Need a way to keep cool over summer? Swap the beach for epic waterslides and huge inflatable pools at Australia's first mobile waterpark, Waterworld Central Sydney. The family-friendly affair will be taking over Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter for two months, so, as the mercury rises, you and your kids can get your thrills — and stay chilled. Race your mates on the multilane Epic Racer slide, go on an 80-metre water tubing ride or test your courage on the brand new Wave Slide. You can also splash about in one of the many enormous inflatable pools and see what it's like to walk on water by taking a spin on the giant zorb cylinder. Open daily from December 28 right through till January 26 (except New Year's Day), Waterworld Central will ensure you have plenty of outdoor aqua adventures this summer — no matter your age. Of course, there's the global pandemic to be mindful of, so pre-booking tickets is encouraged. Waterworld Central will be open daily from 10am–4pm from December 28–January 26, but will be closed New Year's Day. To pre-book your tickets, head here.
Across the past eight years, Sydney's All About Women festival has featured sessions on everything from hip hop and toxic masculinity to the post-#MeToo era — and, for its ninth iteration in 2021, it's once again presenting an exciting and eclectic program. When the event returns on Sunday, March 7, it'll feature talks, panels, workshops and films about the evolution of the feminist movement, its limitations, the gendered nature of household responsibilities, misogynistic online communities and the judgements built into artificial intelligence. There's also a session about coping with doomscrolling, because that topic couldn't be more relevant after the past 12 months. Once again, the fest will take place around International Women's Day — happening the day before, though, so it can still be held on a weekend. And while AAW has always covered a huge array of bases each and every year, there is a particular focus on power structures that limit the female experience in 2021. That subject will come through in sessions about identity, sexuality and resilience, and others that explore technology, entrenched inequalities and feminist futures. Talks about sex work and mindfulness are also on the bill, too. Leading the lineup of speakers is writer Isabel Allende, who'll be discussing her 2021 memoir The Soul of a Woman — which explores her role in the feminist movement across continents, cultures, and centuries. She's joined on the program by How to Be A Woman and More Than a Woman author Caitlin Moran, who'll examine the realities of of middle-aged life; Koa Beck, the ex-Jezebel editor-in-chief who penned White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind; and Laura Bates, author of Everyday Sexism and Men Who Hate Women and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project — with the ways in which the individual is often valued over the community and the corners of the internet swaying the mindsets of boys and young men all on the agenda. [caption id="attachment_797616" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Isabel Allende. Image: Lori Barra[/caption] For folks interested in AI, researcher and professor Kate Crawford will chat about machine classification and its role in entrenching inequality. Covering completely different subjects, one panel session will examine the often-complicated relationship between sex work and feminism, too, while another talk will help participants learn to cope with uncertainty in today's COVID-afflicted world. Or, attendees can head to workshops about making zines, weaving baskets — as led by Yorta Yorta woman Tegan Murdock and her mum Margaret Murray — and using music to help let go of the past. Unsurprisingly given the state of Australia's international borders, speakers from overseas will appear via video, rather than in-person. For those who can't attend AAW in person — including those located outside of Sydney — some sessions will be live-streamed as well, and made available to watch on-demand afterwards. The jump to online also includes AAW's film component. Two documentaries, Brazen Hussies and Coded Bias, will screen at the Opera House — and they'll also be available to stream online, alongside a lineup of short documentaries from female Australian filmmakers. All About Women 2021 will take place on Sunday, March 7 at the Sydney Opera House. Livestream tickets and event multipacks are on sale from 9am on Wednesday, January 20, with single-ticket pre-sales starting at the same time — and general public tickets available from 9am on Friday, January 22.
In 1948, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh bet a bunch of local actors in a Sydney pub that they could recite Australian poetry as good as any local. To prove it they went to a radio station and recorded Banjo Patterson’s Last Week and Clancy of the Overflow. The recording was marked ‘not for broadcast’ and has, until now, sat in the National Film and Sound Archive gathering dust. On Wednesday evening the dust is coming off and legendary Australian actor Jack Thompson is taking on the Oliviers in a bout of Banjo balladeering in the Mitchell wing of the State Library. This is a serious clash of past and present – kind of momentous I reckon.It’s also the launch of Kathy Leahy’s new book Lords and Larrikins: The Actor’s Role in the Making of Australia. Leahy and Thompson will be on hand to chat about the book, and discuss such topics as why in Australia we still call for control of the public artist.
The Sydney Opera House has had no shortage of high-profile visitors, but perhaps one of its most loved is Benny. He's the long-nosed fur seal who likes to hang out on the Opera House's northern VIP steps, and today he's getting the ultimate tribute, with a giant, eight-metre-long inflatable likeness of the creature popping up on Sydney Harbour. The Benny floaty will be kicking around for one day only to help launch the Opera House's new meme-loving chat bot, which'll share everything from random facts and insider stories, to ideas for your next date night. It'll also have a wealth of knowledge about the Bennelong Point marine environment, including plenty of fun facts about his fellow seals. "Speaking with a seal about the Opera House is probably the last thing people would expect," said Sydney Opera House General Manager of Marketing, Christina Erskine. "By creating an affable, informed and frankly adorable seal we want Sydneysiders to discover a completely different side to the Opera House and realise there's something for everyone to enjoy here." If you'd like to check out the inflatable seal in the flesh, he'll be floating around the Opera House for most of the day, but if you're stuck at your desk, you can watch the live stream of him at the Sydney Opera House Facebook page. Images: Daniel Boud
Author, comedian and frequent contributor to the New Yorker, David Sedaris, has released dates for his fourth Australian tour. In line with the launch of his newest title, Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977–2002), Sedaris is putting on a number of memorable shows for his cult followers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Often hailed as one of the world's foremost humourists, Sedaris is known for his snappy wit and has established himself as a unique observer of life's moments, both trivial and extraordinary. Ranging from observational comedy to social critique and readings from his outrageous personal diary, his live shows regularly traverse new and unpublished material. In addition, he'll be throwing it over to the crowd for a Q&A and signing copies of his book.
Yeah, we're thinking he's back — John Wick, that is. Five years after Keanu Reeves introduced everyone's favourite assassin (and dog owner) to the world, and two years after the film scored its first sequel, the action-packed franchise is bringing its third instalment to the big screen in 2019. Entitled John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and due to hit cinemas in May, the series' latest follow-up picks up where the last flick left off, aka with Wick being hunted down by his fellow killers. With a $14 million price tag on his head, plenty of hitmen and women are out to collect the bounty. And all of this because, in the first movie, he became the proud owner of an adorable pooch. As Wick notes, of course, "it wasn't just a puppy". If you're not up on your Latin, parabellum means 'prepare for war', which is just what a kick-ass Keanu looks primed to do. This time, he'll have Halle Berry in his corner — and he's not adverse to brandishing some firepower while atop a horse or mowing down his enemies while he's riding a motorbike. With this year marking two decades since The Matrix first arrived and blew movie-goers' minds, he's not against quoting one of that film's most famous lines either. Like John Wick: Chapter 2, Parabellum does re-team Reeves with Laurence Fishburne once more, so prepare for another Neo and Morpheus reunion. As for the rest of the cast, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Jason Mantzoukas all return from the previous flicks, while Anjelica Huston ranks among the new additions. Behind the lens, former Keanu stunt double turned filmmaker Chad Stahelski directs again, as he has did with the previous John Wick flicks. The film's first trailer arrived earlier this year, and now a second sneak peek has dropped. Check them both out below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8-7BX9uxs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v2P3cpPOXY&feature=youtu.be John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 16.
From 12.01pm today, Queensland is once again letting in tourists (with a border pass) from across Australia (except Victoria) to visit its white beaches and coral reefs. To celebrate, Virgin Australia is selling half-a-million cheap flights to the Sunshine State. Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, just months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital and launched a comeback sale in early July. Now, it has just kicked off its Good to Go sale, which is running from Friday, July 10 until midnight on Tuesday, July 14 (or until sold out) and includes fares as low as $85. It's not quite as much of a bargain as Jetstar's earlier $19 flight sale, but the tickets do include a 23-kilogram baggage allowance for economy class bookings. [caption id="attachment_770853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] Sydneysiders can pack that bag and jump on a flight to the Gold Coast for $85, to Brisbane for $89 and to Cairns for $139, while Brisbanites can take their baggage to the Whitsunday Coast for $89, to Sydney for $99 and to Hamilton Island for $115. If you're hoping to head into Queensland in the next seven days, prepare for plenty of company: the government yesterday reported that 200,000 people had applied for the required border pass and that "congestion and delays" were expected. Virgin Australia's Good to Go sale runs until midnight on Tuesday, July 14.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home. And, while it references two types of pet in its name, it's currently trying to find permanent homes for the canines in its shelter, which is at capacity. So, to help encourage you to add some more wagging tails to your life, it's lowering its adoption fees — and completely waiving them in some instances. If you're keen on having a small dog for company, you'll find your adoption fee halved. For large and medium dogs, though, there's no adoption fee at all. Announced on Monday, July 11, the reduced and waived fees are in place for a week — and while you can't put a price on the happiness a new furry, four-legged friend will bring, it's hoped that the move will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment. Whichever size dog fits your life, all animals that find loving human companions via Sydney Dogs & Cats Home come vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped, as well as desexed and treated for fleas and worms. Sydneysiders eager to give a woofer a new home full of love and pats can currently view which dogs are up for adoption via the organisation's website. Then, if you see one that captures your heart, you can submit an enquiry online. After that, you'll hear back from the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home's team about progressing the adoption. There's more to welcoming an animal into your life than overdosing on cuteness, of course, as making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sydney's only charity pound (@sydneydogsandcatshome) For more information about Sydney Dogs & Cats Home and its adoptions — or to view dogs available to new homes, and make an enquiry — visit the organisation's website.
