Earlier this year, Rushcutters Bay's much-loved Acme closed its doors. Thankfully (for us), though, chef and co-owner Mitch Orr is heading back to another Sydney kitchen very soon. In a couple of months, he's opening a restaurant in Bondi — dubbed Ciccia Bella — with Maurice Terzini and the Icebergs team. In the meantime, he's cooking up super-affordable snacks at the group's Surry Hills restaurant, The Dolphin. From 5–7pm, Monday to Thursday until August 22, Orr will be whipping up tasty bites (and testing out dishes for the new restaurant) in the Wine Room — all for just $5–7 a pop. Initially, Orr was only meant to be sticking around until August 8, but, because Sydney really loves its Prince of Pasta, his residency was extended by another two weeks. While the snacks will change weekly, this week's menu includes artichoke with smoked mayo ($5), salt and vinegar onion rings ($5), vitello bonito ($7) and pasta and beans ($7). To pair with this, there'll be daily drink specials, too, including $5 glasses of prosecco, $7 wines and a $7 spritz. When Orr's reign is over, the happy hour(s) will continue with a new menu and guest appearances from star chefs from around the country. Delfino Aperitivo runs from Sunday–Thursday 5–7pm. Images: Elise Hassey Updated August 22
Listening to a song, discovering a musician for the first time and feeling like they're speaking directly to you: it's a moment that everyone can relate to. It's also the premise for Blinded by the Light, a new coming-of-age movie which wowed this year's Sundance Film Festival with its enormous love of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss' tunes don't just feature on the film's soundtrack (17 of them, in fact). They actually inspired the entire flick, jukebox musical-style. It's based on the experiences of Springsteen-obsessed journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, with the Pakistan-born British broadcaster also co-writing the script, which is set in 80s-era England at the height of Thatcherism. He's no ordinary fan, either, having seen the denim-loving singer perform live more than 150 times. Narrative-wise, Blinded by the Light follows 16-year-old Javed (film newcomer Viveik Kalra), whose life changes when he's given a couple of Bruce's cassette tapes. You could say he's born to run, feels like he's on fire and is suddenly dancing in the dark — but, used to being under his strict parents' watch and being an outcast at school, he just finds hope in the music of a rocker from New Jersey. In the director's and co-writer's chair sits someone with a background in cross-culture teen-focused Brit pictures, Bend It Like Beckham filmmaker Gurinder Chadha. Plus, as well as Kalra, the film stars Hayley Atwell, Sally Phillips and Rob Bryden. If Blinded by the Light sounds a little like another feel-good, 80s-set, music-fuelled, high school-oriented British standout from a few years back, Sing Street, that's definitely not a bad thing. Tap your toes along to the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ond9SLcHX4Q Blinded by the Light screens at this year's Sydney Film Festival, then releases in cinemas around Australia on August 22.
Surry Hills favourite Firedoor burst onto the scene in 2015 with British-born, Michelin-starred chef Lennox Hastie at the helm, and quickly developed a cult following for its signature wood-fired coal meats. Tables at the venue book out three months in advance, and it was recently named the world's third best steak restaurant. Now, Hastie is expanding his reach with a sister venue that's set to join Firedoor in Surry Hill's leafy inner-city streets. Slated to open in mid-2022, Gildas is set to be a much more reserved dining space. Gone are the huge cuts of meat roasting over the coals, with the venue instead taking its cues from the wine bars of Europe. The Basque-inspired bar will seat 60 guests with both indoor and outdoor seating. Half of the restaurant will be allocated to reservations that will open three months in advance, just as Firedoor door. Unlike Firedoor, however, the other half of the bar will be kept open for walk-ins. While the team is still putting the finishing touches on the menu, you can expect classic southern European pairings. Think manzanilla olives, guindilla peppers and anchovies over a glass of wine, sherry or vermouth. Although information on the bar is currently sparse, you can expect more details on the horizon soon given that the opening date is scheduled for the middle of this year. For now, you can stay up to date and sign up to be the first to know when reservations will open at the bar's website. [caption id="attachment_699842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Firedoor, Nikki To[/caption] Firedoor's sibling venue Gildas is set to open in Surry Hills in mid-2022. We'll update you with further details when they're announced. Top Image: Firedoor, Nikki To.
After joining Sydney's events calendar last year, Output Festival is returning for a second year. Music lovers, it's time to indulge your love of house, disco and techno once more — on Goat Island on Saturday, November 24. The boutique festival's second effort sees the private island transformed into a one-day, bass-driven dance party, complete with multiple outdoor stages set up throughout the island. You'll be dancing your heart out on a private island, sipping craft beers and cocktails, and catching that sun set majestically over the harbour. As far as festival settings go, this one's downright epic. Organisers have dropped a cracker of a lineup too, featuring local legend Mall Grab for the second year running, plus international acts DJ Seinfeld, HAAi, Nicola Cruz, Amotik and Von Party — and a heap of local talent as well. 2018's event is also adding a rooftop silent disco and a pre-fest harbour cruise, and will be operating a cashless RFID system for food and drinks. And, although it won't be included in the initial $115–119 + booking fee ticket price, details of an after party are set to be announced too.
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First, What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Next, it not only inspired a US television remake, which has been renewed for a season season, but New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. And in the latter's case, following an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, it's returning to Australian screens for its 13-episode second season this month. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season once again explores the spate of paranormal phenomena popping up in the city, with a whole heap of new spooky occurrences attracting O'Leary, Minogue and Maaka's attention. The season starts with sea monsters — and a very high-profile cameo from Clarke Gaylord, partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — and stays in strange but funny and silly territory from there. In Australia, Wellington Paranormal's first batch of episodes screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, and that's the case again this year. Episodes will drop weekly on both the free-to-air channel and the online platform from Thursday, November 28. For those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. Wellington Paranormal's second season starts screening on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand from Thursday, November 28.
Like all good things, daylight saving time is hurtling to an abrupt end, ditching us for the next six months while winter does its thing. But this year, at least, you can cruise through the transition in relatively good spirits with some cheap espresso martinis. As possibly the most well-known coffee liqueur in the world — and staunch supporter of Australia's unceasing espresso martini obsession — Kahlua is facilitating a nationwide series of happy hour deals. And it all kicks off just before those clocks turn back, this Friday, April 5. Venues across the country will be celebrating the last full night of daylight savings with some cheers-worthy drink specials, pouring espresso martinis, for up to half the usual price. The on-tap cocktail features a blend of Absolut vodka, Kahlua and organic cold brew from Kind Coffee Co. — and as there's with no shaking required, you'l have minimal time to waste at the bar. The caffeinated drink deals will debut from 6–7pm on April 5, and continue at the same venues each Friday for the rest of the month. How much money you'll have to part with will differ from venue to venue, but you can expect to pay just half of the regular price of an espresso martini. KAHLUA HOUR VENUES East Village, Darlinghurst Hotel Palisade, Millers Point Manly Pavilion, Manly The Horse, Surry Hills Harts Pub, The Rocks Busby's Bar, Sydney Side Bar, Sydney Middlebar, Darlinghurst Coopers Hotel, Newtown Commodore Hotel, McMahons Point Bar Cleveland, Surry Hills Longeuville Hotel, Lane Cove Drummoyne Sailing Club, Drummoyne Oceans Dining & Drink, Coogee
Coogee Bay Hotel will open its garden to Sydney's craft beer-loving masses again when its third annual Craft Beer and Cider Festival returns on Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7. The weekend-long festival celebrates the best drops from around the country, showcasing Australia's best breweries and cider markets. Festival-goers can expect over 80 beers from producers across Australia, including Brisbane's Green Beacon, Adelaide's Pirate Life, WA's Gage Roads and Feral Brewing and ACT's BentSpoke. Not to mention a huge showing of local talent including Akasha, Batch, Lord Nelson, Young Henrys, Endeavour and 4 Pines, plus ciders by The Apple Thief and Hillbilly Cider. And an honourable mention to Kona Brewing Company, who's making the journey all the way from the shores of Hawaii. Pop-up food stalls will be offering smoked meats and other treats throughout the weekend and live jazz will fuel your beer tastings. While entry is also free, discounted tokens and festival kits can be pre-purchased online, or you can nab 'em at the door. If the thought of all this booze is already making your head spin, why not book a staycation while you're at it? Coogee Bay Hotel has plenty of boutique and heritage rooms so you don't have to go far to find a pillow after the festivities wind down. Plus you'll be beachside when you wake up so you can remedy any sore head the next day with a plunge in the ocean. Head over here to pre-purchase your festival tokens.
