"Would you rather wear a hat made of spiders, or have penises for fingers?" It's not just an intriguing question. It's also one of the most memorable lines in modern Australian literature, as anyone who has read Jasper Jones will no doubt agree. Now, thanks to the film adaptation of the best-selling Aussie novel, it's one of the most interesting pieces of dialogue uttered on screen too. That said, pondering such an obviously important topic isn't the only highlight of the beloved book or its new big screen version. For the record though, author Craig Silvey — who wrote the shooting script for movie as well — would choose the first option. Contemplating arachnophobia versus added appendages is one of the lighter moments in a film that starts with a dead teenager, follows the efforts of an outsider to clear his name, and dives into the murky waters of discrimination in a small rural town. At the same time, the seemingly silly question provides an excellent example of exactly the kind of movie that Jasper Jones is. When you're 14 years old, life is filled with mysteries and surprises, both humorous and scary. One moment you're having a laugh with your friend. In the next, you're coming to terms with tragedy, prejudices and the fraught nature of race relations in Australia. After the eponymous Jasper Jones (Aaron McGrath) comes knocking on his bedroom window one summer evening, Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller) experiences both. By day, he pals around with his best friend (Kevin Long) talking about superheroes and exaggerated dilemmas. By night, he helps Jasper cope with the suspicious death of his girlfriend, for which Jasper fears he will be blamed. That Charlie has a crush on the dearly departed girl's sister (Angourie Rice) complicates matters. That the mixed-race Jasper is viewed with suspicion by most folks in the fictional Western Australian town of Corrigan does too. Australian filmmakers have been keen on coming-of-age tales lately, with Paper Planes and Red Dog: True Blue (which also starred Miller) both gracing cinema screens over the past few years. Still, there's always room for a smart, thoughtful and engaging take on a well-worn premise, and Bran Nue Day director Rachel Perkins delivers just that. The book has earned comparisons to To Kill A Mockingbird, while Perkins has cited Stand By Me as an influence — and blending the two together perfectly sums up Jasper Jones' charms. Of course, a great text and a fine director are only part of the equation. Jasper Jones wins big on both fronts, but it also benefits from a stellar cast. There's a reason that Miller keeps getting work, and if the gifted Rice seems familiar, that's because she stole the show opposite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in last year's The Nice Guys. The pair, along with the soulful McGrath and the amusing Long, offer an impressive snapshot into the future of Australian acting talent, which is no easy feat given some of the veterans they're playing against. Toni Collette pops up as Charlie's unhappy mum, and it just wouldn't be a local film without Hugo Weaving doing wearied and grizzled like only he can.
Pull out your loose change stash and check under the couch because China Fusion is serving up an impressive January deal. Until the end of the month, the Marrickville Metro spot is slinging dumplings for $1 a piece. Head on in whenever you like before Monday, January 31 and bring your appetite — and all the gold coins you can find. Choose between pork and chive, vegetable, and prawn either alone or with English spinach, all of which come steamed. There is one catch, however — punters must purchase them in servings of ten, so you'll be out at least $10. But, given that dumplings are oh-so-moreish anyway, that's hardly a tough or tricky caveat. No bookings are required, so just mosey on in. And you can order as many $1 dumplings as you like, but you do have to nab them in those plates of ten. Also, there's just one serving per table at any one time — but if you're dining with pals, each batch obviously isn't going to last long.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back its Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy last-minute gifts ahead of the big day — because we know what you're like. Taking over Carriageworks on Saturday, December 23, the market will go full Christmas with a cornucopia of goodies from more than 100 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers. Think: homemade puddings, seafood, fresh cherries, award-winning cheeses and Christmas tree-shaped crumpets. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams, handcrafted spirits, bottled cocktails and floral bouquets made to complete your Christmas table. Just some of the stallholders include Bondi Oysters, Flour and Stone, AP Bakery, Broomfields, Nonna's Grocer, Wildflower Brewery, Kepos Street Kitchen, Yulli's Brews, Archie Rose, Baba's Place and Pepe Saya — offering a mix of takeaway goods and tasty things to costume on-site. Baba's is even bringing back its famed "Lebo Fillet-o-Fish" for just one day at the markets. FBi Radio's Bindi Mutiara and Sam Lane will be unleashing their b2b DJ skills on the market and controlling the tunes together as their joint moniker BAM. This will also be your last chance to hit up the Carriageworks Farmers Market in 2023, with the weekly get-together taking a three-week break following the special Christmas edition before returning from Saturday, January 20. And, if you want to get your hands on a real Christmas tree, then you can head to the market in the weeks leading up to the official Xmas shindig. Dural Christmas Tree Farm is popping up at the Eveleigh hub for the markets on three Saturdays: December 2, 9 and 16. [caption id="attachment_933013" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Baba's Place[/caption] Images: Jacquie Manning.
Director Netta Yashchin's stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1945 novella Animal Farm at the Australian Theatre for Young People is dedicated to the Jewish-Arabic director and peace activist Juliano Mer-Khamis. He was murdered just over a year ago in Jenin in the West Bank, close to the Freedom Theatre he ran for young people. Hearing about his production of Animal Farm inspired Yashchin to create her own production of the story, which she says is "extremely relevant today". Staging Animal Farm in Palestine has an immediate weight and relevance. Sydney's Walsh Bay doesn't have quite the same effect. Nevertheless Animal Farm is a cracker of a story and it is hard not to find it interesting wherever you are. Orwell's illustration of post-revolution reversion to the same oppression as that of the overthrown powers is a great piece to stage at the moment. Australian Labor party leadership squabbles don't qualify as a revolution, but the hypocrisy and deceit displayed by our politicians is right there in Animal Farm. More pertinent perhaps is Egypt's post-revolutionary presidential race, which has turned into a farce because of the string of disqualifications based on pedantic nationality rules. The production is highly physical while at the same time retaining much of Orwell's excellent writing as narration delivered directly to the audience. Dymphna Carew's choreography and Tom Ringberg's fight direction give the piece a physically vibrant edge that keeps the story alive. The pigs' transformation into authoritarian masters trying to walk on two legs is a particularly striking moment. The performances are generally compelling, with a strong sense of ensemble for this large cast of 18. Michael Brindley presents a delightfully eccentric characterisation of the messianic raven, Moses, with his utopian belief in Sugarcandy Mountain. Stephanie King playing the Cat has some consummate acrobatic skills on the silks, which at times distracts from the action (because she's so good). The performers seem to be enjoying themselves, which is always a pleasure to watch. If your copy of Animal Farm has been gathering dust since high school, this is an excellent opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the classic.
It's the intermission of the funniest play that currently exists on the planet, and the crowd is in shock. Why? Well, I'm not inclined to tell you. Suffice to say, One Man, Two Guvnors might be a hybrid of every classic style of British humour, but that doesn't mean it plays it safe. Based on the commedia dell'arte (read: old Italian panto) play Servant of Two Masters, this production has been adapted for the National Theatre of Great Britain by Mr Bean — that is to say, Richard Bean, prestigious playwright whose The Heretic divided Melbourne last year. One Man, Two Guvnors, set in '60s seaside Brighton, comes to the Sydney Theatre after stints on Broadway and the West End and several theatre awards. It's gargantuanly, uninhibitedly, divinely funny. A great leveller; you laugh, or you're not alive. It all rests largely in the hands of Owain Arthur, who plays poor fool Francis Henshall, a man who becomes the personal assistant to two seemingly unrelated parties, all because he's dying to buy lunch. Arthur was the understudy to James Corden in the original run of this show, though watching him, it's quite impossible to imagine anyone else in the part. The man goes red in the face every time he opens his mouth to speak. The amount of energy he puts into these two-and-a-half-hours is stunning. Add a pair of high pants and a sweet Welsh accent, and you have a comedic triple threat. He's not let down by the rest of the cast, either, with Edward Bennett in particular proving Arthur's match and counterpoint as toffy Stanley Stubbers, one of the guvnors. Where Arthur has to milk lines like "It tastes good for paper", Bennett fires off quick ripostes such as "I don't do first names; first names are for girls and Norwegians" with a flash of straight teeth and a brush of his blazer. They each stand at one end of the comedy spectrum from the slapsticky to the Wildean, with Amy Booth-Steel. Kellie Shirley, Leon Williams and Rosie Wyatt admirably filling the bits in between. Keeping the good times rolling is a (very handsome) beat combo, who provide live music and step on stage between scenes. It's a fun and refreshing way to add a musical aspect to the show. Indeed, even when the energy of the show starts to flag in the second half (why? Maybe the spell is broken, it's just a bit more predictable or people are nervous about the show's approach to audience participation), these interludes spike the levels right back up again. One Man, Two Guvnors may represent the least stuffy part of our British heritage. Eat it up.
