UPDATE: July 13, 2020: The Goldfinch is available to stream via Netflix, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. A best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. A filmmaker fresh from directing another literary adaptation to three Oscar nominations. A cast of high-profile faces spanning Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver). Regardless of whether screenwriter Peter Straughan counts as a strength or a weakness — he scripted the excellent recent version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but was also responsible for the horrendous The Snowman — The Goldfinch definitely doesn't lack in pedigree. Alas, as based on Donna Tartt's 2013 book and directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn), the result is a curious film. It's easy to see how this neo-Dickensian coming-of-age tale about a traumatised teen, an explosion, a stolen painting and the chaos that follows could enthral on the page; however it's just as easy to remain distanced from it on the big screen. When viewers first meet Theo Decker (Elgort), he's a suave, drug-addicted twentysomething in Amsterdam. How he got there, why he's so stressed and strung out, and why he's muttering about an artwork called The Goldfinch are all soon relayed via flashbacks. At the age of 13, Theo (Oakes Fegley, Pete's Dragon) visits the Metropolitan Museum of Art with his mother, survives a bombing that claims her life, and leaves with a ring he's asked to return to an antiques dealer (Wright) — as well as the famed 1654 piece by Carel Fabritius that gives the movie its name. When he's happily bunking down with the wealthy family of one of his private school classmates, and hoping that their matriarch (Nicole Kidman) will adopt him, Theo hides the stolen painting. As he's struggling through a strained Las Vegas reunion with his compulsive gambler dad (Luke Wilson) and bartender girlfriend (Sarah Paulson), the portrait haunts him. And, after he's all grown up, back in New York and trading in antiques himself, the picture remains out of sight but never out of Theo's mind. While The Goldfinch takes its moniker from the beloved masterpiece and tasks its protagonist with fixating on it, the priceless artwork means more here as a symbol than as an object. A knowledge of art history will help audience members, but the film does eventually explain the painting's fascinating background, its parallels with Theo's journey, and why it represents the enduring nature of beauty in shaping both individual and collective memories. That said, on a narrative level, the piece is hardly crucial — especially given the hectic wave of unlikely events that keep befalling Theo both as an adolescent and as an adult. Indeed, as their lead character befriends a rebellious Ukrainian (Wolfhard), obsesses over a flame-haired fellow survivor (Ashley Cummings), reignites old acquaintances and gets immersed in shady dealings on opposite sides of the world, Crowley and Straughan can't be accused of skimping on plot. Story-wise, there's rarely an empty moment. What the feature lacks, however, is the space to truly value anything of importance — and space to appreciate why its namesake is so emotionally and thematically pivotal. Much of The Goldfinch's troubles stem from its on-screen structure, which, ditching the novel's linear timeline, flits back and forth between the younger and older Theo. While it's an expressive choice, designed to convey the adrift and uncertain inner state plaguing its central figure, it largely plays as needlessly convoluted. As a result, the movie feels simultaneously laborious, rushed and distracted across its 2.5-hour running time — like it's packing as much as possible onto its large canvas in a purposeful, painstaking way, then devoting its time to watching paint dry rather than soaking in the details. In the film's visuals and performances, there's still something to relish. It helps immensely that The Goldfinch has enlisted one of the best cinematographers in the business, with Roger Deakins as talented at making his peach and gold-tinted frames resemble great art as he was at navigating a neon-hued futuristic world (and winning an Academy Award, too) in Blade Runner 2049. Fine-tuned portrayals by Kidman, Wright and Fegley also assist, although Elgort comes across as opaque rather than conflicted, Wolfhard is blighted by his cartoonish accent, and Wilson and Paulson seem like they've stepped in from another movie entirely. What ultimately lingers, though, is an unfortunate comparison. It's an obvious one, as happens whenever a movie calls attention to a far superior work, and it doesn't serve Crowley's film well. It never escapes attention that Fabritius' painting depicts a creature capable of flying high, but firmly stuck in place — a feat that, despite seemingly boasting all the right elements, The Goldfinch mirrors in all the wrong ways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_nRqgk1HgM
A mainstay in the Sydney live music scene, The Metro Theatre is an independent venue that has hosted some of the world's best rock n' roll acts — both local and international. The grungy space has been rocking for decades now and has seen the likes of Muse, Placebo, The Eels, Alex Lloyd and The Dandy Warhols take the stage. More often than not, the theatre focuses on emerging talent, but you can catch bigger acts there from time to time, too. If you're looking to impress for your next gathering, you can even hire out The Metro for all of your nearest and dearest mates.
Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, and tastebuds across Australia thanked them. Then, it kept bringing the OTT dessert back when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness across the year. In fact, the dessert fiends have been serving them up for more than 12 months now. Messina celebrated that one-year milestone back in April — but it isn't done with cookie pies yet. This time, it's bringing back a past favourite just for Sydneysiders. With the city currently in lockdown, everyone could definitely use a pie made out of cookie dough, then filled with the gooey choc-hazelnut spread that the gelato chain calls Messinatella. Like all of Messina's cookie pies, this one serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. The Messinatella cookie pies are available for preorder right now — and only from Sydney stores except The Star. On its own, the indulgent choc chip pie will cost $28. But to sweeten the deal, the cult ice creamery has created a few bundle options, should you want some of its famed gelato atop it. You can add on a 500-millilitre tub for $38, a one-litre tub for $44 or a 1.5-litre tub for $48. To get your pie to your oven, you will have to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store between Friday, July 2–Sunday, July 4 to pick it up — while social distancing and adhering to Sydney's current restrictions, of course. Once you've got the pie safely home, you just need to whack it in the oven for 20–25 minutes and voila. Sydneysiders can preorder a Messina Messinatella cookie pie right now — while stocks last — to pick up from Friday, July 2–Sunday, July 4.
Across May and June, the CBD's historic multi-storey venue Shell House is throwing a huge food and music festival once again, with a local lineup of musicians and chefs taking over all four of the building's venues across eight weeks of festivities. Beginning with food and beverages, there's a whole heap of special one-off menus and kitchen takeovers happening throughout the month. The Shell House crew is exploring the world of tuna via a two-part series called Wet, Cold and Delicious — there'll be a Dale Ridgers-led event called Hand Dived taking place on Wednesday, June 10, and A Deep Dive Into Tuna, including a live Maguro Shoten (a traditional Japanese tuna cutting show and auction) followed by a five-course meal, with Chef Toshihiko Oe (Sushi Oe) and Narito Ishii (Sydney Fish Markets) on Monday, June 24. Further program highlights include a one-day pop-up from Melbourne's Osteria Ilaria and Tipo 00 at Menzies Bar on Saturday, June 22, and a beef-focused dinner in partnership with Anthony Purharich of Victor Churchill and Vic's Meats on Thursday, June 20. You'll also have the chance to sip your way through the world's smallest champagne bar throughout the duration of the fest. And don't go past the familiar favourites — happy hour martini, margarita and negroni specials will also be available across Shell House venues if you're unwinding during the bustling precinct's biggest festivities. As for the music, you can expect local favourites like Jonti, Kirin J Callinan and Aussie jazz legend James Morrison to pop up for sets alongside Shell House's own house band. Plus, Sky Bar will host a heap of free gigs, with sets from Ben Fester and Wax'O Paradiso alongside takeovers by Planet Trip, Bypass and Veer East planned for the two months. Topping the whole thing off will be cultural and art installations from the likes of Regression Studio, MIKEY FREEDOM, Jai Winnell, Troy Emery, Lauren Brincat and street performers at the Clocktower Bar. You can check out the full schedule at the Shell House website.
If you're a dinosaur fan in Australia, life keeps finding a way to indulge your interest in prehistoric creatures. In Brisbane, the Dinosaurs of Patagonia museum showcase is currently displaying impressive fossils. In Melbourne and later Sydney, Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience is about to hit. And also in the Harbour City, Jurassic World: The Exhibition will soon roar into town with its own critters, as well as a celebration of 30 years since the first Jurassic Park movie initially rampaged across the big screen. Yes, it's a great time to fascinated with dinosaurs right now — we've seen two seasons of Prehistoric Planet on streaming in the past two years, too — and this latest exhibition arrives as part of a global tour. A showcase with the same name displayed in Melbourne back in 2016, but this visit comes after stops everywhere from London, San Diego, Paris and Madrid to Seoul, Shanghai and Toronto. On offer: life-sized, lifelike versions of the movie franchise's animals. Expect to feel like you've been transported to Isla Nublar, complete with a walk through the big-screen saga's famed gates. From there, you'll walk through themed environments featuring dinos, including a brachiosaurus, velociraptors — yes, get ready to say "clever girl" — and a Tyrannosaurus rex. Also linking in with the animated Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous series, there'll be baby dinos, including the show's Bumpy. Sydneysiders and visitors to the New South Wales capital will be able to get roaming, and staring at animatronic dinos, from Friday, September 22 at the 3000-square-metre SuperLuna Pavilion at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park. Exactly how long the exhibition will hang around for hasn't been announced, except that it'll be a limited stay. If it'll head to other Australian cities afterwards also hasn't been revealed. Now, all that's left is to decide which Jurassic franchise character you want to emulate (the best choices: Laura Dern's palaeobotanist Ellie Sattler, Sam Neill's palaeontologist Alan Grant and Jeff Goldblum's mathematician Ian Malcolm, of course). And no, when Michael Crichton penned Jurassic Park in 1990, then Steven Spielberg turned it into a 1993 film, they wouldn't have expected that this'd be the result three decades — and five more movies — later. Jurassic World: The Exhibition will display at SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22 — head to the exhibition's website to join the ticket waitlist.
The month of May in Brisbane would not be complete without the Paniyiri Greek Festival. From the country that gave us Homer, Plato, haloumi and Socrates comes a weekend of festivities. This year over 50,000 Greeks and honorary Greeks are expected to flock to Musgrave Park to enjoy the cross-cultural celebrations. More than 30 food stalls will be set up for the festival’s visitors, showcasing the best of Greek gastronomy from the mainland as well as the islands. Traditional Greek cooking demonstrations will be on offer for all foodies to learn the secrets of Greek cuisine. Between honey puff and olive eating competitions, plate smashing, cultural lectures, fireworks, fashion parades, amusement rides and Greek dancing, there will be more to do than time will allow. The festival never fails to attract publicity. This year, Guinness World Records will be involved, with a planned attempt at the World’s Longest Zorba taking place. Zorba lessons will be available to those wanting to participate. TV personalities George Houvardas and Rob Palmer are set to compete in the festival’s annual Greek Dancing with the Stars competition. As part of the Brisbane cultural scene for 36 years now, Paniyiri is the longest running Greek festival in Australia and simply a fun weekend out.