As we come to terms with the irreversible destruction that the horrific bushfires have caused (and continue to cause) across Australia in the past few months, one question keeps cropping up: what now? To help answer that question, the Sydney Opera House's Talks & Ideas program will take on the bushfire crisis with two special panel discussions — both centred around what to do next. Panellists will seek to answer that burning question across two 90-minute sessions on Sunday, February 16. The discussion will revolve around recovery and long-term solutions for our communities, land and wildlife, and examine both ongoing relief action and more permanent action needed for the future. The distinct panels each include community leaders, policy experts, academics and mental health professionals — some of whom were directly affected by the fires. The first session features Lorena Allam, The Guardian's Indigenous affairs editor and a Gamilaraay and Yawalaraay woman. Sitting alongside Allam will be Christine Morgan (CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser to Scott Morrison), Doctor Larry Vogelnest (Senior Veterinarian at Taronga Zoo) and Elizabeth Mossop (UTS Dean of Design, Architecture and Building). Rounding out the panel is Findabed.com founder Erin Riley — which provides bushfire effected Australians a safe place to stay — and Milkwood permaculture co-founder Nick Bitar. Session two will be moderated by editor of The Guardian Lenore Taylor and include CEO of Firesticks and Bundjalung man Oliver Costello, an Indigenous-led network focused on cultural burning and First Nations land management practices. Plus, John Connor (CEO of the Carbon Market Institute and former CEO of the Australian Climate Institute), David Bowman (University of Tasmania Professor of Pyrogeography) and Danielle Celermajer (UTS Professor of Sociology and Social Policy) are all on the docket, too. Both sessions are absolutely free to attend, too — though registration is a must over here. For those still looking to give to the cause, donation buckets for bushfire relief will available at the door on the day. Image: Leticia Almeida.
When the weather's this good, swapping the stuffy art gallery for an outdoor cultural fix seems a total no-brainer. So it's perfect, really, that this Friday, September 29 marks the launch of CoLABS, an interactive outdoor event set to take over Western Sydney Parklands' Bungarribee Park with a fun and engaging fusion of art and science. Designed to highlight how these two disciplines can come together to inspire the next generation of minds, the sprawling outdoor art gallery will run throughout school holidays until October 8. But the program isn't just for kids. On display are works like Edison Chen's vibrant, four-metre-high Bear-Ometer of Positivity, which inflates and deflates according to positive tweets sent through visitors' smartphones, and Clayton Thompson's Project Bread representing global wealth by way of an eight-metre-tall pyramid crafted from bread crates. You'll also play plants like instruments inside Botanicus Musica's sound garden, trek through a huge interactive kaleidoscope and even play noughts and crosses with a robot as part of the RAPP LAB Robots, Art, People and Performance piece. Tickets to the inaugural CoLABS outdoor art event are a steal at just $5 (plus booking fee), and are available on the door or through the website. You can visit between 10am and 6pm each day.
This July, Sydney's Taylor Square will be transformed with an explosion of colour, as it plays host to a vibrant inflatable art installation celebrating four decades of Mardi Gras. Titled 40 Years Of Love, the work was announced in February by Lord Mayor Clover Moore as the winner of the City of Sydney-supported Taylor Square Public Art Project. The eye-catching piece is the work of local artists Matthew Aberline and Maurice Goldberg, who've described it as a "big, bold and sassy artwork based on concepts of public protest, joyous celebration, community activation and engagement". The pair's colourful installation will be draped around a big aluminium truss, creating a light-filled pavilion for the public to enjoy. Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu said the artwork would celebrate an important part of Sydney's ongoing story. "With the work's vibrant energy and complexity, we share that Mardi Gras isn't a singular thing but a cacophony of diverse ideas, people, histories, politics and expressions," she said. 40 Years Of Love will grace the square for three months, after it's unveiled on Sunday, July 1. It was initially meant to be launched on Sunday, June 24 — the anniversary of the first Mardi Gras — but was pushed back.
Australia's favourite 12-piece have been silent for a number of years now, but the wild garage rock beast has not died out. To prove they're still very much alive and kicking Velociraptor are taking their shiny new special edition vinyl and its digital counterpart and setting off on their own version of a world tour, which for these unpretentious Brisbanites means hitting a whole seven cities on the eastern seaboard of their home country. Along with a reduction in the average number of world tour stop offs is a decrease in the usual number of band members, with prior commitments of Velociraptor's shared DZ Deathrays members putting the number of guitarists on The World Warriors tour at a (by comparison) minimal five. Not diminished in the slightest, however, will be the riotous sound that made them world famous in Australia in the first place. For proof click over to the video tab to hear The World Warriors' frenetic first single "Riot" and be happy that Velociraptor are back making music. https://youtube.com/watch?v=z1WVluFz-RE
There's no need to look overseas, or even interstate, when so much incredible wine is produced on your doorstep. Held from 11am–5pm on Sunday, August 17 at Carriageworks, the Winter Cellar Door sees NSW Wine bring together 20 of the state's best winemakers from seven diverse regions for a one-day tasting experience. With over 120 labels to sip and discuss, this jam-packed event is a stellar opportunity to meet the minds behind the wine and learn what techniques and styles are capturing attention in 2025. Best of all, you won't have to travel to distant cellar doors to experience choice vino produced by little-known wineries and acclaimed estates. As for the wineries heading to the big smoke, there's no shortage of respected names. Highlights include Margan, a lauded vineyard from Broke Fordwich, a wine-growing subregion in the Hunter Valley. Meanwhile, Phillip Shaw Wines offers a taste of his Koomooloo Vineyard in Orange, which has helped pioneer the region's high-altitude, cool-climate wines since 1989. Perfect for seasoned wine-lovers and the wine-curious alike, entry to the Winter Cellar Door is free, with tastings available from $5. Of course, you're welcome to drink by the glass and purchase your favourite bottles to enjoy at home. For those keen to skip the queue, buy a tasting glass ahead of time for $10 — you'll also go in the running to win a case of wine.
After the success of last year's market at Kurnell, Sydney's Cambridge Markets are returning to the Shire for the holiday season. The Cronulla Christmas Markets will take over the reserve next to Wanda Beach on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. The gift bazaar will feature 150 stalls offering everything from clothing, linen, homewares and pet goods to Christmas trees, puddings, wreaths and gingerbread houses. As well as Christmas good, an array of hot food stalls — ranging from vegan snacks to Vietnamese food — will help you fuel up for the shopping frenzy. In more great news, there will be a spritz bar, as well as lots of local beers and chilled wines. Live music is on the docket too, along with rides, henna and face painting booths for little ones. The market will run from 10am till 4pm on both days at Don Lucas Reserve, which is about a half-hour walk from Cronulla Station. It's likely to be hot, so make sure you pack your bathers for a post-shop swim.
Music festival The Plot returns to Parramatta Park this November, and the all-Aussie lineup of artists it's bringing with it is better than ever. From the same minds behind Groovin' The Moo, The Plot's always been big champion of emerging local talent and, dropping its first artist announcement today, the festival looks set to continue its strong support of our up-and-comers. On Saturday, November 18, the festival will ring in its fourth year with the likes of electronic duo Saatsuma, Melbourne three-piece Cable Ties, Splendour and Meredith faves Confidence Man, Brisbane's Hollow Cove and triple j Unearthed finds, Northeast Party House. They'll be joined by more established favourites like Bec Sandridge, Brisbane songstress Airling and the ARIA-nominated sleepmakeswaves, with about 30 more names to come. And, if you've attended The Plot before, you'll know to expect plenty of other treats alongside their fresh selection of live local tunes. This year's festival promises to showcase some of the greater west's best, across a diverse array of food, drink, craft and clothing stalls. Just who'll be making an appearance will be revealed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here's the first batch of acts announced for The Plot 2017. THE PLOT 2017 LINEUP Airling Alex The Astronaut Alice Ivy Bec Sandridge Cable Ties Confidence Man Dean Lewis Dear Seattle Haiku Hands Hollow Coves Jess Locke Kuren Kyle Lionheart Lastlings Maddy Jane Manu Crooks Ninajirachi Northeast Party House Nyxen (Live) Ruby Fields Saatsuma Skegss Sleepmakeswaves The Teskey Brothers Tigertown The Plot will take place on Saturday, November 18, at Parramatta Park. Grab tickets from August 24 over at theplot.co Images: Jess Gleeson.