If action isn't taken to reduce rubbish in our oceans, it's estimated there will be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by 2050. To raise awareness about the severity of this issue, at least 120 kilograms of this plastic waste has been hauled from the sea and put to better use to create this thought-provoking public artwork. Titled Wasteland and produced by local creative studio Mundane Matters as part of Art & About Sydney, the piece features 2255 orange orbs made from recycled ocean debris. Inspired by a fortuitous Costa Rican forest that saw 12,000 tons of orange peels dumped into an empty pasture only to flourish into a forest 16 years later, this piece uses waste collected from around the Great Barrier Reef — where a group called Eco Barge has been busy recovering more than 180,000 kilogram of plastic junk over the past nine years. The haul used to create Wasteland included everything from plastic bottle necks and lids, to a broken chair and even someone's abandoned kettle. After being ground down, melted together with some plastic and moulded into the spheres. It now hangs suspended from the ceiling of Customs House as a compelling reminder of how our daily lives impact the environment on a global scale. "Each orange object is a movable dot, allowing the whole system to be reconfigured and reformatted with endless possibilities," explains Danling Xiao, the creative brains behind Mundane Matters. Wasteland is open on weekdays from 8am–midnight, Saturdays from 10am–midnight and Sundays from 11am–5pm. Images: Katherine Griffiths
We're all well-versed in the importance of doing what we can to protect our planet — you know your recyclable plastics, try to limit your showers to under five minutes (except on hair wash days) and have maybe even ventured into the world of composting and zero-waste living. But how can researchers, investors and corporations collaborate to support sustainable innovators and move towards a net-zero future? Leading the charge on 'Innovating for a Net-Zero Future' is CommBank's General Manager of Climate Strategy and Commitments, Alex Matthews, who helms the institution's climate and carbon efforts. With a decade of experience spanning the US and Asia Pacific, he'll explore how larger organisations and investment firms can collaborate on furthering climate tech and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Joining him is Kirstin Hunter, whose career includes varied roles as a corporate lawyer, management consultant, Co-Founder of Australia's first fossil fuel-free super and now the managing director of Techstars. Hunter is particularly interested in purpose-driven startups that attempt to solve some of the dire social and environmental issues we're currently facing, so she's sure to have some valuable insights to share. Paul Hunyor also adds his 20 years of experience as an investor to the panel. As the Co-Founder and Managing Director of a global climate investment firm, he has firsthand knowledge of identifying and endorsing businesses that have a positive impact on our environment. On the climate fintech front is Katherine McConnell, who founded a platform that makes sustainable home improvements more affordable and accessible. McConnell received B&T's Sustainability Crusader Award for her pioneering work and was listed as one of The Australian's 100 Green Power Players this year. 'Innovating for a Net-Zero Future: the Climate Tech Imperative' will be presented by Commonwealth Bank as part of the SXSW Sydney Conference. The panel will take place from 11.30am–12.30pm on Monday, October 16 at the ICC Sydney.
Talk about taking your own advice to heart. Since releasing their debut album Quiet Is the New Loud in 2001 the Norwegian folk-pop duo have been keeping things a little too low-key for their legions of fans around the globe, going on a three-year hiatus pretty much immediately afterwards and taking another five-year break after 2004's Riot on an Empty Street. In the last three years they've played less than ten live shows. Not surprisingly, then, their appearance at the Sydney Opera House this February will also be their Australian debut, despite the fact that many of us have been familiar with their sound for over a decade. Most folk-anything acts nowadays are characterised soothing vocals and fragile guitars, but Erland Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe's stuff produces a zen sensation similar to what I imagine might happen after taking Class A drugs. Even electronic ears aren't immune, with Four Tet, Ladytron and Röyksopp all clamouring to remix the duo's acoustic jams. Kings of Convenience's Opera House performance forms part of the contemporary music program that also includes performances by Rodrigo y Gabriela, First Aid Kit, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Dead Can Dance, Sarah Blasko, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OczRpuGKTfY
Been spending the first few months of 2020 pondering the future? Given the current state of affairs, that's only natural. Next week, however, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on a luminous night sky. From around April 16 –25, the Lyrids Meteor Shower sets the sky ablaze. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but it's still very impressive. Plus, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Lyrids annually. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular from April 22–23. For folk located Down Under, early on Thursday, April 23 is when you'll be peering upwards. Here's how to catch a glimpse from your backyard. WHAT IS IT The Lyrid Meteor Shower is named after constellation Lyra, which is where the meteor shower appears to come from near star Vega, and is created by debris from comet Thatcher. While the comet, which takes about 415 years to orbit around the sun, won't be visible from Earth again until 2276, the Lyrids can be seen every autumn, between April 16–25. So you can even pencil it in for next year. It's also the oldest recorded meteor shower, so there's that, too. On average, you can see up to 18 meteors per hour, but the Lyrids are also known to have outbursts of nearly 100 meteors per hour. So, while no outburst is predicted for 2020, you could get lucky. [caption id="attachment_767783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] jpstanley via Flickr.[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT In Australia, the shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Thursday, April 23 according to Time and Date, but still able to be seen for a day or two on either side. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am. At that time, you'll be in the running to see meteors moving at about 177,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. HOW TO SEE IT Usually, when a meteor shower lights up the sky, we'd advise city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. That's not possible given the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, so you'd best take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate them, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Lyrids. They've been updating this daily. Typically, clouds and showers are predicted for next week along the east coast, which could present problems in terms of visibility. But, there'll be little moon to spoil it, so hopefully the weatherman is wrong. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
In the past few years, Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs. The 2019 lineup featured the likes of You Am I/Magic Dirt, Aloe Blacc, The Whitlams and the Hoodoo Gurus and, from the looks of things, 2020 will be just as epic. Held in Taronga Zoo's natural amphitheatre, the concert series will run from Friday, January 31 to Saturday, March 7, 2020. And we've got some real humdingers to look forward to including Meg Mac, NZ duo Broods, Wolfmother, Mavis Staples, Kasey Chambers and Paul Kelly bringing together a six-piece band to perform bird-inspired poems — you'll be in a zoo, after all. And, as always, the ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be back by popular demand. You can BYO a picnic, but there'll also be gourmet hampers available onsite alongside a handful of food trucks. Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Thursday, October 31 and include discounted same-day entry into the zoo (so you can sneak in a visit to your favourite mammal, bird or reptile beforehand). As always, all proceeds will go back into Taronga's ongoing conservation work. So, you can see a gig and feel good about helping the zoo. Get excited and check out the full lineup below. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2020 LINEUP Friday, January 31: Broods Saturday, February 1: Wolfmother Thursday, February 6: Pete Murray Friday, February 7: Pete Murray - SOLD OUT Saturday, February 8: ARC perform 'Abbey Road' Live Friday, February 14: Bernard Fanning - SOLD OUT Saturday, February 15: Sunnyboys Friday, February 21: Kasey Chambers Saturday, February 22: James Morrison Big Band Friday, February 28: Paul Kelly in 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keith and Seraphim Trio Saturday, February 29: Bjorn Again - SOLD OUT Sunday, March 1: Bjorn Again Thursday, March 5: Mavis Staples Friday, March 6: Meg Mac - SOLD OUT Saturday, March 7: Comedy Gala Tickets for Twilight at Taronga 2020 go on sale at midday on Thursday, October 31 via twilightattaronga.org.au.
Holding this in Paddington Town Hall is fitting (har) for several reasons: (1) FASHAN is SRS BIZNISS; (2) it's based around community participation, even if not of the 'objection to proposed development' type; (3) if you're in that area, you're probably already paying attention to your outfit. Civic-mindedness goes beyond the venue, though, with the Fashion Forward Festival giving emerging labels a platform and raising funds for the AIDS Trust of Australia. A bit more underground and a lot more public-access than RAFW, the well-cut edge of Australian design is showcased and paraded here across a couple of days of garments, swimwear and accessories. The venue is practical, too: as well as fresh-faced and probably still only faux-jaded designers, some buyers and some people who would like to be buying, there will clearly be models at a fashion thing, and models are really tall. Not to suggest that they'd hit their heads on the ceilings of a less capacious space, but in terms of sense of scale this ends up being like an average-sized situation through a magnifying lens. That'll make you feel like you have brilliant attention to detail, which you're going to need to spot the careers as well as pieces being launched. A lot of care is taken in the festival's look(s) and there's a lot to care about in where the money it raises is going.
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
Sydney is in the middle of a particularly hazy weekend, with foggy skies descending upon the city. For the second day running, the gloomy conditions are reducing visibility on roads around town and causing dramas for those departing from the airport — so if you're venturing out of the house on this murky Sunday morning, prepare for a longer journey than normal. The heavy mist has disrupted flights going out of Sydney Airport, with the facility advising travellers to keep in contact with their carriers about delays. Yesterday, according to news.com.au, more than 40 domestic flights and eight international flights were waylaid due to the fog. https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport/status/1147608690003853313 Even if you're not heading to the airport, it goes without saying that you should take caution on and near the road this morning as visibility is low. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road weather alert, noting that "reduced visibility in fog will make road conditions dangerous during Sunday morning in most suburbs". Weatherzone advises that the fog is due to linger past 9am, then return this evening. Once the skies do clear today, Sydneysiders can expect partly cloudy conditions with a slight chance of a shower. More cloud is forecast for tomorrow, as well as showers in the late morning and afternoon. Image: Bureau of Meteorology via Twitter. By Sarah Ward and Libby Curran.
