Turn everything you know about ballet completely on its head. Even then, you probably won't be able to get close to imagining the performance that is Trolleys, a street dance crossed with ballet crossed with public art. Choreographed by Shaun Parker and Company (who at last year's Art & About took us to the playground with the impressive Spill), Trolleys sees various dancers engage with five shopping trolleys in different locations around the Sydney CBD, enacting stories of love, anarchy and friendship. Using the trolley as a prop/stand-in dance partner, the 20-minute performance promises to push the boundaries of our spatial relationships. The performance is timed to fit comfortably within your daily lunch break, so look up from your phone screens for a bit and catch this spectacle. To find out where and when Trolleys is on each day, check out the Art & About website.
Got a hankering for hot cinnamon doughnuts? The colder weather will do that. Luckily, you can get your hands on a free sweet treat in the coming days, as Donut King is giving away free hot cinnamon doughnuts for National Donut Day on Friday, June 6. There's no catch to speak of — all it takes to score a free doughnut is to head along to your nearest participating Donut King store on the day. There are over 200 locations nationwide, so finding a store filled with tantalising sugary aromas shouldn't be too hard. "The magic of our hot and fresh cinnamon doughnuts bouncing along the conveyor belt and landing in a delicious carousel of sweet cinnamon is the moment we seek to share with our loyal fans every day," says Raquel Hine, Marketing Manager at Donut King. For something extra extravagant, check out the 'Hot Cinni Hotel' — a limited-time collaboration between Donut King and Ovolo Hotels. Taking over suites and several spaces at Ovolo Woolloomooloo, expect cinnamon-coloured walls, spice-led cocktails and doughnut-inspired bites for guests and visitors alike.
By way of helping you transition into summer, all things Cuban are taking over The Paddington for three Thursday night shindigs starting September 28. Called ¿Qué bolá? (Cuban slang for "what's up?"), the evenings promise a Cuban feast, $10 Havana Club cocktails, a photographic exhibition and a chance to play dominoes Cuban-style, all soundtracked by Cuban vinyl. Danielle Alvarez, Head Chef at Fred's, is taking care of the menu. Snacks-wise, take your pick of empanadas de picadillo, with beef, olives and raisins; alitas de pollo (chicken wings); traditional sandwiches; and lime-habanero ceviche with plantain chips. For a heartier feed, sit down to a main, to be served in the dining room. The list includes lechon asado (roasted suckling pig with garlic and lime sauce), camarones enchilados (shrimp creole), congri (beans, rice and bacon) and yucca frita con cebolla (fried yucca with onions).
The 40th anniversary production of cult classic The Rocky Horror Show is bringing its brand of greased-up musical hedonism back to Sydney. Heading up the Aussie cast and bravely taking up the gauntlet of our absolutely favourite transsexual alien, Dr Frank N Furter, is Craig McLachlan, who your mum knows from The Doctor Blake Mysteries but you should better remember as winning a Helpmann Award for this role in 2014. Bert Newton is taking on the creepy Narrator role (supplying a Made in Australia stamp across the show), with Amy Lehpamer as Janet (dammit!) and the exceptionally good-looking Stephen Mahy as the block-headed Brad. Also starring Brendan Irving's abs as Rocky. It will take you a while to strap into that corset, so start now. Need more of a primer on the infamous show? The producers have kindly published this 'Virgin's Guide’.
Billed as an experience that'll 'challenge traditional notions of the stage', Total Reflection is sure to be a Solstice favourite. It's taking over Opera Bar for six nights across June, decking out the harbourside bar with a neon light installation, created by Sam Whiteside and Babekühl, and music performance. The live audio component, courtesy of Jono Ma and Jonti, will be mixed in four-point surround sound, meaning you have a different experience depending on where you are in relation to the artists. Total Reflection also looks at implications on the future of the arts, and seeks to reimagine cultural spaces in a post-COVID world to make sure Sydney doesn't lose its much-loved cultural edge. Top image: Opera Bar
Rum is more than just a sailor's drink. First US President George Washington ordered it by the hogshead and it's rumoured that the Kennedys were rum runners during the Prohibition. Famed writers Hemingway and Lord Byron drank it. You've probably had it from time to time, too. Coming in many forms — namely light, dark and spiced — and, with its ties to pirates and tropical islands, rum's a good thing to sip when you're feeling a bit adventurous. In preparation of many balmy nights of drinking it ahead, we've teamed up with RUM Co. of Fiji to get you across what you should know to become a rum connoisseur. Read on to discover everything from a bevvy of fun facts about the spirit to the recipe for a simple (but impressive) cocktail you can make at home. A QUICK NIP OF RUM HISTORY Made from sugarcane byproduct, it makes sense that rum first came from the Carribean in the early 17th century — back when sugarcane plantations were big business. Plantation slaves discovered that the molasses (the byproduct) could be fermented and turned into alcohol. Ironically, rum went on to become an integral part of the triangle between Europe, Africa and North America trade. So, its history is troubled. It's connection to seafarers stemmed from there, with sailors often being paid in the stuff. The British Royal Navy even rationed it out to prevent scurvy outbreaks. These, days rum's made in every corner of the world. However, you'll often find it distilled in tropical paradises such as Fiji, where the climate and fertile volcanic soil are perfect for sugarcane production. Handy, too, seeing as it's closer to Australia than the Caribbean. SOME FUN RUM FACTS TO IMPRESS YOUR MATES WITH It's the oldest distilled spirit in the world. Nelson's blood, demon water, pirate's drink and Barbados water are all names for rum. It was once so valuable, it was used as currency. It is said that to test if the rum had been watered down, sailors would mixed it with gunpowder. If the rum ignited, it was good. If not, they'd been ripped off. It was given to the British Royal Navy to prevent scurvy — known as the rum ration or 'tot', the practice only stopped in 1970. It was used as a shampoo by some, under the belief that it could thicken hair. RECIPE: FIJIAN DAIQUIRI Now that you've got the background knowledge down, you need to continue your education by perfecting a classic rum cocktail for the big day. And, as the weather begins to warm, we're craving a drink which is fun, tropical, zesty and a little bit spicy. The classic daiquiri, made with just rum, lime juice and sugar shaken over ice, originally comes from Cuba. It's the kind of cocktail to order when you want to pretend you're sunbaking on a tropical island somewhere. This take on the Caribbean classic uses top-quality rum — RUM Co. of Fiji's BATI spiced rum — with fresh lime, a spiced syrup and coconut water. BATI rum is part of RUM Co. of Fiji's range, made from hand-cut sugarcane and filtered through coconut shell carbon then matured in oak barrels. Made on the north western coast of Viti Levu island, RUM Co. of Fiji produces both BATI and RATU rums, which are hand crafted from cane to label and aged from two to over ten years. So, while this daiquiri may not be a far cry from the OG drink, it certainly brings its own Fijian twist. Hot tip: you'll want to serve this one cool. Ice cold, in fact. Here's everything you need to make this punchy and tropical tipple. INGREDIENTS 45ml BATI spiced rum 45ml coconut water 15ml falernum syrup 15ml lime juice ice METHOD Pour all ingredients into a boston shaker and shake over ice for at least 30 seconds. Strain. Vessel: chilled cocktail glass Garnish: lime slice Feeling Adventurous? Start planning for the warm season and learn more about the RUM Co. of Fiji range here.
