Australia's blistering temperatures have made it pretty darn clear — summer is far from over. But while pretty-in-pink frosé has played superficially sophisticated thirst-quencher of choice these past few months, it's now time for the garden party favourite to hand over the 'cool girl' reins to someone new. Behold, frozen Riesling, or 'freezling'. That's right, the wine slushie concept has been blasted into a whole new realm in Sydney, with Christian Blair (ex-Eau De Vie) and his Annata crew launching a collection of frozen, Reisling-based cocktails they've naturally christened The Freezling Project. Just look: Head into the Crows Nest bar and be among the first to sample this lineup of frosty, boozy treats, featuring the likes of a skin-contact Riesling blended with Nashi pear and ginger, and a Clare Valley variety dressed up with dragonfruit and elderflower. There are five of these Riesling creations to cool down with, each one priced at $12. Find Annata at 69 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest.
Now that Sydney has reopened and Christmas almost here, you're probably keen to make a splash. Yes, watching fish, turtles and plenty of other marine creatures literally splash about definitely counts. And that's exactly what's on offer at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, all thanks to its luxe underwater festive dining experience. Available up until Wednesday, December 22, Sea Life's private dining packages will serve you up a three-course meal — and two hours of drinks — while you escape into an underwater world. You can choose from one of two locations, too, so prepare to pick between the Heart of the Reef, the venue's 360° glass tunnel that's filled with hundreds of fish, sharks and turtles; or Turtle Beach, which comes with a floor-to-ceiling viewing window into the Oceanarium. You'll tuck into grazing platters stacked with smoked salmon, marinated olives, bread and dips to start with, then move onto mains that include marmalade and nut-crusted glazed double-smoked ham, plus turkey breast with pancetta and sage stuffing — as served with steamed green beans, roast potatoes, and pumpkin. Desserts span steamed Christmas pudding with brandy custard and Christmas pavlova with mango, strawberries, passionfruit and shaved chocolate. And, beverage wise, there's sparkling, red and white wines, and beer. You'll also get after-hours access to the aquarium but, unsurprisingly, the whole experience doesn't come cheap. You'll be paying $225 per person, with a minimum of ten people required — so this is a treat yo'self kind of Christmas under the sea experience.
Lighten your run with Mizuno, then lighten your spirits at the Blackmores Recovery Village. The Sydney Running Festival is a celebration of one of the most scenic urban running routes in the world. It's also one of Australia's most comprehensive long-distance running events. A 42.195 kilometre full marathon is the headliner, with a $10,000 cash prize on offer for the first runner across the line, and $2500 going to the winner of the wheelchair division. If you think you're ready for the big one, you'd best be at the starting point (Bradfield Park, Milsons Point) when the gun goes off at 7.15am. If a half-marathon is more your speed, you need to be up even earlier, as it's scheduled to start at 6.15am. Male and female champions will be taking home $1000 each. Then there's the 9 kilometre Bridge Run, and last on the list is the three-and-a-half kilometre Sunday Telegraph Family Fun Run, which kicks off at 7.50am. Depending on how energetic you are, you'll find yourself jogging past one, or all, of Sydney's iconic landmarks, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Entry fees vary, from $40 for Early Bird adult entry into the Fun Run to $155 for standard entry into the marathon. The event is run by not-for-profit organisation Athletics Australia, so all proceeds go towards supporting and promoting the practice of athletics across the nation. Over $10 million dollars have been raised since the festival was inaugurated in 2001.
Sail away from the hustle and bustle of Circular Quay and the CBD, and take in the fireworks from the harbour with this New Year's Eve cruise experience. For a cool $565, you'll be treated to three hours on Glass Island's luxury two-storey barge, a drinks package of sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, shiraz, blanc de blanc and prosecco, as well as a selection of beer and cider, canapés, an extravagant food station and, finally, views of the midnight fireworks from a primo spot on the harbour. The night will be topped off with a glass of Moët at the stroke of midnight. If you're really looking to drop some serious cash, VIP packages with bottle service are available, too. The Glass Island cruise will leave King Street Wharf at 8.45pm and arrive back at 12.30am.
Petersham's The Oxford Tavern is going full sour this spring — and not just with its beers. The Rise 'N Brine festival will return for a second year, taking over the pub for three days of pickle-themed food, booze and even entertainment from Saturday, October 3 to Monday, October 5 (a public holiday). To start off, the bar will offer a few pickle-flavoured beers, which have been brewed for the day by local craft legends Batch, Yulli's Brews and the pub's own Oxford Brewing Racket. Other booze options include a pickle-y cocktail menu, which includes a slushie version of the classic pickleback — aka a shot of Jameson chased with pickle juice. And the pickling doesn't stop there, either. The pub has also created a special menu of pickle-inspired eats to tuck into — think jumbo pickle poppers, Cuban sandwiches, reuben spring rolls and pickle pops. A pickle eating competition hosted by local favourite McClure's Pickles and a pickle toss are also on the docket. With COVID-19 restrictions, the bar has limited capacity and booking are essential. Tickets will cost you $10 a pop, which includes a beer or pickleback slushie on arrival. Rise 'N Brine has sessions running from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm across all three days.
