Whichever pop culture phenomenon, figure, show, movie or bad takes your fancy, odds are there's a cookbook devoted to it. Breaking Bad, Brad Pitt's eating habits, Morrissey and Nick Cave-inspired vegan recipes, Twin Peaks pies (and doughnuts and coffee, obviously) — the list goes on. If you're keen to pair a heap of your faves with some joke-tastic dishes, however, then Pun Pantry's kitchen tome is for you. Among their recipes: 'Chicken Kebob Dylan', 'Fleetwood Mac & Cheese', 'Gin Diesel' cocktails (yes, Coronas are among the ingredients) and 'Wu-Tang Clam Chowder', plus 'The Fresh Prince of Eclaires', 'Pumpking Kong Pie', 'Cream Puff Daddy', 'Frying Nemo' and 'Obi-Wan Cannolis'. If some of them sound familiar, that's because Pun Pantry have been selling themed merchandise and showcasing their wares online for a couple of years. Now, they're running a Kickstarter campaign to put their comedic cooking creations into print. Featuring more than 20 recipes, Pun Pantry contend that the book won't just include steps for serving up hilarious and tasty dishes, but will be "an homage to pop culture, filled with stories, interactive material and original comedic flavour". The fundraising drive will also help them attend the America's Mart Novelty Gift Show in January — and with eight days left to go at the time of writing, they're nearly a third of the way to their US$10,000 goal. Via Food & Wine. Image: Pun Pantry / Nude Dude Food.
There's something magical about heading into the Art Gallery of New South Wales after dark. Every Wednesday until 10pm, you can wander the collections without fighting hectic crowds and catch a talk, performance or tour — whatever is happening that night. Each week, a series of talks, tours and workshops accompany the AGNSW's current exhibitions. At the moment they are John Olsen: The You Beaut Collection, Sydney's citywide art show The National: New Australian Art, and Australian photographer David Stephenson's Human Landscapes. The best thing about Art After Hours? Every event is free.
In 2013, 300 people danced to Kate Bush's' 'Wuthering Heights' in a field — and in 2019, the idea is back and bigger than ever. Yes, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is happening in Sydney on Saturday, July 13. Yes, everyone should be dressed as Kate Bush, complete with a red dress, red stockings and black belt (men, that means you as well). On the day, a clowder (that's the collective noun for Kate Bushes, just FYI) will descend upon the park and copy Bush's swaying, kicky dance in unison just for the pure joy of it. Support for this weird and wonderful outing has been widespread, and Kate Bush fans from around the world have been inspired to create events in their home cities. So get your gear together (dressmakers are usually flooded with orders for the day, check it out here) and ready yourself to roll and fall in green, out on the wily, windy moors of Sydney Park. If you need an incentive — other than the event itself, of course — it's now 41 years since the song was first released.
Take one glance at the chic, Paris-coded dining room of Capella Hotel's fine diner, Brasserie 1930, and you might reasonably assume that a meal here could break the bank. And ordinarily, there'd be some truth in that assumption — but not on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes. Operated by Nick Hilderbrandt and Brent Savage's Bentley Group — the same legendary restaurateurs behind top city diners Monopole and King Clarence — Brasserie 1930 is offering a steal of a deal on these two weekday lunch services, offering half a barbecued Bannockburn chicken, cooked to charred perfection over a woodfired grilled, plus a side — either mixed-leaf salad, crushed cucumber salad, green beans or fries — for the very affordable price of $35. Discounted dining never tasted so good.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is the consequence of what screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith calls "one of those Reese's Peanut Butter Cup moments". It was during his 2009 book tour for the novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies that he observed two very distinct themes dominating almost every major storefront: biographies marking the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, and copies of Twilight marking the death of good writing. Eventually the two ideas merged in his head and the result was a wildly imaginative retelling of the Abraham Lincoln story. Set in the early 19th century, it begins with the death of Lincoln's mother, though not of "milk sickness" as history remembers it, but instead at the hand of a local (and suspiciously dead) slave trader, Jack Barts (Marton Csokas). The course for vengeance is thus set, and once the adult Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) learns the terrifying true nature of his mother's killer, he vows to wipe all vampires off the face of the earth. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, then, is perhaps the most descriptive movie title since 2011's Jack and Jill: Money Waster. Thankfully, though, it's also infinitely better. Produced by Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) and directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch), it's a visually rich production that makes excellent use of both slow motion and 3D shots. The latter, as explained by lead actor Benjamin Walker during a recent trip to Sydney, was used by Bekmambetov as a "tool rather than a gimmick … because with vampires you're dealing with proximity, and you really want to be able to feel that presence and that danger." And feel it you most certainly do, for these toothy-villains wail and gnash at the audience with substantially less tenderness and sparkle than some of their cinematic contemporaries. Most importantly though, is that this is an entirely silly film treated with extraordinary seriousness by everyone involved. As a consequence it not only avoids the horrible fate of the similarly absurdly named Aliens and Cowboys, but also provides a terrifically creative example of Civil War historical revisionism — pitting Lincoln's Union forces against the Southern Confederates as part of mankind's last stand against an army of the undead. It’s great fun, relentlessly fast-paced, and at only 105 minutes, manages to pack in more than your money’s worth of action and gore.
2019 will mark the last-ever edition of the beloved community event Newtown Festival, with organisers Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) pulling the plug on the festival after 40 years. According to a statement on NNC's website, the festival had grown too large over its final few iterations and is no longer financially viable for the not-for-profit to continue running. "Over the last 40 years, Newtown Festival has experienced significant growth, with many more businesses, sponsors and people attending the event. While this has been exciting to witness, this large-scale financial endeavour has eclipsed the resources, capabilities and purpose of NNC," the statement reads. "After years of careful consideration, which involved reviewing a number of possible funding scenarios and business cases, as well as community consultation, NNC's board has made the decision to discontinue the festival. The board did not come to this conclusion lightly and acknowledges how much the festival will be missed by residents, and NNC itself. We will instead participate in three key events led by Inner West Council to drive awareness of the services we provide." [caption id="attachment_746600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Simpson[/caption] From humble beginnings, the festival grew to the point where it hosted hundreds of stallholders and musicians in 2019, as well as more than 40,000 punters, boasting a lineup featuring The Delta Riggs, The Buoys and a Heaps Gay karaoke closet. Over the years, up-and-coming bands cut their teeth on the free festival's stage and beloved musicians brought crowds to Camperdown Memorial Park, with the likes of The Kid LAROI, All Our Exes Live in Texas, L-FRESH the Lion, Jinja Safari, Gordi, Palms and Nooky all performing over the years. NNC will continue to push for inclusivity and the arts within the Inner West, while the spirit of Newtown Festival won't be lost, with other community events like SummerFest, Marrickville Music Festival, St.Anmoré, Fair Day, Yabun and the Beer Footy and Food Festival all going strong. [caption id="attachment_746602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Simpson[/caption] Head to the Newtown Community Centre website for more information on the not-for-profit and to read the statement about Newtown Festival. Top image: Kirsten Muller.
The first day of the last month of the year (and the first day of summer and a Friday, no less) calls for a special celebration. Grab your mates or significant other for a night of fun around Chippendale and Surry Hills. Start at Spice Alley, a go-to spot for when you're in the mood for the much cheaper version of a trip to Southeast Asia. This open-air courtyard takes a delicious cue from Singapore's hawker markets, offering up a handful of exceptional food outlets. Try Hong Kong Diner for Cantonese comfort food, Alex Lee Kitchen for some classic Singaporean and Old Jim Kee for a delightful taste of Malaysia. After you've been properly fueled, head to karaoke institution Ding Dong Dang to belt out your favourite tunes until the wee hours of the morning. Not only are the rooms here reasonably priced, they're also themed — the space odyssey room is a particular favourite. Image: David Clare.
When Nigella Lawson graced our shores earlier this year, some Sydneysiders followed her (mostly culinary) adventures with the same enthusiasm as they would a royal or religious figure, proving our love for the English chef with the syrupy accent and penchant for decadent food is as strong as ever. So, really, learning that someone has created a cabaret inspired by her shouldn't be a surprise. In this comedic musical tribute, Raelene Isbester pokes fun at the radiant public persona while prodding at the all-too-human private side, too. Isbester's show is a hilarious study of the cult of Nigella and why we can't help but continue to worship her. Love Bites may not topple the deity, but it does give her pedestal a shake. Highly recommended for those of us who view a midnight trip to the fridge as an admission of defeat by a mere mortal and not just a way to spice up the closing credits. Nigella – Love Bites is showing from Thursday, July 11 to Saturday, July 13 as part of Bondi Feast 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, head this way.
We're heading into what can be a pretty tough time of year for the old purse strings. The sun's out, and everyone you know suddenly wants to plan a catch up for the festive season. It can be pricy — and a little exhausting trying to find a spot that'll please the entire crew. Luckily, we've got you covered on both fronts. We've teamed up with Surry Hills spot SaltVine Lebanese Tapas to give away a $250 meal for you and three friends. The eatery, which opened earlier this year, is a reinvention of a classic Lebanese restaurant, combining the tapas style of eating with traditional tastes and flavours. Deconstructed old classics have been turned into fresh bites, but in no way do they stray too far from their roots — think zaatar fries, Syrian string cheese cigars and chargrilled king prawns with chilli, cardamom and lemon. The drinks also have a Middle Eastern flair — the classic whisky sour is amped up with fig, the Beirut sangria includes apricot liquor and there's a selection of Lebanese wines on offer, too. The $250 voucher is valid for four people across the entire SaltVine menu, from drinks to the banquet ($50 per person or $45 per person for the vegetarian option). If you've got some dietary requirements to consider, that's all good, too: the a la carte menu includes many options for your vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free pals. The only requirement is to take the tapas element seriously and be prepared to share (which shouldn't be a problem, as you'll want to try everything anyway). To go into the running, enter with your details below. [competition]695666[/competition]
If you're of the school of thought that food often tastes better when it's paired with booze, then we have some very good news for you. Fried chicken joint/Champagne bar/sneaker store Butter is offering up the greatest Christmas present of all: an indulgent spiked menu to feast on. Executive chef Julian Cincotta has whipped up a menu that combines his trademark chicken with a pretty darn smooth booze: Hennessy cognac. Embracing the vanilla notes, hints of apple and smooth finish of the cognac, Cincotta has designed a limited edition Hennessy barbecue sauce. The sweet and spicy sauce is paired with Butter's signature fried chicken and shoestring laces (fries), plus a Hennessy ginger mule to wash everything down. The collaboration is in honour of the new Hennessy V.S Limited Edition bottle, designed in partnership with renowned Portuguese street artist Vhils. Noting that both blending Hennessy and Vhils' murals require experimentation and risk-taking, Cincotta says, "We have the same approach at Butter. I love experimenting with different ingredients...and I find spirits have traditionally been under-utilised in cooking." Get your hands on it while you can —the special combo box is only available from now until Sunday, January 6 at both the Surry Hills and Parramatta stores.
