Every Friday lunchtime, CBD bar Since I Left You will transform into a Mexico City-inspired taqueria, with refreshing cocktails, $5 tacos and spicy house-made salsas. From 12pm each week, the bar will host the Tuckshop Taqueria: a celebration of making it to Friday — and an affordable alternative to a soggy sanga or exxy pub lunch. The weekly pop-up will be slinging house-made tortillas with your choice of three different toppings: tinga de pollo (sweet and spicy pulled chicken), al pastor (marinated and grilled pork) and pumpkin and sweet potato jerky. With these tasty (gluten-free) tortillas, you'll get three salsas, which, according to Owner Nick White, range from mild to "face melting". The mild is avocado and coriander with just a touch of green chilli, the medium is charred jalapeño and tomatillo salsa, and the fiery number is pasilla (dried chilaca chilli) and garlic. To help soothe the burn, there'll be hibiscus iced teas for $6 — the "most refreshing drink on earth", according to White — and, for those ready to start celebrating the weekend already, $12 margaritas and $8 Corona beers. For the moment, the taqueria will be walk-in only and just on Fridays, but if Sydney continues to ease out of COVID-19 restrictions, White hopes to expand it to more days.
Sydney can be a little bit manic this time of year. The shops become mini mosh-pits. Your calendar is filled with more shindigs than the previous ten months combined. So, on occasion, you might find yourself glancing at the door plotting a hasty retreat. Situated just 90 minutes from Sydney, Bowral can be that retreat — an antidote to the metro hustle and bustle for a day or weekend. And if you find yourself hiding out there on a Sunday, stop by Biota Dining for a feast before you head back to the bedlam. Throughout the summer months, Biota is making the most of its newly-landscaped 'parklands' with a Sunday barbecue series. With Biota's longstanding two-hatted status, expect this to be a few notches above the classic backyard barbie. For $58 per head, you can tuck into quality Southern Highlands produce prepared on a local stone BBQ in the outdoor sanctuary. No Aussie BBQ is complete without a beer or two, so for an additional $15 you can sample some wild ales courtesy of Wildflower. If the journey back to Sydney sounds slightly daunting in your post-feast state, remember that Biota also offers accomodation. The Biota Dining BBQ series runs every Sunday through summer from November 12, 2017. Bookings are essential.
Now is the time to start planning and booking a holiday to Outback Australia. Typically, the best time to visit places like the Red Centre, the Kimberleys and Flinders Ranges is between May and October. It's the Goldilocks period — you avoid both the summer heat and the wet season. It's not too hot or too cold. It's just right. But you can't just book a flight and figure it out once you get there. You'll usually need a guide, a 4WD and a super detailed plan. You can organise all of this yourself, but it's a lot of work. That's why we suggest booking a specially curated tour. It takes all the fuss out of your holiday, allowing you to simply enjoy the ridiculously beautiful natural wonders found throughout the Australian outback. So, read on to find a series of unforgettable trips and tours that can each be booked through Concrete Playground Trips. [caption id="attachment_896631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brian Mcmahon (Unsplash)[/caption] LUXURY CAMPING TOUR AROUND KIMBERLEY Western Australia's Kimberley region is a proper bucket list travel destination. You get to see some of Outback Australia's finest sites — think deep gorges, vast white sand beaches and remote waterfalls that are made for swimming under. What better way to experience this iconic natural landscape than by camping around it for 12 days? This unique trip won't just guide you to the best spots, it'll take you there in total style. It includes a helicopter ride over Mitchell Falls, a Geikie Gorge boat cruise and all your camping equipment — big comfy mattress and all. If you've always wanted to explore Kimberley, this is the ultimate way to do it. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Keller (Unsplash)[/caption] SIX-DAY CORAL COASTER FROM PERTH TO EXMOUTH (VIA NINGALOO REEF) Go on a proper Western Australia adventure during this week-long trip. From unspoilt beaches to deep red deserts to explore — plus an abundance of wildlife to spot — this will be an unforgettable Australian holiday. You'll also tick a bunch of spectacular destinations off your bucket list — including the Pinnacles, Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, Murchison Gorge, Kalbarri National Park, The Stromatolites at Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_826027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT[/caption] AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK TOUR FROM DARWIN TO CAIRNS This is an 11-day adventure-filled trip through the most remote parts of Savannah Way. Get ready to explore natural landscapes unlike anything else in the world. You'll travel east through Kakadu, Mataranka, Lorella Springs and Lawn Hill before finishing up in the tropical rainforest on the outskirts of Cairns. Along the way, you'll spot native wildlife in their natural habitat, hike through gorges, discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and swim in pristine natural waterholes (free of crocs, of course). BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_883581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Skopal (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY ADVENTURE IN THE FLINDERS RANGES This small group eco-tour of the famous Flinders Ranges gives guests the opportunity to see the incredible rock formation of Wilpena Pound and the Ranges while learning about local Aboriginal culture. You'll search for the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby, spot kangaroos, emus and wedge-tailed eagles, spy ancient Aboriginal cave paintings, meet the locals and enjoy campfires and camp cooking. BOOK IT NOW. KING'S CANYON HIKING TOUR King's Canyon, famously where the queens from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert hiked in feather-clad bird outfits, is a big bucket list destination — not just for fans of the film. Located between Alice Springs and Yulara, this has to be one of the very best places to go hiking in Australia. Walk along red rock cliffs, through maze-like gorges and around beautiful bushland. The views across the surrounding desert are also just next level, and this big day trip takes you to all the best bits. BOOK IT NOW. DAY TRIP TO LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK WATERFALLS If you've ever seen images of people jumping into spectacular natural waterholes and pools in a tourism ad for the Northern Territory, there's a very good chance the footage was shot at Litchfield National Park. Making a visit here is an experience we should all have at some point in our lives. And booking this package will get you right there. You'll be picked up from Darwin and transported to the famous Florence Falls for a day of exploring and swimming in extraordinary (croc-free) waters. BOOK IT NOW. CHAMBER PILLAR AND RAINBOW VALLEY 4WD TRIP Go off-road during this full-day tour around the Rainbow Valley — a remote region in Australia's Red Centre. The small group 4WD experience takes you deep into the Red Centre's beautiful and remote sand hill country in comfort and style. You will discover the history of the early explorers, local First Nations culture and stories, the iconic Simpson Desert and stunning landscapes and rock formations. In between short hikes, you'll be driven around in an air-conditioned 4WD to catch your breath and cool down. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_896632" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Davies (Unsplash)[/caption] FOUR-DAY 4WD OUTBACK TOUR OF KAKADU NATIONAL PARK This exclusive 4WD safari adventure takes travellers off-road, discovering some of the most remote parts of Kakadu National Park. Visit spectacular waterfalls, cool off in some of the most beautiful natural plunge pools imaginable and spend each night in comfortable accommodation. Everything is organised for you throughout this Outback Australia tour, including a billabong wetlands cruise that'll take you up and close to some freshwater crocs. BOOK IT NOW. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Simon Maisch (Unsplash)
The new Sydney label/collective/party No Good have been killing it so far this year. Off the back of their monthly sessions comes the boutique festival No Good: Winter, the first in a series of quarterly events from the people who promise to bring you sounds you’ve never heard before — and all of them local. The label prides itself on uncovering the most inventive and influential new music from this city, so fittingly the lineup is a super diverse mix of emerging Sydney talent. Bands, DJs, rappers and producers will come together for the full-day affair, headed up by Rainbow Chan and Maatzi. Think new music that’s variously haunting, synthy, playful, psychedelic, dreamy and plain weird. It's all happening this Queen's Birthday long weekend at the Petersham Bowling Club, and, contrary to the name, it’s a pretty good excuse to get down on a Sunday.
It isn't often that Americans seek inspiration from Australia; our humble shores are prone to mimicking rather than leading by example. And yet, just last week, Melbourne boys Chris McPherson and Chris Rendell launched Flinders Lane, a New York eatery inspired by their home city. "Most of the Australian restaurants in the city are like Outback Steakhouse or the Crocodile Dundee sort of vision," McPherson told the Village Voice. "We wanted to bring back what's actually there." Their venue, which opened on February 3, is full of the cross-section of cultures and cuisines that is so unique to Australia. McPherson and Rendell met a few years back, quickly agreeing on the need to plot a restaurant that would pay homage to modern Australian food. Predominately driven by a serious case of homesickness, the Aussie expats quickly set to work, establishing a spot for contemporary Australian cooking, a long way from home. The result? A delicious array of fresh seafood and Australian fruit and veg, from chef Rendell. Many dishes also sport an identifiable Asian influence — highlights include tandoori rabbit, steamed snapper in sesame broth and a chicken san choy bau. Drinks-wise, the boys aim to offer a boutique selection of domestic and international wines, as well as a seasonal cocktail list, steering away from the heavy Shirazes that characterise many stereotypical perceptions of an Australian drop. Three tap beers, including the classic Coopers Green, are also available to accompany your grub. The 40-seat eatery isn't covered with Melbournalia; its sleek, pared-back look is a more subtle nod to the city. There is, however, a stunning collection of Melbourne photography, including a massive print of namesake Flinders Lane on the back wall. Flinders Lane New York is located in the East Village: 162 Ave A, 212-228-6900. Via Fork in the Road.
While heading to the beach might be the last thing on your mind in this chilly weather, Port Stephens is giving you a pretty convincing reason to head north this winter. Its annual month-long Love Seafood festival celebrates all things local, fresh and from the ocean — and sees seafood aficionados flock to the coastal town every August. From fish, prawns and oysters to crab and lobster, the seafood from around the region is mighty fine and well worth the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. Running over the month of August, Love Seafood is an indulgent food fair complete with long lunches, degustation dinners, galas, cruises and even town-wide jazz performances. If you make the journey up the coast, you'll be tucking in at top-notch restaurants, sharpening your cooking skills at weekly cooking classes and tasting seafood aplenty from local vendors. Once you've had your fill of local fare, you can head behind the scenes for a tour of fish farming and aquaculture, too. To entice you even more, we've teamed up with The Anchorage Hotel & Spa to give one lucky winner (and their mate or date) a night at its Hamptons-inspired digs. You'll be staying right on the water, with each room decked out with plenty of seaside (but incredibly luxe) charm and ocean views. You can claim your prize at any point until Sunday, September 1 (between Sundays and Thursdays). Plus, we're throwing in breakfast with bottomless bubbles and a two-course lunch at The Anchorage's Galley Kitchen — with seafood galore, of course. Love Seafood will take over Port Stephens from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, September1. If you're keen for a getaway and stuffing yourself silly with seafood — which you obviously are — enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]731887[/competition]
State-versus-state and city-against-city rivalries are all part of life in Australia, but New South Wales has been lagging behind many of its counterparts when it comes to banning single-use plastics. When winter arrives in 2022, however, it'll finally kick off with the long-awaited ditching of lightweight single-use plastic bags — and then add more disposable items to the banned list before the year is out. First, the change to doing your shopping. Back in 2020, the NSW Government finally announced that it would scrap single-use plastic bags, becoming the last Australian state or territory to do so. In 2021, it revealed that it'd put that ban in place sometime in 2022 — and the date it actually happens, Wednesday, June 1, is now fast approaching. Only lightweight single-use plastic bags will get the heave-ho on that day, covering anything with handles that's 35 microns or less in thickness at any part of the bag. The ban also applies to lightweight bags made from biodegradable, compostable and bio-plastics, including any made from Australian-certified compostable plastic. That said, it won't cover bin liners, which are considered 'barrier bags'; bags for human or animal waste, which fall into the same category; bags for fresh produce and deli items; and bags used to contain medical items (other than bags given to customers by retailers to take stuff home with them). Next, come Tuesday, November 1, single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers will no longer be part of NSW residents' lives. Neither will single-use plastic bowls and plates, expanded polystyrene items that are used in food service, single-use plastic cotton buds or products containing microbeads. That covers single-use plastic forks, spoons, knives, sporks, splayds, chopsticks and food picks as well, and expanded polystyrene clamshells, cups, plates and bowls. And, it applies to anything with microbeads such as face and body cleansers, exfoliants, masks, shampoo, conditioner, hair dyes and toothpaste. Again, this ban covers items made from biodegradable, compostable or bio-plastic as well, and from Australian-certified compostable plastic. With straws, though, there will be exemptions for people with a disability or who have a medical need. As advised back in 2021 when 2022 was locked in for the bans to start, NSW is aiming to reduce the total amount of waste generated per person by 10 percent by 2030, reduce litter by 60 percent by the same time, and triple the rate of plastic recycling by then, too. Similar laws regarding single-use plastics have already come into effect in South Australia and Queensland — and Victoria has set a 2023 target date. As a nation, Australia is set to phase out a heap of single-use plastic items by 2025 as well. And, that's on top of smaller-scale initiatives, not only including bag bans and container schemes, but the phasing out of single-use plastics in various guises at the company level, with Coles, McDonald's, IKEA, Coca-Cola Amatil and Qantas among those making steps in the plastic-free direction. New South Wales' single-use plastics ban will start kicking in on Wednesday, June 1. You can find out more via the NSW Government website.