Singapore is a haven for food lovers. You've got some of the world's finest restaurants (52 have at least one Michelin Star), plus countless hawker centres full of street food stalls serving fresh and tasty local dishes at incredibly low prices. Spectacular local restaurants and bars are also scattered all over the country. That's why we decided to create this one-of-a-kind food-filled Singapore holiday in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and celebrity chef Nelly Robinson from Sydney restaurant NEL. It is a seriously special getaway, taking place from June 16–19. During the exclusive holiday, you'll stay in the luxurious Pan Pacific Singapore (located in the heart of the city) for three nights and spend a full day with Chef Nelly Robinson — going to some of the places which inspired his latest 'Taste of Singapore' menu. [caption id="attachment_864487" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] On the Saturday, you'll go on a unique three-hour food tour of Chinatown, hitting up a few local dining spots as well as the famous Chinatown Complex Food Centre — Singapore's largest hawker centre. You'll then spend all of Sunday with Chef Nelly. First off, he'll join you for a private cookery class led by Singapore cooking personality, Ruqxana Vasanwala (in her own backyard kitchen). This is an incredibly rare opportunity to cook with Chef Nelly himself. After eating your hard work for lunch, head to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie for a special chocolate tasting. You'll try the bean-to-bar tasting set which showcases the team's sustainability efforts in using all parts of the cacao tree. What's next? After recharging back at the hotel for a short while, guests will go to Hopscotch for avant-garde cocktails before having dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Labyrinth. It will be one magnificent day full of local food and drinks — with a famous chef, known for his bold and creative Sydney degustation menus, joining you for the ride. During the unique getaway, you'll also have the opportunity to explore Singapore at your own leisure, receiving a handful of recommendations from us. [caption id="attachment_892008" align="alignnone" width="1904"] Hopscotch[/caption] Head to the Concrete Playground Trips website to book your spot on this exclusive culinary journey in Singapore with Chef Nelly Robinson, taking place from June 16–19. But hurry, only a limited number of tickets are available. Images: Singapore Tourism Board
Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch's final program is proudly Australian Made, has an entirely new outdoor stage and is putting local talent under as many spotlights as possible, stretching from Stargazer Lawn to the Seymour Centre and Parramatta Park. Returning from January 6–26, the three-week festival has a program of 140-plus events, covering live music and theatre to circus, dance and huge public art installations. There will be physical distancing measures in place across all of the events, with the bonus of some of this year's program accessible online, too. Highlights include a celebration of tennis legend Wiradjuri woman Evonne Goolagong in Sunshine Super Girl, in which a huge tennis court will be assembled in the middle of Sydney Town Hall; a new work of dance theatre by Force Majeure called The Last Season that explores human survival and environmental destruction; and Spirit: A Retrospective 2021 — a powerful collection of dance stories from Bangarra Dance Company's 30-year repertoire. [caption id="attachment_789733" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jamie James[/caption] Tickets are already selling fast for events at the new pop-up stage at Barangaroo Reserve. The Headland program includes an homage to George Michael in the celebratory The Rise and Fall of Saint George. Tickets start from $25 for that, as well as other Headland events like Sydney Symphony Orchestra's premiere, The [Uncertain] Four Seasons — an ambitious collaboration between composers, designers and scientists. Circus fans have world-class performances to look forward to, from Circa's Humans 2.0 to Gravity & Other Myths' The Pulse. In western Sydney, Dorr-e Dari: A Poetic Crash Course in the Language of Love sees hosts Bibi, Jawad and Mahdi update a 1000-year practice of courtly Persian love poetry, and H.M.S Pinafore takes over Riverside Theatre with a gender-fluid, spangling production about class, corruption and power. Plus, returning for the third year is The Vigil, an opportunity to reflect on the eve of January 26. This year's free event is ticketed, so be sure to register before January. Take a look at the full Sydney Festival program to start planning your summer of culture.
Everyone's favourite gaming-themed burger joint 8bit has clocked up four years of life — and what better way to celebrate that little milestone, than with more of the good stuff? This time around, 8bit's taking on an international classic, dishing up its own take on the humble Big Mac. Fittingly dubbed the Big Pac, this one's a tasty tower rocking two beef patties, lettuce, pickles, double American cheese and a special Pac sauce. The burger hits the Darling Square store from Monday, November 5, and is set to stick around for a whole month. It's available solo for $16.50, or matched with your choice of side and drink as part of a Big Pac meal-deal for $20. If you're feeling extra celebratory, you can even add on an 8bit birthday sundae ($8). It's a limited-edition collaboration with Gelato Messina, featuring brioche gelato and raspberry puree, with white chocolate and pink coconut icing.
Spring means sunshine, saying goodbye to wearing seven layers of clothing at all times and stepping out into the great outdoors as often as possible. It also means the return of easygoing, market-friendly weather. With that in mind, the expert crew at Cambridge Markets are bringing back a Sydney favourite for a seasonal fling. Head on down to Robertson Park on September 17 between 10am and 3pm, because that's when Watsons Bay Spring Market will be taking over. As well as browsing and buying in scenic surroundings, expect 150+ stalls of boutique, homemade and fresh wonders both edible and otherwise. Those eager to head home with a full basket will find high-end designer fashion, menswear, homewares, ceramics and jewellery. Those keen to fill their stomachs can eat their way through Vietnamese pho, pork sliders and more. Arrive hungry, leave satisfied — and with a heap of new items. It's one day only, so prepare a crew and find your deepest tote bag, you'll need it. The Cambridge team is behind huge markets just like this one across Sydney, from Pittwater to Cronulla, Ryde Wharf and the Entertainment Quarter, it's fair to call the group experienced. There'll be food. There'll be shopping. There'll be fun and hangouts aplenty. The Watsons Bay Spring Market is running on Sunday, September 17 from 10am to 3pm. For more information, visit the website.
After more than three months devoid of art galleries, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is helping Sydneysider's get their art fix in a big way with two massive exhibitions running in conjunction. Ticketed exhibition Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris is set to begin on Monday, November 22, but in the meantime you can head to the inner-city gallery and experience its free companion Matisse Alive. Running Saturday, October 23–Sunday, April 3, Matisse Alive is a showcase of four new projects that have been influenced by visionary Henri Matisse. The exhibition will celebrate Matisse through art, music and performance that presents a modern perspective on his artistry. The four artists on display are New York's Nina Chanel Abney and multimedia artist Sally Smart, plus Angela Tiatia and Robin White who's work will explore the relationship between Matisse and the pacific. "We are excited to turn our attention to community and culture with the stunning display of new, and older treasured, tivaevae created by hand, by women from our region," AGNSW special exhibitions curator Jackie Dunn says. "These vibrant works, selected with guest curator Mereana Taruia, celebrate Matisse's strong connection to tivaevae and other Pacific textile traditions, which profoundly influenced his late great works, the cut-outs." Accompanying the artworks by Abneym Smart, Tiatia and White, more than 70 works from the AGNSW collection that take inspiration from the work of Matisse will be on display. Those looking to learn more about the exhibition can head to the In the Frame online talk with Smart and White on Tuesday, November 30, or tivaevae demonstrations and weaving workshops that will be led by Sione Falemaka throughout summer. Plus, you can pop down after work on either Wednesday, January 12 or 19 for Art After Hours: Matisse Alive which will see the gallery remain open until 9pm. Images: Matisse Alive featuring works from Angela Tiatia, Sally Smart, Robin White and Nina Chanel Abney, Art Gallery of New South Wales, by Diana Panuccio
Earlier this year, Sydney Dance Company and Carriageworks revealed the names of the five young Australian choreographers whose works will feature in the acclaimed New Breed initiative at the end of this month. This year's program features four performances created by Melanie Lane from Melbourne and Berlin, Tyrone Robinson from Perth, Petros Treklis from Melbourne and co-creators Cass Mortimer-Eipper of Melbourne and Nelson Earl of Sydney. The work created by both Mortimer-Epper and Earl will be New Breed's very first co-created performance. New Breed is an incredible initiative by Sydney Dance Company and Carriageworks, in conjunction with arts-focused, philanthropic organisation Balnaves Foundation. In its fourth year, the initiative recognises five up-and-coming choreographers from across Australia, commissioning them to create new works with members of SDC and giving them the support and opportunity to showcase their fresh, unique styles. This year's participants have been working on their four pieces since August, in preparation for the New Breed performance at Carriageworks from Thursday, November 30 to Saturday, December 9. In addition to fostering a new generation of choreographers, New Breed provides a testing ground for unorthodox styles, with previous choreographers going on to win awards including the prestigious Tanja Liedtke Fellowship and the Helpmann Award. Image: Pedro Greig. By Quinn Connors and Jonathan Ford.
For the first time in Australia, Mustafah Abdulaziz's acclaimed photo exhibition, Water Stories, will be displayed in Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden. Taking a harbourside location, the outdoor exhibition will display powerful images that highlight the ebb and flow of our most vulnerable resource, impacting people and communities around the world. US-born, Berlin-based Abdulaziz has already had an impressive career working for publications such as TIME, The Guardian and Wall Street Journal, plus has traversed four continents to better understand water. Through 70 large-scale images, the 31-year-old photographer's exhibition will visually document the current global water crisis through imagery of people, nature and landscapes. Since 2011, his ongoing project, supported by HSBC and in partnership with WWF, WaterAid and EarthWatch, has demonstrated how water impacts our collective and individual health, prosperity and future, and when managed properly, how it becomes a vein of life that upholds communities around the world, especially since there are over 800 million people without access to safe water. Abdulaziz hopes the exhibition will emphasise the importance of coming together to approach emerging water crises. WWF's Water Stories is on display at Royal Botanic Gardens from Tuesday, August 15 to Monday, September 5 between 7am–8pm each day, and lit up after sunset for nighttime viewing. Access the exhibition via the Queen Elizabeth II Gate at the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
A cocktail bar and restaurant honouring Taylor Square's designer has opened up in — you guessed it, Taylor Square. Founded by ardent Sydney restaurateur, Benny Sweeten, Sir Allen Taylor & Co. pays homage to the Sydney politician who made much-needed improvements to Oxford Street and redesigned the area around Taylor Square to improve traffic flow. Stationed right on the intersection, it opens early every day for coffee drinkers and stays open late on the weekends for evening cocktail fans. There's a full cafe menu — 'easy eats', consisting of banana bread, eggs on toast and smashed avocado; 'gangsta eats' which includes a Southern fried chicken burger, smoked beef brisket waffles, and leek and potato croquettes; and 'funky beats', offering sweet Tahitian vanilla crêpes, steamed salmon salad and a medley of mushrooms with poached eggs. After 3pm, the menu gets shorter, but there's definitely something substantial on offer to pair with a drink. Cocktails are served from 10am, perfect for the boozy brunch hunters. A particular standout is the espresso martini, which will come as no surprise to anyone considering that Sweeten opened Sydney's first espresso martini-focused bar. Sir Allen Taylor & Co. will also be hosting cocktail masterclasses, where you can learn how to perfect your martini or simply discover the basics of mixology. And if Sweeten's Kansas City Shuffle is anything to go by, your coffee will be made to meticulous standards. A convenient cart stationed out front pours your caffeine and also offers turmeric, matcha and red velvet lattes. Find Sir Allen Taylor & Co. on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, every day until 3pm, and until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit their website.
