Sundays just got a whole lot better — especially for those in close proximity to beloved Rushcutters Bay ramen joint Bones Ramen. For our money, Bones is one of the best ramen spots in Sydney (and also one of Sydney's best Japanese restaurants), and the team is hosting its first-ever month-long celebration dedicated to noodles led by Bones Ramen's Head Chef, Jake Riwaka. To celebrate the humble noodle, a series of acclaimed chefs will be taking over the menu with their noodle-starring dishes. Every Sunday from 5pm to 9pm, you'll be able to indulge in these exclusive creations alongside any snacks and sides that the chef chooses to pair with them. Sounds good? Here's a sneak peak: Expect to see the likes of glazed duck breast, scotch egg, poached oyster and pork jowl starring in these limited-time offerings. [caption id="attachment_927321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] (Chef Tristan Rosier pictured.)[/caption] Kicking off Sunday, November 26, Tristan Rosier (Arthur, Jane) will be dishing up a noodle-centric dish with a twist of his own. To follow, Nik Hill of Porcine will take over the guest menu on December 3; then Billy Hannigan (The Charles Grand Brasserie, Tiva) is taking the reins on December 10 with an inventive creation of his own. Finally, on Sunday, December 17, Dan Johnston and Danny Guthrie from Fontana will be on deck at Bones to showcase their collaborative effort. Plus, Brandy Martignago and Dylan Spowart from Dulcies will be shaking up the drinks offering with a mix of boozy sips available each week — all of which will be curated to complement the limited-edition dishes. These noodle nights are strictly walk-in only, so you'll want to head in quickly to secure your bowl of noodle-starring goodness. Head over to the Bones Ramen Instagram page for event updates.
If you're going to start a brunch club, you may as well do it in style — and with an event that's basically the real-life equivalent of a Venn diagram mapping everyone's favourite things. Where springtime hangouts, cruising the scenic seas, sipping free-flowing Champagne and eating brunch all combine, that's where you'll find this aptly named Bottomless Brunch on Sydney Harbour. On Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23, attendees will be picked up from Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf at 10am, then board a vessel for a meal by The Blonde Butler, tunes by Dan Rowntree and — of course — two-and-a-half hours of unlimited Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial Champagne. You'll get a glass to enjoy upon arrival, too, before hopping on the boat from 10.30am–1pm. When you return to the dock, you'll then be headed for a party on a yet-to-be-disclosed Woolloomooloo rooftop. Tickets will set you back $150 per person, so consider this your indulgent way to welcome the sunny season. Those keen to attend can book their spots online from 5pm on Sunday, August 26.
The first rule of making a movie about a high-school lesbian fight club is that there are no rules, other than embracing the concept and giving it your all. So punches Bottoms, a film where the gleefully cartoonish energy is always as important as the plot, and a feature that knows it's entering a big-screen ring that wouldn't even exist if Heathers, Clueless, Bring It On, Mean Girls, But I'm a Cheerleader, Easy A and Booksmart hadn't hopped over the ropes first. Three years after Shiva Baby, writer/director Emma Seligman and actor Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies) reunite, with the pair collaborating on the script this time around. Also crucial: bringing in The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, a friend from the duo's student days, to co-star. In a picture that values being stronger together, Seligman, Sennott and Edebiri make a knockout team. Bottoms' vibe could only spring from IRL pals, too, playing it loose and ridiculous like this crew is simply hanging out. The setup: Sennott and Edebiri are PJ and Josie, who return to Rockbridge Falls High School after summer break keen to finally turn their love for popular cheerleaders Isabel (Havana Rose Liu, No Exit) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber, Babylon) into sex and romance. The best friends know that their social standing is anything but high — "gay, untalented and ugly" is how they describe themselves — but two queer girls can dream that this is their moment, then do their utmost to make their fantasies a reality. So, when the semester starts with PJ and Josie still stuck as outcasts, they conjure up a plan. Their gymnasium-based group is officially known as a women's self-defense class and is sold to their teachers as an act of female solidarity; however, no matter what they tell the principal (Wayne Pére, Your Honor), as well as the history teacher (Marshawn Lynch, Westworld) that they convince to be their advisor, there's really only one aim: not feminism and support, but getting laid. The initial mission of PJ and Josie's new extra-curricular obsession is scoring Isabel and Brittany's attention, then. The second: keeping up its founders' new tough rep. In that desperate-to-impress way that every awkward, anxious teen has, Bottoms' protagonists aren't above saying whatever they think will make them look cooler to the objects of their affection. So, PJ and Josie have a rumour that they went to juvie to uphold as long as they think that Isabel and Brittany care. Thanks to an accidental carpark altercation with star quarterback Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine, Red, White & Royal Blue), they also have form throwing around their might — or so they're happy to let their classmates think. Two things neither counts on, though: their gambit proving a hit with other campus outsiders such as Hazel (Ruby Cruz, Mare of Easttown) and, blow by blow, the group actually bringing its members together. Bottoms' premise is pure inspiration, switching out the usual Can't Hardly Wait-, American Pie- and Superbad-esque pining boys lovesick over long-term crushes or just yearning losing their virginity in general, taking Fight Club to high school, and getting sillier and more surreal than teen comedies normally dare. Bottoms as a movie also demonstrates Seligman's knack for her chosen genre at opposite ends of the spectrum — because the filmmaker's sharp and layered cringe-inducing debut feature is in a whole other comic clique to her sophomore effort. Cue subversion with plenty to say and off-kilter absurdity combined, especially in interrogating allyship. Cue a willingness to go for broke with weird, warped and wild swings as well. And, cue a film that's always doing what PJ and Josie themselves are to score their dream dates: relentlessly trying. The characters go with throwdowns in an endeavour to aid their horny hopes, while the flick itself opts for an everything-it-can-throw-in audacity. Tonal ducks, bobs and weaves are part of the Bottoms experience, unsurprisingly — and not every gag, line, goof, throwaway, swerve and drop of Wet Hot American Summer-style energy works. Accordingly, rivalries within Rockbridge Falls High and with another school, plus attempts to get serious, aren't always a bullseye. But Seligman and Sennott's devotion to their first rule means that a flat joke, piece of dialogue, idea or moment doesn't last long, then something else enters the comedic fray with gusto. The ping-ponging from Avril Lavigne's 'Complicated' to Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' amid a score co-composed by Charli XCX illustrates much about that bouncing-around relish. So does the script's contentedness to keep most of its on-screen figures as stock types not out of laziness, but to heighten the idiosyncrasies splashed around, insecurities examined and impact of the chaos around them. There's nothing standard about Sennott and Edebiri, not that Bottoms tells viewers anything that they don't already know from each actor's past work. The respective The Idol and Theater Camp talents previously collaborated on 2020's three-episode Comedy Central miniseries Ayo and Rachel Are Single, also pondering affairs of the heart — modern dating, to be specific, and also hilariously. The lived-in air that they bring to PJ and Josie's friendship isn't just an act, then. In fact, it's what every bit, jab, OTT jump and heartfelt emotion relies on. Sennott does charmingly forceful and unconstrained like she's breathing for it, while Edebiri has already shown how stellar she is at reacting on The Bear. Together, whether taking turns monologuing or diving into a bloodbath, they're unhinged magic. Also excellent: the supporting cast, from Gerber and Galitzine to Cruz and Lynch. The first makes good on casting a supermodel — and daughter of a supermodel, thanks to mum Cindy Crawford, who she couldn't more resemble — as the epitome of hotness, and makes her part shrewdly amusing. The second does the vain and overly dramatic himbo role to perfection. Cruz screams to be cast alongside Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) in a future project, and Lynch is progressing well on the Carl Weathers (The Mandalorian)- and Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)-led path of NFL players who've become actors. If one of the key tenets of any association, fists flying or not, is to have the best members, then Bottoms rises to the top while having a helluva raucously entertaining time.
It's that time of year again — the City of Sydney is putting 1000 trees up for grabs. For free. Over 13,000 trees have been planted since 2005, with the inner city area home to over 44,000 trees across its streets, parks and city properties. The City of Sydney is inviting locals down to Sydney Park from 10am on Saturday, March 30 as a way to encourage residents to help reach the government target to increase the urban canopy by 50 percent by 2030. There will be small species like hibiscus right through to 15-metre-tall jacaranda trees, and food-bearing types like lemon, lime and pistachio trees. Enjoy a sausage sizzle while you peruse the freebies, chat to clued-up staff and choose which ones to adopt. To prep, check out the website for the tree species that will be available on the day, along with caring instructions. If you're an inner city slicker and don't have a backyard, no wukkas — balcony horticulturists can use this tip sheet for growing trees in pots.
Hitting December means we’ve officially hit the silly season, which in turn switches on the green light for some serious sweat-soaked partying. Now, you could take the 'pace yourself' route, sticking with sensible diets, 'just the one drink tonight' and 'nothing on a school night' rules. Alternatively, you can just bust right into it, umbrellas in cocktails blazing. We suggest you cross December 1st off your calendar with a bang. Little Hero presents Kamikaze Surf Hoedown, a night of loud music and louder costumes. Turn up in your ‘Surfabilly’ finest (straw hat? Novelty shirt?) and enjoy the live summer twang of bands Richard In Your Mind, Belles Will Ring and Atom Bombs. Plus Spod, Conrad (RIYM), Yo Grito! and Ray (Little Hero) will be hitting the decks throughout the night. With one month of the year left, let’s squeeze every last drop out of it.
