Not your regular one-location art fair, Sydney Contemporary is adding a little more juice to this year's program. Running from September 7-10, the festival-like fair takes over Carriageworks with some of the best contemporary art on the market, plus, there's a series of thoughtful and introspective events across the city for art lovers of all ages. Highlights include Objects of Desire (an talk between Andrew Frost and fashion designer Akira Isogawa), Post Porn-Art, Feminism and Sex in the Age of the Internet (a debate between Leah Emery and Charles Waterstreet), and a screen of the Brett Whiteley doco Whiteley, followed by an 'in conversation' with Wendy Whiteley and Alec George. However, we're particularly excited by the Old Clare Hotel takeover. Artists from Birmingham Street Studios will be filling the place up with ceramics, paintings, installation and video works — think Abdul Abdullah, Clara Adolphs, Tarik Ahlip, Liam Ambrose, Seth Birchall, Georgia Boe, Bonita Bub, Sarah Contos, Lucas Davidson, Charles Dennington, Eric Davidson Gluyas, Adrian Hobbs, Alan Jones, Lara Merrett, John Nicholson, Jonny Niesche, Adam Norton, Jason Phu, Gemma Smith, Jack Stahel, Alexandra Standen and Grant Stevens. The Old Clare will also host Night Cap, a free series of late night events with prominent artists. On September 6, provocative ceramicist and installation artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran is throwing a big karaoke bash, featuring birthday cake. The VVVVVVVVVIP Party for Everyone on September 8 also sounds like crazy fun. The description is a little vague but features Hahan on the decks, gold glitter aplenty, cocktails and a secret password to get in (register for some VIP treatment here). Sydney Contemporary 2017 runs from September 7–10 at Carriageworks. Image: Rosie Deacon, Sydney Contemporary 2015.
Now in its sixth year, Aussie Wine Month returns in May to showcase the diversity of the Australian wine scene and celebrate the world class producers that our 65 wine regions have to offer. Sydney and regional New South Wales will come alive with events — vineyards and cellar doors are opening their doors to guests, and regional chefs are making their way into the city so everyone can enjoy good food and even better wine. In partnership with Wine Australia, we're helping you narrow down your options — here are five of the best things to see.
There aren't a whole bunch of things that can beat a day in the sun with a drink in your hand. Recognising the need to slake that thirst, Canadian Club is bringing their Racquet Club back for the summer, dosing out refreshing Canadian Club, dry and lime beverages by the water with a screen showing the tennis. The Racquet Club celebrates Australia's biggest annual summer sporting fixture, the Australian Open. After keeping punters hydrated in Melbourne last year, the pop-up will this year extend to Sydney and Brisbane as well. The club will set up at The Bucket List on Bondi Beach for a whole month, from December 29 to January 30, and overlooking Sydney Harbour at Cruise Bar from January 3 to January 30. The pop-up bar will carry Canadian Club on tap, as well as a whole slew of Canadian Club cocktails (the grapefruit Summer Spritz is our pick), and will be decked out in all the tennis memorabilia that they can find. Plus, when the Open starts on January 16, there'll be a big screen showing every game, loud and live. We're giving away 25 bar tabs worth $100 for the opening night of Racquet Club at The Bucket List and Cruise Bar. Tell us which location you'd like to head to and enter your details below for your chance to enjoy the summer vibes. [competition]602874[/competition]
The end appears to have come for one of Sydney's most iconic LGBTIQ venues. After a difficult few months that included two 72-hour closure orders by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing on drug-related offences, The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville was this week sold to new owners, who intend to reinvent the venue as a high-end restaurant. According to Gay News Network, former owner Shadd Danesi has sold the troubled venue to Fraser Short and Scott Leach, who between them operate a number of sites around town including The Morrison, Watson’s Bay Hotel and Rose of Australia. The pair told the news service that the hotel would remain closed for the next few months while they locked down plans for its future, and have promised to consult with members of the local LGBTIQ community. "We recognise the Imperial’s importance to the LGBTIQ community and we will be reaching out to the community in coming months as we try to create something unique and special with the venue, whilst acknowledging its LGBTIQ heritage," said Leach. The sale was apparently inked for around $6.5 million, and the duo plans to commit an additional $3 million for renovations. "We are injecting funds immediately to start creating a modern food and beverage option for the venue," said Short. "This will include the introduction of a custom kitchen and high end restaurant business to meet the local community demand." A stalwart LGBTIQ venue for the past 13 years, and one the stars from 1994's iconic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Imperial ran into troubled earlier this year when Danesi leased the venue to Spice Group International, who previously ran the Spice Cellar in Martin Place. Police raided the premises in June, leading to the first 72-hour closure after staff members were alleged to have been caught using illicit drugs. The venue was again closed in July, and has remained that way ever since. Via GNN. Image: J Bar, Wikimedia Commons.
Kiwi singer-songwriter Hollie Fullbrook (aka Tiny Ruins) has brought her haunting voice and evocative lyrics to audiences all over the world. Along the way, she's casually worked with David Lynch, and toured with Neil Finn, Sharon van Etten and Calexico. These days, she's signed to no fewer than three labels: Bella Union in the UK, Flying Nun in New Zealand and Spunk in Australia. Hitting the Opera House for Vivid, Fullbrook will appear with her band, made up of Cass Basil (bass), Alex Freer (drums) and Tom Healy (electric guitar), to give us a sneak preview of her third album. In the meantime, check out her Leonard Cohen-esque 'Bird in the Thyme'.
Northerners, there's some unfathomably good cheesery coming your way. Alexandria's Salt Meats Cheese is set to open a second store in Mosman on July 1. Modelled on the Alexandria Salt Meats Cheese store, the new food emporium will take over 150 square metres on Military Road — with its own fromagerie, charcuterie delights, and wine and cheese bar at the ready. We're guessing Mosman fromage institution The Cheese Shop won't be too happy about this, but perhaps they'll be supportive of a fellow cheesesmith heading into the suburb. So why the northern venture? Salt Meats Cheese co-director Stefano de Blasi says the demand from Mosman was too prominent to ignore. "About 30 per cent of our customers at Salt Meats Cheese are from Alexandria so it made sense that we opened another store on the North Shore. This new hub is all about enhancing the lifestyle of locals," he says. "We do a lot of deliveries in that area so we thought it was time to now have a physical presence, too." "The store in Mosman is a different market. In Alexandria we are a destination, where everyone needs to drive and come to us for a good reason, whereas in Mosman, although there is a public car park next door, we are located in the middle of a pedestrianised area so locals can walk to us for all their everyday products and ready-made meals," he says. It's not just salt meat and cheese on offer at the Mosman store. There's a new breakfast and lunch menu in store, serving coffee and pastries for breakfast, pizza focaccia and paninos for lunch and wine, cheese and meat platters in the evening. De Blasic and his cousin Edoardo Perlo will manage the joint, serving imported wines, offering beer on tap and an offsite coffee roaster making a signature SMC blend. Fancypants Mosmanites wanting a little weekend seafood platter can order them to pick up too. SMC is hitting its stride since opening in 2011; the crew just recently opened their in-store shipping container pizzeria The Pizza Box, and they'll bring their Italian deli fare to Surfers Paradise in June 2015. Find Salt Meats Cheese at 3/803 Military Road, Mosman from July 1.
The team at Gelato Messina are tipping their hats to molecular gastronomy, with a brand new range of limited edition desserts designed to tantalise the senses. The result of months of experimentation by the intrepid Messina chefs, who worked closely with leading academic food scientist Patrick Spicer, the Edible Life Scents range is being described as a "multi-sensory dessert," and will be experienced by a lucky few in Sydney later this month. Believe it or not, the desserts are actually part of a partnership between Messina and Air Wick. Yes, that Air Wick. Ice cream and air freshener: the pairing you never knew you needed, and probably don't but will anyway because Messina. Air Wick have commissioned Messina to create a dessert degustation with flavours inspired by their Air Wick Life Scents line. Mystical Garden combines marshmallow, rose and raspberry, Lush Hideaway mixes mint, fresh berries and coconut water, while Winter Moments consists of baked pear, pie crust and vanilla. "We’re suckers for a challenge," said Messina's Declan Lee. "We were intrigued by the science behind Life Scents and the opportunity it could give us to create an evolving dessert experience. Hopefully we’ve pulled it off and have been able to create something completely different: an evolving multi-sensory culinary experience. We think it’s pretty cool." While ice cream and air freshener might not seem like the most obvious of pairings, this isn't the first time that Messina has teamed up with unusual collaborators. Last year, for example, they created a food scrap flavour in partnership with OzHarvest, in order to raise awareness about food wastage. Still, it's a pretty ballsy move associating your gelato with a product whose primary function is covering up the odours from your toilet. Messina's latest creations will be available to sample at the invite-only Air Wick Life Scents Lab, which will pop-up in Sydney for three days starting on Thursday November 19. To get yourself on the guest list, you'll need to come up with an answer to the following ridiculous question: what does your favourite Air Wick Life Scents fragrance remind you of? Sigh. The things we do for free dessert. For more details on how to score tickets to the pop-up, visit Air Wick Australia on Facebook.
