If you've ever felt a pull to the glitz and glamour of Gatsby's famous parties, the extravagance of the roaring 20s and the cold comfort of a green light across the water, this is a cultural event you should be adding to your summer calendar. Coming to the Sydney Opera House from Saturday, December 16 is Gatsby at The Green Light. This immersive theatre experience transports you to the hottest club in town, inspired by the classic story of The Great Gatsby, in a space that intercedes the 1920s and 2020s. Bear witness to a show quite unlike anything else in town. Think escapist theatre with a healthy serving of cabaret, variety and contemporary music onstage. Performed by an impressive international cast, including local vocalist star Odette and musical director Kim Moyes who collaborated on a bold original song in the production, the talent is worthy of Gatsby's legendary parties. In terms of the seating, you can pick from two options. You can play it safe and secure a seat the usual distance from the stage or do Gatsby justice with an up-close cabaret table that includes a 1920s canape and cocktail package to complete the experience. Don your finest 20s outfit, and prepare for an evening that needs to be seen to be believed. Gatsby at The Green Light runs on select dates between Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, February 25, 2024. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website.
For this year's Art Month Sydney, Collectors’ Space has teamed with BresicWhitney to explore a new format. For the first time, four private collections will be exhibited within one unoccupied house in the inner west. The first collection belongs to Sally Dan-Cuthbert, who has spent the past 28 years in art land, having worked at The Blaxland Gallery and Christie’s auctioneers, as well as running an independent fine art consultancy. Her accumulated works include those by Janet Laurence, Susan Norrie, Bronwyn Oliver and John Firth-Smith. The second is that of Courtney Gibson, Screen NSW CEO, and owner of pieces by Joan Ross, John A. Douglas, Rosaleen Norton, Rosie Deacon and Jane Tipuamantumiri, among others. The third is being kindly lent by Danny Goldberg and the fourth is that of Jasper Knight, artist and operator of both Sydney’s Chalk Horse gallery and Singapore’s Future Perfect. Collectors' Space will be showing at 27 Australia Street, Camperdown, between 11am and 5pm, Thursday to Sunday on March 3-20.
There's a great freedom to doing Hamlet, since you know that everyone has already seen it. Or at least, everyone who's likely to see it has seen it. It means that you have real licence to get creative, knowing that audiences will be making meaning with ingredients beyond just those that appear on this one stage. Belvoir's new production of Hamlet, directed by adaptations whizz Simon Stone (Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, etc), grabs this opportunity with gusto and goes on to reach some quite unexpected highs. Shakespeare's words are preserved, but plenty is cut out, including the fairly loved characters of Horatio, the company of players, the sentries who first spy Hamlet's father's ghost and either Rosencrantz or Guildenstern (ie, there's only one amalgam of the two). And as much as these are some of the most fun characters, you know what? You don't really miss them. After all, they're only away this once. The guiding principle for Stone and his team was that the audience should not miss a single important moment because their attention was lost by some meandering verse. To this end, they've also focused on vivid characterisation, which is ultimately what makes the production so compulsively watchable and surprisingly impactful. On the one hand it's more two-dimensional; on the other, it makes clear elements of the tale that were not so apparent before. Toby Schmitz is a striking Prince of Denmark. Although his performance will be a level too intense and histrionic for some, it's also amazingly committed and completely without vanity. His pain and twisted anger are ever near the surface, and it's never more evident than in his behaviour toward Ophelia (Emily Barclay, always wonderful). Stone brings out the extent to which Hamlet's disgust at his mother, Gertrude (Robyn Nevin) — for running into the arms of his recently departed father's brother, Polonius (John Gaden) — makes him a terrible misogynist towards every woman, his dear Ophelia included. For what may be the first time, you understand how the poor lass was so utterly driven to madness. Barclay's scenes with her father, — Laertes (Greg Stone), a prattling, obsequious but loveable man — further this effect. Each one is a beautiful knockout, in its own way. Some of the bold choices in this production work; others don't. The impact of maxi-minimalist sets like this is starting to fade, surely. Like a great dessert at the finale of a meal, however, the clincher for this production of Hamlet is the ending, which ensured I'd be thinking mainly of its sweet conjurations all the way home. It's very powerful stuff. This may not be the definitive Hamlet, but it's a daring, emotive and impressive one. And you know which is the more interesting to watch. From November 19, Ewen Leslie will replace Toby Schmitz in the role of Hamlet due to scheduling conflicts. Full information at the Belvoir website.
If your blood's boiling over human rights abuses, inequality or environmental destruction, there's never been a better time to let the world know. As of yesterday, your activism can not only help the cause, it can also get you access to free concert tickets. That's because Danny Rogers has launched Global Citizen Tickets Australia. Even if you don't know Danny Rogers by name, chances are you probably like him already. Or like what's he done. His achievements include co-founding both St Jerome's Laneway Festival and And Publishing and managing Gotye. Here's how it works. You choose a cause and get active online. You might give time, donate money, write letters, sign petitions, start protests or spread the word via social media. Every action earns points and, once they've accumulated, you submit an entry to win a pair of tickets. An array of bands has signed up, including big names like Bruce Springsteen, Cold Chisel and Pearl Jam, and medium-sized names such as DD Dumbo, Tigertown and Asta. "More and more people are coming on every day," Rogers told themusic.com.au. "Bernard Fanning reached out to Hugh [Evans, Global Poverty Project CEO] about a month ago, putting his hand up to be an ambassador. But it’s not really about how big you are, the idea is that anyone can be a part of it ... I think it’s got such a great message and it’s also a really positive way for the music industry to work together on something.” Via themusic.com.au.
Sydney's Inner West is brimming with breweries. From well-known watering holes like Young Henrys in Newtown to newer brewers like Marrickville's MixTape, there's no shortage of places to sample excellent drinks in this buzzy neighbourhood. Choosing a brewery is one thing, but actually knowing what to order once you get there is a whole other challenge — and that's where we come in. To help make the daunting decision of what to sip a little easier, we've done the thinking (and the drinking) for you. Read on to find out our favourites before you hit the hops on your next DIY brewery crawl.
Over the past decade or so, Orange has become recognised as one of Australia's finest culinary regions. And, for one special weekend this winter, Orange Winter Fire Festival will have the town bursting with great food, drink and cultural events, all with a wintry flavour. The festival will capitalise on the town's winemaking status as some of the best local drops are showcased at events inspired by classic Australiana images, such as crackling bonfires and chargrilled feasts. Held across the weekend of July 31–August 1, the festival kicks off on Friday with a smoke and fire dinner at Philip Shaw Wines and a premiere of Inferno, a docudrama about frontline firefighters, at the Printhie Apple Packing Shed. The fiery festival continues with hot cocktails by firepits at the Oriana Hotel and a stargazing session that focuses on First Nations peoples' knowledge and stories of the skies. With wine tasting sessions and sing-alongs, plus so much more taking place over the festival, a road trip to the Orange Winter Fire Festival would make for a pretty perfect winter weekend. Of course, with some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it won't be exactly like previous iterations of the festival. As well as in person events, the festival with include a virtual program called Very Local, which you can enjoy from the comfort of your couch from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 16.
No matter what our television screens told us about the 21st century, it looks like we probably won't gain access to hoverboards, robot maids or teleporting stargates any time soon. Sorry guys. However, recent news from the US may offset every other sci-fi-based hope that has been dashed by the underwhelming reality of 2013. NASA has just announced that it is dropping US$125,000 on the development of a 3D food printer. Yes, you heard right, a sort of inkjet for pizza. And they're actually starting with pizza. The 'universal food synthesiser' will be designed by mechanical engineer Anjan Contractor (who has already constructed a chocolate printer, the likes of which you can play with at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum event Eat the Collection) and turn powder into a three-tiered space-age Italian snack. While it may not exactly rival your local woodfired joint, the advantages of this technology could have galactic consequences. First, because powder has a longer shelf-life than organic food (it can last for decades), astronauts will be able to survive epic interplanetary voyages. The 15-year journey to Mars, for example, would be much more bearable with some powder and a printer than it would be with stale Weet-Bix and rock-hard peanut butter. But the designer of the universal food synthesiser has even higher hopes for his machine that could have an impact right here on Earth. Contractor imagines a world where every kitchen contains a 3D food printer stocked with nutritious meals bought cheaply from the local grocery store. A future where powder enables the full flourishing of human life. Indeed, he believes that the synthesiser could end world hunger. It's crazy that TV never told us about that. Via Quartz.
Sounds like a branding exercise, but there really is a brand new vegetable on the block; a teeny tiny new development dubbed lollipop kale, currently under development in Australia, the UK and US right now. And it's possibly the most adorable thing we've seen in many a day — even if it's almost a Brussels sprout. Lollipop kale is indeed a thing — one gaining predictable popularity in the US, UK and now, South Australia and Victoria. Developed as a hybrid by British company Tozer Seeds, lollipop kale is now known as kale sprout (boring) in Australia and kalette (better) in the US. A form of cross-breeding between kale and Brussels sprouts (so you'll actually eat 'em), lollipop kale is currently being developed by a cluey South Australian grower. Adelaide Hills grower Scott Samwell, of Eastbook Farms in Mount Barker, has been upping the ante on his lollipop kale plantings over the last two years. Samwell told the ABC the lollipop kale grows sort of like a Brussels sprout — tiny bunches growing from a central stem, growing to around a metre tall. Apparently the new veggie has been getting good reviews in South Australian and Victorian markets, where the mini-kale has been available. "Everyone we've spoken to who has tried it, especially in the local area, are very keen on it." he told ABC. "It's a different tasting product, compared to green Brussels sprouts, because it's a bit sweeter." According to Grub Street, lollipop kale was the centre of mere whisperings in the food community — and wholly doubted and denied by chefs. GS's Hugh Merwin described it as the Bigfoot of the vegetable world — appearing in fruit exchanges around America and then suddenly becoming unattainable. But now it's here, ready for 'hipster' brandings and total hater ridicule. Being so teeny tiny, lollipop kale is primed for the home roasting — more bite-sized and considerably more adorable than your regular freaky kale chips. Right now, however, growing lollipop kale at home is pretty expensive — GS noted that online vegetable message boards (an actual Thing) criticised the high cost of the seeds; $11 for 40 seeds. So expect to see higher prices on Australian menus for the bite-sized little blighters. Lollipop kale will supposedly be available on the Australian market this year. Via ABC and Grub Street. Image: Hugh Merwin, Grub Street.