There's the parade, yes. But before that, nearly a month of cultural and celebratory events of all stripes makes up the festival of Sydney Mardi Gras, and there's something for everybody, even Straighty McStraight-Straight. Who relates absolutely and 100 percent to the social expectations of their gender and sexuality? Nobody, probably. And that's something to love, savour, and take away from this most iconic of Sydney events. This year, there's a sports festival, art you can dance to, DIY monster workshops and the next stage in the life of Strictly Ballroom, among all the parties between February 7 and March 2. With gay marriage rights firmly on the agenda again this year, 2014's Mardi Gras will definitely be one that's remembered. Here are our picks of the ten best events. MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY Fair Day is as much of an establishment as Mardi Gras itself, uniting tens of thousands of Sydneysiders each year and marking the beginning of festival season. Get amongst an absolutely monstrous day, complete with live acts (the likes of Sandy Bottom and the uber saucy Bertie Page Clinic), community stalls, workshops and fabulous food vendors. 2014 will bring with it all the old favourites — an afternoon TUG-o-WAR and 'Doggywood', celebrating the most precious of Sydney pooches. New highlights include a very special Fair Day project: the first Australian NOH8 campaign, a silent photographic protest in response to the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Sunday, February 9; 10am-7.30pm; free entry; Victoria Park, City Road, Camperdown. DAY FOR NIGHT Feel like experiencing live performance on your own terms? Day for Night is a durational work boasting a killer lineup of Australia's most intrepid queer artists and put on by Performance Space. Then, at sunset on February 15, Day for Night will transform into an electrifying dance party. Set against a score produced by leading electronic musicians Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour), audiences will experience each work in an inspired new context. Part performance, part exhibition, part dance partay, Day for Night is a fusion of dance, sweat and sound, and one of the key cultural events of this years Mardi Gras Festival. Exhibition February 13-15; 10am-6pm; free; Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. Party February 15; 8pm; $35. MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL The Film Festival has always been an important part of Mardi Gras, providing a platform for films that might otherwise fly under the radar. This year is no different, and the festival will show off Marta Cunningham’s directorial debut, Valentine Road, about the tragic murder of gay 15-yea- old Larry King, and Free Fall, the story of two German cops who take the term ‘partners’ to a whole new level. Also included are celebratory screenings of Australian classics The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Muriel’s Wedding. February 13 – 23; Event Cinemas George Street; $16 - $25. MAKE PLAY WORKSHOPS In celebration of the Mardi Gras season, Object Gallery are gearing up to run a series of Make Play workshops, aimed at unveiling creative potential in unknowing Sydneysiders. Unleash your very own out-of-this-world being with Justin Shoulder's Fantastic Creatures Workshop; let Sydney glamourpuss Matt Format help you create your own faaaaabulous lashes in the Bespoke Eyelashes Workshop; put that frustrated costume designer to work in Angela Sinnett's Costume Design 101 or get yo' Mardi Gras bling on with the Bling Your Runners Workshop (again with Sinnett). Then learn how to shoot, cut and upload the entire festival experience, with Gareth Tillson's indispensible iPhone/iFilm Workshop. February 6–27; 7-9pm; $15-$25; Object Gallery, Level 1, 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. WALKLEY MEDIA TALK: A QUEER THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE NEWSROOM In recent times, the mainstream media trend has been to closely follow the debate surrounding same sex marriage laws. However, what is happening in the rest of the LGBTQI community? The Walkley Media Talk features a panel of award-winning media personnel — including Monique Schafter (ABC 7.30/Hungry Beast), Sethorun Raj (Sydney Law School) and Elias Jahshan (Star Observer) — and will look at why some issues crack the mainstream while others (bullying, suicide, STIs, etc) remain on the outer. An absolute must for the media savvy and socially aware. February 27; 6pm; The State Library of NSW; FREE but bookings essential. MARDI GRAS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT The tournament turns six this year and is set up to be better than ever. It goes down on February 22 at the newly resurfaced Bat and Ball Park in Moore Park and kicks off at 9.30am for a day of community and family fun. Hosted by the Sydney Rangers FC, Sydney’s first football club for gay men, and the Flying Bats FC, the world’s largest lesbian football club, the event will have qualified referees, a men's and ladies' tournament, a field set up for the kids and a good ol’ BBQ. The tournament forms part of the slew of sporting events teed up for this year’s Mardi Gras Sports Festival, including the Rainbow Run in Sydney Park on February 8, and the City Hoops 3 on 3 basketball tournament at Prince Alfred Park on February 9. February 22, 9.30am; $15-20; Registration closes February 16. QUEER ACT/IONS Celebrate love and the arts with QUEER ACT/IONS, presented by The Q, young turks MKA: Theatre of New Writing and nurturers of experimentation PACT Theatre in association with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. First off: A Boy & A Bean, written and performed by Nick Atkins (from 12-15 February). Atkins dives into the very vital debate of marriage equality in an honest and tender performance that sees a boy called Jack stray between love, legislation and folklore. Unsex Me, Mark Wilson's performance of whispered confessions and hilarious self-mockery, will then run from February 19-22. February 12-22; $10-$25; PACT Theatre,107 Railway Parade, Erskineville. Tickets to A BOY & A BEAN and UNSEX ME are on sale now. STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL Everyone has to start somewhere, and for legendary Australian writer/director Baz Luhrmann, that somewhere was Strictly Ballroom. Initially a piece he wrote whilst studying at NIDA, it became a smash hit among global audiences, and now has become a musical extravaganza, just in time for Mardi Gras. From March 25, the Lyric Theatre is set to explode in a flurry of kitsch and camp as this Australian classic takes to the stage. March 25 to April 12; $55-145; Lyric Theatre, The Star, Pyrmont. TOY WITH ME Ever thought that your childhood toys defined who you've become as an adult? Photographer Richard Hedger's Toy With Me is a new body of work exploring the intricacies of that notion. In a series of intriguing portraits, Hedger portrays people from all walks of life — such as Tom Ballard, Brendan Maclean and Alex Greenwich — through the toys of their past. It's an invitation for audiences to visually match each toy with its significant other, while reflecting on the debate around the increasingly gendered presentation of toys. February 16 to March 3; 6–9pm; The Beresford Hotel, 354 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. MARDI GRAS PARADE The time has come again to celebrate the world’s largest LGBTQI celebration, the 36th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The march up Oxford and Flinders Streets in Darlinghurst commemorates the 1978 demonstration of a few hundred people standing up against discrimination and has become a celebration that draws tens of thousands onto the street. Get up to Oxford Street early on in the afternoon to take in the visual extravaganza of costumes, floats and fabulous fun. Then squish into your favourite bar early — believe it or not, this is the first weekend the new 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks will be in effect in the area. Saturday March 1; 7.45pm; FREE. By Mairead Armstrong, James Whitton and Rima Sabina Aouf.
Burwood might be a long way from the country, but that isn't going to stop some of the country's finest farmers paying a regular visit. If you've not met Real Markets before, let us introduce you. It's a family-run extravaganza that's all about bringing the best things in the country to the big smoke: fresh produce, home cooking and handcrafted objects. Just some of the goodies you'll be getting your hands on (and mouth around) include cherries from Orange, honey from Tamworth and free range eggs from Kendall. If you feel like taking a break, sit down to a coconut coffee, or just-baked tarts from The Portuguese Bakery. And, if you're looking to take a slice of Real Markets home or to a friend, you can grab a bunch of fresh flowers, a jar of pickles or even a soy candle. Every stall is handpicked by the market team — and be sure to keep a look out for special events, including visits from celebrity chefs.
More of a pop-up library than an exhibition, Archizines, an internationally touring collection of architecture-focused zines, is on at Object Gallery, presented by the UTS School of Architecture. The exhibit provides an alternative voice to mainstream discourse about architecture and design by showcasing a wide range of independently published material — each zine a little cultural freeze-frame, capturing a moment in the development of how we build and design our spaces. Printed media is tangible — you can pick it up, play with it, and flip through at your own pace — a beautiful element that was not overlooked in the curatorial decision making process behind Archizines. All zines are not just displayed but laid out to hold and engage with, making the whole experience exponentially more engaging and fun, particularly as many of the zines experiment with paper type, embossed fonts, and construction. Not simply a series of hand-stapled and typewritten zines, the publications laid out range from your basic, old-school university photocopier stuff to hardback glossies. Archizine's Evil People in Modernist Homes in Popular Films does what it says on the tin, taking a lighthearted approach to the exploration of pop culture's representation of architecture. Repeated discussion topics include the invasion of the virtual/digital into the physical world, unsurprising considering both architecture and design are increasingly digital mediums, being discussed here through a medium that is itself being supplanted by blogs and online news sites. A diverse and enormous amount of content to trawl through justifies repeated visits for thorough design and architecture enthusiasts. A series of projected video-blogs from various publishers, architects and designers round out the show, each video discussing a specific question, the most pertinent seeming to be, "what is the place of print media in the digital age?" If there's any exhibition that could convince a digital devotee how satisfying a lovingly created piece of printed text can be, Archizines is it. This is an edited review of the Archizines exhibition in Melbourne. Image via Archizines at the Architectural Association, London, 2011. Photography courtesy of Sue Barr & the AA School.
Last time Hunx & His Punx were here — back in 2012 — they charmed many an Antipodean heart with their penchant for getting (nearly) naked, offers to autograph genitalia and expletive-rich expressions of self-desire. In short, they delivered nothing less than what you’d expect of San Francisco’s maddest and baddest bubblegum punk band. So it’s only natural that we’ve invited them back. And this time, they’re bringing Shannon and the Clams in their suitcases for a five-date April tour that will see the two bands smashing genres at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on April 19. Since their previous visit, Hunx & His Punx have been busy blending ‘80s hardcore and ‘90s grrrl sounds to create nasty yet catchy tunes for their new album Street Punk, which was released in 2013 via Hardly Art. Meanwhile, co-tourers Shannon and the Clams have lately been spending time playing SXSW sideshows and Psych Fest and hitting the road via Burgerama tours. They mash ‘60s girl group sounds with West Coast garage rock, delivering “doo woppers, bomp stompers, punk rippers, country clippers and psych-o trippers”. Trying say that really quickly five times in a row. Tickets on sale on Friday, 14 March. Tickets via Moshtix.
Wiseman's Ferry is a teeny, tiny village perched on the banks of the mighty Hawkesbury River, surrounded by national park and with a population of just 220. The settlement gets its name from one Solomon Wiseman, an ex-convict who, in 1827, organised the first river crossing by ferry. And his service still runs today. A weekend at Wiseman's usually involves hours lolling by, on and in the river; pretty walks through nearby Dharug and Yengo National Parks; a beer or two at Wiseman's Inn and perusing paintings by local artists. On top of that, the annual Return To Rio rolls into town in November for three days to add even more reason to make your way to the idyllic village. This year, electronic music big name Sasha will be taking the stage alongside Lee Burridge and Hoj, who come from sets at Burning Man. In the mood for disco? Be sure to check out Greg Wilson and Late Nite Tuff Guy as they create a tropical dance town by the pool. Plus, when you're not furiously making shapes, you can take a break with crazy golf, water skiing and speed dating. Camping costs an extra $70, but you can turn things up a notch — both glamping houseboats are available for the weekend.
One of the permanent markered events in the Sydneysider spring calendar, Newtown Festival remains one of Sydney's go-to events for grass lawn sprawlers, like-nobody's-watching dancers and festival food stall enthusiasts — and it's still only a gold coin donation. The always-anticipated festival in Camperdown Memorial Park has announced its 2014 program — this year in celebrating the Day of Independence for Australia's newest micronation, 'Newtown Republic'. Heh. Themes. Sitting at the top of the lineup are shiny handclap-triggering foursome Deep Sea Arcade, beloved punk rockers Straight Arrows, reggae-driven hip hip crew Astronomy Class and epic prog-rock favourites sleepmakeswaves. Magical Mystery Tour-like psychedelics Richard in Your Mind, rascally garage punk trio Bloods and Sydney's suavest disco-funk-cranking-epic-shoulder-pads-wearing smooth talker Donny Benet will be hangin' out too. Country bluegrass supergroup The Morrisons will soundtrack your spring festival meandering, Day Ravies will psych you out, newcomer East is a definite bright spark to catch, party-triggering hip hop crew Daily Meds will be an undoubtedly must-see set, while sassy vintage rock-n-rollers The Fabergettes will be sure to have you mum dancing like a boss. This is just the start of the huge local lineup — we haven't even talked about the dog show. Or the live art hub with Phibs, Peque and Unique painting all day. Or the writer's tent with talks from Dr Karl and the Moriarty Sisters. With over 80,000 people making their way through the gates every year, Newtown Festival remains one of Sydney's best local 'how sweet is Sydney' ops — also still raising funds for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Full program details can be found at the festival website. NEWTOWN FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP: DEEP SEA ARCADE ASTRONOMY CLASS SLEEPMAKESWAVES DONNY BENET & THE DONNY BENET SHOW BAND STRAIGHT ARROWS TIGERTOWN RICHARD IN YOUR MIND BLOODS EAST DAILY MEDS DAY RAVIES THE FABERGETTES THE LULU RAES THE MORRISONS BRAVE Newtown Festival 2014 is on Sunday, November 9.30am – 5.30pm in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown. Entry is by gold coin donation, there's no glass or BYO and there's no entry after 5pm. For more info head to the festival website. Top image: Newtown Festival.
