has rallied several Sydney establishments to make a statement on the importance of music by going quiet for a five-minute period. Participating venues include the likes of The Abercrombie, Marly Bar, Stitch Bar and Earl's Juke Joint, as well as Pocket Bar in Terrigal. Each will be shutting off all music at the bar from 9.30–9.35pm. [caption id="attachment_806874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marly Bar, Tom Wilkinson[/caption] "Without the nighttime sector, the vibrancy and excitement in NSW will totally disappear. There's been great progress to improve Sydney's nightlife but we can't throw our hands in the air and say 'job done'," says Night Time Industries Association CEO Mick Gibb. "This initiative isn't about telling people who to vote for. It's about making a clear statement that the night matters and that live music matters by supporting the Vote Music campaign." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hordern Pavilion (@hordernpavilion) Iconic venues, beloved musicians and industry groups from across Sydney and greater NSW have been backing the campaign, including the Hordern Pavilion, Jack River, Josh Pyke and the Independent Bar Association (IBA). "The IBA will encourage its members to take five minutes to show the people of NSW how dull life would be without music," says President Karl Schlothauer. In the lead-up to casting your vote on Saturday, you can check out Vote Music's election report card, which outlines the commitments of each party and independent running in the election. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stitch Bar (@stitchbar) Find out more about the Vote Music campaign at the organisation's website. Top image: The Abercrombie, Maria Boyadgis.
Going to the races isn't just about watching the race. In fact, we think eating delicious food in an atmospheric setting is just as good as watching horse races. At the 2017 Championships, you can head to the Little Sydney pop-up at Royal Randwick Racecourse and multitask by watching the race and eating food at the same time. Little Sydney will pop up over two Saturdays, April 1 and April 8, and feature some of Sydney's finest dining in a delightfully lavish race day experience. The precinct is situated on the Rose Garden Lawn which overlooks the Theatre of the Horse. Ticket holders can choose to eat at one of three decadent marquees hosted by some of Sydney's finest—this year upmarket seafood restaurant Catalina, boutique butcher and providore Victor Churchill and high-end Asian-fusion restaurant China Doll will be there. Each marquee will offer a specially curated, gourmet menu. On the drinks side, Pimms will be running the precinct's bar with a selection of their refreshing cocktails, and James Boags will take over the viewing deck. Tickets to access Little Sydney will cost a pretty penny—at $450 per person — but this experience really takes all-inclusive luxury to the next level. Each ticket includes Members' Reserve access, exclusive entry into Little Sydney and your chosen Marquee, live music, full coverage of the days racing via private plasma screens, private betting facilities and complimentary infield parking or public transport. Tickets to Little Sydney are on sale via the Australian Turf Club website.
If you've ever been to a yoga studio with a basketball court below it, you'll have noticed something quite un-zen. During a calming session of yoga, you might hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!" — or even a marching band procession. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience, which Sydneysiders can discover on Wednesday, June 23. How exactly does one do silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with instructor Kate Kendall, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will be held at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion and is probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Previous events have sold out quickly, you better snap up some tickets asap if you're keen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_eMNBPaDTg
As happens each and every year, more than a few Australian films will hit screens big and small throughout 2021. More than a few have already actually, given that the year is in its home stretch. Some have proven exceptional, others have earned the exact opposite description and plenty fall somewhere in the middle. But only one happens to be the best Aussie film of the year, as well as the homegrown title that's been grabbing attention since it was first announced in 2020. That movie: Nitram. Read the movie's moniker backwards, and you'll see why it started garnering plenty of notice before anyone had even seen it. Now, Aussies are getting the chance to watch the movie themselves — with the film currently screening in Australian cinemas where they're open, and then heading to streaming service Stan from Wednesday, November 24. When it was initially announced last year, the film sparked debate about whether any feature should explore this traumatic chapter of Australia's past. Now that the end result is here, it's both intense and exceptional, as well as extremely careful about its subject matter. The latter shouldn't come as a surprise given that Nitram reunites Snowtown and True Story of the Kelly Gang filmmaker Justin Kurzel with screenwriter Shaun Grant, who penned both movies. With their two earlier collaborations, Kurzel and Grant amassed an impressive history when it comes to tackling the nation's darker and thornier moments, and that doesn't change here. Only ever referring to the gunman responsible for murdering 35 people and wounding 23 others via the movie's moniker, Nitram steps through the lead up to those events in Port Arthur 25 years ago. Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) plays the eponymous figure, who lives with his mother (Judy Davis, The Dressmaker) and father (Anthony LaPaglia, Below), and finds a friend in a reclusive heiress named Helen (Essie Davis, Babyteeth). The film isn't specifically about the tragedy of April 28 and 29, 1996, instead focusing on the time leading up to those dates, but every Australian knows where the story goes from there. Earlier in 2021, Nitram became the first Aussie feature to play in the Cannes Film Festival's coveted competition in a decade. It won Jones the prestigious fest's Best Actor prize, too. And you can expect to hear more about it again — and for the movie to collect more shiny prizes — as Australia's film awards season pops up at the end of the year. Check out the trailer below: Nitram is currently screening in Australian cinemas where they're open, and will be available to stream via Stan from Wednesday, November 24. Read our full review.