If you've swung by Hello Sailor's old digs lately, you might have noticed some paint stripping and hammering going on. Well, we can now tell you who's been making all the noise. On April 12, the keys to 96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, were handed to a mighty hospitality duo — Lewis Jaffrey, who's been managing operations at The Baxter Inn, Frankie's and Shady Pines, and Jared Merlino of Lobo Plantation. And, at the end of June, they'll be opening a 134-seat Italian eatery-bar named Big Poppa's and starring three of life's most important things: cheese, wine and hip hop. "We've spent a lot of time together eating cheese, drinking wine and listening to hip hop, so we thought it'd be fun to turn our interests into a venue," says Jaffrey. Merlino adds, "All our venues have come about the same way — by building around elements we enjoy." Big Poppa's will have three sections: an Italian restaurant and a small bar upstairs, and a cocktail lounge downstairs. The plan is to keep the beautiful, heritage-listed spaces classic-looking and relaxed. And, because food will be served right through to the wee hours, lockout laws won't apply. Hurrah! On the food menu, you'll find simple Italian offerings made with high quality produce. And lots of cheese. "There'll be 10 to 12 dishes, with between one and three on rotation," says Jaffrey. "And between 15 and 25 cheeses." A similar philosophy will inform the drinks list. You can expect classic aperitifs, digestifs and cocktails — like Negronis and Americanos, as well as some creative signature concoctions, designed by the beverages team. As for wines, there'll be more than 200 to choose from, with more than half coming from Italy and an emphasis on rosé, which doesn't always get the attention it deserves on Sydney wine menus. Big Poppa's is scheduled to open at 96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst the end of June. Image: Lobo Plantation.
Dredging up your dusty CD collection, you may come across the jagged mountains of Kid A or the ghostly freeway of OK Computer. Conveniently for you and your ‘90s nostalgia, the reclusive artist behind Radiohead will be exhibiting at Carriageworks as part of Semi-Permanent. Stanley Donwood, aka Dan Rickwood, has designed the band’s posters and album artwork since 1994. The Panic Office is a major retrospective that will feature a whopping number of pieces, both seen and unseen. Donwood’s haunting imagery is full of vortexes and post-apocalyptic landscapes. His work is often introspective, as if wandering through the chaos of the mind. Capturing the sense of alienation stirred up by a group of alternative rock icons is no mean feat. This exhibition is a rare opportunity for fans to embrace the visual trajectory of Donwood’s career and Radiohead’s rise to fame. Semi-Permanent ticket holders will have exclusive access to the exhibition before it opens to the public.
From the Matilda's success in the FIFA Women's World Cup to Michelle Payne's historic win at last year's Melbourne Cup, national interest in women's sports is at an all time high – and it looks like the media is finally paying attention. In an awesome development, albeit one that probably should have happened a hell of a lot sooner, Australia is getting its first major website dedicated to women's sports. Operated by SBS with The World Game host Lucy Zelic at the helm, Zela is being spruiked as an online community, complete with "a strong presence in social media feeds with the latest video, highlights, news and views delivered straight to followers." The site will feature profiles of established and emerging female athletes across a wide array of sporting codes, as well as coverage of the wider sporting world from a female perspective. Zelic and company also plan to establish connections and syndication deals with existing networks and blogs. The launch was driven in part by the success of SBS's Women's World Cup coverage, which attracted more than 2.6 million viewers. "The Women’s World Cup went so well that we began to explore what else we could do to service women’s sport, a badly neglected area of the current media landscape, especially in the mainstream media," said Zelic. "With Zela, I hope to lead the way, to prove the audience is out there if you provide them with interesting and engaging content," added editor Danielle Warby. Visit Zela at www.sbs.com.au/topics/zela. You can also check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Not travelling up to Splendour in the Grass this year? Just let the headliners come to you. Following Mark Ronson's star-studded sideshow lineup announcement yesterday, Florence and the Machine have announced two headlining dates for Melbourne and Sydney. And if the group's recent Coachella slam dunk is anything to go by, you'll want to lock these tickets down. Otherworldly powerhouse Florence Welch and her sizeable crew are set to showcase music from their soon-to-be-released third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; locking in Melbourne's Palais Theatre on July 22 and Sydney's State Theatre on July 23 before they headline Splendour's Saturday night. Having just nailed it at Coachella despite breaking her foot, Welch assures fans she'll be back on her tootsies in time for Splendour and these shows — and if you've seen Welch jig around a stage before, you'll know why a broken foot isn't surprising. You're going to have to be lucky to catch Florence though, tickets will only be available through a ballot system. All ballot entries must be received before 12 noon (AEST) on Thursday, May 28. Successful ticket applicants will receive an email after the ballot's closed, then will be able to buy tickets between 2pm (AEST) on Friday, May 29 and 2pm (AEST) on Saturday, May 30. FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE SPLENDOUR 2015 SIDESHOWS: Wednesday, July 22 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Thursday, July 23 — State Theatre, Sydney. Enter the Florence Splendour Ballot here.
Forget your morning coffee: tea is having a big ol' moment. Having had major success in Redfern since opening on Abercrombie Street late last year, specialty tea brewers The Rabbit Hole are set to launch a second venue in Barangaroo South. Due to start service in June, their spinoff will build upon the popularity of their first, bringing the same eclectic selection of teas, along with sweet and savoury food, to the bustling harbourside precinct. The Rabbit Hole is owned and operated by Amara Jarratt and Corinne Smith. The co-creators of the Sydney and Melbourne Tea Festivals, and founding members of the Australasian Specialty Tea Association, these two certainly know their stuff, and are all too happy to share their expertise. Visitors can expect an extensive menu of original and seasonal teas, as well as tea lattes, tea-infused hot chocolate, and tea sodas on tap. "We really want to redefine what tea's about," Smith told Concrete Playground. "It's about infusing food with tea in other ways, and presenting a good combination of sweet and savoury, but not in a traditional format." Indeed, the tea extends well beyond the drinks list, with a food menu featuring everything from black tea-infused beef and pickle sandwiches, to green tea noodle soup, to earl grey chocolate cake. "Take everything you thought you knew about tea, and start again with us," says Smith. Smith also says that business at Redfern has been "going gangbusters," and believes that attitudes towards tea are finally beginning to change. "There are actually people who like tea and don't drink coffee, shock horror," she says with a laugh. "You can get amazing chocolate, amazing wine bars, go to cafes that serve single-estate coffee, but tea has really missed out and been relegated to the backseat up until late." "I think that traditionally tea has been in the feminine realm," she continues. "Our experience in the wholesale business is that a lot of cafe owners a male... I think that a lot of the guys who have gone into coffee are just starting to realise that there's a lot of cool stuff about tea, and that it's not all doilies and fancy vintage teacups as they once might have thought." The Rabbit Hole is set to open in June at Shop 1, 23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo South. Their Redfern location can be found at 146 Abercrombie Street, Redfern. For more information follow them on Facebook or visit www.therabbithole.com.au.
A celestial choir of sequin-bedecked seraphim appear, flanked by burly androgynous bikers, singing in unison. Mardi Gras comes but once a year, Now it's here, now it's here, Bringing lots of joy and cheer, Tra la la la la That’s right people Mardi Gras is back for another glorious, glamorous, glittery year! Grab your rainbow flag, finish decorating that float, and start planning your costume because Australia’s largest pride event starts this week. That said, a mere week is not a lot of lead time to prepare for the southern hemisphere’s most fabulous fortnight, so we've taken it upon ourselves to handpick the best things to do at the 38th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
They say daylight savings stole an hour, but it feels like it robbed us of three months because it's already October and the Night Noodle Markets are back for another year. If you haven't already marked it in your diary, the markets will run for a whopping 18 nights from Thursday, October 5. Over 40 stalls will converge on Hyde Park, bringing all manner of noodles, dumplings and other delights with them. Favourites like Mr Bao, House of Crabs and Gelato Messina will be among the diverse team of chefs, restaurateurs and entrepreneurial cooks setting up shop every weeknight from 5pm and 4pm on weekends. And just in case you're starting to get palpitations remembering the huge array of choice (and crowds) from last year, fear not. We've put together our top picks of the eats pushing conventional flavour boundaries — in addition to suggested drink pairings from Beer The Beautiful Truth — to make your Night Noodle Markets trip simply spectacular. Prepare yourself for deep-fried panko-crumbed ice cream 'katsu' sandwiches and cheesy waffle cones filled with bulgogi beef. GELATO MESSINA'S KAMIKAZE KATSU WITH HAHN SUPERDRY Just when you thought Gelato Messina couldn't possibly think up another weird and wacky flavour combo they come out with the Kamikaze Katsu. This deep-fried gelato creation is posing as a savoury sandwich, but is indeed a mish-mash of sweet flavours. Sudachi lime gelato is coated in red velvet cake and panko crumbs before being sandwiched in fluffy white bread with yuzu sauce and deep fried for a truly unique dessert. This sticky, sweet exploding mess will dribble down your chin and get stuck between your fingers so we suggest cleaning it up with a Hahn Superdry. The crisp beer will reset your tastebuds — so you're free to take a second bite/lick/slurp of your erupting Kamikaze Katsu. POKLOL'S CHICHI FRIES WITH LITTLE CREATURES PILSNER Who knew that when the original snack-pack came into the Australian food encyclopedia it would transform into such a versatile cuisine? Poklol has been a frontrunner of this trend with its Chichi fries, which will be served up at the Night Noodle Markets. The team has perfected the art of making their beer-battered fries super crunchy and are topping them with cheese, kimchi, shallots, Japanese mayo and sweet Korean BBQ sauce to fuse what seems like an uncountable number of cuisines into one beautiful bowl of goodness. Just to make sure you cover every