The team at Newtown's Continental Deli Bar & Bistro is keeping up their famous can-do attitude, unveiling its latest cocktail creation: Negronis in a can. The much-loved venue on Australia Street, which recently celebrated its second birthday, is already well known for its canned goods, from marinated octopus and sardines to creamed corn and even tiramisu. This also isn't the first time they've tinned up their booze, either — in fact, their bar list is stocked with cocktails like the mar-tinny, the can-hattan and the cosmopoli-tin. Continental launched its latest tinned tipple via Instagram — and while we're a little disappointed they couldn't think of a pun, mostly we're just keen to crack one open and taste it for ourselves. NEGRONI - now in a can! #yeswecan #negroni #negroniinacan #cocktail A post shared by Continental Deli Bar Bistro (@continentaldeli) on Oct 6, 2017 at 7:24pm PDT You can order the canned Negroni at Continental Deli Bar & Bistro, 210 Australia Street, Newtown seven nights a week.
See the sky set alight this New Years Eve from Sydney's Gatsby-like terrace bar, The Butler. Pott Point's panoramic venue is putting on a lavish, four-course banquet to welcome 2016 in style. Tipped to guarantee ticketholders an impressive selection of French flavours with an unexpected Caribbean twist, this intimate soiree offers sweet city views and an equally impressive feast to match. At $200pp, entry to this sky-high tropical hideout comes at a bit of a cost. But with whispers of bubbly on arrival and best-seat-in-the-house views of the fireworks, this is one NYE party to entice partygoers after a more sit-down yet lively affair.
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly 'Living Colour' floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Green Square, Town Hall, Alfred Street and the forecourt outside St Mary’s cathedral. But as the plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons, celosia, golden marjoram and bromeliads in your life? On Sunday, November 8 from 8am, St Mary's Cathedral will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Best of all, all funds raised will be heading directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Add some colour to your own space and feel good about it too. Who could resist adopting these little blooms that've seen it all?
SXSW (South by Southwest) Sydney brings together thought leaders, artists and trailblazers, fostering an environment where ideas flourish and connections are made. With a diverse lineup of events, SXSW Sydney offers something for everyone, from inspiring keynote addresses to hands-on workshops. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking investment or a creative professional looking to expand your network, this year's conference delivers sessions designed to ignite your passion and propel your career forward. We've picked out the eight must-see events from this year's Conference program you don't want to miss. Get ready to dive into a world of innovation and creativity by adding these to your diary. Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention – and How to Get Your Brain Back with Johann Hari Wednesday, October 16, 10–11am ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre New York Times best-selling author of Magic Pill and Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention, Johann Hari, joins SXSW Sydney 2024 as a Keynote Speaker. Johann Hari is a British journalist and author known for his thought-provoking work on topics such as addiction, mental health, and societal issues. He gained prominence with his books, including Chasing the Scream, which examines the war on drugs and advocates for a more compassionate approach to addiction. His TED Talks and articles often challenge conventional narratives, encouraging readers to reconsider the underlying causes of societal problems. Hari's writing combines personal anecdotes with extensive research, aiming to foster understanding and empathy. Character Customisation — Identity in Video Games Saturday, October 19, 5–6pm Fortress Sydney, Alienware Arena This engaging discussion explores the complex world of character creation in video games, highlighting how these narratives can empower underrepresented groups. This diverse panel of experts will examine the shift from traditional binary storytelling to the expansive possibilities of inclusive narratives. Dive into the challenges, successes and ethical considerations involved in representing dynamic characters in gaming, aiming to foster empathy, understanding and empowerment in virtual spaces and discover how intentional design and narrative choices can lead to richer, more authentic gaming experiences for all players. How moments create a movement with Katherine Bennell-Pegg Wednesday, October 16, 12–1pm ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre From the launch of Sputnik to man's first footsteps on the moon, the defining moments of 20th-century space exploration have each radically transformed the ways we, as a species, view our place in the universe. So, what will be the next moment that shifts humanity's perspective and urges us to move beyond? Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg will challenge you to reflect on why Australians need to get involved in the impending global space renaissance. With a background in aerospace engineering, Bennell-Pegg has been involved in various missions, focusing on scientific research and technology development. She is also an inspiring advocate for STEM education, advocating for young Australians to pursue careers in space. Innovation Showcase Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 Broaden your horizons and open your mind at Tumbalong Park. With cutting-edge tech demonstrations, unexpected performances on the Main Stage, and a visit to The Dome by The Growth Distillery, visitors can get up close and personal with the bleeding edge of next-gen tech. Highlighting advancements in rocketry, robotics, engineering, and more, this is a must-see for anyone interested in the ways technology will remake the world in the coming decades. AI as Your Next Co-Worker: Transforming Collaboration in the Future of Work with Armand Ruiz Monday, October 14, 3:45–4:45pm ICC Sydney, Cockle Bay 2 Delve into the rapidly changing role of AI in the workplace and how AI Agents are poised to transform collaboration. As AI technology advances, the future of work will include not just human colleagues, but specialised AI that enhances productivity, creativity, and decision-making. This timely discussion on the evolution of AI, the emergence of AI co-workers, and their implications for teams and organisations will feature live demonstrations to showcase real-world applications of AI. Offering insights on how these technologies will revolutionise the workplace, Armand Ruiz will draw on his experiences as an innovative entrepreneur and technology expert known for his work in digital transformation and startup development. The Inaugural Games Jam Showcase Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 This new initiative aims to showcase the limitless creativity and innovation of game developers worldwide. Over 30 days, participating teams will work around a unique theme to inspire their game development journey, pushing the boundaries of design and presenting groundbreaking concepts. Selected projects will be featured and rewarded with exclusive opportunities. More than just a competition, this event celebrates creativity, facilitates networking with industry experts, and offers a chance for recognition on a prominent stage. History of Virtual Celebrities Thursday, October 17, 5–5:30pm Fortress Sydney, Alienware Arena Teddy Dief, Co-Designer of Hyper Light Drifter and Game Director of We Are OFK, explores the evolution of virtual identity since the 1960s across television, music and games. He'll then explore the conception and creation of the virtual band OFK, discussing the design principles, techniques, and social priorities that shaped Team OFK and how they continue to operate as a band. Discover the potential and challenges of designing virtual characters and parasocial relationships while learning the right approaches, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to foster positive connections instead of causing harm. The Genomic Transformation of Medicine Venue and date: TBC Driven by significant advances in three key areas, the field of medicine is currently in the throes of a period of rapid transformation. These include recent developments in genomics, which provides high-resolution insights into the human body; data science, which analyses this data to deepen our understanding of disease; and therapeutics, which facilitates precise molecular interventions to prevent or cure illnesses. This panel discussion features leading experts from each of these domains, moderated by Sarah Murdoch, a champion of genomic medicine and child health. Joining her are genomics specialist Daniel MacArthur, DeepMind AI researcher Clare Bycroft, and stem cell therapeutics innovator Enzo Porrello. Together, they will explore the current landscape and future potential of these groundbreaking technologies, addressing critical challenges related to cost, data privacy, and equity in the genomic age. For the full SXSW 2024 Program, visit the website.
Roast is quickly taking over Sunday menus all over Sydney. Head to Bistro Moncur in Woollahra for Dewsbury pork belly with duck fat potatoes, Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel for traditional delights with harbour views, and Forrester's in Surry Hills for The Big Yorkie. Now, Argentinian restaurant Casa Esquina in Balmain has a launched a roast you can eat with your hands. The secret? It fits into a tortilla. As you settle in, your table will be covered in share plates of flame-roasted chicken, succulent porchetta, Old Bay fries with chipotle aioli and mixed leaf salad dressed in black pepper-garlic vinaigrette. Spoon a little (or a lot) of each into a warm tortilla, top it with house-made salsa espanola — and voila, you'll have a roast keeping your fingers warm. This feast will set you back 60 bucks a pop, and it's made for sharing. So, get some mates together and book in anytime after 5pm on a Sunday.
Because Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is such a virtuosic piece of writing, it’s a pleasure to see it in any shape or form. It is doubly gratifying when it’s produced well. And Simon Phillips’ STC main stage production is very good. The comedy is set in the wings of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where Rosencrantz and Guildenstern languish in ignorance as to what they’re doing there. Their confusion is a neat analogy for the absurdist position on what it is to be alive: we’re here against our will, if we have one, we meander about in the dark and then we die. For all its cleverness, the play is extremely moving, with passages that get right to the empty gut of existence. Led by (real life) high school buddies Tim Minchin (Rosencrantz) and Toby Schmitz (Guildenstern), the production pulls off a uniquely Australian version of Stoppard’s humorous, so very English, brainy banter. Minchin has a theatrical naïveté standing next to the seasoned, adroit actor Schmitz. His artlessness is a rare thing and works well to characterise Rosencrantz as charming fool. Schmitz has taken a step sidewise from his usual Belvoir cool into comedic silliness with the frizzy hair of a 70s cop, with filthy mo’ to boot. Vocally he is limber and engaging, a far cry from the clipped, off-hand style he’s become known for. The pair’s performance is matched by a group of excellent medievalists playing the characters in the parent play, Hamlet. Heather Mitchell as an unstuck Gertrude is wild. In fact the whole lot of them are pretty damn arresting in their luscious, medieval garb designed by Gabriela Tylesova. Claudio’s shoes in particular are a precious sight. The velveteen, curvaceous clam sandals make any utterance from Christopher Stollery extremely funny. Ewan Leslie as the Player is predictably outstanding and he commands the famous, ‘“We're actors — we're the opposite of people!” speech with a shame turned to rage that is thrilling to watch. Tylesova’s bold set is a golden, raked stage with six ominous dark tunnels that act as wings to the stage of Hamlet proper. A huge black funnel descending from the ceiling extrudes an upside down, leafless tree; an inversion of Beckett’s tree in Waiting for Godot. It’s a nice touch considering that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is not only an inversion of Hamlet, it’s also a roughing up of Waiting for Godot - a piece of existentialism with barrels of humour. If you have plans to see Waiting for Godot at the STC later in the year, this production is essential prior viewing.
Pour red wine down the front of it. Cover it in tomato sauce. Sweat in it till you can sweat no more. The Silic self-cleaning T-shirt will act like you're not even there, because it's pretty much impervious to stains. Set to be funded via a Kickstarter campaign that's gone bananas, having met its stretch goal 13 times over, the Silic represents a breakthrough in fabric technology. Created by Aamir Patel, in collaboration with an ex-Vera Wang designer, the T-shirt depends upon what's known as 'hydrophobic nanotechnology'. In other words, the fabric is covered in billions of microscopic silica particles. These create a layer of air, causing any liquids that hit to form a sphere and roll away immediately. Many similar technologies tend to disappear as soon as the garment is cleaned, but the Silic remains stain-proof after 80 sessions in the washing machine. Plus, according to the designers, it's been created according to safe, non-cancerous processes. Production is set to happen in Silicon Valley, in a facility that's been responsible for manufacturing goods for Nike and Levi's. Currently available in black and white, the Silic boasts a simple yet stylish design. It's said to "enhance any torso, which gives a bold look". If you're interested in committing to a pledge before the campaign finishes up on Australia Day, US$48 will buy you one shirt, US$88 two, US$138 three and US$199 five.
