There have been seemingly endless conversation surrounding the topic of pill testing of late, as we face some pretty grim figures — five young people have died from suspected drug overdoses at NSW festivals in as many months. But despite these devastating and ever-growing stats, the government has remained firmly opposed pill testing as a harm minimisation measure at raves and festivals. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to vocally squash the idea, and it wasn't even considered by the expert panel assembled to produce the Keeping People Safe At Music Festivals report a few months back. Now, Sydneysiders have the chance to throw their support behind pill testing and push for the government to also get on board, at a protest rally at Sydney's Town Hall this Saturday, January 19. During the rally, there'll be a series of speeches from harm minimisation experts and campaigners at Town Hall from 4pm, before the march moves on through to Hyde Park. With an expected turnout of over 7000, the rally is being backed by a coalition of advocate groups, including Keep Sydney Open, anti-sniffer dog campaign Sniff Off, Reclaim The Streets, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Unharm, which campaigns for safe and positive drug use. Pill testing advocates across the country maintain that it can save lives, citing extensive research carried out internationally, as well as the results of Australia's only pill testing trial, which was carried out at Canberra's Groovin The Moo last year. At any rate, many argue the rising death toll makes it pretty clear that the government's current zero-tolerance approach to drugs isn't working. "We're throwing this protest because we're sick of reading the same headlines about young people dying around us," said Reclaim The Streets spokesperson Kieran Adair. "Festival overdoses are easily so preventable, the Government needs to stop burying its head in the sand and listen to the experts." Image: Keep Sydney Open rally, Kimberley Low.
Usually, IKEA's food game is as unmistakably Scandinavian as its furniture names — headlined, of course, by those iconic Swedish meatballs. But for one January night each in Tempe, Marsden Park and Rhodes, the retailer is shaking things up and taking a jaunt to the other side of the globe, dishing up an Asian-inspired feast in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The dinner is set to run from 5pm and 7pm on Thursday, January 19 at the Tempe and Rhodes stores, and from 5.30pm on Friday, January 20 at Marsden Park — and arriving hungry is recommended. On the menu, you'll find classic dishes like pork and chive dumplings, spring rolls and vegetable gyoza. There's both tofu and vegetarian hot pot, Cantonese-style chicken wings and Singapore noodles, and even sweet offerings like fruit plates and matcha panna cotta. Adult tickets to the buffet feast are $30, though IKEA Family members can nab theirs for just $25. And, you could even squeeze in a spot of pre- or post-dinner flatpack shopping while you're there. IKEA has a new range of Lunar New Year wares, too, such as LED lanterns, red serving containers, rabbit cushions and more. [caption id="attachment_757260" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Images: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons.
Asian-style beers are often stereotyped as simple, easy drinking lagers that are low in alcohol content and great at hydrating in the heavy, humid heat. To be fair, many of the mainstream brews do match this generalisation — but Hong Kong is swiftly becoming a city to reckon with in the craft beer scene. The city is home to upward of ten local breweries, most of which have launched in the last two years alone. From black IPA to cherry saison, the local brewers are up on all of the current trends and styles — they're even trying out wackier brews, like Young Master Ales' oak infused Rye on Wood ale and Black Kite Brewery's Oh Bacon!, a smoked amber ale that truly does taste the part. Heading to Hong Kong? Here's what beers to drink and where to find them. WHERE TO DRINK The Hong Kong craft scene has had a massive push in the last two years with a slew of newcomers making their mark in the city. The movement has undoubtedly come from the craft beer boom in countries overseas (including here in Australia), but while a few are helmed by expats, many of these breweries have been organically started by locals. It's becoming a big part of drinking culture as a whole; the Hong Kong Beer Co., which originally opened in 1995, has recently relaunched as a craft beer brewery, and in 2012 the Hong Kong Craft Beer Association was established, which promotes and protects the industry as a whole. Local establishments are supporting this movement too — and while craft brewpubs may not be on every corner, it's pretty easy to stumble upon one. Even in the tourist-heavy Kowloon district lays Kowloon Taproom, a craft beer haven that sits unassumingly among your standard pubs and lounges. Their extensive beer list includes both local and imported craft, the most badass of which is City Brew's Lady IPA and Gentlemen Stout duo. These can be drunk either separately, or combined to create a black IPA — an impressive and delicious endeavour by one of Hong Kong's own. It's also an awesome feeling to drink a great beer while fighting gender stereotypes. In the trendier district of Mong Kok lays Tap: The Ale Project. With the modern allure of bright blue walls and a bar that looks more like a makeshift cafe, this spot certainly has the hipster aspect going for it. Opened in 2014 by self-proclaimed beer geeks, their 14 taps are dedicated to local and select import, with an even wider selection in bottles. They even offer growlers with a ceramic seal for takeaway. Both Tap and Kowloon Taproom are run by locals and are filled with locals almost every night, demonstrating the city's true dedication to the craft. WHAT TO DRINK If you're in Hong Kong, these are the beers you need to try. If you're not, well, most are not yet shipping internationally — but we expect big things to come, and can't wait to see these names on Sydney shelves. Gweilo Beer Mak's Beer Yardley Brothers Brewing City Brew Young Master Ales Black Kite Brewery Top image: Dollar Photo Club
George A Romero has been called "the father of the zombie film". The late, great director — the creative force who helped usher in a horde of shuffling undead-focused movies thanks to his iconic and influential Night of the Living Dead in 1968 — is also the father of a new zombie flick-loving filmmaker. When you're the daughter of the man who is also responsible for Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead, and you're making your directorial debut, adding a new addition to the horror genre clearly just comes naturally. Tina Romero's Queens of the Dead is a horror-comedy about a Brooklyn warehouse drag party that gets overrun by a zombie outbreak. It's also the opening-night film at Sydney Underground Film Festival for 2025. That's how the event is kicking off its 19th year — with gore, glitter, and the no-longer-living terrorising the dance floor and eating flesh — with SUFF screening at Dendy Newtown from Thursday, September 11–Sunday, September 14. One year out from celebrating its next huge milestone, 2025's ode to wild, weird, wonderful, surreal and sublime cinema has anniversaries on the brain already. Marking 45 years of Xanadu is one big highlight, complete with a disco-themed afterparty at Bootleggers after the screening. Or, you can catch a 30th-anniversary session of Steve Buscemi (Wednesday)- and Catherine Keener (Joker: Folie à Deux)-starring indie comedy Living in Oblivion instead. Still on blasts from the past, SUFF is also heading back to the 80s with cult-classic UHF, where Weird Al Yankovic (The Naked Gun) plays a man who finds himself becoming the manager of a low-budget television station. You won't just be watching and hearing the picture, either — you'll also be smelling an array of scents due to the return of SUFF's scratch 'n' sniff experience, complete with cards giving you the full sensory treatment. Courtesy of the rest of the program, when audiences aren't checking into Japanese horror Tokyo Evil Hotel, catching Cheech & Chong's Last Movie or charting Butthole Surfers' career in documentary Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing But, then everything from Ebony and Ivory from An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn and The Greasy Strangler's Jim Hosking to dark comedy Snatchers and exploitation horror Pater Noster and the Mission of Light awaits. Plus, among SUFF's 2025 documentaries, Coexistence, My Ass! focuses on Israeli Persian actor-turned-activist/comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi, Yellow House Afghanistan explores life under Taliban rule, The Life and Films of Andy Milligan pays tribute to its filmmaking namesake, the Iggy Pop-narrated Exorcismo dives into Spain's "Clasificada S" cinema and Occupy Cannes is all about Troma's efforts at one of the world's most-prestigious film festivals. When it wraps up for this year, the festival will close with the 16mm-shot Fucktoys, which takes inspiration from tarot's Major Arcana cards as it follows a hustler seeking salvation. "Underground film at its best doesn't just break rules — it reimagines what cinema can be. This year, SUFF celebrates the artists who are doing just that: fearless female filmmakers, radical Australian auteurs, and emerging voices who aren't asking for permission — they're forging new cinematic languages," said SUFF co-Festival Director Nathan Senn, announcing the lineup. "The films in this year's program are provocative, unruly, visionary; they unsettle and electrify in equal measure. At a time when sameness dominates, SUFF takes pride in being a home for the strange, the subversive and the gloriously unclassifiable." Sydney Underground Film Festival 2025 screens at Dendy Newtown, King Street, Newtown, from Thursday, September 11–Sunday, September 14. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to SUFF's website.
In 1998, a bunch of musicians got together with a plan to give the Sydney live music scene a sorely needed boost. The emergent collective, Jazzgroove, is now one of the city’s most important organisers, supporters and promoters of independent artists. Over the past fifteen years Jazzgroove has presented live improvised music on a weekly basis, started a record label that now has 62 CDs under its belt and established the prestigious JARA Award. Twenty-two bands will be found jamming around Surry Hills next weekend as Jazzgroove hosts its fourth annual Summer Festival. There’ll be free concerts in Prince Alfred Park, a stunning opening night at Tom Mann Theatre, ticketed gigs at 505 and the Gaelic Club (featuring the likes of Elana Stone and Tom O’Halloran) and jam sessions kicking off at midnight. Parents can grab themselves a break by dropping their kids off at the free workshops for juniors.
Chatswood is home to one of the best fancy dress shops in Sydney: The Wardrobe Costumiers. The store has been around for more than 50 years, supplying costumes for both private and theatre use — its costumes have been used in heaps of stage and film productions, to give you a sense of the quality. The shop is a far cry from your average Halloween store, with no prepackaged, mass-produced costumes to speak of. Instead, the warehouse is an ever-changing array of vintage pieces, handmade clothing and rare historical replicas. Whether you're invited to a flapper, The Breakfast Club, Marie Antoinette or medieval-themed party, this place has you covered. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Move over croquembouche, there's a new dessert tower in Adriano Zumbo's life. The popular dessert wizard has come together with boutique hotel chain QT to launch a next-level QTea experience at the boutique chain's Sydney CBD outpost. The weekly dose of indulgence will be centred around a tower of Zumbo-specialty sweet treats paired with high tea classics like scones and champagne. So, what's on the menu? Macarons (or Zumborons as Zumbo has named them)? Of course. Croquembouche? Maybe not, but there are plenty of classic Zumbo desserts to snack your way through. Work your way up from the savoury selections at the bottom which include mini lobster rolls and caesar salad sliders, plus a selection of quiches and Zumbo's take on the humble scone that mixes brioche and shortbread. While the savoury options are enticing, you'll want to save room for the sweets. As you make your way up the tower you'll find the chef's famous passionfruit tart alongside new creations like a glistening heart-shaped chocolate mousse, raspberry and pistachio dessert, a white chocolate and yuzu vanilla cake and plenty of macarons. Zumbo also has plans to change things up as the team working on the high tea finds its feet. He told Concrete Playground he wants to incorporate more plant-based options, more classics from his back catalogue and large share plates. "The first change will probably be to put that little miniature V8 cake onto the stand," he said. "I would like to bring a couple of my favourite Zumbo's Just Desserts dishes." Accompanying the food in the lobby of the hotel and QT Sydney's Studio Q is a memorable array of beverages and a side of fun and theatrics. DJs will be on hand, as will be a collection of roaming champagne trollies. Perrier Jouet Champagne will be paired with the desserts and lobster rolls, or diners can choose from QT's collection of 60 different champagnes. Plus, a limited-edition burnt blueberry tea. QTea is available on Saturdays and Sundays starting from Saturday, May 29 and will set you back $95pp for food and tea, $115 with paired Mumm sparkling wine or $125 with paired NV Perrier-Jouet 'Grand Brut'.
