In the coming years, Sydneysiders will be able to visit the city's Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, with plans to open a flagship site in the city's west officially getting the final go ahead. Set to spread across 18,000 square metres of museum exhibition and public space, Powerhouse Museum will build its new location next to the Parramatta River — and will become the first of the state's major cultural institutions to be located in area in the process. The New South Wales Government initially announced its intentions to completely move the Powerhouse Museum back in 2015, so the new venue itself isn't fresh news. The plans for the Parramatta site have just been approved, however, and early works are now scheduled to commence in the coming weeks. When it's finished, it's expected that the new venue — which will specifically focus on science and technology — will attract two million visitors per year, with Powerhouse Board of Trustees President Peter Collins AM QC calling it "Australia's very own Smithsonian". If you're wondering what it'll look like when it opens in 2023, Moreau Kusunoki and Genton's winning designs for the new facility were released in 2019. They include seven exhibition spaces, plus 1.5 hectares of public open space, some of which will replace the carpark on the foreshore. Exactly where Sydney's Powerhouse Museum will reside has been the subject of much debate in recent years. Originally, the current Ultimo base was set to close, with everything moving to Parramatta; however, the NSW Government then backflipped on that part of the proposal. So, the museum is now retaining its existing venue and keeping it open, while still forging ahead with the new western Sydney location — which'll become one of four sites used by the museum in the Greater Sydney area. Although staunchly backed by the NSW Government, the Parramatta plan has earned both opposition and controversy since it was first revealed. Concerns have been raised around the cost (which has been earmarked at $645 million, but could hit $1 billion), the fact that St George's Terraces and the heritage-listed 1800s villa Willow Grove will need to be knocked down, and worries that the new Parramatta site could be subject to flooding when wet and stormy weather hits. An inquiry into the government's management of the Powerhouse Museum is also currently underway in NSW's upper house. The Powerhouse Museum is currently located at 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, with the organisation's new Parramatta museum slated to open in 2023. Images: Renders of Powerhouse's Parramatta site.
'Provocative' and 'disturbing' are two adjectives that frequently accompany discussions concerning art maverick, Mike Parr. Tackling the timidity of Australian art, he became an integral element of the burgeoning global fervour surrounding performance and body art during the 1970s. His infamous and confrontational arm chop has come to represent a strong foothold in mapping the rise of contemporary Australian art. Over the decades, Parr’s bold fusion of self-mutilation and theory has made him one of our most fearless and important living artists. Parr’s art is intrinsically of the physical self and his current exhibition Easter Island is no exception. In addition to his performances, he has always maintained a strong practice in drawings, prints and etchings, in which the self-portrait is ever-present. Easter Island features 96 wall-to-wall 'blown to buggery' self-portraits. With depictions of Parr as both adult and child, this leaves a distinct autobiographical impression. The title of the exhibition evokes the stone megaliths of Easter Island and Jared Diamond's account of the end of this civilization. This sense of ending makes the exhibition feel like a retrospective. And upon closer attention, many of the works are pervaded with subtle markers of Parr's previous works and continuations of his trademark methodologies. Easter Island is a space-hungry installation perfectly suited to the industrial scale and aesthetic of Anna Schwartz Gallery. In their whopping glossiness, many of these photo-drawings are distorted in their original form. Of the vast montage of faces, some are elaborate in their fleshly detail and wrinkly precision, Parr’s ravaged face crowds the frame. Others appear as preliminary sketches, constructed as a barrage of raw spiky lines, equipped with scrawled statements. In this way, the exhibition strikes as a catalog of artistic processes. The works in which the face is heavily abstracted and swamped by brushstrokes evoke some of Parr’s earlier performance works. He commonly utilized a technique in which he would sew his own face. In one work, using it as a mock canvas, he built a cubist artwork from the taut lines, simultaneously pushing aesthetic and bodily boundaries and parodying high modernism. Other works were deeply political, such as Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi (Democratic Torture) – a provocative comment on Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. It comprised of Parr’s mouth wired into a fearful grimace, forcibly silenced and captive in the gallery space. This querying of self and mutilation is present in the harsh lines of Parr’s self-portraits. It could easily be said that the extremity of his performance pieces filters into his drawings by way of these intensely convoluted faces. Another curious aspect is Parr’s statements, among which are: “shoulder replacement” and “decapitation i.e. head on a plate,” which can be figured as contemplating a deconstruction of the body, both medically and violently. These sorts of micro-poems or condensed ideas were the genesis of Parr’s early performance works, using them as instructional snippets he would act them out in all their stipulated pain and suffering. There are also various manipulations in photographically documenting the drawings that enact a transparency of process. For example, the masking taped borders of canvases are visible. Whilst in another work, the image seems partially magnified, warping the bottom third of Parr's face. While other artists and intellectuals of his generation, such as Brett Whiteley and Germaine Greer, sought out the avant-garde by immersing themselves in the swingin' sixties of London, Parr cultivated the contemporary on home soil, inducting Australia to the radical idea of art as behaviour. Easter Island is thematically consistent with Parr's rich oeuvre and its investigation of body and self. Nevertheless it retains an incisiveness and brutal honesty that has ongoing value.
One of 2018's most interesting Australian documentaries told a unique and intriguing tale, stepping into the life of Sydney's Jason King. When the real-life figure isn't working as a security guard, he's out hunting ghosts, although he's not always doing the latter quite as literally as it might seem. King does indeed have a penchant for the paranormal, as well as a side business busting spirits out of people's houses. But, given that the first ghost he says he ever saw belonged to his own brother, who told him that he needed to find their estranged father, he's also haunted by his past. After hitting the big screen last year at film festivals and in general release, Ghosthunter is now taking on a second life — a fitting development, given its subject matter. As hosted by documentarian and filmmaker Ben Lawrence (who helmed the doco about King, plus this year's Hugo Weaving-starring Hearts and Bones), the film has now inspired a five-part podcast, delving further into this strange and compelling story. Released by Audible, it's available to listen to from today, Tuesday, July 23. It's great news for anyone who saw the movie and wanted to know more, and for folks who didn't get around to watching it just yet as well. And, it's obviously a stellar development for true-crime buffs, with Ghosthunter's five 30-minute episodes featuring police investigations, court dramas, family secrets, difficult traumas, murky mysteries, estranged figures from King's history and — naturally — hunting ghosts. Lawrence spent seven years turning King's tale into a documentary, so he has plenty of extra details to share. He starts with King's first ghostly memory, unpacking the rollercoaster ride of a story from that point onwards. In a podcast that doesn't just dabble with true crime, but with family memoir, it helps that King himself makes for an equally charismatic and eccentric character. As Lawrence explains: "you never know how deep the rabbit hole will take you. There were so many personal twists and turns over the seven years creating Ghosthunter that I found myself deeply immersed in Jason's life — I was even the best man at his wedding." Ghosthunter joins Audible's growing slate of Australian content, following in the footsteps of Marc Fennell's It Burns podcast, about the competitive world of breeding super hot chillies. Ghosthunter is available now on Audible — as part of existing member subscriptions, or free with a 30-day trial. The documentary can be rented on YouTube, Google Play and the iTunes Store.
Here's your latest excuse to pretend it's the late 90s and 00s: The Offspring and Simple Plan are teaming up for a heap of 2025 Australian shows, heading Down Under in a year that's also bringing Green Day this way on their own tour. Who needs one reason to grab your sneakers, your huge sense of nostalgia and head to a gig when you can have two? The Offspring just played an Aussie gig on Sunday, November 24, 2024 as part of Victoria's Always Live music season — but it was their only concert on this trip, and it sold out in 30 seconds. So, next May, they're returning to hit up arenas in four cities. The tour kicks off on Sunday, May 4 at AEC Arena in Adelaide, then heads to Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre. 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 also marks 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. The Offspring Supercharged Worldwide in '25 Australian Tour Sunday, May 4 — AEC Arena, Adelaide Wednesday, May 7 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Sunday, May 11 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Wednesday, May 14 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane The Offspring are touring Australia in May 2025. Early-bird pre-sale tickets go on sale at 9am local time on Thursday, November 28, 2024, with general tickets on sale at 9am local time on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Head to the tour website for further details and to register for early ticket access. The Offspring images: Daveed Benito.
Another year about to pass in which you were unable to book in that holiday to New York? Fortunately, the ultimate Metropolis has so influenced this city that you can easily find something local to comfort your stationary self. Just squint — and spend a day stuffing yourself with these signature foodstuffs — and you'll be fine. Breakfast: Brooklyn Hide for a Bagel We've never been big bagel lovers here in Australia. Our carb fixes in the mornings customarily come from toast or crumpets with vegemite. But this could all change since the guys at Brooklyn Hide have moved into Surry Hills. These kids are going to make sure that Sydney knows a thing or two about the way a bagel should be: New York style. All in all, the bagels reward: they offer a texture that is desirably chewy, not overly doughy or dry. Us Sydneysiders could become quite the bagel-connoisseurs before we know it. One thing we are critics of already, however, is coffee. The talented blokes at Little Marionette are supplying the beans and the team here are pouring a fine cup. 226 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; Mon - Sat 7am - 4pm; www.facebook.com/brooklynhide Lunch: Chophouse for NY Steak Forget everything you thought you knew about a steakhouse, and go and try Chophouse in the Sydney CBD. Described as a tribute to the New York-style steakhouse, Chophouse removes itself from the regular gimmicks of steakhouses and instead exudes a level of class through its service, food and contemporary setting. It’s not so much for meat lovers, but more for those who appreciate quality produce. The F1 wagyu striploin ($55.90) is 300g of the finest beef from the Rangers Valley in NSW. Chophouse’s chefs have treated the cut, four on the marble score, with the upmost respect. The caramelised surface of the meat from the grill has an oaky flavour, which matches with the juicy steak and red jus. 25 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000; Mon – Fri 12pm - late, Sat 6pm - late; www.chophouse.com.au Dinner (for bohemian wallets): Soda factory for a dog What you’re looking for is a kitschy neon sign reading 'Bobby’s Boss Dogs'. Bobby's draws the comparison to New York’s Crif Dogs, the entrance to clandestine East Village cocktail lounge PDT, and lives up to the latter’s reputation. Pull on the handle of the Coke machine for entrance to the bar, a dimly lit industrial expanse lined with inviting booths and comfy mid-century sofas. For just $9, the Johnny Drama (beef sausage topped with bacon, sour cream, avocado and tomato salsa) straddles the line between gourmet and good old-fashioned grub. It's busiest on a Tuesday, when the dogs are a dollar. 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills; Mon - Wed 5pm - late; Thur 5pm - 2am; Fri 5pm - 5am; Sat 7pm - 5am; sodafactory.com.au Dinner (for mafia-sized wallets): Momofuku Seiobo for everything Momofuku Seiobo is not some homage to NY culture; it is a genuine piece of the NY dining landscape and probably the world franchise we're most lucky to have (Sydney was the first Momofuku restaurant outside NY). Headed by David Chang, the restaurant is a world leader in high/low fusion dining, with such items as their famous pork bun (pork belly, pickled cucumber and hoisin sauce, but special). They only serve a set degustation, priced at $185 for dinner, and reservations can only be made 20 days in advance, once the system opens at 10am. But it's still less hassle and cost than a plane ticket, right? Ground level, The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont; Lunch Fri - Sat, Dinner Mon – Sat; http://momofuku.com/sydney Drinks: Harlem on Central for cocktails With its blacked-out windows and lack of signage, Harlem on Central is not Manly's most easily-found nightspot, but it's certainly the area's coolest. The bar is a tiny high-class hideaway with a Prohibition theme running consistently through the drinks, decor and service. Excellent table service delivers strong, tasty and beautiful-looking cocktails made from an array of exotic-seeming spirits that will baffle even the most dedicated boozehound. Low lighting, cool jazz beats and small tables for two render Harlem On Central a seriously intimate venue, one that easily conjures up images of shady Mafia-boss types doing deals in the back booths, or fortunes made and lost. 9-15 Central Avenue, Manly; Mon - Sun 5pm - Midnight; www.harlemoncentral.com.au Late night bite: Frankie's for pizza and beer Half dive bar, half New York-style pizza parlour, this is definitely a step away from the cocktail and whiskey specialities of Shady Pines and Baxter Inn, the last openings from Jason Scott and Anton Forte. In fact no cocktails are served other than a frozen margarita ($10) slushie style, but spirits and mixers are, along with a fairly basic wine list. Frankie’s is all about craft beer from Belgium, the U.S., Australia, Scotland and Denmark. There’s a good range of ales, lagers and ciders of varying flavour, alcohol strength and price – we were digging the Lord Nelson ($8) and the Weyerbacher stout ($12) from the US. The pizza itself is more chew than crunch and generous at $5 a slice — it’s not right up there with the original but is a perfectly satisfying beer absorber. The best news about it is, in a city that has a distinct lack of good late-night drinking venues, it’s open (and serves pizza) till 4am. 50 Hunter Street, Sydney; Mon - Sun 4pm - 4am; www.facebook.com/Frankiespizzabytheslice By the Concrete Playground team. Top image: joiseyshowaa via photopin cc.