It's been a long time coming — a casual 18 months, in fact — but the Speakeasy Group's hotly-anticipated Parramatta rooftop bar has finally opened its doors. Located up on the 26th floor of the V by Crown development, Nick & Nora's marks the group's sixth venue, joining a stable that includes hospitality hits like Eau de Vie, Mjolner and Melbourne's Boilermaker House. Pulling inspiration from Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man and its fictional sleuthing characters Nick and Nora Charles, the sophisticated space is an homage to the roaring 30s. Among the venue's features: an opulent fit-out, lavish art deco touches and a whole lot of Champagne. It has room for an impressive 300 people, complete with a sprawling terrace boasting views across the CBD and Sydney Harbour. Even so, you can rest assured that booze isn't taken lightly — the back bar selection runs to a hefty 900 spirits, while climate-controlled fridges are stocked with over 50 Champagnes from the world's most celebrated houses. The cocktail offering is as tight as you'd expect from these pros, with a 30-strong list featuring multiple variations of martinis, sours and Champagne-infused sips. Plus, there's also more delicious mischief in store thanks to the bar's five liquid nitrogen stations. As for the food, expect an offering that holds its own against the plush vibe and ritzy drinks lineup — fine cheese and charcuterie, top-quality oysters and some of the world's best caviar promise an all-round opulent affair. The bar is part of Parramatta's huge V by Crown complex, which features a luxury 72-suite hotel, residential apartments and restaurant Husk and Vine. It's a big opening for the area — and one that looks to really kick off a bar boom. Nick & Nora's is now open at Level 26, 45 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. The bar operates from 5pm–midnight from Mondays to Thursdays, 3pm–midnight on Fridays, and 12pm–midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Images: Jiwon Kim.
Wolf Lullaby brings an Aussie murder story (by Hilary Bell) to the New Theatre, revealing impressive voice work by the actors, but a few of the small theatre’s limitations when exploring the horror genre. This production would make an incredible radio play. As it is, the macabre subject matter keeps the audience intrigued — a two-year-old boy is murdered and the main suspect is a little girl. Far from the big budgets and sensory saturation of horror films, Wolf Lullaby still makes some outstanding choices. The set (designed by Allan Walpole) is cleverly divided into three parts: the cosy domestic space of the Gael family, with nostalgic Aussie rock blasting from the ‘wireless’, sits opposite the ordered space of the small town’s police office. A prison cell behind is either revealed or obscured by lighting. In the middle sits a graffiti wall and concrete slab (the exact shape of a small child’s coffin — an eerie reminder of the dead child), which is the scene of the murder. It is here that young suspect Lizzie Gael (Maryellen George) struggles with night terrors, visions of ‘the wolf’ coming, and an ever-increasing tangle of lies and stories. The scenes shift between these three areas, generally with a blackout or sound cue as a diversion. The sheer number of these interchanges is a little jarring, both to story and character development. In moments when the characters are left quietly on stage in the near-dark, there is better dramatic flow, allowing us to connect to the characters and their dilemmas. This is Emma Louise’s directorial debut at New Theatre and her expertise in voice training shines through. The clarity, quality and richness of the actors’ voices really make the play, with George providing a very convincing nine-year-old voice. However, casting an adult actor in the child’s role does reduce the fear factor of seeing an actual child capable of killing. This is the pay-off for the maturity needed for the role, and George finds a medium between over-exaggerated childish physicality and charming slumps to the floor. Peter McAllum and David Woodland bring to life Sergeant Ray Armstrong and Warren Gael respectively as complex and sympathetic characters. The actual mystery of this murder mystery is revealed early, which leaves mother Angela Gael’s (Lucy Miller) internal struggle between her conscience and her maternal instinct as the play’s focus. Miller doesn’t always manage to communicate this emotional tug-of-war, sometimes seeming too detached. Wolf Lullaby has some valuable questions to ask society: are some children born evil? Do we teach our children to lie when we use scare tactics as discipline? What about how we treat children with mental illness? Bell’s tragic murder story is timeless and this production is challenging and energetic.
Get the jab, get permission to head out of the house: that's a key part of New South Wales' COVID-19 strategy, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been talking up. And, while concrete details haven't yet been revealed, it looks like eating in at restaurants, pubs and bars — and working out at the gym, too — may be on the cards for folks who've had both jabs once NSW reaches the 70-percent fully vaccinated mark. The state is currently experiencing its biggest COVID-19 outbreak of the pandemic, reporting 825 new local cases on Saturday, August 21 and breaking Australia's record in the process. Lockdowns and restrictions have been tightening in response, including across Greater Sydney, in Local Government Areas of concern and statewide. But, as well as containing the current spread, outlining how NSW emerges from its current stay-at-home rules has also become a prominent focus — with the Premier set to release a roadmap for moving forward sometime during the week beginning Monday, August 23. Back in mid-July, this exact roadmap was also promised, outlining how Sydney would emerge from lockdown; however, as case numbers grew and stricter rules were put in place, it didn't emerge. Now, it appears set to be released, detailing what'll be possible for people who've had both shots — starting when the state reaches six million jabs, then expanding when 70 percent and then 80 percent of NSW residents are fully vaxxed. The latter two benchmarks fall in line with Australia's new overall 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July. Obviously, case numbers will still have an impact when it comes to whether these plans eventuate. At present, the state remains under lockdown until the end of September. But NSW Police Minister David Elliott told the Seven Network's Sunrise that allowing restaurants, bars, pubs and gyms to open to fully vaxxed NSW residents once the 70-percent target is reached is the plan. "That's something that a lot of people have been working very hard towards. We've got to make sure that we continue to encourage people to get the vaccine," the Minister said, noting that being able to go to the pub once you're jabbed should be a powerful motivation. "It's something she's been working towards for quite some time," Elliott continued when asked if the Premier would be announcing the details soon. "We've been speaking to the hospitality industry, the AHA [Australian Hotels Association], Clubs NSW, restaurants... and it makes sense, it makes perfect sense. It's exactly what the British government did." "That's the plan" NSW Police Minister David Elliott confirms Premier @GladysB will ease most restrictions for double jabbed residents when the state reaches 70 per cent vaccination. "It's exactly what the British government has done" pic.twitter.com/xrev6lPr7v — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 19, 2021 Exactly what that might mean in practical terms hasn't been revealed, but outdoor dining is likely to be a big feature, as it was in 2020 when NSW reopened after lockdowns. Also, vaccine passports may play a part, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing after Australia's last National Cabinet meeting on Friday, August 20 that work will now move forward regarding "incorporating the proof of vaccination status into existing state and territory check-in apps." Wondering when the 70-percent target might be reached? Earlier this week, the Premier advised that "at this stage, those targets will be met at the end of October for 70-percent double dose and mid-November for 80-percent double dose." She continued: "Life will be much freer than what it is today once we get to 70 percent and 80 percent. It doesn't mean we'll be completely free. It doesn't mean that we will let the virus be rampant in the community no matter our number of cases, but it will be freer than it is today." Again, exactly what double-vaxxed NSW residents will be allowed to do at the six-million jab mark, at 70-percent double doses and at the 80-percent fully vaccinated threshold hasn't yet been outlined in detail, and neither has the impact of rising daily case numbers. Getting haircuts has also been floated as a possibility, and the federal plan for the 70-percent mark includes letting jabbed folks out of lockdowns and border controls. At 80-percent fully vaxxed, the nationwide outline proposes allowing vaccinated people to travel overseas again without restrictions, too. [caption id="attachment_798916" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Amid all of the discussion about opening back up, the Premier has also advised that the NSW Government does expect case numbers to remain high in September and October. That said, she still expects that there'll still be scope to ease some rules for vaccinated people — with encouraging folks to get vaccinated obviously a very big part of the strategy moving forward. "What we need to do is to make sure that when we get to that 70-percent double dose in New South Wales and that 80-percent New South Wales double dose, that we try and he's gonna keep the case numbers as low as possible," the Premier said at the state's daily COVID-19 press conference on Saturday, August 21. "What we do also have to accept is how we actually talk about this disease moving forward. Once you get to 70-percent double doses, it will be a situation where the vaccine rate will be more critical than how many cases we have." If you're wondering were you can get vaccinated, there's a handy online map that helps you find your nearest clinic. Australia's vaccination campaign is also expected to get a boost from Monday, August 30, when the Pfizer jab will open up to everyone aged 16–39 — and also from September, as that's when the recently approved Moderna vaccine will join the rollout. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
If you're in Sydney's CBD and can hear helicopters overhead, that's because Barack Obama is in town. According to 7 News, the former president of the United States touched down at Sydney Airport around 1pm and has since made his way — as part of a motorcade — up Oxford Street and into the CBD. .@barackobama at @SydneyAirport. The former U.S. President will be speaking at the @ArtGalleryofNSW tonight. https://t.co/0rfycPrrqA #7News pic.twitter.com/FJgJVxgpi3 — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 23, 2018 Obama is in Sydney for an exclusive private event hosted by the New Zealand United States Council at the Art Gallery of NSW tonight, Friday, March 23. He comes via Auckland, where he spoke last night. At the moment, it doesn't look like there will be any road closures or changes to traffic. Unfortunately the talk is not open to the public, but if you head to the AGNSW, you might be able to get an IRL sighting of the former president. Although you may not be able to get very close — security will be understandably tight.
Vegan NSW will be taking over Sydney Olympic Park with a market full of vegan and plant-based eats this October. The monthly plant-based market will return with stores ranging from vegan Greek eats to ethically-sourced artisan good from the likes of The Vegan Wog, Koshari Korner and Green Gourmet. New stallholders arriving in time for the market's October leg include Auntie M's Filipino Street Food and Crave Desserts. Entry to the markets is free and you can bring your pooch as it will be a dog-friendly affair. Vegan musicians will be setting the mood with performances throughout the day, and it's encouraged you bring your own picnic rug to set up in the Cathy Freeman Park, as well as your own cup, container and cutlery in line with the market's environmentally sustainable ethos.
The Australian festival scene's worst-kept secret for 2023 has been confirmed: Post Malone is headlining Spilt Milk. When the melancholic hitmaker announced his latest solo tour Down Under, he named venues in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, but also had Canberra, Gold Coast, Ballarat and Perth listed without specific sites. We predicted that those stops would see him play Spilt Milk — and, yes, that theory was right. Music lovers and festival fans in Canberra, Ballarat, Perth and the Gold Coast, Post Malone is on his way. The fest will kick off its 2023 season on Saturday, November 25 at Exhibition Park in the nation's capital, then head to the Gold Coast Sports Precinct on Sunday, November 26. The following weekend, it'll hit up Ballarat's Victoria Park on Saturday, December 2, before wrapping up on Sunday, December 3 at Claremont Showgrounds in Perth. The latter stop marks Spilt Milk's debut in the Western Australian city, and might just see the fest prove even more popular than it usually does. In 2022, that year's three stops all sold out in less than seven days. Post Malone has company on the fest's stages, with Dom Dolla and Latto also leading the bill. So, expect to hear everything from 'Sunflower' and 'I Like You' to 'Rhyme Dust' and 'Big Energy'. Tkay Maidza and Aitch also rank among Spilt Milk's impressive 2023 names, with Chris Lake, Dermot Kennedy, Budjerah, Cub Sport, Lastlings, Partiboi69, Ocean Alley, Peach PRC, Royel Otis also set to hit the stage. [caption id="attachment_851189" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Billy Zammit[/caption] Also, because this fest is also about food, there'll be bites to eat from Chebbo's Burgers, 400 Gradi, Chicken Treat, and the BBQ and Beer Roadshow. Originally only held in Canberra, then expanding to Ballarat, then the Gold Coast and now Perth, the multi-city one-dayer has cemented its spot as a must-attend event for a heap of reasons. In 2023, this just-announced lineup is one of them. [caption id="attachment_851187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] SPILT MILK 2023 DATES: Saturday, November 25 — Exhibition Park, Canberra Sunday, November 26 — Gold Coast Sports Precinct, Gold Coast Saturday, December 2 — Victoria Park, Ballarat Sunday, December 3 — Claremont Showgrounds, Perth SPILT MILK 2023 LINEUP: Post Malone Dom Dolla Aitch Budjerah Chris Lake Cub Sport David Kushner Dermot Kennedy Djanaba Grentperez Jessie Murph Lastlings Latto Levins & Friends (Guilty Pleasures) Lime Cordiale May-A Mincy Ocean Alley Pacific Avenue Partiboi69 Peach Prc Poolclvb Redhook Royel Otis The Buoys The Dreggs Tia Gostelow Tkay Maidza Also in Canberra: Apricot Ink Clique & Brittany Demarco G.A.C.T (Just Tneek, Kinetictheory, Bin Juice, Geo) Sputnik Sweetheart Zach Knows + more to be announced Triple J Unearthed Winner Also on the Gold Coast: Bill Durry Friends Of Friends Logan Peach Fur + more to be announced Triple J Unearthed Winner Also in Ballarat: Ango Ben Gerrans Blue Vedder Sami Srirachi Yorke Triple J Unearthed Winner Also in Perth: Don Darkoe Dulcie Sammythesinner The Vault Djs + more to be announced Spilt Milk will hit Canberra, Ballarat, the Gold Coast and Perth in November and December 2023. Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Tuesday, July 11 and general sales on Thursday, July 15 — at 8am AEST for Canberra tickets, 8am AWST for Perth tickets, 9am AEST for Ballarat tickets and 11am AEST for Gold Coast tickets. Head to the festival website for more info and to register for pre-sales. Top image: Jordan Munns.