If you're a typography nerd, a pirate, or just someone who spends a lot of time in the city, you might have noticed all those nicely fonted Xs stamped all over streets, walls, and bus stops. If you love nothing more than a good hashtag, you probably turned to Twitter to stalk the elusive Mr X. Well, the secret might be over, but the fun kicks on: X marks the spot where four of The Rocks' best restaurants and drinking spots converge for a month-long feast of food, drinks, and late-night entertainment. Tropical French bar and brasserie Ananas, New York-inspired steakhouse The Cut, designer Japanese joint Saké, and the splendidly hulking Argyle itself are all getting involved in the initiative, turning one heritage-listed location into a four-pronged drinking and dining destination for the month of March. Each participating restaurant is offering $25 lunch and $35 dinner menus, but really the vibe is all about mixing and matching. Eat your lunch wraps in The Argyle's courtyard then duck under the glowing pineapple after work to unwind over French hors d'oeuvres, or wash down some fresh sashimi with a Japanese martini before heading to The Cut for a Tasmanian wilderness grass-fed sirloin. Ananas and The Argyle will keeping you fuelled with drink specials and DJs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. For a real gastronomic odyssey, there's Progressive Exchange, a three-course dinner spanning Saké, The Cut and Ananas for $175 including matching wines or cocktails. An extra $50 will get you the premium stuff. Head to argylexchange.com.au for the full list of offers.
When you're sitting in a cinema, you want to hear one thing and one thing only: the film that you're watching. No one likes having their movie-going experience ruined by excessive noise from those around them; however, shooshing and scowling are only somewhat effective at combating the problem. Sure, you can ask an incessant talker to pipe down, but requesting that the person behind you devours their movie munchies at a lower volume isn't so easy, particularly in a place that sells far-from-quiet foods such as popcorn and potato chips. Enter Silent Snacks, aka the invention someone really should've thought of earlier. The brainchild of theatre ticketing app company TodayTix, they're exactly what they sound like — or ideally don't, thanks to products such as Quiet (Pop)corn, Muffled Truffles, Silent Slices and Anti-Gas Lime and Mint Drink. Basically, the new snack range takes your usual cinema treats and gives them a few twists to tone down any annoying munching, crunching and slurping sounds. The popcorn has been ground down, mixed with dates, coconut butter, cocoa butter and coconut blossom nectar, and rolled into balls; chocolates have been switched with truffles; and chips swapped for dehydrated pears. And when it comes to washing it all down, Silent Snacks' beverage of choice is not only designed to reduce burping noises coming out, but is served in silicone to ensure that it's also stealthy while you're sipping it. Yep, soft, soundless packets and wrappers are all part of the package, because everyone knows that it's not just loud eating that can echo throughout a cinema, but the crinkling and rustling that goes with it. Of course, given that TodayTix only operates in the US and UK at present, you won't find these super-quiet foods at a local candy bar any time soon. Instead, we'll live in hope that something similar will pop up here soon — silently, of course. Via TodayTix.
Sydneysiders looking to get their culture fix this summer should make tracks to the Sydney Living Museum's Culture Up Late nights, taking place every Thursday till the end of March. The arts and cultural program is taking over three CBD institutions — the Museum of Sydney, Hyde Park Barracks and Justice and Police Museum — each Thursday from 5–8pm and until 9pm at Hyde Park Barracks. And they aren't just staying up late — each is offering half price entry, too. At Museum of Sydney, check out the upcoming installation Narcissus Garden by the internationally lauded artist Yayoi Kusama, which is on display from February 20. Or wander through the temporary exhibition Paradise on Earth (running till March 25) and check out the museum's impressive film and craft activities programs. Entry to Museum of Sydney is just $7.50 for adults with the half-price deal. [caption id="attachment_763830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyde Park Barracks, Brett Boardman[/caption] Over at Hyde Park Barracks, enjoy an immersive, time-bending experience through a self-guided tour for $12 a pop thanks to the discount. Or, if you visit on February 25 or March 11, you can check out its After Dark program instead. Plus, every week there'll be a food truck, pop-up bar and a local DJ spinning tracks. The Justice and Police Museum has heaps on as well — think exhibitions, films and even a Murder in the Museum talk — where you can dive into Sydney's criminal past. Entry to the Justice & Police Museum is also $7.50. Sydney Living Museums' Culture Up Late program is running till Thursday, March 25. For more information, check out the website. Top image: Justice and Police Museum
Brazilian beer company Antarctica Beer has created one of the most innovative products to ever come out of a brewery, the Beer Turnstile. Created for the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, one of the world's biggest parties, of which Antarctica Beer is the official sponsor, it was designed to inspire partygoers to catch public transport to and from the festival. When they arrived at the subway station to head home, they did not have to buy a ticket; all the drinkers had to do was pop their empty beer can into the turnstile and, once it was recognised by the reader in the machine, they gained access to their ride home. Whilst the turnstile was an excellent business move — if people do not have to drive they can of course drink more Antarctica Beer throughout the evening — it likely contributed to the 43 percent decrease in drink driving recorded at this year's event and lowered the impact of the festival on the environment, as every can submitted was recycled and the turnstile averaged more than 1000 patrons an hour. It also created less mess for the city to clean, music to the ears of some happy Brazilian workers. Via PSFK.
Want to keep your building cool in summer but are self-conscious of the impact it may have on the environment? Well, those worries could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the environmentally friendly wooden skin erected by French architect Stephane Malka on student housing in Paris. The wooden skin is constructed on the exterior of buildings and consists of a host of pallets of varying dimensions that can be mechanically expanded or contracted, via horizontal hinges, to let in more or less ventilation and daylight as required. Stephane constructed The AME-LOT project, named after the rue Amelot the housing resides on, in response to ecological strategies that "often generate an over-production of materials". By building on top of pre-existing structures, Malka hopes to showcase a sustainable and ecological alternative that does not require new construction by 'energyvores'. As well as its environmental benefits, it would certainly look incredible on the body of a skyscraper. [Via PSFK]
You'll find big things in small packages at the St Kilda Film Festival this year. That's true every year, of course, even when Melbourne has been under lockdown. But in these pandemic-adjusted times, you'll also find bite-sized flicks gracing screens both big and small — because while Australia's oldest short film festival is very much happening in-person in 2022, physically descending upon St Kilda venues, there's also still an online option that screens to movie buffs at home and nationally. This hybrid version of the fest — the event's 39th outing, in fact — places the emphasis on the in-cinema experience, though. And, it's just as devoted as ever to showcasing works by some of the best up-and-coming filmmakers in the country. So, across ten days between Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 5, 13 out-of-the-house sessions will pop up all around St Kilda, kicking off with opening night at The Astor Theatre. As always, the backbone of the festival is Australia's Top Short Films, featuring filmmakers from every corner of the country competing for prizes. Also on the bill at ticketed screenings: programs dedicated to queer, documentary, student, horror-themed, family-friendly animation, Aussie animation, homegrown in general, Australian drama, female-directed, First Peoples' and Victorian-made shorts. And, for those playing along from their couches, online sessions include a couple of programs curated by the Scottish Documentary Institute, highlights from the Obu Short Film Festival in Japan (aka the City of Port Phillip's sister city) and the closing night awards. Plus, there's also a look at acclaimed Aussie filmmaker Warwick Thornton's (Sweet Country) early works as a cinematography student, and then cinematographer and director. [caption id="attachment_572561" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jim Lee[/caption]
Sydney Comedians Alistair Wallace and Tim Reuben are heading to the Old Fitz to perform their stand-up on the same night as each other. In the same venue. On the exact same stage. A double booking? Oh no. Don't worry, though, as this very deliberate coincidence provides the premise for their enjoyable double-act stand-up show, DoubleBooked. This 'mistake' allows the duo to compete for laughs, stage time and the approval of the audience over the course of the show, which comes to Sydney in its polished final form after successful sell-out runs at the 2012 Sydney Fringe and recent Adelaide Fringe Festival. The two have comedy credentials as well, with Alistair a founder of the thriving UNSW comedy scene and Tim a former RAW state semifinalist. Surely they will fire their seemingly incompetent manager after allowing this booking debacle to happen again, so see it while you can.
"Kidnapping, cults, death. Your friendships are a little more complicated than most." So says Elijah Wood in the new trailer for one of 2023's most-anticipated TV returns: Yellowjackets, which'll finally be back for season two from late March. Fans of the show would expect nothing less than Wood's concise summary, given this instantly intriguing (and excellent) series follows a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team in the 90s after they crash in the forest and possibly turn to cannibalism — plus the aftermath among the survivors 25 years later. Indeed, already in season one, life and friendship have proven complex for Yellowjackets' core quartet of Shauna (Don't Look Up's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (Welcome to Chippendales' Juliette Lewis, plus The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Billions' Tawny Cypress, and also Scream's Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, as well as Shameless' Samantha Hanratty). Also in the works in the show's second season, as based on the just-dropped sneak peek: Natalie been guided through her memories, snowy climes aplenty, the eerie symbol that's always been at the heart of the series, frantic dances, long treks, guns and axes, and a new connection between Misty and newcomer Walter (Wood), a citizen detective. Ominous words abound, too, such as "darkness, we brought it back with us", "it's happening again, isn't it", "we weren't alone out there" and "this isn't where we're supposed to be". The setup, for Yellowjackets first timers: back in 1996, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private plane, Shauna, Natalie, Taissa, Misty and the rest of their teammates entered Lost survivalist territory. The accident saw everyone who walked away stranded in the wilderness — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. After proving one of 2021's best new series and quickly getting picked up for a second season, Yellowjackets will start unfurling its next batch of episodes from Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, as announced in late 2022. Season two will pick up after a heap of chaos in both timeframes, and with new faces among the cast. Introducing more of the team in their adult guise is very much on the agenda, including Simone Kessell (Muru) playing the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van. In their younger years, both characters are played by Australian actors, with Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Lottie and and Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) as Van. Also, this won't be the end of the story, with the show already renewed for season three before its second season even airs. Check out the new teaser for Yellowjackets season two below: Season two of Yellowjackets will start streaming from Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one.
It's hard to think of a more popular autumnal event than the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Ask five people what their favourite part of the huge event is, and you're likely to get five wildly different answers. Be it rides, showbags, hot food trucks, artistic displays, performances and all the super-cute animals, there's so much to see across the showground. The show is almost set for its 2025 return, with a 12-day run between Friday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 22. This year, the Show has renewed its focus on one of its most loved elements: the celebration of all things Australian agriculture. That starts right away, with a reimagined main entrance designed to transport you into the most entertaining farm in town. Once inside the festival grounds, you'll be able to seek out its first-ever working farm inside Cathy Freeman Park. Jamison Station will offer hands-on animal experiences for all ages with goats, ponies, pigs, donkeys and more, as well as demonstrations of blacksmithing and milking, and you'll even be able to put your mental compass to the test inside a haybale maze. That's just the tip of the iceberg — there are 13,000+ animals that will be involved across the entire show. But it's not all animals; another cornerstone of the show is entertainment. There's the classic Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, where American lumberjacks will compete across axe throwing, underhand and standing block chopping, quick chainsaw carving, log rolling and more. Or there's Milord Entertainment's Flying Fools High Dive Show, where world-class divers will perform stunts from heights of up to 24 metres, flipping, twisting and diving in a way that's sure to raise your heart rate. Have you ever watched Ninja Warrior? How about the canine edition: K9 SuperWall? This high-flying, four-legged show sees dogs of all breeds and sizes scale a wall in a test of canine strength, agility and determination. Also making a return from the 2024 show is Dave Manchon and his herd of North American Bison for the nightly Battle in the Saddle stampede show. Tickets for the Sydney Royal Easter Show are on sale now, and there's an early bird special running until Thursday, April 10, for 16% off family tickets and 21% off Carnival Fun Pass credit packages. The Sydney Royal Easter Show will run from Friday, April 11 to Tuesday, April 22. Entry starts at $45 for an early bird adult pass. To purchase tickets, visit the website.