While a lot of people are wondering about the future of journalism in general, some people are thinking about the future of just the magazine in particular. Craig Mod, once part of the team behind slick, newsreading app Flipboard, coined the genre name of a new kind of small magazine: "Subcompact Publishing". It's an interesting new form that's getting played over in the States, especially on the iPad, and most notably by the Weekend Companion of pioneeringly-profitable blog the Awl, the Atlantic Weekly and — inspiration for Mod's original manifesto — the Magazine. Now Australian publication the Lifted Brow is throwing its hat in the subcompact ring, one of the first publications to try it over here. Though not the first, as it turns out. The Brow is a literary mag — originally with a strong McSweeney's influence — that grew up amongst a bunch of Brisbane writing students in 2007 and now runs big name, international authors alongside local Australian talent. Now based in Melbourne, they've got a back catalogue that includes literary wunderkind David Foster Wallace, Aussie comics star Eddie Campbell and sex advice from Benjamin Law. And his mum. It's big. To say, as a reader, that each issue can be hard to finish isn't exactly a flaw: it's just that they each have so much stuff in them. Because, First World Problems Craig Mod's idea of the subcompact magazine is kind of the opposite aesthetic to the Brow's all-inclusive, physical incarnation. It describes a world of smaller digital publications that eschew the idea of replicating print's design, size and digital slowness. Following his style lets you avoid a few first world problems. Downloads, for a start. A single issue of Wired on the iPad, say, can weigh in at just over 600 megabytes. A month or so of mobile phone data for some people. Subcompact-only the Magazine, by contrast, can go from pressing download in the the app, to reading its trial issue's opening story about roller derby, in about 18 seconds. One of these small magazines will typically have just a few articles, so it's much easier to get your head around the range of stuff in it. These, and other, small usability problems addressed by the subcompact format seem really do seem like first world issues. But we read magazines for fun. It's nice not to have to kill yourself to enjoy reading one. Ease and comprehension are good things. Less is More Mod saw the rise of small, mostly iPad-based magazines through the historical metaphor of Honda's development of subcompact cars. In his telling, Honda's cars weren't as big or feature-heavy as the big US cars they were competing with. But they were good enough, efficient enough, nimble and cheap. He suggests that the magazines of this new digital world should take a similar approach. An important word here is closure. The idea of internet addiction, with accompanying thoughts of switching off and the "digital sabbath", is a bit of a rising meme. Closure isn't a thing that you run into too often online. I mean, how often do you get to the end of the internet? A lot of sites are easy to browse, but hard to finish. Think Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook. Design = Journalism Australian immigration detention monitor, Detention Logs had already got its subcompact on before the Lifted Brow hit the app store. It uses freedom of information requests to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to gather and publish records of incidents at immigration detention centres. They have over 7000 of these records up so far, each incident encapsulated into its own tiny and individual webpage. On their Principles page they specifically single out Mod's Subcompact Publishing Manifesto alongside their other ethical and design considerations. For them, this nimble and lightweight form seems to actually be a kind of journalistic muscle. "Small parts loosely joined" is how Detention Logs co-founder Luke Bacon describes it. He adds that using selections from Mod's manifesto publishing model is, essentially, a case of reporting form following function. "The form in which we received this information from DIAC could be seen as the opposite [of an appropriate and useful format]: one enormous, inaccessible PDF file, poorly labeled and thoroughly redacted. Transforming this complex information into easy to access and understand chunks is an act of design and journalism." Why Change What Now? So will "easy to access" work for the Brow? The new Lifted Brow iOS app is pretty slick. It's published by 29th Street Publishing, who put together minimalist iPad periodicals like Maura Magazine, the Awl's Weekend Companion and free, investigative subcompact ProPublica. The Brow is voluminous and dense in a way that 29th Street's publications are not. By going subcompact, the Brow is using the format both to boost, and cut through, their print legacy. They have a strong bench. Their all-star back catalogue of local and overseas writers sold the idea to 29th Street, according to Brow Digital Director Elmo Keep. "It has a great mix: a very strong roster of international writers, and an amazing cadre of Australian writers, so it was a perfect way for both 29th Street to reach outside the US and for the Brow to reach outside Australia." This small format makes that reach easy. Every fortnight, in a small, digestible format, you'll get the chance to catch up with new work, and their back catalogue. "It's going to be a mix of sort of teaser content from upcoming issues with reprinting stuff from the archives which a lot of people only joining us now could have missed." It will be a finite amount of short articles bimonthly, distributed via Apple's Newsstand service. There's a free trial, but the model banks on you being interested in subscribing. (Old issues will remain, if you unsubscribe.) Pixels Make It Better It's low maintainance. And that's no mistake. "There's so much opportunity to do things on digital that would be not be so cost effective to do in print," says Keep. She feels like a lot of the hard work has been done for her already. "I just move some things around in a content management system, and TA DA. (Not really, but kind of.)" The plan is to split the money the digital version makes between the writers and 29th Street. "There isn't a huge amount of money to be had by anyone in this entire transaction, so we want there to be ways for writers to make money beyond what we can pay them initially [in print]." In an age where it's easy to be asked to write for free the Brow prizes paying its contributors. PLEASE BUY OUR MAGAZINE So the Brow's writers will get a little more money, the Brow finally gets a wider audience ("realistically, there will only ever be so many printed copies that can be produced") and the public gets a newer gobbet of casual reading. (29th Street's Creative Designer, Tim Moore, compares the subcompact style to a cheap Pengiun paperback.) It all seems like a pretty good deal. And, on the iPad, an Aussie first. But these new digital steps aren't necessarily part of a war between online minimalism and print. "There will always be the magazine, in its dense and intense full-page glory," says Keep. "PLEASE BUY OUR MAGAZINE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME." Photo of Honda N360 by Tennen-Gas, Looking for Loretta artwork by Total Bore. Revised myth of superman artwork by Colin Panetta. Update: Luke Bacon's full email response, quoted in part for this article, is worth reading. It's up now at his blog Equivalent Ideas.
Be honest: have you actually read any of those books mouldering on your shelf? Are you even half the erudite, Dickens-toting literatus you claim to be? Are you in truth a filthy commoner? Or is it a simple matter of not being able to access your tomes, because they are stacked so poorly? If so, Chris Cush of Brooklyn-based Cush Design Studio has the answer for you: the wall-mounted Balance Bookshelf, a shelf system that literally weighs the books you've read against those you're yet to read. Cue book face-off, as you compete against yourself in the ultimate quest for knowledge. The two shelves in Cush’s design take five to ten average-sized books, so you can swap them out to the already-read side as you finish them, and balance the read side with all the novels and biographies you’re excited to get into. It’s a visually pleasing and practical innovation that could just save your intellectual reputation, as well as encourage you to keep expanding your literary repertoire. Methinks having a public display of your reading life would also encourage you to plan ahead, look out for new books and generally include reading more in your daily life. Books are, after all, such a miraculous thing. They put the collective experience of human culture at our fingertips. On my unread shelf would be: Gravity's Rainbow, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and A Confederacy of Dunces. On the just-read shelf: Play the Harmonica for Fun and Profit. Combining the clean, simple elements of pine wood platters, black twine and black steel pipe fittings (the red version is also very fetching and contemporary), Cush’s design is something to prettify and add interest to your lacklustre apartment walls. Etsy has all the deets for how you can score this baby for your digs, and be sure to check out his other minimalist interior design offerings. Soon you'll be inspired to host a literati party, and inevitably, your fancypants guests will catch sight of this wonder of storage, and have all their elaborate linguistic skills reduced to but a single lexeme: Ermahgerd. Via PSFK
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, in your cosy bed in your warm, above-ground room, and thought “There’s really not enough human remains in here. I wish I could take this doze underground to the world’s largest grave”? Macabre napper, you're in luck. Airbnb is running a competition to win a romantic night for two, deep in the catacombs of Paris. Yes the catacombs, which are currently the resting place for 6 million skeletons and presumably their angry, angry ghosts. This cosy little corner of death could be your own little getaway on the spookiest night of the year: October 31, Halloween. Airbnb are flying the winners out to Paris and putting them up for a night in the ‘combs. They’ve confirmed there will be a real mattress, so no bedding down amongst various femurs. The prize also includes dinner with a private concert, a catacombs tour, and a spooky storyteller to really lend the whole ‘night in a tomb with walls made of the dead’ experience some chilling ambiance. Next morning, you will become the only living person ever to wake up in the Paris catacombs (allegedly). Tres bien. Airbnb have reportedly paid $450,000 to rent the tunnels for the night, which kinda checks out — the tunnels are, of course, a huge tourist attraction with lines for entry frequently around the block. This isn't the first time Airbnb has tried to scare your pants clean off, between this terrifying stay at the end of a ski jump, or this luxurious, perilous night you could have spent dangling at 9000ft in a cable car. The scariest part of this particular Airbnb stay though? The listing doesn’t have internet access. OooOOooOOooOO. Enter the contest here.
Sick of searching for that one last kebab joint on your weekend walks home? Say hello to our city's new food trucks, ten mobile restaurants which will deliver snacks to the streets of Sydney. The ten trucks will offer a diverse range of gourmet tastes for patrons, with everything from tacos to steamed dumplings. Furthermore, there will even be a take on modern Australian cuisine from Stuart McGill, former sous chef at the globally acclaimed restaurant Tetsuya's. Vegetarians will also be pleased with one truck, Veggie Patch, that will serve up veggie burgers and veggie chips, while the truck itself runs on vegetable oil and proudly displays a herb garden on its roof. City of Sydney's Late Night Economy Manager, Suzie Matthews, says that the trucks will serve food "at random places and at random times." There will also be the development of an online app, as well as social media pages to let people know when and where the trucks will be appearing. Food trucks applicants to took their ideas to the City of Sydney last year, where they underwent a Masterchef-esque testing process that included a one hour cook-off. They also presented their business plans and backgrounds, and ten successful applicants were eventually chosen. This is one government initiative that all Sydneysiders will welcome with open arms and open mouths. Stop salivating and check out the video below for a sneak preview, with the real trucks expected to arrive in the next few weeks. The ten new Sydney food trucks are: • Agape • Al Carbon • Bite Sized Delights • Burger Theory • Cantina Mobil • Eat Art Truck • Let's Do Yum Cha • Taco Truck • Tsuru • Veggie Patch https://youtube.com/watch?v=jwuhf9J6lHs
You've found it! The perfect gift. You go to hit 'add to cart' and then you see it — a Christmas shipping deadline date that has long since sailed past you, leaving only that sinking feeling of losing something that was never yours. But there's an easy way to avoid that mini tragedy: shop local, and shop good old-fashioned bricks and mortar. The unique gifts right here at home are sure to please even the most difficult, seen-it-all giftees. For more great Sydney stores, check out our shops directory. STERLING BY GAFFA GALLERY Focusing a bunch of contemporary Australian and New Zealand artists and designers into one space, Sterling, the Gaffa Gallery retail store, offers unique jewellery pieces and objets d’art as well as giving you a bit of insight into how they were made. Each piece is handcrafted and gives your loved one a chance to wear a little piece of art everyday. Or, if you’re more interested in giving experiences rather than objects, why not invest in a seven-week jewellery-making course for that special someone? Pop next door and you’ll find Kakawa, the mouth-watering chocolate boutique, for chocolate Christmas decorations. Can’t lose. 281 Clarence St, Sydney PUBLISHED ART BOOKSHOPS Basically the hub of all coffee table books, Published Art stocks everything and more on art, design, photography and architecture. You’re unlikely to just stumble into this stuff anywhere else. Every book on the shelf goes through a careful screening process, each being hand-picked and directly sourced by the store manager, Rebekah Lawson. Expect to find titles such as Henri Cartier-Bresson: Here and Now housed alongside children’s books of full-colour Pinocchio illustrations. Prices won’t break the bank either; most items can be bought for under $100. Level 1, 52 Reservoir St, Surry Hills MITCHELL ROAD ANTIQUE AND DESIGN CENTRE This graffiti-clad emporium is what you’d if you crammed together a year of Saturday garage sales, binned the dud items, and arranged the gems in one enormous warehouse in Alexandria. There are over 60 different stalls within the Centre’s walls, stocking all the vintage, industrial and retro furniture, knick-knackery and ephemera you’ve ever fantasised about, with a range from Victoriana through to 20th-century design. Searching for something specific? Use their ‘wish list’ feature to have the Centre’s dealers try to hunt it down for you. 17 Bourke Rd, Alexandria KAKAWA CHOCOLATES You can’t go wrong with chocolate. You just can’t. Kakawa, the gluten-free chocolatiers, make chocolate masterpieces with only natural ingredients and have a whole heap of goodies just for Christmas. Get your hands on a Christmas tree decoration, a chocolate Bambi along with a forest of chocolate Christmas trees for him to frolic in, or go all out and splurge on a ‘ginger breadless house’ made entirely out of chocolate (hold the gingerbread). And for the especially cool character in your family, a chocolate cigar is all they’ll need at the end of a big Christmas lunch. 5/147 William St, Darlinghurst BERKELOUW BOOKS There are a few Berkelouw stores and we like them all, but if we had to pick our favourite it would have to be the landmark Berkelouw Books on Oxford Street. Three storeys of new, second-hand and rare books complete with a cosy cafe and wine bar. The super helpful staff will only bother you if they have a better recommendation than what you’ve got open, and the selection of knick-knacks, stationery and vaguely literary novelties is as good as at any gift shop. 19 Oxford St, Paddington REPRESSED RECORDS If you’ve got a loved one who’s losing all their funds supporting the local Sydney music scene and buying the latest LP from the newest punk/alt act, why not help them out this Christmas by getting something they actually want — a gift or voucher from Repressed Records. The guys at Repressed are champions of Australian independent music and always have something amazing in stock they can’t wait to get you listening to. Introduce your mate to their new favourite band or get them a voucher and help feed the habit. DINOSAUR DESIGNS Instantly recognisable in their freeform design and luminescent colours, Dinosaur Designs has become somewhat of a household name when it comes to homewares and jewellery. So when it’s time for Christmas gift shopping, they’re always the kind of place you can rely upon. Each of their items – necklaces, bangles, bowls, jars, vases – are meticulously handcrafted from coloured resin so not one object is ever the same as another. 339 Oxford Street, Paddington SORRY THANKS I LOVE YOU Sorry Thanks I Love You is a deftly curated online stores of handmade accessories, homewares, gourmet foods, fresh flowers from boutique florists and craft beverages sourced from around the world. And now you can see and try out all these goodies for yourself at Sorry Thanks I Love You’s pop-up store in Martin Place, open right up until Christmas. The store will feature tons of products, including knives carved from Scandinavian reindeer antler, hand-woven Kashmiri scarves, wheels of Bruny Island cheese and premium single malt whisky distilled in highland Tasmania, which you can taste test in the store. Sorry Thanks I Love You Pop-Up, Shop 2, Ground Floor, GPO Building, 1 Martin Place, Sydney THE SOCIAL OUTFIT Make the gift you give really mean something by buying it from The Social Outfit, where each purchase means you're supporting hyperlocal industry (the main product line is made right there in the store) and helping welcome new migrants into the community (through training and employment in the organisation). This isn't the Oxfam Shop, though we love them too; the fashion and accessories here have a contemporary Australian aesthetic that would be at home in any Paddington boutique. Check out the donated prints from the likes of Ken Done and Dragstar. 353 King St, Newtown THE GROUNDS OF ALEXANDRIA The Grounds of Alexandria is not strictly a shop, but it's also so many things that it's not not a shop. And there's only one gift you need from the massive cafe and mini city farm this year: their Santa Sack, aka the hamper to end all hampers. Filled with goodies like homemade jam in paint tubes, tins of 'Farm Friends' cookies, Egyptian ice tea and indulgent black truffle salt, they're priced at a very reasonable $120. If you need yet more foodie gifts after that, just head next door to Salt Meats Cheese. Building 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria Find more unique gifts by browsing our shops directory. By the Concrete Playground team.