If Owen Wilson was to comment on Melbourne's newest event, we're guessing he'd offer up a simple answer: "wow." That's actually just what thousands of folks seemingly want to hear — and say. In fact, celebrating the way the Zoolander star utters that one word is what this gathering is all about. Following in the footsteps of last year's 'Scream like Goku' sessions, some particularly keen Wilson fans have conjured up their own version: 'Say Wow like Owen Wilson'. Set to take place on from 6pm on February 26 at Melbourne's Federation Square, it's exactly what it sounds like. People will come together, pretend they're in The Royal Tenenbaums, Wedding Crashers or whichever of his flicks takes their fancy, and unleash their best wow-uttering impersonation. Saying one particular word like a famous actor — it's so hot right now, apparently. Or, it's just something different to do on your way home from work on Monday evening, we guess? Either way, the get-together will include warm-up wows, the main event — that is, a massive group wow — and kick-on wows afterwards. It'll also be livestreamed, for anyone who can't get there, doesn't live in Melbourne or simply needs to see it for themselves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlLMlJ2tDkg
Whether you're a stirrer or a shaker — or a sipper or a slurper — World Class Cocktail Festival is dedicated to you. For five glorious days between Wednesday, April 28–Sunday, May 2, cocktail-centred happenings will be taking place throughout Surry Hills, The Rocks and the CBD, with 13 different events on the menu. If you're fond of espresso martinis, Paramount Coffee Project is devoting two whole nights to them, as made with your choice of Columbian or Ethiopian coffee beans. Fancy spending a few nights sipping German vermouth in a laneway? That's also on the agenda thanks to Bulletin Place. And, you can tuck into both margaritas and tacos at Cantina OK! and Shwarmama's pop-up collaboration, called Mama OK! Also on the lineup: a series called Little Melbourne, which sees bars from down south make an appearance at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. So, you won't need to hop on a plane to sip drinks from Above Board, The Everleigh, Black Pearl and Byrdi, all of which placed in 2020's World's 100 Best Bars list. Golden Age is also screening a number of films with ties to Mexico, including Like Water for Chocolate, Desperado, El Mariachi, Brimstone & Glory and Pan's Labyrinth. And, to wrap up the festival, Maybe Sammy is hosting a big closing party — so saving some energy after jumping between all of the event's pop-ups, team ups and specials is highly recommended. [caption id="attachment_721697" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bulletin Place, Cesar Echeverri[/caption] Top image: Maybe Sammy, DS Oficina.
If you're a fan of Stars Wars, then you're a fan of Han Solo — and, obviously, a certain legendary Wookiee — which means you must be pretty excited about the latest instalment in the juggernaut Star Wars series – Solo: A Star Wars Story. A fast and action-packed adventure, the film follows the first meeting between Solo and Chewbacca. It's set when Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich) is a lot younger, so there's no Harrison Ford, but there is star-studded cast featuring the likes of Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Donald Glover. To celebrate the release, Hoyts has put together an exclusive Falcon Formation Fan Event — the very first advance screening of the film anywhere in Australia. As well as getting first eyes on the film, you'll also get your mitts on some limited edition merchandise and access to a special light show experience that'll bring Solo's trusty Millennium Falcon to life. The screening will take place three hours before anywhere else in the country, and you'll get to take home a Falcon Formation poster, lanyard and a Star Wars Crony Mini Crumpler bag – featuring C-3PO or R2D2 – valued at $59. With strictly limited spots available, super-fans should book their tickets sooner rather than later. The Falcon Formation Fan Event will kick off at 5.30pm on Wednesday, May 23, and Solo: A Star Wars Story will be screened at 8.30pm (or at 8.45pm if you go for the Hoyts Lux option). You can snag tickets here.
Berberian Sound Studio and The Duke of Burgundy filmmaker Peter Strickland is one of cinema's inimitable auteurs, not only conjuring up narratives that no other filmmaker ever would or could, but bringing them to the screen with a distinctive sense of style and mood. That remains accurate with In Fabric — the lauded writer/director's haunted dress movie. In a London clothing store, bank teller Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) finds the perfect red frock for her first blind date; however, she soon discovers that the fabulous outfit has quite the dark side. Also starring Games of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie, this fashion-focused horror-comedy is lurid and intoxicating. As the above rundown should make plain, this film is something special — and, after touring the festival circuit last year, is one of the standout theatrical releases of this year, too. But if you missed it in cinemas, Melbourne's The Capitol and RMIT University have an online solution thanks to In Fabric: A Long Weekend for Fashion Victims and Film Fetishists. Running from Friday, September 11–Monday, September 14 via thecapitol.tv, the virtual event includes three components. Firstly, you can stream In Fabric for 24 hours from 7pm on Friday, because that's what this whole thing is about. Then, at 7pm on Saturday, Strickland will chat about the film live. And, on Monday, he'll join the movie's costume designer Jo Thompson and RMIT Associate Dean of Fashion and Textiles Design Dr Ricarda Bigolin for a masterclass about fashion victims, desire, bodies and consumption. Your $15.86 ticket includes access to all three parts of the event — and possible dreams about striking red dresses for some time afterwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biHUTtV4K40&feature=emb_logo In Fabric: A Long Weekend for Fashion Victims and Film Fetishists runs online from Friday, September 11–Monday, September 14.
Pop-up parties, grow-your-own shindigs and art-food combos are just some of the new events foodies will be able to experience at this year's Good Food Month. For those who find change a little frightening, though, there's no need to worry, as plenty of staples are also on the menu, including the Night Noodle Markets, Let's Do Lunch and Hats Off Dinners. Five hundred events make up the program, which runs throughout October and was previously known as Crave, with Australia's finest chefs, best restaurants, most skilful farmers, most knowledgeable wine experts and fanciest artisan food producers making an appearance. "As we relaunch Good Food Month, an event which started 15 years ago in Sydney, we celebrate all that is great about our outstanding and remarkably diverse food scene," explained festival director Joanna Savill. "The program is packed and there is truly something for everyone." One of the headlining events is The Great Australia Dinner with Rene Redzepi. Redzepi produces his culinary masterpieces from the kitchen of Noma, Copenhagen, which was placed First on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list (sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna) for three years running, and is currently ranked second. As part of Good Food Month, he'll be joining forces with Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore, David Chang, Kylie Kwong and others. There'll be some other one-offs, including the 15th Annual Young Chefs Dinner, the Pyrmont Growers' Market Birthday Bash and Omnivore Sydney, as well as some "regulars" running throughout the month, including Breakfast Club, Surprise Saturday Lunch and Supper Club. Check out our picks of the ten best things to do during Good Food Month.
No one ever likes saying goodbye to their favourite TV show. Thankfully, due to the non-stop array of revivals, spinoffs and movie adaptations that just keep reaching our screens, those farewells are often only temporary. And, if you're lucky, you get multiple new chances to step back into the on-screen world you've already spent so much time watching and obsessing over — which is exactly what's happening with Downton Abbey: A New Era. It's been more than a decade since Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire-set television drama, first made its debut — and creator Julian Fellowes isn't done with it yet. After the show spun its tale of aristocratic life during the 1910s and 1920s across six seasons, finishing up in 2015, the 2019 movie that's also called Downton Abbey then brought the Crawley family and their loyal staff to cinemas. It played out like a last hurrah, but it unsurprisingly proved a hit, so that's where this new movie sequel comes in. To answer the most important question: yes, Maggie Smith is back. She's a key part of the new film's just-dropped teaser trailer, in fact, because of course she is. This time, she's telling her loved ones about a villa in the south of France that she's just come into possession of, which is where this follow-up is headed — in Downton Abbey's usual lavish style, obviously. Narrative-wise, the feature — which is once again written by Fellowes, but has filmmaker Simon Curtis (Goodbye Christopher Robin) in the director's chair — will chart the Crawley's summer trip, all as Hollywood comes to the Abbey. And yes, to answer the other burning question, there's familiar faces aplenty in the trailer, with the returning cast spanning Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Lesley Nicol, Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilton. If you're a fan of the series and the first movie, you don't need any further explanation. That said, a few new actors join the Downton Abbey world in A New Era, too, including Hugh Dancy (Late Night), Laura Haddock (Transformers: The Last Knight), Nathalie Baye (The Guardians), Dominic West (The Pursuit of Love) and Jonathan Zaccaï (The White Crow). Check out the teaser trailer below: Downton Abbey: A New Era releases in Australian cinemas on March 17, 2022. Top image: Ben Blackall / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.