When working nine to five isn't panning out for Raylene 'Red 'Delaney (Krew Boylan, A Place to Call Home), she does what all folks should: takes Dolly Parton's advice. Pouring yourself a cup of ambition is never simple, but when you're a Parton-obsessed Australian eager to make all things Dolly your living, it's a dream that no one should be allowed to shatter. That's the delightful idea behind Seriously Red, which pushes Parton worship to the next level — and idolising celebrities in general — while tracking Red's quest to make it, cascading blonde wigs atop her natural flame-hued tresses and all, as a Dolly impersonator. That's a wonderfully flamboyant concept, too, as brought to the screen with a surreal 'Copy World' filled with other faux superstars; enlisting Rose Byrne (Physical) as an Elvis mimic is particularly inspired. Seriously Red doesn't just get its namesake adhering to Parton's wisdom, whether sung or spoken over the icon's 55-year career. It also splashes the country music queen's adages like "find out who you are and do it on purpose" across its frames as well. They help give the film structure and assist in setting the tone, as this rhinestone-studded movie comedically but earnestly explores two universal struggles. Everyone wants to be true to themselves, and to work out what that means. We all yearn to spend our days chasing our heart's real desires, too. As penned by Boylan in her debut script, and directed by fellow feature first-timer Gracie Otto (after documentaries The Last Impresario and Under the Volcano, plus episodes of The Other Guy, Bump, Heartbreak High and more), Seriously Red spots a big question lurking in these missions for Red, however — because what does it mean when being yourself and scoring your dream gig means being someone else? When the film begins, Red isn't loving or even liking her lot in life, and definitely doesn't want to keep the status quo on purpose. Tension lingers in her real-estate valuer job and at home, where she's turned her mum Viv's (Jean Kittson, Fat Pizza: Back in Business) garage into a flat — and the daily tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, then to work, is a grind. Even worse, she's tricked into showing up to the company party in her Dolly regalia to be the butt of the office's jokes, although it does get her an in with an impersonator talent agent. Teeth (Celeste Barber, The Letdown) sees an opportunity, Red is willing to take it, and employment and a whole new world follows. Still, Viv can't see how going full Dolly can pay the bills, withholding her support. Also at home, Red's friendship with her best mate Francis (Thomas Campbell, Love and Monsters) feels the strain. Just like its protagonist, embracing this trip down the impersonator rabbit hole — using a Parton-shaped key and plenty of pluck — is easy for Seriously Red. It revels in the look and feel of all things Dolly from outfits to paraphernalia; if something is adorned in a Parton-esque way, this film will likely always love it, short of the flick becoming a movie version of Dollywood. Plunging into the Copy World happens with just as much spirit and affection, and with gags like Dannii Minogue as a Dannii Minogue impersonator. Trevor Ashley's Barbra Streisand tribute gets a whirl, and everyone from Elton John and Freddie Mercury to Madonna and George Michael scores a doppelgänger. If The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding spring to mind — because movies about taking to the stage in big, camp theatrical displays based around music legends has long been in Aussie cinema's DNA — there's a tangible link to the former courtesy of Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel. It should come as no surprise, too, that Boylan's script has Red team up with a Kenny Rogers impersonator (Daniel Webber, Billy the Kid), including to do more than croon 'Islands in the Stream'. In the business, as she flits around the country and even the world busting out her best Dolly, there's no shortage of people who respect the gig — Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher) plays Wilson, an ex-Neil Diamond impersonator-turned-agency owner, as another example — but Seriously Red's Kenny is something else. He lives like his hero 24/7, right down to the attire, locks and facial hair. He's also made 'The Gambler' singer's moniker legally his. And, he's the impetus for Red making a similarly hearty commitment, then also evaluating whether Dolly or Red should actually come first. Glimmering with the same fantastical vibe that gleefully silly recent new instant comedy classic Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar also boasted — cinematographer Toby Oliver lenses both, roving over jewel tones here instead of pastels — there's more verve and attitude than poise to Seriously Red. That always feels fitting. There's a scrappiness to being even the best impersonator, as Red's Parton shows; over and over, she sums up the bulk of the movie. While the film can fall on the awkward side of comic, and its dramatic beats aren't quite in tune (see: Red's conflicts with her family and friends), that can-do attitude keeps shining. Of course a feature about taking a big swing does that itself again and again. Of course a picture about adoring and taking life advice from a legend that has never let anyone else define her, and has proven the epitome of kindness-fuelled resilience over her time in the spotlight, dances to its own song as well. Parton's music isn't always as bright as her smile, though, a truth that Seriously Red also works with. This Dolly-approved flick — with her likeness so prominent and her music instrumental, including sung by both Boylan and the artist herself, it couldn't have happened without Parton's seal of approval — grapples with Red's lows as well as highs. It shows the impact that her self-centred behaviour has on others, too, and the way the world often beams anything but sunshine her way. As an actor, Boylan weathers those ebbs and flows with adaptability and commitment. As a performer playing an aspiring performer whose whole routine is based on another performer, she ensures that Red's raw edges are never buffed away. As a writer, Boylan noticeably leans on tropes, but Seriously Red doesn't need to beg its viewers to have an entertaining time.
In The Guest Edit, we hand the reins over to some of Australia's most interesting, tasteful and/or entertaining people. For this instalment, we've enlisted comedian, actor, DJ, drag artist and all-round superstar Natali Caro (aka Papi Chulo) to run us through their picks for this year's Sydney Comedy Festival. You can catch Natali's one-person show Seeking Representation at the Factory Theatre on Saturday, April 30 or Sunday, May 1. NATALI CARO: During my four years of doing stand-up, it's safe to say that there are several pockets of comedy that I have intentionally steered away from, whether it be certain rooms, events or groups of people. As a queer, genderfluid person of colour, comedy spaces aren't always the most inviting. And, I know that many of my QTPOC audience feel the same way, avoiding comedy all together. But the truth is there are a lot of great comics in Sydney doing great things. Lucky for you, I have picked some of the funniest and most inviting of them all in anticipation for Sydney Comedy Festival, which kicked off Monday, April 25. I've done it chronologically too, look at me! (Most of these shows are on at different times as well, so there's a good chance you can catch them all.) AJ LAMARQUE: ENGLISH BREAKFAST AJ is about the same age as me, yet has the demeanour and wisdom of Julie Andrews in any movie starring Julie Andrews — and it's reassuring AF. There is something about tea rituals that just screams "CAMP!", and I am not surprised that AJ made this the thematic focal point of his debut solo comedy show. You will be in safe hands with this "self-declared Mixed Race Queen." AJ is charming, witty, full of panache and very much worth the "BYO Teacups." When: Thursday, April 28–Sunday, May 1 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $20 GABBI BOLT: I HOPE MY KEYBOARD DOESN'T BREAK Now, I've met a lot of people that DON'T like musical comedy. But those people just simply don't have the talent. They can't comprehend what it would take to write an hour of hilarious bangers — as your first solo show, nonetheless. I love musical comedy acts: Flight of The Conchords, Spinal Tap, Michelle Brasier ... The Chainsmokers. And I personally can't wait to watch Gabbi's POV on "climate change, feminism and why small towns have too many pubs." If Wayne Brady is a fan, then you will be too. When: Thursday, April 28–Friday, April 29 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $30–35 [caption id="attachment_851242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Annie Walker[/caption] NATALI CARO: SEEKING REPRESENTATION That's me! I genuinely would be cheating you if I didn't gently nudge you toward "the best show of the year" (2020 and 2021!). This show has enough of everything to leave you satisfied and wanting more. I really wanted an agent so I put together the ultimate comedy showreel showcasing stand up, drag, impressions, sketch, audio visuals, song and dance. Two sold out shows and two standing ovations – not bad for my debut solo show ... let's make it three for three?? (Sunday's show will be Auslan interpreted.) When: Saturday, April 30–Sunday, May 1 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $15–25 THAO THANH CAO: MARMALADE The name intrigues me ... yet I am sure it has nothing to do with the song. If you ever wanted to know "what is the best safety tip when driving with a baby on board?", "how to creatively handle a racist?" and "what is the number one thing you should never do on a first date?", then this show is for you! Thanh has been playing rooms all over Sydney, selling out festivals and even winning awards (Short and Sweet comedy and several open mic contests). When: Saturday, April 30–Sunday, May 1 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $25.90 NAOMI MOURRA AND PAGE BARTELT: YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP This is a split-bill show with one of my favourite, "Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah's Witness" Sydney comedians, Naomi Mourra. Naomi can tell the hell out of a knock-knock joke (I should give her credit for that one) and holds a bible like no one else. If her 2018 debut solo show, An Open Book, is anything to go by, then you don't want to miss your chance to catch her this festival season, talking all things, "chicks, chickpeas, cults and culture." And you get TWO comics for the price of one. When: Saturday, April 30 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $15–20 OLIVER TWIST: GRIOT Oliver is a rising star in comedy and, conveniently, a very cool person. He is relentlessly funny and talented as an actor, writer and comedian. ICYMI, Oliver has been touring his debut play JALI, all over Australia, with great success. And it's no question this solo show is a must-watch. Oliver tells the story of his time in a refugee camp, applying to study in Canada: "where do you see yourself in five years? ... I was like, 'anywhere but here, literally anywhere but this refugee camp' ... that's why I'm doing this entire questionnaire." When: Thursday, May 5—Sunday, May 8 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $20.40 HOT DEPARTMENT: AFTER PARTY Hot Department are bringing the HEAT all the way from Melbourne! You better believe this unhinged sketch comedy duo, composed of Patrick Durnan Silva and Honor Wolff, are "at it again. But this time, they're at it again." Sydneysiders are lucky to be graced with their appearance this comedy season. After getting many of us through several lockdowns online, it is timely and just that we get to see them IRL! When: Saturday, May 14–Sunday, May 15 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $25 HARRY JUN: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES Definition: A backhanded compliment said by bigots. Typically describes a person of colour who is complicit, and/or agrees with the bigot's social and political values. See, I always thought this meant "one of the good *male* comedians," which would in fact be true! This show "is about race, relationships and successfully failing to meet expectations," as well as Harry's "light-hearted and heavy-handed approach to uncomfortable situations." Harry Jun is *bleeping* funny and definitely worth the watch! When: Thursday, May 19—Friday, May 20 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $15–20 SOPHIA MORRISON: LOVELY I've never met Sophia, but she seems lovely! Absurdist comedy isn't often given the airtime it deserves — not unless you are white and/or male. Often these acts can do whatever they want under the guise of "absurdism", and are celebrated as being clever or innovative simply for existing within the space. But Sophia mitigates this through hard work and thoughtfulness, rising above the mediocrity. In this show, Sophia "travels through time and place as she tries to find a Sophia-shaped hole for herself in a world not built for a dyslexic mind". When: Saturday, May 21—Sunday, May 22 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $18–22 The Sydney Comedy Festival runs from Monday, April 25–Sunday, May 22 at various venues around town. Top image: Dream Syndicator/Ash Penin.
Losing yourself in a giant Pac-Man-inspired maze may or may not be your idea of the ultimate reality break, but it is something you'll actually be able to pencil into the diary when the Pac Maze hits Sydney this August. Yep, someone has created a human-size version of the classic 80s arcade game that had you losing hours navigating tiny yellow Pac-Dots and avoiding ghosts. The Pac-Maze comes courtesy of the same masters of nostalgia that brought you the adults-only Lego bar, The Brick Bar, which means you can expect a bunch of interactive fun that'll delight both your adult self and your inner kid. This themed experience will take place at a secret location in the inner west over two days: Friday, August 16 on Saturday, August 17. Organisers are promising an immersive escape room-style experience, held within a 1.5-kilometre, LED-lit maze, with the chance to score prizes if you're quick enough to elude those multi-coloured ghosts (aka Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde). Once you're out of the maze, you can hang out in an '80s-themed pixel room' with the OG Pac-Man game. You can play solo or in teams of up to ten. If you want to avoid children, head along on the Friday or Saturday nights when, from 6–11pm, it'll be an adults-only affair. Family sessions will run from 11am–6pm on the Saturday.