Waking up and hearing the rain cascade over your roof, drizzle down your windows and water your plants sounds like heaven to most of us. To the cyclists among us, on the other hand, maybe not so much. Riding in the rain isn't the most desirable (or safe) way of getting to work, but for some it's the only way. So various bike umbrellas have been developed over the years (including this shocker), but here's one that might actually work. LEAFXPRO is a brand new leaf-style umbrella for your bike, looking for funding on Kickstarter. Designed with aerodynamics and ergonomics in mind, the windscreen-shaped umbrella hopes to keep you nice and dry on your way to work.You can even pick the colour from 'storm colours' to 'advanced colours'. Yep, deep breaths. The LEAFXPRO aerodynamics work to pull the water away from your body as you ride, and can be installed on any bike. We're a little worried about the visibility factor with that frontal shield, but we'd have to take it for a test run to make the call. And from the looks of the promo video, you'll need to unclip from the umbrella when you're locking up your bike — so you might get pretty wet anyway. Available for pre-order on Kickstarter, the umbrellas are going for about £99 — about $195AUD, pretty steep stuff when you add shipping. But with the amount you're likely to drop on Uber every time in rains, it might pay for itself. Maybe. Via Cycling Weekly.
Lock up your children: the Sanderson sisters are back and they're wreaking havoc again, as this witchy trio are known to. Twenty-nine years after Hocus Pocus first cast a spell on audiences, the beloved flick is getting a sequel — arriving on Disney+ this month, on Friday, September 30, and with a new full trailer to prove it. The latest sneak peak at Hocus Pocus 2 follows an initial teaser back in June, and the results are the same: more witchy mayhem as originally seen in 1993; more Bette Midler (The Addams Family 2), Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That...) and Kathy Najimy (Music) getting spooky; and oh-so-much nostalgia this time, of course. In this second effort, Winnie, Sarah and Mary Sanderson are unleashed in modern-day Salem again, and things naturally get chaotic. As the trailers show, the magical siblings make a reappearance thanks to a different threesome — a trio of teenage pals who, early in the initial trailer, are told that "it's on the 16th birthday that a witch gets her powers". Cue a black cat, a book of spells, chanting in a graveyard and big The Craft vibes. Soon, cue Winnie, Sarah and Mary as well. Story-wise, Hocus Pocus 2 naturally follows what happens next, as the Sandersons try to unleash their child-eating ways — and the high schoolers who conjured them up attempt to stop them before dawn on All Hallow's Eve. It's been 29 years since someone last lit the black flame candle which resurrects the 17th-century sisters in the movie's world, just as it has in our own, and the witches aren't happy about it. That said, in this new sneak peek, the Sandersons also get an origin story. So if you've always wanted to know more about the sisters, here's your chance — and Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham factors into it. Hocus Pocus 2 also features Sam Richardson (The Afterparty), Doug Jones (The Shape of Water), Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl), Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Stories), Lilia Buckingham (Dirt), Froyan Gutierrez (Teen Wolf) and Tony Hale (Veep). While the original film was directed by Kenny Ortega — before the filmmaker gave the world the High School Musical movies — this one has Dumplin', Hot Pursuit and The Proposal's Anne Fletcher behind the lens. And yes, the Mouse House's streaming platform sure does love dropping seasonal-themed movies at the appropriate times. Here's hoping this one turns out better than last year's Christmas-focused Home Sweet Home Alone, though, when it hits the platform just before the scariest month of the year. Check out the full trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 below: Hocus Pocus 2 will be available to stream via Disney+ on Friday, September 30. Images: Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Having quite literally broken the internet within 24 hours of landing — thanks to an Australian designer dress and a baby announcement — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) are now deep into their Antipodean adventures. During the royals' 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, they're getting up to all kinds of shenanigans — from meeting koalas at Taronga Zoo to visiting socially conscious cafes in Melbourne to hopping over to picturesque Fraser Island. Even if you don't live according to a royal budget, the royal itinerary is a handy guide for showing first-time visitors around Australia. Here's the nitty-gritty of the itinerary, with a few extra suggestions from the Concrete Playground team thrown in for good measure. Don't worry, it's nice and accessible for us mere plebs. ROYALS IN SYDNEY After meeting the Governor-General, the royals' first port of call was Taronga Zoo, where they met their koala namesakes — two ten-month-old joeys, which were wedding gifts from the people of NSW — among other unique Aussie fauna. Harry asked if the koala was a "drop bear" — and we're really glad to see that local legend has made it all the way to the monarchy. For your visit, we recommend adding an adrenalin rush with the Wild Ropes course followed by a snooze among wildlife at Roar and Snore. From there, take a brief ferry ride to Circular Quay, to see a show at the Opera House. The royals couple sat in on Bangarra Dance Theatre's rehearsal of Spirit 2018, but you can choose from a multitude of other performances and live music events. After a few days in other states, Harry and Meghan returned back to Sydney and made tracks to Bondi Beach. The couple spent time in an "anti-bad vibes circle", met local surfers and talked about mental health with OneWave. The non-profit group meets weekly on a heap of different beaches, if you want to get involved. https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1053065957571092481 To channel those good vibes on your trip, we suggest you swing by one of Bondi's vegan-friendly cafes or treat yourself to some natural wine at Bondi Hall. Alternatively, make tracks to the Harbour Bridge — where later today Meghan and Harry will tackle the famous BridgeClimb (which has just relaunched with new owners) with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Don't mess it up, ScoMo. Or, head to Cockatoo Island, where the duo will head to attend an event at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Terrifying ghost tours take place after dark, if you're looking for a something a little extra spooky to do. ROYALS IN MELBOURNE The couple's Melbourne escapades included a stop by South Melbourne beach — of course, it was overcast — and a cooking class at social enterprise restaurant Charcoal Lane. The forward-thinking eatery is also covered in colourful murals paying homage to the area's Indigenous identity. You can see the royals checking it out here: https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1052823771910832128 If you're keen to mirror this socially conscious agenda, Melbourne has added several new cafes to its already impressive collection this year — including a throng of social enterprise cafes from Kinfolk, where 100 percent of profits go to charity, to Wild Timor Coffee Co., where the coffee is bought directly from Timorese farmers, at fair prices. On the shores of Port Phillip Bay, Meghan and Harry learnt all about how to keep Melbourne's beaches and waterways clean, from both school students and grown-up volunteers. If you've been thinking about lending an eco-friendly hand, get in touch with Earthcare St Kilda. ROYAL ISLAND HOPPING With 8,222 Australian islands to choose from, there's no shortage of inspiration when it comes to island hopping. The royals have their sights set on the biggest sand island in the world, the legendary Fraser Island, whose magnificent giant dunes shimmer in 72 colours. It's a shame the two don't have more time on their hands, to embark on the epic, eight-day Great Walk, which visits many of Fraser's 100 freshwater lakes. If you've been contemplating an island hop of your own, check out this handpicked selection of paradises. [caption id="attachment_681271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed.[/caption] ROYALS GO REGIONAL As magnetic as Australia's major cities and beautiful coastline are, no visit Down Under is complete without a trip inland. Meghan and Harry also stopped by Dubbo, which is perched on the Macquarie River, 300 kilometres northwest of Sydney, to meet drought-stricken farmers and host a community picnic. We suggest returning by car, to explore some of the Central West's other friendly country towns. There's Parkes, home to The Dish and the annual Elvis Festival; Orange, where you can hike to the summit of Mount Canobolas and go truffle hunting at Borrodell Vineyard (in between tasting scores of wines); and Bathurst, for an innovative regional art gallery and woodfired pizza inside a candle-lit former church schoolhouse. Meanwhile, in Victoria, regional adventures should definitely include a journey along the Silo Art Trail, a 200-kilometre road trip through Australia's biggest outdoor art gallery. Top image: Sydney Opera House, Hamilton Lund
The steely gaze and warrior-like stance of Kristen Visbal's legendary bronze statue Fearless Girl have made their home in our own Federation Square. Erected in time for International Women's Day on Friday, March 8, the work is a limited-edition reproduction of the famous sculpture, which was first installed facing off against Arturo Di Modica's Charging Bull in New York's Wall Street. The statue depicts a small girl, with hands on hips and chin in the air, looking boldly into the distance. First commissioned by investment company State Street Global Advisors and appearing on International Women's Day in 2017, she's since become a symbol for female leadership and gender diversity in the workplace — although, not without some criticism. Many, including Di Modica himself, called the statue as a 'publicity stunt' created by a company that itself only had a small number of female executives. The statue was, late last year, relocated to a spot across from the New York Stock Exchange. https://twitter.com/StateStreetGA/status/1072588598388633602 One of just four in the world, our Fearless Girl — commissioned by law firm Maurice Blackburn and superannuation funds Hesta and CBUS — will make her home in Fed Square for the next three years, in an effort to inspire conversations about gender rights and equality. Aside from New York, the only cities to have played host to one of the statues are Oslo and Cape Town. Find 'Fearless Girl' at Federation Square until March 2022.