Gage Roads Brewing Co is officially heading to the east coast. The Perth brewery announced last week that it has signed the lease for a space that'll soon be home to its first microbrewery and taproom — and it's right here in Sydney. Having launched way back in 2004, Gage Roads has expanded to become one of Australia's largest independently owned breweries. In 2018, it rebranded nationally as Good Drinks and acquired Western Australian brewery Matso's — makers of the state's favourite alcoholic ginger beer — with more brands expected to join Good Drinks in the future. Now, the growing company has snapped up a space in Redfern. "Redfern is a community with a great diverse spirit and culture, and that aligned really well with Gage Roads," says head of marketing Miles Hull. When the brewery and taproom opens in the next 12 months, you won't find Gage Roads signatures — like the Single Fin summer ale or Atomic pale ale — instead, a new experimental sub-brand will be launching. "We see this as an opportunity to create some new beers and styles that we haven't previously done under the Gage Roads banner," says Hull. The brand will invest $3 million into making over the 578-square-metre space, which will be home to both a brewing facility and a 250-capacity taproom. The brewery won't be large enough for mass production; instead, the focus will be on creating a range of beers for onsite consumption, with the potential to send a few kegs to local bars and restaurants down the line. This super-local vibe is the exact reason why Gage Roads was keen to set up a bigger presence in the east. "We recognise that to be local is really important and we wanted to provide our east coast beer drinkers with a brewery and taproom where people can come in and taste beers that they can't get anywhere else," says Hull. If all goes well, the brewpub should be up in running in the next 12 months. You can expect to see Gage Roads snap up more properties across the east coast soon, too. We'll update you with more details as we get them. The new Gage Roads Brewery and Taproom is slated to open in the next 12 months along Regent Street, Redfern. Keep an eye on this space for updates.
The latest project of multidisciplinary artist-run initiative Alaska Projects, this cinematheque is a series of ten films curated by Dr Alex Munt of UTS. It’s an eclectic and often provocative selection, offering a range of cinematic visions of Manhattan. The club kicks off with Spike Lee’s incendiary Do the Right Thing, about a Brooklyn community straining at the seams of racial tensions as a heatwave simmers. It builds up to an explosive climax which is still hotly debated in film schools everywhere today. Offering a much more genteel view of the city that never sleeps is the wonderful Hannah and Her Sisters, one of Woody Allen’s very best works, and writer-director Whit Stillman's 1992 debut, Metropolitan. The latter is a mannered, impeccable look at the indolent younger generation of the “urban haute bourgeoisie”. There’s also two of the most controversial films about the big Apple ever made, the brutal satire of American Psycho, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s infamous, career-making novel and the Larry Clark-directed sex and drugs dirge Kids. Based on a screenplay by a then teenaged Harmony Korine, the impact of Kids was sensational and divisive — many wanted it banned, but it had its strong supporters, including Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers, who championed the film as “daringly original, touching and alive”. Each film will be introduced a guest speaker and the first screening sees Alex Munt in conversation with Alaska Projects curator Sebastian Goldspink. Films screen at Alaska Projects, barring May 6 and November 6, which are both at UTS in the Bon Marche Studio. Here's the schedule: May 6: Do the Right Thing (1989) @ UTS May 18: David Holzman's Diary (1967) @ Alaska June 15: Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) @ Alaska July 6: Ms 45 (1981) @ Alaska August 10: The Warriors (1979) @ Alaska September 14: Liquid Sky (1982) @ Alaska November 6: Metropolitan (1990) @ UTS November 16: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) @ Alaska December 14: American Psycho (2000) @ Alaska
When the first Bourne movie premiered back in 2002, it was gratefully received as a dark and gritty counterpoint to the increasing absurdity of the James Bond franchise. While Pierce Brosnan's 007 was windsurfing an arctic tidal wave forged from the dislodging of a polar ice cap by a space laser (Die Another Day), Matt Damon's Jason Bourne was stabbing a man with a biro. While Bond was driving an invisible car through an ice palace, Bourne was being driven around by an unemployed German girl in a banged up Mini. The smaller, intimate scale of the films resonated with audiences no longer amused by special effects gimmickry, and pretty soon even Bond followed suit. Ten years and two films later, the main challenge for writer Tony Gilroy (who'd also penned the previous movies) was figuring out how to slot The Bourne Legacy into the franchise without actually featuring Jason Bourne. His nifty solution was placing Legacy concurrent with the events of Bourne Ultimatum, offering audiences continuity whilst also opening up new plots and characters. As a consequence, and even without the trademark shaky cam of Paul Greengrass, Legacy feels very much a part of the Bourne universe. Taking over the reigns from Damon is current action everyman Jeremy Renner. Part hit man, part chemistry experiment, Renner's character is every bit as capable, demonstrating the requisite Man vs Wild survival skills and MacGyver-like ingenuity that helped define the series. Where Legacy diverges is in its protagonist's motivation. Unburdened by the amnesia that underscored Bourne's ambition, Renner's character simply seeks the medication needed to sustain his above-average traits. It's less pedestrian than it sounds but also far less compelling or memorable than the earlier movies. In fact, less than a day after the screening, I couldn't for the life of me remember a single character’s name aside from Jason Bourne (who's not in it) and an incidental lab technician (who's, well…entirely incidental). That's not Renner’s fault, and in a roundabout way almost fitting for a film about nameless assassins. Joining Renner on his flight from the authorities is Rachel Weisz in a role not dissimilar from her fugitive scientist in 1996's Chain Reaction. Theirs is actually a more appealing relationship than Bourne's from the original, and it's refreshing to see a genuine male/female partnership in an action film rather than the traditional hero/damsel dynamic. Edward Norton is characteristically absorbing as the agent leading their pursuit, and the only real shocker is Aussie actor Shane Jacobson popping up in a cameo that offers the textbook definition of cultural cringe. Well-paced, full of action and with an engaging leading man, Bourne Legacy ensures we've not seen the end of the franchise just yet.
Not every ballet features dancers forming constellations, gramophone-shaped mirrors creating kaleidoscopic visuals, refractive and reflective surfaces making it appear as though performers are overlapping, and choreography created for every leaf in a 134-page text — but, not every ballet is Tree of Codes. Stemming from a dream team of creative forces, the production is currently wowing crowds in London, and for good reason. Music, dance, art and literature fans, hold on to your hats: Tree of Codes is a collaboration between Jamie xx, Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor, Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and novelist Jonathan Safran Foer. First previewing in Manchester in 2016, it's named after and based on the latter's book-based artwork of the same name. Also described as a "sculptural object", the printed work took Bruno Schulz's Street of Crocodiles, cut out the majority of words and fashioned what remained into a new post-apocalyptic story. So, how do you turn that into a ballet? Foer's "blurred and disorientating worlds provide a powerful point of departure for our collaboration on stage — where constellations of light, shadows, bodies, objects and sound dance at the edges of darkness," says McGregor. "Lights panning over the audience cause its spectral image to appear on the stage's reflective, coloured scrims, integrating the viewers with the activity on the stage," states Eliasson's website, while Jamie xx created an algorithm to vocalise words from the book, transforming them into melodies. Tree of Codes' season at London's Sadler's Wells ended on March 11, and we'll keep our fingers and toes crossed that it turns up on our shores. Via Dezeen.
5 Lands Walk is a unique event that invites visitors on a 10-kilometre physical, spiritual, and cultural journey along the Central Coast. This free, day-long celebration on Sunday, June 22 is a collaboration between the communities of Darkinjung Country and the wider local community, offering opportunities to connect through walking, experiencing Aboriginal culture, live entertainment, art installations and more. The event aims to foster connections between people and place and welcomes families, friends, and visitors to celebrate life, creativity, and the region's storied Aboriginal heritage. Timed to coincide with the annual whale migration, a significant token of the Darkinjung people, 5 Lands Walk begins with an opening ceremony the night before. Participants can journey at their own pace, exploring the stunning coastline and sampling the diverse cultural offerings, including creative sculpture installations, performing artists and marine wildlife talks. And while the full route is 10 kilometres, walkers don't have to complete the entire distance — they can drive between land or take the free shuttle. 5 Lands Walk takes place on Sunday, June 22 on MacMasters Beach, Copacabana, Avoca Beach, North Avoca and Terrigal. For more information, visit the website.
Pull on your seamed stockings and pin your victory rolls in place — Sydney’s Fifties Fair is set to descend upon Rose Seidler House in Wahroonga for its 20th year running. On Sunday, August 23, the iconic house and its gardens will be transported back to their heyday, with a carefully-curated selection of stalls selling authentic '50s fashion, furniture, kitchenalia and knick knacks; hair styling and a best-dressed competition; a vintage car display for those who know their Fleetwood Cadillacs from their Jags; and a music lineup headlined by The Hi-Boys that’ll have you bopping till day’s end. When all that dancing makes you hungry, tuck into food from Porteno, Eathouse Diner, Daisy’s Milkbar and Madame Pop, then wander through (and marvel at) the house in all its Modernist architectural glory, complete with original furniture and fixtures. To get you in the swinging spirit in the leadup to the day, Sydney Living Museums (who run the whole shebang) are holding a weekly Instagram competition. Proud of that coveted mid-century sideboard in your living room? Got a frock selection to turn Betty Draper (season one) green? Show them off to win '50s-themed prizes, including Frankie subscriptions and Eathouse Diner vouchers. Hashtags and all that jazz here. WANT TO WIN TICKETS? The Fifties Fair is happening on Saturday, August 23, and thanks to the team, we have five double passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address at win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au.
A food festival is always great, but a food festival that runs for two months is better. The 2018 Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival is back and set to showcase so much delicious local produce it simply cannot be contained in a single weekend (or even a month). A variety of food and wine-related activities will take place throughout May and June, including vineyard tours, winemaking masterclasses and gourmet dinners at award-winning restaurants. For the red-wine lovers out there, there's a De Iuliis Shiraz Masterclass, where you'll be taken on a journey of the origin of Shiraz, and get to drink some of De Iulii's Wines fabulous drops too. Fancy vermouth over a vino? No worries, the Vermouth Cocktail Masterclass at Margan Winery & Restaurant will have you whipping up delicious negronis in no time. And if all that drinking works up your appetite, there's Heroes of the Hunter (a five-course degustation dinner on every night of the festival), the Whispering Brook Olive Long Table Luncheon (an olive-inspired lunch in the beautiful Whispering Brook groves) or the Hunter Valley Cooking School (where you'll cook a three-course lunch or dinner). Are you hungry yet? Us too.
Back by popular demand: Cloud Control. The quartet may come from the secluded Blue Mountains, but their unique alternative-folk style comes from old time pop influences like Neil Young and revives the purity that once came with good pop melodies. The title of their debut album says it all: Bliss Release. There's nothing like good music to put a smile on your face. It's no wonder they've already acquired quite the impressive resume. After signing with UK label Infectious Records, the band has been on the road showcasing the new album and has been received with open arms by an army of smiling fans. They went home with countless Australian Independent Music awards, were nominated in several categories at the Australian Record Industry Association awards and the J Awards, and won Best Album, Best Video and Best Live Act at the Sydney Music Arts Culture Awards. Their track 'There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight' also came in at #18 on Triple J's Hottest 100 list. Not bad, Cloud Control. They may be on their way to becoming global celebs, but the group still has a place in their heart for Australia. Sydney will be host to one of two concerts they'll play in Australia on their tour, and a limited deluxe edition of Bliss Release will be released in celebration of the occasion. The album will include the new single 'My Fear #1' and a handful of other exclusive tracks and remixes. Cloud Control may already be on cloud nine after a year of growing success and stardom, but there seems to be no end in sight to their skyrocketing fame. Check them out before they head back out on tour.
