Calling all frog-lovers and environmentalists alike — this Vivid-exclusive installation is bringing larger-than-life versions of the amphibians to Barangaroo Reserve. Talk a stroll across the famed Light Walk and you'll find these giant frogs from Dawes Point Reserve and Barangaroo Headland to Darling Quarter and Tumbalong Boulevard. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out, the installation also doubles as a scavenger hunt. The event hopes to raise awareness of the role these incredible creatures play in our ecosystems, as well as how damaging the decline in their populations can be for our environments. Spend some time with the unique critters as you walk past these massive installations and you'll learn just how important they are, with some deeming them to be signifiers for coming environmental change. Night Walkers will bring these huge, lit-up frogs to Sydney from Friday, May 26. There will be eight frogs for you to find, representing each of the endangered species, alongside nearby panels with each exhibiting their very own frog songs. So, don your environmental caps and head over to explore the giant frogs in all their glory.
When Cake Wines Cellar Door closed down last month, it left a sizeable hole in Redfern's Eveleigh Street Creative Precinct. Thankfully, that gap has now been filled by another of the site's tenants, with Henry Lee's opening a new bar and restaurant. While the existing Henry Lee's cafe is still open for brunch and bites daily until 3pm, its sibling venue now serves up share plates and cocktails from 6pm from Thursday–Sunday. Thanks to a soft opening last week, it's already open and trading, with executive chef Antonio Saco (ex-Merivale) overseeing the kitchen. If you're keen on stopping by for a tipple, the three-page drinks list includes 26 vinos (complete with a couple of Cake Wines' tipples), a range of craft beer and ciders, a small selection of spirits and a ten-strong cocktail offering. It's the latter that's a highlight, especially the margarita with a black salt rim and the rhubarb-infused vodka and tonic. For folks having a few beverages with a friend, there's also an absinthe fountain. Food-wise, Saco's menu features both a cheese-heavy grazing board and a charcuterie board, as well as fresh Coffin Bay oysters served with mirin, lemongrass and sake salsa — or you can munch on garlic labneh with rosemary and olive crumb, raw tuna tostadas with avocado mousse, and three-mushroom ravioli with shaved truffles. As for the small dessert range, it includes a whiskey, hazelnut and macadamia crumble with orange sponge and caramel, plus a combination of lime yoghurt mousse, sweet vegetable coulis, raspberry sponge, meringue and mascarpone ice cream. Showcasing local and passionate producers continues to be one of Henry Lee's aims, so while you're tucking into all of the above, you'll be enjoying bread from Brickfields Bakery, brews from The Grifters Brewing Co and Moo Brew, and gin and vodka from Hartshorn. You'll also be soaking up the bar and restaurant's rustic atmosphere, with Atelier Andy Carson charged with making the most of the building's existing character. Think plenty of light, an undone feel, and the use of construction and industry materials. The venue also celebrates a rotating lineup of artists-in-residence, with Margie Doyle doing the honours first up and creating bespoke pieces for the site's launch. Down the track, Henry Lee's Bar & Dining will also join forces with its courtyard counterpart for boozy brunches, with other events also planned once the weather warms up. And if you fancy taking a few drinks home with you after dinner, the venue also has a hotel license, which means that all of its wines and beers are available to takeaway. Find Henry Lee's Bar & Dining at 16 Eveleigh Creative Precinct, Redfern — open from Thursday–Sunday from 6pm.
The Streets of Barangaroo is flexing its culinary muscles with a huge new two-day food festival that's bringing a tasting trail, a First Nations native food market and a thoughtful series of talks to this waterfront suburb. The Great Graze will pop up across Barangaroo between Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, showcasing all of the best eateries the suburb has to offer and the skills of some of Australia's favourite chefs. Restaurants and cases throughout The Streets of Barangaroo will be setting up market-style stalls out the front of their venues, offering tasting plates for between $6-16. Hop between restaurants and discover leek and truffle spring rolls at Lotus, mango pancakes at CHI by Lotus, honey prawns at Zushi, kingfish tostadas at Tequila Daisy, umami potato gems at Ume Burger, a Booze & Bump champagne and caviar combo at Devon Cafe and tossed wings with house peach tea at Belle's Hot Chicken. These are just a few of the dishes that will be on offer to try your way through across the food-filled weekend. The First Nations food market will also pop up at the Barangaroo food festival, featuring stallholders like Warndu, Blak Cede, Bush to Bowl, Chocolate on Purpose, IndigiEarth, The Unexpected Guest, Meat Brothers and Native Foodways. Entertainment is also on the agenda for The Great Graze. This will include roving performers and live musicians throughout the precinct and DJ sets out of Barangaroo House's new tune-heavy Japanese restaurant and bar Rekodo. Be sure to also check out a series of Food for Thought speaker series and a sustainable four-course seafood feast by Brent Savage and John Susman too. The Great Graze is taking over The Streets of Barangaroo from 11am–5pm Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.
The mercury is slowly rising again as summer nudges closer, Daylight Savings has kicked into gear and people's moods are altogether cheerier. Which means it's almost time for Sydney to get its noodle on once again. Yep, the Night Noodle Markets are gearing up for another season, whipping Hyde Park into a frenzy of sounds, smells and street food from October 11 to 18. The markets' 2019 edition is delivering a jam-packed culinary program that's as big as ever and with that comes an eye-watering array of choice. If you're feeling a bit daunted by all that decision-making and wondering how best to navigate the smorgasbord of eats, we've got your back. Avoid any bouts of indecisiveness and squeeze the best out of your Night Noodle Markets visit with our lineup of top food picks worth checking out. Get excited for attention-grabbing noodle dishes, szechuan-inspired fried chicken and inventive dessert creations that'll require both hands and a whole stack of napkins. EYE OF THE THAI-GER, GELATO MESSINA Seventeen years on and national sweetheart Gelato Messina continues to throw down inventive frozen treats left right and centre. The purveyors of weird and wonderful dessert concoctions will be showing off their latest designs at this year's Night Noodle Markets and each is a modern reworking of some classic Thai flavours. For a tasty frozen snack you can hold in one hand, try the Eye of the Thai-ger — which looks a bit like a fluffy dessert taco. It's a satisfyingly creamy fusion of Thai milk tea gelato and cheesecake mousse cradled in a layer of tea sponge. The dessert is then dunked in soft meringue and finished with a healthy dusting of coconut. We doubt you'll want to stop at just one. [caption id="attachment_745515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble[/caption] LECHE FLAN DOUGHNUT BURGER, DONUT PAPI Sydney's go-to for inventive, Asian-inspired doughnut creations, Donut Papi is returning to the Night Noodle Markets with a fresh haul of crafty desserts in tow. These guys sure aren't afraid to get a little creative, as you'll know from past ingenious doughnut iterations like peanut butter birthday cake, ube Oreo and even garlic bread. But the treat you need to sink your chompers into this month is the Leche Flan Donut Burger. A slab of lush, sticky Filipino-style crème caramel is stuffed between halves of a sugar-crusted doughnut bun, ready and waiting to ooze upon that first bite. BIG BOSS FLYING NOODLES, THE FLYING NOODLE Is it magic? Is it a feat of aerodynamics? No, it's simply the show-stopping signature dish from The Flying Noodle. Featuring a serve of chopsticked noodles suspended mysteriously in the air, this menu hit is designed to be devoured with your eyes, as well as your mouth. There are three gravity-defying variations on offer at this year's Night Noodle Markets, including The Big Boss, which teams those cascading egg noodles with seasonal veggies and marinated chicken in a rich red wine sauce. How do they do it? You'll just have to order one and find out. [caption id="attachment_745527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] STICKY RICKY BURGER, JOHNNY BIRD Crows Nest's fried chicken maestro Johnny Bird is coming to the party, getting into the Night Noodle Market spirit with some Asian-inspired riffs on its usual chook-licious fare. Alongside menu favourites like chicken tenders and the classic Johnny Bird burger, you'll find the Sticky Ricky, available with or without the bun. This one features that OG crisp fried free-range chicken, teamed with lettuce, spring onion, sesame seeds and a gutsy lick of sticky szechuan sauce. Our tip? Best load up on napkins before going in for the kill. CHEESEBURGER PUFFLE, PUFFLE Everyone loves a quirky, cheesy food creation and this one's as fun to say as it is to eat. A return favourite from last year's markets, and a riff on the egg waffles you'll find at street stalls in Hong Kong, Puffle is a kind of savoury waffle cone made out of cheese and filled with various flavour combinations. This month, Puffle is out to win you over with two different decadent versions of its dish, including the cheeseburger — an assembly of chopped bulgogi-style beef and extra melted cheese, finished with lashings of sweet and spicy ketchup, mustard and Japanese mayo — and a KFC option with spicy Korean-style fried chicken. But, whichever filling you opt for, you're in for a crunchy, oozy and delightfully messy ride. Want more? The Sydney Night Noodle Markets are at Hyde Park from Friday, October 11, to Friday, October 18. Check out the full food lineup here. Top image: Bec Taylor
Fathers and sons: a relationship not often portrayed without sporting paraphernalia nearby. Adapting Simon Carr’s acclaimed memoir about single fatherhood in the shadow of loss, celebrated Australian director Scott Hicks and his leading man Clive Owen offer up a delicate, moving film. In the wake of his wife’s death, sports journalist (so, not entirely leaving the paraphernalia behind) Joe Warr falters at the prospect of raising his 6 year old son Artie (Nicholas McAnulty). After regaining a certain equilibrium, Joe’s ‘Just Say Yes’ mentality is challenged upon the arrival from London of his 14 year old son from a previous marriage, Harry (Rupert Grint lookalike George MacKay). Together the three Warrs navigate the highs and lows of family and fatherhood in a magnificent Australian bush setting. The Boys Are Back makes an interesting companion piece to Michael Winterbottom’s Genova. It is curious to consider how the two directors have taken similar storylines to vastly different aesthetic and thematic ends. Hicks’ film may feel more mainstream and a little episodic, but both eschew sentimentality for a rewarding look at the realities of parenthood. And like Colin Firth, Owen delivers an emotionally intelligent performance, one with a few lashings of his charm that also makes the most of his slightly stilted style. Further contributing to the film’s sophistication is Greig Fraser’s superb cinematography. The talent behind Last Ride and Jane Campion’s Bright Star, Fraser captures idyllic South Australia and the Warr boys with a quiet poetry. Focus pulls are intertwined with luscious landscapes; domesticity and the unwieldy freedom of the bush are tellingly confused.The Boys Are Back may privilege the experience of he single father, but it also engages with the prevailing dominance of motherhood. This results in a deeply resonant film, driven by strong performances and displaying an open affection that is too rarely depicted between fathers and sons.
