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. A huge range of events will take place across the country — highlighting the rich, volcanic soil of the Kangaroo Valley, the diverse varietals of the Mudgee region and the award-winning Semillion and Shiraz from the Hunter Valley among many, many other wine-related things. In partnership with Wine Australia, we're helping you narrow down your options — here are nine of the best things to do. Top image: Sam Venn.
This year has been a stellar one for art lovers, with the Sydney Festival and Art Month keeping our calendars packed with creative delights between January and March. Luckily, the artsy fun is far from over. Up next is The National 2017: New Australian Art, a new biennial initiative from Sydney's top cultural institutions: the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA, and Carriageworks. Celebrating the latest and greatest in contemporary Aussie art, The National will present a series of exhibitions and performances across the city between March 30 and July 16. To kick things off, head over to Carriageworks to catch one of these opening-weekend performances—the events won't cost you a cent, but bookings are essential. [caption id="attachment_615320" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Justene Williams, Two Fold 2016. Image courtesy the artist and Sarah Cottier.[/caption] A METAL CRY This epic new work by Sydney-based multimedia installation artist Justene Williams promises to be unlike anything you've ever seen. There will be dancers in fluoro pink concertina fan costumes fitted with accordions, dresses with chimes sewn into them, singers climbing up three-meter-high fake trees, electronic violinists, and a live score to boot. Yes, it's going to be intense. It's also going to be utterly mesmerising. Drawing on Japanese dance theatre and the modernist avant-garde, Williams has created a work that explores contemporary suburban culture and our place in a chaotic and fracturing world. Saturday April 1, 11am and 12pm [caption id="attachment_615321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Zan Wimberley.[/caption] ALL I HAVE IS DREAMS OF YOU Born in Colombia and raised in Australia, multimedia artist Claudia Nicholson draws on her South American heritage to explore issues of identity through sculpture, performance, and internet-based works. For her newest piece, All I have is Dreams of You, Nicholson has created a memorial to the Queen of Latina pop Selena Quintanilla, who was murdered by the president of her fan club in 1995. Nicholson's vibrant and creative tribute will include an Andean teenage band playing Selena's greatest hits and dancers performing over an alfombra de aserrín, a colourful sawdust carpet that appears in many Latin American religious ceremonies. Saturday April 1, 4.30pm [caption id="attachment_615322" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alan Griffiths & Robert lazarus Lane, Bali Bali Balga 2017. Courtesy the artists and Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Kununurra, WA.[/caption] BALI BALI BALGA A traditional Indigenous dance, the Bali Bali Balga captures the history of the Noongali people, telling stories about spirits and country through movement. Indigenous artist, dancer, and senior law man Alan Griffiths will bring this iconic cultural ceremony to the Carriageworks stage along with a team of dancers. In this intricate ritual, 15 dancers move to the accompaniment of clapping sticks and singing while carrying large woven dance boards that depict key elements of the dance story. This performance features dance boards designed and built by Griffiths and offers a snapshot into the rich culture of his community. Friday March 31, 7pm [caption id="attachment_615323" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brett Whitely. Production poster for National Black Theatre's Basically Black. Image courtesy Wendy Whitely, Brett Whitely Studio.[/caption] BASICALLY BLACK SCREENING In 1973, ABC screened a pilot for a TV version of Basically Black, a production that had taken Sydney's Nimrod Theatre by storm the previous year. Presented by the National Black Theatre, the performance was a series of political and satirical sketches about Indigenous Australia. While the planned television series never went beyond the pilot, Basically Black was an important sociopolitical work that still resonates today. If you've never seen the show, now's your chance with a screening that will be introduced by Richard Bell, a Brisbane-based artist and activist whose work is renowned for challenging conceptions of Aboriginal art. Saturday, April 1, 3pm [caption id="attachment_615329" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winds of Woerr, 2014. Performance documentation, Next Wave Festival. Image courtesy the artist. Photography: Gregory Lorenzutti.[/caption] THE UNSETTLING Award-winning choreographers Atlanta Eke and Ghenoa Gela have joined forces with Ghost Bird, Sezzo Snot, and RDY STDY (Hana Miller and Jacob Perkins) to create this innovative work that delves into the issue of invisible violence in Australian culture. A supernatural horror film produced in real time, The Unsettling is bound to be pretty epic. Each performance will include live music as well as pre-recorded and live video feeds. You can catch the show in the form of an exhibited rehearsal between June 19 and June 23, or as a performance on the weekend of June 24. Various dates in June All five of these performances take place at Carriageworks—245 Wilson St, Eveleigh. For more information and to reserve a space, head to The National's official website.