The claims about oysters being aphrodisiacs may be largely folklore, but don't let that stop you and your partner from slurping them down by the dozen when visiting Port Stephens' premier oyster farm. The Holbert family has been in the bivalve business for five generations and is now one of the biggest producers of oysters in NSW. You'll find the quite humble store on the shores of Cromarty Bay, where folks share their expertise in all things molluscs and sell freshly shucked Port Stephens rock oysters, Pacific oysters, prawns and sauces. Order a selection, then nab one of the tables outside overlooking the bay. The store sells wine and beer to enjoy with your snacks, but you're also welcome to BYO vino.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is what would happen if Fall Out Boy decided to put on a musical exploring populism, the formation of the Democratic Party and the forced removal of Native Americans. It might seem odd to present an emo rock opera exploring American themes to Australian audiences, but it draws many parallels with modern-day Australia, particularly when considering forced resettlement and the current refugee debate in this country. The show ultimately explores whether the radical behaviour of America's seventh president, Andrew Jackson, caused chaos or brought order to a troubled nation. As soon as you enter the theatre it is clear that they have adopted the anarchic view. The space is draped with caution tape, sabotaged presidential paintings and tampered American paraphernalia, and the cast are drinking for all to see. This anti-Jackson vision advocated is then cemented upon introduction to the punk-rock President, who is overtly racist from the outset and egotistical until the end. Having said that, it is refreshing to not have to like everyone on stage. Jackson (Peter Meredith) is rarely amiable after the first five minutes as an anarchic president of petulance caught up in the disillusionment of his own legend, and this is testimony to Meredith's energy. However, his emotions are dropped and at times never felt at all, which leaves us slightly uninvested in his transformative character arc. Someone who is extremely likeable, though, is Martin Van Buren (Jay James-Moody), who steals the show with his measured movements, one-liners and perfect timing. The musical numbers are tight, with the show opener 'Populism' very polished, as is 'Ten Little Indians', which is accompanied by very clever finger choreography. However, whenever the brilliant band raised their volume, the singers became difficult to comprehend and it appeared to not be a technical issue; they just sang quieter when equipped with microphones than when not. It was a shame as the singing was truly excellent and the audible parts of the numbers were great — "I'm going to fill you with my popularjizzm" resides in the memory. Throughout the show, though, and for hours afterwards I could not help but ponder on just how good this show could have been were it staged in a theatre with a slightly bigger stage than The Factory Floor. Whilst there were elements created by the smaller space that certainly added to the appeal — the intimate four-piece band were a sonic delight — there were a few too many detractions resulting from the cramped conditions. Dance numbers were cute but mostly underwhelming due to the limited stage space and the rollercoaster rotation of performance vignettes distracted the audience as cast passed the crowd's peripheries to enter. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a breath of fresh air to Australian musical theatre as it is exciting to see the genre alive in smaller Sydney venues where you don't have to pay $100 to enter. But whilst there are bloody bloody good elements to the show, it doesn’t manage to hit the heights that it promises in many moments. Image by Michael Francis.
As edge-of-the-city launching pads go, Penrith is one of the greats. The gateway between Sydney and the Blue Mountains, the area has been steadily growing for years now to stand apart from its larger neighbours with an offering of its own. Part of that new offering is luxury, in the form of one of the fanciest hotels either side of the Nepean. Pullman Sydney Penrith, sitting in the heart of the action and a literal stone's throw from the Penrith Panthers League's Club, is Penrith's first five-star hotel and a stay that's both aesthetically pleasing and very comfortable. The former is thanks to architecture and design studio Turner and landscape architecture firm Oculus. The building exterior and its grounds are designed to pay homage to the local environment, with the swirls and curves of the building and its reflective panels meant to invoke the Nepean River itself. Meanwhile, more than 75 trees and over 8000 plants in the garden and landscaped spaces are primarily native, and all maintained with sustainable watering practices. Interiors follow suit — a sandstone wall in the lobby acts as a backdrop for commissioned artworks, while each floor features Australian landscape works by Archibald Prize-winning artist John Olsen AO OBE. The hotel is home to over 150 keys, ranging from 28-square-metre rooms to 38-square-metre suites. In all of them, expect Hunter Lab skincare amenities, a Nespresso coffee machine, locally sourced minibar treats, a library of over 1000 free and on-demand movies, and a hotel specialty: a sleep therapy menu. Via the in-room tablet, you can order everything from face and eye masks to aromatherapy pillow sprays and teas to help you ease into a blissful night's sleep. There's also an extensive pillow menu, as well as pre-programmed selections of background sounds, colours and room lighting settings to help you drift off in peace or wake up right. Rooms are also stocked with glass water bottles, and they're yours to keep throughout your stay — keep an eye out for the water refill stations throughout the property, since the hotel's sustainability commitment means you'll find no single-use plastics on site. One of the hotel's main attractions is the food and drink offering. Lobby bar Tori is ideal for a quick coffee or cocktail to start or finish your day, with regular live music in the evening against the view of the mountains. Upstairs, Marcel is a modern European restaurant that offers a refined (but relaxing) atmosphere with a menu that celebrates and showcases the area's produce. The adjacent open wine cellar, where you can browse for a bottle and chat with sommeliers, is worthy of a pitstop. The hotel also boasts a state-of-the-art wellness centre developed in partnership with the Penrith Panthers' high performance team and designed to suit the needs of both professional athletes and casual gym-goers, and the adjoining Western Sydney Conference Centre can host large-scale events with its 1000-seat capacity. You're also steps from anything within the Panthers Entertainment Precinct and a mere 30-minute drive into the stunning Blue Mountains.
Sydney's big stage revamps are set to continue, after the Theatre Royal's big makeover and Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall transformation — and this time, the Harbour City is gaining a brand-new spot for shows within a beloved venue. Sydney Lyric Theatre has always boasted a rear-stage space; however, it was solely set aside for changing sets if it was hosting multiple operas. Now, that part of the theatre is going to become its own place to get entertained. Foundation Theatres, which owns and runs both Sydney Lyric Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, has lodged a development application for the refurbishment. The works at Sydney Lyric join the company's already-approved plans to also add to Pyrmont's cultural scene with a 1550-seat Broadway-style theatre and a 1000-seat space for live performances. And, the rear-space makeover will be completed first, targeting a late 2024 opening ready for a huge summer of 2024–25 filled with more shows. Sydney Lyric's new addition will be focused on intimate setups, seating 360 people — including on a rear balcony with 80 seats — and catering to 630 standing folks. Patrons will enter through the same venue foyers, but the new theatre will have its own backstage facilities, including dressing rooms, and be operated as a self-contained site. Whatever graces the space when it launches, the venue's lineup will do so behind the main stage. Sydney Lyric's design kept large-scale repertory opera firmly in mind, aka performing multiple productions a week — hence the need for a rear stage to store a second set. But, despite that aim, the venue hasn't ever been used for opera repertory productions. So, the rear stage is just used for loading main-stage shows at the moment. "This additional venue to Sydney's theatre ecosystem will provide a new performance space of a size that is in critical demand in Sydney, particularly for emerging works and performers seeking to showcase performances to Sydney audiences," said Foundation Theatres CEO Graeme Kearns. "We're looking forward to programming the new venue with contemporary music, drama, cabaret and comedy that will work nicely in Pyrmont's thriving entertainment precinct with the other theatres we have planned for the area." The new theatre also earned support from arts industry figures such as producer John Frost and Sydney Festival Director Olivia Ansell. "Sydney's theatre scene can only benefit from commercial theatre offerings of this size and capability," noted Frost, whose shows include Wicked — which is currently playing Sydney Lyric — plus Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show and Grease. "Finding versatile theatres that can accommodate a broad range of artistic works, in a variety of presentation modes can often be a challenge in Sydney. Presenters and artists across the country will warmly welcome this intimate theatre space to Sydney," added Ansell. Sydney Lyric Theatre's rear-stage revamp is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2024 at 55 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont — for more information, head to the Foundation Theatres website.