Long before Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson graced our screens in Newlyweds; before The farmer wants a wife and the chaotic disaster of Britney and Kevin’s love life chronicled, there was the (Aussie) mother of all reality shows: Sylvania Waters. The 1992 documentary followed the day-to-day happenings of Sydney couple Noeline Baker and Laurie Donaher and their grown-up kids, and quickly became a cringeworthy cult classic (largely due to the cantankerous character of Noeline). Sydney-based artist and curator, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, has brought together ten contemporary artists and artists collectives to make work that responds to the tv show in the exhibition, Reality Check: watching Sylvania Waters. The exhibition has been in the pipeline for over two years, and throughout 2009 each artist and group undertook a residency at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery where they were graciously granted access to episodes of the show and media surrounding the rise and fall of the Baker/Donaher clan. Reality Check explores all facets of Sylvania Waters, presenting work across mediums. Artists Archie Moore and Holly Williams examine the mechanics of the reality show (something that we all have become unwitting authorities on nowadays). Artist collaborative Ms. & Mr. ponder what could have been with their video piece on the Archibalds of Glebe, runners up to star in the 1992 show. Noeline was undoubtedly the star, and for anyone old enough to remember the show, she is the first thing that springs to mind. The Kingpins and John A Douglas explore what it means to be Noeline. Try your luck with mermaid-cum-advice columnist in Douglas’ Ask Noeline … (not an ogre). Reality Check will be like a walk down memory lane for some, but let’s just hope all this attention won’t spark talk of a reunion Hey Hey style. John A Douglas, Ask Noeline … (not the ogre) 2009, screen capture from video installation, courtesy the artist and Chalk Horse Sydney
We are curious and complex beings. For thousands of years, artists have drawn deep from the baroque well of intangible human nature, but equally fascinating are the patterns and quirks of our physical forms. No wonder great things evolve when art and medicine combine.Sue Healey's work, The Curiosities, is a cutting-edge marriage of science and dance, exploring the awe-inspiring organs that we all possess. Her choreography is brought into the realm of viscera by four stunning dancers, Lisa Griffiths, Rachelle Hickson, Adam Synnot and Nalina Wait.Joining Healey in her medical mystery tour are Prof Richard Harvey, a specialist in the heart's development, as well as a talented cabinet comprising composer Darrin Verhagen, digital animator Adnan Lalani and lighting designer Joseph Mercurio.This is not anatomy for beginners, but rather the next stage in our quest for knowing inner space.There will be an artist talk after the performance on Thursday 5th November.https://youtube.com/watch?v=IAz8-IiGWsI
According to the ever-dependable Bureau of Meteorology, this Sunday promises to be a bloody brilliant spring day (fine and sunny with a top temp of 28 – yes!). Just perfect, I should think, for a picnic.And what do you know; the good folks over at FBi Radio already have one planned. To celebrate the recent opening of Ballast Point Park in Birchgrove, FBi proposes a meeting of blankets, food, ginger beer, kids, dogs and portable radios – tuned to 94.5FM of course - this Sunday the 13th of September from 12 - 5pm.Feisty Birchgrove residents saved Ballast Point Park from development a few years back. That's one for the people, people. Now McGregor Coxall Landscape Architects have transformed it into something truly amazing. Apart from incredible harbour views, there's poetry (thanks Les Murray), art, wind turbines and a giant skeleton of an oil tank.Dust off your picnic basket, shake out your blankets, pack the pate and crackers and make it a splendid Sydney Sunday in the sun.
Featuring a tiny wooden echidna with oversized quills and a Tasmanian Devil fashioned from patchwork Tassie sea kelp, this new exhibition of contemporary Indigenous animal sculpture is so much more than just cute, quaint or crafty.The artists featured in Menagerie hail from all over our continent, and represent an impressive breadth of style and practice. The animals represent not only a significant part of the artist’s, and their community’s, day-to-day life, but stand for greater stories, linked to country and creation. One thing shared is the obvious affinity the artists have with their subjects, which comes through in their playful approach to art making.Opening this week at two venues, Menagerie is a unique chance for contemporary Indigenous sculpture to stand against the cutting-edge design of Object Gallery and the classic natural history collections of the Australian Museum.
Sydney's ever-luxurious and all-inclusive floating villa, Lilypad, has finally reopened almost two years after a fire destroyed the original build. Situated in the tranquil waters of Palm Beach in the Northern Beaches, the second iteration of Lilypad boasts plenty of additional lavish features including an onboard sauna, cosy fireplace and dreamy Mediterranean-inspired terracotta accents. After facing flooding, wild weather and COVID-induced delays, it's safe to say that Lilypad II was worth the wait. "You couldn't have picked a harder time to undertake something like this, both the weather we had in Sydney for the build period and COVID — because workforces were getting wiped out left, right and centre. Everything was hard," Founder and Owner Chuck Anderson says. Not just a pretty face, the resort-style villa runs completely off solar power energy and has been engineered to remain stable, while still embracing the natural movements and rhythms of the ocean below. An outdoor, roman-tiled shower, linen bedding by Cultiver and furniture by McMullin & Co completes the tonal, overwater escape. "What's incredible now as technology has advanced in solar and battery technology, you're not compromising on luxuries. Once upon a time, maybe ten years ago, if you were to try to attack what we've created you would have had to make some concessions in terms of what's onboard," Anderson says. Bookings include a private concierge, private tender transfers, a self-drive luxury personal vessel for exploring the surrounds, paddleboards, floating daybeds, chef-prepared meals and full access to the onboard wine cellar. But the luxuries don't come cheap, with prices starting at $1,950 per night in low season. The designer floating villa can also host events for up to 18, if you're looking for a unique space for your next special function. On the creation of both Lilypads, Anderson explains, "The intention for both Lilypad and Lilypad II was to combine innovative design with traditional craftsmanship and modern luxuries to build a unique and exceptional space. I wanted to pay homage to the unspoiled environment in which Lilypad resides and allow guests to feel totally immersed in this awe-inspiring space." Anderson also hinted at other Lilypads popping up around Australia in the future, so if you're looking for an elevated holiday in your backyard, keep an eye on this space. One-night stays are available until September, excluding weekends. Two-night stays are available from September to April and across weekends. You can book via the Lilypad website.
UPDATE: MARCH 31, 2020 — Both the Surry Hills and Balmain Nutie stores remain open for takeaway, but the crew has also put together an extensive delivery menu, which features everything from fresh produce and ground coffee to vegan cookies and gluten-free doughnuts. Its also offering vegan lunch and dinner packs ($32) filled with the dish of the day (think quiche, tacos or corn fritters), salad or soup, dessert, fruit and cold-pressed juice. Head here to place your order. Gluten conscious and cruelty free foodies, we bring you tidings of great joy. No longer will you be deprived of doughnuts, thanks to the good folks at Nutie. After a year hopping from market to market around town, the Nutie Donuts team is opening a permanent location in Balmain next month where they can sling their sweet treats full time. Opening on Saturday, March 4 at 13 Beattie Street, Nutie Donuts will bake their doughnuts daily in an open kitchen using premium gluten-free ingredients. They'll also offer a variety of vegan and dairy-free options because doughnuts are for everyone. Speaking of options, let's talk about their flavour combinations. Among the extravagant creations that have popped up on their Instagram account in recent times are pink Champagne, black sesame and green tea, and beetroot with dark chocolate ganache. Oh, and don't worry: despite there being not a gluten protein in sight, they assure us that they taste just like the real thing. To give you a little added incentive to pay them a visit, Nutie will be giving away free doughnuts to the first 100 customers on their first day of operations, while a dollar from every subsequent doughnut sold that day will be donated to the local Police Citizens Youth Club. "We want Nutie Donuts to be a strong part of the Balmain community, not just a shopfront," said owner Sina Klug. "That means [doing] everything we can to make a positive difference to the people around us." Nutie Donuts will open at 13 Beattie Street, Balmain from 10am on Saturday, March 4. For more information visit them on Facebook.
If you're looking for an after-work drink, CBD venue The Menzies Bar and Bistro is hosting Martini Hour every Tuesday–Saturday between 4–6pm. Here you can nab yourself the classic cocktail stirred through shards of countertop ice and served alongside fresh lobster rolls — each for just $10. The Menzies Bar is located inside the multi-level Shell House. The impressive CBD venture by hospitality collective The Point Group will host four venues across the historic building. While Martini Hour is the ideal time to hit this new bar and restaurant up for a drink and a bite to eat, there is a wide selection of exciting bistro dishes and inventive cocktails on offer Tuesday–Saturday. Try small plates like gruyere croquettes or more hearty meals like trout paired with leek, mussels and orange wine. Outside of the martinis, you can opt for The In-Cider Trading, which features scotch, coffee, fig, cider caramel and smoked honey — or the Sicilian Margarita, which has been brought over from Surry Hills favourite The Dolphin. If you're heading in to enjoy a $10 martini, make sure to check if there's a live set or DJ set popping up at the mega-venue that night. Updated Friday, October 28, 2022.