Costa Rica, the little nation that could, has achieved 99 percent renewable energy use in 2015 — and is subsequently putting us all to shame in the sustainable energy race. Capitalising on their abundance of jungles and waterfalls, Costa Rica are able to use hydroelectricity as their primary source of renewable energy, which has seen them achieve almost complete independence from fossil fuel use in the past year. Woah. We should really pay attention and learn from their example. By contrast, the Australian government leans further into non-renewables, actively takes backwards steps in regulating big polluters, and drags its feet on meeting renewable energy targets. In June of this year, the government even reduced our target of large-scale renewable energy generation from 41,000 GWh to 33,000 GWh, and made a limp little pledge to increase our renewables to 23.5% by 2020. We are literally the Daria playing volleyball of environmentalism. Even New Zealand has a 2025 renewable target of 90%. Like, come on Australia — you're not even going to pretend to reach for that volleyball, are you? The big bogeyman that's always rolled out in regards to renewable energy — or anything to do with environmental progress, really — is the cost to the consumer and the loss of jobs. But Costa Ricans have seen energy costs drop by 12% in the last year alone; New Zealanders too enjoyed price drops when they started to phase into renewable energy in 2014. Can we please get a slice of that action? AC has been so pricey this summer. What with all the global warming and all. Sigh. Costa Rica, we salute you. Via Inhabitat. Image: Dennis Tang via Flickr
Normally the words 'YouTube sensation' trigger an instant shudder of revulsion as the abominable lovechild of Bieber and Nyan Cat twerks into your imagination, but that's where it also began for British trip-hop trio London Grammar who will be gracing our shores in March — after last July's cancellation. Ever since the release of 'Hey Now', which clocked up over a million views in just under a month, the indie darlings have gone from strength to strength. With a platinum debut album If You Wait, three songs in this 2014's triple j Hottest 100 (including a top ten spot for 'Strong') and rave-reviewed appearances at festivals worldwide under their collective belts, the trio are set to continue their love affair with the Australian public when they hit up the Festival Hall on March 14. Fronted by the preternaturally talented Hannah Reid, whose vocal range has seen her compared to the likes of Florence Welch and Adele, London Grammar had to cancel their tour last year after Reid was struck down with pneumonia. This national tour has been long-awaited by Australian fans, many of whom were lucky enough to catch their memorable set at Splendour in the Grass just a few short years ago. London Grammar will play two rescheduled Sydney shows — Monday, March 9 at Enmore Theatre and Thursday, March 12 at Hordern Pavilion. Both shows are sold out. Supported by Until the Ribbon Breaks + Wet. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nMEHJPuggHQ
When it comes to versatile foods that the large majority loves and is highly unlikely to get sick of, pizza really is worth its weight in gold. At Sydney's Pizza Design Co, they're taking that idea literally. That's right, the Parramatta dough-slingers are topping their latest creation in actual, edible, 23-carat gold. In an Australian first, that slice of 'za you're always hankering for just got a whole lot more valuable. Going on sale via Menulog from October 13, the limited-time-only pizza in question is called the Golden Margherita, of course. And, given that it's a classic margherita pizza topped with gold leaf, it really is just what it sounds like. Whoever knew that your favourite meal could be so shiny and laughably decadent? Or, if you get in early, shiny, laughably decadent and free? Not only does the Golden Margherita apparently reflect the evolving tastes of the area, but it's all yours for zilch if you're one of the first 100 preorders made from midday on the day that they're launched. Normally, they'll be $50 a pop (hey, gold doesn't come cheap), and will come with a certificate of authenticity — yeah, that's piece of paper saying that you ate gold. Straight to the pool room. Pizza Design Co's Golden Margherita is available from October 13, and can be ordered via Menulog.
Bondi's beachfront is about to get a whole lot busier — and it's not because of that postcard-perfect beach. Taking over the old Swiss Grand Hotel site, there's a huge new development erupting on the beachfront, dubbed Pacific Bondi Beach. We've been peering through the dusty construction and newly-installed windows to have a sticky beak into what's happening with the space, and now we've got a little bit more of a clue as to what's actually going into that prime piece of real estate. Sporting a Bondi-meets-Miami art deco style, the complex will combine one of Australia's most expensive apartments and residential lofts with a high-end boutique hotel, food outlets and retail stores. Already announced features of the complex include the QT Bondi, a highly anticipated new venture for the hotel group set to open in November 2015. Featuring lobby artworks by celebrated Australian artist Shaun Gladwell, QT Bondi will see 69 individually-styled luxury guest suites designed in collaboration with renowned hotel designer Nic Graham. It'll be the only the only boutique, high-end hotel on Bondi Beach, and guests will have access to Pacific Bondi’s services and amenities. But you won't have to stay at the QT or live in a crazy expensive 'Lighthouse Loft' apartment to check out the Pacific Bondi Beach, with a dining and retail precinct planned for the openair atrium. Good Food is reporting new foodie tenants confirmed for the space: the north shore's Scoop Wholefoods and Central Park Sydney's Anita Gelato. There's apparently a small bar operator set to join the party, with details yet to be revealed, and there'll be restaurants and an espresso bar of some capacity. And a grab-and-go, deli-focused Woolworths has already been announced for the space (quite the coup), so this space looks set to cater for locals and hotel guests alike. Retailers must be fighting tooth and nail to get a spot in the new complex, but Pacific Bondi Beach has only revealed one tenant so far. Back in September, we told you about Saturdays NYC opening their first Australian store in Bondi, and this will indeed be opened within the PBB space. Nice pull. Pacific Bondi is due to be completed by 2015, with concrete opening dates TBC. Saturdays NYC will open in Bondi this October, while QT Bondi will open in November 2015. Via Good Food.