With the sun set to be high in the sky and the temperature gauge getting turned right up this weekend, it's the perfect time to look for a cool refreshing drink. So, beloved Sydney winemakers DOOM JUICE are coming in clutch and supplying the goods with a frosé function at The House of Music and Booze, the former home of their pop-up cellar door. The slushie machines will be switched on and filled with rosé on Sunday, February 19, as the DOOM JUICE team once again takes over the sunlit beer garden of the Princes Highway pub. The frosé will be available for just $10 from midday — plus there'll be a couple of special guest appearances in store for the day to accompany these chilly bevs. Firstly, King Street cafe Rolling Penny will be making the move to St Peters for the occasion and firing up the grill. That's right, you'll be able to treat yourself to $10 frosé from DOOM JUICE and tasty snacks from Rolling Penny in the one spot. Rounding out the festivities is a DJ set from Ziyad, who'll be in charge of the tunes from 4pm. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The House Of Music & Booze (@thehouseofmusicandbooze)
Parramatta Lanes returns for its 10th-anniversary festival this October, bringing its free program of eats, art and live music to the streets of the west. The Paramatta palooza will include four nights of food trucks and pop-up stalls alongside a genre-bending lineup of musicians both established and up-and-coming. "Our much-loved Parramatta Lanes event was created to highlight the diversity and vibrancy of our city and tempt people who work in the CBD to stay after dark," City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said. "Lanes has grown year-on-year and is now our flagship event bringing together amazing food, music and art in the heart of Western Sydney. This year's program features some of the best bits of the past ten years with some added extras to mark this wonderful milestone." Heading up the food lineup are returning faves like Butter, Lilymu, Koi Dessert Bar and Mrs Wang's Dumplings alongside some new editions. Making their Parramatta Lanes debut will be the likes of Firepop, The Pharoah BBQ, Pocket Rocketz, Satay Bros, Burger Head and Hyderabad House. Pop-up bars across Parramatta, including an Archie Rose activation at Centenary Square, will keep you well hydrated as you discover the festival's eats and stellar music program. Sample Archie Rose's two bespoke cocktails created for the festival — the Red Centre Negroni and the Espresso Matinique. Speaking of live music, beloved Western Sydney mainstays DJ Levins and Bodega Collective will lead the diverse lineup. Joining them will be the likes of 1800-Mikey, Rainbow Chan, Boy Soda, Liyah Knight, Good Pash, Party Dozen and LGBTQIA+ creative collective Club Chrome. Rounding out the program is a series of artworks and experiences. Parer Studio has created a citywide exhibition called Fantastic Planet. These six larger-than-life glowing figures will tower over the city throughout Parramatta Lanes. Parramatta Artists' Studio's Kalanjay Dhir has also created a mix-medium digital and 3D-printed exhibition featuring a series of flower people, and Rosie Deacon has created bright, colourful banners celebrating the festival's anniversary.
The Lord Gladstone is no stranger to a rebrand. In 2021, it renamed itself The Lord Jabstone and gave out free beers to encourage Sydneysiders to get vaccinated. And last year, the pub pushed against the NSW Government's policing of live music compared to religious congregations, rebranding as a church and naming itself The Gladsong Hotel. For its latest iteration, the Chippendale stalwart is taking inspiration from Tasmania's Dark Mofo festival, slapping the name Dark Gladfo onto the venue for a free two-night music and art festival across the venue's many spaces. It's the second iteration of the event after the Gladdy drew huge crowds across a weekend in July last year. Across two separate Saturdays on March 4 and 11, you'll be treated to a huge dose of live music, DJ sets, drawing workshops and top-notch bevs. On the live music lineup, you'll find Liquid Zoo, Good Ramen and Ariel week one, followed by Doctor Robot, Infinite Skies, Inaugural, Josh Shipton & The Blue, Eyed Ravens on the second Saturday night. Accompanying the live tunes are DJ sets, with DJ Catkings and Debaser DJs handling the decks in week one and natural winemakers DOOM JUICE in charge when week two rolls around. DOOM JUCIE will also have a wine bar set up in the courtyard on March 11, and there will be enticing drink offerings on-hand to lure you in early. Between 8–9pm you can nab DOOM JUICE frosé and the Dark Gladfo Ale brewed by Atomic Brewing for just $6.66. Rounding out the week-two program is the Gladdy Drawing Club which will be running a "dark sketch club" up in the Goodspace Gallery on level one between 7–9pm, before DJs keep the music rolling all the way until 3am. Entry is free before 10am or $10 after.
Known for their ever-compelling contemporary takes on timeless plays, Bell Shakespeare will be expanding its repertoire of classics this season with the performance of Moliere's comedy Tartuffe (The Hypocrite). This is one of the 17th-century playwright's best; an irreverent satire that follows the attempts of a wily con artist as he manipulates his way into a wealthy family. Bell's production, translated by Justin Fleming and directed by Peter Evans, promises to stay true to the rollicking rhythm of Moliere's rhyming dialogue, while showcasing the play's themes of deception and seduction, fidelity and hypocrisy in an Australian vernacular. A Sydney exclusive, Bell's Tartuffe stars a cast of some of our stage favourites, including Kate Mulvany, Geraldine Hakewill, Charlie Garber and Leon Ford. If the packed houses and positive reviews that followed the company's 2012 production of Moliere's A School for Wives are anything to go by, expect another comic success — a classic revisited in what promises to be an altogether vibrant and innovative production.
A play about the first woman to be executed by electric chair, convicted for murdering her husband? It is no wonder the 1928 American hit Machinal is rarely staged in Australia. However, this is soon to change, when the Sydney Theatre Company launches a production of the controversial play. Written by playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell, Machinal is said to be one of the peaks of expressionist theatre on the American stage. With the woman in question to be played by Harriet Dyer and her ill-fated husband by Brandon Burke, this play is set to be an intense exploration into the result of society's harsh expectations on women. Machinal is on at Wharf 2 from November 20 to December 7. Thanks to the Sydney Theatre, we have two double passes to the December 5 performance to give away. For your chance to win, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), and email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
The Hub Hall Street in Bondi is throwing a huge food and drink festival on Saturday, April 2 with a lineup of top-quality vendors from the precinct and surrounding areas. The Summer Sundown comes on the last day of daylight savings and is free for all. Each vendor is offering up dishes between $5 and $15, with some iconic Bondi eats available on the day. Heading up the street party will be the newly opened Da Orazio serving up selections from its new pizza menu alongside porchetta, and Bills' with its famous hotcakes accompanied by a special honeycomb butter soft serve. Messina will also be on-ground with a pop-up gelato bar and one-off A Tavola x Messina Sgroppino cocktails made with its lemon sorbet. Makuto, Pasticceria Papa, Harris Farm, Field To Fork, China Diner and La Palma round out the list of hospitality and market favourites taking part, with Pasticceria Papa's ricotta cake on hand, as well as pappardelle bolognese from A Tavola. Local producer Murray Lake will be providing the tunes and artisan stalls from local artists and designers will round out the festivities. [caption id="attachment_848245" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Da Orazio[/caption] Top image: Leigh Griffiths
If gourmet food and quality live music sound like your idea of a splendid day out, you'll be glad to hear that Lost Picnic is back. This one-day boutique festival sold out its inaugural incarnation back in 2014 and, this year, will land on The Domain on Sunday, October 15. At the top of the line-up is Fat Freddy's Drop, a seven-piece band from New Zealand whose cracking live shows combine reggae, dub, soul, R&B and jazz. Meanwhile, The Beatle Boys and the Australian Symphony Orchestra will be joining forces to perform tunes from Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, the game-changing Beatles album released half-a-century ago this year. On top of that, you'll be hearing from Montaigne, Sarah Blasko, All Our Exes Live in Texas and Melbourne's Teskey Brothers. A bunch of Sydney's beloved eateries will be dishing out food to match the music program. You'll be feasting on Middle Eastern delights from Tel Aviv Issue, Malay street food from Mamak and tasty burgers by Chur. From organic restaurant Agape, expect spit-roasted, biodynamic pig, as well as soft goat cheese with beetroot pickles and crispbreads. And, thanks to Woolloomooloo's Puntino Trattoria, there will be antipasto, arancini and porchetta rolls. When you're ready for a sweet hit, pay a visit to KOI Dessert Bar's food truck. Drinks a-plenty are planned too, including a variety of boutique wines and ciders, plus craft beer from White Rabbit. Alice in Wonderland will be providing inspiration for Lost Picnic's look and feel, which means you'll be sitting among balloon sculptures and giant checkers. In between acts, keep an eye out for roving performers, including The Gramophone Man, The Wind-Up Ballerina, Blue Tongue Brass Band and assorted magicians. "Lost Picnic is a mix of art, theatre, incredible food and outstanding musicians," said Simon Beckingham who runs the event with Wade Cawood. The two met in the electronic music scene and have since organised a stack of events, such as Lost Paradise, a New Year's Eve Festival held in Glenworth Valley. Tickets are on sale now for $89 a pop, so head over here to nab one.
