With spring just a few days away, famed Aussie chef Matt Moran is transforming his much-loved Woollahra restaurant into a blossoming oasis. It's only fitting that Chiswick's glasshouse-inspired space should come alive during spring. And it's doing so with a dedicated G&T garden and a special masterclass schedule to boot. That G&T garden will launch in the new communal bar area on Wednesday, September 2. It'll offer a seasonal snack menu alongside Bombay Sapphire cocktails created by hospitality legend Ed Loveday (Prince of York, Bar Brosé, Acme). Think tangerine and rosemary spritzes ($20) paired with cheddar and kumquat crostinis ($14), or an elderflower tom collins ($22) matched with house-made ricotta ($10). The classic gin and tonic ($14) will also get a seasonal touch up with four different tonics and 12 garnishes to choose from — including lemon myrtle, nasturtium flower, rhubarb and pineapple sage. You'll also be welcomed into the Chiswick kitchen garden for the first time during three different masterclasses. These include a cooking class with Moran and Chiswick Head Chef Francois Poulard, with each ticket including a cocktail, three dishes and a takeaway produce bag. Other masterclasses include gardening with Chiswick Horticulturalist Peter Hatfield and a G&T class with Bombay Sapphire's Loy Catada. The kitchen garden produce will also be used in the restaurant's new a la carte and bar menus, with slow roasted lamb shoulder, globe artichokes with asparagus and roasted chooks all on the docket.
To anyone who's ever seen a boy band struggle to croon over the screams of an enraptured crowd, the energy from the adolescent girls losing their minds would seem enough to solve the looming global energy crisis. Is it clean? Not always. But there are 60 years worth of gig footage — from The Beatles to One Direction — that classifies this energy as renewable. Belvoir's latest show, Fangirls, is a musical that peeks into the poster-plastered bedroom and love-heart-emblazoned diary of teen girl fandom. It's a celebration of the time in your life when you're convinced the haircuts of a pop group may well bring civilisation to its knees. It's witty and fun, sure. But writer, lyricist and performer Yve Blake also probes an insidious double standard: "When boys cry at the footy, that's the love of the game. When girls cry at a Justin Bieber concert, that's pathetic." Through protagonist Edna, a city girl conspiring to confess her undying love to True Connection frontman Harry, Fangirls also examines the sorts of messages sold to young women as well as the power of the modern fan. In the age of the internet, pubescent devotees are a coveted market, but they are also the new talent scouts, organising online to confer godhood on anybody playing acoustic guitar in their bedroom, rhyming 'your face' with 'gotta get out of this place'. Fangirls is boppy and sugary in spades. But it also asks you to spare a thought for those crying, screaming and full of joy in the front row. They're going through a hugely transformative time. And, they may be the ones keeping your lights on in years to come. Fangirls is a Belvoir St Theatre co-production with Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People. It is showing from October 12–November 10. For tickets, head here.
It was a sad day when Gastro Park closed its doors, and an even sadder day when Grant King's next restaurant in the space, Antipodean, closed after less than a year in operation. After being vacant for over a year, the Potts Point digs have finally been snatched up by chef and hospitality veteran Opel Khan, who has just opened French restaurant Métisse in the Roslyn Street corner spot. In French, Métisse means "mixed race", a nod to the way the menu blends cuisines and cultures. Khan has Bangladeshi Australian background and was classically trained in France. And he's signed on a team of all-French chefs in the kitchen. These include head chef Benoit Lollichon (from the three-Michelin starred Guy Savoy restaurant) and Khan's 19-year-old daughter Lucinda Khan as sous chef. Khan is no newcomer to the restaurant industry either, having managed and owned 15 Australian restaurants, including the now-closed Surry Hills' French-Indian resto Guru and Beluga. At Métisse, diners can taste fine-dining French fare without the completely out-of-control prices. All entrées are priced at $18, all sides (including truffled mash) at $10 and mains at $28. Expect beef tartare crostini prepared tableside; foie gras parfait served with brioche and air-dried beetroot 'snow'; and butter and saffron poached salmon with asparagus. A house specialty is the duck a l'orange — layers of crispy duck confit, potato and caramelised orange sauce, paired with a pure gold-dusted quail egg. Try the lot with the five course degustation dinner, which includes paired wines for a pretty reasonable $100 (and also comes with a vego option). These set menus will be available every night, and exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays. Metisse is now open at 5–9 Roslyn Street, Potts Point. It's open from 5pm–midnight, Tuesday–Sunday.
With the sun shining and everything looking just a little bit more beautiful, spring is the perfect time to head out for a day of gallery hopping around Sydney's many galleries. There are plenty of exhibitions currently showing — or set to open in the next couple of months — covering everything from award-winning photography to an immersive Van Gogh exhibition. Here are eight of the best.
The organisers of the Antenna Documentary Film Festival have revealed their latest program, including a timely opening night film about a group of Syrian refugees — and the attempts of Good Samaritans to help get them to safety. Sydney's annual documentary film festival will commence on October 13 with the Australian premiere of On the Bride's Side. An Italian/Palestinian co-production, the film follows a small team of Milanese journalists and activists who orchestrate a fake wedding party in order to smuggle their Syrian and Palestinian refugee friends thousands of kilometres across Europe – risking arrest and imprisonment in the process. The documentary has already screened at a number of festivals including the Venice International Film Festival and HotDocs in Toronto, where it received critical praise for bringing "a more personal perspective" to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. As the heartbreaking images of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi recently showed, putting a human face onto these kinds of tragedies can have a huge impact on public and political discourse. Perhaps we should be lobbying for certain members of the government to attend the screening. In addition to On the Bride's Side, this year's Antenna will include a number of high-profile and critically acclaimed documentaries. Made with the participation of legendary actor David Gulpilil, Molly Reynolds' Another Country explores the ongoing conflict between Indigenous communities and government policy, while Danish documentary Warriors from the North probes the growing trend of young Western Muslims joining jihadist groups overseas. Also from Denmark, albeit slightly less sombre, comes Michael Madsen's The Visit, which ponders the likely human response to a visit from extraterrestrial life. We're also particularly excited to check out B-Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin, about the eponymous city's vibrant music scene during the 1980s, as well as environmental activism doco Racing Extinction, from the Oscar-winning director of The Cove.
Ici et la have been sourcing antique French objets de charme since they started out as a stall at the Sydney Antique Centre in 2001. Stepping into their current Surry Hills showroom is like entering a Gallic wonderland from bygone days — it's full of items sure to add un peu de je ne sais quoi to your home decoration. Imagine sunning yourself in one of their classic primary-hued deckchairs on the white sands of the Cote d'Azur circa 1950, or swanning around a Parisian apartment decked out in their gilded mirrors and elegant writing desks, champagne flute in hand and sense of existential ennui impending. Allons-y!
The Australian Design Centre is pulling together a crew of LGBTQIA+ creatives for a lively makers market on Sunday, February 26. Popping up at Palmer Street between William Street and Stanley Street in Darlinghurst as part of WorldPride, the free market will boast stalls offering everything from clothing and jewellery to art, ceramics and dog accessories. Wander through the line of stalls and pick up beautiful linen tea towels from Outer Island or have your pick of gorgeous ceramic creations from Ebo Ceramics, Baggesbruk and Claypool (whose Pride store will be known as Gaypool by Claypool). Then there's jewellery and belt bags from Sovereign Collection, nostalgic art courtesy of Amy Blue Illustrations and accessories from textiles and performance artist Luke George. Luke George is also one of the artists on display as part of two textile exhibitions — Unravelling Queerly and Chili Philly's Crochet Social 2023 — that you can explore at the Australian Design Centre during your shopping stint at the Queer Mart. The market will kick off at 10am and run until 3pm, but you'll want to get down reasonably early so you don't miss out on the cream of the creative crop.