Sit down to dinner at Arthur when it opens in Surry Hills this week and you'll have some idea of how chef-owner Tristan Rosier best remembers his grandfather. The original Arthur, with his love of getting friends and family together over food, was the main inspiration behind Rosier's 35-seat restaurant, which is he's launching with partner Rebecca Fanning. It will open its doors in the old Bar Baretto space on Bourke Street today, Thursday, October 25. The space has been given new life with modern light fittings, brass and timber tables and more windows that make the dining room glow in the afternoon. It marks the first solo venture for the chef (ex-Farmhouse and Dead Ringer), whose focus here is on using interesting, seasonal ingredients in unexpected ways, through dishes as elegant as they are exciting. As much as possible is done in-house from scratch, from the breads and preserves, to a raft of pickled things. Food at Arthur is enjoyed as part of a $70 a head shared "dinner party"-style feast of around 11 set dishes — a move Rosier says is designed to allow punters space to really enjoy that good eating and company, rather than worrying about the whole decision-making and ordering affair. Dinners will be done in sessions — two a night, plus a lunch session on weekends — and the menu will be an oft-changing one, though there'll always be at least one raw dish making an appearance and two desserts sweetening the finish. The starting lineup includes dishes like mozzarella with broad beans and green tomatoes, fried artichokes, King prawns with romesco and hazelnut and beef short rib served with mash. And for dessert: a chocolate delice with mandarin and macadamia. Even though it's a set menu, vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requests can be catered for with notice. The wine offering is entirely Australian, showcasing "easy-to-drink wines" with brightness, balance and crunch. Arthur is now open at 544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. It runs sittings at 6pm and 8.30pm Wednesday to Saturday, as well as 12.30pm session on weekends and a 6pm session on Sundays.
This post is sponsored by our partners, lastminute.com.au. People don't know much about Western Australia. For something that's the combined size of Texas, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, we should really know more than the fact Little Creatures is brewed there, and sometimes they have sharks. But this could be a blessing in disguise. Now you have an entire new land to discover out west, and all for the small price of a domestic flight. Here's our guide of where to go once you touch down. Perth and surrounds The first place people can think of in WA, Perth is not only the sunniest capital city in the world, but also one of the top ten most liveable. It may be pretty isolated from the rest of the country, but that creates a kind of camaraderie among its citizens that Melburnians and Sydneysiders can only dream of. Oh, you're trapped in peak-hour traffic on Parramatta Road? Perth locals are taking a weekend jaunt to Rottnest Island via ferry. What's that? You're in a packed train carriage staring at the filthy brown Yarra? People in Perth are having picnics next to the beautiful, dolphin-dotted Swan River. While visiting, we recommend Cottesloe Beach for some surf, this small bar tour for some culture, and the Swan Valley for some local vino. Also, Fringe World Festival is happening at the moment! Why aren't you there already? Where to stay: Esplanade River Suites if you're on a budget, or Crown Metropol Perth or Best Western Premier The Terrace Hotel Perth if you're splashing out. South West South of Perth lie even more treasures, including the renowned wine region, Margaret River. While just a 50-minute flight from the capital, we recommend you hire a car and drive. It will take about three hours, but as WA has 12,000km of the most beautiful coastline in the world, we're sure you won't be disappointed. Once there, it's all about leisure. Spend all day eating and drinking, then cycling off a few meals around the Margaret River. Where to stay: Kalbarri Edge Resort if you're on a budget, or Smiths Beach Resort or Injidup Spa Retreat if you're splashing out. Broome and the Kimberley To venture even further into the unknown, take a trip up north to these great, sunburnt plains. Here, you can expect camel rides along the beach, cheeky and profitable trips to Broome's pearl farms, and endless hours spent on Cable Beach (with sunscreen, because oh lord, you're much closer to the equator up there). This