As anyone who's seen the doco Amy knows, during Amy Winehouse's troubled final years, the media was excruciatingly obsessed with her drug and alcohol issues. But, a new exhibition, arriving in Melbourne later this year, is bringing us another perspective. Titled Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait, the show covers four concepts: faith, fashion, music and London life. Expect to see loads of never-before-seen-in-public objects, such as family photos, dresses (including the dazzling Luella Bartley number that Winehouse wore at Glastonbury 2008), cookbooks, stories, records and musical instruments. Acting as soundtrack will be a mixtape Winehouse put together at the age of 13. The exhibition was conceived and curated by Amy's brother, Alex, and sister-in-law, Riva, in collaboration with the Jewish Museum of London. Since premiering in London in 2013, it's travelled to San Francisco, Vienna, Tel Aviv and Amsterdam, and, right now, it's at the London museum, Camden. Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait arrives at the Jewish Museum of Australia, St Kilda, on October 22 and will show until March 22, 2018. Via The Age. Image: Amy.
There's an old Chinese saying: 'Good things come in pairs'. With the exception of tinnitus and earwax, this is largely true. Just think of shoes, poached eggs at a cafe, Wayne's World, toasted crumpets, the seventh Harry Potter film, the original and the remix of the Bedroom Intruder video — and Gotye concerts at August's Graphic Festival. Gotye (aka Wouter De Backer or Wally) has just announced a second show to follow his sold-out one on August 20, which as far as good things go, ranks pretty highly. Wally is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of, well, all — whether it's singing, songwriting, producing, being a one-man band or traversing an array of sonic landscapes. Gotye: An Animated Album Preview promises to be no less varied or enterprising. For the first performance of his third album, Making Mirrors, he'll be joined on stage by a 10-piece mini orchestra and will set the score to original visuals by some of Australia's top animators, including Rubber House, Lucinda Schreiber, Mechanical Apple and pictureDRIFT. The only problem with Gotye's previous videos is that they're as short as they are catchy, so news of a second chance at witnessing this hour-plus audiovisual extravaganza makes us more excited than a nice pair of cosy socks. Get in quick though — tickets are sure to be even hotter than the second Franco brother. Okay, we'll stop now... https://youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
As announced back in April, 2022's Biennale of Sydney will focus on bodies of water, all under the theme Rīvus — which means 'stream' in Latin. But when the citywide event unleashes its 23rd program, it won't be bringing its H2O-centric artworks to one of its usual venues. Water might be on everyone's mind at the Biennale, but Cockatoo Island and its ocean surroundings aren't being called upon this time around. Instead, the Biennale of Sydney 2022 has unveiled a list of exhibition venues that includes the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Circular Quay, Information + Cultural Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Art School in partnership with Artspace, The Rocks and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct including Pier 2/3. And, as also revealed earlier in the year, it'll still have a big presence by the harbour — setting up shop at The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve for the first time instead. The full program won't be announced until February, if you're wondering what'll be catching your eye at all these spots. But the Biennale's Curatorium — which includes Artistic Director José Roca, Art Gallery of New South Wales Head of Learning and Participation Paschal Daantos Berry, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia curator Anna Davis, Information and Cultural Exchange First Nations programs producer Hannah Donnelly and Artspace curator Talia Linz — has provided a few sneak peeks. A big drawcard: The Waterhouse, the event's big public program that'll be filled with talks and experiences. So, you'll be able to take self-guided walks as part of a series called Space In-Between, which'll also include site-specific exercises created at a number of the Biennale's venues by Roca, Julie Gough, Pablo Helguera, Astrida Neminas, Hanna Tuulikki and Tais Rose Wae. This includes mindful walking, where you'll pay particular attention to the surrounding landscape — and, in great news for wheelchair users and users of other mobility devices, the series will be fully accessible. [caption id="attachment_750113" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liam Cameron[/caption] Also on the bill: Building Blocks, where you'll be able to learn more about art-making processes and the working methods behind them. A three-hour experience featuring Arts for the Commons, Cave Urban, Paula de Solminihac, Clare Milledge and Diana Scherer, it'll include a communal meal where everyone will be encouraged to share water stories together. Then there's Gesture — with artists Angie Goto and Sue Jo Wright, who are deaf, guiding audiences through the exhibition purely by using their bodies to draw attention to artworks, spaces and everyone taking part. Plus, two-day symposium River Conversations will get people talking about water — with attendees travelling down the Parramatta River on the first day, and spending the second at Barangaroo. The lineup has been curated in collaboration with water law and policy specialist Erin O'Donnell and legal anthropologist Alessandro Pelizzon, and will feature local and international First Nations voices such as Badger Bates, D Harding, Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, Bradley Moggridge, Dr Anne Poelina and Leanne Tobin. As for who else is taking part across the three-month-long event, the Biennale also revealed its first roster of 59 participants earlier in 2021, with the list spanning folks from six continents and 33 countries — complete with a heavy local component — and including artists, designers, architects and scientists. And if it feels like Sydney only just enjoyed the last Biennale, there's a reason for that. After the 2020 event was forced to take an unforeseen break due to the pandemic, it wrapped up later last year than initially planned. The 23rd Biennale of Sydney will run from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13, 2022. Entry will be free, as always. We'll keep you posted on the whole artist lineup and exhibition program when it's announced in February. Top image: The Biennale of Sydney's public program participants including (from left) Cave Urban (Sophie Lanigan, Juan Pablo Pinto,Mercurio Alvarado and Jed Long), DavidHaines and Joyce Hinterding and Clare Milledge, pictured with Lleah Smith (centre), Curator ofPrograms and Learning, at The Cutaway, Barangaroo. Photograph: Daniel Boud.
When John Safran was making his comedy/doco program John Safran vs God for SBS in 2004, his segment on Catholicism included a guest spot from South Melbourne Catholic Priest Father Bob Maguire. It was one of the show’s standout moments: the sardonic Father Bob playing off Safran’s nebbish persona like they’d just come off a 30-week Neil Simon run on Broadway. The relationship continued in television and radio, and Father Bob’s increasing media profile led to him to become every non-Catholic’s favourite Catholic: an outspoken priest who seemed unafraid of offending the Church with his opinions. Because of Bob's notoriety, it's not unreasonable to approach this documentary with trepidation. Would the film simply be repeating what we already knew about Bob? Would it be more suitable for a crowd who’d never heard of him? The film does play to an audience unfamiliar with Bob’s extraordinary personality, but even those who are fans of the man will find much to learn here. And it’s actually Safran who goes unexplained throughout the film. He appears sporadically — most satisfactorily as 'Death' in a beachside callback to Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal — without much comment. This is not necessarily a bad thing; enigmatic figures are an underrated tool for fostering audience intrigue. But it's Father Bob who is the star of the show. Filmed over the period during which the Catholic Church was trying to forcibly eject him (deeming him "too old" at age 75), In Bob We Trust documents the opinions and work of a man who seems to understand the fundamental message of Christ better than many of his counterparts. Not only that, but he puts it into practice. His well-fostered grumpy persona is the perfect conduit for what seems to be a genuine frustration at the Catholic Church's attitude towards women, gays, refugees, the poor, etc. He nearly explodes at the idea of having to explain to his superiors why he keeps spending money on the less fortunate. Lynn-Maree Milburn again proves herself a masterful director, following her superb documentary Autoluminescent: Rowland S Howard in 2011. She confidently steps back when the scene demands it but isn’t afraid to ramp up the production values (jump cuts, non-diegetic music and anything that dares to threaten the film’s verisimilitude with artifice) when needed. Father Bob continuously insists that he himself should not be the message, and the film’s central thesis largely bears this out: Bob is presenting to us the reason and the ideal of Catholicism, what it should be and what it could be. He does not particularly wish to be venerated, and the film respects that whilst slyly paying tribute to a man of extraordinary grace, intelligence, wit and compassion.
Since opening its first Sydney restaurant in Darling Harbour one year ago, Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co. has swiftly expanded around town. The team launched in Castle Hill in July and a brand-spankin' new restaurant has just opened in Manly Wharf. In celebration of the Manly Wharf grand opening, the Queensland-born cult burger brand is throwing the Northern Beaches a big ol' bash. The all-ages party will start at noon on Saturday, November 10, with DJs spinning throwback tracks well into the night. A massive fireworks show will kick off at 8.45pm, sparking those fun and infectious celebration vibes. There'll also be beachside games (including free beach balls for children) and a free photo booth inside a Kombi van, so you can take plenty of happy snaps. Of course, Betty's will be slinging its signature burgers and concretes (frozen custard shakes) throughout the festivities — snack on the Angus beef patty paired with a chocolate hazelnut doughnut concrete, the southern-fried chicken burger with a peanut butter thick shake or the crispy fried mushroom variety with a lemon raspberry cheesecake concrete. These combinations may sound crazy, but somehow Betty's makes it work. See you there, burger lovers. The Betty's Burgers Manly Wharf Grand Opening will kick off from midday on Saturday, November 10.