If you stare at something long enough, you don't just see the obvious. You notice everything, from the details that fail to immediately catch your attention to the way things can change instantly right in front of your eyes. The Killing of Two Lovers is all about this idea, and on two fronts. It puts a fractured marriage before its lens, ensuring its struggles and troubles can't be ignored. It also takes its time to peer at its protagonist, the separated-and-unhappy-about-it David (Clayne Crawford, Rectify), and at all that his new life now entails. In a sparse small town — with the film shot in Kanosh, Utah — its central figure attempts to adjust to living with his ailing widower father (Bruce Graham, Forty Years From Yesterday). His wife Niki (Sepideh Moafi, The L Word: Generation Q) remains in their home with their four children, as they've agreed while they take a break to work through their problems. David isn't coping, though, a fact that's apparent long before his teenage daughter Jess (Avery Pizzuto, We Fall Down) gets angry because she thinks he isn't fighting hard enough to save their family. He's trying, but as Crawford conveys in a brooding but nervy performance — and as writer/director/editor Robert Machoian (When She Runs) and cinematographer Oscar Ignacio Jiménez (Immanence) can't stop looking at in lengthy and patient takes — he can't quite adapt to the idea of losing everything he knows. Not just wed young, but welcoming Jess into their lives when they were basically kids themselves, David and Niki have spent their entire adulthood together so far — and as parents. They've agreed that they can date other people during their time apart, which Niki is doing; however, David just wants what he's always had. Indeed, The Killing of Two Lovers opens with him appearing poised to put that title into effect. He even has a gun, in fact. But nothing is that simple here, or for everyone in the movie's frames, or for anyone. From that very first moment, with the camera lingering on him wrestling with a big decision and radiating pain, anger and uncertainty, this is a feature that's determined to keep staring while its characters grapple with complexities both intimate and commonplace. David can't handle that Niki has started seeing Derek (Chris Coy, The Deuce), who works in the same building. He can't face the fact that she's been promoted at work, which brings more opportunities for her to be independent. And he certainly can't abide by only spending time with his beloved kids — including pre-teen boys Alex, Theo and Bug (Arri, Ezra and Jonah Graham, God Bless the Child) in agreed slots, instead of being there for their every moment. The Killing of Two Lovers watches David rage and fray. It sees him try to be the cool part-time dad, buying his brood toy rockets to send soaring into the sky in the local park, and waking up his sons in the middle of the night to show them he's taken their comedy advice. The film observes as he weathers Jess' anger, fear and disappointment, too, and as he tries to make his date nights with Niki the kind of evening that'll get them back together. It notices his self-centred wish to keep everything frozen in time, his stubbornness to accept any other fate, and his posturing with the unpleasant, jerk-ish Derek. Crucially, though, this is a movie about domestic disharmony that witnesses as much as it can, and lets as broad a spectrum of its protagonist's life as possible tell its tale. The Killing of Two Lovers ensures that Niki's predicament is just as complicated as well. This isn't just a movie that explores what happens when a man could lose everything that's made him who he is; it's also a portrait of a woman torn between a past she knows and a future that's on her own terms. And, it definitely isn't a film that condones David's actions, or offers any neat or predictable answers, explanations or options, but rather it's a snapshot of just how tangled and elaborate life always becomes. There's an element of Scenes From a Marriage at play here, although The Killing of Two Lovers pre-dates the new remake — and so much of the feeling in this gorgeously shot movie comes from its imagery. When it's hard to look away from such rich and enticing visuals, it's impossible not to spot and soak in everything they depict. Each frame is postcard-perfect, not that those pieces of cardboard ever capture such everyday sights, but wide vistas and the snowy mountains hovering in the background are just the beginning. With its long takes, The Killing of Two Lovers forces its audience to glean the naturalistic lighting that never casts David and Niki's hometown in either a warm glow or grim glower. Repeated images of David alone, especially in his car, also leave a firm impression of a man moving and solo. And, presenting most of its frames in the 4:3 aspect ratio, the film also possesses an astonishing and telling sense of space. Nothing is bluntly boxed in here, but everyone is trying to roam within the claustrophobic patch of turf they've scratched out. And, within the feature's square-shaped visuals springs an added fountain of intimacy that cuts to the heart of such close relationships, such as when David and the kids all pile into his truck, or during one of David and Niki's car-bound dates. Of course, without the right actors inhabiting those shots — and the right performances emanating from them — Machoian's stunning sights would ring hollow. Crawford is as soulful as the film's cinematography, and as jumpy as the metallic-sounding audioscape that echoes during its 84-minute running time. He's both masterful and devastating as he, like the overall feature itself, tussles and jostles with David's internal and external chaos. His is a raw and invested portrayal, so it comes as little surprise that he's one of the picture's executive producers. Crawford is aided by spot-on work by his co-stars, though; by smartly penned, stirringly insightful dialogue that most scripts wish they could muster, too; and by a piercing use of silence to let everything sink in. The devil isn't in the detail here — the minutiae is the entire movie, and what an unflinching, evocative and heady vision of yearning and emotionally churning it is.
This week, Chin Chin's underground private dining room and event space Chii Town will transform into an immersive art installation and performance — with an impressive lineup of food and drinks, too — for Hyper Real. A collaboration between Chin Chin Sydney and conceptional artist, musician and all-round creative Offerings (aka Missy Gilbert) — who's known for the themed dining experiences she hosts at Alexandria creative space The Nest — the part dinner, part art show will ignite all of the senses senses, giving you things to touch, listen to, look at and taste. Over three nights only, you'll be able to partake in a sensory overloaded experience where licking walls, cutting through metal fences, listening to experimental music and partaking in five interactive food and drink experiences by Chin Chin Executive Chef Graeme Hunt will bamboozle, delight and amuse. Upon ticket purchase, you will be sent secret instructions and a dress code — to ensure you truly become part of the art.
For the past seven years, juniper spirits have been flowing everywhere from London and Hamburg to Melbourne thanks to big gin festival Junipalooza. But if you're a Sydneysider with a fondness for the tipple in question, you've probably been more than a little envious — and wondering when the fest might make the trip to this part of the globe. Now, those requests have finally been answered. Actually, those dreams were supposed to come true in 2020, but then the pandemic happened. Come Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29, however, Junipalooza will arrive on Sydney's shores for the first time. Set to take over Carriageworks for two wintry days, the juniper-filled festival is run by the founders of the UK's Gin Foundry, Olivier and Emile Ward — so you know you're in good gin-pouring hands. The renowned brothers live, breathe and drink gin, compiling all their knowledge onto their comprehensive online gin directory. They've also been running the OG London version of Junipalooza since way back in 2013. The Sydney event will feature sampling stations, cocktails and gin masterclasses with some of the world's best distillers. Thirty distillers from around the globe will be sharing their gins, with around 200 different types set to feature. The full lineup is yet to be announced, but we still see a lot of gin drinking in your future. If you're eager to sip your way through the fest, you can choose between three sessions, with tickets on sale now. On the Saturday, you can start the day with drinks from 11am–3pm, or spend your evening sampling gin between 4–8pm. On Sunday, an 11am–5pm session is on the cards. Junipalooza will take place in Sydney on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29 at Carriageworks. Tickets are on sale now — and for more information, head the the festival's website.
Salt Meats Cheese has expanded again. This time, it has ventured across the Bridge — to the northern beaches. The restaurant chain's sixth New South Wales establishment, which opens its doors today, is a 120-seater located on the ground floor of the Lighthouse by Meriton in Dee Why. It boasts a big open kitchen, lots of reclaimed timber and recucled terracotta tiles and its signature woodfired pizza oven. And it's the chain's biggest venue yet. The pizzas are, of course, the hero here, and include house favourites like the Amatriciana — topped with smoked scamorza, amatriciana sauce, pancetta and pecorino — and the Tartufo, made with fior di latte, mushrooms, pecorino and truffle oil. A new (extravagant) signature sees house-made dough topped with Balmain Bugs, broad beans and 'nduja oil. There are gluten-free bases and dairy-free mozzarella up for grabs, too. With pizza must come pasta, and a standout is the tagliolini with blue swimmer crab, zucchini and chilli. Other Italian staples on offer include antipasti and cocktails. The latter includes a menu of signature spritzes, like the Garden (Hendricks, mint, rose and cucumber) and the Riviera Spritz (ruby red grapefruit aperitif, prosecco and soda). One of the cocktails better suited to later in the meal is the tiramisu martini — which is made with Frangelico and Sydney's own Mr Black coffee liqueur. Salt Meats Cheese's NSW expansion doesn't stop in the Northern Beaches, either — a seventh instalment is coming to a rooftop bar in Circular Quay in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Salt Meats Cheese Dee Why is now open at 882A Pittwater Road, Dee Why. It is open 11am–3pm and 5pm–9.30pm, daily.
It took 12 years for Mad Max: Fury Road to travel from concept to epic reality. And its creation was dependent on the most unorthodox of methods: a storyboard made up of 3,500 panels provided the script. Find out exactly what happened when writer-director George Miller catches up with co-writer and illustrator Brendan McCarthy and co-writer and dramaturge Nico Lathouris for a chat — with each other and the public. One of Graphic festival's headline events, Mad Max: Fury Road in conversation will take place in the Opera House Concert Hall on Sunday, October 11, at 1.45pm. It's a world premiere and Miller's only stage appearance in Australia during this visit. The trio will be discussing what inspired Mad Max's wasteland, and the challenges faced in getting their vision to screen, from overcoming major delays to a change of continents, as well as taking a look at unseen footage, designs and images.
There are as many ways to say “I love you” as there are ways to avoid saying it. We say it to friends, to family, to lovers and maybe even to the guy at the local pie shop when he lets you off $0.30 for those plastic packets of tomato sauce. We say it over Skype conversations and in text messages, we say it with chocolate, we say it with wine and we far too often say it because of wine. In the book and exhibition ‘Love is Here’ 35 artists say it with pictures, revealing their own creative and personal response to one of the world’s most overused phrases. Luckily, however, all of the works being exhibited are far more earnest and original than gifting a box of assorted chocolates or hiding a ring in a big hunk of cake. Those taking part in the exhibition include Daniel Angley, Rachael Baker, Ben and Jodi Churchward, Rach Burke, Tal Fitzpatrick, Erin Forsyth, Alice Kenny, Fee Harding and Jennifer Ho — who were shortlisted from all around Australia. And if you’re looking for another way to express your own feelings of adoration, whether they’re for your granny or your local pie guy, check out the accompanying book — it’s ‘perfect bound’ so the individual pages can be torn out and gifted.