Encircled with golden hula-hoops, splashed with pink neon and baring all in bikinis, The Turk in Italy (Il Turco in Italia), as directed by Simon Phillips, is opera about as bright, bold and downright funny as it gets. In 2014, the seldom-performed opera buffa celebrates its 200th anniversary, having been written by a 22-year-old rock star Rossini and debuted at La Scala, Milan in August 1814. Its last Sydney performance was 40 years ago. Phillips, in league with designer Gabriela Tylesova, transports the action to a flamboyant, stylised 1950s on the seaside. La Dolce Vita aesthetics blend with pop culture references; vintage fashion cuts take on brilliant hues and larger-than-life dimensions. Think ruffled swimsuits, fluoro inflatable mattresses, Dior-inspired dresses, snakeskin boots and Elvis lookalikes. A spectacular, skewed-angled, ice-cream cone-shaped double revolve serves as beach, house, bar, nightclub and hillside. Enter would-be poet and playwright (and barman) Prosdocimo (Samuel Dundas). On the prowl for a comic plot, he’s delighted to discover that his rather rotund, much-anguished boss Geronio (Conal Coad) is plagued by suspicion of his wife’s infidelity. The hunch is abysmally well-founded: the moment we meet Fiorilla (Emma Matthews) she is looking out to sea, binoculars in-hand, investigating the talent on an incoming Turkish ship. Captain Selim (Paolo Bordogna) presents more than she bargained for; however, their hot and heavy banter spiralling into infatuation. The catch (apart from Geronio, of course)? Selim’s first love, and one-time sex slave, Zaida (Anna Dowsley) rumbles onto the scene in her gypsy caravan. In the best possible way, Phillips squeezes every conceivable comedic moment — physical, linguistic and musical — out of the work. He goes so far as to offer a bold translation of Felice Romani’s original libretto, slipping in Aussie slang and substituting monosyllabic expletives for more poetic expressions of rage. Double entendres drive home slapstick humour; Benny Hill-style ‘tits and bums’ jokes abound. It’s silly, ridiculous, absurd at times, and utterly, utterly hilarious. It’s opera that makes you laugh. Really laugh. Out loud. Matthews steals the show. Not only is her coloratura magnificent, she plays the sexpot to give Brigitte Bardot a run for her money. She’s irresistibly fun and outrageously flirtatious. Bordogna — sufficiently suited-up, facially haired and charismatic enough to pass for Prince — meets her with his fluent baritone and ladies’ man appeal. Coad embraces Geronio’s fragility and eccentric hilarity in equal measure, while tearing through an array of technically tough bass lines. Young mezzo and member of the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program, Dowsley makes her main stage debut as Zaida. Her singing is warm and agile, and she’s magnetic to watch. It’s a performance charged with promise. Dundas — the loveable, roguish barman — displays on-the-mark comedic timing and consistently powerful, articulate vocal lines. Finally, there’s Luciano Botelho, who plays peripheral character Narciso. As marginal to the main plot as his part might be, his resounding tenor places him very much at the centre of attention when he’s in solo mode. A particularly funny scene involving wriggling into an Elvis costume while in a minute, makeshift changing room has the audience in stitches. The verdict? Go! The good news is that standing room and student rush tickets, both available on the day of each performance, are just $44.
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, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. 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. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots and get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite. Oh, and if you bring your dog with you in a bag — taking inspiration from New York's subway — 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, January 13.
Truck Stop by Lachlan Philpott was commissioned by Q Theatre, developed in Penrith, and is playing at the Seymour Centre in Sydney until late June. In 2011, Philpott's Silent Disco was so well received that students danced on the stage during interval in a rush of theatrical bonhomie. Truck Stop doesn't have an interval, so control yourselves. Also, it's a bit hard to jive to the theme of teenage prostitution. Philpott is tackling a brittle topic in Truck Stop, using real stories and interviews with Penrith high school students as the basis for this dramatisation. Sam (Eryn Jean Norvill), Kelly (Jessica Tovey), and Aisha (Kristy Best) are a trio of self-named SKANKS (lending their initials to the acronym) whose lives are dominated by the sexualisation of pop culture and advertising. Ringleader Sam's overt raunchiness is reflective of a wider raunch culture, also described by Ariel Levy in her book Female Chauvinist Pigs. Levy points out that now it's girls as well as boys who notch up sexual quantity in favour of quality. Sam and Kelly take this to the next level when they leave school one recess to hang out at the local truck stop. Philpott has mentioned elsewhere that he's trying to avoid a moral stance on the story, but he doesn't quite manage to do so. The piece is didactic insofar as the general structure is a psychological whodunnit — what made them do it? It searches for a cause that we can learn from and blame. Philpott's text treats the protagonists as patients rather than agents, which is thankfully counteracted by well-rounded characterisations from the cast. There's a kind of paternalism in Truck Stop that is absent in shows like Once and for All We're Gonna Tell You Who We Are so Shut Up and Listen by Ontroerend Goed, which is much more by teenagers for teenagers. That said, the piece is as entertaining as it is educational, and the performances are all together great, with the shapeshifting Elena Carapetis (who plays all the supporting roles) acting as the real binding agent for the ensemble.