There's one reason to see this movie, and it's name is Sandrissa McBullock (…okay, obviously there are two reasons, but that just doesn't sound as impressive). With its largely plotless script and hammy direction, The Heat is a fine example of how chemistry and quality acting can, on very rare occasions, salvage an otherwise irretrievable wreck. And without Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, that's exactly what this run-of-the-mill buddy cop comedy would have been. What's even more impressive, is that neither of their characters are especially appealing. Somehow, through Bullock's charm and McCarthy's timing, they make the unlikeable altogether likeable. Sticking firmly to cinema's odd-couple formula, Bullock plays a prissy, overly ambitious FBI agent who's paired up with the slobbish, hard-nosed Boston cop (McCarthy) to solve a spate of brutal drug-related murders. After the inevitable 'I don't need a partner' routine, the duo eventually finds some common ground and gets to work combining their wits and wiles to bring down the bad guys. From start to finish it's a movie heavily laden with 'buddy cop' cliches, and the only refreshing shift is that it features two women as its leads. Without ramming it down audiences' throats, the female cop angle would have been a compelling theme to explore in far greater depth than the scratch it gets from "it's tough, as a woman, you know?", and the manifest unpopularity both characters experience with their colleagues would have been an ideal setup to examine the all-too-common hypocrisy of ambition being considered an admirable quality in men yet unattractive in women. Instead, The Heat chooses vulgarity as its battleground for equality, with director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) seemingly determined to prove women can be just as crude and indelicate as their male counterparts. Take language, for example. Before the Sydney screening, Ms Bullock foreshadowed for us the film's fairly liberal application of the word 'fuck', particularly by McCarthy, whose use she estimated in the ballpark of 200 times. Given we're so accustomed to thinking of Bullock as the 'All-American Girl-Next-Door', it was surprisingly jarring to hear her swear at all, and Feig cleverly exploits that reaction throughout the movie. Similarly, Bullock absolutely low-balled her estimate for McCarthy, who more accurately says 'fuck' 200 times just by the end of her opening scene. The Heat is a funny film, far more so than the atrocious trailers might suggest, and its two stars earn five stars for their comedic contribution. For the film itself, maybe...three stars, and I wouldn't rule out a sequel in a year or two if it earns enough at the box office.
Fancy a Tassie wine tasting extravaganza, but can't find the time (or cash) to make the trip? How about a quick hop over to Darlinghurst instead? If you can get there with $65 to spare on Saturday, August 11, you'll be living the Apple Isle dream. That's because one-day wine festival Vin Diemen is coming back to Sydney for a fourth year. Your ticket will get you a take-home wine glass and access to the creations of a whole slew of Tasmanian winemakers, who are crossing the strait to show us what their island is made of. Expect to sample some of the best Pinot Noir in the nation, alongside top-shelf Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling — cold climate varieties get a better go in Tassie than nearly anywhere else in Oz. And giving the wines the respect they deserve will be a bunch of tasty Tasmanian morsels, including cheeses noms, of course. Tickets are $65 for general admission, and $105 for a VIP ticket which includes an extra hour at the event and a hosted masterclass.
From hotels t0 karaoke bars to surfing carnivals, Australia's dogs can spend their time at a considerable array of welcoming places. And, they can head to their own bakeries and food trucks, eat their own gelato and don their own raincoats, too. Add concerts to the list — and while dog-friendly music festivals are hardly unique, Concert for Dogs doesn't just let humans bring their four-legged friends along. Rather, the show's melodies, frequencies and riffs have been composed specifically for pooches. Eight years after premiering her Music for Dogs piece at the Sydney Opera House, artist and musician Laurie Anderson is heading back to Australia to stage another Concert for Dogs. Taking place on Sunday, June 24 at the Gold Coast's Home of the Arts, the 20-minute show combines low-decibel violin, vocals, keyboards and electronic sounds into a symphony certain to get puppers' tails wagging. Only held a handful of times before — including in Sydney, in New York's Times Square and in Brighton, England — the free event is open to all doggos, although they must play nicely with others and be kept on a leash. For both hounds and humans alike, the concert will be followed by Anderson's Heart of a Dog, her astonishing documentary tribute to her own furry BFF — and to all of dog kind. Anderson is in the country for a number of shows, including a virtual reality experience and a sonic installation at Dark Mofo. On the Gold Coast, she'll become HOTA's artist-in-residence from June 20–24, premiering new music pieces (including Songs from the Bardo, which uses texts from the Tibetan Book of the Dead), presenting multimedia work The Language of the Future, and chatting about stories and language in All the Things I Lost in the Flood. Concert for Dogs takes place at 9am on Sunday, June 24 at the Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, while Laurie Anderson's week-long residency spans June 20–24. For more information, visit the Home of the Arts website.
Attend classes, join in storytelling events and get the low-down from some of the best writers around, all without leaving the comfort of your couch. Streaming live from February 11, this year’s Digital Writers' Festival will feature more than 30 online events hosted by a bevy of talented writers from all across Australia and the world. Now in its second year, the 2015 festival will cover a huge array of topics, from coding to video game writing and data journalism to freedom of speech and good sex writing. The Twenty Minute Cities program will let you interact with emerging writers from places like Dublin, Iowa City and Reykjavik, while a special event on White Night will see a group of desperate publishers scrambling to complete a magazine before dawn. Speakers include Lisa Dempster (Melbourne Writers’ Festival), Adam Brereton (Guardian Australia), Paul Verhoeven (ABC3’s Steam Punks) and Michelle Law (Shit Asian Mothers Say). So, whether you’re an aspiring journo, a wannabe novelist or just looking for tips on how to spice up your erotic fan-fiction, visit the DWF website and check out what’s on offer. We Twitter-interviewed festival director Connor Tomas O'Brien about the first DWF in 2014. Read it here.
Sydney yacht rock dudes The Holidays have announced a string of huge shows around Australia, following on from their wildly successful album release tour in March. Filling out venues from Sydney's Metro Theatre, Melbourne's Hi-Fi to Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge with hyped up Sydney electronic producer Thief, the threesome will also stop by Newcastle's Bar on the Hill on campus with indie pop maestro Pluto Jonze, Wollongong's Uni Bar with Sydney garage ratbags Step-Panther. The new Groupie Magazine-presented dates coincide with the release of third single 'Tongue Talk', taken from the outfit's super pop-fuelled second album Real Feel. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday 14 May, with more details on The Holidays' Facebook page. THE HOLIDAYS 'TONGUE TALK' TOUR DATES Wed 28 May — Bar on the Hill, Newcastle (with Pluto Jonze). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Thur 5 June — Uni Bar, Wollongong (with Step-Panther). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Fri 13 June — Metro Theatre, Sydney ALL AGES (with Thief). Tickets available from Metro Theatre and Ticketek. Fri 20 June — Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (with Thief). Tickets available from Alhambra Lounge and Moshtix. Fri 4 July — The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (with Thief). Tickets available from The Hi-Fi and Oztix. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiHQLvAu2lg
There's a reason why Concrete Playground is Sydney's down-to-earth, all-seeing guide who can be trusted with your precious weekend plans. We're here collecting and compiling the latest on festivals, events and restaurant and bar openings around our dynamic city and we pass this news right onto you. Sydney's had so many glorious restaurants open up this year and it can really take some time (and money) to get through them all. But we don't want you to miss out altogether. So here's the deal: we'll alleviate this time/money tension and give you the chance to win a great night out at Restaurant Hubert, one of Sydney's finest restaurants — and our favourite from last year. But we'd love your input to help us remain the trusted city guide that we are. Take our quick survey and you'll go in the running to win a $150 voucher to Hubert. Just nine little questions stand between you and Hubert's mouthwatering chicken fricassée and beurre blanc potatoes. Hop to it. Image: Bodhi Liggett.
One of Australia's most prestigious art awards, the Archibald Prize is followed closely by artists and art enthusiasts alike. The long-running portrait show is also one of the biggest art events in the nation; so naturally, there are a number of events running alongside it. For example, Art After Hours gives you the chance to experience the prize in the evening at the Art Gallery of NSW, with comedy, live music and gallery tours every Wednesday this September. As serious as art can be these days, it can be liberating to turn everything on its head and have a laugh. And comedians Susie Youssef, Gen Fricker, Rose Matafeo and Andy Saunders will be doing just that, delivering stitch-ups based on their view of the Archibald Prize and the people involved at the free Late Night Laughs, held every Wednesday at 6.30pm. Also during the late night events, catch live music from Australia's foremost gypsy/tango/latin/swing (or simply 'gyprock') band Monsieur Camembert and jazz outfit The World According to James, who'll bring soul-wrenching tunes to the gallery's entrance hall. SEPTEMBER PERFORMANCES September 13 — 6.30pm Gen Fricker; 7.30pm Monsieur Camembert September 20 — 6.30pm Rose Matafeo; 7.30pm The World According to James September 27 — 6.30pm Andy Saunders; 7.30pm The World According to James
Some of the most beautiful, intriguing and mysterious locations in Sydney, normally privy to a select few, are being unveiled again to the general public. Thanks to Sydney Living Museums, many of the city's old warehouses, disused train tunnels, office blocks, courts, old mansions and belltowers will open their doors to tour groups over one weekend in November. With a Sydney Open pass, you'll be able to go behind the scenes at the Sydney Masonic Centre, discover the Royal Bank of Australia's magnificent art collection, pay an exclusive visit to the Great Synagogue and discover another 40 plus buildings around the city. And it's not just the old buildings throwing open their doors, modern architectural marvels including the EY Centre, 333 George Street and Sydney Uni's Abercrombie Building will roll out the red carpet to wow pass holders. A new addition and must-see for this year is Carriagework's Paint Shop. Head to the heritage-listed industrial building to explore the historic suburban trains within and learn about the site's past life of manufacturing and repairing Sydney's early locomotives. Across the weekend, talks and live music will be held, and architects and experts will be on hand to discuss the history, architecture and function of select locations. Have a look at the buildings that'll be on show, select the most intriguing and book yourself a pass for a weekend of exploring our fair city.
Catering to our unique and unusual love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on December 23 and 5pm on December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. The best news is that it's all Australian-sourced, with half of it from New South Wales (and a further 86 percent from regional areas in NSW). It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They actually sell everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist, bottle shop or even grab a voucher for a cooking class at the popular Sydney Seafood School onsite.