See this writeup? It's pale nimbus with raised lettering. The font? Something called Silian Rail. Now let's see Paul Allen's. No time — Huey Lewis and the News just came on. *dances around, throwing blood into the crowd* The last few years have been so replete with wildly improbably events that it's getting hard to find anything worth raising an eyebrow for. But the news that American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis' subversive and initially banned novel of bankers and blood rages in the 80s, has been adapted into a musical, has had us trying to wrestle our brows down from our hairlines for days now. That's right, Les Miserables and Ellis' protagonist, Patrick Bateman, now have more in common than a passing interest in decapitation. But while the former has had its fair share of Australian seasons, the latter is gearing up for his second under award-winning director Alexander Berlage. [caption id="attachment_759950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clare Hawley[/caption] After hitting Potts Point's Hayes Theatre Co in 2019, and bloody seasons on Broadway and at the West End, the blood-spattered musical will head to the Sydney Opera House in June this year to unleash Bateman (Ben Gerrard), a detached, murderous businessman, onto Australian audiences once again. It was initially set to carve its way across the Playhouse in 2020, but we all know how last year turned out. The show is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, has music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Duncan Sheik, and features 80s hits from the likes of Phil Collins, Tears for Fears and New Order — and its 2019 season saw it pick up nine Sydney Theatre Awards. American Psycho — The Musical may have the same disdain for excess that you do, but it has a slightly better haircut. Make sure you return those video tapes before booking. Pre-sale tickets are available from 9am on Tuesday, February 9 with general sale kicking off at 9am on Friday, February 12 via the Sydney Opera House website. Top images Clare Hawley
Let's face it. Shopping at this time of year can be a form of slow torture. But we have something that'll make braving the crowds worth it. From Tuesday, December 18 to Monday, December 24 (otherwise known as 'crisis shop week'), David Jones is offering up free drink and food tastings. So, if you're in either the Market Street or Bondi Junction stores, hunt down the pop-up for free sips of Mumm Grand Cordon, Chivas 18 scotch and St Hugo shiraz. Along with the tipples, there'll be food pairings to revive you for the rest of your shopping expedition. And, while you're there, you can cross a few names off the present list. The new release Mumm Grand Cordon bottle is only available at a handful of locations around Sydney, including the little pop-up you'll be stationed at. Plus, when you purchase one of the bottles of Champagne — or whisky or wine — you can get it personalised for free with a message in calligraphy, too. This might just be the solution to the yearly question you and your siblings ask each other: what should we get mum and dad? The Champagne, Whisky and Wine Tasting Station will be open from 12–3pm daily at David Jones Market Street and Bondi Junction stores, until Monday, December 24.
What's more surprising about Bondi than its reputation as a seaside utopia is its lack of reputation as a topographical anomaly. It's basically a beach built into a cliffside. Makes it a pretty interesting place to do a walking tour, in other words. Enter Guru Dudu, a laid-back gent with loud overalls and a pair of headphones that, judging by their size, may well have been nicked from a construction site. This is your tour guide – but he's not working alone. As you stroll around, filling up on Bondi's sights, he'll tag-team with some of the greatest bands of the last half-century. With your own set of headphones (supplied) you and your compatriots will have the chance to groove down Campbell Parade, belt out the lyrics you can remember and flashmob unsuspecting picnickers. Before you know it, you will have topped a few of Bondi's most picturesque rises, borne aloft by bangers and the Guru's electrifying moves. Guru Dudu's Silent Disco Walking Tours will take place between Friday, July 12–Sunday, July 14 and Friday, July 20–Sunday, July 22 as part of Bondi Feast 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, head this way.
It has only been three short years since Call Me By Your Name first hit cinemas; however the yearning romance instantly cemented itself as an all-time great. Adapting André Aciman's novel of the same name, every element of the film hit exactly the right note — including the tender love story, charting a summer dalliance between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer), as well as director Luca Guadagnino's gorgeous use of the story's Italian Riveria setting. Hammer's awkward dance moves, Michael Stuhlbarg playing the dad everyone wishes they had, the use of peaches — you can remember this heartwrenching movie for any or all of the above. Actually, because there's never a bad time to revisit Call Me By Your Name, you can also re-experience it all again on the big screen on Valentine's Day. The Chauvel Cinema is doing the honours, kicking off at 6.45pm on Friday, February 14. Tickets cost $15, or $10 if you're a Palace member. If you really feel like diving in, you can also purchase peach cocktails. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9AYPxH5NTM
According to Resident Advisor, Andrew Weatherall was the world's first "proper punk DJ". It might be the first (and last) time that "proper" and "punk" are used in the same sentence, but there's no arguments that Weatherall has earned such a distinction. After starting his working life as a music journo, often writing under the pseudonym 'Audrey Witherspoon', he soon tried his hand at mixing. His first studio work was a club mix of 'Hallelujah' for the Happy Mondays, in collaboration with DJ Paul Oakenfold. Since then, he's produced the likes of One Dove, Beth Orton and, most famously, Primal Scream, playing a crucial role in the creation of Screamadelica. Along the way, he's developed some interesting ideas, among them that both the downfall and salvation of human beings lies in their being "glorified chimpanzees" and that "anyone over the age of fourteen who Twitters can never really truly be [his] friend". For a DJ, Weatherall is remarkably technologically averse. Despite — or perhaps because of — that, he's incredibly up-to-date when it comes to modern electronica, having remixed a list of names as long as the Nile, from Bjork to the Manic Street Preachers to My Bloody Valentine to James. His live shows are famously hypnotic, seductive affairs, combining post-punk, dark electro and house. The bad, sad news? Weatherall's one and only Sydney Festival appearance — the late Australia Day set in the Spiegeltent — is now sold out, so you'll have to sign up to the waiting list or try the Tix for Next to Nix booth on the day. Image by Steve Gullick.
If you like your tunes a little off-centre, extra crisp and wholly unconventional, OutsideIn is your jam. Locked in to be held over three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, the boutique music festival cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its third instalment on Saturday, November 29. Before we get all up in three levels of OutsideIn goodness this Saturday, we checked in with the Sydney crew on the lineup for a few cruisy hangouts. These homegrown legends know their hidden parks, underground jazz dens and gaming hubs like the back of their talented hands, so we nabbed some hot tips. Which underground adventure cave does Seekae blow off steam in? Where will you find Black Vanilla defying gravity of a weekend? Which underrated park do Fishing sink a few post-work tinnies in? Here's your guide to Sydney's best hidden spots, from some of Sydney's best tune-makers around. SEEKAE by George Nicholas. Outside: Clovelly Bowling Club "Ain't nothing better than knocking a jack around the green with a couple of m8s. This is where dreams are made." In: City Hunter Internet Cafe II, Haymarket "Conveniently located just a brisk five minute walk from our Sydney studio, City Hunter II offers gaming for the refined gentleman. Combining the rustic beauty of wooden floorboards with high-tech halogen light technology, the cafe's VIP room is great spot to kick back and pwn some n00bs. It should be noted that this place is probably the reason the Seekae album took three years make." FISHING by Doug Wright. Outside: Giba Park, Pyrmont (By Night) "It's a sleepy spot perched on a cliff in deep Pyrmont. You get prime views over the water towards Balmain and the Anzac and Harbour bridges, and it's a perfect place to sink a few post-work tinnies and dream of living in the lush apartments behind you." In: MGM Spices, Cleveland Street "This Indian grocery shop is a veritable treasure chest of flavours. Our lives have become one million times more fragrant and delicious since we started coming here." BLACK VANILLA by Marcus Whale. OUTSIDE: MARRICKVILLE TENNIS CLUB, HENSON PARK "A Greek bartender will greet you curtly but with accommodation and for the price of 12 dollars an hour, you can practice your awful serve and serviceable groundstrokes on these slow, low, synthetic grass courts." IN: SKYZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK, ALEXANDRIA "Yes, it's everything you've ever dreamed of: vast fields of trampolines, guaranteed to work your core muscles and make you feel superhuman. You'll hate the regular experience of gravity for days afterwards." RETIREE by Ryan Powderly. Outdoor: Angophora Reserve, Avalon "Peacocks used to roam free all around Angophora, waking up locals with their call first thing in the morning. If you were lucky, you might witness a mating display, or even find a big pretty feather on the bush track. One morning about 15 years ago, they were all gone. Nobody knows what happened. But the reserve is still home to hundreds of sulphur-crested cockatoos, koalas and a giant dead specimen of Sydney Red Gum Angophora Costata, believed to be the largest of its species. Our friend Max lives close by and reckons he once saw a rare Corroboree Frog there. Somewhere a bit off the track we shot our EP teaser video in a cave." In: Tokyo Jazz Cafe, Bondi Junction "The Junction, like Tokyo, has a few very secret, magical surprises. Some don't have signs, some are down weird dark arcades, and some only exist if you walk through a wall, like Platform 9¾. While out looking for free Wi-Fi, I stumbled across the stairwell to Tokyo Jazz Cafe. Yes, they have free Wi-Fi, but that's not why I go back again and again. Yoriko and Peter (the owners) have created something exquisitely rare. You'll just have to go and find it to see why it's our favourite place. Live Jazz on Saturdays." OutsideIn is happening at Manning Bar, University of Sydney on November 29. General admission is $80 +bf. More for info and the full lineup, head over here. Image credits: catbagan via photopin cc; Clovelly Bowling Club via Alice Main; Jordon via photopin cc; GavinBell via photopin cc; Giba Park via Jim;; Angophora Reserve by AJG Pics.