Get excited, festivalgoers: Pitch Music & Arts is returning to Grampian Plains in 2025, complete with a jam-packed roster of talent. Joy Orbison, Honey Dijon, Funk Tribu, 2manydjs: they're all on the bill. So are Daria Kolosova, SPFDJ, 999999999, Shanti Celeste, FJAAK, Lady Shaka and Job Jobse, with the list going on from there. Everyone should make the trip to the Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of the much-loved camping festival, which will host its eighth edition, taking over Moyston again. Next years' festivities are happening from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, as always, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, no matter who makes it onto the bill, attendees are in for a very big, very busy four days. Joy Orbison's 'flight fm' and 'better' were used in teaser videos for 2025's fest, which was indeed a huge advance lineup hint. You can also look forward to catching Gabber Eleganza, BASHKKA, Funk Assault, Baraka, ISAbella, Ogazón, southstar, Midland, Dax J, Anetha and plenty more, including Osmosis Jones, Moopie, DJ PGZ, Stev Zar, Jennifer Loveless and Mabel. On the Pitch Music & Arts arts lineup: Adnate, Anatolik Belikov, Ash Keating, Builders Club, Clayton Blake, EJ Son, ENOKi, Georgia Treloar, Henry Howson & Ambrose Zacharakis, Jaqui Munoz, Joan Sandoval, Lukas Rafik Mayer, ØFFËRÎNGŠ (aka Melissa Gilbert), Petra Péterffy, Rachel Lyn & Cameron Trafford, Raquel Villa, Reelize Studio, Sam Hayes, TERRAIN, Tetrik and UnitePlayPerform. In between all of the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers will again be able to make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. The local-focused Club Serra will be new in 2025, championing homegrown talent. Pitch Music & Arts 2025 Lineup 2 LUBLY 2manydjs (DJ set) 6 SENSE 999999999 Anetha Audrey Danza BADSISTA Baraka (LIVE) BASHKKA D. Tiffany Daria Kolosova b2b SPFDJ Dax J Diffrent DJ Fuckoff DJ Gigola DJ Paulette DJ PGZ b2b Moopie Ed Kent Ela Minus Elli Acula Fadi Mohem FJAAK (LIVE) Funk Assault Funk Tribu Gabber Eleganza presents the Hakke Show GiGi FM Guy Contact Honey Dijon ISAbella Jennifer Loveless Job Jobse Joy Orbison Kasper Marott Kia Kuzco (LIVE) Lacchesi Lady Shaka Leo Pol Maara Mabel Maruwa Mia Koden Midland Mikalah Watego Miley Serious Naycab Ned Bennett Objekt Ogazón Ollie Lishman Osmosis Jones Pablo Bozzi Pegassi Shanti Celeste southstar Stev Zar Sugar Free Surf 2 Glory Taylah Elaine The Illustrious Blacks Trym VOLVOX Y U QT Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates, Max Roux and Ashlea Caygill.
Meet the Makers Festival is a month-long celebration of creativity, craftsmanship and culinary excellence on NSW's South Coast. Returning for its second edition in September, the jam-packed event will take over Milton with unique experiences designed to bring people closer to the talented makers who make artisan goods a reality. Running from Saturday, September 6—Sunday, September 28, visitors will encounter 30 fascinating experiences, with each showcasing the region's vibrant community of makers. Think immersive workshops, exclusive dining adventures, inventive exhibitions, gastronomic tutorials and more. While the full program is still to be revealed, a selection of highlights is bound to get you in the mood. For instance, enchanting garden-to-plate cafe Milk HAUS will join forces with a host of its friends to present an intimate Dinner with Dangerous at the iconic Milton Hotel. At Cupitt's Estate, guests are invited to a hands-on blending workshop, where you'll have the chance to craft your own signature wine. Meet the Makers Festival also presents plenty of opportunities to indulge your creative side. Allow yourself to get absorbed in a floral and art workshop by FRED Flowers, or head to Motion Ceramics to see if you've got the magic touch when it comes to shaping pottery. Then, pop over to Delicious Vibrant Beauty to create natural skincare products. While there's no shortage of incredible dining throughout regional NSW, Milton has become a thriving culinary hotspot. When you're next in town, find Japanese-inspired cuisine and vinyl DJs at Bar Yuki, get caught up in the modern Middle Eastern flavours of Nomah and swing by the ever-popular Milk HAUS for wine and a feel-good feed produced entirely from its kitchen garden. Meet the Makers Festival is happening in Milton from Saturday, September 6—Sunday, September 28. Head to Instagram for more information.
When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's work has made its way to Australia, featuring more than 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. Opening today, Friday, October 7 at The Paddock in Melbourne's Federation Square, The Art of Banksy is a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition includes the well-known Girl with Balloon, Flag Wall and Laugh Now pieces, as well as three efforts that have never before been displayed to the public. If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the largest showcase of Banksy pieces to ever make its way to our shores. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100 percent unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. As well as displaying Banksy's work in a custom-built enclosure, The Art of Banksy also shines a light on a range of pieces by well-known and emerging local street artists. Expect to find them on the surrounding external surfaces and the inside walls of the exhibition's own Circle Bar, which will serve craft beers and cocktails. Outside, the Welcome to Thornbury team will corral a heap of food trucks into an area called 'The Railyard'. Plus, on Friday nights and Saturday arvos, DJs will also provide appropriate tunes to suit the occasion. Of course, Melburnians will know that this isn't the mysterious figure's first dalliance with the city. The artist's stencils have popped up around the city previously courtesy of a visit in 2003, though many have been destroyed and damaged in the years since. The Art of Banksy will run from October 7 to January 22 at The Paddock in Federation Square, Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the exhibition website. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier. Words: Sarah Ward.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first started making its impact known, we all began to feel like we were living in a disaster movie. Contagion flicks, outbreak films, sci-fi fare about infectious diseases — they all echoed with eerie prescience. The next types of movies that might start cutting a little too close to home? Dystopian flicks about climate change's impact. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its sixth assessment report about the state of the planet, global warming's impact and humanity's influence upon increasing temperatures — and it doesn't paint a calming picture. The big news: if no big moves are made in current efforts to combat climate change, the planet will warm by 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures by as early as 2030. That figure has been mentioned for some time as an unwanted milestone, as it's when climate scientists predict that higher temperatures, rising sea levels, heavier rains, longer fire seasons and worse droughts will kick in. Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events around the world already, including Australia's devastating 2019–20 bushfire season, seeing these conditions worsen is obviously alarming news. Also flagged by the IPCC, which is the United Nations' body for assessing the science related to climate change, has been around since 1988 and has 195 members from around the world: that the planet has already warmed by 1.1 degree since industrialisation, and that Australia has warmed by 1.4 degrees. And, it has dubbed humanity's part in these increases as "unprecedented", with working group co-chair Dr Valérie Masson-Delmotte saying that "the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed." The #IPCC released its latest #ClimateReport today, #ClimateChange 2021: the Physical Science Basis. "The role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed." – Working Group I Co-Chair @valmasdel Report ➡️ https://t.co/uU8bb4inBB Watch the video, 🎥 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hZOSU1xWQR — IPCC (@IPCC_CH) August 9, 2021 Also, even if the IPCC's most ambitious targets to arrest the impact of climate change were put in place, global warming would still likely hit 1.5 degrees by 2035. The body's scientists expect that the planet will warm by at least 1.6 degrees above pre-industrial temps regardless of whichever measures are put in place, before ideally beginning to drop again once those drastic mitigation tactics — things like large-scale reforestation projects, or being able to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — started to have an effect. It's no wonder that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the IPCC report "a "code red for humanity" in a statement. "The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible," he continued. "The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is perilously close. We are at imminent risk of hitting 1.5 degrees in the near term. The only way to prevent exceeding this threshold is by urgently stepping up our efforts, and pursuing the most ambitious path," the Secretary-General said. "This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels, before they destroy our planet... If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But, as the report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses." World leaders will meet at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31 this year to discuss the planet's plans to stop warming at 1.5 degrees. To read the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's sixth assessment report, head to the IPCC's website.
One of soccer's biggest events is heading Down Under, with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 unleashing a month of fierce global competition across Australia and New Zealand this winter. There's no shortage of ways to celebrate the tournament, including heading to matches, barracking for the local squads, donning team colours head to toe, watching along at the pub or turning your couch into World Cup central. Here's another: hitting up the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, June 25. For one morning only, to celebrate 25 days until the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 kicks off, the Harbour City's famous structure will close to traffic and open to soccer festivities instead. Whether you're keen for a kick, run, jog or dance across the iconic roadway, or to be in the company of local and international football legends, this'll be an event like no other. At a festival of football that's been dubbed the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Sydney Harbour Bridge Unity Celebration, the fun will start from 6am, running until 8.45am. Exactly what the lineup will entail hasn't yet been revealed — or who those soccer stars will be — but there'll be activities and activations linked to the Women's World Cup, music from participating nations, and grassroots football and multicultural communities coming together. If you do want to take the invitation to dance across the bridge literally, that's encouraged. In fact, there'll even be a 'unity beat' for you to bust out your best moves to. Folks eager to head along will need to book in a free spot in advance, with registrations open now. "Football unites the world," said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, announcing the World Cup 2023 Sydney Harbour Bridge Unity Celebration. "The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the perfect setting to rally and unite our communities and create an enticing and distinctive experience that truly goes beyond greatness!" The tournament itself runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20, with Sydney hosting at least 11 matches, including the Australian team's opener against the Republic of Ireland and the final a month later. Games will also be played in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, as well as Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Sydney Harbour Bridge Unity Celebration will take place on Sunday, June 25 on the Sydney Harbour Bridge — and registrations for tickets are open now. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website. Images: Destination NSW.
There's something about summer ending that gets everyone thinking about getaways, even if everyone's favourite holiday season won't be back for another nine months. Thankfully, autumn, winter and spring are still mighty fine times to leave your daily life behind for a weekend, few days, or a week or so. To help make those yearnings for a break become a reality, Qantas has just-dropped week-long sale. You'll need to be dreaming about jetting off to somewhere in Australia, and you'll also want to travel from April. Dates vary depending on the route, but some have fares available up until mid-December — so you can book in another summer holiday after all. In total, more than one million discounted flights are on offer. Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Gold Coast jaunt, a Melburnian keen to spend part of winter in Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to hit The Whitsundays, you have options. And, on 34-plus routes, one-way flights will cost you under $150. Everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities are covered, and from Perth to Sydney, too — alongside all the other state capitals, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and more. The two cheapest options, as tends to be the case on most flight sales, are the Sydney–Ballina and Melbourne–Launceston routes at $109. Other highlights include Adelaide to Kangaroo Island for $139 — and Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne to Albury and Brisbane to Mackay all for $149. The sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, March 11, so you'll want to get in quickly to get a bargain. And, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. Qantas' red tail sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, March 11, 2024, or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Now in his tenth year of making music, Nicolas Jaar was previously known for his 'blue-wave' minimal techno. But at a young 24 years, Jaar has already progressed in style. Darkside moves away from anything he's created on his lonesome. Collaborator Dave Harrington, a multi-instrumentalist from Brooklyn, might have previously said he prefers making music that's sad. But speaking from his hotel room in icy Oxford, Jaar concedes that Darkside isn't dark at all; it has an electro-psyche-jazz sound all of its own. Right now, Darkside are in the UK as part of the Psychic world tour alongside their recently released debut album of the same name. Receiving rave reviews from both critics, and, well, ravers, Psychic scored two 'Best New Track' slots with Pitchfork after the 11-minute opener 'Golden Arrow' was released as a free download in August. But Jaar refuses to get carried away by critics and their reviews. Because, as he says, there'll always be those who love your music and others who hate it. For Jaar, it's about taking fans to a new place. "The only hope for musicians is that we're communicating something," says Jaar, coming over all Alice in Wonderland. "I just hope that people are able to fall into the small worlds that we try to create." Harrington originally played with Jaar as part of his touring live band. But after jamming together between gigs, the duo quickly morphed into Darkside back in 2011. Now they're back to where it all began — on tour — and Sydney and Melbourne are next on their list of places to wow. Darkside are at their best when heard live. but there's no use in predicting how their sets will pan out. Though their drawn-out electronica is likely to have us fall down the rabbit hole, each of their performances are different. "We try to improvise every night because we're doing this so much, and we're playing so many shows," says Jaar of their live performances. "We feel like, if we change it up here and there every night we'll slowly get to a better understanding of what we're trying to say. And as musicians we're getting better and better." Darkside's Psychic world tour has sold out shows across Europe. And since Jaar sold out his solo gigs at 2013's Sydney Festival, their Hi-Fi and Palace Theatre gigs are expected to go the same way. After all, in the year that's passed, the duo's evolving sounds have only garnered more fame. And don't expect that to slow down any time soon. It appears we can expect even more from Darkside over the coming year. "We're hoping to write a new record," says Jaar. Sadly, they've not as yet begun writing: "We're thinking about it." For now we'll have to settle with Psychic and their upcoming live shows. But who are we kidding; we couldn't ask for more. Darkside play Sydney's Hi-Fi on Wednesday, April 2, and Melbourne's Palace Theatre on Friday, April 4 (tickets for both via Oztix). Thanks to Modular, we have one double pass to give away in each city. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=d8NaWT0WvEE
Whether it's after a hard day at the office, a hard morning of exercise or a hard evening of heavy drinking, there are few sweeter reliefs than an ice cold beer. And thanks to Pat's Backcountry Beverages, you can brew your own beer whenever and wherever you so desire with these tasty, transportable sachets. Simply pour the packet of beer concentrate in a special carbonation bottle, add water and shake, and you have yourself the world's most convenient six-pack. Perfect for campers and hikers, the Alaskan company assures its customers that they haven't sacrificed transportability for taste, claiming that the sachets will give you the "same great taste you're used to in a premium micro beer". To find out more have a look at this demonstration video and get brewing.