Donut Papi is no stranger to new and inventive flavours. The Sydney favourite has been creating doughnuts packed with flavours like pandan, matcha, milo and bittersweet calamansi since its pre-Redfern days as a mainstay at Sydney markets. Since opening a brick-and-mortar store, the doughnut haven has been able to push its creations into even more experimental territory. The latest new flavour combo from Donut Papi is a collaboration with Cointreau that's given your typical circular treat a boozy makeover. The limited-edition range includes two unique flavours — both centred around the humble margarita. The first is orange Cointreau margarita flavoured, which takes a plain doughnut and adds orange glazed icing, plus a pipette of Cointreau to inject into the doughnut. Flavour number two combines a ginger glaze with coconut flakes and its own pipette of Cointreau, of course. The easiest way to get your hands on these limited-time desserts is to head in-store to Donut Papi's Redfern Street home where you can pick up an individual margarita doughnut for $8 a pop or $63 for a nine-pack. While you're there you can also nab a signature pandan and coconut-glaze doughnut, a blueberry bear claw or a sticky cinnamon scroll. Donut Papi also delivers to postcodes within 15 kilometres of its Refern digs. You can check out the full list of postcodes the store delivers to at the FAQ page. The margarita doughnuts will be available until Saturday, September 10, meaning you can purchase a cheeky nine-pack of these boozy treats to bring along to any Father's Day celebrations you have lined up, or send some to the father figure in your life if they live in the inner-city or the Inner West. Donut Papi is located at 34A Redfern Street, Redfern. Its Cointreau margarita doughnuts are available until Saturday, September 10.
We're Bastards is a new work by actor and writer Oleg Pupovac in the same vein as Neil LaBute’s Bash trilogy of plays and Tracy Letts’s Bug. The naturalistic play invites us inside the troubled heads of 'white trash' siblings Joe Jnr and Darling Mae, who enjoy drinking, smoking and fighting. The Old 505 space is transformed into a living room in cosy disarray; a hideous brown sofa sits in the centre and an upstage book shelf is adorned with a confederate flag, framed pictures of Jesus, and Joe’s high school sports trophies. A coffee table in the centre sports empty Budweiser cans and Joe’s tin of snuff. Growing up with a single mother in Anniston, Alabama, Joe (Pupovac) and Darling Mae (Tara Clark) fight over their different versions of their crappy upbringing. Darling Mae visits their mother’s grave regularly while Joe prides himself on remembering her as a neglectful, alcoholic failure. The struggle is a familiar one — brother and sister form a strong, semi-erotic bond as they try to overcome a difficult shared past, a dynamic Steve McQueen nailed so well in Shame when Carey Mulligan playing Sissy says to her brother, “We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Pupovac’s text is straightforward and his plot turns are fairly predictable, but that’s just fine because the show is well executed. Glen Hamilton’s direction is tight, though the challenge presented by the climax occurring in the first scene is that the pace falls away somewhat towards the end. Pupovac is a talented actor underneath that greasy undercut and Clark is every bit his match. Luke Carson playing Baby Daddy is used sparingly in one scene only and we’d like to see more of him. The performances are what make We’re Bastards a good piece of theatre — these actors know what they’re doing.
If you've always wanted to climb the Harbour Bridge but thought it was a little too touristy, or that it'll always be there and there's no point in rushing, now's your chance to do it a little differently. Between January 21 and March 6 this year you can not only don the famous BridgeClimb suit and hike up the stairs, pose for a cheesy photo and enjoy the view — you can do karaoke while you're up there. Your karaoke sesh will happen at the peak of the bridge, 134m above Sydney Harbour, in a custom-made karaoke suite. The views of Sydney Harbour, the city and the Opera House will be breathtaking, the tunes, not so much. After belting out your favourite song solo (or in a group if you're a little shy), you can climb down the Bridge and relive the experience by watching an eight-second video of your performance. Tickets include one BridgeClimb that runs for around two to three hours, a group photo, one of those blue BridgeClimb caps and a free pass to the Pylon Lookout. Adult prices range between $248-373, depending on the time of day and year you decide to go. Although it's the most expensive option, we recommend you climb the Bridge at sunset in summer and belt out a tune while you're there. Karaoke at sunset. Nothing better.