Plenty of Aussies have found themselves captivated by US TV drama The Handmaid's Tale, and the image of a dystopian society that is — even 30-odd years after the book was published — a little too close to home. And now, you'll have the chance to dive even deeper into that world, as Margaret Atwood, author of the original books that inspired the show, heads Down Under for an exclusive Australian appearance. Taking the stage at the Sydney Opera House in March 2019 in the lead-up to International Women's Day, the acclaimed Canadian writer will speak as part of the UNSW Centre for Ideas 2019 program. Atwood, celebrated for her storytelling prowess, prescient imagination and thought-provoking ideas, will share her insights into how present-day behaviours might be used to foretell any grim futures coming our way — just like those fictional worlds that hit so close to home in the likes of The Handmaid's Tale and Atwood's other works like The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace and, more recently, the MaddAddam Trilogy. The author's set to dish up her thoughts on the key issues of today and the future realities they might herald, from extremist politics, to climate change. It should be an interesting, if not eyebrow-raising, talk — as well as being an obvious advocate for women's rights, Atwood came under fire this year for her controversial take on the #MeToo movement and her reluctance to call The Handmaid's Tale feminist. Maybe she can visit Gliead while she's here. Margaret Atwood speaks at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, on Sunday March 3, 2019. Tickets are from $39, available here from 9am, November 8.
The annual French Film Festival is touring the country next month and is set to be an entertaining delight for film lovers of all tastes and ages. The festival is a wing of the Alliance Française, an independent, not-for-profit organisation devoted to promoting the spread of French language and culture worldwide. With a presence in over 146 nations and over 30 Alliance Françaises in Australia alone, it is safe to say the organisation has done well in achieving these goals. The Alliance Françaises of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, and Sydney have joined forces to develop the Film Festival, now in its 24th year. And the 43 films set to screen at this year's festival will certainly not disappoint. The festival has a huge array of productions on offer, sure to sate the appetites of the soppy romantics, the arty, youngsters, those simply looking for a bit of a laugh, nostalgia-sufferers, and even thrillseekers. These films are some of most acclaimed productions to have come out of France over the last 12 months and will have you adoring both the language and the artistic creativity of the French by the time the credits roll. Opening the festival is Haute Cuisine, light fare about a successful chef who is appointed to head the President's kitchen in the Elysee Palace. During the festival you can see Renoir (pictured), a sumptuous film about the feuds of great painters; the erotic tableaux of FEU by Christian Louboutin; the Cannes closer and Audrey Tautou vehicle Therese Desqueyroux; and the pre-Freudian Augustine. The French Film Festival will tour to major capital cities during March and April. Visit their website to see the full program.
When he moved to Paris, US street artist Above went from the literal to the figurative and started signing his name with an arrow. Having started his career tagging trains in California, he began sticking up pointed wooden mobiles instead. A few years ago, he checked out Latin America's street art, where for a while he worked in paint instead of woodwork. In Europe, he hung his two-sided wooden arrows off edifices across the continent, decorated the Vatican, and put up arrows in every one of Paris' many arrondissements. Thursday night, he'll be putting on his first official Australian show, called Here Today, Gone Tomorrow at the Lo Fi Collective. The gallery show here in Sydney is pretty brief and unusual. Above travels on a budget and enjoys the social side of his artistic life much more than the financial. Potential buyers of his work have been asked to fill in detailed questionnaires on their lives and loves before he was happy to sell to them, and he's pretty uncomplimentary about what adding money to art does for the artist. Barring any surprise installations, this may be your only chance to get close to his work here for quite a while.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE INNOCENTS Thanks to his Oscar-nominated work co-penning The Worst Person in the World's screenplay, Eskil Vogt has already helped give the world one devastatingly accurate slice-of-life portrait in the past year. That applauded film is so insightful and relatable about being in your twenties, and also about weathering quarter-life malaise, uncertainty and crisis, that it feels inescapably lifted from reality — and it's sublime. The Innocents, the Norwegian filmmaker's latest movie, couldn't be more different in tone and narrative; however, it too bears the fingerprints of achingly perceptive and deep-seated truth. Perhaps that should be mindprints, though. Making his second feature as a director after 2014's exceptional Blind, Vogt hones in on childhood, and on the way that kids behave with each other when adults are absent or oblivious — and on tykes and preteens who can wreak havoc solely using their mental faculties. Another riff on Firestarter, this thankfully isn't. The Innocents hasn't simply jumped on the Stranger Things bandwagon, either. Thanks to the latter, on-screen tales about young 'uns battling with the supernatural are one of Hollywood's current favourite trends — see also: the awful Ghostbusters: Afterlife — but all that this Nordic horror movie's group of kids are tussling with is themselves. Their fight starts when nine-year-old Ida (debutant Rakel Lenora Fløttum) and her 11-year-old sister Anna (fellow first-timer Alva Brynsmo Ramstad), who is on the autism spectrum, move to an apartment block in Romsås, Oslo with their mother (Blind's Ellen Dorrit Petersen) and father (Morten Svartveit, Ninjababy). It's summer, the days are long, and the two girls are largely left to their own devices outside in the complex's communal spaces. That's where Ida befriends Aisha (Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim) and Ben (Sam Ashraf), albeit not together, and starts to learn about their abilities. One of The Innocents' most astonishing scenes — in a film with many — springs from Ida discovering what the sullen, bullied Ben can do solely with his brain. Indeed, one of Vogt's masterstrokes is focusing on how she reacts to the boy's telekinesis, as demonstrated by flinging around a bottle cap. Ida is almost preternaturally excited, and she's lured in by the thrall of what Ben might be able to do next, even though she can visibly sense that something isn't quite right. Another series of unforgettable moments arises shortly afterward when her new pal, lapping up the attention from his only friend, cruelly and sickeningly shows off without even deploying his superpowers. It's a deeply disturbing turn in a movie that repeatedly isn't afraid to find evident terrors in ordinary, everyday, banal surroundings, and Ida's response — horrified, alarmed, yet unwilling to completely cut ties — again says everything. Vogt doesn't shy away from intimating something that society often doesn't, won't or both: that childhood and innocence don't always go hand in hand. En route to their new home in the film's opening sequence, Ida is already spied pinching the non-verbal Anna just to glean what she'll do. Later, as conveyed in economical imagery lensed by stellar cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen — who already has Another Round, Last and First Men, Shirley, Rams and Victoria to his name, and uses blood here with haunting precision — she's seen escalating that pain-fulled experimentation in a gutwrenching fashion. This side to the girl's personality isn't played as a twist or shock, and neither are Ben's skills and proclivities, or the friendly Aisha's telepathic powers (including the ability to communicate with Anna). Instead, The Innocents is positively matter of fact about what its pint-sized characters are capable of, and also steadfastly avoids trading in simplistic ideas of good and evil, or offering up neat rationales. Read our full review. HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN When Magic Mike stripped its way into cinemas a decade ago, it didn't just turn Channing Tatum's IRL background into a movie and give his chiselled torso oh-so-much attention; it understood that women like sex, boast libidos and have desires, too. Its sequel, Magic Mike XXL, doubled down on that idea, and winningly so — even if the saga dances with a notion so blatant that it definitely shouldn't feel revelatory to see it thrust front and centre in a big-budget Hollywood film. There's no trace of Tatum in How to Please a Woman, and it has nothing to do with the saucy franchise that has a third flick on the way, but this Aussie comedy nonetheless follows in Magic Mike's footsteps. Here, women also like sex, boast libidos and have desires, and that's something that the stuck-in-a-rut Gina (Sally Phillips, Off the Rails) turns into a lucrative business. When first-time feature writer/director Renée Webster begins her sunnily shot, eagerly crowd-pleasing leap to the big screen — following helming gigs on TV's The Heights and Aftertaste — Gina's relationship with sex is non-existent. She has long been wed to lawyer Adrian (Cameron Daddo, Home and Away), but he still thinks that having a tumble on their last holiday years ago is enough bedroom action to keep their marriage going. Gina's resigned to that fact, too, until her ocean swimming club pals book her a stripping surprise for her birthday. Tom (Alexander England, Little Monsters) shows up at her door, starts gyrating and undressing, and says he'll do whatever she wants. Although her friends are later horrified — and its their eagerness to truly take Tom up on his offer that inspires a brainwave — Gina asks him to clean her house instead. Men doing housework shouldn't be revolutionary or subversive either, but How to Please a Woman still uses it as a doorway to exploring other female yearnings that are often left unsatisfied. It's as cliched a move as Webster makes — and her movie makes plenty — but it's also part of the film's devotion to celebrating what women genuinely want. Here, a comedy can be overt, easy and obvious (all things that Gina's sex life isn't), and also delightfully well-intentioned in embracing a fact of life that's rarely given much attention, especially if women past their 30s are involved. Indeed, when a suddenly unemployed Gina, devastated by being the only one downsized out of the insolvency firm she dutifully works for, spots a removalist company she thinks she can save — by turning it into a male escort service, covering scrubbing and shagging alike, and both if customers would like — How to Please a Woman is both broad and joyous. There's a caper attitude to Gina's operations from there, after convincing Tom's removals colleagues Anthony (Ryan Johnson, Doctor Doctor), Ben (Josh Thomson, Young Rock) and Steve (Erik Thomson, Coming Home in the Dark) to widen their professional repertoire. She's skirting the law, Adrian's none the wiser, and the customers (including characters played by Blacklight's Caroline Brazier, Mystery Road's Tasma Walton, Rams' Hayley McElhinney and The Heights' Asher Yasbincek) keep coming. Sometimes, those between-the-sheets antics are clumsy, and Gina's new stable of prostitutes need a few pointers. That applies to getting their paying clients' homes spick and span, too. And, it also covers How to Please a Woman overall, which is always cosier and less risqué than its sex-positive, age-positive and female-focused premise implies. It also leans on the expected rather than takes risks, but remains wonderfully cast — especially Phillips — and gleefully wears its message about finding happiness by knowing what you need and going for it. LAST SEEN ALIVE Perhaps the most positive thing that can be said about Last Seen Alive is this: it's definitely a Gerard Butler-starring kidnapping thriller. That isn't meant as praise, though; rather, the film simply manages to be exactly what viewers would expect given its star and premise. There's clearly far less cash behind it than the also-terrible trio of Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen — or Geostorm, Den of Thieves, Hunter Killer and Greenland among the Scottish actor's career lowlights over the past decade, either. There's visibly less effort, too, and more of a phoning-it-in vibe. The second collaboration between actor-turned-filmmaker Brian Goodman (What Doesn't Kill You) and producer/writer Marc Frydman after 2017's Black Butterfly, it plays like something that a streaming platform's algorithm might spit out in an AI-driven future where new movies are swiftly spliced together from pieces of past flicks. Yes, among Butler's output and with its abduction storyline, it's that derivative. Butler plays Will Spann, a real estate developer who already isn't having a great day when the film begins — but it's about to get worse. He's driving his unhappy wife Lisa (Jaimie Alexander, Loki) to her parents' home, where she's keen to decamp to find herself and take a break from their marriage, and Will is desperate to convince her to change her plans en route. His charm offensive isn't working when they stop at a petrol station mere minutes away from their destination, and he has zero charisma for anyone when Lisa unexpectedly disappears while he's filling the tank. Fuming that local police detective Paterson (Russell Hornsby, Lost in Space) hasn't just dropped everything immediately, and that he also has questions about their relationship, Will decides to chase down any lead he can himself. Meanwhile, Lisa's unsurprisingly wary parents (Queen Bees' Cindy Hogan and Master's Bruce Altman) direct their suspicions his way. Perhaps the most backhanded compliment that can be given to Last Seen Alive is this: it'd make a better Liam Neeson movie. Both Frydman's script and Goodman's execution feel like they're aiming for Taken; instead, even this year's dismal Blacklight looks better. With Butler in the lead, Will comes across as overbearing and insufferable rather than concerned and committed to doing whatever it takes — and nothing that the character does makes much sense as a result. He refuses to let the cops investigate because, basically, he's played by an angry Butler. He can't even wait at the petrol station that Lisa disappears from for seemingly the same reason. When he gets a tip about a suspect, he takes matters into his own hands rather than tells Paterson because, you guessed it, he's played by an angry Butler. Accordingly, the entire movie is little more than an exercise in answering the same question over and over again: what would a jerk of a character played by an angry Butler do in any given situation? It doesn't help that Last Seen Alive is shot as if the bane of every recently made television's existence, motion-smoothing settings, were already set in-camera. There's low-budget naturalism and then there's the flat, dull, soap opera-style look that this film sports. And, the special effects used for explosions simply demonstrate how vast the gap between unconvincing CGI and the real thing can be. Similarly doing the film no favours: the complete and utter absence of tension that stems from its central casting, and also its eagerness to prove as generic as possible. Little that Spann does is logical, but it's also ridiculously predictable because it's exactly what has to happen with Butler in the part. That he's easily and quickly overshadowed by Ethan Embry (First Man) in a thankless supporting role says everything it needs to. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on February 3, February 10, February 17 and February 24; and March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24 and March 31; April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5 and May 12. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Belfast, Here Out West, Jackass Forever, Benedetta, Drive My Car, Death on the Nile, C'mon C'mon, Flee, Uncharted, Quo Vadis, Aida?, Cyrano, Hive, Studio 666, The Batman, Blind Ambition, Bergman Island, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, The Souvenir: Part II, Dog, Anonymous Club, X, River, Nowhere Special, RRR, Morbius, The Duke, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara and This Much I Know to Be True.