If you've ever wished for your own personal sommelier, you're in some serious luck. The Wine Gallery is an Australian-based, online wine store that delivers wine curated by one of the best wine sommeliers in Australia right to your front door. And when The Wine Gallery say "one of the best wine sommeliers", they mean it — for this project, Australian entrepreneur Tom Walenkamp has teamed up with three-time Sommelier of the Year Banjo Harris Plane, whose resume also boasts former head sommelier at Attica and co-owner of Fitzroy's Bar Liberty. The idea originated when Walenkamp was studying abroad in France. "My European classmates already knew so much about wine from their culture and I thought the Australian market would really benefit from this type of knowledge," says Walenkamp. "I love drinking wine but always felt a bit on the outside — I call it playing wine roulette because you never know what you're going to get." Not so with The Wine Gallery. The deal is simple: subscribers take a palate quiz and receive three recommend bottles each month based on personal preferences. The bottles on offer are hand-selected by Plane's wine team and each bottle comes with tasting notes, detailed information on the grapes and stories behind the wine makers, along with recipes and food pairings. If you aren't happy with a bottle they'll replace it without a fuss and there's also no lock-in so you can pause, skip or cancel your membership whenever you like. "It's a fully interactive site, with ratings and feedback systems, so after two months no two people will have the same recommendations," says Walenkamp. "You don't have to go with our recommendations, either — you can always swap bottles, add more, or decide to go with all reds for colder months, for example." They've also just rolled out a new, 'state of the art' rewards program — thanks to third co-founder and expert coder Humberto Moreira — which keeps track of the different wine types, production methods and wine regions of each bottle you receive. This allows members to log in and track their wine journey in a visual way, with a few free bottles of plonk as you earn 'badges'. The three bottles are reasonably priced at a uniform $69 and The Wine Gallery will ship anywhere in Australia for a flat rate of $9 (they offer complimentary shipping for orders over $150). Morning orders will even be dispatched same day, so you don't have to wait long to crack one open. "The site is an access point for people that don't really know where to start exploring, and being an independent, online store mean can share our love and knowledge of wine with a much broader part of the Australian population," says Walenkamp. The Wine Gallery will ship anywhere in Australia. To sign up or for more info, visit thewinegallery.com.au.
In a poor UK village, two school-aged friends realise they can make money by finding discarded metal and selling it to a local scrap dealer. The more obsessed they get with finding valuable materials, the more dangerous their quest becomes. It's almost impossible to describe this film without making it sound like a bleak slog, so now that we're done with the story summary, let's get to the meat of it: The Selfish Giant is one of the best films of the year: captivating, often funny, and filled with the most naturalistic performances you're likely to see. The two kids at the heart of the story are so damn good, it's worth seeing for them alone. But everything in this film works, and we're presented with a view of a tough working class that seems accessible, familiar and genuine, regardless of your own social background. The film is directed by one of the UK's most fascinating filmmakers, Clio Barnard. Her debut feature The Arbor in 2010 was unlike anything you've ever seen before. Not quite a documentary, not quite a dramatised narrative, it challenged the idea of how stories can and should be told. Barnard is one of the few filmmakers working who seems to be reinventing film in a way that feels tremendously exciting. Barnard based the two main characters of The Selfish Giant on children she met while filming The Arbor, so it's a little curious that she named one of the kids 'Arbor'. Is there a deeper meaning there? The story claims to be partly based on Oscar Wilde's short story of the same name, a fantasy about a giant who tries to keep children out of his yard. It looks like it's a million miles away from Barnard's social realist film, but Wilde's fable is key in understanding the depths behind much of the film. It is by no means necessary — on its own, the film is a complete, satisfying experience — but by hinting at a deeper connection to literature beyond the walls of the cinema, Barnard again expands a straightforward story into something more exciting. At a tight 91 minutes, Bernard wastes no time, giving us an incredible character tale that other filmmakers might take twice as long to accomplish. Be sure to see it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qPLRZrMflG4
Since it opened in late 2021, Odd Culture's ferment-forward wine bar and diner on King Street has established itself as a cornerstone of Newtown's hospitality scene. Then came Spon, in mid-2023 — a hybrid bar and bottle shop specialising in craft brews, boutique drops and pours by the glass. In February this year, the Odd Culture team — who also operate beloved Sydney pubs The Old Fitz and The Duke of Enmore — added kooky late-night cocktail den Pleasure Club to their Newtown empire. Now, a fourth venture is Newtown-bound, transforming the mezzanine of the King Street flagship into an elevated bistro — and not just another cookie-cutter steak frites joint. Bistro Grenier will be a refined spot for an intimate soirée, where diners can experience classic French fare at its best. To realise this new venue, Odd Culture has tapped the skills of Executive Chef James MacDonald — formerly of Sydney's Restaurant Hubert and London's pioneering nose-to-tail eatery St John. MacDonald has developed a menu that celebrates traditional recipes while adding modern flourishes, leaning on heartier, rustic dishes showcasing low-waste butchering. For example, the côtelette de porc will feature a juicy Berkshire pork chop served alongside braised boneless trotters, dressed with prunes and served with a side of sugar loaf cabbage, while the house-made boudin noir uses yet more of the beast, pairing smoked pork jowl and pigs blood with caramelised apples and a lightly whipped pomme puree. Other dishes will offer more playful riffs on tricolore favourites, like the pudding chômeur — a self-saucing maple syrup dessert finished with buttermilk ice cream inspired by Head Chef Jesse Warkentin's Canadian heritage. Vino-philes have plenty to get excited about. A list of French drops including vintage gems and rare allocation bottles from Odd Culture's extensive cellar will be available exclusively in the bistro. There will also be a range of Gallic digestives and apéritifs behind the bar, including ricard pastis, picon bière aperitif, vin jaune and chartreuse. "Our restaurant is now three years old, and with almost our full opening kitchen team still on the pans, we decided it was time to shake things up a bit," says James Thorpe, Odd Culture Group's CEO and director. "We decided to break free of the yoke of "modern Australian" and try something a bit more familiar for a while. We want to make it really approachable, cosy and warm — but at the same time use the knowledge and library we've built of flavour building ferments to put something really special on the plate." The fitout of what was formerly an underutilised loft storage space will channel a luxurious yet bohemian vibe, with deep burgundy peaked ceilings and walls, dark timber panelling, and a soft lighting design summons the spirit of Parisian salon. Meanwhile, fans of the King Street OG have nothing to fear. The existing downstairs wine bar will remain the pillar of Newtown's drinking scene Sydneysiders know and love. Bistro Grenier is set to open in late August at 266 King Street, Newtown.
Nick Coyle is a comedian/actor/writer/director/art-maker/job-title-hogger, and your spiritual servant/sensei in the quest for enlightenment. He promises the fruits of exploring existence, transcendence and the cosmos will be immensely juicy, as part of his hour-long show, Nick Coyle’s Guided Meditation, which returns for one night only on July 13. Coyle will tour his Guided Meditation to the Edinburgh Fringe later this year, but before that, he wants to offer Sydneysiders a chance at “headbutting your self doubt", "assaulting your stress", "disciplining your spirit animal" and "lying down" (Coyle’s own words). BYO yoga mat, if that is a thing you have. Known for his outlandish and irreverent original theatre works, Coyle has been shaking up the Australian indie theatre scene for years. His work has spanned different mediums, from FBI radio waves (Versus) to the Belvoir stage (Blue Wizard).
It's considered one of the greatest whodunnits of all time. Or rather, one of the greatest whodidn'ts. Penned by Agatha Christie back in 1934, and first adapted into a film in 1974, Murder on the Orient Express takes a train full of passengers, kills one of them off, then asks "probably the greatest detective in the world" to find the person responsible. Naturally, everyone's a suspect, especially to the famous Hercule Poirot. He's soon slinging questions and making deductions, in a story full of mystery and suspense. At least, that's how it played out both in the book and the initial film. But try as it might, Kenneth Branagh's new version doesn't quite manage the same feat. The British actor and filmmaker stars, directs and fills his locomotive with high-profile performers including Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad and Daisy Ridley. And yet despite their efforts — and the fine work of Pfeiffer and Ridley in particular — the end result is far from an engaging or intriguing journey, or even one worth taking. We first meet Branagh's arrogant (and ludicrously moustachioed) Belgian investigator as he's fussing over eggs at the Wailing Wall, before showing off his prowess in a case that involves a priest, a rabbi and an imam. Once the job is done, Poirot is eager for a break, but duty calls even when he's mid-railway trip. After the discovery of a body with a dozen stab wounds, our hero sets to work. Among the potential culprits caught in his gaze: a princess and her servant, a count and a countess, a nun, a doctor, a governess, a professor, a car dealer, a divorcee, a butler and a secretary. Working with cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (Denial, Cinderella), Branagh approaches the tale with aesthetic flair — shot with the same 65mm cameras used on Dunkirk, Murder on the Orient Express is a feast of roaming shots, inventive angles and visual detail, with the production and costume design teams also putting on a show. There's little sign of the same texture or care in the rest of the movie, however, with the director himself the main offender. As depicted on the screen by everyone from Orson Welles to Alfred Molina, Poirot has always been a bundle of quirks, but here he's as pompous and self-satisfied as he is eccentric — while also being presented as a genius and a source of laughs. Christie herself grew tired of the character after he appeared in more than 80 of her stories. Watching Branagh's performance, you probably will as well. Perhaps we've just seen too many brilliant masterminds of late, considering the number of Sherlock Holmes adaptations we've all sat through. Or perhaps there's simply more to portraying a famous character than wearing ridiculous facial hair, acting smug and leaning on an accent. Also hindering the film is the obvious and easy way that Poirot pieces everything together, and Branagh's failure to properly utilise his ensemble cast. If the film's protagonist can join the dots faster than he can brush his moustache, audiences aren't likely to be enthralled. And sticking a heap of well-known faces in the same frame isn't the same as giving them all something to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFDGjNdRqTk
The Museum of Contemporary Art's ARTBAR has become a firm fixture on Sydney's after-dark cultural calendar. For the uninitiated, ARTBAR combines art, music, design and performance for a huge art party on the last Friday of every month, curated by a different artist each time. This month it's Sydney-based artist Jason Wing — and with his theme of United Nations, he's asking the question: what would a country without borders mean? An artist with Chinese and Aboriginal ancestry, Wing will invite both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to respond to the question. There'll be a range of different mediums and art forms for you to peruse; a video work by Latai Taumoepeau and a paste-up installation by Alison Alder are both excellent places to start. Once you get into the swing of things you can have a shot at contributing yourself — go sit in Alex Wisser's staring booth with a stranger, join Keren Ruki's Creative Native craft session, or try your hand at flag making with Deborah Kelly. Not really the art-making sort? That's okay too, as there will be performances by ALPHAMAMA, Tribade Marinade, Ginger and the Ghost and even meditation classes if you need to unwind after a long week. You'll also be able to check out the MCA's two current exhibitions for free; chuck on a VR headset at the Primavera 2016: Young Australian Artists exhibition and gaze at 2016 Archibald Prize winner Louise Hearman's surreal paintings. Plus, there'll be wine and the added bonus of panoramic views of the harbour from the Sculpture Terrace.
Of the many reasons that Sydney is such a great place to live, the city's increasingly impressive theatre scene ranks highly on the list. Its position as a truly global city means that some of the world's biggest and best productions often roll into our theatres — and, after an interrupted couple of years, 2022 sees the city's performance calendar shaping up to be one of the best on record. We've teamed up with Destination New South Wales to highlight just some of the shows you'll want to add to your cultural calendar, from innovative newcomers to enduring classics of the stage, whether you're buying tickets for yourself or looking for a last-minute Christmas gift for the culture vulture in your life.