The Rocks is serving up all your Christmastime needs in its cobblestone streets this holiday season — from bespoke gifts and decorations to joyful meals and festive drinks. The historic neighbourhood's annual Christmas Markets will run every Friday through Sunday from December 4–20. Plus, it'll have a special Christmas Eve market on Thursday, December 24, should you need to pick up any last-minute pressies. From the vast array of stallholders, expect artisanal gifts like personalised engraved jewellery from Roubos Club, handmade cheeseboards from Good in Wood, sweat treats Patisserie Confiserie and shaving kits from Stuga. Not only that, but The Rocks will be decked out to the nines, transforming the precinct into a Christmas wonderland. There'll be ambient lighting at the First Fleet Park stairway as you head into The Rocks, alongside Christmas trees, lamp post decorations and fairy lights along George Street. Nurses Walk will have seven-foot Christmas trees, Nutcracker statues and star lanterns festooning the laneway. You can also wander under a 30-metre-long canopy of baubles and mistletoe. Then, head to Playfair Street where you'll find the Insta-worthy Jingle Bell Rocks Station, complete with a custom-built gold train, station signs, more trees and cheery Christmas tunes. A variety of live music will also take over The Rocks, with a mixture of Christmas covers and mashups. Kicking things off will be local drag queen and Mariah Carey impersonator Vanity Faire, performing in First Fleet Park at 6.30pm on Friday, December 4. She'll take the stage with a crew of dancers, backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Expect her to sing all of Mariah's festive hits — and yes, that includes 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'. The Rocks' usual shops will be done up in your standard red-and-green, silver-and-gold hues, too. There'll also be plenty of festive treats from street food vendors, so you can refuel on some tasty snacks, then keep working through your gift list. And, the local bars and pubs have you covered post-shopping, from craft brews at Endeavor Tap Rooms to cocktails on Mrs Jones' terrace. [caption id="attachment_790386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Craven Images[/caption] The Christmas Markets will be open from 10am–8pm each Friday and Saturday and from 10am–5pm on Sundays. On Christmas Eve, the market will be open from 11am–6pm. Top images: Anna Kucera
Before the pandemic, it was one of the annual highlights of Sydney's art calendar. If you don't live in the Harbour City, it has long been reason enough to book in a weekend spent walking around Bondi. And, in 2022, for the first time since 2019 — for obvious reasons — super-popular free outdoor exhibition Sculpture by the Sea is finally making a comeback. The dates to lock into your calendar: Friday, October 21–Monday, November 7. That's when Sculpture by the Sea will unveil more than 100 large-scale artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along Sydney's two-kilometre Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. While the full lineup of artists hasn't been revealed for 2022's event as yet, keen Sculpture by the Sea attendees can start looking forward to the return of a few exhibition favourites. On the lineup: Marina DeBris and Stephen King, recipients of the Helen Lempriere Scholarship; and Danish artist Naja Utzon Popov, the first person to nab the new $15,000 Friendship Society of Denmark, Australia and New Zealand Danish Artist Award. [caption id="attachment_860366" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katja Grinling[/caption] 2022 will mark the exhibition's 24th year and, as always, it's set to draw a crowd. In 2019, Sculpture by the Sea attracted approximately 450,000 visitors over three weeks, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. "It is great to be planning to stage the exhibition without the spectre of almost certain cancellation hanging over our heads," said David Handley, Sculpture by the Sea's founding CEO and Artistic Director. "The excitement is building as the artists, our staff and everyone who supports us financially believe the exhibition will go ahead." Indeed, the event's return won't just unleash a heap of eye-catching sights upon Sydney, and give locals and tourists alike an excuse to soak in the scenery as well — it'll cap off an understandably tumultuous few years for the exhibition. Sculpture by the Sea tried to make a comeback in October 2021, but had to scrap those plans due to the pandemic, marking the second year it went through that process. In 2020, the event initially planned to go ahead as normal in October, then aimed for an early 2021 berth. It did successfully stage a CBD spinoff, Sculpture Rocks, in autumn 2021, however. [caption id="attachment_860364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Jensz[/caption] That said, even before the current global health situation interrupted its annual plans, it had been already been an eventful period for Sculpture by the Sea. To rewind a little, in mid-2019, organisers were at loggerheads with the Council over the construction of a new path, and were scoping out alternative locations for the long-running art exhibition. In fact, it was only early in 2021 that the parties came to an agreement to remain in Bondi until 2030, with the organisers and Council agreeing to a ten-year deal. Amid all of the above, the Sculpture by the Sea team also branched out this year, opening the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. It's a permanent 100-kilometre collection of outdoor art along the Snowy Valleys Way, passing through the towns of Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba, the hamlet of Tooma, plus the Tumbarumba wine region's cellar doors. So, as well as checking out what dazzling delights this year's array of sculptures in Bondi has to offer come spring, you can add even more huge art to your must-see list — and your travel list, too — in the Snowies whenever you like. [caption id="attachment_860363" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danai Kotsaki[/caption] Sculpture by the Sea is will return to the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk from Friday, October 21–Monday, November 7. For more information, head to sculpturebythesea.com. Images: Henrique Fanti / Clyde Yee / Charlotte Curd.
Ikea may have been the brand on everybody's lips when they recently blessed Sydneysiders with a new store in Tempe, but the Swedish design giants are turning more heads with their latest advertising stunt in France. Ikea have built a whole apartment inside Auber subway station in Paris. Sitting at just 54 square metres, it is currently housing five people, who are staying there from January 9 to 15. The aim of the campaign is to show people how to use space effectively in their own homes with Ikea furnishings. With windows for communters to peer inside, they get a first-hand look at the inhabitants eating, sleeping and lounging away in the space, all with the help of Ikea's premium products. Apart from feeling sorry for the five people trying to sleep right next to the constant arrival and departure of passengers and trains, this is a great advertising stunt that fuses private and public spaces to spark customers' creativity within their own homes. Check out the apartment's construction and some of the reactions below. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oMEi9vzWdug
Find a parking spot and follow the rainbow at The Grounds of Alexandria this winter and you won't find a pot of gold — but you will find a whole lot of sugary treats. Which might be even better. On Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 (and Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16) The Grounds' garden will be lit up and turned into a dessert laneway inspired by Willy Wonka. Sweet smelling carts will be hawking colourful waffle cones (with lots of ice cream flavours and toppings), fresh doughnuts, blueberry crepes, fizzy sherbet drinks and all the lollies you can imagine. There'll also be a chocolate fondue station with fruit, brownie cubes, choc chip cookies and so much more. Wander between them, grab a cocktail from the outdoor bar, and try the lot. If you need savoury before your sweets, book a table for dinner at The Potting Shed. After a bowl of mussels and a few glasses of wine, it will be hard to say no to a hot jam doughnut. The market will run under The Grounds' colourful installation of giant neon lollipops and jumbo sweets from 6–10pm. The installation itself will be open daily until Sunday, September 22, but the new dessert options will only on offer during the night markets. The Garden of Sweets Dessert Markets are open from 6–10pm on Friday, July 26 and Saturday July 27, as well as Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16. The laneway installation open from 7am every day until Sunday, September 22.
When a relationship fails, sometimes it ends with fiery passion. Sometimes, love's spark fades slowly. And sometimes, the dying embers scorch the earth. Wildlife charts the downfall of a marriage that flirts with all three phases, all while forest fires rage on the outskirts of a small Montana town. As the physical flames carve a path of destruction, Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) and Jerry Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal) let years of resentment, frustration and disappointment ignite into a heated blaze that threatens their family. As far as metaphors go, Wildlife's is certainly appropriate. Contrary to how it might sound on the page — obvious, or even clumsy — it's also delicately deployed. Adapting Richard Ford's 1990 novel, actor-turned-writer/director Paul Dano and his co-scribe Zoe Kazan make every moment of this portrait of domestic disharmony blister with aching sadness. Wildlife is a film of haunting pain that's often left unspoken, but that crackles with inescapable force and feeling. It's 1960 when the movie introduces its unhappily wedded couple, as well as their teenage son Joe (Ed Oxenbould). The trio has moved to Great Falls for Jerry's new job as a golf pro at a country club, although any hopes of a blissful fresh start dissipate when he's swiftly fired. Drinking away his discontent and rejecting any work that comes his way, he instead volunteers to fight the flames, leaving his wife and boy at home. Joe waits for his father's hopefully safe return, but Jeanette starts blazing her own trail. First, she gets a job as a swimming instructor to make ends meet; then, she openly has an affair with one of her students, car salesman Warren Miller (Bill Camp). There's another metaphor at Wildlife's core, stemming from its title. Often, the casualties of an inferno decimating bushland aren't human — they're the smaller creatures that get caught in its way. Dano paints all three of the film's key characters as scurrying victims engulfed by a roaring disaster, however he also makes plain that Jeanette and Jerry started this all-consuming emotional fire themselves. Stepping behind the lens for the first time, the Love & Mercy and There Will Be Blood star also extracts all-consuming performances from his actors. Gyllenhaal is a ball of tortured angst, desolated by failing to realise his dreams as a man, a husband and a father, while young Australian actor Oxenbould more than holds his own as the son who can only observe as his family turns to ash. But it's Mulligan, segueing from quietly bearing a life filled with emptiness to wilfully indulging her desires, that burns brightest, and hurts and seethes hardest. Alongside her efforts in acclaimed stage production Skylight, it's finely wrought, career-best work. Indeed, Mulligan's is the kind of performance that helps Wildlife conquer what could've been its biggest obstacle: that scenes from a crumbling marriage have been splashed across the screen many times before. There's such a spark to her portrayal, even when she's in tense and restrained mode, that earns the film its own place alongside greats of the marital woe genre like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Blue Valentine and Revolutionary Road. That said, the same description also fits Dano's filmmaking, as he crafts a movie that overflows with emotion even when it couldn't feel more careful and meticulous. Just looking at its artful frames gives that very impression, with each deliberate, patient, mostly still image of nondescript interiors, smoke-filled skies and struggling faces proving as sweeping as the film's simmering sentiments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tyPOTDCG8
Now Tropfest has jazzed up audiences about our local filmmaking talent, it's time to take part in the inaugural Australian Film Festival. Launching with the tag line 'It's a ripper!', the festival promises to celebrate old film favourites as well as introducing Sydneysiders to Australian fare they might never have had the chance to see. Setting up shop in Randwick's iconic Ritz cinema, the festival is partnering with Popcorn Taxi for an opening night screening of the groundbreaking Mad Max. Rumoured to be a glorious print, this screening also boasts a Q&A with original cast and crew members including Steve Bisley. The genius of George Miller will be further celebrated with his recent classic, Happy Feet screening (for free!) this Saturday on Clovelly beach. The festival will also host the acclaimed documentary of India's first policewoman, Yes Madam, Sir, narrated by Helen Mirren. Director Megan Doneman (who will be in attendance for a Q&A) followed the Asian Nobel Prize winner Kiren Bedi for six years in order to draw her insightful portrait of this fascinating woman. The rest of the program is stacked with a plethora of films, including Rolf de Heer's cult classic Bad Boy Bubby. The Future Film Screenwriting Competition sees $1000 up for grabs, while a short film competition will close out the festival alongside a Spot Food & Film day and the addition of Steve Bisley and Claudia Karvan to the Australian Film Walk of Fame. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mxijBsmS2XU
About to enter their fourth season, the Seymour Centre's Courtyard Sessions are just as relaxed and still free, but more festive than ever before. Every Friday evening from 6pm between January 9 and March 27, live and local music acts are set to soundtrack your sunset/pre-theatre drinks in the leafy courtyard of the Seymour Centre. And this year, they'll be accompanied by a pop-up bar, a gourmet barbecue, roaming performers, vintage games, giveaways and more. Artists headlining the 2015 programme include neo-folker Caitlin Park; quirky cabaret act Lady Sings it Better; self-described 'mystical' outfit Okenyo; Flowertruck, rockers Dr. Goddard, afrofunkers The Liberators and Sydney's ARIA-nominated, Americana-inspired singer-songwriter Emma Swift. "It's everything we love about the Australian summer — being outdoors, arts events, warm evenings and beer," says Maeve Marsden of Lady Sings it Better. "As a cabaret act, we like playing events like Courtyard Sessions because there's a bit of an element of surprise — often the audience aren't our regular fans so mightn't know what to expect."
One of Sydney Festival 2017's most Instagrammed events was The Beach, an enormous ball pit inside a human-made cave, as created by Brooklyn-based design studio Snarkitecture. Tonnes of the city's residents spent at least some part of January diving, cannonballing and floating about in a sea of plastic bliss. Understandably. If you've been fretting about whether this kind of fun would ever return, here's your answer. Another ball pit is on its way around the country. After originally popping up in Sydney this May, it's returning just in time for Halloween. Like last time, it will be divided up into several spaces creating a kind of playground. There'll also be an on-site cocktail bar, to let you rest and refuel in between dips and dives. The ball pit will pop up in Bondi Junction on Saturday, October 20 from 1pm till 1am. Entry will be via ticket, which will entitle you to two hours of playtime. The ball pit folk have gotten into the festival spirit this time round, too, and will be hiding $1000 throughout the ball pit. If you're keen to find it, we suggest booking into one of the earlier sessions. Anyone keen to attend between 1pm and 3pm can add some extra fun to their ball pit experience: a two-long bottomless prosecco and pizza session. Tickets including food and drinks cost $55, with only 200 available. A tip: you might want to go easy on the jumping around after getting your fill of eats and bubbles.
Experience all the wine this region has to offer during Canberra Wine House Murrumbateman Moving Feast, a weekend-long, roving degustation celebrating local drops and producers. Presented by the Makers of Murrumbateman, the feast will take over the best vineyards around town over the October holiday weekend from Saturday, September 30 to Monday, October 2, when local musicians will hold concerts throughout town for Music Monday. Each winery along the trail will offer signature tasting menus, with each dish paired with a curated fine wine. Punters can choose between a $25 savoury or $20 dessert degustation, with wines presented in a specialised engraved glass that is yours for the taking. Throughout the weekend, visitors will have the chance to meet the makers behind these nationally and internationally recognised bottles, all while taking in the gorgeous rolling views around the region.