Sculpture by the Sea didn't grace the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk last year, and isn't set to until October this year. But if you're eager to go for a wander, check out large-scale pieces of art and enjoy the great outdoors, you can head to The Rocks this May and June for a new free exhibition called Sculpture Rocks. Set to display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3, Sculpture Rocks will feature 18 works from 14 sculptors, with Japanese artists in the spotlight. You'll be peering at pieces by Keizo Ushio, Takeshi Tanabe, Mitsuo Takeuchi, Ayako Saito and Akira Kamada, among others — and from artists who currently hail from both Japan and Australia. Presented by the Sculpture by the Sea team alongside Place Management NSW and the Port Authority of NSW, the exhibition will ape one of the most stunning — and most popular — things about its sibling event, too: the waterside view. You'll be moseying along the Sydney Harbour foreshore area, including between the Overseas Passenger Terminal, along Campbells Cove and up to Hickson Reserve next to the Park Hyatt Hotel. Basically, think of it as a smaller version, in a similarly striking spot, and with a specific focus. An indoor exhibition, called Sculpture Inside Rocks, will also take place at the same time at Campbell's Stores. Images: Gareth Carr.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced artists and musicians to come up with even more innovative ways to make money, as well as keep us beloved fans entertained. Despite all the live-stream festivals, fun merch and unexpected new albums, though, there is no substitute for seeing your favourite bands and solo performers in the flesh — even if we can't all be crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in a sweaty venue for the foreseeable future. Enter Great Southern Nights, the NSW Government-led initiative aiming to kick-start the live music industry by putting on 1000 COVID-Safe gigs across the state this November. Sydney might be the state capital, but that doesn't mean it's where all the action is. With summer fast approaching and no prospect of international travel on the horizon, there's no better time to explore our own backyard. We've partnered with NSW Government to bring you eight gigs we think are worthy of a road trip. So, load up your bags, put on your ultimate playlist and hit the road.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Paramount Pictures has announced that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On the Run will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, July 2, 2020, with the film now hitting cinemas in Victoria and Queensland on September 17, 2020, and cinemas in other Australian states on September 24, 2020. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Nostalgia and the big screen seem to go hand in hand these days. This is a year that's brought back everything from Dumbo, Pet Sematary and Aladdin to The Lion King, Zombieland and Charlie's Angels, after all. And next year is set to be no different, especially when it comes to two properties that were a staple of every 90s and 00s childhood: SpongeBob SquarePants and Sonic the Hedgehog. Flicks based on both will hit cinemas in 2020, although this isn't the first time at the movies for Bikini Bottom's resident yellow critter. The ever-perky SpongeBob has already featured in 2004's great The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and 2015's similarly entertaining The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, with the new The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On the Run marking the third in the film series. And yes, it looks as manic and irreverent — and as suitable for viewers young, old and in-between — as ever. Sponge On the Run does boast one particularly huge drawcard, too: Keanu Reeves. Fresh from voicing a character in Toy Story 4, he plays a sage shrub that's also a wisdom-dispensing sage. So, he gives SpongeBob advice when the eponymous figure's pet snail Gary is snail-napped, sparking a road trip with starfish Patrick to The Lost City of Atlantic City. Yep, of course that's what happens. As for Sonic the Hedgehog, the 90s video game character makes the leap to movies in a live-action film that co-stars Jim Carrey as his usual antagonist, Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Ben Schwartz, aka Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, voices the speedy extraterrestrial blue hedgehog — and the picture isn't without its fair share of controversy. When an earlier trailer was released a few months back, Sonic's overall look caused a stir, with the film since undergoing a visual redesign to fix it. Check out the results — and the Sponge On the Run trailer, too — below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJJYewh4Nco&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ZCtiWvBLk&feature=youtu.be After being delayed from its original release date of July 2, 2020, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On the Run will now open in cinemas in Victoria and Queensland on September 17, 2020, and cinemas in other Australian states on September 24, 2020. Sonic the Hedgehog releases on February 13, 2020.
If your tipple of choice is a tasty local beer or homegrown spirit, the 2021–22 Federal Budget has served up some good news for your future drinking endeavours. In a push to support jobs and boost Australia's alcohol manufacturing sector, the government is set to offer around $225 million in tax relief for local small breweries and distilleries. Announced earlier this month and reiterated during this week's federal budget announcement, this move will allow eligible brewers and distillers to get back any excise tax they pay on the alcohol they produce, up to a cap of $350,000 each year. Previously, they were only entitled to a maximum refund of 60 percent, capped annually at $100,000. The Excise Refund Scheme changes will kick off from July 1, 2021, pulling the benefits for Australia's beer and spirits industries more into line with what the wine industry currently enjoys. It's expected that around 600 brewers and 400 distillers will benefit from the move. The tax relief should offer our local beer and spirits scenes a huge boost, according to Independent Brewers Association Chairman and founder of Sydney's Wayward Brewing Co, Peter Philip. In an interview with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier this month, Mr Philip explained that small brewers and distilleries would be pushing this extra money into technology, capability, capacity and their people. "Consumers really want to support small, locally-owned independent beer in Australia. And this is just going to make that happen," he said. In the same interview, Bentspoke Brewing founder Richard Watkins called the excise change "one of the biggest things that's ever happened in the brewing industry", saying his Canberra-based brewery would be investing in new equipment and technology to make the beer even better and meet increased demand. [caption id="attachment_811815" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wayward Brewing's Camperdown taproom[/caption] The budget move will also prove a timely helping hand for two industries especially hard hit by last year's hospitality lockdowns. In a statement made last month calling for a drop in excise tax rates, the Brewers Association of Australia revealed its 2020 data showing draught beer sales had plunged by a third, compared to the previous year. According to the organisation, that translates to a drop of over $1 billion in beer sold by pubs and clubs in 2020 alone. For more information about the 2021–22 Federal Budget, head to the government's website.
If you're aged 15-26 and your art is smart — or, hell, even if it ain't — you ought to join in on City of Sydney's smart ARTS festival. A bunch of free events and workshops will be running April 4-13 in conjunction with National Youth Week to involve our yoof in the creative worlds. Among the events comes Parlour Games, a collaborative drawing and games night. Invented by French surrealists in the '20s, Exquisite Corpse will be among the games played on the evening. Before passing it on to the next player, Exquisite Corpse involves drawing in turns on a sheet of paper and folding it to conceal their illustration. Beijing Doodles is a newer game, which is apparently like playing Chinese Whispers with a pen. Yeah, we aren't sure what that means either. The smart ARTS exhibition will run for the entirety (plus some) of the annual festival. Focusing on issues that affect young people locally and globally, it showcases art in an array of mediums at the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre. Check out the rest of the program on the smart ARTS website. And don't forget to wear your creative and thinking caps this April.
A hard day of wizarding deserves a fresh pint of butterbeer, and London could soon have just the spot for it. An eager Harry Potter fan is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund what might just become everyone's favourite magical watering hole: The Cauldron. You can taking the leaking out of the enchanted bar's name, but you can't take the wonder, with the pub promising to use technology to emulate all of the tricks you've read about in JK Rowling's books and watched in the subsequent film adaptations. That includes touch-sensitive magic wands that can be used to light fires, turn on the lights and even pour drinks, plus moving photographs and levitating candles. There's no mention of paying for your drinks in galleons, but that idea sounds right up this place's Diagon Alley. Speaking of beverages, in addition to their own signature brew — the Cauldron Ale, which will be served in a specialty bottom-filling pint glass — The Cauldron will provide wizarding-inspired wines, spirits and soft drinks, as well as "spectacular science-based cocktails that look and behave like potions that are described in fantasy books." There's no word on just how they'll achieve that feat, but we like their confidence. As for food, The Cauldron once again pledges to fill its menu with dishes mentioned in all of those novels you love, with fans also able to make suggestions. Their ambition doesn't stop there, with shelves filled with texts, plug-in listening stations for audiobooks, book clubs, book readings, book signings, games meet-ups and wizarding trivia all on the agenda if the venue gets the go-ahead. It's the latest in a long list of HP-themed fun (including a pasta restaurant, a sleepover wizarding school, yoga classes and a market, plus Toronto already has a bar); however if that floats your objects of choice, The Cauldron's fundraising quest kicks off on June 26. The proposed pub is aiming for a March 2018 opening — for more information, check out their website.
Get more boutique for your buck at East Is East Night Market, launching on Thursday, July 18, at Darlinghurst's TAP Gallery and continuing weekly. The new nocturnal bazaar, like its older daytime sister ‘East Is East Boutique Markets, will focus on locally handmade goods with a wallet-friendly price point. Shoppers can confidently flash their $100 note and know that everything within sight is also within buying power. However, this time around, founder Liz Raleigh is also chucking vintage goods (oh, and a bar) into the mix. It's like Throwback Thursdays, but in real life, with wine. Doors will burst open at 6.30pm, but get down earlier because the first 30 bodies through the door will receive a Market Goodie bag, featuring awesome free stuff from the likes of Etsy goddess Seventh Tree Soaps, graphic-tee king Uncle Fritz, bespoke Bondi eco-jeweller Holly Lolly Legs and vintage-clothiers Annie Lou's Closet. With nothing imported or mass-produced, your purchases will not only support local creators but also grant you bragging rights because of your 'mad unique style'. Which is what life is all about, really. Image: Paper Lions Designs.
