Maybe you first heard of Peloton when US President Joe Biden took office, with his use of the company's technology-enabled equipment giving rise to questions about its potential White House security risks. Perhaps you've seen the mocking ad created by Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin, or the Saturday Night Live spoof. Or, you could just really like expensive additions to your home gym setup, or getting guided through your workout routine by an instructor without having to leave the house. Whichever fits, Australians will soon be able to get their hands on the brand's indoor bikes — and, as of this week, you can now take part in its streamed classes as well. Back in March, the company announced plans to launch Down Under this year — and it's currently in the process of doing just that. First up: the Peloton app, which Australians can download now. It's where you'll find the company's popular workout content, including via a free trial for the next 90 days. After that, you can pay $16.99 per month to keep accessing its at-home exercise sessions via a digital subscription. On offer: instructor-led classes, motivational tracks and curated playlists, with the latter featuring the likes of Beyoncé and The Beatles. The sessions cover cycling, running, strength training, high-intensity interval training, yoga, barre, pilates, dance cardio, bootcamp and meditation. Time-wise, they span from five to 60 minutes in length and, in terms of skill, range from beginner to advanced. And if you'd like an all-access membership for your entire household — because your partner and/or housemates are keen, too — that'll cost $59 per month. Next, from Wednesday, July 14, Peloton will be roll out its physical equipment in Australia. Presumably, it won't be doing so by using its controversial 2019 TV commercial, which received considerable backlash and gave rise to the aforementioned parodies. Australians will be able to choose from two Peloton bikes to begin with, and neither comes cheap. The Peloton Bike will cost $2895, while the Bike+ will set you back $3695. If you're wondering what the difference is, the latter comes with a bigger screen that can rotate 360 degrees, and with a better sound system — because connecting to the Peloton app and streaming its workouts while you're hitting the pedals is all part of the process. The Peloton app includes material that doesn't require the brand's equipment, so you can give it a try without breaking your budget. Peloton is also setting up physical showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne, should you want to give its bikes a test run in person. The brand also makes treadmills, although when they'll be available in Australia hasn't yet been announced. Now that Peloton has arrived Down Under, it has set up shop in its fifth country worldwide, after the US, the UK, Canada and Germany. The Peloton app is now available in Australia, and the brand's bikes will be available from Wednesday, July 14. For further details, keep an eye on the company's website.
If you’re looking for the next new thing in craft beer, don’t read on, because sour beer is not it. It’s old hat, by now. Hundreds of years old. Thousands, even. We just never knew about it until now. I met with Joel Connelly, director of Sydney Craft Beer Week, to talk about beers, what makes them turn sour and why we’re likely to see an imminent emergence of this strange brew. “Australians are still really into ‘hoppy beer’," says Connelly, "but the thing in the US that’s been massive is sour.” Given that our fledgling craft beer scene takes hints from everything American, it seems safe to assume we'll be seeing more and more of this 'new' style. “Sour’s coming back now, but it’s old. It’s super old,” he says. So what exactly is this traditional method of brewing that brings to mind a hops-driven IPA mixed with a bagful of sour worms? And, more importantly, why should I want to drink such an odd concoction? After chatting with such a beer guru, and giving the tart elixir a go myself, I think I know. Historically, all beers used to be sour Sour beer, also known as 'wild beer', has been around since time immemorial, and has a longer history than the crisp lagers we’re so used to in our pubs. “Sour’s an old tradition. All beers used to be sour, before people figured out how to cultivate yeast,” Connelly says. They're commonplace in Europe, from Belgian lambics to Berliner Weisse beers. It’s not just a traditional style; it’s the only way you used to be able to get beer. The sour flavour is achieved through the use of wild bacteria during the fermentation process. Instead of cooking up an ale in a sterile steel vat, sour beer is allowed to ferment naturally through the use of bacteria like Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces — bacteria avoided like the plague by regular brewers. These yeasts bring with them a whole new subset of flavours that aren’t present in most beers you can find on tap. The bacteria are brought into production in a variety ways. The traditional Belgian method is to ferment in wooden barrels that will encourage the yeast to enter the brew. Open air fermentation is becoming more popular, too, and uses the wild bacteria present in the environment to alter the beer. Different still is the method of simply adding more fruit to kick a secondary fermentation into action. Each method brings with it a strange new taste that is beginning to change the way beer drinkers in this country are viewing their brews. It’s not an easy process, though. “A beer, from start to finish, you can have packaged and ready to go in two to three weeks, but souring beer takes a long time, it’s months of investment,” says Connelly. There's more to the flavour profile than the name suggests Once you can get it out of your head that your beer tastes so different to any other you’ve had before, it’s incredibly easy to appreciate the fact that it doesn’t. Take, for example, the Doctor’s Orders Electrolyte Forte, a zesty Imperial Gose. It hits your lips and you can taste a slightly more savoury note. As it rolls over your tongue, however, the flavour is all bright fruits paired with a hint of coriander, and it isn’t until you swallow that the tart, sour end of the spectrum is felt. At that time, however, it’s the perfect flavour to have — savoury, then sweet, and then all topped off with a sour sucker punch to the face. It’s intricate and delicate, and unbelievably refreshing. It’s not all about the sour, though. “It doesn’t have to be a full-on sour experience, you can just have a beer that’s slightly tart,” says Connelly. Not all beers are fermented for the same period of time, or with the same fruits, so every single batch is different. A beer might be soured with only a few added extras, and not for as long, so won’t taste like a Warhead. Instead, it might tread that border between crisp and tart, and simply make you think about what you’re drinking. In this way, sour beer is a lot more like wine. Because the process can’t be controlled to the same extent as mass-produced lagers, each batch is like a wine vintage — the same flavour combos, but with different aromas, bodies and intricacies. Like any refreshing beer, it’s meant to be consumed anywhere, anytime. Where to pucker up in Australia Most sour beers you’ll find at the moment are imports from America, given that the sour scene is so new to Australia. However, more and more local sours are popping up all the time. The Royal Albert Hotel in Surry Hills stocks a slew of Australian sours on a regular rotation, while Melbourne’s Slowbeer in Richmond is kicking around some killers. Aussie craft brewers are dipping their toes in sour, too. Western Australia’s Feral Brewing is pumping out the Watermelon Warhead annually, and Bright Brewery in Victoria is leading the sour charge with their Pink Framboise. There are still plenty more to come, with some brewers bringing out beers that tread the fine line between hoppy and sour, like Modus Operandi’s savoury MOFOS (Modus Operandi Funky Orange Saison). Sour is coming for you Although we’re a country that loves clean, crisp lagers and hops-driven ales, there is definitely room for beer’s sour ancestor in the craft beer market. According to Connelly, “People are starting to expect different beer, starting to expect more from it, and the more people’s palates expect from beer, the more open they’ll be to sour.” With events like Sydney Craft Beer Week's Into the Wild, local beer drinkers have more and more opportunity to taste without committing to a six-pack. The open minds of beer nerds, newcomers and everyone in between are being exposed to new varieties of beer every day, and, given this, we’re likely to see an increase of consumption of the oldest variety there is. Sour beer is not something to be feared; it’s something to be revered, like an eccentric grandfather teaching about the good old days. It’s refreshing, it’s delicious, and there’s more coming soon. So pucker up. Top image: Morgan Walker.
Dessert fiends love Christmas. If you have a sweet tooth, December 25 is just as exciting for the treats as for the presents. And since 2017, celebrating the occasion with something sugary and edible has also included Gelato Messina. That's when it launched its own version of a certain quintessential Australian dish: the trifle. In 2023, The Christmas Coma will return again — and this one is a blast from the past. Messina is throwing it back to its first-ever version of the dessert by bringing it back this year. Trifles are already about layers, but this one just earned a few more that aren't in the bowl. So, 2023's Christmas Coma will once again feature level upon level of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass container. What's in it? Well, Messina is going with strawberry and marsala jelly, vanilla chantilly cream and raspberry swiss rolls, as well as vanilla custard gelato, blood peach sorbet and passionfruit gel. There's also raspberry meringue, plus chocolate versions of cherries on top that come stuffed with amarena cherry ganache. The trifle will come with some Messina brandy custard, too, to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit). All of the above is available in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which can be pre-ordered from Wednesday, November 1 — with times varying depending on your state, as the gelato chain has does with its specials now. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT, then Victorians at 9.15am, with New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (from 9.30–10am). You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Thursday, December 21–Sunday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour. In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out ridiculously fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. Gelato Messina's 2023 Christmas Coma will be available to order from Wednesday, November 1. Head to the Messina website for further details.
Herbs Taverne, the sixth bustling venue from MUCHO Group, knows a thing or two about a bitter-leaning cocktail. And this Negroni Week, from Monday, 22, to Sunday, September 28, the negroni-fronted underground bar is giving away a golden ticket — $1000 worth of negronis. All you have to do to be in the running is to order a Herbs negroni during Negroni Week, and enter the draw via the QR code on a postcode you will receive. The famed signature drink blends gin, Campari and two vermouths, one rich and one fresh, which is then spritzed with bitter orange essential oil and finished with an orange wedge and olive skewer. This unmissable giveaway coincides with the launch of Herbs' new seasonal cocktail list, making it a perfect time to pop in for one of their signature complex creations influenced by bitter traditions from around the world. Herbs keeps a tightly curated menu of negronis, apéritifs, digestifs and signature cocktails, so the new drinks will be a welcome addition for regulars and newcomers alike. Four new herbaceous cocktails are joining the menu, including a purple negroni with pineau and dragonfruit and the frozen Free Bird, which combines gin, passionfruit soda and amaro ice. The Bullfrog highlights the warming spiciness of Calvados and Bercherovka, a traditional Czech herbal liqueur, whereas the Left Hook has a bold buzziness from mezcal, burnt orange, and Alpine amaro. The winner of the negroni giveaway, otherwise known as the city's best bar tab, will be drawn on Tuesday, September 30, and announced on Instagram at 6pm. Images: Nikki To. Herb Taverne's $1000 negroni giveaway runs from September 22 to 28. The winner will be announced on Instagram, @herbs.taverne, at 6pm on September 30. Only one entry per person will be eligible to enter the draw.
This summer, three pop-up Grey Goose spritz bars are serving up refreshing cocktails at a number of Sydney venues, so you can kick back and really enjoy summer. The pop-up is first making an appearance at David Jones on Elizabeth Street. Take an interlude from Christmas shopping and stop into to the Grey Goose Spritz Bar to treat yourself to a selection of classic cocktails (featuring Grey Goose vodka, naturally). The David Jones pop-up is currently open on Thursdays from 2pm, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm, until Sunday, January 30. Whether you're stopping in for a break from the last-minute Christmas shopping or rewarding yourself after finding a Boxing Day bargain, a visit to the bar is a great way to break up a day of shopping. But the summery sips don't stop there, with Grey Goose also popping up at Fratelli Fresh in Darling Harbour, where you can not only get an ice-cold spritz, but also a boozy gelato cocktail in the form of a sgroppino. Stop in for this delightful vodka dessert cocktail any day from now till Monday, January 31. Both sides of the harbour are getting in on the spritz action this summer, with North Sydney haunt The Greens also playing host to a Grey Goose truck. You can find the truck at the snazzy bowlo until 31 December. Wherever you decide to spritz, be sure to get a snap using the Grey Goose filter on Snapchat, which is sure to instantly transport you to a beautiful French garden. For more information on Grey Goose's new Essences range, head to the website.