From the prawn cocktail to the huge map of Australia on the wall, The Unicorn is unashamedly Australian. And they're about to take it even further, launching a new 'My Australia' lunch series. On selected Saturdays, the Paddington pub will feature some of Australia's best chefs, who will display their interpretation of Aussie cuisine. Award-winning chef Duncan Welgemoed has been named as the first to participate. Originally from Johannesburg, Welgemoed heads Adelaide's acclaimed restaurant Africola. Since his arrival in Australia in 2010, he has quickly established himself as one of Adelaide's top chefs — his style has been described as 'more indigenous rather than modern Australian'. Welgemoed will work next to The Unicorn's head chef James Garside, dishing up three courses, including roasted sardines with zhoug, peri peri chicken with Boom Chakalaka sauce (an Africola favourite) and a smoked chocolate and salted butter caramel torte. The lunch costs $50 per person, and owner Jake Smyth has also selected a number of natural wines for the occasion, available at an extra cost.
Sake has really blown up in Australia over the last decade, with more and more bars able to access Japan's national drink. Of course, we're not sake masters — there are so many more varieties of rice wine that we haven't had the chance to experience yet. Enter Nihonshu Australia, an association of sake importers, who are aiming to change that once and for all. Presented by Nihonshu along with REVEL — who organise boozy events including Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones — Australia's first sake festival is coming to Carriageworks on Saturday, October 28. There'll be more than 60 types of sake on offer, each representing the drink's different styles, serving temperatures and prefectures of origin in Japan. For $60, punters will get access to unlimited tastings plus a free Plumm glass valued at $35. Food will come courtesy of Paper Bird and Toko, while Déjà vu Sake's Yukino Ochia — Australia's only certified sake educator — will also be in attendance.
Thank you, Germany, for giving us yet another reason to splurge on our favourite fermented beverage. Oktoberfest is getting an Aussie do-over this year, as Oktoberwest takes over Sydney's inner west, the craft beer capital of Australia. You'll find Young Henrys, Willie The Boatman, Wayward Brewing Co., The Grifter Brewing Co., Batch Brewing Co, Sauce Brewing Co, and Malt Shovel Brewery providing the beer. Aside from the opportunity to sample limited edition brews, there'll also be food trucks, Brewery Bingo and an absolutely killer party. Oh, and of course there'll be tunes. Nostalgia cover band Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band will blast the beats while you sit back with your pint, while DJ Don Benet will do his best Kraftwerk impersonation, providing some much-needed German vibes. Keep an ear out also for The Lockhearts, local band Scabz, as well as Frenzel Rhomb's Lindsey McDougall, with more to be announced.
There's no one quite like Frank, the person, and there's nothing quite like Frank, the film. The former, as played by Michael Fassbender while wearing a papier mache mask, is a soul seemingly eccentric but really just looking for the essence of creation and contentment. The latter is quirky by design but beautifully bittersweet by execution, revelling in all life's failures and flaws. Frank leads an experimental rock band with the fittingly unpronounceable name of The Soronprfbs, and that's exactly where Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) finds him. Downtrodden in his dismal everyday routine, Jon wants desperately to be a musician but lacks the opportunity and the ability to extend himself. His unlikely encounter with his new friend with the obscured face brings both, one fruitful, the other less so. As the reconfigured group ventures from the Irish wilderness to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in search of musical fulfilment, the solace they find comes from internal, not external, forces. Written by journalist turned screenwriter Jon Ronson (of The Men Who Stare at Goats fame), Frank is inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the comic persona of musician Chris Sievey. Read our full review here. Frank is in cinemas on June 19, and thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have ten double in-season passes to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=IblHV2x64f8
It's been a tough couple of years to be in the music festival business, with the pandemic wreaking havoc on our daily lives, and COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions limits the kinds of events that have been able to take place. Wollongong's Yours and Owls knows this all too well, but back in April 2021, it was able to go ahead — becoming the first major music festival that New South Wales had seen in over a year, as well as the first to allow dancing as well. For its 2022 edition, however, the weather has gotten in the way. Due to take place this coming weekend — in Stuart Park from Saturday, April 2–Sunday, April 3 — this year's Yours and Owls has now been cancelled. Announcing the news in a statement, organisers said that "with the exciting news last month regarding restrictions lifting, we thought we had a smooth run into the 2022 festival; however, mother nature has a different plan. With total exhaustion and sadness, we announce the cancellation of Yours and Owls 2022 due to flooding." "With the amount of water that has landed on Stuart Park in the past few weeks, the flash flooding we experienced in The Gong over the weekend and the forecast for the rest of this week, we simply cannot safely execute this year's event," the statement continued. "We have been pumping water off the site, developing other management and mitigation plans, even using the SCG's famous Super Sopper, but nothing has been a match for the formidable force of La Niña. After lengthy consultation with relevant stakeholders and emergency services and no appropriate alternate event site in the area, we are left with no option other than a full cancellation." Hilltop Hoods, Benee, Bliss & Eso, Flight Facilities, The Jungle Giants, Peking Duk and Violent Soho were set to top this year's bill, giving festival-goers quite the array of big-name acts to look forward to. The hefty lineup went on, too, including Faker, Ruby Fields, San Cisco, The Meanies, Sycco and more. And, Yours and Owls' 2022 fest had moved to a bigger site as well — well, back to a familiar site — both in terms of space, and being able to accommodate more people. If you're disappointed, obviously the festival's organisers are, too. "We share your disappointment and apologise for any inconvenience caused; we would love nothing more than to be gearing up to hang with you all this weekend for Gong Christmas," the Yours and Owls team said in their statement. "The past few years have been an unprecedented shit fight of biblical proportions for the live music industry. We want to thank all our staff, contractors, suppliers, artists, industry colleagues, stakeholders, the local Gong community, and all of you who bought tickets to Yours and Owls 2022 for your continued support; it means the world to us." Ticketholders will receive full refunds, and will be contacted directly by Moshtix. Yours and Owls will no longer take place on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 at Stuart Park, Wollongong. All ticketholders will receive refunds via Moshtix. For more information about the event, head to the festival's website.
Stealing from the rich isn't just the domain of Robin Hood. In Hustlers, it's exactly what a group of strip club employees decide to do, too. Fed up with putting up with wealthy, lecherous Wall Street types who happily rip off everyone they can, including ordinary hard-working folk, the gang of gals hatch a plan to even the score. And, they know that if they ring up extra charges on their clientele's credit cards, the fleeced men are highly unlikely to report it. It's the type of tale that can only be true, with Hustlers based on an article on The Cut about the real-life ladies who started swindling white-collar crooks between dances. It's also the kind of story that needs a killer cast to bring it to life, so the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Constance Wu, Cardi B and Lizzo are doing the honours. As written and directed by Lorene Scafaria (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Meddler), the film's stacked roster of stars also includes Riverdale's Lili Reinhart, Scream: The TV Series' Keke Palmer, The Handmaid's Tale's Madeline Brewer, Parks and Recreation's Jon Glaser, and Luke Cage's Frank Whaley. Oh, and Usher. Check out the trailer below — which, fittingly, is set to Cardi B's 'Money': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dfc0iqmig Hustlers releases in Australian cinemas on October 10.