It’s been one of the most anticipated openings Sydney’s seen in many an age. After an 18-month to-and-fro with tenders and short-term contracts, the new Peter Gilmore-driven Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House is set to open on July 1 — and you can already make a reservation. Flying a culinary flag for the homeland, Bennelong's focus will be on Australian produce and wine. With celebrated Australian chef and Quay mastermind Gilmore at the helm, the revamped restaurant intends to showcase local, seasonal foods on one of the city's biggest, multi-level foodie stages. Taking over the long-lovedstepfront space, the new Bennelong will feature different dining options depending on what you're up for. The big gun, ‘The Restaurant’, is your fine dining realm on the lower-level, serving innovative Australian cuisine by Gilmore. Diners can choose from a two- or three- course a la carte menu for lunch (Friday through to Sunday $95 for two, $125 for three), or a three course a la carte menu for dinner (Monday through Sunday $125) — and reservations are recommended. If you're taking in a spot of theatre or a Concert Hall gig, there's a 'Pre-Theatre' option: two- or three- courses, seven nights a week ($80 for two, $105 for three, Monday to Sunday 5.30 and 6pm sittings). But it's not all pricey fine dining at Bennelong this time around, with the introduction of the 'Cured and Cultured' menu. This is Bennelong's more relaxed, casual dining option, the type of set-up to have a tipple and a bite without breaking the bank — you'll find a sharing menu with nothing over $30. Nice. You can watch the chefs at work on the central level or take a seat at the casual seating area known as 'The Circle' (not named for the Dave Eggers novel or Australian morning talk show). Wanting to absorb the fancyschmancyness without actually sitting down to a proper dinner? Check out 'The Bar'. Bar manager Aaron Gaulke has worked with Gilmore under the Australian local ingredient focus to create a cocktail list worthy of a landmark, open every night from 5.30pm to late. Find Bennelong at Sydney Opera House Bennelong Point, reopening from July 1. For bookings, (02) 9240 8000 or reservations@bennelong.com.au.
As you're no doubt already aware, this week the world lost one of its finest actors, after Alan Rickman succumbed to cancer at the age of 69. Although his resume boasted dozens of incredible credits, Rickman is best known for his two most iconic roles, playing Professor Snape in the Harry Potter serries and terrorist mastermind Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Yet despite his predilection for playing sinister characters, tributes in the wake of his death have universally described the actor as a kind, funny and generous human being. Emma Thompson, who appeared alongside Rickman in films including Love Actually and Sense and Sensibility, described him as "the ultimate ally," while his Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe remembered Rickman as one of the first actors to treat him "like a peer rather than a child." Perhaps the most heartbreaking tribute came in the form of this simple image from The New Yorker cartoonist Ben Schwartz. Remembering the actor Alan Rickman, in this cartoon by @BentSchwartz: https://t.co/a35CPgUxLO pic.twitter.com/moUFpyl4SM — The New Yorker (@NewYorker) January 14, 2016 In tribute to Rickman's life and career, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney have announced they will be hosting a special screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on Sunday February 7. Tickets will cost $15, with $3 of every sale going to the Cancer Council NSW. The cinema is also hosting charity screenings of Labyrinth on January 29 and The Man Who Fell to Earth on January 31 in tribute to David Bowie.