Every year across ten days, FOOD (Food of Orange District) Week shows off the best mouthwatering fare from 'The Food Basket' of New South Wales, including the best local produce, chefs and restaurants, as well as cool-climate wines. Kickstart your salivating at the FOOD Week Night Market with food and wine from over 50 stalls, or head to FOOD HQ to pick the brains of local farmers, chefs and providores and buy their produce directly from them. If you need a lift to Orange from Sydney, hop aboard the FOOD Train. Departing from Central Station, you'll embark on a weekend-long journey filled with tasting menus, outdoor lunches and gourmet brunches. You'll also hear from local producers, explaining how their food gets from paddock to plate. There are several more gourmet experiences to be had during the week in Orange, including FORAGE, a gentle 4.1-kilometre walk through vineyards and paddocks with wine tasting and a nine-course degustation made with local produce along the way, and the Sunday Producers' Market in Cook Park, where local produce will be turned into breakfasts and brunches on the spot. There's also the inaugural Autumn Grazing Dinner with guest chef Alex Kearns from Glebe Point Diner. Enjoy the experience of wandering through Blayney while sampling local produce and wine and dancing the night away
Chippendale's warehouse-chic bar and nightclub Freda's is unveiling its newest food offering. Less than five months after opening its New York/Italian–inspired slice spot at the bar, Moon Pizza has announced it's throwing in the towel off to pursue other things. So, who will provide the food after a sweaty round of dancing? The bar's new food collaborator is called Cheesy Grin and it sounds like it will be a more than adequate replacement. It has previously popped-up at Grifter Brewing Co. and The Midnight Special, but will take up an extended residency at the Chippendale favourite starting on January 31. Chef Wesley Jones is at the helm and will serve up a well-rounded snack menu divided into four sections: ocean, landscape, sweet and salumi. And it has a strong selection of toasties. The 'ocean' section is inspired by Jones's upbringing on the south coast. Expect oysters — el natural or topped with nasturtium granita — and kingfish crudo, while under 'landscape' you'll find leafy green salads with herbs, flowers and veggies. The 'salumi' will include smaller nibbles, such as candied walnuts, beet pickles, stracciatella, roasted blood plum with lardo and a hearty meat plate. You can also choose to leave the deciding to Jones with the sample plate ($25). If you're hanging out for dessert, he'll also be whipping up deconstructed strawberry and white ganache doughnuts and a crumble flavoured with Grifter's pale ale, ginger ice cream and ganache. While the main menu will end at 10pm, Cheesy Grin will also be serving toasties right up until closing (which is 2am on Fridays and Saturdays), so you can cure that carb craving at 1am without hunting down a kebab store. The toasties will come on four different bread types — pretzel, brioche, sourdough and semi-sourdough — with a choice of fillings like sopressa and cured egg yolk, four cheeses, and snow peas and mint. If, on the opposite side of the evening, you're there early, you'll be able to order one of the few bowls of pasta available each night. At the moment Cheesy Grin's extended residency doesn't have a set end date, but we suggest you don't delay heading in to check it out. Cheesy Grin will open at Freda's on Wednesday, January 31. Head to the website for more details and the full menu.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow, so does the smallest of its superheroes: Ant-Man, the former thief born Scott Lang, who can shrink down to an insect's size when wearing the right technologically enhanced suit. Charmingly goofy and also plain-old charming because he's played by Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door), this petty criminal-turned-caped crusader scampers through his third self-titled film in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — and the franchise-within-a-franchise ramps up its ambition as more flicks arrive. Ant-Man can expand as well as contract, of course, but that isn't new. What's different, and about as welcome as a sting on bare legs at a picnic, is that the Ant-Man movies are no longer happy being largely standalone jaunts. This threequel has a key series-building task first, foremost and at a giant cost: kicking off the MCU's phase five. The perhaps unofficial job, too: bringing more than a zap of Star Wars into this other Disney-owned behemoth. It's lucky that the Mouse House does have both Marvel and Lucasfilm in its stable, otherwise the latter might be all abuzz about the former's latest release. Anyone who fears that too many blockbusters are becoming too similar won't feel fortunate while watching the new Honey, I Shrunk the Superhero, however, which doesn't ever saddle a character with saying "help me Ant-Man, you're my only hope", but still includes a scene that basically does the exact same thing. That moment is surrounded by shots of zap-heavy fighting in the corridors of an existence-threatening villain's stronghold that could easily be a Death Star, as even the most casual of visitors to a galaxy far, far away will spot. That said, Ant-Man's current escapades aren't happening in the space above, but in the minuscule realm that exists between atoms. At least it isn't called Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Battles. Imagining a world — this very world — where Disney eventually decides to mashup two of its biggest screen properties, and the box office's heftiest hits, is easier than an ant spiriting away strewn food crumbs. It's also a cinch to see Quantumania's similarities to all things Star Wars as the first step in that direction, in fact. Filmmaker Peyton Reed, who directed 2015's Ant-Man and 2018's Ant-Man and the Wasp as well, did add two episodes of The Mandalorian to his resume in-between that last flick and Quantumania. But such a blockbuster team-up isn't where this MCU chapter itself heads in its dragging 125-minute running time. Instead, it has the rest of Marvel's phase five to set up, plus a nemesis that'll linger into phase six — so much so that it feels much less interested in Ant-Man than a movie called Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania really should be. That's it's hardly fussed at all about The Wasp, aka Scott's significant other and world-saving partner Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly, Crisis), should come as no surprise, then. In the 31st MCU film's opening beats, Ant-Man is indeed the star of the show. He's a celebrity basking in the fame of being among the Avengers and dealing with Thanos, and he's written a memoir about it — a book, Look Out for the Little Guy, that'll genuinely exist IRL come September. But the bliss of Scott's success gets cut down when he learns that his now 18-year-old daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton, Freaky) has been secretly tinkering with Hope and her ant-obsessed physicist father Hank Pym (Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method). The trio's project: sending signals down to the quantum realm. Hank's wife and Hope's mother Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit) is also unimpressed, given that rescuing her from that microscopic place, where she spent 30 years, was no minor part of the plot of the last Ant-Man entry. Viewers should savour the precious time outside the quantum realm in Quantumania; there isn't much of it. No sooner are the Lang/van Dyne/Pym swarm talking about Cassie, Hope and Hank's experiments than they're all transported to said subatomic space, with working out how to get home far from their only worry. Janet had led the others to believe that all she found when she was gone was nothing upon nothing, but entire civilisations and species, akin to Star Wars' different planets, people and critters with a dash of Dune's and Mad Max: Fury Road's landscapes and themes, lurk below. So does the banished, trapped and genocidal Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors, The Harder They Fall), the time-hopping, world-destroying new adversary who likes annihilating things just because he can — and he desperately and nefariously wants out as well. Various past MCU stars have decried the green-screen acting that's burrowed into CGI-heavy pictures, including Oscar-winners — not for Marvel movies — Christian Bale and Anthony Hopkins. Their complaints haunt Quantumania, a film where almost everything around its cast is special effects, and little that cinematographer Bill Pope (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) could do could salvage the feature's murkiness. Marvel's reliance upon pixels can look stunning, as seen in the first Black Panther, but the quantum realm's got nothing on Wakanda's blandest detail. Any sense of visual marvel has been not only shrunk but dulled. Any sense of anything but dutiful interest shares the same fate. So does the personality that was so crucial to the first Ant-Man, with any signs that Reed once helmed Down with Love and Bring It On absent, and screenwriter Jeff Loveness (Rick and Morty) unsuccessfully attempting to balance comedy with a drudging innerspace-opera epic. Marvel has an offbeat problem: maintaining its sillier, more playful side, which is its better side, has proven a struggle in the Thor franchise and the Guardians of the Galaxy flicks (the third of which immediately follows Quantumania, and looks to be nodding to The Fast and The Furious), too. Although Bill Murray cameos, The Good Place's William Jackson Harper reads minds and Rudd tries his hardest whenever the film dares focus on him, the third Ant-Man is as by-the-numbers and tonally flat as the MCU has ever been. Alongside ditching the upbeat vibes, plus all that open and derivative riffing on another screen saga, the scale-tinkering fight scenes that have been prior highlights make scant impression against surreal backdrops where getting larger and smaller barely seems to matter. Leaning heavily upon the likeable main quintet and a colony of smart ants is Reed and company's solution, but they're all squandered. The formidable Majors lives up to his name, though — one that perfectly fits the pint-sized titular character's big bad, and the figure who'll loom over seven more pictures in two years before 2025's Avengers: The Kang Dynasty arrives. The MCU is going massive on Kang, patently; if only it'd kept the Ant-Man pictures small.
When you go to the movies, you abide by the usual cinema etiquette rules. You don't kick the seat in front of you, you refrain from checking your phone and lighting up the darkened theatre with its bright glow, and you don't natter away through the flick and annoy everyone around you, for instance. And, you wear clothes — well, unless you're going to Fantastic Film Festival Australia's nude session of Patrick, that is. Yes, you read that correctly. Starring Kevin Janssens (Revenge) as the titular figure and featuring Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement as a musician, Belgian film follows a handyman who works at a remote nudist colony, so attendees are asked to strip down for the session (or just wear their underwear). The nude screening takes place at 4pm on Sunday, April 25 at the Randwick Ritz, and you'll need to sit in the cinema five balcony if you're attending sans attire. There are a few ground rules, though. Photography is completely off limits, you'll need to bring a towel to sit on, only patrons over the age of 18 can attend and you're asked to respect your fellow movie-goers' personal space. You also need to rock up fully clothed, and then disrobe in the cinema. And, if you have to go to the bathroom during the movie — or want something from the candy bar — you'll need to get dressed again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U68CKW0mjg&feature=emb_logo Top image: Charlie De Keersmaecker and Cosima Finkbeiner.