It's that time of year again — the City of Sydney is putting 1000 trees up for grabs. For free. Over 12,000 trees have been planted since 2005, with the inner city area home to over 44,000 trees across its streets, parks and city properties. The City of Sydney is inviting locals down to Sydney Park this Saturday, April 7 as a way to encourage residents to help reach the government target to increase the urban canopy by 50 percent by 2030. There will be small species like hibiscus right through to 15-metre-tall jacaranda trees, and food-bearing types like lemon, lime and pistachio trees. Enjoy a sausage sizzle while you peruse the freebies, chat to clued-up staff and choose which ones to adopt. To prep, check out the website for the tree species that will be available on the day, along with caring instructions. If you're an inner city slicker and don't have a backyard, no wukkas — balcony horticulturists can use this tip sheet for growing trees in pots.
It's the eternal conundrum; you've had a delicious dinner but you're hankering for something indulgent to cap off the night — do you get dessert? While we're all for satisfying cravings, why limit yourself to gelato or cake? With so many spots serving up indulgent nightcaps in Sydney's CBD, why not opt for something you can really savour and treat yourself to dessert in liquid form. To give you a hand, we've partnered with Glenmorangie to find the best Sydney bars in and around the CBD to hit for a nightcap this spring. Having created the Signet single malt whisky with distinct flavours of chocolate, espresso and mandarin (well, that sounds a lot like dessert) who better to help us pick than the whisky purveyors at Glenmorangie. Finish the night on the right note, with a whisky and a decadent treat. 12-MICRON Wind up the evening watching the bright lights of Barangaroo dance across the water at 12-Micron's late-night dessert bar — whisky in one hand, decadent treat in the other. Headed up by Melbourne pastry master Darren Purchese, this highly inventive 64-seat dessert mecca is sure to satisfy all your post-dinner cravings. You'll finish the night on a high, literally — two-storeys up, overlooking the harbour — and figuratively, as sugary bliss fills your body. A must-try for all sweet-toothed Sydneysiders is the old fashioned sphere with salted caramel, dark chocolate, burnt mandarin, frozen Glenmorangie Signet shots, wattle seed ice cream and flourless chocolate cake ($22). Basically, it's some sort of old fashioned-dessert hybrid and our sweet dreams are made of these. Pair it with a Signet ($36), neat or the rocks, for a truly indulgent nightcap. KITTYHAWK Kittyhawk transports you back to the Liberation of Paris in 1944, a time when the booze flowed thick and fast, and with good reason. Which raises the question, what exactly does one drink when toasting to the end of war? We say whisky. But, seeing as you're in a bar which stocks more than 900 spirits and you're not celebrating a German surrender, choose whatever tipple tickles your fancy. Capping off a night at Kittyhawk you're literally armed with an instruction manual (drinks menu) to help you imbibe. The bar takes indulgence to a level that only the French know how. The Signet La Bouche with Glenmorangie Signet, mandarin curd, lemon juice and Angostura bitters is a smooth finish to the night, while the Kitty Sgroppino, described as a sweet, spicy candy shop, topped with waffle, cherry and strawberry fields ice cream has sweetness well and truly covered. SMOKE, BARANGAROO HOUSE With uninterrupted water views and an upscale dress code, Smoke at Barangaroo is a sophisticated venue that offers far more than a quick beer at the end of the night. With the lights of Sydney's skyline as your backdrop, nestle into one of the leather booths on the expansive timber deck and savour the experience, cocktail in hand. The bar takes an experimental approach to many of the classics; a Jaffa Sour pairs the flavours of Glenmorangie Signet, dark creme de cacao, blood orange juice, lemon juice and egg whites while the Yuzu Martini made with citrus vodka, yuzushu and orange bitters is a fresh take on a martini. BUTTON BAR The espresso martini is the quintessential nightcap — combining the end of the meal staples — coffee and something sweet — into a neat and delicious package. While not all bars get this mix right, Button Bar in Surry Hills certainly does, using the chocolate and espresso flavours of Glenmorangie Signet to enhance the espresso shot and real coffee beans in the sought-after Signet espresso martini. A cosy wood-clad bar decked out like the hull of a pirate ship, with individual leather booths and long communal tables, you can be as private or as raucous as you like. AT HOME Your night doesn't need to end just because you've gone home. Often, one of the best parts of an evening is a nightcap at home, comfy pants on, debriefing about the night that was. Stop by a bottle shop in the city and pick up a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet, then savour dessert curled up on the couch. Equally, if you're trying to impress, the promise of a tasty at-home tipple — served neat or on ice — packed with flavours of chocolate, espresso and mandarin will surely do the trick. Cap off your next night with a decadent post-dinner glass of Glenmorangie Signet.
The monopoly supermarkets once held over us food eaters has waned in recent years. Market halls are becoming the logical response to people's renewed interest in small batch, bespoke, local, sustainable, organic produce, because who wants to spend hours traipsing all over the city looking for the good stuff? Not us. Luckily, Sydneysiders will soon have a brand new providore marketplace which will bring all the aforementioned things together in one location for you to pack into your roll-along nanna trolley. Saporium will be the latest addition to The Cannery, a huge 4500-square-metre retrofitted warehouse in Rosebery, which already houses Archie Rose Distillery, Black Star Pastry, Koskela and Italian restaurant Da Mario. Designed to bring everything you need to live a wholesome, healthy life together in one place, the marketplace will have a greengrocer, a butcher, a baker, a coffee roaster, restaurants and a cooking school. It's been in development for some time. The first stage saw Grain Organic Bakery, Zeus Street Greek, 5th Earl and The Choc Pot open their doors, and last week the latest batch of tenants opened for business. Rosebery and Green Square locals now have Vive Cooking School, organic grocer Wholefoods House, Kingsmore Meats and Welcome Dose Specialty Coffee on their doorstep. The details of stage three have yet to be announced but will build on the theme of 'local as hell'. And with the news that Three Blue Ducks will be joining The Cannery gang later this year, moving to Rosebery seems like a very wise choice. Saporium is located in The Cannery at 85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery. For more info, visit saporium.com.au.
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this Sydney cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co. cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a second year, the festival will paint Carriageworks yellow on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — there will be over 50 types, with the lineup yet to be announced — it'll feature flavoursome fare from cheese specialists too. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving Wilson Street. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, beer and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. There will be an evening session on Friday from 4–8.30pm and two sessions (from 11am–3pm and 4–8pm) on Saturday. Tickets cost $40–45 + booking fee, which includes tastings.
No matter what your poison, our drinking culture is heavily influenced by big brands, their labels and their signature bottles. Take Absolut Vodka for example, which for many years has run an internationally recognised campaign based on the image of the clean and simple lines of their vodka bottle, in the process making it a modern icon of design. German designer Jorn Berger is getting us to rethink how packaging affects our drinking preferences in a series called Ecohol. He has repackaged some of the world's best known alcoholic drinks, putting them into Tetra Pak cartons. Not only do Berger's designs challenge us to rethink what really influences our consumer choices, they also offer us a sustainable packaging alternative to glass or plastic bottles. Cheers to that. [Via PSFK]
They say the key to a happy life is living a healthy one. Everything in moderation — from walks along the beach to pumping some iron in the gym and making sure you balance your indulgent snacks with nutritious meals. So, if more fitness is on your to-do list, join the club. And we mean literally. We're giving away a ClassPass voucher — which will let you access a range of classes across the city — plus some tasty protein bars to keep you well-fuelled. Because who said being healthy had to be boring? We've teamed up with protein bar brand FULFIL to wrangle a top-notch prize that'll help you achieve a more go-getter lifestyle. First up, you'll get $100-worth of fitness classes — think boxing, pilates, cycling, run clubs, rock climbing, yoga by the sea, high intensity interval training, and whatever else tickles your fancy. Who knows, you may find your new go-to exercise class that's also a bunch of fun. Now, everyone knows that all the exercise in the world won't do you much good without the right nutrition. So next up, you'll also be getting a month's supply of FULFIL protein bars. Each of these goodies comes packed with 20g of protein and eight kinds of vitamins, yet not much sugar at all. They come in four tasty flavours, including white chocolate and cookie dough; peanut and caramel; cookies and cream; and milk chocolate and mint. If you're keen to be in the running, enter below. [competition]758251[/competition]
The Murray River flows right through the heart of Tocumwal, and 24 riverside beaches within close proximity to town ensure you can make the most of every sunny day. With this stretch of Australia's longest river lined with shady red gums and native bushland, there's a quiet patch of shoreline with your name on it. At the end of Town Beach Road sits Tocumwal Beach, an impressive expanse of sand on the banks of the Murray. Nearby there's Apex Beach and Finley Beach, too. Image: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
Music and events collective — and masters of the block party — One Day is bringing it back to where it all began with a massive all-day party in its beloved inner west. Coined Better Daze, the post-summer day party is set to descend on Marrickville's Portugal Community Club on Saturday, April 6, dishing up a blissful al fresco session of tunes, food, drinks and dancing. Heading the lineup is Melbourne's rising star soul songstress Kaiit, with hip-hop act Turquoise Prince and the genre-bending Françoistunes dropping some killer live jams of their own. The outdoor dance floor will continue to jump to sounds from Sydney DJ talent like Ziggy, Carolina Gasolina, Klasik and some of One Day's own. Food trucks and pop-up bars will be on hand to fuel your inner west fiesta in style. The Portuguese-style charcoal barbecue and $10 cocktails should be enough to get you down there. The first lots of tickets have already sold out, so we suggest you snap some up ASAP if you're keen to go.