Writing a prescient tale is the science-fiction holy grail, and a feat that Philip K Dick firmly achieved. Making a movie that becomes the prevailing vision of what the future might look like in the entire world's minds? That's a stunning filmmaking feat, and one that Ridley Scott notched up as well. The reason for both? On the page, 1968's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In cinemas, 1982's Blade Runner. And if you need reminding of how stunning a story that the iconic sci-fi author penned, or how spectacular a film that the legendary director then turned it into, look no further than Blade Runner's return to the big screen — with a live score. When Dick pondered the difference between humans and artificial intelligence more than half a century back, he peered forward with revelatory foresight. When Scott followed fresh from Alien, he did the same. Now, in both 2023 and 2024, with the clash between the organic and the digital a daily part of our lives in this ChatGPT-heavy reality, of course it's time for Blade Runner to flicker again. Film lovers, get ready for another dream movie-and-music pairing. Get ready for synths, too. Vangelis' stunning score will echo as Scott's feature screens in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for Blade Runner Live — an event that premiered in London in 2019, made its way around the UK, then hit Japan earlier in 2023. If this sounds familiar, that's because Melbourne's dates were announced earlier this year; however, now Sydney and Brisbane are joining in. The Victorian capital will host four sessions at Hamer Hall, two each on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, 2o23. Sydney currently has one date at the Aware Super Theatre on Saturday, February 3, 2024 — and Brisbane will welcome the sci-fi magic at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Each session will screen the Final Cut version of the movie. Wondering how it differs from the OG release, and also the House of Gucci, The Last Duel and Napoleon filmmaker's Director's Cut? First unveiled in 2007 for the feature's 25th anniversary, it's the only version that Scott truly had full artistic control over. Blade Runner's narrative, if you're new to the franchise — which also includes exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with a new Blade Runner TV series also on the way — focuses on the one and only Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as cop Rick Deckard. His task: finding replicants, aka androids, which turns into quite the existential journey. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in sci-fi that's popped up over the four decades since Blade Runner first arrived that hasn't owed Scott's film a massive debt — and any synthesiser-fuelled score that hasn't done the same with Vangelis. And yes, add Blade Runner to the list of favourites getting another silver-screen run that celebrates their tunes heartily, alongside everything from Star Wars: Into the Spider-Verse to The Lion King to Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story. Check out the trailer for Blade Runner below: BLADE RUNNER LIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, 2023 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Saturday, February 3, 2024 — Aware Super Theatre, ICC, Sydney Saturday, February 10, 2024 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Blade Runner Live will play Melbourne in November 2023, then Sydney and Brisbane in February 2024. Head to the event website for further details and tickets — with Brisbane pre-sales from Tuesday, October 24 and general sales from Friday, October 27.
If you needed a new reason to make the journey to Palm Beach, we have it here. After six months of renovations from new owners The Boathouse Group, longstanding Palm Beach restaurant Barrenjoey House reopened at the end of last year — and now the adjoining hotel is open for business as well. The heritage-listed restaurant and guesthouse is the eighth venture from the Sydney hospitality group, which, headed up by husband and wife team Pip and Andrew Goldsmith, runs various Boathouse venues around Sydney. Most recently, the group opened the Boathouse Hotel just across the way in Patonga. Barrenjoey House has retained its original name, but the group has paid homage to the old building and its waterside location by refreshing the interiors with its signature coastal feel — think shell mirrors, wooden furnishings, banquette seating and local art. [caption id="attachment_710401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The restaurant downstairs.[/caption] The restaurant, on the ground floor, is open for lunch and dinner daily. The menu has a focus on fresh local produce and seafood takes centre stage. The casual nature of the restaurant means that you can pop in for a snack — maybe kingfish ceviche or fried calamari — after a swim at the beach or you can book in for lunch or dinner. Main dishes include rare yellowfin tuna spaghetti, a Murray Cod with fennel, orange and cucumber, and an Eye Fillet with good old-fashioned mashed potato and green beans. Sweet tooths will be pleased with the dessert options that include a strawberry sundae and a peanut butter parfait. The drinks list continues with the seaside atmosphere, with cocktails like a coconut mojito and a cucumber cooler on the menu. Beer, cider and non-alcoholic beverage options are available, too, and the extensive wine list could easily see you lose a lazy summer's afternoon. If you're planning on having a few of the above, you should book a room for the night. The building's seven guest rooms have just opened for bookings — choose from either views of Pittwater or the private courtyard, or go all out and book the larger loft suite. While you'll be sharing the lounge and courtyard with other guests, you'll have your own bathroom. Rooms aren't cheap though, with standard ones going for $400 during the week and $450 on weekends ($350 and $400 in low season) and the loft for $650–700 ($600–650 in low season). And seeing as you've ventured this far north, make a day of it and walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse for panoramic ocean views, or take the 15-minute ferry ride across to Patonga for more coastal vibes. Find Barrenjoey House at 1108 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. The restaurant and bar are open Tuesday to Sunday from noon till 9pm.
Inspired by Eurovision — that all-singing, all-dancing, over-the-top, glittery European extravaganza — is Sydney's version, the Sydneyvision Song Contest. One of the main differences between the two (apart from massive geographical distance), is that Sydney's take is all about the music video rather than live performances like its European older sister. This might explain the venue, which is a cinema. With strict guidelines for contestants to up the cheese factor while singing lyrics that include a Sydney suburb, expect both those who can and can't sing to be in it. Organised by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, (with the support of Dendy Newtown), Sydneyvision suggests that you be prepared for some, quite frankly, bizarre music videos (and some musical satire), such as last year's Bollywood entry about Harris Park. So, go and cheer on your suburb, and fingers crossed there's some fine dancing that takes a leaf from Moldova's book.
The 2024 Paris Olympics didn't turn out as planned for the Matildas, sadly. The next Women's Asian Cup, which Australia is hosting, isn't until 2026. You can still watch Australia's national women's soccer team in action between now and then, however, starting with four friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei to close out the Tillies' 2024 games — all at home, taking the squad to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Geelong. First up is Brazil, who'll face off against the Matildas on Thursday, November 28 at the Queensland capital's Suncorp Stadium (which was home to plenty of 2023 Women's World Cup action) and again on Sunday, December 1 at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina. After that, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Mackenzie Arnold and company will take on Chinese Taipei in Victoria. AAMI Park hosts the match on Wednesday, December 4, followed by a game at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, December 7. If you're keen to head along, there are still select tickets left to all four matches. And if you can't make it, you can still tune in from home, or the pub. To watch, 10Play and Paramount+ are your destinations — plus Network 10 on regular TV. After Tony Gustavsson stepped down following the Olympics, the Matildas don't yet have a new permanent full-time coach. Tom Sermanni, who did the job between 1994–97 and 2005–12, is taking the reins for these four friendlies. Sam Kerr remains injured, and Mary Fowler has withdrawn from the squad for the quartet of games to put her mental and physical health first, but high-profile names are still taking to the pitch — including Catley donning the captain's armband, Ellie Carpenter as vice captain, and also everyone from Ford, Arnold, Alanna Kennedy and Kyra Cooney-Cross to Hayley Raso, Michelle Heyman and Claire Polkinghorne. After this, the Tillies will play in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup in the US, making their debut in the competition, with games against Japan on Thursday, February 20; the US on Sunday, February 23; and Colombia on Wednesday, February 26. When those matches roll around, more than a year will have passed since Kerr's knee injury — so cross your fingers that she'll be back on the pitch then. The Matildas vs Brazil and Chinese Taipei Friendlies 2024 Brazil: Thursday, November 28 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Sunday, December 1 — Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast Chinese Taipei: Wednesday, December 4 — AAMI Park, Melbourne Saturday, December 7 — GMHBA Stadium, Geelong The Matildas' friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei take place between Thursday, November 28–Saturday, December 7 — and you can watch via 10, 10Play and Paramount+. Images: Tiffany Williams, Football Australia.
Fans of Australian dance innovators Shaun Parker & Company will want to check out the world premiere of their new piece, Am I in the upcoming Sydney Festival. In a highly visual, theatrical piece, 14 musicians and dancers, including guest artist Shantala Shivalingappa (who's worked with Pina Bausch and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui), join forces to create the world of Am I — a near future in which seven individuals seek to create a new world order. As they examine the weaknesses and mistakes of the past, religion collides with science, harmony with disorder. Composer Nick Wales steps up for the company again to create an original soundscape combining world music and cult-like singing. You may have seen the company’s highly popular Happy as Larry at the Seymour Centre, or more recently, witnessed them tumbling their way across Sydney’s playgrounds in SPILL. If you’ve never seen their work, this could be a good time to get acquainted with a local company making some pretty exhilarating stuff.
The New South Wales Government has announced that it's putting $50 million into parks and public spaces to improve access to swimming and outdoor recreation across the state. The investment has been unveiled as part of the government's plans for post-lockdown economic recovery and, according to Premier Dominic Perrottet, will lead to more places to swim, explore and enjoy yourself outdoors. "We're setting aside $50 million for new places to swim or paddle, improved playspaces and more trails that connect communities to their parklands," said Perrottet in a statement. "With Greater Sydney offering some of the most beautiful river, lake and bushland environments, this package will mean everyone can discover more of the hidden gems in their own backyard." Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes also noted that the money would help ensure that western Sydney residents and those who currently live in areas with less natural swimming and hiking areas — including Parramatta and those surrounding the Nepean River — would have greater access to these forms of public spaces. "While lockdown is over, it highlighted that people living closer to the coastline have far more natural swimming spots than those living in our west," Stokes said. The grants have been divided into three different programs, starting with $16.7 million for new swimming and kayaking spots in Greater Sydney's lakes, rivers and harbour. Another $16.7 million is earmarked for providing additional public spaces across NSW, while a third tranche of $16.7 million is being invested in new and upgraded walking trails in regional NSW, as well as in connected bushlands and parks in Greater Sydney. This investment will contribute to the government's goals of increasing the number of urban homes close to quality green spaces by ten percent across NSW by 2023, and also planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022. Earlier this year, former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a new national park and feral predator-free zone would be established in wester Sydney. A 500-hectare site between Penrith and Windsor has been earmarked, with the park expected to open in early 2023. For more information about the Open Spaces Program, head to the NSW Government's website. Images: Destination NSW.