As you may well know by now, museums aren't just for 19th century historical artefacts and giant dinosaur models anymore. They're also for food. Last year New York got a permanent Museum of Food and Drink, which joins a whole slew of weird and wonderful food museums, like Japan's instant ramen museum and the Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul. So it's surprising that, considering our total obsession with food, Australia does not have its own. But that's all set to change, with plans for a brand new institution dedicated to our food culture to be set up in Adelaide. The proposal comes from Adelaide City Council, who believe a culinary cultural centre could help both locals and international visitors learn about and experience Australia's multicultural food culture. Considering the city's proximity to world-class wineries and its own burgeoning food and bar scene, Adelaide — while nowhere near as big as Sydney or Melbourne — makes a good case for being the new centre's home. The project has the support of the State Government and other local cultural institutions, but discussions on what the centre would actually include and who would establish it are still taking place. We'll keep an eye on this one to see where it goes. Via ABC News.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia a couple of years back. If haven't made it along yet, Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. It's hardly surprising that taking the show on the road — that is, launching Bongo's Bingo Australia — went well. And now, it's hardly surprising that is's coming back for yet another round either. [caption id="attachment_638028" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dinosaur Designs.[/caption] Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. Bongo's Bingo heads to Luna Park's Big Top Sydney on Saturday, February 22.
Every year, on the last Saturday in March, Earth Hour focuses the world's attention on the planet via a vitally important symbolic gesture. Although carbon is saved by turning things off, the point is the unmissable demonstration — with a huge chunk of the world's population caring about the same thing at the same time. If we can manage this for Earth Hour, why not for grander environmental things? It all started in Sydney in 2007, and has become an international event in the years since, with hundreds of millions of people taking part in more than 7000 cities across over 180 countries. Of course, in 2020, things will be a bit different, with no out-of-home activities taking place — but Earth Hour is still asking everyone to join in by staying in the house and turning off the lights at 8.30pm AEDT on Saturday, March 28 (7.30pm AEST). While you're sitting in the dark, you can also live-stream a heap of performers thanks to Earth Hour Live, with Montaigne, Cody Simpson, Jack River, Polish Club, Bobby Alu, Ella Haber, Dulcie and Alice Skye all on the bill — and journalist Patrick Abboud on hosting duties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89ZegTD4buQ&feature=emb_logo And, although you won't be able to see them yourself, local and global landmarks and tourist spots such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, the Wheel of Brisbane, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, the Eiffel Tower, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Tokyo Skytree, Brandenburg Gate, the Colosseum in Rome, Taipei 101, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Ali Qapu Palace, the Akropolis and Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong are all getting into the Earth Hour spirit by switching their lights off for an hour, too. Images: Earth Hour 2019. Sydney. Luna Park, The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, photographed from Lavender Street, Lavender Bay. Photography by Quentin Jones. 30 March 2019. © Quentin Jones / WWF-Aus The Melbourne Star turns out its lights for Earth Hour 2018. © Alain Nguyen / WWF-Aus Story Bridge, Brisbane with lights switched off to celebrate 10 years of Earth Hour, Brisbane, 25 March 2017. © Anastasia Woolmington / WWF-Aus.
Juicy Banana is the latest brainchild of chefs Grace Chen (ex-Poly) and self-dubbed "Big" Sam Young (ex-Lotus). The Sunday-only lunchtime restaurant operates out of the old Storehouse at Vibe Hotel in Rushcutters Bay. Each weekend, the venue sees a new special guest chef who creates a one-off set menu for visitors to enjoy. The formula behind Juicy Banana's weekly shared-style menu is simple: if Young loves the food, and it's delicious — he'll serve it. This week's carefully crafted selections come from ex-Cho Cho San Head Chef, Max Smith. Smith has worked with the finest producers in Japan and local farmers to source the best possible produce. Using this produce, he's created a plentiful share menu that celebrates Japanese cuisine. Across the menu you'll find kingfish and salmon sashimi with yuzu and chilli dressing; ponzu, black garlic and horseradish raw beef; steamed mussels served with bacon dashi and crispy wonton; and umami potato scallop seasoned with seaweed sour cream and miso hot sauce. This is before the shared mains are even served, with this week's family-style share menu including koji roasted duck crown, glacier toothfish with XO don, spinach gomae and cold noodle salad. If you can actually fit anything else in after this Japanese feast, miso caramel cake will be served for dessert. Each week, the set menu at Juicy Banana ranges from $105–140, with this week's lunchtime special setting you back $108 per person. If this is a little out of your budget, Juicy Banana's bar is taking walk-ins and serving casual snacks with cocktails every Sunday. Drink options include a Basque-style old fashioned; a salted cucumber and habanero margarita; and a macerated strawberry spritz with dry sherry, Hendrick's gin, apple ribbon and dill. [caption id="attachment_811117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Juicy Banana, by Wesley Nel.[/caption]
Tuesday nights are Luk nights for the next ten weeks, as celebrated chef Chui Lee Luk undertakes a guest chef spot at Surry Hills' Italian eatery Berta. For the next couple of months, Luk will host a series of unique 'sagra' nights at Andrew Cibej's laneway establishment, a Berta tradition of delving into the Italian way of celebrating a single ingredient or method of cooking. Former owner and chef of Woollhara's long-loved Claude's and now-closed Surry Hills joint Chow Bar & Eating House, Luk is a big pull for Berta — the sister of fellow Italian-focused Sydney joints 121BC and Vini. Luk's newly-devised menu will see four courses not usually seen on the Berta menu, dishes that explore individual ingredients and preparation methods — from baccala (dried and salted cod) to goat, edible weeds to rabbit — in her signature Luk way. So what can you expect from Luk? The beloved Sydney-based chef is known for fusing different cultural cuisines and playing with age-old techniques, so don't expect straight-up Italian cooking. New menu adventures include beef short rib agrodolce (spices, honey and molasses), and raw kingfish, chillies, bottarga, colotura, and desserts including mariposa plum rice pudding, and sweet potato chocolate flan. Luk's 'sagra' nights are every Tuesday at Berta from February 10 through March 31. It's $55 per person for four courses. Pick your week from these delicious focus points: 10 February Baccala 17 February Goat 24 February Beans and other legumes 3 March Rice 10 March Potatoes 17 March Edible weeds 24 March Rabbit 31 March Lamb For more information and bookings head to www.berta.com.au or call (02) 9264 6133
Freedom Time — the free-spirited festival synonymous with balmy summer days, dance-fuelled nights and lush DJ sets — has been giving Melburnians good times for two years now, and it's gearing up for another huge summer season. And in 2018, it will drop by Sydney too. This time around, the Freedom Time gang are spreading the love even further, adding a January 7 visit to Sydney's Manning Bar and Gardens on top of the usual shows in Perth on New Year's Eve and at Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome on January 1. As always, the festival's gifting us with a diverse lineup of musical guests, assembling a mix of international greats and homegrown heroes that'll have you dancing your little feet off no matter your style. Headlining this eclectic bunch is famed Chicago house producer Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers), Jamaican dancehall legend Johnny Osbourne and an inter-generational collaborative effort from Leroy Burgess and Melbourne's own Harvey Sutherland. Meanwhile, Rhythm Section International's Bradley Zero will present a handpicked label showcase in each city, featuring a crop of local acts performing alongside modern soul duo, Silentjay and Jace XL. Sydney's lineup includes appearances from the likes of Simon Caldwell, Rimbombo and local producer Jonti. FREEDOM TIME 2018 LINEUP Larry Heard (aka Mr. Fingers) Leroy Burgess Harvey Sutherland Johnny Osbourne Sassy J Bradley Zero Nai Palm Jonti Freda & Jackson Ben Fester Simon Caldwell Boogie Monster Rimbombo SilentJay & Jace XL Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Jimmy Sing Love Bombs Mike Who Cazeaux Oslo
A wave of new omakase restaurants opening in Sydney is in full swing right now, with these set menu experiences now available at the likes of Sokyo, TOKO, Besuto, Bay Nine and Senpai Ramen, just to name a few. The latest outpost to arrive in Sydney with a 'leave it to the chef' mentality is Woo Wol, an omakase restaurant from the Jung Sung team that specialises in one cut of meat — wagyu beef. Lunch at Woo Wol consists of barbecue sets, bento boxes and a range of snacks ranging from fried dumplings to bibimbap. Come dinner, you can keep it simple with a barbecue platter featuring wagyu, pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables to enjoy in the main dining room or the al fresco area. These platters are available in a series of different sizes depending on how big your group is. There's also a $70 wagyu cake on the dinner menu, but if you want the full Woo Wol experience, you'll bypass all of this and head for the omakase kitchen. Here, you'll be treated to a 15-course set menu for $250. This lavish dining experience kicks off with spanner crab with egg custard, sea urchin and salmon roe. From there, just a few of the highlights include beef tartare with caviar, black truffle eel, an A5 wagyu cube roll and the sashimi of the day before you're given a lime cleanser and you move onto the centrepiece of your meal. Your omakase experience builds towards the chef performance barbecue where you'll be able to sample a variety of cuts of wagyu. This is accompanied by ban sang (small side dishes) which includes rice of the day, soup of the day and a variety of traditional sides. Whether you opt for barbecue or omakase, you can pair your meal with a glass of Floud of Suntory beer, Korean rice or raspberry wine, or your choice from the soju and spirits menu. These carefully curated selections include Jinro is Back retro soju if you're looking for something simple, grape or peach ChumChurum soju if you want to get sweet and fruity, or premium picks like the $55 JinMaek Wheat Soju and Han Chung Korean Cheongju sake. Woo Wol is located at Shop 7/6 Central Park Avenue, Chippendale. It's open for lunch Thursday–Sunday and dinner Monday–Sunday. Top image: Steven Woodburn
As far as names go, Sydney's latest festival doesn't boast the cheeriest: We're All Going to Die. Take that moniker as inspiration. Knowing that your time alive is limited, should you make the most of it? Forget "YOLO" and "life's too short", although they might sound appropriate. "Fear less, live more" is the fest's motto, and it has compiled the program to prove it, which will take over COMMUNE at Waterloo from 6pm on November 17. The brainchild of founder Stefan Hunt, based on his own anxieties, WAGTD has already been striking a chord before it even kicks off — raising $37,424 through crowdfunding in just three weeks. So, what does this morbid-meets-motivational concept (which has backing from Indigo Project psychologists) and all that support lead to? Opening up the conversation around fear and death via a cultural festival filled with art, music, films, meditation and panel discussions. With more than 50 local and international artists taking part — including the likes of Groove Therapy, RetroSweat and Triple J's Tom Tilley — attendees can expect chats with funeral directors, a rainbow hearse, dance-like-nobody's-watching sessions, gazing into the eyes of strangers, a range of tombstone-related art, a death-focused meditation class, and a 60-second film festival within the broader fest, focusing on topics like death, fear, judgement and life. Because that sounds like hungry and thirty work, there'll also be food and drinks from Mary's Burgers — including the 'We're All Going to Die Burger' — Young Henry's and Cake Wines.