For the next five Sundays, once you've rolled out of bed a few hours too late to get anything productive done, head along to the Redfern Surf Club for an afternoon full of free live music. With NSW singing and dancing restrictions now rolled back, the surf club-themed inner city bar will be presenting a huge program full of buzzed-about local artists from 4pm each Sunday. The lineup, which has been put together with the help of Redfern Surf Club's Botany Road neighbour FBi Radio, spans across genres from young up-and-coming artists to established Sydney standards. Kicking things off on Sunday, May 23 is recent Kwame and Midnight Oil collaborator, Tasman Keith, joined by Ms Thandi and Mi-Kaisha. Across the rest of the lineup, you'll find Vlossom, the synth-pop project of Empire of the Sun's Nick Littlemore and Cloud Control's Alister Wright; beloved inner west rock group Palms; pop sensation MAY-A; and a night dedicated to punk and surf rock featuring Byron Bay's Mini Skirt alongside Research Reactor Corp, Satanic Togas and Gully Days. The project is supported by the NSW Government's Create NSW Play the City grant program in hopes of supporting musicians, sound engineers, photographers and crew following a disastrous twelve months for the music industry. Each gig promises to be an initiate affair, with Redfern Surf Club only holding a capacity of 100 people. Get down early and grab a burger or a selection from the bar's range of craft beers, tropical cocktails and natural wines supplied by P&V. Tickets are free but registration is required via Eventbrite in order to ensure your spot. Surf Club Sundays Sunday, 23 May – Tasman Keith, Ms Thandi and MI-KAISHA Sunday, 30 May – Mini Skirt, Research Reactor Corp, Satanic Togas and Gully Days Sunday 6 June – Vlossom, Kult Kyss and Kyva Sunday 13 June – Palms, Royel Otis, Ruben Neeson, Tild and The Blamers, plus DJs Sunday 20 June – MAY-A, Loyal Knight and D'Arcy Spiller
It's official, Australia is going to be reppin' the glitter cannons, human-sized hamster wheels and furious fog machines at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. This morning, Australia has been announced as one of the competing countries for this year's contest, and we're even allowed back next year — if we win. Too kind. Australians will even be able to vote, probably at some whack hour of the day. Making a world stage of Vienna this time around, Eurovision is taking place from May 20 to 24, with the final exploding all over Stadthalle arena on May 23. So who's going to be our shining star, our glittering messenger to an estimated global audience of 195 million? Not Jessica Mauboy, who performed in last year's event with weird astronauts and dancers in budgie smugglers. Nope. While SBS is suggesting AC/DC and Midnight Oil (and Olivia Newtown John for some ungodly reason), we've got a few pitches of our own to make. Eurovision is about simultaneously bringing new faces to the world and earning ner-ner-ner-ner bragging rights for your country. Finland dressed up as orcs and played epic metal. Moldova danced in a circle with weird cone hats on. Germany put a disco Genghis Khan on stage. Let's show 'em. DONNY BENET If you've ever seen this Sydney maestro of groove live, you'll know Europe wouldn't be able to resist his seductive synthy basslines, sax solos and crisp white tuxedo jackets. If Benet had been the brains behind France's 'Moustache' track last year, they'd have earned a few more points. KIRIN J CALLINAN Because if we're going to meet the quirk of Eurovision halfway, we need Kirin. Things would undoubtedly get freaky. Plus, he'd give Conchita Wurst's beard a run for its money. CLIENT LIAISON Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller would 'Feed the Rhythm' inside 12 easy points from Malta with their applaudable live show. Plus, Monte wears a lot of mesh and Eurovision loves mesh. SIA The Grammy nominee would get 12 points for vocal range or oversized wig alone, but she'd probably bring along her dancetastic buddy Maddie Ziegler who would seal the deal. BLUEJUICE Get the band back together, bring the skipping ropes back on stage and channel all that newfound Boyz II Men goodness. TKAY MAIDZA Look, the kid's bloody talented, super fun live and if we could win Eurovision with a teenage rapper from Adelaide, we'd run the world. BRENDAN MCLEAN Certified king of dancing like no-one's watching, primed for the Eurostage after jigworthy escapades such as this killer video. UPDATE 11/2: Well, well, well. A dark horse joins the race. There's now a huge surge in support for a petition on Change.org, calling for the reunion of landmark Australian rock band TISM specifically to represent Australia at Eurovision 2015. "Since you left us in 2004, we've had a never ending parade of gormless depressing electro-indie, depressing indie-folk, and depressing Aussie hip-hop," say the petitioners. "We the undersigned, ask that you get on stage in front of the world and remind them of just how great Australian music is." They're up to over 500 signatures already. Want to add yours? Nominated by the Concrete Playground team.
Beck Hansen is the musical chameleon who has brought us one of the loveliest, most miserable break-up albums (Sea Change), a '90s anthem of self-loathing ('Loser'), a Prince-ish album of unadulterated funk (Midnite Vultures), and a collaboration with uber-cool Frenchie Charlotte Gainsbourg (IRM). The thread that brings all these musical threads together is pure, alternative pop. Now, the ever-ambitious, ever-irresolute Beck has a high-concept project: his latest album, Song Reader, will be released as sheet music only. The 20 tracks will then be brought to life by fans and musicians around the world and posted online at http://www.songreader.net. What's the actual music like? Well, we're not totally sure yet (it's released next month through Dave Eggers' publishing house McSweeny's). But local muso and producer Brian Campeau is giving us the opportunity to hear it this December. Josh Pyke, Jonathan Boulet, Dappled Cities, Caitlin Park, Richard In Your Mind, Aidan Roberts (Belles Will Ring), Thomas Rawle (Papa vs Pretty), and Elana Stone will be putting their spin on the first Australian performance of Beck's Song Reader. FBi Radio and the Brag are on board, too — it's a fundraiser for the Sydney Story Factory, a non-profit writing centre for kids. And beyond that, Song Reader is a live experiment into collaboration and interactive music production in a digital age, and the regeneration of an almost forgotten form: the written note. Outside of file-sharing, Beck has emerged as one of the few musicians to ask what digital can do to create new ways of working and creating. Sound like an experiment worth being part of. Image: Brian Campeau and Beck Hansen. Photo by Ken Leanfore.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
Icons teaming up with icons: when documentary series Pretend It's a City hit Netflix in 2021, that's what it served up. Earning attention: Fran Lebowitz, with Martin Scorsese directing. The focus: the acclaimed writer, humorist and social commentator chatting about her life for the legendary filmmaker, following on from Scorsese's Lebowitz-focused 2010 feature-length doco Public Speaking. Of course, Lebowitz doesn't need to be nattering with Scorsese, or in front of The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman helmer's lens, to prove a must-watch figure. Her sharp opinions and deadpan humour have made her famous for more than five decades now, and over a career spanning magazine columns, books, working with Andy Warhol, notable late-night talkshow appearances and public-speaking tours. It's the latter that's bringing her back to Australia in 2024 — including getting talking at the Sydney Opera House. [caption id="attachment_912246" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bill Hayes[/caption] Lebowitz will take to the stage on two nights in the Harbour City, on Tuesday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 14, as part of a tour aptly dubbed An Evening with Fran Lebowitz. Will she chat about attending the Succession season four premiere party? Her role as a judge in the Law & Order franchise (and The Wolf of Wall Street)? Saturday Night Live's parody of Pretend It's a City? Being a columnist for Warhol's Interview mag? Growing up in New Jersey? New York in the 70s? Topics such as race, gender, media and politics? Anything that vexes her? Everything? At least some will earn an unfiltered mention — including at the audience Q&A. Top image: Harrison Dilts.