It's not been an easy year or so for the craft brewing industry, with several much-loved operations closing their doors, selling up or merging to keep the lights on. However, one brewer that's gone from strength to strength is Sydney Brewery, which has just announced its acquisition of Alexandria's Rocks Brewing Company. Having entered voluntary administration in October, the production facility and Alexandria-based tap house were up for grabs. Behind the purchase is Dr Jerry Schwartz of the Schwartz Family Company, owners of Sydney Brewery. Following the announcement, the tap house was renamed Sydney Brewery Alexandria, adding to the company's existing operations, such as Sydney Brewery Surry Hills and the Sydney Brewery production facility based out of Lovedale in the Hunter Valley. With the company on the rise, the extra brewing capability comes at a welcome time. According to Dr Schwartz, the Alexandria site's 20hL brewing capacity – that's 2,000 litres – will help Sydney Brewery keep pace with surging demand for its beers and ciders. At the same time, the company is set to open a new 30hL facility in Lovedale in the coming weeks, giving its production a big push in the right direction. Once operational, Sydney Brewery's beer, cider and spirit-producing capacity will have increased by over half a million litres. "Last year was a very difficult year for the craft brewing industry, but Sydney Brewery bucked the trend, and we have been urgently seeking extra capacity to produce our craft beers," says Dr Schwartz. "Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make the Alexandria venue similarly popular with locals and visitors. We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site." With the surging cost of living, rising overheads for raw materials and COVID-era debts just some of the reasons behind the craft beer scene's consolidation, those able to navigate these choppy waters have emerged on the other side with plenty of opportunity. Sydney Brewery has been in the game since 2005, operating its own outlets, maintaining a strong presence in retail trade and supplying a multi-state network of hotels. "...Our takeover of the Rocks Brewery operation will provide an outstanding opportunity to both increase the amount of Sydney Brewery craft beers that we produce and also revive the Alexandria location as a prime brewpub, dining, entertainment and functions venue," says Dr Schwartz. "We will revamp the menu, the drinks selection and the entertainment over the next few months. The brewpub is currently operating and will officially relaunch with its new branding and menus in mid-March." [caption id="attachment_652002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rocks Brewing Co.[/caption] Sydney Brewery Alexandria is open at Sydney Corporate Park, 160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria. Head to the website for more information.
UPDATE, January 29, 2021: The Hustle is available to stream via Stan. 2016's most controversial movie wasn't afraid of no ghosts, nor of updating a beloved classic with a gender-flipped spin. The backlash to the new Ghostbusters was as loud as it was stupid, however lost in the noise were two crucial facts. Firstly, the film is hilarious, fun and genuinely great. Secondly, it does exactly what a female-led version of a familiar property should. With all the ridiculous focus on why the supernatural comedy wasn't a carbon copy of the 80s flicks, and why women are now allowed to chase the paranormal (correct answer: why the hell not?), the movie didn't get recognition for its most significant feat. It doesn't lazily insert ladies into a thin rehash, but shapes its antics and jokes around them. That really shouldn't be so rare and astonishing, and yet so often it is. Take The Hustle, for example. It's the latest film to subscribe to the obvious motto that anything men can do, women can too, but it also takes that notion much too literally. Everything that 1988's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels did, this movie apes beat for beat, just with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson instead of Michael Caine and Steve Martin. Scoundrels was a remake itself, updating 1964's Bedtime Story, so the narrative has been around for more than half a century — and yet familiarity isn't the only problem here. For a couple of average pictures about scheming conmen ripping off wealthy women, The Hustle's predecessors actually came packaged with some smart social critique, skewering the battle of the sexes in the process. Alas, as a presumably unintended consequence of pushing girls to the front, the narrative's best and most biting elements have now disappeared, including its savvy female empowerment strand. Making a couple of supremely confident male grifters reliant upon women to get by, as the first two films did, made a satirical statement. Tasking two female fraudsters with fleecing rich men to punish their misdeeds doesn't have the same impact, unsurprisingly. The Hustle pulls its punches in other ways too, as seen in its terrible final twist (without heading into spoiler territory, let's just say that it's a case of not thinking the whole switcheroo through). Story-wise, Hathaway's Josephine Chesterfield is the swindling queen bee in the cashed-up French beachside town of Beaumont-sur-Mer, while Wilson's fellow scammer Penny Rust is her exact opposite. One robs super rich guys with long cons, the other cheats sleazeballs with quick tricks, and they're soon locked in a turf war. The solution: the first to snare a cool half a million out of their latest mark, baby-faced tech whiz Thomas (Alex Sharp), can keep pulling capers on the Riviera. Hathaway also starred in last year's big gender-swapped heist flick, Ocean's 8, and the end result is sadly somewhat similar. The Hustle thinks that plonking female stars into the same old scenario is enough; women should just be happy that studios are even bothering, apparently. It's the type of supposed progress that takes two steps forward and then the same amount back, because no one wants to see ladies slavishly retracing men's footsteps. Here, a heap of the film's narrative details also take on an uncomfortable tone, leaning on outdated stereotypes and cliches even in an obvious farce. Women romancing men for their money? Ruthlessly competing for — and measuring their worth based on — male attention? Cattily battling it out? That's not clever or amusing. It's not subversive in its sexual politics either, as much as the movie pretends the latter is true ("no man will ever believe a woman is smarter than he is," Josephine offers, explaining her success). Like much about the picture, it's just tired. With Hathaway's fake posh English accent clashing with Wilson's distinctive Australian drawl, The Hustle's stars are its biggest strength. Of course, they're really just doing what they're already known for doing well. Still, it's easy to see why the film exists, on paper at least, based on their odd-couple pairing. They each do their best with the material — Hathaway perhaps more so than Wilson, who doubles as one of the movie's producers. The duo also benefit from a few snappy one-liners, which are improved by their delivery. But screenwriter Jac Schaeffer (Disney short Olaf's Frozen Adventure) does little else to liven up the photocopied script, which is also credited to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Dale Launer, as well as long-dead Bedtime Story scribes Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning. British actor-turned-filmmaker Chris Addison keeps everything blandly light, scenic and fluffy, however that's barely all there is to his feature directorial debut. Well, that and an ill-thought-out do-over that does female-fronted remakes zero favours and scams itself more than anything else. You'd never guess that Addison was one of the stars of the savagely hilarious sitcom The Thick of It, or a director on its US counterpart, Veep. In fact, imagining what the acerbic characters of those shows would say about this flick is funnier than every second of The Hustle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfWv51T8TJ0
Those hobbits will go on. In JRR Tolkien's pages, they went on perilous Middle-earth adventures. On screens big and small for decades so far (and into the future, with more movies on the way), they've trekked, ate second breakfasts and attempted to project precious jewellery. Onstage in Australia in 2025, they're also marking an eleventy-first birthday, receiving a gold ring, taking a quest to Mordor and attempting to fight evil, all in The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. Dating back to 2006, just after the original live-action movie trilogy, this stage musical was revived in the UK in 2023, opened in the US in July 2024 and hit New Zealand in November 2024. After that, it's taking the hobbits to Australia from January 2025. First stop: Sydney's State Theatre. The Market Street venue's season kicks off on Tuesday, January 7. Lord of the Rings fans, take note: you'll want to go there and back again to discover what happens when Middle-earth gets melodic. Your guides for the show are the hobbits, of course, as Frodo and company celebrate Bilbo Baggins, then depart The Shire upon a life-changing journey. Thanks to Tolkien, what occurs from there has enthralled audiences for 70 years now, with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers initially hitting bookshelves in 1954. There's been no shortage of ways to indulge your Lord of the Rings love since Peter Jackson's features — including his Hobbit trilogy — helped fan the flames of pop culture's affection for Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry and the franchise's many non-underground-dwelling characters. Cinema marathons, visiting the Hobbiton movie set, staying there overnight, hitting up pop-up hobbit houses, sipping hobbit-themed beer: they've all been on the agenda. Only The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is combining all things LoTR with tunes and dancing, however, in a show that sports a book and lyrics by from Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical, Groundhog Day the Musical), plus original music by Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner AR Rahman, folk band Värttinä from Finland and Matilda the Musical alum Christopher Nightingale. Images: Liz Lauren.
Time to update your reading list: it's time for the latest edition of the Sydney Writers' Festival. One year shy of its 20th anniversary, this year's festival will run from Monday, May 16 through to Sunday, May 22, and will welcome more than 450 authors to Sydney to discuss their work and ideas in panels, lectures and workshops around the city. Standout guests from abroad include feminist icon Gloria Steinem, critically acclaimed author Jonathan Franzen (Purity), novelist, rapper and poet Kate Tempest (Brand New Ancient), and North Korean defector Park Yeon-mi (In Order to Live). They'll be joined by Man Booker Prize winners Marlon James (A Brief History of Seven Killings) and Julian Barnes (The Sense of an Ending), and overnight success story Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train). The local contingent, meanwhile, includes numerous recognisable names, including Tim Flannery, Anna Funder, Magda Szubanski, Kerry O'Brien, Andrew Denton, Peter Garrett, Stan Grant, Sarah Ferguson and Annabel Crabb. The theme of this year's festival is bibliotherapy, with a focus on reading for its therapeutic effect. "I very much like the idea of bibliotherapy and its premise that you can improve your life," said festival Artistic Director Jemma Birrell in a statement that accompanied the launch of the program. "A good literary festival, like a good book, should bring real life benefits — joy, solace and a new understanding of the world."
You're invited to take a rare glimpse into the life of Frida Kahlo, when photographs from the famed Mexican artist's personal collection land at the Bendigo Art Gallery this December. Travelling exhibition Frida Kahlo, Her Photos will be on show in Victoria from December 8, 2018, until February 10, 2019, featuring a sprawling selection of 257 images curated by Mexican photographer and photography historian Pablo Ortiz Monasterio. The collection travels through Kahlo's fascinating life, speaking to the artist's lifelong passion for photography — an art form that regularly influenced her own work. The photos have been pulled from the archives of the Casa Azul (Blue House) — Kahlo's former home, which has been made into a museum celebrating her life and art. You'll spy gems that have only been on public show since 2007, capturing Kahlo's family moments, her love for Mexico and its traditions, her passions, friends and enemies, the era's political struggles, and even the artist's lengthy hospital stay following an accident in 1925. The exhibition also features shots from Frida contemporaries including Fritz Henle, Man Ray, Tina Modotti, Edward Weston, and Lola and Manuel Alvarez. Images: Frida painting a portrait of her father, by Gisele Freund, 1951, courtesy Frida Kahlo Museum; Diego Rivera (in his study at San Angel_, Anonymous, 1940, courtesy Frida Kahlo Museum.