Like some exploding parasite egg stash, the St Jerome Laneway Festival has outgrown its original venues and is busy spraying its seed into new hosts. Circular Quay just doesn't cut it anymore for the Sydney crowds, so now the SCA will be incubating a brilliant line-up amongst its sandstone, artists and asylum patients out in Rozelle. Oh god, the line-up for 2010 is good, with plenty of grit to differentiate this festival from the candy-glitter electro of most summer music bashes. Amongst the puking-good thrash of the Black Lips and Florence's lungasms is the wunderkind of outsider alternative, Daniel Johnston, who is shucking off the devil for his first Australian tour. And the local acts aren't to be forgotten either, such as Dappled Cities, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Danimals, who all seem to capture the perfect sonic embodiment of SCA's eclectic grounds.
What do you get when you put two globally celebrated, era-defining artists on stage together for an in-depth chat? Well, you'll have the chance to find out, when the legendary Patti Smith joins Aussie rocker Paul Kelly for a special Sydney Writers' Festival appearance at Sydney Town Hall. The pre-eminent pair come together on Wednesday, April 8, for a special event that sees the acclaimed lyricist and author dive deep into her backstory. With our own much-lauded wordsmith and poet Kelly as host, audiences are in for a compelling night of storytelling. Expect to gain a glimpse into Smith's dynamic life and career, which tracks back to her emergence in the 1970s New York arts scene. As well as chatting through her groundbreaking music and awarded writing, Smith will reflect on her most recent best-selling book Year of the Monkey, and the period of solitary cross-country travels and experiences that inspired it. General admission tickets are $55, which includes a copy of Year of the Monkey. You can then add on additional tickets for $30.
Save the date — this week, Sydney welcomes Melbourne-based artist Ash Keating for a live install of Gravity System Response, his first public project in Sydney. Keating has shown around Australia and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Victoria and in Tokyo, Seoul and Jogyakarta, but it's a rare chance to see him in action. Especially to watch his unique process of using the high-pressure force of fire extinguishers to spray paint metres into the air. Part outdoor mural, part performance art, Gravity System Response draws on Keating's background in graffiti, video, conceptual work and performance art to create "camouflage paintings" in response to the colours and energy of the space around them. The name of the work is a reference to the gravity effect of working with paint so high up. Keating plays with gradient and drips, making decisions on the fly as he lets the work "build itself". "The wall I'll be working with is this really thick, rocky aggregate, so it will be interesting to see how the paint responds to that surface," the artist said. "It will also be interesting working with the pressure of the fire extinguishers, capturing that explosive energy up against the wall." "Things happen quite organically and intuitively. I don't plan my work in advance; I like to do that in person as I'm working. It becomes about endurance, too." We asked Keating how he found his way into his current way of making work: "It started when I found a stack of abandoned fire extinguishers in an old warehouse in Melbourne," the artist said. "At the time I was doing a lot of works on walls I'd find on the city fringe. I wanted to find a way to create really big murals, abstractions, without getting tagged over." "Using fire extinguishers meant I could play with large, expressive, gestural mark-making on a whole new scale — in public places with these great vantage points, where I could connect with an audience the very next day." As well as an exploration of energy, abstraction, gravity and colour, Gravity System Response is a celebration of the place of art and public space in cities; it aims to support a vibrant, open city full of art, music and culture. The work is set to be a timely piece as Sydney debates how (and when and how late) we use public spaces and the role that art has to play in the life of a city. Keen to see it all come to life? It's been revealed it'll happen at The Domain, but keep an eye on the Facebook event to find out more details about the live-action artmaking taking place December 5–6 from 11am–2pm. This new work is presented by the City of Sydney's Art & About program and curated by Billie and Elliott Routledge of Funstudio, a Sydney-based arts agency that specialises in public art projects, brand collaborations and contemporary designs.
It's hard to believe, but it's four years now that Goodgod Small Club first started bringing its much-needed, eccentric, eclectic good times to the CBD. In the past twelve months alone, they've proved to be the favourite Sydney stage of the likes of Erykah Badu, Courtney Barnett and DMAs; started serving up killer feasts at recently-closed favourite, The Dip, and their new on-site Jonkanoo Canteen; and transformed the Opera House Studio into a psychedelic version of Tin Pan Alley. So, to celebrate their fourth birthday, they're putting on an epic shindig — as only Goodgod know how. That means, of course, a venue-consuming, all-night-long, convention-obliterating party — this time around themed 'Taking Care of Business'. At the centre of the action will be the Goodgod 'house band' presented by Siberia Records, and Alex Cameron (one-half of Seekae). You can also expect a parade of special guests including Ariane, Astral DJs, Champain Lyf, Drongo, Mike Who, Nacho Pop, Power Suit, Shantan Wantan Ichiban and Tyson Koh. And the dress code? Under the suave 'Taking Care of Business' theme, Goodgod wants to see you looking your public holiday schmickest, so they're asking for suits. Yep, suits. Sharpen up. "We're celebrating four years of success in the dog-eat-dog world of Sydney's Central Business District by suiting up for a massive full-venue party," says the Goodgod team. "The theme is business, and we've pulled the highlights out of the rolodex." We gathered the Goodgod crew together for a powerlunch pow-wow and asked them what they crank on the Bose speakers to amp them up for a goalkickin' day at the office. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dA2rI6HGb6E Tune: Bryan Ferry — 'Kiss and Tell' Spun by: Power Suit — "There's no better way to triple productivity and effectively synergize backward overflow than looking to the man in the suit himself, Bryan Ferry. Very few singers exude more business class, fewer songs still guarantee a classier business — or my DJ name isn't Power Suit." https://youtube.com/watch?v=TqLZZ1jVTR8 Tune: Warren Zevon — 'Nighttime In The Switching Yard' Spun by: Alex Cameron (Seekae) — "My sax player Roy works the trams and this fires us right the flip up for making money." https://youtube.com/watch?v=eubhg1gTyj8 Tune: Taco — 'Puttin' On The Ritz' Spun by: Ariane —"I like to aim high." https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZoAATtUmvUs Tune: Bileo — 'You Can Win' Spun by: Drongo — "What does a Drongo need when suiting up for business? A little positive reinforcement goes a long way, it's a dog eat dog world. You can do it! You can win!" https://youtube.com/watch?v=zVN8aFfp3S4 Tune: Will Powers — 'Adventures In Success' Spun by: Julian Sudek (The Goodgod House Band) — "Will Powers gets you the biggest chair in the boardroom." https://youtube.com/watch?v=womWmBIveII Tune: Nate Dogg — 'My Money' Spun by: Mike Who https://youtube.com/watch?v=xbXvdJF-1U8 Tune: Issac Hayes — 'Shaft Theme' Spun by: Shantan Wantan Ichiban https://youtube.com/watch?v=XA7waQo--QA Tune: LOGO — 'Businessmen' (12'' Version) Spun by: Tyson Koh — "HEAD UP TO THE 50th FLOOR I'LL MAKE YOU A NASDAIQUIRI." Woah there. Now you're all suited up with these tunes, you're ready to take care of business. Let's delve into a... CHAMPAIN LYF SPECIAL QUITTIN' TIME BLITZ: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n-2j9ZqCtt0 Tune: Stush — 'Dollar Sign' Spun by: Adrian E (Champain Lyf) — "You've got to work it hard to make dem dollar signs appear." https://youtube.com/watch?v=wxVEf8sg3dg Tune: Ramsey & Fen — 'Style' (Original Vocal Mix) Spun by: Danny Banger (Champain Lyf) — "Champain stylin', it's for every occasion... even if it's not, it actually is." https://youtube.com/watch?v=NF1cv3uFqn8 Tune:Dom Perignon & Dynamite — 'Got Myself (Together)' Spun by: Jon Watts (Champain Lyf) — "Get it together, serious negotiation swing." https://youtube.com/watch?v=qy1VF41blSo Tune: Ross Young Feat R.B — Smooth Operator Spun by: Drongo (Champain Lyf) — "Champain lyf suit and tie tips." Suit up for Goodgod's fourth birthday this Sunday, October 5. Tickets on the door at $10 and doors from 9pm. Look sharp. Words by Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
If anything is going to lure us towards the beach in the middle of winter, it's a cracking feast of locally-sourced, sustainable seafood. That's exactly how Arthur's Oysters and Seafood will tempt punters across town when it opens its doors in Manly on Tuesday, August 1. Helmed by Scottish Rising Star Chef of the Year, Jason Wright (Kittyhawk), the Pittwater Road newbie is promising an on trend eatery, with the space pitched somewhere between a fish and chips shop and an upscale diner. The decor is a nod to the era of its namesake, Governor Arthur Phillip, who founded the British penal colony that later became Sydney. A dedicated oyster bar will be shucking molluscs to order, to sit alongside a share-friendly menu of thought-provoking, innovative dishes. The motto here is 'life's too short for sad seafood', so expect a celebration of top Aussie produce using clever techniques, like fried oyster with steak tartare and horseradish chips; macadamia prawns teamed with freeze dried lychee and artichoke puree; and an amped-up riff on PB&J for dessert. On hand to wash it down is a short-but-sweet drinks selection, including six Hunter Valley wines on rotation and an oft-changing range of small-batch beers from breweries like Tiny Rebel and Nomad. Arthur's Oysters and Seafood opens on August 1 at 46 Pittwater Rd, Manly.