New financial year, new excuse to book a holiday? It's as good a reason as any. It isn't just airlines that want us to be making getaway plans all of the time — we all want to be in that camp, too, because who doesn't constantly want to be thinking about, preparing for and locking in vacations? Via Virgin Australia, here comes your latest chance to give your suitcases a workout. The Aussie carrier is beginning July 2024 with a week-long sale that's starting prices cheap — at $49 — and slinging over one million fares. This round of specials covers both domestic and international trips, so you're covered whether you want to hit up Tokyo, Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu or Queenstown, or also Hamilton Island, Byron Bay, Cairns, Hobart, Darwin, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and more. By now, everyone knows that the Sydney–Byron Bay route always has the lowest cost, which is $49 one-way this time around. From there, other discounts include Melbourne–Launceston from $59, Sydney to either the Sunshine or Gold coasts from $69, Melbourne–Hobart from $75, Brisbane–Proserpine (aka The Whitsundays) from $75, Melbourne–Adelaide from $79, Sydney–Hamilton Island from $115, either Melbourne or Brisbane to Uluru from $119, and Sydney–Perth from $215. For those eager to travel further afield, cheap international flights span a heap of return legs, such as Melbourne–Queenstown from $405, Gold Coast–Denpasar from $449, Sydney–Nadi from $499, Brisbane–Port Vila from $565, Brisbane–Apia from $609 and Cairns–Haneda from $679. This sale kicks off on Monday, July 1, running until midnight AEST on Monday, July 8 unless sold out earlier. And the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, these deals cover periods between Tuesday, July 30, 2024–Tuesday, June 3, 2025, with all dates varying per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of the next year anywhere but home. Virgin's 'I can't go without a holiday this year' sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, July 8, 2024 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
No matter who's starring in them, when and where they're set, and whether they're showing on the big or small screen, romantic comedies love telling tales about trying to hold onto a good thing. Two people meet, fall for each other — whether immediately or eventually — and do whatever it takes to enjoy their romantic bliss: that's it, that's the familiar rom-com formula. It's a setup that TV series Starstruck has been both adhering to and unpacking over the past two years, too, thanks to its glorious first season in 2021 and just-as-wonderful second run in 2022. And, because HBO knows that it should also hold onto a good thing, the Rose Matafeo-starring show has just been renewed for a third season. Instantly one of the best of new shows of last year — and already one of the best returning series of this year — Starstruck will continue its take on a trusty rom-com storyline over a third batch of episodes. That premise: falling for a stranger who happens to be a famous actor, then trying to make that fairy tale relationship work. And yes, Matafeo — who stars, writes and created the series — well and truly knows that Notting Hill got there first. She plays Jessie, a New Zealander in her lates twenties who's living in London and, when the show begins, is splitting her time between working in a cinema and nannying. Jessie (Matafeo, Baby Done) also isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. For most of the evening, that lack of enthusiasm proves accurate — but then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). That night, she ends up back at his sprawling flat, only to realise the next morning that he's one of the world's biggest movie stars. In what's proven a wonderful showcase for Matafeo — and a savvily smart exploration of rom-com tropes as well, embracing and subverting them as needed — both Starstruck's first and second seasons have followed what happens next for Jessie and Tom. Obviously, their attempts to hold onto a good thing haven't flowed smoothly. Nodding to romantic comedies such as The Graduate, Love Actually and Bridget Jones' Diary has also come with the territory, amusingly, affectionately and astutely so. Announcing the renewal, Matafeo said "a third? Sure. Fine. I'm truly thrilled to bring this incredibly talented cast back for a third instalment, and equally excited to clamber into the director's seat alongside my nice friend Alice Snedden, who I cannot seem to get rid of." Matafeo co-writes Starstruck with fellow comedians Alice Snedden and Nic Sampson — and, yes, Matafeo and Snedden will also direct the third season. Exactly when the new episodes will arrive hasn't yet been revealed, but the turnaround between season one and two was quick. When they do drop, expect to see them Down Under via ABC iView in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand. In the interim, check out the trailer for Starstruck's second season below: Starstruck will return for a third season, with a release date yet to be announced. Starstruck's first and second seasons are available to stream in Australia via ABC iView and in New Zealand via TVNZ OnDemand. Read our full review of Starstruck's first season — and our full review of its second season, too. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
This editorial is sponsored by our partners, The Rocks. The Rocks Village Bizarre has become a success story in the rejuvenation of the area. The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority event has reclaimed the cobblestone laneways and heritage-listed haunts with an ever-changing program of events that continues to inspire curiosity. It is returning from November 1 until December 20, and every Friday night the tourists will ship out and Sydneysiders will reclaiming their own, expecting the unexpected. Two events that will allow the public to involve themselves are the Magnificent Revolution YouTube Battle, taking place at 8.30pm on Friday, November 1, and the inaugural Bike Shorts Film Competition, hosted by Magnificent Revolution on Friday December 6. Anyone can enter and there are two categories: Standard Shorts that can be up to five minutes long and Micro Shorts, where Instagrammers can submit 15-second cycle-themed clips. Just make sure to hashtag them with #bikeshorts and #villagebizarre. If the satisfaction of your work being presented on a projector powered by bicycle is not enough to tempt you, perhaps the prize pool is. With $1,000 cash, a mentorship with Emmy and AACTA award-winning Firelight Productions, a Go-Pro camera and accommodation in The Rocks up for grabs, be sure to get filming. It is free to enter the competition and more information can be found here, with entries closing November 25. You can find Bike Shorts on 'Revolutionary Road' at the intersection of George and Playfair Streets. Why not cycle down there and make it a whole evening of two-wheel power. Lycra bike shorts are in no way required but feel free to wear some to give the crowd something extra to enjoy. Want to win a Go Pro HD camera? They're accepting entries to the Micro Shorts competition right up until 3pm on Friday December 6. To enter, take a video around the theme of 'cycle' and upload to Instagram with the hashtags #bikeshorts and #villagebizarre. To watch the teaser video, click here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nv9-R9V7Uoo
What'll start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then spread plenty of sports around Victoria? Every year, the AFL season does just that — but soon, the Commonwealth Games will as well. Just four years out from the event, and mere months away from 2022's games in Birmingham, England, regional Victoria has been named as the event's 2026 host. While the opening ceremony will take over the MCG — where else? — the games themselves will play out in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. Each spot will operate as regional hub, scoring their own athletes' village and sports programs, and spreading the event around the state in the process. [caption id="attachment_831273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] And, because the 2026 Commonwealth Games really are set to take advantage of as much of Victoria as they can, Shepparton will also host sporting and cultural events, too. If you're wondering exactly what'll be hosted where, it's been proposed that all of the aquatics events happen in Geelong, as well as hockey, gymnastics, table tennis, beach volleyball and the triathlon. Gippsland could host badminton and rugby, athletics and boxing has been earmarked for Ballarat, and Bendigo looks set to welcome weightlifting, lawn bowls and squash. The cycling program will likely take place from Gippsland to Bendigo, while Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland would all host cricket. And, there'll be a para sport program as well, with para athletics, para swimming, para lawn bowls, para table tennis, para triathlon and para powerlifting already locked in. It's official: the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be the Regional Victoria games. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) April 12, 2022 Announcing the news, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that "it's a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games — we can't wait to welcome the world to all of our state." It's estimated the 2026 games will give the Victorian economy a$3 billion boost, creating more than 600 full-time jobs before the event, as well as 3900 jobs while they're on and another 3000 afterwards. The Commonwealth Games will also feature cultural events spread across the state, and the Queen's Baton Relay will race through Victoria's various regions in the weeks leading up to the opening ceremony. And yes, Australia only recently held the games, back in 2018 on the Gold Coast. Also, this means that Australia will host two huge sporting events in the next decade, given that Brisbane has already been locked in as the site for the 2032 Olympic Games. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in regional Victoria in 2026, with exact dates to be announced. For more information, head to the Commonwealth Games website and Victorian Government website. Top image: StephenK1997 via Flickr.
For nearly three decades, horror movie lovers have fallen into two categories: those who've dared to say the word 'candyman' five times while staring into a mirror, and those who haven't. That's the kind of impact this spooky supernatural franchise has had over the years, with the film about a fictional urban legend almost becoming an urban legend itself. To the joy of slumber party-throwing teens everywhere, the 1992 original sparked follow-ups in 1995 and 1999 — and, thanks to a new 22-years-later third sequel, that's no longer the end of the story. Given that everything old just keeps coming back again, and that 90s nostalgia is the gift that keeps on giving, another Candyman flick was always going to happen eventually. This one was supposed to release last year, in fact, but then the pandemic scared us all instead. If you're still a little wary — despite its cult status, the initial movie is hardly a masterpiece, and Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and Candyman: Day of the Dead won the series absolutely zero new fans — Candyman circa 2021 has a few tricks up its sleeves. Firstly, it's directed by Nia DaCosta, whose Tessa Thompson-starring 2018 film Little Woods deserved more attention. Secondly, it's produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, who adds another frightfest to his resume alongside Get Out and Us. And last but by no means least, it features the OG Candyman, Tony Todd, among its cast. As the first trailer back in 2020 initially explained — and now the just-dropped latest trailer expands upon — the new flick focuses on an artist called Anthony McCoy (Aquaman and Watchmen's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). He decides to start exploring the Candyman legend through his art, a decision that obviously isn't going to turn out well. His girlfriend Brianna (If Beale Street Could Talk's Teyonah Parris), who also runs a gallery, thinks the story is just that. But as Anthony starts investigating the tale, the bee-covered figure starts wreaking havoc again. We all already know why, because that's what happens when folks say his name while looking at their own reflection, but the new sneak peek does offer some more background to the on-screen legend. For Candyman aficionados, Anthony's own name should ring a bell — he's the son of one of the first film's main characters, which might explain just why he's so obsessed with the eponymous ghoul. That said, while he might think he knows what he's getting himself into, Candyman still knows how to unsettle and unnerve. Check out the latest trailer below: Candyman will now open in Australian cinemas on August 26, 2021.
There is nothing like drenching yourself in (fake) blood, stalking your friends (and people you have never met before) and yelling whilst confidently charging your gun-wielding prey. That is why Zedtown, the University of Sydney Verge Arts Festival's version of a live-action game commonly known as Humans vs. Zombies, has grown from 80 players to 300 in just a single year. It is more than just a game; Zedtown is an arena for performance, a realm where fans can enact their favourite zombie fantasies. Under Zedtown's rules, humans must survive a zombie epidemic using only Nerf guns and balled-up socks as weapons. If tagged by a zombie, they must hunt their former kind either until all are undead or a human somehow survives. At the game on Saturday, October 12, 2013, almost 300 human survivors staked out quarantine in the hope of defeating three original zombies (OZs) and containing the virus. Like all epidemics though, this number snowballed despite the arsenal of balled-up socks and foamy ammunition fired by a group of adults holding toy guns. More precisely, a group of proud adult nerds holding toy guns. You see, whilst the game began with only a few hand-selected undead, the OZs did not have to reveal themselves immediately. Humans and zombies are generally differentiated by their respective orange and green headbands and regular zombies are not permitted weapons. However, at the beginning of play OZs are dressed and armed the same as survivors, waiting for their moment to tag survivors and infect them. Yours truly was zombified this very way, declaring that my friend was "too nice to betray us" before she infected my team and ran away. We were forced to yield our childlike artillery and begin hunting for brains. That was when the real fun began. "I think everybody has watched a zombie film at some point and wondered 'how would I do in that world?'", says event curator David Harmon. "Zedtown is a chance for people to live out all the tropes and cliches of zombie horror films. You form a ragtag group of survivors. You ration food and ammunition. You keep watch, you trust no-one. You build a movie story with you and your friends as the stars and you watch as the world goes to hell around you." Looking around the quarantined sandstone structures you can see these storyboards unfold. Survivors dressed in full army fatigues, cowboys sacrificing themselves to save their friends, an unstoppable zombie witch leaving terror in her wake and even a gun-wielding bride. People are performing, taking on characters, which is what the game is for. Renegades run rampant, heroes emerge and legends are born. "Zedtown is about storytelling", Harmon says. "It's about immersive multiplayer collaborative world building. We give players a very simple set of rules that govern how people can live, die and become zombies. After that it's up to them to take that framework and help us build a world out of it." The framework provided is incredibly immersive and significantly aids this construction. From survivor radio to ammo drops to missions to mad scientists, you cannot help but get lost in the world, survivor or zombie. You are pulled in — fear is genuine and you will find yourself peering around corners, back to the wall up to 28 days later. People love this game due to the oldest cliche in the book; it is not about winning, it is about taking part. Through participation, players create narratives they will discuss for years, narratives usually borrowed from films but this time lived. Thankfully we will not have to wait too long for the chance to do it all again. "We've just announced a game we'll be running at Secret Garden Festival 2014 — our first game outside of Sydney University," Harmon says. "That's in February ... and it's going to be a lot of fun." In the meantime, Harmon says that games are "all dependant on finding exactly the right location for zombie horror — so if you happen to own a deserted industrial park, run-down carnival or abandoned hospital please let us know!" Just remember rule number one: cardio. You need it. Words by Matthew Watson. Images by Lindsay Smith. Look out for the next game of Zedtown at the Secret Garden Festival in 2014.
Local Natives have made it, exploding out of support band status into a headliner demanding to be heard. They have earned their rise through the musical ranks, attracting the attention of indie heavy-hitters The National and Arcade Fire after their critically acclaimed debut, Gorilla Manor, and are now riding a wave of success all the way to Australia. Their tour comes on the back of the highly anticipated sophomore release Hummingbird, an eclectic harmony of sounds ready to be played at all occasions. There are tracks for parties as well as tracks to woo first dates; you name the event and they have it soundtracked. A live performance by Local Natives is also something to behold, with all four band members tugging at your heart strings and making you feel all of the feelings, culminating in an overwhelming sense of happiness. Thankfully you can experience all this on Wednesday, May 15, in an intimate performance at the Metro, and we can guarantee that ticket prices will not be as low as this next time they come back.