Prepare for your summer to get a whole lot chiller: Merivale and Corona are throwing a slew of A+ Sunday afternoon shows at amazing waterside venues. And the best part? A huge chunk of them are free. Bless 'em. Corona must have a lot of cash to splash, just to make you guys happy. No complaints here. The Sunday Sundown sessions will be held over 12 Sundays from January 3 to March 20. They'll be going down at Coogee Pavilion rooftop, the ivy Pool Club and The Newport. While Coogee Pavilion has never before hosted music events — which is absolutely cray considering what a beautiful place it is — that's all about to change. Kicking off with a free acoustic set by The Preatures on January 3, the Pavillion will host SAFIA, Dustin Tebbutt and Nicky Night Time with support acts Tyler Touché, JOY., E^ST and Cassian over the coming months. The Newport which is set to open next month, will also put on a series of free Sunday shows including Gypsy and the Cat, Saskwatch, Asta, Ben Lee and Mansionair, supported variously by Gordi, YesYou, Elizabeth Rose and World Champion. And if you want to splash out a lil, the ivy Pool Club is selling tickets for $20 to Tkay Maidza, KLP, HolyGhost and L D R U. Just remember to bring your togs. Phew, that's a lot of info to take in. The TL;DR message is this: free/cheap shows, sick lineup, great venues. Summer looking fierce. SUNDAY SUNDOWN 2016 PROGRAM COOGEE ROOFTOP 3 JANUARY: THE PREATURES (acoustic) + TYLER TOUCHE + JESS KENT 17 JANUARY: SAFIA DJs + JOY. + GLOVES 31 JANUARY: DUSTIN TEBBUTT + E^ST + BLUEJUICE DJS 7 FEBRUARY: NICKY NIGHT TIME + CASSIAN + TOM TILLEY 6 MARCH: YAHTZEL (DJ set) + AUKOUO + MANTRA COLLECTIVE 13 MARCH: BEN LEE + LINDA MARIGLIANO + WORLD CHAMPION IVY POOL CLUB 10 JANUARY: TKAY MAIDZA + JUNO MARS + DREEMS 24 JANUARY: KLP (DJ set) + TWO CAN (DJ set) + SURFDISCO 14 FEBRUARY: HOLYGHOST + INDIAN SUMMER + TYLER TOUCHÉ 6 MARCH: L D R U + CHIEFS + NICK LYNAR THE NEWPORT 27 MARCH: SASKWATCH + YESYOU + TWO CAN (DJ set) 3 APRIL: GYPSY & THE CAT + GORDI + PORSCHES (DJ set) 10 APRIL: ASTA + JUST A GENT + ELIZABETH ROSE (DJ set) 17 APRIL: MANSIONAIR + YUMA X + CC:DISCO
Crack open a bottle of wine, get comfy and prepare for a twisty binge — and to wrap up a series that's always loved vino, chaos, murder cover-ups, unpacking grief and finding solace in complicated friendships. For the third and last time, Dead to Me is heading to Netflix, with the Christina Applegate (Bad Moms 2), Linda Cardellini (Hawkeye) and James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)-starring hit ending with this upcoming season. Since 2019, the show has contemplated farewells — starting with a just-widowed woman trying to cope with losing her husband in a hit-and-run incident. Taking a few cues from 2018 film A Simple Favour, the mourning-fuelled dark comedy has weaved its way through plenty of mess and mayhem from there, including via the unlikely camaraderie at its centre; however, the fact that everything comes to a conclusion sooner or later has always hung over the show. When it returns for season three on Thursday, November 17, that notion will remain given that this is Dead to Me's big goodbye. Back in 2020, after the second season aired, it was revealed that the show would finish after a third and final run. So, get ready for your last swim through its murders, mysteries and cover-ups. The premise, if you missed Dead to Me when it premiered three years back: two women meet, become friends despite seemingly having very little in common, and help each other with their daily existence. But they find themselves immersed in more than a little murky business, and with more than a few connections they didn't both realise. Applegate plays Jen Harding, whose husband has just died, while Cardellini's Judy Hale is the positive-thinking free spirit that breezes into her life. They initially cross paths at a grief counselling session, sparking a definite odd-couple situation — which has evolved to feature secrets, lies, complications and cliffhangers galore across the show's two seasons thus far. Season two ended with a big car crash, in fact, which sets the scene for an eventful third go-around. In both the newly dropped full trailer for season three, the cops and the feds are circling, corpses are causing trouble and the show's two protagonists even come up with outlaw names: Bitch Cassidy and Judy Five Fingers. Created by 2 Broke Girls writer Liz Feldman, Dead to Me marked Applegate's first lead TV role since 2011-12 sitcom Up All Night when it debuted. For Cardellini, it saw a return to Netflix after starring on the streaming platform's drama Bloodline — and she also featured in A Simple Favour, too. Check out the full trailer for Dead to Me's third season below: Dead to Me's third season will hit Netflix on Thursday, November 17. Images: Saeed Adyani / Netflix.
When 2022 began, it kicked off with famous faces stranded in the Australian outback, all thanks to local streaming platform Stan. Zac Efron did the honours in the film Gold, while Jamie Dornan lost his memory amid this sunburnt country of ours in six-part TV thriller The Tourist — and if you were a fan of the incredibly easy-to-binge latter, it's coming back again for another round of twists and turns. The BBC, which also had a hand in The Tourist, has announced that season two of the hit series is on its way. The British broadcaster also revealed that the show is its highest-rating series of 2022 so far, so stumping up for more is hardly surprising. Screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams (Baptiste, The Missing, Liar) will return; however, the BBC is keeping quiet on details otherwise, including around timing, casting and storyline. Accordingly, whether Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Belfast's Dornan will be back, where the six new episodes will be set, what plot they'll follow and when they'll hit your streaming queue is still all under wraps. If you haven't yet watched the The Tourist's first season, it starred Dornan as a man caught up in a mystery, and unfurled its specifics in cliffhanger-heavy instalments. It also had fun with its premise — and its onslaught of twists and turns. It knew that zigzagging thrillers that work from a clearcut roadmap should make their familiar pieces feel anything but, and should take their audience along for a wild ride. And, it was well aware that that should all be the case even when largely driving down a recognisable road. Playing an Irish traveller in Australia, Dornan's character's name doesn't matter at first, when he's using the bathroom at a petrol station in the middle of nowhere. But after he's run off the road by a steamrolling long-haul truck shortly afterwards, he desperately wishes he could remember his own moniker, plus everything else about his past. Local Constable Helen Chalmers (Danielle Macdonald, French Exit) takes a shine to him anyway; however, piecing together his history is far from straightforward. His other immediate questions: why is he in the middle of Australia, why does a bomb go off in his vicinity and why is he getting calls from a man trapped in an underground barrel? A well-greased concept, a confident approach, clever plotting, a fabulous cast: they're all on offer across the first season, and they all hit their marks. Add the script's smattering of memorable, nearly Coen brothers-esque lines and, whether hurtling in a straight line or zipping quickly around unexpected corners, The Tourist was easily 2022's first must-binge show. Here's hoping the same proves true of season two — whenever it drops, and whatever it's about. Check out the trailer for first season of The Tourist below: The Tourist's first season is available to stream viaStan in Australia and TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand — and you can also read our full review. We'll update you with further details about the show's second season when they're announced.
Sunday sessions should be simple, especially if your head feels a little weary from the previous night's antics. Busby's at Oxford House abides, with the launch of its new Sunday Snacks weekly event taking care of the share-style eats, easygoing drinks and relaxed vibes for you. Served every Sunday from 12–10pm until Sunday, September 28, it's all about easing into the day, one chilled-out bite at a time. With a tasty selection of small plates, recovering after a big night out or kicking back with friends at a long overdue catch-up feels just right. The menu is a sumptuous affair, with highlights including seared octopus gilda, potato hash with crème fraîche, and king prawns with Calabrian chilli butter. Priced at $40 per person, you can ramp up the feast even further by adding a pasta to share for $20 and delving into the drink specials. Plus, there's weekly live entertainment, adding to Busby's intimate atmosphere. For those unfamiliar, the place is adorned with a soft, lamp-lit ambience and velvety red carpets, making for the most laidback of Sunday hangs. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are encouraged.
Back in March 2020, when the Sydney Opera House shut its doors due to the pandemic, the venue quickly went digital. Last year was the year of experiencing gigs, talks and shows online, after all — but the Opera House isn't stepping away from its online slate now that life is returning to normal. With the venue's 2020 digital season From Our House to Yours proving a hit, the Opera House is taking the next step in 2021 and launching its own streaming platform. Simply called Stream, the new service is online now and serving up a lineup of concerts, chats and performances. At present, Stream features over 30 hours of programming, which spans more than 45 different events. Plenty of it is free, including a compilation of past Opera House gigs that features The Cure, Bon Iver, H.E.R. and Solange; a live set by Ziggy Ramo; Badu Gili's projection of Indigenous art onto the building's sails; First Nations dance competition Dance Rites; and the From Our House to Yours program. There's also a paid component, including highlights from the Opera House's recent Antidote and About All Women festivals — if you missed out on either and are keen to dive in. Performances by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Chamber Opera and Omega Ensemble are also on offer, as is free content for kids and families — and Stream's slate will keep growing, too. When the venue hosts four concerts at its Forecourt from Friday, April 9–Sunday, April 11, for instance, they'll be livestreamed free on the streaming platform. A new series of online commissions, called Shortwave, will explore the intersection between performance and digital. Online exhibition Returning, which will highlight works by Australian and Japanese artists that examine the post-pandemic world, is also set to join Stream in the near future. [caption id="attachment_806347" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Badu Gili[/caption] Announcing the platform, the Opera House's Head of Digital Programming Stuart Buchanan said that Stream will augment "livestreams and performance recordings with digital-first work that celebrates the ways in which technology is being embraced and disrupted in the performing arts." Stream is also great news for folks who don't live in Sydney, or do but can't make it to a gig, show, festival or talk. While the Opera House won't be placing everything that graces its stages on the platform, the new service will still let you sample the venue's lineup without physically stopping by. To check out the Sydney Opera House's new Stream service, head to the platform's website. Images: Daniel Boud.
Purrfect news, feline fans: everything a dapper doggo can do, a cute cat can as well. While that's an accurate statement in general, as anyone who has ever shared their life with both a pooch and a kitty will know, it's also the thinking behind Australia's latest animal event. From the folks behind the Dog Lovers Show comes the mouser equivalent: the Cat Lovers Show. If you wear the 'crazy cat person' label as a badge of honour, stop to pat every moggie you meet while you're walking down the street or spend your all of your spare time watching cat videos (or all of the above), then you'll want to block out September 8 and 9, 2018 in your diary. And, if you live elsewhere, you'll want to head to Melbourne. The Victorian capital first boasted the country's first cat cafe, and now it'll host the first Cat Lovers Show. Expect Carlton to come alive with the sounds of meows, with the event taking place at the Royal Exhibition Building on Nicholson Street. On the agenda: feline-focused education and celebration. Before you go thinking about adorable kitties wearing glasses and sitting at desks, or popping streamers and wearing party hats (awwwwwwwww), it's humans will be doing the learning and rejoicing. Really, what's more informative and exuberant than entering the Pat-A-Cat zone and getting cosy with cats of all shapes and sizes — and possibly taking one home with you? Watching a cat talent show in the Pet Circle Colosseum comes close, obviously. If that doesn't tickle your whiskers, attendees will also be able to take a purrfect match quiz to find out which type of cat suits them best, meet different breeds, listen to talks by experts, browse more than 120 stalls and snap selfies with Instagram cat stars. Plus, a cat-inspired food menu will also be on offer, because everyone wants to eat chicken 'cat'cciatore or chocolate 'meow'sse. Just remember: there'll be plenty of mousers in the Cat Lovers Show house, so you'll need to leave your own moggie at home. The Melbourne Cat Lovers Show will take place on September 8 and 9, 2018 at the Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton. For more information — and to keep an eye out for tickets, which will go on sale in February — visit the website.