one is a bit more of a hike from Perth, at either a 2-hour 30-minute flight or 24-hour drive, but it's probably worth it. Taking in the entire Coral Coast could be just the first of your exciting experiences. Where to stay: Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa or The Pearle of Cable Beach. Exmouth and Coral Coast This place is like a real-life Seaworld, but you'll need a few days to see it all. A two-hour flight out of Perth, Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park will be your first stops on this trail of aquatic wonder — world-heritage listed prime sites for snorkelling, diving with whale sharks and swimming with dolphins. In fact, every morning at Monkey Mia, wild bottlenose dolphins freely come to the shallows for no more than a pat hello. It's surely some kind of magic. Where to stay: Novotel Ningaloo Resort. Golden Outback Of course, most of this big, sprawling state is desert — the wild outback that our country is known for around the world. If you get sick of being greeted by dolphins every morning and visiting wineries in the afternoon (as unlikely as it may be), the outback could serve as the perfect getaway. First stop: wave rock. This natural anomaly is roughly 2,700 million years old and a true wonder to behold. Alternatively, if you don't like the idea of nature looming over you, you can get on top of it. Hot air ballooning is really popular over the Avon Valley, or you can get an unhindered view of the red terrain with a 14,000-foot skydive. Why not get a little dangerous in our most wild state? Where to stay: Black Wattle Retreat or The Grandhouse York. For more information on flights and accommodation in Western Australia, check out lastminute.com.au.
Aaahh falling in love — 'tis both a blessing and, when it all ends in tears and razor blades, a wicked, wicked curse. Most of us have known the heartache and pain that comes with the unwanted ending of a beautiful love story. It is at this end point that the gifts, photographs, scent-infused t-shirts and other memorabilia accumulated over the course of the relationship take on revered status, as they come to symbolise and embody that lost love long after the actual object of our affection has left the building. It's hard to let go sometimes and, unlike other significant life events, break-ups are not typically marked by any shared rituals or rights of passage to help us move through our grief. With this obvious gap in the in the market of shared human suffering in mind, Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisi founded the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, where people can donate and share their love memorabilia in an effort to achieve communal catharthis through the sharing of this most bittersweet of experiences. Aside from the more obvious letters and teddy bears, objects on display at the museum have included an axe, a gallstone and even a prosthetic leg (hopefully taken with at least begrudging permission from it's previous owner and not stolen in a fit of scorned-lover-style rage). The museum unveiled it's permanent collection in October 2010 and now receives over 1000 visitors each week. In an extension of this unique exhibition, Griffin Studios are inviting us to send in our own love memorabilia over the next three months for eventual display on 8 June 2011 in our very own Museum of Broken Relationships. These objects will also provide inspirational material for resident artists Ian Meadows, Kate Mulvany, Shannon Murphy and Paige Rattray to create a series of related works. You can send your love relics, preferably but not necessarily with an accompanying story or context, to 13 Craigend St, Kings Cross 2011 (or drop off in person to the same address — the white terrace house on the corner of Nimrod St). They say a burden shared is a burden halved. Perhaps the same can be said for broken hearts.
Since UK-based Steve Spacek first landed on the scene in the noughties, as frontman of Spacek, his music has held no regard for boundaries. Rather than focusing on a particular genre, he put his energies into exploring overarching elements, like melody, mood and swing. Most recently, his solo work has been plunging into the potential of new technologies, like iPhones and apps. Presented by Charades as part of MoVement Sydney, Steve Spacek will be hitting Civic Underground late on Saturday, October 22. Providing support will be Melbourne's Prequel, Lauren Hansom and U-Khan. If you can get there before 11pm, you'll score free entry. Otherwise, nab your tickets over here.