A Sydney institution has closed its doors. While Redfern Continental (and its cocktail bar GDR) are no more, we're happy to announce that a new venue has already taken its place, with Golden Gully owners Daniel McBride and Dynn Smulewicz opening a sister venue to their Leichhardt small bar last week. The new venue, like it's predecessor, is split in two. Out the front, you'll find casual restaurant The Sunshine Inn and, out the back in the old GDR space, is a degustation-only dining room dubbed DD's. Gully's Executive Chef Emma Evans (Alibi) is in the kitchen serving up elevated gastropub eats up front and a three-to-five course degustation menu out back — all of which is vegetarian and focused on locally sourced produce. For The Sunshine Inn, expect jalapeño poppers with tapioca cream cheese and smoked garlic hummus, plus New South Wales cheese and olive plates. For larger dishes, there'll be a vego 'meatball' sub, vegan scallops (made with mushroom) and a seasonal pasta dish going for a very reasonable $15. [caption id="attachment_784789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casandra Hannagan[/caption] While the front bar is bright and airy with a minimalist fit-out — think white walls with navy accents and natural timber furnishings — the back restaurant is dark and moody. "I loved the moodiness of GDR, so we've gone even further with that," says co-owner McBride. "We've painted the ceiling a deep blue, reupholstered all of the booths and chairs in velvet and added in a chandelier." The intimate space hosts two dinner sittings per night (with bookings essential), then turns into a cocktail lounge once the kitchen is done. It's looking to be one of Sydney's best priced degustation menus, too, ranging from a very reasonable $39–59 (for three-to-five courses, respectively). Expect more refined fare here that's reminiscent of Gully's set menu. It will change regularly, but some of the dishes you're likely to find on the opening menu include turnip ravioli with strawberry gum, corn-crusted fennel served atop smoked chat potatoes and a decadent Ferrero Rocher pie. [caption id="attachment_784832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Also similar to the one at Gully, the cocktail menu focuses on Aussie spirits and native flavours — but The Sunshine Inn's list will include international booze, too. "I found with the Gully that, though I love doing Australian-only spirits, it's a bit restrictive if, say, someone wants a margarita," says McBride. "What we're doing instead is focusing on different approaches to classic cocktails, while getting extra creative with our house-made syrups so all of those native flavours will still shine through." The 16-strong cocktail list includes The Cure All (a tequila and mezcal take on the penicillin, made with jalapeño and ginger syrup), an amaro spritz (made using Poor Toms' Imbroglio, strawberry gum syrup and prosecco) and the Aussie Amari Sour, which McBride described as "a grown-up version of an amaretto sour". The wine list takes cues from the Gully as well, focusing almost exclusively on Aussie drops while balancing the natural with the accessible. Local winemakers Eloquesta, La Violetta and Yetti and the Kokonut all represent, and brews from Sydney's Wildflower, Akasha and Grifter are pouring as well. Find The Sunshine Inn and DD's at 180 Redfern Street, Redfern. The Sunshine Inn is open 3pm–midnight Wednesday–Sunday and DD's is open 6pm–midnight Thursday–Saturday. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Given that the relationship between art and alcohol probably goes back to cave paintings, it’s pretty dumb that conventional gallery spaces look at you funny when you stumble in, seeking visual enlightenment under a slight Reschs-induced daze. So thank God for places like Lo-Fi Collective, who really do make art accessible to all. The guys behind Lo-Fi have now breathed new life into the formerly unassuming Toxteth Hotel on Glebe Point Road. But instead of the draw card being $5.50 tacos, it’s a feast for the eyes presented by emerging local artists. (Okay so it’s pulled duck and chip butty sliders too, but let’s focus on the art for now.) As part of a plan to bridge the gap between Sydney’s arts education system and the art industry, the top level has been turned into five rent-free studio spaces plus a gallery called The Tate, where burgeoning young talent can be harnessed and put on show. Downstairs is where culinary innovation is cultivated, in the form of fried chicken burgers and a Coopers Pale Ale pie. The first exhibition to take place will be There Goes the Neighbourhood. This group show by friends of co-curators Marty Routledge and Christopher Loutfy includes such visual spectacles as street art by Numskull, typographic delights by Luca Lunesca and advanced galactic space monsters by six-year-old Max Treffkorn — with all works serving as invitations to reclaim ownership of the once-bohemian surburb of Glebe. New openings will take place weekly, so keep an eye on their website and try to coincide your visit with $4 sliders night.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) has unveiled the final plans for its proposed $344 million expansion — dubbed The Sydney Modern Project — in a push to better compete with its interstate counterparts. The state government already agreed to drop $244 million on the project back in June, with the gallery looking to private donations to raise the rest as it fights to win back drooping visitor numbers. The country's most visited gallery in 2007, AGNSW has since dropped to fourth position, with Sydney Modern expected to boost annual numbers to two million by 2023. The ambitious plans, designed by Pritzker prize-winning architecture and design practice, SANAA, would dramatically increase exhibition space, incorporating an entirely new building, an outdoor public art garden and an entry plaza complete with sculptures and installations. The new building is set to cover 7,830 square metres, with construction costs expected to top $236 million. AGNSW is also looking to become Australia's first five-star Green Star rated public art museum, and wants to develop the country's most significant display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. As reported by The Australian, the government found that the proposed expansion "would have a moderate adverse heritage impact on the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain as a whole". The Development Application is on public exhibition over at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website until December 15. Via The Australian
Since 1999, Longrain has been serving up interesting, modern takes on Thai fare. But now, the Commonwealth Street digs is about to close its doors, with owner Sam Christie announcing this morning that the team will not renew the lease on the site when it ends on Sunday, June 30. When the restaurant first opened, the food it was serving, under then-chef Martin Boetz, was trailblazing for the area — an area better known for its bustling Oxford Street nightclubs than fine-diners. That has since changed, with Surry Hills now a hub of wine bars and restaurants, offering everything from modern Burmese to lively Indian and Sri Lankan hoppers. Commonwealth Street alone is now filled with places to eat, too, with Chin Chin — another modern Thai restaurant — and Poly, by the Ester crew, both opening in the past two years. Christie has not yet commented on whether this had any weight on his decision to close Longrain. [caption id="attachment_625427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] Longrain has outposts in both Melbourne and Tokyo, and the Surry Hills closure doesn't mean the end for Sydney, either. Christie has revealed that he's currently looking at other locations around the city to reopen the restaurant. "Leaving Surry Hills gives us an opportunity to explore other sites for Longrain Sydney," said Christie in a statement. If you haven't visited the restaurant yet, or want to go back once more — for one more betel leaf — you still have time. Christie has announced that it'll be service as usual until the restaurant closes on June 30. "We really look forward to welcoming everyone back into the warehouse to dine and enjoy this beautiful space for the last time," said Christie. Find Longrain at 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills until June 30. It will be service as usual until then, with dinner running every night of the week as well as lunch on Fridays. Top image: Nikki To.
City proximity and beautiful scenery should make Winifred Falls one of NSW's most popular swimming holes but, because you have to work for it, it's rarely overcrowded. The short bushwalk from the car park is steep and sometimes muddy — demanding proper hiking boots — but it's worth the effort for this oasis. Native forest greenery hangs over the cool creek lagoons and the rock platforms that make up Winifred Falls. Lie back in refreshing waters while the splash and sigh of the falls echo around you. Our tip: pack a picnic lunch. You'll want to stay a while. Image: Adam Harvey, Flickr
The omnipresence of satellite imaging, thanks particularly to our friends at Google, has meant we have become increasingly desensitised by the awesomeness that is mankind's ability to take detailed photographs of our neighbour's backyard from thousands of kilometres up into space. However, every so often we stumble upon images that reignite our wonder in our seemingly endless technological capacity and the epic majesty that is the natural world. These satellite photographs from John Nelson, a mapping manager at data visualisation company IDV Solutions, capture hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires across the globe using colour coding and cutting edge data visualisation technology to beautifully and innovatively map some of the most devastating storms throughout history. 11 Years of Major US Fires After devastating fires blazed across Utah and Colorado earlier this year, Nelson gathered satellite imagery from NASA to visually map the spread and intensity of wildfire across the US over the last 11 years. The differing colours represent the intensity of the fire as compared to the average output of a nuclear power plant during Summer. The bright yellow spots, spread primarily across the West Coast, represent fires burning at a heat and intensity of roughly three or more nuclear power plants, with the hottest recorded at approximately 14 nuclear power plants in June, 2005. Every Hurricane and Tropical Storm Over the Last 150 Years With the help of a plethora of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including wind speeds, dates and names, Nelson was able to map every hurricane and tropical storm over the last 150 years. Using this data along with some educated predictions about the movements of 19th Century storms, Nelson "slapped it on a polar projection" and added some colour coding depicting storm intensity to create these incredible images. The maps however serve much more than an artistic purpose, with Nelson creating them in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in order to assist meteorologists in analysing storm trends and even allowing us to detect storms before they have occurred. The World's Earthquakes Since 1898 This map provides an awe-inspiring view of the tectonic boundaries of the Earth's surface. The yellow and green glow represents every earthquake over the last century that measured 4.0 or over on the richter scale, with the more luminous the glow the higher the magnitude of the earthquake.
St Peters brewery Willie the Boatman is celebrating NSW hitting its target of 80-percent of the population 16 and over being fully vaccinated by throwing a family-friendly food and music festival on Saturday, November 20. Titled 80-Percent Cooked, the all-day party boasts a light-hearted Country and Western theme throughout the programming. When it comes to eats, the brewery will host food trucks including Sparky's Jerk Chicken, G'd Up burgers, Hot Dogs of the World and BBQ in a Barrel. Accompanying the choice lunch options will be performances from local musicians Dominic Breen, That Red Hat, CK & The 45's and the inner west cowboy Andy Golledge accompanied by his band. Willie the Boatman's beers will of course be on hand, alongside live jewellery making, a mechanical bull and a kids play area with a jumping castle to add to the festivities. Tickets are $37.50 and kids under 12 can attend for free. Top image: Esteban La Tessa
After debuting in 2023 with Solange and Sampa The Great taking to its stages, the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Volume music series is going big again for its 2024 return. André 3000 making an Australian-exclusive stop with the Outkast rapper's experimental jazz project André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Ghanaian Australian talent Genesis Owusu and Zimbabwean Australian singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza: they all lead a lineup that shouldn't just get Sydneysiders excited, but is worth travelling from the rest of the country for. Volume's main names will each play their own dates between Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at The Tank, a Second World War oil tank that's been turned into a performance and art venue. It's located inside Naala Badu, AGNSW's $344-million extension that opened in late 2022 — and this is quite the way to check it out if you haven't had the chance before. [caption id="attachment_954053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Navy[/caption] Genesis Owusu will kick off Volume across Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 with a visual arts-inspired show. Audiences will hear tunes from his records Smiling with No Teeth and STRUGGLER, with The Black Dog Band — aka Kirin J Callinan, Touch Sensitive and Tim Commandeur — doing the backing honours. The next weekend, on Saturday, July 13, Tkay Maidza will play her first Aussie headline show in 2024 — and she has Sweet Justice, her second album, to showcase. This is a one-night-only return to Australia for the LA-based rapper, because she's also playing Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival in June. Kim Gordon's Aussie tour — which is also stopping at Illuminate Adelaide, as well as in Brisbane and Melbourne — will bring her to Volume on Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19. The main focus: The Collective, her latest solo record. And on Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21, André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE will wrap up the AGNSW lineup. The performance takes its name from André 3000's debut solo album, which released in 2023 — and will also feature percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, and guitarist and guitar synthesist Nate Mercereau, alongside Surya Botofasina playing the keyboards, plus Deantoni Parks on synthesiser and drums. This is André 3000's first trip Down Under in ten years, with Outkast's headlining slot at 2014's Splendour in the Grass his latest live gig in Australia. [caption id="attachment_954055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @trippydana[/caption] "We are thrilled to be inviting some of the most innovative and bold local and international musicians to The Tank to create unique music experiences that will make audiences think, feel and move. We look forward to seeing how each artist responds to this remarkable space," said Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Michael Brand. There's still more details to come for Volume, which will pair its headliners with a lineup of free events that's still to be announced. If it sounds huge, that's because it is — and both AGNSW buildings, aka north building Naala Badu and south building Naala Nura, will play host. [caption id="attachment_954056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Parsons[/caption] Volume 2024 Headliners and Dates: Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 — Genesis Owusu Saturday, July 13 — Tkay Maidza Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19 — Kim Gordon Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21 — André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE [caption id="attachment_880681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tank space in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new SANAA - designed building, 2022, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Volume 2024 runs from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with ticket presales from 11am on Tuesday, May 21 and general sales from 11am on Wednesday, May 22 — head to the festival website for further details. Top image: Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons.
Nine of Sydney's favourite craft breweries are coming together on Saturday, May 20 for a celebration of all things hops at Frenchies Bistro and Brewery in Rosebery. The Fresh Harvest Beer Festival will feature a cracking lineup of 2Halfs, Beer Fontaine, Bracket Brewing, One Drop Brewing Co, Rocks Brewing Co, Slow Lane Brewing, The Bondi Brewing Co., The Social Brewers and of course the day's host Frenchies Brewery, all sampling their best brews for Sydney's beer enthusiasts. The Frenchies Bistro team has created a menu specifically designed to pair well with craft beers — easy-to-handle classics like burgers, hot dogs and fries. Plus, there will be prizes to be won on the day, with each ticket holder getting entered in a raffle to win beer and merch courtesy of the breweries. Entry is $20 and the festivities will kick off at midday. Once inside, the individual breweries will set the price of your pints and you can purchase your favourites for takeaway.
The trailer for the fourth instalment of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise was released at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend, and it's a total, jaw-dropping attention hog. Mad Max: Fury Road sees Tom Hardy take the reigns as 'Mad' Max Rockatansky, with appearances from Charlize Theron, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, Megan Gale, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Nicholas Hoult thrown into the high-speed mix. From what we can gather the film revolves around a huge car chase sequence set in an unmerciful desert, complete with all the trimmings of daredevil motorbike jumps, rolling car crashes and explosions. Lots of explosions. There's some captivating end-of-days imagery going on, showing this classic Australian franchise has not been left to idle in the '80s. The fourth Mad Max has had film fans on tenterhooks for decades. It has a potted production history, having spent 25 years in what is known as "development hell". Most recently, filming was moved from Broken Hill to Namibia, after unexpected heavy rains turned the necessary desert landscape into inappropriate lush wildflowers. It's looking formidable from the trailer, so let's hope the movie — due for release on May 15, 2015 — delivers on the impact promised.