Avocados: everyone loves them, not just Aussies accused of spending all their cash on smashed avo for brunch. In Amsterdam, one person loves them so much that he opened up a restaurant dedicated to serving the green creamy fruit up in as many ways as possible. Now, he's thinking about taking the show on the road, including to Australia. The Avocado Show, that is — because that's what the eatery is called. It launched in February in Amsterdam's De Pijp district, and calls itself "Europe's first and finest avocado bar". Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, late at night, any time in between: if you've got a hankering for avo on bread, avo between two pieces of bread (aka avocado sandwiches), burgers made with avocado buns and more, you'll find it here. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZdMi__FQxc/?taken-by=theavocadoshow With the likes of avo roses on toast, avo poke bowls, avo ice cream and avo daiquiris on offer, the venture has been quite a success — unsurprisingly — which is what has prompted thoughts of expansion. MUNCHIES reports that there'll be new sites in Europe, as well as restaurants in North America, Asia and own our shores. Owner Ron Simpson told the publication he had received franchise requests before the first store even opened, so it's little wonder that 15 additional spots are planned over the next year. As you've probably noticed, avocado isn't literally the only thing on the menu, although every item does include it in some shape or form. If that makes you hungry, feasting your eyes on The Avocado Show's Instagram pics will only make it worse. Keep your eyes peeled for more info about their Aussie ventures while your stomach grumbles, though, with just where and when they'll arrive yet to be revealed. Via MUNCHIES
No matter where you live in Australia, you've heard about plans, pathways, roadmaps and rollouts quite often during the pandemic. As the country has faced COVID-19, our state and federal leaders have unveiled plenty of outlines that run through what we can do, what we can't do whenever restrictions are in place, how we're getting vaccinated, where we can travel and how life might return to normal — including, in early July, a new outline for the future stemming from Australia's National Cabinet. That overall plan, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison after meeting with state and territory leaders on Friday, July 2, steps through four phases that Australia intends to work through to get life back to its pre-pandemic state. It covers things like resuming international travel, loosening restrictions on vaccinated folks and scrapping lockdowns completely. That said, when first announced, the plan didn't include timeframes or information on when these different tiers would kick in, other than vague hopes. But following the latest National Cabinet meeting on Friday, July 30, the Prime Minister has now filled in some details. Vaccination thresholds have been attached to the second and third phases of the roadmap, which has been dubbed the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response. The second stage will come into effect when 70 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated with two doses, while the third phase will kick in at 80 percent. There's still no expected dates, however. For both stages, there's also a couple of requirements — and a "two-key process", as the Prime Minster explained. Firstly, the entirety of Australia must reach those figures overall, based on the population over the age of 16. After that, each individual state and territory also must hit those thresholds for that phase to specifically apply in that state or territory. At 70 percent, restrictions will be eased on folks who've had the jab, including around lockdowns and border controls. Some of the inclusions in each phase have been amended since the beginning of July, reflecting the changes in Australia's COVID-19 situation over the past month, but it's still aimed that lockdowns will be less likely in this second stage. Low-level restrictions will still help minimise the spread of cases and assist contact tracing, and the vaccine booster program would begin. This is when inbound passenger caps for unvaxxed returning Aussies will be restored to previous levels, too, and when more vaccinated returning Aussies will be allowed to come home. When the 80-percent threshold comes in, that's when jabbed Australians can travel overseas again without restrictions — which is clearly huge news. This third phase also has minimal restrictions on daily life and no lockdowns, and frees vaxxed Aussies from all those domestic restrictions anyway. At this point in the plan, there'd be no caps on returning vaccinated travellers at all, and more travel bubbles, like the one floated with Singapore, would open. Also, vaccine boosters would keep being delivered. After that comes the final phase, although this one doesn't have any specifics regarding a vaccination threshold as yet. This tier sees COVID-19 just treated like other infectious diseases. It'd still be around, but it'd get the same kind of response as the flu. So, there'd be no lockdowns or domestic restrictions ever, vaccinated folks could come and go as they like, and non-vaccinated travellers would just have to get tested before they depart and when they arrive. Basically, life would be like it was before the pandemic, just with some quarantine required for the highest-risk inbound travel. Obviously, with Greater Sydney set to spend at least nine weeks in lockdown, Victoria just coming out of its latest almost two-week-long lockdown and 11 Local Government Areas in southeast Queensland heading into a new three-day lockdown from Saturday, July 31, COVID-19 case levels could still impact how this plan gets put into effect. Indeed, if Australia's pandemic response so far is any guide, this could all change, take forever or simply not happen — but it's the stated federal plan at the time of writing, and now has some concrete vaccination thresholds. Wondering where we sit in the scheme of things right now? We're in the first stage, unsurprisingly. Here, the aim is to suppress the virus to minimise community transmission. So, there's early, stringent and short lockdowns when outbreaks occur, and domestic restrictions as well. Our international borders are closed, there's a cap on inbound travellers, and the vaccination campaign is underway. Also in this initial phase, the Medicare Vaccination Certificate will be rolled out, Australia will work out how to authenticate digital vaccination status at our international borders and the vaccine booster program will be prepared. For further details about the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response, head to the Prime Minister's website.
Ah, Romeo and Juliet, the archetypal young lovers. We've all grown up with some version of their story. If you're lucky early Gen Y, it's the Baz Luhrmann film, though the late Gen Ys might not fare so well with the beige-looking soon-to-be-released update starring Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth. In the meantime/Instead of, see what the Sydney Theatre Company and director Kip Williams have done with the classic, packing a few surprises into their grand, visually striking production that looks closely at the Capulets. It begins with a great music-video-like first scene that introduces the monumental, revolving set, which contains a ballroom with a vertiginous black exterior that's somehow equally striking. Inside, young men drink, dance, swing from chandeliers and tussle, but when that room twists away, we're left with just Romeo (Dylan Young), removed from the fray and all up in his head as he paces the streets. Romeo, of course, is in love with love, and although at the moment the object is one Rosaline, she will soon be overtaken by Juliet, whom Romeo meets at a party. That party, and that girl, belongs to his family's "great enemy", the Capulets, and the couple's innocent infatuation leads to famously grave ends. This Romeo and Juliet has some hits and some misses, but the misses are on the whole forgivable in such an ambitious and rich production. Importantly, this is a Romeo and Juliet that goes beyond archetypes to create a story that feels if not new, then fresh. In particular, director Kip Williams and actor Eryn Jean Norvill have created a wonderful Juliet, who is not some blank slate but an anxious, awkward and slightly geeky specific teenage girl. Her love of wordplay shines strongly, and it makes sense that she would fall for Romeo, a guy who, at last, engages with her on her level. That said, Dylan Young as Romeo does little extra to draw her attraction, lacking charisma and compelling delivery. In the supporting roles, Colin Moody and Anna Lise Phillips are the standouts as Juliet's parents, the monstrous Capulets. The energy spikes whenever they walk on the stage. Romeo's crass buddies on Team Montague, Mercutio (Eamon Farren) and Benvolio (Akos Armont), are a nice contrast, although Farren needs to be dialed down a little. We know Shakespeare's pretty words contain some ribald imagery; we don't need near-constant crotch-grabbing to remind us of it. That set, by David Fleischer, is a real show-stopper (it, yes, literally stopped the show for five nights while they fixed the revolving mechanism). It's at its most stunning when creating something like the theatrical version of a tracking shot, although it's also a little overused — a five-degree turn creates a lot of interruption without much payoff. There are also some gorgeous tableaux happening, including a creepy-glam party scene that's real Gossip Girl meets Eyes Wide Shut. Costumes are covetable, and the stripped-back post-intermission stage, based on the evolving image of Juliet's marital bed, is minimalism at its most purposeful and striking. This is one good-looking play. Unfortunately, the second half does drag a little, weighed down by soliloquies that ultimately lead to an underwhelming, unedited version of the ending. But on the sum of its parts, this is a potent and enjoyable version of a classic that can always stand a re-watch.
Darling Harbour nightclub Home the Venue is swapping the sticky dance floor for sticky sheets. It's making its triumphant post-COVID-19 comeback this March, but instead of letting revellers dance on vodka cranberry-covered floors, it's letting them party in queen-sized beds. Launching on Friday, March 5 in time for this year's Mardi Gras celebrations, In Bed @ Home will see the harbourside venue transformed into a left-of-centre entertainment experience. The entire nightclub's dance floor has been filled with beds , in which you're offered a 'bedside' drinks service and you can watch two different shows. There's the Cirkus Bizurkus, with comedy, cabaret, burlesque and magic; and Pretty Masc, which is being pitched as a "gender-bending underground performance". A nightclub with beds isn't an entirely new concept, however. In fact, visiting a fictional club with beds is the theme of an episode of Sex in the City and several very real clubs with queen-sized comfort opened in the US and the UK in the late 90s and early 2000s. But, it's still a novel concept here in Sydney — and reflective of the times, where limits and restrictions on dancing exist because of a certain pandemic. That said, while nightclub experiences are still few and far between, tickets are getting snapped up quick. If you'd like to try out the new slumber party-cum-nightclub, you can already snap up tickets for $50 a pop. In Bed @ Home launches at Home the Venue, 101/1–5 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour on Friday, March 5. Tickets are available to purchase via homesydney.com.
Rapper, songwriter, and arguably one of music’s most notable controversy magnets, Azealia Banks, is on her way back to Australia for Splendour. Banks's long awaited album, Broke with Expensive Taste, was finally released last year and had many agreeing that it was worth the wait. When Banks charged into house parties worldwide with ‘212’ in 2011 it was clear that this was a force to be reckoned with — everyone loves a killer beat and the chance to yell expletives. She's continued her warpath with ‘Van Vogue’, ‘Ice Princess’ and ‘Yung Rapunxel’ Unfortunately, Banks has been known to cut her sets short (a few times now) during shows in Australia, so we have our fingers and toes crossed that history doesn’t repeat itself. We say take the plunge and grab a ticket, there’s a damn good chance she’s going to blow the roof off.
Since a US remake of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's vampire sharehouse mockumentary What We Do in the Shadow was first hinted at back in 2017, and then confirmed in May 2018, fans have been waiting like a ravenous vampire for the end result. Over the past few months, three brief teasers have dropped, plus a full two-minute trailer — and now the show is headed to Australian TV screens in April. Created and co-written by Clement, and executive by the Flight of the Conchords star with Thor: Ragnarok's Waititi, the ten-episode American version will air weekly on Foxtel's Showcase channel from Tuesday, April 2. That's a few days behind the US run, with the show premiering on America's FX network on Wednesday, March 27 — hot on the heels of the film festival premiere of its pilot episode, which just screened at SXSW over this weekend. Despite the involvement of Clement and Waititi, the duo don't star in the new-look series (but may make guest appearances — we hope). Rather, this take on What We Do in the Shadows follows a group of vampire flatmates living in Staten Island, and features Toast of London's Matt Berry, Four Lions' Kayvan Novak, British stand-up comedian Natasia Demetriou, The Magicians' Harvey Guillen, The Office's Mark Proksch and Lady Bird's Beanie Feldstein. Novak plays the gang's self-appointed leader, 'Nandor The Relentless', who dates back to the Ottoman Empire days and is somewhat stuck in his ways. As for Berry's mischievous British dandy Laszlo and Demetriou's seductive Nadja, they've been likened to a blood-sucking Bonnie and Clyde. Guillén steps into the shoes Nandor's familiar, who'd do anything to join the undead, while Proksch's Colin has been described as an 'energy vampire'. And Feldstein's Jenna is a college student with a new craving. If you're keen for another taste before the series starts airing, here's three new teasers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=N0cCrfvCuZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRiyeML2mnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4dedH5GU9QU The US remake is just the latest addition to the What We Do in the Shadows universe, too. A follow-up, We're Wolves, is in the works, focusing on the undead bloodsuckers' Rhys Darby-led lycanthrope enemies. And television spinoff Wellington Paranormal, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural, debuted its first season last year and has a second season in the works. What We Do in the Shadows will debut in America on FX on Wednesday, March 27, then air on Foxtel's Showcase channel weekly from 8.30pm AEDT on Tuesday, April 2.
