What's your favourite thing about Twin Peaks? Other than the fact that it's back and just as damn fine as ever, of course. We know, we know, there's just too much to choose from. Any list would have to include Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Dale Cooper, cherry pie and coffee, and David Lynch's inimitable approach on screen and off — as well as the haunting music. From those first distinctive notes of composer Angelo Badalamenti's theme tune, to the ethereal sounds of Julee Cruise's Falling — a number one hit in Australia at the time — the show's soundtrack keeps echoing through our minds. That's not going to change for the next four months, or ever. In fact, Xiu Xiu will ensure the series' score gets permanently lodged in your brain when they return to Australia. As The Giant would say, it is happening again. After wowing Brisbane crowds back in 2015 during the gallery's mind-bending, once-in-a-lifetime David Lynch: Between Two Worlds exhibition, the American experimental group are back and heading to Sydney to once again interpret the iconic music through their mix of post punk and synth pop for a final time. Prepare to amazed, delighted and even a little disturbed by this new take on Twin Peaks' chaos, drama, fear, noise, sidelong leering glances, arms turned into trees, mysterious glass boxes and Mr Jackpots. Performing live at Carriageworks at 8pm on June 29, Xiu Xiu's show also comes with a serious warning: BOB (or is it Cooper?) will be conducting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rrK6UvAkLs
The cult of phone culture has now evolved to the point of art, as the first ever film festival in Australia dedicated solely to smartphone films debuts in Sydney this August. The inaugural SmartFone Flick Fest, taking place at Sydney’s beloved Chauvel Cinema, will include among its finalists only films shot on a smartphone or tablet, all coming in at under six-and-a-half minutes long. The festival is a sign of the new trend in global filmmaking that was evident at this year’s Sydney Film Festival, where the acclaimed Tangerine, shot entirely on an iPhone 5S, was among the highlights. Theoretically, anyone with enough talent can now make a high quality film and reach a global audience, not just those with big budgets. Receiving over 500 entries from all across the globe, the festival will screen ten finalists from Spain, India, Indonesia and Australia and be judged by a expert panel that includes award-winning writer/director Serhat Caradee (Cedar Boys) and Jason van Genderen from the Pocket Film Academy, masters of the art of smartphone filming. “Our finalists’ subjects include everything imaginable from love stories to a dramatic interrogation, an Indian pickpocket, an unlikely superhero and a film about the love child of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire,” said Angela Blake, who co-founded the festival with Ali Crew. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Not familiar with the ever-growing craze of the 'bush doof'? Let us explain. A bush doof is a festival/dance party/rave held in a remote location — so yes, essentially 'doofing' in the bush. And Subsonic is one particular festival gaining momentum, fast. Dedicated to all things beat and bass, Subsonic is set against the picturesque surrounds of Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, only three hours north of Sydney. Three days of music and camping, Subsonic is a lifestyle festival bringing together a stellar lineup of local and international artists in a uniquely unconventional environment. This year sees the UK's James Holden and Addison Groove headlining with French Wu-Dubs founder Alexkid, broody Swiss club master Eli Verveine and more. Oh and although the Festival grounds are licensed, BYO is permitted at campsites — a perk lacking at other major festivals.
Obviously, a lot of the stuff we know about the past comes from digging up the dead. There’s a bit of competition, sure, from pottery, monumental architecture and socks. But, for every Marcus Agrippa Made This there’s an uncanny road of tombs to point us towards history’s details. And, while the big hitters like the Egyptian pyramids or the tomb of China’s first Emperor get a lot of the attention, there’s a cavalcade of smaller tombs, tombstones and sarcophagi that are pretty marvellous to look at all in their own right. The Art Gallery of NSW is taking a few months to hop into the genre, in the form of a sixth century white marble sarcophagus, with A Silk Road saga: the sarcophagus of Yu Hong . The exhibition will explode this intricately decorated super-size, coffin wrapper into its component panels, displaying more than a dozen other artefacts from the same tomb and the same era in Shanxi province (the same province where the First Emperor buried his terracotta army). And if this funeral atomisation really grabs you, there's also a sideline: a free A Silk Road Saga symposium being held on August 24. Image: Panel 5 of Yu Hong’s sarcophagus. Shanxi Museum.
If there's one thing Sydneysiders like, it's watching Studio Ghibli films. Understandably, a whole heap of cinemas around town have been more than happy to oblige, hosting their own events dedicated to the Japanese animation house over the years. Now it's Palace Central's turn, screening 15 Ghibli favourites between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19. As part of the 35 Years of Studio Ghibli program, fans will get yet another chance to catch these Japanese gorgeous features on the big screen — in their original Japanese-language, English-subtitled versions. Yes, you should make like a moving castle to see Howl's Moving Castle this time. And yes, you'll feel like you've been Spirited Away once again. Both of the above films are on the lineup, as are everything from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke to Tales from Earthsea, Ponyo, The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Each film will screen twice, on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm. If you've missed these flicks in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up (with tickets costing $15 per session, or $12 for Palace members). Check out the Spirited Away trailer below to get in the mood, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk 35 Years of Studio Ghibli screens at Palace Central between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19 — on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm.
It's 27 years since The Cult's first album went platinum. Electric's impossibly high energy saw the Bedford-born rock band's career explode overnight. Perhaps it was something to do with the crazy circumstances in which it was recorded. "[Electric's] definitely a Polaroid of a certain period in my life," frontman Ian Astbury told Max TV recently. "New York City, 1986, when New York was kind of lawless ... We barely slept making that record ... We'd pretty much get up, go to the studio, work till midnight, maybe 1am, go out, come in at seven in the morning, and go do it again, every day." Now, as part of their Electric 13 World Tour, The Cult are going to play the entire album live for Australian audiences for the first time. It's a kind of sequel to their 2009 Love Live Tour, which Astbury described as "such an incredible experience". The show will include a second set, featuring tracks from the band's eight other studio albums. https://youtube.com/watch?v=k6PgftKbQnQ
Early collage works from Shen Shaomin in which he weaves a tapestry from carpet and does works in singed Chinese and Australian newspapers, are particularly resonant, not only because of their delicacy and the accidental meanings that are brought together. Created shortly after the artist moved to Sydney in 1989, these works are evidence of how long the issues they encompass have been a part of our contemporary consciousness and how little has been resolved in the past 20 years. Archie Moore's Mulgoa addresses the history of these problems as present in Australia for more than 200 years, by linking up text from The Book of Revelation (plagues, wars, famine, loss of languages etc. denoting the end of the world) to the 'Greatest Hits of 1788' convict anthem 'Bound for Botany Bay.' A little further from home, Eric Bridgeman stages The Fight, a documentary-seeming but staged conflict in the hills of Papua New Guinea. The artist's heritage in the region and sense of partial identity with it but also with 'whiteness' further complicates the relation between staging culture for the tourist gaze and the impossibility of impartial ethnography. Considerations of cultural practices and authenticity also inform Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan's In God We Trust, which uses a jeep left behind by Americans after World War Two and the decorative talents of Manilan craftspeople, to create an example of a 'folk' cultural practice that activates the industrialised and appropriative moves of postmodernism. Hikaru Fuji's Nike Politics also represents the incorporation of American culture into the vocabularies and economies of other nations in a more satirical and threatening way, by creating a series of 'swoosh' branded police equipment, beginning with batons and handcuffs and ending with a prison uniform and a film of two people in riot gear going at one another. There's a fight in Zhang Ding's work too, in the silent loops of the artist boxing cacti. Moving between full body shots and closeups of the artist's hands and the spikes on the plants, it's an uncomfortable demonstration of endurance and, against a black background, a portrayal of decontextualised pain that acts as a reminder of the numbing effects of a lot of the media and culture we consume. He also does a charming Fellini-style self portrait against a backdrop of historical change in The Great Era. Image: Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan 'In God We Trust'
The launch into 2012 for BREENSPACE starts with a cracker of a little group show, The Drawing Room. It is by no means a new idea to explore this medium — there are whole galleries devoted to it — but this particular exhibition successfully opens up the dialogue surrounding what it is to sketch. Highlights include Agatha Gothe-Snape’s Sketch for Chance Dance (2012), a wonderful extension of her practice over the last couple years. Sketch for Chance Dance is a digital moving image presented in a minimalist box frame. A bold yellow line snakes across a white background continuously tracing the line of a performance and yet equally the work exists as a dynamic sketch for a rehearsal, an instruction for the future or an archive of some past movement. Equally, Mitch Cairns’ installation of 12 unique works on paper, ZZZZZZ (2011) lovingly utilises old-school letraset layered atop printed lines of staff which perfectly marries his long use of musical reference with the vernacular in language. The result? A serene and eccentric score which like Gothe-Snape beautifully expands upon one’s understanding of Cairns’ work to date. And lastly, Hossein Valamanesh’s series of miniature paintings on newspaper, Swiss Landscape (2002). Here Valamanesh has utlitised the peaks and troughs of the Swissmarket financial index to create majestic alps in oh-so-tiny delightful detail. If you haven’t been to BREENSPACE since their big move six months ago they are now located in Alberta St in the city, just a back laneway skip away from the Chinatown side of Hyde Park. On the third floor of a commercial building reaching BREENSPACE requires a lift ride which could be seen as ultra-intimidating (and obviously results in a definite lack of tyre kickers) but get your guts up — this little gem is well worth a lunch-time pop in.