Brisbane's Banksy? A street art scourge? A dedicated artist struggling to keep things together? Anthony Lister has been called all three — by the art world, news headlines and even himself. Banksy actually said that the Brissie-born talent appears to piss great art in his sleep, which is quite considerable praise. Galleries, celebrities and brands around the globe have clamoured for his work, though Lister's isn't your usual rise-to-fame story. His first big break came when the Brisbane City Council paid him to paint more than 100 of the city's electrical boxes, only to turn around and prosecute him for vandalism over his other pieces. Then there's his personal life, including a marriage and three kids — commitments that prove increasingly difficult to juggle given his dedication to his jet-setting career. From his sun-drenched childhood in '80s Brisbane suburbia, to life-changing teenage acid trips, to splattering colour all over the walls of his Sydney studio, Have You Seen the Listers? tells the artist's tale. It's a warts-and-all account that pulls absolutely zero punches, and a film that'd be nothing without Lister's deep, reflective candour. He doesn't just voice the documentary's narration, but he also provides much of its footage as well. While his art features prominently, it's accompanied by years of home videos chronicling Lister's everyday life. In fact, thanks to his obsession with filming his own actions, he gifted director Eddie Martin (All This Mayhem) with 12 terabytes of personal photos and recordings. Accordingly, Have You Seen the Listers? combines the artist's archives with his current antics, weaving them into a compelling and fascinating portrait. Viewers see Lister hanging around with his mates, falling for his high-school sweetheart and turning his hobby into his job. And they keep watching as he jumps between countries, tussles with the law on graffiti and drug charges, and proves a loving but often-absent partner and father. Along the way, Lister shares memories, thoughts and regrets, the kind that can only come with pain, trouble and hindsight. With his family situation deteriorating before the audience's eyes, he grapples with his passions and priorities, in what becomes an exploration of chasing a dream, finding success and then coming down the other side. As he did with the exceptional skating documentary All This Mayhem, Martin brings it all together in an insightful, involving and astute fashion. Collaborating with excellent first-time feature editor Johanna Scott, the filmmaker has cemented his status as one of Australia's best documentarians — not only thanks to the story he tells, or the fast and frenetic way it comes together, but also because of how authentic it all seems. Whether the film is throwing drug-addled montages at the screen, or capturing Lister with his kids, or just observing his feverish work, it feels like viewers are being given a direct line into the artist's mindset. There's an unmistakable air of reverence in Martin's approach, but what shines brightest is the movie's respect and empathy for the man at its centre — flaws, failings, frank admissions and all. Enter: the film's title. It springs from one of Lister's pieces, created as part of a moving tribute exhibition for his family, as seen late in the doco. It's also a question with both obvious and not-so-obvious answers. Everyone that's walked along a city street in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne has spotted Lister's work. Thanks to his court cases, international acclaim and general appearances in the media, we've probably all glimpsed his face as well. But have we really seen his different sides, how they contribute to his art and how he's striving to balance everything in his life? Not in this manner. That's the power of Have You Seen the Listers? And like other movies that examine artistic figures, such as Cobain: Montage of Heck and fellow recent Aussie documentary Whitely, the film is at its best when it's unearthing its subject's multifaceted persona, impact and enigma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPAOMjDvDJw
Following a huge ground-floor renovation, the Harbord Hotel reopened at the beginning of 2021 with a new-look terrace and main bar, a new head chef, and a commitment to surf culture and live music. The historic hotel is keeping to that focus with the launch of Froth Fest, a new 11-day festival centred around surfing and encompassing art, film, music, food and drink. Froth Fest is taking over the Freshwater spot between Friday, April 16–Monday, April 26 to coincide with the the 2021 World Surfing League Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic. The stacked program is full of talks, demos, film screenings, exhibitions and gigs that celebrate the area's love of surfing and storied history with the ocean. "Sydney's Northern Beaches have been an incubator for surf culture for more than 60 years, producing some of the greatest heroes, larrikins and infamous characters in surfing and Australian counter-culture," said Harbord Hotel owner Glenn Piper. "Froth Fest is a celebration of their art, their films, their song, their history." In one of the program's big highlights, seven-time world champion surfer Layne Beachley will host a lunch-and-learn session accompanied by a three-course set menu in the Harbord Hotel's Balsa dining room on Thursday, April 22. Throughout the rest of the program, you'll find an exhibition about pro surfer Peter Crawford, another from designer Steve Gorrow, a screening of surf film Men of Wood & Foam, surfboard demos from multiple brands, a longboarding competition and an ANZAC Day dawn service. On Wednesday, April 21, Triple J favourite Ruby Fields will bring her unique brand of punk and indie rock to the hotel for an intimate set with support from Love Drunk Hearts — and on Monday, April 26, podcast hosts The Swellians are throwing an unofficial Surfing League afterparty to close out the festival.
Add three more names to the hefty list of big music stars heading Australia's way in 2023: Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and The Game. In what's basically a 90s and 00s hip hop and rap fan's dream come true, the trio are teaming up on the same bill for an Aussie arena tour, including hitting Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in autumn. This isn't just any old nostalgia-dripping tour, either. It'll also mark the 30th anniversary of two influential albums: Ice Cube's Lethal Injection and Cypress Hill's Black Sunday. The former was the N.W.A member's fourth solo release, and included singles 'Really Doe', 'You Know How We Do It' and 'Bop Gun (One Nation)', while the latter gave the world 'Insane in the Brain', 'Hits from the Bong', 'When the Shit Goes Down' and 'I Ain't Goin' Out Like That'. Expect to hear plenty of those songs get a whirl on Sunday, March 26 in the Harbour City. For Ice Cube, the tour marks his first visit to Australia since 2018, when he became the first-ever rap artist to headline at the Sydney Opera House. "I love performing in Australia. It's been four long years since my last visit and I can't wait to return for a couple of history-making shows in 2023," said the rapper, aka O'Shea Jackson Sr (and yes, his son O'Shea Jackson Jr did play him in N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton). Ice Cube and Cypress Hill will be joined by The Game, who came to fame in the 00s in the West Coast scene. The US talents will also feature Aussie talent in support, with exactly who else will take to the stage yet to be announced.
If you're all about the bubbly things in life, prepare to be swept away by the city's effervescent new booze festival, rocking into town this autumn. Descending on Pirrama Park in Pyrmont on Sunday, May 19, the inaugural Sparkling Sydney is set to deliver a jam-packed day of gourmet food and fizzy fun. At this free event, you'll have the chance to sample over 60 sparkling wines from top local and international labels, including Savannah Estate, Pinnaro Wines, Santa & D'Sas and Stonehurst Cedar Creek. Entry to the festival is free and tasting packages, which you can purchase at the event, start at a tidy $20. More quaffing is to be enjoyed at the festival's pop-up sparkling bars — pair some molluscs with award-winning bubbles at The Ridge North Lilydale Sparkling Rose + Oyster Bar, or down a luxe concoction of white peach and prosecco from Bellini Cipriani Bar. If you prefer your fizz in the form of a crisp, spirit-based creation, make tracks to the the Gin and Tonic Garden Bar, where you'll learn about the art of gin pairing from the folks at Fever-Tree and Adelaide Hills Distillery. Here, you'll also be able to try the latter's highly lauded Green Ant Gin. Of course, there'll be plenty of top-notch eats to match, from Happy As Larry's woodfired pizzas to Asian fusion fare courtesy of Jimmy Liks and vegan snacks by Yulli's. Sparkling Sydney runs from 11am–5pm.
Are you over the Valentine's Day hype before it's even begun? Bondi's Rocker is too, so the restaurant has teamed up with The Kraken Black Spiced Rum to throw an anti-Valentine's feast. Eat Your Heart Out features a three-course menu focusing on offal ingredients — yep, that's organs and entrails, dished up for your culinary pleasure. And there will be cocktails, too. Rocker's celebrity chef-owner Darren Robertson (Three Blue Ducks, Locura Byron Bay, Tetsuya's) and head chef Stuart Toon are taking nose-to-tail eating very seriously with this one. The menu is designed to challenge diners' 'preconceived ideas' about offal, beginning with a delicate tasting platter of sliced tongue with onions and rum-infused heart and liver brioche buns. The entree is pig's head in a salted blood plum sauce, and the main is 'whole cow stew', which you should take literally. For sides, there will be pickled red cabbage and smoked potatoes with bone marrow and capers. To finish, the boozy dessert is a rich treacle and spiced rum tart. Alongside these inventive dishes, you'll be treated to four cocktails featuring The Kraken Black Spiced Rum including The Kraken's Love Bite, a refreshing concoction featuring grapefruit and ginger juice, and The Kraken's Heart, with lime, blackberry liqueur, fig and honey syrup and activated charcoal. The whole experience will centre around an ice sculpture of the mythical sea creature's heart. Eat Your Heart Out tickets cost $100 per person. To make a booking, head here.