Music lovers all over the country have been holding their breaths for the much-awaited Parklife lineup announcement. And yesterday they were able to exhale with utter excitement at the acts that are set to hit the stages around Australia in late September and early October. We have a double VIP pass to giveaway in each city that Parklife will be making an appearance. Lucky winners of the VIP tickets will not only gain access to the exclusive Garden Bar, which offers such treasures as toilets, phone chargers, massages and the chance to catch up with Parklife artists, but they'll also get free drinks and a Parklife Mixtape, and be able to skip the ever-dreaded queues. To go in the running, just head to the Concrete Playground Facebook page and leave a comment under this story telling us which artist you want to see most, and which city you want tickets for. Entries will close at noon on June 21. Parklife dates and venues:Parklife Brisbane - Saturday, September 29 at Botanic GardensParklife Sydney - Sunday, September 30 at Centennial ParkParklife Perth - Monday, October 1 at Wellington SquareParklife Melbourne - Saturday, October 6 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings DomainParklife Adelaide - Sunday, October 7 at Botanic Gardens Discounted presale tickets ($25 off in all cities except Adelaide, which is $17 off) are available from 12pm on June 21 until midnight on June 25. Head to parklife.com.au for more info.
Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, is back for its seventh year and is set to be as boundary-pushing as ever, with its full lineup announced today. As always, the festival will take place in the lead up to the winter solstice, exploring connections between old and contemporary mythology through art installations, performance, talks and music — all taking place in the darkness of Tasmanian winter. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo will takeover most of Hobart between June 6–23, showcasing a melting pot of artists, creatives and thinkers who dwell in the shadows of mainstream culture. Just-announced musicians include FKA Twigs — who's also bringing her experimental dream pop to Vivid Sydney this year — New York-based composer Nicolás Jaar, American singer John Grant and multi-instrumentalist Roger Eno. Other highlights of the music program include an audiovisual 'soundbath' by Sigur Rós; an international metal program, featuring Brazil's Mystifier; and the return of Night Mass — a ritualistic series of multi-venue, late-night parties featuring Sampa the Great, FAKA and Empress Of. These musicians and creatives join those announced in the first lineup drop last week, which included boundary-pushing speakers in the Dark + Dangerous Thoughts program, artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, and singer and actor Sharon Van Etten. [caption id="attachment_716526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saeborg, Pigpen. Courtesy of Dark Mofo and the artist.[/caption] The festival's dark and quirky arts lineup has grown, too, with the addition of a latex-filled installation and performance by Japan's Saeborg and an immersive group exhibition — of ten international artists, including Canada's Cassils, USA's Paul McCarthy and India's Shilpa Gupta — inside the former Forestry Tasmania Building. The award-winning building — which once housed its own forest — is just one of many new venues to join this year's program. Come June, revellers will also be able to party inside the Old Hobart Blood Bank, the Avalon and Odeon theatres, the Old Davey St Congregational Church and aboard a floating natural wine bar, dubbed Natty Waves. Of course, all the festival favourites are set to make a triumphant return, too. You'll be able to drink and eat amongst inverted crosses and candles at the Winter Feast, try not to freeze during the very cold Nude Solstice Swim and absolve your sins at Night Mass. Dark Mofo returns to Hobart from June 6–23. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm on Monday, April 15 with general tickets on sale from midday on Tuesday, April 16. For more information, and to check out the full lineup, head to the festival website. Images: Andy Fraser; Meagan Streader, Response VII — Partition III, photo by Sam Whiteside; and All This Coming and Going, Terrapin.
Here's a scenario that, until now, you've probably never even imagined could happen. You go to press play on your favourite Spotify playlist, but accidentally click on a different batch of tunes — songs especially chosen by the service for the adorable animal that shares your life. Not content with limiting its lister base to people, Spotify is now creating curated playlists for dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and iguanas. The selection of tracks is personalised too, because the kinds of songs that your furry, feathered or scaly critter likes aren't necessarily the same as what some other barking, meowing or tweeting creature prefers. Here's how Spotify's Pet Playlists work: you visit the Swedish music streaming company's site, choose your type pet, pick from a list of traits that describes them best, then add a name and photo. Based on all of that information, plus your own Spotify listening habits, the service's algorithm will go to work, coming up with a lineup of tunes that'll apparently rock your animal's world. There are limitations to the new feature, though. Only the aforementioned five types of pets are catered for, so if your animal companion is a rabbit or other type of critter with ears, it'll miss out. And, as for the traits that you can pick from, you're presented a number of pairs on a sliding scale — so select between relaxed and energetic, shy and friendly, and apathetic and curious. Still, if you and your pooch, kitty, canary, rodent or lizard like listening to music together — or you've ever noticed them react to a particular song — you can now treat them to their own playlist. Spotify's online research, surveying 5000 music-streaming pet owners in the US, UK, Australia, Spain and Italy, indicates that 71 percent of people play tunes for their pets, with classical and soft rock the genre all those critters seem to like best. Fancy letting your woofer listen to a book instead? Audible also does audiobooks for dogs, too. To create a Spotify Pet Playlist for your dog, cat, bird, hamster or iguana, visit the Spotify pets website.
There are some big, green changes afoot in the ACT, with the nation's capital today — Wednesday, September 25 — legalising the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use. The ACT Parliament gave a green light to the bill put forward by Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson, called Drugs of Dependence (Personal Cannabis Use) Amendment Bill 2018, which allows residents over the age of 18 to possess up to 50 grams of dry cannabis (or 150 grams of wet) and to have two cannabis plants growing at their house, with a maximum of four per household. The new laws, which are set to come into effect from January 31, 2020, aren't clearcut, however. You still won't be able to buy, sell, give or even share marijuana under the new laws — which means your only option is to grow your own. The ACT's Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson told the ABC Radio earlier today (via The Canberra Times), that even sharing a joint would be considered 'drug supply'. "If there's evidence that someone is providing cannabis to someone else, that's supply and that's an offence," Johnson said. Cannabis will still remain an illegal drug under Commonwealth law, which means that Canberrans risk fines and prison time for possessing the drug. At the moment, it's unsure how ACT police offers will react, as they have the ability to enforce both ACT and Commonwealth laws. It's also possible the Commonwealth could overrule the ACT decision, as it did with the Territory's same-sex marriage decision back in 2013 (yes, the ACT independently legalised same-sex marriage before any other jurisdiction), saying the ACT's law was inconsistent with the Federal law. You also can't smoke in public places or around minors, and, just as before, there'll also be penalties for any minor caught with cannabis, for driving under the influence and, importantly, artificial cultivation. Which means, any cultivation with the aid of light or heat is still illegal — so you won't be able to set up a hydroponics system in your cupboard or basement a la Pineapple Express. So, while things are looking suitably murky for now, if all proceeds as expected, Canberrans will be able to light up from early next year. It'll be interesting to see if this influences laws in any other states or territories. The ACT's Drugs of Dependence (Personal Cannabis Use) Amendment Bill 2018 is set to be signed in on January 31, 2020. We'll let you know if anything changes. Via The Canberra Times
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, Kaldor Public Art Projects is one of the most renowned in the business, having worked alongside some legendary names to transform drab public spaces into eclectic artistic venues. For its landmark birthday, the arts organisation has teamed up with Carriageworks to take over the site's temporary arts and creative space, The Clothing Store. The space is playing host to a major project by New York-based installation artist Asad Raza — and it's the first time his work has been displayed on Australian shores. Running until Sunday, May 19, Absorption is groundbreaking in more ways than one. Across his extensive practice, Raza's work has remained highly collaborative. And things aren't any different for Absorption, with a host of scientists and local artists all involved in the work's creation. From installation and performance to music and experiments, the exhibition invites audiences to walk atop the work's foundations and even take the engineered and project-specific soil home with you. Below, we've taken a look at why Raza's Absorption is one of 2019's must-visit exhibitions. [caption id="attachment_719670" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image: Pedro Greig.[/caption] GET, WELL, ABSORBED BY THE ART Throughout Asad Raza's acclaimed career, he's continually strived to find innovative ways to directly immerse his audience within his site-specific installations. For Absorption, The Clothing Store simply provides a setting for the work's organic premise, with Raza filling the sprawling industrial warehouse with almost 300 tonnes of soil. As more and more visitors come to explore the space throughout the exhibition's duration, the artwork is continually shifts and evolves in real time as the soil is flattened and kicked about. Expanding into every crevice of the warehouse, including the kitchen and the bathrooms, the soil has been specially created with a combination of organic and inorganic materials, and with it, Raza asks audiences to question the very nature of the biological world. Meanwhile, the exhibition's assistants (called cultivators) are on-hand to tend to the soil, run tests and help the audience. Dressed in wearable artworks created by Sydney artist Agatha Gothe-Snape, they're hard to miss. [caption id="attachment_719695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image: Pedro Greig.[/caption] A PROJECT BUILT ON COLLABORATION Absorption explores the intersection of Raza's inspirations, the findings of scientists and the work of the project's varied creative collaborators. Having an informed scientific element was particularly central to the success of the work, with Raza working alongside specialists from the University of Sydney's Institute of Agriculture. Led by Professor Alex McBratney and Associate Professor Stephen Cattle, the collection of experts consulted in the production of the exhibition's base included: soil scientists, microbiologists, landscape architects, organic farmers and brewers. It wasn't just scientists that Raza approached, but also some of Australia's most talented artists. Having visited Australia many times in preparation for Absorption, Raza uncovered a diverse mix of creatives to perfectly complement his artwork. Featured throughout the public program are the likes of Daniel Boyd, Chun Yin (Rainbow Chan), Megan Alice Clune, Dean Cross, Brian Fuata, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Jana Hawkins-Andersen, Khaled Sabsabi and Ivey Wawn. [caption id="attachment_719698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image: Pedro Greig.[/caption] LOADS OF IMMERSIVE INTERVENTIONS With such an incredible selection of artists involved in Raza's first Australian installation, it's certainly a far cry from your standard public program. The completely free, wide-ranging series of events alternates between the choreographic, the musical and the educational. Highlights include a fresh dance collaboration between performance artists Ivey Wawn, Ivan Cheng, Daniel Jenatsch, Eugene Choi and Taree Sansbury; a reading by feminist group Composting; and a poppy musical performance with sugary synth-driven melodies and bubbly soundscapes by Rainbow Chan. Other enlightened interventions include a light-based installation by Sydney artist Daniel Boyd; a sound piece every weekend by writer and performer Brian Fuata (the microphone is under the soil); and Jana Hawkins-Andersen has set up a work station for creating clay leeches, laced with nutrients that go back into the soil. With all this and more on the program, this exciting variety show of collaborators takes Raza's work to even greater heights. [caption id="attachment_719672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image: Pedro Greig.[/caption] TAKE THE ARTWORK HOME WITH YOU Once you've wandered through the enormous warehouse space and experienced some of the interventions and played your role in shaping the soil, you can head on down with a plastic beach bucket (or a plain old box) and snag yourself a piece of art history. Asad Raza firmly believes that his work should directly engage with the public and, staying true to this message, he's having the work dismantled by his very own audience. Genius, really. While you can take a little bit of soil any day of the exhibition, Absorption's final day — Sunday, May 19 — will be the main day for dirt collecting. As the soil has been specifically engineered to be loaded with nutrients, Raza invites you to close the loop on his artwork by taking as much of it as you can carry home with you. Sprinkle the nutrient-rich soil in your own garden and help the artwork live on. [caption id="attachment_719696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image: Pedro Greig.[/caption] A CELEBRATED ARTIST Born in upstate New York in the city of Buffalo, Raza knows how to push boundaries. Always finding ways to turn common objects and spaces into engaging, thought-provoking artworks that come alive with activity, and with many projects being of a highly collaborative nature, Raza's practice is not traditional, to say the least. With the aim of fostering dialogue between audience members and creating a space that shifts as time goes on, Absorption is another work that expands his already stellar international reputation. His recent Untitled (plot for dialogue) (2017) installation was a radiant orange tennis court within the 16th-century deconsecrated Milanese church of San Paolo Converso, on which visitors, surrounded by ancient frescos, were invited to play a game and rest for a drink at the altarpiece. Another project, Home Show (2015), was held in his own apartment and asked friends, family and artists to intervene in his own life, while Mother Tongue (2017) saw human caretakers look after 26 trees throughout the 2017 Whitney Biennial. Running from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Eveleigh's The Clothing Store, Kaldor Public Art Projects x Carriageworks collaboration, Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, is completely free to attend. Top image: Kaldor Public Art Project 34: Asad Raza, Absorption, 2019. The Clothing Store, Carriageworks. Image by Pedro Greig.