taste category, grab a Little Creatures Pilsner. Its crisp bitterness and lightness pairs well with the explosion of flavours in the fries. LITTLE KYOTO'S PHORRITO WITH XXXX GOLD Two of the freshest summer go-to cuisines — Vietnamese and Mexican — have been combined to produce a knockout creation: the 'phorrito'. As the name suggests, classic flour tortillas are stuffed with thinly-sliced rib eye, bean sprouts, cilantro, onion, Thai basil, jalapeño, lime juice and pho noodles and served with Sriracha and hoisin. You'll be able to get your little mitts around this happy (albeit unusual) union from the team behind Little Kyoto. To make a meal out of it, we suggest you go for a XXXX GOLD. The mild hoppy taste with the subtly sweet flavour of the beer works well with the fresh basil and lime without overpowering the crisp pho flavours. PUFFLE'S BULGOGI BEEF AND PHILLY CHEESESTEAK WITH TOOHEYS NEW Before this week, if someone had asked us what a puffle was, we would have said a bird. Turns out it's a kind of waffle cone made from cheese and the guys behind it are educating the masses about their namesake's deliciousness. They'll be showcasing this indulgent savoury cone at the markets by filling the cheesy waffle with Korean marinated bulgogi beef and Philly cheesesteak, topping it with Japanese mayo and shallots. This is sure to be a messy handful of crunchy, gooey goodness, so it'd be best to opt for an easy-drinking, smooth malt lager to help wash it down. Tooheys New is the one, as its balanced body will cut through the cheesy, meaty mess of the puffle so you can lick every finger clean and even think about seconds. ONE TEA LOUNGE'S SLIDER SET WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES Sometimes choosing what to eat at the Night Noodle Markets is the hardest task you'll face all week — and it only gets harder when there is a toss-up between two types of mini burgers. One Tea Lounge has taken action to remedy this issue by creating a slider set. Instead of choosing between the ramen burger (with a noodle bun and beef patty) and a pillowy matcha 'boager', One Tea Lounge has combined the two in a three-slider set. And if you have an obsession with making things even, you can ask for miso tofu in the third slider — just so you have one of each. With these burgs waiting to meet your lips, don't opt for a boring beer. Go for James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale — its fruity tones and crisp finish makes this beverage a cracking refreshment to pair with your sliders. INDU'S SMOKED GOAT DOSA WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES We know Sydney's Asian food like the back of our hands, but on rare occasions someone will present a dish that stands out from the rest. Indu is one such restaurant and their smoked goat's leg dosa is one such dish. An increasingly popular offering at the Night Noodle Markets, the morsel involves a pancake-style dosa loaded with marinated smoked goat, zucchini ribbon raita, pomegranate, chilli and bacon jam. Smoky, sweet, tangy, smooth and crunchy with a little bit of heat, you'd be best to pair this morsel with a James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. The light fruitiness and crisp finish will balance the complexity of the dosa's rich filling. HOUSE OF CRABS' LOADED FRIES WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES Chippies, fries, crisps, wedges — there are many names attributed to the stalwart favourite of the cooked potato category. But when 'loaded' is the chosen adjective to describe the House of Crabs chip offering, you know you're in for a good time. The House of Crabs version is a conglomeration of crunchy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside potato fries topped with crispy bacon, gooey cheese, sweet corn and rich lobster gravy. A mouthful of adjectives never sounds so appetising. Crack open a cold James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale and let the citrus and passionfruit flavours complete your contentedness. WATERMAN'S LOBSTER CO.'S WASA-BAE WITH KIRIN MEGUMI Ahh the versatility of 'bae'. Spanning across cuisines the enigmatic 'bae' has found a home at Waterman's Lobster Co. The Wasa-Bae is a brioche roll filled with lobster, wasabi, mayo, celery, pickled ginger and black sesame. The team will be serving this up at the markets and we suggest setting it up with another bae: Kirin Megumi. This Japanese lager is made with a unique brewing method called First Press which ensures only the purest liquid is extracted from the malt and that the lager complements the Wasa-Bae in the way all good partners do. Plus, Waterman's closed its Potts Point shop in May, so it'll be a good chance to get your hands on one of their lobster rolls. POKLOL'S KOREAN BARBECUE TACOS WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES All good things come in threes, right? In the case of Poklol's barbecue tacos that is certainly the case. The Poklol team will be offering an almighty trio of bulgogi beef, chilli chicken and chilli pork tacos with pickled carrots, kimchi slaw, cucumbers, shallots topped with their secret Pokky sauce at this year's markets. To make things clear, bulgogi means 'fire meat' and is a style of Korean cooking in which the meat is marinated and then barbecued. Not everything has to be clear though, and that's why we suggest you pair this trio with a cloudy James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. The mild bitterness and fruity aroma works well with the smokiness of the meat. HARAJUKU GYOZA'S RAINDROP CAKE WITH HAHN SUPERDRY It took Sydney's Asian dessert scene a little while to catch up to it's savoury counterpart but, boy, is it making up for it now. The raindrop cake is a famed Japanese dessert and Harajuku Gyoza will be championing the little blob of sweet clear jelly at this year's markets. This gelatin-like cake will be served with soybean powder, black sugar syrup, and green tea cream. An interesting mix of flavours to say the least, but we suggest you add just one more: Hahn Superdry. The sticky sweetness of the dessert benefits from the crisp lightness of the easy-drinking beer. And don't worry, Hahn Superdry has a long fermentation process that breaks down natural sugars so you won't be getting a sugar high from this duo. Hungry for more? Feed all your cravings at the Sydney Night Noodle Markets with expert beer pairings presented by Beer The Beautiful Truth from October 5–22. It will be open Monday and Tuesday 5–9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5–10pm, Friday 5–11pm, Saturday 4–10pm, and Sunday 4–9pm. Entry is free.
It has been a tumultuous year for Sydney's hospitality scene. We've said farewell to some short-lived favourites — Bar Brosé, Eleven Bridge and The Antipodean to name a few — we've lamented the changes to the 457 visa and the hospitality sector's staff shortage and we continue to fight the lockout laws. But where there have been closures, innovative new ventures have risen from the ashes. We've seen the opening of a slew of new bars, restaurants, cafes, pubs, spaces and events — and they're not all from the big players, independent ventures are flourishing. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented vanguards pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, we are very pleased to announce Concrete Playground's Best of 2017 Awards. As we continue to attempt to define Australian cuisine, chefs continue to push the boundaries. We've seen (and tasted) black pudding curry in a Thai restaurant located in a renovated tea building, eaten delicate Japanese fare served behind a police station and downed hash browns and kimchi toasties at a Korean cafe. Bars continue to offer immersive, imaginative experiences that take you beyond their drinks lists — you can drink beer out of horns in viking dens, sip tiki cocktails at a Twin Peaks-themed bar and pair natural wine with Roe Boats. The cafe culture is stronger than ever, too, with new cafes not only guaranteeing a stellar cup of Joe, but also innovative lunch snacks and sleek interiors that'll really make you reconsider that desk sandwich. Pubs have defied the strangling lockout laws, kickstarting old favourites and coming together to raise up the city's ailing live music scene. They've hosted yes voting parties and sported controversial art, with the community rallying behind them. The bringing together of the art and food scene has expanded beyond pubs, with venues spending more time on their appearances, collaborating with local designers, architects and street artists to create stunning spaces. This prompted the creation of our new category, Best New Space. We've searched far and wide to find our favourite, visually stunning, innovative and sustainable spaces that are accessible to you — including shops, hotels, co-working hubs and public spaces. Event organisers have created smart and clever new events, celebrating the city's cultural ecosystem and bringing people together to eat cheese, look at innovative art and to support each other in times of hardship. This year, we will be awarding both a reader voted People's Choice and Overall award in each of the following six categories: Best New Restaurant Best New Bar Best New Cafe Best New Pub Best New Event Best New Space These 36 outstanding Sydney ventures have been handpicked by Concrete Playground for their combination of originality, innovation, creativity, approachability and sustainability. We straight-up love them. And the winners are.... BEST NEW RESTAURANT OVERALL WINNER: SASAKI This tiny, unassuming space in Sydney's CBD opened in April — but you'll need to make a reservation (a week in advance) if you plan on heading here for dinner. It's still busy, which is a testament to its consistently great food, warm service and attention to detail. Owner and head chef, Yu Sasaki (Cre Asion) pays homage to his hometown of Shimane, with dishes reflecting his fragmented memories of the Japanese countryside. The pint-sized, minimalist restaurant boasts a daily changing menu using the freshest Australian produce. The menu is completely driven by season and Sasaki only uses ingredients that have been harvested by his local suppliers and farmers, with whom he maintains a close personal relationship. Service is warm and attentive from the moment you're sat to the moment you're handed a sleek leaflet explaining the restaurant's ethos on your way out. Sasaki may not be making the noise other newcomers have been, but its consistency and and fast rise to a local favourite make it more than deserving of Overall Best New Restaurant. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: MJOLNER Named for Thor's hammer, the self-described 'Viking luxe' space is part-drinking den, part-fine dining restaurant. It may sound gimmicky, but it works — rather than going too hard on the schtick, Mjølner uses the Viking theme as tasteful inspiration. This is consistent throughout the whole venue; the animal-clad waitstaff and impressive fit-out contrast well with the R&B soundtrack and a modern Nordic menu. The leather-bound cocktail menu is extensive, but drinking is by no means the only reason to visit, with the open kitchen turning out a seriously impressive food menu. As expected, the menu is focused around meat, with bone marrow and spiced pig's head terrine making appearances. Both of these are expertly executed, with the bone marrow melting in your mouth and the terrine surprisingly light. It's fine dining in a pretty chill setting, which is hard to achieve and particularly well done at Mjølner. BEST NEW BAR OVERALL WINNER: DEAR SAINTE ÉLOISE Most of Lankelly Place is closed or empty on a Tuesday night, but it's another story altogether inside Dear Sainte Éloise. The warmly-lit wine bar is aglow with patrons and bustling staff — it's already a well-oiled machine. It's clear the Love, Tilly Devine crew — namely owner Matt Swieboda, head sommelier Nate Hatwell (Mercado), manager Jasmin Natterer and head chef Ben Abiad (co-founder Brickfields Bakery, ex-Sean's Panaroma and Mecca) — know what they're doing. The long, copper bar is adorned with racks upon racks of wine that showcase the bar's huge selection — all up, there's 350 plus bottles, which have been plucked from all over the world, from Austria to Portugal, South Africa and Georgia. While this is a wine bar above all else, the succinct selection of dishes serve well as wine nibbles or a full meal. The menu is printed daily and features wine bar staples like fresh oysters and burrata, and more — inventive little roe boats, bright orange fish roe sitting atop a little potato hash 'boat', fragrant and hearty stewed snake beans and delicate celery hearts with goat's curd and burnt onions. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: MONKEY'S CORNER Having already seduced us with their magnificent sugary creations, everyone's favourite culinary brothers (Reynold, Ronald, and Arnold Poernomo) have moved on to the next vice: alcohol. The trio is shaking up the Sydney cocktail scene with a cheeky Japanese bar called Monkey's Corner, right next to its dessert bar KOI in Chippendale — and it has already become a firm favourite. In the spirit of all things Japanese, the heritage-listed terrace venue is teeny tiny, with just ten seats inside and ten seats outside. Due to heritage restrictions, the trio are not allowed to actually cook in the kitchen. Food can only be steamed or served raw as no frying or grilling is permitted. But thanks to a trusty blowtorch and some clever culinary technique, you won't even notice — it's just another reason to be impressed by the trio. BEST NEW CAFE OVERALL WINNER AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE: BABY COFFEE CO Strong branding with personality, an industrial design with splashes of neon and pastel and luxe junk food that's ready for its close-up. Baby Coffee Co, is really capitalising on current trends — and it's working. The cafe has been open for just over a month and it's already a strong local favourite. A hybrid venue, it's licensed and has a tight wine list, bottomless mimosas for brunch and a cheeky cocktail list with the likes of a 'Flick The Bean' made with rum, espresso, Falernum and lemonade. While a 'bacon' and egg roll gets a redo with pork belly, two fried eggs, capsicum jam and aioli. We're pretty keen on its espresso panna cotta for breakfast and cacio e pepe fries. If you still can't get enough Baby in your day, it's open for dinner — head in again for a healthy dose of pastel pink and Italian food. BEST NEW PUB OVERALL WINNER: THE LANSDOWNE The Lansdowne is back and it's safe to say it's sticking to its roots — with a mantra of "seedy nights, live music and cheap food" proudly sung by the legendary men behind the resurrection, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham (Mary's Newtown and The Unicorn Hotel). The grungy feel of the space is definitely still in tact, with the old concrete floors and paint-peeling walls still peeping through. But the downstairs area is now home to a shiny new pool table and dart board, while the pokies room has been swapped for rock 'n' roll pinball machines, complete with a disco ball. Local artist Jessica Cochrane has given the space her own touch, complete with two Playboy wall collages, a candlelit shrine to the live music greats and pin-up girl covered bathrooms ceilings, aka "pisstine chapels". Live music is the hero here, and the entire top floor is dedicated to getting some of the best bands in the business. And that's one of the reasons why we've awarded The Lansdowne the Overall Best New Pub — it's dedication to live music is paramount in a city where it is, due to strangling legislation, ailing. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: THE FERNERY As you might expect, the venue is far from any old rooftop. Located above Mosman Club, it offers extraordinary views of, well, everything: the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the heads and the city skyline. And you'll be gazing at them all while immersed in greenery. It's from the team behind North Sydney's The Greens and Camperdown's Acre. Interior designers Pony Design Co has transformed the main space into a greenhouse-inspired oasis. If you're up for a more intimate chinwag, head into the sleek gin room overlooking North Head. Also on the rooftop is a kitchen garden, cultivated by Adrian Baiada, the man responsible for Acre's urban farm. In addition to the gin room, where the focus is on Australian distillers, there's a bar devoted to rosé. And yes, it's very much pink. A handpicked selection of wines, served straight from the barrel, is on the drinks list, as is a collection of signature cocktails flavoured with just-picked herbs. BEST NEW EVENT OVERALL WINNER AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE: FESTIVAL FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY After the success of the Yes Rally, Sydney's activist collective Reclaim the Streets organised the a huge collective 'yes' voting event, with thousands rocking up at Prince Alfred Park on Saturday, September 23, to vote together. They knew people were going to put off voting 'til the last minute (and risk missing the deadline) and they wanted to prevent it. So they encouraged as many people as possible to put in their vote, en masse. Across from the Strawberry Hills Post Office they hosted a colourful nine-stage music festival. There were lots of rainbows, lots of signs, lots of music and a lot of yes votes. And they — along thousands of other tireless volunteers who called, knocked and handed out leaflets, everyone who marched and talked to their friends and family, and every Australian that voted yes — helped push through a yes vote. And now, it's cemented in law. BEST NEW SPACE OVERALL WINNER: UNYOKED There's getting away. And then there's disappearing to your own private, tiny house in the wilderness — miles from any sign of human interference. Meet Unyoked, a new Australian independent accommodation option that lets you do just that. Importantly, this is not a hotel. Founded and run by twins Cam and Chris Grant, the off-the-grid experience brings you the convenience and comforts of four solid walls, alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. Here's how. With the help of designer and builder Alice Nivison and eco-consultant Richie Northcott from Sydney design studio Fresh Prince, the brothers have designed and built four tiny houses throughout New South Wales — both sustainable and solar-powered. They've been placed in secret patches of wilderness on private properties, in the middle of nowhere. Anytime you want to flee the city, disconnect and recharge, all you have to do is book one and jump in your car. And all houses are no more than three hours' drive from Sydney. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: MR LIQUOR'S DIRTY ITALIAN DISCO Merivale's newest venue Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco combines elements of taste and aesthetic to create a venue that's immersive in its narrative without forsaking the essentials: good food and great drinks. With disco tunes and Italian grub in a repurposed bottle shop, the venue is exactly what it says on the packet — and that's something to get excited about. This time round Merivale's got the crew from Pinbone on-board to take over the kitchen (read: drive-through bottle shop) at Mascot's Tennyson Hotel. Like the menu, the venue's design is pretty heavy on the Italian influences, with red and white checkered floors paying tribute to the homely vibe of Italian-American pasta restaurants, while the exposed ceiling beams, roller doors and massive disco ball complete the look. Behind the lively design is Kelvin Ho of Akin Creative, who worked closely with Sydney tattooist Rick Vaughn, aka Four Eyes, to bring the previously bare walls to life with a series of bespoke illustrations.
When most people think of Father Christmas, a very particular image comes to mind. We're talking about a jolly, roly poly man with a red and white suit and a twinkle in his eye. He's got a whole fleet of reindeer, a workshop full of elves, and brings joy and yuletide spirit to children around the world. He's been described as a lot of things, but chic has never been one of them. That is, until now. Presenting Fashion Santa: Dayummmm. We suddenly know what we want for Christmas. Setting up shop in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Fashion Santa is part of the mall's annual holiday campaign. Decked out in only the finest of menswear, this stylish Saint Nick, played by model Paul Mason, has been hanging at the centre snapping selfies with shoppers, offering beard primping tips and generally looking fabulous. The best thing about Fashion Santa, aside from his steely blue eyes, perfectly manicured whiskers and strong, strong arms... ...sorry, lost our train of thought there for a moment. Let's try that again. The best thing about Fashion Santa is that he's out raising money for sick kids. For every selfie with Fashion Santa posted online using the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the shopping centre will donate $1 to Canada's Sick Kids Foundation. It's a pretty awesome initiative, one that more countries should get on board with. And we're not just saying that because we want to sit on Santa's lap. Via QZ.
Vivid LIVE is expanding this year with its Artist Talks Program (May 27 to June 13), which will see artists taking the stage for their Vivid show and also for a special Q&A. Artists like New Order, Anohni and Wafia will be chatting to audiences across multiple Opera House foyers, as well as in the Playhouse. The talks are designed to give audiences the ability to both hear artists perform and also reflect on their creative process. Perhaps the most highly anticipated talk, New Order in conversation with filmmaker/MFS label head Mark Reeder ($25+BF), is the only ticketed event, but will definitely be worth the bucks. The talk will focus on the years of Factory Records, Joy Division and Manchester. Veteran rock journo Paul Morley and former NME photographer Kevin Cummins will also delve into Manchester as part of The New Order Project. Festival headliner Anonhi will join collaborator and Australian artist Lynette Wallworth in the Playhouse to speak about our fragile connection to the natural world. Legendary experimental composer Max Richter will chat to Paul Morley (mentioned above), and Song Exploder see Hrishikesh Hirway unpacking Hiatus Kaiyote's Grammy-nominated songs in a live session with the band. MusicNSW will lead a panel on women in the Aussie electronic music scene — with Wafia and Flume/A$AP Rocky vocalist Kučka holding separate free sessions. FBi Radio's Chris Twite will chat to Polica about their work before their Vivid show, and Double J's Myf Warhurst is taking an integral part in this talk series. Having a hard time choosing? With most events completely free, you won't have to. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 16 with most tickets free. More information on the events is available on the Vivid LIVE Artist Talks website.