For the second time in a mere eight months, Sydney Film Festival is back. Get ready to watch 200-plus movies on silver screens all around Sydney between Wednesday, June 8–Sunday, June 19 — at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Newtown, Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Art Gallery of NSW. Overseen by Festival Director Nashen Moodley for the 11th time, this year's SFF spans 101 features, 53 documentaries and a whole heap of short films from 64-plus countries. (And 27 world premieres as well.) Highlights include the entire Official Competition lineup, aka the movies vying for SFF's big cash prize for films that are "audacious, cutting-edge and courageous". That's where you'll find this year's Berlinale Golden Bear-winner Alcarràs, a family drama from Spain; Blaze, a blend of live-action, puppetry and animation directed by acclaimed Aussie artist Del Kathryn Barton; and supernatural witch flick You Won't Be Alone, which stars Noomi Rapace (Lamb). And, it's home to a number of titles arriving straight from playing Cannes, too — such as Godland from Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day); Close, a teen-focused drama by Girl filmaker Lukas Dhont; and All the People I'll Never Be, about a French woman's quest to discover her Korean roots. Other big-name inclusions across the rest of the program span New Zealand comedy Nude Tuesday, which'll enjoy its world premiere at SFF; Australia's own Seriously Red, a SXSW hit about a Dolly Parton impersonator; One Fine Morning, from acclaimed French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve (Bergman Island); the Dakota Johnson (The Lost Daughter)-starring rom-com Cha Cha Real Smooth, which earned plenty of fans at Sundance; and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, where Emma Thompson (Cruella) plays an older women who hires a sex worker — with 52 Tuesdays and Animals filmmaker Sophie Hyde behind the lens. Or, there's queer comedy Fire Island, about a group of friends on a wild summer holiday; Aubrey Plaza (Best Sellers)-led heist film Emily the Criminal; Cannes 2021 Jury Prize-winner Ahed's Knee, the latest from Synonyms' director Nadav Lapid; time-travel romp Incredible But True, as directed by Rubber and Deerskin's Quentin Dupieux; and One Year, One Night, which features Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Noémie Merlant. Plus, from the documentary slate, there's Sundance Audience Award-winner Navalny, about the Russian opposition leader poisoned with a nerve agent; Lynch/Oz, which takes a yellow brick road through David Lynch's filmography; Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, a step inside New York's iconic Chelsea Hotel; and stranger-than-fiction effort My Old School, where Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) lip-synchs to audio recordings of Scottish con-artist Brandon Lee. SFF's full lineup also covers the usual returning favourites among its strands — so its ten-film focus on female directors from Europe is back, as is its selection of movies about music, its weird and wonderful horror and genre flicks, a range of family-friendly fare, a celebration of filmmaking talent with disability, and twelve titles from First Nations creatives. The latter includes all six episodes of Mystery Road: Origins, the new prequel series that focuses on Indigenous police officer Jay Swan, which is one of the fest's massive local highlights. Another: a big-screen showing of the newly restored 4K version of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom, arriving just before his new movie Elvis reaches cinemas. SFF also announced its first 22 movies back in April, and a few other details since — such as a retrospective focusing on the documentaries of American filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, plus Pacific First Nations anthology We Are Still Here in the coveted opening night slot.
It's been a busy couple of months of stargazing, with both the Lyrid and Eta Aquarids Meteor Showers lighting up our skies. Tonight, Thursday, May 7, there's another reason to look up, too: a supermoon. The last in a series of four supermoons in 2020, according to NASA, this one is called a flower moon. If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know: a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. They're not uncommon; three have taken place since February. But, now, it feels especially nice to have something luminous to look out (outside of our apartments). The flower moon is named after the flowers that are usually abundant this time of year in the US, where it's currently spring. Closer to home, this supermoon corresponds with Vesak, a Buddhist holiday marking the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha. https://www.facebook.com/NASA/photos/a.67899501771/10158205507416772/?type=3&theater If you're keen to see it, you'll want to catch the full moon when it's most illuminated, which happens when it's opposite the sun (a term called syzygy). According to timeanddate.com, this will happen at 8.45pm AEST and 10.45pm NZST. Have your cameras at the ready, obviously — and see if you can outdo the last big batch of supermoon snaps. Usually, when a supermoon lights up the sky, we'd advise city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. That's not possible given the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, so you'd best take a gander from your backyard or balcony. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live streaming the flower moon from 4.30am AEST (6.30am NZST) here. Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky
It's always summer somewhere, right? Not exactly, but that's long been the idea behind swapping Australia's winters for a midyear trip to Europe. And if that's on the cards for you at the moment — or you're thinking about it given how genuinely cold the last month has been already Down Under — then you can now hop on one of Qantas' new direct flights to Rome. To truly get the non-stop experience, you'll need to live in Perth. If you hail from another part of the country, you will have to make your way to the Western Australian capital first. But, either way, that flight from Perth to Rome won't make a layover — getting you from Down Under to continental Europe faster, and without switching planes, worrying about connecting legs and navigating other airports. The direct-to-Rome routes were first announced back in late 2021, but they've just started taking to the air since Saturday, June 25. They follow the airline's direct flights from Perth to London, and will make the trip three times a week between now and October. And yes, that timing is 100-percent aimed at letting Australians take full advantage of European summer holidays. As well as being the only flights that connect Australia to continental Europe, the new Rome trips are speedier than other routes to the Italian city — more than three hours faster than the current quickest travel time from Australia to Rome. That means fewer hours spent in transit, and more to actually soak in Italy. It also means spending a big unbroken block of time in the air, which still sounds a bit like science fiction after so long without international travel. If you're keen to head elsewhere on the continent, you can use Rome as a connection point to fly to 16 other European destinations, including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid and Paris. You can also venture to 15 other spots in Italy, Milan and Venice among them. Also, if you fancy flying into Rome but coming home from London, or vice versa, Qantas will let you combine the two direct routes on the one return ticket. The airline has also added a few Italian-inspired food and drink items, including negronis, to its lounge and inflight menus — and it's screening films that link in with Italy, too, such as Rome, Open City and Life Is Beautiful. And if you're wondering about the possibility of travelling non-stop to Europe from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which Qantas has been looking into for a few years now, the carrier has locked in direct Sydney-to-London flights (and direct Sydney-to-New York routes as well) to start in late 2025. Qantas' new Australia–Rome direct flights are flying three times a week from Perth until October. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website.
One Friday morning, as the Washington Redskins fell to the Dallas Cowboys, The 19th Club was alive with coffee, muesli and morning meetings. A few hours later, breakfast gave way to lunch, and the bar was heaving with the CBD crowd, chowing down on crunchy chicken tenders, taking the edge off the work week with a crisp beer, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers slowly demolish the Indianapolis Colts. A growing number of patrons aren't just once-off visitors — they're actually members here. By joining up, they can take advantage of access to discounts and freebies, as well as the ability to control what's on screen, what they eat, and pretty much every other aspect of their experience at the club. All too common throughout the United States, membership to bars hasn't really kicked off in Australia, but that's looking to change, with bars like The 19th Club leading the charge by offering an individually tailored guest experience. In order to grasp how the concept is looking to revolutionise the way we approach going out for a drink, I really put the hard yards in and met up with the club's Head of Member Services and all-round renaissance man Tom Glasson to drink beer, eat incredible food, and talk about sports. The 19th Club is built on the American idea of membership to bars and clubs, something that is definitely lacking in Australia. "Everyone's a member of everything," Glasson advises in regards to the US approach to bars. It's this idea that The 19th Club are trying to transpose to our fair shores, and part of this is the importance that sport plays in the way we think about pubs and bars. Sports bring people together with a shared experience, regardless of differences. "You don't have to have a CEO's income to share that dialogue," says Glasson. The old (and highly debatable) adage that the customer is always right runs deep at The 19th Club, even to the point where the members have an active say in how the bar runs. Opening hours can change depending on what members want to watch, for example. Members have access to a private messaging platform on Slack, where they can communicate directly with staff, even to the point of ordering food before they arrive. When I asked about some fairly obvious demographic barriers, Glasson is quick offer reassurance. "It's not in any way a boy's club." What if, then, someone wanted to watch the netball? "If the members want the netball on, we put the netball on!" Glasson offers. It was then agreed that netball is an awesome and underrated sport. It's evident that the ideal behind The 19th Club is that it's driven by its members, and run for its members, but in a way that doesn't alienate the public. It's a sports bar for the people, by the people. Despite the strong emphasis on American sports at The 19th Club, Glasson is adamant that this isn't the endgame for the bar. "It's American focused right now, but that's only because this is the right time to do it," he says. With the Australian summer of cricket well underway and the football season peeking its head around the corner, there's a whole other dimension coming to the bar. Given that it has only been open since September, it would be easy for the head honchos behind The 19th Club to rest on their laurels and simply continue with the business model they're currently offering, but this isn't the case at all. Rather than keep on keeping on, the aim is to progress to the point where membership to The 19th Club grants you access to future incarnations of the bar around the globe. The goal is, according to Glasson, to be able to "watch what you want, when you want, anywhere in the world." The 19th Club provides something new, something unique to the Sydney scene. It's a sports bar with a refined décor that offers breakfast, beers, a burger that tastes exactly like a stadium burger but really, really good, and a unique experience for each and every member. It's easy to see how this model works so well in America, and it's not too much of a stretch to see it working here, as well. What a time to be alive. Find The 19th Club on the ground floor at 19 Bridge Street, Sydney. For more information, visit their website.
If you're the sort of person who likes to eat meat until you start shaking with the meat sweats and can (m)eat no more, then a festival very relevant to your interests is coming to town. Meatstock Festival, a two-day celebration of all things animal, is setting up its smoky self in the Sydney Showgrounds on the weekend of Saturday, August 21–Sunday, August 22. Not just your regular food festival, Meatstock also features live tunes. Sure, there'll be less music than there is at Woodstock, but there will be 200 percent more tasty meat-related foods. The food stars of the show usually span the likes of Burn City Smokers, Limp Brisket, Black Barrel BBQ, Hoy Pinoy and more. Try some of each, or make your way through all of the food stalls and then fall into a sweaty, cholesterol-heavy heap — don't say we didn't warn you. Finally, for a little old-fashioned rivalry, the festival will be running its Butcher Wars, which will basically be a bunch of hopefully unbloodied people running around competing and wielding various knives. There's also Barbecue Wars too, heating up the grill in more ways than one. What a weekend.
Whenever anyone utters the words "Wakanda forever" in a Black Panther movie, they resonate, rippling with pride and power in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's franchise-within-a-franchise about the titular hero and their homeland. Expect those words, every other piece of dialogue and the rousing score behind them to echo with extra force at every Sydney Marvel fan's new must-attend event, however. That's bound to happen at a Black Panther in Concert performance, which'll pair the original film with a live orchestral score. Sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in cinemas right now, but this huge gig will screen the initial 2018 feature. That means getting emotional over the now-late Chadwick Boseman's excellent performance as T'Challa, watching the character cope with the passing of his father, and seeing him face off against old adversary Killmonger (Michael B Jordan, Just Mercy) over the future of Wakanda — and revelling in the rest of triple Oscar-winner's many other delights. One of those shiny Academy Awards went to Ludwig Göransson for the film's score, which will make the most of Sydney Opera House's renovated and relaunched Concert Hall across three performances from Thursday, July 27–Saturday, July 29, 2023. It'll be played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, as conducted by Anthony Parnther and with percussion by tama player Massamba Diop, in what'll be Black Panther in Concert's Australian-premiere performance. SSO loves busting out big-screen classics and pairing them with its instruments of late, with The Princess Bride also getting the same treatment in 2023, and everything from Bond to Harry Potter and Star Wars doing the same in the past. Still, given the potent storyline, Boseman's passing in 2020, Ryan Coogler's (Creed) energetic and expressive direction, and the stacked cast that also includes Angela Bassett (Gunpowder Milkshake), Letitia Wright (Death on the Nile), Winston Duke (Nine Days), Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead), Lupita Nyong'o (The 355) and Martin Freeman (Breeders), this movie-and-music combination promises something extra special. Check out the trailer for Black Panther below: Black Panther in Concert takes place from Thursday, July 27–Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall. The ticket pre-sale is open now, with general sales from 10am on Tuesday, November 29 — head to the Sydney Opera House website for further details. Images: Marvel Studios.