Australia's festival scene keeps delivering heartbreak, with Mona Foma the latest major event to announce that it's no longer going ahead. 2024's fest has already taken place, running back in February, but it will now go down in history as the last-ever Mona Foma. Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, aka Mona, has called time on its summer festival after a 16-year run of showcasing music and art — and giving Dark Mofo a sunny counterpart — during the Apple Isle's warmer months. Mona owner and founder David Walsh revealed the end of Mona Foma in a statement, bidding farewell to the event because "it's been magical, but the spell has worn off". [caption id="attachment_784488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia[/caption] "At Mona Foma — Mofo — at the Peacock Theatre, we joined the Zen Circus, and Italian punk came to live, rent free, in my head," starts Walsh's missive, which begins by running through past festival highlights. "In 2023 Peaches turned us all on with her sexy songs, but the thing that turned me on the most was the sign language interpreter signing 'peg'," he continues. "Guy Ben-Ary in 2017, wiring living neurons to speakers and cajoling them to scream. Gotye playing the ondioline. Robin Fox's beacons. David Byrne and Philip Glass. Wire and Cale. The Saints and St Vincent. Dresden Dolls and Dan Deacon. Sun Ra and Neneh Cherry. Kate Miller-Heidke and Vieux Farka Touré." "And the finches playing guitar. From Here to Ear. That was the first one, in 2009. We bought that work, but we've never shown it again. It was too much the first time." [caption id="attachment_880158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mona/Rémi Chauvin. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] "Mona Foma took us around the world. But it ends here. Maybe the end started at COVID. Maybe it's because the last festival was a poorly attended artistic triumph. But those aren't the reasons I killed it," Walsh notes. "I know that we live for experience but, more and more, I seek permanence, a symbolic immortality. At Mona, I'm building this big thing, hopefully it'll be a good thing, but it's a costly thing. I'm addicted to building, and my addiction got out of hand. Some things have to go before I'm too far gone." "Mona Foma is one of those things. It's been magical, but the spell has worn off. Only these words, from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, remain: 'live by the Foma that makes you brave and kind and healthy and happy.'" [caption id="attachment_832077" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford, Mona[/caption] Ending Mona Foma is the latest big change for Mona's festivals. As announced in 2023, Dark Mofo is taking a breather in 2024. A number of the latter's regular events, such as Winter Feast, the Nude Solstice Swim, Night Shift and the Mona Gala are still happening this year, however. With Dark Mofo, the plan is to press pause for 12 months to take stock and come back even better. "The fallow year will enable us to secure the future of Dark Mofo and its return at full force in 2025," said Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite in 2023. The Mona Foma news comes after both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo cancelled their 2024 festivals mere weeks after announcing their lineups. Falls Festival took summer 2023–24 off, Summergrounds Music Festival at Sydney Festival was cancelled and This That hasn't gone ahead for a couple of years now. [caption id="attachment_926552" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amy Brown, image courtesy of Street Eats @ Franko Hobart and Mona Foma.[/caption] 2024's Mona Foma featured Queens of the Stone Age, Courtney Barnett, TISM, Paul Kelly, Mogwai, Shonen Knife, and Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, for starters — and Holy Fuck, Wednesday, Michael Rother and Friends (playing Neu! songs), and Lonnie Holley with Moor Mother and Irreversible Entanglements. The lineup goes on from there. "Gratitude to all of you that came. And to those who didn't, a silver lining: you'll no longer suffer from FOMO for FOMA. And anyway, repetition is regimentation. And regimentation is ridiculous," said Walsh in his announcement. "Greatest gratitude to those who helped put it together. I hope it was as good for you as it was for me." [caption id="attachment_830704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Remi Chauvin, Mona.[/caption] Mona Foma's last festival took place in February 2024. Head to the MONA website for further details. Top image: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
One year on from launching its first Sydney store, Melbourne restaurant group DOC will be bringing another of its much-loved menus north to Sydney, but this time for a limited time only. Earlier in 2021, DOC launched Bio, a new outpost dedicated to plant-based, vegan and gluten free creations. After a successful few months down in Melbourne, Bio is getting a run in Sydney as a pop-up menu full of all vegan treats. Running from Monday, March 22 until Saturday, April 10 out of DOC's Surry Hills spot, the pop-up features a menu created by Bio head chef Tommaso Bartoli. You'll find three popular Bio mains on the lineup: vegan lasagne made with spinach pasta sheets, bechamel and lentil ragu; grilled vegetable tartare with capers and truffle paste; and chilli and garlic broccolini scottati served on top of macadamia mousse. And for dessert, you can order vegan tiramisu made with crumbled savoiardi, cashew cream and dark chocolate. DOC is open for lunch Thursday–Saturday and for dinner every night except Sunday. Book online to ensure you nab a spot.
New outpost and Seoul sister of Balmain's popular (and now-closed) Mabasa, Sáng by Mabasa trades up the barbecued short rib and vats of melted cheese for plates that are delicate and well-balanced — and unlike those found at any other Korean restaurant in Sydney. Established and run by a Korean family, the tiny, pared back restaurant seats just 22, with counter seating to the right, and two wide communal tables that let you spill your food down the middle. In the open kitchen you'll find self-taught chefs, Seung Kee Son and Jin Sun Son, who have barricaded themselves behind glass jars of pickles, while their son Kenny Yong-Soo Son and his partner Youmee Jeon, run the front of house and floor. The clean, minimalist space reveals a tasteful aesthetic, thanks to artful objects in deliberate places and rustic clusters of native branches. It's little surprise, really, with Kenny also the owner (and maker) of contemporary design studio Studiokyss. Open for both lunch and dinner, Sáng's menu is a lineup of classic Korean dishes, but those on the hunt for lesser-known flavours will make plenty of new friends, too. Perhaps not too adventurous, but still highly rewarding, are the kun mandu ($14). Crisp and golden to the pleats, each pan-fried purse contains a steaming treasure chest of pork mince, glass noodles and crumbled tofu, with a pickled soy and sesame sauce that's electrifyingly good. While you may already know bibimbap quite well, Sáng's menu also includes a dolsot version ($20), which is served in a hot stone bowl and left to fry away on the table. Listening to the delicious hissing can be torturous at times; however, the reward for your patience is a crisp rice crust that adds texture to the raw tumble of egg yolk and slippery veg. Other delights include the pig's trotters ($28), soft and jellied in a saline-sweet sauce, and the tender joints of Korean fried chicken ($28), encased in a thick, pancake-y batter, like an old-school pluto pup. More than just artistic dots and dashes on the plate, a serve of buttery, nutty, yak gwa ($15), honey cookies, on black pools of sesame and seed cream, manage to be both gourmet and Gorman. The drinks list is small, but don't sweat it, there's still good stuff here. Sáng hasn't included any of the more watery Korean lagers, like Cass and Hite, but the rich and malty Kloud does make the cut. It's also BYO wine for an entirely reasonable $4 a bottle — not that you needed another reason to drop by. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Roll on down to Prince Alfred Square over the Easter school break for some old-school fun that's fit for all ages. Skate and Play — part of the western CBD's biggest festival of the year, Parramatta Nights — is returning for a second time, bringing the unbridled good vibes it's known for. Think thrilling rides for a joy-filled kick to your adrenaline levels, disco beats to soundtrack your rollerskating antics, a vibrant food village and a fully stocked bar that's ready to pour. From mid-morning to well past bedtime, you and your gang can skate loops round the outdoor rink and wander through the larger-than-life Lost Dogs' Disco (an interactive inflatable installation courtesy of the Melbourne-based art and tech company ENESS). Or, if you're looking for a maxo-relaxo session, you can sit back and listen to live music while your minis run their energy stores down on whirling, high-flying rides. Whatever your preference, you're certainly in for a day of spins and thrills. Plan your trip to Skate and Play here, or head to the website to check out the full Parramatta Nights program.
If you haven't made it to Made by the Hill yet, then this weekend is your best chance. The extension of the Rooty Hill RSL is launching a new market, starting this Sunday, September 9. The one-day market will showcase local designers and small businesses of Western Sydney, and offer up clothing, accessories, beauty products and homewares. Expect mason jar soy candles from Mrs Nargar & Co., artfully potted succulents from Pot and Posy and essential oils by Frankincense and I. Plus, cold-pressed vegan soaps, animal portraits and other bits and pieces will be available, too. Live music will be going all morning, and food will be provided by resident burger slingers Chur Burger. Both coffee and alcoholic drinks will be available, and sweets will come in the form of epic cakes by Gracious Honey and ice cream-filled chimney pastries. Things will kick off at 9am and run until 2pm. If you want to stick around, you can grab a drink and settle in — the bar is open until late. The organisers plan for the market to be a recurring event, although no further dates have been set yet.
Walking around Sydney CBD over the last year or so, you might have noticed the amount of construction taking place, but even more so, the vibrant colours and art brightening up these building sites across town. These are works from the creative hoardings initiative, which saw ten artists chosen by the City of Sydney to have their designs adorn drab construction sites. Following a massively successful first round, the City of Sydney is once again inviting artists nationwide to submit their creations to be a part of the next group of hoarding designers. Encouraging both established and emerging artists to apply, another ten creatives will be selected by a panel of industry experts, and receive a tidy $11,400 for their hard work to boot. Whether you want to submit your own work or encourage a friend, don't delay as entries close 5pm, Friday, December 14. To give you a better idea of what the creative hoardings initiative is all about, we took a look at the original ten artists and found out how the project impacted their creative practices. [caption id="attachment_701053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths.[/caption] THE TERMINAL FACE OF THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER BY TIM HARLAND For landscape photographer Tim Harland, the creative hoardings project was the perfect medium to express his elongated panoramic images. Having considered submitting many of his works, he eventually decided on his image of the famous Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia. Created from more than 50 individual photographs, Harland captured the image while travelling in a boat parallel to the glacier. On the project, Harland explains: "it's been lovely to be walking through the city, turn a corner and be presented with my giant, icy blue photograph…I've never been able to print my work as big as I'd like, so to see it two metres high and 100 metres long was deeply satisfying." [caption id="attachment_632113" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA BY EGGPICNIC Promoting important dialogue around wildlife conservation, Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso of popular creative duo Eggpicnic have used their hoarding design, Birds of Australia, to reach out to others with their message. With their design popping up on construction sites across Pyrmont, Surry Hills and The Rocks, their work has proved popular even with bird watching groups that go on tours of the hoardings. Plus, Camila and Christopher are often told by strangers how admired their design is. "I was on the bus at Town Hall, and I see this email that our hoarding is up at Ken Street," De Gregorio says. "I told the bus driver to stop, I got off and then two blocks away, I could see this giant cockatoo. I started running; I get there and I completely lose my breath. I felt like I'd won an Oscar. I was standing alone in complete awe for ages, watching how others were taking selfies and videos of my bird." "People care; it's just a matter of inviting them to participate. We are privileged to have our work displayed throughout Sydney and we hope that this platform starts fundamental conversations," says De Gregorio. [caption id="attachment_632100" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] DOUBLE-TAKE BY RACHEL HARRIS Creating playful images that challenge our perceptions, South Australian designer Rachel Harris worked alongside the City of Sydney's archives, taking historical photographs and photoshopping them in subtle and fun ways. For Harris, creating something that could be viewed multiple times was one of her primary concerns. And Double-Take achieves that by giving commuters something interesting to focus on during their journey to and from work. "The feedback has been great, seeing people engaging with the work and sharing it with each other is wonderful," says Harris. "It feels like I have contributed something meaningful and positive to the community." A SONG FROM NATURE BY DANLING XIAO Having built up a huge Instagram following thanks to her playful daily food-art creations with her Mundane Matters project, Danling Xiao once again used these cute artworks to communicate her philosophy on zero waste and sustainability. Xiao said it's "an honour" to be able to contribute her artwork to the city's landscape with A Song From Nature. "I am surprised that although friends see my work on Instagram on a regular basis, they are still surprised when they see them on the streets," says Xiao. "I think we must be doing something right here." SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AT NIGHT BY EMILY CROCKFORD Emerging artist Emily Crockford took inspiration from perhaps Sydney's most iconic landmark with her interpretation of the Sydney Opera House. Depicting the sweeping structure's celebrated sails lit up by the New Years Eve fireworks, this work follows Crockford's colourful style, which you can also see in her paintings, sculpture and plush works of art. Supported by Studio A, a local social enterprise providing support for artists living with intellectual disabilities, Crockford has exhibited her work as part of the Cicada Press at UNSW Art & Design, Underbelly Arts Festival and numerous galleries across Sydney. CHILDREN VERY UPSET BY EDWIN BUDHI Spending time wandering the streets of Sydney, photographer and filmmaker Edwin Budhi was struck by the number of lost animals signs he came across tapped to signposts. With his bright, eye-catching portraits of missing animals and street scenes, Budhi wanted to convey the feeling of what it's like to live in a large metropolis such as Sydney. Through Children Very Upset, Budhi thoughtfully explores the nature of family, hope and loss within the context of the urban environment. [caption id="attachment_632099" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] STONE JEWELS BY FIONA CURREY-BILLYARD Featuring glowing stone cutting tools used by Indigenous populations throughout past centuries, emerging filmmaker, photographer and painter Fiona Currey-Billyard makes the most of new media in her hoarding design, Stone Jewels. Astounded by the quality of these tools that were handcrafted hundreds of years ago, Currey-Billyard was inspired to showcase their excellence to a wider audience through her submission. Made from materials such as glass, basalt and greenstone, the vibrant stone cutting tools resemble precious jewellery, which Currey-Billyard conveys through her vibrant artwork. [caption id="attachment_632106" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] REAL MYTH BY CAPTAIN PIPE Perhaps the most lively of all the hoarding designs selected for the initial creative hoardings project, Neil McCann, aka Captain Pipe, wanted to create something that passers-by simply wouldn't be able to ignore. Inspired by the eccentric works of 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, Real Myth illustrates a scene that could be the party to end all parties. In addition, McCann's design considers the stories we tell ourselves and how artworks can have "co-created" meanings depending on your life's perspective. Putting his work on a scale that's made it virtually unmissable by anyone who comes near, McCann was proud to have such a towering and colourful work take over the city streets. POLY UBIQUITOUS BY CYNTHIA SCHWERTSIK Disturbed by the amount of plastic pollution taking over the environment today, Adelaide-based artist Cynthia Schwertsik decided to reimagine plastic bags with a slightly more positive connotation. It's easy to miss at first, but Poly Ubiquitous doesn't just display a bright and mysterious creation, but images of colourful plastic bags submerged underwater. On her artwork, Schwertsik explains, "I started to collect plastic bags and treat them as if they were precious. These bright, artificial colours were the entrance to an ambiguous appreciation for the material that is supposed to be useful." [caption id="attachment_632104" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] OBSTACLE COURSE BY ELLIOTT BRYCE FOULKES Sydney native, art director and designer Elliot Bryce Foulkes has long been basing his bold creations around the use of typography, language, graphics and space. For his chosen Site Works hoarding, titled Obstacle Course, Foulkes delved into his knowledge of Sydney to develop an imaginative reinterpretation of ongoing building projects and future Sydney architectural landmarks. Exploring the concepts of design, art direction and identity through his creative practice, here, Obstacle Course depicts an artistic look at individuals searching the streets of Sydney and uncovering the many interesting shapes and designs that make up the urban environment. Keen to see your own art on a large scale? Answer the City of Sydney's call for artists to get a chance to be part of the initiative.