Hanami and Japan go hand in hand, but what if you could indulge in the art of flower viewing (yes, that's what the term translates to in English) a bit closer to home? Well, that's where the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival comes in. It's a celebration of everyone's favourite pink flora in Sydney's west. Between Saturday, August 21–Sunday, August 29, the Auburn Botanic Gardens will transform its Japanese Gardens into a beautiful, blooming wonderland — in a COVID-19 safe way this year, and as long as Sydney is out of lockdown. You'll be able to ramp up your appreciation of the fleeting natural phenomena that is cherry blossom season by attending viewing the eye-catching blooms in the lead up to spring. Tis the season, after all. And taking in the spectacular scenery isn't the only thing you'll be doing. There'll also be an array of Japanese food trucks, a pop-up izakaya serving up sake and Japanese craft beer, and a lineup of talks, live music and performances. Or, try to find your bliss at a meditation session, or get nostalgic in the presence of Hello Kitty. Tickets cost $11.75 for general admission and are free for Cumberland residents — and the event will run from 9am–5pm daily. Images: Destination NSW.
Until mid-December, truth, beauty, freedom and love are all shining in Sydney, with Moulin Rouge! The Musical treading the boards at the Capitol Theatre. That's not your only way to feel like you've sashayed into Baz Luhrmann's beloved movie, however — especially if you head harbourside across Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16. For two days, and for free, a Moulin Rouge! The Musical pop-up is taking over Circular Quay and turning it into a Paris-style artisan precinct from 11am–5pm daily. Expect splendour and romance aplenty — including a a four-metre-high heart-shaped swing set for you and your special someone to sit on (and take snaps on; that's why you'll have the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a backdrop). Also on offer: free (and unlimited) made-to-order barista coffees, as well as raspberry and chocolate croissants, all thanks to the pop-up Cafe L'amour (with Brudos Coffee Bike and Creperie Suzette doing the honours). Or, you can get a ten-minute mini makeover from MAC Cosmetics, complete with mini lipstick giveaways. And, there'll be free one-hour Pinot and Picasso sessions so you can channel your inner bohemian artist. Yes, you'll be painting a Moulin Rouge! The Musical- and Sydney-inspired artwork — although at the time of writing, that part is all sold out. Top image: Michelle Grace Hunder.
Tucked away from the hustle of Oxford Street, semi-hidden laneway Foley Street is home to a number of Sydney makers and artists, including Naomi Taplin of Studio Enti. Moving into Foley Street was a thrill for the designer, who relishes the interaction it permits. "Ceramics are something people want to touch, pick up and hold in their hands before they invest in it. I feel really lucky to get to talk to people and have a real conversation about the process." Studio Enti's elegant porcelain tableware, lighting and accessories have garnered a loyal following. The ceramics are beautiful, but they are also sturdy, built from Australian porcelain and made to last. Having grown up with clay (her mother was a potter) before studying at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Taplin admires the sustainability of a classic design aesthetic. "Once something's fired, it's permanent," she says. "If it's something faddy, it's a waste of material." In her delicate space, Taplin looks to create "pieces that have the ability to tell a story and to enrich the tasks and the lives of the user". So make sure to ask the creator herself about the pieces when you take a stroll down Foley Street. Images: Steven Woodburn.
If variety is the spice of life, spontaneity is the cracked pepper which, when sprinkled to the perfect 'when', makes everything better. Breaking with routine and stepping away from the every day not only adds an element of excitement to your life, but it also allows you to experience new things. Plus, nobody wants to feel like they're living in their own version of Russian Doll. Thankfully, Sydney has plenty of off-the-cuff activities that you don't need to plan in advance, and we've partnered with the folks at Holey Moley to bring you five cracking ideas. From spontaneous late-night swims to last-minute mini golf, roll the dice with an impromptu date and you will surely be rewarded. UNPLANNED PUTT-PUTT AT HOLEY MOLEY Grab your pals and get ready to kick putt at Holey Moley in Darlinghurst. The expansive two-level adult's playground is the chain's tenth and biggest venue in Australia with three courses and 27 themed holes. There are neon lights, gumball machines, a giant shark, a life-size game of operation... pretty much all your wildest childhood fantasies. Plus it's got all your adult (alcohol-based) fantasies covered, too. The Caddyshack bar slings all kinds of pun-plenty tipples, like The Sugar Caddy, the Long Island Iced Tee and Espresso Partini. Given the super convenient location — it sits right under that iconic Coke sign in Kings Cross — Holey Moley is a great place to blow off steam after work or relax with a date. The best part? There's a heap of specials available for walk-in customers, so you're actually rewarded for your spontaneity. AN IMPROMPTU DRAG SHOW AT THE IMPERIAL Don't be a drag; go see drag at The Imperial instead. Since the iconic Sydney pub went through some pretty major renovations, it's returned brighter than ever and is serving fierce drag queen realness. Each night, Priscillas restaurant hosts Drag N' Dine — a flamboyant and fabulous drag extravaganza featuring pole dancing, lip-synching, visual art and side-splitting comedy from some of Australia's most celebrated queens. It's like Ru Paul's Drag Race in real life, actually better because you get to tuck into tasty plant-based fare while you watch. Yep, just like the venue at large doesn't discriminate regarding sexuality or gender, the kitchen welcomes all kinds of eaters — vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian... you'll all be looked after here. Once you've finished with drag and dinner, keep your impromptu night out kicking in the Imperial Basement with a late-night boogie. AN OFF-THE-CUFF ART EXPEDITION The best thing about going to a gallery on a whim is that you never quite know what you're going to get; you might discover a new artist, fall in love with a different medium or gain a new perspective. Or you might totally hate the exhibition, hey, that's a story, too. Grab a couple of your cultured pals and head to the MCA or AGNSW for an impromptu art expedition. On Wednesday nights, both art institutions stay open late so you can drop in as you please to come eye to eye with Australia's leading contemporary artists, encounter a breakout exhibition and settle in for a talk, some music or even a bit of comedy. SPONTANEOUS ROOFTOP COCKTAILS AT SLIMS Bad day at work? Nothing that a bev, balmy weather and a sweeping view won't fix. Get a few friends for cheeky, off-the-cuff cocktails at hidden rooftop bar Slims. On the top floor of the historic four-storey Hotel William, Slims Rooftop offers views across Hyde Park, plus a fun retro fit-out. The bright, cheery space features frilly pink and orange umbrellas, white picnic-style benches, cacti aplenty and plenty of space — often a rarity for city rooftops. The comprehensive cocktail list places classics like Aperol spritzes and margaritas alongside signatures championing Asian ingredients. Order a La Dolce Vita (rum with hibiscus tea, mint and lime) and take in the views. Ah, spontaneity never tasted so good. A SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT NIGHT SWIM IN COOGEE Obviously, spontaneous swims don't work as well in winter, so take advantage of this last stretch of summer and round up a couple of mates for an impromptu dip. Whether it's after work or on a steamy Saturday night, thanks to daylight savings, there is plenty of time for swimming. We suggest popping by the Ross Jones Memorial Pool in Coogee. This pool is fantastic for night swimming because you have the reassurance of four walls and the security of a solid enclosure yet you're right by the ocean. While you're bobbing with your besties, you can enjoy panoramic views across Coogee Bay and out to the horizon. Once you've dried off, make tracks to The Pav and treat yourself to a post-swim pina colada. Keen for some off-the-cuff fun? Head to Holey Moley for impromptu putt-putt and Espresso Partinis.
Paramount Recreation Club — a rooftop dedicated to fitness above the Paramount House Hotel — is gearing up for the festive season. On Saturday, November 23, the yoga mats and gym balls will be swept aside to make way for the club's Holiday Market. If you're on the hunt for locally designed and made gifts, then make sure you add this one to the calendar. The good folks at Paramount have handpicked a bunch of their favourite brands and designers, including textiles from Margot Designs, Japanese basics from nearby store Provider, wellness products from Bear, and bits and bobs from The Plant Society, Maison Balzac and The Locals Market. Anyone who arrives within the first hour (i.e. between 10–11am) will score free coffee, courtesy of Coffee Supreme, while the Rec Club Kiosk will serve healthy eats right up until 5pm.
Eat bread, don't eat bread. Exercise until you drop, stress less with yoga. One more glass of wine or down the rest of the bottle. With so many different sources telling us different things about what will kill us faster, decision making can become nightmarish. One thing is agreed upon: laughter = good. You won't be getting fatter, you'll reduce stress and you'll walk out of the room with 1.6 years added on to your life.* To get a large dose, head to the next instalment of Laugh Your Tits Off, quickly becoming a very popular comedy event. This time, our favourite adopted American, Tommy Dean, is headlining. Continuing the ha-haing is Daniel Townes (Just For Laughs Comedy Festival), Paul Warnes (owner of Sydney venue Laugh Garage Comedy Club), Dave Bloustein (writer for Good News Week and The Glass House), Gary Bradbury (Rove) and heaps of untainted up-and-comers. Get over your hump day blues on Wednesday, 7th March and laugh until body parts fall off.** * This statistic may be made up. **This may not be good for your health. To win one of two double passes to Laugh Your Tits Off, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au to enter. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oMqqQ6c010o
Gaybies is a fun and insightful night of verbatim theatre, as writer/director Dean Bryant’s interviews with the children of same-sex couples are brought to the stage. Their real-life stories of growing up with gay parents generate positive, good-natured vibes within the Eternity Playhouse, which has been turned into a daggy Aussie community hall by designer Owen Phillips. The details and nuances of each child’s story — the unique personality of each ‘gaybie’ taking the stage — is the pulling point of this theatre experience. As each interviewee, whether four years old or 40, explains their situation to us/society, it becomes clear they are Such. Strong. People. The argument for gay parenting/gay marriage is never explicitly stated in this show; however, it’s supported by these beautiful individuals. It’s uncanny to see such characters, who may be otherwise written off or stereotyped, delivering truth bombs and progressive societal wisdom. In this way, quietly, the show screams, "don’t you dare make assumptions of me!" The actors do a great job in bringing the interviewees to life and making their language seem natural — not an easy feat. This pulls the audience’s hearts into their stories and keeps the 90-minute piece entertaining. They are wonderfully tight on their cues, which prevents any one anecdote from becoming slow. The way the cast (Cooper George Amai, Sheridan Harbridge, Rhys Keir, Steve Le Marquand, Zindzi Okenyo, Olivia Rose and Georgia Scott) work together to create a dynamic, surging, evolving narrative is Gaybies' greatest strength. And the subject matter really matters to these actors. That transfers to the audience and makes what we’re watching seem like an important moment in history — it's just before the "old conservatives die off" (to quote one teenage interviewee) and Australian society sees big reforms. The musical numbers of Gaybies are unexpected and at first seem guilty of over-sentimentality. Thankfully, the considerable musical talent of the cast and their exquisite, very contrasting voices (as well as quick recommencement of dialogue that leaves no time for musical theatre post-song applause) means they pull it off. Gaybies sheds an interesting light on the comparative liberties and opportunities available to the children of these same-sex couples, especially those who identify as queer. We hear what their parents endured and fought for, and the pressure they felt as they raised their children: “If we failed, gay people failed”. The insights run deep from these progeny of same-sex couples. The takeaway from the whole project? “My choice is valid”.