Lime Cordiale are showing some love to some of Australia's biggest regional hubs on a new tour that will see them performing in RSL clubs and intimate venues along the east coast. Spanning eight shows stretching between the Sunshine Coast and Frankston, the Fantastical Country Club Experience will deliver the band's catalogue of beloved hits, plus tracks from their upcoming third studio album, to cities and towns that are often missed on major national tours. The tour will kick off just north of Sydney with a pair of shows at the Dee Why RSL on Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19. From there, Lime Cordiale will head to Wollongong's Waves, Beer Deluxe in Albury, The Pier in Frankston, Venue 114 on the Sunshine Coast, Panthers Port Macquarie and, finally, The Coliseum in Rooty Hill on Sunday, April 15. Two of the stops — Dee Why RSL on March 19 and Venue 114 on Saturday, April 8 — are all-ages affairs, meaning Lime Cordiale fans young and old on the Central Coast and the Sunshine Coast can head along. The infectious five-piece will be joined by upcoming singer-songwriter Aleksiah on all eight dates, as well as Gold Coast musician Bella Amor in Dee Why, Wollongong and Albury, and sunny four-piece Coterie across the final four shows of the tour. Lime Cordiale recently landed four songs in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2022 including 'Holy Moley', their latest in a series of collaborations with the multi-talented British actor, DJ and musician Idris Elba. Their upcoming album hasn't been given a name or release date yet, but it's set to feature recent singles 'Colin', 'Country Club' and 'Facts of Life'. LIME CORDIALE'S FANTASTICAL COUNTRY CLUB TOUR 2023: Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19 — Dee Why RSL Friday, March 24 — Waves, Wollongong Friday, March 31 — Beer Deluxe, Albury Sunday, April 2 — The Pier, Frankston Saturday, April 8 — Venue 114, Sunshine Coast Sunday, April 9 — Panthers, Port Macquarie Saturday, April 15 — The Coliseum, Rooty Hill Lime Cordiale will tour the east coast of Australia in March and April. Tickets to the 'Fantastical Country Club Tour' are on sale now.
Gone are the fuzzy sound systems, sketchy parking lots and bourbon-fuelled teenage make-out sessions, as the classic drive-in movie theatre lands in Sydney with a contemporary, creative and challenging twist. This November a secret location within three kilometres of the CBD will play host to a drive-in experience for the genuine enthusiast with Downtown Drive-In. Organisers are keeping relatively tight-lipped on the details, but guaranteed is an innovative selection of films spanning a season of three themed nights. A new release, a sentimental favourite and a more mysterious “lost cinephile’s treat” are the three film categories confirmed for the exciting pop-up event. It’s been 60 years since the drive-in theatre took America by storm, which has allowed for both time and technology to facilitate a far superior model. This one will come with top-notch projection and cinema-quality sound, plus an undercover area to reduce the chance of Sydney’s unpredictable summer weather ruining the interior of your dad’s ’59 convertible. More modern luxury rides will also be up for grabs through event sponsor Audi, and for those without any wheels at all there is standard seating available too. Entry prices are set at $50 for a vehicle or $25 per person for standard seating. Stay tuned for the announcement of the venue, theme and schedule, not to mention custom food and drinks menus that will pay subtle tribute to the films. You can sign up for more information at downtowndrive.in
Time flies when you're slurping up mussels and listening to the sounds of jazz, as the folks at South Melbourne Market well and truly know. The Coventry and Cecil corner mainstay has been celebrating both for seven years now at its annual festival. The latest will take place on March 7 and 8, with the Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival returning to serve up a mollusc-focused street party. Oh, and more than six tonnes of mussels. It's free, it'll fill your stomach with locally sourced seafood, and it'll offer up a feast of other treats, including sweets, tipples and dance-worthy tunes. When it comes to enjoying the tasty sea creatures, Claypots, Köy, Paco y Lola, Simply Spanish and Bambu are just some of the eateries popping up — and whipping up an array of different mussel dishes. Seafood lovers will be able to dive into everything from mussel paella to wok-cooked drunken mussels. And you'll be eating for a good cause. The shells will be collected by Shuck Don't Chuck and used to help restore Port Phillip Bay's shellfish reefs. Taking care of the entertainment are local singer Loretta Miller, Alma Zygier, La Nuit Blanche, Margie Lou Dyer and a New Orleans-inspired seven-piece called the Horns of Leroy. Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival runs from 12–10pm on Saturday and 12–8pm on Sunday. Image: Simon Shiff.
If lockdown's seen you devouring books faster than ever, you might be looking for some fresh literary inspiration right about now. And one place you're guaranteed to find it is among Melbourne Writers Festival's 2021 program, which is now set to be reimagined as an all-virtual lineup. The festival's IRL events have been scrapped due to Melbourne's latest lockdown, but in good news — the extended digital program will run from Friday, September 3–Wednesday, September 15. It'll shine a spotlight on some of today's most engaging international literary voices, through a series of conversations, readings, author chats and panel discussions, all streamed online. Among them, Rumaan Alam unpacks his eerily-pertinent dystopian tale Leave the World Behind; Pulitzer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri speaks about the literary construction of Whereabouts; Natasha Brown explores the issues of race and class stirred up in her lauded new novel Assembly; renowned philosopher AC Grayling ponders the great paradox of human inquiry while chatting about his release Frontiers of Knowledge; and the tales of a cast of young creatives come alive as Brandon Taylor shares insight into his short story collection Filthy Animals. Plus, on September 3, a specially commissioned short documentary series Writers on Film invites audiences on a guided tour into the lives and worlds of local authors Jennifer Down, Sophie Cunningham and Tony Birch. [caption id="attachment_823151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Brown, author of 'Assembly'[/caption] Top images: Jhumpa Lahiri, author of 'Whereabouts' and Rumaan Alam, author of 'Leave the World Behind.