Craft beer isn't just for hipsters anymore. More and more people are looking for alternatives to the usual swill of Carlton Draught or Toohey's New, and the boutique market is flourishing. The beer taps at your local pub are as varied as ever and there's always a colourful, new offering to taste test. But that's just the thing; with such a wealth of options out there, how can we decide which to pick? Enter the Craft Beer Industry Association. These legends have just hosted the inaugural awards for Australian brews and picked you the cream of the crop (so to speak). At a ceremony at Giant Dwarf last night, 11 awards were given to breweries in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth (sorry, Brissie). The big winner of the night was Modus Operandi Brewing Co, a small Mona Vale brewery which launched earlier this year. We've written about them before because they sell truly incredible 1L takeaway cans, but apparently the beer's pretty good too. Their red ale, Former Tenant, took out the top gong for best craft beer as well as best amber/dark ale and their Zoo Feeder IPA also won its category. Quite rightly, the company itself was named the best small brewery in the country. Other winners include Melbourne's Moon Dog Brewing, Two Births and La Sierene, Sydney's 4 Pines and Nail Brewing Australia from Perth. The best drops for summer will undoubtedly be 4 Pines' ESB Pale Ale; Saison, the award-winning French and Belgian style creation from La Sirene; and specialty ale Taco from Two Birds. The latter beer actually has hints of corriander leaf and fresh lime peel — the perfect replacement for your tired old summer ales. These victors were picked from a spread of 280 beers from 80 breweries across the country. "We were blown away by not only the quality but the variety of brewers we have in Australia," said CBIA Chair Peta Fielding. "[We] are proud the CBIA can help draw attention to these talented brewers." Speaking as people who enjoy a beer or two over the sunnier months, we wholly appreciate this too. Stay classy, Australia — stick to craft beers this season. Full list of winners: Kegstar Champion Australian Craft Beer - 'Former Tenant', Modus Operandi Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) AIBA Champion Pale Ale - 'ESB', 4 Pines Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) Labelmakers Champion Amber/Dark Ale - 'Former Tenant', Modus Operandi Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) Champion Porter and Stout - 'Black Lung IV', Moon Dog Brewing (Melbourne, VIC) Champion Speciality Beer - 'Taco', Two Birds Brewing (Melbourne, VIC) Beer and Brewer Champion IPA - 'Zoo Feeder', Modus Operandi Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) Champion French and Belgian style - 'Saison', La Sirene (Melbourne, VIC) Hopco Champion Small Brewery - Modus Operandi Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) Cryer Malt Champion Medium Brewery - Nail Brewing Australia (Perth, WA) Bintani Champion Large Brewery - Joint winners: 4 Pines Brewing Company (Sydney, NSW) and Two Birds Brewing (Melbourne, VIC) CBIA Services to Australian Craft Beer - Willie Simpson Photos via Modus Operandi Brewing Co.
He’s hung out in Nevada brothels, suburban swingers’ clubs and high-security gaols in Miami. Does Louis Theroux have what it takes to survive Q and As across Australia? We’ll find out when the fearless filmmaker, journo and social commentator heads our way this September for a national speaking tour. In his first visit to the Great Southern Land, Theroux will be joining ABC’s Julia Zemiro for big chats in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. You’ll be hearing all about how he’s survived dens of iniquity all over the planet without losing his sanity or moral sense. He’ll also be reminiscing about time spent with a nasty neo-Nazi gang in the United States and recounting his brief stint as a rap god on New Orleans radio. “For me, making my programs is quite a private process,” Theroux said. “They are about forging a human connection with people whose lives are at the outermost edge of what we as people experience: the most forbidden impulses, the most frightening lifestyles, the most traumatic turns of events. To get inside the lives of those people — criminals, sex workers, people with mental illness, ultra-committed religious believers — is a kind of high-wire act.” Theroux is looking forward to sharing the ins and outs of the filmmaking process with his listeners, while telling all the bizarre stories that didn’t make the cuts. In between talking, he’ll be screening footage from Weird Weekends, his famous series of one-off investigations and encounters with various celebrities and power brokers. When he and Zemiro are done, you’ll have loads of time to ask questions of your own. “In his documentaries, Louis Theroux finds the extraordinary in the ordinary," says Zemiro. "Through patience, stillness and rigour, he reveals so much about human nature. I'm delighted to be hosting this tour and intend to pick up as many tips as possible in the art of interviewing.” Catch Louis Theroux at Perth’s Riverside Theatre on September 22, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on September 25, Sydney’s State Theatre on September 27, Adelaide’s Festival Theatre on September 30 and Brisbane’s QPAC on October 1. Tickets go on sale on March 21 via Louis Theroux's tour website. Image: Carsen Windhorst.
Beached has a big premise: It's a satire about a 400kg teenager who dreams of a more adventurous, unencumbered existence. In order to get life-changing — or life-saving, more like — gastric bypass surgery, he submits to the surveillance of a TV show, whose team will 'help' him lose enough weight to go under the knife. The new play by Melissa Bubnic, which won the 2010 Patrick White Playwrights Award and was shortlisted for the 2011 Griffin Award, puts both our society's fat-hate and reality TV obsession under the spotlight, all while spinning a tender tale of a frightened young man and his overprotective mother. Does it live up to its ambitious promise? Not quite. It's ultimately a bit simplistic, and many of its biggest laughs come cheap, rather than from the displays of insight and wry revelation you expect from satire. But to fall short of greatness is no failure; Beached is still good and a winningly entertaining night at the theatre. Its compassion is its strength. Director Shannon Murphy (Porn.Cake) and the creative team (designer James Browne, lighting designer Verity Hampson and sound designer Steve Toulmin) have come up with a complex system of camera rigging for the stage that unfolds and configures like a cross between a Polly Pocket and a panopticon. In the middle of it sits an immobile Artie (Blake Davis). Choosing how to portray Artie's size was always going to be the production's first challenge, and fortunately it's also one of their big victories. Artie's costume is less fat suit and more bulbous, flesh-coloured beanbag that the boy is unfortunately stuck to. It's the physical embodiment of sitting, nonliteral but completely convincing. For some reason, Murphy and Davis have not matched that sense of weight and sedentariness through performance, and it does disrupt the illusion. Davis is not just nimble but fidgety, and he also speaks with an animated childishness that seems out of place in Artie's reality. As his mother, JoJo, Gia Carides is wonderful, both a hawk and a deer in headlights. The ever-excellent Kate Mulvany does a huge service to the role of Louise, Artie's Centrelink counsellor and Ideal Woman, finding the funny, neurosis and fragility in each line. Even if it's involved biting off more than everyone could chew, there's a lot of heart and a lot of smarts on show in this lively production. Image by Brett Boardman.
Here are the very few things I know about Finland: it's cold and covered in forests, people are pale and highly educated, and they have an array of deeply frightening death metal bands. Now you can add World Design Capital to that list, because Helsinki, Finland's capital, has just been awarded the 2012 title by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. Helsinki, proclaimed the world's most livable city by Monocle, won due to its ability to use the country's creative and artistic industries to promote economic growth, as opposed to other country's attempts at killing them off to try and save costs. Combining beautiful landscape with efficient infrastructure and socially conscious urban planning, design has been an integral part of life in Helsinki for years and manifests itself in furniture, jewelry, interior design and architecture. Festivities will last for a year and include more than 300 events and programs in and around Helsinki, officially beginning on New Year's Eve with a celebration in Helsinki's Senate Square. The activities will include not only designers and creative leaders but the entire Finnish community, and will also feature traveling exhibits in St Petersburg, Taipei, London, Berlin and Tokyo. In a highly sensible and Scandinavian way, Helsinki has vowed that the year won't be a fireworks display of events and shows, but a deeper attempt to explore sustainable design from a broad perspective and how design can be made better, easier, more functional and accessible to everybody. If there was ever a time to take a trip to Helsinki, looks like next year might be it. [Via Cool Hunting]
If the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Waiting for Godot has left you hankering for more Beckett, Sydney Festival's All That Fall may quench your theatrical thirst, stepping in to continue the homage to a man as elusive as his plays. Irish company Pan Pan Theatre (Oedipus Loves You, Fight the Landlord) will return to Sydney to present their acclaimed rendition of Samuel Beckett’s rarely performed 1957 radio play, All That Fall. Featuring 60 rocking chairs bathed in light, this unconventional listening party offers an immersive theatrical experience that's all audience, no stage. Surrounded by the voices of an aging Irish woman and her townspeople, expect a black comedy, a murder mystery, a cryptic literary riddle and a quasimusical score. In spite of the absence of visual performers, the impressive soundscape and award-winning lighting design are said to keep you fixated. This imaginative method of storytelling offers up a theatrical atmosphere that is totally unique. In the dim chamber, it is the audience members that take on the spirit of performance, hanging on every word of Beckett's bleak humour. This radical, communal production is almost like having a cast of characters inside your head, or being inside theirs.
Fine dining be damned, hawker cuisine has increasingly earned its flowers from high-minded culinary perfectionists. That includes Keng Eng Kee, a 55-year-old Singaporean zi char stall-turned-restaurant whose home-style cooking has appeared in Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown and Netflix's Street Food Asia while winning recommendations in the Michelin Guide. Having recently launched their first Singapore outpost, the ice cream experts at Gelato Messina have also taken note of Keng Eng Kee. Serving up an international collaboration for the first time as part of its Messina Eats series, the legendary hawker outfit will host a two-day car park feast from Friday, October 10–Saturday, October 11, at Messina's Marrickville HQ. Featuring a tight, but tantalising menu, guests will discover Keng Eng Kee's coffee pork bites — tender pork wok-tossed in coffee, honey and apple jam sauce, then finished with roasted sesame seeds. There's also a chilli soft-shell crab burger, chilli crab meat served with golden fried mantou, and black pepper beef with garlic rice. As expected, the sweets are also unmatched. Grab a Milo Dinosaur Sundae, layered and sprinkled with Australia's favourite malty treat. And for those who can't make the main event, a limited-run gelato — Goreng Pisang — is available for one week from Thursday, October 9, offering fried banana gelato with peanut praline and gula melaka caramel.