Looking to be transported to a world of hypnotic dance music, hyper-coloured visuals and extravagant dancers? Yung Lung is bringing its futuristic rave to Carrigeworks as part of Sydney Festival. Australian choreographer Antony Hamilton is bringing a dance party like no other with bass-heavy and experimental techno soundtracking the event and a colourful giant head placed in the centre of the dance floor. Dress in your dance floor-finest and head to Eveleigh to discover an otherworldly experience of music, art and fashion. Pulling together this immersive rave experience is a collection of boundary-pushing creatives. In charge of the music is Melbourne electronic musician Chiara Kickdrum, while costumes are being created by P.A.M and videos by Kris Moyes. All of this can be found in the expansive halls of Carriageworks between Thursday, January 20 and Sunday, January 23. Tickets are $60, however if you're under 30 you can nab yourself a youth discount and half-priced tickets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPB_raKnD0k Top images: Eva Otsing and Peter Tarasiuk
Not all Sundays need to be a chill one. If you're keen to take the last licks of the weekend to a whole new level, then look no further than Maximum Joy. This one-day music festival will return for its second year, this time taking over Marrickville's Factory Theatre on Sunday, December 1 from 2.30pm until the wee hours of the morning. The massive DJ lineup features both local and international heavy hitters in the house, techno and electronica scenes. They've got Amsterdam's Italo disco king Young Marco and Denmark's techno queen Mama Snake, France's off-kilter electro artist Simo Cell and Dublin rave act Saoirse. Not to mention Sydney favourites Kali, Adi Toohey and Ben Fester. In the venue's courtyard, you'll find Melbourne's CC:DISCO! rocking a replica of her Club Coco stage. Thirteen acts have been announced so far, with more to come. Alongside the dance party, expect fashion and hospitality greats to be in the house, too. While those details have been kept under wraps for now, last year featured Maurice Terzini's label Ten Pieces, as well as drag performers, visual artists and dedicated creative spaces.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. NO TIME TO DIE James Bond might famously prefer his martinis shaken, not stirred, but No Time to Die doesn't quite take that advice. While the enterprising spy hasn't changed his drink order, the latest film he's in — the 25th official feature in the franchise across six decades, and the fifth and last that'll star Daniel Craig — gives its regular ingredients both a mix and a jiggle. The action is dazzlingly choreographed, a menacing criminal has an evil scheme and the world is in peril, naturally. Still, there's more weight in Craig's performance, more emotion all round, and a greater willingness to contemplate the stakes and repercussions that come with Bond's globe-trotting, bed-hopping, villain-dispensing existence. There's also an eagerness to shake up parts of the character and Bond template that rarely get a nudge. Together, even following a 19-month pandemic delay, it all makes for a satisfying blockbuster cocktail. For Craig, the actor who first gave Bond a 21st-century flavour back in 2006's Casino Royale (something Pierce Brosnan couldn't manage in 2002's Die Another Day), No Time to Die also provides a fulfilling swansong. That wasn't assured; as much as he's made the tuxedo, gadgets and espionage intrigue his own, the Knives Out and Logan Lucky actor's tenure has charted a seesawing trajectory. His first stint in the role was stellar and franchise-redefining, but 2008's Quantum of Solace made it look like a one-off. Then Skyfall triumphed spectacularly in 2012, before Spectre proved all too standard in 2015. Ups and downs have long been part of this franchise, depending on who's in the suit, who's behind the lens, the era and how far the tone skews towards comedy — but at its best, Craig's run has felt like it's building new levels rather than traipsing through the same old framework. In No Time to Die, Bond does need to look backwards, though — to loves lost, choices made and lingering enemies. Before Billie Eilish's theme song echoes over eye-catching opening credits, the film fills its first scenes with the past, starting with returning psychiatrist Madeleine Swan's (Léa Seydoux, Kursk) links to new mask-wearing villain Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek, The Little Things). There's patience and visual poetry to these early minutes amid Norway's snowy climes, even while littered with violence. No Time to Die is a lengthy yet never slow feature, and Bond first-timer Cary Joji Fukunaga doesn't begin with the pace he means to continue; however, the director behind True Detective's stunning first season establishes a sense of meticulousness, an eye for detail and an inclination to let moments last — and a striking look — that serves him exceptionally moving forward. Back in post-Spectre times, Bond and Swan enjoy an Italian holiday that's cut short by bomb blasts, bridge shootouts and other attempts on 007's life — and Fukunaga is quickly two for two in the action camp. No Time to Die segues commandingly from slow-building and foreboding to fast, frenetic and breathtaking in its two big opening sequences, setting itself a high bar. At this point, the narrative hasn't even properly kicked into gear yet. That happens five years later, when Bond is alone and retired in Jamaica (in a nice nod to where author Ian Fleming wrote his Bond stories). His old CIA pal Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) comes knocking, new politically appointed offsider Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen, The Many Saints of Newark) in tow, asking for the now ex-MI6 agent's help to foil the latest nefarious plan — involving a DNA-targeting virus fuelled by nanobots, of course — that's been hatched by terrorist organisation Spectre. Read our full review. THE POWER OF THE DOG Don't call it a comeback: Jane Campion's films have been absent from cinemas for 12 years but, due to miniseries Top of the Lake, she hasn't been biding her time in that gap. And don't call it simply returning to familiar territory, even if the New Zealand director's new movie features an ivory-tinkling woman caught between cruel and sensitive men, as her Cannes Palme d'Or-winner The Piano did three decades ago. Campion isn't rallying after a dip, just as she isn't repeating herself. She's never helmed anything less than stellar, and she's immensely capable of unearthing rich new pastures in well-ploughed terrain. With The Power of the Dog, Campion is at the height of her skills trotting into her latest mesmerising musing on strength, desire and isolation — this time via a venomous western that's as perilously bewitching as its mountainous backdrop. That setting is Montana, circa 1925. Campion's homeland stands in for America nearly a century ago, making a magnificent sight — with cinematographer Ari Wegner (Zola, True History of the Kelly Gang) perceptively spying danger in its craggy peaks and dusty plains even before the film introduces Rose and Peter Gordon (On Becoming a God in Central Florida's Kirsten Dunst and 2067's Kodi Smit-McPhee). When the widowed innkeeper and her teenage son serve rancher brothers Phil and George Burbank (The Courier's Benedict Cumberbatch and Antlers' Jesse Plemons) during a cattle-run stop, the encounter seesaws from callousness to kindness, a dynamic that continues after Rose marries George and decamps to the Burbank mansion against that stunning backdrop. Brutal to the lanky, lisping Peter from the outset, Phil responds to the nuptials with malice. He isn't fond of change, and won't accommodate anything that fails his bristling definition of masculinity and power, either. In a career-best, awards-worthy, downright phenomenal turn by Cumberbatch, Phil is all hawkish menace and bravado; he viciously calls his brother 'Fatso', his initial taunting of Peter over paper flowers and effete mannerisms is all the more ferocious for its dinner-table audience, and he's effusive in his admiration for Bronco Henry, the man's man who taught him everything he knows. Indeed, Phil's hyper-masculine air, complete with threatening and mocking banjo-plucking, soon drives Rose to drink. He'd rather still be bunking in with George, as they have for the quarter-century they've run their inherited ranch. He'd rather scare everyone away by failing to bathe, unless he's stealing off to a secret water hole — and by mixing his Yale classics degree into his sneering, too. The key to Cumberbatch's commanding performance isn't softening Phil or playing up his charisma, but conveying the battle of repression and self-resentment raging within; the cattleman has long tanned his own public persona, but he's as complex as rawhide. Adapting Thomas Savage's 1967 novel of the same name, Campion gives Phil's chomping misery ample company: in the sauced Rose, in the intimidating attitude that rolls around the ranch like a stubborn tumbleweed, and in Peter when he returns from his medical studies for the summer. The Power of the Dog lets this unhappy stew fester, adding grit to its brew with each passing scene and deepening its rich character studies in the process. The film's only misstep is pushing George aside, although the fact that his passivity — his main trait alongside tenderness — earns him less attention is an incisive touch. Rose becomes a supporting player as Phil and Peter's initially antagonistic relationship finds deeper dimensions but, in Dunst's hands, this is still an intense portrait of a woman heartbreakingly accustomed to being at others' whims. As a raw-boned young man who proves exacting and steely inside, Smit-McPhee isn't just similarly exceptional — he's revelatory. Read our full review. TICK, TICK... BOOM! "Try writing what you know." That's age-old advice, dispensed to many a scribe who hasn't earned the success or even the reaction they'd hoped, and it's given to aspiring theatre composer Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield, Under the Silver Lake) in Tick, Tick… Boom!. The real-life figure would go on to write Rent but here, in New York City in January 1990, he's working on his debut musical Superbia. It's a futuristic satire inspired by George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, and it's making him anxious about three things. Firstly, he hasn't yet come up with a pivotal second-act song that he keeps being told he needs. Next, he's staging a workshop for his debut production to gauge interest before the week is out — and this just has to be his big break. Finally, he's also turning 30 in days, and his idol Stephen Sondheim made his Broadway debut in his 20s. Tick, Tick… Boom! charts the path to those well-worn words of wisdom about drawing from the familiar, including Larson's path to the autobiographical one-man-show of the same name before Rent. And, it manages to achieve that feat while showing why such a sentiment isn't merely a cliche in this situation. That said, the key statement about mining your own experience also echoes throughout this affectionate movie musical in another unmissable way. Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't write Tick, Tick… Boom!'s screenplay; however, he does turn it into his filmmaking directorial debut — and what could be more fitting for that task from the acclaimed In the Heights and Hamilton talent than a loving ode (albeit an inescapably overexcited one) to the hard work put in by a game-changing theatre wunderkind? If this was a case of telling viewers that this is Miranda's movie without telling them, the concept would obviously do the trick. So would a few notable cameos in a standout song-and-dance number that's best discovered by watching. There's plenty in Tick, Tick… Boom! that was already layered with musical theatre history before it became a film, too; in the source material, Larson even wrote in a homage to Sondheim's own musical Sunday in the Park with George. That's the level of insider knowledge that's a foundation here, and the film frequently reverberates in an insular, theatre-obsessive, spot-the-references register. As great as it is if you stan the same productions and people, it also makes Tick, Tick… Boom! less accessible and resonant. It's as if Miranda can't choose between indulging his own adoration or truly sharing that love with his audience. (Tick, Tick… Boom! also became a three-person stage musical in 2001, and Miranda played its lead in a 2014 revival opposite Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr and In the Heights' Karen Olivo.) Garfield's sing-to-the-rafters version of Larson is first seen in faux home-video footage, performing the rock monologue iteration of Tick, Tick… Boom!, his bouncy hair waving about as he croons and plays piano. Miranda and screenwriter Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hansen) then segue between the lively presentation and the tale it also tells about Superbia, the looming workshop and the impending birthday. In the latter scenes, Larson can't come up with the missing song, earn enough as a composer to keep the power on, or juggle his pursuit of his dream with the complexities of his personal life. The alternative: opting for a safe career, which his ex-actor ex-roommate Michael (Robin de Jesus, The Boys in the Band) has done in advertising, and his dancer girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) is contemplating with teaching. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22 and July 29; August 5, August 12, August 19 and August 26; September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23 and September 30; October 7, October 14, October 21 and October 28; and November 4. For Sydney specifically, you can take a look at out our rundown of new films that released in Sydney cinemas when they reopened on October 11, and what opened on October 14, October 21 and October 28 as well. And for Melbourne, you can check out our top picks from when outdoor cinemas reopened on October 22 — and from when indoor cinemas did the same on October 29. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Herself, Little Joe, Black Widow, The Sparks Brothers, Nine Days, Gunpowder Milkshake, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Old, Jungle Cruise, The Suicide Squad, Free Guy, Respect, The Night House, Candyman, Annette, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Streamline, Coming Home in the Dark, Pig, Big Deal, The Killing of Two Lovers, Nitram, Riders of Justice, The Alpinist, A Fire Inside, Lamb, The Last Duel, Malignant, The Harder They Fall, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Halloween Kills, Passing, Eternals, The Many Saints of Newark and Julia.