New experiences, new challenges, new collaborations: for people and organisations alike, no one should ever stop notching up firsts. In 2024, for instance, Bangarra Dance Theatre unveiled its first-ever mainstage cross-cultural collaboration after more than three decades of existence, with Horizon adding tales from across Oceania to the iconic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company's remit. In 2025, the organisation is backing that up with another history-making production, Illume, which is Bangarra's first-ever visual arts collab. Hosting its world-premiere season at the Sydney Opera House from Wednesday, June 4–Saturday, June 14, 2025, Illume sees Bangarra's Artistic Director Frances Rings team up with Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Featuring dance, visual arts and music, the end result focuses on light — and takes inspiration Sibosado's Bard – Bardi Jawi Country. Think of it as the next best way to experience being there. Why has light proven so pivotal in Indigenous culture? Why is it considered a connection between physical and spiritual worlds? What impact does artificial light pollution have upon the land and sky, and how does it affect First Nations people's links to sky country, celestial knowledge and skylore? These questions are all at the heart of Illume. Although every Bangarra production is stunning, it's easy to see why this kaleidoscopic addition to the dance theatre's repertoire is set to wow, all while also contemplating the climate crisis. In the Harbour City, it's taking over the Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre stage, moving Bangarra's shows to a bigger space after two decades in the venue's Drama Theatre. Images: Daniel Boud.
Back in May, Quay Quarter Lanes officially opened, boasting twelve new restaurants and bars. Among the exciting new additions to Sydney's hospitality scene was Zini, a gelateria from charming dessert enthusiast Matteo Zini. While the shop nails classic Italian flavours, it doesn't shy away from trying to do things a little differently. The gelato is created right in front of you in an old-school vertical Cattabriga machine, yuzu sake gelato is continually being churned out for neighbouring Omakase restaurant Besuto, and there are regular gelato degustations for those that want to dive into different sides of gelato. Following a successful vegan degustation, Zini's next variation will focus on truffles. Attendees will be able to taste their way through Matteo's range of truffle-heavy recipes and flavour creations. The four gelatos are a yolk-based custard gelato with truffle shavings, a portabello mushroom and truffle gelato, pecorino cheese gelato topped with truffles and a white chocolate, truffle and pistachio creation. Tickets are $52 and include a coffee to perk you up on arrival, a guided tour through the flavours with Matteo himself and a take-home tub containing all four of the limited-edition gelato creations.
Stories of Love and Hate draws upon a fairly unpleasant event in Australia's recent past. The Cronulla Riots in 2005 saw a crowd of mostly white young men take to the streets with violent passion to reclaim the beach from those of Middle Eastern appearance. Instead of dismissing it as an unfortunate act of racism, director Roslyn Oades has attempted to understand what, but more importantly, why the riots occurred. The play, developed by Sydney's Urban Theatre Projects, the Bankstown-based company renowned for presenting gritty stories of contemporary Australian life, weaves together personal stories about the often tenuous bonds that hold us together and how easily they can begin to fall apart. More importantly, it considers the idea that hate is a consequence of feeling the things we love most are under threat. The piece was created through two years of research alongside those affected by the riots from Bankstown and the Sutherland Shire. Rather than reiterating media hype or erring on the side of judgment, the project attempts to grasp the issues from firsthand accounts, with just the right amount of humour to make you appreciate things without wringing your hands in a fit of communal cultural guilt. Presented by the Sydney Theatre Company as part of it's education series, the play uses a technique they're dubbing 'Headphone Verbatim', where the actors wear headphones and recite their lines in accordance with a carefully edited audio script, channelling multiple characters, to recreate every cough, tic, stumble and inarticulation of authentic human communication.
Adelaide Hills gin distillery Applewood wants to help brighten up your time spent inside with a boozy gift: a free Quarantini. If you're yet to hear of this magical creation, here's a quick breakdown: it's a martini cocktail, drank in quarantine. While many Australians aren't quite in quarantine, some are self-isolating and everyone is social distancing and encouraged to only leave the house when it's absolutely necessary. So, a martini can't hurt. Especially when it's free. Applewood has bottled up 1000 200-millimetre bottles of pre-batched martini made with its famed gin, and is giving them away to the first 1000 people who sign up to its mailing list over here, before Wednesday, April 15. If you're one of the first, all you need to do is cover the $10 flat-rate postage fee and it'll arrive at your doorstep. The giveaway is only available to Australian residents over 18 years of age. If you miss out on the free Quarantini, Applewood Distillery has a lot of other fun tricks up its sleeves. As well as selling its usual tasty gins, liqueurs and limoncello, it has Isolation Gin Packs (for $199.99) and Espresso Martini Packs ($110). And it's running nightly Digital Happy Hours where you can learn to make your own Quarantinis and chat about all things gin with Brand Ambassador Henry Hammersla. To win a Quarantini, you'll need to be one of the first 1000 people to sign up to the Applewood Distillery newsletter before April 15.
Sydney's annual festival of lights isn't just a feast for the eyes. From barbecue pitmasters to Michelin-starred chefs, Vivid's mouthwatering food program brings together culinary talent from around the world, cooking up inspiring menus that push boundaries and supercharge the senses. We've handpicked the top gastronomic experiences to tuck into during this year's fest, whether you're in search of a quick refuel while out exploring the Vivid Light Walk or you're craving a one-of-a-kind meal you'll remember for years to come. We hope you're hungry.
Attention flower children and psychedelic rockers: prepare to lose your minds. Perth-based rockers Pond are coming to Sydney to deliver you a night of hallucinogenic head banging. The group (who claim to have been ‘born under a mulberry tree in Danglish’) is part of the Western Australian rock scene home to the likes of Tame Impala, The Silents, and These Ship Wreks. Garnering attention from Stereogum and The New York Times, Pond shined on the stages at South by Southwest in 2012 with their tunes from Beard, Wives, Denim. Their fifth studio album, Hobo Rocket, was released at the end of the past winter, and ready to be performed live on their Australian tour this summer. Hear (and see) for yourself what the hype is all about; it’s sure to be a mind-numbing experience.
Water Polo by the Sea, a highlight of the sporting/social/summer calendar, will return to Bondi Icebergs this January. Come watch our Aussie Sharks — including Olympians Rhys Howden, Richie Campbell, Billy Miller and Johnno Cotterill and Aaron Younger — as they take on the International All Stars in what’s sure to be a fantastic match. This is no normal sporting game. The event is an opportunity to meet the players, mingle with VIPs, extend the summer holiday vibe and sip cocktails (served by shirtless athletes) against the stunning backdrop of Bondi Icebergs. Gates open at 3.30pm, and the game is on from 4-5.30pm. The marquee stays open until 7.30pm.
Have a field day and show 2014 who’s boss with a New Year's Day marked by dehydration, selfies and shared sweat from a mosh pit. Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Flume, Solange, The Wombats, London Grammar, Ta-ku, Hermitude, Chet Faker and Flight Facilities will be playing into the night at the Domain event. Neatly tucked between the city and the Botanical Gardens, Field Day is one of the best for New Year's Day. So make use of your public holiday and put your hangover on the backburner.
At the moment, you and I can't go visit an Australian aquarium or zoo, as they're temporarily closed in a bid to contain COVID-19. But, the animals still need to be fed, the tanks cleaned and the littl'uns cared for. So, staff at Sea Life Sydney have made the most of the lack of visitors and taken some very special furry guests along for a day. And, yes, we've got the adorable photos to prove it. Earlier this week, Sea Life's animal care team brought in their pet pooches to help them around the aquarium. Some of the tasks performed by the four-legged workers included feeding the resident sharks, dugong, penguins and fish; auditing the aquarium website; modelling merch; and attempting to send emails. As well as just general observation. Very important. Ned, a golden labrador, did a lot of the latter. And looked very happy while he did. Typical golden lab, really. Georgie the spaniel, slightly more serious, got stuck into emails. But maybe less successfully, by the look of that blank screen. Dukdik, definitely the most productive of the canine staff, not only fed Pig the Dugong lettuce, but also worked hard on the website and modelled some Sea Life merch. Hopefully these photos have given you some Friday warm fuzzies. Temporarily, at least. This is not the first time Sea Life has taken us behind the scenes during COVID-19, either. The Sydney aquarium — and its outposts in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast — are regularly live streaming playtime with their marine residents. Already, we've seen baby penguins fed, explored a jellyfish exhibition and hung out with tiny seahorses. To see what live-streams are coming up, head over to the Sea Life Facebook page.