If an apocalypse ever brings humanity so close to extinction that there might only be two people left, one thing is certain: if that duo is together and can communicate, they'll spend most of their time nattering about nothing. They'll talk. They'll argue. They'll fill the days, months and years by talking and arguing. They'll still be human, in other words, doing what humans do. Biosphere sets up house within this very scenario, and in that exact truth. Here, lifelong pals Billy (Mark Duplass, Language Lessons) and Ray (Sterling K Brown, This Is Us) are the only folks left after the planet has met a catastrophic fate — one that, because he was the US President when things went dystopian, Billy likely had a hand in — and they're now confined to the movie's titular structure. So, they talk. Sometimes, they argue. When first-time feature-length filmmaker Mel Eslyn plunges the audience into this situation, her characters have been talking and arguing, then arguing and talking, for so long that it's just what they do. Working with a script that she co-penned with Duplass, Eslyn introduces Biosphere's viewers to a self-contained ecosystem of discussing and disagreeing. In the abode designed and built by Ray, a scientist and Billy's former advisor, this pair has no other choice. "Self-contained" perfectly sums up the sensation when the film begins flickering, too — as Ray and Billy go for their daily jog around the sphere, talking and arguing as they trot, their dynamic and their routine is conveyed with such efficiency that it feels like you've been watching for longer than you have. Biosphere doesn't drag, though. Rather, it's excellent at constructing a lived-in world with Billy and Ray as they live through what could be the end of the world. It's ace at storytelling as well, but the talking, the arguing, and the immersive and relatable air all smartly say plenty about a movie that recognises from the outset how adaptable people are. "Life finds a way", aka pop culture's go-to Jurassic Park quote about resilience and versatility, even gets a mention in Biosphere. Life has clearly found a way to keep Billy and Ray chatting and conflicting like they've always done since childhood — the fact that their banter about Super Mario Bros and other trivial minutiae could be happening anywhere is purposefully meant to linger — but that's not all that Eslyn and Duplass have that famous line of dialogue sum up. Biosphere's narrative gets its drama when tragedy strikes the pond of fish that Billy and Ray have been using for sustenance, then a surprise development makes just as much of an impact. Life again finds a way in a number of manners, in a picture that revels in taking its audience along for the ride. While the second big revelation is easy to predict after the first, Biosphere's commitment to it keeps astonishing. A question lingers at the heart of this cleverly contemplative survival comedy: if all that was left of humans really was just two buddies shooting the shit and literally running in circles as they live Bio-Dome- and Spaceship Earth-style, how would the species respond? To be accurate, that's just one of many trains of thought in a layered screenplay that gets Duplass again unpacking modern masculinity as 2009 mumblecore entry Humpday did also. Two things couldn't be more important, then: tone and casting, which Eslyn and Duplass patently know. Biosphere is a film about interactions and reactions, after all, which couldn't be more dependent upon the prevailing mood and the players involved. Over and over, the movie's creative hands express and interrogate their ideas not just through the tale they're telling, but through filmmaking's fundamental elements. Again, this is efficient cinema — and effective. Biosphere's pivotal vibe is loose and light yet tender and compassionate. As writers, Eslyn and Duplass know what to take seriously, what to joke with and about, and how to avoid plummeting their huge twist into extinction. They lean into awkwardness but also hope. With all the talking and arguing, they also understand the rhythms of chatter and silence. None of this should be underestimated, and nor should Eslyn's fine-tuned efforts in bringing this sci-fi setup to the screen. Even the slightest wrong or false move would've punctured the film irreparably. Examining friendship, anxiety, identity and the nature of existence is like erecting and then dwelling in a dome when everything beyond the plastic is always pitch black, with shattering a fragile idyll far easier than maintaining it. Directing after shorts, TV series Room 104, and producing a swag of Duplass-starring flicks (Your Sister's Sister, The One I Love, Blue Jay, Creep 2, Paddleton and Language Lessons, for instance), Eslyn seems fated to have had cinematographer Nathan M Miller (also Paddleton) and the rest of her crew peer her co-scribe's way. Duplass frequently pens the indie flicks that he's in — solo or with a partner — but he's also excellent as Billy, who starts off as the slacker goof of this two-hander despite his presidential past. Selling the character's complicated journey from there isn't a simple task, but Duplass makes it look as easy and realistic as all the conversation and quarrelling. As the serious and analytical Ray, Brown is just as superbly cast in an equally as complex part. And their chemistry? Any filmmaker with actors who gel this well would have them talking almost non-stop, too. With its confined setting, lone pair of on-screen talents and dialogue-heavy approach, Biosphere is an economical movie, too, making the utmost of limited resources. Keeping the details about doomsday's coming vague might seem a budget-driven move as a result — neither telling nor showing what happened, nor what lurks beyond other than a growing green light in the sky — but it's also the best choice for the narrative. Why Billy and Ray are in this predicament is far less fascinating than what they do after their world gets domed in. Compared to exploring how humans adapt and cope from the ordinary talking and arguing through to the downright extraordinary, it's even superficial. Diving deeper comes naturally to this end-times comedy, although it does possess a fitting worst trait: loving existing so much that it's unsure about how to end.
This November marks 50 years since Sydney Dance Company first hit the stage. In half a century, the company has changed the face of modern dance, largely thanks to visionary choreographers Rafael Bonachela and Gideon Obarzanek. To celebrate, Sydney Dance Company is hosting a double bill, featuring works by both directors. Obarzanek will premiere the new work Us 50, an epic creation involving 50 performers — including Company stars of the past, present and future — and set to an electronic score by UK musician Chris Clark (composer of WOOF). "When we speak about 50 years of a dance company, we also speak about 50 years of dance making," says Obarzanek. "What is made, however, is ephemeral. The dancer's body can be videoed and photographed, but dance itself only exists when it is danced. So the history of the Company is stored and transmitted through the bodies of its dancers and collected in the memory of its audiences." Rounding out the program is Bonachela's 6 Breaths, which premiered in 2010 and has since travelled the world, captivating audiences from New York to London, Barcelona and Germany. Bonachela worked closely with Australian costume designer Josh Goot and Italian composer Ezio Bosso, whose score shifts from piano and cellos to the sounds of humans breathing. Happening over just eight nights, Season Two gives you the chance to journey through the Sydney Dance Company's incredible history, while escaping to worlds within worlds. Book your tickets — at just 45 bucks a pop — here.
Homebake might not have the international acts or the unrivalled party atmosphere of Splendour or St Jerome's, but it does have two things that are missing from almost all our other festivals: an antipodean allegiance and a strict 'no dickheads' policy. And for this we're willing to forgive Homebake for being overly sensitive to the effects of planetary alignment. After citing the solar system as the reason that last year's festival was called off, Homebake is promising something bigger and better for its sweet 16th. By 'bigger' we don’t mean 100,000 people tripping out before noon or tickets that cost the equivalent of three weeks' rent, and we don't mean feeling obligated to watch Coldplay just because they’re probably the reason your ticket cost so much in the first place. What we do mean is a cinema pavilion, a comedy stage, market stalls and tasty food options. Though obviously you're there for the music, so here we go: Grinderman, Cut Copy, Gotye, Architecture in Helsinki, Icehouse, and infamous international export Noah Taylor, who's abstaining from dressing as Hitler and terrorising folks in Texas in favour of playing some loud, fast, Australian underground rock. Hopefully the planets are sufficiently well aligned come December.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then, the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition. The 67th edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition has hit Sydney for 2024 at the State Library of NSW, displaying from until Sunday, July 7. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed 61,062 photographs by 3851 photographers from 130 countries — and while the exhibition only showcases a selection, get ready to peer at the best of the best. [caption id="attachment_961797" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gay Space Agency © Mackenzie Calle.[/caption] At the free exhibition, attendees can spy eye-catching images in a heap of categories, including contemporary issues, the environment, general news, nature, portraits and sports. No matter which corner of the earth these photos are capturing, or what's filling the frame, both the winners and other highlights comprise a stunning bunch of imagery — some arresting in their beauty, some hauntingly striking, many pivotally important. Two Australians feature in this year's winners, too, with Eddie Jim from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and Aletheia Casey both recognised in southeast Asia and Oceania. [caption id="attachment_961796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saving the Monarchs © Jaime Rojo, for National Geographic.[/caption] Top images: A Lost Place © Aletheia Casey // Red Skies, Green Waters © Adriana Loureiro Fernandez, for The New York Times.
A lot of noise has been made about Alaska Project's innovative use of urban space. (It's literally underground, in a former mechanic's garage in a Kings Cross car park). The gallery is no slouch in the curatorial department either — one year into its existence, Alaska continues to program consistently engaging and intelligent contemporary art. This final show for the year, Passing Parade, has been pulled together by curator Joel Mu and presents video, performance, installation, mural, and sculpture to explore ideas from the fringe. You may have seen the work of Indigenous mural artist Reko Rennie’s work recently blazed in neon, geometric diamonds across Taylor Square as part of Art & About. Artists Zehra Ahmed, Sarah Contos, the Motel Sisters, and George Tilliankas also feature in a show that promises to be a regular hurricane of unblinking, raw, political art on the edge. Our recommendation? Make a night of it and check out the Kings Cross Festival. There'll be works by artists Bridie Connell and Samuel Hodge, roving musos, and retailers and cafes will be open late. It’s all part of a big week of art, community, music, markets and food, and just one of the community-oriented initiatives aimed at changing the conversation and the culture of the Cross. Image: The Motel Sisters A Yarn With Brendan Carn 2011 (still) video photography: Shari Pierce. Image courtesy and © the artists
The establishment currently (and formerly) known as the Newtown Hotel has undergone a number of transformations over the years. Gone are the days of kitschy, tropical-themed small bar Freaky Tiki, and the venerable watering hole has yet another exciting reincarnation in store for the last Saturday of every month, starting August 17, 2013. The Bizarre Bazaar folk market will be taking over the bottom floor and Tiki Garden of the Newtown Hotel from 10am, where stalls offering classic records, vintage clothes and handmade crafts will assuage any attendant guilt you may have about entering a pub before noon. To sweeten the deal, you can expect $5 tacos and $6 servings of local brew Young Henry's to keep your tastebuds happy. And what folk market would be complete without live folk music? The Bizarre Bazaar certainly wouldn't be, with some of Newtown’s finest folk acts on hand to kick things off.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced its latest filmmaker retrospective — and in good news for cinephiles living in other cities, it won't just be screening at ACMI in Melbourne. Setting their sights on the movie classics crafted by Roman Polanski, they've teamed up with Palace Cinemas to take the eleven-film lineup around the country, with it stopping in Sydney from December 1-7. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski will feature ten of the Franco-Polish director's features, ranging from his Polish New Wave debut, Knife in the Water, to his 2010 political thriller, The Ghost Writer. In between, the showcase will also give audiences a chance to see masterpieces such as the film noir-infused Chinatown and supernatural horror Rosemary's Baby on the big screen, which is no mean feat. Plus, it'll step through the British-made likes of Repulsion and Cul-de-sac, as well as the European-set The Tenant, Frantic and Bitter Moon — and present his co-starring role, alongside his late second wife Sharon Tate, in undead spoof The Fearless Vampire Killers. As for that eleventh title we mentioned, it comes in the form of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which is clearly the retrospective's way of addressing the director's infamy beyond his helming career. Any celebration of Polanski's work can't ignore his well-publicised flight from the United States in 1978 after being charged with sexually assaulting a minor, aka the main topic of Marina Zenovich's 2008 documentary. Polanski has still worked steadily and even won an Oscar for 2002's The Pianist in the nearly four decades since; however championing his filmmaking prowess is bound to cause some discomfort, even if the touring season does try to put the movies, rather than the man behind them, front and centre.