Nailing set after set this year, tenth birthday-toting Laneway Festival should over-induldge in backpats this week, having delivered one slam dunk of a festival at Rozelle's Sydney College of the Arts on Sunday, February 1. Boasting the lineup likes of Flying Lotus, FKA twigs, Future Islands, Caribou and Mac DeMarco, Laneway chose alternative big guns over superheadliners — and it paid off. Measurable magic was eeking from the Red Bull Music Academy stage with soon-to-be-huge 18-year-old Raury kicking goals, Sydney favourites Seekae crisping up the joint with their newest album material, Vienna-based multi-instrumentalist SOHN adding tiny jigs to an epic early set, Adelaide's pocket rocket Tkay Maidza straight-up nailing it and all-round wizard Jon Hopkins cranking out the last huge set of the day. Sound was a huge issue for the RBMA stage, however, with bouncing acoustics preventing anyone further back than 20 or so metres hearing little at all. If you managed to nab floorspace in the sound pocket though, you'll be singing all the praises. Parkside, the main stages had the socials on fire. Casual face-melter Courtney Barnett delivered a predictably furious set, adding another band member to her live lineup and riding the wave of hype surrounding her recent debut album announce. New Orleans-based, Jack White-praised Benjamin Booker rewarded early festivalgoers with a hugely talked-about set, and UK modern soul collective Jungle had every last tootsie moving. But the DeMarcos undoubtedly stole the show. Super-hyped drawcard Mac DeMarco swayed, pashed and crowdsurfed through his slacker-rock set, joined onstage by about twenty of his buds (including a loveably lurking Kirin J Callinan) and introduced by his mum, Agnes — who had her own lineup billing and MCed the main stages like a straight-up boss. Major pulls FKA twigs and Future Islands split the crowd, occupying the very same timetable spot and equally pleasing crowds with their respective energies. FI lead singer Samuel T. Herring brought his chest-thumping, super-charged dance moves to the Mistletone stage, while FKA twigs pulled off mass hypnosis with powerfully can't-look-away presence and unfathomably sky-high vocals. Wrapping things up on the Mistletone, Flying Lotus delivered the goods on his Layer3 show, blowing weary minds with his 3D visuals. While ATMs broke by mid-afternoon and Mary's food lines were predictably lengthy, Laneway hit it out of the park for its tenth year running (ninth in Sydney). Lastly, a shoutout to the pair who climbed to the top of the tree at the Mistletone stage for Caribou's muted thumper of a set. You freaked the fuck out of security and probably are facing charges now, but by gum you made an entire crowd unbelievably jealous. Brave. Images: Andy Fraser Words: Shannon Connellan
William Onyeabor is perhaps the most mysterious man ever to have fused Afro-funk with space-age jams. After powering through the creation of eight albums over just as many years, he suddenly decided to stop talking — about himself or his music. However, it's a well-known fact that it takes an awful lot to 'stop the funk'. So, in what's certain to be one of the hands-down most epic musical events of Sydney Festival, an 18-strong band made up of artists from all over the world are getting together to jam on Onyeabor’s music at the Enmore Theatre. Led by Sinkane, Money Mark, Luke Jenner (The Rapture), Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) and Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), the performance will feature special guests in the form of Gotye and the legendary Mahotella Queens. Atomic Bomb! is one of our top ten events to see at the Sydney Festival. Check out our other picks over here.
After 15 years as a major player on the Sydney art scene, Brenda May Gallery shut its doors last December. But the team quickly reopened in March with a new identity, May Space, and a fresh direction at a shiny new Waterloo address, not far from the previous Danks Street location. Now showing in the new space is the fifth exhibition in their Introducing series, which presents the work of a small group of artists new to the gallery. This edition presents the work of five artists working across a range of mediums including painting, sculpture and video. Anna Glynn's Above and Below celebrates the elegant, complex rhythms of the natural world. Shane Drinkwater's paintings use repetitive mark making to create visual intensity. Matt Chun uses a variety of media to capture people and places. Painter Natasha Walsh explores the fragility of the individual through self-portraiture. Dai Lai's stoneware Waiting Room series is also featured, which is inspired by his experience of waiting rooms, which he says "are like gathering places for strangers, each with different motives, emotions and moods, either excitement and/or trepidation of an unknown future". If you haven't seen the new and improved May Space yet, now's your chance. Image: Dai Li, Waiting Room series (2017).
Melbourne artist Louise Hearman has won the Archibald Prize for her strike portrait of Australian comedian Barry Humphries. The award was bestowed today by the Art Gallery of New South Wales' board of trustees, with Hearman, a first time finalist, beating out 50 other finalists including Natasha Bieniek, Wendy Whiteley and Carla Fletcher to claim the $10,000 prize. "There was much deliberation and many worthwhile Archibald contenders, but Louise Hearman's portrait took centre-stage in the end," said board of trustees vice-president Mark Nelson. "It stood out as a portrait that truly captured the spirit of the sitter – she has caught Barry's sardonic smile brilliantly." Hearman's portrait, titled simply Barry, marks the sixth time that Humphries has sat for the Archibald – the first was back in 1969, when he was painted by artist John Brack as his iconic character Dame Edna Everage (below). "I'm the happiest girl in the world right now!" said Hearman. "Winning the Archibald is an extraordinary, extraordinary thing for an artist, but the best thing about the Archibald Prize really, is that it gets all artists in the public eye. Today is the one day each year artists eclipse sportsmen in the news!" Also announced were the finalists for the Wynne and Sulman Prizes. The former was awarded to family members Tjungkara Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin and Sandra Ken for their mural Seven Sisters, while the latter went to Esther Stewart for her painting Flatland Dreaming. The results mark the first time that all three awards have been won by female artists, with AGNSW director Michael Brand remarking that "the success of Louise Hearman, the Ken Sisters and Esther Stewart will be celebrated not just at the Art Gallery of New South Wales today but right around the country." All the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman finalists will be on display at AGNSW from July 16 until October 9.