Sydney's got a brand-new free festival to tempt night owls, culture vultures and everyone in between. Set to light up Macquarie Street East for 24 hours from 6pm on Saturday, February 4, the inaugural Mopoke fest will deliver a luminous program of art, music, food and creativity well worth staying up late for. Named after Australia's smallest owl variety, the 24-hour celebration of arts and culture will transform the inner-city precinct into a playground for inquisitive souls and curious minds, sprawling from Shakespeare Place through to Hyde Park Barracks. The eastern stretch of Macquarie Street will become pedestrian-only for the festival's duration, playing host to a smorgasbord of pop-ups, activations and artistic offerings, all linked by black-lit paths. Wander through to discover theatre performances, gigs, live art, magic shows, a 10-strong multicultural rotation of food trucks and more. You can unleash your own creativity in a glow-in-the-dark Playdough Garden, while Hyde Park Barracks is set to keep the gates open all night long, playing host to an art and design market featuring everything from ceramicists to tattoo artists. The Mint and its surrounds will light up with a glowing after-dark garden, as well as a native flower market showcasing blooms by some of the city's best-loved florists, set to a soundtrack of classical music. Meanwhile, the Sydney Eye Hospital courtyard will be reimagined as an artists' plaza filled with magicians, theatre shows and live art, its fountain glowing in the dark and its building facades lit up through the night. Also shrouded in black light will be Hunter Lane, where you'll catch a DJ and silent disco jamming long into the evening, while the rest of the State Library of NSW grounds will feature an art installation, live jazz and a pop-up bar. You'll want to venture up to the new-look Library Bar for cocktails, spoken word poetry and astronomy chats, too. And in The Domain, a fiery affair awaits visitors, with a luminous white piano soundtracking a troupe of fire-twirlers, which you can watch from the comfort of your own picnic lounge. Sticking to the theme, the site will also host a pop-up bar slinging smoke-forward sips and cooking stations dishing up an array of flambéed desserts. Mopoke Sydney will run from 6pm on February 4–6pm on February 5, along Macquarie Street East, Sydney CBD. For more info, see the website.
Melbourne's famed burger joint 8bit has finally arrived in Sydney, joining a string of other eateries in Darling Square's new food precinct Steam Mill Lane. To celebrate the opening, it's giving away free burgers this Thursday, May 3. Yep, burgers — for free. Best pop a "work lunch" into your calendar now. From noon until 2pm, the good people at 8bit will give away 300 of the eatery's signature cheeseburgers — that's a beef patty topped with tomato, lettuce, red onion and pickles, then sauced with the holy trinity of ketchup, mustard and secret sauce. Lucky for Sydneysiders, the 130-seat diner is 8bit's largest joint yet, so there will be plenty of space to tuck in. Of course, these bad boys will only be available until sold out, so make sure you get there right at noon to secure one.
Everyone has a childhood memory about discovering chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. A staple at several ice cream chains, the flavour is as simple as it sounds. Take some ice cream, add chocolate chip cookie dough, then mix it all together — with dessert fiends then able to lick their way through a creamy but also chunky mashup of two sweet treat favourites. Ben & Jerry's is one of the brands that has been dishing up the frosty treat for years, introducing it in 1984. In 2021, however, it has just launched a range of cookie dough chunks that don't come with ice cream. Available for a limited time only, you can snack them from the packet rather than enjoy them in a cone or cup. Two types are on offer, in 180-gram and 227-gram pouches. If you're all about choc chips, you can grab a whole packet of doughy chunks filled with them. If you're keen to mix it up, you can opt for both chocolate chip cookie dough and fudge brownie pieces in the same packet — so a version of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked flavour, sans ice cream. The separate packs of cookie dough chunks are only available until sold out, with the range on offer in select Ben & Jerry's Scoop Stores now — in Manly, Bondi and Chatswood in Sydney; Flinders Lane, Burwood Brickworks and St Kilda in Melbourne; Mooloolaba, Noosa, Surfer's Paradise and Pacific Fair in Queensland; and Hillarys, Joondalup, Fremantle and Northbridge in Western Australia. Ben & Jerry's cookie dough chunks are available at select Ben & Jerry's stores in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia for a limited time — in 180-gram and 227-gram packs.
Who says you can make a film festival out of just three films? But, on the other hand, who says you can’t? Presented as part of the Anode independent arts festival, Speakeasy Cinema celebrates the influence of the contrary and controversial on all forms of culture through a series of documentary films. The first of Speakeasy’s selections will be Beautiful Losers: Making Something From Nothing. “Urban art†can be so hit and miss these days, so when Aaron Rose of New York’s iconic Alleged Gallery wanted to make a film about art and design in 1990s New York as he understood it, the first people he looked to were his friends. These include filmmaker Harmony Korine, skateboarder and artist Ed Templeton and his wife, photographer Deanna Templeton, graphic artist Mike Mills and other key figures in New York’s art and design world. Beautiful Losers shows us what art is to the people who make it, what it means to be a creative and genuinely “countercultureâ€, and the impact this can have on the rest of the world.Next up is Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset. After founding Grove Press in 1951, Rosset published Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter and Jean Genet, among others, and was integral in helping to distribute the works of the Beats; Kerouac, Ginsberg, Corso et al. It is worth mentioning this first off, as the film focuses predominantly on Rosset’s crusade against censorship or, as his son rightly suggests, hypocrisy. This is a man who possessed a similar visionary genius to his greatest writers, and almost single-handedly restored an author’s right to shock a jaded public into awareness. If you’ve ever waffled on about creative integrity and the importance of free expression, you don’t know the extent of your argument until you know about Barney Rosset.Speakeasy will finish with a screening of The Universe of Keith Haring. Directed by Christina Clausen, the film reflects on the life of influential pop artist Haring. True to its title, the film splits open Haring’s universe; his motivations, his success and failure and the stellar coincidence of being, as Haring says, “in New York at the right timeâ€. That time being, of course, one that centred on Grace Jones, Madonna and other fiercely visual icons with whom Haring eventually worked. Interviews with Haring’s family and many acquaintances, famous and non, are interspersed with clips of Haring himself, affording some significant insights into what the man behind the radiant baby was really about.These films will screen across two days and, if you’ve ever had an interest in art, books or creativity in general, this weekend could be one of the most informative and inspiring of your life.Image: Keith Haring in 1987, Photograph by Annie Leibovitz.
One of the best in the west is heading to Surry Hills this weekend, when chef Pasi Petänen takes over the grill at Shwarmama for one day only. The famed Finnish chef who is behind Newtown restaurant Cafe Paci — and an earlier Darlinghurst pop-up of the same name — is heading east to serve up ox-tongue shawarma and loaded snack packs, plus choc-meringue cookies. The limited-edition dishes will be available from midday until sold out. After that, it'll be the kebab shop's usual lineup of sabich stuffed with eggplant and egg, hummus plates and shawarma filled with spiced, marinated chicken. To drink, you'll find coffee, Yulli's Brews beers and a couple of wines on tap. The takeover is to celebrate the first birthday of Shwarmama, which is a joint project by Mat Lindsay (Ester, Poly) and Paramount Coffee Project's Russell Beard (Reuben Hills), Mark Dundon and Jin Ng. Making it through the past 365 days (relatively) unscathed is definitely worth celebrating. Images: Kitti Gould
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Earlier this year, it made its own spin on Caramilk gelato, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is still turning something that everyone loves into gelato. This time, though, it's taking inspiration from a drink. Can't choose between sipping a cold brew coffee made with oat milk or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream? Gelatissimo has the solution. That very combination is on the menu from Tuesday, June 1, adding a new vegan special to its range — but only for a limited time. Exactly how long it'll be hanging around hasn't been revealed, so getting in quickly in recommended. Whether you opt for a cone or a cup, you'll be tucking into gelato made with oat milk that's specifically designed to go with coffee. And as for the caffeinated part of the flavour, that comes about via a concentrate made by steeping coffee beans in water for around 24 hours. You can get the cold brew with oat milk flavour in stores Australia-wide, including within your five-kilometre radius if you're in Melbourne. Or, Gelatissimo also delivers take-home packs via services such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Doordash. Gelatissimo's cold brew with oat milk gelato is available from all stores nationwide from Tuesday, June 1.
Australian art-inspired surf brand Mambo is venturing into the food scene, in a way that we probably should've expected. It's opening a pop-up canteen reminiscent of your primary school tuckshop. Making the most of the long summer days (and just before school goes back, too) the Mambo Tuckshop will pop up for just four days, rolling open the shutters from January 25–28 in North Bondi. Mike Eggert and Jemma Whiteman of Pinbone (known for their recent Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco and Good Luck Pinbone pop-ups) have directed the menu, and they've collaborated with some of Sydney's best restaurants to create the food. Korean fried chicken experts Paper Bird, cured meat maestros LP's Quality Meats, pastry chef Yu-ching Lee (known on Instagram as Lemonpiy) and Aussie ice-block brand Pure Pops are some of the names taking part. With your hard-earned pocket money you'll be able to purchase devon sandwiches, warrigal greens and ricotta rolls, beef and 'Mambomite' pies, wattleseed vanilla slices, and, importantly, $1 apple and lemon sour straps. Just like your school days, it'll be a grab-and-go situation — no word yet about whether you'll be able to put in a lunch order for later. And, in case you're wondering, the Mambo brand is still alive. While standalone Mambo stores no longer exist (RIP) you can buy Mambo clothing and accessories from Big W. Mambo Tuckshop opens at 266 Campbell Parade, North Bondi on Thursday, January 25 and runs until Sunday, January 28. Opening hours are 10am–4pm. For more info, visit the Facebook event. Images: Nikki To.