Beach season is in full swing, but frolicking in the sun comes with its risk. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world — with two out of three Aussies getting it before age 70 — so, beach season also means skin check season. And since the team at Merivale likes to turn everything into a party, it has teamed up with Aussie not-for-profit Beard Season to offer free skin checks across three of its beachside venues. Head into the The Newport, Coogee Pavilion or The Collaroy in January to have your skin looked at by trained doctors and nurses using AI-based screening technology. The checks will take place in private huts within the venues, and each will take around 10–20 minutes. While melanoma — an aggressive type of skin cancer — remains one of Australia's biggest killers, it's also one of the most successful cancers to treat if discovered early. This is why it's important to get your skin checked regularly. And you should slip, slop, slap, seek (shade) and slide (on sunglasses) when you're outside, too. [caption id="attachment_755010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beard Season's Jimmy Niggles and Merivale's Justin Hemmes by Dimitri Tricolas.[/caption] Alongside the screening, Merivale will also host the Million Dollar Beard Ball in February, during which Beard Season founder Jimmy Niggles will shave off his massive beard for a whopping $1 million. He'll then funnel that money into launching a national skin check program. Each venue is only hosting the free skin checks on select dates, with The Newport running January 4–8 and the other two venue dates still to be announced. Keep an eye on the website for more info. Summer Skin Check Sessions are happening across The Newport, The Collaroy and The Coogee Pavilion at various dates throughout January. Top image: The Newport
We all have that guy in our lives, you know the one — he's stayed more antiestablishment than you for that bit longer. He doesn't have a job that could also be called a career, he doesn't have many more possessions than would fit in a backpack, and when you just want to vent about the crazy demands your boss made this week, he insists on talking about Marx's alienation of labour. He's not self-aware, he's never ironic, and he's probably freeloading on your couch for too long. That guy. Wouldn't it surprise you if he were here with a purpose? That's just the case in The Great Lie of the Western World, an original play by independent theatre makers Cathode Ray Tube (Thirty-Three). Emerson (Michael Booth) has blown into town to crash with old friend Simon (Alistair Powning), and his earnestness/beardiness/late-night drinking/midday sleeping is disturbing the peace in Simon's relationship with Fiona (Kate Skinner). But things weren't perfect between the couple to begin with, and Emerson may be the one to bring their secrets into the light, for better or worse. The naturalism in the dialogue is remarkable, and the actors turn in performances to match. Once you get wrapped up in it, you get the feeling you could be a spirit haunting the inner-city terrace of any number of tenuously satisfied couples. The production has been developed with so much attention to the real that Fiona applies Band-Aids to her blisters and picks at her corns when she takes off her shoes. Yet for all its adamant ordinariness, the script, by Booth and Powning, contains well-measured tension, mystery, surprise and magic that make its two hours slip easily by. It's not flashy, but it sure is good. Cathode Ray Tube have clear purpose and method to their work. They think of themselves as a band rather than a theatre company. They believe that "theatre is at its most powerful when every moment seems like an accident" (what Stanislavsky calls "the illusion of the first time"), and it certainly translates in The Great Lie of the Western World. It's funny, affecting and well worth spending a night in with.
Keen to avoid Sydney Harbour's NYE crowds this year? Make tracks to Parramatta to bid farewell to 2019 instead, where you'll be surrounded by century-old trees, heritage-listed buildings, gourmet food trucks, rides and live music. Taking over Parramatta Park for the evening, this free shindig will give you plenty of room to move, so you can roll out a picnic blanket, crack open a tinnie, sit back and watch the fireworks. The action will kick off at 5pm, across three stages. You can count on a healthy dose of live, local and original acts, including pianist and composer Freyja Garbett, who studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston; neo-soul singer-songwriter Rissa; rock band Amends; and indie popper and producer Poolroom (Charlie Waldren). Keeping you fuelled between tunes will be a range of dishes from all over the world. Tuck into Middle Eastern street food, Korean barbecue, gozleme, fried chicken, dumplings, noodles, pizza and more. Come dessert time, there'll be loads to sweeten you up, from baklava to creme brûlée and ice cream. While it is a BYO-friendly event, no glass will be allowed — so make sure you bring your bevvies in a glass-free vessel. And, of course, New Year's Eve isn't New Year's Eve without fireworks. To that end, Parramatta Park will host its very own spectacular at 9pm. Images: City of Parramatta and Peter Dovgan.
Let's make some choices: this month, after a three-year wait, you can choose to dive back into Netflix's Groundhog Day-meets-The Good Place hit Russian Doll. Or, you can decide not to be a sweet birthday baby and do something else. We recommend the former, because spending time getting up, getting down and getting home before the mornin' comes with the smart and twisty Natasha Lyonne-starring show is always a good move, even when it's actively trying to melt your brain — which, as everyone who watched season one knows, is always. In Russian Doll's first batch of episodes, Orange Is the New Black, Irresistible and The United States vs Billie Holiday star Lyonne played Nadia, who had a 36th birthday she'd never forget — although she desperately wished that she could. The New Yorker kept attending a party in her honour, then dying, then repeating the experience while trying to work out what the hell was going on. Also trapped in a loop: the determined but neurotic Alan (Charlie Barnett, You), who lives around the corner from Nadia, and was a stranger until this day kept cycling over and over. When the show returns on Wednesday, April 20, Nadia is once again experiencing something wild. Now, however, she's a time traveller time prisoner, as she advises in the just-dropped full trailer for Russian Doll season two. "Inexplicable things happening is my entire modus operandi," she also notes — and based on this sneak peek, there's plenty of that coming her way. Alan is also caught up in the chaos again, with both characters jumping into their pasts quite literally, and into an intergenerational tale as a result. Accordingly, if you've ever wondered what happens when someone manages to conquer death, getting blasted into the past to trying to solve your family's unfinished business is it — in this series at least. Also returning: Nadia's closest pals Maxine and Lizzy (Sisters' Greta Lee and Werewolves Within's Rebecca Henderson), her godmother Ruthie (Elizabeth Ashley, Ocean's 8), her late mother Nora (Chloë Sevigny, The Girl From Plainview) and her cute roaming cat Oatmeal. Schitt's Creek and Kevin Can F**k Himself star Annie Murphy and District 9's Sharlto Copley join the cast — and co-creator Lyonne (alongside the one and only Amy Poehler, plus Bachelorette and Sleeping with Other People filmmaker Leslye Headland) co-writes as she did last season, and directs as well. Given its focus on fate, logic, life's loops and wading through limbo — and, this time, the ties that bind and the troubles that echo as well — Russian Doll isn't short on twists. From both the new trailer and the initial sneak peek from back in March, NYC's subway system, a stash of gold lost on a train twice, graveyards and out-there parties all factor in. And yes, the chain-smoking Nadia is still as acerbic and misanthropic as ever, of course — because dying repeatedly and riding the rails into history can't change that. Check out the full trailer for Russian Doll's second season below: The second season of Russian Doll will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, April 20. Read our review of the first season. Images: Netflix.