There might be a film festival on somewhere in Sydney almost every weekend, but only one promises a four-day explosion of the dark, the deviant, the wild and the wacky. That mantle falls to the Sydney Underground Film Festival, aka the mischievous movie bonanza cinephiles should know, love and treasure. They're back for their ninth outing from September 17 to 20, and as usual, their program is both devilish and delicious. Unearthing treasures the mainstream cinema scene might like to see buried is SUFF's foray, and in 2015 they're starting that task with a bang. We mean that literally and graphically, given that Gaspar Noe's explicit Love is the festival's opening night film. With many an unsimulated sex scene, and more than a few up-close-and-personal shots, the controversial writer/director attempts to demonstrate sentimental sexuality in all its thrusting, grinding, 3D glory. The vibe remains thrilling at the other end of the event, though this time gleeful sexploitation is on offer. Supporting the Keanussance that we had to have, SUFF comes to a close with the man otherwise known as Neo and Johnny Utah fending off some unwanted female attention — and ending up in a raunchy game of cat and mouse — in Eli Roth's Knock Knock. This is the festival that screened Roth's blood-soaked, limbs-a-flailing cannibal nasty The Green Inferno in 2014, after all. That's not the only Keanu goodness on offer either, courtesy of the Alex Winter-directed documentary Deep Web. The Bill S. Preston to Reeves' Ted 'Theodore' Logan delves into the darker side of our online activities, calling in his most excellent pal for narrating duties. In between the big-name movie bookends and all-round Keanu love, SUFF directors Katherine Berger and Stefan Popescu serve up everything from an undead Henry Rollins in He Never Died to Australian on-the-run romance What Lola Wants, plus darkly comic love story Nina Forever as well. On the factual side of things, expect explorations of the funniest comedian you've never heard of and the remake-heavy Turkish film industry you weren't aware of, among others, because this is a festival fond of variety. Elsewhere, fans of seminal underground fare can celebrate the 50th anniversary of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and the 20th anniversary of Kids, or indulge in their Back to the Future and Raiders of the Lost Ark love through affectionate docos Back in Time and Raiders. The big film names don't stop there, with the latest efforts from notable directors Takashi Miike, Kim Ki-Duk and Quentin Dupieux also on the bill in a frenzy of yakuza vampires, blood-soaked revenge and brain-meltingly surreal multiple realities. The end result is a program that boasts something for everyone, as long as your tastes are adventurous, eclectic and way, way outside the norm. And if they are, prepare for a weekend of weird and wonderful cinema truly like no other. The Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from September 17 to 20. To view the full SUFF 2015 program, or to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
On October 31 at 6pm, Mrs Macquaries Road will transform into a beautifully illuminated cyclists’ paradise for the second annual Light the City. Thousands of riders are expected to jump on their bikes and head along for an evening of nocturnal two-wheeling. “It kicked off last year with about 2,500 people coming along, and this year we’ve already far more people RSVP,” says Fiona Campbell, cycling manager at City of Sydney. A 2.5 kilometre loop along Mrs Macquaries Road will be lit up with spectacular installations, back dropped, of course, by harbour views. For five glorious hours, you’ll be able to ride the route as many — or as few — times as you like. All riders, be they newbies or in training for the Tour de France, are welcome. As Campbell says, “First and foremost, the Sydney Rides Festival is about having fun. It gives bike riders and those who haven’t ridden in a while the opportunity to take part in fun and safe community events that celebrate bike riding in Sydney.” But Light the City won’t be all about cycling. In fact, it’s a bit of a mini-festival. A gathering of Sydney’s favourite food trucks — including the Veggie Patch, Cantina Mobil, Cherry Hwy and Monster Rolls — will keep your hunger and thirst at bay, while the Nomadic Cafe tricycle will be providing coffee. And to keep you entertained between rides, there’ll be live music, interactive video displays, films, a silent disco and a roller racing stage. Given that the event happens to fall on Halloween, the organisers are encouraging you to get your blood and gore on. Best-dressed participants will be in the running for a stack of prizes, including a $1,000 gift voucher to spend at a local bike shop. Don’t have two-wheels of your own? Despair not. You’ll be able to hire onsite on the night. If your fitness levels happen to be at rock-bottom, ease yourself into action with an electric bike. Light the City forms the finale of the Sydney Rides Festival, a three-week celebration of cycling in Sydney. “Back in 2011, we started with a one week event, that’s now grown to three weeks and more than 30 events,” says Campbell. “This year we’ve expanded the Festival to include events all over Sydney, including Marrickville, Hunters Hill and the Sutherland Shire.” Check out the full program at the Sydney Rides website.
Australia's 2017 tennis season is kicking off with a bang, with some of the world's fiercest talent descending on Sydney for the FAST4 Showdown on January 9. It's AUS v THE WORLD at the newly unveiled International Convention Centre, where this one-night event will see two of our Aussie tennis stars battle it out for glory on the court, taking on a team of international big-guns in two best-of-five matches. With the flash new venue, hot-ticket player line up and an equally buzzworthy entertainment program planned, FAST4 is heating up to be one of the most epic events on Sydney's 2017 sporting calendar. Serving up a showdown to remember (on and off the court) the crowd-pulling event will see the legendary Lleyton Hewitt helm an Aussie side of Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. The pair will be facing off against international greats, world number four and 14 time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and world number 5 Kei Nishikori. Meanwhile, Gold Coast DJ's The Stafford Brothers will be spinning tunes, both before the first match and throughout the rest of the evening. Tickets available here.
Prepare yourselves for the sweetest two words in the English vocabulary: massive giveaway (yasss). We’ve got our hands on some Vanfest booty to distribute amongst y’all, so you can enjoy the weekend's camping festival with all the creature comforts you could ask for — and it means you won't have to wait in festival lines to pee. Rolling into Forbes in central west NSW on December 4 and 5, Vanfest means to bring the country and city together with a two-day humdinger of a festival. The lineup is fierce, including Birds of Tokyo, John Butler Trio, Sticky Fingers, Illy, Rudimental, Peking Duck, Kilter, Sheppard, to name but a few. One lucky winner is up for a huge Vanfest VIP package for four, including two VIP double passes. Live the weekend like damn-hell-ass kings with four complimentary drinks and catering for the whole festival, access to the VIP bar, private bathrooms (the only way to experience a festival) and grandstand viewing. You’ll also score a powered camping site (book your Gran’s campervan for that weekend, or bring All The Powerboards for your tent if you know what’s cool). It’ll make those muddy, messy, sunburnt festival weekends spent waiting to pee seem brutal by comparison. We’ve also got a few more cheeky prizes up our sleeves. Nab one of five general admission weekend double passes (including entry to Friday and Saturday for two — camping not included). You’ll need to be above the age of 18 to claim the VIP prize (or 16 for the GA tickets) and, in doing so, you will become a living legend in your friendship group. Vanfest is coming to Forbes, NSW December 4 and 5, and thanks to the team, we have one VIP package (two double passes with powered camping site) and five general admission tickets to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and 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
There are few places in Sydney offering the culinary diversity of Auburn. On the main drag alone, you can try bread from four Middle Eastern nations, sample Ethiopian dishes and dig into Chinese dumplings. To celebrate, Auburn and its surrounding communities are hosting a month-long Flavours festival, happily coinciding with Sydney's Good Food Month. Travel backwards in time to 1930s Shanghai over a three-course dinner, while dressed in Qipao costumes, learning traditional dance moves and taking part in a spring roll-making workshop. Spend a couple of hours tasting your way around Africa to the sounds and sights of live performers. Or settle into a four-course high tea, showcasing sweet treats and hot beverages from Ethiopia, Southern China, Iraq and Afghanistan. And don't miss the grand finale: an epic feast called African Nights Meets Prince of Persia. It's hosted by the House of Welcome, an independent organisation which has been helping people seeking asylum since 2001. Also on the programme are loads of cooking classes and food tours. Get amongst it.
LCD Soundsystem is finally headed back to Australia in their first visit since playing a national tour and Big Day Out in 2011. The beloved New Yorkers reunited last year, going on to headline some of the world's biggest festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and Primavera. Now, the day after James Murphy, Nancy Whang and co. headline Splendour in the Grass, they're headed to Sydney to bring down the house at Hordern Pavilion on Monday, July 24. Formed back in 2002 by Murphy, LCD Soundsystem's cathartic dance-punk defined the noughties for many. Presented by Frontier Touring and triple j, this highly anticipated show is sure to be one hell of a reunion party. Fingers crossed that the band's new album will be out by then — Murphy has promised a newbie. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 20 at 11am, with presale happening for Frontier Touring members at 2pm on Tuesday, April 18 through 2pm on Wednesday, April 19. They're sure to sell out insanely quickly, so dawdlers will be sorry. LCD Soundsystem will then go on to play in Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, July 26, capping off one of the most hectic weeks of live music Australia will see this year. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons.
A collection of Australia's most talented street artists will transform Centenary Square in Parramatta into a temporary open-air art studio. Each morning for nine consecutive weekdays beginning on Monday March 14, a different artist will produce a brand new, large scale artwork live in front of the public, demonstrating their technique and turning the space into a vibrant artistic hub. An initiative of the Parramatta City Council and real estate developers Walker Corporation in partnership with creative arts organisation Work-Shop, the Live Walls Project has tapped a number of notable names to take part. Anthony Lister, Anya Brock, Guido Van Helten, James Jirat Patradoon, Sid Tapia, Georgia Hill, Aidan "Sprinkles" McKenzie, Phibs, Nico and Jumbo will all take part, each working from 10am to 3pm on their allocated day to create a new artwork on the hoarding in front of the Parramatta Square development. At the conclusion of the event, each work will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Parramatta Mission. Nice one. LIVE WALLS LINE-UP Monday 14 March – James Jirat Patradoon Tuesday 15 March – Sid Tapia Wednesday 16 March – Georgia Hill Thursday 17 March – Anthony Lister Friday 18 March – Aidan “Sprinkles” McKenzie Monday 21 March – Anya Brock Tuesday 22 March – Phibs Wednesday 23 March – Guido Van Helten Thursday 24 March – Nico & Jumbo For more information about Live Walls, visit www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/livewalls. You can also keep tabs on the project via Instagram.