In a Carriageworks exhibition that cuts right to the core of how the art world relates to the lives of most everyday people, Branch Nebula’s ARTWORK addresses issues of unemployment, observation and exclusion. Branch Nebula is an award-winning art collective known for interactive pieces that challenge what it is that constitutes a performance. ARTWORK follows this theme, by employing people who are looking for work — found through the classifieds and untrained in performance — in an effort to question who audiences accept as a performer. The workers will be paid to engage in physical tasks, interviews and other typical workplace routines with no preparation, in front of an audience. Branch Nebula admits the piece is intended to be risky, with performers free to raise issues of racism, sexism and class, and also expects their audience to experience a level of discomfort as they reflect on what it is to employ someone to be observed. At $35 a ticket, there's also the question of which people are able to engage with the art world and how. A must-see for those questioning the relevance and elitism of the art world — if you can afford it.
MCA's tradition of after-hours schmoozing with art, music and glass of wine in hand, ARTBAR, is back for another year. They're always a fun way to spend a Friday night, thanks to the rotating cast of curators who continuously find fresh, eclectic ways for audiences to interact with what's on show. Artist Tom Polo fills the January 30 edition with an evening promising all manner of jokes, gags and lols — including a TV Tunes Dance-Off and stand-up from Dayne Rathbone. As a visual comedian of sorts, Polo's work frequently draws from vignettes of the everyday, whether its collaging hilarious tidbits from eavesdropped public transport exchanges or his paintings of abstract portraiture. Speaking of portraits, for an extra $10, visitors can also view MCA's latest exhibition on American painter Chuck Close.
To be at Jingle Jangle is to be transplanted to a different time and place. Maybe the dimly lit walk through the dingy Spanish restaurant La Campana into Good God Small Club is a portal, as you are removed from any signs of 2010 or of Sydney's vacuum of decent club nights. The music policy is strictly 1920's- 1960's and it's all about well dressed, capable dancers drinking Pimms and lemonade for refreshment before tearing up the dance floor. The gracious hosts Smokey La Beef and Smart Casual usually hold down the decks, inviting special guests to play their selections. This month sees Melbourne Garage/Rhythm and Blues rockers The Frowning Clouds tripping up The Hume to provide a live soundtrack, Owen from Straight Arrows dropping 45's, as well as the resident DJ's. So put on your dancing shoes and get down to the best portal in town.
Social media can get you anywhere, or so the story behind Marvel's latest movie and the actor playing its eponymous character demonstrates. Back in 2014, Simu Liu tweeted at the comic book company-turned-filmmaking powerhouse, asking "how about an Asian American hero?". In 2018, after Black Panther's success, he tweeted again — querying "are we gonna talk or what?" with the #ShangChi hashtag. Now, the Kim's Convenience star leads the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 25th feature, and the first to focus on a hero of Asian descent in its 13-year run to-date. He's the face of the franchise's latest step forward, both in terms of inclusion and representation, and in keeping the MCU's ongoing narrative forever hurtling onwards. Liu anchors a film about history and destiny, too — one that's about breaking free from the past and committing to the future — and he heartily embraces the occasion. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings itself flits between offering up a lively picture that strives to carve out its own space in the series, and simply serving up more of the usual Marvel template but in enticing packaging, however. Liu first graces the screen as Shaun, a San Francisco valet who's happy parking cars with his best pal Katy (Awkwafina, Breaking News in Yuba County), even though they both know they could follow other paths. While the film shows Katy's family decrying her lack of ambition, Shaun has a keener awareness of what he isn't doing — because he's really Shang-Chi, the son of centuries-old warlord Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung, The Grandmaster), who leads the shadowy Ten Rings criminal organisation and wears the mystical bracelets it's named after. Shang-Chi also has the otherworldly Jiang Li (Fala Chen, The Undoing), the former guardian of an enchanted village filled with dutiful warriors and mythical creatures, for a mother. But when she died when he was a child, his life changed. After the grief-stricken Wenwu obsessively trained him to become an assassin and see vengeance, Shang-Chi fled for the US, where he's lived since. Then, initially via a postcard from his Macau-based, underground fight club-running sister Xu Xialing (debutant Meng'er Zhang), and then thanks a violent visit from his dad's henchmen, he's forced into a family reunion that puts the fate of the universe at stake. It's telling that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actually begins by honing in on Wenwu, laying out his backstory and pushing glorious Hong Kong cinema legend Leung — a star with seven Wong Kar-wai films, such as In the Mood for Love and 2046, to his name — firmly to the fore. Marvel has loved daddy issues since Iron Man launched the MCU in 2008. It also adores complicated histories, and stressing the idea that heroes are forged from such complexity. And, it likes anchoring its sprawling on-screen world in as much lore and as many links to the past as it can. That's all accounted for in Shang-Chi's opening move, but so is pure movie-star physics. Leung is never less than magnetic in every feature he's in, including here. He's an actor with breathtaking presence, which has seen him prove one of cinema's most commanding figures for four-plus decades. The power and texture he brings to conflicted characters improves any film and, even with Liu handling his leading role