At many times in Breaking Bad's history — and in even-better spinoff prequel series Better Call Saul's history, too — Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks, The Commuter) has known exactly what to say. The former cop-turned-private investigator, fixer, cleaner and hitman doesn't speak if he doesn't need to, so when he does, it's worth listening to. And in the just-dropped trailer for Better Call Saul's long-awaited sixth and final season, he makes quite the statement. "Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is," Ehrmantrout utters in his inimitable gravelly voice towards the end of this first sneak peek at the new season — and if you've been along for the Breaking Bad–El Camino–Better Call Saul ride since 2008, that's quite the intriguing choice of phrase. We all do already know what happens in Breaking Bad for Mike, and obviously for lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody), but series creator Vince Gilligan clearly has a few more tricks up his sleeve. Nothing about either two shows has ever just hit the expected beats, of course. And part of what's made Better Call Saul so brilliant is the way it spins its story, fleshing out the two Breaking Bad figures' histories after we've already seen what comes next. For the eponymous Saul — aka Jimmy McGill, his birth name — we've also been getting very short black-and-white glimpses of his Cinnabon-managing post-Breaking Bad life, contrasting with his earnest initial quest to be a legitimate lawyer. We've said it before and it's worth saying again: Better Call Saul is television's greatest tragedy. It's also one that not only spans Jimmy-slash-Saul and Mike — and, in recent seasons, Los Pollos Hermanos owner Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys), drug kingpin Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) and DEA agent Hank Schrader (Dean Norris, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) — but the characters in their orbit that didn't appear in Breaking Bad. That includes Jimmy's successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean, Breeders), and his girlfriend and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep), plus gangland figure Nacho Varda (Michael Mando, Orphan Black). Stating the obvious, this aren't turning out well for most of them. The first trailer for Better Call Saul's sixth season — its first batch of episodes since 2020 — doesn't dive too far into the narrative, but it does make plain what we all know is coming. That'd be Jimmy-slash-Saul breaking bad and embracing his "s'all good, man" new persona as a criminal lawyer (and not just because he represents criminals). However, again, that doesn't mean that we know exactly how the season will play out. Whatever the show's future holds, its sixth season will arrive in two parts — with the first seven episodes airing from Tuesday, April 19 in Australia, and the final six arriving from Tuesday, July 12. We'll also see more of post-Breaking Bad Saul's story, where he's known as Gene. Best break out the cinnamon scrolls, obviously. Check out the Better Call Saul season six trailer below: Better Call Saul's sixth season starts streaming in Australia via Stan from Tuesday, April 19 — and will stream in New Zealand via Neon. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
If you love black humour, subversive ideas and being a little bit terrified, The God of Hell at the Old Fitz is for you. Director Rodney Fisher brings the work of prolific American playwright Sam Shepard to this intimate stage in Woolloomooloo. He keeps the accents, Wisconsin setting and American flag paraphernalia, yet the universal themes of Shepard’s script, along with Fisher’s rationale, make this unsettling psychological thriller equally relevant to a Sydney audience. On first entry into the cosy farmhouse set — with its warm, winter sunlight and cluttered greenery — you are transported to the slow-paced, small-minded world of humble, hardworking farmers Frank (Tony Poli) and Emma (Vanessa Downing). In this world, time moves slowly, as it surely would when your ageing spouse is the only other human for miles around. The unhurried silence is punctuated only by the refilling of Emma’s watering can. As much as we are lulled by the rural midwest accents, naive characterisation and willed ignorance of Frank and Emma, we feel a constant uneasiness about how long their serenity and happiness can last. And, sure enough, a super slick salesman barges in the front door, wielding an American-flag cookie like a gun. You must see the show in order to believe how total and menacing each character’s complete transformation may be, perhaps most of all Poli's. Ben McIvor is horrifying as Mr Welch, a businessman who would cut throats in the name of progress and do it all with a Colgate smile. All actors give immensely strong performances: Downing provides a great energy for Emma, who cannot ignore the capitalist claws scratching at the front door but maintains her conviction and fight. Meanwhile, Jake Lyall plays the mysterious Haynes, whose outbursts make us wonder if he is friend or foe. Accent coach Linda Nicholls-Gidley should take credit for the embodied, natural and non-distracting American dialogue. The blocking and physicality is also exceptional. The director’s note in the program alerts us to local examples of environmental exploitation, and, subtly, the whole show asks us to wake up and take interest in just who we’re handing power over to, and at what cost. Although we don’t fully identify with the star-spangled banners, the suspicious whispers about ‘foreigners’ seem all too familiar. With key monologues delivered out towards the audience and instances of actors piercing the fourth wall with their gaze, The God of Hell does more than offer passive entertainment. It asks whether those in power can do anything they want, while satisfying and silencing us with Krispy Kremes.
Bavarian Bier Cafe is lightening up. The legendary beer house has long been associated with the biggest and tastiest of traditional dishes — from Klaus’s Gulaschsuppe (spicy beef goulash soup) to the mighty German sausage tasting platter, crowded with bratwurst, kransky and frankfurter. But now, those who don’t have the heart for the hearty are being catered to, too. The Cafe has added a page to its menu, introducing a range of what’s been dubbed ‘new modern favourites’. So rather than having to commit to a serious, meaty feast, you can eat as light and as fresh as you like. All nine of Bavarian Bier’s Australian venues are making the addition, with exact options varying from place to place. What all dishes have in common, though, is that they’re inspired by Bavarian flavours and dashed with creative, modern twists. Depending on which BBC is your local, keep a look out for light and fluffy steamed prawn dumplings ($16) and popcorn shrimp ‘dampfnudel’ steamed buns ($19) on the sharing menu. Meanwhile, for salads, expect the likes of spicy sesame chicken ($16), crispy calamari ($18) and grilled pork and Asian vegetables ($15). As far as mains go, dishes include pan-roasted salmon with lentils, root vegetables, beet pickled red onions and dill ($23); crisp roasted wild New Zealand hapuka with sweet and sour red capsicums, lemon puree and roasted garlic ($25); and lemon and herb marinated chicken breast with pesto scented orzo and shaved vegetable salad ($25). Whatever you choose, there’s no doubt that one of the Bavarian Bier Cafe’s pure biers, made with just four natural ingredients (malt, hops, yeast and water), will chase it down without any argument.
As far as global creative hubs go, Brooklyn and Sydney are indisputably two of the big guns. Locals will vouch for their turf's supremacy; the grungy, bustling hip hop-saturated streets of NYC's most populous borough against Australia's thriving cultural hub brewing arguably some of the best coffee and beer around. Needless to say, heated discussion usually ensues with such a comparison. But M2's latest exhibition Brooklyn vs. Sydney puts all this competitive quarrelling aside, finding common ground through the medium of collage. Pieced together by New York-based curator Kara Brooks, artists from the Brooklyn Collage Collective (BCC) along with a few handpicked Sydneysiders showcase the brilliance of this underground and often overlooked art form. Calling back to the long forgotten days of the humble scissors and glue, these collage-based artists like to push the boundaries of orthodox techniques. In an era of information overload, these collages put the magic back into the crafty medium — proving it as dynamic as its creator's communities.
At 35 years old, the annual Granny Smith Festival has its MO down pat. At this time of year, locals flock to the streets to celebrate Australia's favourite apple — one that has a history deeply rooted in Ryde, as Maria Ann 'Granny' Smith accidentally grew the first known crop here back in 1868. But, like with many festivals in 2020, things are a little different this time around. Instead of a one-day extravaganza with a 2000-person community parade and street fair, this year's Granny Smith Festival is largely operating online. There'll be a virtual marketplace, a digital scavenger hunt and kids' entertainment with celebs like Emma Wiggle performing live — all accessible through your screen at home. All, that is, apart from a new drive-in cinema popping up at Macquarie University car park for two days this October long weekend. Showing four films, from the action-packed comedy Shazam! to the star-studded The Gentlemen, the Granny Smith Festival Drive-In Cinema will operate two screenings per night: one at 6.30pm and the other at 9pm. It'll cost you just $15 per vehicle to enter, and tickets are available to purchase now (both the earlier, kid-friendly sessions for Mosley and SCOOB! are already sold out). As you'll be seated in your car, you can make the experience as comfortable as you like — bring pillows and popcorn — and you can order a slice of pizza or an ice cream onsite to be delivered to your car, too. Just leave all booze and pets at home. You can tune into the films' audio through your car radio (the FM station will be provided on the night) and all screenings will be closed captioned, too. Make sure you book tickets in advance to avoid missing out. Gates open from 8.30pm for the 9pm screening.
When you're a major literary showcase, you're dedicated to not only celebrating words but examining the topical ideas they discuss, and you've weathered the considerable pandemic-inspired ups and downs that every event has over the past two years, what do you focus your next big fest on? If you're Sydney Writers' Festival, you embrace the chaos and uncertainty that's been inescapable of late — all thanks to a whopping 2022 program on the theme 'Change My Mind'. As Artistic Director Michael Williams explains, this year's SWF "is underpinned by a sense of urgency and a dedication to change. It is a response to a world where public debate is increasingly polarised and toxic." "Change My Mind is an invitation, a challenge and a promise of intent. Because uncertain times — a world divided and ruptured, at odds and in crisis — requires a willingness to be open-minded, and a commitment to generosity and reciprocity," Williams continues. That's what SWF will be skewed towards when it runs across Monday, May 16–Sunday, May 22, hosting almost 400 writers and thinkers across 234 events around the city. And, that theme for the year is particularly timely, too, given that the event will also likely take place either during or just after the federal election. Taking to stage to get chatting: The Promise Booker Prize-winner Damon Galgut, To Paradise's Hanya Yanagihara, and Becoming Abolitionists writer — and human rights lawyer and activist — Derecka Purnell, who lead the international contingent of guests. All three will be heading to Sydney in-person, in fact. Other global speakers will do the honours via livestream, which is how Rebecca Solnit (Orwell's Roses), Art Spiegelman (Maus) and Jennifer Egan (The Candy House) join the bill, alongside Claudia Rankine (Just Us), Julian Barnes (Elizabeth Finch), Sarah Winman (Still Life), Torrey Peters (Detransition, Baby) and Johann Hari (Stolen Focus), A trio of overseas-based Aussies will be doing the same: Warren Ellis, chatting about Nina Simone's Simone's Gum, and video-linking in ahead of his Australian tour with Nick Cave later in the year, plus Yassmin Abdel-Magied (Talking About A Revolution) and Steve Toltz (Here Goes Nothing). Other highlights include Ali Cobby Eckermann (Inside My Mother), Jackie Huggins (Sister Girl) and Nardi Simpson (Song of the Crocodile) opening the fest at Sydney Town Hall; Chloe Hooper (Bedtime Story) doing the closing night address at Carriageworks; and the return of the dual-author Aussie spotlights — pairing Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers' Liane Moriarty with Caroline Overington, Brendan Cowell with Boy Swallows Universe's Trent Dalton, and Clementine Ford with Bridie Jabour, for instance. Or, word nerds can head to a gala session about using storytelling to change minds, enjoy a song-filled literary night about the finest musical adaptations never made, but up the club stage at Carriageworks — complete with The Literary Death Match, Queerstories, and a Nakkiah Lui-hosted session on radical and rebellious storytellers — and soak in the politics-focused Party Room Live with Barrie Cassidy, Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas. Free events are a big part of the program as well, with almost a quarter of the entire lineup costing zip to attend. And if you're wondering where you're heading, the venue list also includes City Recital Hall, Riverside Theatres, and 26 suburban venues and libraries across the Sydney. Sydney Writers' Festival runs at various venues across Sydney from Monday, May 16–Sunday, May 22 Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, March 25 via www.swf.org.au. Images: Prudence Upton.