Not every Sydneysider has the luxury of being able to nab a cheeky beach dip in Tamarama after work. The words "hectic traffic", "epic trek", "generally CBF" start a long list of pretty solid excuses. If you're an inner-city dweller, chances are you've found your nearest community pool for cooling off and doing mad laps in. Luckily, the City of Sydney's built a fair few aquatic centres around town. And the first weekend of summer's the perfect time to try 'em all. For free. On Saturday, December 7, the City of Sydney is opening up all five of its swimming pools for free from 10am till 3pm, inviting locals to try out everything each 50-metre pool has to offer — including the insanely pretty Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool located on the edge of the harbour, Redfern's lovely yellow-hued Prince Alfred Park Pool, Victoria Park Pool in Camperdown, Cook + Phillip Park Pool on the edge of Hyde Park and Ultimo's Harry Seidler-designed Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. You could hop between each one for a full comparison. There'll be a range of activities for all ages on the day, including tours, fitness classes, aquatic inflatables, learn-to-swim information, barbecues and face painting. Plus, you get to swim for free.
The history of street photography is generating more interest than ever, now that street style blogs influence high-end brands, everyone has a spy camera (read: iPhone), and documentaries like Bill Cunningham: New York have charmed DSLRs into the hands of the populace. But what about when it wasn't just about fashion but about documenting a moment in cultural history? A new look at the origins of the movement, Everybody Street, gathers a group of seminal New York-based street photographers to examine the method and motivation behind this most candid and telling style of documenting the human race. Nowadays the rising generation of street photographers in New York, including Le 21-eme, I'm Koo and An Unknown Quantity keep busy chasing down Soho's trendsetters. Everybody Street, on the other hand, asks veteran photographers Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepkoff, Mary Ellen Mark, Jeff Mermelstein, Clayton Patterson, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, Jeff Mermelstein, Max Kozloff and Luc Sante all about how they managed to transgress social boundaries to capture iconic images of their milieu. Jamel Shabazz alone is a phenomenal force in the street photography scene, whose chronicling of the '80s hip hop style movement can be seen in the influential monographs Back in the Days and A Time Before Crack. Shabazz — a former corrections officer with a photographer father — used street photography to perform a type of social work: mainly capturing images of African Americans, he helped to spread pride and self-confidence among young men and women who were at risk of getting mixed up in crack culture. By reminding them they were worth being photographed and admired, and taking the opportunity to talk with them about their lives and share his experiences as a corrections officer, Shabazz hoped to steer people away from drugs and crime. In Everybody Street, documentarian Cheryl Dunn honours Shabazz's story and those of other snap-happy New York street-crawlers who dared to step in and chronicle what was happening every day on the street, and make a difference along the way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NdeR9lhIngM
What's better than watching the New Year's Eve fireworks than Sydney Harbour's Cockatoo Island? Waking up to the same incredible harbour views on January 1. It sounds a bit wild, but it could be your reality, as Cockatoo Island prepares to open up its annual New Year's Eve program to punters. Yes, we know NYE is still months away, but the we're bringing it up now because the ballot for accommodation on the island has just opened. If you want to stay in the island's super exclusive accommodation as the decade ticks over, you'll need to enter — there are only a few houses up for grabs. There are an assortment of premium accommodation options, including two heritage houses and three waterfront apartments. The houses sleep up to 12 guests, while the apartments can fit up to five — and all are decked out with all the luxury trimmings and an outdoor viewing area across the harbour. You can try your luck at nabbing one by entering your name in the ballot, which runs from now until Sunday, August 25. And you'd best start saving those dollars ASAP – depending how big your crew is, the ballot stays have to be for five nights and range from $800–1750 per person. [caption id="attachment_738268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The view from one of Cockatoo Island's two heritage houses.[/caption] If you miss out, or simply prefer to keep things a little more low-key, Cockatoo Island is also offering up its regular camping and glamping packages for its New Year's festivities. Tickets for deluxe one-night glamping experiences are on sale from Monday, September 2, with prices starting at a more affordable $400 per person. If you want to bring all your own great (including a tent), you can nab a site for around $100–200 per person. While these might not be quite as fancy as the balloted digs, they do get you front and centre to all of the Island's NYE fun – think, live tunes, guided tours, DJ sets, eats and pop-up bars, teamed with those world-famous firework displays. Cockatoo Island's New Year's Eve program will take place on December 31, 2019 to welcome in 2020. The ballot for houses and apartments is now open and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, August 25, while camping tickets will go on sale here at 9am on Monday, September 2.
Enjoy the fireworks side-by-side with giraffes at the Taronga Zoo's New Year's Eve celebrations. Panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, live entertainment and a visit to see the animal are all on offer at the zoo's ticketed, family-friendly event. Packages range from $200–600 a head with the location and experience making up most of that cost. All price points including access to the zoo, entertainment throughout the night and harbour views during the fireworks, although the $200 Silver Reserve does note "some obstructed views." If you upgrade to the $600 Diamond Reserve, you're guaranteed unobstructed views of the fireworks, plus you'll receive a complimentary food hamper and your choice of a bottle of wine or four beers to share between two people, plus free parking and a zoo gift bag. BYO food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome, but, sadly, no BYO alcohol. Tickets are available via Moshtix.
On Tuesday, February 13, exactly ten years will have passed since Kevin Rudd, then Prime Minister, apologised to Australia's Indigenous people on behalf of the nation. To mark the anniversary, a free concert is happening on the front lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, starring Queensland guitarists Busby Marou, Aria Award–winning singer Archie Roach, folk musician Shellie Morris, dance duo Electric Fields and pop band The Preatures. Acting as hosts will be Aboriginal comedian Steven Oliver and TV and radio presenter Myf Warhurst. "For many Elders [the Apology] was an emotional event and it is one worth celebrating," says Torres Strait Islander Jeremy Marou, one half of Busby Marou. "Ten years on, sadly, I feel words are not enough." He hopes the concert will boost awareness of intergenerational trauma and energise the reconciliation process. Legendary singer-songwriter Archie Roach says, "the tenth anniversary will bring attention to the fact that there is much more work to be done, and that all Australians can work together to heal the past." The concert is the work of the Healing Foundation, a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that, since 2009, has been working on healing trauma through culture and community. Running from 6–10pm, the concert is a chance for Australians to acknowledge what happened to the Stolen Generation and to celebrate the strong culture of the nation's First People. And, while it is an alcohol-free event, concertgoers can purchase snacks and refreshments from a handful of food stalls on site. They're also encouraged to arrive at 5.30pm to grab a spot before the concert kick offs at 6pm. Image: Andrew Rosenfeldt, Apology 6, 2014
Stop what you're doing (particularly if what you're doing is re-watching old Seinfeld episodes for the 33rd time), because Jerry Seinfeld, the man himself, is finally coming to Australia. The comedian will be gracing our shores with a five-date national stand-up tour of our capital cities — his first visit Down Under in almost 20 years. Yowsa. The Seinfeld Live tour will visit Sydney's brand new International Conference Centre on August 11 for two shows — one at 7pm and another at 9.30pm. So hurry up and rewatch seasons one through nine ASAP. It's Seinfeld's first visit to Australia since 1998, when he toured the country just after the show wrapped. On that visit he called Melbourne the "anus" of the world — we'll see what he has to say about Australia this time round.
At the words 'Pastry Party' you are no doubt salivating like Pavlov's dog and dreaming of a room filled with coloured balloons and enough chocolate croissants and cinnamon doughnuts to drown you in a blissful sugary tsunami. If you can believe it, it's actually better than that. At Anna Polyviou's Pastry Party, the expert chef (executive pastry chef at Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel, to be exact) will give you a cooking workshop where you'll learn how to make your own amazing pastry treats at your leisure so that you can throw out your Jamie Oliver and Ottolenghi and devote yourself to the most important food group: sugar. Polyviou's is even adding her own personal DJ to the mix so you can learn to make push pops to Salt-N-Pepa's 'Push It' or pina colada wagon wheels while you dance around your mixing bowl to 'Tequila'. All ingredients and equipment are provided, meaning all you have to do is show up ready to bury yourself arm deep in pastry. Image by Eddie Hart.