When the Mardi Gras Film Festival returns each, it's wonderful news for Sydney's cinephiles. For folks located outside of the Harbour City, it's been fantastic news, too, for the past few years. Catering to movie lovers Australia-wide is fast, and welcomely, becoming a pandemic-era film fest staple — and MGFF has been jumping on the trend heartily. That includes in 2023, thanks to a 21-title online lineup. Not in Sydney but still want to watch along between Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2? If you're in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or elsewhere across the country, you still have a feast of queer cinema coming your way. More flicks are available at the fest's in-person event compared to its digital lineup, but a nice selection will be screening online for those playing along at home and interstate. LGBTQIA+ movie lovers watching on from the couch can check out 21 features. Highlights span Black as U R, a doco about the lack of attention paid to the black queer community; Icelandic spoof Cop Secret; Blitzed!, about the eponymous London nightclub, with Boy George, Princess Julia and Spandau Ballet sharing their memories; and Youtopia, which explores the inadvertent formation of a hipster cult. And, there's also In Her Words, an ode to 20th-century lesbian fiction; A Place of Our Own, an Indian drama about two trans friends; and All Man: The International Male Story, exploring how a menswear catalogue became a homoerotic handbook — as well as the COVID-era set sci-fi road-trip flick Unidentified Objects, a winner at Outfest LA.
We dump our rubbish in the bin and then it’s whisked away to a happy ending. But what if it suddenly all came back to haunt us?Activate 2750 has Melbourne-based artist Ash Keating, in association with the MCA, SITA Environmental Solutions and Penrith City Council, using a short film and gorgeous stills to reveal the bizarre fairytale of a glitch in the waste disposal process.Heeding the adage, “build it and they will comeâ€, two Transformer-masked custodians erect a mound of intercepted rubbish at the centre of Penrith’s shopping district and, like undead baseballers, a clan of trashy pilgrims blow in for the party.
"Written and directed by" is a significant phrase in Hollywood. In an industry notorious for taking a screenwriter's story and completely bastardising it during production, directors like Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen and the brothers Wachowski and Cohen have all demonstrated the virtues of controlling a film's production from its very inception right through to its, well… Inception. In essence, the words "written and directed by" offer audiences the greatest guarantee that the film they're about to see is the closest thing to the film the director actually set out to make. Which begs the question: why did Boaz Yakin set out to make this movie? Safe, starring England's best whispering frown — Jason Statham — is a violent action flick written and directed by Yakin; however, 'written' might be a touch generous. Statham has more hair than this film has plot, and with lines like "I’ve been in restaurants all night but all I've been served is lead", the dialogue is equally sparse. As an action film, Safe operates squarely within the boundaries of its genre's logic. The Chinese bad guys are Chinese, so they all know martial arts. The Russian bad guys are Russian, so they all laugh while killing people and sound exactly like Boris Badenov from Rocky and Bullwinkle. Last but not least, the cops and politicians are all so corrupt, the only person who can stop them is a good cop who's not a cop any more. Throw in a young Chinese maths prodigy (Catherine Chan) whose memory is abused by the Triads as an untraceable ledger for their illegal activities and you've got all the ingredients you'll need. All the ingredients, that is, to bake yourself a pie. A pie made of lead. A death pie.
Brisvegas is living up to its (much-loved) nickname and will play host to not one, but three music festivals in September. The annual Brisbane Festival will run alongside industry pioneer BIGSOUND and newcomer Sweet Relief! to form the Brisbane Music Trail. For those further down south who aren't blessed enough to live in perpetual sunshine, there's never been a better time to visit Queensland's capital as international music icons Groove Armada will be joined by Aussie stars The Avalanches, Paul Kelly and Cut Copy, along with up-and-comers from across the country. The first Sweet Relief! will take place on Saturday, September 16 at outdoor entertainment venue Maritime Green. Groove Armada and The Avalanches will headline, with performances from Ladyhawke, Cut Copy and DJs Nina Las Vegas, Latifa Tee and YO! MAFIA. Festival-goers can also register to participate in a dress-up contest judged by media personality Osher Günsberg and drag diva Jimi The Kween, which could see them win over $10,000 in prizes, including a four-day getaway to Far North Queensland. From Tuesday, September 5 to Friday, September 8, all eyes will be on BIGSOUND: one of the country's biggest music industry gatherings. For over 20 years, BIGSOUND has launched music careers and brought together a community of tastemakers and industry leaders. Past artists who have been discovered there include Flume, Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana, Ball Park Music and Thelma Plum. This year is no exception, with a lineup that includes rising stars 1tbsp, Izy, POOKIE, FELIVAND, KUZCO and Khi'leb, and attendees from Roc Nation, SXSW, Paramount, CAA and Interscope Records. Brisbane Festival will run from Friday, September 1 to Sunday, September 23 with a packed program of free events, family-friendly experiences, art installations, theatre shows and cultural performances. Musical acts include Paul Kelly, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Gretta Ray. Don't miss the kick-off on Saturday, September 2, as the fireworks spectacular, Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, sets the sky alight above Brisbane River. Get your tickets and find out more at the Queensland Music Trails website.
There's nothing like a midweek spot o' fried chicken and noodle, especially when it comes from the meat-lovin' mind behind Manly Wharf's Papi Chulo. As part of March into Merivale, open this week, PC head chef Patrick Friesen is branching out from last year's Thai-focused project to launch this year's instalment of the Work in Progress pop-up. Chefs know their late night supper spots, finishing work well after you've digested your dins and are happily tucked in. Friesen's taken inspiration from his favourite late night Sydney eateries. He's designed a bite-sized menu of Asian-style fried chicken, Hong Kong noodles and snacky nibbles for his MIM pop-up. "The menu is influenced by the late night haunts that other chefs and I like to go to smash fried chicken, noodles, and beers after a busy service," says Friesen. "It’s a small menu, but full of the tasty things you want to eat with a few drinks or on a solo lunch mission." Think fried chicken with ginger nuoc cham, served with kimchi, pickled daikon and garlic cucumbers. Think pnomh penh wings with lime white pepper, Sichuan duck with tofu lo mein, and pork and prawn wonton mein with egg noodles. But you won't be left with a mouthful of delicious, delicious fried chicken and nothing to wash it down. Friesen's nosh will be paired with a specially-created cocktail menu, with the likes of the Shaky Pete (Beefeater 24 gin, ginger, 150 lashes pale ale) and Down the Stairs (Zubrowka, pressed apple, lemon, cinnamon) sounding pretty delicious for $18 a piece, or you can choose from the Australian/New Zealand-heavy wine and beer selection. Work in Progress will sit at 50 King Street from Thursday, February 26. Open Monday to Friday 12pm-3pm, 6-10pm (kitchen); 12pm-late (bar). Want more on March into Merivale? Head over here.
If you’re passionate about keeping emerging and experimental art on the boil, here’s a chance to put your money where your mouth is — and take home an artwork in the process. The annual Firstdraft Auction is upon us and nearly 70 sculptures, paintings, photos and drawings are up for grabs. You’ll find them on display at the Firstdraft Gallery from Thursday, September 18. Silent bidding will kick into action when the clock strikes midday, continuing until the official launch event — and the live segment of the auction — starts at 6pm the following day. Oodles of Firstdraft alumni and supporters have donated works, including the likes of Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, Hany Armanious, Justene Williams, Alex Seton and Jasper Knight. The event is one of the artist-run initiative's most important fundraisers, with proceeds going towards its ongoing support, production, dissemination and discussion of contemporary art. So roll on up and make like you're Charles Saatchi.
Australian movie lovers, prepare to be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting your next big-screen fix. With Sydney out of lockdown and Melbourne likely to do the same this month, cinemas across the country are about to be inundated with high-profile features — and, with film festivals showing them. One such event getting the projectors whirring is the annual British Film Festival, which'll tour its 31-movie lineup of Brit flicks around the country between Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1. Gracing the fest's titles is a who's who of UK acting talent, so if you're a fan of The Crown's Olivia Colman, Claire Foy and Josh O'Connor — or of everyone from Jamie Dornan, Colin Firth, Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch to Helen Mirren, Michael Caine, Joanna Lumley and Peter Capaldi — you'll be spying plenty of familiar faces. The festival will open with true tale The Duke, starring Mirren and Jim Broadbent, with the latter playing a 60-year-old taxi driver who stole a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. From there, highlights include the Kenneth Branagh-directed Belfast, about growing up in 1960s Northern Ireland; Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright's new thriller featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie; romantic period drama Mothering Sunday, with Colman, Firth and O'Connor; and Best Sellers, a literary comedy with Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza. Or, there's also Stardust, a biopic about the one and only David Bowie — and The Electrical Life of Louis Wan, about the eponymous artist, with Cumberbatch and Foy leading the cast. Opera singing in the Scottish highlands drives the Lumley-starring Falling for Figaro, which also features Australian Patti Cake$ actor Danielle Macdonald; Benediction marks the return of filmmaker Terence Davies (Sunset Song), this time focusing on English poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon; and Firth pops up again in World War II-set drama Operation Mincemeat with Succession's Matthew Macfadyen. Plus, To Olivia dramatises Roald Dahl's marriage to Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal, Stephen Fry explores bubbly booze in documentary Sparkling: The Story of Champagne, and novelist Jackie Collins also gets the doco treatment. And, as part of the British Film Festival's retrospective lineup, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon will grace the big screen — the former in a 4K restoration to celebrate its 50th anniversary. BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 2021 DATES: Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1 — Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1 — Palace Electric, Canberra Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1 — Palace James Street and Palace Centro, Brisbane Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1— Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1— Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 21 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay Friday, November 5–Wednesday, December 1 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor, Melbourne The 2021 British Film Festival tours Australia between Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
After three months behind closed doors, the Woollahra Hotel is officially back online following some well-earned renovations. Built in the 1930s, the Woollahra Hotel is one of the east's landmark pubs — so it's nice to see the owners have opted for some gentle tweaking – rather than a complete overhaul. From the outside, Woollahra's still got that classic art deco aesthetic, with toffee-colored bricks and rounded cornices, but the front bar and restaurant have both been given a serious spruce. So what's changed? Well, the locals' front bar looks as good as ever, polished to within an inch of its life. It's still a great spot to bend an elbow after a game at the SCG or Moore Park. The biggest shift has been in the kitchen, where new head chef Jordan Muhamad (ex-Rockpool, Spice Temple, Chin Chin) has given the menu an Asian-inspired twist: think steamed snapper, a selection of house-made curries and Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi. And that's just the bar menu. There's also Bistro Moncur, newly refurbished, led by head chef Mark Williamson, dishing up some of Sydney's best French grub. Moncur has always been fancy date night territory: Barossa chicken pâté, grilled sirloin and saffron crab omelettes, with a mix of local and international wines to wash it all down. Moncur Cellars' Mark Blake is handling the vino, and he's clearly got a thing for organic, vegan and preservative-free drops. There's a top-shelf cocktail menu, too, re-designed from the ground up. Woollahra's open-air terrace is still there, with its fern-covered vertical garden, pink neon and dangling pendant lights, which are sure to please the Instagram crowd. A bit of razzle-dazzle with a rump steak never hurt anyone, after all.