You can't beat Sydney summers on the water and Pyrmont has a front row seat. Over the past few years, the central inner-city suburb has built a solid reputation for cosmopolitan flavours, action-packed entertainment and a darn good opportunity to people watch. Craving award-winning Japanese? Look no further. How about tasty eats on a budget? You're covered. There are so many esteemed, popular restaurants packed into one hot spot, it's well worth a few repeat visits. There are plenty of reasons to venture harbourside to dine out this summer from moreish nibbles to splashy feasts. We round up some top things to eat in Pyrmont while the sun's up late. APEROL & APPETISERS AT PIZZAPERTA Ever went to treat yourself to an appetiser only to find the starting price could comfortably feed a small family. Rest easy this summer at Pizzaperta with their offering of hot and cold Italian snacks for just $5 each. That's right people, only a crisp fiver. Think cool caprese skewers, montanara mini pizzas and Siciliano snacks featuring focaccia bread with ricotta cheese, cetara anchovies, Sicilian capers and olives. You can even be a high roller (you are at The Star), order the lot and live la dolce vita. BAR SNACKS Book in a bar hop with friends at some of Pyrmont's swankier venues. This summer, the bars at Sokyo, Black and Balla are serving up summer martinis and matching bar snacks. Stroll from one to the next sampling unexpected treats. Start with Japanese-style kingfish wings in shichimi butter at Sokyo Lounge. Savour the squid ink cracker, smoked creme fraiche and mojama salt-cured tuna at Black Bar. Finish off at Balla Apertivi Bar with their wood-grilled calamari skewers, tomatoes and fenol. LOBSTER AT BALLA Forget avo on toast. Balla's slipper lobster is worth the investment. This summer only, our favourite crustacean will be served on bruschetta with crushed pea and lemon ricotta at $28 for lunch or dinner. Since joining in 2011, head chef Gabriele Taddeucci has helped Balla rack up an impressive roster of awards. So clearly, the latest offering won't disappoint. The team have dreamt up a light seafood menu that pays homage to an Italian summer. Also available to sample are splashy wood-grilled marron with extra virgin olive oil bearnaise and warrigal greens for $60 and green lobster tagliatelle with spicy Americana sauce for $32. KING SALMON AT BLACK Seafood is delicious all year round, however, the folk at Black Bar & Grill know that there's no time like summer to truly feast on the ocean's freshest delights. Scampi, caviar, lobster and marron all feature on this summer seafood menu. We recommend taking your time to enjoy the king salmon confit served with horseradish cream, cucumber and squid ink crumbs for $48. This dish takes a little longer to serve up as it's carefully prepared fresh by the team, but it is definitely worth the wait. BENTO LUNCH AT SOKYO Feast on a bento box like no other with Sokyo's summer lunch special available on Fridays and Saturdays. This highly awarded Japanese restaurant headed by chef Chase Kojima is no ordinary sushi bar. Corn-fed chicken and pork belly robata, dengakuman, asparagus tempura, mixed leaves and chef's assorted sashimi and sushi roll — it'll all go down nicely with a glass of bubbly. See everything that's going on at The Star this summer here. Thirsty? Hit these Pyrmont spots for some summer drinks.
Any mention of Joanna Murray-Smith tends to elicit the same kind of wince as would David Williamson. Like Williamson, she's an expert at portraying the Australian bourgeoisie engaged in the national pastime of cringing. But this is a trap she steers well clear of in her latest offering, Switzerland; a fictional account of American author Patricia Highsmith's late in life retreat to the Swiss Alps. Sarah Peirse playing the straight-shooting curmudgeon makes old age look like a hoot. Peirse appeared last year in Murray-Smith's Fury playing a mild mannered, upper middle class intellectual mother. Here she shows off her acting chops by transforming into the nasty, charismatic Highsmith. We're introduced to Highsmith hiding away from her fame and literary adversaries in the US in a cosy, naturalistic interior designed by Michael Scott-Mitchell with a spiral staircase, fireplace and writing desk. Apart from an offensively kitsch Highsmith portrait hanging to the right of the fireplace, the space works well. The action begins when a timid junior assistant from her publishing house visits, ostensibly to persuade her to sign a contract for a final installment of The Talented Mr Ripley. The opening exchange between Eamon Farren playing Edward and Peirse shows off Murray-Smith's comic competence and received plenty of laughter on opening night. The witty repartee only loses its shine when we reach the tenth false exit in as many minutes. As entertaining as the play is, it's hard to see its relevance. Whereas Fury spoke to a specific tension between radicalism and racial vilification, Switzerland only gets as far as generalised chats about the universality of human evil and cliched psychoanalysis suggesting that Highsmith is protecting herself behind her racism. It's all fine, and Peirse and Farren's performances are even mighty fine, but I couldn't help feeling that if director Sarah Goodes had focused more on Highsmith's obsession with snails or her collection of guns, we might have been in for a more interesting night of theatre. For a character study of a woman obsessed with murder, Switzerland displays a conspicuous lack of danger.
If you love movies, then you likely miss video stores. You probably have fond memories of all that time time you used to spend scouring the shelves trying to decide what to watch, as well as your attempts to find gems — or just truly weird and wonderful flicks — beyond the big new releases. Scrolling through streaming services just isn't the same, even if it has been keeping us all occupied during lockdown. The folks at the Randwick Ritz clearly miss old-school video stores, too. So, during Sydney's ongoing lockdown, the cinema has set up its own lending library. If you live within the same Local Government Area, or within five kilometres of the venue, you can head by to borrow a DVD or VHS copy of a range of movies. You'll obviously need a player to pop them in at home, though. Set up in a tower of crates outside the cinema, the video store encourages folks to borrow, watch, then return their flicks of choice — all without paying a cent. And, if you have some old discs or tapes at home that you don't want, you can donate them to the cause to help out your fellow locked-down movie buffs. Head along from 1–4.30pm on Sunday, September 5 and you'll also be able to takeaway popcorn, choc-tops, beers, wine, gift cards and cinema merchandise as part of a Father's Day pop-up. If you nab something for yourself as well as your dad, that's completely fine as well.
During 2021's COVID-19 lockdown, Dan Pepperell's boundary-pushing French restaurant Bistrot 916 mixed things up with a special takeaway menu featuring one hit item: cheeseburgers. From Restaurant Hubert's famous burger to Charcoal Fish's Murray cod patties, Sydneysiders love a fancy burger — and these Bistrot 916 buns were a certified hit. After removing them from the menu post-lockdown, these cheesy delights are finally back alongside a killer oyster deal three days a week at the Potts Point haunt. The deal is running all the way through October and November, with patrons able to drop in for burgers and oysters for lunch Friday–Sunday. Diners are able to get their hands on one of these much-hyped burgers for $29. While this is quite a hefty price tag, Bistrot 916 isn't exactly your cheap and cheerful local burger shop. Plus, it's not quite Sydney's most expensive burger. That honour may sit with Circular Quay's 6Head, which has a $33 dry-aged beef burger on the menu — or, if you're counting sandwiches, Sandoitchi's Wagyu Katsu Sando with MB9+ tajima wagyu tenderloin, which will set you back $49. As for the oysters, they're on offer for just $1 during the promotion. That means that you can drop in for a few shucked beauties and your choice from the 916 wine list, or combine the two deals to treat yourself to half-a-dozen oysters and the burger for just $35. Top image: Steven Woodburn
Melbourne art collective Fast Fashun is heading up to Sydney for a two-day pop-up in Tumbalong Park for Sydney Festival. Hitting the Harbour City for the weekend of January 20–21, the free activation will shine a light on how we can reduce the waste created by the clothes we wear. Attendees will be encouraged to make one-of-a-kind fashion creations from recycled clothes, with members of the Fast Fashun team on hand to run workshops in repurposing clothing using sewing machines, safety pins or just some good old-fashioned creativity. Every hour between 1–4pm, there will be a runway show where the participants can show off their creations. You'll be able to flex your visual eye before hitting the catwalk in front of a cheering crowd to shine a spotlight on how imaginative you can be with pre-loved garms. If you want to get around the Fast Fashun mission of saving clothes from landfill and reducing the amount of single-wear and throw-it-out fashion being produced, follow the collective on Instagram and check out the latest edition of the Fast Fashun zine. Images: Theresa Harrison
The Kite String Tangle is the project of Brisbane-bred alternative electronic artist and producer Danny Harley. After being unearthed by Triple J last year and generating some serious buzz at Falls Festival, he is continuing strong into 2014 with a national tour scheduled for February. Inspired by the dreamy and atmospheric soundscapes of artists like Active Child, The Kite String Tangle offers a combination of ethereal pop and ambient electronica. The harmonic and hand-crafted textures of tunes such as 'Given the Chance' are rallying public and critical attention, having just made it into the Triple J Hottest 100 at No.19. Before heading to the states in March to play several showcases for SXSW, Harley's national run-around is already sporting some sold-out labels. However, additional shows have been added in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. You won't want to miss this upcoming Australian producer weaving his musical magic. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6qBwQtTHu4g
Eight months after Australian same-sex couples could first formally and legally tie the knot, Brisbane Festival is celebrating the occasion in an appropriate fashion — by throwing a free wedding for eight LGBTIQ pairs. While Sydney Festival put together a huge reception earlier in the year, Brisbane's equivalent is going one better by hosting the actual nuptials. And, if you're a LGBTIQ couple looking to get hitched, you might just be able to take part. Called Qweens on King, the Saturday, September 8 event is one of the three-week-long fest's opening celebrations for 2018, turning Bowen Hills' King Street precinct into a garden party filled with merriment and real-life matrimony. Entries are now open for all interested parties, with winners saying 'I do' on stage before a celebrant named Gai Lemon, scoring a wedding party filled with Brisbane's queer performers, nabbing free wedding bands and receiving a $500 voucher towards holding their reception at adjacent food truck hangout Welcome to Bowen Hills. Everything from the music to the flowers to the photographer has been arranged, with couples simply needing to register, make sure they're available on the date and pick their own outfits. Of course, if that sounds like your ideal way to spend your big day, you'll also need to be willing to share your happy moment with a considerable crowd. "I'm hoping that the eight couples we find will represent a broad spectrum of personal experiences, from those who have been through the Bjelke-Petersen time when homosexual acts were still illegal, to newcomers and the multitude of various cultures within all those letters: L-G-B-T-I-Q-plus," says Brisbane Festival artistic director David Berthold. The ceremony will also launch the 29th annual Brisbane Pride Festival, with Brisbane Pride vice president Michael James dubbing the event "a gathering of rainbow sophistication and flair". Entries close at midnight on Sunday, July 22, with Qweens on King taking place on Saturday, September 8. To register, or for more information, check out the online application
The last of Red Rock Deli's Secret Suppers in Melbourne has been and gone, with Ms. Frankie's head chef Giorgio Distefano cooking up a feast on a CBD rooftop. The exclusive supper series saw some of Australia's most talented chefs whipping up mouth-watering, three-course feasts inspired by Red Rock Deli's new limited-edition range. And when we say exclusive, we mean it — only 20 lucky guests got to tuck into each lavish dinner. On Thursday, October 17, top Melbourne chef Distefano put up a feast inspired by Rock Deli's new Chilli, Roast Garlic and Lemon Oil Deluxe Crisp flavour. The theme of the evening was 'Elevation of the Senses', so the menu featured simple dishes masking intense flavours. To start, there was a charcuterie board with oven-baked ricotta, pumpkin, chilli and parmesan arancini and house-made bread. And to finish, guests tucked into lemon pannacotta with mixed berries. But it was the main course of tortellini filled with ricotta and lemon zest and slathered with chilli, garlic and lemon-infused oil that really had us salivating. Sounds like a meal that shouldn't have been missed but, if you did — or you went and want to recreate the magic at home — check out Distefano's tortellini recipe here. Images: Parker Blain.