Don't hold back: one of the biggest acts in electronic music for the past three decades is returning to Sydney. Superstar DJs The Chemical Brothers dropped their tenth studio album For That Beautiful Feeling in September 2023, and will hit the Harbour City in February 2024 to unleash their latest round of block rockin' beats live. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons will play Sydney Showground on Thursday, February 29, with The Presets (doing a DJ set), Anna Lunoe and James Holroyd in support. It isn't just their astonishing 2023 Coachella set that proves The Chemical Brothers are a must-see live act. Every tour — including their last stint Down Under back in 2019 — always matches a spectacle of mindbending visuals to the duo's iconic tunes. Accordingly, expect recent singles 'No Reason', 'Live Again' (featuring Halo Maud) and 'Skipping Like a Stone' (reteaming The Chemical Brothers with Beck after 2016's 'Wide Open') — and also a wealth of songs from a back catalogue that spans back to 1989. No, it wouldn't be a Chemical Brothers gig without 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl', 'Block Rockin' Beats' and 'Galvanise' getting a whirl. The pair's current setlist also includes everything from 'Go', 'Swoon' and 'Star Guitar' to 'Setting Sun', 'Chemical Beats' and 'Escape Velocity'. Holroyd joining Rowlands and Simons on the tour is always a given, as The Chemical Brothers' long-standing opening DJ. Images: Ray Baseley.
Owning your first pair of R.M. Williams is like an Australian coming-of-age moment. The brand, first established in 1932 by Reginald Murray Williams, is a classic through and through. From a modest start in the Adelaide outback learning leatherworking from local bushmen, Williams built a following among the stockmen and women of the heartland, and eventually — over a highly prolific eight decades — gained global notoriety. 85 years later, fans are still wearing R.M.s — from farmers in the outback, to corporate businessmen, to the style set at fashion week. How has the iconic brand managed to stay relevant, and stand the test of time over eight decades? In partnership with R.M. Williams and in celebration of their 85th anniversary, we sat down with head designer Jeremy Hershan to discuss respecting your roots, honouring the craft and innovating from there. Oh, and never, ever forgoing quality. TIMELESS DESIGN NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE Jeremy Hershan earned his stripes in the fashion industry designing for high-end, heritage brands — he's worked with Kris Van Assche of Dior Homme, and set up on London's Savile Row at Gieves & Hawkes. Last year, the Melbourne-born designer landed the lead design role at R.M. Williams, bringing with him a respect for tradition, an appreciation for quality shoes and most importantly, contemporary insight — a necessity for keeping things fresh and captivating at a history-rich design house like R.M. Williams. A treasure trove of beautifully-crafted pieces, the R.M. Williams archive provides a huge source of inspiration. Reworking archival pieces to suit contemporary trends, Hershan explained how he looked to the archives to find relevant styles to reinterpret for the brand's future. Take the R.M. Williams signature Craftsman boot, for example. First created for the working men and women out in the Australian bush, the boots' design has barely changed during the brand's 85 years. Rather than reinvent the boots every season, modern touches and the use of alternative materials and treatments keep the iconic style fresh and contemporary. For the latest collection, R.M. Williams' master craftspeople worked and reworked the leather of the boots over several days, hand-staining with different creams to create a rich, burnished patina. This sort of attention to detail, and the quality of each and every pair has been key to the brand's 85-year survival. Every shoe is made with one single piece of leather and one integral seam, personally created by craftspeople at the brand's Adelaide workshop. KEEPING THINGS FRESH THROUGH INNOVATION Over the years, the Craftsman boot has evolved to incorporate new materials, cuts and fabrications. There are now Classic, Comfort, Signature and Natural styles — each with a different finish, sole style and fit. Originally available only in classic dark brown, the boots are now available in a range of colours including dark tan, chestnut and black, as well as leathers, like French veal calf, crocodile and even kangaroo (if you're feeling patriotic) among many other options. If you are more partial to lighter styles, there's also the women's Adelaide — a slimmer shoe to the Craftsman — and the pointed-toe Millicent, which gained popularity with the fashion crowd after Australian designer Dion Lee collaborated with the brand and dressed his models in custom boots for his runway at fashion week in New York and Sydney in 2014. By responding to trends through colour and material, the brand has managed to evolve, stay relevant and keep their boots fashionable. Small tweaks have made huge differences, and collaborations with high-end designers have opened the brand up to new customers, all while allowing them to keep their loyal customer base. They've even gone as far as expanding their reach into your home. You can now customise your very own bespoke pair of boots — literally creating those perfect, slightly out-of-reach shoes you've been searching for your whole life. THE ANTIDOTE TO DISPOSABLE FASHION With shops overrun by fast, disposable fashion, it's all too easy to buy designer imitations that only last a few months. Hershan urges the need to return to quality and reevaluate our view of fashion. Not mentioning the numerous social and environmental benefits that come from quitting fast fashion, if you invest in a quality pair of boots, they'll last you forever and only get better with time — you know when your boots start to scruff in exactly the right places, that's when they've truly become your boots. Follow Hershan's advice and spend your hard-earned money on a long-term investment, like the Craftsman, that remains stylish and cuts through the noise of ever-changing fast fashion. "It's about buying less, but buying better. A pair of boots is an investment that will last you a lifetime if you take care of them in the right way." Judging by the success of R.M. Williams over the past 85 years, they won't go out of fashion either. R.M. Williams Craftsman, Adelaide and Millicent boots are available online — head to the website to shop the latest collection or create your own bespoke pair. By Quinn Connors and Kelly Pigram.
It's the huge showcase that took the world by storm, sending David Bowie's lightning bolt-adorned face everywhere from London and Berlin to Tokyo and Melbourne. His Ziggy Stardust costumes, various handwritten lyrics, an assortment of album artwork, rare photographs and even the magic orb he fondled as Jareth in Labyrinth, too. Organised by London's Victoria and Albert Museum, David Bowie is exhibited hundreds objects from the David Bowie Archive, visiting 12 cities over six years and attracting more than two million visitors — and while it finished its final run in Brooklyn early in 2018, it's now back in a new format. Available since Tuesday, January 8 — aka what would've been the music icon's 72nd birthday — David Bowie is now exists as a digital recreation that you can access on your phone. As first announced back in July 2018, fans can tour the Bowie bonanza as an augmented reality (AR) experience, which features a sequence of audio-visual spaces highlighting artifacts from Bowie's life. Basically, it's like heading along without the crowds, and with Gary Oldman narrating your journey through the exhibition. Specifically, there's 56 costumes, 60 original lyrics sheets and design notes, 50 photos, 33 drawings and sketches, and seven paintings — plus 38 songs, and 23 music videos and live performances. The entire slate features more than 400 high-resolution captures, including 60 new objects that weren't included in the touring exhibition. [caption id="attachment_705202" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] David Bowie Is[/caption] Available on iOs and Android platforms, David Bowie is' AR version doesn't just involve looking at 2D representations, either, with 3D scans used to preserve and present the artist's costumes and objects in detail. And, there's more to come, with a virtual reality version still in the works. Here's hoping that Bowie obsessives will be able to virtually step into one of his out-of-sight outfits and see themselves in one — yes, this might be your chance to turn and face the strange or experience some ch-ch-changes. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc, the David Bowie Archive and the V&A, "the augmented reality adaptation of David Bowie is enables you to explore the entire exhibition in the intimacy of your own environment, without glass barriers, vitrines or throngs of visitors," according to the exhibition website. It costs $12.99, with a portion of the profits to be donated the V&A and Brooklyn Museum. David Bowie is now available on iOs and Android platforms. For further information, head to davidbowieisreal.com. Images: David Bowie Is.
Just because something sounds strange, looks weird or smells funny, doesn't mean it won't taste absolutely delicious. Who knows, that slow-cooked camel pie or blistery black corn fungus might even become your next food obsession. Inspired by all of the weird and wonderful dishes created on MasterChef Australia, we've created a hit list of ten unexpected dishes to find around Sydney. If you're looking to expand your culinary horizon, give them a try. Go on, we dare you. [caption id="attachment_640424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kai Leishman[/caption] HUITLACOCHE TLAYUDA, CHULA Huitlacoche has to be one of the tastiest diseases out there. Quite literally. A black blistery corn smut, this Mexican delicacy is prized for its earthy flavours and funky, mouldy kick, making it a big hit with the truffle and blue-cheese crowd. If you're keen to give it a try, head to Chula in Potts Point, where this modern Mexican eatery serves up a huitlacoche tlayuda, which is kind of like a Mexican pizza. The intriguing dish sees a crisp corn tortilla base layered with refried beans, stringy cheese and inky blots of huitlacoche. HOT CROSS BUN SANDWICHES, BODEGA What started as an Easter special has risen through the ranks to become one of Bodega's best-selling dishes. The sacrilegious snack is made from a cinnamon and clove spiced bun, loaded with pink fleshy slices of corned beef, pickled vegetables and kimchi and topped with lashings of smoked oyster mayonnaise. The seemingly chaotic jumble of ingredients actually work together nicely, with sweet, salty and sour notes in perfect balance. Forget smothering your buns with butter, once you go corned beef you never go back. SPIDER STEAK, THE UNICORN HOTEL Strange sounding we know, but a spider steak is simply a cut of beef, taken from the tail end of the cow. You don't often find it on restaurant menus — unless you frequent the Unicorn Hotel in Paddington, that is. While the steak may look a little lumpy, it's actually quite tender and flavourful, thanks to its fatty web of marbling. The Unicorn has been exploring curious cuts since day one, with rump, scotch fillet and T-bone taking a back seat to hanger, skirt and striploin. All slabs can be topped with house made garlic butter or fruit chutney, with side servings of crinkle cut chips, home-style cauliflower cheese and braised red cabbage. CAMEL SAMBUSAK, NOUR A delicacy from the Middle East, camel meat finds its way into Israeli pastry pockets at Nour in Surry Hills. Head chef Roy Ner makes his sambusaks from spiced, slow-cooked camel rib seasoned with ras el hanout and cumin. The camel meat is then stuffed into Yemenite pastry, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and baked in a woodfired oven until perfectly puffed. The softly shredded camel meat is surprisingly delicious, offering up a rich gamey flavour that sit somewhere between beef and lamb. For your next hump day, why not try camel. KOGASHI RAMEN, GOGYO While burnt food is something we generally try to avoid, it's worth making an exception for Gogyo's kogashi ramen. The famous black broth is made by cooking pork lard at explosive temperatures, before adding chicken broth, springy noodles and fatty rashes of chashu pork belly. What arrives is a rich, scorchy soup, swirling with flecks of char and lidded with porky oil. The flavours reveal intense umami and a sweet lick of smokiness. Surprisingly, there's actually very little bitterness there. REPOLLITO DE BRUSELAS, PORTEÑO While there's nothing special about Brussels sprouts, it's highly unusual when they actually taste good. Porteño in Surry Hills is one of the few places (on this planet) to actually get it right. Owners Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz have ditched the steaming method, which, as any ten-year-old will tell you, makes them mushy and sour. Instead they're deep-fried until crunchy and golden, then tossed through with torn herbs and drizzled in vincotto. The crispy sweet buds are perfect as they are — although you could consider a side order or lamp rump or rib. WAGYU BEEF BARBIE, SPICE WORLD If you're looking to spice up your life — and your dining experiences — head to sichuan hot pot hot spot Spice World in China Town. This Chinese-based restaurant chain is bubbling with personality, from the teddy bear soup stocks to the smiling robot waiters who serve up chilli oil and mints. Order a portion of the wagyu and you'll receive a limited edition beef Barbie, draped in a marbled meat gown. Guests will need to de-robe poor Barbie, dipping her dress into the chilli-slicked broth to simmer alongside hand-pulled noodles, bean curd and bamboo fungus. CHARCOAL BUCATINI, MARK + VINNY'S If you like your Italian food traditional, prepare to be initially outraged, then completely won over by the unorthodox offerings at Surry Hills spaghetti and spritz bar Mark + Vinny's. Here, the pasta comes in a rainbow of flavours, from sky blue spirulina tagliatelle to a ruby-red beetroot spaghettini. It even has a vegan carbonara (gasp) made with charcoal bucatini mixed through with mushroom pancetta and plant-based parmesan and crowned with an unctuous sweet potato "egg yolk". MORTADELLA RAVIOLI, JONAH'S Long regarded as one of the more inferior luncheon meats, it's nice to see chefs taking this pink processed log a little more seriously. Not only has mortadella been embraced in sandwich form at ACME and on pizzas at Via Napoli, but esteemed Sydney restaurant Jonah's has immortalised it in ravioli. The popular entrée is made from a paste of creamy minced baloney meat and pistachio crumb, neatly tucked into handmade pasta parcels. The dish is served with circular slivers of sweet jellied balsamic vinegar, baby turnip tops and a sprinkling of seeds. No ketchup required CHEESEBURGER SPRING ROLLS, MS G'S Dan Hong from Ms G's has taken two of the world's most popular dishes and rolled them into one. These crispy fried cigars are stuffed with minced beef, processed cheese slices, mustard, tomato sauce and gherkins to give you a greasy hit of your two favourite fast foods. They're relatively small in size, so follow it up with the Stoner's Delight 3.0, a junk-food mountain of doughnut ice-cream, crispy bacon and potato chips that will leave you in a haze of happiness. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