The best way to start an interview, I find, is to break the ice a bit. In this case, I was interviewing the young spunky dudes behind the latest Bayswater road venue, The Courtyard. I introduced myself to James and politely informed him that he had pen on his face. "Ah thanks," he replied, "it's a scar." Smooth. Anyway, luckily the guys are lovely and have a good sense of humour, which is impressive when you learn that on top of opening a bar, they work regular jobs. The Courtyard is a bar that's built on friendships; that of the three owners Julian Tobias, James Reynolds and Alec Brown and that of their friends (and friends-of-friends) who helped them put it together. Reynolds (also an engineer) and Brown have been mates since their uni days. Brown (also a DJ) met Tobias working the decks at The Club, which Tobias also owns (as well as The Island). The area has suffered its fair share of businesses going bust (the constant redevelopment of the old Bayswater Brassiere, the long-abandoned Lincoln and the closures of Time to Vino and Concrete Blonde), but Bayswater Road itself is a pretty, terraced-lined and leafy street with lots of potential. It's got a new residential building opening at the old Mansions site (which I'm sure nobody will miss). So here’s hoping The Courtyard is a sign of good things to come. And really, if you can redevelop The Bourbon to somewhere we'd actually be seen drinking, anything is possible. The bar itself is built on a maze of hospitality connections and Sydney social networks such as "interior designer friends who helped us out with colour palates, textures and furnishings" or "one of our connections put us in touch with Jasper, an incredible cocktail bartender from New York" and "good friends" who run successful restaurants in Sydney helping them create their menu and wine list. These guys have a lot of experience amongst them promoting, bartending and running venues around Sydney but admit "we're not experts on a lot of things but have a lot of connections so we just went straight to the top and asked for help," says Brown. "We just said," agrees Reynolds with a laugh, "I'm sure I've let you into a club at 4am or given you a free drink at some point, so now I'm calling in that favour." The result is a casual/cool bar that fills the gaping hole in the Cross for a nice place to have a drink and something to eat without wrestling with surly security, trashed teenagers or Underbelly characters. Located underneath Hugo's, the Courtyard's best asset is its ample outdoor seating area, which is decorated with long high tables, green palms and garden patio-style seating. As for the music, there's going to be live acoustic sets, and it's no surprise that many of Brown's DJ buddies are popping by. "I've got some pretty good pull in the industry and lots of people are just showing up for cameos," he says. "You might just turn around and see Flight Facilities here." The food won't break any records for originality, with sliders, salads and snacking boards like antipasto and zucchini flowers. It's very reasonably priced though and there are some good flavour combinations. The beef brisket slider with aged cheddar and pickled onions is our pick. On the drinks front, the aforementioned Jasper Soffer (from the renowned Pegu club in New York) has been consulting on the cocktail list, which admirably doesn't have any drinks based on vodka. But before all women under 25 get tense, don't. "Any cocktail can be made with a neutral base like vodka on request, but we want people to experiment with something a bit different," says Brown. Such as the El Mariachi with tequila, watermelon, chilli, lime and sugar. Try it. You might like it. They're also doing pitchers like Pimms and Sangria ($45) and shots (yes shots) like a Pine Splice with pineapple-infused pisco, homemade lime syrup and fresh lemon ($11). The wines, too, are fairly approachable with some good internationals from France, Italy and Austria — like a Laurenz 'Singing' Gruner Veltliner, and most are around the $30-$50 mark by the bottle. "If you back yourself on your food, cocktails and your wine, people will come back because they know its good," says Reynolds. "We spent a lot of money to make sure we know it is." "I'm not sure what the other operators are doing, but I've been working in this area for five years and seen places come and go I think we've created somewhere that we ourselves would like to drink in, at this point in our lives, and we're confident others will too,” says Brown. You'll likely see James, Alec and Julian there on any given night, drinking with some of the many people that helped them open their bar — and when you do, give James a big, awkward high five for us. Courtyard Bar opens on Friday, 22 March. 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point; 0413 827 740; http://www.facebook.com/thecourtyardbarsydney.
When you're feasting your way around 2024's Vivid Fire Kitchen, don't forget to save room for dessert. It wouldn't be a stall-filled Sydney food event without Gelato Messina making an appearance with an array of special sweet treats, and the chain's latest pop-up doesn't disappoint. At Messina Milk Bar, old-school dishes get the brand's creative twist, sprinkling nostalgia on heartily. If a warm Milo fudge sundae made with Messina's gelato doesn't take your tastebuds back to simpler times, sipping on a spider should. On offer from 6–11pm daily until Saturday, June 15 at The Goods Line, the first features Milo mud cake, cereal milk gelato, Milo fudge, choc-malt mousse and Italian meringue put under the torch, and costs $12. The second pairs creaming soda with vanilla gelato for $10. Also a must-try: $10 gelato choc bars in four flavours, all riffing on beloved fellow sweets as Messina adores doing. Choose between the chain's take on freckles, Bounty, Fantales (RIP) and Biscoff, or head back four times to give them all a whirl. Vanilla or strawberry milkshakes ($12 each), plus cups of Wagon Wheel, Ritz and finger bun gelato ($8 each), round out the Messina Milk Bar selection. And if you're suddenly thinking "should I just have dessert for dinner?", you already know the answer.
Sri Lanka is facing an economic and political crisis, and the country is in dire need of support. Inflation is soaring, and so is the cost of basic goods — and daily power outages are also making daily lives difficult. In response to this devastating humanitarian crisis, Sydney's Sri Lankan restaurant community is getting together to celebrate their beautiful culture and raise funds for immediate food relief to people in need in Sri Lanka. This ANZAC Day, six Sri Lankan restaurants will be hosting Long Lunch for Lanka: Colombo Social in Enmore, Dish: Sri Lankan Street Food in Glebe, Indu in the CBD, Lankan Filling Station in Darlinghurst, Sri Lankan Bites in Glebe and The Fold in Dulwich Hill. The six eateries will be collaborating for a one-off event hosted at the Plate it Forward Headquarters in Darling Harbour. Expect an array of delicious Sri Lankan cuisine from Lankan ceviche and empanadas to curry and spiced ice cream. Plus, there'll be welcome LongLeaf Tea vodka cocktails infused with Sri Lankan tea. The lunch kicks off at 12.30pm on Monday, April 25, with World Cup cricket hero Russel Arnold on hosting duties. Tickets cost $125 per person, which covers a drinks, snacks plus a banquet feast — giving you a perfect way to wrap up the long weekend — and all funds raised will be going to on-the-ground charities. [caption id="attachment_850941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption]
After nailing the balance of indulgent yet approachable wine and pasta with his ever-popular restaurant group Totti's, Mike Eggert has turned his attention to pizza by the slice and sandwiches at his new opening Oti'. The casual CBD eatery arrives in the city on Wednesday, May 10 and, to celebrate, it's offering half-off all of its pizza and sambos on opening day. The menu at Oti' will be ever-changing, but you can expect plenty of classic Italian ingredients loaded between slices of schiacciata or piled on top of the thick, fluffy Roman-style pizza basses. Prosciutto, salami, mortadella, olives, capers and plenty of vegetarian-friendly fillings will be making appearances, as well as eight different kinds of cheese — including Totti's signature burrata. If you're looking for an excuse to sample the selection of takeaway bites on offer, head down on its first day and take 50-percent off what you'd usually pay. You can expect the sandwiches to start from $7.50 on the day, while pizza slices will be going for the one-off price of $6.
In 2020, as Sydney kicks back into gear after COVID-19 shutdowns, hearing that one of the city's cultural institutions is reopening has become commonplace. But the latest venue to announce its return actually closed its doors long before the pandemic — and makes its comeback after a huge renovation. That'd be the Australian Museum, which temporarily shut in August 2019 to facilitate its $57.5 million makeover, called Project Discover. Come Saturday, November 28, Sydneysiders will be able to head back to the popular William Street site and see the results. Even better — you'll be able to do so without spending a cent, with the venue making general admission free for everyone. When it said farewell before its closure, the museum did so with a free weekend. Now, it's making that arrangement permanent. The aim is to not only welcome the city's residents into the Australian Museum's exhibitions, but to turn it into "a popular meeting space and new after-hours event space for Sydney," explains the site's Director and CEO Kim McKay AO. "Like a public square, we will be able to host music and performances as well as provide a place to relax and contemplate, discuss and debate, enjoy a coffee and experience an exhibition," she noted. [caption id="attachment_787662" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] James Alcock[/caption] Of course, those exhibitions — and the space that hosts them — are still the main attraction. As part of its renovation, the Australian Museum has added more than 3000 square metres of public space to its layout, including expanding its touring exhibition hall from 850 square metres to 1500 square metres and creating a Grand Hall in the centre of the museum. And, within the next 12 months, two new gallery spaces are also slated to open. From November 28, visitors will be able to shop at a new Museum Shop, grab a bite to eat at a second onsite cafe, and store their belongings at new cloaking facilities, too. The Crystal Hall entry plaza and lobby space has also been expanded, as has the members lounge. A new central staircase has been added as well, plus new escalators. When the site welcomes patrons back in, it'll do so with two big drawcards: Tyrannosaurs — Meet the Family, which updates one of the Australian Museum's existing exhibitions; and the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020, the popular annual showcase that highlights stunning snaps of the natural world. Both will kick off on November 28, with the former making its return after touring the US and Europe, and the latter taking over the Grand Hall. ThenAustralian Museum will reopen on Saturday, November 28. For further details, visit the museum's website. Images: James Alcock.