The team behind one of Sydney's most exciting new venues, Hinchcliff House, is opening a new cafe in front of the Museum of Sydney. House Made Hospitality will be hoping to recreate the success of its all-day Circular Quay cafe Bar Mammoni with this new venture, This Way Canteen, which will be serving up coffee, snacks and drinks until 4pm throughout the week. Billed as a canteen, the new venue will feature breakfast items, sandwiches, juices, smoothies, coffee and a handful of pastries shuttled over from the nearby Mammoni. There will also be a selection of wines and beers for those looking to stop in for an afternoon beverage with colleagues or friends. Located on the corner of Bridge Street and Phillip Street, This Way Canteen will be located in the Museum of Sydney's courtyard, providing museum-goers with an easy lunch choice while maintaining a separate entrance to the museum in order to facilitate casual patrons passing through on their lunch break or morning commute. The 100-seat cafe will include outdoor tables ideal for city workers looking to catch some rays. "The menu items will be in line with what you'd expect from a New York deli without going too heavy on the American influence," House Made Hospitality Director Scott Brown said. "Just a collection of good sandwiches and salads that are worth leaving the office for, some brekky items to kick-start the day plus a handful of wines and beers." An opening date is yet to be announced, but the canteen is expected to arrive in the next two months. [caption id="attachment_848191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Mammoni[/caption] This Way Canteen is set to open on the corner of Bridge and Phillip Street this winter. It will be open 7am–4pm Monday–Friday and 8am–4pm Saturday–Sunday. Top image: Joy of Museums
Having just reopened earlier this month, Merivale's The Royal in Bondi wasn't quite ready in time to take part in the group's Bottoms Up, Sydney campaign, where each of the group's venues slashed its drinks by 49 percent from 5–7pm daily across the entire month of June. But that doesn't mean the eastern suburbs pub has missed out on the happy hour fun completely — instead, The Royal will be hosting its own (almost) half-price happy hour — Bottoms Up, Bondi — offering the same 49 percent off daily deal throughout October. Head in from 5–7pm any day next month to score some very impressive savings on all cocktails, beer, spirits, wine and Champagne, as the pub sets out to cement itself as a favourite in the hearts of thirsty locals. The pub, which has been kicking around in some capacity since 1907, was acquired by Merivale late last year and is now pouring a hefty range of booze for just about every palate and budget. Swing by to get your nearly half-price kicks with a summery daiquiri, an espresso martini on tap, an interesting bottle of natural wine, or even something bubbly, celebratory and French. The Royal's attached retail offering The Bottle Shop has also reopened, and the pub's restaurant and courtyard will be back in action by summer, playing host to an exciting yet-to-be-announced food pop-up for the sunny season. Find The Royal at 283 Bondi Road, Bondi. It's open 10am–midnight, Mon–Sat and 10am–10pm, Sun. Bottoms Up, Bondi will run from 5–7pm daily for all of October.
Have you ever noticed the effervescent trail of light that follows your mobile phone screen when you move it in a dark room? Or how you can create shapes by whirling a glow stick around at night? Both are rudimentary examples of a recent trend: light painting. Light painting essentially consists of capturing light moving by using high exposure photography; the result is an image of the moving lights' path through the air. According to geek.com, the trend began "with a group of artists that wanted to map urban WiFi signals. This project created a visual landscape of technology we couldn’t see before, giving perspective on something we use everyday." Since then, artists and technology nerds alike have been creating floating works of light. In order to 'paint' properly, the painter must have an understanding of both the creative and scientific elements involved. The photography must be spot-on, and the hardware and software well-managed. Introducing the LightScythe: one of the first light-painting devices designed specifically with artistic endeavors in mind. The hardware is simply a long staff covered in LED lights, controlled by arduino boards and software the Mechatronics Guy designed. Watching the process, it may seem as though someone is just walking slowly with a large stick in hand, but the photographs reveal much more. The Mechatronics Guy uses the LightScythe to create floating images and text, and he wants you to, too. Check out the directions online and get to painting for yourself.
The espionage antics. The shaken-not-stirred martinis. The suits. The theme song. Think James Bond, and all four come to mind. Indeed, they've all played a part in the long-running franchise, which first started back in 1962 — and they're all now coming to the Sydney Opera House with a live score. Following in the footsteps of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, Bond is bringing one of its spy instalments back to the big screen with help from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It's the first time in Australia that the franchise has been shown in this way, and it'll hit Sydney on Thursday, February 28 and Friday, March 1 in 2019. Audiences will relive Daniel Craig's 007 debut while hearing the music behind as they've never heard it before, all as part of Casino Royale in Concert. For those in need of a refresher on the 2006 flick, it takes the franchise back to the beginning of Bond's career. He's newly licensed to kill, and he's soon falling in love with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) while trying to hunt down terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). Directed by Martin Campbell, it was a huge hit — the biggest Bond film, box office-wise, ever released at the time, a mantle that was later overtaken by 2012's Skyfall. As the film hops from the Bahamas, to Montenegro to Venice's Grand Canal, the SSO will perform composer David Arnold's music. Yes, the classic theme track that's served the franchise so well for more than half a century now also features. Casino Royale in Concert plays the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, February 28 and Friday, March 1 in 2019. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the SSO website.
Keen for some new, independent, contemporary, edgy, British and/or devised theatre perpetrated by young people? ABitOnTheSide Productions, an emerging theatre company formed by Sydney-based cool-kids Carolyn Eccles and Felicity Nicol, are launching themselves right now at the Pact Theatre in Erskineville with a double bill of Sarah Kane's Crave along with a new devised work based on the story of Lot's Wife. Crave is an ambitious work which strives to find hope in the darkest of corners. By taking our world and turning up the volume, Kane creates a cacophony which fearlessly shines light on all that is glorious and torturous about being human. Through the haze of this polluted world, Kane ultimately leaves us with a message of hope and comfort, for what we seek is closer than we think. At least half the theatre-inclined young people in Sydney are quietly yet desperately nursing secret drama-crushes on anything to do with Sarah Kane, even in spite of (and perhaps because of) her ability to paint the bleakest of worlds and leave you so depressed you'll want to tear your own eyes out like that guy in Event Horizon. And if a shot of hardcore + edgy is what you're after with your theatre, it doesn't get more hardcore than the Bible. I'm talking the Old Testament, not its more recent, nancy, love-preaching cousin. Watch Carolyn Eccles ride rough-shod all over it as she uses the story of Lot's Wife (Remember? The angels told her not to look back? But then she looked back and got turned into a pillar of salt?) to examine the very human experience of remaining trapped in the past. Eccles is keen to develop the tradition of devised theatre within the Sydney theatre scene, believing that the process of improvising and then refining leads to the creation of surprising images and ideas.
December is officially here, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas — and, as a result, it's beginning to look a lot like prime festive dessert season, too. Sure, everyone loves the parties and drinks and presents that are all part and parcel of this time of year (and the markets, lights, decorations and whatever Mariah Carey is gifting us), but can you really say it's the merriest month in the calendar if you haven't devoured all the sweet treats possible? To tempt our tastebuds, plenty of dessert joints whip up festive specials. You might've tried Messina's take on the trifle more than once, for instance. This year, Mr Gelato by Matteo is joining in with two ice cream-stuffed options — and yes, getting stuck into a gelato-stuffed panettone is now at the top of your wish list. Forget regular ol' raisin-stuffed sweet bread, because this one comes filled with the gelato flavour of your choice, then topped with melted dark chocolate and hazelnuts. That'll set you back $60, as will Mr Gelato's pandoro Christmas special, which can be filled with Nutella, custard, zabaglione semifreddo or gelato. To add one to your December 25 menu — or to get feasting before then; 'tis already the season — you'll need to place an order with Mr Gelato by Matteo's Northern Beaches stores. So, that's great news if you're in the Collaroy or Freshwater areas, or if heading across town for the perfect dessert is your idea of a stellar Christmas. Mr Gelato by Matteo is serving up its gelato-filled panettone and pandoro at its Northern Beaches stores — at Collaroy (1119c Pittwater Road) and Freshwater (11/1-3 Moore Road). For further details, head to the chain's website.
Sydney's lower north shore has scored itself an impressive new addition, with The Alcott opening its doors in Lane Cove today Complete with restaurant, roomy outdoor terrace and its own spritz bar, the 200-seater brings plenty to the table. It's a modern, multifaceted space for all occasions, and it has been designed by Pony Design Co, who recently kitted out The Fernery nearby in Mosman and Camperdown's Acre. The venue also boasts an upbeat fit-out built on bold feature tones and a menu anchored in the Mediterranean. In the kitchen, Head Chef Richard Slarp is plating up fresh seasonal fare with a wholesome edge. Best enjoyed in that al fresco dining space are dishes like the saltbush lamb ribs with almond sumac and coriander, crispy brussels sprouts paired with romesco, and a show-stopping whole calamari, chargrilled and matched with tomato breadcrumbs and pickled fennel. On the weekends, The Alcott will open its doors earlier — at 11am — for brunch. It'll serve up shakshuka, smashed avocado and a hearty Warm Green Bowl, with sweet potato hummus, kale, pumpkin seeds and poached eggs. Those wanting to turn their back on winter altogether will find their oasis in the spritz bar, serving cocktails infused with flavours like rosemary, grapefruit, elderflower and lychee. The cocktails are backed up by an extensive wine selection, with plenty of love for Euro-leaning Aussie drops. Find The Alcott at 1 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove.