Another year about to pass in which you were unable to book in that holiday to New York? Fortunately, the ultimate Metropolis has so influenced this city that you can easily find something local to comfort your stationary self. Just squint — and spend a day stuffing yourself with these signature foodstuffs — and you'll be fine. Breakfast: Brooklyn Hide for a Bagel We've never been big bagel lovers here in Australia. Our carb fixes in the mornings customarily come from toast or crumpets with vegemite. But this could all change since the guys at Brooklyn Hide have moved into Surry Hills. These kids are going to make sure that Sydney knows a thing or two about the way a bagel should be: New York style. All in all, the bagels reward: they offer a texture that is desirably chewy, not overly doughy or dry. Us Sydneysiders could become quite the bagel-connoisseurs before we know it. One thing we are critics of already, however, is coffee. The talented blokes at Little Marionette are supplying the beans and the team here are pouring a fine cup. 226 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; Mon - Sat 7am - 4pm; www.facebook.com/brooklynhide Lunch: Chophouse for NY Steak Forget everything you thought you knew about a steakhouse, and go and try Chophouse in the Sydney CBD. Described as a tribute to the New York-style steakhouse, Chophouse removes itself from the regular gimmicks of steakhouses and instead exudes a level of class through its service, food and contemporary setting. It’s not so much for meat lovers, but more for those who appreciate quality produce. The F1 wagyu striploin ($55.90) is 300g of the finest beef from the Rangers Valley in NSW. Chophouse’s chefs have treated the cut, four on the marble score, with the upmost respect. The caramelised surface of the meat from the grill has an oaky flavour, which matches with the juicy steak and red jus. 25 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000; Mon – Fri 12pm - late, Sat 6pm - late; www.chophouse.com.au Dinner (for bohemian wallets): Soda factory for a dog What you’re looking for is a kitschy neon sign reading 'Bobby’s Boss Dogs'. Bobby's draws the comparison to New York’s Crif Dogs, the entrance to clandestine East Village cocktail lounge PDT, and lives up to the latter’s reputation. Pull on the handle of the Coke machine for entrance to the bar, a dimly lit industrial expanse lined with inviting booths and comfy mid-century sofas. For just $9, the Johnny Drama (beef sausage topped with bacon, sour cream, avocado and tomato salsa) straddles the line between gourmet and good old-fashioned grub. It's busiest on a Tuesday, when the dogs are a dollar. 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills; Mon - Wed 5pm - late; Thur 5pm - 2am; Fri 5pm - 5am; Sat 7pm - 5am; sodafactory.com.au Dinner (for mafia-sized wallets): Momofuku Seiobo for everything Momofuku Seiobo is not some homage to NY culture; it is a genuine piece of the NY dining landscape and probably the world franchise we're most lucky to have (Sydney was the first Momofuku restaurant outside NY). Headed by David Chang, the restaurant is a world leader in high/low fusion dining, with such items as their famous pork bun (pork belly, pickled cucumber and hoisin sauce, but special). They only serve a set degustation, priced at $185 for dinner, and reservations can only be made 20 days in advance, once the system opens at 10am. But it's still less hassle and cost than a plane ticket, right? Ground level, The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont; Lunch Fri - Sat, Dinner Mon – Sat; http://momofuku.com/sydney Drinks: Harlem on Central for cocktails With its blacked-out windows and lack of signage, Harlem on Central is not Manly's most easily-found nightspot, but it's certainly the area's coolest. The bar is a tiny high-class hideaway with a Prohibition theme running consistently through the drinks, decor and service. Excellent table service delivers strong, tasty and beautiful-looking cocktails made from an array of exotic-seeming spirits that will baffle even the most dedicated boozehound. Low lighting, cool jazz beats and small tables for two render Harlem On Central a seriously intimate venue, one that easily conjures up images of shady Mafia-boss types doing deals in the back booths, or fortunes made and lost. 9-15 Central Avenue, Manly; Mon - Sun 5pm - Midnight; www.harlemoncentral.com.au Late night bite: Frankie's for pizza and beer Half dive bar, half New York-style pizza parlour, this is definitely a step away from the cocktail and whiskey specialities of Shady Pines and Baxter Inn, the last openings from Jason Scott and Anton Forte. In fact no cocktails are served other than a frozen margarita ($10) slushie style, but spirits and mixers are, along with a fairly basic wine list. Frankie’s is all about craft beer from Belgium, the U.S., Australia, Scotland and Denmark. There’s a good range of ales, lagers and ciders of varying flavour, alcohol strength and price – we were digging the Lord Nelson ($8) and the Weyerbacher stout ($12) from the US. The pizza itself is more chew than crunch and generous at $5 a slice — it’s not right up there with the original but is a perfectly satisfying beer absorber. The best news about it is, in a city that has a distinct lack of good late-night drinking venues, it’s open (and serves pizza) till 4am. 50 Hunter Street, Sydney; Mon - Sun 4pm - 4am; www.facebook.com/Frankiespizzabytheslice By the Concrete Playground team. Top image: joiseyshowaa via photopin cc.
It's Mardi Gras time again, Sydney — and the annual celebration comes not just one festival, but two. When you're not partying, heading to performances and hitting up the parade, you can spend time in a darkened cinema watching the latest and greatest queer movies. Returning for its huge 26th year, and running between Wednesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 28, the Mardi Gras Film Festival is going big in 2019. A lineup that boasts 54 features, 66 shorts, 70 sessions and 75 Australian premieres isn't small by any means. It's also making a sizeable footprint, using Event George Street Cinemas as a base but spreading its screenings around the city too. After opening with the Kyle MacLachlan and Maria Bello-starring Giant Little Ones, MGFF's program includes a little bit of everything. There's the werewolf thrills of Good Manners, plus an award-winning drama about toxic masculinity and sexuality in the form of Slovenian film Consequences — as well as a Paris Is Burning and Rize-style dance doco courtesy of When the Beat Drops, and a restored version of the 1987 Merchant Ivory classic Maurice. Famous figures are in the spotlight thanks to biopics Mapplethorpe, The Happy Prince and Wild Nights with Emily, focusing on photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, playwright Oscar Wilde and poet Emily Dickinson respectively. And when the fest comes to a close, it'll do so with the tender, luminous and important Rafiki, a lesbian love story that was initially banned in its native Kenya.
We're in the thick of summer festivals, and organisers of Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival have launched a brand newie: Sydney City Limits. A sister festival for Texan mega-fest Austin City Limits, Sydney's version will be a one-day all-ages event full of music, food, art and market stalls aplenty. Gracing four stages in Sydney's Centennial Park will be a serious lineup of Australian and international artists. Over 30 huge names — including international acts Justice, Beck, Phoenix and Grace Jones, and local artists Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana, Vance Joy, Dune Rats and Allday — will converge on the inner-city park for the festival. Not a bad debut lineup. You'll also be nourished by a handful of Sydney's top chefs, restaurants and food trucks, all curated by the team behind Mary's and The Unicorn. And just like the festival's American counterpart, the creative arts will get a strong representation here, too. You'll be able to explore an openair art space that showcases snapshots of the city through painting, street art, photography, video and performance art by Sydney artists. There will also be artisan markets, with the opportunity to bring home fashion, jewellery, art and merchandise.
Footy fans rejoice FIFA is coming to town and bringing the Women's World Cup and an epic FIFA Fan Festival™ with it. But hold the line, this isn't just a festival for football fanatics. Anyone who loves a good time and free music events should also be interested. So why should you head down to the FIFA Fan Festival™ held in the iconic Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour from July 20 to August 20? Here are our top five reasons. LOVE OF SPORTS The first one is a no-brainer. The fans will get the most out of the FIFA Fan Festival™. It's here that attendees will be able to watch the games live on massive screens throughout the festival location. Across from the giant screens is where you will find the FIFA Store, where you can stock up on official merch from the tournament. We're talking jerseys, scarves, hats and – most coveted — the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ Official Match Ball. LOVE OF MUSIC Not content with just celebrating footy excellence, the festival is celebrating women's talents in the music world too, with Aussie artists ready to rock the stage between matches and as headline acts. Come on down to witness Jessica Mauboy, Jack River and many more. The stellar lineup of artists is set to support the ladies on the field. Even better, entry to the festival is free so you can enjoy all this excellent live music without breaking the bank! LOVE OF A GOOD TIME After seeing the professionals on the big screen, you might be tempted to show off your own skills. Thankfully, the festival organisers have considered this and have built the aptly named "playground". Put your best foot forward on the pop-up pitch for penalty practice shoot-outs. Or try football mini golf, football snooker – or the shooting speedometer, so you can see which of your mates has the most powerful boot. [caption id="attachment_855330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chef Josh Niland. Credit Rob Palmer[/caption] LOVE OF GOOD FOOD With all the dancing, singing and penalty kicks, you'll need to keep your energy levels up. Thankfully the festival is bringing the goods with delicious food offerings from the likes of award-winning seafood chef Josh Niland, who'll be slinging his signature tuna cheeseburger. Alongside Niland, there will be a diverse host of street eats, from pizza to gozleme to dumplings to the classic Aussie barbecue. And because it's winter, there will be mulled wine on offer to stave off the chill while the two festival bars will be serving beer and wine galore. LOVE OF HISTORY The FIFA Women's World Cup™ has been in operation since its inception in 1991. To those not mathematically inclined, that's over 30 years ago. It is the biggest women's sporting event worldwide. To commemorate this, the festival organisers have constructed the FIFA Museum. The epic history of this sporting institution is on display, with interactive team profiles, short films and historic items — like the FIFA Women's World Cup™ Trophy itself, which you can find in the Museum's display room. The FIFA Fan Festival™️ takes place from Thursday, July 20 till Sunday, August 20 at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. Check out the website for the full schedule of events.
Mention the name Weird Al Yankovic and a pop parody song likely slips into your head. Maybe you're now humming 'Eat It' to yourself, or 'My Bologna' — or perhaps 'Like a Surgeon', 'Another One Rides the Bus', 'Smells Like Nirvana' and 'Amish Paradise' are echoing in your brain. They're some of the musical-comedy tunes the singer is famous for, but they won't be getting a workout on his just-announced 2023 tour. First, the exciting news: Weird Al is heading to Australia in March, hitting up Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane on a five-show whirl around the country. Next, the possibly surprising news: The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, as it's called, isn't about playing Yankovic's satires of other well-known songs. Instead, the musician is swapping his usual parodies for his other musical-comedy standouts across his 14-album catalogue. Clearly, he has plenty of tracks to choose from — and they'll all be played with his original band of four decades in an intimate, stripped-down show. Don't go expecting costumes, props or video screens, either. AUSTRALIA, here I come!!! #TheUnfortunateReturnOfTheRidiculouslySelfIndulgentIllAdvisedVanityTour comes to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane in March 2023! https://t.co/o0riivPZ37 — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 27, 2022 This deep cut-focused tour follows Yankovic's successful 2018 and 2022 North American Vanity Tours, which featured sold-out performances at The Kennedy Centre and Carnegie Hall. In Australia, he'll be joined by comedian Emo Philips, his The Vidiot From UHF co-star, at gigs at the Palais Theatre, Norwood Concert Hall, Enmore Theatre, Perth's Astor Theatre and QPAC. "I don't very often get an opportunity to tour outside of North America, so it's a huge thrill for me to come back to Australia and play a bunch of songs that most people would rather not hear." Al said, announcing the tour. His trip Down Under follows the release of comic biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which isn't currently available in Australia — but Yankovic has thoughts on how to see it. WEIRD AL YANKOVIC'S THE UNFORTUNATE RETURN OF THE RIDICULOUSLY SELF-INDULGENT, ILL-ADVISED VANITY TOUR 2023: Friday, March 10 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Monday, March 13 — Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide Wednesday, March 15 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Saturday, March 18 — Astor Theatre, Perth Monday, March 20 – QPAC, Brisbane Weird Al Yankovic is touring Australia in March 2023. Tickets go on sale at 11am local time on Friday, December 2 — head to the tour website for further details.