Fancy a good glass of wine after a day at the beach? Coogee locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales certainly do, and their new venue will let you do just that. Taking cues from the bustling wine bars of Europe, Coogee Wine Room hopes to be the new post-beach go-to for the eastern suburbs. It'll open this September along Coogee Bay Road — just one block up from the ocean. As to be expected, the team is taking its wine game very seriously. The 400-strong list has been created by Hardwick and Venue Manager Brooke Adey, whose resume includes time spent at Bea, Chiswick and Yellow. On the list is a whopping 30 drops by the glass, along with limited vintages and hard-to-find drops. Over 50 different varieties are represented here, too. [caption id="attachment_731347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] In the kitchen, Head Chef Sandro Di Marino (A Tavola) is plating up a succinct, Mediterranean-style menu. For share dishes, expect oysters, Spanish anchovies and pork cheek sliders to be served alongside the requisite cheese and charcuterie. Larger plates include ricotta ravioli with chestnut, parsnip and butter; chargrilled octopus with lentils and herbs; and salted cod, fried to golden brown, and topped with yoghurt and red onion chutney. Local design studio Tom Mark Henry is behind the fit-out, which spans two storeys and — as goes the trend — maintains an industrial vibe. Expect exposed brick walls, concrete floors and a black steel staircase, along with warm timber tones, deep leather furniture and marble finishes. It'll seat 96 all up, with walk-ins welcome and long lunches also on the docket. Coogee Wine Room will open this September at 222 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee. Keep an eye on this space for more details closer to the launch. Images: Steven Woodburn
The cultural divide between Sydney and Melbourne has never felt more like a yawing abyss than when news broke that Joss Whedon would be giving the keynote address at the Melbourne Writers Festival. Grr, Argh! That is until we heard that he'd be coming to Sydney ... and addressing the Opera House. Snap! Whedon's creative genius surely needs no explication here, but if we're going to gush, he will go down in history as the man behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer (in a pre-Twilight world, mind you) not to mention its hunky spin-off Angel. Whedon then went on to masterfully combine cowboys and space in the scandalously short-lived series Firefly, before sticking it to the man with the fan-demanded movie adaptation Serenity. His most recent television venture, Dollhouse, gave the world another kick-ass heroine in Echo — a cypher with identity issues. And as if he didn't already have his fans undying love, he graced the web with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Many, many more virtues are there to be extolled (did you say Toy Story? Or what about the ludicrously anticipated Holy Grail of the comic book-verse The Avengers?), but the point is, you can see Joss Whedon at the Opera House! Or, if you're really quick, you can fork out some extra cash to Popcorn Taxi for premium seats and entry to the exclusive after-party. Shiny! https://youtube.com/watch?v=QuEfGbj9qS4
The recent fad for tilt shift photography meets its antithesis in Mirage by Anna Carey. Where tilt-shift made the real look miniature, Carey makes the miniature look real. At first seeming to be a series of photos of abandoned Gold Coast beach buildings, the buildings are in fact each miniature models photographed in situ by Carey. Just as Eugene Agtet documented Parisian buildings scheduled for demolition, Carey's art here gets interested in the Vegas-like rapid turnover of architecture on the Gold Coast. Though her buildings aren’t models of real places, they still feel real and adding location backdrops completes the illusion. The stilted house of Golden Palms is a green study of Queensland winds and shaggy heat. Sea Mist’s lonely, blue weatherboard building seems to sag, windows lolling open with humidity. Not unlike David Hockney’s Los Angeles paintings, which were real images polished to became portraits of a dream city, Carey has skipped ahead to land at the end of this same architectural dream, four decades later. The show also includes the original models used in Stardust, Crystal Pacific and Pacific Moon. Getting close to these cardboard and toothpick-wooden models, you can appreciate how much work went into the design of a rotten door or faded rail. And doubly so how much more work lay in covering up what flaws remained in photographic circles of confusion as Mirage manages to transfer dream to reality, documenting an older incarnation of the Gold Coast slowly making way for a newer version of same. Photo Star Dust by Anna Carey.
In Ratatouille (2007), a Pixar film about a rat who desperately wants to be a chef, the food critic (aptly named Anton Ego) is painted as a stand-in for all critics. He comes to us as a workable cliche; sharp-tongued but world-weary, a posture that hangs in the air like a wet towel, a face like a melted candle. Unimpressed and vocal about it. It's a brilliant critique of the critic, a picture of everything that's wrong with those who swallow their own expertise too often and too eagerly. Interestingly, as fate would have it, Anton Ego is re-awakened by the little rat's cooking, and after much soul searching produces a monologue of marvelous introspection: "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and theirselves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new..." Anton hits upon something, which are the very questions all critics, at one time or another, must surely face: what is the role of criticism? Who deserves to be a critic and who doesn't? Should criticism be refined and limited to a select few or open to every tongue wet with opinons? Taking place at The University of Sydney as part of Sydney Ideas, True Judge vs. Old Judge will look at the role of criticism today within the online sink of twitter, blogs and blogs on blogs. Speakers include: Stephanie Bendixsen, James Bradley, Sacha Molitorisz and Bernard Zuel, and the event will be chaired by Sue Turnbull, a critic for the Sydney Morning Herald.
Yoga, bars, markets, bed and breakfast-style wizarding schools, parties — if you're a muggle looking for more Harry Potter magic in your life, there's no shortage of options. Add this new New York pasta restaurant to the list. At Pasta Wiz, you'll be slurping spaghetti as you're spying a sorting hat out of the corner of your eye, all while sitting in a HP-inspired enchanted lair. Think chandeliers and candles too, in what's hoped will be the first venue in a potential chain if there's enough interest. Given that the book and film side of things doesn't really seem to be slowing down (we have four more Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies to watch, remember; and, 2017 marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published), you'd think locals and tourists alike will be dropping in. It's not just the decor that's designed to make customers feel bewitched, though; or dishes with names like Magic Meatballs, Dragon's Blood (a mango, raspberry and strawberry smoothie) and the Dark Lord (a liquid mix of avocado, cacao, cashews and agave), plus four types of potions (aka juice blends). It's also the speed of the service. According to the Pasta Wiz website, their meals only require three minutes to make, on average. Perhaps the chefs have a time-turner? https://www.instagram.com/p/BO6YL37AI56/?taken-by=pastawiz Via Gothamist.
It's said that the early bird gets the worm — but this May, early birds will also score 23-percent off their total dinner bill at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's charmingly laidback restaurant Tilda. From now until Saturday, May 31, diners who make a reservation for dinner between 4–6pm on weeknights or from 5–6pm on Saturdays will find their total bill slashed by nearly a quarter. The discount applies to the entire menu with zero restrictions, meaning you can take your pick from the à la carte menu that heroes locally sourced ingredients cooked over charcoal, or from the extensive Australian-leaning drinks list, and score a tidy discount. [caption id="attachment_1002348" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] Start with a selection from the raw bar, before moving on to starters like caviar and seaweed butter-topped crab toast, or the decadent tableside bread and butter service. You can then dig in to a selection of house-made pasta, meat-centred share plates and charcoal-cooked fish, served as fillets or on the bone alongside a sauce of your choice (sake-fuelled butter, anyone?). Save room for one of the playfully nostalgic desserts, like an upside-down pineapple cake with whiskey anglaise, or a blueberry Sunnyboy with sheep's milk and watermelon. On the drinks front, you can score any of the signature cocktails for less than $20 and glasses of Aussie wine starting from $10. There's also an extensive selection of whiskey, with an impressive focus on Australian distillers. [caption id="attachment_1002350" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Top image: Steven Woodburn.
The self-deprecating not-humour humour of Sydney artist Christopher Hanrahan's work makes it the kind that continues to resonate long after you've encountered it. If you saw his sculpture Endless Holes (four decanters for CB) which was part of his solo exhibition Table of Knowledge last year, you'll know what I mean.If I could get the artist to write something about his new show, he might write something exactly like this:The Seeker is Christopher Hanrahan's second solo exhibition at Sarah Cottier Gallery. Utilising a variety of media from traditional drawing through to casting, aerosol art and neon, Hanrahan examines pretty much nothing. That said — it's pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.Go and see it.Image courtesy of the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery
Here's one for all you Tolkien fans out there. A go-getting housing company are now selling prefabricated homes that wouldn't look out of place in The Shire. Made from fibre-reinforced polymer shells that are then covered in soil, Green Magic Homes are the closest thing you'll get to living in an actual hobbit-hole. Now hand us the pipe-weed. Constructed from pre-made vaulted panels, the dome-like residences are designed to be eco-friendly and energy efficient, and can be easily assembled by just about anyone. Pre-made components can be screwed together based on the desired shape and size of the home under construction, with a three bedroom house requiring only five to six days and three people to build. Once the house has been put together, it's completely covered in soil, stabilising the structure and providing natural insulation, as well as giving it that classic Hobbiton circa the end of the Third Age feel. You can plant a garden, or even trees, atop your hillside homestead — just watch out for wandering roots. According to the Magic Green Homes website, the modules are fully waterproof, suitable for hot and cold climates, are earthquake and hurricane resistant, and can be expected to last several lifetime of use. As long as the Sackville-Bagginses don't get their greedy hands on it. For more information about Green Magic Homes, check out the delightfully cheesy promo video, below. Via Inhabitat.
Showcasing a careful selection of Japanese homewares, Mosir Life has a calming aesthetic. Which is fitting as its name means "quiet land" in the language of the Ainu people of Japan. The store stocks everything from delicate jewellery to bamboo bound notebooks, brass cutlery and handmade ceramics. It also frequently hosts exhibitions with local and international artists.