This summer, you'll have another excuse to enjoy a G&T as a heap of gin and tonic gardens pop up across the country. Settling into the outside areas at pubs and bars in Sydney, the gardens will feature plenty of gin and tonic (obviously), as well as DIY garnish stations. The idea is that you can learn more about different botanicals, then mix, match and experiment to find your ideal G&T combination. That sounds like a task that we'd all gladly accept; however there'll be tonic pairing menus on hand should you need some pointers. At the time of writing, Sydneysiders can scratch their G&T itch at the Woolhara Hotel and the Shelbourne Hotel in the CBD, plus Newtown's Union Hotel. More locations will pop up across the country over the summer, with a handy interactive map tracking new venues. The gardens are the work of Fever-Tree, so the company's tonics will be splashing in your glass. They'll be setting up shop not only in Sydney, but Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, and the Gold and Sunshine coasts, too — so whether you're eager for a drink close to home or you'll be holidaying in a sunny spot, cocktails laden with juniper spirits await.
Get ready for a night of music, food and live entertainment bigger than Godzilla himself. Presented by legendary Sydney DJ and movie-lover Jay Katz, Toho Nights is a new weekly party at Goros in Surry Hills inspired by Japan's Toho movie studio. You may know them as the creators of Mothra, Rodan and the big bad lizard himself. Starting at 8pm every Thursday night, Toho Nights will combine DJ sets spanning a wide array of genres with visuals from Katz's cult film collective Mu Meson Archives, plus plenty of tasty Japanese street food and beverages courtesy of the Goros kitchen. They'll also be running through a rotating lineup of guest performers starting with Jeff Duff (best known his David Bowie covers) and Crookedmouth (who'll incorporate a Japanese Geisha dancer into his set). For more information about Toho Nights visit the Goros Facebook page.
UPDATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 — The screening of Crazy Rich Asians has been cancelled. Located within the Chinese Gardens of Friendship, The Gardens by Lotus is one of Sydney's most picturesque dining experiences. The heritage-listed teahouse serves up dumplings, dim sum, fried chilli mud crab and, of course, tea, while surrounded by the lush green gardens. Over the next two weekends, you can enjoy two well-loved flicks alongside the dumplings and scenery, too. At 7pm on Saturday, February 20, The Gardens is showing critically acclaimed family drama The Farewell, while on the following Saturday you can catch the immensely popular romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. Included in the $70 ticket price is: spot on a beanbag in front of the screen; a feast of dumplings, salt and pepper chicken and vegetable fried rice feast; and a $5 voucher to spend on a beer, wine or cider of your choice. Plus, because it wouldn't be a movie night without popcorn, the Lotus team is creating its very own szechuan popcorn for the night. [caption id="attachment_800624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Inlighten[/caption]
Carriageworks is known for presenting boundary-pushing art. From large-scale exhibitions, live music at Vivid Sydney and thought-provoking events like Liveworks and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, the contemporary art venue knows no bounds when it comes to showcasing the finest creative talent from a kaleidoscope of art forms. The latest in its repertoire of must-see performances is Sleeplessness, a theatre production created by and starring artist and activist Kaz Therese. From Thursday, August 4 till Saturday, August 13, you can catch the world premiere of Therese's incredible one-person play at Carriageworks. Part documentary, part mystery, Sleeplessness is the product of Therese's 20-year interrogation into their family's history. Expect a fractured narrative, the unravelling of secrets and a radically honest examination of self in this quintessentially Australian story of migration, memory and mystery. Want to catch it on a night when it'll be Auslan interpreted? You can do just that on Thursday, August 11. Sleeplessness will run from Thursday, August 4 till Saturday, August 13 at Carriageworks. Concrete Playground readers can access 20% off tickets to any of the performances. For more information and to nab discounted tickets, visit the website.
Some of the city's best restaurants are jumping on the blockchain train, giving diners the option to settle their bills using cryptocurrency as opposed to cold hard cash or card. If you're a no-wallet type of person, you might want to think about downloading Liven. The new rewards-based app lets you pay for your meal using Liven Coin (LVN), their own digital currency, which is accepted at hundreds of restaurants across Melbourne and Sydney, including MoVida in Melbourne, Dumplings & Beer in Sydney and many, many more. So why join up when we already have the convenience of tap and go? Well, you'll get a lot more than just spam and cookies for your digital dosh. Diners who pay using the Liven app are then rewarded in LVN equal to 10–25 percent of every transaction. The LVN you stock up can then be spent at any participating restaurant, shared with friends or donated to charity. Here are five restaurants where you can use Liven to pay and earn cryptocurrency for your next byte to eat — plus the restaurants slinging free secret snacks in celebration of the crypto launch. MESSINA If the folks behind the Messina counter already know your order by heart, it might be time to start paying for your scoops with taps. Messina has partnered with Liven to give you LVN back equal to 15 percent of every purchase, which basically means every seventh gelato cup is free. What's more, the Messina team has also launched a secret snack menu, free to Liven customers, with four crypto-inspired ice cream flavours released each week until Monday, November 19. Recently the ice creamery was slinging the caramelised white choc-macadamia and biscuit BitCrumb, and for the week of October 29, it's Choc-Chain on the go, with choc gelato, choc fudge and choc nougatine. For more info on how to get your hands on these secret flavours for free, head here. [caption id="attachment_626891" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Hopkins.[/caption] 8BIT If you haven't already tried the old school burgers from arcade-themed eatery 8bit, here are a few good reasons why you should hit the start button now. Alongside its juicy burgs, chilli cheese dogs and bacon-loaded fries, 8bit's alliance with Liven will earn you LVN equal to 20 percent of every order. And just like at Messina, users of Liven can unlock a secret (and free) snack, the exclusive 'Insert Coin' burger, with beef, cheese, salad, layers of crispy bacon, smashed avo and feta. For more info on how to get your hands around this baby for free, head here. PAPPARICH Inspired by Malaysia's coffee shop culture, PappaRich takes authentic home-style Malaysian eats and introduces them to a laidback cafe-style setting. The padded picture book menu makes for a delightful read, each page splashed with colourful classics, from the buttery roti canai puffed on a searing hot grill to the nasi lemak with fiery prawn sambal and the turmeric-spiced fried chicken. The menu also includes a small army of beverages, with traditional Malaysian iced teas and coffees sitting alongside a Milo 'dinosaur' and elaborate fruit creations. Prices at PappaRich were already pretty reasonable to start with, but pay with Liven, and you'll earn LVN to use at your next visit, equal to 10 percent of every bill. LORD OF THE FRIES Fry fiends will know all about vegan chip chain Lord of the Fries, famous for its fresh-cut potatoes done four ways. Forget ketchup; there are eleven different condiments to choose from, including Belgium mayonnaise, mango chutney and even good old fashioned cheese and gravy. Did you want a burger with that? Side orders include the all-vegan burgers and hot dogs, as well as peanut butter and Oreo soy milkshakes. Part of the Liven family? Pay with a single tap using the app to earn 15 percent of the bill back in LVN. ROLL'D Lunchtime favourite Roll'd has joined the Liven lineup, and we can already hear office workers cheering from their cubicles. With stores dotted across the city, the popular convenience chain specialises in Vietnamese street eats, with options like Viet baguette banh mi, rice paper rolls, steamed bao buns and fragrant pho soup. You can either pull up a stool at one of the hawker-style counters or grab a few takeaway rolls to scoff at the park. No need to bring a pocket full of change, just use the Liven app to pay — plus you'll earn back 15 percent of the bill in LVN to use next time. Download and join Liven to start racking up your own culinary crypto to spend at hundreds of restaurants across Melbourne and Sydney. And until Monday, November 19, gain access to those free secret snacks.
The Hills district loves its food trucks — so much so that it dedicates a free two-day festival to the best of the bunch every year. Park Feast is returning to Bella Vista Farm on Saturday, September 8 through Sunday, September 9. You'll find 30 of Sydney's best-loved food trucks parked over the weekend. Think ice cream-filled pastries, deep-fried calzones, barbecue ribs, paella, pulled pork burgers, elaborate dessert shakes and Nutella-filled doughnuts. Some of the big names you'll encounter include Happy as Larry — slinging its A-plus pizza — Nutie and its vegan and gluten free doughnuts, StroopBros' Stroopwafels and Frank's Original Philly Cheesesteak & Dogs. You can check out the full lineup here. When you're not busy eating, there's an amusement park and 'inflatable zones' for all ages and live music throughout the day and night — all for free. It's dog friendly, too, so bring your fur baby if you wish. Park Feast runs from 12pm–9pm each day.
On January 14, after five long years, the lockout laws were finally scrapped in the CBD Entertainment Precinct. It was huge news. So, we decided to throw a big ol' End of Lockout party at Big Poppa's. And what a party it was. Punters danced till 3am, entered the venue after 1.30am and — wait for it — even did shots after midnight. The late-night haven of cheese, hip hop and cocktails was packed till the wee hours and pumping out plenty of the good stuff — for a good cause, too. There was half-price burrata, $12 negronis (with Campari and Cinzano Rosso vermouth) and espresso martinis (with Bacardi), and $6 tins of Atomic Beer Project XPA. Six bucks from each cocktail — and all the cash from the beers — was donated to WIRES's Wildlife Emergency Fund, which is helping to care for animals injured and orphaned during this season's catastrophic bushfires. In total, we raised a whopping $2028 — which equates to 338 cocktails and beers. You guys were thirstay. DJs kept things going right up until 3am. Flux-3, and VJ Spook and DJ Adverse all came together as CutKlipz for a special visual set that blended hip hop videos and tracks. You've been with us as we've covered the closures, the rallies, the fight for Sydney's right to party and this bash was an opportunity to kick off what we hope will be the re-ignition of Oxford Street. Keep an eye on Concrete Playground for future events happening around the city.