Almost everyone holds a fond childhood memory of them. Whether you’re a Miss Piggy or a Kermit, Jim Henson’s much-loved Muppets are an institution in many households. And in many countries around the world. Except now they’re all grown up, and coming to Sydney for six special shows. Direct from adults-only seasons in Edinburgh, Toronto and New York comes Puppet Up! Uncensored, a fascinating combination of puppetry and improvisation, and an experience that is sure to paint your childhood friends in a whole new light. With over 60 different puppets (old faves, plus a whole crop of new characters), the recreation of classic Henson/Frank Oz sequences and commentary from Patrick Bristow (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Puppet Up! Uncensored promises to be an interesting improv experiment. That said, reviews have been mixed, with some complaining that the show's formula of audience-prompted skits (almost always crude) proves a lack of direction and storyline. Whatever your take, prepare for a night of nostalgia and blatant inappropriateness
UPDATE, January 26, 2022: Gold opened in select Australian cinemas from January 13, and is available to stream via Stan from January 26. Gold's title doubles as an exclamation that Australian filmmakers might've made when Zac Efron decamped to our shores at the beginning of the pandemic. Only this outback-set thriller has put the High School Musical, Bad Neighbours and Baywatch star to work Down Under, however, and he definitely isn't in Hollywood anymore. Instead, he's stuck in "some time, some place, not far from now…", as all-caps text advises in the movie's opening moments. He's caught in a post-Mad Max-style dystopia, where sweltering heat, a visible lack of shelter, a cut-throat attitude, water rationing, and nothing but dirt and dust as far as the eye can see greets survivors navigating a rusty wasteland. But then his character, Man One, spots a glint, and all that glisters is indeed gold — and he must guard it while Man Two (Anthony Hayes, also the film's director) seeks out an excavator. Exactly who stays and who goes is the subject of heated discussion, but Gold is an economical movie, mirroring how its on-screen figures need to be careful about every move they make in such unforgiving surroundings. As a filmmaker, helming his first feature since 2008's Ten Empty, Hayes knows his star attraction — and he's also well-aware of the survivalist genre, and its history, that he's plonking Efron into. Almost every male actor has been in one such flick or so it can seem, whether Tom Hanks is talking to a volleyball in Castaway, Liam Neeson is communing with wolves in The Grey or Mads Mikkelsen is facing frosty climes in Arctic. Although Gold purposefully never names its setting, Australia's vast expanse is no stranger to testing its visitors, too, but Hayes' version slips in nicely alongside the likes of Wake in Fright, The Rover and Cargo, rather than rips them off. The reason such tales persist is pure human nature — we're always battling against the world around us, even if everyday folks are rarely in such extreme situations — and, on-screen, because of the performances they evoke. Efron isn't even the first import to get stranded in sunburnt country in 2022, after Jamie Dornan did the same in TV miniseries The Tourist, but he puts in a compellingly internalised performance. Man One's minutes, hours and days guarding an oversized nugget pass with sparing sips of H20, attempts to build a shelter and altercations with the locals, including of the two-legged, canine, insect and arachnid varieties, and the toll of all this time alone builds in Efron's eyes and posture. His face crackles from the sun, heat and muck, but his portrayal is as much about enduring as reacting, as both Efron and Hayes savvily recognise. Writing with costumer-turned-scribe Polly Smyth as well as directing solo, Hayes puts more than just survival on Gold's mind, though: when the titular yellow precious metal is involved, greed is rarely good. Here, staying alive at any cost is all about striking it rich at any cost, and also about the paranoia festering between two new acquaintances who've randomly stumbled upon a life-changing windfall — as heightened by the film's stark, harsh, post-apocalyptic setup. When a third person (Susie Porter, Ladies in Black) enters the scenario, Gold grimly lets its life-or-death and lucky break elements keep clashing, but also pairs Man One's desperation with the mental decline that blistering in the sun, being parched with thirst and starving with hunger all bring. Greed proves perilous in a plethora of ways in the film's frames, including inside its main character's head. The mood: dire, drastic but also frantic, the latter not in pace but in how urgently Man One obviously wants the situation to work out. As lensed by cinematographer Ross Giardina, who also worked as a second unit director of photography on The Dressmaker — another feature to make strong use of the Aussie landscape while led by an high-profile overseas actor — Gold ensures its bleak tone ripples in every image. Just how grey, white and almost blue the desert can look here is one of the movie's most striking features, in fact. Where The Tourist blazed away its cooler hues, and most other outback-set fare lets ochre and golden shades radiate, Gold is sun-dappled to the point of often being sun-bleached. As shot in South Australia, all of its wide vistas look particularly ominous as a result, and never let the feature's tension subside for a second. Another of Gold's astute moves springs from its determined focus; don't expect backstory here. Barely glimpsed signs make it clear that this likely isn't Australia, but Hayes sports a heavily put-on American accent to match Efron — because keeping everything ambiguous to retain an unflinching gaze on two men and their big piece of gold is the lean aim. In early scenes, the remote outpost where Man One enlists a ride from Man Two is dystopian-standard sparse, and all that's said about Man One's need to head east is that he's en route to work in a mining camp. The details of why the world has turned to hot dust don't matter, with Hayes and Smyth leaving plenty of room for viewers to read in their own takes on how human nature — the movie's main subject — has turned the planet into this scalding hell. From its performances and visuals to its weightiness, Gold is patently well-made. Again, it's well-acted, including by Hayes (who, among his many acting credits dating back to the early 90s, also had roles in The Rover and Cargo). With every image it bakes onto the screen, it's inescapably well-lensed, which applies when peering closely at Efron in a fraying state and surveying all that desert stretching out around him. It ruminates upon familiar but still meaty matters, and thoughtfully so, all within a stingingly suspenseful feature. Gold is also never more than the sum of its parts, but those parts always do what they're meant to — and glitter as brightly as they need to.
Unroll your posters, dust-off that secret diary and get ready to rock your body right: the Backstreet Boys are bringing their latest world tour Down Under. Get ready for another hefty dose of 90s nostalgia, too, given that you can now see the huge boy band at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Saturday, March 4–Sunday, March 5. Backstreet's back — alright. Get ready to belt out the lyrics to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', 'As Long As You Love Me', 'I Want It That Way', 'Larger Than Life' and 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely' when the famous five — aka AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — head our way for a very nostalgic arena tour. The Backstreet Boys will also be performing songs off their 2019 album DNA, which debuted at number one on the charts when it was released and features Grammy-nominated single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. Fingers crossed that they also break out tracks from their new festive record A Very Backstreet Christmas, even though it won't quite be the season. Either way, we know you'll most likely be there for the 90s and early 00s goodness — and to break out your 'Everybody' moves.
Vegans tired of being excluded from affordable mainstream menus or, at best, treated as an after-thought, here's some cheerful news — for both you and the rest of the animal kingdom. Domino's Pizza has today — Monday, January 8 — added vegan cheese to its list of ingredients. Yep, your pizza eating habits no longer need be restricted to vego-only (or exxy sit down) joints — they can now extend to cheap on-the-way-home snacks and in-bed feasts. To celebrate, three vegan pizzas will be hitting the menu for a limited time. These are the vegan avocado veg, the vegan spicy trio and the vegan margherita. Most importantly, though, you'll be able to turn any pizza on the menu into an animal-free one by asking for vegan mozzarella and parting with an extra $2.95 (which is quite reasonable, really). Plus, all Domino's bases and sauces are plant-based. The decision to introduce vegan cheese came about as a result of a survey that Domino's conducted via its Facebook page in late 2017. "We were blown away by the response," said Nick Knight, CEO of Domino's Australia and New Zealand. "The popularity of, and demand for, vegan products has increased considerably over the years, so it's great we are now able to offer this high-quality, non-GMO, plant-based and preservative-free vegan cheese." Domino's created the cheese — which is also free of gluten, soy and cholesterol — in its LuvLab, aiming to mimic the taste, texture and melting power of dairy-based cheese. But we'll believe it when we try it. Obviously our fair city has plenty of pizza options that we'd recommend over Domino's, but, nonetheless, this can only be a sign that more readily-available vegan options will hit mainstream food outlets in the near future. To begin, the cheese will be available for a limited time, and, if it proves popular with customers, it'll be instated permanently.
Blood Moon Theatre, a new space for independent theatre within Kings Cross’s World Bar, isn’t wasting any time on a cautious start. On September 30, the theatre will launch itself onto Sydney with a production of Nick Enright’s disturbing Property of the Clan. Inspired by the brutal sexual assault and murder of Leigh Leigh in Stockton in 1989, the play was adapted into 1997 film Blackrock. The action centres on a group of fictional teenagers whose life is changed by a similar crime. There’s Jared, who bore witness, his girlfriend, Rachel, and his best friend, Ricko, as well as the victim’s best friend, Jade. In exploring their reactions, Enright takes a no-holds-barred look at the power of peer pressure, the nature of justice and the dangerous potential of sexism. “In a culture of rising violence against women, A Property of the Clan deftly examines the psychology of victim blaming and rests responsibility firmly on the boys and men of the world,” says director Phillip Rouse. Co-producers Don't Look Away and Don't Look Away are promising a striking interpretation, which sees the performers build and destroy the set during the course of the show. The cast includes George Banders, Megan Drury, Jack Starkey-Gill and Sam Young.