Oh, 2021. To be honest, we can't say we'll miss you — so let's end this traumatic year with a bang. Whether you're eager to see the back of 2021 with a few champagnes in hand, or looking to set a cheerier tone for 2022 by bouncing into it with DJ tunes and a good ol' d-floor session, a slew of Sydney bars, pubs and restaurants are happy to help. We've compiled a list of Sydney's best restaurants, rooftop bars and experiences to ring in the New Year with style — no matter your budget. And, if you've still got some fight in you, there are some sneaky kick-ons included come New Year's Day. [caption id="attachment_828769" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vic on the Park's beer garden[/caption] FREE Waywards at the Bank: Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for two jam-packed levels loaded with live bands and DJs. With a lineup like Breadclub, Dom Alessio and Adam Lewis, you won't be able to resist having a boogie. The best part? Entry will be free all night and the party won't stop until 4am. The Bearded Tit: Redfern's most eclectic and colourful arts bar is hosting a Tit's NYE Party full of performers and wondrous DJs. Hosted by Betty Grumble, you're guaranteed to be delighted and entirely entertained for the whole night. Vic On The Park: The perfect place for all punk fans — kicking off from 8pm is an impressive lineup including punk act, These New South Whales. With Itchy and the Nits and Astrodeath supporting, you won't be able to resist dancing your way into the new year. Marly Bar: One of Newtown's most beloved bars is hosting a Deuces Ball with some of Sydney's best hip hop and afrobeats DJs spinning the decks all night. Tickets aren't necessary, so there's nothing left to do but grab a seat, get comfy and order some juicy burgers, mac 'n' cheese and crinkle-cut fries. UNDER $50 The Lansdowne: With two levels of live music and a rooftop, The Lansdowne Hotel is hosting one of the biggest NYE parties in the CBD. With Bodega Collective and the Swanky Array team set to take over the venue, join the fun from 9pm till late. Harbord Hotel: From Las Vegas to Ibiza and Bali, DJ Generik has been creating waves with his energy and distinctive house music style. Generik is no stranger to the stage, and has regularly opened for Calvin Harris in the past. The party kicks off at 5pm and tickets include three drink tokens (your choice of house beer, wine or spirits) that are redeemable before 7pm. 101 George Street: Bid farewell to 2021 alfresco-style under the fireworks. Tickets include a drink on arrival and access to all the best fireworks vantage points harbourside. With DJ Nitecall spinning a sophisticated mix of obscure funk and Euro groove, good vibes are guaranteed for the entire night. UNDER $200 Cafe Freda's: Cafe Freda's is running two jam-packed sessions with live entertainment playing throughout the night. With an option of a 6pm seating or a 9:15pm until countdown seating, this will surely make for a special evening in the bright lights of the CBD. The dinner session includes a full dinner set menu and NYE cocktail on arrival, while the party session comes with a grazing snacks menu, cocktail and a glass of bubbles at midnight. NYE in the Park: With tickets still available, this is one of the best events to get the most bang for your buck. Headliners include ILLY, PNAU, Spacey Jane, The Presets and What So Not — just to name a few. The best part? You'll get to experience the full firework show without having to battle the crowds at Sydney Harbour. Wharf Bar: Enjoy front row seats for the local harbourside fireworks before Touch Sensitive takes the decks. The music marathon continues on New Year's Day with homegrown heroes Winston Surfshirt warming up the dance floor from 3pm till midnight. Butter Block Party: Sydney's most hyped dining concept, Butter, has gained a cult following for their stores which combine rare sneakers, fancy champagne and hot fried chicken. Now, they're throwing their very first exclusive outdoor, openair courtyard party to say goodbye to 2021. There are three different ticket packages (silver, gold or platinum) that include a range of goodies from a beverage on arrival to a feast of canapes. Monopole: Travel back to the 80s with a nostalgic lineup of classic snacks, vintage wines and greatest hits. Think devilled eggs, prawn cocktails and a show-stopping bombe alaska to finish. Dress to impress and dance the night away until 2am. Details here. Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House: The team at Barangaroo House have teamed up with Patrón to host a night to remember. With an all-star line-up including Late Nite Tuff Guy, Lazy Wax and Ariane, there's something for everyone. Tickets include canapes (think oysters, beef tartare tartlets and crispy chicken), live entertainment & a Paloma spritz on arrival. Frank Mac's: Calling all gin lovers – say farewell to 2021 with a boozy celebration right in the heart of The Rocks. Tickets include a drink on arrival, bubbles at midnight, and most importantly, unique access to George Street for the spectacular fireworks displays. Did we mention that the cocktail bar also serves more than 100 juniper blends sourced from all corners of the globe? You're welcome. Bookings are available here. [caption id="attachment_830236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taronga Zoo via DNSW[/caption] BLOWOUT Sydney Tower Eye: Arguably the best seat in the city for Sydney's iconic firework show – enjoy 360-degree views of the city as you countdown to the New Year with a truly unforgettable experience. With a glass of champagne in hand, choose one of two time slots (9pm or midnight) and decide how high you want to go. Botswana Butchery: Following in the footsteps of its popular sister restaurants in Queenstown and Auckland, Botswana Butchery is Sydney's newest premium CBD rooftop. Entry is inclusive of a premium four-hour food and beverage package full of free-flowing G.H. Mumm Champagne, beer, wine and spirits. Taronga Zoo: Don't feel like braving the crowds in the CBD? Secure a spot at one of Taronga Zoo's vantage points instead and enjoy a front-row seat of the Harbour fireworks. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks to the event, or alternatively, grab a bite to eat at the Food Market – there will be a variety of snacks (hot chips, homemade meat pies and sandwiches) as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on offer. Hickson House: The legends at Hickson House are no stranger to a celebration, with the part working distillery and part destination cocktail bar set in the former Saatchi & Saatchi garage – the location of many infamous warehouse parties. DJs Lavida and Aidan Bega will be in charge of the tunes, with canapes and cocktails set to be served throughout the evening. And to make things more memorable, tickets also include access to view the fireworks at Campbells Cove – less than a minute's walk from Hickson House. Opera Bar: Opera Bar is back again with another iconic harbour-side party – and it's set to be better than ever. With live music and entertainment from Bermuda Social, Soulphonics, Dark Horse and Natural Selector, you'll be able to dance the night away with non-stop entertainment. Tickets are inclusive of an unlimited amount of food from multiple stalls, so grab a bite to eat as you watch the sun set behind the Opera House and count down the hours until 2022. Aria: Aria is hosting two luxurious NYE dining experiences set against one of the best views of Sydney Harbour. For $300, you can enjoy a four-course dinner from 5pm – think wagyu striploin 9+, murray cod and smoked eel parfait. The early seating gives you plenty of time to wander off to your next destination or catch the 9pm fireworks. Alternatively, Aria's NYE Main Event kicks off from 7:30pm and will set you back $1,450 per head – don't worry, you won't be having any regrets after feasting on executive chef Thomas Gorringe's six-course tasting menu. It features plenty of champagne and wine throughout the night and, most importantly, you'll get to watch the fireworks happening mere metres away.
Across the front of a quiet, dark stage, a strip of white. On it balance an ashtray, a cocktail (looking as exactly like a cocktail as one could hope) and a pair of sandals. The scene is set for a lonely holiday, an absurd isolation that is both cruel and ironic. Yet this is only the first of 10 seemingly disconnected scenes through which our protagonist, Lotte, travels in her search for peace, love and a little bit of understanding. Botho Strauss's play is anti-narrative at its best: episodic, disconnected, disorienting and almost Kafkaesque. Martin Crimp's translation strips back even further, disposing of much of the play's setting, cold war East Germany. Instead, Crimp uses this historical dead end as a jumping off point for a kind of any-place, no-place. It's a risk, leaving audiences even less to cling to, but this production manages to make that step a success. Cate Blanchett is surprising in her role as Lotte. Bizarre, intimidating, hilarious, pitiful and endearing, she fills the stage like some sort of crazed angel. To lose sight of Lotte in this would be to lose sight of the production itself, but Blanchett ensures this is entirely impossible. Not that her supporting cast isn't working hard creating some of the production's best moments. Belinda McClory is delightful as a woman destined for celebrity, trapped in a small town. We cross our fingers and hold our breath in the hope that Josh McConville, as a chess-loving nano-technician, might be Lotte's salvation. Johannes Schütz's minimal and intense stage design is another of the highlights. The familiar yet disconnected elements and their altered ratios feed directly into the thick sense of the uncanny that director Benedict Andrews has created. The feeling that the payoff is eternally out of sight while the details are overwhelming is difficult as an audience. We suspect this is the point. There are no answers, and barely even a sense of a question, to this production. It is, as it intends to be, the minutiae of life, frustratingly impossible to dismiss or alter, magnified into absurd proportions. Image: Chris Ryan and Cate Blanchett in Sydney Theatre Company’s Gross und Klein (Big and Small), photographer Lisa Tomasetti
The breakout, Australian comic (and later movie) 30 Days of Night gave you solid vampire terror for your month of entertainment. With 30 days and 30 nights, local creative hero Queen Street Studio (and many of that studio's alumni) offer double that to span its Chippendale space's farewell lunar cycle. Though less vampires. Despite the ample time-frame, this farewell offers a packed program, with performance instruction from the likes of aerial experts Strings Attached, Siren master Kate Gaul or the Fondue Set. Free how-to classes also abound, including a serving of stage combat, and a dose of jamaican dancehall dance. Not to mention a final, family show from FraserStudios' resident artists, a pop-up bar and a history of the studios' three and a half years on site. But the star of these closing weeks is its collection of performance. Thursday nights belong to freshly made performance art, while Fridays and Saturdays are wilder, $10-at-the-door ensemble pieces. The Tin Sheds are running ghostly, sleeping-bag-heavy camping tours, Double Trouble plan a night of double acts and there's a final bacchanal of the greatest group-dances ever assembled (instructions included) at the Modern Social. It's a grand program to cast your eye over, but a fitting farewell for a brief and essential piece of Sydney's creative life. Image by Leah McGirr.
HSBC Sydney 7s is returning for another year from Friday, February 1–Sunday, February 3, taking over the Spotless Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park for the first time. The three-day party weekend spans heaps of high-energy rugby matches, a live music lineup and fancy dress aplenty. This year, the tournament will feature its very own music festival, with a dedicated tent set to host live acts across the weekend. Headliners include Tkay Maidza, DJ Tigerlily, L-Fresh The Lion and Yolanda Be Cool, with heaps of supporting acts on the docket, too. As always, 20 of the world's best international men's and women's rugby sevens teams will go head-to-head to be crowned the tournament champions. The stakes are high for both Aussie teams this time — not only are they defending their 2018 titles, but also fighting for entry to the 2020 Olympics (the top four teams at the end of the HSBC World Series will be at the games in Tokyo next year). Plus, one of the best aspects of heading to a rugby 7s day is the chance to don a silly outfit. There's no theme this time round, so use it as an opportunity to show off as much team pride as you can muster. Grab your mates, start planning your get-ups and get prepared for a full on weekend of festivities. Single day passes start at $37 and two-day passes at $60. Both include entry into the stadium and festival tent. Plus, you'll get free train travel to and from the stadium all weekend — just show your ticket at the barrier. To purchase tickets, head this way.
Sometimes, you need to take a break from your city, to get out and soak up the sun somewhere new. Sydney's sun-plenty northern beaches are the perfect destination, they're bursting with, well, beaches where you can ride the waves, catch some rays and let your worries dissipate. Moreover, there's a thriving foodie scene. Come the weekend, the folks on the beaches will be set up at cafes overlooking the sand, a specialty brew in one hand and a healthy breakfast burrito in the other — and you should be, too. To help you out, we've partnered with Qantas and curated a list of the best cafes on the northern beaches, perfect for your next cuppa. Get away from everything stressful at home, relax, and make the most of your Sydney escape.