He's soft and cuddly, has a hankering for honey and hibernating, and believes that doing nothing leads to the very best something. With wisdom like that, he could be a wellness guru — but instead, Winnie-the-Pooh is a walking, talking teddy bear. There are many reasons to love the best-known inhabitant of the Hundred Acre Wood. Taking inspiration from a stuffed toy cherished by his son Christopher Robin, author A.A. Milne crafted the cute creature with ample affection, making him feel like the best friend that every kid always wanted. With dashings of black ink on white paper, illustrator E. H. Shepard also brought the bear to life with grace and care in drawings that felt like they could wander off the paper. Thanks to an array of short films, features and television shows over the past six decades, Pooh did mosey beyond those pages. That said, he has never taken a stroll in quite the fashion seen in Christopher Robin. With director Marc Forster (World War Z) mixing live-action and CGI, Pooh is an adorable ball of fluff that couldn't look more realistic. He's covered with tufts of naturalistic fur that viewers will instantly want to run their fingers through and, thanks to special effects that give him a well-worn appearance, it looks like plenty of people already have. Courtesy of a script by Alex Ross Perry (Golden Exits), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Pooh is also actually dispensing wellness advice to a now-adult Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor, charming even when he's haunted by stress). Indeed, if there's one thing that Christopher Robin takes seriously, it's the idea of not taking life too seriously. In a movie with the sweetness of Pooh's preferred food — but a dose of melancholy too — the childhood character pops into Christopher Robin's life when he least expects it. (Not that anyone expects a living teddy bear to find them in a London garden, follow them home and start putting their sticky paws on everything.) It has been years since Christopher farewelled Pooh, with boarding school, the Second World War, and now work and his family all monopolising his attention instead. But trying to balance his personal and professional lives, or failing to, has left Christopher in a spot of bother. While his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) head out to the country, he's stuck at home alone working for a luggage company. Then Pooh shows up, searching for the missing Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl and Rabbit, and making Christopher realise exactly what he's missing. Much of Christopher Robin follows its two central characters as they roam around the Hundred Acre Wood. It's a hangout movie — viewers not only hang out with characters they love, but watch them hang out as well. While the drama about meeting work deadlines feels somewhat flimsy as a result, just soaking in the film's scenic surroundings and loveable figures offers enough to enjoy. Forster certainly thinks so, with the movie never as buoyant as when it's focusing firmly on Christopher Robin, Pooh and their green sanctuary. Intricate production design assists, ensuring that every swaying tree and meadow of grass is as eye-catching as a certain bear of very little brain. As viewers rove their eyes over Christopher Robin's splendid sights, they're doing just what the film espouses: slowing down, enjoying the moment, and switching off from the hustle and bustle. Still, as you're clearing space in your head thanks to this nice little movie — and it's truly the epitome of nice, soothing, cosy and comfortable — you might notice a few familiar elements. Forster has dallied with a beloved childhood story before in Finding Neverland, while the idea of a fictional animal character coming to life smacks of Paddington and its sequel, and Hook told overworked men to reconsider their priorities more than two decades ago. You may also recall 2017's forgettable Goodbye Christopher Robin, but thankfully Christopher Robin doesn't underestimate its audience or smother anyone in treacly sentiment. In imagining a new adventure for Pooh and his human pal rather than revisiting their beginnings, the film simply wants viewers to delight in the big-hearted pleasures of its gorgeous world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PakpWVOK37Y
Belles Hot Chicken is opening its third and most impressive Sydney outpost on Friday, March 3, bringing its cult-favourite fried chicken to Circular Quay. The Belles team has built a passionate fanbase — and landed on our favourite Sydney fried chicken spots — through its Glebe and Barangaroo eateries in Sydney, alongside multiple Melbourne outposts. Now, it's bringing its fun and flavoursome approach to takeaway to a 130-seat restaurant-style opening. To celebrate the opening, the Belles team is giving everyone the chance to come in, check out the venue and get their hands around a Belles spicy chicken sandwich on the house. That's right — the expansive inner-city opening will be kicking things off by giving away its signature Nashville-style sandwiches. The promotion will run for two periods during the opening day: 12–3pm and 5–9pm. Head down to Young Street during either of those two slots and you'll nab your complimentary burger. Leave your packed lunch at home, or head in for a cheap and cheerful Friday dinner — as well as a few after-work drinks. The fried chicken sandwich comes with chicken thigh tossed in Belles' traveller spice, then topped with lettuce, onion, cheese and specialty sauce on a fluffy milk bun. While you're there, the rest of the menu will be for sale on the day, so feel free to settle in, soak in the restaurant's harbour views, and order something and a couple of bevs. Arriving in the Quay Quarter Tower, Belles Hot Chicken Circular Quay will bring the expected hallmarks of the chain to an exciting new space. The other location's vintage Americana style is here in spades. Fresh from working with Lune, Ewert Leaf has collaborated with Belles' Design Director Vicki Punch to create a warm, welcoming space fitted out with neon signs, vintage tiles and vending machines, plus an entirely chrome ceiling and cork detailing. On the menu, things stick close to Belles' more takeaway-driven spots in Tramsheds and Barangaroo. Pair tenders, drumsticks, wings and buffalo cauliflower — all available in heat levels ranging from chicken salt to Really F**king Hot — with Belles Original Draught, orange wines and house cocktails like spiked iced tea. The aforementioned chicken sandwiches and loaded fries also feature, with a highlight-reel set menu available for $40 per person if you want the decisions taken out of your hands. Some of the more extravagant or unique drinks you'll find at the Circular Quay spot include Pappy Van Winkle 15-year-old Kentucky bourbon available for $85 a pop, Louis Roederer Cristal Brut — because who doesn't want to pair champagne and fried chicken? — and rakija and tonic RTDs from Baba's Place and DNA Distillery. Rounding out the vibrant energy of this new outpost is a set of vinyl turntables ready for a DJ to take hold and spark a party at any point in time. With enough champagne and spiked iced tea, it could just happen. Bookings are open if you want to reserve a spot at the new flagship Belles in Circular Quay. Half the venue will also be available for walk-ins if you want to make an impromptu trip. Belles Hot Chicken Circular Quay will open on Friday, March 3 at Quay Quarter Towers, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney (entry on Young Street). It will be giving away fried chicken sandwiches on opening day between 12–3pm and 5–9pm. Top image: Parker Blain
In 2018, Surry Hills' acclaimed Belvoir Theatre launched 25A — a new program dedicated to supporting independent theatre and emerging artists. The seven-part season saw shows created and marketed by independent theatremakers on a strict budget of $1500. In return, Belvoir offered up the theatre for free and creators received 100 percent of the box office earnings. After a successful inaugural season, Belvoir has just announced the 2019 program, which will once again take over the Downstairs Theatre. The season will begin on Wednesday, February 6 with a production of the satirical play Tuesday by Louris van de Geer. This show first premiered in Melbourne back in 2012 and explores the concepts of social alienation and suburban life. Subject matters vary wildly throughout the lineup, from the pyschological thriller Extinction of the Learned Response to Te Molimau, a futuristic story of a young woman on a sinking island in the Pacific Ocean. Tickets are priced at an extremely reasonable $25 (online or at the door), with previews costing only $20. Check out the full program below, then head to the website to nab tickets. BELVOIR THEATRE 25A 2019 LINEUP February 6–23: Tuesday March 13–30: Jess and Joe Forever May 7–25: Extinction of the Learned Response June 12–29: The Astral Plane July 11-20: Skyduck: A Chinese Spy Comedy August 7–24: Te Molimau October 16–November 2: Slaughterhouse November 20–December 7: Kasama Kita Image: 'Te Molimau', Taofia Pelesasa.
While the country is in lockdown, there are still animals that need caring for. RSPCA NSW currently has more than 2000 dogs, cats, chickens, guinea pigs and even goats that it's feeding, playing with and providing medical care for. And to help raise funds for these animals in need, it's hosting a trivia night fundraiser — virtually, of course. Running from 7.30–8.30pm on Thursday, May 21, the fundraiser will feature 50 questions covering topics such as creates of the deep blue, animals in the spotlight and insects and reptiles, as well as some general knowledge. It'll set you back just $10 to partake, which all goes straight to looking after the furry (or not-so-furry) boys and girls. If your life is missing a furry friends — and you're ready to make a lifelong commitment, of course — RSPCA centres across the country are still open for adoptions. The process now, though, is mostly online. The charity is also looking for foster parents, if you're able to have a temporary friend in your home.
It's been a rocky few years for Jamie's Italian in Australia, having relaunched with full ownership in 2017 only to lose ownership again just one year later. Luckily, the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group took over the management of the Australian restaurants, but not without some casualties — the Canberra and Parramatta outposts (the latter of which has become a steakhouse) quickly closed. But, luckily, the Pitt Street venue has continued to pump out pasta to heaving lunch and dinner crowds. And, this April, Jamie's Italian in the CBD will run a series of bottomless prosecco lunches for a very reasonable $50 per person. The one-month deal will run on the four Saturdays in April as well as Easter Sunday — and it includes a lot more than just an endless supply of sparkling wine. Each table will be served small bites to share (including those crispy polenta chips), and everyone will get a big bowl of pasta. You'll be be able to choose which one you want, too — think classics like prawn linguine and bucatini carbonara, and signatures including the truffle tagliatelle and lamb ravioli. Plus, it'll all be topped off with panna cotta for dessert. If we know anything, it's that people really love Jamie's Italian. As such, these lunches are sure book out fast — so front a pineapple and book it already.
Stop what you're doing. Get out of bed. Cancel that mid-morning meeting. Whatever it is — it can wait. Because this is happening again: In-N-Out Burger is back in Sydney for one of their late-notice pop-ups. They'll be setting up shop at Dead Ringer in Surry Hills from noon till around 4pm today, Wednesday, January 20. It's been almost bang-on a year since the LA fast food legends whipped together a few burgers out at Parramatta Mixology Lounge, so you can bet that burger aficionados will be desperate so get their hands on one of those buns. Last time they were doling out hamburgers, regular cheeseburgers and some double cheese lovelies, so we hope they're on the menu today as well. And cheese fries. Please say there's cheese fries. If you've been to one of In-N-Out's previous Sydney pop-ups though, you'll know those burgers sell like, well, cult-status burgers — so you'll have to get there early. Now is probably a good time. Go. The In-N-Out burger pop-up will run from noon until around 4pm — or until they sell out — at Dead Ringer, 413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Move. Now.
At SXSW Sydney, the spotlight is not just on music, cinema and innovation but also on the future of food, explored through a program that will tantalise your taste buds and champion culinary diversity. From thought-provoking panel discussions about the future of hospitality to live podcast recordings, the lineup of events aims to engage both food lovers and industry professionals. So, whether you're a passionate foodie, a hospo veteran or simply curious about the culinary arts, the SXSW Sydney food program invites you to explore, savour and connect with the creative minds shaping the future of food. Here are our picks of the must-catch events at this year's fest. Go Out and Be Good: A Way Forward for Hospitality with Ben Shewry and Hamish Blake Thursday, October 17, 1.30–2.30pm ICC Sydney Explore a path forward in hospitality with Ben Shewry, acclaimed Chef/Author/Owner of Attica, and Hamish Blake, comedian and host of Lego Masters and the How Dad's Dad podcast. Join them for a lively conversation at SXSW, where Hamish interviews Ben about his latest book, Uses for Obsession. They'll share their passion for food and restaurants, reflecting on everything from Bolognese to Lasagne. This personal and hilarious session promises thoughtful insights on thriving in business, fostering joy, and navigating the complexities of an imperfect world while building new friendships along the way. Milk: The World's Most Controversial Superfood Wednesday, October 16, 4.45–5.30pm ICC Sydney It's in our coffee, on our cereal, and comes in almond or oat forms. Often hailed as the "perfect" food or condemned as a toxic environmental threat, our choices reflect culture, biology, and fashion. Perspectives on this miracle liquid are shaped by gender, politics, and geography. However, its image is complicated: it has historically kept people poor, subjugated women, and fuelled medical careers, all while being blamed for climate change and health issues. In this exploration, Matthew Evans delves into the unbelievable story behind this ubiquitous beverage, tracing its journey from beloved staple to controversial pariah. Plate it Forward: A Quest to Become the First Hatted Social Entrepreneurship Monday, October 14, 3–4pm ICC Sydney Shaun Christie-David, founder of Colombo Social and Plate It Forward, will share his organisation's ambition to become the first hatted restaurant recognised as a social enterprise. He'll share how this initiative merges culinary excellence with social upliftment, transforming every meal into a meaningful mission. Focusing on sustainable practices and education, Shaun's work creates pathways to stability for marginalised individuals. With over 200 transformation stories, he highlights the impact of meaningful employment. Shaun will discuss how their recognition has galvanised community support and sparked positive change, offering a blueprint for those looking to combine culinary success with social responsibility. Waste Potential: The Future of Food, Hidden in Waste? Monday, October 14, 4.30–5.30pm ICC Sydney Food waste presents a $1 trillion challenge globally, with Australia alone losing $36.6 billion worth of food each year. This represents not only a significant loss but also a missed opportunity for up-cycling and sustainability. How can we leverage circular economy principles to improve food production and waste management? To explore solutions for reducing food waste, join Ronni Kahn AO, Founder of OzHarvest, Francesca Goodman-Smith from End Food Waste Australia, and Tom Williams, Co-founder and CEO of climate-tech company Number 8 Bio. Together, they will discuss innovative strategies to advance sustainability in our food systems. New Rituals: The State of Socialising and Hospitality Tuesday, October 15, 3–4pm ICC Sydney How is the hospitality landscape evolving? What shifts are occurring in consumer expectations and how are businesses adapting? In this session, Concrete Playground will present insights from their annual research on socialising and events, conducted in August 2024. Following this, a panel of experts will delve into key themes and trends, sharing their experiences and discussing how they are adjusting their products and services to align with changing consumer demands. Join us for an exploration of the future of dining and hospitality as we navigate these transformations together. Podcast Recording: Three Food Memories Friday, October 18, 5–6pm ICC Sydney — Podcast Stage The things you find out when you ask people about their food memories can be soulful, spicy, sensational, sour, and often sublime. Host Savva Savas, literally breaks bread with his guests to discuss memories that reveal far more about themselves than simply the food they've tasted. For the full lineup of the 2024 SXSW Sydney events, visit the SXSW website.
Slumbering surrounded by red kangaroos, emus, echidnas and koalas just got cosier, and more targeted to couples keen on an animal-filled getaway without their mates in tow. Up at Australia Zoo, the Queensland tourist attraction has been welcoming overnight guests to Beerwah since 2022, launching The Crocodile Hunter Lodge with two-bedroom cabins. Now, it's expanded its accommodation options to include one-bedroom spaces, adding four new rustic lodges. If you're keeping count, that gives Australia Zoo 12 cabins in total now, all tailored for memorable and unique holidays. Here, patrons can visit the zoo, check out all creatures great and small, then stay the evening. There's even a wild group of eastern grey kangaroos that are seen hopping around the place each day. The four new one-bedroom 'Red Kangaroo' cabins come complete with wraparound decks that peer out over the site's bushland surroundings, as well as the wildlife within it. Expect to spy microbats, owls, kookaburras, possums and parrots, too, with nest boxes placed around the lodges to create homes for each. Also included: king-size beds, kitchens in each cabin, heated floors, smart TVs in the lounge, private carports and stone bathtubs for post-zoo soaks. Plus, guests all get access to The Billabong, the Crocodile Hunter Lodge's 25-metre infinity pool, which also looks out over the native wildlife. "We're delighted to introduce four wonderful one-bedroom cabins for guests, which will help us cater to groups of different sizes," said Terri Irwin. "The Lodge offers a unique and immersive experience that not only reflects on our conservation work, but honours Steve's important dream to connect people with wildlife and encourage them to become true conservationists." Whichever size cabin you stay in, your visit comes with unlimited Australia Zoo entry, where more than 1200 animals await — and a peek inside the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Getaways here still don't come cheap, though, with prices starting at around $949 for an overnight visit for two adults. For larger groups planning a visit, three-bedroom cabins will also join the site in 2023, with an exact opening date yet to be revealed. When it first opened its doors, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge launched alongside the zoo's Warrior Restaurant & Bar, if you're looking for somewhere to grab a bite during your trip. Boasting a focus on Aussie cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, and paying homage to Indigenous Australians and the plants that have long been part of First Nations diets, it welcomes in lodge guests and general punters for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and also for group bookings in its private dining room. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge's grounds also spans more than 3000 native trees and shrubs, including greenery that provides food for species such as the endangered glossy black cockatoo, with sustainability and conservation is a big focus. Find The Crocodile Hunter Lodge at 88 Irwin Road, Beerwah, Queensland. For further information, or to make a booking, visit the venue's website.