When Australia's last Blockbuster store closed its doors back in 2019, it marked the end of an era — especially if you spent your childhood and teenage years trawling through racks of VHS tapes, renting as big a stack as you could carry, then gluing your eyes to the TV every weekend. Every Aussie city also has its own stories about losing beloved independent video shops and, if you're still a fan of physical media in the streaming era, you might even have a few ex-rental bargains from closed-down stores sitting on your shelves at home. It's these fond feelings for a part of life that's now gone that new live cinema performance Coil aims to tap into, all while paying tribute to all the long-lost spots that once celebrated and nurtured cinephilia. Video stores were more than just places to rent tapes — they were havens of filmic discovery, sources of inspiration and thriving local communities — and that's all baked into this production. Coil made its world premiere at this year's Mona Foma, and now brings its tribute and farewell to Australia's video shops to Sydney — playing PACT in Erskineville from Thursday, February 10–Saturday, February 12. The latest work from re:group, a collective of artists based between Hobart, Wollongong and Sydney, Coil stages its show in a set that recreates a 90s-era video shop. The focus: telling a tale of nostalgia, loneliness, friendship and viability that pays homage to those gone-but-not-forgotten spaces and celebrates the communities forged within them. It's a performance designed to ponder questions — including what we've lost now that we browse online sites for flicks instead of physically walking the aisles. And if you're wondering how a live cinema performance with a one-person cast works, Coil takes place live on stage before its audience, but deploys video design that lets its lone performer play every character in cinematic scenes. You'll be watching all of that happen, with the show combining verbatim interview material with real-time filmmaking — all to make the kind of performance that you definitely won't see on streaming. Images: Rosie Hastie.
There's a seductive, undeniable appeal in the familiar. It's the reason you've ordered takeaway Thai twice already this week, how you justify hanging onto that band tee with more holes than an aged block of Swiss, and why you believe that seat on the bus is undeniably and eternally yours alone. Seriously, we thrive on routine; we love trying to know what to expect in the hopes of guaranteeing as little disappointment as possible. For most of us, visiting the ballet falls well outside the realm of our normal weekly routine. But when you begin to break it down, there's a lot of reason to give this often inaccessible artform a go. Not just the stuffy, 100-year-old performances of yore, modern ballet can be just as fun and contemporary as your regular night at your local indie cinema. And this year, The Australian Ballet have just what you need to break from the familiar. They're kicking off their stellar 2016 season with a production perfect for tentative first-timers. It's called Vitesse, and it's an exhilarating, high-energy triple bill showcasing dances from top contemporary choreographers from around the world. Still unsure if the ballet's for you? We chatted with The Australian Ballet's dancer and Vitesse cast member Vivienne Wong to get to the bottom of what this latest production is all about. So, let's clear a few things up. IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST TUTUS AND TIARAS Throw out your misconceptions of what ballet is supposed to be with this one; Vitesse is an undeniably modern show. Unlike its more traditional counterparts Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet, this production is rooted firmly in the present. Comprised of three unique ballets, each piece challenges dancers to push themselves to their limits. Wong, who is featured in two of the three ballets, believes it's Vitesse's emphasis on physicality that makes this a must-see production. "It's totally different to our traditional ballets," she says. "It's three amazing works that are really influential to contemporary ballet these days." Donning plain leotards and flowing dresses, Wong reveals these simple costumes further highlight the dynamic shapes and lines made by the dancers on stage. "Everyone gets to really push themselves in a fun way. It's so physically different to the straight, classical ballet. It's challenging on our bodies." [caption id="attachment_563663" align="alignnone" width="1280"] NYC Ballet, DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse[/caption] IT TAKES CUES FROM CULTURAL HISTORY Despite its contemporary grounding, Vitesse doesn't lose sight of the past. The triple bill's first ballet, Christopher Wheeldon's DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, sees English composer Michael Nyman's 1993 musical score Musique à Grande Vitesse transformed into a spectacular display of agility and motion. So what's the significance behind all this? Basically, the composition was created for the inauguration of France's fast train, TGV. Now, this might sound like the dullest means of inspiration — but hear us out. As Wong explains, Wheeldon wanted to "capture the feeling travelling in time or being suspended in space". Which might help paint a picture of the choreographed reimagination of the work. This movement is played out in a pas de deux (translation: a duet where dancers move through ballet steps together), where performers, hurtling and bounding across the stage, capture the movement of this high-speed train. The ballet unfolds with sequences that capture the intensity of the music through geometric shapes and sculptural positions, which, as Wong describes it, is "really quite athletic". IT'S FAST PACED AND VARIED That's right folks, along with DGV, there are still two more ballets on this bill to keep you entertained. Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián's Forgotten Land brings a somber tone to the night, capturing the loneliness and heartache contained within the paintings of Edvard Munch. As Wong explains, the work is "inspired by a painting of a woman alone on a beach. He [Kylián] wanted to express these feelings of time lost...it's about recalling time's past". Six couples will fill the stage, flowing through an emotional and passionate ballet. And to round it all off, William Forsythe's 1987 ballet In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated promises to blow audiences away with explosive, ultra-stretched poses. Challenging dancers to extend and test their athletic abilities, this slick composition of complex movements ends Vitesse on a deservedly dramatic note. It seems an apt end to a bill that showcases the beautiful extremes of dance, and how powerful, athletic and complex it can be. Vitesse runs from April 26 to May 16 at the Sydney Opera House as part of The Australian Ballet's 2016 season. You can book tickets here.
Finding what we want, when we want it, has never been easier. Whether we're scrolling through social media or doing a quick search for something we heard about on a podcast, discovering new brands and products — and getting your hands on them almost straight away — is simpler than ever before. So, what does this all mean for the future of brick-and-mortar stores? In a competitive market of tech-driven retailers and powerhouse big brands, small businesses are looking forward to the future. With so many retailers to choose from, consumers are demanding faster and more personalised service at competitive prices. For small business owners, the challenge to keep up proves complex and demanding — but also very exciting. To give you a taste of how entrepreneurs are meeting this evolving climate head-on, we've teamed up with the City of Sydney as part of its Retail Innovation Program. Learn how five Sydney entrepreneurs are responding to the changing nature of retail and their predictions for what lies ahead in the years to come. [caption id="attachment_734254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] KOA RECOVERY: ALIGNING WITH AND SUPPORTING LIKE-MINDED BUSINESSES Building a business often means forging an untrodden path. For many entrepreneurs, their big idea speaks to a gap in the market. Koa Recovery began three years ago when director Shaun Button suffered a nasty back injury and discovered a slew of innovative recovery facilities in the US. "There have been so many challenges along the way," explains Button. "Some of the biggest challenges arose because Koa Recovery was the first of its kind in Australia... we've been navigating the unknown every day." Button believes that the future of retail will revolve around partnership and collaboration. With the rising prominence of online retailers, creating hubs for similar businesses to connect and thrive together will prove essential to everyone's success. Button also raises the importance of partnering with the right businesses for the most mutually beneficial outcome. "If you're using influencers, choose ones who are going to educate your audience and see the same vision you see. Align yourself with brands who have a similar approach and support your way of doing things." [caption id="attachment_734256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] POP-UP FINDS: DESIGNING WITH ZERO WASTE IN MIND Temporary events and pop-up installations take plenty of manpower to put together, from securing a space to bringing in stock, signage and furniture. But, what happens when its time to pack everything away? Kim and Taryn Hoang saw this as a golden business opportunity, so they co-founded the pop-up experience platform Pop-Up Finds. Together, the pair has designed flat-pack furniture rentals for shopping centres in Melbourne, Sydney and Hong Kong. The duo think this concept of brands sharing and recycling resources as the future of retail spaces. "We saw a lot of waste in the pop-up and events industry, as brands were purchasing furniture to use as a one-time event and then throwing it away or storing it in their warehouse never to be used again," explains the duo. "We modelled our business so brands can use our services instead and not worry about the environmental wastage they were causing." [caption id="attachment_731474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] THE CRUELTY-FREE SHOP: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AGILE Over the past two decades Jessica Bailey, founder of The Cruelty-Free Shop, has witnessed the everchanging landscape of Australia's retail industry. "We started as a tiny online shop just doing food," reveals Bailey. "Now, we've expanded to become a one-stop shop offering cruelty-free versions of fashion, shoes, cosmetics, wine, instant meals and groceries." Learning to adapt to emerging technologies has proved crucial to Bailey's business success. From offering click-and-collect services to keeping tabs on overseas retail trends, she believes it's all about being open to new possibilities and never being afraid to challenge the status quo. In the years to come, Bailey hopes to see the emergence of innovative technology that will streamline the shopping experience, like shops that don't have traditional point-of-sale systems, but rather "door barcode readers that automatically charge your account as you leave". [caption id="attachment_734258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] MODSIE: USING TECH TO IMPROVE SHOPPING EXPERIENCES From fakes to frauds, the world of online luxury fashion proves troubled terrain. To create a safe and secure place to buy authentic and high-quality products, Josephine de Parisot and Ashish Das co-founded Modsie. In a nutshell, it's a luxury second-hand online store where you can sell unwanted pieces and buy pre-loved products at reasonable prices. Since launching in 2016, Modsie has grown from a mere handful of items to 2000 active listings with a combined value of over $3 million. Today, the brand hosts occasional pop-ups and events but is putting its attention towards data-driven digital marketing and retail experiences. "Artificial intelligence is transforming the interaction that customers are having with their retailers. Data and AI algorithms are also revolutionising the retail space with, for example, product recommendations, QR codes to get additional information about products and even facial recognition to bypass the traditional checkout process," de Parisot says. [caption id="attachment_731483" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] CITIZEN WOLF: LEVERAGING OFFLINE EFFORTS TO BUILD TRUST WITH CUSTOMERS Making a purchase online is a transactional experience. You see it, you like it, you buy it and a few days later the product turns up on your doorstep. But, opening the package is often a roll of the dice. For Zoltan Csaki and Eric Phu, co-founders of the ethical made-to-order basics label Citizen Wolf, giving customers access to the range in-store has always proved a priority. Despite using a 'magic fit algorithm' to help online shoppers find their perfect fit, the pair believe a large part of their success stems from educating customers about the production process offline. It's about allowing shoppers to touch their fabrics in-person and try on a range of cuts to make an informed purchase that will stay with them for years to come. "I think that's the challenge when you're doing an online-only play. It's really hard to truly understand what your customers are saying and what they want. So, the shop for us has always been about that, a space to talk to people," Csaki explains. Learn more about the City of Sydney Retail Innovation Program here. Image: Kimberley Low.
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.