Jamaican-born, Sydney-based artist Robin Clare’s work riffs on the colour, rhythm and repetition of dancehall music and the popular culture of her native country. Expect a heady culture clash of blaring hand-drawn typography, bold large-scale paintings, screen prints and a jungle of pop art, comic book, cinematic and advertising influences. The conceptual underpinning beneath this criss-cross of influences is the nature of cross-cultural exchange between Jamaica and the United States, particularly a 1950s publication, Bulls Eye, by comic artist team Simon and Kirby. Clare has exhibited across London and Sydney and works at the edge of the map between contemporary art and graphic design, producing zines and illustrations for t-shirts. Her latest show Badda dan dem star is on for a few short days only at at China Heights in Surry Hills, a gallery that ties the design and art worlds together. Badda dan dem star is on 6-9 for Friday opening and 12-5 on Saturday and Sunday.
Australian cinephiles are well and truly accustomed to seeing the rest of the world via the big screen but, after the past year, 2021's Spanish Film Festival really couldn't be more welcome. And, it won't just transport movie buffs to the country that gives the annual filmic showcase its name. Twenty features from Spain are definitely on the bill, but so are nine from Latin America. That gives Sydneysiders plenty of movie-watching options come Tuesday, April 20, when the fest kicks off its local season for this year. You'll have until Sunday, May 9 to head to Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, tuck into some popcorn, enjoy everything from award-winning rom-coms to twisty thrillers, and pretend that you're somewhere other than your own city. Highlights include road movie Wishlist, starring Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'s Victoria Abril; romantic comedies Rosa's Wedding and The Wedding Unplanner, because matrimony seems to be a theme; Goya Award-winner Schoolgirls, which took out the gong for Best Film; and While At War, the latest film from The Others director Alejandro Amenábar. Heroic Losers serves up a charming heist comedy starring the always engaging Ricardo Darín (Everybody Knows), while the 1950s–70s-set The Moneychanger delivers a satirical twist on crime epics. If you're only going to see one movie, though, make it Ema — not just because it stars Gael García Bernal and is directed by No, The Club, Neruda and Jackie filmmaker Pablo Larraín, but because this tale about a dancer (Mariana Di Girolamo) is a simply stunning piece of cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpt6Vffhtik&feature=emb_logo
There's no other way to celebrate the start of Mardi Gras except to throw a massive party. Part performance art, part music, and part dance, Day for Night is one cut above the rest. Presented by Carriageworks and Performance Space, with curation by Jeff Khan (Performance Space) and Emma Price (The Kingpins), the event sees Carriageworks transformed into a large-scale space for queer expression for a full three days. The party (February 20, 7.30 – 11.30pm, tickets $35) will feature tunes from local electronic outfit Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Johnny Seymour), self-described as sounding like a "gay bath house". The next two days (February 21–22, 12 –8pm, free) sees music and art combine with a series of live performances by Australia's leading queer artists, soundtracked by the duo. They include choreographer Matthew Day, Emma Maye Gibson (you might recognise her work as alter ego Betty Grumble), interdisciplinary artist and Kanye collaborator Techa Noble, White Drummer, Nell, and self-taught dancer Bhenji Ra (House of Ra), who has supported the likes of Mykki Blanco and Le1f. In the lead-up to this night of nights, we spoke to Stereogamous and got them to put us in the mood with a mix (titled 'DAY'). Where is Stereogamous currently at, musically speaking? Our weekly Voguey Bear party [at Tokyo Sing Song] focuses on deep and innovative music. Nothing abrasive, noisy or played out. The deep research we do for weekly content for an eight-hour set keeps us on our twinkle toes doing the 9-5 (am), but also informs our production heart space in the studio ... We are currently composing with the incredible Shaun J Wright (Chicago/Twirl), who is one of the most marvellous performers we've ever encountered. What and who are you most looking forward to at Day for Night? The punters. The intersex, transgender, bisexual, lesbian, gay community and our admirers have our moment to have our Christmas/Grand Final/Prix/celebration and shine. Seeing the artists and our collaborative children come to life in front of our family and like-minded creative adventurers. Making make a great queer party in one of our fave buildings in Sydney. What was going through your mind – musically or otherwise - during the making of this mix? DAY is deep. It's the warm-up without the gogo. You wake up somewhere, with last night still in your body. There's a sonic treacle coming from an unknown place. Sounds that can either be slow decompression into facing reality, or a gateway to escaping. Let's pretend we live in a utopian world for a moment. How would the ideal Stereogamous day play out? President Nova Peris has diverted mining profits into developing solar power and water desalination, revegetating the desert. The increased arable land provides enough power, shelter and self-sustainable food stocks for the entire South Pacific region. Equality exists not just for queers but for gender parity in wages and employment, Indigenous peoples, asylum seekers and people with special medical needs. Drivers serve drinks on free bus trips. Arts has equal funding as sports. Drugs are legal and available on Medicare. We're just doing what we're doing now. Collaborating and attempting to bring people together to resonate joy. Your sound is self-described as "sauna beat" and "bath house music”. Besides yourselves of course, what other music would this hypothetical bath house be playing? Bath houses are sacred homosexual spaces that we have spun tracks in for over a decade. Perhaps best described as "horizontal dance music". Apologies but you won't hear Katy/Igloo/Taylor or any EDM noise. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not really appropriate "sling music" feels. We're more likely to be playing Discodromo, Alien Alien, baker & baumaker, Suspect, Trevor Sigler, Jason Kendig. Believe we're way more The Black Madonna than Madonna.