Italian fine dining is hard to come by, but Barangaroo's a'Mare at Crown Towers is offering its guests a delicious discount. For a limited time, the signature menu, usually priced at $210 per person, has been reduced down to just $105 per person, every Friday lunch service (12-3pm) until the end of October. Paying homage to Italian coasta; dining, the seafood-forward menu features eastern rock lobster paccheri pasta and Westholme wagyu rib eye steak. Accompanied by Italian classics like fresh-baked focaccia, burrata caprese, and the ever-popular crowd favourite, tiramisù, this is the perfect menu to start off your weekend in style.
Ukulele manufacturers must be pretty stoked at the resurgence of the uke, heralded by the likes of Dent May, who sings melodic and whimsical tunes in keeping with the traditions laid down by dork/genius troubadours like Jonathan Richman and Jens Lekmann. Dent was outed from obscurity by Animal Collective when they signed the Mississippi local to their Paw Tracks label. His debut The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele is a collection of super sweet, heartfelt tunes with barber shop harmonies and witty, tongue in cheek lyrics. Go check out the songsmith at Spectrum; it could be the perfect twangy soundtrack to your summer.
Vivid Ideas brings interesting speakers from Sydney and across the world to talk about how they do what they do in their creative field. Previous years have brought speakers like (now) McSweeney's Lucky Peach editor Chris Ying, author Cory Doctorow and local star, Red Rattler's Penelope Benton. One thing every year has in common (bridging the name shift from Creative Sydney to Vivid Ideas) is a dense program threaded with interesting creative speakers. To help you unpick those threads, Concrete Playground has picked out these 10 best ideas that this year's Vivid has to offer. 1. Digital City Cutting up our city creatively is one of the points of Vivid Ideas. For their two Digital City sessions they've pulled together a bunch of speakers who have atomised Sydney with their cameras and keyboards. We Blog the City pairs dissector of Sydney and the world, 52 Suburbs' Louise Hawson with the library-cataloguing, city-parsing Vanessa Berry. The Digital Layer of the City, brings together geo game-maker Richard Fox, unseen artist Warren Armstrong and Nicole Gardener, who will talk about getting a good layer of digital nous laid alongside the city's physical footprint. 2. FEEDBACK Been meaning to get down to the FBi Music Open Day? Working the next step in your musical career? Rueing the last one? FEEDBACK is a youth-aimed (read 18-25 year old) music conference aimed at connecting aspiring musicians with advice from the musical establishment. And if that seems like some creative advice that's too basic for your needs, step up to advanced lessons in the Making of … a Hit Song and hear a YouTube insiders' guide to Biebering yourself to stardom. 3. The Incredibly Short Film Festival With Twitter jumping on the micro film band-wagon and launching Vine, the short, looped motion-making of the animated GIF is having a pretty good year. The Incredibly Short Film Festival collects looping GIF films from around the world for an evening's celebration of this cyclical art. After its MCA screening, the festival moves on to the World Bar to see it all again, this time laid out in oversized projection on the buildings around World Bar. If you fancy your hand at making your own GIFs, the Apple Store will also be running courses in the build-up to the festival. 4. Evenings in the Lounge If your version of creativity runs in more of the relaxing and drink-mulling variety, Evenings in the Lounge is a (mostly) free series of evening hangouts and conversations (mostly) on the MCA balconies. The evenings cover green themes, printed chocolate, creativity at work, creative advice, passion, graffiti, a bit of mixing, co-working and some brainstorming, too. 5. Reportage Photography Festival Australia’s leading documentary photography festival, Reportage, have joined forces with Vivid Sydney this year. Developed from impromptu snapshot exchanges in a Bondi apartment, Reportage is now gaining exposure as a national and global photography event worthy of focus. In a flash, it seems, the depth of the photographers fielded at the festival has zoomed to dizzying heights. Shutterbugs such as distinguished Magnum photographer Alex Webb (USA), Contact Press co-founder David Burnett (USA) and Italian camera-king Franceso Zizola (co-founder of NOOR Agency in Amsterdam and 10B Photography in Rome) will grace Sydney with their pictorial prestige for the duration of the snapfest around Sydney from May 25 to June 13. 6. Women on Screen Sydney has been satisfyingly packed with female focuses events these last couple months. All About Women isn't long past, and a World of Women recently put women's contributions to the silver screen under the spotlight as well. Vivid takes its own look at where women stand in the film biz with Somersault-directing Cate Shortland and Buffy (the movie)-supervising Susan Cartsonis on stage at Let's Talk About the F-Word — Female Storytellers. Forward Thinking: Screen Trends also takes a closer look at women on the silver screen, this time inviting Saudi Arabia's first female filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour on stage as part of a panel discussing the change afoot in film across the world. 7. Indie Magazines: High End Content, Low End Budgets Chris Ying was a highlight of the second year of Creative Sydney, and he returns this year at Indie Magazines: High End Content, Low End Budgets to talk about how he puts together McSweeney's food magazine, Lucky Peach, on a staff of four. He's joined on stage by photo editor of the image-heavy Colors magazine, Mauro Bedoni. It was a magazine originally set up in the '90s as a Benetton-backed concern. And, while Benetton continues to fund the publication, it's gone through any number of incarnations in since then in its ongoing mission "to show the world to the world." Both men will talk about how they make publishing work around their webs of international contributors. 8. The Ten Creative Commandments There are actually 613 commandments, but most of the time the more religious among us get by remembering just ten. Vivid Idea's website, similarly, lists only eight sessions of Ten Creative Commandments. But even eight seem like plenty when your being mandated to check out changing cities, commercial collaboration, science communication, better living through design, social networking, open sourcing, government policy makers and the internet of things. In every day life, even religious people can find they need to pick and choose. So, one or eight, you're sure to find the creative direction that works for you. 9. The Heart of Redfern Redfern's getting ready to play host to another mix of light, performance and drama as the suburb gears up to film another series of Redfern Now. Around the same time that the shooting gets going, the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance — the union that bravely mixes entertainers and journalists — throws open the doors to its Redfern digs for the Heart of Redfern. It's a night light, dance and music focused on the history of the suburb. It's a rare chance to see inside the building without joining up and an excuse for another night out around this already-these-days bustling suburb. The night is free, but you'll need to RSVP first. 10. Making of … Vivid Ideas is a festival that likes to take you behind the scenes. And the Making of… series is its strongest foray into the world behind the creative curtain. Six evenings explains the ins and outs of things we take for granted as consumers, but which complicate the head when they move from something to consume to a thing needing to be made. See behind the scenes of putting together some animation, a little song production, both mobile and blockbuster games, a bit of transformative theatre and even futuristic sensor-based performance. And then try to make it all yourself after. Reportage festival section by Nishan David. Digital City image by Warren Armstrong. Guitar image by Feliciano Guimaraes. Reportage image by David Burnett (Contact Press Images), from his work, ‘44 Days: Iran and the Remaking of the World'.
If there are two things university is good for it's an education and a free feed. Anyone familiar with campus life knows there are always an abundance of free club BBQs and cheeky union events where you can pick up free burgers and beers, but now the University of Sydney is going one step further: they're inviting anyone to come in and grab a free lunch. Here's the catch: you have to call back on some of that long lost education. Running until Saturday, November 1, Sydney Uni's Food for Thought Truck will be popping up around the city ready to dish you out an excellent feed. Focussed on the idea of leadership, the truck will be posing different topics of discussion each day. To score some food, all you have to do is engage in debate on social media with the hashtag #ithinkleadership. Some encouragement: the menu features slow-roasted pulled pork sandwiches and kale salad with chilli and pomegranate. Jumping in at the deep end, they kicked things off yesterday with the premise that 'It's time Australia's first people came first'. Today, they're following it up with an equally large topic: 'Leadership isn't a title'. The rest of the week will see debates on the ramifications of social media, whether women make better leaders and if Lady Gaga could solve the Ukraine crisis (spoiler: the answer's probably no). Of course, it being reliant on social media and all, the campaign isn't all about shared knowledge and meaningful philosophising. A good portion of those participating have been taking the piss. For instance when the university asked its followers "If you had to describe leadership in one word, what would it be?" the responses included "Leadership", "Dumbledore", and "shirtfront". Yes, yes, yes. Give those people a sandwich. #ithinkleadership is divesting from the industry that is wrecking our planet. @Sydney_Uni — Simon Copland (@SimonCopland) October 28, 2014 #ithinkleadership is being INSPIRED to support indigenous pathways into uni http://t.co/eI2NtugI7W — Kate Alexander (@kate_alexander) October 28, 2014 Free food for thought! Participate in @Sydney_Uni's #ithinkleadership conversation for a yummy feed! pic.twitter.com/Unktn18J95 — Crystal Choi (@crystalhchoi) October 28, 2014 Where you'll find the Food for Thought Truck this week: Tuesday, October 28 — The University of Sydney, 11am – 3pm Wednesday, October 29 — Parramatta Church Street Mall, 12pm – 4pm Thursday, October 30 — Wynyard Park, 11am – 3pm Friday, October 31 — Grosvenor Place, CBD, 11am – 4pm Saturday, November 1 — Bondi Farmers’ Markets, 9am – 1pm
It's said there's no such thing as a free lunch, but Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters, Smith & Deli) and Deliveroo are today proving the phrase wrong — in more ways than one. The legendary vegan chef and the food delivery group are teaming up to hand out hundreds of complimentary hot dogs that are both free from animal products and won't cost you a cent. Today's giveaway — going down in both Sydney and Melbourne — are happening in celebration of Martinez's new collaboration with local group The Alternative Meat Co. Together, they've designed not just any old snag-in-bun affair, but, rather, a plant-based creation dubbed the Lasagne Dog. The limited-edition dog features a plant-based sausage in a vegan bun, finished with lashings of garlic butter, a rich plant-based bolognese and vegan cheese sauce by the Alternative Dairy Co. Clocking in at $12, this beaut will be available through Deliveroo from Thursday, October 31, until Sunday, November 3. You'll find it on the app if you're located within 2.5 kilometres of Windsor in Melbourne, or 2.5 kilometres of Potts Point in Sydney. But both cities are in for a free sneak peek today, Wednesday, October 30, with the Deliveroo crew handing out a swag of Lasagne Dogs between 12–2pm at the below locations. Find free Lasagne Dogs at Melbourne's Balaclava (12–1pm) and South Yarra (1–2pm) stations or from Kings Cross Station (12–1pm) or Taylor Square (1–2pm) in Sydney.