If you haven't already checked out this summer's blockbuster exhibition Japan supernatural: 1700s to now at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, there's something you should know: it's packed with paranormal creatures. Yōkai and yurai — mystical and ghoulish — characters are depicted in every drawing, painting, video work and graphic installation. There are 180 works about the spirit world, from rare books by 18th century folklorist Toriyama Sekien to Japan's most famous manga artist, Mizuki Shigeru. It's a world where fans of Studio Ghibli films and Brothers Grimm fairy tales will be equally inspired. If you have been to Japan supernatural it's likely you've been wonderstruck by the expansive works of contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, but we think you should look a little closer on your next visit to the Art Gallery — as there are a few creepy beings that rear their (sometimes long, snake-like) necks across multiple works, from sumo wrestling kappa (who have a terrifying backstory) to the eyeball that likes to sip sake. Concrete Playground spoke with Assistant Curator Yuki Kawakami to find out more about five particularly haunting characters in this exhibition. [caption id="attachment_756754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toriyama Sekien, 'Night procession of the hundred demons (Hyakki yakō zu)' (1772–81), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, William Sturgis Bigelow Collection[/caption] THE MYSTERIOUS LONG-NECKED WOMAN One of the first pieces you'll encounter at the Art Gallery's huge exhibition is a painted handscroll called Night procession of the hundred demons (Hyakki yakō zu) (1772–81). It's by Toriyama Sekien — a folklorist who is also a bit of an enigma. Kawakami tells us, "This particular painting is extremely rare, and though there's not that much written about Sekien, he's very well known for his depictions of these yōkai." Rokurokubi — or the Long-Necked Woman (pictured on the right) — is a shapeshifting yōkai. By day, the spirit has a perfectly ordinary human form, but by night, the spirit's neck extends, snaking around in the dark to look for bugs and oil in lamps for a late-night snack. The Long-Necked Woman is also known to attach herself to unsuspecting men. "She's depicted in a cheeky way. She draws men through her beauty; her characteristics are trickery and the act of seduction. She's just a boss woman, a man eater," says Kawakami. Rokurokubi can be found in multiple works. For bonus points, look out for her alleged lover, another long-necked creature called the Look Over Monk. Rumour has it they have a lovechild called Tōfu-kozō (Tofu Boy) who always carries a plate of tofu. [caption id="attachment_756766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 'The heavy basket (Omoi tsuzura)' from the series 'New forms of thirty-six ghosts (Shingata sanjūrokkaisen)' (1892), National Gallery of Australia, Canberra[/caption] THE WATER-DWELLING, ORGAN-STEALING KAPPA Oh look, here's the Look Over Monk — the one with the third eye. Now draw your gaze to the green, frog-like creature that appears to be lurking in a basket. That's a kappa. Kawakami says, the kappa appear in different forms and with different names like kawataro. If you bank in Japan, you may recognise the cheeky fella as the mascot of one of the country's leading banks. But don't be deceived, these water-dwelling yōkai have a sadistic story. It's said they reach inside human bodies through the rectum to snatch at your organs. You can find the kappa in Sekien's Night procession of the hundred demons (Hyakki yako zu) and also in Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's The heavy basket (Omoi tsuzura) from the series New forms of thirty-six ghosts (Shingata sanjurokkaisen). "In this one it's quite menacing and cheeky. He also likes to challenge people in a game of sumo. There are drawings of kappa against kappa engaged in sumo by the river." The creatures have elements of frog, turtle and monkey about them — and the popular cucumber sushi rolls, kappa–maki, are named for the creature's apparent love of cucumbers. Note the pool of water on their heads: "When there's no liquid, that's when they lose their powers," says Kawakami. [caption id="attachment_756861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 'The old woman retrieves her arm (Rōba kiwan o mochisaru zu)' from the series 'New forms of thirty-six ghosts (Shingata sanjūrokkaisen)' (1889), Art Gallery New South Wales[/caption] THE CACKLING ONE-ARMED DEMON WITCH Japan supernatural is all about manifestations of the paranormal in Japanese folklore, art, literature, theatre and film. In this exhibition you'll also meet another volatile creature, that of the oni — demon-like and menacing, but not necessarily evil. "You can tell a character is not a ghost [or yōkai] because of the claws and the green face. The oni are depicted either by green, blue or red skin — and the claws," says Kawakami. Ibaraki-doji, or the Cackling One-Armed Demon Witch, is found in Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's The old woman retrieves her arm (Rōba kiwan o mochisaru zu). Yoshitoshi was born in Edo (now Tokyo) and he was known for images of violence and ghoulish works after a period of possible mental illness. Other demon-like qualities to look for are curled toenails and fingernails. Be especially watchful during the twilight hours, when these spirits and demons are more likely to present themselves to us humans. "It's an oni, but they dress so beautifully — they have style." [caption id="attachment_756870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chiho Aoshima, 'Off to Memorial Service' (2009), 'The Tree Where Moimois Gather' (2009). Both colour on Japanese rice paper.[/caption] THE DOE-EYED AND DISTANT MOIMOI Chiho Aoshima is part of Kaikai Kiki, the artist collective run by internationally famous artist Takashi Murakami. She's based in Kyoto, and during her time as an assistant at Murakami's studio he noticed her own yōkai drawings and he encouraged her to do more. "What I find interesting about her work is that she's really into the relationship between nature, death and humans," says Kawakami. "She likes Japanese cemeteries." A recurring character is the Moimoi, which comes in various shapes and forms. One is pictured as a black blob walking through a cemetery — like in Off to Memorial Service (2009), above — and in another she appears to embody city buildings, trees or entire beaches. "When I asked [Aoshima] where she gets the Moimoi from, she said she sees a lot of the Moimoi in herself. Whether it's a sense of isolation, or a sense of calm or peace. I read it as a sense of loneliness living in the contemporary world. She also says that when she passes she would want to become part of nature, so you see a strong relationship between nature and death in her work." [caption id="attachment_758406" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mizuki Shigeru 'Kyoto' (2008), from the series 'Fifty-three stations of the Yōkaidō (Yōkaidō gojūsan tsugi)' (2008). Art Gallery of New South Wales, Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2019. Mizuki Productions.[/caption] THE SAKE SIPPING, BATH-LOVING EYEBALL MAN Mizuki Shigeru is probably the most famous manga artist/historian in Japan. He created a manga series based on yōkai lore that celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. "Anyone from the 1960s onwards would easily recognise these characters. The main character is called Kitarō — and his father is the Eyeball Man, called Medama-Oyaji." Kitarō doesn't have an eye on his left socket, and in the manga drawings you can see Medama-Oyaji popping out of Kitarō's eye socket to offer him advice. "He also likes to take baths in a little bowl, and he drinks sake." Shigeru brings a playfulness to his depictions of the yōkai: mysterious creatures that are often mischievous. In The Fifty-three Stations of the Yokaido he places the yōkai within the stations of familiar cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, which you can find on the Art Gallery's walls until March. 'Japan supernatural: 1700s to now' runs until March 8, 2020 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Tickets are available to buy online. Top images: Installation view of the exhibition 'Japan supernatural' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter. Artworks © Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
UPDATE: Wednesday, August 11 — Greater Sydney's lockdown is set to remain until at least 12.01am on Saturday, August 28. So, while you can't sip a spritz at the bar, make one at home instead. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Aperol is embracing the colder months by bringing spritzes to the slopes with its first ever Aperol Après Ski Clubs. And the Aperol Après Ski Clubs are exactly where you'll find vibrant Après festivities this winter. The Thredbo Village Aperol Après Ski Club is open from now until Thursday, September 30. Head to ski-in, ski-out favourite Kareela Hutte — accessible via the blue runs — for lunch on the deck and take in the spectacular panoramic views of Thredbo Valley. Here, you and your mates can enjoy an indulgent cheese fondue or cosy up inside to stay warm and take five. After lunch, make your way down the SuperTrail to the Cascades Restaurant where you can relish in a freshly poured spritz at the Aperol share tables or head inside to warm up in the fireplace lounge. After all that skiing you'll probably want a second serve of gooey fondue and luckily for you, Cascades Restaurant have you got you covered. Enjoy a tasty treat with your mates and swap stories about your day on the mountain to finish off an epic day in the snow. If you can't make it to the Aussie Alps, keep an eye out for further details on Aperol's Après Ski Club in the city (pending lockdown restrictions). And while you're at home, pencil in some Apertivo time with your mates and learn how to make the perfect spritz together. Aperol Après Ski Club will run till Thursday, September 30 at Thredbo Village. For more information, head to the website. Remember to Drinkwise.
A day and a half into October, near midnight, the people in the Mexican town of Patzcuaro take boats across the lake to the island and talk to the dead by candlelight. In Madagascar, people traditionally take ancestral bodies from tombs, wrap them in new clothes and dance with them. In Sydney you used to take a special train to Rookwood Necropolis, near Lidcombe station, and have a picnic there among the graves. Nowadays the bus gets you closer and Rookwood's custodians want the cemetery to fill with the living again, as well as the dead. To that end Hidden is on, mixing local artists' sculpture in among the sepulture and gardens of one of the world's largest cities of the dead. Hidden brings together over thirty artists in the grounds of the cemetery and in the chapel, inviting the public to wander amongst them. It's hard to talk about death, and one of the exhibition's sponsors is a non-profit who would like you to be able to do just that. But if you find you can't, let the art speak for you. Print a map, and get out among it. Image by mickou.