with all the charisma and energy demanded, Leung is always the biggest highlight of every scene he's in. In other words, writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy, Short Term 12) has cast two essential roles devastatingly well — and maybe better than he intended in one case. Liu remains the star of the show, and the movie sets him up for more MCU appearances, of course. He crosses paths with other faces from the franchise, there's zero doubt that he'll be a key part of the saga moving forward and, based on this likeable-enough debut outing, audiences will want to spend more time in his company. But watching Leung constantly leads to yearning for more of Leung. The same applies when the great Michelle Yeoh (Gunpowder Milkshake) also pops up after Shang-Chi openly nods towards Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Marvel's decision to add a martial arts movie to its roster, and to populate it with Asian cinema superstars, can just remind viewers of all the exceptional works that the genre and those talents already made long before Hollywood blockbusters paid them notice, in fact. Shang-Chi brings other films to mind repeatedly, including via valet hijinks that ride in Ferris Bueller's Day Off's tyre treads, and a phenomenal bus scene — the movie's standout, and the beneficiary of dazzling fight choreography — that's more than a little like Speed-meets-Nobody. When a franchise spans 25 instalments and shows no signs of stopping, seeing echoes of past flicks comes with the territory as well, with Shang-Chi boasting the focus on character that makes the better MCU entries stand out, but also remaining happy to descend into the overblown CGI that's always been one of the series' worst impulses. It doesn't quite possess Black Panther's world-building flair, but it wants to. It can't exactly make its genre fit as well as Black Widow did with the spy realm, either. And, sometimes it feels like it's doing the bare minimum that Marvel thinks is necessary with this titular figure, and with committing to an Asian hero, as Captain Marvel illustrated before it with the saga's first solo female lead. When Shang-Chi soars — when Liu and especially Leung shine, the wuxia-inspired action choreography does the same and building engaging characters is the film's main motivation — it makes for vivid viewing. When it finds genuine emotion in Shang-Chi and Wenwu's thorny relationship, and celebrates the MCU's latest otherwise-overlooked sister (with Xialing joining Black Panther's Shuri and Black Widow's Yelena), it beats with heart, too. When it breaks out a sense of humour, which happens often in Cretton, Dave Callaham (Mortal Kombat) and Andrew Lanham's (Just Mercy) screenplay, it mostly mines an entertainingly goofy vibe (although it does lean a little too heavily on Awkwafina doing her Crazy Rich Asians sidekick schtick). That's the film's first two-thirds. When Shang-Chi regurgitates the standard formula, complete with a special-effects onslaught of a finale that favours pixels more than the fantasy flicks it's trying to ape, it surrenders a better movie to an average one. Here's hoping that Liu's tweets ultimately give rise to something more as the MCU keeps on keeping on.
The terrace garden atop the Paramount Recreation Club is seeing out March in style, with a sunset session featuring DJs, natural wine, refreshing cocktails, craft beer and fun snacks. On Saturday, March 27, a slew of both up-and-coming and established DJs represented by booking agency Fruit Bowl will hit the decks from 3–8pm — all while you get sipping. On the bill: Ben Fester, Bobby Vibe Positive, Casey, Champain Lyf and Cousin, plus Deepa, Eureka, Freda, Freda and Jackson, Honey Point, IV Drip and Niku. There'll be market-style food to snack on as well, so expect to slurp down oysters, tuck into Japanese-inspired skewers from the hibachi grill and and enjoy The Rec Club signature salads as you watch day turn to night. Entry is free, but it's a first come, first in kind of deal, so arriving early is highly recommended. Images: Declan Blackall Photography / PRC Media.
Sydney's Australiana-themed Redfern Surf Club is turning one this week. And it's celebrating in a big way. The colourful cocktail joint is throwing an all-day bash on Saturday, August 24 with dunny tunes, tinnies and $10 cocktails and whopping $250 bar tab up for grabs. The party will kick off at noon with $6 tinnies by Young Henrys, natural wines by the South Coast's Nattie by Nature and cheeseburgers by The Lord Gladstone. Punk rock band Beerwolf and a few special guests will take the stage during the arvo, then DJs will keep the party going until late — including The Delta Riggs and Money For Nothing. The music doesn't stop at the bar, either. It also extends to the toilet, where Dude Ranch by Blink-182 will be played on repeat. While you're in there, you can also select albums for future bathroom rotation (if that's your kind of thing). And one very lucky punter will also nab a $250 bar tab — just make sure you get in before 4pm to go in the running. Redfern Surf Club First Birthday will run from midday–midnight. Images: Patrick Stevenson
Unless you're the artist, most art installations are pretty hands-off — until now that is. To celebrate the launch of its limited-edition ceramic bottle, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is hosting a special party that'll let you get your hands dirty. For just one night, the Waterloo eatery will be transformed into a dark, art-filled den — appropriately dubbed The Kraken's Lair. Here, you can let it all out as you smash some ceramics (so make sure you wear enclosed shoes), then watch as artist Pamela Irving creates a new installation with the very ceramics you just destroyed. To reward your hard work, tuck into some canapes and enjoy four exclusive cocktails featuring Kraken Rum. Plus, you can get down with live music from DJ Jimmy Niggles and a surprise performer. With tickets at just 35 bucks, you can get some mates together or find yourself a date for an unusual — and affordable — night. Awaken the Kraken will take place on Thursday, October 10. To purchase tickets, head this way.