One pair of Aussie pastry chefs are on a mission to make the humble lamington famous. Well, famous outside of Australian borders — just how Iranian-born jalebi and Italian cannoli are now found the world over. To do this, Min Chai and Eddie Stewart, founders of Australia's N2 Extreme Gelato, have launched Tokyo Lamington. While the duo initially focused on piquing the interest of overseas tastebuds — selling the lamingtons in Singapore and Tokyo — the chefs have now brought the international brand Down Under. After popping-up in Koko Black stores in Sydney and Melbourne for one day in June, Toyko Lamington opened its flagship Australian store in Market City. The dessert brand doesn't just make traditional takes on the quintessentially Aussie chocolate- and coconut-covered cake. Instead, the sponge gets an international makeover with iterations in pandan, ube, lemon myrtle, black sesame, matcha and milk tea. Nikki To The Sydney outpost of Toyko Lamington will serve some Aussie-as flavours, too, such as fairy bread with popcorn butter and Ferrero Rocher — plus the OG chocolate and coconut version, of course. Each lamington costs $7 a pop and can also be ordered online (for pickup only). The shop's fit-out is loud with black walls and brightly coloured geometrical shapes, timber furniture and hanging greenery. The open space has a few booths and table seating, but will function mainly as a takeaway joint — selling nothing but lamingtons and a few canned drinks.
One Australian film festival has been delivering weird, wild and wonderful movies for 16 years now: the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Dedicated to strange and surreal cinema, it screens the kinds of flicks that don't usually turn up at your local multiplex — although, this year, the event itself is making the move to one such venue. 2022 marks a huge milestone for SUFF in two ways. Firstly, it's the fest's return to a physical event for the first time since 2019, thanks to a couple of pandemic-affected years. Secondly, SUFF is shifting to a new location. Accordingly, come Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, Sydneysiders will want to flock to Event Cinemas George Street to watch everything from hilarious Pete Davidson-featuring horror satires through to the latest and greatest genre shorts. I Love My Dad will open SUFF 2022, telling a tale about an estranged father (played by Patton Oswalt, Gaslit) who catfishes his own son in an effort to reconnect. From there, highlights include new releases by a few mighty impressive filmmakers: closing night's Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, the latest from A Girl Walks Home at Night's Ana Lily Amirpour, and Something in the Dirt, by The Endless and Synchronic's Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. And, of course, there's the aforementioned Bodies Bodies Bodies — which not only features The King of Staten Island's Davidson, but also Dear Evan Hansen's Amandla Stenberg and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova. They star in a film that turns a party game into a slasher onslaught, and tears into not only its characters, but Gen Z and today's always-online world. Also on the in-cinema bill: Dual, the Aaron Paul (Westworld) and Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame)-starring new deadpan comedy by The Art of Self-Defense's Riley Stearns; On the Count of Three, Jerrod Carmichael's (Rothaniel) feature film debut as a director; and documentary I Get Knocked Down, about Chumbawamba singer Dunstan Bruce. Or, you can see the world premiere of horror flick Pig Killer, which is inspired by a true story; catch Norway's Sick of Myself, which also screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival; and check out a charity screening of Rhino by Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Can't make it along in-person? Keen for SUFF to continue at home? The fest's online program will return from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25 as well.
Crispy, sweet, stuffed with a creamy filling and made in a variety of flavours, there's only one thing wrong with cannoli. No matter how many that you happen to devour in a single sitting (admit it — no one just eats one), it never feels like you've ever had enough. If you know that sensation all too well, then you might want to tempt your tastebuds on a road trip to Wollongong's Pasticceria Massimo Papa on Sunday, February 23. From 8am, the Fairy Meadow bakery is celebrating Cannoli Day. Even better — small versions of the Sicilian pastries will cost you just $1, while large ones will be $2 a pop. Vanilla custard, chocolate custard and ricotta-filled varieties will all be waiting, all to celebrate the out-of-town bakery's fifth birthday. Feeling hungry enough to hop in the car? The cannoli feast runs from 8am–4pm. Images: Pasticceria Massimo Papa.
Desperate to get away over summer but can't afford the flights? The Argyle has got you covered. For three weekends in January, the folks at The Rocks' most heaving venue are letting down their hair, with back-to-back beach parties in three distinctive international flavours. The Argyle's Summer Series begins on the weekend of January 8 with a shindig inspired by Rio de Janeiro. Think samba dancers and a total venue makeover. The following week it's off to Miami, with tropical cocktails, beach balls and beach-themed giveaways. Last but not least, take a trip to Ibiza, where everyone dresses in white. The fun will kick right on into Monday, January 25 for a party on Australia Day Eve, featuring Aussie d-floor monarch and triple j House Party captain KLP. The Summer Series will include live entertainment from DJs Helena Legend, Tenzin, Brooklyn, Glover and MINX. The parties kick off at 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 1pm on Sundays. On Friday and Saturday, entry is free before 8pm, and $20-30 afterwards. And if you're heading in for a Sunday session, entry is free all day. Tropical cocktails, we're coming for you. THE ARGYLE SUMMER SERIES January 8-10: Rio de Janeiro January 15-17: Miami January 22-25: Ibiza
It's that time of the year again: the silly season, the month of merriment — whatever you want to call it, it's here. And we bet you're now trying to figure out where exactly you should be celebrating. To help you out, we partnered with Pernod Ricard, to wrangle up some of the best Sydney spots for ringing in the festive season. Rooftops for summer afternoons, a CBD all-day restaurant serving up top-notch Italian nosh and a 30s-themed champagne bar for the most opulent of celebrations, Sydney is the perfect summer playground. So, crack open the bubbly, wine and dine, and catch up with mates before the year is done. It's time to get silly. MATTEO DOWNTOWN Matteo Downtown is a sprawling, all-day Italian eatery in the heart of the CBD — an ideal spot to enjoy the Christmas lead-up joie de vivre for the workaholics among us. With an open kitchen, large woodfire ovens, a dedicated mozzarella station, marble countertops and blazer-clad waiters, the Downtown hits the upscale yet inviting atmosphere Italians do so well. Taking its cues from the vibrant cities of Milan and Rome, the place is a flurry of activity from early morning espressos to late-night digestifs, with an impressive food offering right through. Order a seasonal cocktail, snack on some antipasto, share (or don't share) a friarielli pizza with smoked fior di latte or enjoy the beef tartare — chopped and dressed on a tableside trolley — with schiacciata (a scrumptious Tuscan flatbread). Pair your pizza or the beef (or both) with a deep red like the St. Hugo cabernet sauvignon and you'll be feeling rightfully merry in no time. [caption id="attachment_691224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jiwon Kim.[/caption] NICK AND NORA'S Inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man and its characters Nick and Nora Charles, Paramatta's Nick and Nora's transports you back to Prohibition-era decadence. Atop the Crown's V building with views overlooking the city and Sydney Harbour, the opulent fit-out with art-deco accents is made for lavish celebrations. Champagne is the game here, with over 50 varietals from some of the world's most renowned houses. Dine on fine cheeses, sip Mumm and indulge in watermelon granita-covered oysters or some of the world's best caviar; Nick and Nora's indulges your inner hedonist. EAST VILLAGE HOTEL Darlinghurst's three-tiered East Village Hotel has three wildly different levels to suit anyone's idea of silly season. Overlooking the city's skyline, the Terrace is a bright, breezy and laidback spot synonymous with summer soirées. The decor is simple: crisp white furniture with a touch of pink and an abundance of plants. The vibe? Coastal chill meets garden party elegance where bottles of Mumm seem called for. Below you'll find the Athletic Club — East Village's interpretation of a sports bar. Sporting bespoke poker tables and leather Chesterfield booths, it's more of a British gentleman sports club rather than your Aussie NRL viewing hotspot. On the ground level, the public bar has more of a wine bar feel, with a strong selection of wines and a refined pub fare offering. [caption id="attachment_659299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould.[/caption] TERMINUS HOTEL After a 30-year hiatus and a major revamp, this 177-year-old pub reopened its doors earlier this year and welcomed in the 21st century. The Terminus is a homage to the Australia of yesteryear and has retained much of its heritage — the central bar with original green tiling, restored sandstone in the lower courtyard and even the pre-existing stairs. Downstairs, Turkish-born chef Bektas Mustafa Ozcan puts his Mediterranean spin on Australian classics as well as some Turkish bar snacks to nibble on. The marble-topped Tram Bar slings up craft beers and has a lengthy, largely accessible wine list with a selection of premium drops like St Hugo cabernet sauvignon and Mumm Grand Cordon also available. Upstairs is Vera's, the cocktail bar named after Vera Dempsey who ran the Terminus back in the 30s. The signature Terminus Sour — Chivas 12 whisky and Pernod absinthe, shaken with fresh lemon juice and house-made thyme syrup, then strained over ice – doesn't go astray. HYDE PARK HOUSE Hyde Park House is a four-level extravaganza with very distinctive floors. The public bar (aptly named Public Bar) is a polished, simple spot to pull up a stool around the central bar, have a chinwag and wash down some greasy pub food with a brew. On level two there's The Club Lounge, a private function area. Ascend the stairs again and you'll find the swish cocktail lounge, Jessie's, with a rotating roster of local DJs every Friday. But it's the rooftop level, Slim's, that impresses. Ruffled pink umbrella's, city views and cacti in abundance, the atmosphere evokes a carefree spirit where spritzes, a glass of Mumm and classic cocktails with an Asian twist flow aplenty. With izakaya-style food — think sushi rolls, wasabi karaage chicken, barbecued prawns and miso eggplant — to match, it's the summer hang to ring in the festivities. Start planning your festive hangs — Christmas will be here before you know it. And if you're entertaining at home or just having a Sunday arvo barbie down at the beach, waltz on into any Cellarbrations, The Bottle O, IGA Liquor or Big Bargain Bottleshop, grab any two Pernod products listed here and go in the draw to win a $500 travel voucher, offered every day until Christmas.