If your ideal weekend includes meandering through a farmers market, picking up fresh fruit and veg, then add Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market to your hit list. Happening every Saturday, the market has everything you need to make a Saturday night feast, or to get meal prepping for the week ahead. What began as an apple orchard, then a fruit and veg stall roaming various Sydney markets and an online store with home deliveries, Hillview Farms now has several market stalls and an online store, as well as hosting its own Saturday market in its Leichhardt warehouse — all with the promise of getting Sydneysiders some of the best pesticide-free produce around. Not only can you pick up perfectly ripe produce, beautiful blooms and a large range of artisanal goods from the market, but you can do it knowing that local farmers, producers and growers are being supported. First-time customers get a free takeaway coffee at checkout, should you need some java after a big Friday. Just remember to bring your reusable shopping bags along, then get ready to fill them to the brim. Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market runs from 8am–2pm every Saturday. There is free onsite parking, and it is are located 200 metres from Hawthorne Light Rail Station.
Kino Sydney is a monthly short film night with a unique concept: all the films screened are made specifically for the night and they are not competing against one another. The result is a free forum for ideas, where filmmakers collaborate with one another to produce short works that defy their lack of financial support.It is no surprise then that such a great idea is part of a global movement. Born in Montréal in ‘99, Kino has cells in Canada, the US, France, Germany, the UK, South Africa and Australia. Sydney’s particular chapter was founded by The Festivalists, a non-profit film festival company headed by Mathieu Ravier and Marianne Alla.For those only wishing to participate from the safety of a comfy cushion, Kino nights also offer the best cinema deal in Sydney: an open slather of hot food, Coopers Pale Ale and Jamesons Irish Whiskey for a modest $15 cover charge. An interview with Mathieu Ravier can be found here.https://youtube.com/watch?v=x6OeuAJCwu4
This June celebration of all things punani, foo foo and vagina has one message — love your lady parts! Philip Werner's photographic exhibition, 101 Vagina, and the Festival of the Vagina are en route to Redfern so "get your bits out, they're all fine" (if you watch the promo video that should make more sense). The exhibition is from Werner's coffee-table book of the same name, which features black-and-white stills of full-frontal vaginas and accompanying messages from the subjects. The show will be up for three days at 107 Projects in a bid to not only celebrate but redirect the plight of the forgotten vagina. Tied up in all kinds of taboos, mandatory porno airbrushing and a dramatic increase in labiaplasty, it sounds like the old girls could use a breath of fresh air. So feel free to giggle, scream or get naked (but don't say it came from me). 101 Vagina is also the centrepiece for an all-day vajayjay fest on Saturday, June 29. The Festival of the Vagina will unite educators, performers, artists, journalists and the rest of us with the noble goal of taking the shame out of vagina. Did I mention there is also a ukulele band called the Three Sisters Katoomba? Awesome. Check out the full line-up at the 101 Vagina website.
Located just a short stroll from Orange's central business district, de Russie Boutique Hotel is an excellent choice for both corporate and leisure travellers seeking a luxurious stay in the area. The hotel boasts 25 stylishly designed self-contained rooms, each equipped with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Whether you're in the mood for fine dining, boutique shopping, or a visit to one of the region's award-winning cold-climate vineyards, de Russie has got you covered. Enjoy a restful night's sleep on your comfortable king bed with high-quality pillows, and a modern ensuite bathroom. Additionally, the in-room kitchenette facilities provide guests with the convenience of preparing their own meals. Open up your Juliet balcony for a breath of fresh air and take in views of the surrounding area. Whether you're in town for business or leisure, de Russie Boutique Hotel promises a comfortable and memorable stay in Orange.
There's nothing quite like the ballet to make one feel bumbling and ungainly, and in a strange, magical way, there's nothing quite like ballet — when it's good — to make one feel weightless and a little giddy. Of late, the Australian Ballet have been adept at the latter, and its latest production, Vanguard, is a dazzling triptych of style, skill and passion spread throughout three very different works: The Four Temperaments (1946), Bella Figura (1995) and Dyad 1929 (2009). Each piece unique, the staging of three allows us to see not just the past, present and future but also the diverse ground that the company is happily traversing. The Four Temperaments is a landmark abstract ballet from the legendary Georges Balanchine, daring in its time and still so clean and modern now. Comprised of five parts, theme and the four humours — Melancholic, Sanguinic, Phlegmatic and Choleric — Balanchine's effortless precision is nicely realised. The darkly romantic Bella Figura sits boldly in the middle, much more richly mysterious than its bookends. Jiří Kylián's ballet focuses on a mix of strong and swirling gesticulations, sensuality and a welcome self-knowing humour. Here, the curtains fall and frame and interact with the dancers, adding drama to their dreamy, partially naked grace. Returning to the company’s repertoire is the third and final ballet, Dyad 1929, created specifically for the Australian Ballet in 2009 by British choreographer Wayne McGregor, and this rendition is even more enjoyable than I remembered. Five years on, it's still an angular dazzler that invites each dancer to hold a unique space on the stage. The piece is dedicated to the memory of Merce Cunningham, and it's clear that his vision was of great influence to McGregor, with Dyad 1929 (the sister piece to Dyad 1909) as coolly energetic as its frenetic score by Steve Reich. If you’ve just seen First Position, the latest in the long chorus line of limber tween and teen dancing documentaries, this serves as a neat double (quadruple?) bill. First, the agony of overstretched limbs and exhaustively long hours caught on camera, followed by a live display of strength and beauty. Vanguard has been put together so effectively, you'll not just leave feeling buoyant; you'll probably want a restorative ice bath, too. Photo by Branco Gaica.
There is absolutely no time to sleep this October long weekend. Begin early, Thursday morning, and jump onto a train to Newcastle. Sit back quietly with some knitting as the train winds through Hawkesbury River, take a quick nap, then erupt out of Newcastle station and into the whirlwind affectionately known as TiNA. Despite an intense lead-up, including an unexpected funding crisis, the show must go on. And what a show it is! Five days of performances, workshops, parties, panels and much much more. Our picks include the Word-Hurl Anti-Slam, an epic battle of Novocastrian poets, the Human Drum Machine, including a take-home starter pack, and Cy*Bent*Ity, which promises to be the latest Facebook-spread party gone wrong (or right). Haven't really prepared? Never fret, we've got you covered. Accommodation is a breeze in Aunty Jenny's Tent City, and thanks to Newcastle's geography, it's easy to ride your way around town on a bicycle hired from the Community Bike Library (for a refundable deposit). Almost all events are free, so a limited budget is no problem. In short, there's absolutely no excuse not to join in and have a grand old time. Image: courtesy of Crack Theatre Festival, photo by Holly Orkin
In The Virgin Suicides, in a role for Sofia Coppola that he'll always be known for, Josh Hartnett played the dreamy high schooler who had Kirsten Dunst swooning. A quarter-century later, as his then-director is fresh from a Priscilla Presley biopic and his former co-star just snapped America's divisiveness at its potential worst as a photojournalist in Civil War, he's now jumped from Trip Fontaine to Trap, still with his appearance and its impact upon others a key factor. Cooper Adams, Hartnett's latest character, likely was a teen heartthrob, too. Now he's a kindly firefighter who dotes on his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue, Wolf Like Me) to the extent that he's her chaperone at the Taylor Swift-esque Lady Raven's (first-timer Saleka Night Shyamalan) Philadelphia concert. His politeness wins over people quickly, such as the merchandise-slinging Jamie (Jonathan Langdon, Run the Burbs), who's soon doing him a favour. But Trip wasn't completely the charmer that he seemed, and Cooper isn't just a nice dad doing parenting well — he's Trap's killer. It was true in The Sixth Sense of Bruce Willis (Assassin), in Unbreakable with Samuel L Jackson (Argylle), of James McAvoy (His Dark Materials) in Split and with Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) in Knock at the Cabin: M Night Shyamalan knows how to draw a gripping turn out of his leads. With well-known names in front of his lens, including Hartnett (The Bear), he's just as aware of how to riff on existing audience understanding and expectations. Not everyone who acts for the Glass, The Visit and Old filmmaker receives the same treatment — but when the