The late BBC DJ legend John Peel famously summed up The Fall in this succinct remark: "They are always different, they are always the same." Seminal post-punk trailblazers who carved a niche out of surreality, lo-fi guitars and copious speed use, The Fall have a dedicated cult following of disgruntled blighters, punks and would-be writers. Their 28 studio albums are truly wonderful and frightening releases with their ragged guitar riffs, slangy slapback lyrics and impenitent use of hooky repetition. Mark E. Smith formed The Fall with friends after reading too much Albert Camus and dropping out of university. It's quite possible the 'E' in Mark's name stands for "eliminate" as he kicks people out of his band constantly for spurious reasons. Even during a show, he berates both band members and audience. Mark's cited The Velvet Underground, Raymond Chandler, unemployment, football, time travel and the supernatural as musical influences, and his rampant, unrepentant cynicism carries The Fall's uncompromising, raw sound. This event is surefire guaranteed to be a jauntily bilious, unforgettable experience.
You’ll laugh and you’ll cry at Tracey Moffatt’s filmic collage, Mother. It is a predictable, somewhat maudlin homage to the mother figure, and makes for a very satisfying 20 minutes of celluloid absorption. Emerging from the dark focus room at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery (with inward vows to call your own mother) you excuse yourself to one of Michael Parekowhai’s The Brothers Grimm figures for almost bumping into him. He doesn’t seem to mind; he’s unassuming and impenetrable, like all his brothers who fill the main gallery space. The three antelope figures, a buck and two doe, make an elegant and complete addition but they also seem to care little for our intrusion into their space, looking downward and beyond us. The overall feeling of Parekowhai’s Seldom is Herd is one of slick surfaces and misleading guises, with an inkling that if you spend a bit of time with them, they may just follow you home.Image: Michael Parekowhai, The Brothers Grimm, 2009, automotive paint on fibreglass, 163 x 52 x 49 cm each, courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
The long weekend is here. And, as Monday is a public holiday, some of your regular spots will be shut. So, if you're on the hunt for a caffeine hit, long lunch or a few more beers, we've put together an extensive list of all the bars, cafes and restaurants that'll be open on Monday, June 10. There is something for everybody on this list, too — from Chin Chin's refined Thai fare to A1 Canteen's famed muffuletta and Wayward's craft brews. And if you're looking for further inspiration on how to spend your days off, head this way for our pick of the best long weekend happenings. [caption id="attachment_645827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chin Chin[/caption] RESTAURANTS Aria, Circular Quay: noon–2.15pm; 5.30–10.30pm Banksii, Barangaroo: noon–7.30pm Bar Patron, Circular Quay: noon–midnight Barangaroo House, Barangaroo: noon–10pm The Bavarian, CBD: 11am–10pm Belles Hot Chicken, Tramsheds: 11.30–9pm Bennelong, CBD: 5.30–9pm The Bucket List, Bondi: 11am–5pm Caffè Bartolo, Surry Hills: 8am–11pm Chin Chin, Surry Hills: 11.30am–11pm Cirrus, Barangaroo: noon–3pm; 6–11pm The Clare Bar, Chippendale: noon–late The Cut Bar & Grill, The Rocks: 5pm–late Da Orazio, Bondi: 5pm–10pm The Dolphin, Surry Hills: 11am–midnight El Camino Cantina, The Rocks: noon–midnight Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour: 7am–midnight Fratelli Fresh (all other locations): noon–11pm Harpoon Harry, Surry Hills: 11.30am–late Icebergs Dining Room, Bondi: noon–6pm Mary's Underground, Circular Quay: 5pm–1am Milky Lane, Bondi, Coogee, Cronulla, Parramatta: noon–10pm North Bondi Fish, North Bondi: noon–midnight The Pacific Club, Bondi: 7am–9pm The Paddo Inn, Paddington: noon–10pm Rockpool Bar & Grill, CBD: 6pm–late Rosetta, The Rocks: 5pm–late Sake Restaurant & Bar, The Rocks, Manly and Double Bay: noon–3pm, 5–11pm Spice Temple, CBD: 6pm–late Vecino, Canterbury: 6am–10pm Yellow, Potts Point: 5pm–11pm [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's[/caption] BARS The Australian Heritage Hotel, The Rocks: 11am–midnight The Glenmore, The Rocks: 11am–midnight Handpicked Cellar Door, Chippendale: 11am–10pm The Imperial, Erskineville: 4pm–midnight The Lansdowne, Chippendale: 11pm–3am Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly: 11.30–late Mary's, Newtown and Circular Quay: noon–midnight Misfits, Redfern: 3pm–late The Royal Hotel, Paddington: 11am–10pm Sauce Brewing Co., Marrickville: noon–8pm The Toxteth, Glebe: 10am–1pm (kitchen closes at 9pm) Tudor Hotel, Redfern: 10am–midnight The Unicorn, Paddington: noon–1am Wayward Brewing Company, Camperdown: 4–8pm [caption id="attachment_625345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Grounds of the City by Bodhi Liggett[/caption] CAFES A1 Canteen, Chippendale: 8am–3pm Bills, Bondi, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills: 8am–10pm Bourke Street Bakery, all stores except North Sydney: 8am–4pm Devon Cafe, Barangaroo, Surry Hills and North Sydney: 8am–3pm Edition Coffee Roasters, Haymarket: 9am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria: cafe 7am–4pm The Grounds of the City, CBD: 7am–5pm Matinee Coffee, Marrickville: 7am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills: 7am–4pm Reuben Hills, Surry Hills: 8am–3pm Three Blue Ducks, Bronte: 7am–2.30pm Top image: Matinee Coffee by Letícia Almeida.
Whether you're fresh to the electronic music scene or are currently navigating your way through it, this experience-driven event is here to help up your DJing skillset — for free. For the duration of Vivid, car brand CUPRA has teamed up with a few of Australia's hottest musical tastemakers to present a series of DJ masterclasses for those seeking to get behind the decks. CUPRA City Garage is pumping the tunes every Friday of Vivid, and if you head along you can learn how to keep them rolling. Head to Pitt Street for a 5pm start and you'll be met with experienced DJs guiding you through the art of mixing, from the use of effects to tips on transitioning between bangers. On Friday, June 9, you'll catch DJ Mell Hall live and will have the opportunity to pick the brain of Trent Rackus. And for the final instalment of the event on June 16, DJ Dave Winnel will be on the decks, with Rob Kay lined up to guide your DJing journey. These private masterclasses operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to get there early. Or, if you prefer to be prepared, you can simply book in an allocated time prior to your visit. If you start to get peckish or need some to rehydrate after your stint on the decks, Benzin Cafe is also housed inside the City Garage, so feel free to grab a bite to eat or drink throughout your session.
It's that time of year again when Sydney is transformed into the sparkling, colourful wonderland that is Vivid. Whether you're a local or visiting from out-of-town, chances are you'll make the Vivid rounds at least once during these coming weeks. You'll need to properly fuel up before fighting your way through the crowds toward all of those sights — with over 50 large scale installations going up between Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Circular Quay and Luna Park. We've teamed up with American Express to bring you the five best CBD eateries to hit before venturing on to see the lights. Oh, and what's more, at the below restaurants, you'll save $20 if you book via TheFork and then spend $50 or more using your American Express card. From rooftop digs and sky-high views to all the dumplings and some of Sydney's finest dining, there's plenty of places to get a pre-Vivid feed. Want to skip the preamble and dive right into all the action? Even though TheFork bookings aren't applicable at the American Express Vivid Lounge, you'll still get a sweet deal — spend $30 using your American Express card at the lounge and get $5 back. Plus, you'll be right in the thick of it all without having to elbow your way through the masses. BENNELONG What more fitting place to dine during Vivid than the Opera House? Peter Gilmore's Bennelong gets you right up close to the action with sweeping harbour views. Whether you're here for the a la carte menu or to try the Cured & Cultured share plates, you know you're getting one of Sydney's best meals here. For a truly interactive experience, grab a seat at the counter for a full view of the chefs at work, all while eating the seven-course chef's tasting menu for a reasonable $70. Afterwards, you'll be perfectly situated to make the Vivid rounds (albeit a little full). To book, head here. [caption id="attachment_591893" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Alana Dimou[/caption] LOTUS BARANGAROO Barangaroo's waterfront doesn't just offer enviable views of Vivid's Darling Harbour spectacle — it also boasts one of Sydney's best Chinese dining destinations — Lotus Barangaroo. The dumpling masters at Lotus Dining are slinging an authentic Shanghai-style menu, but with native Australian ingredients. The harbourside restaurant focuses on fresh seafood and innovative dumplings, like the spanner crab and prawn, chicken siu mai and steamed pork wontons with sesame paste and black mushrooms. Of course, for Vivid, you'll want to try nab one of the tables along the waterfront for a dumpling feast with a view. To book, head here. [caption id="attachment_688954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] O Bar and Dining[/caption] O BAR AND DINING Located 47 floors up, O Bar and Dining is the closest you'll get to seeing the Vivid lights from the sky. Set in the old Australia Post building in Australia Square, the circular bar offers 360-degree views of the city, along with a modern Australian menu and a four-page cocktail list. Executive Chef Michael Moore offers something for everyone — seafood lovers should try the two-or-three course menus, and vegans will love the dedicated plant-based menu. Sit back, relax and enjoy the panoramic views with a drink in hand. To book, head here. UNTIED BARANGAROO Barangaroo's rooftop bar Untied offers a lush rainforest vibe and expansive views over the lights at Darling Harbour. The cocktail bar has drinks to match its 'on-vacay' theme with a list of tropical and Aussie-themed cocktails that'll transport you to warmer weather with just a sip. Our favourite is the Flamin' Galah, a concoction of gin, blood orange, coconut, fresh watermelon and lime juice. Plus, there's a lengthy wine and beer list if that's more your style. The food is colourful and designed to share with dishes such as the bush pepper calamari, Jamaican jerk chicken burger, poke bowls and adobo fish burger. Most importantly, the indoor-outdoor bar gives you unobstructed Vivid and harbour views. To book, head here. MEJICO The Pitt Street stalwart that is Mejico serves up modern Mexican fare with flavours from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula. On the 'market-to-table' menu, expect a raw bar with ceviche and tostadas, street eats like empanadas and patatas bravas, plus tacos and chargrilled meats to boot. For drinks, there are heaps of all-agave tequilas to choose from — over 200 bottles, to be exact. Choose from classic cocktails or tequila flights based on your preferred flavour profile. There's even a tequila wheel based on price point, intensity and flavour. After your meal, you'll be just a quick walk to Circular Quay and all the bright Vivid sights. To book, head here. AMERICAN EXPRESS VIVID LOUNGE Here, you don't even have to leave your seat in order to get in on all the Vivid action. Located on the rooftop of Cruise Bar at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, right in the heart of Circular Quay, the American Express Vivid Lounge is where you can escape the masses and still see all those spangling lights. The lounge will be set up throughout Vivid, meaning you can enjoy some of the best Vivid views with a drink in hand, including spectator-favourite the Opera House sails and the glittering harbour beyond. Don't have an American Express card? You can still get in just by registering here. Top image: Bennelong by Nikki To. When you need a break from the crowds but not the lights this Vivid season, American Express has your back. Gain access to the American Express Vivid Lounge — even if you don't yet have an American Express card. All you have to do is sign-up here.