Next time you slather your hands with sanitiser, you could be covering them with your favourite booze as well. With alcohol a crucial ingredient in the now-essential product — especially sanitiser that's effective against COVID-19 — distilleries and breweries are doing their part to help boost supplies. To the delight of rum lovers, that now includes Queensland's iconic Beenleigh Rum and Bundaberg Rum. While gin aficionados can splash their digits with Manly Spirits Co's gin-infused hand sanitiser — and plenty of other boozy outfits are jumping on the trend, too — fans of fermented and distilled sugarcane juice can look forward to freshening their fingers with their preferred tipple. Well, in a way. Australia's oldest distillery, Beenleigh Rum is whipping up its own sanitiser and selling it online; however, the end product doesn't feature any of its branding. Still, if you order a carton of Wheel & Barrow hand sanitiser, you'll be ordering sanitiser made by Beenleigh Rum — with online orders available now, by the carton, for delivery from Friday, March 27. Beenleigh Distillery owner Angelo Kotses originally just planned to start making sanitiser to keep the company's own workers safe, but decided to pump out more when asked by the Queensland Government. The distillery will also provide the state with a supply of the product for schools and frontline workers. If you're a Bundaberg Rum devotee, the Coral Coast-based operation is focusing on producing ethanol for use in hand sanitiser. It won't be making sanitiser itself — so you won't see bottles all over the place with Bundy Rum's bear logo — but it is donating 100,000 litres of ethanol to the Queensland Government to be used in making sanitiser, which will produce around 500,000 bottles. Although there's no word yet on how the government will be using the Bundy-infused sanitiser, fingers crossed that it'll be made available to the public — given how much Bundy Rum is drunk across the state, it's certain to be popular. To buy Beenleigh Rum-produced hand sanitiser, visit the distillery's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Are you Ready For the Floor? Are you itching to "do it do it do it now?' Naturally. Hot Chip want you to dance your stripy little socks off and then some. After they do Falls and Southbound Festivals, Joe Goddard, Alexis Taylor, Felix Martin, Al Doyle and Owen Clarke are coming to The Enmore with their own kind of electro pop. They almost challenge you to keep to their infectious tunes. Yeah they've got some Mercury Prize and Grammy Awards, and yeah their fifth album has received critical acclaim, triple j love to play them and they've been in the top 20s charts for ages now. But we know what you're interested in — can you dance to their stuff? Hell yeah. As The Independent says, their shows are all about "blinding lights pulse at disorientating speed in time with a fierce percussive onslaught." Yes – be afraid. But in a good way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zd_JW73R1Wk
Somewhere, between the heady romantic drama of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise trilogy and the good-natured bawdiness of the American Pie franchise, sit the films of Cédric Klapisch. Released in 2002, Spanish Apartment first introduced us to Xavier Rousseau (Romain Duris), a French university student on exchange in Barcelona. Four years later, Russian Dolls picked up with Xavier again, as he continued to search for love and direction in an increasingly complicated world. Chinese Puzzle turns the series into a trilogy, although Klapisch ensures the story is more or less accessible to newcomers. Now an author at the tail-end of his 30s, Xavier is marginally more mature than the last time we saw him, although no more lucky in the romance department. As a matter of fact, the film begins just in time for us to witness his marriage, to Englishwoman Wendy (Kelly Reilly), fall apart. When she takes their kids to live in Manhattan, Xavier decides to cross the Atlantic as well, crashing with his old friend Isabelle (Cécile de France) and her new girlfriend, Ju (Sandrine Holt), until he can find accommodation of his own. As with the previous films, Klapisch keeps the tone buoyant, livening Xavier's voiceover musings — on life, love, family, ageing and the cultural stewpot in which all of us are ingredients — with plenty of visual whimsy. Xavier's hunt for an apartment unfolds through a montage of Google Map graphics, even as the ghosts of German philosophers pop by to offer him relationship advice. French DJs Loik Dury and Christopher Mink aka Kraked Unit provide the score, a joyously infectious mix of jazz, hip hop and soul. For all its entertaining energy, Chinese Puzzle can feel rather messy. The film's multitudinous story threads — including a green-card marriage scheme, sperm donation and Xavier's lingering affection for his old girlfriend Martine (Audrey Tautou) — frequently get tangled up, or are left idle for long stretches of time. Meanwhile, at least one major subplot, involving Isabelle's attractive babysitter (Flore Bonaventura), gets no resolution at all. Then again, perhaps the film's lack of direct drive is a reflection of its protagonist's headspace. Xavier is by no means perfect, but he has only the best intentions and is difficult not to root for. Likewise, Chinese Puzzle is so breezy and charming that it's easy to overlook its faults. https://youtube.com/watch?v=M2a8vuQABd8
In 1998, a bunch of musicians got together with a plan to give the Sydney live music scene a sorely needed boost. The emergent collective, Jazzgroove, is now one of the city’s most important organisers, supporters and promoters of independent artists. Over the past fifteen years Jazzgroove has presented live improvised music on a weekly basis, started a record label that now has 62 CDs under its belt and established the prestigious JARA Award. Twenty-two bands will be found jamming around Surry Hills next weekend as Jazzgroove hosts its fourth annual Summer Festival. There’ll be free concerts in Prince Alfred Park, a stunning opening night at Tom Mann Theatre, ticketed gigs at 505 and the Gaelic Club (featuring the likes of Elana Stone and Tom O’Halloran) and jam sessions kicking off at midnight. Parents can grab themselves a break by dropping their kids off at the free workshops for juniors.
Ever wanted to build your own community? And no, I don't mean spending every waking hour on The Sims renovating your virtual dream house. This big idea, straight from TED2011, could empower humans everywhere with the essential tools to create civilisations, DIY-style. TED fellow Marcin Jakubowski has identified 50 machines critical to our modern way of life — everything from tractors to ovens to brick-making machines. Determined to re-design these machines to be modular, long-lasting and made of local recyclable materials, Jakubowski began Open Source Ecology, a project uniting a community of farmers, engineers and supporters hell-bent on developing an open-source 'Global Village Construction Set'. In essence, it's a suite of machines that are essential for setting up any civilisation. The best bit? Machinery is made up of interchangeable life-sized LEGO-like parts, and has the potential to democratise industrial production and enhance supply chains to be more environmentally sustainable. Jabukowski says the Global Village Construction Set "lowers the barriers to entry into farming, building, and manufacturing and can be seen as a life-size lego-like set of modular tools that can create entire economies." https://youtube.com/watch?v=CD1EWGQDUTQ [Via GOOD]
The King has risen. Head out to Parkes in January and you would be forgiven for thinking you're in Graceland — if there's anything this town is known for (apart from that dish, of course) it's the Parkes Elvis Festival. Pull on your blue suede shoes and get ready to find yourself a hunk, a hunk of burning love. The festival takes place over five days during the second week of January to coincide with the King's birthday (January 8, as if you didn't already know). Over 25,000 visitors flock to the town to see international and national Elvis tribute artists battle it out to be named the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. There's also a Miss Priscilla competition, rock 'n' roll dancing, busking, a midnight show and a finale concert. It's the biggest tribute to The King in the southern hemisphere, and this year's theme is 'All Shook Up' — celebrating the famed song and all things 50s. The Parkes Elvis Festival is officially endorsed by the King's estate, Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., so you know it's legit. Stop talking about it, and just do it this year. A little less conversation, a little more action.
For most urban dwellers, the dream of growing our own fruit and vegies is appealing but severely limited by the reality of small backyards or even smaller balconies. Our poor little green thumbs are restricted to watering potted herbs and, if we are lucky, a communal lemon tree. Yet the desire to get our hands dirty, and the ever-increasing need to provide ourselves and communities with fresh fruit and vegies, remains. So it really is of little surprise that local community gardens and urban farms have taken off, both in Australia and around the globe. In cities as diverse as Seattle and Singapore, these new gardens have provided their local communities with a multitude of benefits — fresh(er) air, social contact and the opportunity to grow food in a healthy, cost effective and sustainable way. These little green spots have also caught the attention of environmentally conscious businesses and NGOs. In New York, for example, Brightfarms have developed hydroponic greenhouses, which can be used by local supermarkets to supply their customers with fresh, tasty and environmentally friendly produce. In London, Mudchute Farm, one of the UK's largest urban farms, offers East Londoners are well-earned respite from city living. In Vancouver, design firm Green Over Grey have installed North America's largest green wall on the side of Semiahmoo Library. And here in Sydney, Leichhardt Council has agreed to a proposal by Sydney City Farm to reconvert part of the site at Rozelle's Callan Park into a city farm, complete with a sustainable living centre dedicated to providing educational programs and events on how to eat (and live) in harmony with the surrounding environment. And once the NSW government get behind the plans, it will be time for Sydneysiders to get the gardening gloves out.
Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art might temporarily be closed at present, but it's now streaming one of its most luminous and spectacular installations once a week — and for the entire night. Spectra, by Roiji Ikeda, is a 15-kilometre-tall tower of beaming white light that stands over the city's skyline. The tower is powered by 49 custom-made search lights that illuminate the Hobart sky, accompanied by music specially curated for the exhibit, and can be seen from home up to 100 kilometres away. Every Saturday from sunset, MONA is live streaming the installation, which has been a permanent centrepiece for the museum since 2018. Each weekly stream will run all through the evening, finishing at sunrise on Sunday. Here are all twelve hours of last week's live-stream: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16071&v=QewCcg_E44g&feature=emb_logo[/embed] It might be a while until we can start travelling and witnessing enchanting sights like this one again, but this initiative by MONA will bring some of the magic of Hobart straight to your home in the interim. Image: MONA/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Ok, so you've finally managed to get the courage to talk to that food obsessed guy in your office, or that indie girl in your art class and have even scored their digits. So what now for the date? Well, luckily for you, we've had a think about it and have set ourselves the task of giving you daters out there some direction. With our top dinner and drinks date combos, you can rest assured that there will be no mysterious phone calls to friends or thoughts about impending runners. Here's what Concrete Playground recommends for some good old fashioned fun. The Business Date Food: China LaneDrink: The Baxter Inn Conveniently located in Angel Place, China Lane is a stone's throw away from any CBD office and offers hazy dark corners to gaze into each other's eyes. The old school Sahnghai glamour will add a slither of Mad Men chic to your date and after dinner why not gaze up at those birdcages that hang above and envisage them as mistletoe. It's time to make a move. And if your smooth moves haven't worked yet? Try the Baxter Inn. Here you have low lighting, exposed brick and booths. Not to mention the whisky, oh the whisky. And if things aren't going great guns with your date by now, there's always the eye candy behind the bar. China Lane: 2-12 Angel Place, Sydney; 02 9231 3939; chinalane.com.auThe Baxter Inn: 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney; thebaxterinn.com The Foodie Date Food: SepiaDrink: Rockpool Bar and Grill You'll begin your meal with freshly shucked to order oysters served with a rice wine and lime vinaigrette, followed by yellowfin tuna sashimi with jamon iberico and a stable of edible artworks to follow. The food alone will be your conversation centre piece if nothing else is flowing. Sepia with its modern, seafood heavy, Japanese-inspired menu, is the ultimate place to take a foodie. Dessert, such as the famed Japanese Stones, will hopefully have each of you spooning the contents into each other's mouths to make for an almost cringe-worthy night of romance. And nightcap wise? You'll need an equally dramatic and impressive bar to have a few beverages at. Rockpool Bar and Grill, with its exceptionally polite and discreet service, art deco styling and extensive wine list is just the ticket. The menu's 'house rules', such as "best manners and temperance are expected at all times" should help things run smoothly on your date, and have men acting like Don Draper while the women swoon. Sepia: 201 Sussex Street, Sydney; 02 9283 1990; sepiarestaurant.com.auRockpool Bar and Grill: 66 Hunter Street, Sydney; 02 02 8078 1900; rockpool.com The Inner City Date Food: 121BCDrink: Button Bar If you like the element of danger in attempting to have a first date at a place that can't guarantee you a table, and is quite tricky to find, then 121BC's gold. Part of the Vini and Berta family, this tiny bar has a casual menu of Italian style share plates, perfect for bumping hands over, dressed in your best flannel shirt and skinny-legged jeans. This dark, wood-paneled hideaway bar will set you and your date immediately at ease. It also has an inconspicuous façade, and cosy leather booths to settle into, with up-cycled glass light shades hanging overhead. There's plenty of candle light to set the mood as you drink pirate themed cocktails. 