Ang Lee’s tribute to the 40-year anniversary of Woodstock is not quite the film you’d expect. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, Lee’s movie is much more a family drama in the vein of his previous film The Ice Storm or even Sense and Sensibility, than a nostalgic case of ‘thank you for the music’.

Instead of taking to the stage, we go behind the scenes of this historic event: to Elliot (Demetri Martin) and his cash strapped, eccentric, immigrant family who wind up hosting the hoard of hippies in their run down motel. Entirely ignorant of the extent of this cultural tsunami, Elliot and his indefatigable parents (Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton) end up going on one far out trip. 

Shot with vibrancy and splashings of 60s split-screen flourish, Lee and cinematographer Eric Gautier display an obvious affection for their subject matter. Even the act of recording the event is captured in eager reflexivity, with reporters, photographers and film crews wandering in and out of screen; no doubt a nod to Michael Wadleigh’s Academy Award winning, epic documentary Woodstock.

Liev Schreiber is quirkily soft as a worldly transsexual, while Emile Hirsch brings a poignant humour to his Vietnam veteran. Feature film newcomer Martin evokes a hint of Dustin Hoffman in his unfulfilled everyman Elliot, and almost holds his own against Staunton’s pocket-rocket of post-war immigrant angst.

Taking Woodstock is a curious microcosm set within the transformative macrocosm of 1969 America. Those looking for a music driven, band tribute will surely come away disappointed, but audiences willing to journey behind the line up may well enjoy spending some time with the unlikely patrons of this watershed event. Taking Woodstock @ Yahoo!7 Video
Walking into Shady Pines Saloon is like being transported into a bustling dive bar in the south of the US. The warm lighting country music soundtrack and array of knick-knacks lining the walls all combine to American-themed charm of the hidden Darlinghurst venue. On Sunday, July 17 the beloved bar is leaning into the sound of Tennesee and hosting nine straight hours of country music tunes. Six local acts will take to the stage from 2.30pm, with sets from Buffalo Grass Boys, Matt Ross, James Van Cooper, Adam Pringle, and Jamey Foxton. If you're not familiar with the acts, there's no need to worry. All you need to do is don your best cowboy hat and strap in for a night of twangy guitars and heartfelt ballads. To sweeten the deal, there will also be $2 tins of beer on offer, alongside all of Shady Pines' signature cocktails and small-batch whiskey. Entry is free, as long as you can find the unassuming Foley Street entrance. [caption id="attachment_653449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shady Pines by Leticia Almeida[/caption]
Court is being called in northern Sydney next month, as the annual St Ives Medieval Faire returns on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. Ladies, lords, kings, queens and knights will descend on St Ives Showground, transforming it into some sort of Game of Thrones-meets-A Knight's Tale realm — though sadly, there'll be no joust between Jamie Lannister and William Thatcher (but wouldn't that be a show). There will, however, be a feast fit for royalty and plenty of medieval theatrics —and we're giving one lucky lord or lady access to a rather noble faire experience. As the chosen winner, you will receive the royal treatment for yourself and three of your most loyal ladies- or lords-in-waiting. Upon arrival at the front gates, you'll be led by horse-drawn carriage to the Royal Court VIP marquee tent. You'll get $100 to spend at the private bar, plus a drinking horn to fill with mead or one of three brews, which Victorian craft beer legends Two Birds have custom-made for the Faire. There'll be an all-day grazing table available when you get a bit peckish, but don't go overboard on the bellytimber: a kingly, long table lunch awaits. Noble guests will feast on a buffet meal of old-world delicacies including hock and pea soup, chicken, parsnip and fig pies, spatchcock, suckling pig and cherry torte. You'll also get top-notch seating for the premier event of the day: the jousting tournament. (Yes, it's still a thing.) Jousting masters from across Australia and Europe will don full armour and compete in the only solid lance jousting competition in the Southern Hemisphere. After experiencing all the medieval gallantry, you can then meet the jousters post-match, including Lady Caroline from Sweden — the first female to take part at St Ives. Make sure to also leave time to explore the rest of the Faire to really immerse yourself in the festivities, which feature birds of prey and archery demos, markets, folk music and a Trebuchet catapult. To enter, see below. [competition]684393[/competition]
If your favourite kind of art is the stuff that's contemporary, independent and far from boring, your collection could soon be in for a boost. The Other Art Fair is bringing its boundary-pushing exhibit to The Cutaway from Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24. What's in tow? Accessible art (read: affordable, starting at just $100) and good-time vibes (courtesy of live DJs, diverse street eats and a fully stocked bar). A far cry from the pretentious art fairs of old, Saatchi Art's touring event will this year showcase works from 120 contemporary artists, with the supporting program covering everything from live tattooing to drawing classes and curator-led tours. If you fancy browsing artworks with a drink in hand, you'll have plenty of options. A pop-up bar is set to pour exclusive sips and there'll be an array of food stalls to choose from, too. Whether your love of art is long-held and you've curated a collection to rival the best, or you simply appreciate artistic expression and are looking to discover emerging and independent artists (and perhaps procure your first forever-piece), The Other Art Fair will have thousands (literally) of impressive pieces for you to discover. The Other Art Fair will hit The Cutaway from Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24. To secure your tickets, head to the website.