Usually, IKEA's food game is as unmistakably Scandinavian as its hard-to-pronounce furniture names — headlined, of course, by those iconic Swedish meatballs. But come Wednesday, January 22, the retailer's Tempe store is shaking things up and taking a jaunt to the other side of the globe, dishing up a Chinese street food buffet in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Alongside a program of cultural entertainment and traditional workshops, the all-you-can-eat dinner is set to run from 5.30–7.30pm, transforming the store's restaurant space into a colourful Asian feasting hall. On the menu, you'll find classic dishes like steamed dumplings, sweet and sour pork, and sweet potatoes in a teriyaki glaze. There's both combination and vegetarian hot pot soup, hoisin slow-roasted pork shoulder, and even sweet offerings like fruit platters and mango rice pudding. [caption id="attachment_757260" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Adult tickets to the buffet feast are $29.95, though IKEA Family members can nab theirs for just $25.95. And since the store's open until 9pm each night, you could even squeeze in a spot of post-dinner flatpack shopping while you're there. Images: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons.
UPDATE, August 23: By popular demand, Menzies are extending their Hits series for another eight weeks. Week one of The Hits round two, from August 26–31, will star the Naples classic paccheri alla Genovese, followed by a victory lap for spaghetti vongole from September 2–7. Rigatoni alla vermouth returns September 9–14, before the Roman crowd-pleaser linguini carbonara enters the kitchen September 16–21. The second half of the series begins with the rustic gem spaghetti alla puttanesca from September 23–28, followed by a rich yet elegant pork ziti alla gricia from September 30–October 5. The final fortnight spotlights pappardelle with Italian sausage, from October 7–12 before the ever-popular risotto nero returns to close out the series from October 14–19. Back by popular demand, the refined street-level diner at Shell House, Menzies Bar and Bistro, is serving weekly revivals of its most beloved pasta dishes. From July 1, a different Italian crowd-pleaser will take the spotlight each week for eight weeks. Not only are these dishes proven favourites with Menzies' diners, but they're also a way to indulge in a fine-dining experience without breaking the bank — an all-too-important consideration in these times of tightened belts and spiralling living costs. Each pasta dish costs just $25 and diners can add a glass of wine to help wash it down for just $10 more. The series launches on Monday, July 1, with thick ribbons of pappardelle served with a rich traditional bolognese. From Monday, July 8, herby and hearty Italian sausage stars in the baked pasta dish, salsiccia conchiglioni. The classic drunken pasta recipe rigatoni alla vermouth is next up from Monday, July 15, followed by Venice's famous white clam dish, spaghetti vongole, from Monday, July 22. Closing out the first month of pasta hits on Monday, July 29, is a rustic braised pork maccheroni. Rome's cheesiest export, bucatini cacio e pepe, prepared in a wheel of pecorino romano, kicks off month two of the series on Monday, August 5, before the kitchen heads to Naples with the quintessential meatball dish, spaghetti con polpette, from Monday, August 12. To close out the eight-week celebration of Italian fare, from Monday, August 19, diners can enjoy a slight deviation from the pasta theme, with a rich and glossy risotto of squid ink and clams. This deliciously affordable offer will be available during both lunch and dinner services, Monday–Saturday. Buon appetito, Sydney.
An openly social nature, a cool audacity, an independent spirit, and a little luck seem together to have formed the base materials out of which Campbell Milligan has forged his enviable career in creative design. When, at an early point in his métier, Milligan’s habit of turning work into play saw him clearing out his desk at a major publications agency (his boss may have had trouble accepting Milligan's ability to balance his job of designing advertisements with regular collegial visits to the pub), the firm’s creative director stepped in, promptly rehiring Milligan to design not the ads, but the magazines themselves. After taking over the visual design of magazines like Slam, Surfing Life and Waves, Milligan broke loose of the agencies, and in 2002 launched (with Chris Searl) the uniquely eclectic and formidably cool Monster Children. Now in its 32nd issue, Monster Children is a long-running testament to Milligan’s talents as the creator of radical, sometimes gritty, and ever-impactful imagery and editorial design. ‘Thinking Made Visual’ is the name of the talk that Milligan will give in what will be the eleventh in a series of presentations organised by design mavens Australian INfront and Apple. Milligan will discuss his beginnings in the publishing industry, the ins-and-outs of his creative process, and his vast experience in brand identity creation, design and advertising for some of the world’s most recognised companies. Open to the public and completely free, Milligan will offer his insights in the design-oriented surrounds of the Sydney Apple shop. Design devotees: save the date.
Following the October long weekend, tolerance for ill-conceived built environments will suffer another crushing blow. Like it or lump it, architecture shapes every space we inhabit. Advocating the dictum ‘good architecture, good life’, the annual Architecture Festival takes place on World Architecture Day, Monday 5 October, in the some say ill-conceived hub of Customs House, Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House. Festival organisers have programmed a stellar line-up of events including talks, walks, a gigantic Lego play station and a narrated harbour cruise to take in the architectural prowess of Sydney’s foreshore. One of the more tempting programs on offer is the Powerhouse Museum self-guided walking tour around Pyrmont and Ultimo. Able festival goers can pick-up a recorded guide by Curator Anni Turnbull and wander the surrounding neighbourhood. The highlight of the festival will be the much anticipated tète-à -tète between Pritzker prize-winning architect Glenn Murcutt AO, novelist David Malouf and academic Julianne Schultz. This trio of exceptionally well-informed minds will vouch for the value of good architecture as vital to the betterment of humans the world over, while also dabbling in a smidge of back-catalogue style discussions around their lives and work. Anne Watson will also lead a lecture on the blight of Australia’s architectural history – the replacement of Jorn Utzon by Peter Hall as the completing architect of the Sydney Opera House.Image: Angelo Candalepas, All Saints Primary School, winner of the Sulman Award this year
One of Sydney's great pleasures is walking its streets. Glimpses of the harbour through jacarandas and palms, sandstone and bluestone, the occasional gallery, ubiquitous cafes and passers-by all combine to create a floating mood that is uniquely our city. One of our favourite routes to wander Sydney's streetscape is to and from the Foley Street Creative Spaces, a laneway full of artists and artisans. Here's how you might get there — we recommend a lazy afternoon, but you could do a condensed version on your lunch break if you work in the city, too. It's only a ten-minute stroll from Museum Station. START: MUSEUM STATION AND HYDE PARK Museum Station, one of the prettiest city circle train stations, is where we'll start. Don't forget to look up as you exit – you're brought out right into the lovely Hyde Park, the green heart of the CBD. Northeast corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool streets, Sydney [caption id="attachment_669374" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] COFFEE: EDITION COFFEE ROASTERS Walk along the park's south edge, and you'll hit Oxford Street. Veer off down Liverpool Street for a little more breathing space and a coffee hit. For quality brews, hit up Edition Coffee Roasters, whose sparse minimalist vibes perfectly complement its quality coffee and Nordic-Japanese menu. If you haven't had breakfast, there's the usual cafe brekkie fare but with Scandi-Nippon twist — think danish rye toast, onsen eggs and miso banana bread. 265 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_677137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dick Watkins at Liverpool St Gallery.[/caption] VISIT: LIVERPOOL STREET GALLERY You may have noticed a concrete gallery space housed in glass on your way to Edition. Head back towards the city about 50 metres, and you'll find Liverpool Street Gallery, a well-respected commercial gallery on the Sydney art scene. The gallery's direction is steered by founder and director James Erskine as well as David Serisier of the National Art School. This is somewhere to see contemporary sculpture and painting from emerging and established artists. Keep an eye out for shows featuring Sydney-based Nick Collerson's works and his observations of the everyday. 243A Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_659258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] LUNCH: CHACO BAR What better than a bowl of ramen to fuel an afternoon of exploring Sydney's side streets. Owner and chef Keita Abe of Chaco Bar is known as a ramen boss, serving up four options Monday 5.30–10pm and Wednesday–Saturday 11.30am–2.30pm: fat soy (pork), fish salt, yuzu scallop or chilli coriander (chicken). And Chaco Bar is also known for its yakitori, servedTuesday–Saturday, 5:30–10pm. If you've ever been to Tokyo's Ginza district, you'll remember the many yakitori restaurants peppering the streets, where business folk spill out onto the pavements after dark to enjoy charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, beer and conversation. Chaco Bar, while in Darlinghurst, almost captures those vibes from Daikanyama. 238 Crown Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_679694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths[/caption] VISIT: FOLEY STREET PRECINCT Don't let Foley Street fool you. At first, it feels like another lovely, yet nondescript Darlinghurst backstreet. Tucked away from the hustle of Oxford Street, this semi-hidden laneway holds five shops filled with designer wares. City of Sydney provides five affordable work and shopfront spaces here, for Sydney makers and artists. The Foley Street precinct is about creating, displaying and sharing — whether it's a new object to take home or a workshop, talk or event to attend. Don't forget to ask if there are any community events coming up as you visit the spaces. So what sort of wares will you find along this artisanal strip? Studio Enti's delicate space delivers porcelain wares from ceramicist Naomi Taplin who looks to create "pieces that have the ability to tell a story and to enrich the tasks and the lives of the user", while Fine Fellow focuses squarely on design for men, offering fashion, accessories, grooming and homewares that embody ethical and sustainable processes, and quality local craftsmanship. Bermuda Black commits to a minimalist aesthetic through handmade leather shoes, bags and tailored garments by self-taught shoemaker and designer Marina Roorda. And finally, Spunky Bruiser adds a vibrant punch to the laneway with its bespoke, up-cycled fashions created with materials that have all been sustainably sourced from around Australia — it's here where you can even bring all those band shirts you've been collecting for the past ten years to make something new, designed and pieced together just for you. 11–21 Foley Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_648889" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] DRINK: SHADY PINES HAPPY HOUR FROM 4–6PM DAILY Wrap up your afternoon with happy hour at Shady Pines Saloon, because who doesn't enjoy a negroni or margarita under a stuffed deer's head, especially when it'll only set you back $10 from 4–6pm. If it's the right day of the week, and you're feeling like a session, stick around till 7pm to catch some live music. Speakeasy vibes add to the appeal, here, so keep an eye out for the sign on the door, and if you see the Concrete Playground garage door, then you know you've gone too far. Give us a wave, and we'll show you the way. 4/256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst
Here's your latest excuse to pretend that it's the late 90s and 00s: The Offspring and Simple Plan are teaming up for a heap of 2025 Australian shows. After playing an Aussie gig late in 2024 as part of Victoria's Always Live music season — their only concert on that trip, which sold out in 30 seconds — the band is returning to hit up arenas in four cities. In Sydney, they have a date with Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, May 11. It's been a quarter of a century since The Offspring earned a claim to fame that every music fan Down Under should know: topping Triple J's Hottest 100 with 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)', a win that still ranks as the annual countdown's most-controversial result to date. 2024 marked four decades since the band first formed in the early 80s, and more than 30 years since it came to mainstream attention with hits like 'Come Out and Play' and 'Self Esteem' — and the Californian outfit isn't done belting out its catchy brand of punk just yet. While the band released albums Let the Bad Times Roll and Supercharged in 2021 and 2024, respectively, you can still expect to hear their famous tracks — including 'Gotta Get Away', 'Why Don't You Get a Job?', 'The Kids Aren't Alright' and the song that's forever cemented in Australian radio history, obviously. Still led by frontman and guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland — the group's only remaining member from its initial 1984 lineup, so you can definitely call him the original prankster — The Offspring will have company in the form of Canada's Simple Plan. From The Offspring alone, you'll get the words "gunter glieben glauchen globen" stuck in your head for another couple of decades. Images: Daveed Benito.