Tucked away in the south-west of Spain, Marco de Jerez is a bustling wine region that fosters some of the world's most exciting winemakers. Traditionally a sherry region, the region has seen a new wave of boundary-pushing winemakers emerge in the past few years. Sydney's vibrant new Spanish and Catalonian wine bar La Salut is honouring the wave of innovative wines with a night dedicated to Marco de Jerez. The night will consist of 12 tasty Andalusian and Catalonian-inspired dishes from the La Salut kitchen paired with 12 of the best drops from the region. The La Salut team has enlisted the help of Scott Wasley of local wine importer The Spanish Acquisition to run you through each of the wines you'll be trying throughout the night. The organisation has been importing Spanish and Portuguese wines and spirits since 2001 so you best believe Wasley knows what he's talking about. Kicking off the night will be Andalusian vermouth paired with paleta iberica and fresh-baked pan de cristal from Fabbrica Pasta Shop. From there the array of wines will include orange palomino, magnums of fino and an amber fortified nightcap just to name a few. Accompanying these top-notch wines will be dishes like Sydney rock oysters, mussel and guindillas toast and La Salute's fan favourite octopus. The dinner kicks off at 6.30pm and will set you back $195 which includes all of the evening's drinks and all accompanying food. To reserve your place, book a spot at La Salut's website. Images: Nikki To
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for Titus Jones's latest trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. The big night in question is free (huzzah) with B99-themed cocktails available to purchase on the night and a heap of prizes up for grabs. It all kicks off at 4pm on Sunday, January 13. Book a table for you and your mates and it may be your night to shine (and that can be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). To book, call (02) 8068 4955 or email mez@titusjones.com.au.
Daisy's Milkbar is a hub of unique activities. Not only does the cafe serve up great food and drink, but it also hosts special events regularly — the kind where people can indulge their creative side and take part in something different. Plaster Fun House nights are one such occasion — evenings where patrons can get crafty and make something they can treasure, all while sipping booze — cocktails, natural wine from P&V and beer and cider from Young Henrys are all on offer. Pick from a figurine on offer, get into the arty spirit and see what you can whip up! You'll have your own multi-coloured statue in no time. Not just a one-off affair, the series takes place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 6pm. It'll set you back $10, which includes something to paint and the paint itself — and if you're keen on dinner or dessert, it's on the menu as well. Image: Connor Keighran. UPDATE: JUNE 4, 2018 — This article previously stated that you could bring your own booze to the Plaster Fun House nights. As Daisy's is now licensed, the nights are no longer BYO. Some top-notch booze is available to purchase instead.
This year Orange's celebrated foodie festival returns for its 26th year. As one of the biggest, tastiest events on the New South Wales calendar, Orange FOOD Week hasn't just proven itself with sell-out events, but with the test of time as well. And for 2017, more than 80 events will take place across ten days from March 31, celebrating the Orange District's local growers, farmers, foragers, winemakers, chefs, restaurants and cafes. Perhaps the most epic part of the program is the FOOD train, which will leave Sydney Central Station for Orange on Friday, April 7, taking travellers on a weekend-long journey filled with tasting menus, outdoor lunches and gourmet brunches. Other highlights include the 100 Mile Dinner in Molong, served under the stars on the village green (April 3) and FORAGE on April 8, a 3.6-kilometre stroll through vineyards and paddocks with wine tasting and snacks made with local produce along the way. Other events not to miss are the Sunday Producers' Market in Cook Park, where local produce will be turned into breakfasts and brunches on the spot (April 9), and the much-loved opening night, which will take the form of a night market at Robertson Park (March 31). In addition to the signature events that sell out every year, there are a whole slew of satellite events hosted by local restaurants, cafes, caterers and cellar doors. These include hunting for truffles, dining in an orchard, cider tastings and many a delicious dinner.
When it premiered at Sundance in January this year, Spaceship Earth wouldn't and couldn't have seemed as topical as it does at present. The documentary's subject: Biosphere 2. If the name isn't familiar, it refers to a biodome in the Arizona desert that played host to eight inhabitants for two years in the early 90s — all isolating themselves from the world by choice, in the name of silence, to see if a closed-off, fully self-sustaining vivarium could work. Yes, it sounds like pure sci-fi. We can guarantee that this is 100-percent reality, however. Exploring a tale that has to be seen to be believed, filmmaker Matt Wolf takes viewers through the unusual and fascinating experiment — wth the help of a treasure trove of archival material, as well as present-day interviews from many of the folks involved at the time. While it would've been very easy to play up the outlandishness of the whole project (indeed, as seen in media clips from the era, many an onlooker did), this doco approaches Biosphere 2 and the passionate people who made it happen with thoughtfulness and appreciation, in what proves a supremely interesting and engaging film. And, if you'd like to check it out, you can do so for without paying a cent as part of the new Visions, Speculations and Dystopias: A Deep Dive Into Spaceship Earth event hosted by The Capitol in Melbourne. There are multiple components, all free and all online — and streaming the movie is one of them. You'll need to RSVP to get sent the details, and then you can view it at your leisure in the lead up to three virtual events. The first, a watch party, takes place at 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 4. After that, you can catch a panel about whether humanity should leave earth, as held at 5.30pm AEDT on Thursday, November 5, and then check out a masterclass with Spaceship Earth's director Matt Wolf at 10am AEDT on Friday, November 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGvYFB6GHRY
After a six-month residency inside The Exchange Hotel, Secolo Balmain is officially bidding us farewell. The Italian diner had taken over Fabbrica Pasta Bar's previous digs, hoping to lock down a permanent space after closing its original Castlereagh Street outpost, but the crew have now decided that the joint will be shutting its doors for good instead. But it's not all bad news — the team behind the venue will return to Sydney's food and drink scene later this year with two new eateries. The Arienzale family will be opening Tessuto, a retro-style Italian trattoria, and La Panineria, a dedicated sambo joint, in the CBD later this year. [caption id="attachment_953994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Owners Anthony, Tanja and Robert Arienzale pictured at Secolo Balmain. [/caption] "Things have changed a lot since we made the difficult decision to close our original city venue in the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns and looming construction plans," said Tanja Arienzale, one of Secolo's co-owners. "We have such fond memories of our time in town and we can't wait to welcome back our old customers and meet some new faces." Tessuto — the Italian word for 'fabric' — draws its name from the building's history, as its occupants from the 1800s were the main importer of Australia's soft goods. Now, the joint is set to serve pastries, focaccia and pizzas from the heritage-listed spot on York Street, with Secolo's Head Chef Mattia Senesi helming its kitchen. The CBD newcomer will be open for early risers seeking out a morning coffee, as well as those seeking leisurely late afternoon spritzes — and it'll even offer make-your-own pasta options. As for the second newbie, La Panineria will be a hole-in-the-wall takeaway joint slinging fresh Italian schiacciata (panini). Not only will the outpost feature sambos like the Gladiator, with sliced porchetta, pork crackling, provolone, aioli, friarielli and salsa verde, but it will also do hot coffee and pizza by the slice. The two soon-to-come venues have yet to release official opening dates, but are estimated to open to the public in the latter half of 2024. Secolo Balmain, however, has announced that it will host its final service on Saturday, May 18, so head to the restaurant's website to book your farewell meal. You've got until Saturday, May 18, to hit up Secolo Balmain before its final service. Located inside The Exchange Hotel at 94 Beattle Street in Balmain, the restaurant is open from 5.30–10pm Tuesday–Saturday, and 12–3pm for lunch on Saturday. Head to the Tessuto and La Panineria websites for updates on the two upcoming venues.
This summer, you'll have another excuse to enjoy a G&T as a heap of gin and tonic gardens pop up across the country. Taking over outdoor spaces, they'll be setting up shop not only in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but in Canberra, on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, and in Cairns too — so whether you're eager for a drink close to home or you'll be holidaying in a sunny spot, cocktails laden with juniper spirits await. Settling into the outside areas at pubs and bars in each locale, the gardens will feature plenty of gin and tonic (obviously), as well as DIY garnish stations. The idea is that you can learn more about different botanicals, then mix, match and experiment to find your ideal G&T combination. That sounds like a task that we'd all gladly accept; however there'll be tonic pairing menus on hand should you need some pointers. At the time of writing, Sydneysiders can scratch their G&T itch at the Woolhara Hotel and the Shelbourne Hotel in the CBD, plus Newtown's Union Hotel — while Melburnians can make a date with Ciao Cucina in Port Melbourne, as well as Richmond Social, the Notting Hill Hotel and the Lower Plenty Hotel in their respective suburbs. Brisbanites can head to Covent Garden in West End, Blind Tiger in The Gap and Sandstone Point Hotel on Bribie Island; mosey down to the Goldie to the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden, the Burleigh Heads Hotel, Baskk in Coolangatta; or venture north to Circa Rooftop Bar in Maroochydore. More locations will pop up across the country over the summer, with a handy interactive map tracking new venues. The gardens are the work of Fever-Tree, so the company's tonics will be splashing in your glass. It's the outfit's latest G&T-focused venture after putting on a gin and tonic festival in Sydney back in September. Fever-Tree's Gin and Tonic Gardens are popping up around the country between now and March. To find your closest spot, visit the brand's website.
The crew at Beyond Cinema have a knack for turning bedtime stories and big-screen flicks into immersive, larger-than-life adventures. Just look at last year's Great Gatsby-inspired party, which took over a glam northern Sydney mansion, or the more recent Harry Potter-themed potions classes, which were so popular the season had to be extended. Well now, it's the much-loved tale of Alice in Wonderland that gets the Beyond Cinema treatment, by way of an all-new immersive pop-up experience inspired by the nonsensical Mad Hatter. Descending on a secret Surry Hills location in the not-too-distant future, The Alice Bar invites punters to dive through the looking glass and into a fantasy world. Expect things to get curiouser and curiouser across your 90-minute visit, whether you're creating your own liquid concoctions under the guidance of The Mad Hatter, settling in for an indulgent tea party, or getting raucous with the likes of the March Hare and the Cheshire Cat. [caption id="attachment_740466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wizard's Cauldron[/caption] As always, Beyond Cinema is keeping most of the details scarce until closer to the date, though they're already old hands at bringing Alice In Wonderland to life. The team's earlier Mad Hatter's Tea Party events have proved a hit in both Sydney and Melbourne over the past couple of years. Beyond Cinema's The Alice Bar event will take place at a yet-to-be-revealed Surry Hills location in February, 2020. You can sign up for more details here.
Darcy St Project isn't just a cafe: it's a social enterprise. Here, students and youth — particularly those at risk of unemployment — can gain the skills, training and confidence necessary to becoming gun baristas. Others who take part in the program include refugees, newly arrived migrants and those experiencing homelessness. While knowing that your money is going to a good cause, kick back and enjoy a fine cup of coffee. Rather than sticking with just one kind of bean, Darcy St runs a feature roaster program, letting regulars taste their way across a bunch of single origins, from Seven Seeds' Kainamui (Gichugu, Kenya) to Pablo & Rustys' Bella Vista (Narino, Colombia). Meanwhile, the house blend, dubbed Big Tasty, is roasted in-house, in small batches. It's a smooth blend of three beans, from Kenya, Colombia and Brazil. Darcy St Project's headquarters for coffee drinkers is the OG Brew Bar, a cosy spot dotted with yellow stools and backdropped by a cheery green feature wall. True to the name, the focus really is on coffee, with food limited to bakery treats.