With Australians knocking back an average of 50,000 takeaway coffees every 30 minutes, and one billion paper cups winding up in landfill each year, it's pretty clear that our on-the-go coffee habits need to undergo a drastic change. But no matter how many reusable cups hit the market, that throwaway culture is a hard one to shake. We've been taking tiny steps to address the problem, though; last year the City of Sydney trialled standalone bins for one-use coffee cups and, just recently, a Sydney cafe banned all disposable cups. But the latest product to help make our caffeine addictions somewhat better for the environment is the RecycleMe cup — a new 'more recyclable' takeaway coffee cup, which is being trialled in Sydney and Melbourne this week. This little guy is the brainchild of Australian-owned paper and packaging specialists Detpak and California-based Smart Planet Technologies, who were looking to create a disposable cup that could be easily recycled through the usual paper and cardboard recycling stream. At present, regular coffee cups cannot be recycled like other cardboard items due to their waterproof polyethylene lining, and there is currently no facility in Australia that is able to recycle them. The RecycleMe cups differ because they have a mineral-based lining that's easier to be removed, and means up to 96 percent of the cup can be recycled. The RecycleMe cups can't go straight into your regular recycling bin, though. As part of the trial, patrons who order takeaway coffees will have to turf their empty cups and lids into the special blue bins in-store. From there, the lining will be removed before the cups head to a regular paper recycling facility to be processed and made into new paper and cardboard products. While having to dispose of your takeaway cup at the cafe you bought it from sort of defeats the purpose of getting a disposable one in the first place, it is a step in the right direction — particularly if the cups can enter the regular recycling stream rather than simply going to landfill. You can test the final product at Toby's Estate in Sydney and Melbourne Museum, where the RecycleMe cups will be in use until Sunday, August 20. Detpak aims to have the RecycleMe cups on the commercial market within six months.
No, you're not confused, Triple J's Hottest 100 is on again for the second time in 2025. But this time around, it has an all-Australian twist. With the annual countdown bringing all types of music fans together, this special edition is no different, and the crew at Darlinghurst favourite Taphouse are setting the tone with a stellar day-long party. Kicking off from 12pm on Saturday, July 26, the countdown will boom through the ground floor and rooftop terrace, ensuring you don't miss a track from the inaugural Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. To celebrate, Taphouse is pouring $14 Aperol spritzes and $10 schooners of Mountain Culture Status Quo (with $1 from each donated to Headspace). The venue's Cantonese-inspired menu will also be in full swing. Served across all three levels, the menu is curated by Applejack's Director of Culinary Patrick Friesen (Queen Chow, Ms.G's) and Head Chef Mulianto Mulianto. Expect nostalgic bites like prawn wontons and barbecue pork buns, alongside mains like wok-fried lobster and Mongolian lamb. With Triple J turning 50 in 2025, it feels like an appropriate time to shake up the Hottest 100. However, with voting closed, you'll have to see if your favourite tunes make the list. Will the playlist be full of classic tracks from Midnight Oil, AC/DC and Crowded House, or more recent cuts from Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett and Flume? Get down to Taphouse Darlinghurst to listen in.
2020 has been a big year for Gelato Messina in a number of different ways. To help us all while we were spending more time at home, the ice cream chain has served up plenty of tasty specials, including cookie pies, 40 of its best gelato flavours and a heap of one-off desserts. It also launched a new range of gelato bars in supermarkets, its own line of candles and a new clothing range as well. And, it came up with boozy cocktail packs that you can make at home, too. Next up: a curated present range called Gifting by Messina, which'll deliver everything from Messina condiments to ceramic bowls to your door — or to someone you love. Haven't had time to go Christmas shopping? Don't fancy the hustle and bustle of trawling the mall? These packages will let you nab something special for someone special, with five types available. If you've ever tucked into a scoop of Messina's frosty wares, savoured not just the taste but the scent and wished you could soak in the latter for longer, the dessert fiends have very good news. That aforementioned candle range is included, because it was mighty popular when it launched in collaboration with perfumed candle outfit Maison Balzac earlier this year. For $75, you'll receive two mini candles, both inspired by honey. The 'Miel d'Hiver' candle (which means 'winter honey' in French) is designed to conjure up the scent of plants pollinated by bees in winter, and features notes of smoke, thyme, lemon, cedarleaf, frankincense, nutmeg, tonka bean, palo santo and peru balsam. Or, you can opt for the 'Miel d'Ete' ('summer honey'), which combines bergamot, galbanum, hyacinth, jasmine, orris, lily of the valley and musk patchouli. The kit also comes with a jar of Rosebery Honey's signature spring nectar and a voucher for 10-percent off a booking at Messina's Creative Department restaurant. After something edible? Two packs are available, including a $24 offering with Messina's dulce de leche, choc hazelnut and waffle cone spreads. Or, you can gift someone a range of seven condiments from local chefs and restaurants beloved by the ice creamery — with a $120 kit spanning everything from Dino's hot sauce and Firedoor smoked salt to Made in Yass green tomato pickles. Rounding up the Gifting by Messina lineup is a Lucy Folk beach towel ($190), which comes with a $50 Messina voucher — and a set of two gelato cups ($150) made by Sydney ceramicist Milly Dent, as paired with two gold-plated teaspoons by designer Cristina Re and a $20 Messina voucher. The entire range comes delivered in Messina gift boxes, and is available to order from Monday, November 30. They'll also be delivered Australia-wide. Some kits are only available in limited numbers, though, including 50 candle sets, 200 batches of condiments, 50 towels and 75 bowls. Gifting by Messina opens for orders on Monday, November 30. For more information, visit the Gelato Messina website.
UPDATE, May 5, 2021: Willy's Wonderland is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. If you've ever wondered how Nicolas Cage might've fared during cinema's silent era, Willy's Wonderland has the answer. A horror film about killer animatronic restaurant mascots, it's firmly a 2021 feature. It wasn't made a century ago, before synchronised sound forever changed the movie business, so it's definitely a talkie as well. Cage doesn't do any chattering, however. He groans and growls, and often, but doesn't utter a single word. The actor's many devotees already know that he's a talent with presence; whether he's cavorting in the streets under the delusion that he's a bloodsucker in Vampire's Kiss, grinning with his locks flowing in the wind in Con Air, dousing himself with vodka and grunting in Mandy or staring at a vibrant light in Color Out of Space, he repeatedly makes an imprint without dialogue. So, the inimitable star needn't speak to command attention — which is exactly the notion that Willy's Wonderland filmmaker Kevin Lewis (The Third Nail) put to the test. First, the great and obvious news: Cage doesn't seem to put in much effort, but he's a joy to watch. Playing a man simply known as The Janitor, he glowers like he couldn't care less that furry robots are trying to kill him. He swaggers around while cleaning the titular long-abandoned Chuck E Cheese-esque establishment, dances while hitting the pinball machine on his breaks, swigs soft drink as if it's the only beverage in the world and proves mighty handy with a mop handle when it comes to dispensing with his supernaturally demonic foes. Somehow, though, he's never as OTT as he could be. Cage plays a character who doesn't deem it necessary to convey his emotions, and that results in more restraint on his part than the film demonstrates with its undeniably silly premise. Accordingly, cue the bad news: as entertaining as Cage's wordless performance is — even without completely going for broke as only he can — Willy's Wonderland is often a ridiculous yet routine slog. The Janitor finds himself locked in Willy's Wonderland in the sleepy Nevada town of Hayesville courtesy of an inconveniently placed spike strip. Driving over the device trashes his tyres, which local mechanic Jed Love (Chris Warner, Machete) can replace, but The Janitor doesn't have cash, credit isn't accepted and there's no working ATM within a handy distance. So, he's offered a deal. If he spends the night cleaning the shuttered children's eatery for owner Tex Macadoo (Ric Reitz, Finding Steve McQueen), Jed will fix his car. The Janitor agrees and gets a-scrubbing, but animatronics Willy Weasel, Arty Alligator, Cammy Chameleon, Tito Turtle, Knighty Knight, Gus Gorilla, Siren Sara and Ozzie Ostrich (no, not Ossie Ostrich from Hey Hey It's Saturday) have him in their sights. Willy's Wonderland could've opted for a stripped-back, action-heavy approach, solely focusing on Cage's clash with the critters after the movie's obligatory setup scenes. The film clearly only exists because he's in it, after all. And, the idea of seeing Cage in a John Wick-style flick that's built upon relentless fights for survival is a concept made in cinematic heaven — if Charlize Theron (in Atomic Blonde) and Bob Odenkirk (in Nobody) can do it, he can as well. But first-time screenwriter GO Parsons opts for a different template. The horror genre's fondness for offing meddling teens comes into play, and Willy's Wonderland is a worse movie for it. Hayesville high schoolers Liv (Emily Tosta, Party of Five), Chris (Kai Kadlec, Dropouts), Kathy (Caylee Cowan, Incision), Aaron (Christian Delgrosso, School Spirits), Bob (Terayle Hill, Judas and the Black Messiah) and Dan (Jonathan Mercedes, Cobra Kai) know that something isn't right at Willy's. They're aware that folks have gone missing there before, too. And, after the rest of the group helps Liv escape the handcuffs her guardian and local sheriff Eloise Lund (Beth Grant, Words on Bathroom Walls) uses to try to keep her safe, they all head to the condemned building to stop The Janitor from becoming its next victim. When it wallows in by-the-numbers slasher territory, just with homicidal puppets and not maniacal humans picking off pesky teens, Willy's Wonderland delivers the least-engaging version of its premise. That's when it resembles the video game Five Nights at Freddy's mixed with terrible sequels to 80s fare like Friday the 13th, and blandly so. Lewis and Parsons might intend to wink and nod at the decades-old pictures that started their chosen subgenre, rather than lazily ape them — as the retro animatronic designs appear to indicate — but when their film happily embraces every cliche it can, it's neither fun or funny. The flick's disposable adolescents make the usual range of stupid choices, including having sex in the doomed space, and whenever they open their mouths, they rarely do the movie any favours. Indeed, the dialogue is so thin, clunky and unconvincing that you can be forgiven for desperately wishing that, like Cage's unnamed drifter, no one in the feature spoke. It isn't hard to squander Cage's talents in a lacklustre-at-best movie, though. Lewis can take solace in the fact that plenty of directors have, and their star has let them. Of late, the actor's resume overflows with films that've only garnered attention because he's in them — see also: the tedious Jiu Jitsu and Primal in just the past two years — and Willy's Wonderland easily joins them. He's nowhere near his best here, but he's still the best thing about the picture. Jittery editing, oversaturated visuals and oh-so-much formula can't dampen his noiseless performance, although, conversely, he can't help Willy's Wonderland overcome its many struggles. 2021 has already let Cage completists see him drip profanity and wax lyrical about the origins of curse words in History of Swear Words, so perhaps this dialogue-free affair is just his way of retaining a sense of cosmic Cage balance. It's never anywhere near as goofy, wacky or out-there as it seems to think, however, and it's positively dull whenever its leading man is out of sight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5-hkHIZF4
Some of the most beautiful, intriguing and mysterious locations in Sydney, normally privy to a select few, are being unveiled again to the general public. Thanks to Sydney Living Museums, many of the city's old warehouses, disused train tunnels, office blocks, courts, old mansions and belltowers will open their doors to tour groups over one weekend in November. With a Sydney Open pass, you'll be able to go behind the scenes at the Sydney Masonic Centre, discover the Royal Bank of Australia's magnificent art collection, pay an exclusive visit to the Great Synagogue and discover another 40 plus buildings around the city. And it's not just the old buildings throwing open their doors, modern architectural marvels including the EY Centre, 333 George Street and Sydney Uni's Abercrombie Building will roll out the red carpet to wow pass holders. A new addition and must-see for this year is Carriagework's Paint Shop. Head to the heritage-listed industrial building to explore the historic suburban trains within and learn about the site's past life of manufacturing and repairing Sydney's early locomotives. Across the weekend, talks and live music will be held, and architects and experts will be on hand to discuss the history, architecture and function of select locations. Have a look at the buildings that'll be on show, select the most intriguing and book yourself a pass for a weekend of exploring our fair city.