121BC: 4/50 Holt Street, Surry Hills; 02 9699 1582; 121bc.com.auButton Bar: 65 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills; 02 9211 1544; button-bar.com.au The Inner West Date Food: Guerilla Restaurant and BarDrink: Madame Fling Flong Picture a big two-storey Glebe terrace with mismatched lounges that feels just like home. Now picture some locally sourced organic casual nosh. There will be great music. You'll also be quaffing from a list of Aussie and Kiwi wines. Can't get much more indie than Guerilla. You can even chat to the owners about their musical backgrounds while bunked down on the outside seats listening to a live Sunday sesh. Next, head over to Newtown and up some stairs to Madame Fling Flong. With oodles of armchairs, intimate lighting, and a relaxed vibe, this is the perfect finish to your date, where you can chat away about gigs till your heart's content. Guerilla Restaurant and Bar: 207 Glebe Point Road, Glebe; 02 8957 0652Madame Fling Flong: 1/169 King Street, Newtown; 02 9565 2471; madameflingflong.com.au The Students Date Food: Eathouse DinerDrink: The Fern So you're a student. You live somewhere near Sydney Uni campus, and you've met someone interesting from your Contemporary American Film class. Where to take them when strapped for cash? Eathouse Diner. Why? Because there's hip '50s kitsch decor, a painting of a budgie holding a fork, nudie pics in the toilets and it's super cheap, with loads of atmosphere. To polish of the night, head over to the Fern. With op-shop style furniture in an old terrace just minutes from where you had dinner, this place is the perfect option for a drink. Go with My Fern Mule, which comes tiki-style with a flaming lime on top. The perfect fire to fuel your date. Eathouse Diner: 306 Chalmers Street, Redfern; 02 8084 9479; eathousediner.com.au The Fern: 4 Pitt Street, Redfern; 02 8399 0070; thefern.com.au The East Date Food: The ApolloDrink: The Roosevelt For an eastside date, try out Jonathan Barthelmess and Sam Christie's Greek goods at The Appollo. Think big plates of food that are just begging to be shared in an urban '30s style building, with exposed concrete and unclothed tables. A tad loud, yes, but there's no better excuse to lean in towards your date and whisper sweet nothings. If a luxury drinking joint is your date's kinda thing, then the Roosevelt will tick all of their boxes. Created by the gang behind Eau de Vie, this bar also has a touch of old world class. It's one of those bars where you can impress your date with cocktails made at your table. And did we mention they serve a cocktail in a glass gun called the Mr Sin? A little bit of inspiration perhaps? The Apollo: 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point; 02 8354 0888; theapollo.com.auRoosevelt: 32 Orwell Street, Potts Point; 0423 203 119; theroosevelt.com.au The Theatre Date Food: Cafe Sopra Walsh BayDrink: The Bar at the End of the Wharf Located across the street from the Walsh Bay theatre precinct, you can't look past Cafe Sopra at Walsh Bay. It's the fresh, seasonal Italian fare that we all know and love Fratelli for, and is perfect to fill up on before a long show. You and your date can stroll through the fresh produce while you wait for your meal and maybe pick something up to cook on your next date, well here's hoping. Perfect for when you come out of your evening's performance and want to settle in for a drink or two. The views over the Harbour will take your date's breath away, as you oh so casually slip your arm over their shoulders. Go on, you know you want to. Shop 8/16 Hickson Road, Walsh Point; 02 8243 2700; www.fratellifresh.com.auThe Bar at the End of the Wharf: Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay; 02 9250 1761; sydneytheatre.com.au/visit/thebar
Ever wanted to eat sushi whilst watching the sun go down over one of the most beautiful beaches in the world? Well, you can, as PaperPlanes makes a splash against the sandy shores of Bondi with its contemporary Japanese cuisine and Tokyo pop culture-inspired decor. Whether you want to create your own sashimi platter or indulge at the 'rock, paper, scissors' bar with a sake whilst watching a sushi chef slice to the spins of the DJ, PaperPlanes is the Tokyo-est place to be in Bondi. PaperPlanes continues the multisensorial Asian experience that brothers Matt, Chris and Tim Barge cultivated with LL Wine and Dine, a Hong Kong-styled wine bar that has taken Potts Point by storm since opening in 2010. Creating contemporary Asian cuisine with fresh Australian produce on premises previously housing an illegal casino, LL Wine and Dine offers a unique dining experience hidden amongst the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross. So whether you fancy a taste of Tokyo or a have a hankering for Hong Kong, the Barge brothers have you covered. We have three $150 vouchers to PaperPlanes and two $150 vouchers for LL Wine and Dine to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
An immersive theatrical journey for the senses will take over the iconic Hotel Palisade this winter. From August 25–28, A Journey Most Unusual invites curious adventurers to travel through a world that combines fantasy and reality as it tells the peculiar tale of Hendrick's Gin. In partnership with theatrical collective Broad Encounters, this first-of-its-kind production will see commanding figures, including the mysterious Mr Foggerty, scent seller and aromachologist Madame Ruby and the dark-yet-playful underworld seductress Siren guide guests through six theatrically designed spaces that will awaken each of the five senses through song, art, dance, music and tantalising Hendrick's Gin cocktails. Guests will play an interactive role as they move through each world, which will unveil the masterful craft behind the much-loved gin. [caption id="attachment_859862" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] All of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Broad Encounters via Australian Cultural Funding, helping to facilitate the independent company's future works. A Journey Most Unusual takes place at Hotel Palisade on August 25–28. For more info and to buy tickets, head to the website. Images: Anna Kucera
Vertical Villages is the latest program to come out of Hay Street's 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. It's an artist-led project from Indonesian collective ruangrupa ArtLab and Australia's Keg de Souza. Upon learning that more than 35,000 international students enrol in Sydney tertiary institutions each year, the duo began the initiative as a means of collaborating with and investigating the interpersonal and communal experience of temporary migrants. And as part of Vertical Villages, 4A has invited local international students to host a series of public programs entitled House Party (aw, yeah). The whole affair kicks off 6pm, 5 September, with the launch of Vertical Villages and House Party with DJ Geo Asasi and runs until late October with a range of other events. Image: ruangrupa ArtLab and Keg de Souza, Vertical Villages (installation view), 2013, mixed media, commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Art. Image courtesy 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and the artists.
Neil Perry's 'fine-casual' eatery, Eleven Bridge, has been open just over six months and is already shutting up shop. The institutional site of the three-hatted Rockpool, which opened back in 1989, will be reinvented yet again as it comes under the Rockpool Dining Group fold. The group has officially taken over the space and will open a new restaurant mid-2017. While little detail has been revealed, we do know that the restaurant will be traditional Cantonese — a pleasant, if not seemingly random surprise. Though all employees have been offered the opportunity to stay with the group, one major change is that executive chef Phil Wood will no longer be at the helm. Wood, who has been head chef at the space since 2009, will move on to new projects and is certainly a chef worth watching. In his place, Eleven Bridge sous chef Peter Robertson will take the reigns on this new venture. The group has made a lot of changes since joining forces with Urban Purveyor Group and forming back in November, with Rosetta set to open this autumn in Sydney CBD, Perry's Burger Project recent openings in Brisbane and Parramatta and the launch of two takeaway spinoffs, Fratelli Famous and Saké Jr. Their combined portfolio of eateries is now at 49 venues and they expect their portfolio to grow to more than 80 venues in 2017 alone. If you haven't been able to make it to Eleven Bridge yet, you still have time to drop your wallet as it will be open through dinner service on Saturday, May 13. We recommend the next-level fried chicken and perfectly medium rare Cape Grim rib from the a la carte menu. Or just pop in for a drink and a snack from the recently launched bar menu. But, if this is your last chance at seeing chef Wood in the kitchen, then there's really no better time to splurge for his tasting menu. Rockpool Dining Group's new Cantonese restaurant will be located at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney, and will open mid-2017. Watch this space for future announcements.
Like an artsy Australian answer to an episode of Skins, Galore probes the tumultuous love lives of a group of reckless teens. Set in the fire-prone outer suburbs of Canberra, the film opens with Billie (Ashleigh Cummings) and Danny (Toby Wallace) lying naked in the sunlight. As they whisper sweet nothings into one another's ears, viewers may find themselves drawn back to their own breathless adolescence — to long, passionate summers and the dramas that inevitably catch aflame. And there's drama aplenty in writer-director Rhys Graham's script. Just as our hearts are set aflutter by the prospect of young love, it's revealed that Danny is actually the boyfriend of Laura (Lily Sullivan), Billie's life-long best friend. But even as Billie struggles with her betrayal, Laura finds herself drawn to Isaac (impressive newcomer Aliki Matangi), a troubled Pacific Islander trying to turn his life around. While Graham may be a first-time feature director, he has no shortage of local talent at his back. In addition to the wonderfully naturalistic young cast, of particular note is cinematographer Stefan Duscio, who captures the sun-soaked landscape beautifully. Galore is showing exclusively at Dendy Newtown (NSW), Palace Electric (ACT) and Cinema Nova (Vic) from June 19, but we're offering competition winners the chance to see it with a friend at an exclusive preview screening on Wednesday, June 11, at 6.30pm at Dendy Newtown (261-263 King Street, Newtown). To enter, click here.
Time may be a flat circle, as Matthew McConaughey told us in the first season of True Detective; however the entertainment industry seems to be one too. Every popular property lives on, comes back, is remade or jumps to a different format these days, or so it appears — including another high-profile effort featuring McConaughey and his fondness for saying "all right" over and over again. Continuing the movie-to-stage musical trend that has swept up all of your favourite films in recent years, Magic Mike is making the leap to the theatre, bolstering the feature's hefty lineup of dancing and stripping with plenty of singing. It'll add to the two-film franchise in another way as well, with the production framed as a prequel to the flicks, showing how the titular character first found his disrobing mojo. Sorry, Channing Tatum fans — although he's billed as a producer on the stage version, along with Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh and Magic Mike XXL filmmaker Gregory Jacobs according to Playbill, you can bet that he won't be treading the boards. While cast details haven't been announced, the show has just undergone a creative reshuffle. Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale), composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey (who worked together on musical Next to Normal) have all recently left, but the musical does boast director Trip Cullman and choreographer Camille A. Brown, who've been collaborating on star-studded, Tony-nominated Broadway play Choir Boy. Magic Mike The Musical is due to world premiere on November 30 at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre, running until early January. Next stop, or the show hopes: Broadway. It shouldn't be confused with the Magic Mike Live strip and dance show, aka the stage version that was always going to happen, which is currently playing in London until October. Magic Mike joins a lengthy list of films becoming theatre productions of late, including Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bring It On, The Lion King, Mean Girls, Clueless, The Bodyguard, Amelie, Waitress, Muriel's Wedding and Moulin Rouge!. Versions of The Devil Wears Prada, Empire Records, Mrs Doubtfire, The Notebook, The Princess Bride and Aussie classic Starstruck are also in the works. Get a refresher on what might be in store in the all-stripping, all-singing Magic Mike musical with the trailer for the original movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd0XPRo4LZQ Via Playbill.
Food festivals have always been a great excuse to make weekend plans, with big-ticket events like the Bastille Day markets and the Good Food and Wine Show regularly drawing hungry crowds. But what about options for members of Australia's constantly growing vegan community? One of the most popular alternative food festivals around Sydney has to be Alive Plant Based Festival, running for one day only on Saturday, March 8. Organised by Vegan NSW and supported for the first time in 2025 by the Central Coast Council, this year's edition is set to be bigger than ever. Ideal for a family day out or a scrumptious solo feast alike, you'll be able to browse the tastiest vegan and plant-based treats around, from hot and fresh desserts to artisanal goodies. You can also look forward to live music, yoga sessions and speakers, and the entire (free-entry) festival is kid and dog-friendly.