Japanese cinema's diverse array of wonders can't be confined to one event. Sydneysiders can watch the latest and greatest films the country has to offer at the annual Japanese Film Festival; however, since 2014, cinephiles have also been able to step back into Japanese movie history, too — all thanks to its classics program. Next running from Tuesday, February 2, 2021–Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the latest old-school film program explores plenty of big-screen highlights from the 60s through to the 00s, especially if you're fond of weird, wonderful, surreal and subversive flicks. If you haven't ever watched Shinya Tsukamoto's Tetsuo: The Iron Man, take the opportunity to redress that situation — because we all need to see a movie about a man compelled to stuff metal into his body. Or, make a date with 70s standout House from director Nobuhiko Ōbayashi, which is about a creepy abode that eats schoolgirls. Other must-sees include Seijun Suzuki's assassin-fuelled Pistol Opera; Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, Nagisa Ōshima's 60s film about a man who steals from a bookstore in Shinjuku; and Eros + Massacre, a biopic about Sakae Ōsugi, who advocated for sexual freedom in the early 20th century. And, in great news for your wallet, attendance is free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShJvheZHXdI The Japanese Film Festival Classics Program next runs from Tuesday, February 2, 2021–Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
He lived there. He spent his last moments there. In between, he recorded music, played small gigs, and based his studio and record label there, too. We're talking about Paisley Park, the house formerly known as Prince's private and creative sanctuary. Only a few hundred people have had the privilege of entering — but now, the compound that shares its name with one of his songs is open to the public. Six months after his tragic passing, the multi-talented musician's siblings have allowed the first tours of the massive mansion 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota; however not everything has gone according to plan. Until the local Chanhassen City Council meets in December to consider zoning issues and safety concerns, the midwest site is only open on a limited basis — currently on October 6 to 8, and 14. It is hoped that people will be able to celebrate his life, musical output and legacy at the 65,000-square-foot complex on a more regular basis after the council meeting. Fans that have stepped through the doors of the Prince-focused equivalent of Elvis Presley's Graceland so far have not only wandered through the main floor of the site (which was built in the mid '80s), or spied the recording and mixing studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed many of the iconic tracks we all know and love. They also reportedly spotted an urn containing the late performer's ashes, plus his personal office, with his belongings untouched since he was last in the room. The rest of Paisley Park also boasts Prince's private NPG Music Club, as well as the massive soundstage and concert hall where he not only rehearsed for tours, but also held exclusive private events and concerts. Thousands of artifacts from Prince's personal archives are also display. If you've ever wanted to feast your eyes on his concert outfits, awards, musical instruments and artwork — or rare music and video recordings, concert memorabilia, automobiles and motorcycles — you'll find them here. According to Prince's sister Tyka Nelson, "opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on." While the lyrics of his 1985 song advised that "admission is easy, just say U believe and come 2 this place in your heart", ticketing — which is still on sale now — costs either US$38.50 for a 70-minute self-guided tour, or US$100 for a longer, more extensive VIP experience within what we're hoping are purple-coloured walls.
Underground is a flexible word. At the Sydney Underground Film Festival it can mean under the radar, shocking or simply strange. Put together originally as an antidote to the demise of alternative cinemas like the Valhalla, Third Eye or the Mandolin, it has a line-up which straddles a broad range of independent films that don't tend to get a showing elsewhere. This year the Festival returns with screenings at its Factory Theatre HQ, excursions to a Sydney College of the Arts after-party and a Mu Meson Archives festival warm-up. Opening the festival are the low-budget super-heroics of Super by Troma refugee James Gunn. A Man Within will profile the writer and Kerouac-befriending William S Boroughs, while at Sydney College for the Arts, Jack Sargeant will curate post-festival day of local and American film at SUFF+Plus. This College excursion also bulges in the middle with a panel featuring writers from X, the local low-budget, Kings Cross thriller that features as the festival's closing night film. Free Radicals presents a history of experimental filmmakers, including luminaries like Andy Warhol and Maya Deren, while doco Dragonslayer follows one boy's coming-of-age in US skateboard culture. Also up for grabs are sessions of shorts spotlighting women directors, sex & love, and animation. As part of this year's Sydney Underground Film Festival Concrete Playground is proud to present the screenings of The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye and Trilogy.
Leave it to the Europeans to design something this good looking. Parisian electronics artisans Withings may have just cracked the code to creating appealing wearable tech devices this week. The secret? More wearable, less tech. This recently announced smartwatch is one of the first offerings that doesn't overshoot its target. Not endeavouring to become an iPhone strapped to your wrist or a creepy maligned face computer, the Withings Activité is a beautiful Swiss-made watch that happens to also track your exercise activity. "We tried to really turn the equation upside down," said Withings CEO Cedric Hutchings. "[We wanted] to stop trying to make a piece of technology with a screen, a piece of rubber, something you need to charge every day. We tried to start with a watch." This minimalist-as-blazes watch, which is set to be released in a few months, comes with a large analogue face and two shades of leather strap. It boasts a regular watch battery with a guaranteed life of one year, and is actually waterproof up to five metres. Its only difference from the analogue standard is a small second dial to the right of the clock's centre. This one measures either your steps or your sleep, then syncs the information to your iPhone via Bluetooth. In another cute feature, the Activité can also act as an alarm clock, gently vibrating to wake you at the lightest point in your sleep cycle. While it may not sound all that revolutionary, it certainly is refreshing in a tech market flooded with unrelentingly hideous gadgetry. Like any burgeoning technological field, there are some design issues that need to get ironed out in the smartwatch market and we need to burn our way through a few Nokia 3315s before we get to the iPhones, if you know what I mean. This is probably one of the first worthwhile products of the bunch. Of course, nerdier types are still holding out for the much-hyped Google smartwatch next month — a nifty little piece of tech that even we got excited about. But for those who are more about simplicity and style, the Activité is the way to go. It's maybe the first thing that can be useful without completely resembling a Tamagotchi. Maybe for that we can forgive its cheesy promo clip. Via The Verge.
While working with one of the first female master gin distillers in the world, Joanne Moore of Greenall's Gin, to develop a bluffer's guide to the botanical drop and to get the lowdown on some top gin drinks to make at home, we were inspired by Joanne's story. She's helped pave the way for female distillers and within a heritage company like Greenall's. So, we thought we'd have a look at some other ladies who are also shaking things up, making things happen and pioneering some pretty excellent projects. We've sourced the creme de la femme from a wide range of careers and corners of the globe and asked them, well, pretty much everything from where French mademoiselles hide their croissant crumbs (though, spoiler alert, we still don't know) to how to actually master the barbecue to what it takes to go head-to-head with Tommy Shelby of Peaky Blinders. Here we present some inspiring women to put on your radars — if they're not there already, that is. JOANNE MOORE — MASTER DISTILLER, GREENALL'S GIN Joanne Moore is one of the world's first female master gin distillers, and seventh master distiller for Greenall's, which has been in operation since 1761 — making it Britain's oldest gin distillery. Knowing that she wanted to work with one of the oldest and most revered gin distilleries in the world, Joanne started her way in quality control, where she learned about the production process. Raw ingredients, distilling and bottling eventually led her into the wonderful world of botanicals and creating gins. Around the same time as the Peaky Blinders were creating their fictional gins, Greenall's was creating a single powerful enterprise: they were distillers, rectifiers, wine and spirit merchants, importers, brewers, maltsters and ale, beer and porter merchants. And as much as we'd like to believe it's all sipping and nattering for a master distiller — though, we're not necessarily saying it's not, either — it does take years of expertise. A typical day for Joanne can involve approving samples on the Greenall's tasting panel (raw ingredients or finished products), taking customer visits, doing house tours or hosting masterclasses. Joanne's advice for anyone getting into distilling is "do it for the right reasons…You won't be an expert immediately, but have fun, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. That's how we evolve and learn." [caption id="attachment_668102" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk.[/caption] KATE REID — FOUNDER, LUNE CROISSANTERIE Kate Reid can't remember her first ever croissant, but estimates that "it sure as hell wouldn't exactly have been an artisan one!" She's come a long way since to prove what one innovative woman unbound to traditional methods can truly achieve. Slung in the back streets of Fitzroy, Lune is notorious for selling out of its creations (think cruffins with lemon curd and twice-baked black forest beauties) plus it's been said with authority that the croissanterie is serving up quite probably the best croissants in the world. Yet, when Kate started Lune, she realised her stint in France (where she trained at top Parisian boulangerie Du Pain et des Idees) saw her learning only 15 to 20 percent of the entire artisan craft. "My background in engineering played a big part in the development of techniques. I would change one variable at a time and analyse the differences it made to the final baked product. If it was an improvement, it would become the new baseline technique. "This has the bonus knock-on effect of not being tied to a century-old classic French technique; all of our processes are always up for improvement and development," she says. And when it comes to any advice for us antipodeans oneating a pastry like a French mademoiselle, the whole 'no crumb left behind' sort of deal is still a mystery to her, too. But if anyone were to work it out, it'll surely be Kate. [caption id="attachment_668103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Izzy Gramp.[/caption] LISY KANE — CO-FOUNDER, GIRL GEEK ACADEMY AND LEAGUE OF GEEKS To those thinking the only roles for women in STEM involve being the social bridge (here's looking at you IT Crowd's Jen Barber), then think again. In a global movement aimed at encouraging women to learn technology and build more of the internet, the Girl Geek Academy (GGA) squad has more arms and intelligence than an octopus. Co-founder Lisy Kane has also curated the first ever Australian all-female game-making day #SheMakesGames and was recognised by Forbes in the prestigious top 30 list, Forbes 30 Under 30 2017: Games. "Whether directly or indirectly, I'm now on the map and I get invited to provide keynotes at really prestigious industry events in Australia, the US and the UK. Through these opportunities, I get to hold myself up as a young woman in the game dev industry and show other young women that it's normal to be a girl in games. That's exactly the image we need to project out there to help bridge the gender gap in the industry." [caption id="attachment_668101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Madeline Kate Photography.[/caption] JESS PRYLES — PITMASTER AND CO-FOUNDER, AUSTRALASIAN BBQ ALLIANCE Having co-founded the Australasian BBQ Alliance, Jess Pryles is an internationally respected authority on live fire cooking and barbecue and has been breaking the outdated barbecue code (see: male-dominated) for the past ten years. She explains how there's so much more to the title of pitmaster than one may realise. "Generally, the term is bandied about and there's no regulation for it. But there's a consensus that it should be reserved for someone who has reached the top of their art and not just somebody who happens to be a barbecuer," says Jess. Jess was lured into the craft when she had her first taste of intensely smoked meat in Texas. "It's such a different experience for the palate that it became this 'aha' moment." She's now whipping up everything from beef tongue that perfectly falls apart for tacos to whole deer neck that she makes into smoked venison stock. Her advice on smoking meats and firing through to the top? "You've got to have a tremendous amount of patience. It's expensive and laborious, and the reality is, you [need to] cook and fail, and do it again and again and understand how to troubleshoot. That's what it takes." [caption id="attachment_668104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Greg Holland.[/caption] SIOBHAN MCGINNITY — MUSICIAN AND AUDIOLOGIST, MUSICIANS FOR HEARING The most sensory gigs happening in Australia right now could rightly be the Musicians for Hearing events. Established by Siobhan McGinnity, the company presents live music translated into Auslan and performed in tandem by interpreters. Her quest involves helping raise awareness and creating connections — plus, bridging an ironically unheard of gap in healthcare: hearing. Siobhan found her way into audiology by stumbling into a clinic and quizzing the doctor. She's now on the path to specialise in rehabilitating hearing loss and balance disorders. "I want to work in a niche area: protecting musicians and their hearing," she says. And with one in six Australians being affected by some sort of hearing loss — 74 percent of musicians with a form of hearing injury — it makes sense we should care about how we appreciate music. The gigs according to Siobhan are "a music fruit salad" — rock, pop, contemporary, hip hop, you name it — and funds raised from events being donated overseas toward hearing care in countries like Cambodia. "It's the most beautiful thing seeing people who are deaf and hearing standing side-by-side and being able to communicate through music," says Siobhan.