IKEA might be your go-to for snuggly new sheets and doonas, but now the Swedish retailer is keen to help our four-legged mates get a good night's sleep, too. And you can help the cause, simply by donating some old linen. From July 6 to 14, IKEA Tempe is hosting a textiles take-back program, collecting old and unused bedding to be upcycled into comfy beds for animals in need of adoption. Pop in store and drop off any of your pre-loved blankets, towels, sheets, quilts and quilt covers, as long as they're washed, clean and in acceptable quality. You can find the full guidelines here. The textiles will then be distributed to RSPCA shelters across the state. Just think: you'll get to clear out the back of that linen cupboard and make a dent in the 500,000 tonnes of textiles that end up in Aussie landfill every year, all while helping some cute fluffers sleep a whole lot easier this winter. If you're keen for a cuddle, drop off your old wares on one of IKEA Tempe's pet adoption days. On Saturday, July 6 and Thursday, July 11, from 11am–2pm, you'll get to meet some of the cute NSW cats and dogs currently in search of their forever homes.
For a fortnight each May, one French city becomes the centre of the film world. If you're not lucky enough to be there, then you're likely to have a huge case of cinephile envy. Stars, scandals, movies that are applauded, flicks that half the theatre walks out on — that's the Cannes Film Festival each and every year. And, of course, 2018 didn't prove any different — even for those watching from afar. Indeed, taking place from May 8 to 19, this year's fest was filled with off-screen highlights. Firstly, the stacked main jury was led by Australia's own Cate Blanchett — alongside Kristen Stewart, Blue Is the Warmest Colour star Léa Seydoux, A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay and Blade Runner 2049 filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, among others. Then there was the 82-woman march, protesting the paltry number of female filmmakers who've had titles selected in the festival's competition (if you're wondering, 1866 movies directed by men have made the cut over Cannes' 71 years). Finally, Melancholia and Nymphomanic auteur Lars von Trier was allowed back after famously being banned in 2011, only to make a flick that caused throngs of people to leave. Oh, and Netflix was shut out and people weren't allowed to take selfies on the red carpet. That's all well and good, but it's what's on the festival's screens that really matters — and this year's program boasted plenty of movies to add to your must-see list. Some are definitely headed our way, with release dates already set, like Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman. And some will show up at Sydney Film Festival this month (three on this list, in fact), with others bound to be announced in the Melbourne International Film Festival full lineup. Others we might have to cross our fingers for, including Jean-Luc Godard's Image Book. With all of that in mind, here's our top five to look out for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwcb5ki1f-4 SHOPLIFTERS One of Japan's most prolific and consistent filmmakers of late, Hirokazu Kore-eda is also one of the country's best — and he has the resume to prove it. His last movie, The Third Murder, only premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year and then went on to win six awards at Japan's version of the Oscars. His newest, Shoplifters, premiered at Cannes and is now this year's Palme d'Or winner. Well known for his thoughtful, emotionally resonant explorations of family life in films such as I Wish, Like Father, Like Son, Our Little Sister and After the Storm, he's up to his usual, wonderful tricks in Shoplifters, which tells of a family of small-time crooks who take in a young girl they find on the streets. Kore-eda's works always challenge their scenarios in unexpected ways, and by all reports, this applauded effort delivers. This film will screen at Sydney Film Festival 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgUesU1pz4 UNDER THE SILVER LAKE It has been four years since David Robert Mitchell creeped everyone out with his smart, unsettling take on the horror genre. If you followed It Follows into Aussie cinemas, you'll want to follow his latest flick, Under the Silver Lake, there as well. This time around, the writer/director spins a Los Angeles-set mystery about a directionless 33-year-old (Andrew Garfield) suddenly caught up in the disappearance of his attractive neighbour (Riley Keough). If that doesn't intrigue you enough, then the fact that It Follows composer Disasterpiece will make another appearance should. As demonstrated in his last film, Mitchell knows how to nod to his influences but still deliver his distinctive sense of mood and tone, so seeing how he does just that with LA noir is certainly enticing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij9C3Ej5CaE HAPPY AS LAZZARO Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher has already starred in one of the best movies doing the rounds of the international festival circuit this year, thanks to the Berlinale-bowing Daughter of Mine. Now, with Happy as Lazzaro, it seems like she might've featured in another. This year's winner of Cannes' best screenplay award — tying with 3 Faces — it was written and directed by her sister Alice Rohrwacher. And while the story might seem straightforward, the film has a few twists up its sleeves. The feature steps into the life of its titular character (Adriano Tardiolo), a peasant, who forms a bond with Tancredi (Tomasso Ragno), a nobleman. If you're keen on movies that start out one way and end up as something different, this sounds like it'll be right up your alley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=85&v=wi6Kw7V8gXk BURNING Plenty of films won plenty of awards at this year's Cannes, as always, but Burning seems to have won the most hearts. It also took home the festival's FIPRESCI prize, which is awarded by a panel of film critics — so that should tell you how widely it was loved. Directed by South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong (2010's Poetry, a best screenplay winner at Cannes) and featuring The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun, the slow-building effort focuses on three characters connected in different ways, with a romance between former neighbours only part of the ambiguous, enigmatic narrative. Plus, Burning is based on a Haruki Murakami short story — and while it also clocks in at 148 minutes, it'll be worth it. This film will screen at Sydney Film Festival 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNp0jlfbgqM CLIMAX Everyone has an opinion on Gaspar Noé. Indeed, his movies are nothing if not divisive. Irreversible, Enter the Void and Love all have their passionate fans and their avid haters, and Climax is bound to fall into the same camp. The French-based Argentinian filmmaker was reportedly annoyed that not enough people walked out of his latest picture, which featured in one of the Cannes Film Festival's sidebars, Directors' Fortnight. Its clearly provocative title aside, the movie has been called Noé's best, so perhaps that's why most of the audience stuck around. The Sofia Boutella (Atomic Blonde)-starring effort also been praised for the director's typically vivid visuals, in a film that's an ultra-violent dance movie as well as a lurid horror flick. It features acid-spiked sangria, which says plenty, really. This film will screen at Sydney Film Festival 2018.
James Squire was a convict. He was also Australia's first brewer. While the man might have been responsible for an unknown crime, he was responsible for some good beer, too. And, many years on, his name adorns brewhouses all over the country. The Squire's Landing in Circular Quay is one of them: a two-storey restaurant and brewhouse with a microbrewery in residence, home to stunning panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. The venue will be capitalising on this come New Year's Eve. With front row seats for the fireworks display, there's a couple of different options for punters looking for a party on December 31. You can opt to spend the night in the exclusive Tower Room, with access to the Harbour Deck for the 9pm and 12am fireworks. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, it'll be serving you up a big dose of gobsmacking views, and the restaurant will serve you a five-course sharing menu and a drink on arrival. All this will set you back a cool $1000 but hey, it's New Year's — worry about your bank account next year. Or, you can head to the restaurant and make use of one of its long tables if you've got a big group with you. You'll also get to cop the fireworks from the Harbour Deck, and dine on the same five-course meal and drink, for the marginally lower $900. The menu features a luxe selection of bites including oysters, lobster and coffee-cured smoked duck. If you want to dial things back just a tad, you can head out into the Forecourt for $450 per person, which includes canapés from 6pm until 2am plus a drink on arrival. Three options to steer your night into smooth sailing party waters: James Squire was a man of opportunity. For more information and to purchase tickets to The Squire's Landing New Year's Eve bash, visit the website.
2025 marks 20 years since Oasis last toured Australia, but that's where the lengthy gap between the band's Down Under shows is ending. There's comeback tours and then there's Britain's most-famous feuding siblings reuniting to bring one of the country's iconic groups back together for a massive world tour — and when Liam and Noel Gallagher start taking to the stage together again, they'll do so at gigs in Sydney and Melbourne. Oasis' reunion tour has been huge news since mid-2024, when Liam and Noel announced that they would reform Oasis — and bury the hatchet — for a run of shows in the UK and Ireland. Since then, they've been expanding their tour dates, also locking in visits to Canada and the US. From London, Manchester and Dublin to Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City, the entire tour so far is sold out. That's the story, morning glory. The Manchester-born band is hitting the Harbour City on Friday, November 7–Saturday, November 8, 2025, playing Accor Stadium. [caption id="attachment_975206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Jill Furmanovsky[/caption] Oasis broke up in 2009, four years after their last Australian tour, and following seven albums from 1994's Definitely Maybe through to 2008's Dig Your Soul — and after drawing massive crowds to their live gigs along the way (see: documentary Oasis Knebworth 1996). If you're feeling supersonic about the group's reunion, you can likely expect to hear that track, plus everything from 'Live Forever', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Morning Glory' and 'Some Might Say' through to 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Champagne Supernova' when they hit Australia. [caption id="attachment_975205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns[/caption] Top image: Simon Emmett. Updated Friday, October 11, 2024.
If the oncoming cold has you dreading winter, fear not — Merivale is giving Sydneysiders a reason to push forward into the season. For all of June, the Sydney hospitality empire is once again saying "bottoms up, Sydney" with a whopping 49-percent off booze at 39 of its venues between 5pm and 7pm. Why? Well, just because. Plus, See Sound — a free gig series presented by Merivale and Furphy — is back for another instalment, starting the June long weekend with a fresh lineup of artists. No joke. For those two hours every day in June, Merivale bars and pubs will sling all cocktails, mixed drinks, spirits, beer, wine and even Champagne at nearly half price — anything under $200 is fair game. Come the weekend, you can also kick back with some live tunes at well-loved inner west haunt The Vic On The Park and Bondi's latest scene, The Royal, every Saturday, as well as every Sunday atop the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop. And, if you're more of a fan of throwing shapes on the dancefloor, ivy will host house music legends Sasha and John Digweed for its Ministry of Sound Club weekend party. Cheap brews and live tunes, just because. See you at the bar. THE VIC ON THE PARK No newbie to the live gig scene, Marrickville's beloved Vic On The Park has seen plenty of bands on its outdoor stage — the car park. Kicking back on the verandah, sinking some weekend arvo ales and catching some live tunes is a favourite pastime for locals and visitors alike. So on any given day of the week, whether it's mid-week, post-work bevs (which will be almost half price between 5 and 7pm in June) or a casual Sunday game of shooting hoops with mates, the crowd is always eclectic. Everyone's welcome, even your pooch. In June, The Vic will heat things up with some live gigs, part of See Sound's winter edition, every Saturday. Starting things off on the Saturday of June long weekend, music collective I OH YOU will take over the pub with some new Australian-based artists like Shogun and the Sheets and Jade Imagine playing al fresco in the car park while Fritz, Sunscreen and Egoism will play inside after 9pm. COOGEE PAVILION ROOFTOP A hub where the local community, families, tourists and old sea dogs all come together, Coogee Pavilion has an electric atmosphere year-round. Although partying on the rooftop in warmer weather is basically synonymous with Sydney summers, cosying up with a 49 percent-off Australian red ale, tucking into some pizza and watching the quiet beach before you as the sun sets is just as enjoyable. You'll almost catch that sweet summer scent in the air. Before winter truly sets in, the pub is keeping warmer vibes alive with See Sound Winter, kicking off on Sunday, June 23 with a session tracked by Bondi boys Yolanda Be Cool, supported by DJs of Barney Cools and Audiopaxx. On other weekends, expect the likes of Total Giovanni (July 21) and a take over by Reptile Dysfunction x Hot Sunday Records (August 18) with house music playing all Sunday long by a lineup of local and international DJs. THE ROYAL Merivale's revamped version of this long-running Bondi pub has caused much hype since its opening last year, particularly with its Italian eatery Totti's. But instead of gutting the entire space and losing much of its grungy charm, the group has left the dive bar vibes the front bar intact. Pool tables, a retro carpet and regular karaoke sessions belted out by locals bring about a good vibe, while its restaurant draws a more epicurean crowd. So, it's all a big mixed bag of people — as a pub should be. See Sound Winter kicks off at The Royal on the Queen's birthday long weekend on Saturday, June 8, continuing the pub's reputation as a live gig stalwart. The Preature's Jack Moffitt will play a DJ set, vocalist Leroy Francis and duo Sloane Peterson will play live gigs, and DJ Danial of Midnight Juggernauts will take the decks as well. With The Royal now pouring a hefty range of booze for just about every palate and budget, swing by for a cheap tipple, too. Although the front bar may not have changed too much looks-wise, the booze has certainly levelled up. Sip natural wines, espresso martinis on tap or even something bubbly, celebratory and French as well as a range of beers — all for 49 percent-off every day from 5–7pm. IVY PRECINCT The ivy precinct is a behemoth — both in size and reputation — housing just about everything under one roof. With dining, retail, music and even a pool, it's basically a playground for well-heeled adults. It's no stranger to an extravagant party, either. Hosting Ministry of Sound Club every weekend, the complex is a renowned spot to blow off some steam in Sydney. Although it's a party every weekend, the long weekend is set to be a huge one, with UK DJs Sasha and John Digweed playing a dance-inducing residence on both Saturday night (June 8) and during the day on Sunday (June 9). And seeing as ivy is smack bang in the middle of the CBD, it would be remiss not to pop in after work and nab a nearly half price drink. There's no end of bars to perch yourself at — from the low-key hangs like The Royal George and Palings to Euro-inspired venues like recently opened Bar Topa and French fine diner Felix. And, of course, there's ivy Pool Club a literal pool bar in the middle of the city. With parties, free tunes flowing and 49 percent-off drinks throughout June, Merivale is giving us plenty of reason to get out from under the blanket and enjoy our city this winter — just because. Plus, there's also a chance to win a seaplane and dining experience at Bert's. Top image: Coogee Pavilion Rooftop.