Telly Tuita, Sydney Festival's Visual Artist in Residence at The Thirsty Mile, is bringing his vibrant "Tongpop" aesthetic to this year's Festival precinct, celebrating his Pacific heritage and the energy of Sydney. Drawing on his Tongan roots and maritime history, Tuita's work features extravagant totems, dancing divas and immersive spaces transformed into trippy dreamscapes. Born in Tonga, raised in Western Sydney and now based in Wellington, Tuita's art combines kaleidoscopic chaos with urban vibrance. His installations for Sydney Festival 2025 include SS John Oxley, a transformed historic steamship featuring Tuita's signature textiles and patterns; Moonshine Bar, where you can discover colourful totems and digital screens showing dancing Tēvolo (ghosts); Flags & Festival 'S', a large scale work throughout the festival precinct featuring Tongpop-inspired flags and a giant 'S' adorned with Tēvolo divas; and Colour Maze, a collaboration with Amigo & Amigo conjuring a playful, immersive art experience for all ages. Images: Neil Bennett
It's not just you and I that struggle through these hot summer days — particularly this week, during the heatwave — our pups get hot, too. Thankfully, there are a few places you can take them to cool down. And one of them is a new pool exclusively for very good dogs. Located at the southern end of Sydney Park, near City Farm, the dog-only pool is the perfect spot to visit at the end of a (slightly sweaty) summer walk. Sydney Park, which borders St Peters and Erskineville, is one of 44 off-leash parks in the City of Sydney — but it's the only one with a dedicated doggy pool. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsv6Q2zFYmu/ You might even spot Lord Mayor Clover Moore there with her two staffies, Bessie and Buster. If Sydney Park isn't a convenient stop off for you, you could also take your pet to one of Sydney's dog-friendly beaches — which include Sirius Cove in Mosman up north, and Horderns Beach in Bundeena down south — or to one of our favourite dog parks. Then, you can both head for a pint or two at these ten pubs and bars that cater for pups.
Looking for something to do this Friday night? Kerby Craig and Jo 'Chewba' Siahaan — the owner-chef duo of Sydney's Bar Ume and Ume Burger and — have you covered as they start serving up Japanese-style tacos at landlocked dive bar Redfern Surf Club. While the pair has taken over the kitchen here before before for one day of all-you-can-eat hot dogs, this time Craig and Siahaan will open Don Taco inside the inner-city bar, known for its laidback beach vibes and canned cocktails. Venue owner Yannick Maslard has been keen to bring tacos to this Redfern strip for a while now, and thought the Ume duo's fusion of Japanese and Tex-Mex snacks was the way to do it. At the heart of Don Taco's menu is its taco rice bowl, an Okinawan specialty of koshihikari rice topped with house-made taco seasoning, sour cream mayo and other Mexican bits, along with two tacos. Meat eaters and vegetarians are both catered for with a choice between Ume's beef or a vego (and gluten-free) three-bean chilli to go on top of its rice bowls, tacos and five-cheese nachos. The new menu also offers an array of bar snacks that are perfect for sharing with your mates, including edamame (salted soy beans with a kick), house-made lotus root crisps and spicy corn on the cob. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsrVpp-APkF/ Open from 6–10pm every Tuesday through Saturday and 5–9pm on Sunday, Don Taco promises to take you on a culinary trip to the streets of Okinawa without leaving your barstool. Planning on kicking on after the kitchen's closed? The Surf Club will still be serving cocktails and seasonal beers till late so you can keep the good times going. Find Don Taco inside Redfern Surf Club, corner Botany and Henderson roads, Redfern. The kitchen will be open every day except Monday.
Are you looking for a chance to update your wardrobe that’s a little greener, and a lot cheaper, than hitting the shops? The Clothing Exchange, created by two Australian women back in 2004, hosts regular events across three states to encourage us all to swap our good quality clothes - the ones that you’re tired of, but aren’t too tired-looking - with other like-minded shoppers. How does it work? Each event is held in a different city venue, such as at the Surry Hills Library, which is where the next event is due to take place at 12 noon on Saturday 19 May. There is a $25 entry fee, which includes a drink (you know, to help the swapping flow). And each person can bring up to six items to exchange for buttons, which are then used as currency during the event. There are rules. Items that you wish to swap must pass the quality control by The Clothing Exchange ladies on the day. And no elbowing. (Okay, we made that last one up. But the sentiment is true. This is a friendly clothes swap, not a bargain basement free-for-all).
Variety isn't just the spice of life, as the old saying goes; it's also a necessity when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat. Even if you know what kind of food you're in the mood for, sometimes you're after something quick and tasty to devour with a cocktail in hand, and sometimes you want the full sit-down meal experience. An izakaya-style sashimi bar and restaurant on the site of a former sushi train, Kenny Rens offers both for anyone keen for a feast of Japanese cuisine. Get comfy in the pink stone bar that takes up the front room, or settle in for a leisurely dinner out the back. Either way, prepare for an explosion of flavours courtesy of dishes prepared with authentic but not necessarily traditional methods in mind, cooked up on a robata grill, and accompanied by an extensive range of Japanese whiskeys to wash it down with. From the selection of fresh sashimi and poké bowls, menu highlights include Balmain bugs infused with spicy yuzukosho garlic butter, plus scallops with white fungus, buttermilk, yuzu dressing and coriander oil. Those after something without seafood might be tempted by the wagyu tri tip with mushroom salad, amadare sauce, nama wasabi, garlic chips and baby shiso. As well as amber spirits, sake and a hefty wine list, the drinks range features signature cocktails such as the Akuma (with blood orange juice, agave, Suntory Hibiki distillers reserve and jalapeno) and the Cherry Blossom (with cherry brandy, orange curaco, lemon, grenadine and IWIA non traditional whiskey). Opening on March 23 with 20 seats before expanding to 40 seats down the track, the bar and eatery comes from businessman Nick Diamond. He's brought on interior designer Paul Kelly, and together, they've drawn on inspiration from their travels in Japan to create this new venue. "Tokyo has an energy that is arguably unparalleled by any city in the world," says Kelly, who also took care of Kenny Rens' interiors and has worked on Sokyo, Black by Ezard and Salaryman. "I wanted to bring a touch of that excitement, quality and effortless innovation back to Sydney." Find Kenny Rens at 146 Queen Street, Woollahra. For more information, visit their Facebook page. UPDATE MARCH 30, 2017: This article initially stated that Kenny Rena was a joint venture, which was incorrect. The article has been updated to reflect this.
As a kid, the Easter long weekend was loaded with chocolate, backyard Easter egg hunts, too many hot-crossed buns and even more chocolate. We miss it too — so much so that we've hunted around town for ways to stuff our faces with copious amounts of chocolate but still maintain a somewhat adult air. From an Italian feast at Balla to decadent cocktails and desserts at Sokyo and Black Bar and Grill, we've got your indulgent Easter long weekend sorted — especially if you'll be anywhere near Pyrmont. Go ahead and treat yo'self. CHOCOLATE-INSPIRED COCKTAILS AND WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE Sokyo has some special treats for the Easter-loving adult this long weekend. Start with the 'faux' cocktail, but don't worry, this is no mocktail. The faux part comes from swapping out the expected chocolate, and instead creating a concoction inspired by chocolate with rum, creme de cassis, yellow chartreuse and egg. The frothy drink is then topped with grated nutmeg. If you're left with a chocolate-shaped hole in your heart, though, you can always pair the cocktail with the white chocolate cheesecake on offer. It uses Callebaut Belgian chocolate and is accompanied by the unexpected mix of apricot and carrot sorbet. INDULGENT EASTER COCKTAILS Easter as a kid centres around chocolate, and sure, Easter as an adult can centre around the choc, but we also get the bonus of adding booze. This long weekend, restaurants like Balla and Black Bar and Grill have you covered — whether you're in it for the chocolate, the booze or both. At Balla, they're offering a chocolate martini with an Italian twist, mixing premium Amedei Tuscan chocolate with Campari and Patron and topping it off with espresso and honeycomb. At Black Bar and Grill, the Poire Belle cocktail is a twist on the traditional 'flip' (frothy) cocktail — it combines pear liquor and Cubaney Gran Anejo with almond dust and cream. The glass is then decadently rimmed with melted chocolate and slivered almonds. TOTAL RELAXATION Chocolate's not the only way to pamper yourself this Easter. If you fancy taking some time out from the long weekend grind and Easter egg gorging, book in for maximum relaxation courtesy of The Darling's Autumn Indulgence spa package. Each luxurious, 90-minute session will have you quickly escaping reality, as you're treated to a body exfoliation and wrap, plus a downright heavenly back, shoulder and scalp massage. You'll leave feeling light as a cloud and with a complimentary ESPA gift to continue the pampering at home. GROWN-UP EASTER TREATS Maybe your palate has evolved from eating bunny-shaped chocolates — which is beyond us — but that doesn't mean you have to forgo all Easter sweets. There are plenty of grown-up versions out there, like Balla's twist on the classic Italian dessert, Zuppa Inglese — decadent layers of Amedei chocolate custard and sponge cake, all topped with chopped dark chocolate and oozing with chocolate drizzle. Black Bar and Grill has something to tempt your sweet tooth, too, with their chocolate truffle soufflé that's perfect for sharing. The soufflé is made with premium Valrhona chocolate and is paired with a roasted banana sorbet. Head in to either restaurant from March 30 through April 2 to nab a taste. [caption id="attachment_662490" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera.[/caption] AN ITALIAN EASTER FEAST Just because you're 'grown-up', doesn't mean you can't chase that chocolaty sugar high during the Easter long weekend — in fact, you don't even have to hear from mum telling you to cool it with the Easter treats. From March 30 to April 2 at Balla, you'll be able to indulge in a four-course Italian Easter feast. Designed by executive chef Gabriele Taddeucci, the menu is $85 per person and designed to share, consisting of antipasti, mains and dessert. Think charcuterie with house-pickled veggies, burrata with marinated mushrooms or eggplant calamari to start, then mains like lasagna, veal ragu or lamb roast with juniper berry jus. Finish off with a traditional mascarpone dome-shaped cake, filled with ricotta cheese and chocolate chips. Indulge this Easter long weekend at The Star, whether that be by way of chocolate, dessert cocktails or an Italian feast. Find out more here.