approach works, it's worth building an entire movie around. Trap is one such flick, clueing viewers in early that Hartnett has taken a Dexter-esque step into a murderer's shoes. Then, it observes the disconnect between the perceptions of everyone around Cooper and his homicidal urges, all as the cops stage a sting at the gig to catch someone they know solely as The Butcher. When he arrives at the stadium with Riley, Cooper has no idea that attempting to capture him will be the real production of the day. He promised his giddily excited kid that she'd see her favourite singer if she earned good grades and he's delivered; that she's fallen out with her friends and needs something a distraction also factors in. Then Shyamalan, who writes and directs, draws attention to the hordes of police filtering in, plus the profiler (Hayley Mills, Death in Paradise) calling the shots. Cooper equally notices. It's all a ploy, Jamie shares without realising who he's talking to, and there's only one route out. Already juggling checking on his current detainee (Mark Bacolcol, Night Is Limpid) via webcam and being drawn into the schoolyard feud by a fellow parent (Marnie McPhail, Dream Scenario) with ensuring that Riley is having the time of her life, he's now desperately trying to stop his normal-guy facade from crumbling. The famously twist-loving Shyamalan isn't bashful about Cooper's lethal tendencies. Accordingly, that isn't among the movie's surprises. As Trap's protagonist endeavours to stay ahead of his pursuers in a cat-and-mouse game — they've no idea what he looks like, which assists immensely — and reassure Riley when she starts thinking that he's acting weird, plot shocks remain in store, but so does convenience. Frequently staring intimately at Harnett's face especially when it's wearing a loaded smile, the film aligns its perspective with Cooper's whatever-it-takes efforts to stay avoid handcuffs, yet luck has as much as sway on his path as smarts. As he does with dad jokes and awkwardness, Harnett sells every clever choice and stroke of fortune alike, and compellingly gets audiences into the killer's head, though, in a standout role for the Penny Dreadful, Wrath of Man, Black Mirror and Oppenheimer actor; Trap would struggle without his transfixing commitment. Even with opportune turns constantly coming Cooper's way, Shyamalan doesn't have a tension problem, in no small part because watching one of his films means inherently being on edge for the next twist, then the next, then the next again — and he gleefully toys with that fact. But he does have a third-act issue, especially when he branches beyond his solid setup. While that choice brings in a welcome supporting performance from Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) as Cooper's wife and Riley's mother Rachel, it plunges the feature into Lord of the Rings-style too-many-endings territory. Also too often, Trap's decisions feel like Shyamalan simply thinking that something would be nifty. Enlisting Mills given her The Parent Trap background, Kid Cudi's (Silent Night) winking cameo, giving Saleka such prominence: some hit the target, others wish they did. What lengths will a dad go to for his daughter? That's one of this picture's threads on- and off-screen. In a year that's seen Trap's filmmaker produce the directorial debut of one of his children, with Ishana Night Shyamalan's The Watchers reaching cinemas mere months before his own latest release, he's now penned and helmed a flick that features another of his kids as a pop sensation and has the real-life singer's own music weaved in prominently. As he has long enjoyed doing in his own movies, the Shyamalan patriarch also pops up on camera, this time to praise Saleka's Lady Raven. He's pitched Trap as a Swift gig meets The Silence of the Lambs, but it's as much about wanting to give your children everything, build them up and, when you've got other demands on your focus, still doing your best to be there for them. Aided by cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (who shot Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria and Challengers for Luca Guadagnino, plus Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Memoria for Apichatpong Weerasethakul) alongside editor Noemi Katharina Preiswerk (Knock at the Cabin, Servant), Shyamalan doesn't take his gift to Saleka lightly. The concert-film elements aren't window dressing. He revels in them, sometimes savvily juxtaposing the show's massive scale with Cooper's life-or-death predicament, sometimes with the indulgence of a dad giving his kid a vehicle for her dreams. The Eras tour boasts many things, a date with screens among them, but it isn't also a psychological thriller; mix that with Grand Piano and Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation's opera scene, and that's Trap's template as well. When Hartnett sings, albeit not literally, so does the film. Donoghue also does her utmost and leaves an impression. But, while engrossing, the picture they're in often plays like a warmup for a big gig that hasn't pulled off everything that it wants to.
When LP's opened its doors on Chippen Street back in August, 2014, our reviewer wrote "if you're not addicted to smoking, then you haven't tried LP's Quality Meats". Unfortunately, Sydneysiders must now prepare for some serious withdrawals, with the haven of smoked and cured meats set to close its doors on February 1, 2020. Thankfully, though, you won't be going cold turkey — while the LP's restaurant will be closing for good, its house-made smoked goods will be living on in the space, which'll transform into a wholesale business, shop and events space. Set to reopen later in February, LP's will become a purpose-built meat processing plant to "support the demand for [its] wholesale products" and "broaden [its] production repertoire". There's the silver lining: more mortadella, more sausages, more extremely tasty smoked meats. [caption id="attachment_724983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Powell by Kitti Gould[/caption] While it'll be closed during the week, the shop will open to the public on Saturdays on Sundays, so you can, importantly, stock up for summer and autumn picnics. It'll also play host to sausage making and small goods classes run by owner Luke Powell (the LP in LP's), and there'll be space for 40–50 seats for possible collaboration dinners and events. While it closes for renovations, you'll be able to find LP's mortadella, sausage and salami atop pizzas at Powell's second restaurant Bella Brutta, a next-level pizza joint in Newtown. You'll also find its various smoked meats on the menu at A1 Canteen, Reuben Hills, Paramount Coffee Project and The Dolphin — and, we're sure, many many more restaurants, bars and cafes come next year. Find LP's Quality Meats at 16 Chippen Street, Chippendale until February 1, 2020. It'll reopen as a wholesale small goods shop later in the month, opening to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Top image: LP's Quality Meats by Destination NSW.
Single and need something to do on Halloween? Then CitySwoon's Halloween Speed Dating Party may just offer the perfect night out. Taking place on October 31 at Club Parramatta, you'll join up to 250 singles for a night of speed dating, dancing and prizes. Each ticket on the night includes a few matched dates, two drinks and an afterparty with a live DJ. You'll be able to date and message anyone within your age group, which includes: 28–38, 39–49 and 49–59. Of course, you'll also be able to mingle with anyone once speed dating rounds are over and the party begins. Each single will fill out a short five-minute survey before the quick-fire dating rounds, with everything done on your phone, so you don't have to worry about losing match cards or writing things down. And if you're a returning single, you can rest assured that you won't be matched with the same person twice. For those hoping to go low-effort for Halloween this year, you'll want to rethink that approach. At CitySwoon's Halloween event, prizes will be awarded to the best-dressed guy and girl, scariest costume and wackiest outfit. Plus, who knows, the right outfit might impress one of your dates for the night. With over 11 years of experience in the speed dating realm, CitySwoon knows how to match you with people you'll connect with. Using an intelligent algorithm live at the event, you'll experience a series of relaxed mini-dates with matches that align with who you are. Tickets for the general public are $59, and $29 for members. To find out more about this ghoulish Halloween speed dating experience, head to the CitySwoon website. Images: Supplied
Open to runners of all ages and abilities, Run West follows a 12-kilometre course through several major landmarks. It sees runners race through the new Sydney Zoo while waving at lions, rhinos and giraffes. The 12-kilometre run kicks off at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, March 28, before traversing the zoo, Western Sydney Parklands and winding up at West HQ. If 12 kilometres sounds too far, you can conquer the more friendly four-kilometre Family Run instead — but, that doesn't go through the zoo. If you're a City2Surf regular, this might be a good race to enter in the off-season — although, being March, chances are the weather will be pretty warm. But, like City2Surf, you're encouraged to raise funds for a charity of your choice, so your sweat will be all worth it. If you're ready to commit, sign up right now at super early bird rates, which are $30 per person for the fun run and $50 for the 12-kilometre event.