Husband-and-wife furniture business Reddie has just expanded into a new showroom next to The Dolphin Hotel on Crown Street. Created by Caroline and Andrew Olah, Reddie specialises in sleek, modern and colourful homewares with an emphasis on durable high-quality materials — all of which will be showcased at this new Surry Hills gallery-like showroom. "With our new showroom, we can showcase our products in the way they were intended in a clean and pared-back space. Our products are architectural minimalist in design with a utilitarian approach. We don't follow trends and fads, instead, we focus on clean lines, versatile designs, and beautiful craftsmanship," Creative Director Caroline Olah said. "As customers can tailor products by colour and/or size, the gallery-like space allows them to feel inspired and get creative. The simplicity in the space also creates a gender-neutral environment for our customers." In order to give visitors an experience reminiscent of an art gallery, the Olahs have stripped the building, knocking down walls and giving it a stark white coat of paint, creating a flowing open showroom that accentuates the fun and vibrancy of the furniture. Potential buyers will have the chance to wander through this homely space in the heart of Sydney, discovering the variety of items Reddie has on offer. "This building was somewhere we always wanted to be," co-founder Andrew Olah says. "We wanted to create a beautiful real-world experience that capitalises on the vibrancy of the area, in a world where everything is going online." "We have lived in Surry Hills for many years and love the community. Post lockdowns, it's only natural to be a part of bringing life back to the streets by opening up our new store," explains Caroline. Alongside its signature chairs, tables and desks, the organisation also produces home accessories by upcycling waste from its furniture production. You'll find wall hooks, umbrella holders, chopping boards, bowls and planters, all made using leftovers from some of Reddie's larger projects. Reddie is located at 1/410 Crown Street, Surry Hills. It's open 10am–5pm Monday–Friday and 10am–4pm Saturday. Images: Jacqui Turk
The Gold Coast isn't known for its subtlety. Forget things like schoolies, bikini-wearing metre maids and theme parks — when you're a city that boasts a coastline that big, you're going to flaunt it. And why not? Perhaps that's the thinking behind the new beach club slated for The Spit. Seems playing host to Australia's first six-star hotel wasn't enough attention for the Gold Coast. Open to the public, measuring 6000 square metres in size and catering for up to 3000 people, the beach club features pretty much everything you're imagining a huge new hangout space by the water should: a rooftop lounge, nightclub, restaurants, cafes, VIP cabanas, gardens and lawns for a dash of greenery, and an outdoor pool and beach area, of course, and hosting DJs and live performances is part of the plan. The beach club will form part of a proposed new development, which has been given the rather bland moniker of the Gold Coast Integrated Resort. The project aims to give the Goldie "a new global waterfront destination and world-class coastal icon" — complete with five buildings ranging from 20 to 45 storeys in height, multiple hotels, a casino, eateries, shops, apartments and a waterfront piazza with walkways, gardens, parks, amphitheatres and an outdoor cinema, all taking over the space between Sea World and the Gold Coast Fisherman's Co-operative. Don't go making travel plans just yet, though, with construction not expected to start until after the 2018 Commonwealth Games. And don't expect such a big change to such a well-trodden area to happen quietly. With the Gold Coast Broadwater — or large shallow estuary — quite a natural feature, plenty of other proposals have been mooted for The Spit and have been met with considerable outcries. For more information, visit the Gold Coast Integrated Resort website. Via Brisbane Development / Gold Coast Bulletin. Images: Gold Coast Integrated Resort.
Paddington favourite Tequila Mockingbird is set to bring its South American and Mexican flare to the CBD next week when pop-up restaurant Tequila on York opens its doors. Located in an old print shop off York Street, the hard-to-find venue will join the likes of nearby speakeasies The Barber Shop and Baxter's, the three-level Prince of York and mezcal bar Cantina OK!. To access the restaurant, you'll be given a phone number to call on arrival and then personally escorted through the concealed entrance. As such, bookings are a must, with only one lunch sitting and two dinner sittings per night. Once inside, expect to find a similar offering to the parent venue, including a menu of twists on Mexican favourites and a drinks list heavy on mezcal and tequila. Tequila Mockingbird's Executive Chef John Frid is behind the seasonal menu, which will be delivered solely as a four-course feast for $89 each. [caption id="attachment_781441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] While the eight-dish menu will change regularly, expect the likes of kingfish ceviche with watermelon sorbet and fried plantains; spinach and feta tamales with rajas poblanas (roasted poblano peppers in cream sauce); and wagyu tartare tacos with egg jam and mountain pepper leaf. Larger plates include grilled chicken with mole and wagyu rump cap served with bush tomato salsa. The fit-out will pay homage to the building's heritage with exposed sandstone walls, towering archways and timber beams. For now, the pop-up is only expected to run until Friday, October 9 — so, we recommend grabbing a booking ASAP. Find Tequila on York at 50 York Street, Sydney from Wednesday, September 2. It'll be open for lunch at 12pm and dinner at 6pm and 8.30pm, Wednesday–Friday. To book, head here. Images: Steven Woodburn
Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks fourth annual celebration of all things art, will return from September 13–16 — and the fair lineup is so jam-packed that it's bursting at the finely-designed seams. Held during Sydney Art Week, the lineup is over-flowing with performances, exhibitions, tours, talks and openings that celebrate both homegrown and international art. The program will not only take place in Carriageworks, but also in partner venues across the city — most notably during the return of its night cap series at venues like the Bearded Tit, The Old Fitzroy and Artspace. We even have our hand in the after-hours happenings, with the opening night party presented by Concrete Playground. We've teamed up with Melbourne-based creative duo Prue Stent and Honey Long to take over The Royal Hotel from 9pm through midnight and bring you one helluva lineup of live performances, installations and DJs. We're keeping the details close to our chest for now, but we can say that it's a party you won't want to miss. Back at Carriageworks, the program features artist Patricia Piccinini, who will take over the Elston Room with her other-worldly survey show, The Field — which has been developed from its time at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. On the performance art side, they've got Taipei-born Parisian artist River Lin, vanishing art act Emily Parsons-Lord and sonic impulse explorer Michaela Davis. Installations range from Abdul Abdullah's emoji-scrawled portraits to the modern clay figures by the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, along with the interactive sound sculptures from Megan Cope. Plus, a moving image program directed by Melbourne-based Kelly Gellatly (Ian Potter Museum of Art) and tonnes of tours and artist talks are also scheduled. These include a free talk series for all ticket holders, following leading figures as they consider the controversial crossroads between contemporary art and culture — including with a panel of artists discussing the #MeToo movement's effect on the creative industries. The program will also extend once again as far as Barangaroo, where three large-scale commissions will take over the precinct from August 27 through September 24. This year, the installations will include an artistic shelter by Canadian-born Callum Morton, a movement based performance by Mel O'Callaghan and a wind-powered exhibition by Cameron Robbins. The food at Carriageworks will be nothing to scoff at either; though the full lineup of eats has not yet been announced, previous years have seen such Sydney heavy-hitters as Longrain, Billy Kwong and Kitchen by Mike run stalls. Other foodie events include a champagne and canapes brekkie with the artists in residence at Paddington's Sabbia Gallery. Sydney Contemporary runs from September 13–16 at Carriageworks. Visit the event website for the full program details, and to buy tickets.
Playwright Lally Katz has been adding grunt to whimsy for some dozen years and 20 full-length plays. Best known in Sydney for the moving play she purpose-built for Robyn Nevin, Neighbourhood Watch, as well as this year's energetic un-commission Stories I Want to Tell You in Person, her work is surreally plotted yet emotionally resonant — and always, always original. This staging of Return to Earth, then — led by director Paige Rattray (of Sydney's own pedlars of the surreal ARTHUR) and showing as part of Griffin Independent — is set to be a true gem. It follows what happens when the missing Alice (played by The Sapphires' Shari Sebbens) returns to her family in small-town Tathra. With her lost years a mystery and Alice acting completely disconnected from reality and social convention, some embrace her with enthusiasm, while others are slower to accept. It's an exploration of alienation that should strike a chord. Return to Earth opens at the SBW Stables Theatre on September 4, with tickets available through the Griffin Theatre website. Thanks to Griffin, we also have five double to give away to the preview performances of Return to Earth on the night of your choice. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Head into any Woolworths store from today — Tuesday, February 19 — and you'll find its $1 a litre milk is a thing of the past. In an effort to do right by Australia's struggling dairy industry, the supermarket giant is boosting the price of its home-branded two- and three-litre fresh milk varieties by ten cents a litre, with the difference eventually heading back into our farmers' pockets. Two-litre milk products will now be priced at $2.20, with the three-litre version upped to $3.30, at Woolworths stores nationwide. Since 2000, Australian dairy farmers have operated in a deregulated industry. This means that they are able to export their products much more easily as they can compete with international milk prices, but it also means they are often at the mercy of the international market price, which is, on average, quite low at around 42 US cents per litre. This, along with cheap domestic milk prices and high feed prices because of the drought, might explain why farmers are doing it tough of late. The cheaper the milk on your supermarket shelf, generally, the worse off the farms that made it. So, while this latest Woolworths price change might sound minor, it has scope to be a significant win in the fight against discount dairy — especially as the supermarket has promised to pay the extra ten cents it's collecting per litre back to the suppliers. https://twitter.com/Dairy_Australia/status/1097305276556800001 "Removing $1 milk is not just intended to restore farmers' financial confidence, but it will also boost confidence in regional communities and small businesses that rely on the industry," Australian Dairy Farmers CEO David Inall said in a statement yesterday. While Woolworths, as well as Coles, don't have a great reputation for supporting Aussie farmers, they're making steps (albeit small) to change this. Both supermarket giants introduced Drought Relief Milk in late 2018, with ten cents from each litre sold going to drought-affected dairy farmers. There's no word yet on whether Coles and Aldi will also increase the price of their home-branded $1-a-litre milks, but we'll let you know if they do.