I am yet to grasp the unending desire for converting plays/films/books/discographies into musicals. Though there are a few pieces of musical theatre that really excite me, I've sadly found that many are the theatrical equivalent of a mother bird eating and then regurgitating worms into the mouths of her squawking babies. Music as a medium can produce some of the most profound and moving experiences — whether in the nightclub or behind a red curtain — and so it disappoints me when good ideas are digested down into a sugar pop format. I am not a fan of Steven Sater's adaptation of Frank Wedekind's passionate caveat to nineteenth-century German parents and teachers. Sater has rendered down Wedekind's dark, provocative piece into something as confronting as the underwear section of a Target catalogue. Yes, they sing about rape, yes, they sing about masturbation and, yes, there is an abortion, but these issues appear and scatter across the stage quicker than cockroaches. Gone is the harsh act of fourteen-year-old Melchior raping Wendla (now they are little more than a self-aware Romeo and Juliet, cursing their fuddy-duddy elders), and the evolution of Hanschen and Ernst's homosexual affair is replaced instead with some limp wrists, a throw-away expository line and a "daring" kiss. The original Wedekind was banned numerous times throughout its 120 year history and only then it was performed after heavy censoring. I would argue that this melodious conversion happily upholds that tradition. How then has director Geordie Brookman (Baghdad Wedding) dealt with Sater's honeyed libretto? First, he's assembled an attractive cast that'll ensure a boom in opera glass sales amongst peeping toms. Second, he's cast performers who are primarily singers — a mixed bag of a decision, given that there are some long sequences of straight dialogue throughout the play. Third, and most brilliantly, Brookman has had lighting designer Niklas Pajanti create a frozen shower of countless naked light bulbs, all winking in and out of intensity as if communicating the true story of this tragedy via Morse code. Out of the leads, Akos Armont's Moritz Stiefel presents the most unique energy, creating a boy who is always on the verge of explosion from the pressures of his erupting pubescence. In contrast, Andrew Hazzard's Melchior and Clare Bowen's Wendla tend to err on the side of down tempo, giving their performances a very Home and Away feel, rather than that of an off-Broadway musical. Ultimately, Spring Awakening is going to appeal to a wide audience of music and dance lovers, especially those either in their teens or still connected to that adolescent essence. However, anyone anticipating the shock of Wedekind's words would be better off watching Harmony Korine's Ken Park. Image by Brett Boardman https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrc5c5tjWSw
It's happening again: Static Vision, the independent screening collective that loves putting on annual film festivals at Pink Flamingo Cinema in Marrickville, is doing exactly that once more. Static Vision also adores showing movies that Sydney's other fests mightn't, possessing a distinctive curatorial mindset that it can't wait to splash across the silver screen. When it's in charge of the viewing, you're in for an experience that you won't find elsewhere. In 2020, Hyperlinks was the Static Vision film festival to flock to. In 2021 came Dreamscapes, while 2022 gave rise to Metamorphoses. 2023's version is Goodbye, Pink Flamingo, because the collective is bidding farewell to its Sydney home, albeit hopefully only for now. On offer: a three-day single-screen program that focuses on queer, underground and punk countercultures — and that you can spend an entire weekend watching your way through from Friday, November 17–Sunday, November 19. The lineup highlights start with the newly restored Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy, aka Gregg Araki's 1993 film Totally F***ed Up, 1995 effort The Doom Generation and 1997 release Nowhere — which means that you're in for queer teens finding a sense of family together, a road movie unlike anything else you've seen and a college-set black comedy. You'll also spot everyone from Rose McGowan (The Sound) and Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid) to Ryan Phillippe (I Love That for You) and Christina Applegate (Dead to Me). From there, Ken Russell's The Devils, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Querelle and Tom Green's Freddy Got Fingered also sit on the supremely eclectic program, as do We Aim to Please, Shadow Panic and Vacant Possession from Sydney-based filmmaker Margot Nash. On a bill that spans 14 features and four shorts — plus a surprise screening that you'll need to attend to find out what's showing — the fest's recent flicks include T Blockers, as well as Fox Maxy's shorts Blood Materials and Maat, and also Tulapop Saenjaroen's shorts Squish! and Notes from the Periphery. Erotic cinema is also being thrust into the Goodbye, Pink Flamingo spotlight thanks to titles such as Ask Any Buddy, which has been spliced together from snippets of XXX gay cinema; a 4K restoration of Sextool; and The Exorcist-inspired queer horror Sex Demon.
It's the main reason most of Sydney has made their way to Good Food Month over the last couple of years, and in 2017, the ever-popular Night Noodle Markets are back — and they're bigger than ever. Sure, every event says that these days — but the fact that 40 different stalls will converge on Hyde Park for a whopping 18 nights this October makes the claim seem pretty accurate. Among the spoils will be all manner of noodles, dumplings and other delights from Mr Bao, Din Tai Fung, Hoi Pinoy, Indu and House of Crabs. For dessert, Gelato Messina will predictably be back with a menu of pure wonder (including a deep-fried gelato katsu sandwich) and Black Star Pasty will return for another year. The markets will again take place in Hyde Park, which will also be — for the first time — a festival hub for the month. It's inspired by California's Palm Springs, dubbed 'Hyde Park Palms' and designed by Sydney design studio Caroline Beresford (The Cannery). The hub will host a bunch of talks, parties and feasts, starting on October 5 with an opening night party overseen by The Rockpool Group. The markets will run from Thursday, October 5 until Sunday, October 22. They'll be open Monday and Tuesday 5-9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5–10pm, Friday 5–11pm, Saturday 4–10pm, and Sunday 4–9pm. Entry is free but the place — if other years are anything to go by — will be packed. Image: Bec Taylor.
If you like cheese, then it's impossible to have too much of it. Whether it's served on a platter, combined with macaroni, slipped onto burgers, grated over pasta, melted into gooey fondue or part of a 150-cheese pizza — to name just a few cheesy examples — the more there is, the merrier your tastebuds are. That applies to cheese toasties, too, because even the simple combination of warmed bread and cheese can be improved by adding more of the later, then more still, then just a bit more. How much cheese should a toastie boast? As much as you can manage, really. If 40 different types of cheese sounds like enough (or close to it), then you'll want to celebrate National Cheese Day on Friday, June 4. Yes, it's another of those food-focused days that are really just excuses to spruik more of the dish in question. It's actually one of three that are set to tempt tastebuds this coming weekend, alongside National Doughnut Day and World Fish 'n' Chip Day. But it's also a reason to tuck into a 40-cheese toastie — or several. The cheese behemoths will be on offer for two weeks, and only via Deliveroo — with eateries in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland whipping up different versions. Wherever you opt to order from, you'll need to use the delivery platform. Each toastie will cost you $12, and $5 from each order will go to Eat Up, a charity that works to counteract child hunger. In NSW, Butter's Parramatta and Chatswood stores are serving up their take on the 40-cheese creation. So are South Dowling Sandwiches in Alexandria and De'assis in Collaroy, while Custom Cafe in Brookvale and Paper Plane Cafe are doing ham and 40-cheese toasties. Victorians can check out Royal Stacks' version, or opt for a 40-cheese and herb variety from Collingwood's Punjabi Curry Cafe, a 40-cheese breakfast toastie from Blackburn Pizza Kebab and Cafe, and either salami or ham versions from Yarraville's Antipasti Deli Cafe. And in Queensland, Fortitude Valley's Hashtag Burgers and Waffles and West End's Suburban Cafe are both doing their extra cheesy thing, as is Toowong's Kingfisher Seafood Cafe — which is making a beef and cheese variety. At Tutto Cafe in Ashgrove, a ham and cheese type will be on offer as well. Wondering what types of cheeses will be included? Obviously, it's a long list. Here's the full rundown, which will have you dreaming of oozing sandos for days to come. Sori Buffalo mozzarella Lemnos feta Floridia haloumi Scamorza bianca mozzarella Mainland shredded egmont Scamorza smoked mozzarella Fred Walker shredded tasty Provolone mild brazzal Black jack cheddar Pecorino romano zanet Ashgrove Tassie trio Colby Vega wine-infused cheese Gouda cumin wedge Zanetti pecorino romano Parmigiano reggiano Smoked cheddar Saganaki Havarti Blue Stilton Asiago dop Camembert Natural Swiss cheese Sartori balsamic Sartori espresso Pecorino romano Truffelino Red Leicester Rubicon Lancashire Double Gloucester Gourmet mozzarella Jarlsberg Fiordimaso Pickled onion cheddar Gouda nutty and robust Comté Emmental Manchego Roncal Burrata Forty-cheese toasties will be available to order from eateries in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane via Deliveroo for two weeks from Friday, June 4–Thursday, June 17.