If you like your fashion to come with an eco-tick of approval and a social conscience to match, you may already know about National Op Shop Week, organised by DoSomething! and the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO). Joining them again this year, the Salvos will be celebrating the all too important role charity shops play in supporting those less fortunate by bringing a pop-up op shop to Martin Place. Drop by early for a free breakfast bap before browsing the select range of recycled clothes from local Salvos Stores. Plus, TV fashion commentator and eco-fashion blogger Faye De Lanty will be curating the pop-up's fashion show, designed to showcase different ways to wear vintage and recycled pieces and demonstrate that style doesn't have to come with a three-figure price tag. Proceeds from the pop-up, as with all Salvos Stores, will go towards running vital community support programs. Retail therapy has never felt so good. The Salvos' pop-up op shop will be at Martin Place on Monday, August 25, from 7.30am to 3.30pm. National Op Shop Week continues from August 24-31.
When Bong Joon-ho makes a new movie, the world takes notice. It has never paid quite as much attention as it has to Parasite, though. Since premiering at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the twisty Korean thriller has picked up the Palme d'Or, the Sydney Film Festival Prize, a Golden Globe, plenty more awards and nominations, rave reviews and an enormous cult following. And rightly so. It's best movie of the past year — a call we don't make lightly. It seems that no one can get enough of this dark and devious film, its class war between rich and struggling families, and the scathing mayhem that follows. Case in point: more than six months after the film first released in Australian cinemas, it's still showing on big screens around the country. And in the near future, Parasite will be flickering across small screens, too — not just via DVD or streaming, but adapted into a new limited TV series for HBO. As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, the US network is set to join forces with Bong to turn Parasite into a television show, winning the rights over Netflix. Bong will adapt and executive produce alongside Adam McKay — the director of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, its sequel and a heap of other Will Ferrell-starring comedies, who then made the jump to more political and topical fare with The Big Short, Vice and TV's Golden Globe-winning Succession. The final deal on HBO's iteration of Parasite hasn't been done as yet, so there's no word on whether it'll be an English-language remake or a Korean-language follow-up to the film. Casting and timing haven't been revealed either. Parasite marks the second of Bong's stellar flicks to earn a small-screen version, with an American TV show-based Snowpiercer due to hit screens this year — although Bong himself isn't involved with that adaptation. Need a reminder of Parasite's greatness? Check out the film's trailer below or go see it in cinemas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUXfv87Wpk Via The Hollywood Reporter.
Plays like You Know We Belong Together aren't a common sight on Australia's stages, and that's one of the reasons that it exists. Created by and starring actor and writer Julia Hales (ABC's The Upside), it features a cast performers exploring the daily reality of Down syndrome — and the fact that actors with Down syndrome are so rarely featured in Australia's cultural output. The starting point is right there in the Sydney Opera House-bound production's name, which should've instantly gotten one particular song stuck in your head. You Know We Belong Together takes its moniker from the first words to Home and Away's theme tune, a soap opera that Hales has been a life-long fan of. Watching the show's Summer Bay-set antics, she also noticed the inescapable fact that she wasn't represented in its melodramatic antics. "I want people to see us for who we are and what we do as part of the world," says Hales. "I watched every single episode of Australian soap opera Home and Away since it first aired in 1988, but I've never seen another person with Down syndrome in the cast." "I used to dream of landing a role in it and finding love. So I created You Know We Belong Together. This is a story for us, by us." Hales continues. You Know We Belong Together features Hales alongside six other Western Australian actors, all of whom draw upon their own lives and personal experiences with Down syndrome. The result combines monologues, video, scenes, dance and song, and also takes place on a replica of Home and Away's diner — allowing Hales to live her Home and Away dream. Co-written by Hales with playwright Finn O'Branagáin and Clare Watson, ex-Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Perth's Black Swan State Theatre Company, the play will hit the Opera House's Drama Theatre from Tuesday, September 6–Saturday, September 10. Watson directs, too. It comes to the venue after proving a hit in WA and overseas, including seasons at Perth Festival 2018, at Black Swan State Theatre Company in 2019, and at Edinburgh International Festival and London's Southbank Centre. As well as being committed to showing how people with disability are needlessly othered, and endeavouring to rectify that, You Know We Belong Together will feature integrated Auslan interpretation and captioning during its film segments. There'll also be a quiet space in the Drama Theatre foyer during the play's Opera House run. You Know We Belong Together plays Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre from Tuesday, September 6–Saturday, September 10. For more information or to buy tickets — with pre-sales from 9am on Tuesday, June 21 and general sales from 9am on Friday, June 24 — head to the Opera House's website. Images: Toni Wilkinson.
When Godzilla first crawled out of the ocean and into cinemas, the famous movie monster made its debut appearance in the shadow of the Second World War. The link between the film's fears of nuclear holocaust and what Japan had just experienced wasn't an accident, in a picture that isn't just an excellent creature feature — the franchise-starting flick is stellar all round, including its glorious score. It was back in 1954 that Godzilla initially greeted the world. Now, almost seven decades later, 37 other movies have followed. The latest: Godzilla Minus One, which gives Zilly fans a long-awaited new Japanese Godzilla movie and takes its namesake back to the country's postwar era. As seen in the just-dropped first trailer for Godzilla Minus One, Japan is still coping with the aftermath of WWII's atomic bombings when the kaiju appears. The question: in a place that's already rebuilding, how will everyone both endure and battle against this towering critter? In a feature written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III: The First, Ghost Book), cue plenty of rampaging through the streets by Godzilla, plus fleeing by the film's humans. Cue buildings levelled, the ground both rumbling and crumbling, and explosions wreaking more havoc, too. Referencing going backwards from zero in its moniker, cue a film that follows people trying to survive and fight — all back in the time that gave birth to all things Godzilla. Reaching cinemas in Japan on Friday, November 3 and the US on Friday, December 1, but without a release date Down Under as yet, Godzilla Minus One marks the first live-action Japanese Godzilla release about its namesake since 2016's excellent Shin Godzilla. Since then, three animated efforts — 2017's Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, and 2018's Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater — have arrived on streaming, however. The franchise also includes America's take on Godzilla, starting with a low in 1998, then including another try in 2014, 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021's Godzilla vs Kong. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a sequel to the latter, is due in 2024. And, TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is due to hit before the end of 2023. Check out the trailer for Godzilla Minus One below: Godzilla Minus One will hit cinemas in Japan on Friday, November 3 and the US on Friday, December 1, but doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Back in May, it was announced that beloved Sydney pub and live music stalwart The Lansdowne had been saved from closure after long-time custodians Mary's stepped away from the venue. Taking over the reins would be the team behind another Sydney favourite, the Oxford Art Factory. To celebrate the continued safety of this Sydney icon, the new Lansdowne team is throwing a free 12-hour party on Saturday, June 25 with a hefty lineup in tow. Headling the party is Winston Surfshirt, who will be bringing their catalog of genre-bending hits to The Lansdowne's stage. Joining them will be a host of fan-favourite local Sydney and Australian acts like Donny Benet, RVG, Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys, First Beige and Hayley Mary. There's also a stack of talented musicians tackling the DJ decks throughout the night including the beloved duo Stereogamous, the Motorik team, Baby Beef, Tasker, Joey P, Salarymen and Dead Witch. The cherry on top of this jam-packed free event is free beer and food for those that get down early. The gig will be kicking off at 5pm and staying true to The Lansdowne's reputation for late-night kick-ons, continuing through the night until 5am. Entry is free with registration via Moshtix. [caption id="attachment_757840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lansdowne Hotel[/caption]
If you've ever said "XOXO" aloud, you've obviously seen Gossip Girl, the glossy, quickly addictive drama about Manhattan teens, their hectic lives and their glam outfits that initially aired between 2007–2012. It's the show that introduced the world to Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley, and made everyone want to sit on the steps of The Met. It also demonstrated that you can never have too many headbands, and had us all wishing that Kristen Bell could narrate our every move, too. Gossip Girl is getting a follow-up series with a brand new cast that's also heading to Binge, because nothing says goodbye forever these days — and because all that drama was never going to subside for too long. But there's still nothing quite like the original, which starts with the return of Serena van der Woodsen (Lively) to the Upper East Side and the fallout within her inner circle, as constantly chronicled by an all-knowing blogger.
New restaurants and takeaway joints open every week in Sydney — so much so that it's hard to keep up, let alone determine which ones to visit. But you know what gets our attention? Free stuff. That's why we're pleased to tell you that, to celebrate last week's opening of their new Surry Hills store, Zeus Street Greek will be giving out free souvas to anyone who visits the new location this Friday, June 2. All you have to do is walk into the Foveaux Street store between noon and 3pm on Friday and you'll score yourself a free pita. These are ZSG's version of a souvlaki, which you can get filled with chicken, pork, lamb, falafel, haloumi or soft shell crab. Plus, for each pita given away on the day, ZSG will donate $2 to Weave Community & Youth Services, a charity that supports disadvantaged children, young people and families. Just in case you weren't sure if ZSG was a chain yet — the Surry Hills outpost is their 14th store to open in Australia. They currently have ten stores Sydney and a couple across Canberra, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth, with another four to open imminently. Zeus Street Greek Surry Hills is now open at 2/69-81 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. To celebrate the opening, they will will be giving away free pitas on Friday, June 2 from 12–3pm. For more info visit zeusstreetgreek.com.au.
Life can feel like it's getting more and more hectic, especially after the past 15 months or so. But, thankfully, clever Australians keep coming up with new and creative ways to de-stress. You might've already hurled an axe at a target, for instance, or smashed plates, TVs, printers and computer monitors with a baseball bat. Now, Sydney's latest high-powered stress reliever has arrived, allowing you to get messy and wild with a supply of colourful paints and some white walls. Gladesville's new Smash Splash — an offshoot of the Melbourne venue of the same name — does include a classic smash room, where punters can unleash their destructive tendencies on unsuspecting glassware and breakables. But it also plays host to a 'splash room', inspired by an offering that's gone gang-busters across the USA. Here, you're invited to tap into your inner Jackson Pollock and get gloriously messy at your own private paint party. You can book the splash room for 30-minute sessions, with up to four people allowed in at once and your choice of tunes on the speakers — all for $50 per person. Don your protective gear, step inside and get as creative as you like, hurling cups of paint, smashing or batting paint-filled balloons or simply going to town with your hands or some paintbrushes. Best of all, there's not a scrap of cleaning up involved. In the future, Smash Splash will also feature a 'crash room', where you'll don sumo suits and play in a ball pit. Whether you choose to smash, splash or, soon, crash, the venue is all about helping its patrons alleviate stress in unique ways. And yes, it's available to book for parties, should your whole crew need a therapeutic way to work through their frustrations. Find Smash Splash at Unit 2, 37 College Street, Gladesville. It's open on Friday 6–8pm, Saturday 11am–6pm and Sunday 11am–6pm.
If you can remember a time before Jetstar took to Australia's skies, you clearly have a long memory, with the discount airline marking its 17th year in 2021. Today, Tuesday, May 25, actually marks the carrier's birthday, so it's celebrating in a way that could boost your next holiday. You'll just need to head to either Flinders Street station in Melbourne or Central station in Sydney before 9pm. At both sites, Jetstar has taken over the digital screens, so you'll spot images of blue skies and a plane everywhere you look. While you're peering at the promotional setup, you're asked to try to 'catch the plane'. That just means scanning a QR code on the screen with your phone, then hopefully winning a flight voucher for your efforts. The airline is giving out $10,000 worth of vouchers across the two sites, with values ranging from $50 to $500. Up to 70 are up for grabs — and, given how busy both stations usually are, there'll be plenty of fellow wannabe travellers trying to nab them. If you're not quite sure how you'd use said vouchers, Jetstar currently flies 57 routes between 20 destinations within Australia — which should give you plenty of local holiday options while overseas travel, other than to New Zealand, is still off the cards for the foreseeable future. Jetstar's birthday giveaway is taking place today, Tuesday, May 25, until 9pm at Flinders Street station in Melbourne — or Central station in Sydney.