Heads up, Sydney — it's almost that glorious time of the year when all your favourite burger shops join forces. Yep, the beloved Burgapalooza is back for 2019, taking over Parramatta's Prince Alfred Square Park for both lunch and dinner sessions on September 21 and 22. This year's lineup sees local legends like Mister Gee, Down N' Out, BL Burgers and Black Bear BBQ dishing up one-off creations to tempt the masses, with plenty of meat-free options to boot. There'll be joined by some star talent from further afield, too, including Brisbane's Fat Belly Jacks (and its Nashville hot chicken burger), Newcastle's Newy Burger Co and Burger Hounds from Wahroonga. You can make your burger even cheesier, by loading it up with cheese sauce from a free — yes, free — cheese fountain. Spice fans, on the other hand, can test their tastebuds over at a chilli eating competition. A selection of Coopers brews and Fireball whisky cocktails will be on offer, too, while a lineup of DJs play hip hop, funk and soul throughout the day. In between burgers, the fun continues with a Wipeout-style blow-up obstacle course, with winners scoring free burgers and Menulog vouchers. Burgapalooza will run from midday–4pm and 5–9pm on Saturday, September 22, and Sunday, September 23.
Flying Lotus has quite the hefty portfolio. Between collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock and Thundercat, the LA producer's five albums experiment with every last genre from hip hop to jazz. In between his own work, FlyLo has produced music for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, film scores and even has a radio station dedicated to his work on the video game Grand Theft Auto V. He also casually raps every now and again under the alias Captain Murphy. Heading our way for Laneway Festival, FlyLo will break out his 3D visual show Layer 3 — fully improvised live by his own graphics team — as part of Sydney Opera House's Music at the House summer program. FlyLo's visit down under will support the release of his 2014 album You’re Dead!, so things will inevitably get pretty frantic.
Lovers of cinema and hummus-fuelled picnics rejoice: this year's Moonlight Cinema season has finally arrived and it’s looking mighty good. The lineup features some of this year’s biggest new Hollywood releases alongside more demure titles, family favourites and age-old classics, so you can guarantee you’ll find something that piques your interest. Let’s start with the bigwigs. What better way to see the big releases of summer than outdoors on a balmy night? Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two and SPECTRE are all showing and (we’d imagine) best viewed under the stars. We’re also thrilled to see a fair whack of female-centric films in the lineup too, as well as an array of movies that cover hitherto taboo topics in the popular cinema circuit. Joy, starring everyone’s favourite human Jennifer Lawrence, follows the unconventional story of a mother of three as she builds a business empire in the ’90s; Suffragette is an important historical period drama about women’s fight for the vote in pre-war Britain and appropriately features a dreamy cast of unique and unapologetic women including Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter. We’ve also got The Danish Girl, featuring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, which explores the life of transgender artist Lili Elbe. Closer to home on Australia Day, we’ve got The Dressmaker, a montage of Kate Winslet looking hot and Liam Hemsworth looking filthy hot (maybe other things happen in the plot too but why would they bother?). And at the other end of the spectrum is the lighthearted comedy Sisters, featuring unstoppable duo Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But don’t think the gentlemen miss out. The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest Oscar bid, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (of Birdman fame) so you can guarantee it’ll be equally beautiful, dramatic and weird. And if you miss The Martian or missed Jurassic World in cinemas, you can catch them at Moonlight sessions too. As always Moonlight Cinema will be throwing back to classics: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing andGrease. Tickets are on sale now for the summer sessions so get booking lest you get stuck in front of Dirty Grandpa(yes, a film where you can see Robert Deniro making out with April Ludgate while Zac Efron wears a vast array of golfing sweaters — that is apparently showing too :/).
Summer is here, Christmas is coming and everyone's looking for a ticket out of the city — for a few days, when the holidays roll around; or for a longer stay, should an extended getaway be in your future. If enjoying scenic nature sights in comfort sounds like your idea of bliss, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting another pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve. It's Flash Camp's second stint on the site, after first enjoying the location's charms earlier in 2017. This time, they're sticking around not only through the Christmas and New Year period, but until May 30, 2018. If you can't make the 2.5-hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney (or thirty minutes from Nowra) this year, start planning next year's Easter vacation or sneaky weekender. The remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site is located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $130 to $240 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the esky full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from through until May 30. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney. By Marissa Ciampi and Sarah Ward.