Think you're a bit of a curd nerd? Or do you find yourself regularly looking up words on a pizza menu to discover, once again, it's just another type of cheese. Whether you know the difference between pecorino and parmesan or feel like a fromage fool, we've got an at-home sampling session that is guaranteed to please. On Thursday, September 16 and September 23, Milawa Cheese Company is running cheese-fuelled masterclasses, and bringing a taste of Victoria's Alpine region to your house. For $85, you'll join an interactive at-home cheese tasting class with executive cheesemaker, Cameron Rowan. Throughout the session, Rowan will help you brush up on your cheese knowledge as he guides you through samples of four of his favourite fromages. He'll give you insight into what makes a washed rind, explain why a good cheddar can be crunchy and tell you what it really means to make cheese by hand. To make sure you've got all the goods, Milawa Cheese Company will send you a supply pack loaded with cheese straight from its maturing rooms, as well as tasting note information and a cooler bag for your next outdoor cheese adventure. All you need to round up is some bread or crackers and a delicious drink to complete the experience. Want to expand your grab-bag of cheese vocab? Talk and Taste with Milawa Cheese will kick off at 5pm on September 16 and September 23. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Cowboys, bucking bulls, flying mud: think of a rodeo, and all three come to mind. Setting Neon Bull in the thick of the Brazilian circuit, writer-director Gabriel Mascaro knows this. In fact, he invites it. With audiences' heads initially filled with the stereotypical sights and sounds that many an American movie has reinforced, he revels in revealing something different. Scene by scene, he immerses viewers in a version of the sport known as vaquejada, as well as the world that exists beyond the usual hats, boots, and attempts at grabbing cattle. In the process, he introduces us to the often overlooked people lurking behind the scenes. For Iremar (Juliano Cazarré), it's a modest existence as well as a tough one, with two dreams enlivening his otherwise routine days of transporting animals and chalking the bulls' tails before they enter the ring. Whenever and however he can, he bides his time through fashion — drawing outfits onto the naked women in the magazines his co-worker Zé (Carlos Pessoa) covets, and making costumes for their driver Galega (Maeve Jinkings) to wear when she moonlights as a dancer. With Zé, he also schemes to steal a prized horse's semen. Neon Bull isn't a quirky caper, as much as it might sound like it. Indeed, with scenes of Galega shimmying in the dark while wearing a giant horse mask, a subplot involving another worker's obsession with straightening his long locks, and yet another involving breaking into a textile factory, the film could easily be treated as a comedy. Mascaro doesn't avoid laughs, but rather than emphasise the humor, he lets any chuckles spring naturally and honestly. His characters and their lives are filled with lived-in eccentricity; all he and Cemetery of Splendour cinematographer Diego Garcia need to do is watch. Episodic and observational, it's the kind of approach a documentarian would take, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that most of Mascaro's career has been spent making factual films. As a result, although he's working with actors and there's never any doubt that his movie is fictional, even the most surreal and fanciful of sequences feel real. Galega's young daughter Cacá (lyne Santana) perhaps illustrates this best. Looking on with wide eyes, she's fascinated with Iremar, yet accepts everything ordinary and unusual that she sees. Here, in the heat and the dust, with the people who have become her makeshift family, that's just the way things are. Commentary about the film's country of origin shades Neon Bull's frames. Iremar and his pals show that life is changing in the rodeo realm, just as it is in broader Brazil. The movie also investigates the link between those who walk on two legs and those who walk on four. We care for, corral and try to conquer these animals, yet the film shows that in a lot of ways we're really not all that different. Laced with empathy, insight and more than a few narrative, visual and emotional surprises, Neon Bull proves a winner.
Two of Sydney's favourite activities have come together at a new winter pop-up — glamping and boozy feasting. Surry Hills' The Winery has introduced a limited-time winter glamping area to its idyllic al fresco dining space, and while you won't be staying the night, you will get to indulge in a private getaway for a couple of hours. Visitors to the venue can hire out their own private glamping tent fitted out with tables, rugs, blankets and cushions for an intimate dining experience for them and their friends. Available for groups of up to eight, the tents are available for $55pp which includes a three-course tasting menu for the group. The degustation starts with a platter of cheese and charcuterie. From there, you'll be treated to wagyu beef sliders, smoked Andouille sausages and flash-fried chat potatoes with chimichurri, before the feast is finished off with s'mores. You can then add seasonal drinks to the menu for an additional $29 a head. Take your pick from the winter cocktails including mulled wine, mulled cider, a hot toddy and a spiked hot chocolate to begin. From there you'll be cheers-ing with a choice of beer and wine before rounding things out with an espresso martini to pair with your s'more. Bookings are available from midday each day. If you want to bring your four-legged companions, the tents are dog-friendly and you can add catering for your pup in the form of a bark-uterie board for $12. Plus, there are options for families with kids packages available for an additional $15 — and date nights that couples can book for $240. If you want to escape the world for a few hours, head to The Winery's website to book your spot.