Sculpture by the Sea didn't grace the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk last year, and isn't set to until October this year. But if you're eager to go for a wander, check out large-scale pieces of art and enjoy the great outdoors, you can head to The Rocks this May and June for a new free exhibition called Sculpture Rocks. Set to display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3, Sculpture Rocks will feature 18 works from 14 sculptors, with Japanese artists in the spotlight. You'll be peering at pieces by Keizo Ushio, Takeshi Tanabe, Mitsuo Takeuchi, Ayako Saito and Akira Kamada, among others — and from artists who currently hail from both Japan and Australia. As for what you'll be seeing, expect plenty of stone. "Each of these artworks in thought and practice stems directly from the ancient rock gardens of Japan," explains Sculpture by the Sea Founding Director David Handley. As well as linking in with Japanese cultural traditions, the exhibition will also feature "kinetic and abstract sculptures to provide a cross section of Japanese sculpture today," Handley advises. [caption id="attachment_808636" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hiroyuki Kita, aguidepostforthewind (2010)[/caption] Presented by the Sculpture by the Sea team alongside Place Management NSW and the Port Authority of NSW, the exhibition will ape one of the most stunning — and most popular — things about its sibling event, too: the waterside view. You'll be moseying along the Sydney Harbour foreshore area, including between the Overseas Passenger Terminal, along Campbells Cove and up to Hickson Reserve next to the Park Hyatt Hotel. Basically, think of it as a smaller version, in a similarly striking spot, and with a specific focus. A smaller indoor exhibition, called Sculpture Inside Rocks, will also take place at the same time at Campbell's Stores. Sculpture Rocks will display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3 at various locations around The Rocks. Head to the exhibition website for further details.
Bottomless cocktails, paella, waffles and beats... it's hard to think of a better way to banish a hangover on a winter's afternoon. Introducing Since I Left You's first ever hip hop brunch. On June 24, doors will open at midday, which is when the bottomless cocktails will start to flow — lasting an hour-and-a-half and helping everyone to settle in, before giving way to drinks specials. Keeping everyone's hunger at bay will be a massive paella, as well as a selection of Since I Left You's well-known waffles. Meanwhile, on the decks you'll find Waza, spinning relaxed beats, followed by the Post Pluto Intergalactic Groove Committee with a stack of hip hop jams. Hip hop karaoke is also rumoured. Even though this thing's called a brunch, it'll inevitably carry onto into the late, late afternoon. UPDATE JUNE 26, 2017: Due to the overwhelming interest in SILY's inaugural Hip Hop Brunch, the team has just announced that brunch will now be a monthly affair. Tickets are on sale now for July 29.
Feel like treating yo'self? This autumn you'll find an abundance of indulgence over at The Star Sydney, which is dedicating two whole months to the concept. Right through April and May, its many venues are joining forces for a full-blown Indulgence Festival, featuring decadent food, multi-sensory art, luxurious experiences and more. At Sokyo, you can sit down to a high-end whisky flight matched with premium beef tataki ($80–210), all soundtracked by a Saturday night vinyl residency from DJ Alex Dimitriades. Flying Fish is plating up a lavish long lunch menu ($130) studded with seafood, while Black Bar & Grill has created a top-shelf tasting plate of Australian meats ($290) to complement a dramatic magnolia-filled art piece by florist Lisa Cooper. Fancy new cocktails are being whipped up tableside from a fleet of drinks trolleys, too, and each of the eateries is also serving up its own limited-edition dessert creation, crafted on primo Valrhona chocolate. Even The Darling Spa has unveiled a decadent new spa offering — a sonic bath with sounds curated by Tame Impala's Cam Avery, designed to level-up the indulgence factor of the Lit'Ya Mala Mayi full-body treatment ($280). As the prices above indicate, this festival won't go easy on your wallet. But hey, that's what indulgence is all about.
This time last year, Hartsyard became Hartsyard 2.0 when then owners Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart swapped the deep fryer for the charcoal grill. Then, late last year, they sold it. Now, to kick off 2019, the much-loved Newtown restaurant has reopened with new owners. Except they're not exactly new. One, Jarrod Walsh, has been Hartsyard 2.0's head chef for the past year, and the other is Momofuku Seiobo chef and Walsh's partner, Dot Lee. "We were wanting to open our own restaurant, then Greg and Naomi told us they were thinking of selling and that was it," says Walsh. "It was too good an opportunity not to miss." To celebrate the takeover, the two have added a splash of paint, in the form of black-and-white tattoo-inspired artworks by local artist Isabel Williams. Besides that, the 50-seater space has keep its light, fresh look, dotted with oak, tan, black steel and greenery. "Food-wise, it's the same style — share plates and snacks designed to be eaten with your hands," says Walsh. "There are lots of vegetarian and vegan options." Take your pick of 13 individual dishes or one of two set menus ($75/95). Among Walsh's new creations are marinated and grilled Clarence River baby octopus with roasted peppers and smoked charcoal potatoes, stone fruit with smoked sheep's milk yoghurt and yukari shiso (an umami-heavy seasoning made from shiso leaves) and Geraldton kingfish tartare with seaweed chips. [caption id="attachment_705252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] But the one that's already won over the crowd is the fried cheese. "It's like a cheese toastie, but with layers of cheese on cheese on cheese," says Walsh. "We start with Parmesan, with roasted black pepper stock — cooked with tapioca pearls, so it's gluten free — then, we add hot mustard sour cream, which we top with gruyère, gouda and roasted black pepper salt. We served it last night and customers were ordering it again and again." Behind the bar, restaurant manager and sommelier Andrea Spagna has expanded the wine list with a bunch of Australian and international drops. Look out for several experimental, organic numbers, too. Meanwhile, bartender Paddy O'Rourke (The Gretz, Bulletin Place, Dead Ringer) is pouring local craft beers and signature cocktails, which change every week. Kicking off the inaugural list are the Stonefruit Slipper (stone fruit vodka, maraschino cherry and lemon sherbet) and the Pepito (spiced coconut rum, mango, yoghurt, honey and pistachio). The new-look Hartsyard is now open at 33 Enmore Road, Newtown. Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 6pm till late, and Sunday 12pm to 3pm. Saturday lunch will follow in February. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Does your version of celebrating whichever occasion takes your fancy involve eating more of the things you love? Do pork belly, chicken schnitzels, chicken wings and German sausages fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. On Wednesdays, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat platters. They come stacked with all of the aforementioned meats — and yes, the pork belly includes crackling — plus sauerkraut and gravy as sides. And, once you've finished your board, you'll get a whole new serving. On All-You-Can-Meat Wednesdays, there's no time limit to your eating, so you can pace yourself — and it'll cost you $35 per person. There is a two-person minimum, however, so you'll need to take at least one meat-loving pal along with you. Feel like you can fit in fries, mash and salad as well? That'll cost you an extra $5 for each one, or you can get all three for $10. You'll find The Bavarian at Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Penrith, Miranda, Macarthur, Green Hills, Entertainment Quarter, York Street, World Square, Wetherill Park, Chatswood and Wollongong in New South Wales. And if you want to pair all that meat with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
Maybe it's the massive layout, which everyone traverses from the front door to the checkouts without taking any shortcuts. Perhaps it's all the display-room setups, turning almost every nook and cranny of a huge warehouse into dream homes. It could be the promise of those Swedish meatballs mid-shop, the coveted blue bags, or just knowing that your house will get a makeover when you return after browsing and buying oh-so-much. Whichever fits, a trip to IKEA isn't an ordinary shopping experience — although that'll prove true in a different way for 16 days between Friday, August 26–Saturday, September 10. That's when The IKEA Festival, aka your latest excuse to hit up the chain's closest store, will host a heap of free activities. Fancy an IKEA-inspired manicure, likely in blue and yellow? Of course you do. Also on offer across IKEA's Sydney stores: terrarium workshops, interior designer speed-dating sessions, plant-based cooking demonstrations, food tastings, DJs spinning tunes, a van-life installation and talks on sustainability. For renters, the class about maximising your home when it isn't your own should pique your interest. Can't make it along in-person? There's also an online live shopping event — and, of course, you can also hit up the brand's newly launched As-Is Online marketplace for discontinued, ex-display and pre-loved products.