Lovers of fancy dress and all things spooky should make tracks to Coogee Bay Hotel this Halloween, when the venue will be decked out in all the zombie, witch and ghoul finery you can ask for. Heaps of food and drink specials will be on offer, along with plenty of tunes and prizes for best dressed. It'll all go down in The Garden on Thursday, October 31, with the party kicking on until the wee hours. First up, expect themed eats all day. There'll be smoked cheeseburgers served on a blood red bun for lunch. Or you can grab a 'Witching Hour' squid ink risotto, jet-black candy apples and ghoulish buffalo wing pies, which are made to look like a ghoulish figure with bright green mashed potato eyes and mouth. Need a pick-me-up after all this freaky food? You can order a coffee and it'll come with some Halloween-themed latte art. The cocktails will also take on a spooky theme, with a complimentary cocktail on offer to the first 50 people through the door after 7pm in costume. And there'll be a big ol' bowl of Halloween punch with floating lychee 'eyeballs' in it, along with a few cauldron-style smoking numbers and plenty of brightly coloured 'potions' to boot, too. You can then hit the dance floor, with DJs spinning tunes from 7pm till midnight, including Purple Sneakers DJs playing from 10pm—12am. And don't forget to put on your most ghoulish gown, with prizes being awarded to the best dressed individual, couple and group.
The inner-city suburb of Redfern isn't exactly beachside, though you'll be able to pretend as much now that Redfern Surf Club has opened its doors on the corner of Botany and Henderson Roads. Masterminded by the former general manager of The Cliff Dive and Oxford Art Factory, Yannick Maslard, the venue is an ode to the quintessential Aussie 'local club' — a laid-back, lighthearted neighbourhood haunt where everyone is welcome. He has pulled together a bunch of mates and bar regulars to makeover the heritage-listed, one-time bank, and the result is a verdant indoor courtyard, decked out with plants, knick-knacks and even a taxidermy 'bin chicken'. A pool room is filled with surf-centric works by photographers Luke Shadbolt, James Adams and Nick Lawrence, and classic surf flicks screen on a retro TV set. And it's hard to miss the neon-drenched shrine to legends like Prince, Phil Collins and fictional surf god Bodhi (AKA Patrick Swayze in Point Break). Classic cocktails have been reimagined in a nod to the backyard barbie, and are headlined by lineup of canned cocktails — just wait until you get acquainted with the Passiona, lime and vodka concoction, which is served, yes, in a Passiona can. Alongside The Grifter Brewing Co's pale ale, which is the bar's house brew, you'll find an all-Aussie lineup of seasonal beers showcasing Sydney's best-loved breweries. For those who prefer grapes over gruit, a diverse list of natural drops are available by the carafe — for those lazy summer afternoons to come. Find Redfern Surf Club at 60 Botany Road, Redfern, from 4pm–midnight Tuesday to Saturday, and 4pm–10pm on Sunday. Venue images: Patrick Stevenson; cocktail: Luke Shadbolt
The exhibition Beyond the Last Sky: Contemporary Palestinian Photography and Video takes its title from a line in poem by Mahmoud Darwish, borrowed by Edward Said as the title of a book on Palestine. In a media landscape often depicting Palestinians as terrorists, martyrs, the sainted or the demonic, Beyond the Last Sky’s approach is in itself a radical view: that Palestinian people are just people, like people elsewhere. Israel isn’t a subject of this exhibition, though the day-to-day trappings of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories certainly are. Rather, this is an exhibtion where artists comment on everyday life in the territories. The art takes place in Israel’s shadow, but its subject stays the everyday life of Palestinian people. With this, it feels strange to be a Jew — one neither opposing the existence of a state of Israel, nor the existence of a Palestinian state — to be reviewing an exhibition like this, and casting my own shadow over the works within. Raeda Saadeh’s Mona Lisa is an image of the artist enigmatically smiling as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. In place of the fantastic vista behind the original is what seems to the untrained eye to be a romantic vista of a random holy-land hill settlement. It’s actually an israeli settlement. Taysir Batniji’s Watchtowers was originally intended to be a typology of Israeli watchtowers. From a distance, they look like a series of crusader-era forts. Closer, it seems to be a collection of concrete water towers and weather stations, the concrete aged and the windows bare and functional. To a Sydneysider’s eye, these things seem free of violence. What comes as a shock is slowly becoming aware of the sheer number of the towers. Yazan Khalili’s Color Correction shows al-Am’ari refugee camp, a picture filled with hundreds of square concrete houses — an international architectural vocabulary of poverty — each coloured by the artist like hill houses in Mexico’s Guanajuato, adding a colour in reproduction that isn’t there in daily life. The colours are beautiful. Life there is, presumably, less so. Sharif Waled’s Beace Brocess shows Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authoritey Chariman Yasser Arafat fighting each other playfully to let the other through a door first. Waled plays this in silhouette, as a Chaplinesque silent movie. Now, twelve years after that more promising phase of the peace process, an accord acceptable to both side is still yet to arrive. Funniest, and probably the most biting satire relevant to a local audience, is Jacqueline Reem Salloum’s Planet of the Arabs. A mash-up of Arab stereotypes in TV and Hollywood, spliced into a long film trailer, it is a denouncement of every Arab stereotype and casual terrorist villain you may have taken for granted on the screen. Larissa Sansour’s A Space Exodus, finally, is one of the highlights of the show. Funny and fun to watch, its a recreation of the moon landing which seems to suggest, despairingly, the prospect of a Palestinian on the moon as being easier to imagine than an end to the region’s troubles. 2001’s astronaut, spacesuit and soundtrack are all passed through a Palestinian filter, culminating with a Palestinian flag on the lunar soil. Still from A Space Exodus by Larissa Sansour.
Steaming bowls of spicy hot pot. Piles of pork buns. Dessert stations covered in soybean pudding and deep-fried sesame balls. These are some of the Taiwanese treats that'll be making an appearance at the week-long A Taste of Taiwan festival. Held at the Shangri-La in The Rocks, the festival will see guest chefs, flown in from Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei, serving up an array of dishes from Taiwan's diverse food scene. There'll be slow-cooked spicy hot pot with shacha dipping sauce and raw egg yolk, as well as oyster omelettes — a night market favourite. But the pork belly buns, or gua bao, are set to steal the show. These pillowy steamed buns are packed with red-braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens and finely crushed peanuts and topped with coriander. Traditionally served at the end of the lunar year, and resembling a wallet stuffed with cash, the buns are said to represent good fortune. While it may not be the end of the lunar year, who would say no to a wallet stuffed with cash? Thirsty after all those pork buns? Expect an onslaught of bubble tea. Sweet tooth? There'll be a vast Taiwanese dessert station with an assortment of fruit from the sub-tropical island. The classic shaved ice baobing will make an appearance, too, alongside aiyu — a jelly made from the seeds of a variety of Taiwanese fig served with lemon and honey. A Taste of Taiwan runs from Friday, October 20 to Saturday, October 28 at Shangri-La's Cafe Mix. Lunch is available Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 2.30pm and dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm. On Friday and Saturday a seafood buffet will be available from 6pm to 10.30pm.
Home to one of the biggest decorative art archives, Signature Prints is "the spiritual home of the Florence Broadhurst design library in Australia". Over the weekend of March 14-15, the Rosebery studio will be transformed into a richly coloured world of interactive art and design to celebrate the unveiling of their new Blume Collection. Created by New Zealand designers Chris and Hannah Lane, the Blume Collection is a long-lost assortment of prints. Characterised by bold geometry and lavish motifs, these screenprinted wallpapers have a strong English influence, inspired by nouveau and deco designs. In addition to the unveiling of this collection, there will be time set aside for dabbling designers. The public will be offered the opportunity to contribute to a 20 metre long interpretation of Blume. There will also be the chance to meet design industry VIPs and gain valuable insights into the printing industry. Plus, every ticket purchase will include a limited edition Blume print. If you're on the hunt for interior decorating inspiration, this is the place to start.
Got your mind on a boozy feast with a bunch of buddies? Manly Wine — the breezy Hamptons-inspired all-day eatery — has launched a deal with you in mind. If you make a booking with one of the venue's share menu options, every attendee can score three hours' worth of bottomless drinks for an additional $45 per person, which includes wine, cider and beer. The offer is open to gatherings of all kinds — from birthdays to hen's parties to 'let's-get-together-for-the-hell-of-its' — and you get a choice of three menus, catering to a range of budgets and appetites. At one end, there's the Group Share ($35 per head), which gives you six starter plates, including mushroom poppers with jalapeño cream cheese and garlic dipping sauce, as well as flash-fried baby squid with candied chilli, followed by two desserts: pistachio slice and lemon meringue tartlets. The Girls' Picnic ($49 per head) — which, really, will appeal to anyone — adds lobster rolls, Vietnamese rolls and truffle chicken sliders, plus a dessert platter loaded with slices, tartlets and chocolate eclairs. And, if you're up for a serious feast, book Bring Me Food ($59 per head), which also covers a hearty main — in the form of grilled barramundi with baby kipflers, steamed greens and lemon or a 250-gram Black Angus sirloin with chimichurri, confit garlic and red wine sauce. To access one of these tasty menus, round up at least three mates and get ready for three hours of top-ups. If food is less of a priority, Manly Wine also hosts several drinks specials. There's the Sundowner Happy Hour, which happens between Monday—Friday, 4pm—7pm and brings you $7 wine, beer and spirits. Friday is also devoted to Cocktail Therapy, which means selected cocktails — including espresso martinis and margaritas — are $12 a pop. Manly Wine's Wine Not offer is available every day on group share menu bookings (minimum of four people required). Pre-booking is mandatory so, to make a reservation, contact the restaurant via phone or the website.