After 2009's piss-poor X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this latest instalment (now the sixth for Hugh Jackman's indestructible mutant) really didn't have a whole lot to live up to. That meant director James Mangold (Walk the Line) could take the story wherever he wanted, and it turns out, he wanted Tokyo. The Wolverine hence takes its plot from one of the character's better known comic book series, 'Wolverine', written by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller all the way back in 1982. It opens with a surprisingly unsettling scene just minutes before the bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, with Logan (Jackman) trapped nearby inside a Japanese POW camp. As the blast-wave spreads, he manages to save his captor's life and sets in motion a chain of events that will see the pair reunited decades later. That surviving soldier — now an elderly billionaire obsessed with his legacy — summons Logan to his deathbed in Tokyo. He craves Logan's healing powers whilst promising in return the one thing Logan can never have: death. "This is my gift, my curse" said Tobey Maguire's Spiderman back in 2002, enunciating the most compelling theme that underscores all good superhero stories. For Logan, immortality is now his torment, but he is not alone in his suffering. His Harajuku-girl escort, Yukio (Rila Fukushima), possesses the ability to foretell a person's death; a mutation that imbues her with a truly haunted existence and makes her character both tragic and engaging. Sadly, she's under-utilised by Mangold, and the only other mutant of note in the film is a statuesque blond known as Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova), whose reptilian mutation is as forgettable as her scenes. Perhaps it's Mangold's background in drama, but the action in The Wolverine was remarkably dull, save for one entertaining sequence on the roof of a bullet train. The problem is, so long as Logan is invincible, the stakes sit at zero, yet when he's vulnerable, he loses the one thing that makes him interesting. By contrast, the quiet, intimate scenes in The Wolverine were much more enjoyable, effectively taking the Wolverine out of the movie and focusing on the man, Logan. And that's what it all boils down to: the Wolverine is a classic loner, a gruff recluse favouring the company of his own haunted memories to that of any other humans, mutant or otherwise. Throughout this franchise he has actively rejected the 'team' and only ever begrudgingly formed unions when circumstances required it. And yet, he is almost certainly that franchise's most popular character. His charmlessness is, in effect, his charm; however, the problem with movies focusing just on him is that his loner persona plays best as part of a wider ensemble. He is never more appealing than when sparring with other X-Men because it gives his isolation context. The promotional material for The Wolverine describes it as "The Wolverine movie fans have been waiting for", and certainly that is factually accurate, since it is the only Wolverine movie currently in cinemas, and until it came out, fans had to wait for it. But was it the one they'd been hoping for? Doubtful; however, if they stay beyond the credits, they'll find good cause to be excited about the next one: X-Men: Days of Future Past. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WEbzZP-_Ssc
Food is usually the gift you give when you can't think of anything else. Come on, it's true. However, anyone getting their dad Gelato Messina's latest special Father's Day creation can't be accused of that. Given that the gelato wizards are pumping out VHS tape-shaped, Negroni-flavoured gelato cakes, wanting to eat it before Dad can is understandable. Their limited-edition offering, which is completely made out of gelato and chocolate, and is entirely edible. Well, the choc-orange flavoured cake layered with vermouth gelato (!), almond crunch, more choc-orange cake and Negroni gel (made with Archie Rose gin and blood orange mousse) is — and the edible VHS chocolate top layer as well. Best not to take a bite out of the box it comes in, though. Kids of the '80s and '90s, if you're having flashbacks about accidentally sticking food into your parents' video player when you were too young to know better, you're not alone (you're not alone). And yes, that's a good enough reason to get a cake. These memory-jogging sweet treats serve six to eight people, and will be available from Messina's Bondi, Darlinghurst, Miranda, Parramatta, Rosebery and Penrith stores in Sydney, Fitzroy and Windsor digs in Melbourne, and South Brisbane. As is always the case with their creative concoctions, they're certain to get snapped up fast, so ordering one asap is recommended. You'll have to wait until September 3 to eat it, so enjoy this GIF of the cake:
If you've been languishing in the absence of Goodgod, here's your chance to get that basement mojo working again. The Goodgod folks are back. And they've just announced their first move: a reassembling at the Opera House during Vivid LIVE for a four-night extravaganza, happening over two weekends. Dubbed Goodgod Super Club, the event will take over the Studio, turning it into the nightclub of Goodgod's dreams. Every evening, a genre-smashing, powerhouse DJ will team up with a like-minded Aussie for extended sets, designed to make you dance until you're free. "For decades people have gone to nightclubs to dance their troubles away," said Goodgod's Jimmy Sing. "But nowadays it feels that clubs are rarely designed with that dancefloor experience and its liberating potential in mind. So that's what Goodgod Super Club's purpose will be — a seriously incredible dancefloor journey." Opening proceedings on Friday, May 27 will be Simon Caldwell (Mad Racket) and Bradley Zero, who hails from Peckham in the UK. If you've checked out the Boiler Room, listened to NTS Radio or ever made it to a Rhythm Section pool hall party, you'll be familiar with this underground dance hero. Get grimy when Mike Who (Astral People, FBI Radio) and Oneman (aka Steve Bishop) hit the decks on Saturday, May 28. Oneman has built a major following on the back of his flawless mixing of grime, old-school UK garage, DMZ-era dubstep and Atlanta's purple haze rap. Just a handful of the names he's played sessions with are Major Lazer, SBTRKT, Jamie xx, Jackmaster and Ben UFO. After a week's rest, you'll be hankering to get back into the action. Magda Bytnerowicz (4our) and Kyle Hall (Wild Oats) are your hosts on Friday, June 3. Hall, who comes from Detroit, is the progeny of techno's second wave pioneers: Omar-S, Theo Parrish and Carl Craig, and his latest album, Joy, is an homage to the Motor City. By way of grand finale, Chanel (LOW TON) will be arriving on Saturday, June 4, alongside New Yorker Joey LaBeija and Brooklyn rapper Junglepussy. LaBeija's album Shattered Dreams has featured in the world's leading galleries, including MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum. His relentless creative mix is a mashup of ballroom, rap, Rihanna and reggaeton, underpinned with addictive percussion. Tix go on sale on Wednesday 23 March at 9am. Get your mitts on them over here or by calling (02) 9250 7777.
Sydney lovers of slick contemporary design, listen up. Sydney is getting its very own Monocle Shop, albeit in pop-up form. Launching at The Stables in Surry Hills next weekend, it's the second time the impossibly dapper brand has taken up a temporary address in Australia; after a similar pop-up in Brisbane’s Scrumptious Reads last year. If that venture was anything to go by, put aside your money now. After beginning life as a global affairs and lifestyle magazine before spinning off into the world of radio, retail and even coffee, Monocle currently owns stores in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, Singapore and New York. Here, the brand sells must-have products designed to make you look roughly one thousand percent cooler — luxury travel luggage, designer furniture and high-end fashion. Basically, it’s where you want to direct all of your wealthiest friends about a week before your birthday. The Sydney pop-up appears to have been strategically timed to coincide with Vivid Sydney 2015, where Monocle founder and international man of mystery Tyler Brule will appear as part of the Vivid Ideas Game Changers series, which features talks by leaders in global creative industries. No word on exactly what items the Sydney store will be selling, although we’ve got a wish list that’s about three miles long. The pop-up opens on Sunday, May 24, and will run until Sunday, June 21. Image: Monocle, New York.
Navigating the early morning, peak hour commute via train can only be made bearable by one thing. Coffee. Just a groggy stumble up the escalators of Wynyard Station is a caffeinated light at the end of the tunnel: York Lane. Taking the name of the laneway it sits on, York Lane provides everything you need to wipe the sleep out of your eyes in the AM right through to your night-time Negroni. The breakfast menu has all the usual suspects, Shukshuka baked eggs ($12), corn fritters ($10.80) and eggs on toast ($8.50). For empty stomachs there's the gluttonous Kerry Packer's breakfast; eggs, tomato, bacon, sausage and mushroom with toast ($17) will fix you right up. Takeaway specials are also available and the toast and coffee combo ($5.50) is a quick and cheap choice for those who hit the snooze button three too many times. After dark York Lane transforms into a trend setter's bar all set to whet your whistle after a tough day at the office. The wine list is small but varied and the list of craft beers will entice both hipsters and beer snobs alike. If you need something with a little more edge, there's a short cocktail list including the classic Negroni ($16) and the refreshing Dark and Stormy ($12). Nibble on something from the tapas menu with Asian flavours such as duck pancakes ($12) or crispy pork belly ($12) or European favourites like the antipasto platter ($22) or cheese-stuffed polenta rounds ($10). With a capacity of just 30 people, York Lane also offers itself as an intimate nook for a small function. The multi-level wooden interior is the perfect platform for the occasional live music featured. Otherwise vinyl records play all the classic crooners and the beautiful wooden lamps, 70s style tiling and warm, eclectic interior, transport you to a vibrant, vintage world. The concrete jungle you've just escaped will remain miles away for the entirety of your visit. York Lane is just the place to rectify your early morning blues with decent coffee and easy brekkie. And of an evening you'll replace the caffeine for some well deserved booze. Just do it.
Four years ago, legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Fleetwood Mac toured Australia with Christine McVie, who'd just rejoined the band after a 16-year absence. This year, when the British-American group tours the country, the lineup will look a little different. Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, John McVie and Christine McVie will be joined on stage in August by Crowded House frontman Neil Finn and Mike Campbell, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with Lindsey Buckingham controversially axed from the band early last year. Despite the switch-up — it's not the band's first personnel change, and probably won't be its last — the band will be performing all its biggest hits, from 'Dreams' to 'The Chain' and 'Go Your Own Way'. The six will head to Australia's west coast first, hitting up Perth on August 9, before flying east to perform shows across the east coast — with one show in Brissie, and two in Sydney and Melbourne. Fleetwood Mac is one of the world's best-selling bands, selling in excess of 100 million albums worldwide, with the album Rumours one of the best-selling of all time. Their Aussie tour follows the band's 50-show tour of the US. FLEETWOOD MAC 2019 TOUR DATES Perth — RAC Arena, August 9 Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, August 20 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, August 27 and 29 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, September 2 and 4 Fleetwood Mac pre-sale tickets are available from midday (local time) on Thursday, January 24, 2019, with general on-sale is at midday (local time) in Sydney and Perth, and 1pm in Melbourne and Brisbane, on Friday, January 25, through Live Nation.
Australia's undying love of gin is set to be front-and-centre this December when the Christmas edition of the Sydney Gin Palooza returns. Hosted by the Australian Gin Distillers Association and headed to the International Convention Centre for the first time in 2020, the two-day festival will bring 41 craft gin distillers from around the country under one roof between Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5. Apart from gin tastings, punters will also have the chance to chat directly with the makers. Stallholders will be hawking over 200 gins, including Never Never, Distillery Botanica, Manly Spirits and Barossa Distilling Co, with many of them showing off their limited-edition Christmas gins. You can try your favourite gin(s) in a G&T, then head over to the gin shop, where you can purchase bottles for takeaway. Tickets cost $60, with three three-hour tasting sessions to choose from: 5.30pm on Friday, or 1pm and 5.30pm on Saturday. If you're short on time, or money, there's also a two-hour $40 session running from 2–4pm on Friday. With COVID-19 very much still a part of Sydney life, expect the Gin Palooza to run a little differently to normal, with limited capacities social-distancing.