When The Fast and the Furious took Point Break's premise and swapped surfing for street racing, it seemed like one of those easy Hollywood knockoffs that would speed into cinemas and then race right out of viewers' memories. Eighteen years, seven sequels, plenty of Coronas and a whole lot of talk about family later, we all now know that wasn't the case. It's the high-octane franchise that just keeps tearing up tyres and tearing across silver screen, and it has yet another new addition. The first Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw reunites two of the series' newer players: Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, the government agent who has been a F&F staple since 2011's Fast Five, and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, the villain from Furious 7 who starts buddying around the gang in 2017's The Fate of the Furious. Directed by John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch, it's basically an excuse to put the two action heroes in the same movie again, watch as they bicker and banter like a muscular odd couple, and throw in the usual world-saving, car-racing antics. It also sounds like box office catnip —complete with the ridiculous stunts that the franchise has become known for, this time featuring a helicopter, a long chain and a truck in one of them. After releasing a first sneak peek earlier this year, the film has now revealed an extended three-and-a-half minute trailer. Check out the new clip below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ7PAyCDwEg Because two of today's biggest stars isn't enough for this initial foray outside of the main F&F stable, Hobbs & Shaw also features Idris Elba as the flick's villain — plus Helen Mirren reprising her role as Shaw's mother, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby joining the fold as his sister. Johnson reportedly wanted Hobbs to not only have some family as well, but to have an incredibly high-profile family member; however bringing Aquaman's Jason Momoa on board didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. Fans of Vin Diesel and the original gang, don't worry. Ninth and tenth F&F films are due in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so Dominic Toretto and company will be back to live their lives a quarter mile at a time once more. Also on the agenda is a female-focused spinoff focused on the ladies of the franchise, because this series remains furious about stretching out its run for as long as possible. Hobbs & Shaw opens in Australian cinemas on August 1. Image: Universal Pictures
If you're a firm believer that the best cabaret shows also happen to be the most immersive, then prepare to check in to L'Hôtel. A French-themed production that's filled with burlesque, circus and aerial performances, it's taking over the Sydney Opera House this spring — and turning the venue's studio into a French hotel. Obviously, you won't be able to slumber at the iconic spot for the night. That said, you will find yourself surrounded by a dinner theatre experience that takes its theming extremely seriously. So, you'll watch, eat, drink and feel like you've been spirited away to a hotel called L'Hôtel, complete with a lobby setup and a cast of characters that call the spot home. Accordingly, as L'Hôtel works its magic, you'll dine away, with the performance taking place around you. That'll include peering behind closed doors, into the lives of the production's characters, all while sipping GH Mumm champagne and tucking into fine French food that'll be delivered by the show's wait staff ensemble. [caption id="attachment_857580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] L'Hôtel first premiered at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2021, selling out its season, and now heads to Sydney from October 12–November 13. And, it comes with quite the pedigree, with Craig Ilott directing — after doing the same on Smoke & Mirrors, which nabbed three Helpmann Awards. Among the cast, you'll recognise singer, songwriter and actor Brendan Maclean (The Great Gatsby); Parisian-based jazz singer Caroline Nin; aerialist Masha Terentieva, who has performed with Cirque du Soleil; and Belgium's Florian Brooks, a specialist in juggling and manipulation. And, there's Australians Beau Sargent, Bri Emrich and CJ Shuttleworth, too, plus American dancer, choreographer and pole artist Bentley Rebel. [caption id="attachment_857579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudio Raschella[/caption] L'Hôtel will play Sydney Opera House's Studio from October 12–November 13, 2022. For more information, or to buy tickets — with pre-sales from 8am on Wednesday, June 15 and general sales from 9am on Friday, June 17 — head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top images: Claudio Raschella.
Exploring the world in person isn't on anyone's agenda at present, but that doesn't mean you can't improvise from your couch. After hitting up online tours of the planet's best museums and landmarks, then checking out a heap of travel live-streams, you can now journey around the globe via a heap of Netflix documentaries screening for free on YouTube. Viewers can watch all eight episodes of 2019 nature series Our Planet, which is narrated by Sir David Attenborough — and ventures to 50 countries to explore the huge array of different habitats present across the earth. Or, you can feast your eyes on documentary feature Chasing Coral as it follows a team's efforts to invent the first time-lapse camera that's capable of recording coral bleaching events as they happen. In total, ten different Netflix titles have made the leap to YouTube — meaning that, even if you don't have an account with the streaming platform, you can still watch. The move is part of the company's efforts to help teachers and parents find informative and educational options for children; however viewers of all ages can take advantage of the free material. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wGZc8ZjFY4 Other freebies include Ava DuVernay's Oscar-nominated documentary 13th, which explores race relations in America; Knock Down the House, about the campaigns of four women — all progressive Democrats — running for US congress; and the first season of Abstract: The Art of Design, featuring profiles of illustrators, architects, shoe designers, photographers, stage designers and more. Or, you can check out select episodes of Explained, spanning topics such as music, the world's water crisis and cricket, and Babies, which covers the obvious subject — or view three short films, including Academy Award-winner Period. End of Sentence., about access to sanitary products in India; The White Helmets, following volunteer rescue workers in Aleppo, Syria and Turkey; and Zion, about Zion Clark, a wrestler born without legs. To view Netflix's free selection of documentaries on YouTube, visit the streaming platform's YouTube channel. Top images: Our Planet, Netflix.
Australia's blistering temperatures have made it pretty darn clear — summer is far from over. But while pretty-in-pink frosé has played superficially sophisticated thirst-quencher of choice these past few months, it's now time for the garden party favourite to hand over the 'cool girl' reins to someone new. Behold, frozen Riesling, or 'freezling'. That's right, the wine slushie concept has been blasted into a whole new realm in Sydney, with Christian Blair (ex-Eau De Vie) and his Annata crew launching a collection of frozen, Reisling-based cocktails they've naturally christened The Freezling Project. Just look: Head into the Crows Nest bar and be among the first to sample this lineup of frosty, boozy treats, featuring the likes of a skin-contact Riesling blended with Nashi pear and ginger, and a Clare Valley variety dressed up with dragonfruit and elderflower. There are five of these Riesling creations to cool down with, each one priced at $12. Find Annata at 69 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest.
Now that Sydney has reopened and Christmas almost here, you're probably keen to make a splash. Yes, watching fish, turtles and plenty of other marine creatures literally splash about definitely counts. And that's exactly what's on offer at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, all thanks to its luxe underwater festive dining experience. Available up until Wednesday, December 22, Sea Life's private dining packages will serve you up a three-course meal — and two hours of drinks — while you escape into an underwater world. You can choose from one of two locations, too, so prepare to pick between the Heart of the Reef, the venue's 360° glass tunnel that's filled with hundreds of fish, sharks and turtles; or Turtle Beach, which comes with a floor-to-ceiling viewing window into the Oceanarium. You'll tuck into grazing platters stacked with smoked salmon, marinated olives, bread and dips to start with, then move onto mains that include marmalade and nut-crusted glazed double-smoked ham, plus turkey breast with pancetta and sage stuffing — as served with steamed green beans, roast potatoes, and pumpkin. Desserts span steamed Christmas pudding with brandy custard and Christmas pavlova with mango, strawberries, passionfruit and shaved chocolate. And, beverage wise, there's sparkling, red and white wines, and beer. You'll also get after-hours access to the aquarium but, unsurprisingly, the whole experience doesn't come cheap. You'll be paying $225 per person, with a minimum of ten people required — so this is a treat yo'self kind of Christmas under the sea experience.
Lighten your run with Mizuno, then lighten your spirits at the Blackmores Recovery Village. The Sydney Running Festival is a celebration of one of the most scenic urban running routes in the world. It's also one of Australia's most comprehensive long-distance running events. A 42.195 kilometre full marathon is the headliner, with a $10,000 cash prize on offer for the first runner across the line, and $2500 going to the winner of the wheelchair division. If you think you're ready for the big one, you'd best be at the starting point (Bradfield Park, Milsons Point) when the gun goes off at 7.15am. If a half-marathon is more your speed, you need to be up even earlier, as it's scheduled to start at 6.15am. Male and female champions will be taking home $1000 each. Then there's the 9 kilometre Bridge Run, and last on the list is the three-and-a-half kilometre Sunday Telegraph Family Fun Run, which kicks off at 7.50am. Depending on how energetic you are, you'll find yourself jogging past one, or all, of Sydney's iconic landmarks, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Entry fees vary, from $40 for Early Bird adult entry into the Fun Run to $155 for standard entry into the marathon. The event is run by not-for-profit organisation Athletics Australia, so all proceeds go towards supporting and promoting the practice of athletics across the nation. Over $10 million dollars have been raised since the festival was inaugurated in 2001.
Petersham's The Oxford Tavern is going full sour this spring — and not just with its beers. The Rise 'N Brine festival will return for a second year, taking over the pub for three days of pickle-themed food, booze and even entertainment from Saturday, October 3 to Monday, October 5 (a public holiday). To start off, the bar will offer a few pickle-flavoured beers, which have been brewed for the day by local craft legends Batch, Yulli's Brews and the pub's own Oxford Brewing Racket. Other booze options include a pickle-y cocktail menu, which includes a slushie version of the classic pickleback — aka a shot of Jameson chased with pickle juice. And the pickling doesn't stop there, either. The pub has also created a special menu of pickle-inspired eats to tuck into — think jumbo pickle poppers, Cuban sandwiches, reuben spring rolls and pickle pops. A pickle eating competition hosted by local favourite McClure's Pickles and a pickle toss are also on the docket. With COVID-19 restrictions, the bar has limited capacity and booking are essential. Tickets will cost you $10 a pop, which includes a beer or pickleback slushie on arrival. Rise 'N Brine has sessions running from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm across all three days.