Summer is over and it's rainy outside, but it's no time to despair. Instead, it's time to eat ramen. While we're strong advocates of eating ramen all year round, we think there's nothing better than slurping down a bowl of hot, spicy noodle soup when it's cold and drizzly outside. Potts Point's Japanese diner Cho Cho San agrees, and to commemorate the start of peak ramen-eating season, it's serving up a limited-edition porky bowl of ramen for one week only. Swing by any night between Monday, March 16 and Friday, March 20 and you'll get to eat try its double pork shoyu ramen. Made with 14-hour double pork dashi and black pepper shoyu, Balangalow pork loin and fresh noodles, the ramen is garnished with pork XO, a soft soy egg, wood ear mushrooms, chilli oil, bean sprouts and green shallots. If that's not quite enough toppings for you, you can add on more eggs, nori, grilled pork and miso corn, too, for a few extra coins. Available from 5–6.30pm nightly (or until it sells out), the ramen will set you back $30 — and that includes a drink. Choose from a Stone & Wood green coast lager, a seasonal chu-hai (a shochu highball) or a junmai sake. The ramen is available for walk-ins only, so get in early. Cho Cho San's limited-edition ramen is available from 5–6.30pm. Top image: Nikki To
Whether you've got a gang of six or a crew of 30-plus, Sydney's summer festivals have the capacity to bring everyone together. Get the group going and start planning a chilled afternoon in the park sipping champagne, or something a little more energetic like a boogie to Charli XCX or an inclusive Mardi Gras kick-off party. Summer is festival season and there's no better time to get outside and make the most of it. Unsure where to start? We've partnered with Sunglass Hut to bring you seven big festivals — from one-dayers to weekend adventures — that welcome your sprawling group of mates and plus-ones. Take a read for inspiration.
Need another excuse to round up the crew for a boozy brunch? Kick-starting the brunch party this year and bringing the good times in spades is Mrs Sippy with a month-long brunch series. Every Saturday and Sunday in February, the Double Bay spot is hosting a feast. Just book a table between 12–3pm and you and your friends will be treated to a Mediterranean-inspired meal and two hours of unlimited drinks for $89. Food-wise, you'll be tucking into the likes of oysters, dips, pita, falafels, pulled lamb and salads. Better yet, Mrs Sippy has teamed up with French vodka distiller Grey Goose — so expect plenty of summery cocktails, too. You'll score a vodka, watermelon, cucumber and mint cocktail on arrival for no extra cost. Then, as you settle in for an indulgent spread, you'll get cocktail pitchers of Grey Goose vodka, strawberries, mint, orange, pomegranate, bitters and ginger beer. Want to take things up a notch? Get a cocktail of your choice for an additional $15 — think espresso martinis and watermelon spritzes — with all profits being donated to WIRES. Alternatively, if you're just after the food, you can opt for a booze-free brunch for $55 a pop. Plus, as you kick back with your crew, DJs will be spinning some tunes. To book your spot, head here. UPDATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2020 — Mrs Sippy is now offering a 15 percent discount on all Sunday bookings for this brunch series.
Find a parking spot and follow the rainbow at The Grounds of Alexandria this Easter and you won't find a pot of gold — but you will find a whole lot of sugary treats. Which might be even better. Each Friday and Saturday night from April 12–27 (except Saturday, April 20), The Grounds' garden will be lit up and turned into a dessert laneway. Sweet smelling carts will be hawking Nutella donuts, hot churros, house-made gelato sandwiches and ricotta and lemon beignets. Wander between them, grab a cocktail from the outdoor bar, and try the lot. If you need savoury before your sweets, book a table for dinner at The Potting Shed. After a bowl of mussels and a few glasses of wine, it will be hard to say no to a hot jam doughnut. The market will run under The Grounds' neon rainbow Easter installation from 6–9pm. UPDATE: APRIL 16, 2019 — The Grounds has this week cancelled its Saturday, April 20 market. This article has been updated to reflect that.
When one of Sydney's best new openings starts offering $5 tacos once a week, you know what you have to do. El Primo Sanchez is the latest venue from the Maybe Sammy team. The 100-seat Oxford Street bar boasts next-level tequila cocktails, Mexican eats from a former Noma chef and even a private karaoke booth with a 'Ring for Tequila' button. Usually, the tacos here will set you back $10, but the colourful spot has just launched a new weekly deal that's sure to have you rushing to Paddington each week. Each Wednesday between 5–11pm tacos are half-priced. There are five different varieties of tacos on offer, all available for $5. There's an al pastor number using 12-hour marinated pork belly, a kangaroo taco topped with salsa guacamolada and pan-fried peppers, plus brussel sprout, beef brisket barbacoa and chicken carnitas options. If you want to combine deals, head in from 5pm to get the happy hour discount on cocktails. Between 5–6pm every day at El Primo Sanchez all cocktails are just $17. Images: Steven Woodburn.
It's hard not to be tempted by the prospect of international and local artists convening for your art-loving pleasure at the Sydney Biennale's 36th year. This year's festival of art seems to be zooming in to a human scale, but navigating the mammoth program can still lead to a minor crisis. To help you decide, Concrete Playground has put together this list of ten stand-out attractions at the current incarnation of our local biennial. 1. Cockatoo Island Cockatoo Island, as always, is the largest single slab of the Biennale's art. Artworks are arranged from the lower levels up the hill, progressing by the artistic directors' design, from mostly white below to colourful above. This year's island is flush with ice-like chains, paper cuts, spiral landscapes and a creeping fog. In a room to one side sits Maria Fernanda Cardoso's Museum of Copulatory Organs — a collection of spiky insect genitalia — which brings a surprising grace to its base, exhibitionist humour. The artist herself will give you a more verbal piece of her mind in July and August. 2. The Galleries This year's gallery offerings are divided between the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Art Gallery offers a grinding icebreaker from Guido van der Werve, staggering cariboo photography from Subhankar Banerjee and Nipan Oranniwesna's City of Ghost room-spanning ur-city made from powder filtered through stencils of urban streets. The MCA's contribution this year focuses on threads and the body. Alwar Balasubramaniam's Nothing From My Hands cleaves organic lumps out of the wall dappled in shades of grey, Maria Laet's Untitled (Dialogue Series. Ballon and Body) graces movement onto photography and Nicholas Hlobo's Inkwili spreads fine tendrils with watercolours and tea stains. 3. The Mending Project Artist Lee Mingwei wants to fix you up. as part of his artwork the Mending Project. He'll lurk in the MCA's lighted corners waiting for you to bring in over- or under-loved garments in need of repair and fix it while you wait. Part of the bargain is that you pay Lee with talk (or by being teased) while he stitches your pieces anew. Resurrected clothes will hang on the cavernous walls on MCA level one until the end of the Biennale. Leaving it probably best to bring your summer threads along to hang out in public until September. Lee will be providing his services on a drop in basis during the Biennale. The MCA also suggests you arrive early in the day for Lee's performance, in case he runs out of thread. 4. Carriageworks Laying claim to another link in the Biennale's chain of industrial architecture, Carriageworks is taking its first year as a venue for the festival. And its participation runs to dance as well as art. Belgian dance ensemble Rosas bring their serious style to the Carriageworks bay with En Atendant and Cesena. Meanwhile fellow Belgian Ann Veronica Janssens, whose set design features in Rosas' work, will fill the Carriageworks' foyer with her sculpture for the duration of the Biennale. 5. The New Biennale Ferry This year's Biennale lets go of its attachment to the heave and yaw of a rickety yellow and red ferry from previous years going out to Cockatoo Island. Modern ferries have taken over the commute this year. While you might not capture Moran-winning photo fodder, whether this is considered a good thing or bad is something that depends whether your view of nautical paradise is a rickety ambience or a chunder-free upper deck. And while you hop to the island on a smoother ride, Khadija Baker will let loose her talking hair in her performance piece My Little Voice Can’t Lie across the early days of the festvial. Khadija Baker will be onboard 12-3pm Jun 27-July. 6. MCA Clothing Exchange It wasn't long ago that the MCA wore no clothes at all. But for the duration of the Biennale, with Lee Mingwei's Mending Project in-house, it's taking a closer interest in the stitched article. And one of its approaches is to take on what was a new idea not too long ago, but is now standard: find a group of like-minded fashion-lovers, bone them up on the value of recycling over consumption and get them together for an orgy of swapping stuff they have already. For the Biennale, the MCA is throwing its hat in the ring. To swap for said hat, you're encouraged to bring up to ten nice-enough and no-longer loved articles of clothing for the MCA Clothing Exchange, for swapping with other like-minded cohabiters of art and fashion. Will you find the cast-offs of swish fashionistas, or will art lovers' choice of clothes be the strangest cut of all? The clothing exchange runs 11-5 on July 22. 