Degustation menus are an art and an experience, taking diners' tastebuds on a delicately curated journey, as Sydney restaurant NEL lives and breathes all year round. Chef and namesake Nelly Robinson likes pushing the concept further, however, as visitors to the Wentworth Avenue venue know. Maybe you tucked into his KFC-inspired spread in 2022. Perhaps you enjoyed nel's Moulin Rouge!-themed and Christmas degustations, too. Either way, you should now be adding the eatery's latest menu to your must-try list: an 11-course lineup dedicated to native Australian ingredients. On offer from Tuesday, January 17–Saturday, March 25, NEL's current degustation is a collaboration between Robinson and a guest Indigenous chef, with sustainably sourced ingredients from outback Australia at its heart. It's also a concept that's been in the works for some time, and marks NEL's first-ever degustation to hero native Aussie fare. "We are very lucky to have a forager who sources the Indigenous ingredients for us, as well as our suppliers," says Robinson, who notes that the latter work closely with local Indigenous communities. "Being from the UK, discovering these ingredients has been a real learning process. We honour the culinary stories behind them whilst pushing boundaries to continue to be at the forefront of innovation and creativity with all of our dishes," Robinson continues. On the menu: 11 dishes featuring wild barramundi, kangaroo, lemon myrtle, pepper berries, bush tomatoes and more. Some courses include native dill, others bunya nuts — and Kakadu plums get a showing as well. Accordingly, diners can look forward to saltbush mussels in a native curry sauce, scallops with warrigal green salsa and Kakadu lamingtons. Plus, there's also lemon myrtle meringue, wildfire barramundi and bush bread on offer, all immaculately plated as always. Sydneysiders can tuck in for $185 per person, with another $165 each on top for matched beverages. Or, you can sip paired non-boozy drinks for $85 instead. NEL's native Australian degustation is on offer on from Tuesday, January 17–Saturday, March 25 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the NEL website.
Winter is coming, as Game of Thrones has been telling us for years — but the show's final season is coming first. Before the weather turns cold again in the southern hemisphere, fans of the epic HBO series will be able to discover how the popular series wraps up, so mark your calendars accordingly. After leaving everyone hanging for the entirety of 2018, HBO announced in January that Game of Thrones' eighth and final season will hit the small screen on April 14, 2019, US time — so Monday, April 15 in Australia — nearly two years after season seven premiered in July 2017. And, today — just over a month out from the release date — they finally blessed us with a trailer. There's a lot crammed into the two short minutes, starting with Arya Stark running through the hallways of Winterfell and talking of ticking more names off her list, saying, "I know death. He's got many faces. I look forward to seeing this one". You'll also see the Targaryens on horseback leading the Unsullied, Jon Snow most likely about to fly a dragon, Tyrion Lannister hanging out somewhere not in the north and Cersei happily drinking wine (probably still naively refusing to believe that winter is, in fact, coming) and, ultimately, everyone preparing for one huge war with the White Walkers. But, that's just the start, we'll let you watch it for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR4PJn8b8I You can also check out the other season eight teasers here and here. If you're eager to get your fix of the series' staples — that is, battles, bloodshed, betrayal, bare chests, family bickering, Jon Snow knowing nothing (including about his long-lost aunt) and plenty of dragons — then you can keep ticking the days off your calendar — there are now 40 to go. Of course, we all know that this isn't really the end of the world created by author George RR Martin — and no, we're not talking about the now seven-year wait for his next book in the literary franchise, The Winds of Winter. A prequel TV series to Game of Thrones is in the works, set thousands of years before the events we've all be watching since 2011, with Naomi Watts set to star. Come next year, you'll also be able to tour original GoT filming locations in Northern Ireland. The first episode of Game of Thrones Season 8 will air on HBO on Monday, April 15, AEDT.
A continuum means 'a continuous extent, series, or whole' and what curators Siân McIntyre, Bronwyn Bailey-Charteris and Hannah Kothe show with this exhibition at The Paper Mill is just how a shared thread of inherited traditional practice unites diverse artists. Some of the works are more traditional than others, like the woven forms created by Tamara Burlando, but it is the way contemporary artists steeped in traditional techniques infuse their pieces with elements of today that makes their work a continuum. Burlando, South American by birth but trained in the Central Australian desert, weaves newspaper into her baskets, dating them and making them undeniably current. Denis Nona from the Torres Strait uses the traditional technique of carving, but does so on a skateboard, and Alan Griffiths of Waringarri Arts in north-east Western Australia similarly makes marks linked to traditional carving from the region, but in the form of a sugar lift etching. Continuum also features Japanese artist Kasumi Ejiri, Polynesian weaver Sione Falemaka, Sydney-based duo Zarah and Safdar Ahmed, Aboriginal urban-based artists Bindi Cole, Esme Timbery and Marilyn Russell, Melbourne-based designer and puppeteer Stephen Muslin and artists from Waringarri Arts and Papunya Tjupi Arts, in Central Australia. Despite their varied practices and distinct upbringings, all these artists are united by the way they celebrate the artistic knowledge they've inherited. Image: Tamara Burlando, Woven Basket Forms, 2011
Bangarra Dance Theatre is returning to the stage with a striking new work — Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert — this winter. It's the company's first new production at Sydney Opera House since COVID-19 closures, so it comes with much anticipation. Set in Walmajarri Country, which spans the Great Sandy Desert and Kimberley regions of Western Australia, this powerful performance explores the displacement and survival of First Nations people in this part of Australia, particularly between the 1920–1960s. Artistic Director Stephen Page and Associate Artistic Director Frances Rings have choreographed this breathtaking new work in consultation with Wangkajunga and Walmajarri Elders, reaffirming Bangarra's place as the leading performing arts company for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You can catch Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert at the Sydney Opera House from Friday, June 11 to Saturday, July 10. For performance times and to grab tickets to this must-see new work, head here. Images: Daniel Boud
When any city becomes home to a brand-new art gallery, it's big news. Thanks to the NGV Contemporary, that's about to be the case in Melbourne. First announced back in 2018, and unveiling how it'll look just last month, the new 30,000-square-metre site at Southbank is set to be huge — adding a new landmark to the Victorian capital, complete with over 13,000 square metres of display space, plus a rooftop terrace and sculpture garden. Also hefty: the cash donation the in-the-works gallery has just received, as gifted by trucking magnates Lindsay and Paula Fox. Building up almost 20 years of supporting the National Gallery of Victoria, the pair has pledged $100 million to the NGV Contemporary. Yes, that's an enormous sum — the largest cash donation ever made to an Australian art museum by a living donor, in fact. As a result, the gallery now has a new name: The Fox: NGV Contemporary. When it opens its doors at 77 Southbank Boulevard in the coming years — with an exact launch date yet to be announced — that's what you'll see gracing the walls. Well, that and a whole heap of eye-catching modern art, of course. "We are truly astonished by this extraordinary act of giving from the Fox family and we are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity and support of Lindsay and Paula Fox. The Fox family should be commended on their leadership in this sector and for the real, tangible impact that their giving has, and will continue to have, on the lives of so many," said NGV director Tony Ellwood, announcing the news. "This awe-inspiring donation will ensure that Victoria remains a centre of artistic excellence for many generations to come and that The Fox: NGV Contemporary will be a source of community pride for all Victorians, as well as a meaningful cultural legacy for the Fox family," he continued. The Fox family's donation comes after the Ian Potter Foundation also committed $20 million to the NGV Contemporary — and it is hoped that both gifts will encourage more philanthropic support. "Philanthropy can transform cities and NGV Contemporary will be a true game-changer — one of the largest galleries dedicated to contemporary art and design in the world and a global architectural icon," said Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson. That money will go towards giving Melbourne a new must-visit gallery filled with the best and brightest in creative works, and a space that doubles as quite the spectacular site itself. Thanks to a multidisciplinary team led by Australian architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates, the NGV Contemporary will feature stunning arched entryways, as well as a spherical hall that reaches more than 40 metres in height. That arresting-looking hall, dubbed 'omphalos' (the Ancient Greek word for the centre of the earth), will spiral upwards through all levels on the building, too. So, visitors will then be able to walk around it to scope out art — like New York's Guggenheim Museum — and get up to the rooftop. Outside on that sky-high terrace, in addition to perusing the sculpture garden, patrons will be scoping out vistas over the CBD, parklands and the Yarra Ranges — views never seen by the general public before. Also among the highlights: a large cafe that'll connect to an expanded public parkland, a multi-level veranda on the building's eastern side, a new NGV design store, a restaurant and member's lounge, and educational spaces, studios and laboratories focused on conserving artwork. And, of course, there'll be large and flexible exhibition spaces that'll allow the NGV to host international blockbuster exhibitions — although with Chanel and Picasso showcases at NGV International in 2022, it hasn't been doing too badly in that department. Also, the new gallery spaces will also enable the NGV to present programs drawing upon its permanent collection of Australian and international contemporary art and design as well. The Fox: NGV Contemporary will be located at 77 Southbank Boulevard, Melbourne. For more information, head to the NGV website. Images: Renders of winning concept design for NGV Contemporary by Angelo Candalepas and Associates, by Darcstudio and Secchi Smith.
A coffee cup you're actually encouraged to throw on the ground? Tossers, this is your moment. After acknowledging people are jerks and will continue to litter to their hearts content, Californian environmental organisation Reduce. Reuse. Grow. has created a biodegradable coffee cup, embedded with seeds from local native plants. So if you're one of those straight-up idiots who likes to chuck their cup, you won't be adding to the already existing waste in the natural environment. It's a brand new project sitting on Kickstarter, with Reduce. Reuse. Grow. attempting to raise a mere US$10,000 to fund the seed cups. So how does it work? Specific to the Californian landscape, the cups decompose within 180 days, letting the seeds of local redwood trees and poppy flowers find their way to the soil. So you're left with new seedlings and no remnants of a latte in sight. Although the concept is a purely American one — a little drawing of a state lets you know where the seeds are native to — here's hoping there's enough interest for an international range, or an Australian company picks it up. The Reduce. Reuse. Grow. team have created the cups in an a attempt to take recyclable cups even further. "In America we discard over 146 billion cups from coffee consumption annually," say the team on their Kickstarter page. "Even when we think we are recycling and doing a good deed, the paper itself within these products can only be reused two to three times before the fibres are unusable and discarded into local landfills without consumer's knowing. It is time to consume smarter." Importantly, not everyone is going bush just to throw a litter party. The Reduce. Reuse. Grow. team have already thought of this. The team have suggested cafes creating a designated bin for the seed cups, one the crew themselves would pick up and dump in spots in dire need of new vegetation. Or you can just plant the cup yourself, after soaking it in water for five minutes. Apparently the seeds from one cup could extract over one tonne of CO2, so we're hoping native Australian seeds are next for the plantable cups. Check out the Reduce. Reuse. Grow. Kickstarter page over here. Via Fast Company.