"It's actually a western" is a fairly common call these days, directed towards everything from superhero films to horror flicks. In the case of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the comparison really sticks. In the latest biting black comedy from writer-director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths), a horrific tragedy inspires a determined crusade, as a lone hero commits to doing whatever it takes to see justice done and a small town gets caught up in the chaos. Shots are fired, in the form of controversial signs, scuffles with dentists, cursing at priests, and hurling both people and Molotov cocktails through windows. Clad in faded boilersuit rather than cowboy hat and holster, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) leads the charge. After spotting a trio of weathered billboards on the rarely used Drinkwater Road outside of the titular locale, she hires them out with the purpose of sending one hell of a message. Still mourning the death of her teenage daughter seven months earlier, and equally furious and frustrated about the lack of progress in the local police investigation, Mildred arranges for the signs to bear three statements. "Raped while dying," reads the first. "And still no arrests?", asks the second. "How come, Chief Willoughby?", pleads the third. The origins of the film's fantastic title might be immediately apparent, but the directions that Three Billboards heads in from there are far from predictable. The movie wears its rage as prominently as Mildred wears her wilt-inducing glare, while at the same time chronicling her grief with empathy and understanding. It's a delicate balance, never downplaying either her ire or her pain, and it's one that McDonagh gets just right. It also proves essential as Mildred crosses paths with other townsfolk, such as the well-respected Chief (Woody Harrelson) named on her signs, and the easily angered Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), who's known for his brutal racism more than his law-enforcement prowess. Packed with dark, hilarious, nigh-unprintable dialogue, McDonagh's script mightn't be subtle, but it is teeming with complexity — much more than some of its seemingly simplistic takes on race and gender might initially indicate. Taking his cues from gunslinging revenge tales gone by, the filmmaker crafts a complicated rumination on humanity's contradictions, including the way that the right intentions can still lead to murky outcomes, and vice versa. His storytelling approach demonstrates a similarly stark contrast in action, convincingly flitting from scathing to thoughtful to loud, foul-mouthed and attention-seeking, and back again, in an instant. From the second that McDormand's Mildred locks eyes on the billboards, there's no doubting the movie's other big standout. It's hardly surprising given the actress' track record, but it bears highlighting all the same. While Harrelson and Rockwell are in terrific form, they've got nothing on McDormand, who seems certain to pick up another Academy Award nomination more than 20 years after scoring her first playing the polar opposite type of role in Fargo. She's in total command of the movie from beginning to end, though in true western style it's the small gestures, more than the witty speeches, that really leave a lasting impression. The range that she shows — whether in a momentarily faltering gaze, an unthinking act of kindness in a confrontational situation, or a look of troubled realisation — many actors can only dream of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZ3r-84EQc
With the reopening of the Hotel Palisade, the controversial re-do of Durty Nelly's as The Village Inn, the revamp of the Bellevue Hotel, and the recent Vic on the Park-steered reno of The Lord Gladstone, the debate over great and terrible pub renovations is rife in Sydney at present. Now there's another on the table, with Petersham's White Cockatoo set to reopen as The West Village in October. Celebrated as a tried and true 'sham local with a schnitzel worth crossing the city for, the White Cockatoo is now under new ownership — ex-Drink 'n' Dine ownership. Locky Paech, former general manager of the Forresters in Surry Hills, is one of the new co-owners of the Petersham pub. Alongside business partner James Bodel, Paech has created a new Sydney hospitality group, Goodtime Hospitality. They've recruited lauded design crew Alexander and Co. for the job, renowned for such restaurant and bar fitouts as Surly's, Daniel San, The Print Room, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Morrison and the new Village Inn. Paech told Good Food the pub won't be gimmicky, so here's hoping the pub keeps some of its integrity. If you're worried about the schnitties, Paech is apparently going to keep a version of the dish that made the White Cockatoo famous in Sydney over 12 years of glory (in case you're after the real deal, the original schnitties are now being served at The Goni's Schnitzelria in Marrickville). We're not completely sold, but we'll give it a go. Paech has also recruited former Catalina chef Sam Thomson to create an original, gastropub-style menu for the West Village, with a focus on organic, ethically-produced ingredients. The West Village will open at 30 Terminus Street, Petersham, opening in October. The White Cockatoo's famous schnitzels can now be found at The Goni's Schnitzelria, 296 Marrickville Road, Marrickville. Via Good Food. Images: The White Cockatoo Hotel, Dollar Photo Club.
Even under normal circumstances, heading to the UK to see a theatre show isn't in most folks' budgets — which is why, for years now, Britain's National Theatre has beamed its performances into cinemas around the world via a series called NT Live. At the moment, with venues closed across the globe, the latter is obviously on hiatus. Enter a new initiative: National Theatre at Home. As the name makes plain, National Theatre is making its previously recorded productions available to viewers at home — so you can now get cosy on your lounge, put your feet up and pretend you're at the theatre. Shows will stream for free via NT's YouTube channel, with a different performance available each week. Each production will launch on a Friday morning, Australian and New Zealand time, then be available to stream for seven days. It all kicks off with Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden, who won a Tony Award for his performance in the production's 2012 Broadway run. Catch it from 5am AEST on Friday, April 3 (7pm UK time on Thursday, April 2). Then, head back on April 10 for Sally Cookson's stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, journey to Bryony Lavery's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island on April 17 and enjoy William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on April 24. On May 1, one of National Theatre's biggest and best shows will drop: its stripped-back version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as directed by Trainspotting and Yesterday's Danny Boyle, and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. When the production was performed live back in 2011, Cumberbatch and Miller swapped roles each night, alternating between playing Victor Frankenstein and his revived creation — and both versions are hitting the NT's YouTube Channel. After that, on May 7, comes more Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo as the fated titular couple. Then, when May 14 rolls around, viewers can check out a never-bef0re-seen archival recording of Inua Ellam's Barber Shop Chronicles. Fans of classic American plays and fantastic actors can look forward to A Streetcar Named Desire from May 21 — with none other than Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois, alongside Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby. On May 28, James Graham's This House will hit YouTube, while June 4 sees Tom Hiddleston join forces with the Bard for a performance of Coriolanus. Keep an eye on the National Theatre at Home website, too, because more productions are likely to be added afterwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh9_EdHDsV4 Top images: A Streetcar Named Desire, Johan Persson. Frankenstein, 2011, photo by Catherine Ashmore. Jane Eyre, 2015, Manuel Harlan. One Man, Two Guvnors by Bean, Author - Richard Bean, Director - Nicholas Hytner, Designer - Mark Thompson, Lighting - Mark Henderson, The National Theatre, 2011, Credit: Johan Persson. Updated May 9.
Beyond Cinema — the folks who brought the Titanic to Sydney Harbour and the mad hatter's tea party to the Botanic Gardens — are at it again. On Sunday, August 19, the crew will host its next Sydney extravaganza: an epic immersive party inspired by The Great Gatsby. And, in even better news, Tanqueray has jumped aboard, which means you'll be treated to a complimentary fresh apple martini on arrival. The over-the-top party will take place at a mansion in northern Sydney, which will be decked out in all the imagined opulence of Jay Gatsby's West Egg home. With a cocktail in hand, prepare to chat, flirt and Charleston your way around an authentic recreation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's universe, which will filled with colourful characters and soundtracked by live jazz. Wear your best crazy old thing. The party has packages available to suit an array of tastes and budgets. In the underground Speak Easy ($105), lay low among the New Jersey mob while mixing your own moonshine and snacking from food platters. In Gatsby's Dining Hall ($165), feast on roaming canapés, check out live performances and hole up in the Tanqueray central bar. There are also a bunch of fancier sit-down banquets, as well as several outdoor spaces, surrounded by stunning landscaped gardens. All packages come with wine, beer and soft drinks, but as you explore the venue (you're welcome to have a sticky beak at the other experiences), keep an eye out for Tanqueray's alfresco bars, serving up G&Ts. Baz Luhrmann's 2013 film adaptation will be screened, too — if you want to watch, you'll need to purchase a movie screening ticket on top of your package for three bucks. The only trick is getting your mitts on tickets. As you can imagine, they've been selling at top speed, but, if you're quick, you might score one of the few left over here.
While many deem February 14 a day of corporate conspiracy, grossly over-the-top displays of affection and just all-round evil, there are still some of us out there who look forward to this, the international day of lurrrve. Here are some ways to kick it a little cooler this Valentine’s Day.
When Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' enjoyed its initial sublime movie moment in Trainspotting, it soundtracked a descent into heroin's depths, including literally via the film's visual choices. For three decades since, that's been the tune's definitive on-screen use. Now drifts in Perfect Days, the Oscar-nominated Japan-set drama from German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence). This slice-of-life movie takes its name from the song. It also places the iconic David Bowie-produced classic among the tracks listened to by toilet cleaner Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho, Vivant) as he goes about his daily routine. Fond of 60s- and 70s-era music, the Tokyo native's picks say everything about his mindset, both day by day and in his zen approach to his modest existence. 'Perfect Day' and Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' each also sum up the feeling of watching this gorgeous ode to making the most of what you have, seeing beauty in the everyday and being in the moment. Not every tune that Hirayama pops into his van's tape deck — cassettes are still his format of choice — has the same type of title. Patti Smith's 'Redondo Beach', The Animals' 'The House of the Rising Sun', Otis Redding's '(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay' and The Rolling Stones' '(Walkin' Thru the) Sleepy City' also rank among his go-tos, all reflecting his mood in their own ways. If there's a wistfulness to Hirayama's music selections, it's in the manner that comes over all of us when we hark back to something that we first loved when we were younger. Perfect Days' protagonist is at peace with his life, however. Subtly layered into the film is the idea that things were once far different and more-conventionally successful, but Hirayama wasn't as content as he now is doing the rounds of the Japanese capital's public bathrooms, blasting his favourite songs between stops, eating lunch in a leafy park and photographing trees with an analogue camera. As proves accurate for most folks, the cycle that Wenders and co-screenwriter Takuma Takasaki (an advertising creative director and an author) have scripted for Perfect Days doesn't vary wildly as time elapses. While the sky is still dark, Hirayama awakens in his minimalist flat, slips into his work overalls and gets a canned caffeine fix from the vending machine outside. From there, he drives from toilet to toilet, putting out his sign to notify those passing that the commodes are getting a wash, meticulously scrubbing porcelain and wiping basins, and barely being paid any attention. His midday break brings greenery, that snap and maybe rescuing a sapling to take home to nurture. By evening, he reads William Faulkner, Patricia Highsmith and Aya Kōda. Unless it's his day off, when he turns his cleaning skills to his apartment — and does laundry, gets his photos developed, purchases new books and has dinner out — the pattern repeats. Wenders, making his best fictional feature in years and a movie every bit as magnificent as his Berlin-set 1987 masterpiece Wings of Desire, goes zen himself with his handling of Perfect Days. He's happy with cinematographer Franz Lustig (who also lensed his most-recent documentary Anselm) largely peering on documentary-style patiently and gracefully, taking in the ins and outs of Hirayama's days as serenely as Hirayama navigates them. Perfect Days spies the revealing minutiae, though, including a gesture that's extraordinary in its simplicity, ease and impact. Each morning, as black starts to turn grey in the heavens above as he departs for work, Hirayama stands on his doorstep, peeks at the weather in store, then smiles. A face merely tilting upwards has rarely felt so profoundly tender, touching and essential — and like it says everything about the most blissful way to cope with living. Yakusho won the 2023 Cannes Best Actor prize, alongside gongs from the Japanese Academy and Asian Film Awards, for his rich and majestic performance as Hirayama. The Tampopo, Shall We Dance?, Memoirs of a Geisha and Babel star isn't required to utter much, but this could easily be a dialogue-free movie — except the lyrics of all-important tunes, of course — thanks to his deeply internalised portrayal. To witness his efforts as Hirayama is to understand all that's within the character, usually behind an expression of pure dedication, tranquility or both — and regardless of whether he has assistant Takashi (Tokio Emoto, House of Ninjas) along for the ride, or the latter's girlfriend Aya (Aoi Yamada, First Love); is playing noughts and crosses with a stranger in an endearing fashion; suddenly has his niece Niko (Arisa Nakano, Anata no shiranai kowai hanashi gekijouban) for company; or is lending an ear to someone else's troubles over the quiet drinks he's sipping by the water. With such a diligently naturalistic performance at its centre, Perfect Days tells you how to view it: by soaking up every minuscule piece of this entrancing film. Wenders wants his audience taking it in as Hirayama does all that surrounds him, valuing the small details as much as the bigger picture. The next step: holding onto that feeling and perspective after the projector stops rolling. Can a drama embody mindfulness so completely that watching it leaves its viewers embracing the ups and downs of their own standard existence afterwards, reassessing what they truly want, and rethinking how they approach the full spectrum of emotions from disappointment and monotony to joy and satisfaction? In answering that, there's before Perfect Days and after Perfect Days, because this transcendent picture gives the heartiest yes possible to that question. To grasp fulfilment in your work, to treat your ears to great music and your mind to excellent reading, to clutch as much time as you can in nature, to appreciate everything around you: that's Perfect Days' prescription for perfect days. It's a recipe for an ideal movie experience, too — and how committed the feature is to mirroring what it depicts doesn't go unnoticed. Take its toilets, which are all architectural wonders around the Shibuya neighbourhood. As everyone should, and as they're crafted to inspire, Perfect Days rejoices in their design, as well as in the fact that such striking creations cater for humanity's most-basic bodily functions. They're real. Tours now take visitors between them. There's no playing tourist with what that they, Hirayama and Perfect Days represent, though — finding value, meaning and perfection in life's ebbs and flows can only be a genuine pursuit.