If you're a lover of contemporary art, there are two things you've probably found yourself in repeated fights over. Firstly, why a canvas with naught but a single monotone colour deserves to hang in a gallery and, secondly, why live art is more than just 'crazy for the sake of crazy'. So, the artist nailed his arm to a wall? It's about politics. She had all her clothes cut off by strangers? Gender. It's an artist's job to test the bounds of acceptance and cover unchartered ground, but some artists are notorious for taking that extra step into the unknown. We thought we'd take a look into the extreme history of the artform — the highs, the lows, and all the wilfully mutilated body parts. (TW: self harm and sexual content.) Pyotr Pavlensky nailed his testicles to some cobblestones November last year saw millions of men sympathetically shift in their seats as Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky drove a decent-sized nail through his scrotum and into Red Square. After receiving worldwide attention (that headline is clickbait in any language), Pavlensky stated his actions were a form of political protest against Russia's ever-increasing "police state". "The performance can be seen as a metaphor for the apathy, political indifference and fatalism of contemporary Russian society," he said. Such tactics were not new to this ballsy artist either as 2012 saw him sew his mouth shut in support of the recently imprisoned Pussy Riot. It's one way to get people talking, but at what cost? Vito Acconci hid under gallery floorboards while masturbating While we're on the topic of male genitals, it's definitely worth bringing up American artist Vito Acconci and his seminal work 'Seed Bed' (pun entirely intended). First performed in 1972 at New York's Sonnabend Gallery, this controversial and generally well-regarded work involved the artist hiding under a makeshift ramp in the gallery space and masturbating for eight hours a day. While it outwardly seems like the engineered scheme of a sexual deviant, the work is famous for being enormously effective on its audience members. While standing in the desolate gallery space, gallery-goers could hear Acconci murmuring explicit sexual thoughts via a loudspeaker, and were uncomfortably conscious of his presence under their feet. 'Seed Bed' has since been re-performed by Marina Abramovic in a very welcome inversion of the original work's testosterone overload. Marina Abramovic stared at thousands of strangers in silence until they cried This woman is the queen of all things performance art. Aside from taking on 'Seed Bed', she has a wealth of her own legendary artworks including 'The Artist is Present', a piece that inspired a documentary in its own name. For 736 hours and 30 minutes, Abramovic sat in silence at the Museum of Modern Art staring at whoever sat opposite her. The piece proved so cathartic for audience members it has spawned not only a film, but a fan blog called Marina Abramovic Made Me Cry — the artwork had this effect on the artist herself too when her ex-lover came to visit. Don't be fooled though; Abramovic is tough as guts. In her work 'Rhythm 0' she had audiences inflict pleasure and pain on her body with objects including honey, a scalpel, a rose, and a loaded gun; and in 'Rhythm 10' she played a Russian knife game dodging her fingers with 20 knives in quick succession. There are a lot of men in live art, but this woman may be the most hardcore there is. Tehching Hsieh punched a time clock every hour, on the hour, for a year Abramovic has described Hsieh as a "master" of the form. He's done the dirty stuff — he lived alone in a wooden cage unable to read, write, or listen to radio or TV for an entire year. He then went the other way — wilfully living outside for another whole year. But in the time in-between, he undertook 'Time Clock Piece'. From 1980-1981, Hsieh punched a factory-style time clock every hour, on the hour. After shaving his head at the outset, the artist took a photo of himself each hour and the subsequent documentary evidence, as the hair grows and grows, shows a passing of time equal parts beautiful and woefully depressing. Santiago Sierra tattooed these women's backs in exchange for heroin It's impossible to be indifferent to the kind of work that Sierra does. With most pieces including people from disadvantaged backgrounds in less than desirable positions, to many the art looks a lot like exploitation. In '160cm Line Tattooed on 4 People', Sierra found four heroin-addicted sex workers who were willing to have their backs tattooed in exchange for a single shot of heroin. While on the surface this seems outright despicable, the self-aware nature of the act did serve as a counter-point for many. After all, structures of power can never change if they aren't first exposed. Taras Polataiko had women contractually obliged to marry strangers In the live art piece 'Sleeping Beauties', Ukrainian artist Taras Polataiko found five female volunteers to feign sleep in an art gallery and endure the kisses of thousands of strangers. And here's the kicker: if they ever opened their eyes after a smooch, they were contractually obliged to marry the kisser. The agreement stood for gallery-goers too — in order to gain kissing privileges you had to present a valid ID and sign a legal document promising you to marriage. The performance ended on a meaningful note however, as the beauty opened her eyes to find a woman's lips. As Ukraine still hasn't legalised same-sex marriage, the work raised important questions about the issue and thankfully gave the participants a loophole to wriggle out of . Chris Burden was crucified to a Volkswagen There's nothing artists love more than a good crucifixion to dredge religion up in their work. If you thought Madonna jumping on a cross for a music video was out there, in his 1974 work 'Trans-fixed', American artist Chris Burden actually crucified himself to a Volkswagen Beetle. For no immediately apparent reason, either. The car came out of a garage for two minutes, revved a little, then returned inside. Obviously he was never one to shy away from pain. In 1973's 'Through the Night Softly' he got down to his underwear and crawled through glass, and in his aptly-titled 1971 work, 'Shoot', he was shot point blank in the arm with a rifle. More power to him. Joseph Beuys spent three days in a small room with a coyote The creeper to inspire all creepers, Joseph Beuys was an influential German artist whose 1974 work 'I Like America and America Likes Me' consisted of him skulking around a gallery in New York with naught but a coyote, some straw to sleep on, and a disturbing get-up that made him look like a gothic shepherd. He was taken from the airport via ambulance, never having stepped on American soil and stated of the work, "I wanted to isolate myself, insulate myself, see nothing of America other than the coyote." Once his time was up, he shared an awkward hug with the somewhat domesticated creature and boarded a plane home. Mike Parr had his lips, eyes, and ears sewn together The only Australian addition to this list, Parr has made a name for himself in the field of self-mutilation. This six-hour endurance piece, 'Close the Concentration Camps', was done in protest to the prolonged detention of asylum seekers during the Howard era, and has a disquieting resonance to this day. In 2002 there were reports some detainees had sewed their mouths shut in protest, but the trauma felt very distant to many Australians. Parr's act of solidarity at the Monash University Museum of Art brought this violence uncomfortably to the fore. Francis Alys enlisted the help of 500 volunteers to move a sand dune 10cm to the left One of the main arguments people have against modern art is that it's inconsequential, and Francis Alys' work certainly makes a good case for them. In his most-famous piece, 'When Faith Moves Mountains', this Belgian artist took to the outskirts of Lima and recruited 500 people to move a sand dune, one shovel at a time, slightly to the left. In response to intense confusion from everyone in the world, he responded, "Sometimes making something leads to nothing, sometimes making nothing leads to something." Artists are nothing if not riddlers, I guess.
Over the past few weeks Sydney has been awash with colour, as citizens turned out in massive numbers to show their support for marriage equality. And with the controversial postal survey currently underway, the LGBTIQ+ community and its allies have shown no sign of slowing down. Because equality and love should be shared by everyone, we've found some of the biggest, brightest, and gayest events you can attend in support of this very good cause. We love our beautiful Sydney with its diverse community of people, and these shindigs showcase just how much Sydney loves equality. So post your vote, have a beer and join in the heaps gay party. There are plenty of fun ways to fly your flag for marriage equality between now and when the survey closes. [caption id="attachment_636115" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Letícia Almeida.[/caption] FESTIVAL FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY We know that most of you want to have your say in the postal vote on marriage equality, but we also know that you're probably going to put it off until the last minute. So do the organisers of the Festival for Marriage Equality, which is why they're encouraging as many people as possible to put in their vote en masse. After the success of the Yes Rally, Sydney's activist collective Reclaim the Streets has organised a massive collective Yes voting event, with thousands expected to rock up at Prince Alfred Park on Saturday, September 23, to put in their vote together. Once you've posted your vote at Strawberry Hills Post Office just across the road, you'll be able to get amongst nine stages until sunset, featuring Deeper Than House, Swerve Saturdays, SYD DEF JAM, INPUT, Roots Odyssey, Rabbit Prawn Kollective, The Church of Screaming Electro and Umami. Meet at 1pm at Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills for a 2pm vote at Strawberry Hills Post Office across the road. [caption id="attachment_636099" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Letícia Almeida.[/caption] RALLY FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY Following on from the success of the September 10 rally which saw huge public support for marriage equality, Sydney is set to do it all again on October 21. Support group Community Action Against Homophobia are organising the event to urge Australians to campaign for a Yes postal vote. With the majority of Australians (a whopping two-thirds) supporting marriage equality, the previous rally was expectedly stacked — with a massive 30-40,000 people showing their support for all LGBTIQ+ Australians. October 21 will be the last rally to urge the country to vote affirmative before the ballot closes on November 7, so it will be an extremely important event to get the Yes vote over the line. Send off your vote and get marching. Wear rainbow. Be loud. Let's make history. The rally will kick off in Belmore Park at 1pm on Saturday October 21. THE RAINBOW WALK Sydney has a lot to offer in terms of Sunday morning activities, but one of the most iconic is the Bondi to Bronte walk. A weekend stroll along our beautiful coastline has a lifting-the-soul kind of vibe at the best of times, but on October 8, the Bondi to Bronte walk will have a higher purpose: love, change and marriage equality. With the support of the Surf Lifesaving Clubs of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte, The Rainbow Walk has been organised to celebrate diversity, support love, encourage a Yes vote for marriage equality. Wear your brightest clothes and enjoy the live music as you soak up the beauty that is Sydney in all it's forms. Starting at the south side of Bondi Beach at 9:00am, the walk will have staggered start times until midday. HEAPS GAY SPRING FLING CALLING POSTAL PARTY The team behind website HEAPS GAY, an all-inclusive space championing the LGBTIQ+ community, are hosting a Spring Fling Party to celebrate voting YAS to marriage equality. Heaps Gay parties are known for their flamboyancy and fun, and the Spring Fling will be absolutely no exception. In fact, it might just surpass all parties that have gone before. There will be DJs, food and a postal box, so byo form, a fabulous outfit and be ready to dance your way to equality. The State Library of New South Wales has already earmarked the event and decided to turn it into an exhibition in 50 years time, so get involved in history and head down to The Lady Hampshire on September 29. The party will ring in the long weekend on 29 September with doors opening at 7pm and the party kicking on until 3am at The Lady Hampshire, 91 Parramatta Road, Camperdown. MIDDIES FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY + A WAYWARD WEDDING This is not a drill! For the next two two weeks the crew at Wayward Brewing Co. will be giving away free beer in support of marriage equality. To claim a free middy, all you need to do is grab one of their "I'm Voting Yes" stickers at the Wayward Cellar Bar, snap yourself wearing it, and post with the tag #WAYWARD4EQUALITY. Show it to the bar staff and they'll be happy to place a free cold one in your hand. On top of that, the Wayward Brewing Co. team are offering their space up for a wedding for a same-sex couple. Their gleaming brewery floor is set to host the ceremony and the cellar bar will transform into an intimate reception venue. What's more, they'll also throw in a $2000 bar tab. To enter the draw and score yourself a very wayward wedding, hop over to their Facebook page and follow the guidelines. The winners will be revealed on November 15 when the outcome of the postal vote is announced. Between September 18 and October 1 you can get your free middy at Wayward Brewery Co. at 1 Gehrig Lane, Camperdown. To enter the draw and win a wedding head over to their website. Feature image via Letícia Almeida
Some museums are filled with art. Others are dedicated to interesting pieces of history. The National Communication Museum in Melbourne, Australia's latest, falls into the second category. It's also a museum with a hyper-specific focus, celebrating the technology that's allowed humanity to interact and, in the process, shaped how we engage with each other. Rotary phones, cyber cafes, MSN Messenger: they all get a nod here. Opening to the public on Saturday, September 21, 2024, and marking the first new major museum in Melbourne for more than two decades — since the Melbourne Museum launched — the National Communication Museum lives and breathes nostalgia, then. Phone boxes, burger phones, the speaking clock that you could call to get the time and only shut down in Australia in 2019: they receive some love as well. But this space isn't solely about looking backwards, with peering forwards also part of its remit. Yes, that means grappling with what artificial intelligence might mean for communication in the future. Emily Siddon, NCM's Co-Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, calls the two-level Hawthorn site "a trip down memory lane", but also notes how it looks at the present and what might come. "The technologies featured in NCM were developed in response to the innate human need to communicate and connect — yesterday, today and tomorrow," she explains. "It also answers the pressing questions about communication technology today. Things like: how far away are we from uploading our consciousness? How am I tracked and where does my data go? And how can I tell real from fake or human from machine?". Across an array of rooms featuring both permanent and temporary exhibitions — located in an old 1930s telephone exchange building, which includes a working historical telephone exchange — visitors can dive into First Nations storytelling, celebrate the speaking clock, explore a 90s-era internet cafe and check out an interactive display that takes its cues from regional Australia's phone booths. There's also a section dedicated to research, spanning both successful and unsuccessful ideas, plus launch exhibitions dedicated to surveillance, the human-made satellites sent into space to circle the earth and the infrastructure underpinning digital communication. Find the National Communication Museum at 375 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from Saturday, September 21, 2024 — open 10am–5pm Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the venue's website for more details. Images: Casey Horsfield.
Sydney's much loved LGBTIQ+ party collective and publisher Heaps Gay is celebrating four years of being a major thing with an all-day banger of a party on Saturday, November 18. Presented by FBi Radio, the event — which will be decked out like a big gay wedding party — will kick off at Sydney Portuguese Community Club from 1pm and feature musicians and DJs like GlamouRatz and Haiku Hands. There'll also be art, Portuguese chicken, vegan nosh, and potentially even puppies (well, probably not — but organisers are working on it). Beyond Heaps Gay's stellar rep for throwing rowdy parties, the site has established a formidable online presence spotlighting the brilliant work of Aussie LGBTIQ+ folk, such as playwright Charles O'Grady, sex worker and lyric prose Instagram caption master Tilly Lawless and former pro-surfer turned filmmaker Cloudy Rhodes. The party falls on the weekend after the marriage equality result is announced, so bring your love and celebrate the hell yes outcome or — and we're hoping this isn't the case — come commiserate in a safe, inclusive, glittery space.