It is a simple fact that the average office worker dies of boredom a few times each week. This month, you have the opportunity to take back your freedom — at least with the food you eat. As a culmination of their 10 year anniversary celebration, Flying Fish Restaurant and Bar is hosting a Freestyle Dinner event. The ephemeral menu will be envisioned on the spot, meaning each dish will only be served once that evening. Executive Chef Stephen Seckold has assured me the night will be "full of surprises" and "a little more raw". This is no easy task for an already Asian-inspired seafood restaurant, but patrons will surely be pampered with up to fifteen individualised courses and a bayside view to look forward to. If you believe dining out is more about indulgence than sustenance, this event is worth emptying your pocket for. Bookings from 6pm. Call (02) 9518 6677 or email to reserve. Image courtesy of Flying Fish Restaurant and Bar.
In a delightfully clever combination of old and new, Rich Neeley has been taking actual vintage books and giving them new lives as iPhone chargers. The book chargers feature a subtle adapter for iPhones/iPods through the front cover, and then connect to a power source through a wire which runs behind the book's binding. Neeley travels around Southern California with his wife on book hunting excursions, where they dig up old treasures or Rich to feature in his work. These have included books from as far back as 1914, as well as a copy of the classic Alice in Wonderland. Priced at around $50 from Rich's Etsy store, these will make a great gift and add a little convenient charm to any home. [via CoolHunting]
When you launch a scheme that's all about getting people out of the house, it obviously isn't going to work as planned when folks are in lockdown. We're talking about the New South Wales Government's Dine & Discover program, of course. It gives the state's residents four $25 vouchers to use at restaurants and entertainment venues — and, in unsurprising news, it has just been extended until Thursday, June 30, 2022. When Dine & Discover was initially rolled out statewide from mid-March, the COVID-19 situation in Greater Sydney was rather different than it is now; however, the NSW Government actually started pushing back its end date before lockdown started. First, at the beginning of June, the State Government announced that it was extending the program for until the end of July to give people even more time to use their vouchers. Then, at the end of June once lockdown had started, it moved that date again until the end of August. The latest change to June 2022, which was just announced on Friday, August 13, means that Dine & Discover has now been extended for a full year past its original finish date. Clearly, the hope is that folks in NSW will have plenty of time to go out and use their vouchers once the current outbreak is under control, lockdown ends and most people are vaccinated. The vouchers still cover takeaways, if you do want to use the two food vouchers now. The NSW Government recommends getting your food delivered direct to your house by whichever restaurant or cafe you're ordering from, but you can also go pick up your meal if you'd prefer — if it's within either five or ten kilometres of your house, depending on the restrictions in your area. Crucially, the vouchers can only be redeemed if you're dealing with the eatery directly, so they can't be used on orders via third-party delivery platforms. [caption id="attachment_779832" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] By now, every NSW resident should know how the scheme works, but here's the basic details if you need a refresher. The Dine & Discover program hands out food and entertainment vouchers to NSW residents, in an effort to boost patronage at hospitality businesses and cultural institutions that've suffered during the pandemic. Four vouchers are available to everyone in NSW over the age of 18 — two $25 vouchers to use at restaurants, cafes, clubs and other food venues, and another two $25 vouchers specifically for performing arts, cinemas, amusement parks and the like. The vouchers can be used at a hefty number of participating COVID-safe registered businesses, with the full list available on the Service NSW website. You can't use them on tobacco, alcohol or gambling, and you can only use each voucher once, including if your transaction totals less than $25. Also, you'll need to use all of your vouchers separately. To access the vouchers, you'll need a MyServiceNSW account — and the corresponding Service NSW app, so you can use the vouchers digitally. The NSW Government's Dine & Discover scheme will now run until Thursday, June 30, 2022. For more information, visit the government's website. Top image: Kitti Gould
As a movie, it's a masterpiece. As a stage musical, it's one of the most famous there is. And when it returns to Australia for the first time in almost 20 years with Sarah Brightman starring as Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard is going to be big. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony-winner, which first took the leap from the screen to the stage in 1993 — and picked up Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and awards for leading actor, leading actress and featured actor for its efforts, among more — is bringing its Hollywood story Down Under again in 2024. The production will kick off its new Aussie run in Melbourne in May, debuting at the Princess Theatre, then move to the Sydney Opera House from August. As Desmond, Brightman will make her global debut in the part, taking on her first theatre role in over three decades. She'll also add to a spectacular career that includes originating the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera back in the 80s. Here, she's taking on a part that saw Gloria Swanson nominated for an Oscar in 1951 and Glenn Close win a Tony in 1995. Debra Byrne played the part in Australia back in 1996, while Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls is doing the same in West End right now. "I am so delighted to be returning to Australia after many years, and to be marking my return to the stage in a musical after so long. It is only fitting for it to be with such an exquisite production as Sunset Boulevard," said Brighton. "I have always admired Andrew's work on this musical and I very much look forward to exploring the incredible score and also the iconic character of Norma Desmond. Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close up!'." As Billy Wilder's 1950 film first covered in a feature that's been influential not just in inspiring stage adaptations, but on every other movie about Tinseltown since, Sunset Boulevard follows silent star Desmond. With her career getting small with the advent of the talkies, she dreams about making a comeback. The movie famously starts with a man's body floating in a swimming pool, then flashes back to Desmond's time with screenwriter Joe Gillis, her latest attempts to reclaim her success and the events that bring about that watery end. On the stage, Sunset Boulevard will echo with tunes such as 'With One Look', 'The Perfect Year' and 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' as it tells the above tale. GWB Entertainment and Opera Australia are behind Sunset Boulevard's latest Aussie stint — and if you're wondering who'll star alongside Brightman, the casting process has just begun. For audiences outside of Melbourne and Sydney, details of possible stops in other cities are yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sunsetmusicalau SUNSET BOULEVARD 2024 DATES: From May 2024 — Princess Theatre, Melbourne From August 2024 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Sunset Boulevard will play Melbourne from May 2024 and Sydney from August 2024, with Melbourne pre sales from Tuesday, October 10 and general sales from Friday, October 13. To join the ticket waitlist and for more information, head to the musical's website. Sarah Brightman images: Simon Fowler.
Working in the hospitality industry is a tough gig, and that's never been more apparent than in the past 18 months. Chefs, restaurateurs, publicans and waitstaff have faced myriad restrictions (and the consequences of them) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As big fans of the local dining scene, we've been so damn inspired by the creativity, adaptability and pure grit they've demonstrated. But, here's the truth: things weren't exactly all sunshine and smiles before 2020 either. So, what keeps those in the industry going? That's what we're aiming to find out in our live panel series, Hot Takes & Takeaways. We've partnered with Uber Eats to ask notable food experts in our cities about the state of the food industry — and its future. The first episode streamed live on our Facebook page earlier this month, with comedian and host Gen Fricker who was joined by Julian Cincotta (Butter) and Cuong Nguyen (Hello Auntie). It was fun, unfiltered and full of interesting insights. Keep scrolling to watch some of the highlights and learn the key takeaways (see what we did there?) from the show. THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY'S GLOW-UP Both Cincotta and Nguyen acknowledge being part of the food scene is tough. "You really have to love it, it takes so much sacrifice. There's a lot of hard work behind the show," says Nguyen. Happy customers make it all worth it, but it takes more than cooking tasty food. "I realised the importance of creating an environment where people can create memories," says Nguyen. Cincotta agrees: "Give them a good experience and they'll come back. It's about storytelling." And they both reckon Justin Hemmes, CEO of hospitality giant Merivale, is a pioneer in this arena. With over 70 venues in its portfolio, Merivale has succeeded in transforming established local venues into contemporary dining destinations. "It's the experience. That's what he is creating," Nguyen says. Another hospo legend whom Cincotta looks up to is Neil Perry. "I've really idolised him, his restaurants, what he has brought to Australian cooking and what he does for charity," he says. The other thing that drives Nguyen and Cincotta is the sense of community. "Now, I'm finding chefs are more open to sharing ideas. I have groups that I just message if I don't know something and be like 'Hey man, how do I make this?', Nguyen says. "I think that's been the greatest change in the past 15 years." SOCIAL MEDIA IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD We can't talk about how the hospitality industry has changed without discussing the role of social media, which Nguyen calls "a double-edged sword". Channels like Instagram and YouTube have given owners a platform to get the word out about their business, share their creativity and connect with customers. It has led to a rising passion for food, but it has also opened the gates for keyboard warriors sharing unwarranted — and largely unmonitored — criticism publicly. And this, Cincotta says, can "make or break a business". "Nobody will write a review on Google if they are truly passionate about your place. They will tell you directly," he adds. Yet feedback is welcome — and encouraged. "If you don't have feedback, you don't know if you're doing a good job or a bad job. For you to improve, you need to hear the bad things," Nguyen says. So, the hot take here? It's all about the method. "If something has happened, please email us. We will try to rectify it," Cincotta says. YOU NEED TO THINK QUICK AND SMART Of course, the biggest challenge the hospitality industry has faced collectively in recent years is the COVID-19 pandemic. Cincotta describes the past 18 months as "an emotional rollercoaster". But he sees the pause on dine-in service as an opportunity. "It's the only real reset that hospo gets," he says. "We've had this bit of time that was hard but we've also been able to reflect." From this have come some important lessons in thinking quick and smart, including ways to diversify revenue streams. For Butter, that has meant everything from setting up delivery and expanding its merchandise offering to collaborating with local artists and applying for government grants. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A BIG SUPPORT Speaking of government grants, we're curious to know the pair's thoughts on how the government has supported the hospitality industry during this time. And you might be surprised by their responses. First up, Cincotta reveals that without schemes like Job Keeper, Butter would have closed. "We wouldn't have been able to survive," he says. "So, I do think the government has done well in this with us with the grants and tax offsets." Agreeing, Nguyen states: "People are always going to complain. It's easy to criticise when we're not the ones that have to make the decisions". There's also been a lot of commentary online and in the media regarding New South Wales' roadmap to freedom and the stipulation that hospitality venues will only reopen to those who are fully vaccinated. What's their stance? "I think whatever keeps people safe and whatever the government advises is what we will do," says Cincotta. WHAT COMES NEXT The final thing that is really apparent is how excited both Cincotta and Nguyen are for the future. First step: getting out of lockdown. "When it opens up, I can't wait to get some dirty yum cha with a hangover with my mates," Cincotta says. Work-wise, while Nguyen admits that the first night back is going to be "really, really horrible", he thinks the future is bright for the industry with lots of venues opening and things planned for the next year. Cincotta concurs. "I think there's a lot to come in 2022. I know I'm doin' stuff, we're doin' stuff" he says to Nguyen. Then, something amazing happens. Cincotta suggests that Butter and Hello Auntie should team up. Nguyen agrees. "I was actually thinking when I came in today: 'What could we do together? What would be a good crossover?'," he says. "Maybe we can bang it out after? 'Hello Butter'." And there you have it, folks — the joys of unscripted live-streams. So, will the pair stick to their word and bring a Hello Auntie x Butter collab to hungry Sydneysiders? Stay tuned... You can watch the full first episode of Hot Takes & Takeaways on our Facebook page. If you'd like to learn more about what restaurants are doing to survive — and thrive — during this tough time, check out Uber Eats' Enterprise Hub.