Now a lot of us are spending so much time at home, it's important to be as comfy as possible. Melbourne-designed Eva Mattress is here to help up your comfort level with its biggest annual sale yet. Think half-price sheets and hundreds of dollars off mattresses — and that's just the start. For its 19-day sale, running from Wednesday, June 17 till 11.59pm on Sunday, July 5, the local Aussie retailer is offering big end-of-year discounts. Expect $150 off its Eva mattress, $50 off the Eva pillow and a whopping 50 percent off the Eva sheets, which brings the latter down to just $120 for a set. And these aren't your run-of-the-mill bedding products, either. The award-winning mattress-in-a-box has been engineered as a hybrid, which means it combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. The memory foam pillow uses activated charcoal to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. The 400-thread count sheets and duvet sets are made from eucalyptus fibres — making them soft, cool and completely biodegradable. If you do spring for the mattress, sheets or pillow, they come with a 120-night free trial, so you can be sure they'll help you get a good night sleep before you commit. All mattress orders come with free next-day delivery to metro areas, too. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Even with winter in full swing, there's still plenty to do (while staying warm) this July in Sydney. Get your dose of culture in with exciting new exhibitions that feature art using different techniques and themes to keep you on your toes. There's modernism, art on fabric, a series of Aussie portraits, a show commemorating women's roles in public protests, and a series of sculptures referencing bodily articulations that encourage an open mind. You'll soon forget about the dropping temperatures and be scrambling to make it to all ten. Words by Lucy McNabb with Tom Clift, Marissa Ciampi and Eden Marcus. Image: Jesse Jaco.
It's been a couple of years since Sydney last enjoyed a live performance from Courtney Barnett, but this August, the acclaimed singer-songwriter will return to the harbour city for a show at a little venue called the Sydney Opera House. She'll play her first headline show in the iconic venue's biggest space: the Concert Hall. Off the back of her second album Tell Me How You Really Feel, Barnett's set to tear up the stage with her signature indie-rock energy and a full band in tow. She'll perform all the hits from this forthcoming record, including 'Need A Little Time', 'Nameless, Faceless', and the just-released 'City Looks Pretty'. Lauded as one of this century's most unique Aussie voices, Barnett's set a new tone with her latest work, following collaborations with the likes of Kurt Vile, The Breeders and long-term partner Jen Cloher. The past few years have seen the musician absolutely killing it internationally, nominated for both a Grammy Award and a BRIT Award, and scooping up a bunch of other top honours, including the Australian Music Prize 2016, APRA's Songwriter of the Year, and four ARIA awards. She'll perform on Saturday, August 25 as part of the year-round Sydney Opera House Contemporary Music Program. Tickets range from $54–74, with $20 standing room tickets available if you have a concession card or aged 20 or under. Image: Pooneh Ghana.
You'll have to stock up on Marina Abramovic wonderment this year at Pier 2/3 and MONA, the Museum of Contemporary Art has cancelled the performance artist's 2016 retrospective exhibition. Reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Abramovic has attributed the opening of two other exhibitions (a retrospective solo exhibition at MONA called Private Archaeology, running June 13 to October 5, and Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence at Pier 2/3 from June 24 to July 5), along with financial reasons, for the closure of the show. "I'm so sorry," she said. "They say that it is complicated. One reason was there were two exhibitions in Australia. It was too much to make a third one. The trustees they didn't want any more." MCA spokeswoman Myriam Conrie confirmed the closure to SMH, saying, "The MCA had initial discussions with the artist and her studio, but with her other commitments in Sydney and Hobart the show was not viable. No public money was spent." Abramovic's MCA retrospective was to combine photography, video, sculpture, installation and live performance, and feature material from the artist's personal archives that has never been publicly exhibited. Abramovic's celebrated performance Nightsea Crossing was supposed to feature, with some serious face-offs in store. Enthusiasts will simply have to get along to Kaldor Public Art Project's Marina Abramovic: In Residence at Pier 2/3 or make their way to Hobart for MONA's Private Archaeology. Private Archaeology opens at MONA on June 13 and runs through October 5. Kaldor Public Art Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence at Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay opens June 24 and runs through July 5. Via Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Lisson Gallery. Words: Shannon Connellan and Tom Clift.
Give every one of your senses a break when you step into the Pleasure Garden. Making its world premiere at Vaucluse House, this enchanting project infuses the surrounding gardens with music and sounds. Everywhere you wander, you'll hear a new melody or discover a chance to 'play' nature, inviting you take a rest from your daily scurrying and listen as well as look. You're welcome to take on the experience as you see fit — be that walking, sitting, dozing or picnicking. Pleasure Garden is inspired by Jacob van Eyck, a 17th century musician, composer, improviser and nobleman. The music includes excerpts from his repertoire, alongside new compositions from Genevieve Lacey and Jan Bang, in collaboration with Jim Atkins, Robin Fox, Pete Brundle and Sera Davies.
There’s been a lot of well-deserved hype surrounding British band alt-J recently, following the release of their second album This is All Yours. Hell, their October 2014 shows in Sydney and Melbourne sold out in a matter of seconds, leaving a whole raft of fans who were gearing up to stomp and sing along to the pounding ‘Breezeblocks’ pretty disappointed. If that was you, well, chances are you already know that the Mercury Prize-winning band is returning to our shores this May. There’s no more Enmore Theatre for these Leeds lads, though. This time round, they’re playing the slightly-harder-to-sell-out-instantaneously Qantas Credit Union (that’s the one that used to be the Entertainment Centre). What the show will most likely lack in Miley Cyrus (who sings the ‘I’m a female rebel’ line in ‘Hunger of the Pine’ and is a big alt-J fan and should really just go on tour with them already), it will make up for with killer support acts Asgeir and Mansionair.
Rosebery's becoming quite the Sydney foodie hub. With Koskela opening their own kitchen and Sydney's first distillery in 160 years bringing the crowds to in the inner south suburb, Rosebery has just landed itself one sweet, sweet addition to the neighbourhood: the ever newsworthy, unfailingly novelty and perpetually popular Gelato Messina. Sitting on Mentmore Avenue, Messina's Rosebery venture is cranking out the gelato and cakes Sydney knows, loves and Instagrams well. Rosebery's gelato hub joins Sydney's flagship Darlinghurst and subsequent Surry Hills, Bondi, Parramatta, Miranda and The Star casino spinoffs, alongside Fitzroy's Melbourne venture, Coolangatta's beachside joint and Darlinghurst's extra mindblowing Messina Dessert Bar. They're also opening in the former Rozelle tram depot in Forest Lodge. This isn't the only delicious tenant for the Rosebery area, of course. Koskela Kitchen has just opened where Kitchen by Mike used to simmer, and Black Star Pastry are watching their baked goods walk out the door on Dunning Avenue. Looks like Sydney's inner south has an insatiable taste for local culinary delights — buy up on real estate now. Gelato Messina is now open at 58 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery.
First, there was Goodgod. Then there was Plan B. And now, Sydney's much-loved, inner city small club has relaunched with a brand new moniker: Hudson Ballroom. But, the plan is much the same as it's always been — to bring you new music, late nights, good times and friendly people. As in its incarnation as Plan B, the club is in partnership with Nathan Farrell Entertainment, to bring you artists from Australia and the world. On Thursday, October 6, catch DJ collective Fleetmac Wood (London/LA), who've been busy remixing Fleetwood Mac tunes for modern ears. Come Friday, Sidechains will be taking over the floor and, on Saturday night, you'll be hearing from Gassed. Keep an eye on the program, as there are loads more club nights coming up. Sydney favourites like Rhythm of the Night, Halfway Crooks, Player Haters Club, IZMZ Girls and Freshly Squeezed are all on the horizon. "For us, the priority was to keep the doors open to one of the few places you can still go for a dance and see a live music gig," said Clark Mak, who bought the venue with two of his mates. "We didn't have time to work out all the details, so we needed a 'Plan B' and the name stuck, but we've since been working away to develop our own identity … We're thrilled and honoured to keep this venue going and super excited to finally relaunch." In the kitchen, Belly Bao is still running the show, serving up their famous fried chicken, steamed bun bao and banana splits. And signature cocktails continue to reign at the bar, with offerings including an agave-glazed, bacon-flavoured old fashioned and an espresso martini with Barcardi Fuego foam. Find Hudson Ballroom at 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney. Gig/night details on the website. Image: Chris Frape.
Chef Clayton Wells has won over many a Chippendale foodie's heart since opening Automata on the ground floor of the Old Clare Hotel in 2015. And now he's set to extend his reach with the opening of a casual all-day eatery, just 20 metres away. To be called A1 Canteen, the venue will take over the ground floor of The Old Rum Store on Kensington Street — the same building that houses Olio, Bistrot Gavroche and Eastside Kitchen. Whatever the time of day — and whatever the nature of your hunger — you'll be able to satisfy it. A1 will be open for brekkie, lunch, dinner and snacks, including pastries and sandwiches, so you can sit down and take your time or grab a tasty morsel and run. "I've been working on a casual concept for well over a year now," Wells said. "We tested it out last year with auto.lab and we've been waiting for the right space to open something permanent. Finding a site directly across the road from Automata is a dream. A1 will be much simpler and more casual than Automata." Wells will be joined by chef Scott Eddington in the kitchen, while in the role of restaurant manager will be Rachael Trewin, who's the current assistant manager at Automata. Meanwhile, Matt Darwon is overseeing the design. Dishes will range from scrambled eggs and sausages from LP's Quality Meats to fried eggplant sandwiches to a whole roasted flounder. Wells has just returned to Australia after spending some time in Singapore, where he opened Blackwattle, his first venture in Asia. A1 Canteen is scheduled to open in 2018 on the ground floor of The Old Rum Store, Kensington Street, Chippendale. We'll keep you updated when we know more.