Sydney, we know you love your secret cinema. So we’d like you to meet a new friend. Curious Cartel is a new, imaginative events company specialising in film. And from May, it’ll be bringing a immersive experiences and movie-inspired happenings to various locations in Sydney. The first event, to be held on May 9, has been dubbed Popcorn Therapy. Attendees will be asked to meet at 7pm at a clandestine location, to see a mystery film, the identity of which won’t be revealed until they’re sitting in front of the big screen. There might be clues along the way, but there won’t be any definitive revelations. We can tell you, however, that, besides a movie, the evening will also involve music, food, a licensed bar, a supporting cast of characters and interactive activities. Curious Cartel has also hinted that screenings will be taking place in unique and unexpected spots and that cult films will feature. Tickets for Popcorn Therapy are not cheap, at $60, but hopefully that means there's production value to match. Buy yours at Ticketbooth. The event is strictly 18+.
For those of you who want to feel luxe but have limited funds, Neil Perry has you covered. Sort of. He's got you covered in a classic I-just-sold-my-restaurant-empire-for-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-and-am-going-casual kind of way — he's rolling out a bar menu at his fine dining establishment Eleven Bridge. In case you missed it, Eleven Bridge is the new, more 'casual' iteration of Rockpool est. 1989. Perry changed the concept last year (before selling his other restaurants to UPG), although we found that it was still very much fine dining in all its glory. But the addition of a bar menu means that Eleven Bridge is no longer just three-course, white tablecloth, $200+ territory — from this week, you'll be able to drop in for a drink and a bar snack. Executive chef Phil Wood's new menu is an excellent opportunity to try Eleven Bridge's fried chicken ($30 for five pieces), perhaps matched with a gin, elderflower and basil cocktail. Or how about some Sterling caviar with blinis ($50 per ten grams), or honey and spelt bread with kombu butter and ricotta ($6) — that's the Neil Perry version of coming home drunk and half-cooking a Coles-brand garlic bread loaf. The steam bun sangas (see, casual), come in flavours like sweet pork and kimchi ($25) or 'hot and numbing chicken' ($24). What exactly is a 'hot and numbing' chicken steam bun sanga? It would be gauche to ask, just order it and see. And what casual bar menu would be complete without a baked crab stuffed with milk and salted duck egg for a whopping $47? No bar menu would be, hence the surging trend of milk-and-duck-egg-stuffed crabs at dive bars. Jokes aside, this bar menu sounds divine. Read our Eleven Bridge review.
Everybody knows that Macaulay Culkin’s once adorable image has taken a bit of a hit since the good ol’ days of Home Alone and My Girl. But his latest charade is in a whole new league. A tribute band like no other, Culkin’s Pizza Underground was first heard of in December last year, with the band since performing a string of gigs across the New York anti-folk scene. With their only agenda being to spread the good news of pizza to the world, the group finally have a video to accompany their debut hit. And it certainly does not disappoint. Dressed all in black and donning matching, dark shades, Culkin and his musical counterparts (Matt Colbourn, Phoebe Kreutz, Deenah Vollmer, Austin Kilham) have delivered a clip both entertaining and bizarre. A mash up of amended hit Velvet Underground tracks including 'All Tomorrow's Parties' ('All the Pizza Parties') and 'Femme Fatale' ('Pizza Gal', obviously) and featuring killer lines like "Hey babe take a bite of the wild slice", this psychedelic ode to pizza and Lou Reed is a fusion of madness and hilarity. Notable highlights include pizza lining the walls and ceiling, and Culkin playing a kazoo solo through a cheesy slice. A star fallen from grace? Or Culkin’s greatest triumph yet? Either way, this vid can’t help but leave you jiving in your seat. As well as craving a slice. Via Huffington Post. Go behind the scenes on the shoot with Vice.
Starting a new business is daunting, even if you're confident that you've got a game-changing idea or unrivalled product on your hands. We're here to help — we teamed up with the business solution experts at Square to chat to three stalwarts of Sydney's hospo scene, and got their key points for starting a small business. The Love Tilly Group know a thing or two about getting a business off the ground. Matthew Swieboda, Nathanial Hatwell and Scott McComas-Williams are behind some of Sydney's best restaurants and wine bars, including Love, Tilly Devine, Ragazzi, Fabbrica, Dear Saint Éloise and Palazzo Salato. Bitter Phew has been pouring craft beers from Australia and around the globe at its Oxford Street digs for a decade. Founded by Aaron Edwards and Jay Pollard, the upstairs bar was recognised as Australia's Best Beer Venue by the Australia Liquor Industry Awards in 2023, and voted Australia's Top Beer Venue by Beer & Brewer Magazine in 2020 and 2017. Helmed by Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth, The Mary's Group started with a burger shop in Newtown in 2013. Since then, the group has expanded to open five other eateries, two music venues (Liberty Hall and Mary's Underground) and natural wine brand P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants. From staying flexible and trialling new systems to the importance of communication and media, The Love Tilly Group, Bitter Phew and The Mary's Group share what they've uncovered from starting their respective businesses. What were the most important steps you took before opening your business? "We opened our first business, Love, Tilly Devine, in the backstreets of Darlinghurst way back in 2010. We were young and built the business on the smell of an oily rag with the idea of giving the people of Sydney access to premium and exciting wines, without the preconceived notion that wine bars needed to be stuffy," shared Managing Director Nathanial Hatwell. "At the time, we didn't know where this journey would take us, but the concept of Love Tilly still rings true to this day. Nailing that concept was fundamental to the success of the group that we have become." Though staying true to your original concept and brand is important, it's also vital to be able to adapt. Prior to opening each Mary's venue, Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth have tried to reevaluate and evolve the brand from its original roots on Newtown's back streets. "As we grow as people and as a company, we want to open the doors wider, metaphorically speaking. We wanted our own kids to be excited about going to a Mary's venue. [We tried to] Embrace current popular culture more, expand the offering a little, and make it fun for a wider range of people." Bitter Phew's Aaron Edwards had some practical tips. "Work on engaging events to garner new customers and help build your base." He added, "Have enough liquid cash — try to have reserves for those ups and down in the first year. Where possible, avoid borrowing excessive money as you want to have the freedom to work on your business." What's one key thing you wish you knew before you opened your doors? "As we've grown, systems and processes have been introduced in order to streamline our operations. Some of those have been trial and error, which have unfortunately cost us time and money," responded Hatwell. "In retrospect, we could have been better at doing our research in the lead-up and ensuring that the correct systems were introduced from the get-go." Edwards focused on the importance of communication, branding and media. "I thought that what we were doing would get enough attention, so I didn't push media enough. I would partner with media partners earlier and communicate clearly how you are building a diverse and interesting offering for the community." Graham and Smyth had a similar answer. "Speed, options, and clear and concise visual information is a must. People need to know at a glance who you are, what you do, and how they go about getting it. Barriers to entry need to be removed at any point." [caption id="attachment_780347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] What methods did you use to generate buzz and attract customers before opening? All three businesses emphasised the significance of communication, marketing and media. "Over the years, we've been lucky enough to work with some of the best in the industry when it comes to marketing, PR and social media engagement, which we continue to rely upon to this day," said Hatwell. Bitter Phew had an advantage by "Making sure our socials were up and running before [opening], and connecting with key influential people in our industry to ensure we were on the right track." "Great communication at every point is key," explained Graham and Smyth. "We engaged with local businesses and the community, and we spent months working on new branding ideas to help introduce ourselves to what we perceived as a new market. We engaged our PR Agency, Electric Collective, to help land some important media pieces. We staged a marketing campaign via our own social media and EDM channels. Little by little and piece by piece, it helps towards creating a structured and controlled narrative." [caption id="attachment_979760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van Der Jagt[/caption] How did Square help you stay organised? "Square makes the POS side of things super easy. It's modern tech for a modernising industry, and it takes the time and pain out of what used to be a laborious process," shared Graham and Smyth. "The system looks great, operates fluently and allows us to tap into our business instantly. We can check the app on our phone and see how business is going. The ease of transparency allows us to use the tools available to us to operate a more dynamic business. They say that retail is detail and Square helps us greatly with keeping our eyes on the important things." "The Square dashboard is phenomenal, providing oversight across all of our venues on a day-to-day basis," added Hatwell. "The payment terminals are super user-friendly and allow us the opportunity to customise the guest experience." Find out how Square can kickstart your business at squareup.com.
This year, Australia's arts calendar is steadily making up for lost time, compensating for all of 2020's missed gigs, exhibitions and experiences with a slew of brand new large-scale festivals and events. And, plenty of them are arriving this winter — including Rising, Melbourne's latest addition; Sydney Solstice, which will take over Vivid's usual June slot this year; and Illuminate Adelaide, which has just unveiled its first program reveal. Kicking off on Friday, July 16 and delivering 17 jam-packed days of music, art and light, Illuminate Adelaide kicks promises to fire up all of the South Australian city's senses. On the bill: a diverse lineup of installations, collaborations, world-premiere works and tech-driven immersive experiences, which should help fill locals' calendars and also tempt folks across the rest of Australia to SA for a mid-year getaway. In total, there'll be more than 150 installations, performances and events, including 41 world premieres. Helping to launch the festival's inaugural Luminary Artists in Residence program, legendary electronic act The Avalanches will take part in five events throughout Illuminate Adelaide. They'll perform their debut album Since I Left You live with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, present an art exhibition exploring the works that influenced their most recent album We Will Always Love You and descend on the outdoor music stage for a massive DJ set to help soundtrack the closing block party. In between all of that, Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi will also chat about their career, and their residency will include Michaela Gleave and Fausto Brusamolino's sky-high Messages of Hope, Messages of Love as well. Innovative light shows and illuminated works feature heavily throughout the program, starting with Light Cycles — an Aussie debut from Canada's Moment Factory that's set to transform the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with two kilometres of light projections, lasers, sound and special effects across each night of the festival. Adelaide Zoo will come alive after dark with a series of enchanting interactive animal installations for Light Creatures, while Van Gogh Alive, a multi-sensory digital art immersion from the minds behind The Lume, will let you experience the works of Van Gogh like never before. And City Lights will see a range of acclaimed artists transform the CBD into an after-dark art trail, featuring over 40 free site-specific works from kaleidoscopic projections to a giant inflatable deconstructed rainbow in Rundle Mall. [caption id="attachment_806650" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Light Creatures, A Blanck Canvas[/caption] The Adelaide Film Festival has jumped on board, collaborating on two world premiere VR works to be screened in a specially designed dome inside Queen's Theatre. And Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is set to team up with Music SA for Kinara — a free celebration of art and culture led by a cast of groundbreaking First Nations artists. You'll also catch freshly commissioned public artworks by the likes of South Australia's own Jason Sims, dig into unique music experiences from acts such as Paul Grabowsky AO and head to the reimagined Adelaide Festival of Ideas, too. And, on the final weekend, Illuminate Adelaide wraps up with a bang, dishing up a high-energy block party dubbed MAAD (Music & Art After Dark). Galleries and venues across the West End will come alive with gigs from a broad-ranging lineup of emerging and well-known talent, along with more exhibitions, short film screenings and light installations. The inaugural Illuminate Adelaide runs from July 16–August 1. Check out the festival's website for the full program and to grab tickets. Images: North Forest Lights at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Moment Factory; Airship Orchestra, ENESS.