There are few film festival experiences as fun as spending four days camped out at Marrickville's Factory Theatre during the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Attending this fest in-person involves hopping in and out of its makeshift cinemas, watching all manner of out-there and indie movies you won't see elsewhere, and spending plenty of time at the bar chatting about what you've just seen — and, whether you're a diehard cinephile and festival devotee, you're just sick of watching mainstream fare or it purely sounds like a great way to spend a weekend, it's a total and utter delight. SUFF isn't playing out quite like this at the moment, however, for obvious reasons. Moving online for the second year in a row, it's hosting its 2021 edition virtually. Thankfully, while no one can enjoy the physical side of the fest between Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26, SUFF has brought its usual anarchic vibe to its 30-film program — all of which is now available to stream, and nationally as well. Get ready for affectionate documentaries, weird and wild features that just keep getting weirder and more wonderful, and pretty much everything in-between, all while getting cosy on your own couch. And if you've not sure where to start, we've watched, picked and reviewed seven highlights from SUFF's 15th annual program. There's your viewing sorted for the next fortnight or so. POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ Add Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché to the list of exceptional music documentaries — and yes, that observation can end there and prove 100-percent accurate. That said, this excellent film also belongs among the ranks of standout docos about famous musicians that serve multiple purposes. For existing fans of Marianne Elliott-Said, the punk singer who fronted late-70s band X-Ray Spex, this is an unflinching love letter that dives into every facet of her life. Covered here: her rise to stardom at a pivotal time in music history, the way she was treated as a British Somali woman, her efforts to subvert every standard that applied to women and public figures, and the toll it all took. As co-written, co-directed and guided on-screen by her daughter Celeste Bell — as an act of embracing everything her mother was and stood for — the film also demonstrates again and again why its title couldn't be further from the reality. For newcomers to the woman best known under her stage name Poly Styrene (which she picked from the phone book), this loving feature acts as an entry point, too. Like fellow outstanding music doco The Sparks Brothers, it'll give some of its audience a new obsession. Via voice snippets rather than talking heads, the likes of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore also offer their memories of and insights into all things Poly, but Bell and her co-helmer Paul Sng (Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain) understandably push their bold, rebellious and inimitable central figure to the fore at all times — including via riveting archival footage, as well as potent and emotional snippets from her diaries and poems. WONDERFUL PARADISE No one will finish Wonderful Paradise wondering what writer/director Masashi Yamamoto (The Voice of Water) and co-screenwriter Suzuyuki Kaneko might've left out of their script. The pair throw everything they can into this absurdist Japanese comedy, and it shows — because this is the type of movie where giant coffee beans get ravenous, children segue from projectile vomiting to transforming into branches, pregnancies last around 20 minutes, and parties become funerals, then turn into big song-and-dance numbers. The premise: at a house in suburban Tokyo, Akane (Mayu Ozawa, The Happy Prisoner), her father (Seikô Itô, We Are Little Zombies) and her brother (Soran Tamoto, I Turn) are packing up their belongings. For financial reasons that involve big debts and shady figures who are keen to collect, they're moving out of the sprawling abode. But Akane decides to host one last party and, after she tweets out the details, friends, relatives and strangers alike — including her estranged mother Akiko (Kaho Minami, Oh Lucy!) — all start popping up. From there, anything that can happen does. Indeed, sharing the same kind of manic energy that also made fellow low-budget Japanese flick One Cut of the Dead a delight, this plays like a hallucinatory mind trip more than a movie. That isn't a criticism of Wonderful Paradise; this is just a film that sweeps you along for a strange and surreal ride, satirises everything it can while also making plenty of savvy statements, careens off in weird and wonderful directions, and also makes you adore every minute. LORELEI Following an ex-felon who has just been released from a 15-year prison stint, as well as his former teenage sweetheart, Lorelei isn't in a rush to unfurl its dramas and dive to its deepest depths. Marking the feature debut of Sabrina Doyle, it's the type of film that needs that space and 111-minute running time to grow and breathe, and to build up to its surprises — and to earn the emotional journey that its standout lead performances slowly but commandingly convey at every moment. Orange Is the New Black's Pablo Schreiber plays Waylan, a small-town biker who didn't snitch when he was sent up for armed robbery. Keeping quiet cost him not only a decade and a half of his life, but his romance with Dolores (Jena Malone, Antebellum). His incarceration has saw their shared dreams dissolve, too, and led Dolores to have three children with other men since. The pair reunite after Waylan is released, crossing paths purely in passing. Quickly, staring into each other's eyes brings back old feelings, and also conjures up new regrets about the existence they always thought they'd lead together. Doyle is as concerned about the precarious situation that Dolores and her children Dodger (first-timer Chancellor Perry), Periwinkle (fellow newcomer Amelia Borgerding) and Denim (debutant Parker Pascoe-Sheppard) have endured over the years as she is with Waylan's route forward, and much of Lorelei thoughtfully dwells on the stark realities facing all of its characters. Indeed, there's not just empathy but a sense of rawness here — including when the film endeavours to leap into sunnier waters. ALIEN ON STAGE It's one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, and always will be. It spawned three sequels and two prequels over the course of four decades and, while many of those have been stellar themselves, it still remains the best film there is with xenomorphs at its centre. It made Sigourney Weaver not just a star but a legend, too — and, thanks to an amateur stage version of the iconic flick that was initially staged in Dorset, then hit London's West End, it gave a group of British bus drivers their time in the spotlight as well. The movie in question: Alien. It mightn't seem suited to the theatre, but that didn't stop Dave Mitchell and his friends. When they decided to turn the film into a stage production, they put their hearts and souls into it, and Alien On Stage tells their story. The show turns out exactly as you'd expect with a non-professional cast and crew at the helm, and with homemade props recreating the Nostromo and its unwanted stowaway. The same description applies to his loving documentary — because this is a movie made by fans, about a stage show made by fans, and the end result leans into all of those layers of affection. Back in 1979, Ridley Scott mightn't have ever imagined that his sci-fi/horror film could spawn this level of devotion, or give this much happiness to folks trying to follow in his footsteps — and to a room full of immensely entertained Leicester Square Theatre attendees, too. That's just one of the things that Alien has spawned, and everyone can hear this movie's screams of joy. SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT When Arman (Azamat Marklenov) and Murat (Erlan Primbetov) pick up Dastan (Daniar Alshinov, A Dark, Dark Man) for a day of fishing in Sweetie, You Won't Believe It, they're just trying to gift him one last moment away from his responsibilities. His girlfriend Zhanna (Asel Kaliyeva, The Secret of a Leader) is about to give birth to his first child, and this film subscribes to the idea that parenthood means kissing goodbye your old self. But, the trio have never cast a line into the water before. That's the excuse they've used to head away, though, so they decide to stick with it. They're soon fashioning a boat out of blow-up sex toys, but that's far from the worst that their day trip to regional Kazakhstan has in store. As they're floating and not really fishing, they witness gun-slinging gangsters (Alamat Sakatov, Yerkubulan Daiyrov and Rustem Zhaniyamanov) attempting to squeeze information out of another man in a violent fashion — and, soon, Dastan and his pals find themselves being pursued by the ruthless criminals as well. Then, complicating matters even further, a one-eyed, jaw-ripping psychopath (Dulgya Akmolda) on a quest for vengeance starts targeting everyone in sight. Sweetie, You Won't Believe It doesn't take any of its various parts seriously, thankfully. It's one part buddy getaway comedy, one part western slapstick, one part secluded horror and one part gory gangster flick, and it loves seesawing back and forth between all four. It also has ample fun satirising prevailing ideas of masculinity amidst the blood, guts and over-the-top silliness. CANNON ARM AND THE ARCADE QUEST When The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters chronicled Steve Wiebe's attempt to earn Donkey Kong's highest score ever — and oust Billy Mitchell from retaining that title in the process — it turned a slice of the gaming world into one of the must-see documentaries of the early 2000s. Well over a decade later, Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest mashes similar buttons, this time focusing on the eponymous Danish Gyruss devotee and his dream of clocking up 100 consecutive hours playing the 80s game. If successful, Kim aka Cannon Arm won't just claim the world record for his favourite shoot-'em-up title. Standing in an arcade for more than four days straight (with some canny plans around how to eat, nap and go to the bathroom, if you're wondering how that all works), he'd smash the existing feat by a whopping 41 hours. Sporting a greying mullet and noted for his lack of conversation, Kim himself approaches the possibility with few words; however, his friends and fellow games are eager to do anything they can to assist his quest. As this doco charts, achieving this kind of milestone isn't straightforward. Yes, Kim's health is considered in detail as first-time feature filmmaker Mads Hedegaard — who narrates as well — explains. All that gaming isn't the only focus of the documentary, though, with Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest smartly diving into what draws Kim and his Bip Bip Bar mates to their preferred pastime, what else they're fascinated with in their lives, and how gaming both parallels their other interests and provides a respite from their daily lives. DANNY. LEGEND. GOD. If there's one thing that Bulgarian councillor Danny (Dimo Alexiev, A Hidden Life) isn't lacking, it's confidence. He isn't short on arrogance, either, or on the impulses needed to take the most corrupt, abhorrent, self-serving option at any possible juncture — and he's extremely unpleasant to be around even in small bursts. Danny is also the titular figure in mockumentary Danny. Legend. God., so he demonstrates his worst traits over and over, and for an extended period. First-time filmmaker Yavor Petkov wants viewers to feel uncomfortable, in fact, because that's the natural reaction to seeing someone who's little more than a crook throw their weight about in a position of power, care only about themselves and have zero regard for the long-term repercussions for everyone in their orbit. In other words, this is a film that proves particularly piercing given the current global political climate. It's darkly humorous, but in a savage, biting, only-two-degrees-removed-from-reality way. And if you're wondering why Danny is in the spotlight — and why Alexiev puts in quite the committed performance in the part — that's because the film revolves around a news crew visiting the character's home town to capture and ideally expose his wrongdoing. What starts out as an attempt to make a documentary about money laundering soon gets hijacked by their subject, though, as Danny demands that his freewheeling life is captured exactly how he wants it — no matter what he's doing, or snorting, or the cost of his actions. The 2021 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26. For further details, or to watch online, head to the festival's website.
In the manner of "why not both?" believers everywhere, Sydney's craft beer darlings Young Henrys have teamed up with Irish whiskey-giant Jameson to bring fans of both libations an extra special taste of each. Now through to August 31, 49 Australia-wide venues are serving up high-end collaboration boilermakers. The appropriately nicknamed Boilermates will bring craft beer and whiskey lovers under one roof, where they most likely were already. This special boilermaker — which, for the uninitiated, is a glass of beer paired with a nip of whisky — isn't the trashy kind where punters drop a shot into a beer and skull. No, this partnership is a classy one, consisting of Jameson Caskmates, served neat or on the rocks, paired with a Young Henrys beer of choice. The Caskmates whiskey — dreamt up by Jameson's head distiller and the head brewer of Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery — is aged in stout-seasoned whiskey casks and triple-distilled for a super smooth finish. In short, it is not for shooting. Venues across NSW, ACT, WA and Queensland will be participating, including Brisbane's Lefty's Music Hall, Sydney's iconic craft beer haunts Mojo Record Bar and The Little Guy, as well as venues including The Unicorn, Mary's, The Lord Gladstone and The Hazy Rose. It should come as no surprise that these two beverage behemoths hatched this spectacular plan over a few drinks at Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS). The festival is known as a beacon for craft beer creativity and innovation. The group felt that, while beer and whiskey lovers are aplenty in Australia, the boilermaker isn't nearly as represented in bars and pubs as it should be. They've launched Boilermates with the hope that, come end of August, the two libations will remain close cousins in the eyes of Australians everywhere. Together may not always better, but it sure is when it comes to craft beer and whiskey. Check out Young Henrys website for a list of all venues serving Boilermates.