Sydney CBD's Spice Temple has released an affordable new lunch menu that lives up to the venue's name. On offer from 12–3pm every Wednesday–Friday, the daytime menu features seven different bowls of noodles each going for a very reasonable $15 — or $18 if you want to add on a cheeky lunchtime Tsingtao or glass of red or white wine. If you like spice, go for the fiery belt noodles, which see thick 'n' chewy noods topped with a pork and fermented chilli sauce that packs a serious punch, or Exec Chef Andy Evans' take on dan dan noodles: a soupy and saucy version of the classic Sichuan dish. Those whose spice tolerance is a little lower would be better served with the golden chicken soup, the crispy chow mein or the egg noodles served with Spice Temple's signature white cut chicken breast. The noodle serves are generous, but if you're super hungry, you can also order snacks such as the fried chicken wings ($18), lamb and cumin pancake ($22) and har gow (four for $16). Images: Nikki To
Some of the world's best chefs will descend on Sydney for the 21st edition of Good Food Month. Taking over restaurants across the city this October, the annual food festival will see pop-up restaurants and dinners from the likes of Alain Passard, Hiroyuki Sato and Thomas Frebel, as well as pasta parties, vegan feasts and the return of the Night Noodle Markets. For one night, Restaurant Hubert will host the legendary Alain Passard, whose Paris restaurant Arpège has three Michelin stars and is currently ranked the eighth best in the world. In Bondi, Hiroyuki Sato will transform Icebergs into a pop up version of his highly coveted Hakkoku restaurant in Tokyo (which only has six seats). While this seaside version will be a little bigger (20 seats), it won't be any less exclusive, with tickets to the two dinners going for $1000 a pop, which includes over 20 courses, beer, wine and luxury car transfers (of course). The luxury theme continues with a one-off dinner at Quay with Peter Gilmore and Jock Zonfrillo (Adelaide's Orana), and with Thomas Frebel (head chef and co-founder of Tokyo's Inua and former head of recipe development at Copenhagen's Noma) taking over Chippendale's Automata for two nights. Frebel is known for hunting down and experimenting with weird and wonderful local ingredients — so expect some lesser-known items to end up on your plate in Sydney, too. On the more affordable side of the series, cake queen Katherine Sabbath with be hosting a colourful high tea — paired with wine and Pimm's — at the QT, and Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters) will cook an all-vegan feast at the newly opened Mary's Underground. Some of the city's best young chefs will also team up for a pasta party at Otto. And of course, Good Food Month's ever-popular Night Noodle Markets are back for another season, taking over Hyde Park from October 11. Expect a tasty assortment of over 40 street food stalls, along with a program of performers, live acts and DJs. For those not wanting to spend heaps of cash, the affordable Let's Do Lunch returns, allowing punters to dine at Good Food hatted restaurants for cheap. This year, lunch with a wine, beer or soft drink will only set you back $45 at these top Sydney spots: Surry Hills' Nomad, waterside seafood spot Cirrus Dining, Bentley in the CBD and Pilu at Freshwater. To check out the full list and lunch details, head to the Good Food Month website. First image: Leticia Almeida. Second image: Pilu at Freshwater.
If you're a long-term fan of Veronica Mars, you can be forgiven for taking an 'I'll believe it when I see it' attitude to news of the show's resurrection. It eventually worked for the Veronica Mars movie, however, and it also seems to be working for the series' small-screen comeback, with a teaser dropping for the long-awaited fourth season. Veronica Mars initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a film off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, as confirmed in September last year, an eight-episode revival is slated to hit television screens in 2019. The teenage private eye drama is getting a similar treatment to Twin Peaks — it's a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself is back, with Kristen Bell resuming the role that brought her to fame. Bell is also the star of Veronica Mars' first fourth-season sneak peek, with her character sat at her desk and listing everything that's in store during spring break in her home town of Neptune — "drunks, derelicts, flashers, frat boys, sorority vomit, pickpockets, bottomless drinks and topless dancers" all included. Crucially, the teaser also delivers an important piece of information: a US air date of July 26. https://twitter.com/veronicamars/status/1116744093646905344 Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the new season. As reported by Variety last year, Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) has also returned — and is executive producing and writing the first episode. Bell also executive produces alongside Diane Ruggiero-Wright and Dan Etheridge, who were both involved in the original seasons and film. The new season will see Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth again solving mysteries in the seaside town. This time, she has been hired by the parents of a dead spring breaker to investigate a string of murders and is drawn into a power struggle between the town's wealthy elite and its working class. Familiar faces such as Enrico Colantoni, Percy Daggs III, Jason Dohring, Ryan Hansen, Francis Capra and Max Greenfield are all returning, along with new inclusions such as Patton Oswalt, Clifton Collins Jr and Bell's The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste. There's no word yet on whether any other big names have been signed on for the show — or if any of Veronica's other ex-boyfriends will re-emerge — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. With Hulu airing the revival, we're not sure when Veronica Mars 2.0 will be hitting Aussie and NZ TV screens — or where it'll air. Here's hoping it won't take long to head down under. We'll update you as soon as we know more.
Plastic is a major ecological burden impacting oceans around the world, including here in Sydney. Researchers predict that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish in the sea. Those looking to make a difference while enjoying a uniquely Sydney experience can join this guided kayak around Sydney Harbour that also serves to cleanup the ocean. Sydney by Kayak is an organisation that runs kayaking lessons and tours throughout the city. For the past several years, the company has been running guided tours with the express purpose of removing rubbish from the ocean. The sustainability-focused tours generally hit the harbour four days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Each tour runs from 9.30–11am and costs $50 per person. Included in the tour is 90 minutes on the water taking in the sights and removing rubbish from the water, two kayak guides to take you around, photos in front of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and a complimentary coffee (in a reusable cup of course). All equipment is also provided and cleaned with marine safe disinfectant between tours. Sydney by Kayak is aiming to collect 200 kilograms of rubbish in February 2021 and also donates $15 from every seat sold to funding Seabins around Sydney. You can book online or email laura@sydneybykayak.com.au for a private tour for 8–12 people.
Cross Projections, the beloved photographic event, is celebrating its tenth year this November. Held at the historic Tusculum House theatrette over three nights, the cinematic screening showcases the photo essays, soundtracks and narrative recordings of 16 talented photographers. The event includes multiple types of photography, such as photojournalistic essays, social documentaries and fine art. This community-sponsored and run event has been a vital outlet for photographers to share their works, which highlight everything from personal stories to social issues, with their peers and the community. Screenings are held 28-30 November at 7pm. On Saturday there is also a matinee at 3pm.
Sydney’s food and drink scene isn’t slowing down any time soon. We’re spoilt for choice at every turn, with new top-notch eateries cropping up faster than ever before. If you’re struggling to keep up — and who isn't? — never fear Taste of Sydney 2016 is the four-day foodie festival to get to up to speed on the cream of the culinary crop. Setting up residence in Centennial Park from March 10 to 13, Taste of Sydney in partnership with Electrolux is all about bringing diners and chefs together. Ticketholders will be treated with nosh from some of Sydney’s top restaurants, including Biota Dining’s sustainable modern Australian dishes, fire-cooked noms from Firedoor, nel.'s fine dining dishes, plus Middle Eastern street food from the crew at Glebe’s Thievery. Also joining the deliciousness will be Porteño, Kitchen by Mike, MoVida, Sake, and the newly opened Kensington Street Social, among others. Sounds like a lot to stomach in one sitting? Thanks to the festival’s bite-size portions, you’ll be able to try a sampling from all on show — and maybe go back for seconds too. There'll be six sessions over the four-day program, so all you have to do is choose one and you’ll have four hours to experience Sydney's best selection of signature dishes. Aside from stuffing your face, there are also plenty of masterclasses and demonstrations from Australia’s leading chefs, and even the Taste of Sydney Artisan Market, jam-packed with over 60 food and drink exhibitors. For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to cook like a professional chef at Electrolux Chefs’ Secrets. This intimate masterclass experience will allow visitors to cook alongside renowned chefs including Peter Gilmore (Quay) and Colin Fassnidge (4Fourteen), before sitting down at a communal table together to enjoy the meal with matched wines. You can also see your favourite chefs in the Electrolux Taste Theatre hosted by food writer Kate Gibbs, experience world class food and wine at the South African Garden with MasterChef South Africa judge Benny Masekwameng, get creative with Lurpak, plus many more. Let the food comas commence.