The returning Fantastic Film Festival Australia isn't just about celebrating cult-classic movies. This cinema showcase is one of several in Australia that wears its love for the weird, wild and wonderful — the strange and surreal, too — on its screens, and that means going heavy on the latest flicks that fit that description. But when the Sydney and Melbourne event includes beloved retro titles on its lineup, it usually does something special with them. So, in 2023, as part of its just-announced program, it has particularly attention-grabbing plans for Zoolander and the OG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie. Ben Stiller's comedy about the world of modelling might be all about donning clothes, but FFFA's session of the film is going in the opposite direction, joining the fest's growing spate of nude screenings. The event debuted the concept in 2021, then brought it back in 2022 for the 25th anniversary of The Full Monty. Now, patrons are asked to wear nothing but their best blue steel look — or magnum if they prefer — while watching a really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking movie. Clothes are required at FFFA's showings of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but don't worry about eating pizza beforehand — you'll be able to smell it during the session. The fest is going with a scratch-and-sniff experience, in what it's calling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Stink-O-Vision and will be a world-premiere. As you watch Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael (and Sam Rockwell in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it part), you'll be told to scratch a card at certain moments to get smelling. Some scents will be tasty. Some definitely won't. Running from Friday, April 14–Sunday, April 30 at Ritz Cinema in Randwick and Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn, FFFA's 2023 bill also features a 2K restoration of Takashi Miike's Audition, but mostly it's serving today's fresh flicks that'll be tomorrow's cult favourites. Opening the fest is Polite Society, about a martial artist-in-training endeavouring to save her sister from an arranged marriage — and a hit at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Closing it: LION-GIRL, a futuristic, post-apocalyptic sci-fi film about saving humanity (aren't they all?) that boasts character design by manga artist Go Nagai. Elsewhere on its 2023 program, Fantastic Film Festival Australia will screen the 1997-set Zillion, the highest-grossing film in Belgium in 2022, which tells of a computer whiz who creates the biggest discotheque in the world; Evil Dead Rise, the latest title in the ongoing zombie franchise, and prime fodder for a midnight slot; and Holy Shit!, which is completely set in a portaloo rigged with explosives. Or, there's a movie that FFFA is calling An Untitled and Perfectly-Legal Coming-Of-Age Parody Film — it isn't naming it because it was surrounded by controversy at its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, but you can easily work out by a quick online search, especially if you're fond of comic-book characters. It'll screen with the director in attendance, in what'll be one of its rare public showings so far. A number of Australian efforts are also on the lineup, starting with Rolf de Heer's The Survival of Kindness, which recently proved a hit at the Berlin International Film Festival. There's also Beaten to Death, a new-wave Ozploitation thriller set in remote Tasmania; the giallo-style Blur, about an investigation into a strange entity; and The End of History, about Australian techno producers Darcy and Pat as they chase their creative dreams in Berlin. Back to the international flicks, Belgium's H4Z4RD has been compared to Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Estonia and Finland provide crime-caper comedy Hit Big, Spain's Manticore contemplates evil and French standout The Five Devils is about an eight-year-old with an inhuman sense of smell. Plus, Germany's The Ordinaries dives into a three-class society where a 'supporting character' wants to be a 'main character' — and Quantum Cowboys features Scream alum David Arquette and is designed to start a trilogy. Also, on the events bill, FFFA is bringing back Music Video Blind Date, to connect Melbourne musos with filmmakers in the hopes of making music video magic. Fantastic Film Festival Australia runs from Friday, April 14–Sunday, April 30 at Ritz Cinema, Randwick in Sydney and Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn in Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the FFFA website.
Thirteen years ago, Korea's cinema standouts scored their own showcase Down Under, with the inaugural Korean Film Festival in Australia debuting in 2010. Since then, the festival has grown from a one-city event to a four-stop tour celebrating both the latest and greatest flicks that South Korea has to offer. It was playing Bong Joon-ho films before Parasite swept the Oscars. It was revelling in Korean thrillers prior to Squid Game becoming an international success, too. It loved Korean genre fare before Train to Busan as well. And, in its just-dropped 2023 lineup, KOFFIA keeps heroing the nation's must-see titles — this time via a 13-film program that'll hit Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. 2023's KOFFIA has a date with Event Cinemas George Street from Thursday, August 24–Tuesday, August 29, before heading to Palace Electric from Friday, September 1–Sunday, September 3. Then, it's time for an ACMI stop across Thursday, September 7–Monday, September 11, before wrapping up at the Elizabeth Picture Theatre from Thursday, September 14–Sunday, September 17. In each location, it'll endeavour to give audiences a new Korean favourite, or several, from a selection that spans everything from murder-mysteries and detective dramas to revenge thrillers and musicals. There's no such thing as a standard Korean film, which is true of every country's movie output; however, this national cinema is mighty fond of twisty tales. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that Confession and Gentleman are both on the 2023 bill. The first is a locked-room mystery with an IT company CEO suddenly finding himself the prime suspect, while the second involves a private detective agency's head honcho being falsely accused of a crime. Also on the lineup: The Devil's Deal, which sees a political candidate disqualified, then out for revenge; and The Night Owl, about an acupuncturist who is blind in daylight, can see clearly at night, and witnesses a tragic event one evening. The latter opens the festival, and the directors of both films — The Devil's Deal's Lee Won-tae and The Night Owl's An Tae-jin — are coming to Australia for KOFFIA. Elsewhere, comedy 6/45 hits the Korean Film Festival after proving a box-office smash at home, focusing on soldiers from both North and South Korea finding a windfall; Hero heads back to 1900s Korea to hone in on independence activist Ahn Jung-geun's plight battling Japanese colonial rule; musical drama Life Is Beautiful sees a husband trying to locate his wife's childhood sweetheart; and Next Sohee, which played Cannes 2022, is all about an exploitative work situation. Or, the standouts also include Switch, where a celebrity wakes up one morning to discover that he's living a completely different life — and romance Nothing Serious, about an aspiring novelist who writes a sex column. If it seems like a diverse lineup, that's wholly the aim. "Our 2023 festival program is designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering something for everyone — be they casual viewers or diehard film enthusiasts, promising a vivid and enriching journey through the multi-faceted realm of human experiences," said KOFFIA Programmer Francis Lee. "We hope that KOFFIA continues to facilitate the appreciation of Korean film artistry and culture in Australia, bringing audiences closer to the unique blend of storytelling, cinematography, and performances that have garnered global recognition." KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL IN AUSTRALIA 2023 DATES: Thursday, August 24–Tuesday, August 29: Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney Friday, September 1–Sunday, September 3: Palace Electric, Canberra Thursday, September 7–Monday, September 11: ACMI, Melbourne Thursday, September 14–Sunday, September 17: Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Brisbane The Korean Film Festival in Australia 2023 runs across August and September, touring to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the KOFFIA website.
Australia's undying love of gin is set to be front-and-centre next month when the Sydney Gin Palooza returns. Hosted by the Australian Gin Distillers Association and headed to Paddington Town Hall for its next event, the four-day festival will bring 39 craft gin distillers from around the country under one roof between Thursday, November 21 and Sunday, November 24. Apart from bottomless tastings, punters will also have the chance to chat directly with the makers. Stallholders will be hawking over 200 gins, including Four Pillars Gin, Broken Heart spirits and The National Gin Company, plus Never Never, Ambleside, Ironbark Distillery and Brisbane Distillery. Once you've picked your favourite, head to the gin shop, where you can purchase bottles for takeaway. Tickets cost $70, with five tasting sessions to choose from: 5.30–8pm on Friday, 1–3.30pm and 5–7.30pm on Saturday, and 12.30–3pm and 4–6.30pm on Sunday. There's no tastings on Thursday, because that's when the Gin Awards Presentation Dinner will be held — rewarding the best juniper booze there is. Sydney Gin Palooza will also feature a gourmet tapas bar, as well as plenty of espresso martinis. Plus, if you fancy filling your head with knowledge while you're sipping, Bill Lark will chat about gin's history — and what makes a great tipple — over tastings and canapes, while Karu Distillers are celebrating all things juniper, then throwing a high G&Tea party.
Since back in 2019, Sydneysiders have been able to use contactless card payments to cover public transport fares, letting you ride the Opal network without an Opal card. A digital Opal card is also being trialled, too, and the New South Wales Government is slated to test out a handy feature: using it to pay for Ubers, Ingogo taxis and Lime bikes as well. Being able to use the digital Opal card across other forms of transport — so, not just the Opal network — was initially floated back in 2019, but now the test run is finally going ahead. Up to 10,000 Sydneysiders will be granted access to the feature via the digital Opal card trial, which is expected to start in mid-2021. The new technology will also encourage mixing modes of transportation for people who live further from public transport, with credit awarded to user's accounts if they transfer from an Uber, Ingogo taxi or Lime bike onto public transport within 60 minutes. In a statement, NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said if the initial trial is a success, the NSW Government will look to roll out the program across the transport network and will invite other transport providers to get involved. "We know how convenient using one card is, and this is just the beginning," said Constance. Participants in the trial will receive up to $3 worth of credit each time they transfer from an Uber, Ingogo or Lime service to public transport within an hour window. My Fast Ferry customers participating in the trial will also receive a ten percent discount on their peak hour ferry trips and 25 percent off during off-peak hours, all to help encourage people traveling between Manly and Circular Quay to pair multiple forms of public transport during their journey. The NSW Government has already run one intake for digital Opal trial participants, and is set to open for a second round of applicants sometime this year, too. The overall test run is expected to last for 12 months, with Transport for NSW teaming up with Mastercard, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and EML Payments Limited. One form of transport that Sydneysiders almost certainly won't be able to transfer to or pay for with a digital Opal card during the trial is electric scooters. Back in February, Minister Constance said he was "not in the mood" to run e-scooter trials in NSW, and that they would remain illegal despite the success of organisations like Lime Bike in the city and a growth in e-scooter retailers. The Opal digital trial is set to begin in mid-2021. For further details, head to the Transport for NSW website.
The Chippendale Creative Precinct is on a mission. What Chelsea did for Manhattan, they want Chippendale to do for Sydney. In other words, transform the kind of no man's land between Broadway, City Road and Cleveland Street into the city's creative heart. The area certainly has the kind of rambling, gambling history that compels romanticising. The Beams Arts Festival, now in its second incarnation, is central to the CCP's plan. On the evening of Saturday 21 September, 350 creatives will converge on Chippendale, bringing with them live music, dance, performance, light, video, animation and sculpture. Artists will be working on the spot, creating site-specific works, from enormous inflatables, to guerrilla knitting to street art. Dramatic light shows promise to illuminate Chippendale's nooks, crannies and hidden laneways from previously unseen perspectives. While your eyes and ears are rediscovering their sensory potential, you'll be able to widen your gastronomic horizon with an array of offerings from local chefs, temporary eateries, food vans, boutique beers and top-shelf wines.