With Australia's craft beer scene going gangbusters and innovative new local drops hitting the shelves every week, it can be hard to keep track of what's worth buying. But if you fancy scouting out some winners, The Independent Beer Awards, affectionately known as The Indies, is a decent place to start. The Aussie awards just announced its top beer picks for 2019, after a team of judges drank their way through a record-breaking 1017 beers from 147 Australian breweries. The scoreless competition awards gold, silver, bronze and no medal across a range of categories, rather than the usual numerical quantification or points system. And what better than this expertly chosen lineup of winners to inform your springtime beer hit-list? The triple dry-hopped double Red Eye Rye imperial red ale from Carrum Downs' Dainton Brewery took out top honours, claiming the coveted title of Champion Australian Independent Beer. Better get that one in your fridge, stat. Meanwhile, the most celebrated venues included Victoria's 3 Ravens, named Champion Independent Australian Brewery in the small/medium category; Fixation Brewing Co, taking out the large category counterpart; and All Hands Brewing House at Sydney's King Street Wharf, which was bestowed the title of Champion Australian Independent Brewpub. State brewery winners included SA's Mismatch Brewing Co, the ACT's Bentspoke, Gage Roads from WA, 3 Ravens in Vic and Sydney's All Hands Brewing House. The Gold Coast's Balter Brewing Company was named Queensland State Champion, after its XPA took out top honours at GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list earlier this year for the second time in a row. Among The Indies' list of top brews in each style, you'll find a beer for just about every palate. There's the spring-perfect Surry Hills Pils from Sydney Brewery, which claimed the title of Champion Lager; Modus Operandi's big, bold Former Tenant as Champion IPA; and named Champion Session Beer, the Piss-Weak Sauce by Marrickville's Sauce Brewing Co. Also on the list are the Champion Porter/Stout — the Bunker by Collingwood's Stomping Ground — the Champion Pale Ale from Mismatch and the Champion European-Style Ale, claimed by Bright Brewery's Razor Witbier. You can check out the full list of The Indies' 2019 winners over at the website.
The times they are a-changin' down in Potts Points' Lankelly Place, where Waterman's Lobster Co. has just revamped as Dear Sainte Eloise and Joseph Hyde has taken up residence in the old Wilbur Place digs. Named for Joseph Hyde Potts, who founded Potts Point in 1830, the community-minded cafe boasts some serious coffees and a menu for any dietary need. The space is owned and operated by Louise Hunt (previous owner of Surry Hill's Orto Trading Co and Redfern's Baffi & Mo), who just returned from sabbatical and snatched up this epic laneway space once the Wilmer pop-up ceased to be. "I love this laneway, it screams Melbourne for me and I like the fact that it's a bit of a hidden gem," says Hunt. "There are a lot of other little food outlets here, and I loved the fitout of Wilbur Place and used to have drinks down at the old Waterman's, so it's exciting to now be a part of this little laneway community." Joseph Hyde is the fourth business for Hunt and the locally sourced, weekly menu is an evolution from her previous operations with some twists on old favourites — think the Croque and Jack, a twist on the croque madame which uses free range, double smoked ham, topped with Monterrey jack cheese and a duck egg, all atop Sonoma sourdough ($15). The succinct menu also includes cheekily named dishes like the Get Laid, a.k.a organic eggs on toast ($11), and the Honey Dijon, which is named after the New York house DJ and is a combination of fried free range chicken, slaw and served with chipotle mayo ($18). "The most important thing for me was to make sure we could feed everyone so we've taken a lot of time and effort to make sure our menu can accommodate any dietary requirement," says Hunt. To this end, they'll happily accommodate special orders or swapping of ingredients, having already worked multiple protein options into a few dishes — including The Stack, which can come vegetarian with avocado and asparagus ($14), ham and mushroom ($18), or cured trout ($20.5). In the next few weeks, Joseph Hyde will also open for dinner Thursday through Sunday, turning into a wine bar by night with light menu including pork belly bites, prawn toast and scotch egg. In the meantime, they are currently licensed and are all about boozy weekend brunches. Joseph Hyde is now open at 36 Llankelly Place, Potts Point. Open Monday through Friday from 7am to 3pm and Saturday through Sunday from 8am to 3pm, and for private hire. Dinner hours will start in the next few weeks from Thursday through Sunday. Keep an eye on this space for the official dinner launch.
A Month of Sundays tells a familiar tale of middle-aged unhappiness. Think family struggles, work troubles, regrets and attempts at redemption. Yet there's an undercurrent of dry Australian comedy apparent in the latest feature from writer-director Matthew Saville (Noise, Felony). In the same way that other recent local releases The Dressmaker and Looking for Grace traversed darker territory with a wry smile, A Month of Sundays doesn't quite try to look on the bright side of life, but it does understand the way laughter can disarm bleak, tense and even routine situations. Here, amusement lurks quietly, always present in Anthony LaPaglia's lead performance. As Adelaide real estate agent Frank Mollard, the actor is rarely without a look of bemused resignation on his face or a droll tone in his voice. Frank is surrounded by the misery of a fresh separation from his actress wife (Justine Clarke), a strained relationship with his teenage son (Indiana Crowther) and a strong feeling of professional dissatisfaction. Perhaps that's why Frank believes he's talking to his deceased mother when a stranger dials a wrong number, and why he then forges a bond with the woman, retired librarian Sarah (Julia Blake), on the other end of the phone. It's the kind of situation that could only occur in a movie, though courtesy of the film's blend of empathy and comedy, it's never as far-fetched as it sounds. That's the film all over: slightly too convenient in its story, but still realistic in its emotions. More often than not, Saville finds the balance between the two, courtesy of a lighthearted touch and warm sense of humour. Indeed, as thoughtful as the movie's treatment of its gloomier themes proves, A Month of Sundays is at its best when it's cultivating chuckles. In fact, the entire film could've easily been set around Frank, his boss Phillip Lang (John Clarke), and their shared scenes. Their one-liners, about selling houses and installing Flash to view the company website, not only raise a few giggles, but also reveal plenty about their characters. The old adage, that every joke contains a grain of truth, clearly hasn't been lost on Saville. Neither has the need for a slow and patient approach in letting both the amusing and moving sides of every exchange play out. That it all builds slowly and subtly might feel a tad anticlimactic, but that's the point. Just as life creeps up on Frank Mollard, so to does this modest Aussie film creep up on all who watch it.
Whenever a film makes its way onto the Sydney Film Festival program, it's an occasion. That's true for the thrilled filmmakers, of course, and also for viewers who get to watch the prestigious fest's curated lineup on the silver screen, too. But each year, only one movie can take out SFF's most coveted slot: opening night. In 2022, that honour is going to We Are Still Here, which will enjoy its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival on Wednesday, June 8. Set to brighten up the State Theatre to launch the event, it's an impressive opening-night pick — a Pacific First Nations collaboration that features eight stories by ten directors from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. As helmed by Australian filmmakers Beck Cole (Here I Am), Danielle MacLean (Carry the Flag), Tracey Rigney (A Chance Affair) and Dena Curtis (Back to Nature), as well as New Zealand directors Tim Worrall (Head High), Richard Curtis (Nanakia), Renae Maihi (Waru), Miki Magasiva (The Panthers), Chantelle Burgoyn (short Tatau) and Mario Gaoa (Teine Sa), We Are Still Here unfurls its stories through the eyes of eight protagonists. Those tales span over 1000 years, with the anthology film conceived to give Indigenous talent the chance to explore narratives about the colonisation of native peoples throughout the Pacific — and to also respond to the 250th anniversary of James Cook's maiden voyage to the area. As well as looking backwards, the feature examines the shared traumas still faced by Indigenous people in the region. And, it's doing just that with a heap of impressive First Nations actors on-screen, including Clarence Ryan (Moon Rock for Monday), Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne (Cousins), Leonie Whyman (New Gold Mountain) and Calvin Tuteao (The Dead Lands). "Bringing together a range of genres including animation, sci-fi, romantic comedy and period drama, We Are Still Here highlights the vibrant storytelling talents of First Nations filmmakers in our region," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing the opening night film. "We're delighted to open our 2022 festival, with the world premiere of this multifaceted and impactful film and usher back in the return of our Opening Night Gala after three years, celebrating the film, the Festival and our local industry." Sydney Film Festival doesn't drop its full 2022 program until Wednesday, May 11; however, it has been revealing bits and pieces over the past month. So, We Are Still Here is already in great company for the fest's whopping 69th event, and the 11th helmed by Moodley — including the first 22 movies that were unveiled back in April, spanning everything from freshly minted Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain's latest role to an Australian-made horror standout, plus a retrospective focusing on the documentaries of American filmmaker Frederick Wiseman. The 2022 Sydney Film Festival will run between Wednesday, June 8–Sunday, June 19. The full program will be released on Wednesday, May 11 — head back here then for the rundown.
It has been a tough summer in Australia, with bushfires raging across the country and ongoing drought still taking its toll. In response to these disasters, it's been a summer filled with Aussie spirit, too — as the country rallies together to do whatever it can to support those affected, as well as the volunteer firefighters battling the blazes. Trust Australia's distillers to take the whole Aussie spirit concept literally, though. Making Aussie spirits is their job, so they're banding together to donate some of that local booze to a great cause. That's what the Aussie Spirit Auction is all about — selling off Australian-made gins, rums, vodkas, whiskies and whiskeys, moonshine and other liqueurs, and giving all the proceeds to Rural Aid's bushfire and drought relief efforts. More than 100 Aussie distilleries are taking part, including big names such as Four Pillars, Starward, Archie Rose and Brookie's Gin. Together, they've donated more than 200 bottles, including many that are rare, limited edition or simply can't be bought in stores. A number of experiences, such as distillery tours, are also on offer, as are fine art prints of distilleries if you need something for your wall. There are two ways to take part, stock up your liquor cabinet and help those in need: a physical auction and gala in Sydney on Friday, February 28, and an online auction that's currently underway online until the same date. For those thinking about attending in person, your $120 ticket will also be donated to Rural Aid, and you'll also eat your way through a three-course dinner, drink plenty of craft spirits and get the chance to bid on the auction's top 12 items. There'll also be a pop-up bar onsite showcasing distilleries from bushfire-affected regions, including WildBrumby, Karu, Reed & Co, Corowa, Craft Works and Joadja. [caption id="attachment_761560" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] 5Nines Distilling, Richard Lyons[/caption] Online, current bids range from reasonable to hefty, depending on the brand and the item on offer. And, if you're eager to help but aren't interested in the booze, you can also simply donate without bidding. Plus, you can bid on a brand new whisky that's being made especially for the occasion — called 'the Aussie Spirit', naturally. The Aussie Spirit Auction is currently underway online, with bids accepted until 10pm AEDT on Friday, February 28. The live auction and gala takes place in Sydney on the same date — at Dockside, 2 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour — with tickets on sale now. Top image: Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Did you know that Will Ferrell is white? And that Kevin Hart is small? Do you think it would be funny if each pretended that they weren't? The minds behind Get Hard certainly do, explaining the odd couple meets fish-out-of-water comedy that results. Apparently laughs will flow freely if Ferrell tries to act like a gangsta being schooled by Hart punching above his weight. The key word is apparently. Things are going pretty well for stockmarket whiz James King (Ferrell), with a happy boss slash soon-to-be father-in-law, Martin (Craig T. Nelson), and an attractive fiancee, Alissa (Alison Brie), to prove it. Then, his engagement party is crashed and his dreams crushed by FBI agents waving around fraud and embezzlement charges. An unsuccessful attempt to prove his innocence later, and he's destined for 10 years of hard time. Afraid he won't be able to take it, he enlists Darnell Lewis (Hart), an aspiring carwash entrepreneur and family man mistaken for an ex-con, to teach him how to survive on the inside. Yes, he asks for help getting hard, hence the movie's title and many of its gags. Did you know that the phrase doesn't just refer to acting tough? Of course you do — but based on the amount of genitalia jokes in the screenplay, writer/director Etan Cohen (scribe of Tropic Thunder) and his co-writers Jay Martel and Ian Roberts (TV's Key and Peele) are really afraid that you don't. That also explains the frequent reminders that jail isn't a nice place and constant mentions of rape and violence, as well as the overt tone of panicked homophobia. Add rampant racism as well as the dismissal of Brie as a money-hungry sex object, and the end result is questionable at best and offensive at worst. Satire can't be used as an excuse, though the few moments that work — Ferrell dressed up like Lil Wayne while telling Hart that he's not trying to appropriate his culture, for example — indicate that was the aim. It takes more than simply pointing something out and then repeating it for the film to avoid stereotypes, but it just doesn't invest the time and effort. Get Hard even misses the mark on the easiest target here, and the one that actually makes sense: the ridiculously wealthy perpetrators of white-collar crimes that fleece the little guys for a big payday. Amid all the poorly judged humour, everything plays out as expected, the duo bumbling and bonding, and the film trying to coast by on star power alone. Ferrell and Hart both do what they can with the material, showing plenty of effort for little reward; however, even their innate talents can't save the show. This isn't the comedy vehicle either could've hoped for, nor a showcase for what might have been a great double act. Looking flatter and blander than any Hollywood effort should, it's not the movie anyone could've hoped for, either. The only thing getting hard here is the audience's patience.