The most talked-about band Sydney's seen in recent times since The Jezabels, The Preatures have unveiled their latest single 'Two-Tone Melody' and have announced their highly-anticipated upcoming debut album with accompanying national tour. Sounding more like Jefferson Airplane than their usual Fleetwood Mac association, the new single is a chilled out ballad of sorts — a departure from the band's explosive debut single, 'Is This How You Feel?'. With just two EPs and four singles under their belt, The Preatures have seen huge applause (and national airplay) from a fairly limited catalogue until now. The Preatures have been hanging out in the US of late, playing SxSW and Coachella and recording with the dudes from Spoon in Austin — in particular Britt Daniel and Jim Eno. The fivesome told triple j's Doctor they recorded in Eno's garage-conversion studio, finishing the album taping in three weeks. Signing to Mercury Records in 2012 with a whopping five album deal, the Sydney fivesome's success snowballed in 2013 after the release of their second EP and ultra-catchy single 'Is This How You Feel?', prompting international touring and national high-fivery. The easily replayable single nabbed an ARIA nomination for Best Pop Release, number nine in the triple j Hottest 100 and just today nabbed a top five nomination for APRA|AMCOS Song of The Year. But it's not just fans interested in The Preatures — when the quintet played at New York's 2013 CMJ showcase, almost the entire audience was made up of industry representatives. Often compared to Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees, The Preatures' Isabella Manfredi, Gideon Bensen, Jack Moffitt, Thomas Champion and Luke Davison have garnered a significantly loyal fanbase in just a few short years. The Preatures will tour the US and Canada during June, make their way over to festivals in Europe and the UK before venturing back home for an Australian tour, stopping by Splendour In The Grass this July alongside fellow Sydneysiders RÜFÜS, The Jezabels and Sticky Fingers. The Preatures will be supported on their Australian tour by Adelaide's Bad//Dreems and Perth's Gunns. https://youtube.com/watch?v=M8XmoroZ3zo
This is your annual opportunity to show your ma how much she means to you. And there's no better way to do that than with an unexpected adventure. Ditch your usual local this Sunday, May 12 and take mum somewhere she's never been before — whether that's a decadent lunch and show at the Opera House or a special screening at Golden Age. All kinds of mums — from artists and foodies to feminists and philanthropists — are covered on this list, as is the entire spectrum of budgets. Organising Mother's Day doesn't get any easier. EAT A MOUNTAIN OF DESSERTS AT KOI If your mum's a sweet tooth, then this one's for her. For the second year running, Koi Dessert Bar will be hosting a Mother's Day high tea on the Saturday and Sunday at both its Chippo and Ryde locations. Think three tiers of Koi's stunning treats and as much tea and coffee as you can drink, for $75 a head. There'll be two savoury bites and seven desserts all up, including mixed berry and pomegranate macarons, a mango dragon egg and an elderflower-yuzu cake. If you're really keen to impress her, then add the decadent $20 rose lychee cake to your order — it's made up of peach mousse, bergamot ganache, rose gel and matcha sponge. CATCH A SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOW All mums deserve a good laugh. Make your job easy by nabbing her a ticket to a Sydney Comedy Festival show. There's a bunch taking place on Mother's Day. Highlights include the UK's Alfie Brown and Australia's own Alex Reynolds, who will both be at Marrickville's Factory Theatre the entire weekend. Can't make up your mind? Go for the Best of the Fest Showcase, which gives you a surprise lineup of the funniest of the funniest for just 20 bucks. TAKE HER TO A ROOFTOP LUNCH AND HELP A GOOD CAUSE The Glenmore is hosting a Mother's Day lunch on its rooftop with a difference — this year, it will be raising money for the Women's and Girls Emergency Centre, which helps women and girls at risk of homelessness. If you book, mums will receive a glass of G.H. Mumm champagne on arrival, too, and the panoramic views of the harbour don't hurt, either. The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner on the day, and its menu of elevated pub eats has something to make every mum happy — from salads and schnittys to pan roasted barramundi and beef cheek curry. Afterwards you can wander through The Rocks' special Mother's Day Market, which will run until 5pm. [caption id="attachment_660591" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] HEAD TO LUNCH AND A SHOW Treat your mum to dazzling Harbour views and Peter Gilmore's modern Australian marvels with a Mother's Day lunch at Bennelong. You're free to choose from the two- or three-course a la carte menu ($110–145) or try the Cured and Cultured menu, which lets you nibble according to your appetite. All mums score a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, too. Hang around afterwards and head to a show at the Opera House, most notably for Festival Unwrapped, which celebrates the work of five emerging artists across the various stages. CONQUER A SUNDAY MORNING JOG TOGETHER The Mother's Day Classic will return for its 22nd year on Sunday, May 12. The community event raises funds for the the National Breast Cancer Foundation through a series of 4–8 kilometre walks and runs. The morning begins at Macquarie Street at Martin Place and finishes in the Domain around noon. Registration is still open and is a great surprise for all those active and/or philanthropic mums out there. If you don't want to joint the walk or run, there are plenty of ways to help raise funds and awareness at the Royal Botanic Gardens carnival — it features food, jumping castles, roving entertainers, and live music throughout the day. SEE A MOTHER'S DAY MOVIE AT GOLDEN AGE Add a dash of Art Deco glam — and a cocktail or two — to Mother's Day with an outing to Golden Age Cinema and Bar. The picture house has organised a couple of special screenings with your mum in mind. At 3pm, catch the Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire classic, Funny Face. At 5.30pm, watch a doco exploring the work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Our top pick is the 8pm showing of Women at War, a Cannes award-winning Icelandic film for the environmentalist mums out there. Each screening has the option of adding a Mother's Day bundle, which includes a film ticket, a glass of Moët and a Gelato Messina choc top for $40. [caption id="attachment_662280" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] SEE DRAG OVER DINNER AT THIS RENOVATED PUB A restaurant fit for a queen, Priscillas in Erskineville is hosting a special Mother's Day lunch and dinner. The vego-friendly restaurant inside the renovated Imperial Hotel is pairing your meal with with performances by the pub's resident queens, Ruby Slippers and Farren Heit. Plus, entertainer Etc Etc will interview her own mum about raising a drag queen. Donations on the day will go toward the local family support organisation Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Sittings are at either 12.30pm or 6pm, and reservations can be made via the website. INDULGE IN CUBAN HIGH TEA WITH HARBOUR VIEWS Harbourside bar Hacienda is offering up a Cuban-style high tea this Mother's Day, along with impressive views of the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay. For $89 per person, you'll get a full menu of Cuban eats and a Limoncello Spritz to boot. For small bites, think choripan sandwiches (grilled chorizo and tomato salsa on crusty bread) and slow-cooked beef empanadas with veggies and sriracha. For desserts there will be coconut and pineapple tarts with hazelnut praline and scones with rose petal and strawberry preserve and clotted cream. You can check out the full menu here and grab a table here while you still can. Mums will also go home with a goody bag by Benefit Cosmetics and Lindt. HAVE A SUNDAY ROAST IN THE GREENERY OF THE GROUNDS OF ALEXANDRIA Head to The Grounds of Alexandria's Atrium on the Sunday for a family roast lunch in honour of mum. Starting at 11.30am, all guests will receive a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, along with canapés and a one fine roast lunch to share. Expect a whole-roasted rib sourced from six-week dry-aged Cape Grim grass-fed beef. It'll be served with brioche-crumbed bone marrow, wild harvested mushrooms, horseradish and red wine jus. Accompaniments include sautéed greens with black garlic butter, cauliflower and gruyere gratin, glazed heirloom root vegetables and pan-roasted Lyonnaise potatoes. The table bookings are for four or more, priced at $85 per head. If you'd prefer, you can book in for brunch or high tea instead. GO OUT FOR A DECADENT GIN AND GELATO DEGUSTATION If you prefer an event that isn't strictly Mother's Day themed, take mum out the week after to the Gelato Messina and Archie Rose Degustation dinner on May 16, 17 or 18. The Messina Creative Department head chef Remi Talbot has joined forces with the gin, rum and vodka distillery in the form of an eight-course (and eight-drink) gelato degustation. Dishes include foie gras ravioli, beetroot and hibiscus granita, a savoury gelato sandwich served with bouillabaisse and a take on the French dessert Paris-Brest made with choux pastry, almond and burnt vanilla. Drinks are equally extra and include the Peach Cobbler, made with sparkling wine and nitrogen frozen peach, and the Wattle You Make Of It, with wattleseed, finger lime and black walnut. It'll cost a pretty penny at $190 per head — but, if you're willing to break the bank for a night out with mum, we reckon this one will be worth it.
If you've ever sipped lamington vodka, eaten a baklava croissant or tucked into a cookie pie, you'll know that mashing up two different types of foods and/or drinks is a gift to indecisive stomachs. Sometimes your tummy just doesn't know what it's hankering for — or it does, but it wants too many things at once to make a choice. The next culinary hybrid that's certain to help the next time you can't pick between multiple options: Latina and Old El Paso's new taco-flavoured ravioli. The two supermarket staple brands have teamed up on the limited-edition dinner offering and, yes, the result is exactly what it sounds like. You'll be tucking into Latina's beef ravioli, but made with Old El Paso's taco spice mix. And if you're not that fond of zesty dishes, you'll be pleased to know that this one is mild. The new ravioli is only available in Woolworths supermarkets for a short time, for RRP$8 a packet — and if you're wondering how to serve it, the two brands suggest pairing it with beans, corn kernels and a pasta sauce, popping it in the oven with cheese on top and turning it into a pasta bake. Obviously, just cooking it like you normally would Latina's pasta, slathering it with sauce and sticking a fork in is also an option. But you won't have to decide whether your tastebuds are screaming for Italian or Mexican — because you can have both. Latina and Old El Paso's taco-flavoured ravioli is available now at Woolworths supermarkets for RRP$8 a packet.
Since its conception in 2004, Sydney clothing brand Jac + Jack has created stunning additions to your wardrobe that ride the line between sleek modern style and casual comfort. Entrenched in soft natural tones, the brand's range covers everything from tees and tanks to dresses and knitwear, with both masculine and feminine lines on offer. If you're looking to add some new pieces to your style roster as we head into Autumn, this is your perfect opportunity, with Jac + Jack throwing a massive end-of-summer sale at its Surry Hills outlet. The boutique brand has rolled out one-off samples and treasures from past season's clothes, slashing the prices on them dramatically. You'll be able to stock up on garments for the chillier weather, with items going for up to 80-percent off. The sale is on until Monday, March 13, running 10am–4pm Monday–Wednesday and Friday–Saturday, as well as 10am–6pm Thursday. You can reserve a spot via Eventbrite.
DJ, gonna burn this goddamn beach right down — although not literally, of course. But 15,000 partygoers will be murdering the dance floor at an iconic coastal spot thanks to a headliner that's having a helluva moment right now: Sophie Ellis-Bextor. She's just been announced at the top of the bill for the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' Bondi Beach Party. In 2023, when the first WorldPride ever held in the southern hemisphere took place in Sydney, it brought with it an openair club on the sand from afternoon till evening. A massive 12,000 folks went along to dance by the water, with Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger headlining. In 2024, on Saturday, February 24, Ellis-Bextor will do the honours while everyone is rediscovering their love for 2001's 'Murder on the Dancefloor' thanks to Saltburn. It's the first of two trips Down Under for the British singer this year, as she's supporting Take That on their Australian and New Zealand tour in October and November as well. Ellis-Bextor's discography also includes vocals on Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)', plus her own 'Get Over You' and 'Hypnotised', all of which she gave a spin on her last visit to Australia in 2022. Then, she headlined Summer Camp in Sydney and Melbourne, and also played Brisbane's Melt Festival. At Mardi Gras 2024's Bondi Beach Party, Ellis-Bextor will be joined by the previously announced Slayyyter, Jay Jay Revlon, Lagoon Femshaymer, Corey Craig, Tyoow, Mama de Leche and Beth Yen. The waterside event sits on a jam-packed festival lineup that also spans Adam Lambert, CeCe Peniston and Ultra Naté at the ten-hour, 10,000-capacity Mardi Gras Party at Hordern Pavilion. Sydney WorldPride's Ultra Violet is returning for a second year of celebrating LGBTQIA+ women; gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer will take place on floating venue Glass Island; the ivy Pool Bar is back; and, from there, the list goes on and on, across 17 days, 100-plus events, and with more than 150 performers helping put on a show. Something that's sadly no longer on the bill is Fair Day, which has been cancelled for 2024 due to bonded asbestos being found in the mulch at Victoria Park. [caption id="attachment_940887" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jake Davis[/caption] Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' Bondi Beach Party 2024 Lineup Sophie Ellis-Bextor Slayyyter Jay Jay Revlon Lagoon Femshaymer Corey Craig Tyoow Mama de Leche Beth Yen [caption id="attachment_940884" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cain Cooper[/caption] [caption id="attachment_940885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gabrielle Clement[/caption] Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 runs from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. The 2024 Bondi Beach Party is happening from 2pm on Saturday, February 24. For more information, head to the event's website.