If the Oppenheimer side of 2023's Barbenheimer phenomenon has you wanting to find out more about the atomic age, this year's Jewish International Film Festival has your next viewing option: documentary A Compassionate Spy about physicist Theodore Hall. His tale didn't make the cut in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster, but he was part of the Manhattan Project team at Los Alamos, and also passed intelligence to the Soviet Union, as Hoop Dreams' filmmaker Steve James explores in one of JIFF's must-see efforts at its latest fest. When the Jewish International Film Festival returns for 2023, it'll hit up Sydney's Ritz Cinemas and Roseville Cinemas from Tuesday, October 24–Tuesday, November 28. On the full nationwide lineup is a hefty 55 Australian-premiere titles spanning both flicks and TV shows, including everything from box-office hits to new episodic efforts starring a big-name US talent. Israel's Matchmaking hits JIFF's opening night after success at home, following a Jewish Orthodox man's romantic ups and downs in a film that's been likened to Romeo and Juliet — but Haredi and a comedy. And that standout television series? Chanshi follows its namesake (Aleeza Chanowitz, Dismissed) in Brooklyn, with Barry's Australia-bound Henry Winkler as her father. Also on the 2023 program: Jack L Warner: The Last Mogul, a documentary focusing on one of Warner Bros' titular founders; The Engineer, about the manhunt for bombmaker Yahya Ayyash, as starring Emile Hirsch (Devil's Workshop); delightfully named black comedy Ducks, An Urban Legend; Tel Aviv-set rom-com Elik & Jimmy; and documentary Erica Jong – Breaking the Wall, about the Fear of Flying author. The complete Australia-wide program also includes gangster comedy Hummus Full Trailer, musicals Less Than Kosher and Victory, vino-fuelled doco Holy Wine and docudrama Munich '72 on its sizeable list. And, as is JIFF's custom, the program features a large contingent of movies that examine World War II, the Holocaust and their lingering impact. Expect to find Stella Goldschlag biopic Stella. A Life; the vengeance-laden The Jew; the Ukraine-shot, Yiddish-language SHTTL; Filip, which tells a tale of romantic pleasures amid the war; Delegation, about students visiting Poland's Holocaust sites and confronting their Jewish identity; and closing night's The Jewish Nazi?, a doco with Australian ties.
2020 gave us Normal People, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's beloved second novel. 2021 saw the Irish author's third book, Beautiful World, Where Are You, hit shelves. So now that a new year is here, Rooney fans need something new to obsess over — and the Conversations with Friends streaming series, which has just unveiled its first teaser trailer, definitely fits the mould. Based on Rooney's 2017 debut novel, the show itself won't reach eyeballs until May, which is when it'll premiere in the US on Hulu and in the UK on BBC Three — and hopefully Down Under via Amazon Prime Video at around the same time. But the initial sneak peek, while brief, teases plenty to look forward to, including a stacked cast that features newcomer Alison Oliver as Frances, The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots' Joe Alwyn as Nick, American Honey's Sasha Lane as Bobbi, and Girls and Sex Education's Jemima Kirke as Melissa. If you've read the book, you'll know that Conversations with Friends follows Dublin college students Frances and Bobbi, as well as married couple Nick and Melissa. Frances and Bobbi used to date, but are now best friends; however, everything shifts when they meet their new pals — with Frances and Nick having an affair, Melissa and Bobbi drawn to each other, and Frances and Bobbi's friendship put under threat. The 12-part Conversations with Friends miniseries' first trailer is brief, but firmly sets the mood — and quickly conjures up memories of Normal People. There's a reason for that beyond the shared Rooney-penned source material, with Normal People co-director Lenny Abrahamson and co-screenwriter Alice Birch leading the charge behind the scenes here. When Conversations with Friends was first published five years back, it launched Rooney's career and sent award nominations her way, with Hulu and BBC Three announcing their plans to bring it to the screen after the Normal People adaptation proved such a hit. And yes, if you can't wait for Conversations with Friends to land in your streaming queue, you can obviously try to fill your time rebinging Normal People. Check out the teaser trailer for Conversations with Friends below: Conversations with Friends will start streaming in the US in May, and is set to stream Down Under via Amazon Prime Video — we'll update you with a specific date when one is announced. Images: Alison Oliver (Frances), Sasha Lane (Bobbi), Joe Alwyn (Nick) and Jemima Kirke (Melissa) in Conversations with Friends, Element Pictures. Photographer: Enda Bowe.
It's hard to get enough of soft and fluffy bao buns. That's why TIVA, the underground lounge in Sydney's CBD, is hosting a weekly night of bottomless bao and prawn crackers every Wednesday from 5–7pm. It's a perfect way to spice up your week. Indulge in two hours of unlimited fluffy goodness for $40 per person. Choose from tempura chicken or crispy pork belly topped with pickled carrot, turnip and greens. For vegetarians, a veggie option is available on request. Pair your bao with $12 Tommy's margaritas to fully indulge in the ultimate hump day highlight. Walk-ins are welcome but you can book your table to ensure that you don't miss out.
Love, Tilly Devine is no stranger to a collab, and the beloved Darlinghurst bar — number two of our 25 best bars in Sydney — is kicking off 2024 with another exciting team-up. The hidden laneway venue will be inviting the expertise of Pizza Oltra and Frankly, This Wine Was Made By Bob on Tuesday, January 16 for a night of cheesy rounds and natty wines. Ben Fester and Drew Huston of Pizza Oltra will be in charge of the food for the evening, while father-son duo Tom and Bob Colman of Frankly Wines will be bringing a collection of interesting drops directly from their Blue Mountains winery. For $55 per person, you'll be treated to a shared menu featuring smoked buffalo mozzarella, a fish finger pizza, and garlic prawn and chimichurri flatbread. If you want to sample your way through some funky vino created with organic and biodynamic grapes, you can add a four-glass wine flight to your meal for $60. The journey through Frankly's drops will include skin-contact sauvignon blanc, verdelho and chardonnay, alongside a red blend. You can also purchase an extra glass or a bottle of each of the wines if one particularly tickles your fancy. The night will kick off at 5pm and it will inevitably book out so make your booking at Love, Tilly Devine to secure a spot. [caption id="attachment_923448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Bentley[/caption] Top image: Nikki To
Wayang Kulit is a type of Indonesian shadow puppet theatre where, in its traditional form, the 'goodies' and the 'baddies' are easily identifiable by their shape. If only life were that easy. For artist Sangeeta Sandrasegar, shadows are just as revealing as they are in Wayang Kulit. In her own masterful way, she explores the formation of self and the details of our identity through shadow, casting a long low light over the societal roles we live in. With sculptures and silhouettes, Sandrasegar's exhibition may rely on specific light sources, but it's this that gives each one of her exhibitions their own unique flavour, adapting to the space and allowing for creative interpretation of the surroundings. So no need to be scared of the shadows, step into them and see what is illuminated.Image: The Shadow Class--Untitled (Carpet weaver), 2007-2008
One Sydney stalwart is set to be replaced by an even older reincarnation this spring. Potts Point's seven-year-old The Fish Shop — which was helmed by the late and great Jeremy Strode — will close its doors this June and reopen as Merivale's bygone bistro and cocktail bar, Lotus. This award-winning venue will make a grand return to its Challis Avenue digs with a revamped menu and an all-star team — with Lotus's original head chef, Dan Hong (Ms. G's, Mr. Wong, El Loco), once again at the helm. Lotus was Hong's first head chef position, which he snagged at just 24-years-old after returning to Sydney from a stint in New York. While most of the menu will be brand new, fans of the original can expect the return of a few favourite dishes, including the cheeseburger, sweet wasabi tuna and hot fudge sundaes for dessert. You can also count on plenty of Hong's signature, creative Asian touches throughout the Mediterranean-style menu. [caption id="attachment_724425" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Back in the day, Lotus's decadent and lively atmosphere made it a Kings Cross go-to for over a decade, and the team fully plans to bring back these good-time vibes. While it hasn't yet been announced who'll be joining Hong behind the bar or on the floor, the venue was originally home to Sydney bartender extraordinaire Alexx Stuart and Merivale's Chief Food & Beverage Officer Frank Roberts — so expect some equally big names to be announced in the upcoming months. Lotus 2.0 will open in September and exist as an extended pop-up until the new owners take over the building — Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes sold the three-storey property last month, after it had been owned by his family since 1988. While an exact end date has not yet been set, the restaurant will remain open at least into 2020 at this stage. For those keen to grab one last taste of The Fish Shop, you have just about two weeks until it closes up for good on Sunday, June 16. Find The Fish Shop at 22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point until Sunday, June 16. Lotus 2.0 will open this September. Keep an eye on this space for further announcements. Images: Nikki To.
As Aussies navigated a whole new reality over the past couple of years, gaming and food have been two things that have helped us through; offering a much-needed escape from reality and serving up plenty of entertainment in the process. Now, you're invited to experience what happens when these two cultures really come together, thanks to PlayStation to Plate — an innovative new dining concept that sees much-loved Aussie chefs bring to life virtual food from the PlayStation universe. From Friday, December 3–Sunday, December 12, three Aussie eateries will each create a limited-edition menu item that reimagines an iconic video game dish IRL. The restaurants are serving up their signature creations across all ten days of the pop-up, but you can also have any of the dishes dropped to your door courtesy of Deliveroo. The minds behind beloved Sydney burger empire Mary's, Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth made a fitting choice with their PlayStation to Plate selection, telling Concrete Playground how they were inspired to recreate the Ellie's Steak Sandwich from the apocalyptic realm of The Last of Us: Part II. [caption id="attachment_835425" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's take on the Ellie's Steak Sandwich[/caption] Not only did the duo play to their signature strengths by whipping up a bun-based creation, but they also took a serious deep dive into the game's workings and the players' mindsets in order to bring it to life. "Mary's would be the perfect hideout in an apocalyptic world like The Last of Us, so we've imagined what that would be like and [what would be] the perfect sandwich to keep you full when you're not sure when you might eat again," Smyth explains. "It's easy to just make a great steak sandwich, but we also really wanted to make sure the feeling of the game was captured in the dish." In The Last of Us, the steak sandwich stars towards the start of play, featured in a particular venue that the Mary's owners describe as a "safe haven". It's something that especially resonated with the duo, seeing lots of similarities between the fictional venue and their own restaurants. Plus, Smyth reckons their OG Newtown establishment would go alright if ever the world really was coming to an end. "The first place I'd come to in an apocalypse is Mary's because there's one door and it's made out of fricken metal," he laughs. "It's an escape from the outside world." The pair's real-life recreation of the dish features Aussie beef, marinated peppers, onions and lashings of cheese sauce, all loaded into a classic American hoagie roll. For maximum authenticity, each sandwich order comes packaged in brown paper and tied with string, just as you'll see in the game. It also comes teamed with a The Last of Us: Part II x Mary's limited-edition newspaper dubbed The Jackson Chronicle, and a 'Greetings from Jackson' postcard sharing the story behind the sandwich. "We know how loved this game is, so we were stoked to be asked to bring it to life in the real world," Smyth adds. [caption id="attachment_835439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Smyth and Graham playing The Last of Us[/caption] That said, the restaurateurs didn't need to look too hard to find a connection between the game realm they were tasked with representing and their everyday reality. "To me, there are huge parallels between gaming and real life," Smyth says. "There's a reason why these themes stick with people". "Food, much like gaming, has this incredible ability to offer people a chance to connect with family, friends and even complete strangers," Graham adds. "The sandwich in The Last of Us: Part II represents that connection and that's what we've been about since we started: bringing people together for good times and good food." Catch PlayStation to Plate from December 3–12, in Sydney and Melbourne. You'll find each dish featured on the menu at its respective venue, as well as being available for takeaway via Deliveroo.