Following weeks of controversy around Bluesfest's decision to book Sticky Fingers for its 2023 edition, the festival has decided to remove the band from its lineup. The announcement comes after both King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Sampa the Great withdrew from this year's event following the band's addition. Five weeks out from the festival, which is scheduled to arrive at North Byron Parklands across the Easter long weekend, Bluesfest has released reluctant a statement announcing that Sticky Fingers will not be performing — while also defending the controversial band. "Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built," the statement reads. "The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn't deserve the continued public scrutiny he's being given." [caption id="attachment_876098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Jason Galea[/caption] In the two weeks following Bluesfest's sixth artist announcement for 2023, which featured Sticky Fingers, the festival experienced acts dropping out. When King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard cancelled their appearance, it cited Bluesfest's decision to book content that conflicts with their values. "As a band and as human beings, we stand against misogyny, racism, transphobia and violence," King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's statement reads. "Surprised and saddened to see Bluesfest commit to presenting content that is in complete opposition to these values." The removal of Sticky Fingers is the fourth confirmed lineup change since Monday, February 20, after The Soul Rebels featuring GZA, Talib Kweli and Big Freedia were also removed from the lineup due to a separate disagreement with the festival's founder Peter Noble. Dylan Frost, Sticky Fingers' frontman, has been the subject of serious allegations which include physically threatening First Nations singer Thelma Plum and harassing a transgender woman at a Sydney pub. Frost and bassist Paddy Cornwall were also caught in an alleged brawl with each other in 2019 which saw Cornwall charged with affray. "We will now move on, put this behind us and continue to plan and present our best-ever edition of Bluesfest... proudly," continues the statement from Bluesfest, before linking to a lengthy article from The Weekend Australian about the band. The festival will continue without Sticky Fingers, The Soul Rebels, King Giz and Sampa the Great from Thursday, April 6 until Monday, April 10 with headliners including Gang of Youths, Paolo Nutini, Tash Sultana, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers and Beck. [caption id="attachment_867504" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kurt Petersen[/caption] Bluesfest 2023 will run from Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10 at Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah. For the most up-to-date lineup, head to the Bluesfest website. Top image: Lachlan Douglas.
We open on a hotel party, all the horrors of the world: a Hawaiian-themed engagement bash. Upstairs in her room, a single woman in her mid-thirties takes a swig of wine, stares into a mirror and convinces herself to join in… only to immediately abort and instead order room service, don her tracksuits pants and settle in to watch Silence of the Lambs. This is Nancy (Lake Bell), a sarcastic, self-deprecating and utterly cynical romantic train wreck. The following day, however, mistaken identity lands her on a blind date with Jack (Simon Pegg), and — against all odds — they hit it off. What follows is a sort of ‘un-romantic comedy’ transpiring entirely over the course of one evening, and while its outcome is formulaic, the journey is novel enough to warrant viewing. To its credit, Man Up dispenses with the ‘will he find out?’ subplot a lot faster than expected, focusing instead on Jack's subsequent outrage as its primary source of tension and drama. It also boasts some of the most realistic family writing in years, with Nancy’s parents, sister and brother-in-law providing a charming mix of laughs and tear-jerkers in practically every one of their scenes. Pegg and Bell hold the lion’s share of screen time, however, and their obvious chemistry keeps everything cracking along at a jolly pace. Man Up offers an amusing and — at times — honest perspective on modern dating, complete with drunken sobbing, burdensome baggage and unforgettable exes. With its “fuck the past!” mantra and enthusiasm for risk taking, the script's none-too-subtle critique of self-help books ultimately ends up proffering a fairly pronounced message of its own — but it’s not a bad one, and neither is the film.
Back in January, you should've already marked your diary for one of the dance-music highlights of 2025: The Warehouse Project making its second trip to Australia. Now, it's time to discover who'll be spinning tunes while you make shapes. Partiboi69, Hector Oaks, X-Coast, Miss Bashful, Carla Martinez: they're all on the just-dropped lineup. If you went to The Warehouse Project's first-ever Australian dates in 2024, then you experienced a slice of history, as this Manchester-born rave-scene mainstay finally made the leap Down Under. The event's Aussie debut clearly went well, hence the return for a second year running. The Warehouse Project is again hitting up Sydney and Melbourne, this time across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25. The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Fred again.., Skrillex and Happy Mondays have played it overseas. De La Soul, Aphex Twin, Carl Cox and deadmau5, too. For fans of dance music, and just music fans in general, The Warehouse Project's fame extends far past its UK home. For its second Australian trip, Melbourne's PICA will welcome The Warehouse Project for the second time; however, Sydney's event is taking place at Hordern Pavilion in 2025, after setting up shop at Munro Warehouse in Sydney Olympic Park in 2024. This year's events are one-day affairs in each city, too, rather than two nights apiece as happened last year. This remains a two-city tour, though, so if you're keen on hitting up The Warehouse Project in Australia and you live somewhere other than Sydney or Melbourne, you'll need to plan an interstate trip. The Manchester institution's Aussie debut in 2024 came after initially going international in 2023 in Rotterdam and Antwerp. It was back in 2006 that The Warehouse Project first unleashed its club nights on its birthplace, kicking off in a disused brewery and then moving underneath Manchester's Piccadilly station, in a space that's also been an air-raid shelter — and also to a warehouse that dates back to the 1920s. Now, it calls former railway station Depot Mayfield home when it's on in its home city. "After the incredible success of last year's debut, we're excited to revisit Sydney and Melbourne to build on the magic we created. Once again, we'll be pulling out all the stops in production and bringing a mix of both international and domestic artists to two special venues," said The Warehouse Project Co-Founder Sam Kandel about the event's Aussie comeback. "With the special atmosphere the Australian crowd creates, we know this will be an experience that resonates long after the music stops." The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Dates Thursday, April 24 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Friday, April 25 — PICA, Melbourne The Warehouse Project Australia 2025 Lineup Partiboi69 Hector Oaks X-Coast Miss Bashful Carla Martinez The Warehouse Project returns to Australia across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25, 2025, with general ticket sales from 11am AEDT on Wednesday, February 5. Head to the event's website for further details. Images: Duncographic / Jordan Munns.
A real Christmas tree is a fun December addition to any home. The smell of pine needles fill your home and it won't end up in a landfill like its plastic counterpart. If you're looking at where to pick one up this holiday season head along to Tramsheds' Christmas market. The Forrest Lodge food and retail complex have joined forces with florist Don de L'Amour to offer up real Christmas trees and some festive spirit. Up until Sunday, December 19, freshly cut Christmas trees will be available for purchase at the Tramsheds. Don de L'Amour Christmas trees are grown in the Southern Tablelands of Australia before they are brought to Sydney. They come in a range of sizes, so make sure you measure the height of the ceilings before you head down. Time your run right and you might also get the opportunity to participate in wreath-making classes to put the final touch on your holiday decorations. The dates for the classes haven't been announced yet so make sure to keep an eye on the Don de L'Amour website to stay up to date. Once Christmas is over, a tree disposal site will be set up at Tramsheds so you can make sure your personal pine tree is disposed of properly. Don de L'Amour Christmas Tree Pop-up Store is open from 9am–4pm. Top image: Steven Woodburn
Spring is here, the sun is out, and everything is 500 times more whimsical. Now times that whimsy by infinity. Studio Ghibli is bringing a showcase to our shores in October and it's touring all over the nation's cinemas. Celebrating renowned filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the showcase will feature four films and two documentaries that explore the intricacies and beauty of their craft. If you haven't had a chance to get acquainted with the work of these two cult favourites before, this will be the perfect opportunity to get up to date. Work your way through much-loved classics with screenings of both My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. Then explore new terrain with The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and the critically-acclaimed historical anime feature The Wind Rises. Though the Japanese animation studio has 20 feature films to its name, the Australian showcase will feature just these four — a refined look at the old versus the new. But this won't just be for the newbies. Seasoned anime pros can get an inside look into the craft with screenings of both Isao Takahta and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya and The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. Though the documentaries have had separate screenings at local film festivals this year, this will be their first standalone showing on Australian screens. Either way, whether you're a die-hard anime fanatic or have never even seen Spirited Away, there's always room in your life for a little whimsy and wonder. Get lost in the cinema for a few hours and discover an exciting new world. The Tale of Studio Ghibli Showcase will run at select cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane from October 9-22. The films will be screening in Perth from November 6-19, and in Adelaide from November 27 - December 10.
This weekend, online vintage treasure trove Hawkeye Vintage will let you into its covetable closet with a huge sale on clothing and accessories. You'll be able to get a feel of a Dior coat and fight over Chanel bags as a cavalcade of items take pride of place in Paddington's Mrs Banks Hotel on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16. The pieces on offer will run from the affordable right up to the super expensive, but all will be going at a reduced price with up to 60 percent off. Given some of the brands on offer — including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, YSL, Celine, Max Mara and Fendi — you'll be able to pick up some bargains, or opt for a few investment pieces. Covering fashion from the 80s onwards, the range will focus on handbags, scarves, jewellery, hats, belts and ready-to-wear clothing. Keep an eye on Hawkeye Vintage's Instagram to see more sale items, which'll be posted in the lead-up. Entry to the massive sale is free, but you will need to reserve a spot. We also suggest getting there early to snag the good stuff. The Hawkeye Vintage Luxe Sale will run from 10am–5pm.
10x10 is a youth- and volunteer-led organisation encouraging the next generation to get involved in philanthropy. How it does this, however, is a little different — it raises money for charities by hosting interactive, live crowdfunding events. And its next one is a special bushfire relief edition happening in Sydney. On Thursday, February 6, the event will put money directly into the hands of three local charities — Science for Wildlife, CHIRF and Blaze Aid — doing real and essential work for fire-affected areas, wildlife and communities. All three organisations are already working to make a huge difference to animals and people affected by Australia's bushfire crisis and, on the night, will talk about their work — and how you can pitch in, too. So, how do you help? First, you head to 10x10's ticketing website to make a pledge of $100 or more (this amount will be converted into "Charity Dollars" and is also your ticket). Next, you rock up to the event, where the three charities will pitch their causes to the crowd. Finally, you decide what charity you want your pledge, or "Charity Dollars", to go to and bam — a little more goodness is created in the world and a charity nabs some much-needed funds. You'll also have the chance to sip wine, snack on complimentary bites and chat to like-minded, philanthropic folk at the event. So think of it as a fundraiser-meets-cocktail party (without the starched collars and ballgowns). If you feel like charities are more in need of your dollars than you and your avocado toast (they are), get amongst it — you can learn about the pitching charities and make your tax-deductible pledges here. To learn more about the charity, visit 10x10 Philanthropy.
The East Village's panoramic rooftop terrace doesn't just boast city views — from this weekend, the Darlinghurst hotel will also offer a brunch every Saturday and Sunday. From Saturday, March 10, the venue will open from 10am, with a DIY bloody mary station ready and waiting. It will include every garnish and condiment you can think of, from citrus, celery and cucumber to bacon, prawns, bocconcini and seven types of hot sauce. Choose your spirit base — gin, tequila, vodka or white rum — then go nuts with the add-ons. One cocktail will set you back $18, or you can indulge in two hours of unlimited access to the booze buffet for $40. For food, the kitchen's serving up pub grub like breakfast sloppy joes and fried chicken and waffles ($18 each), along with healthier options like spiced beef bibimbap, vegan garden bowls and wholemeal blueberry pancakes ($15–22). This means you can still nurse your hangover while brunching with your more active friend who's just finished their Saturday morning workout.