In March last year, within four days of announcing its doomsday-themed lineup, Sydney Writers' Festival cancelled its 2020 event due to the pandemic. This year, the beloved annual literary showcase is back and taking inspiration from the past 12 months, with the 2021 festival skewing local around the theme 'Within Reach'. More than 400 Australian-based speakers are on this year's program, which'll run from Monday, April 26–Sunday, May 2. As new Artistic Director Michael Williams explains, "we have gathered the many diverse and exciting writers who are right here, within our reach — asking questions, raising their voices and defining this culture". And, you'll largely be seeing them in-person at 231 live events; however, in keeping in line with how we've all been living over the past year, 15 guests from the small international contingent — which spans Australians based abroad and overseas authors — will join the fest via video. On opening night, for instance, Miles Franklin winners Melissa Lucashenko (Too Much Lip) and Tara June Winch (The Yield) and debut poet Evelyn Araluen (Dropbear) will chat about their experiences, influences and hopes for the future, with Winch appearing via video from France. Fellow Aussies such as True History of the Kelly Gang author Peter Carey, The Secret Chord's Geraldine Brooks and Axios reporter Jonathan Swan — who conducted that extremely viral interview with then-US President Donald Trump in 2020 — will stream in over the week, too, as will international writers such as Judy Blume, Isabel Wilkerson, Kazuo Ishiguro and Behrouz Boochani. Other highlights include Paul Kelly chatting about the words and lyrics that've shaped his career (gravy will probably be one of them); an all-star gala featuring the likes of Brooks, Tony Birch (The White Girl), Trent Dalton (All Our Shimmering Skies), Ceridwen Dovey (Life After Truth), Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin (Kicking Goals), and Alison Lester (Magic Beach); and SWF's first Actors Poetry Gala, complete with performances and readings by Mia Wasikowska (Judy & Punch), Ewen Leslie (Operation Buffalo), Tim Minchin (Upright), Remy Hii (Crazy Rich Asians), Bryan Brown (Hungry Ghosts), Justine Clarke (Hungry Ghosts), Alex Lee (Single Asian Female) and Yael Stone (Orange Is the New Black). Or, you can watch local political commentators and thinkers such as Benjamin Law, Annabel Crabb and Nakkiah Lui debate the topic 'how good is Australia?'; head to Carriageworks for a heap of interesting pairings; attend the debutante ball for writers whose first books were impacted by COVID-19 last year; and listen to novelist and poet David Malouf close out the fest. SWF will be spreading the literary love around town, with events at Carriageworks, City Recital Hall, Sydney Town Hall, Riverside Theatres and Chatswood Concourse, and across 17 suburban and regional library networks via live broadcasts from the State Library of NSW. For folks outside the city — and state — the festival's main stage events at Carriageworks will also be broadcast to more than 40 community centres and libraries across the country. And, if you're watching your budget, 50-plus events will be free — but, also in line with the times, you'll need to book in for everything you're planning to attend. Sydney Writers' Festival runs at various venues across the city from Monday, April 26–Sunday, May 2. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, March 12 via www.swf.org.au. Images: Prudence Upton.
Saké Restaurant & Bar may have only just opened but that's not stopping it from throwing its hat into the ring for silly season. And the Japanese diner has quite the list of New Year's shenanigans in store for you. It's starting things off on the right foot for New Year's Eve, with a special seven-course meal ($199–219 per person). The menu kicks off with a glass of Veuve Clicquot and oysters, then continues the seafood-centric theme — think bug tail tempura, tuna tartare and sashimi. You'll get a ringside seat for the fireworks of the night, and there'll be DJs to get you in the mood for ringing in the new year. After seeing 2018 out in style, you can return for the New Year's Day event. This beach party will roll on for five hours from 12pm on Tuesday, January 1, and there's an all-inclusive food and beverage package on offer for $250 per person. With Veuve and Belvedere vodka cocktails flowing freely, this is one post-NYE party you'll want to be in fine form for. Yolanda Be Cool, Frankie Romano and Martini Club will be providing the tunes too, so make sure you get that rest in between Christmas and New Year's — you'll need it. To reserve your NYE and NYD party tickets, visit Saké's website.
If a mysterious night away from the world you currently inhabit is what you're after, it's one you'll get with Underground Cinema. Known for throwing its participants terrifyingly head first into a live immersive experience, the purveyors of immersive cinema have 40 different temporary worlds under their belts. And their latest effort is themed 'Delirium'. Hints and rumours are all you'll get before you go, with the actual film screening always kept a secret – participants are meant to figure it out as they go, taking part in the interactive experience and collating all the clues. But what we do know is that Delirium will involve stepping back in time to the 1950s, into a mystery-thriller, and — as always — being taken to a location that remains secret until just before the event. In the past, Underground Cinema has put its audiences through a zombie apocalypse (28 Days Later), a medieval court (The Princess Bride) and a WWII throwback (Casablanca). What exactly you'll be doing in the 1950s remains to be seen but if past events are anything to judge by, you'll be fully plunged into the world from the get-go. As with all its events, there'll be hot food available and a full bar, so don't worry about getting stranded and hungry. You might just need that drink, too. The night will be sinister, judging by the description: "Walk the path of the condemned. Face the hidden insanity. Strive for the unspeakable truth, because when you see a monster you must stop it." Wear some sensible shoes and you'd better keep your wits about you as best you can — looks like there'll be a fight to be fought. The cinema will run over three nights at a secret Sydney location, from May 10–12.
Turning 30 is a big occasion — for people, and for entertainment groups. And while reaching 31 doesn't normally get as much love, celebrations or parties, Ministry of Sound has never been one for sticking to expectations. Behold, its huge 31st birthday party, aka the return of Ministry of Sound: Testament — A Warehouse Experience at this year's Vivid. If cutting loose in a warehouse in The Rocks for three nights sounds is your ideal way to mark absolutely anything, this returning event is just the solution. As it did in 2021, Ministry of Sound has also found just the right way to celebrate the June long weekend, thanks to this huge multi-room event that'll have you making shapes to 90s, 00s and recent bangers. More than 70 DJs will be hitting the decks between Friday, June 10–Sunday, June 12 — and enticing you to hit the Campbell's Stores dance floor, obviously. It's a choose-your-own-adventure type of party, so fans of old-school tunes can dance to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks on Friday, and lovers of 00s electro and breaks can head along on Saturday. Finishing things up on the Sunday night: all the recent techno and house songs — and EDM anthems — that've been getting a spin lately. As a result, each evening will see different DJs working their magic, with big names on the bill across the entire lineup. Nik Fish vs Jumping Jack, Sugar Ray, Jade, Ming D, Abel, Lorna are among the 90s highlights, while Plump DJs, Krafty Kuts, Kid Kenobi, Bang Gang Deejays, Hoops, Midnight Juggernauts, Riot in Belgium, Kate Monroe are on the decks on Saturday night — before Anna Lunoe, Northeast Party House, Oliver Huntemann and Hydraulix head things up on Sunday. Each evening runs from 7pm–2am — and, ticket-wise, you'll need to book per night.
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, and they just keep coming, with the outfit's next Sydney outing happening across the weekend of Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. Gorgeous green babies are the main attraction — and more than 170 varieties of them, too. You'll pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as oh-so-many ferns and hanging plants. This particular sale will be paying extra attention to calathea plants, so prepare to add them to your indoor garden. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots and get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite. Oh, and if you dress in stripes or dots head-to-toe, you'll receive $5 off your purchase. It's all happening at Precinct 75, at 75 Mary Street, St Peters, with sessions held at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday. Entry is free, but you'll need to register for a ticket — which you can do from 12pm on Monday, March 16.