Already in 2021, fans of the DC Extended Universe — the interconnected franchise that started with Man of Steel, and also includes Wonder Woman and its sequel, Aquaman and Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) — have sat down to watch an extended new version of Justice League like it's still 2017. Next on the series' viewing list: The Suicide Squad, the confusingly named sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad (because no one has challenged themselves thinking of the upcoming flick's title). Margot Robbie (Dreamland) returns as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman (The Secrets We Keep) does the same as Rick Flag and Australian actor Jai Courtney (Honest Thief) also makes a comeback as Captain Boomerang. As the government agent overseeing this band of world-saving supervillains, recent Oscar-nominee Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) is back as well. But don't expect to see the rest of their original costars this time around. A new group of nefarious folks joins Harley and the gang, including Idris Elba (Cats) as Bloodsport, John Cena (Playing with Fire) as Peacemaker, Peter Capaldi (The Personal History of David Copperfield) as Thinker, Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island) as Blackguard and Sylvester Stallone (Rambo: Last Blood) as the voice of King Shark. Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) has a yet-to-be revealed role, and Guardians of the Galaxy alums Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn show up, too — which makes complete sense given that GotG filmmaker James Gunn is behind the lens and has also penned the screenplay. By hiring Gunn, DC is clearly looking for his sense of humour, as well as his lively and OTT style. In the just-dropped first trailer for The Suicide Squad, all of the above is on display. So yes, if it feels more in line with goofier Marvel Cinematic Universe flicks than most of DC Comics' big-screen output, there's an obvious reason for that. When the film hits cinemas Down Under on August 5, it'll initially head to Belle Reve prison, where supervillains are kept. Asked by Task Force X to participate in a secret mission in exchange for time out of incarceration, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, Blackguard and their pals are more than willing to help. Their job: travelling to the island of Corto Maltese on a deadly quest. It's dubbed a suicide mission in the trailer, because of course it is. Check out The Suicide Squad trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1EbSXxrZ34 The Suicide Squad releases in cinemas Down Under on August 5.
Brook Andrew is a master of the interdisciplinary arts practice. He has tackled a huge range of media and produced thought-provoking, innovative work that has been shown all over the world. Travelling Colony is made up of a number of hand-painted caravans standing together like a grazing herd in the large foyer of Carriageworks. The doors of each caravan are left wide open, inviting the viewer in. You can't help hesitating before you enter, expecting to interrupt a scene or trespass onto someone's space but each caravan is left stark, with almost no personal adornment, like a home left abandoned. In each, there is a small television set playing interviews of Aboriginal members of the Redfern community, those that have been here for their whole lives, have passed through at different times, or are newcomers. They talk about what Redfern means to them, the community and its place in history as the “Black Capital of Australia.” The works serve as a commemoration of achievements of the community, people who have made significant contributions to the Aboriginal theatre and arts scene. It’s a living history, archives that record the future and progression of the community as well as the past. Repetition is a strong theme in this exhibition; in the numerous caravans clustered together, in the linear, zigzagging pattern (based on traditional Wiradjuri patterns) that travels across the caravans as a kind of extended canvas, housing the stories of the community which are played on a loop. The vehicles imply that the stories will keep travelling, repeating themselves, living on in the memory of the people and of the audience strengthened by their visual potency. Andrew creates a playful way of inviting audiences to see a community through the eyes of its members and to question the nature of how history shapes the present. Travelling Colony forms the centrepiece of Black Capital, an art initiative at Carriageworks that considers Redfern’s place as Australia’s urban Indigenous capital, a part of Sydney Festival. Image: Susannah Wimberley
414 Bourke Street might be bidding a sad farewell to Colin Fassnidge's hatted restaurant 4Fourteen, but we're banking on plenty more culinary goodness to come, with Jessi Singh confirmed as the venue's next high-profile tenant. The Surry Hills space will be reborn as "inauthentic Indian" eatery Don't Tell Aunty, which is slated to open its doors in early October. For the uninitiated, Singh is the master of modern Indian fare who, along with wife and business partner Jennifer Singh, gifted Melbourne with culinary hits Dhaba at the Mill, Horn Please and Babu Ji. He has spent the last few years stateside, first launching Babu Ji NYC, and most recently opening Bibi Ji wine bar and bottle shop in California, in collaboration with world-renowned wine guy Rajat Parr. Don't Tell Aunty marks Singh's first foray into the Sydney food scene, and is a slight departure from his usual approach. Fun, non-traditional Indian fare is still the game plan, though here, it'll be served alongside a playful cocktail list, heavy on gin and mezcal, and a thoughtful wine list, all headed up by Parr. "I'm really excited to be joining the dynamic and vibrant Sydney hospitality scene," said Singh. "It's been a longtime dream. Let the good times roll!" Colin Fassnidge's 4Fourteen, which has been on the market since the start of the year, will close its doors on Saturday, August 25. Don't Tell Aunty is slated to open at 414 Bourke St, Surry Hills in early October.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer — as it has proven plenty of times over the past few years. Sometimes, it likes to team up with other culinary hotshots. Sometimes, it just likes to whip out a creative dessert. Either way, your tastebuds always benefit. From 12pm on Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19, Messina is busting out one of its specials. If you've had its famous mango pancakes before, including at its yum cha sessions, you'll already be hungry. The crepes come stuffed with mango sorbet and whipped cream, and they've proven immensely popular every other time they've popped up. So, it's no wonder that Messina is turning the tasty occasion into a mango pancake party. The reason: the cult gelato chain has just gotten its hands on a new pancake machine. Even if that wasn't why, desserts like these don't need any justification. The whole thing will go down in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ, until sold out each day — so getting in early is recommended.
Rallies and marches take place every January 26, not only addressing concerns about the date of Australia's national celebration, but also protesting the ongoing discrimination that Indigenous Australians have faced since white settlement. This year, the Indigenous Social Justice Association has organised an Invasion Day, Day of Mourning and Survival Day march that will meet at Town Hall at 10am on Wednesday. The rally will be pushing for Indigenous land rights, reparatory justice, climate justice and the ending of deaths in custody and child removal. It will also mark the 50th anniversary since the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was set up in Canberra. Following speeches at Town Hall, a silent and commemorative march will take place to the historic Day of Mourning site at Australia Hall on Elizabeth Street. After the march, the rally will move onto Victoria Park where attendees can take part in Yabun Festival, the largest one-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australia. Yabun Festival 2022 will mark 20-years of the festival and will feature talks, discussions, markets and performances from musicians including Kobie Dee and Vic Simms. The rally has been organised with COVID-safety in mind. Mask and social distancing will be required. If you cannot attend, you can tune into Yabun Festival online at the festival website or via Koori Radio 93.7FM.
A seminal piece of Australian gothic horror is coming to the Sydney Opera House — but not in the way you might expect. It's safe to say that Malthouse Theatre's version, which first premiered in Melbourne last year, transforms the acclaimed Aussie tale into its own creation. Kenneth Cook's landmark novel Wake in Fright has been adapted a number of times over the past 50 years, captivating audiences as a famed motion picture as well a 2017 miniseries on Network Ten. Now, it finds new life as a one-woman show, with actress Zahra Newman taking centre stage in this grim tale of violent masculinity in the dark heart of the Australian outback. When bookish school teacher John Grant finds himself stranded in the isolated mining town of Bundanyabba, his ideas of polite society soon fall away as he descends into a haze of drunkenness and brutality. Under the direction of acclaimed theatre-maker Declan Greene, and aided by a score from art-electronica band friendships, Newman brings the oppressive menace of Cook's work to the stage, forcing us to look inwards in ways we might otherwise avoid. Wake in Fright takes over the Playhouse at Sydney Opera House from Tuesday, February 11–Saturday, February 15. Images: Pia Johnson.
To many people, the words ‘art exhibit’ recall hushed voices, polite chatter, and snooty, bespectacled gallery staff. Not so Startled Art’s first pop-up exhibit in Manly, where punters can expect a quirky kaleidoscope of artworks created by emerging Aussie artists amid a setting of Astroturf, pink flamingos, lollipops, and Post-It notes. Founded by Freshwater local Lena Peacock, Startled Art was born when this frustrated curator couldn’t find her dream job and decided to launch a curated site for buying and selling affordable art (a cool thousand is the ceiling for the most expensive pieces) solely from emerging Australian artists. Eschewing a traditional gallery space, the exhibit will be hosted in The Space, Manly, where A3-sized mixed-media, paintings, and interactive artworks will rub shoulders with Mojitos and Bloody Marys. Expect a kooky Mad Hatter-themed opening night — complete with live music — where loud, rambunctious chatter and surprises will be the norm.
If you're in need of a few chuckles in the face of the state of the world, then Sydney has you covered across April and May. The Sydney Comedy Festival has a bumper edition on offer in 2023, delivering non-stop laughs from an impressive lineup of local and international comedic talent. From Monday, April 24–Sunday, May 21, venues across the city will play host to a program of sidesplitting stand-up, improv, theatre, magic and more. Returning favourites include the always huge Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, which hits the Sydney Opera House, Pac Pavilion Sutherland, Riverside Theatre, the Enmore Theatre and The Concourse to kick things off from Monday, April 24–Wednesday, April 26. Whichever date and venue you choose, expect an outrageous night of onstage antics from a star-studded cast of festival greats and emerging stars. Across the month-long fest, you'll also be able to catch solo shows from the likes of Dylan Moran, Ed Gamble, Bert Krescher, Mark Watson, Jordan Raskopoulos, Josie Long, Arj Barker, Gabbi Bolt, Sam Campbell, Ray O'Leary, Thalia Joan and stacks more. Elsewhere, Lucinda Price — commonly known as Froomes — is bringing her Besties slumber party to the Factory Theatre with Louis Hanson, the internet's patron jar-sauce hater Nat's What I Reckon will be bringing his show Yeah Righto to the festival and the UK''s Sh!itfaced Shakespeare will be performing Romeo and Juliet at the Manning Bar and The Concourse. You can catch Osher Günsberg's satirical news show NTNNNNN (read our chat with Günsberg about the show) and Richard Glover will be popping up with a special live broadcast of Thank God It's Friday! featuring live music from The Soul Movers. Images: Ben Sanford.