Sydney-based outfit Spookyland have slowly made their way into public consciousness over the last few years, moving from 'that guy with the Batman facepaint' to the applauded vocally-focused foursome playing at The Standard Bowl on Friday 5 July. After a riot of a single launch party at FBi Social a few weeks ago for debut studio single 'The Silly Fucking Thing', the Marcus Gordon-pioneered outfit had such a shindiggerous time playing with Sydney's Atlas B Salvesen they thought it best to reunite and throw a free bowling-infused gig. "The dust has settled since our first show as a band and it went pretty well all things considered," says Salvesen. "However, there wasn't enough bowling." Belting out tunes from their upcoming album Rock & Roll Weakling, Spookyland enjoyed praise for their latest (and super melancholic) single — which dominated the AirIT charts. Although Atlas B Salvesen has a pretty small setlist so far (eight songs in all, all from his upcoming album The Pale King), he's proven to pop up on radars Sydneywide too. Solid Sydney male vocalists, All The Feels, free bowling. What's stopping you? https://youtube.com/watch?v=KhXaejFTXRw
The Sydney Film Festival in 2013 features a fierce competition field, an extended Sydney Film Festival Hub program and special presentations of some of the most talked-about new films we thought we'd have to wait much longer to see. This year celebrating its 60th year, the film festival will open with a screening of Mystery Road, the intense newbie directed, written, shot and scored by Ivan Sen (Toomelah) but starring Hugo Weaving, Aaron Pedersen and Ryan Kwanten. "Confident, mature, word-class and compelling – these are words that describe both this wonderful film and this extraordinary festival," said festival director Nashen Moodley. Weaving will also lead the international panel of judges picking the winner of the SFF Official Competition, which recognises the most courageous and cutting-edge films and comes with a $60,000 cash prize. Hot contenders include Australian Kim Mordaunt's Rocket, winner of the Best First Feature award at the Berlinale and Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca; Sarah Polley's family documentary Stories We Tell; University of Sydney graduate Haifaa Al Mansour's Wadjada, the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Nicolas Winding Refn's follow-up to Drive, Only God Forgives, which promises to use Ryan Gosling, violence and synth to some effect (an effect that got it booed at Cannes). Out of competition you'll find much-anticipated new films as well as surprising wonders from around the world that might never get widely released. A sure highlight (and sell-out) will be the new Michel Gondry confection, Mood Indigo, which stars Audrey Tautou in a romance darkened by illness. If you like your films even more difficult to interpret, you'll be pleased to hear Shane Carruth's follow-up to Primer, Upstream Color, is screening. There's also the decades-coming sequel to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Before Midnight, as well as Woody Allen-esque comedy Frances Ha from partners in crime/romance Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig. TV gets a nod in the Box Set program stream, which will screen HBO Europe's Burning Bush and Japanese broadcaster WOWOW's Penance. Documentaries continue to be a strong suit of the festival, with Vivid co-presentation The Human Scale by cities-are-for-people advocate Andreas Dalsgaard a particular draw. Internet culture is a subject in Downloaded, Kink and We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks, while global grrl bands rock in Miss Nikki and the Tiger Girls and Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer. Last but not least (and given there's some 190 films in the program, not really last), one of our favourite things, the Sydney Film Festival Hub at Lower Town Hall is back, and now open until midnight daily from June 6-14. This is the place to meet, imbibe and get some feeling back into your legs after a movie marathon. It's also the place to see Jeff Desom's exciting installation Rear Window Loop, which we raved about a few weeks ago. A VHS party, trivia night, fake film press conference, Cinema Burlesque and movie future forecast are among the other interactive and instructive events on the bill. The Sydney Film Festival runs from June 5-16 in a corridor of venues throughout the city as well as the Hayden Cremorne Orpheum. Tickets are available now from the festival website, as is the full program of films and special events. Still sifting through the program? Check out our top ten picks of the festival for more thorough guidance. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ulrIWcQOy8o
If you thought yoga retreats were all silence and brown rice, Yoga Cucina invites you to reconsider. Initiated by a trio of yoga instructors — and wine drinkers — it's a new kind of yoga-inspired getaway. And after two booked out getaways, they're doing it all over again — for New Year's Eve. Gear up to ring in 2018 practising your salutes to the sun and downward dogs, in between sampling several drops, feasting on Italian fare, playing darts and swimming beneath waterfalls. The adventure — adventure sounds more fitting than retreat — will be held over three days and nights, from December 30 to January 2 at a secret location in NSW's Southern Highlands. On the first night you'll meet for a pre-dinner wine tasting, then sit down to a big Italian feast by Marco and Luca, who are both Michelin star trained. The rest of the weekend will see you waking up to yoga sessions, honing your practice in workshops, trundling off to national parks for swimming under waterfalls, learning how to make pasta, eating, drinking and playing games. A weekend at the retreat will set you back $995–1250 per person, which includes all activities, food, wine and accommodation. Image: Leeroy Te Hira.