Encircled with golden hula-hoops, splashed with pink neon and baring all in bikinis, The Turk in Italy (Il Turco in Italia), as directed by Simon Phillips, is opera about as bright, bold and downright funny as it gets. In 2014, the seldom-performed opera buffa celebrates its 200th anniversary, having been written by a 22-year-old rock star Rossini and debuted at La Scala, Milan in August 1814. Its last Sydney performance was 40 years ago. Phillips, in league with designer Gabriela Tylesova, transports the action to a flamboyant, stylised 1950s on the seaside. La Dolce Vita aesthetics blend with pop culture references; vintage fashion cuts take on brilliant hues and larger-than-life dimensions. Think ruffled swimsuits, fluoro inflatable mattresses, Dior-inspired dresses, snakeskin boots and Elvis lookalikes. A spectacular, skewed-angled, ice-cream cone-shaped double revolve serves as beach, house, bar, nightclub and hillside. Enter would-be poet and playwright (and barman) Prosdocimo (Samuel Dundas). On the prowl for a comic plot, he’s delighted to discover that his rather rotund, much-anguished boss Geronio (Conal Coad) is plagued by suspicion of his wife’s infidelity. The hunch is abysmally well-founded: the moment we meet Fiorilla (Emma Matthews) she is looking out to sea, binoculars in-hand, investigating the talent on an incoming Turkish ship. Captain Selim (Paolo Bordogna) presents more than she bargained for; however, their hot and heavy banter spiralling into infatuation. The catch (apart from Geronio, of course)? Selim’s first love, and one-time sex slave, Zaida (Anna Dowsley) rumbles onto the scene in her gypsy caravan. In the best possible way, Phillips squeezes every conceivable comedic moment — physical, linguistic and musical — out of the work. He goes so far as to offer a bold translation of Felice Romani’s original libretto, slipping in Aussie slang and substituting monosyllabic expletives for more poetic expressions of rage. Double entendres drive home slapstick humour; Benny Hill-style ‘tits and bums’ jokes abound. It’s silly, ridiculous, absurd at times, and utterly, utterly hilarious. It’s opera that makes you laugh. Really laugh. Out loud. Matthews steals the show. Not only is her coloratura magnificent, she plays the sexpot to give Brigitte Bardot a run for her money. She’s irresistibly fun and outrageously flirtatious. Bordogna — sufficiently suited-up, facially haired and charismatic enough to pass for Prince — meets her with his fluent baritone and ladies’ man appeal. Coad embraces Geronio’s fragility and eccentric hilarity in equal measure, while tearing through an array of technically tough bass lines. Young mezzo and member of the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program, Dowsley makes her main stage debut as Zaida. Her singing is warm and agile, and she’s magnetic to watch. It’s a performance charged with promise. Dundas — the loveable, roguish barman — displays on-the-mark comedic timing and consistently powerful, articulate vocal lines. Finally, there’s Luciano Botelho, who plays peripheral character Narciso. As marginal to the main plot as his part might be, his resounding tenor places him very much at the centre of attention when he’s in solo mode. A particularly funny scene involving wriggling into an Elvis costume while in a minute, makeshift changing room has the audience in stitches. The verdict? Go! The good news is that standing room and student rush tickets, both available on the day of each performance, are just $44.
Truck Stop by Lachlan Philpott was commissioned by Q Theatre, developed in Penrith, and is playing at the Seymour Centre in Sydney until late June. In 2011, Philpott's Silent Disco was so well received that students danced on the stage during interval in a rush of theatrical bonhomie. Truck Stop doesn't have an interval, so control yourselves. Also, it's a bit hard to jive to the theme of teenage prostitution. Philpott is tackling a brittle topic in Truck Stop, using real stories and interviews with Penrith high school students as the basis for this dramatisation. Sam (Eryn Jean Norvill), Kelly (Jessica Tovey), and Aisha (Kristy Best) are a trio of self-named SKANKS (lending their initials to the acronym) whose lives are dominated by the sexualisation of pop culture and advertising. Ringleader Sam's overt raunchiness is reflective of a wider raunch culture, also described by Ariel Levy in her book Female Chauvinist Pigs. Levy points out that now it's girls as well as boys who notch up sexual quantity in favour of quality. Sam and Kelly take this to the next level when they leave school one recess to hang out at the local truck stop. Philpott has mentioned elsewhere that he's trying to avoid a moral stance on the story, but he doesn't quite manage to do so. The piece is didactic insofar as the general structure is a psychological whodunnit — what made them do it? It searches for a cause that we can learn from and blame. Philpott's text treats the protagonists as patients rather than agents, which is thankfully counteracted by well-rounded characterisations from the cast. There's a kind of paternalism in Truck Stop that is absent in shows like Once and for All We're Gonna Tell You Who We Are so Shut Up and Listen by Ontroerend Goed, which is much more by teenagers for teenagers. That said, the piece is as entertaining as it is educational, and the performances are all together great, with the shapeshifting Elena Carapetis (who plays all the supporting roles) acting as the real binding agent for the ensemble.
If you've always wanted to climb the Harbour Bridge but thought it was a little too touristy, or that it'll always be there and there's no point in rushing, now's your chance to do it a little differently. Between January 21 and March 6 this year you can not only don the famous BridgeClimb suit and hike up the stairs, pose for a cheesy photo and enjoy the view — you can do karaoke while you're up there. Your karaoke sesh will happen at the peak of the bridge, 134m above Sydney Harbour, in a custom-made karaoke suite. The views of Sydney Harbour, the city and the Opera House will be breathtaking, the tunes, not so much. After belting out your favourite song solo (or in a group if you're a little shy), you can climb down the Bridge and relive the experience by watching an eight-second video of your performance. Tickets include one BridgeClimb that runs for around two to three hours, a group photo, one of those blue BridgeClimb caps and a free pass to the Pylon Lookout. Adult prices range between $248-373, depending on the time of day and year you decide to go. Although it's the most expensive option, we recommend you climb the Bridge at sunset in summer and belt out a tune while you're there. Karaoke at sunset. Nothing better.
Time flies when you're slurping up mussels and listening to the sounds of jazz, as the folks at South Melbourne Market well and truly know. The Coventry and Cecil corner mainstay has been celebrating both for seven years now at its annual festival. The latest will take place on March 7 and 8, with the Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival returning to serve up a mollusc-focused street party. Oh, and more than six tonnes of mussels. It's free, it'll fill your stomach with locally sourced seafood, and it'll offer up a feast of other treats, including sweets, tipples and dance-worthy tunes. When it comes to enjoying the tasty sea creatures, Claypots, Köy, Paco y Lola, Simply Spanish and Bambu are just some of the eateries popping up — and whipping up an array of different mussel dishes. Seafood lovers will be able to dive into everything from mussel paella to wok-cooked drunken mussels. And you'll be eating for a good cause. The shells will be collected by Shuck Don't Chuck and used to help restore Port Phillip Bay's shellfish reefs. Taking care of the entertainment are local singer Loretta Miller, Alma Zygier, La Nuit Blanche, Margie Lou Dyer and a New Orleans-inspired seven-piece called the Horns of Leroy. Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival runs from 12–10pm on Saturday and 12–8pm on Sunday. Image: Simon Shiff.
In a Carriageworks exhibition that cuts right to the core of how the art world relates to the lives of most everyday people, Branch Nebula’s ARTWORK addresses issues of unemployment, observation and exclusion. Branch Nebula is an award-winning art collective known for interactive pieces that challenge what it is that constitutes a performance. ARTWORK follows this theme, by employing people who are looking for work — found through the classifieds and untrained in performance — in an effort to question who audiences accept as a performer. The workers will be paid to engage in physical tasks, interviews and other typical workplace routines with no preparation, in front of an audience. Branch Nebula admits the piece is intended to be risky, with performers free to raise issues of racism, sexism and class, and also expects their audience to experience a level of discomfort as they reflect on what it is to employ someone to be observed. At $35 a ticket, there's also the question of which people are able to engage with the art world and how. A must-see for those questioning the relevance and elitism of the art world — if you can afford it.
MCA's tradition of after-hours schmoozing with art, music and glass of wine in hand, ARTBAR, is back for another year. They're always a fun way to spend a Friday night, thanks to the rotating cast of curators who continuously find fresh, eclectic ways for audiences to interact with what's on show. Artist Tom Polo fills the January 30 edition with an evening promising all manner of jokes, gags and lols — including a TV Tunes Dance-Off and stand-up from Dayne Rathbone. As a visual comedian of sorts, Polo's work frequently draws from vignettes of the everyday, whether its collaging hilarious tidbits from eavesdropped public transport exchanges or his paintings of abstract portraiture. Speaking of portraits, for an extra $10, visitors can also view MCA's latest exhibition on American painter Chuck Close.
To be at Jingle Jangle is to be transplanted to a different time and place. Maybe the dimly lit walk through the dingy Spanish restaurant La Campana into Good God Small Club is a portal, as you are removed from any signs of 2010 or of Sydney's vacuum of decent club nights. The music policy is strictly 1920's- 1960's and it's all about well dressed, capable dancers drinking Pimms and lemonade for refreshment before tearing up the dance floor. The gracious hosts Smokey La Beef and Smart Casual usually hold down the decks, inviting special guests to play their selections. This month sees Melbourne Garage/Rhythm and Blues rockers The Frowning Clouds tripping up The Hume to provide a live soundtrack, Owen from Straight Arrows dropping 45's, as well as the resident DJ's. So put on your dancing shoes and get down to the best portal in town.