Quiet luxury is getting loud in the Harbour City as jet-set glamour cruises back into the CBD. Following its top-to-bottom $70-million renovation, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is set to reopen this November, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of its original opening. For over half a century, this architectural wonder, with its distinctive semi-circular design, has been a place of glamour and excess — the nation's first 5-star hotel at the time of its opening. Among its guests over the decades have been royals, movie stars and global dignitaries, and as the hotel enters a new era, it aims to maintain its timeless opulence that attracted such luminaries while embracing all the mod-cons of the 21st century. Originally designed in a post-war minimalist style, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth welcomed its first guests in 1964. At the time, it was the largest brick structure in the southern hemisphere, complete with sleek, contemporary decor. Led by architecture and interior design firm FK, the ambitious renovations have captured the essence of the building's heritage, keeping its history alive by reigniting its glamorous past. The upgrades extend to 436 guest rooms and suites, the Sofitel Club Millésime, the health and wellness centre, all public spaces, including the grand entrance lobby and state-of-the-art conference and event spaces, and four dining venues conceived and operated by House Made Hospitality. This multifaceted hospitality offering has been a major focus of the renovations. It includes two restaurants, tilda and Delta Rue, and two bars, bar tilda and Wentworth Bar, which boasts one of Sydney's largest outdoor terraces. Leaning into its history the second you walk inside, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's grand entrance features a striking lighting piece inspired by a time-honoured Sofitel tradition of being escorted to your room by candlelight. Throughout the open-plan ground floor, visitors can spot subtle nods to the property's 1960's pedigree, for example, the striking, curved exterior extending inwards to create a series of intimate lounge spaces where guests to relax when they first arrive. Counterpointing this legacy design are 21st-century conveniences. Personalised service goes digital with interactive stations that streamline the check in process, while every aspect of a stay can now be controlled through Sofitel's concierge app. The elevated entrance leads into the Sofitel Club Millésime, a warm, eclectic lounge layered with soft furnishings. Those who purchase a day pass to the club can pass the time relaxing and enjoy its facilities, including all-day dining and refreshments, hors d'oeuvres and evening drinks. The essence of Sofitel's luxury can truly be found in its 436 rooms and suites, complete with a historical aesthetic updated with modern sensibility. The golden era of the hotel truly shines through with soft, sculptural forms, rich, layered materials and shining jewel tones. Contemporary amenities, such as smart, adjustable lighting and a pillow menu for the perfect night's sleep, deliver the modern touches today's hotel guests expect. Soak in the 60s charm with a heritage-listed bath and customisable French Balmain amenities, or start the morning with a Nespresso from the in-room pod machine. Guests can also enjoy revamped in-room dining by House Made Hospitality, offering guests an exciting opportunity to experience exceptional cuisine in the comfort of their room. The grand Wentworth Ballroom, along with 15 other event spaces, has been given a technological face lift courtesy of Encore Event Technologies. While keeping its history intact, including a classic 1960s mirrored ceiling, Wentworth Ballroom now boasts one of Australia's largest LED screens. Other upgrades to all event and meeting spaces include state-of-the-art lights, digital screens and presentation technology. Event dining is guided by the expertise of newly appointed Michelin-trained Executive Chef Bektaş Özcan, who promises culinary excellence, with menus showcasing local, organic, and sustainable produce. Sydney has enjoyed a boom in five-star accomodation in recent years, with recent additions like Crown Towers, Capella Sydney and the W Hotel stealing the spotlight from the older luxury stays in the city. With its mix of historic poise and contemporary finesse, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth now ranks amongst the finest hotels the Harbour City has to offer. Find the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth at 61-101 Phillip Street, in the CBD.
Glamping, you've had a great run, but another fancy camping alternative might be about to take your mantle. You can't carry a shipping container on your back like a tent, but you can move them around — and this new portable hotel was created with packing it up, transporting it elsewhere and setting it up in a variety of different places in mind. Designed by the Prague-based Artikul Architects, ContainHotel boasts all of the comforts of a hotel in a structure that's both demountable and portable. First and foremost, visitors will find all of the comforts they'd expect from a hotel, namely proper beds, rooms and facilities, plus windows and balconies, and custom-made plywood furniture too. Reaching 40 feet in height thanks to its two-level structure, with two 20-foot high shipping containers supporting a third on top, the space can sleep 13 guests in total. The three containers have been divided into five bedrooms, a bathroom, a technical room and a storeroom. Inside and out, they're decked out with reclaimed wood — and they're also built on railroad sleepers to cause as little impact to the hotel's surroundings as possible. With being eco-friendly and self-sufficient part of its moveable plans, complete with an inbuilt tank that takes care of the site's water needs, that's clearly important. ContainHotel can currently be found in Treboutice in the Czech Republic, but just where it'll pop up next is anyone's guess. Via inhabitat. Image: Michal Hurych.
Rooftop bars are so last season. If you're still heroically bracing a trembling Aperol Spritz against a fifth floor Autumn wind-battering on one of Sydney's dying summer days, here's an alternative for you: a new way to get high and party, and this one's much more spectacular. From May 26 to June 17 as part of Vivid Sydney, the Sydney Tower Eye is launching Eye Live Project — a program of live music nights, 250 metres above the city, against a jaw-dropping 360-degree view. Sydney label Etcetc, propelled by ex-Ministry of Sound talent Aden Mullens, will kick things off on May 26 with a lineup featuring infectious sun-soaked house from POOLCLVB, as well as the badass, vintage electro-funk of Luke Million, who caused a stir with his take on the Stranger Things theme. The same weekend will also see The Eye unveiled as a neon Tron-like playground for Discovery — Australia's Daft Punk Tribute show. Touch Sensitive, with his cult-favourite cosmic beats, headlines the rollover into June, alongside electronic DJ sets from vocalists Elizabeth Rose and Annie Bass. An all-nighter with Dr Packer — remix-king of old-school soul, disco, hip hop and reggae — follows on June 3, and sets the vibe for intoxicating club pop DJ KLP's set the following weekend. There'll also be raw, electronic RnB from Thandi Phoenix and beats from one of Australia's biggest names in getting down, Ministry of Sound's DJ Samrai, to see in the final weekend, before Heaps Gay take the wheel for a massive sky-high finale. Headliner Brendan Maclean will perform a live set alongside a host of Sydney DJs and vibrant performers, sending off the Eye Live Project in a whirlwind of glitter and spectacle. Adding to Vivid's already formidable events program, the Eye Live Project is the first of its kind at the Sydney Tower Eye. With a strict venue capacity of 200 and a secret headliner still to be announced, tickets are set to sell fast. The Eye Live Project takes place on Friday and Saturday nights between May 26 and June 17. For more information, head to the event website.
UPDATE, May 5, 2021: Willy's Wonderland is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. If you've ever wondered how Nicolas Cage might've fared during cinema's silent era, Willy's Wonderland has the answer. A horror film about killer animatronic restaurant mascots, it's firmly a 2021 feature. It wasn't made a century ago, before synchronised sound forever changed the movie business, so it's definitely a talkie as well. Cage doesn't do any chattering, however. He groans and growls, and often, but doesn't utter a single word. The actor's many devotees already know that he's a talent with presence; whether he's cavorting in the streets under the delusion that he's a bloodsucker in Vampire's Kiss, grinning with his locks flowing in the wind in Con Air, dousing himself with vodka and grunting in Mandy or staring at a vibrant light in Color Out of Space, he repeatedly makes an imprint without dialogue. So, the inimitable star needn't speak to command attention — which is exactly the notion that Willy's Wonderland filmmaker Kevin Lewis (The Third Nail) put to the test. First, the great and obvious news: Cage doesn't seem to put in much effort, but he's a joy to watch. Playing a man simply known as The Janitor, he glowers like he couldn't care less that furry robots are trying to kill him. He swaggers around while cleaning the titular long-abandoned Chuck E Cheese-esque establishment, dances while hitting the pinball machine on his breaks, swigs soft drink as if it's the only beverage in the world and proves mighty handy with a mop handle when it comes to dispensing with his supernaturally demonic foes. Somehow, though, he's never as OTT as he could be. Cage plays a character who doesn't deem it necessary to convey his emotions, and that results in more restraint on his part than the film demonstrates with its undeniably silly premise. Accordingly, cue the bad news: as entertaining as Cage's wordless performance is — even without completely going for broke as only he can — Willy's Wonderland is often a ridiculous yet routine slog. The Janitor finds himself locked in Willy's Wonderland in the sleepy Nevada town of Hayesville courtesy of an inconveniently placed spike strip. Driving over the device trashes his tyres, which local mechanic Jed Love (Chris Warner, Machete) can replace, but The Janitor doesn't have cash, credit isn't accepted and there's no working ATM within a handy distance. So, he's offered a deal. If he spends the night cleaning the shuttered children's eatery for owner Tex Macadoo (Ric Reitz, Finding Steve McQueen), Jed will fix his car. The Janitor agrees and gets a-scrubbing, but animatronics Willy Weasel, Arty Alligator, Cammy Chameleon, Tito Turtle, Knighty Knight, Gus Gorilla, Siren Sara and Ozzie Ostrich (no, not Ossie Ostrich from Hey Hey It's Saturday) have him in their sights. Willy's Wonderland could've opted for a stripped-back, action-heavy approach, solely focusing on Cage's clash with the critters after the movie's obligatory setup scenes. The film clearly only exists because he's in it, after all. And, the idea of seeing Cage in a John Wick-style flick that's built upon relentless fights for survival is a concept made in cinematic heaven — if Charlize Theron (in Atomic Blonde) and Bob Odenkirk (in Nobody) can do it, he can as well. But first-time screenwriter GO Parsons opts for a different template. The horror genre's fondness for offing meddling teens comes into play, and Willy's Wonderland is a worse movie for it. Hayesville high schoolers Liv (Emily Tosta, Party of Five), Chris (Kai Kadlec, Dropouts), Kathy (Caylee Cowan, Incision), Aaron (Christian Delgrosso, School Spirits), Bob (Terayle Hill, Judas and the Black Messiah) and Dan (Jonathan Mercedes, Cobra Kai) know that something isn't right at Willy's. They're aware that folks have gone missing there before, too. And, after the rest of the group helps Liv escape the handcuffs her guardian and local sheriff Eloise Lund (Beth Grant, Words on Bathroom Walls) uses to try to keep her safe, they all head to the condemned building to stop The Janitor from becoming its next victim. When it wallows in by-the-numbers slasher territory, just with homicidal puppets and not maniacal humans picking off pesky teens, Willy's Wonderland delivers the least-engaging version of its premise. That's when it resembles the video game Five Nights at Freddy's mixed with terrible sequels to 80s fare like Friday the 13th, and blandly so. Lewis and Parsons might intend to wink and nod at the decades-old pictures that started their chosen subgenre, rather than lazily ape them — as the retro animatronic designs appear to indicate — but when their film happily embraces every cliche it can, it's neither fun or funny. The flick's disposable adolescents make the usual range of stupid choices, including having sex in the doomed space, and whenever they open their mouths, they rarely do the movie any favours. Indeed, the dialogue is so thin, clunky and unconvincing that you can be forgiven for desperately wishing that, like Cage's unnamed drifter, no one in the feature spoke. It isn't hard to squander Cage's talents in a lacklustre-at-best movie, though. Lewis can take solace in the fact that plenty of directors have, and their star has let them. Of late, the actor's resume overflows with films that've only garnered attention because he's in them — see also: the tedious Jiu Jitsu and Primal in just the past two years — and Willy's Wonderland easily joins them. He's nowhere near his best here, but he's still the best thing about the picture. Jittery editing, oversaturated visuals and oh-so-much formula can't dampen his noiseless performance, although, conversely, he can't help Willy's Wonderland overcome its many struggles. 2021 has already let Cage completists see him drip profanity and wax lyrical about the origins of curse words in History of Swear Words, so perhaps this dialogue-free affair is just his way of retaining a sense of cosmic Cage balance. It's never anywhere near as goofy, wacky or out-there as it seems to think, however, and it's positively dull whenever its leading man is out of sight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5-hkHIZF4