7. Sydney Students Speak There's been a lot of experiment across Sydney lately in the short, sharp talk. TEDx and its many local varieties do it for ideas, Bright Club did it for science and Pecha Kucha has some fast words as well. Everyone wants in, with the focus now on younger speakers. The MCA already has regular unfurling of the art ideas of teenagers and the Art Gallery of NSW has had its focus on young polemics. For the Biennale, it's drawing out the easily digested ideas of Sydney's older art students at Sydney Students Speak. Each will deliver a spiel a bare two minutes longer than a regular TED talk, honing in on why you should care about their favourite Biennale artwork. And down in Casula, other young Sydney art students will have frenzied work on display in Casula for 8x8 as well. Students speak at the Art Gallery Wednesdays between August 1 and September 12. 8x8 is at Casula from July 21 to August 26. If you're an art student interested in your chance to speak, auditioning starts here. 8. The Biennale Bar FBi is descending on the Biennale's stay at Pier 2/3 in the Rocks. For Fridays during August, the Biennale Bar will be packed with entertainment via FBi Radio, the Thousands and dLux Media Arts. The bar is downstairs at the wooden nub of the art spread across the interior of the pier. Sip among Tiffany Singh's cacophonous wind chimes in Knock On The Sky Listen To The Sound, which invite the public to ring them and later take them home, or run into the Sydney Theatre Company as they invade Honore D'O's Air and Inner during earlier hours. Note: The STC's Biennale invasions have since been cancelled. The Biennale bar runs 6.30-9.30 pm Fridays during August. Line-ups are now up on the Biennale site for the evenings curated by dLux (August 3), the Thousands (August 10), FBi (August 17), the Biennale team (August 24) and the Sydney Chamber Opera (August 31). 9. Mystery Tours What's better than spending the day on an island covered in art and dilapidated industrial detritus? Topping said detritus and art with an unexpected encounter with a celebrity art lover. Surprise is de rigour for Cockatoo Island's Mystery Tours, which pair the general public with art lovers from a more public background, the identity of the tour guide remaining a mystery until the tour itself assembles. Tours are free, but need to be booked via Eventbrite, (02) 8484 8718 or bookings@biennaleofsydney.com.au Mystery Tours run Saturdays at 11.30 from July 7. 10. Canvas Presents: Music, Art and You! There are a few great arts shows on local Sydney radio: Something Else and Arts Tuesday on Eastside, Talking Through Your Arts on 2SER and FBi's contribution to the genre and the Sydney arts scene is the Sunday show Canvas. Canvas normally gets a word in with visiting and local art celebrity, but during the Biennale they're taking their low-key art loving to their elevated FBi Social salon space in Kings Cross. For two nights in July running Canvas Presents will chat with artists live on stage while you sit back and contemplate art with a drink close to hand. Canvas presents is on July 3 and 31. Leading image shows Gravitas Lite by Peter Robinson. Living Chasm – Cockatoo Island by Fujiko Nakaya. Installation view of the 18th Biennale of Sydney (2012) at Cockatoo Island. Courtesy the artist. Nummer Acht: Everything is going to be alright by Guido van der Werve. Courtesy the artist and Luhring Augustine, New York. Photograph: Ben Geraerts. The Mending Project by Lee Mingwei. Courtesy the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York. Photograph: Anita Kan. Photo of Cesena by Anne Van Aerschot. Small Business: Karaoke by Jin Shi. Courtesy White Rabbit Gallery, Sydney. Image for Biennale Bar shows Knock On The Sky Listen To The Sound by Tiffany Singh.
Given that Port Stephens is the access point to the 980-square-kilometre Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park, it seems pretty likely that you'll spy some sea life no matter what time of year you visit. But to get up close and personal with some of the more misunderstood creatures of the big blue, make tracks to Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters in Anna Bay. Here, you'll get to learn about, pet and feed rays, zebra sharks and tawny sharks. You have the opportunity to snorkel with some of the tropical creatures, too. As well as spreading important messages about marine life and ocean conservation, Irukandji also donates five percent of annual profits to research and assists nearby Newcastle University with ocean-related projects.
Legendary Paris bar The Cambridge isn't just an award-winning, world-renowned drinking spot — it's also got some pretty fierce climate action ambitions. In fact, the British pub-inspired boozer has mapped out a whole Global Community Plan aimed at building a more sustainable future. And next up on that to-do list is a visit Down Under for a few special guest appearances at some like-minded bars. The team's dropping by Sydney for a whirlwind visit this week, popping up at both Re and PS40. As you might know, the former took out 87th place in The World's 50 Best Bars 51–100 List last year, while the latter is one of our top 20 picks for Sydney's all-time best drinking spots. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] PS40, by Alana Dimou[/caption] First up, from 12–3pm on Wednesday, May 3, the Parisian crew will hit PS40 to chat all things sustainability for an event dubbed Climate Bar Talks. They'll be joined by Re's eco-focused drinks innovator Matt Whiley, diving into ideas around sustainable bar practices and minimal-waste approaches. It's for walk-ins only, though spots are limited. From 5–8pm on May 3, you'll catch the Cambridge team doing a guest shift behind the bar at Re, serving up a menu packed full of native Aussie ingredients. Then, from 5–9pm on Friday, May 5, it's PS40's turn for a bar takeover — our Parisian visitors will be shaking up another lineup of sustainability-driven concoctions for the occasion. [caption id="attachment_899072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Cambridge team[/caption]
It's footy season and we've got the ultimate prize for sports fans. We've teamed up with the Sydney Swans to give away two double passes to the Sydney Swans VS. St Kilda Saints Pride game on Thursday, June 8 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The prizes don't end there. Not only will each winner get to watch the action from their own reserved seats at the SCG, but they'll also score their own Sydney Swans pride scarves to show their true colours and get amongst the atmosphere. We can't have the winners celebrating on an empty stomach. Merivale, the official food supplier for the Sydney Swan's home, has teamed up with the Swans to sweeten the prize pool. One lucky winner will receive $250 worth of food gift cards to use inside the SCG — we're talking Queen Chow dumplings, cheeseburger spring rolls, Jinny's Falafel, sushi and even pizza. The other lucky winner? They'll receive a $250 dining gift card to use at the Merivale venue of choice across the city (valid until June 2024). Whether you're a Swans' superfan or haven't watched a game since Buddy kicked his 1000th goal, this is one prize you won't want to miss. This Pride game is happening at the SCG — Thursday, June 8. Thursday is pretty much the weekend after all, enter the competition and be in the shot for the perfect footy night. [competition]902231[/competition]
White Night might not be lighting up the Melbourne CBD this year, with the event's inner-city edition bowing out to make way for the new Rising Festival. But if you're willing — or even eager — to get out of town, you'll still be able to treat your eyeballs to that famously vibrant program of large-scale projections and light installations when White Night makes its much-anticipated return to the streets of Bendigo and Geelong this spring. After the two regional events were postponed last year due to the pandemic, they're now back on the arts calendar. White Night Bendigo firing will fire up on Saturday, October 2, followed by White Night Geelong on Saturday, November 6. As always, the program will see each regional city come alive after dark for one jam-packed night, with a mix of illuminations, projections, music, art, performance, culinary experiences, and interactive artworks from leading local and international talent. Public spaces including laneways, streets and parks will be brought to life with striking installations and audio-visual delights. Even the Geelong foreshore is set to score some extra decoration of its own, playing host to a major hub during the festival's local run. All up, it's set to be as diverse a program as ever — with artists guided by the theme 'everything on the land is reflected in the sky', and globally renowned artist Joseph O'Farrell heading things up as the festival's new creative director. When White Night Geelong made its grand debut back in 2018, the event pulled around 70,000 attendees. The same year, White Night Bendigo also proved a roaring hit, with a crowd of over 60,000. The call is now out for expressions of interest from artists for both events — and stay tuned for more program details to be unveiled in the coming months. White Night Bendigo returns on Saturday, October 2, while White Night Geelong follows on Saturday, November 6. For more information, jump over to the White Night website. Images: White Night Bendigo, Visit Victoria