The Powerhouse Museum's new blockbuster exhibition Game Masters celebrates some of the world’s most influential game designers, groundbreaking consoles and beloved characters. Whittle away the day with over 100 playable games, including Pacman, World of Warcraft and Asteroids. The exhibition will be divided into three sections. Charged with '80s nostalgia, 'Arcade Heroes' invites you to relive the joy of traditional arcade games, spotlighting pioneering designers such as Shigeru Miyamoto (Donkey Kong) and Tomohiro Nishikado (Space Invaders). It's a rare and exciting opportunity to be reunited with these seminal machines. 'Game Changers', meanwhile, focuses on the influential designers that have shaped the medium as we know it. And finally, 'Indie' highlights the trend towards independently developed games, and their innovative approaches to aesthetics and gameplay. Fruit Ninja, Minecraft and Angry Birds are some of the success stories of this category. Over 170,000 people visited this incredibly popular exhibition at ACMI in Melbourne and Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand. So you'd better book if you want a slice of priceless nostalgic gameplay.
Step through the the mystical wardrobe and bring your childhood literary fantasies to life at The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition. Based on the hit film adaptations of C.S. Lewis' legendary books, the exhibition finally lets you explore the magical world you read about and watched on screen. Let the magic unfold as you wander through this incredible, hands-on exhibition. Once you have traveled through its 'wardrobe' and into the exhibit space, marvel at the place where all the magic began in a replica of Lewis' writing study. The stories leap off the pages throughout the rest of the exhibition as visitors are invited to touch the icy replica of the White Witch's throne, or run their hand over a frozen waterfall. Each bit has an informative or scientific component, connecting the mystical to our reality. Visit King Miraz's castle, or create your own Narnia-dwelling creature; lift (or attempt to lift) the armour displayed in the film's battle scene, admire the other costumes, or learn about the physics involved in a catapult. This Powerhouse Museum exhibition will thrill any C.S. Lewis and Narnia fan with its sheer multitude of activities and film artifacts to see. Diehard fans (akin to devotee, actress Christina Ricci, who sports an Aslan tattoo) should consider attending the exhibition's opening weekend.
Urban beekeeping will never be the same. A brand new Australian-designed beehive has raised over $1 million on Indiegogo in less than three hours. Why? The honey's on tap, straight from the hive. New South Wales beekeepers and Lords of the Bees Stuart Anderson and his son Cedar have devised a brand new means to collect honey without disturbing the bees, meaning the golden, sticky goodness flows out of a tap using a channel system. This means you can literally put your toast under a tap at the hive. Looking to the crowdfunding platform, the Andersons hoped to raise $70,000 to help their invention, Flow Hive. The pair have now raised a whopping $2,588,820 USD — that's $3,304,369 AUD. BOOM. So how does it work? Stuart Anderson talked the ABC through it. It all hinges around a plastic frame design, on which the bees get busy building their honeycomb. Twisting a lever allows the honeycomb to fracture, allowing that sweet, sweet honey to flow and drip down through special channels, all without breaking the honeycomb. Then, the good stuff makes its way to a pipe leading out of the hive and into your mouth. Then the whole process can start again by twisting that lever back into place and returning the cells back to their position. Just LOOK at that honey. Beekeepers will be losing their minds about now. No suits? "If you know your bees, you can sit there in shorts and a t-shirt and it's safe, because you're not opening the hive and you're not banging around disturbing the bees," Anderson told Radio National. This is huge news for novice urban beekeepers, unknowing noobs who think they can chuck a hive in the backyard and have fresh honey without getting stung. The whole kit (without bees) will set you back $600, but it's a honey tap. A honey tap. Via ABC.
War-holy crap. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has just announced one of its most ambitious and extensive projects. Ever. On November 1, 2014, they'll open the doors on Pop to popism — the largest pop art exhibition in Australian history. More than 200 works by 70 artists, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Martin Sharp and Brett Whiteley will have an entire floor to themselves. In the biggest pop art escapade the AGNSW has ever undertaken, 35 collectors from all corners of the earth will be lending their works. The selection covers both classic pop art as well as the '70s and '80s new wave. Squealworthy inclusions count Andy Warhol’s Triple Elvis (1963) among the ranks, as well as David Hockney’s Portrait of an artist (1972), Robert Indiana’s Love cross (1968), Lichtenstein’s In the car (1963) and Howard Arkley’s Triple fronted (1987). "This will be the most comprehensive survey of pop art to be seen in Australia and reflects the decisive role played by pop in the development of contemporary art," said AGNSW director Dr Michael Brand. "The exhibition will present Australian pop artists alongside their international peers from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, and extends beyond the period of classic pop art into the eighties, giving audiences an insight into pop’s enduring legacy both here and abroad." Pop to popism, which will be on display until March 1, 2015, makes up one half of the sixth incarnation of the annual Sydney International Art Series, managed by Destination NSW. The exhibition will run in conjunction with Chuck Close prints: Process and collaboration, which will show at the Museum of Contemporary Art between November 19, 2014 and March 9, 2015. Pop to popism runs 1 Nov 2014 — 1 Mar 2015 at the AGNSW.
Hospitality super groups are having a moment in Sydney. A quartet of ex-Rockpool legends led by Corey Costelloe have launched one of the most interesting restaurant openings of the year in Marrickville, while over in Redfern, The Bat and Ball Hotel has been given a glow up by an all-star team of no less than ten hospo heavyweights. Just a stone's throw away from there, in the former premises of The Sunshine Inn on Redfern Road, an awesome foursome of Bentley and Love Tilly alumni has managed to find some uncharted territory in Sydney's already-saturated Italian cuisine offering. A buzzy, Euro-leaning, "Italian-ish" pseudo-osteria, ATTENZIONE! Food and Wine is the passion project of Felix Colman, the part-owner and operator of Ragazzi and Fabbrica; former Yellow manager Toby Davis; Toby Stansfield of Lola's in Bondi; and Dexter Kim, an ex-Buffet Digital videographer. [caption id="attachment_968383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] (L-R) Toby Stansfield, Toby Davis, Felix Colman and Dexter Kim[/caption] Before you jump to conclusions, the choice of name has nothing to do with online memes or pickpockets. It's actually a reference to an in-joke between the four partners regarding an Italian friend's mother, who, while visiting her daughter in Sydney, would cry out "Attenzione!" whenever a handsome—and potentially eligible—fella strolled past. Since then, shouting "Attenzione!" has become a go-to callback between the friends, so it quickly emerged as the obvious name for their first venture together. Italian pastas star on the menu, but the food offering is more of a broad-brush homage to the dining cultures of Continental Europe — with a few Asian riffs thrown in for good measure. "We've had some pretty memorable food and drink experiences in Europe," Colman says of the restaurant's melting pot of influences. "Tiny enotecas in Alba that spill out onto cobblestoned streets, noisy backstreet bistros in Paris and too many sunny aperitivos along the Med coast to count. ATTENZIONE! was created to be the buzz and vibe of all those experiences combined." While the menu will be dynamic and shuffle regularly, there will be a few tried-and-true staples fated to be house favourites, such as the pico XL: "an almost obscenely oversized version of pico pasta", according to Stansfield. These fat, juicy strands will be the vehicle for a range of classic sauces, including cacio e pepe and nduja crema with Kinkawooka mussels. Summoning the flavours of a French brasserie, dry-aged dairy cow steaks, courtesy of Emilio's Butcher in Rozelle, will be served with a house-made chopped green onion condiment, while charcoal-roasted free-range chicken with chicory and horseradish channels a more Teutonic energy. And because dessert should never be taken too seriously (sorry grand patissiers), there will be playful, dig-your-spoon-in, crowd-pleasing sweets to finish such as an apple baked in pastry and served with a rich tonka custard, and a pineapple, espresso cookie and whipped ganache sundae. Snacks will also be a specialty at ATTENZIONE!, with a similarly pan-European mingle of influences, such as locally smoked trout pate served with a chicken-skin crisp and a full loaf of fougasse flatbread spread with wildflower butter. Not to be outdone, the wine offering is as loud and wide-ranging as the food. Colman and Davis have compiled a 150-bottle cellar with plenty of homegrown drops but also an emphasis on the team's favourite Italian varietals, Nebbiolo, as well as pours from Barolo, Barbaresco and Piemonte. Expect a substantial by the glass selection, digestifs including grappas, armagnacs and amaros, a streamlined list of classic cocktails and even some funkier natural drops for those who enjoy low-intervention bottles. "Many of the producers we've chosen for our list have really inspired us over our years of enjoying and working in wine," Colman explains. "We're really proud to hero these great people and their incredible wines, they care for the land and the providence of their craft, looking to leave the earth better than when they found it which is very important to us." The fitout, by new Sydney-based interiors studio Coffeyhallet, boasts a vibrant mustard and aniseed palette as well as tactile leather banquettes, dark-stained Bentwood chairs and large mirrors to create a sense of space. The restaurant's decor is intended to be an extension of the lively, relaxed, welcoming vibes that the four owners hope ATTENZIONE! will be known for. Find ATTENZIONE! Food and Wine at 180 Redfern Street, Redfern, open Monday, Thursday and Friday, 5pm–late, and Saturday–Sunday, 12.30pm–late. Head to the venue's website for more details. Images: Dexter Kim
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
Camperdown, Bali, LA. And now, Penrith. Deus Ex Machina couldn't ignore the huge demand for this cooler-than-cool motorcycle culture-inspired brand after the success of Deus' pop-up shop in Penrith a while back. Now there's a permanent shop in town where you can pick up a quality cotton t-shirt — no shrinking or stretching here — or a serious motorcycle jacket to make sure you are protected and looking good at the same time. The range also includes women's and kids' wear so the whole family can get in on the cool factor. Images: Katrina James.
Friends Adrian Norris and Edwina Forest started Aje in 2008 as a women's clothing line that's all about effortless style. Norris brings an artistic background from his time at Liceo Artistico Venezia, and Forest brings her knowledge of fashion publishing from her time at RUSSH magazine. Together, they've created everyday looks that range from puffed sleeve dresses to oversized hoodies. Each store is minimalist in design, and you'll find the Chatswood boutique on level one of Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre. [caption id="attachment_779780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Images: Cassandra Hannagan