Sydney's Night Noodle Markets finally returned this week, opening at a new home in Prince Alfred Park on Tuesday, October 4. Sadly, the beloved markets have received yet another dose of bad luck in the form of a heavy dose of rain that's struck Sydney over the last couple of days, courtesy of La Niña. After being forced to cancel last night's festivities at the last minute, the organisers' hand has been forced again today (Thursday, October 7) announcing on Instagram this afternoon that they would be called off for the second night in a row. "Due to the ongoing weather conditions, we unfortunately have been advised to cancel again this evening due to safety concerns," the announcement reads. This isn't the first time La Niña has had an impact on the markets this year; the event was originally set to return in March, but had to be postponed due to wet weather. The markets will run until this Sunday, October 9, hosting stalls from the likes of Gelato Messina, Hoy Pinoy, Brendan Pang's Bumplings, Bangkok Street Food, Shallot Thai, Roll Up, Raijin, Calabang and Donut Papi — the best of which you can preview here. The forecast for the next three days isn't looking particularly sunny, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting anywhere between 73–100mm of rain across the next three days. Make sure you follow the Night Noodle Markets on Instagram for regular updates or any further cancellation news. The 2022 Sydney Night Noodle Markets will run until Sunday, October 9 in Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills. To stay up-to-date with any further cancellations, head to the event's Instagram page.
Dreaming about your next holiday, New South Wales residents? A staycation in Sydney or a getaway somewhere else throughout the state should now be in your future. Late in 2021, the NSW Government announced that it'd give folks across the state $50 vouchers to use on accommodation — and it has just started rolling out that free holiday money. Every adult in the state can receive a voucher, which have now been dubbed Stay NSW vouchers, with the NSW Government committing $250 million to the scheme. And, they're being rolled out early, too, slightly ahead of the initial plan to start making them available in March. Whether you can get your hands on a voucher just yet depends on where you live, however, because they're being released by Local Government Area over a two-week period. If they're not available to you right now — which you can check online — they will be by Thursday, March 3. [caption id="attachment_843722" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paramount House Hotel by Tom Ross.[/caption] Accessed by applying via the Service NSW app, Service NSW website or calling 13 77 88, the vouchers are on offer to everyone over the age of 18 that's a NSW resident, and can be redeemed at more than 1200 accommodation premises throughout the state. That said, they're not eligible to be used via Airbnb, online accommodation booking platforms and travel agents. Also, you can only use your voucher for room bookings — not for other products and services at hotels, such as food, drinks or spa services — but they're valid seven days a week, including public holidays, up until Sunday, October 9. Also, you can combine your own vouchers with your partner's or friends', to get more cash off your reservation — if the place you're planning to stay at allows it. And, if you're wondering exactly where you can now enjoy a night away, the Stay NSW program website has a directory of participating accommodation providers. "The Stay NSW program has been expanded and fast-tracked, so people can enjoy a staycation sooner. Whether it's a quiet country inn, the family-run caravan park or a hotel in the Sydney CBD, every budget needs a boost this year," said Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello in a statement. The rollout comes almost a year after former Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced something similar in March 2021. Back then, 200,000 vouchers worth $100 each were set to be handed out on a first come, first served basis around June, for use in Sydney's inner city. But then Sydney went into lockdown, followed the rest of the rest of the state. Now resurrected not just after Sydney's almost four-month-long period of stay-at-home conditions last year, but following the impact of the Omicron wave over the summer, the accommodation voucher program has two obvious aims: enticing folks in NSW to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support local businesses. Victoria and Queensland have also run similar schemes, too, because throwing some love towards the Aussie tourism industry has understandably been a big focus during the pandemic. The Stay NSW voucher scheme has started rolling out by Local Government Area, with all areas set to have access to vouchers by Thursday, March 3. For further information, head to the Stay NSW program website.
It's the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history. It's the longest-running production now currently playing Broadway, too. It's been seen by over 34-million people worldwide in 38 countries, and played more than 33,500 performances in 525-plus cities. And, it's won six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy. The show: Chicago. It has also made a return to Australia, including splashing a healthy dose of 1920s razzle dazzle in Sydney from Sunday, June 9, 2024 in the musical's big Aussie comeback. Come on babes, why don't we paint the town? With all that jazz, the record-breaking smash is shimmying back onto the Capitol Theatre stage to put on one helluva show. Get ready to see Zoë Ventoura (Home and Away) as Velma Kelly and Lucy Maunder (Mary Poppins) as Roxie Hart, plus Aussie theatre star Anthony Warlow (The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) as Billy Flynn. [caption id="attachment_714916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeremy Daniel[/caption] Also featuring: Peter Rowsthorn (Kath & Kim) as Roxie's husband Amos, Asabi Goodman (Hairspray) as prison warden Mama Morton and S. Valeri as crime reporter Mary Sunshine. Inspiring 2002's Renée Zellweger (Judy)- and Catherine Zeta Jones (Wednesday)-starring Academy Award-winning film of the same name, Chicago tells the tale of housewife and nightclub dancer Roxie Hart. In the decadent 1920s, she twirls through a whirlwind of murdered lovers, jail time, fierce rivalries and tabloid sensationalism — all set to a toe-tapping soundtrack. Based on a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, the production showcases music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and choreography by Tony Award-winner Ann Reinking. [caption id="attachment_714915" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Kolnik[/caption] Top image: Jeff Busby. Updated Monday, June 17, 2024.
Spring has landed at last. And, if you're a Sydneysider, you'll know it's never too early to make the most of our city's glorious sunshine, with plenty of surf sessions, coastal strolls and cocktails by the beach on offer. Want all three? Make tracks to Bondi — the world's most famous stretch of sand — for a day in the sun, then head to Sydney's ultimate beach bar: Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. It's got world-class cocktails, top-notch food and million-dollar views, making it the perfect spot for a post-dip wind-down. Plus, the famed Bondi spot has teamed up with Johnnie Walker to bring you a decadent new take on the highball cocktail. And we're not talking about the whisky highball as you've always known it, with plain soda and any old whisky in the rail. We're talking about a reinvention. What else would you expect from one of Sydney's most celebrated spots? Bartender Matt Whiley has created a refreshing tasting, summery interpretation of the classic. Dubbed 'Walking on Thin Ice' ($20), Whiley's cocktail is made with just four ingredients: anise soda, verjus, bergamot syrup and Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky, of course. So, think a touch of floral earl grey tea in this one, with Whiley's interesting use of the citrusy bergamot — a fruit indigenous to southern Italy. If you're keen to try it, get yourself to Bondi Beach any day from Tuesday, September 17. Plus, in case you're hungry after a day of sun and surf, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar will be pairing its new cocktail with a raw seafood cracker for $24.
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 — Yarra Valley Chocolaterie's 31-flavour hot chocolate boxes will now be available to order in September until the end of lockdown. Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And, this time, it's bringing the decadence to you. To save Melburnians from these blustery days, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie is churning out boxes filled with 31 hot chocolate flavours. Fan favourite flavours like Tim Tam Slam and Golden Nutella Spoon will be included in the box, along with the more adventurous likes of If You Like Piña Colada, Zingy Chilli, Cherry Matcha and Movie Night, which comes with choc-coated popcorn and marshmallow choc top. You can check out all 31 flavours here. All limited-edition hot chocolates come with an extra shot of hot couverture chocolate and handcrafted marshmallow, too. Plus, some of the highlights arrivewith exploding marshmallows, melting chocolate discs and truffle balls. If the 31-flavour pack is a little much (or a little too expensive, at $160), you can also order a pick-and-mix 16-flavour box ($92) and individual varieties for $6.50 a pop. The boxes are available to order until the end of lockdown and there's a flat-rate shipping fee of $15 to anywhere in Australia.
The heritage-listed Capitol Theatre has been around since 1928 and continues to host some of the best musical and theatrical productions in Sydney. The gorgeous interior will take you back to another time. Meanwhile, the theatre pulls in all of the modern Broadway favourites, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock: The Musical, which ran in early 2020. Coming up is the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical Come from Away, which will take the stage in 2021. The venue also offers a free membership program, which offers members pre-sale tickets, access to the best seats in the house and special offers aplenty. It's one of the best ways to see this year's blockbuster Broadway hits on the cheap.