If you're looking to really get into this cooler weather, a mini-break in the Hunter Valley should be high on the agenda. Not only is it the land of excellent vinos and top-notch dining options, it's also home to Australia's (and the Southern Hemisphere's) largest display garden — Hunter Valley Gardens. And, this winter, the gardens have been transformed into a snowy wonderland with its annual Snow Time in the Garden event. Running until Sunday, July 21, Snow Time is where you can live out all your winter wonderland fantasies. 'Snow' will fall upon the gardens several times a day and, at the snow play zone, you can expect snowman building and snow angel making opportunities galore. You can also wander through an ice cave, take a spin on an ice rink and toboggan down a 40-metre ice course — all are included in the $34 ticket price. The Gardens has also installed four carnival rides, including a 25-metre-high ferris wheel, flying swings, the Venetian carousel and a giant slide ($6 each or $15 unlimited ride pass). And, when all this snow time gives you a chill, head to the food truck area, where you can nab a range of wintertime eats and drinks to warm you up from the inside out. Snow Time in the Garden is open daily from 10am–6pm until Sunday, July 21. Tickets can be purchased here.
The Australian Museum, a much-loved cultural institution, has introduced a one-hour tour that takes a deep dive into the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Waranara Tours are led by a member of the museum's First Nations team and take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30am and 1pm. As you traverse through the permanent exhibitions that spotlight stone fish traps and possum skin coats, seasonal calendars and hunting spears, your host will enrich the experience with personal insights and knowledge. In the First Nations languages of the Sydney region, 'waranara' means 'to seek' — which seems fitting for use in the museum, a place of scientific research and wanderings. Get up close to shields, yidakis (didjeridus) and a traditional bark canoe in the Bayala Nura: Yarning Country exhibit, while the origins and significance of songlines are mapped out for you. Then, as you flow through Garrigarrang: Sea Country, the oceanside lives of the Salt Water People — those living along Australia's coast — will be brought forth, with everything from whale ceremonies and Torres Strait dance masks to the nuances of life lived by the water explored. You can even admire hand-woven baskets, nets and traps while you learn about the sustainable nature of First Nations fishing techniques. As you explore, your guide will talk you through the knowledge systems and practices that have been used by First Nations Peoples to ensure future generations have access to a sustainable way of living. So, if you're looking for a more immersive museum trip, a Waranara Tour is the tour for you (and a great way to discover more about the rich history and thriving cultures of our First Nations Peoples). Waranara Tours take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, at 11.30am and 1pm. Tickets are $28 for members and $35 for non-members, with concession and child prices available too. For more information and to book your exploration, head to the website. Images: Anna Kucera
It's just as unmistakably Italian, but Matteo Downtown, soon-to-launch sister venue to Matteo Double Bay, is worlds away from its laidback coastal counterpart. For this second joint project, owners Adam Abrams, Orazio D'Elia and Eddie Levy are taking their cues from the Italy's buzzing urban destinations of Milan and Rome, in contrast to the relaxed coastal vibes of its Double Bay sister. In the CBD, expect a dynamic, all-day operation, that cruises from early morning espressos to late-night negronis. Sydney design firm Acme & Co has shaped the Bond Street space to suit, complete with an intimate dining room, bustling open kitchen, sophisticated bar area and roomy al fresco terrace, primed for people-watching. Head Chef D'Elia is tapping into his southern Italian roots, to deliver a menu that's steeped in tradition, yet executed with modern flair. In the morning, you'll find pastries and panino for the fly-by crowd, alongside a full breakfast offering of creations like Italian-style shakshuka. From 11am through 11pm, you can nab something off the express menu, or head over to the dedicated mozzarella and antipasti bar, stocked daily with fresh cheese and house-cured meats. If you prefer to linger, head to the dining room, and do so over dishes like squid ink fregola, and osso bucco teamed with saffron risotto. In true Italian style, Matteo Downtown will celebrate aperitivo hour wholeheartedly — from 4-6pm weekdays, drop by to team your after-work spritz or wine with a selection of complimentary snacks from the kitchen. The bar offering itself boats a hefty Italian contingent, with a carefully curated range of craft beers, spirits and small-batch liqueurs, all sourced from the homeland. A spritz selection changes with the seasons and the house wines are on tap, while a broad-ranging, 300-strong collection of bottled wines make a masterpiece of the dining room's back wall. Find Matteo Downtown at 20 Bond Street, Sydney, from August. Images: Kai Leishman
Two of Sydney's most loved venues are coming together to lift spirits in lockdown, thanks to a pop-up restaurant that's designed to keep you well-fed from breakfast through to dessert. Poly/Ester Provisions is the newly launched takeaway project from Poly and Ester, and features a refined menu that includes favourites from each restaurant — plus selections from Jersey Milk and AP Bakery. Start the day right with wood-fired brown butter muesli, buttermilk croissants from AP Bakery and malted sourdough. While you're browsing the menu, you can also nab a slice of lemon polenta cake or Gulbarn tea for later. As you move down the selection of tasty treats, the meals get heartier. For lunch, you can choose between a potato and cheese borek baked in Turkish pastry, or bucatini cacio e pepe. If you're planning a 'treat yourself' meal for dinner, you can work your way through the menu from the Jersey Milk cheese and the barbecue oyster pack, which sit among the aperitivo selection, to mains like confit spatchcock and pastrami cauliflower. And, for dessert, there's a gooey lamington fudge to end the meal. Fancy extras like garlic butter, Western Australian truffles, fermented hot sauce and caviar, as well as a simple selection of some of Poly and Ester's favourite wines, are all on hand as well to really elevate the night. Pickup is available from Poly from 12–4pm Thursday–Saturday, and there's free delivery to locals living within three kilometres of the restaurant is available — as long as your order totals over $100.
A sense of nostalgia runs deep in Tracey Moffatt’s Plantation and Other exhibition at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery. Hand painted in technicolour hues, the vintage-looking diptychs of burning sugar cane and stilted houses conjure up the flavours of the Deep South, despite being shot in Australia’s own sunshine state, Queensland. Moffatt, who took the pictures about 13 years ago, originally discounted the shots for their simplicity and directness, but upon discovering them again knew there was a mysterious story there she could work with. In conjunction with the show is a video collaboration by Moffatt and Gary Hillberg, titled Other. It’s a roller-coaster of a ride and you’ll struggle to guess all the movies in the montage; it’s well worth it for the explosive finale.
Another Sydney public holiday is upon us, you're keen to spend it in a cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. All day on Monday, October 1, regardless of whether you purchase online or in person, you'll only pay $5 for your movie of choice at Newtown and Opera Quays. With everything from McQueen and Crazy Rich Asians to Christopher Robin and Ladies in Black currently screening — plus The Predator and Searching, too — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. Spike Lee's award-winning BlacKkKlansman is still on the big screen, too, so if you haven't watched it yet, here's your chance. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you can score extra luxe Lounge Tix for $10 on this one day, too.
It's safe to say Aussie bakeries have a bit of a knack for pastry hybrids. You'll recall some pretty tasty iterations of the cronut, the cruffin and, more recently, the doughnut ice cream cone. Now, Sydney's much-loved Banksia Bakehouse has dropped another genius dessert mashup, and it promises to take your tastebuds on a trip to Paris via the Middle East. Introducing: the baklava croissant. This little beauty is a nod to the venue's pastry chefs' own love of the classic Middle Eastern dessert. It features one of Banksia's signature buttery croissants stuffed with a baklava-inspired filling of chopped pistachios, almonds and walnuts, then finished with a honey lemon clove syrup. An extra burst of sweetness comes in the form of a pistachio frangipane, which is layered in the middle. If that's got you salivating, you'll have to move quick — the limited-edition croissant special is only starring on the menu until the end of April, and it's available fresh each weekday from Banksia Bakehouse HQ in Grosvenor Place on George Street. Head in from 10.30am, but be warned that they'll probably sell out before the end of each day. Of course, it's not the first time that the Banksia chefs have unleashed some creativity in the croissant department. Last month, they paid homage to an Aussie sweet tooth classic with their lamington croissant — a cube-shaped pastry coated in dark chocolate and shredded coconut, and filled with dark chocolate coconut ganache and a strawberry rose jam. And as luck would have it, that hybrid treat is now also available until the end of April. Baklava croissants are available at Banksia Bakehouse, Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney, from Monday–Friday until Friday, April 30.
Colour, cuisine and culture harmonise as locally-based Swiss-New Zealand painter Annabelle Gfeller presents Golden Hour at Iberica — Bondi's much-loved Spanish-Mediterranean restobar. Held over four weeks, Gfeller's dreamy still lifes and botanical works will bring new meaning to the restaurant's sunlit interiors and terracotta hues. On display until Tuesday, November 25, the mostly self-taught artist is renowned for her vibrant canvases, where a deep connection to nature and spirituality resonate through warm ochres, deep olives and soft corals. For Iberica visitors, that likely sounds like a match made in heaven, considering how the restaurant's interior leans into Southern European influences. This collaboration is just the latest in Iberica's pursuit of immersive dining experiences. Forming a special kind of simpatico with each dish and drink, the idea is to feature remarkable art that enhances the sensory journey of dining. So, get ready to experience how Gfeller's paintings converse with ceramics, vessels and elevated Med-style cuisine in fascinating ways. "The paintings felt completely at home within the space — the play of light, tones and texture creating a natural dialogue between art and interior," said Gfeller following Golden Hour's launch at Iberica. "It was such a joy to see everything come together so naturally."
When that sun's blasting and the mercury's peaking, it can be a tough decision between cooling down with an icy pint of beer or a scoop of your favourite frosty treat. But now, you can have the best of both worlds, thanks to the new limited-edition, dulce de leche-flavoured Gelato Ale, which is about to hit shelves and taps across New South Wales. This sweet beer is the result of a collaboration between Sydney's award-winning Australian Brewery and the ever-innovative dessert minds at Gelato Messina. And it's looking like it'll be the ultimate summer treat for beer-lovers and sweet-toothed folks alike. Crafted on-site at the Rouse Hill brewery, the beer has fruity malt flavours, backed by a smooth caramel hit of dulce de leche sweetness. If you're yet to get acquainted with the latter ingredient, it's a sticky Latin American caramel made from sweetened milk. The Messina team learned to make its own authentic dulce de leche from scratch after Australia banned imports of milk products from Argentina (because of a spate of foot and mouth disease cases), and have been whipping it up at its Rosebery HQ ever since. A long-time favourite on Messina's gelato menu and also available to purchase by the jar, the concoction now stars in this limited-edition Gelato Ale, though it complements those beer-y tones and stops short of making the drink too sweet. The beer's set to make its grand debut with a public launch party at Surry Hills' Royal Albert Hotel this Wednesday, November 27, kicking off from 5pm. Head along to be one of the first to sample it. After that, it'll be available at select pubs across Sydney, in all Dan Murphy's and select BWS stores. If you'd like to get your mitts on more Gelato Ale, it's hitting the taps at select Sydney pubs from December 1. It's also landing in all Dan Murphy's, select BWS stores and other leading liquor retailers across NSW.