The summer of 2019 in the US was unofficially dubbed 'White Claw Summer'. The hard seltzer (an alcoholic carbonated water) was as popular as frosé was the summer before — and now it's set to make a splash Down Under when it launches here in October. So, Aussies, it's time to prepare for your own summer of sippin' Claws. Lion Australia has partnered up with Mark Anthony Brands International, the makers of White Claw, to import and distribute the sparkling beverage from mid-spring. To start, it'll be selling the company's three most popular flavours — mango, natural lime and ruby grapefruit — but expects to launch more of the expansive range over time. White Claw comes in white cans and is named after the supposed legend of the "white claw wave": when three perfect crests come together to create the perfect wave. As well as being a little like an alcoholic version of the already extremely popular La Croix drinks, White Claw gained popularity for its relatively low calories (100 a pop), low sugar content (two grams of carbohydrates a can) and catchy unofficial slogan: "Ain't no laws when you're drinking Claws". As American police departments were quick to point out, however, there are still in fact laws when you're drinking Claws. https://www.facebook.com/BathTownshipPolice/posts/2450523918365166 Australia's own police departments are known for publishing many tongue-in-cheek social posts, so expect plenty of Claw references when the drink lands here. White Claw isn't the only hard seltzer you'll find on bottle shop shelves this summer, either. Aussie-brewed Fellr and sugar-free Good Tides are both already available at BWS and Dan Murphy's, and Lion launched Quincy last year, which it dubbed the "first alcoholic seltzer in Australia". White Claw is set to hit Aussie bottle-o shelves this October. We'll let you know when more details are announced.
Transform your iPhone into the classic rangefinder camera of a photojournalist with the solid black Gizmon iCA Military Edition. This case will totally convert your iPhone, wrapping around it completely and creating an entirely new 'camera', complete with a viewfinder and a top-mounted shutter button. Choose from the available wide, macro, and fisheye lenses, and attach to create photographic effects unavailable in the iPhone itself. The iCA Military Edition comes with a detachable tripod mount, ideal for longer exposures, as well as a fabric bag to store and protect the durable polycarbonate pieces of your camera. The product site claims that the iCA "blurs the line between phone and camera by combining them both", and it's all yours for around $70. [via NOTCOT]
Looking for somewhere to sample share plates with friends or grab a quick bite before a Town Hall show? Tucked away down one of Sydney's hidden CBD laneways is the recently opened Galli Galli, a vibrant eatery slinging delicious street eats and colourful cocktails. The mammoth three-storey eatery has a pretty eclectic menu lineup, including starters, share plates, mains and some extremely aesthetic cocktails. But it's the opening deal that's sure to get punters through the doors in droves: until June 18, Galli Galli is serving up its famous Nepalese dumplings — called Momos — for just $1 apiece. Six different flavour combinations of the steamed dumplings are on offer, each filled with a savoury assortment of meat or vegetables (or both). Round up some friends and some loose change, and head down to sample them all. We'd recommend getting there for happy hour between 4pm-7pm, when you can wash your dumplings down with a $6 beer.
UPDATE: JULY 17, 2020 — The Sydney season of Come From Away has been postponed until Thursday, June 3 2021. General public tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 21 2020. Customers who purchased tickets for the original performances will receive priority seating for the rescheduled performances. For more information, head to the musical's website. Already an enormous success on Broadway, in London's West End and in Melbourne, Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away is finally bringing its remarkable true tale to Sydney. Based on real post-September 11 events, the acclaimed production will land at the State Theatre for a season of kind-hearted charm, kicking off in August this year. If you aren't familiar with the musical's plot, or the actual events that inspired it, it's quite the exceptional story. In the week after the September 11 attacks in 2001, 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. Part of Operation Yellow Ribbon — which diverted civilian air traffic to Canada en masse following the attacks — the move saw around 7000 air travellers grounded in the tiny spot, almost doubling its population. Usually, the town is home to just under 12,000 residents. To create Come From Away, writers and composers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands of locals and passengers, using their experiences to drive the narrative — and, in many cases, using their real names in the show as well. The result is a musical not just about people coming from away (the term that Newfoundlanders use to refer to folks not born on the island), but coming together, all at a time when tensions were running high worldwide. Since being workshopped in 2012, having a run in Ontario in 2013, then officially premiering in San Diego in 2015, Come From Away has become a global smash hit. After opening on Broadway in 2017, it's still running today. The musical has been wowing crowds in the West End for the past year, too — and, since opening in Melbourne in July 2019, it has become the Comedy Theatre's most successful musical in the venue's 91-year history. Along the way, the show has picked up a Tony Award for best direction of a musical, six other nominations, and four Olivier Awards out of nine nominations. Check out a clip from the Melbourne production below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmvy1p2FOE&feature=emb_title Come From Away's Sydney season will kick off on Saturday, August 1 at the State Theatre. For further information — or to buy tickets from Thursday, February 6 — visit the musical's website. Images: Jeff Busby.
Your mates at Concrete Playground know how much you guys love Nutella. Sydney went nuts over those damn Tella Ball milkshakes, Melbourne eats so much of the stuff they caused a temporary nation-wide shortage back in 2015, and Australia lost its collective shit when a toaster-shaped Nutella food truck started rolling around the country. Long story short, the food truck will be hitting the road again this month, embarking on a road trip from Sydney all the way over to Perth. We figured you'd want to hear about it — especially as all the goodies on board will be free. Alistair Fogg, the man behind Sydney's Nighthawk Diner (which has just opened a permanent store in Chippendale) must have had excess Nutella lying around, because he's once again devised the menu for the food truck. This time, he'll be drizzling Nutella on pancakes, crumpets, bagels, waffles and even acai bowls. And, yes, it's all free — although there is a limit of only one item per customer per day,. The nine-stop road trip will spend two days in Sydney, pulling up in Chatswood from 7–10am on Friday, May 11 and Cronulla the morning after from 8–11am. From there, the truck will head to Griffith before going down to Adelaide and across to Perth. As for everywhere else, well, cross your fingers and hope you might be added to the itinerary. If not, we'll send you a Nutella-smeared postcard. Find the complete list of dates, times and locations for the Nutella Road Trip here.
Opened in early 2017, London cocktail bar Scout quickly made the World's 50 Best Bars list. It stands out for two main reasons: every ingredient in every cocktail comes from the British Isles and every leftover ingredient (every straggling bit of garnish) goes into the food. To put that in more trendy terms, Scout is hyperlocal and closed-loop. Yesterday, Sydney hospitality heavyweight Maurice Terzini — founder of Icebergs, Bondi Beach Public Bar and the Dolphin Hotel — let slip that Scout founder Matt Whiley is coming Down Under. More specifically, he's going to set up a Sydney outpost of Scout in a disused section of the Dolphin's top floor. That means you'll soon be drinking highly unusual cocktails made with native ingredients in — if the original Scout is anything to go by — a minimalist, Scandic-inspired room. Whiley hasn't revealed any of his Aussie recipes yet, but we can look to the current London list to get an idea of what to expect. It features the Apple of God (a savoury concoction of butternut squash liqueur, disarmed chilli, coriander and sparkling wine) and the Black and Yellow (bee pollen, sunflower seed, Deawars 12, meadowsweet and liquorice). Although Scout will share space with the Dolphin, the two will operate as independent businesses, with separate entries and aesthetics. Slated to launch in 2019, Scout will be Sydney's latest venue-inside-a-venue with Mary's Pizzeria recently opening inside the Lansdowne Hotel and Terzini opening Bonnie's Wine & Food inside Bondi Beach Public Bar. Scout Sydney will open inside the Dolphin Hotel, 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills, in early 2019.
Love a sip of sake? Fans of Japanese rice wine should heed the imminent arrival of Sakeshop. The store is opening in Stanmore and trading in everything sake (as you may have guessed from the name, which pulls very few punches). Sakeshop will open on July 8 and specialise in nihonshu, shochu, umeshu (all variations of sake) and Japanese beer. The team behind Sakeshop have run this gamble before. A sake store was introduced to Chef's Armoury in Richmond four years ago and enthusiastically received by Melbourne's sake fiends. Owner Leigh Hudson, a form chef, sommelier and accredited sake educator, is expanding to Sydney but Sakeshop will be more than just a shop. On July 15, they'll be hosting an event to educate folks on pairing and explore the different types of sake. They're also putting on pop-up izakaya nights, the first of which is going down on September 16. And they'll also be offering sake education courses through WSET Sake School, the only certified sake-based course in Australia. There are intensive classes for hardcore enthusiasts and also one-day courses for those of you who just want to be impressive on a date. Check out the website for dates. Kanpai! Find Sakeshop at 105-107 Percival Road, Stanmore from July 8.