Coffin Bay Oysters, charcoal pork neck and baklava with quince ice cream. These are just a few of the creatively decadent items you'll find on the menu at Marrickville's new Mediterranean joint, Barzaari. Having opened yesterday, Tuesday, July 13, on Addison Road, the restaurant and bar is a brand new venture from chef Darryl Martin, whose resume includes the casually high-flying likes of Quay, Foveaux, and 3 Weeds. In other words, our expectations are pretty damn high. Co-owned by Martin along with friend Andrew Jordanou, the look and feel of the restaurant is inspired by — you guessed it — a bazaar, complete with exposed brick walls, charcoal pit and wood-fire oven. Diners will be greeted with artwork by local artist Jack Egan, along with the scent of Cypriot coffee cooked in heated sand. Once seated, visitors will have their run of the menu, most of which is designed to be shared. Start with snacks such as lamb's breast with cracked spices, sheep's yoghurt and black olive oil, before moving onto small plates like loukaniko (pork sausage) with silverbeet, mustard, fennel and roasted grapes. The mains are similarly appetising, and range from swordfish served in vine leaf to Spencer Gulf woodfired prawns. And for dessert — assuming you're somehow not tempted by the aforementioned baklava — try buttermilk custard with aniseed and apple tea granita. At the bar, meanwhile, you'll find a healthy selection of cocktails, along with a wine list curated by sommelier Dennis Roman. Three words: bring it on. Barzaari is located at 65-69 Addison Road, Marrickville. For more information visit barzaari.com.au.
Surry Hills' beloved fried chicken joint, Butter, has launched a guest chef ramen series for the eighth consecutive year. Once again, you can head into Butter for noodle-starring soupy goodness curated by RAFI, Bella Brutta and Rising Sun Workshop chefs. [caption id="attachment_953532" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] This year, the six-month lineup kicks off just in time for winter, with its first residency starting from Wednesday, May 1. For 28 days, you'll be able to order an invention combining a creamy tonkatsu ramen base with thick noods, tomato, sesame, chilli oil and the star of the dish, yellowfin tuna from RAFI. This creation is helmed by Applejack Group's Patrick Friesen (ex-Bopp & Tone, June's Shoppe, Hester's, The Butler, SoCal, Forrester's; currently RAFI and Taphouse Sydney) and will be available until Tuesday, May 28. Plus, you're able to pair this limited-edition dish with an iced maple green tea spiked with Chivas Regal and containing aloe jelly for $14, or you can opt for the combo deal of ramen and the exclusive drink pairing for $40. Plus, you can still enjoy all of Butter's popular menu items alongside your ramen bowl. The June edition is one that's close to Butter's Executive Chef Julian Cincotta's heart. Returning to the menu is the creation of Ume Burger's Kerby Craig. The dish is making a comeback to pay homage to the talented chef, putting a classic Ume spin on the original ramen. Expect a bowl starring tori miso ramen with Butter's chicken broth base, corn, black onion and nori, which you can order from Wednesday, May 29–Monday, June 24. Third on the lineup is Cincotta's own invention. The world-famous fried chicken ramen will be resurrected to join the menu, starring the joint's crowd-pleasing fried chicken, and will be available from Tuesday, June 25–Monday, July 29. Following this long-awaited dish will be creations from Luke Powell (ex-Bella Brutta, LP's Quality Meats), which'll take over the menu from Tuesday, July 30–Monday, August 26; a Nick Smith (Rising Sun Workshop) bowl from Tuesday, August 27–Monday, September 23, and a Matt Lindsey (Ester/Poly) menu takeover for the event's final run from Tuesday, September 24–Monday, October 21. The ramen club event runs on a first-in, first-serve basis — with only a certain amount of bowls dished up daily — so you'll want to opt for an early dinner. All of these limited-edition dishes are only available in-store, so you'll need to head into the Surry Hills venue to slurp through the selection.
It’s hard to believe that triple j was born in the same year that Gough Whitlam copped the old heave-ho as PM. The beloved radio station began its life as 2JJ back in 1975, with a broadcast that served the Sydney metropolitan area only. Four decades on, it's become the nation's chief music tastemaker, and (thankfully) hasn't wavered from its commitment to homegrown tunes. At Sydney Festival, triple j will celebrate its 40th birthday with a gargantuan, seven-hour long shindig, featuring performances from friends new and old, including Vance Joy, The Presets, Ball Park Music, The Preatures, Hilltop Hoods, Tkay Maidza, You Am I, The Cat Empire, Courtney Barnett, Remi, Nina Las Vegas, KLP, Adalita and more. If you're a never-fail triple j listener, you won't want to hear about this one on Saturday morning radio — get there. Beat the Drum is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Festival. Check out our other favourite events over here.