Sip whisky and indulge your sweet tooth at The Singleton Whisky & Sugar Bar when it springs up in Sydney and Melbourne as part of Good Food Month 2015. The result of a partnership between whisky label Singleton Whisky and Momofuku dessert spinoff Momofuku Milk Bar, this pop-up bar and baked goods dispensary probably won't do your teeth or liver any favours — although if that's enough to keep you away, then you've got a hell of a lot more self control than we do. Booze and sweet treat enthusiasts will find the New York-inspired whisky and sugar shed smack bang in the middle of Good Food Month's Noodle Night Markets, located in Sydney's Hyde Park between October 8-25 and Melbourne's Birrarung Marr between November 12-29. Headlining the menu will be a whisky-infused maple cookie crafted by Momofuku Milk Bar's chef, owner and founder Christina Tosi. Should go down quite nicely with an array of whisky cocktails and neat tastings — although we can't help but hope they'll also be serving Momofuku's famed cereal milk. We wouldn't say no to a slice of their crack pie, either. Tosi, who spearheaded the dessert program at David Chang's Momofuku restaurant group, and who has also served as a judge on MasterChef US, said that the whisky maple cookie recipe "plays on two of the biggest culinary trends currently sweeping the globe — the whisky renaissance and the classic dessert redefined with a twist — the result is an absolute delight." Tosi will travel to Australia on October 8 to help launch the Sydney pop-up. Sorry Melbourne. Have another cookie to cheer you up. Want more Good Food Month shenanigans? Check out the whole program for Sydney here and Melbourne here.
Australia’s first ever eatery dedicated to vegan superfood sushi has opened in Newtown. Vegan. Superfood. Sushi. That’s a whole lot of goodness rolled into one: delicious looks, cracking taste and insane levels of healthiness — plus no little critters had to lose life over your meal. Opened in a heritage-listed space at 69-77 King Street, Newtown, opposite fellow vegan retailers Suzy Spoon, Superfood Sushi is the first of its kind in the country. To turn this culinary utopia into a reality, the team behind the operation ran a highly successful Pozible campaign, raising a total of $9441. This team is made up of mother and son duo and Superfood Sushi founders Pepe Marshall and Guy Renner. Pepe trained as a chef and owned a cafe in Auckland before moving to Australia a decade ago. She and Guy are already vegan superfood sushi experts, and have been serving up their creations at markets and special events for the past six months. “We developed the concept when we couldn’t find any plant-based sushi around, except for the boring, unhealthy, white rice rolls filled with avocado or cucumber,” says Pepe. “So we decided to make our own. Our main aim is to try and seduce people with food. Many people are under the misconception vegan food is boring; it is anything but boring. In fact, I think some of the most creative recipes I have followed and created have been plant-based.” Proof of that is Superfood Sushi’s menu. Examples include Saigon Pickle (forbidden black rice, Vietnamese pickled carrot, daikon — a mild winter radish — baby corn and avocado) and Magic Mushroom (forbidden black rice with Portobello, enoki, oyster and shitake mushrooms roasted with garlic, balsamic and rosemary). But the favourite of Kym Staton, founder of the Sydney Vegan Club, is Mango Chick (eleven grain rice, asparagus, red capsicum, cucumber and rocket, topped with a mix of mango, chick peas, chilli and chives). “The flavours are to die for,” he said, “except no one had to die for it”. Pepe is continually experimenting with new flavour combinations, so diners can expect an evolving menu. “Cooking and food constantly consume me,” she said. “Whether I am reading, travelling or researching, I am trialling new ideas... Really, the possibilities are limitless in terms of variety.” The only boundaries are her insistence on seasonal produce — organic and locally sourced wherever possible — and her aversion to mock meats. “Personally, I am not a fan,” she said. “So I’ve steered away from them, focusing on flavoursome combinations of vegetables only.” Superfood Sushi will join more than thirty vegan eateries in Sydney. “It’s great,” Kym said, “as it gives Sydneysiders another way to make kinder, greener and healthier choices via what they put on their plate.” Find Superfood Sushi at 69-77 King Street, Newtown, (02) 9519 0100, superfoodsushi.com.au. Open Monday to Sunday 11am to 9pm. View all Sydney Cafes.
It's a well-known fact that The Rocks is home to some of Australia's oldest and most classic pubs; and the city's growing interest in small bars, craft beers and boutique wines has been hitting its historic heart, too. Here are five bars worth a visit — whether you're after dazzling harbour views, adventurous drinks lists or quality live music. THE PUSH The Push is named after a legendary Rocks music venue, which, back in the bohemian ‘70s, hosted the city’s best jazz and blues players. The modern-day Push occupies the ground floor of the 19th-century Russell Hotel and is one of the area’s most intimate-feeling bars. Head there for beautifully mixed classic cocktails, as well as a proudly Australian selection of excellent wines and craft beers. Pop in on Friday and Saturday nights to hear the baby grand piano in action. 143 George Street GRAIN You’d be hard-pressed to find a more geographically diverse whisky selection anywhere in Sydney. Spanning the windswept isles of Scotland, the mountains of Japan and the steamy cities of India, Grain’s shelves allow you travel around the planet in one flight. If you’re not sure where you’re headed, the expert staff will sort you out. Attached to the Four Seasons Hotel, Grain delivers 5-star service and is fitted out with a sleek interior, blending golden lighting with dark wood. A central fireplace keeps things cosy when the weather’s cold. 199 George Street THE ARGYLE Housing five bars across two levels, The Argyle is The Rocks bar with it all. Hide in a comfy booth for a quiet drink, meet a bunch of mates around one of the communal tables or soak up some sunshine, or evening ambiance, in the sandstone courtyard. The 1820s, heritage-listed building, with its high archways and timber beams, is big on atmosphere. Head down on Friday nights for DJs, Sunday afternoons for live acoustic sessions, and Wednesday evenings for salsa. 18 Argyle Street BLU BAR ON 36 If you’re in the market for killer views, Blu Bar on 36 has you covered. Situated on the 36th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, it affords stunning panoramas of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Darling Harbour. The cocktail menu is impressive, featuring a long list of signature works, and, if you’re flush, you can splash out on a Martini on the Rock, which comes with a diamond and a room. Blu Bar is definitely your go-to for a post-lottery win sunset beverage. Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street THE BAR, PARK HYATT SYDNEY The soft, warm lighting and stylish interiors of The Bar at Park Hyatt Sydney make it the perfect place for a nightcap or a classy night with your most sophisticated friends. A healthy range of beers, wines and ciders is only the warmup act for a killer list of cocktails. Even if you're only there for a short while you simply must sample the bar menu – or if you plan on staying longer, why not step into The Dining Room for a meal? Park Hyatt Sydney, 7 Hickson Road Top image: Grain.
The UK's Gecko Theatre Company approach their performances as a collaboration of media, using theatre, dance, and stage and its props to create an environment all of their own. Their newest production Institute is a bewitching combination of stagecraft and choreography that manipulates the audience's perception of the players and their surroundings. Witty, funny, and shocking all at the same time, the performance, crafted by Artistic Director Amit Lahav, plays on your mind as it presents itself as both baffling and beautiful in equal measures. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
Most filmmakers are considered prolific if they make a movie every two years. Since leaping onto the scene in 2005, Joe Swanberg has made 18. One of the leading figures of the mumblecore movement (an American indie film subgenre characterised by microscopic budgets and heavily improvised dialogue), Swanberg most recently earned plaudits for his charming romantic dramedy Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick. We now know Drinking Buddies was scarcely in theatres before Swanberg began work on his next project, one that sees him re-team with Kendrick, along with New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham. Shot in Swanberg's cosy Chicago home, Happy Christmas chronicles the rocky yuletide holidays of new parents Jeff and Kelly (Swanberg and Lynskey) after Jeff's irresponsible sister Jenny (Kendrick) comes to stay. As with most of Swanberg's movies, the film had almost no scripted dialogue, and relied instead on the improvisational talents of the cast. Read our interview with Joe Swanberg.
The Plot is back. And this time, it’s heading for Parramatta Park. For those unfamiliar with the name, The Plot is a new music festival that first happened back in 2013 – in Sydney at Luna Park’s Big Top and in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre and Ding Dong Lounge. And this afternoon, the lineup has dropped. Locked in for Saturday, December 5 at Parramatta Park it’ll be an epic, summery, outdoor affair, with gorgeous Old Government House at its centre, and the beautifully revived Parramatta River alongside. There’ll be three stages, an abundance of locally-made food featuring local produce, craft beers, boutique wines and an eclectic mix of music from both Australia and overseas. Expect purveyors of Jerusalem street food Knafeh alongside Parramatta’s The Emporium, fusion sandwiches Sundweesh, local brewhouse Riverside Brewery, Hillybilly Cider, Bella Vista Hotel’s Bella Shack’s Burgers, lemonade cocktail lovers Citrus Factory, award-winning brother brewers The Australian Brewery, dumpling experts Yan’s Asian and plenty more. Plus, The Plot is promising to celebrate the diversity and community spirit associated with Sydney’s Greater West. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 9am on Thursday, October 8 at $69 (+bf). But if you’re a Past Plotter, you’ll score the 2013 price of $45 (+BF). Just keep an eye on your inbox for a unique link that’ll allow you to take advantage of this bargain — it’ll arrive around 9am on Thursday, October 1 and will remain valid until midnight, Wednesday, October 7. After that, you’ll be paying full price. THE PLOT 2015 LINEUP: ANDY GARVEY ART VS SCIENCE ASTA BASENJI BOO SEEKA B WISE CROOKED COLOURS E^ST FRIEND WITHIN (UK) FUTURE LOVE HANGOVER THE GRISWOLDS JAWZ L-FRESH THE LION LUEN LUKE MILLION MATOMA (NOR) THE MEETING TREE NGAIIRE PACES SAFIA SHANTAN WANTAN ICHIBAN SPIT SYNDICATE STONEY ROADS DJS TKAY MAIDZA TUKA URTHBOY UV BOI YOUNG FRANCO triple j Unearthed winner to be announced
We all know Hyde Park is much better when conceived as a kind of Midsummer Night's Dream: a magical, atmospheric hub bounded by strings of lights. For another year, Sydney Festival is setting up the beloved Festival Village in Hyde Park, stretching along College Street past the Archibald Fountain and housing the Spiegeltent, Magic Mirror Spiegeltent and all your festival food and drink needs. The Village's free activities, music and nommy nomz will take you from day to night with the laidback, buzzy vibe that's unique to Sydney in January. Food vendors have your voracious stomach's needs completely covered from 12pm (check out these ridiculous Messina creations). But this is not just about slobbering gluttony, you barbarian. It's also about playtime. City of Sydney's Lawn Library offers books and workshops by day, and you can enjoy the creative surrounds of SydFest's 2016 artists-in-residence Province (aka Laura Pike and Anne-Louise Dadak). Festival Village is open January 7-26 (closed Mondays). Food from 12pm, licensed bars open from 4pm. Visit the Sydney Festival website for more info. Image by Prudence Upton.