Redfern's much-loved sandwich haven Scout's Honour is expanding into the night as construction of their new small bar gets underway this week. The George Street cafe has recently posted cryptic Instagram posts about their next venture, Bart Jr., with poetic mention of a 'local legend' about all there is to go on. Though little detail has been released so far, we do know that Scout's Honour owner Georgia Woodyard is taking the helm in this project. Their new Pitt Street digs will be named after a notorious ginger cat named Bart, who is "known throughout the hood for impregnating all of the Redfern felines he can get his paws on". Photos of this vagabond cat have been shared through social, as has a menu teaser of ocean trout, autumn plums and almond cream, topped with Yuzukoshō and puffed barley. The menu will be a seasonal one and is still being finalised in the lead up to opening. In a few weeks @bart.jr.redfern will be opening around the corner at 92 Pitt St. We've been working on a constantly evolving seasonal menu which will include things like this guy : Ocean Trout, Autumn Plums, Almond Cream, Yuzukoshō, Puffed Barley. Follow the B A R T Jr. gram & we will keep you updated about our opening date, menu thangs & all the other news 😻 A post shared by Scout's Honour (@scouts_honour) on Apr 19, 2017 at 3:45pm PDT While they do not yet have a firm opening date, we can say that the space is under heavy construction and the team is working busily to get the bar open quickly. For now, keep an eye on this space and on the Bart Jr. Instagram for more updates. Bart Jr. will mark the third venture for the Scout's team, who opened their Paddington cafe Morris on Albion Avenue last year. BART Jr. will open soon at 92 Pitt Street, Redfern. Keep an eye on this space for updates.
Not only is yoga everywhere right now, so is that most stylish of yogi clothiers, lululemon athletica. Now the group who taught us that sports gear could also be fashionable is getting us psyched for the relaunch of their freshly renovated and revamped Bondi Junction store with a weekend of celebrations and festivities dubbed Shift Your Perspective. In the spirit of healthy living, the weekend will be kicked off at 5.30-6.15am on Saturday, June 1, at Icebergs for the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, accompanied by the spine-tingling sounds of a local opera singer. Upon arrival at Bronte, revellers will keep the blood flowing and the heart pumping with some Chai tea and a 45-minute yoga session timed to coincide with the sunrise. The whole event is complimentary and includes a healthy serving of live music and eatable freebies, so there's no excuse for not donning your favourite yoga pants and getting involved. Of course, if early mornings aren't exactly your bag, head into Bondi's new Lululemon Athletica when it opens its doors on Friday, May 31, or check in on Saturday, June 1, when you can say g'day to the awesome Kid Kenobi as he performs in-store. Visit the new lululemon athletica at L04, Shop 4015, Westfield Shopping Centre, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction.
SXSW (South by Southwest) Sydney brings together thought leaders, artists and trailblazers, fostering an environment where ideas flourish and connections are made. With a diverse lineup of events, SXSW Sydney offers something for everyone, from inspiring keynote addresses to hands-on workshops. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking investment or a creative professional looking to expand your network, this year's conference delivers sessions designed to ignite your passion and propel your career forward. We've picked out the eight must-see events from this year's Conference program you don't want to miss. Get ready to dive into a world of innovation and creativity by adding these to your diary. Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention – and How to Get Your Brain Back with Johann Hari Wednesday, October 16, 10–11am ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre New York Times best-selling author of Magic Pill and Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention, Johann Hari, joins SXSW Sydney 2024 as a Keynote Speaker. Johann Hari is a British journalist and author known for his thought-provoking work on topics such as addiction, mental health, and societal issues. He gained prominence with his books, including Chasing the Scream, which examines the war on drugs and advocates for a more compassionate approach to addiction. His TED Talks and articles often challenge conventional narratives, encouraging readers to reconsider the underlying causes of societal problems. Hari's writing combines personal anecdotes with extensive research, aiming to foster understanding and empathy. Character Customisation — Identity in Video Games Saturday, October 19, 5–6pm Fortress Sydney, Alienware Arena This engaging discussion explores the complex world of character creation in video games, highlighting how these narratives can empower underrepresented groups. This diverse panel of experts will examine the shift from traditional binary storytelling to the expansive possibilities of inclusive narratives. Dive into the challenges, successes and ethical considerations involved in representing dynamic characters in gaming, aiming to foster empathy, understanding and empowerment in virtual spaces and discover how intentional design and narrative choices can lead to richer, more authentic gaming experiences for all players. How moments create a movement with Katherine Bennell-Pegg Wednesday, October 16, 12–1pm ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre From the launch of Sputnik to man's first footsteps on the moon, the defining moments of 20th-century space exploration have each radically transformed the ways we, as a species, view our place in the universe. So, what will be the next moment that shifts humanity's perspective and urges us to move beyond? Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg will challenge you to reflect on why Australians need to get involved in the impending global space renaissance. With a background in aerospace engineering, Bennell-Pegg has been involved in various missions, focusing on scientific research and technology development. She is also an inspiring advocate for STEM education, advocating for young Australians to pursue careers in space. Innovation Showcase Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 Broaden your horizons and open your mind at Tumbalong Park. With cutting-edge tech demonstrations, unexpected performances on the Main Stage, and a visit to The Dome by The Growth Distillery, visitors can get up close and personal with the bleeding edge of next-gen tech. Highlighting advancements in rocketry, robotics, engineering, and more, this is a must-see for anyone interested in the ways technology will remake the world in the coming decades. AI as Your Next Co-Worker: Transforming Collaboration in the Future of Work with Armand Ruiz Monday, October 14, 3:45–4:45pm ICC Sydney, Cockle Bay 2 Delve into the rapidly changing role of AI in the workplace and how AI Agents are poised to transform collaboration. As AI technology advances, the future of work will include not just human colleagues, but specialised AI that enhances productivity, creativity, and decision-making. This timely discussion on the evolution of AI, the emergence of AI co-workers, and their implications for teams and organisations will feature live demonstrations to showcase real-world applications of AI. Offering insights on how these technologies will revolutionise the workplace, Armand Ruiz will draw on his experiences as an innovative entrepreneur and technology expert known for his work in digital transformation and startup development. The Inaugural Games Jam Showcase Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 This new initiative aims to showcase the limitless creativity and innovation of game developers worldwide. Over 30 days, participating teams will work around a unique theme to inspire their game development journey, pushing the boundaries of design and presenting groundbreaking concepts. Selected projects will be featured and rewarded with exclusive opportunities. More than just a competition, this event celebrates creativity, facilitates networking with industry experts, and offers a chance for recognition on a prominent stage. History of Virtual Celebrities Thursday, October 17, 5–5:30pm Fortress Sydney, Alienware Arena Teddy Dief, Co-Designer of Hyper Light Drifter and Game Director of We Are OFK, explores the evolution of virtual identity since the 1960s across television, music and games. He'll then explore the conception and creation of the virtual band OFK, discussing the design principles, techniques, and social priorities that shaped Team OFK and how they continue to operate as a band. Discover the potential and challenges of designing virtual characters and parasocial relationships while learning the right approaches, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to foster positive connections instead of causing harm. The Genomic Transformation of Medicine Venue and date: TBC Driven by significant advances in three key areas, the field of medicine is currently in the throes of a period of rapid transformation. These include recent developments in genomics, which provides high-resolution insights into the human body; data science, which analyses this data to deepen our understanding of disease; and therapeutics, which facilitates precise molecular interventions to prevent or cure illnesses. This panel discussion features leading experts from each of these domains, moderated by Sarah Murdoch, a champion of genomic medicine and child health. Joining her are genomics specialist Daniel MacArthur, DeepMind AI researcher Clare Bycroft, and stem cell therapeutics innovator Enzo Porrello. Together, they will explore the current landscape and future potential of these groundbreaking technologies, addressing critical challenges related to cost, data privacy, and equity in the genomic age. For the full SXSW 2024 Program, visit the website.
When Vivid rolls around, there aren't many square metres of the city that aren't covered in illuminated installations. But you'll have to find time in your winter schedule to sneak in a visit to the big neon playground that's popped up in Circular Quay for the festival. If Vivid lets you indulge your inner child, The Samsung Electric Playground lets you unleash it. The glowing all-ages play pen — which has popped up in First Fleet Park next to the MCA — features a range of light, sound and physical interactions for you to ogle, climb on and interact with. Inside, you'll find an interactive 'field' of 320 light poles, a reactive LED dance floor, a neon hula-hooping station and a custom-built 'sky walk' that will let you take selfies with the sweeping Vivid views. And that's not to mention the 6.5-metre-tall LED-illuminated slide that you can launch yourself down if you so desire. If it sounds like this is shamelessly made for Instagram, it is. Samsung will have a heap of its Galaxy S10s roaming around and staff will apparently be on-hand to snap pics of you interacting with the installations. Nonetheless, it sounds like it could be a fun stop on your Vivid itinerary. The brand will also set up a second studio-style installation inside the MCA, which will include Instagram workshops alongside with two custom-built interactive installations: one that creates an installation out of your heartbeat, and another creates a "kaleidoscopic experience" from the details in your eyes. Both installations will be open throughout Vivid and 100 percent free to attend. Electric Playground is open from 6–11pm daily.
The best meal of the day is the source of many an office debate. But truth be told, we all know that it's brunch. Done right, brunch combines all of a Sydneysider's favourite things: good drinks, delicious food, entertainment (yes, people-watching counts) and a top-notch setting that lets us soak up the fine Sydney weather. In fact, it sounds so good that we've decided to get in on the action. In partnership with Henkell, purveyors of quality bubbles, we're hosting our very own luxe brunch, featuring all of the above in bountiful supply. This special event is set to take place on Saturday, January 19 and, the best part is, you're invited. Upon arrival at 11am, you'll receive a welcome cocktail to sip as you wander through an inner-city oasis filled with greenery, fairy lights, candles and a doughnut wall — but more on the location later. A DJ will be on-site to keep things lively as you enjoy Henkell sparkling wine and tuck into a selection of sweet and savoury bites. Brunch towers will be scattered along the decadent tables, holding mini granola cups, cheese and seasonal fruit platters and a selection of petit fours — think earl grey tea cakes, mini strawberry and watermelon cakes and choc-raspberry brownies. Be careful not to fill up on those yummy bites though, as gourmet finger sandwiches, mini bagels and quiches and brunch sliders (bacon and egg rolls, meatball subs and felafel burgers) will also be making their way around. And let's not forget that Henkell bubbly — did we mention it'll be free-flowing? Plus, you'll get a bottle each to take home with you and a calligrapher will be there to scribe a personalised message on it for you. It's safe to say we've thought of every detail to ensure this will be a brunch to remember. But there's one thing that we're keeping to ourselves for now: the venue. Don't worry — all will be revealed soon. So, if you'd like to nab a spot for you and a mate at our luxe 'Bubbles and Brunch' event, just enter with your details below and, if you're chosen, we'll sling a text or email your way a few days before with directions. [competition]702610[/competition]