Laneway Festival has officially returned for another glorious year, hitting Brisbane and Sydney this weekend and Melbourne the next. Sure, there are some pretty big-name folks on the lineup — Grimes, CHVRCHES, Flume — but true to Laneway form, there's a whole host of artists you might not have wrapped your ears around yet. Laneway's triple j Unearthed lineup sees five new emerging artists hit the big stage. Each band/artist will be appearing in their hometown Laneway Festival in 2016. They're joining a damn good alumni bunch too — Client Liaison, Bad//Dreems, Ali Barter and more count themselves as Unearthed Laneway artists. Since they're playing in their hometown as shiny new discoveries, we thought we'd get each of them to give us a little hometown secret — their favourite hidden gem. Introduce yourself to Australia's new batch of music — you'll find them in these five local go-tos. ESESE (MELBOURNE): RAS DASHEN "Our favourite spot is my parent's Ethiopian restaurant Ras Dashen; not only because it's my rents and the band gets free food, but because you will never eat anything so hangover curing in this city. Since, 50 percent of us are DJing most weekends/weekdays and you know, getting lit goes hand in hand. So, whats better than some injera and Ethiopian coffee to get you back to life." 121 Nicholson Street, Footscray ADKOB (SYDNEY): TOWN BIKE PITSTOP "My local coffee house. I'm not that into the bikes but the food and vibe are both top notch. Try the Julio or the BLT — Swish. I'm a huge of that end of Abercrombie Street, it is still pretty residential but among the terraces are other cool things like the Eveleigh Hotel, the Commercial Gallery, this new organic tea bar and up the road the Redfern Night Markets." 156 Abercrombie Street, Redfern GOOD BOY (BRISBANE): BARBARA "Im not sure how 'hidden' Barbara is but this beautiful bar sits between the loans department and the sales department of the Fortitude Valley Cash Converters. The staff are top notch, the entire establishment is simple, wooden and handsome, and the house beer 'Babs' is incredible. Best nights are Wednesday when you can get a burger from our favourite chicken joint, Lucky Egg, and a Babs beer for 15 dollarydoos and listen to some classic hip hop." 105/38 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley FAIT (PERTH): THE OLD LAUNDRY "The Old Laundry is a favourite local haunt of mine. Gorgeous interiors, good food and friendly service. A great place to sit and watch the world go by." 22 Angove Street, North Perth THE HARD ACHES (ADELAIDE): TWO-BIT VILLAINS There are way too many favourite spots of ours in Adelaide, but let's settle with Two-Bit Villains. It's a kick arse American style diner with amazing food and handmade sodas, all of which are either veg or vegan. Run by great people in a sick location, Plus they do a mean poutine if you ask nicely." - BD. Shop 150 Balcony Level, Adelaide Arcade More about Laneway Festival over here.
There's an unshakable sense of menace throughout the low-key mob movie The Drop that lifts it above the outward cliches of its story. Then again, that's hardly surprising, given it was written by Dennis Lehane. The American crime novelist responsible for Mystic River, Shutter Island and Gone Baby Gone — books whose subsequent film adaptations rank amongst the best big-screen potboilers of the past 20 years — Lehane's mastery of the blue-collar crime genre is second to none. And, while his screenplay for The Drop doesn't quite reach the same impressive heights, it's a thoroughly compelling drama all the same. The story takes place, as Lehane's stories tend to do, in a working class microcosm in the north-east US. In this case it's Cousin Marv's bar, a grimy Brooklyn watering hole run by a bitter old barkeep whose name sits on the sign above the door. In reality, however, the bar hasn't belonged to Marv (the late great James Gandolfini) since he was muscled out by the Chechen mafia, who now use it as one of several collection points — or "drop bars" — for all of their ill-gotten cash. When the bar is robbed by a pair of desperate stickup men, Marv and his unflappable bartender Bob (Tom Hardy) are tasked with recovering the money. At the same time, Bob find himself caught up in the life of local waitress Nadia (Noomi Rapace) after rescuing a wounded dog left abandoned in her front yard. What Bob doesn't count on is the attention of Nadia's unhinged ex-boyfriend Eric (Matthias Schoenaerts), a local crim who, if rumours can be trusted, has a habit of making people disappear. How the storylines intertwine... well, that would be telling. Belgian director Michael R. Roskam is a skilled hand behind the camera, but it's easier to identify the influence of Lehane: the decaying urban setting, the unspoken threats of violence, the characters all speaking in thick, working class drawls. So too can you locate the DNA of earlier crime pics. Bob's frequent trips to a local Catholic church call to mind Scorsese's prototypical gangster movie Mean Streets; the theft of mob money, meanwhile, was the catalyst in the recent Andrew Dominik joint Killing Them Softly. As such, The Drop can at times feel a little familiar. But the strength of Lehane's screenplay lies in the information he keeps obscured. His characters' pasts remain shrouded in mystery, leaving you constantly unsure of how far they're willing to go. The star of Roskam's previous film Bullhead, Schoenaerts radiates danger in every scene. Likewise Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a washed-up tough guy reminds us just how big a talent the actor was. It's Hardy, however, who really steals the show. At first, his character strikes us as a gentle giant; a nice guy caught up in a situation he can't control. But as the movie goes on, we're forced to look again. There's something deeply unsettling about the way Bob never seems phased, even as his situation spirals further out of control. As always, that's the appeal of Lehane's writing. Things are never quite what they appear. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9xAKTGPbhQk
LBF is premiering at the MCA as part of VCS! Too exciting for full words! Too habituated to abbreviating events into hashtags! Not content with the Opera House and the outdoors of Circular Quay, the go-getting Vivid Creative Sydney is taking over the Museum of Contemporary Art for a weekend. As well as talks and workshops on careers in and the state of the arts in Sydney there's film, music and a late-night tour of the gallery. And it's all local content. To break it down: the movie, co-presented by the Sydney Film Festival, stars Toby Schmitz and Gracie Otto. It's full title has a rude word in it, and it features lots of bands, some of whom will play a showcase afterward. The all-round adorable roster of Broken Stone Records will also be playing a showcase, but at a different time to the other one. Insiders will give you scoops and advice on stuff. And art in the dark? You will get educated while maybe also feeling like a looter. Hands off Michael Stevenson's gold bricks though, for real.
Guillaume Brahimi may well be Australia's busiest man. Only months after taking over the dining room at Paddington's Four In Hand, Brahimi is back at it again, announcing that tomorrow, Wednesday, September 7, he'll open both a bistro and his first-ever patisserie in Sydney's CBD. As well as The Four in Hand, Brahimi currently runs his namesake restaurant Guillaume, also in Paddington. But this new CBD resto — which was announced towards the end of last year — steps away from fine dining, and is a new iteration of his flagship French bistro enterprise, Bistro Guillaume. This will be his third bistro (the other two are located in Melbourne and Perth), and will see him serve up a classic casual French menu with dishes like steak frites, roast chicken with Paris mash and twice-baked cheese souffle. There will also be a dessert trolley, which is sure to bring a happiness tear to your eye. Located in the Suncorp Building on George Street, the new 130-seat Bistro G will continue the trend established by it's predecessors. The restaurants are known for their use of playful textures and pops of vibrant green to offset the old-world luxury oozing from every sconce, and interior designer Blainey North has incorporated brass features, wood panelling, banquettes, a chandelier and luxe high-backed blue leather chairs into the design of the new venue. As well as the main dining room, there will also be a little 20-seat casual bar area for 'light French lunches' and evening drinks. There's also the aforementioned patisserie, which will be attached to the restaurant for takeaway baked goods. You'll be able to stop by for house-baked croissants (naturally), pastries, tarts, croque monsieurs and sammies made with Iggy's bread. To start off with Bistro Guillaume will only be open for breakfast and lunch, as well as dinner on Saturday nights. Full dinner service will get underway in October. You'll just have to visit twice. Bistro Guillaume Sydney will open for breakfast on Wednesday, September 7 in the Suncorp Building at 259 George Street, Sydney. For more info, visit bistroguillaumesydney.com.au. By Imogen Baker and Lauren Vadnjal.
Next month, acclaimed chef Neil Perry will be heading back in time. He's heading back to Bondi in the 80s to revive his first restaurant, Blue Water Grill. The Bondi original has been closed for thirty years, but it'll be revived for a six-day pop-up in the CBD. This Mini-Me version of the OG will be dishing up lunch and dinner from Monday, November 19, through to Saturday, November 24, at the Rockpool Group's new event space on Bridge Street — formally home to Jade Temple (Eleven Bridge and Rockpool Est 1989). It's revisiting the same flavours, stylings and, even, service that had people flocking in during Blue Water's hey-day, as Perry himself hits the kitchen to deliver his (then) signature, Asian-accented seafood-centric fare. You might recognise another familiar face, too, as original Blue Water Grill Manager — now seafood expert and author — John Susman returns to work the front-of-house. On the menu, you can expect standout seafood, including stir-fried king prawns with tamarind dressing ($24), chargrilled swordfish with mango chilli salsa ($29), leather jacket curry ($25) and pan-friend red emperor with coconut sambal ($29) and a mussel and garam masala noodle soup ($19). To finish, you'll find the 80s' answer to espresso martinis — a frozen espresso cake to finish. Alongside the food, there'll be an Aussie-led wine selection and a retro cocktail list brimming with 80s nostalgia. Blue Water Grill is open from Tuesday–Friday 12–3pm and Monday–Saturday from 6–10pm. To book your spot, call (02) 8099 7081.
If you've been craving comfort food this winter to warm up your cold bones, you're not alone. A salad never kept anyone warm and you can fulfil this validating realisation by partaking in Cruise Bar's limited edition food and drink menu. The Quayside Comfort menu will see waterside venue Cruise Bar partner with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey to create one super-indulgent Southern dining experience throughout winter. Inspired by flavours from America's Deep South, there's a suitably decadent array of soul food. To start, loaded french fries come with Bulleit Bourbon gravy, cheddar, charred onions and bacon. Moreover, the Sweet Home Chicken is fried then coated with a rye whiskey-honey sauce, and the chicken and veggie stew has dumplings swimming in it for extra comfort points. If you're looking to further indulge, consider this dessert: the Fat Elvis vanilla pudding with peanut butter, bourbon whipped cream, chocolate cookie crumbs, banana and candied bacon. To take the extravaganza even further, Cruise Bar has updated its cocktails to match the Quayside Comfort menu — you can get a bloody mary topped with a bit of bacon. Or, if you're meat-ed out, the spicy Bulleit rye manhattan will bring a little heat and perhaps wake you up from your bacon-induced sleepiness. You can get stuck into it right up until August 31 — the bar is open until 1am every day of the week.