Get ready to chow down on mouthwatering Neil Perry hamburgers. Since opening in Sydney's World Square last October, the celebrity chef's high-end fast food joint Burger Project has become a favourite with local foodies, serving up a variation of his iconic Rockpool wagyu beef burger at a fraction of the price. Now, less than two weeks after announcing a second Burger Project location in Parramatta, Perry has revealed the details for not one, not two, but five additional restaurants, including three across the border in Melbourne. According to Good Food, Perry will open the first Melbourne Burger Project in March next year in the St Collins Lane development (formerly Australia on Collins), near the corners of Collins and Elizabeth Streets in the CBD. The licensed restaurant will operate between 11am and 10pm, and will seat around 100 people. Two additional locations will follow — one at Chadstone shopping centre in August, and another at Crown Casino at the end of 2016. He's also reportedly considering spots in the inner suburbs, including Richmond and Carlton. In Sydney, meanwhile, Perry is hoping to open a store in the MLC Centre in Martin Place by November, along with a Chatswood location in mid-2016. That's in addition to the Parramatta restaurant, although still no word on when we can expect that site to start cooking. He's previously expressed his desire to have as many as 50 stores nationwide, and told Good Food that he's also looking overseas — earmarking New Zealand, Singapore and the United States as possible areas for expansion. So, what exactly do they serve at The Burger Project, anyway? Well, assuming Perry sticks closely to the winning World Square formula, you can expect a variety of tasty burger including the Magic Mushroom burger, the Spicy Fried Chicken burger and of course the classic American cheeseburger. You can also get a bun-free burger served in a lettuce bowl, at no additional cost. Side options include chips with salt or chipotle chilli, and crispy hot wings with Sichuan pepper. And for dessert, dive into one of their decadent ice cream creations such as the Marsh-Cara-Mallow (salted caramel ice cream with hazelnut praline, burnt marshmallow and chocolate sauce) or The Bounty Hunter (vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce, toasted coconut and crushed meringue). Don't act like you're not impressed. Via Good Food.
The four-time number one on the World's Best Restaurants list is headed to Sydney Harbour. Rene Redzepi, owner and head chef at Copenhagen's two Michelin starred eatery Noma, will fly his entire team (including 35 chefs and 30 waitstaff) more than 16,000km around the world for an Australian pop-up from January 26 to April 2 — and now we know how to grab one of the highly prized seats in the room. Bookings for all tables will open simultaneously, on Friday, October 30, at 10am AEDT online at the Noma website. You can book for tables of two, four, six or eight, for either lunch or dinner five days a week (Tuesday – Saturday). Start saving your pennies now — the cost per person is $485, plus 1.65% CC fee, with drinks to be paid for separately on the day. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage pairings will be offered, as well as a short wine list. The menu itself is yet to be finalised, although earlier in the year Redzepi said he'll be leaving his regular ingredients back in Copenhagen, and told Good Food to expect locally inspired dishes made with shellfish, sea succulents and native herbs and spices. The team have already made several research trips to Australia to stoke their creative fires. "They’ve visited as many regions as possible, getting a good perspective on the great and diverse produce that is available in Australia," reads a statement from Noma. "Later on, in December, the entire creative team will move to Sydney to focus their energy on creating a menu that will showcase the best of what we’ve found on these trips." The Noma Australia project was inspired by their five week pop-up in Tokyo earlier this year, which Redzepi called "the greatest learning experience of my life." "Australia has always drawn me in; its great cities, its generous people, and of course its ever-present sun," wrote Redzepi in his online statement. "But what really boggles my mind is the differences you find in its landscapes and ingredients, because honestly I have never seen anything like it." Supported by Tourism Australia and property firm Lendlease, Noma Australia will be located on the ground floor of the Anadara building on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo. The restaurant will serve just 50 people per sitting. Don't expect the cost to deter people. Bookings at the similarly expensive Tokyo pop-up sold out in just hours, with the restaurant eventually racking up a waiting list of over 60,000 people. Demand might shoot up even more vertiginously given that Redzepi has announced Noma in its current incarnation will close altogether at the end of 2016. By Tom Clift with Rima Sabina Aouf.
Since you can no longer have Margaret and David’s face on your TV screen for an hour a week, why not have them in your house, on cushions, 24 hours a day? What? Why and how are we sitting on Margaret and David? Sydney Film Festival's old marketing banners have been been repurposed into some of the most adorable home decorations we've seen in a while. You've seen the banners, hanging throughout Sydney to herald the coming of the city's biggest annual cinematic event. Each banner features a legendary film character, critic or audience member, stylistically depicted as though they were sitting in a cinema seat. You might have seen them while walking along George Street, oftening catch Princess Leia, Holly Golightly, Dorothy, Toto, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton dotted amongst the crowds hanging over the crowds. But now they're done with their time in the CBD. A creative trio from Sydney known as The Scallywag Society has turned the old banners into a series of oversized cushions, deck chairs, tote bags and tablecloths, which you can now buy. It's a total win all round: the banners have been upcycled rather than chucked out, and you get to give your house a permanent film fest vibe. What's more, a percentage of every purchase will go to SFF 2016. Every single creation in the collection is a one-off — and straight up adorable. You're going to want to pounce on these guys in particular; at $45/50 each they're going to sell out quicksmart. All items are currently on sale online and anything that’s left over by the time the festival opens on June 3 will be available at the Festival Hub. The only exceptions are two banners on which A Clockwork Orange's Alex DeLarge’s psychopathic visage appears. They’ll be given away via competitions, to be launched in June and announced at the festival’s end. The winners will get to decide exactly how they’d like Alex transformed. Doona? Wall hanging? Poncho? You'll decide. Shop The Scallywag Society's Sydney Film Festival collection over here. Want to know which films to see this year? Check out our top ten picks to book tickets to here.
Once is never enough. For fans of ARIA-winning musician Megan Washington, this is certainly the case. Back by popular demand after a huge 2014 national tour, Washington's marching her There There album tour into the New Year — with a string of 2015 dates to satisfy bigtime Washo fans. Backed by rave reviews, Washington's #5 ARIA album There There will be amplified through venues nationwide by the beloved singer/songwriter. And the Melburnian's newest offering doesn't disappoint; There There teams with tracks so personal and raw you'll feel like you've snuck a glimpse at Washington's post break-up journal. But these aren't any old love-lost ballads. Washington's buttery vocals share some of her most candid experiences, paired with haunting harmonies that are hard to forget. And she doesn’t hold back, throwing in high energy, bare-all pop hits like 'Limitless' and 'My Heart is a Wheel' alongside stripped-back piano melodies. If you missed Washo last year, you're in serious luck. But get in quick, tickets to these shows are set to be tough to get your hands on. Supported by Montaigne + Greg Chiapello.
Parramatta has always had lots of good places to eat, but things are getting more and more refined. Just this year, modern Australian diner Husk & Vine recently arrived in the neighbourhood, the Speakeasy Group will open a much-anticipated rooftop bar, and big names Rockpool and Sake have announced they'll be part of the exciting development at 8 Phillip Street. Also keen for a piece of the Parramatta pie is the Aslan Hospitality Group, which last week opened its ambitious new all-day venue, ALEX&Co. beneath Church Street's Meriton Altitude Towers. And it's a monster. The 600-square-metre, $2.5 million, 350-seat space is a restaurant, cafe and cocktail bar in one, featuring three separate menus, function spaces, sweeping river views and seating options for all occasions. It's open almost all the time — from morning till midnight every single night of the week. Fresh from the pans at NOLA Smokehouse in Barangaroo, executive chef Kyle Quy's delivering a menu of familiar favourites, cleverly executed and crafted around local produce and modern techniques. There's coddled eggs with blue swimmer crab in the morning, freshly shucked oysters and salt and vinegar calamari to scoff alongside after-work drinks, and the likes of oxtail tortellini and a three-hour braised lamb shoulder to see you through the evening. Meanwhile, Vasco's Max Greco lends his award-winning talents to the drinks list, across a range of bespoke cocktails designed to complement Quy's plates. Highlights include sips like the Riverside — made on dill-infused Bombay Sapphire, chamomile, fresh citrus, white chocolate and an absinthe mist — alongside a tight, yet wide-roaming list of wines and a solid little spirits selection. The opening is huge for the area — both literally and figuratively. It shows that developers are ready to invest in hospitality in the mini CBD and — along with the other impending restaurant openings, developments and the light rail — we expect to see more and more money thrown at venues nearby. ALEX&Co. is now open seven days a week at 330 Church Street, Parramatta. For more info, visit alexandco.com.au.
Design Twins, the pair whose unique concrete homewares went from a startup to an everybody-must-have sensation within months, have teamed up with St Peters's Precinct 75 to run a monthly market. From 9am every second Saturday since November 2015, lovers of all things creative have been heading there to get their fix. There are no rules or boundaries. The market is, quite simply, about celebrating the things that people like to make, grow and gather. So, you can expect as much diversity as there are stallholders. Sample fresh, delicious food grown and cooked with a focus on seasonal produce. Explore unique art works, fashion and accessories designed and made by locals. Rummage through diverse collections of second-hand books. Try on vintage pieces you're unlikely to find anywhere else. Have wares to peddle? Get in touch with rachel@designtwins.com to book a stall.