Uber's international developments are going gangbusters of late, after launching free breathalyzers in Canada, possibly slashing UberX prices in Western Australia, and launching its first ever cash-only service — a brand new auto-rickshaw option available in Delhi. Uber users in Delhi can book a rickshaw through the mobile app — you just don't have to punch in your destination — before paying in cash without extra commission charges. Drivers are apparently being trained not to refuse bookings. For regular Uber cabs, it's still electronic payment as usual. And as always, Uber users can rate their auto driver on the app, and vice versa. Sure, there's already an auto-rickshaw booking service called Ola in Delhi, and sure, it's a PR attempt to steer Uber Delhi's recently less-than-great reputation back into clear waters, but it's one that will hopefully boost job security and facilitate generally more organised and safe auto-rickshaw service in the capital for both drivers and passengers. Can't argue with that. There's just over 100,000 auto-rickshaws in Delhi (actually one of the lowest rickshaw populations in the country, something the Delhi government is trying to up), so this could really shake up the local transport industry for the Indian capital. Via Economic Times.
Look, there's been a lot of big talk thrown around gelato forums in the last few years. Everyone's favourite cold treat is a certainly a divisive topic in Sydney, and there's an unsung Italian hero in the Messina/Cow and the Moon dominated ranks. RivaReno, whose original gelateria in Darlinghurst serves up some of the best pistachio gelato in the business, have been so quietly successful in the iced confection game they've announced a second location — the fresh foodie hotspot Barangaroo. RivaReno has won a whole swathe of awards in Italy (including 'Best Gelato in Italy' from independent food guide Golosaria — not too shabby) and it's not hard to taste why. They make their gelato fresh in house every day and will soon expand the menu to include crepes and waffles (which are not technically Italian but our mouths are filling with drool so they get a pass on that one), bombolini, Mecca coffee and Italian hot chocolate. For those of you who haven't tried it, Italian hot chocolate can be likened to hot, rich cake mix. Get excited. Get very excited. In the overhaul, the OG headquarters is getting a makeover as well. Think dark finishings, pristine marble slabs and state of the art gelato equipment to keep your gelato the perfect temperate. Bellissimo. RivaReno marks yet another foodie opening to look forward to at Barangaroo, joining the likes of The Rabbit Hole, Banskii and Bentley, also opening this year. Find RivaReno Barangaroo at Shop 4, 33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. Open all week from 12pm to 9pm. Images: Nikki To.
You're at a dinner party. Chats are going strong, your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving has been deconstructed, Australia's latest novelty dessert trend raved about. Then someone brings out a new bottle of red. "Pinot noir?" your host casually offers. Sweat beads form, hearts race, eyes shift. Without warning, the pop culture fiends in the room explode. "CAVIAR." "MID-SIZED CAR." "SMOKE A CIGAR." "MYANMAR." The Kimmy Schmidt fans in the house have been unveiled — and if you're one of those, we've got some solid news for you. Ready? Tituss Burgess, well known as Kimmy's roommate Titus Andromedon in the highly popular series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, stole hearts worldwide with his unforgettable masterpiece of an "ode to black penis", 'Peeno Noir'. Now, Burgess is releasing his own pinot noir, an actual wine called Pinot by Tituss. Announced on Instagram this week, Pinot by Tituss will sell for US$24.99 a bottle online. Unfortunately they're only shipping to the US so far, but if you have American mates who could send it over, you can preorder the pinot noir and smoke a cigar right now. The bottles will be shipped after March 14. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt returns on April 15, and if you're drinking anything else, au revoir. Via Refinery29.
In case you were lacking in things to furiously rant about at the pub later, let's fill you in on the newest, stupidest, frankly concerning health fad skulking into reality. Are you ready? It's called Fat Water. Yep, fat-infused water. Created by founder of Bulletproof Coffee (yep, the coffee that uses butter instead of milk) Dave Asprey, Fat Water isn't just adding a scoop o' lard to your Mount Franklin. According to Grub Street, Asprey is assuring us all that the bottles function instead as an energy booster without a sugar crash, mixing two grams of coconut oil (which is apparently about a tenth of your daily saturated fat) with regular water. So, you guessed it, it's basically oily water. Taste testers likened it to liquid soap. So how the heck is this healthy? Apparently the coconut oil enhances what's known as thermogenesis — a big ol' scientific word for the process of burning fat. The water apparently burns energy and also has an appetite-suppression effect, which quite honestly rings a few warning bells. Sounds like your one-way ticket to intensifying an eating disorder, frankly. Whether or not Fat Water takes off remains to be seen — but with the cheeky $9 million Silicon Valley bandwagon-jumpers poured into Bulletproof Coffee, and the desperate measures people will take to get some form of unattainable 'bikini body', this could be a scarily popular item. Fat Water is now available in the US only, exclusive to Dave Asprey's Bulletproof cafes and a few LA health stores. And stay there. Via Grub Street.