Balmy spring nights, classic flicks and botanical-driven cocktails. If that sounds like your kind of midweek situation, you're going to want to snap up tickets to this month's Canvas Cinema series. The Golden Sheaf is teaming up with your mates at global gin brand Bombay Sapphire, hosting outdoor cinema screenings across four Thursday in October in the pub's fairy light-lit upstairs Canopy Bar. There's big love for inspirational classics in this movie lineup, kicking off with 2002 biographical drama Frida on Thursday, October 3. You'll also catch Academy Award-winning film, Lost in Translation (October 10), seminal hit Almost Famous (October 24) and a glimpse into the world of fashion photography with documentary, Bill Cunningham: New York (October 31). To match, Bombay Sapphire will be offering a range of gin and tonic options, complete with a diverse choice of garnishes, as well as cocktails like the rhubarb and vanilla gimlet. You'll enjoy it all from atop one of the Bombay Sapphire velvet couches, and you can get snacks delivered right to your seat, too. Tickets are just ten bucks, which includes the film screening and a gin and tonic on arrival. Further drinks and snacks are available to purchase on the night.
Set in an English country house in the 1920s, Noël Coward’s Hay Fever is a comedy of errors about a bunch of bohemians who play act at life. In Rosane McNamara’s production at the New Theatre, a handsome troupe of actors gives a rollicking rendition of the farce. Retired actress Judith Bliss (Alice Livingstone) deals with the dreariness of the country by turning daily life into a grand drama. Her family knows the score and graciously oblige as her supporting cast. Guests to the country house take slightly longer to comprehend the rules. There’s nothing wrong with frivolous plays — watching beautifully dressed people say witty things can be extremely enjoyable, but this production could do with a good lick more shine. The costumes fall on the gypsy side of bohemian and the set is extensive but unpolished. Similarly the accent work could be a notch tighter. In a play about surfaces, minor details become major and the casualness of the design elements in this production is immediately noticeable. You could argue that staging Hay Fever in 2013 is pertinent as a social critique of the hypocrisy and self-importance of middle class creative types, but Coward’s text doesn’t hold up to that kind of time travel. This is more of a quaint peek at a time gone by when people spoke delightfully and wore gorgeous things. That said, there’s still a lot to admire in the performances. Tess Haubrich is fantastic as the charismatic, direct Myra, guest of Judith’s son, Simon. Haubrich’s accent is polished and she effortlessly shifts gear between temptress and affronted prude during her frisson with Judith’s husband, David (James Bean). Livingstone pulls off the eccentricity of a self-involved fading beauty with a fine swag of histrionic gestures; a trembling hand here, a raised eyebrow there — she is warm and funny, though slightly too jocular at times. Hay Fever is good, entertaining drama, and with a bit of a spruce in the costume department, it could really sparkle. Image by Bob Seary.
It's not every festival feels like a country weekend fete that just happens to be headlined by say, The Shins. Fairgrounds, Australia's country boutique camping festival descends on the small NSW town of Berry each December. Taking over the local Berry Showgrounds, Fairgrounds boasts all the trimmings of a major music festival with the essence of a local fair. And this December, it's back for another two-day round. Running over December 8 and 9, the two-day festival is making a triumphant return. In a huge coup for the small festival in its third year, they've secured big time festival favourites The Shins and Future Islands to headline, alongside local legends Client Liaison, D.D Dumbo, Holly Throsby, Jen Cloher, Royal Headache's Shogun and more. Oh, and casual founding Pavement member Spiral Stairs. With a strong focus on the local NSW South Coast area, Fairgrounds isn't just about the tunes. Last year local nosh, market stalls and the local swimming pool played equally starring roles at this multifaceted festival — something we're sure made Berry residents pretty happy. Between dips in Berry's local pool (within the festival grounds), punters feasted on local delights, including fresh rock oysters harvested less than half an hour from the festival site. But we know what you're here for. Here's the full lineup. FAIRGROUNDS 2017 LINEUP: Aldous Harding Client Liaison D.D Dumbo Future Islands Hockey Dad Holly Throsby Japanese Breakfast Jen Cloher Marlon Williams Noname The Shins The Teskey Brothers You Am I Jess Locke Leah Senior Press Club Shogun (Royal Headache) Spiral Stairs (Pavement) Fairgrounds runs December 8–9 at Berry Showgrounds, NSW. Tickets on sale from Moshtix at 9am, Tuesday, August 22 (presale Thursday, August 18 — sign up to the newsletter for this). Festival entry is $160, with camping $220, with shuttle $198. Kids under 12 attend free with an adult. Image: Andy Fraser.
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.