The Sydney Opera House is flicking the light switch to high beam dazzle later this month for this year's Vivid Sydney, with both its program of Vivid Live gigs and the accompanying festivities. The harbourside icon is going all out for its annual Vivid pop-up bar, this year channelling none other than its program headliners, legendary English alt-rockers The Cure. Brought to life by the minds behind Newtown bar The Midnight Special — also responsible for last year's retro-themed Goldie's Music Hall pop-up — Spellbound will see the Concert Hall's Northern Foyer reimagined as a neon-lit post-punk den of moody decadence. Expect dark leather couches and long banquet tables decked out with glowing fruit installations, sheet music and skulls, while black felt-topped pool tables entertain late-night Vivid explorers. On the menu, you'll find bites like Sydney rock oysters, broiche sliders stuffed with confit duck rillettes, and both a classic and vegetarian version of the humble croque monsieur. [caption id="attachment_721929" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The croque monsieur.[/caption] Beers will come courtesy of Sydney favourites Grifter Brewing Co and Young Henrys, while a lineup of signature cocktails includes the rose-hued Flowers of Romance. The bar will try to minimise plastic waste by offering reuseable plastic cups, which you can buy with a $2 refundable deposit. It's all enveloped with a moody soundtrack stuffed full of hits from the likes of The Damned, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Iggy Pop and New Order, as spun by local legends including Lucy Cliché, Mitch Tolman and Cristian O'Sullivan (Low Life). The Cure will play in the Concert Hall over five nights on May 24, 25, 27, 28 and 30. As the large number of unsuccessful ballot entrants will be aware, tickets were snapped up in record time — so a visit to the bar might be the closest thing to seeing them on stage. Otherwise you can watch the live stream on the Opera House's Facebook from 8pm on Thursday, May 30 or check out one of the other gigs happening at the Opera House throughout Vivid, like Sharon van Etten, Underworld, Stella Donnelly and Herbie Hancock. Spellbound will be open night from May 24 to June 3 in the Concert Hall's Northern Foyer. It will be open to the public from 6pm each night, except for the nights that The Cure is playing. On those nights, the bar will open to ticketholders from 6pm and the general public from 9.45pm. Images: Anna Kucera.
Cinco De Mayo, literally translated, means the fifth of May. It's not entirely surprising then that the Cinco De Mayo annual celebration is on May 5 each and every year (wild, we know), as a nod to the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. To coincide with the event, hospitality giant Merivale is hosting a weeklong margarita fiesta starting from Monday, May 3 until Saturday, May 8 at a range of their restaurants and bars. All margaritas will be $12 at select venues for the week, while El Loco at Slip Inn will have an extended celebration with $12 margaritas throughout all of May. There are 28 venues all up involved in this giant fiesta, from the sun-soaked Beresford Hotel, the waterfront Newport Hotel, beachfront Coogee Pavillion and updated Royal Bondi. MARGARITA WEEK VENUES Bar Topa Bar Totti's Coogee Pavilion Ground Coogee Pavilion Rooftop El Loco Excelsior El Loco Slip Inn Queen Chow Manly Queens Hotel The Royal Bondi The Vic on the Park The Collaroy The Newport The Beresford Pool Club Ms. Gs Establishment Main Bar Tank Stream Bar Jimmy's Falafel The Paddington The Royal George The Grand Hotel Hotel CBD Wynyard Hotel York 75 Work In Progress The Dog Tennyson Hotel Allawah Hotel
When it comes to art-form, life-form, or any form for that matter, the illusory juxtaposition of macro versus micro is really just a matter of perspective. In a collaborative offering of visual delights, a dozen talented artists will present their striking exploration of this theme through the medium of jewellery. From computer-aided design to hand-forged pieces, all have been crafted by certified jewellers working with a range of materials including wood, glass, diamonds, and gold. This is a multi-modal exhibition of jewellery related creative expressions featuring everything from the jewellery itself to video footage and interactive installations by musicians, street artists and stylists (for Lady Gaga no less). This is no stuffy, glass-encased, crown jewels type of exhibition, it's an exciting, fresh, edge-cutting expression of creative energy through jewellery as art. Videos of the artists giving brief insights into their creations and inspirations will also be shown, offering punters a rare glimpse into the purpose and meaning behind the pieces and works on display. The exhibition kicks off on July 6 the Art Gallery of NSW and will feature guest speakers Ben Frost, Sebastian Moody and Andrew Mathers. Cocktails and canapés from 6pm followed by introduction, documentary video and artist presentations. Image: Bridge Stehli
Located in a terrace house on Bourke Street, Home@735 allows art aficionados to get up close and personal with the exhibitions. The gallery, curated by Madeleine Preston, focuses on promoting Australian artists and supporting emerging talent. The art is displayed throughout Anthony Bautovich's terrace home creating a more intimate experience than that of a commercial gallery. Visitors can visualise how pieces could look in their own home, building a stronger appreciation for the practice of art collection. Image: Ashley Barber
If Willy Wonka were a typographer, this would be his chocolate factory. His waterfall would not be made of chocolate but of ampersands, his cups would be full of T's, not tea, and the oompa loompas would be handcrafting tildas, umlauts and interrobangs. Naturally, he would do all his shopping at the Pop Up Alphabet Co-Op. Open for a single weekend, this Surry Hills pop-up has gathered art from graphic, furniture and jewellery designers, plus craftspeople from across Australia and Asia. Everything to re-design your home will be available; including prints and knits, postcards and pillows featuring fonts both classics and new from Arial to Zeta Bold. Like the edible toadstools and chocolate stream, literally, everything around the store could be yours to own — there are even prices on the pricetags, both of which promise to be affordable. The Pop-Up launch will also be celebrating the opening of Stereotyped: Sound and Typography, an exhibition exploring how sound and type create meaning simultaneously in our lives. So find your golden ticket and have your fill of all things number, word and phrase this weekend.
Astral People's Summer Dance series is taking place once again within the sandstone walls of the National Art School. Like previous years, big names in EDM will descend upon the Darlinghurst courtyard over several weekends. Expect international and local record spinners providing the perfect backdrop to your summer Sunday. For the first one, on Sunday, November 18, Astral People has secured dance party-legend, DJ and producer Gilles Peterson to headline, along with South London jazz and garage artist Henry Wu and Sydney native Maia Bilyk, an FBi Radio regular known for her funk, soul and house tunes. On Sunday, January 20, the second iteration will take place, featuring Melbourne club scene staple CC:Disco!, Chicago DJ Jamie 3:26 and local radio host and dance floor music maker Tom Studdy. Three weeks later, the art school courtyard will once again transform for a seven-hour party when UK DJ Floating Points, who's known for his dance-meets-jazz tunes, Sydney electronic legend Adi Toohey and local duo Andy & Oscar takeover the decks. Irish electro duo Brame & Hamo, NZ dance guru Frank Booker and genre-bending DJ Lex Deluxe will round out the series, leading the final party on Sunday, March 24. These parties will all take place in a historic location, surrounded by lush gardens, electronic beats and plenty of people on the same mission: to spend a Sunday letting loose on the dance floor. The shows have sold out for the past two years, so don't delay snagging your ticket. Updated March 6, 2019.
When most folks scream, they're not powering up their life force, or ki, in battle. Most folks aren't Dragon Ball Z's Goku, however. If you're a fan of the anime, you've probably wished you were at least once or twice, and bunch of gatherings at Australian public spaces will let you scream out your non earth-saving frustrations. Yes, 'Scream like Goku' sessions are a real thing, and they're exactly what they sound like — which, we're certain will be loud. Starting in New York last week, Dragon Ball Z aficionados have been amassing around famous landmarks and letting their voices be heard. We'll let you decide whether they're endeavouring to fend off Frieza, trying to become a Super Saiyan, or just yelling their love (or all of the above). A host of other US sites are slated to follow, as well as Singapore — and Australian Dragon Ball Z fans have been quick to jump into the mix. The first local session is scheduled at 4pm tomorrow, Saturday, September 9, at none other than the Sydney Opera House — because if you're doing to scream in public, you'd better make it count. Over 3000 people have said they're attending in the Facebook event, with another 10,000 'interested'. More gatherings are planned for Sydney's Hyde Park on September 23, and Newcastle's Nobbys Beach on September 24, while Melbourne's Federation Square joins the fun on September 10 — almost 5000 people are planning to rock up to that one. Someone has started a campaign to get screamers to the Wheel of Brisbane on October 7, but so far there's not many potential attendees. Dressing up is encouraged, even if you just throw on something orange. If you're not sure how you should be screaming, let this build up some inspiration. Even if you're not a Dragon Ball Z fan, screaming at the top of your lungs with hundreds of other people is bound to be cathartic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRsjCWNXtRE Image: Leticia Almeida.
Govinda's is going all The Artist on us with its latest cinematic lineup. As part of Australia's Silent Film Festival, they're presenting two six-week programmes of restored silent classics, with each film accompanied by a musical soundtrack. Master Directors of the Silent Era, running on Tuesday nights, kicks off with Abel Gance's moving WWII saga J'accuse, though if you find it difficult to sit through 166 minutes of war film even when (a) there is dialogue and (b) you're not lapsing into a vegetarian-buffet-induced food coma, then the rest of the lineup might be more appealing. It includes film noir pioneer Fritz Lang's hauntingly beautiful tale of fantasy and gothic horror Destiny, the 1920s Soviet silent By the Law, and a film that was believed to have been lost since 1936 until a nearly complete print was unearthed in France six years ago. On Sundays get your jollies from underrated pleasures like slippery banana peels and airborne cream pies with Golden Comedy Era of Silent Cinema. Crazy stunts come courtesy of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in Wild and Woolly, and delightfully deadpan facial expressions abound in a Buster Keaton-fest of four shorts celebrating the most recognised face of silent comedy besides Charlie Chaplin. For a more enlightening cinematic experience, escape to late 19th-century France in The Italian Straw Hat. A horse munching on someone's fancy headwear has never appeared so elegant. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ywWoeswCDc4