2023 is set to be a milestone year for one of Sydney's biggest and most beloved events: the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Firstly, after moving both the 2021 and 2022 events to the Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic, it's finally returning to Oxford Street. Secondly, the parade is marking its huge 45th anniversary. And, it'll also fall under Sydney WorldPride, with that massive LGBTQIA+ celebration heading to the southern hemisphere for the first time ever. Expect a super-sized shindig as a result, obviously — one so hefty that two new viewing areas are being added for the parade. Due to increased demand already, organisers have announced a couple of fresh ticketed options to join in the fun on Saturday, February 25, 2023: a new party spot called Club Cindy and an all-ages zone named Ruby Road. At the first new addition, which'll set up shop on Flinders Street and is named after Sydney drag icon Cindy Pastel, Kyle Olsen and Rosie Piper will play host. This is a levelled-up standing area, complete with food options, bars and bathrooms, to add a bit of extra comfort to your Mardi Gras Parade experience. At the second new space, bringing a picnic rug is recommended. Here, you'll sit at the Moore Park end of the parade route, aka Checkpoint Dorothy, with uninterrupted views of the parade. You'll also be able to hit up food trucks and bars, enjoy live entertainment, and watch relays of the parade, too, on big screens around the venue. Club Cindy tickets start at $70, while Ruby Road tickets kick off at $50. Given that the theme of the 2023 Mardi Gras Parade is "gather, dream, amplify", the new spaces will also help attendees do just that. Announcing the new spaces, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger noted that "if you want to escape the crowds, Club Cindy and Ruby Road are the perfect option for you to celebrate WorldPride, our 45th anniversary and the return to our spiritual home of Oxford Street." "The Sydney Cricket Ground was a fantastic temporary home and feedback from audiences was that they loved the access to amenities that it offered. Now that the Parade is returning to Oxford Street it was important to us that we provide options for spectators." The Mardi Gras Parade makes its Oxford Street comeback after two stints at the SCG — one featuring noted rainbow aficionados The Wiggles — due to COVID-19, restrictions around the pandemic and distancing precautions. With the parade taking place as part of Sydney WorldPride in 2023, that means it joins an enormous bill of pride events across 17 days — with more than 300-plus LGBTQIA+ festivities planned, and over 500,000 people expected to participate. The full program will be released on Wednesday, November 9, but already includes a heap of must-attend events, including Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert, rainbows aplenty all around the city and a closing gig led by MUNA and G Flip. The 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will take place on Oxford Street on Saturday, February 25, 2023. For more information, head to the Mardi Gras website. Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Jeffrey Feng Photography. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
Sydney guys and girls now know they better watch out, as Lauryn Hill killed the Opera house softly with her song last night (with another show up tonight for Vivid LIVE). With vocals as strong as ever and a rapping speed that ain't slowing down, Ms. Hill triumphantly took her rightful place at the top of the hip hop class. After a buzzing Opera House excitedly thrusted to red red wiiiiiiine R&B and reggae classics, the crowd was well geared up for the hour-late Ms. Hill. It's been a good four years since Hill has visited Australia. The multi-Grammy award-winning singer disappeared from public life in 2000 after staggering fame, later undergoing a prison stint and three months house arrest after failing to file her tax returns on time. Returning to the Sydney stage with a vocally-charged, raptastic journey through her Fugees years, acoustic ballads, a Bob Marley cover and highlights from her legendary solo albums The Score and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the 39-year-old left no stone unturned. Swanning out in a black sequinned onesie, cape-like coat and broad-brimmed hat, Hill opened the set with an epic fifteen minute version of The Fugees' seminal cover 'Killing Me Softly'. One of the best selling hip hop artists of all time, Hill then dove headfirst into her epic repertoire — starting with her harmony-fuelled 1998 Miseducation single 'Everything Is Everything'; her super stylin' backup singers throwing down some seriously baller choreography. Hill still sits at the top of the class as one of the fastest rappers in the game. Slowly but surely speeding up during a funked up version of Miseducation's 'Final Hour', Hill furiously threw down every rhyme without blinking an eye. Ever the crowdpleaser, Hill somewhat cheesily inserted 'Sydney' into every possible lyrical corner — a guaranteed squeal-jerker employed at her Melbourne show just days before. Quite the control freak, the former Fugees frontwoman directed her band, backup singers and crowd like a bossy conductor, knowing every drum beat, vocal harmony and keyboard solo and attempting to make magic happen with furious pointed fingers. During a slightly bungled audience participation attempt of 'In Zion' the crowd slightly feared for the professional lives of the backup singers as Hill tried to lead an unsteady call and response moment, but eventually she busted moves with her band and gave shout-outs all round. Taking time out for a sentimentally-charged acoustic moment or three, Hill showcased her gospel-folk vocal strength with tunes from her 2002 album, MTV Unplugged 2.0 with 'Mr Intentional' and 'Oh Jerusalem'. Hill kept rolling through to a stunning cover of Bob Marley's 'Could You Be Loved' — by her late father-in-law. Finishing up with a revisit to 'Killing Me Softly' and a celebratory rendition of her 1998 Grammy-winning debut solo single 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', Hill triggered clasped hands Concert Hall-wide by bringing out two of her children to join her on (unsurprisingly badass) vocals. One of the most hyped-up moments in the Vivid LIVE lineup, Lauryn Hill made it clear she's still every inch the hip hop superstar she's been since before iPods were born. No throwbacks to Sister Act 2 though. Dayum. Lauryn Hill plays her second show at Sydney Opera House tonight for Vivid LIVE. Details over here. Images by Prudence Upton.
Surfing and gig-going have always been two of Australia's best-loved pastimes, and last year we scored a festival celebrating the best of both worlds. And, now, it's back for its second round of autumnal beachside festivals. Returning this March, The Drop festival will cruise around the country as it follows the Aussie leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour and it's bringing a banging little lineup of musical gold along for the ride. Surfing the festival wave for 2019 are brother-sister folk band Angus and Julia Stone, the perennially pastel indie pop duo Client Liaison and NSW surf rock band Hockey Dad, along with other local legends The Jungle Giants and Alex the Astronaut. Held on the first weekend of each area's surfing event, The Drop is set to grace some of the Australia's best surf spots, each outing featuring a locally focused offering of food, drink and culture, to match the tunes. As well as heading to the official WSL events in Torquay, Margaret River and Coolangatta, this year, the festival will also kick off Surfest Newcastle and Vissla Sydney Surf Pro in Manly — both WSL Qualifying Series events. THE DROP FESTIVAL 2019 LINEUP Angus and Julia Stone Client Liaison Hockey Dad The Jungle Giants Alex the Astronaut Images: Miranda Stokkel.
Summer is almost here for another year, and that means that festival season is almost here as well. We all know that the latter always comes in two parts, however. Before we spend our sunny days and balmy nights dancing in crowds, there's the anticipation phase — that time when it seems like every fest in the country is announcing plans and lineups to get us all excited. After Wollongong's Yours and Owls, new touring fest Summer Camp, Sydney's NYE in the Park and Melbourne's Beyond the City all dropped their latest details in recent weeks, it's now For the Love's turn. The waterfront music festival will hit up the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Melbourne and Perth in February and March 2022, with Dom Dolla, Crooked Colours and Mallrat leading the lineup. Running Touch, Allday, Boo Seeka, George Maple, Telenova and Ebony Boadu are also on the bill, and the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are still running the show. The Gold Coast's Doug Jennings Park, Wollongong's Stuart Park, Catani Gardens in Melbourne and Perth's McCallum Park are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations — and punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If it all sounds a bit familiar, that's because a number of acts on the bill were due to play For the Love this year, only for 2021's events to get pushed back to 2022. But that chaos has meant that a Wollongong festival has now joined the tour, which is obviously great news for New South Wales residents. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can now register for presale tickets until 4pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 23. Presale tickets go on sale from 6pm AEDT hat same day, with general public tickets up for grabs from 1pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 24. FOR THE LOVE 2022 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Saturday, February 19 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast Saturday, February 26 — Stuart Park, Wollongong Saturday, March 5 — Catani Gardens, Melbourne Sunday, March 6 — McCallum Park, Perth FOR THE LOVE 2022 LINEUP: Dom Dolla Crooked Colours Mallrat Allday Running Touch Boo Seeka George Maple Telenova Ebony Boadu For The Love 2021 tours the country in February and March 2022. Head to the festival's website to register for presale.
With all its spectacular showmanship, Pippin the Musical has helped bring a bit of magic back to Sydney's musical theatre scene. The Tony Award-winning musical mixes death-defying acrobatics and emotional intimacy in a story that follows a young prince trying to find his way in the world. It's showing now at Sydney Lyric Theatre in Pyrmont, until January 24. If you've already booked your ticket for an afternoon or night at the theatre, it's important to plan how you'll fill your belly before, or after, the show. With the help of Destination NSW, we've put together a list of top pre- and post-theatre dining spots in the area, covering all budgets. If you haven't already booked tickets to Pippin, make sure you do so soon before it closes.