As an Academy Award winner for Once and frontman to The Frames, Glen Hansard sure has his fingers in 1 billion pies — one of those pies being the Sydney Opera House. It was only a year ago that Hansard sold out shows at the iconic Concert Hall with The Frames, but the Irish-born muso is back to do it all again. He'll be back Monday, March 17, and Thursday, March 20, with Lisa O'Neill. The tour follows Hansard's 2013 solo debut, Rhythm & Repose, while the release of O'Neill's second album, Same Cloth or Not, will coincide with the performances. https://youtube.com/watch?v=k8mtXwtapX4
At the ungodly hour of 7am this morning, Vivid LIVE announced the rest of the 2014 lineup. We’re already excited about seeing The Pixies in rare intimate mode in the Opera House, the ACO and The Presets in collaboration, Giorgio Moroder and The Pet Shop Boys. And now (drum roll, please), here’s the rest of what’s in store. Ladies and gentleman, introducing the first lady of hip hop, Ms. Lauryn Hill. Known not only for her groundbreaking 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill but also for her subsequent ‘disappearance’ from the music scene, she’s back. With plenty to say. Two Opera House shows are scheduled for May 27 and 28. And next, art rock hero St. Vincent, hot on the heels of the release of her new, self-titled album. We’re expecting big harmonies, orchestral adventures and choreographed magic — at the Opera House for the first time ever. We’re just not quite sure how the stage dives will go in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. There’ll be one performance only on May 25. Two other international artists will also make their SOH debut: James Vincent McMorrow will be bringing his masterful songwriting, ethereal electronics, killer falsetto and full band over from Ireland, while English-Italian songstress Anna Calvi will be making the trip armed with tunes of cinematic proportions. Brian Eno has described her as "the biggest thing since Patti Smith". German pianist-producer Nils Frahm, who released his seventh LP, Spaces, last year, will be delivering his Einaudi-reminiscent melodies and dynamic jazz-influenced electronics, and Kate Miller-Heidke is set to present new album O Vertigo! Finally, Goodgod will be hosting an intercontinental revue with cult South African musician Penny Penny and his seven-piece band at the helm, Jonti & The Astral Kids will play a tribute to The Avalanches with a performance of Since I Left You and Studio Parties will make a return, led by Astral People, R.I.P. Society, Siberian Nights and Future Classic.
We've all done it. You go out to the cinema, a gig or a gallery with your friends. You want to keep the fun going by heading for a drink or two, but no one can decide where to go. By the time you've settled on a location, your enthusiasm's waning and you're left wishing you had more decisive friends. This is where we come in. We've teamed up with Bombay Sapphire to pick not only seven of the top arts venues in town for your next dose of culture, but also a fantastic spot for drinks right near each one. You need never silently curse your friends' procrastination again. [caption id="attachment_829780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Doug Aitken, Underwater Pavilions (installation), 2017, installation view, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2021, 3-channel video installation (colour, sound): 3 projections, 3 aluminium and MDF screens. Image credit: Dan Boud[/caption] MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART For over three decades, the MCA has been showcasing the best contemporary art from home and abroad, and its rich history includes exhibitions from names such as Annie Leibovitz, Grayson Perry and Yoko Ono. This year promises to be another bumper one with works including the continuation of Doug Aitken's fabulous New Era show, plus Primavera, the museum's annual exhibition of young Australian artists. Where to go afterwards: Recently named The Best Bar in Australasia by renowned awards The World's 50 Best Bars, Maybe Sammy combines classic European hotel cocktail bar chic with the fun of 1960s Vegas. It's just round the corner from the MCA and if you're feeling particularly fancy, there's a Premium Pours menu featuring classic cocktails made with some of the finest spirits money can buy. [caption id="attachment_728757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of '52 Artists 52 Actions' an exhibition of contemporary art held at Artspace, Sydney, May 2019. Photo Credit: Docqment.[/caption] ARTSPACE Set up in 1983 with the aim of offering greater support to emerging artists, Woolloomooloo's Artspace shines a light on contemporary and experimental works. In a typical year, the gallery, housed in the heritage-listed Gunnery building on Cowper Wharf Road, might host up to 30 different projects under its roof, so there's always something to see if you stop by. Where to go afterwards: Set just back from Finger Wharf is The Tilbury Hotel, home to one of Sydney's most beautiful beer gardens. The menu is far above your usual pub grub (wagyu rump with truffle seaweed butter, anyone?) but if you're just looking for a drink after experiencing the artworks, there's a wide selection of signature cocktails and spritzes alongside the wines and beers. [caption id="attachment_828442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Xu Zhen®, "Hello", 2018-19, robotic mechanisms, styrofoam, polyurethane foam, silicone, pain, sensors, electronic controls, 390 x 750 x 800 cm[/caption] WHITE RABBIT White Rabbit owns one of the largest collections of Chinese contemporary art in the world. It's so large, in fact, that the gallery, located in Chippendale, can only display a small proportion of the collection at any one time. For 2022, White Rabbit is presenting the Big In China exhibition – a carefully curated examination of how to capture the attention of a country that's incredibly diverse and also is also home to the world's largest population. Where to go afterwards: Just a short walk away is Gin Lane – no prizes for guessing the spirit of choice at this bar. If you just want a G&T, the gin menu here is borderline intimidating (in the best possible way, of course) and there's an enticing array of cocktails, including an entire series of sharing cocktails served in smoking vessels like teapots and treasure chests. [caption id="attachment_787040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] COOEE ART GALLERY Sydney's oldest Aboriginal fine art institution has sustainability at its core, looking to support and promote artists through exhibitions, sales and even a consulting arm. Its flagship gallery and auction space is located in Redfern, but head to Bondi to check out the boutique showroom gallery, where you'll see a selection of fascinating artefacts, bark paintings, sculptures and more. Where to go afterwards: You can't make the trip to Bondi without a cocktail or two down by the beach. Rosenbaum & Fuller, which is named for the founder's grandmothers, shares Cooee's ethos of celebrating Australian heritage, using native ingredients in its drinks and working with Indigenous-owned businesses. This means your spritzes and highballs feature intriguing mixers like wattleseed cola, Davidson plum and mountain pepper. WENTWORTH GALLERIES With locations on both Phillip Street and Martin Place, Wentworth Galleries are ideally situated if you want to take in some Aussie art next time you're in the CBD. Equally committed to highlighting contemporary and Indigenous artworks, Wentworth Galleries endeavours to provide a platform for top Australian artists and give art aficionados the opportunity to purchase standout pieces. Where to go afterwards: We all know there's no shortage of decent bars in the CBD, but for this we'd recommend Stitch Bar on York Street. Combining the feel of an American diner with a classic old-school cocktail bar, Stitch will even provide you with a free round of cocktails on your birthday if you sign up to its mailing list. [caption id="attachment_840097" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view: 'The Art of Protest', Newcastle Art Gallery, 30 October 30 – January 30 2022[/caption] NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY There's plenty going on outside of the state capital. Newcastle Art Gallery has a dazzling array of pieces that span multiple media, including photos, paintings, sculptures and one of Australia's most significant collections of modern Japanese ceramics. There are also tours, family programs and school holiday workshops available, meaning there's something for art lovers of all ages and tastes. This summer you can catch The Art of Protest, a free-to-enter, thought-provoking exhibition of over 100 years of works showing artists' responses to local and global activist and social movements. Where to go afterwards: The gin menu at Newcastle's Saints Bar immediately draws your attention with inventive takes on beloved classics and a focus on gin-based tipples. There's no kitchen at Saints but you're more than welcome to bring in takeaway from elsewhere, meaning the only limit is your own imagination. [caption id="attachment_809026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasmine Low[/caption] WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY Whenever visiting Wollongong Art Gallery — which is only a ten-minute walk from the train station — there'll always be something new to see, thanks to its impressive permanent collection of early and modern Australian, Indigenous and Asian artworks that complements its diverse year-round exhibition program. Over the next year, those exhibitions include street photography capturing the history of the Illawarra, contemporary watercolours and Asian ceramics. Where to go afterwards: After taking in the art, head to North Bar for its sophisticated surrounds and a glass of vino. The bar, located in the Wollongong Novotel, features a wine list with over 80 international varietals to please any palate, as well as an excellent selection of bar snacks. For more summer inspo, head to the Bombay Sapphire website. Top image: Anna Kucera
While your newsfeeds have been inundated with restaurant closures, travel bans, and many event cancellations, there has been some uplifting news, too. One of them is Cream Town: an online art shop showcasing works by Australian artists financially impacted by COVID-19. The initiative was sparked by the need to support local creatives in a time where a lot of exhibitions, freelance gigs and general work have dried up. So, if you're in the market for some new art, you can now invest for a good cause. Started by photographer Isaebella Doherty, Cream Town has already sold roughly $4000 worth of prints since launching last week on Thursday, March 19. The project has a very egalitarian ethos, with any out-of-work artist — emerging or well-known — able to put their works up for sale. "We're all in the same situation at the moment," Doherty told Concrete Playground. You won't find the usual art-world elitism here. What you will find is a diverse selection of eye-catching prints, from photography to collage and illustration. Each work is priced at $100, which is a whole let less than what you'd usually spend to adorn your walls. And, seeing as you're spending so much time at home currently, you may as well do a little redecoration and buy yourself one (or a few). If you can't splash that cash right now (or want to contribute more), you can make a donation, which will be evenly distributed between all artists. Works are currently being printed by Melbourne studio Hound & Bone, have a limited run of ten and can be shipped around Australia for a flat postage fee of $12.95. [caption id="attachment_766131" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Maree Downs' by Madi Whyte[/caption] Even though Cream Town came to fruition in these uncertain times, it hopes to continue supporting the arts community — even when the world is back to normal. Head to Cream Town to check it out and buy yourself a piece of $100 art. If you're an artist and would like to get involved, you can express interest via Instagram or the website. Top mages: Brodie Clark, 'Shlurp'; Ella Fitzgerald, 'Gaia'; Quince Frances. 'Riparian ecosystems'; Dani Marano, 'Roman Holiday'; Isaebella Doherty, 'Pretty Things #2'.
In 1963, Ersnt Fischer wrote that art isn't a luxury or a privilege, it's an essential part of human life, and Artbank reckons he was right. Run by the federal government, Artbank supports local Australian artists by buying their works and leasing them out to companies, individuals and public spaces all around Australia, and in 72 countries across the globe. Currently, they hold about 10,000 works. That's a whole lot of art, and they need somewhere they can show it off. On Saturday, November 19, Artbank is hosting their annual Artbank Social Club, giving the general public a chance to check out the works that have been so lovingly and carefully curated. Held at Artbank HQ in Waterloo, the event will be a smorgasbord of local artists, food, drink, and entertainment, and will also see the launch of the inaugural Artbank Flea Market, where punters can buy works, watch live performances and mingle with the creators while getting amongst the 5000 original works in the Artbank collection store. Rather than your typical garage sale vibe, think the Grand Bazaar. If that wasn't enough, you can soothe your intellectual exertion with a drink at the gold coin donation bar in the pumping, pop-up garden party. You can check out our six picks of the day here.
Summertime at Crown Street staple The Winery is all about picnics in the venue's lush garden, and every Aussie knows that a picnic isn't complete without a little (or a lot of) bubbly. Happy to oblige, The Winery has brought back its bottomless prosecco fountain, on offer Thursday–Sunday until January 11. This time, though, the antique-looking stone fountain isn't just pouring endless prosecco from its mouth — it's also serving up Aperol spritzes. For $39 a head, you're able to grab a glass and pour-your-own bubbly and spritzes for a full two hours from that tap. [caption id="attachment_671514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Winery by Letícia Almeida[/caption] While no food is included in the deal, you can order something appropriately summery and European from the new antipasti menu. Choose from organic haloumi with truffle honey ($15), chicken liver parfait with eggplant relish ($14), spicy 'nduja ($8) and gooey stracciatella ($12). Larger dishes — such as smoked lamb meatballs ($21), mushroom tortillas ($15) and prawn lettuce cups ($21) — are on offer, too. If you're yet to organise a get together, this could very well be the setting for this year's Friendsmas. The bottomless prosecco and aperol spritz package is available from Thursday–Friday 5–10pm and Saturday and Sunday 12–10pm.