Only a hop, skip and a jump from favourites Grandma's, The Baxter Inn and Grasshopper, Assembly is a spanking new option on the city's map of small bars. Plus, it's from the gent responsible for Pocket Bar, so you know you're getting a good deal. Admittedly, Assembly is tucked away in a bit of a strange spot - namely Regent Place, a shopping hub with the feel of a shopping centre. Entrance to the bar involves sidestepping an escalator, so entering a dimly lit bar feels like an awkward adjustment. That said, the Assembly team have done their best to counter this and ensure the bar itself is a departure from its surrounds. Outside the bar proper sits a picnic spot, or garden if you will. Tables on astroturf are surrounded by a picket fence, tapping into the greenery installation on the centre's wall. This makes for a playful lunching atmosphere in the concrete centre, or a surreal spot to sit and drink at night. The bar itself is far from sparkling tiles and polished steel - it has the atmosphere of an adult's treehouse. Dividers built from wooden pallets, milkcrate tables, bunker-style lights, slightly creepy mannequins and one of the cleverest dumb waiters we've ever seen, made from the repurposed mechanism of a garage door. The drinks from mixologist/general manager Ben Taouss are almost as intelligent, and most definitely as playful. My pick (and one of my favourites anywhere) was the Lavender Hill Cappuccino ($17), a martini with Pop Rocks and an apple foam. There's also the Rasp'n'Co ($16), a 'vodka raspberry' with white chocolate or, for more serious drinkers, the Brooklyn ($18), a prohibition-style concoction of rye whisky, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, a dash of Amer Picon and a cherry on top. Some of our favourites, however, also came from the Ambassadors List, dedicated to some of Sydney's spirit brands' ambassadors. We love the Citroen Sour ($18), with half a passionfruit and a dash of orange bitter, plus the Earl Negroni ($18), Hendricks, Campari and Antica formula with orange marmalade, served up in a teacup. If you'd prefer, there's a shifting range of fairly standard beers and a moderate wine list also on offer. Food isn't overly complicated but hits the spot. The winning dish is unquestionably the Sticky Ribs ($18). Though these don't quite represent ribs as we would imagine them and the broccolini is a little underrepresented, the meat melts like butter. Make sure you pick up a side of Fries ($8) - though the melted cheese and truffle sauce isn't ideal, they do well to mop up the ribs' smoky sauce. If you'd rather mix and match, try the Hotdogs ($9-$10). Our pick was the Chili Pork, with toffee onions and chimichurri that packed a punch, though the Pork and Fennel, with the addition of daikon and wasabi, was an intriguing mix. Assembly isn't perhaps what you'd except from the 'small bars' hype, but we like it nonetheless. A little fancier than Grandma's and a little more playful than Baxter Inn, we want to see how the assemblage of this bar develops into the future. [nggallery id=168]
Think back to science class at school — chances are you either loved or hated it. Either way, science is much more than Bunsen burners and memorising geological terms from a scrappy textbook — it's about the human body, space, technology and how we live in and interact with the world. With that in mind, Sydney Science Festival is determined to indulge or rekindle your interest in science, with a diverse lineup of the world's best researchers, hands-on workshops, exhibitions and events to suit science fans of all ages. The festival returns for its fourth year in August, featuring more than 200 events across 90 Sydney venues — that's a sizeable wealth of knowledge and expertise. Some of the headline speakers include leading astronomers Lisa Harvey-Smith and Kirsten Banks and Artificial Intelligence experts Ellen Broad and Toby Walsh. Sydney Science Festival explores some of the most fascinating issues facing the globe today in an accessible and engaging format. The program begins at the Powerhouse Museum on Thursday, August 9 with the free after-hours event MAASLive Lates: Science, which offers guests hands-on experiences dissecting botanical species and the opportunity to chat to the experts. You will also get a first look at the new exhibition Human Non-Human, featuring commissions from four artists that consider the past and future human experience through the lens of food, work, sex and belief. Also on the schedule, proving science doesn't always need to be serious, comedian and public health practitioner Alanta Colley will share her cheeky parable on parasites in Parasite Lost. Keynote speeches, interactive family-friendly activities, groundbreaking documentaries and a chance to get a glimpse into the future of A.I. and intelligent machines fill out the remainder of the program. With an entire cosmos of events to choose from, the festival has produced a range of helpful itineraries to make your decision a little bit easier. The Sydney Science Festival is part of National Science Week, which runs from August 7 to August 19. The festival is led by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and the Australian Museum, in partnership with Inspiring Australia. For the full event program and tickets, head to the website. We're also giving away ten double passes to the Festival's keynote presentation by Lisa Harvey-Smith. To enter, see details below. [competition]679130[/competition]
The Australian sun ripens up some tasty talent and Carriageworks is serving it up in bulk in 2016. Premiering in April and running for three nights (April 20-23), Lake Disappointment is a distinctive new work by four of Australia's most exciting independent artists, collaborating for the first time on this exclusive project. Although the title doesn't quite flag it, Lake Disappointment is a comedy. This new Sydney play also explores a relatively unexplored topic: the oddly narcissistic life of a body double. Directed by Malthouse Theatre's exciting new Director in Residence, Janice Muller, with sound design by the always brilliant James Brown, Lake Disappointment comes from playwrights Luke Mullins (who also plays the lead) and Lachlan Philpott. The pair have written the story loosely around the life of Heath Ledger's body double (what an excellent job title) as a way to investigate themes of self and identity. The narrative itself is also intriguing: a famous movie star and his close friend (and body double) have to get through one more arthouse film shoot (for a film called, you guessed it, Lake Disappointment) before moving onto Hollywood blockbusters. When the body double arrives on set early, something about the location and content of the film seems off, and the arrival of the star keeps being postponed. Mystery, lols and primo Aussie talent all rolled into one? Yes, please and thank you.
Looking for a mid-week pick-me-up? Fancy filling your Thursday with the joy of pizza from some of Sydney's best pizzerias, free of charge? That's right, free pizza. The promotion comes courtesy of at-home pizza oven company Gozney, which is teaming up with Grifter Brewing Co to celebrate doughy rounds for World Pizza Day. If you want to get your hands on some complimentary pizza, you'll have to head down to one of four local venues as they swing open their doors on Thursday, February 9. Two of the pizzerias featured on our list of Sydney's best pizza — Dimitri's and Pizza Madre — as well as Pizza Bros at Grifter's Marrickville brewery, will each be giving away full-sized pizzas to the first 50 customers that arrive on the day. Similarly, brand-new pizza-by-the-slice outpost City Oltra will be making the day of 100 lucky customers, giving out free slices to the first 100 people through the doors of its new Eddy Avenue eatery. As part of the festivities, Grifter is also unveiling its new pizza-inspired beer. Named Birra Quattro, the new brew is an Italian-style pilsner that celebrates the shared similarities behind the creation of both pizza and beer. "The inspiration behind Birra Quattro started when my co-founder, Glenn and I started cooking pizzas at home with the Gozney Roccbox. We saw the similarities between pizza and beer, both being made from fermented cereal grains," says Grifter's co-Founder Matt King. All of the participating venues will have Birra Quattro available for purchase if you'd like to pair your cheesy meal with a can of the new drop. Rounding out the day's excitement is the chance to win a huge pizza-themed prize pack. Three punters will be served a 'lucky slice' which entitles them to everything they need for a home pizza party — a Gozney portable pizza oven and a slab of Grifter's Birra Quattro. Dimitri's will be opening for lunch from 1pm, with the first 50 tables booked each getting a free pizza. City Oltra will be opening at 3pm with free slices for the first 100 customers, and both Pizza Madre and Pizza Bros will have free pizzas available on a first-come, first-served basis from 5pm. [caption id="attachment_888094" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption]
Still got a bit of festival action left in this season's tank? Put it to excellent use, with a trip to Tasmania and a few days adventuring at the seventh edition of Party In The Paddock. The laidback music and arts festival makes its yearly return to a property in White Hills, a 20-minute drive southeast of Launceston, from February 7 to 9. And it's bringing with it a good-times lineup well worth crossing Bass Strait for, with UK songstress Lily Allen, four-piece indie rock band The Jungle Giants, electro duo The Presets, Sydney alt-rockers Middle Kids, Melbourne's Slowly Slowly and singer Vera Blue just some of the big-name acts set to grace this year's stage. In addition to three days chock-full of live tunes, the festival is dishing up a hefty arts program, pulled together by the legends at Vibestown. And 2019's version is as big as ever, promising the full gamut of fun, interactive and mind-bending experiences. We're talking existential short film screenings, a funeral ceremony that'll have you farewelling your greatest fears, comedy sessions headlined by Matt Okine and Gen Fricker, morning yoga sessions and a pop-up Willie Smith's bar slinging breakfast cocktails and funky DJ tunes. Browse market stalls filled with top Tassie produce, let collaborative art project Real Talk inspire you to swap social media for some actual conversations, and of course, join the wild, wacky and riotously dressed for the famed Vibestown March. Images: Mitch Lowe and Andy Hardy.
Artist the Dirt has battled for art at Name This Bar and taken over a corner of Foley St-spanning mural We Are Here. Now he’s set for a short, solo show at City of Sydney creative space Platform 72, Tomorrow Never Knows. The Dirt is the nom de plume of local boy Jamie Preisz, whose art tends to go for one body part at a time, like ambulant hands, skulls or a fragile, open-toothed “broken man”. He’s an artist who seems to prefer working on a grand scale. For this exhibtion, though, he’s been at work in his studio for the past few months, putting together a show described as a bit more intimate in scale. For a few short days, you'll be able decide for yourself how this macro to micro zoom is going.