Social media can get you anywhere, or so the story behind Marvel's latest movie and the actor playing its eponymous character demonstrates. Back in 2014, Simu Liu tweeted at the comic book company-turned-filmmaking powerhouse, asking "how about an Asian American hero?". In 2018, after Black Panther's success, he tweeted again — querying "are we gonna talk or what?" with the #ShangChi hashtag. Now, the Kim's Convenience star leads the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 25th feature, and the first to focus on a hero of Asian descent in its 13-year run to-date. He's the face of the franchise's latest step forward, both in terms of inclusion and representation, and in keeping the MCU's ongoing narrative forever hurtling onwards. Liu anchors a film about history and destiny, too — one that's about breaking free from the past and committing to the future — and he heartily embraces the occasion. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings itself flits between offering up a lively picture that strives to carve out its own space in the series, and simply serving up more of the usual Marvel template but in enticing packaging, however. Liu first graces the screen as Shaun, a San Francisco valet who's happy parking cars with his best pal Katy (Awkwafina, Breaking News in Yuba County), even though they both know they could follow other paths. While the film shows Katy's family decrying her lack of ambition, Shaun has a keener awareness of what he isn't doing — because he's really Shang-Chi, the son of centuries-old warlord Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung, The Grandmaster), who leads the shadowy Ten Rings criminal organisation and wears the mystical bracelets it's named after. Shang-Chi also has the otherworldly Jiang Li (Fala Chen, The Undoing), the former guardian of an enchanted village filled with dutiful warriors and mythical creatures, for a mother. But when she died when he was a child, his life changed. After the grief-stricken Wenwu obsessively trained him to become an assassin and see vengeance, Shang-Chi fled for the US, where he's lived since. Then, initially via a postcard from his Macau-based, underground fight club-running sister Xu Xialing (debutant Meng'er Zhang), and then thanks a violent visit from his dad's henchmen, he's forced into a family reunion that puts the fate of the universe at stake. It's telling that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actually begins by honing in on Wenwu, laying out his backstory and pushing glorious Hong Kong cinema legend Leung — a star with seven Wong Kar-wai films, such as In the Mood for Love and 2046, to his name — firmly to the fore. Marvel has loved daddy issues since Iron Man launched the MCU in 2008. It also adores complicated histories, and stressing the idea that heroes are forged from such complexity. And, it likes anchoring its sprawling on-screen world in as much lore and as many links to the past as it can. That's all accounted for in Shang-Chi's opening move, but so is pure movie-star physics. Leung is never less than magnetic in every feature he's in, including here. He's an actor with breathtaking presence, which has seen him prove one of cinema's most commanding figures for four-plus decades. The power and texture he brings to conflicted characters improves any film and, even with Liu handling his leading role with all the charisma and energy demanded, Leung is always the biggest highlight of every scene he's in. In other words, writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy, Short Term 12) has cast two essential roles devastatingly well — and maybe better than he intended in one case. Liu remains the star of the show, and the movie sets him up for more MCU appearances, of course. He crosses paths with other faces from the franchise, there's zero doubt that he'll be a key part of the saga moving forward and, based on this likeable-enough debut outing, audiences will want to spend more time in his company. But watching Leung constantly leads to yearning for more of Leung. The same applies when the great Michelle Yeoh (Gunpowder Milkshake) also pops up after Shang-Chi openly nods towards Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Marvel's decision to add a martial arts movie to its roster, and to populate it with Asian cinema superstars, can just remind viewers of all the exceptional works that the genre and those talents already made long before Hollywood blockbusters paid them notice, in fact. Shang-Chi brings other films to mind repeatedly, including via valet hijinks that ride in Ferris Bueller's Day Off's tyre treads, and a phenomenal bus scene — the movie's standout, and the beneficiary of dazzling fight choreography — that's more than a little like Speed-meets-Nobody. When a franchise spans 25 instalments and shows no signs of stopping, seeing echoes of past flicks comes with the territory as well, with Shang-Chi boasting the focus on character that makes the better MCU entries stand out, but also remaining happy to descend into the overblown CGI that's always been one of the series' worst impulses. It doesn't quite possess Black Panther's world-building flair, but it wants to. It can't exactly make its genre fit as well as Black Widow did with the spy realm, either. And, sometimes it feels like it's doing the bare minimum that Marvel thinks is necessary with this titular figure, and with committing to an Asian hero, as Captain Marvel illustrated before it with the saga's first solo female lead. When Shang-Chi soars — when Liu and especially Leung shine, the wuxia-inspired action choreography does the same and building engaging characters is the film's main motivation — it makes for vivid viewing. When it finds genuine emotion in Shang-Chi and Wenwu's thorny relationship, and celebrates the MCU's latest otherwise-overlooked sister (with Xialing joining Black Panther's Shuri and Black Widow's Yelena), it beats with heart, too. When it breaks out a sense of humour, which happens often in Cretton, Dave Callaham (Mortal Kombat) and Andrew Lanham's (Just Mercy) screenplay, it mostly mines an entertainingly goofy vibe (although it does lean a little too heavily on Awkwafina doing her Crazy Rich Asians sidekick schtick). That's the film's first two-thirds. When Shang-Chi regurgitates the standard formula, complete with a special-effects onslaught of a finale that favours pixels more than the fantasy flicks it's trying to ape, it surrenders a better movie to an average one. Here's hoping that Liu's tweets ultimately give rise to something more as the MCU keeps on keeping on.
Sydney's Australiana-themed Redfern Surf Club is turning one this week. And it's celebrating in a big way. The colourful cocktail joint is throwing an all-day bash on Saturday, August 24 with dunny tunes, tinnies and $10 cocktails and whopping $250 bar tab up for grabs. The party will kick off at noon with $6 tinnies by Young Henrys, natural wines by the South Coast's Nattie by Nature and cheeseburgers by The Lord Gladstone. Punk rock band Beerwolf and a few special guests will take the stage during the arvo, then DJs will keep the party going until late — including The Delta Riggs and Money For Nothing. The music doesn't stop at the bar, either. It also extends to the toilet, where Dude Ranch by Blink-182 will be played on repeat. While you're in there, you can also select albums for future bathroom rotation (if that's your kind of thing). And one very lucky punter will also nab a $250 bar tab — just make sure you get in before 4pm to go in the running. Redfern Surf Club First Birthday will run from midday–midnight. Images: Patrick Stevenson
Unless you're the artist, most art installations are pretty hands-off — until now that is. To celebrate the launch of its limited-edition ceramic bottle, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is hosting a special party that'll let you get your hands dirty. For just one night, the Waterloo eatery will be transformed into a dark, art-filled den — appropriately dubbed The Kraken's Lair. Here, you can let it all out as you smash some ceramics (so make sure you wear enclosed shoes), then watch as artist Pamela Irving creates a new installation with the very ceramics you just destroyed. To reward your hard work, tuck into some canapes and enjoy four exclusive cocktails featuring Kraken Rum. Plus, you can get down with live music from DJ Jimmy Niggles and a surprise performer. With tickets at just 35 bucks, you can get some mates together or find yourself a date for an unusual — and affordable — night. Awaken the Kraken will take place on Thursday, October 10. To purchase tickets, head this way.
Ang Lee’s tribute to the 40-year anniversary of Woodstock is not quite the film you’d expect. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, Lee’s movie is much more a family drama in the vein of his previous film The Ice Storm or even Sense and Sensibility, than a nostalgic case of ‘thank you for the music’.

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

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

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

Taking Woodstock is a curious microcosm set within the transformative macrocosm of 1969 America. Those looking for a music driven, band tribute will surely come away disappointed, but audiences willing to journey behind the line up may well enjoy spending some time with the unlikely patrons of this watershed event. Taking Woodstock @ Yahoo!7 Video
Walking into Shady Pines Saloon is like being transported into a bustling dive bar in the south of the US. The warm lighting country music soundtrack and array of knick-knacks lining the walls all combine to American-themed charm of the hidden Darlinghurst venue. On Sunday, July 17 the beloved bar is leaning into the sound of Tennesee and hosting nine straight hours of country music tunes. Six local acts will take to the stage from 2.30pm, with sets from Buffalo Grass Boys, Matt Ross, James Van Cooper, Adam Pringle, and Jamey Foxton. If you're not familiar with the acts, there's no need to worry. All you need to do is don your best cowboy hat and strap in for a night of twangy guitars and heartfelt ballads. To sweeten the deal, there will also be $2 tins of beer on offer, alongside all of Shady Pines' signature cocktails and small-batch whiskey. Entry is free, as long as you can find the unassuming Foley Street entrance. [caption id="attachment_653449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shady Pines by Leticia Almeida[/caption]
Court is being called in northern Sydney next month, as the annual St Ives Medieval Faire returns on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. Ladies, lords, kings, queens and knights will descend on St Ives Showground, transforming it into some sort of Game of Thrones-meets-A Knight's Tale realm — though sadly, there'll be no joust between Jamie Lannister and William Thatcher (but wouldn't that be a show). There will, however, be a feast fit for royalty and plenty of medieval theatrics —and we're giving one lucky lord or lady access to a rather noble faire experience. As the chosen winner, you will receive the royal treatment for yourself and three of your most loyal ladies- or lords-in-waiting. Upon arrival at the front gates, you'll be led by horse-drawn carriage to the Royal Court VIP marquee tent. You'll get $100 to spend at the private bar, plus a drinking horn to fill with mead or one of three brews, which Victorian craft beer legends Two Birds have custom-made for the Faire. There'll be an all-day grazing table available when you get a bit peckish, but don't go overboard on the bellytimber: a kingly, long table lunch awaits. Noble guests will feast on a buffet meal of old-world delicacies including hock and pea soup, chicken, parsnip and fig pies, spatchcock, suckling pig and cherry torte. You'll also get top-notch seating for the premier event of the day: the jousting tournament. (Yes, it's still a thing.) Jousting masters from across Australia and Europe will don full armour and compete in the only solid lance jousting competition in the Southern Hemisphere. After experiencing all the medieval gallantry, you can then meet the jousters post-match, including Lady Caroline from Sweden — the first female to take part at St Ives. Make sure to also leave time to explore the rest of the Faire to really immerse yourself in the festivities, which feature birds of prey and archery demos, markets, folk music and a Trebuchet catapult. To enter, see below. [competition]684393[/competition]