Sydney's love affair with burgers is in no danger of slowing down. Yet another American-style burger joint is set to open, this time in Balmain on November 25. Meet Burgerhood — the new venture from the team behind popular Sydney haunts Grandma's Bar, The Wild Rover and Wilhelmina's, and their first step into the burger business. Located on a familiar Darling Street spot, they've split the space that Wilhelmina's wine bar currently occupies in half. On one side, Wilhelmina's will continue to serve the seasonal share plates and boutique wines that it's known for. On the other, Burgerhood will focus on the ever-popular American fare, complete with potato buns. The menu features a flagship American-style 'Hood Burger', as well as an intriguing Bloody Mary burger, fries, shakes and two salads. That all sounds fairly standard, but the team are confident they can deliver what they're dubbing "the best burger in Sydney, let alone Balmain". Big call, but they've done their research, feasting for months on burgers from here to Chicago (lucky them). There's also vegan, fish and gluten-free options, plus soda, beer and wine. To hit the post-burger sweet spot, Pats and Sticks Ice Cream will be on offer, but there's also an enticing alternative. Harping back to those golden Happy Meal days, every dine-in customer will also receive a free soft serve cone that you pour yourself on your way out. For a gold coin donation, you can double it, with the proceeds donated to nearby primary school Nicholson Street Public. Well, if it's for the kids… Plus, to celebrate the store's opening, Burgerhood will be giving out 700 free burgers across its opening weekend. We suggest getting in bang-on midday. Find Burgerhood at Shop 1/332, Darling Street, Balmain from Saturday, November 25. It will give out 700 free burgers on November 25 and 26. For further information, visit burgerhood.com.au. Images: Letícia Almeida.
Have you ever tried to do yoga with a pet around? They're a bloody nuisance, getting up in your face during Downward Dog, tickling your ankles in Warrior Two, nuzzling in while you're taking some much-needed Child's Pose time. But perhaps you're all for a little fluffball in your grill in Baby Cobra pose. Rest assured, you're not the only one. Joining cat yoga classes around the globe, New York City's only cat cafe (yep, they've surprisingly only got one permanent spot after this pop-up) has introduced kitty yoga classes. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane cat cafes, take note. Lower East Side cat cafe Meow Parlour has launched yoga classes instore, letting humans and Kitty Kind rescue felines find their centre. They're taking cues from an Illinois cat shelter, who started cat-flanked yoga classes as a creative strategy to boost adoption rates. All this extra harmonious time spent with the kitties will hopefully encourage you to adopt one of your zen little friends. Let's be clear here, the cats aren't doing yoga in these classes. That would be genuinely incredible, but no, you're doing the yoga, and the kitties will scurry around your Three-Legged Dog pose. Meow Parlour's hour and a half sessions are structured as 45 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of cool-down and 30 minutes of kitty snuggles (way more feline time than a usual cat cafe visit). "One of the funny things about cats is that the more you ignore them, the more curious they are about you," Meow Parlour co-owner Christina Ha told Yoga Dork. "Our instructor, Amy, loves getting the students to do animal poses as it feels very appropriate to start off with a cat pose in an environment surrounded by cats. We like to think that visiting Meow Parlour is great for reducing your stress level and reinvigorating your soul, and yoga just seems like an extension of that." If this ever comes to Australian cat cafes, a little tip from the Meow Parlour crew: cats do leave claw marks on the mat. If you're in NYC or planning a trip soon, you can find Meow Parlour at 46 Hester Street, Manhattan. MP's yoga classes are held on Tuesdays at 3pm. Check the website for details or too book a class. Via Yoga Dork. Images: Lisa Cee (Flickr CC), Ethan Covey, Meow Parlour.
Getting down to your local for a nice cold beer is now as easy as pushing a button. As part of a new marketing campaign, Czech beer company Kozel has devised the Tap Out button, which when pressed will summon a taxi to ferry you to the nearest pub. Could this be the greatest scientific innovation of the modern age? Until Dominoes rolls out that pizza robot of theirs, we reckon it might just be. The buttons, of which there are three, will be made available via twitter. All beer lovers need to do is mention a mate and use the hashtag #PushforPub, and they could soon be on their way to the closest establishment that serves Kozel. What's more, there'll be two pints waiting for them on arrival. Pretty crafty. The button is good for three uses, at which point it presumably self-destructs, Mission: Impossible-style. Now the bad news: for the time being at least, the Tap Out buttons are only available in the UK, although according to PSFK, there's a chance more will be made available if the initial campaign is successful. And frankly, how could it not be. Rest assured, we'll let you know if they make it down to our part of the world. Until then, it looks like you're stuck with walking. https://vimeo.com/175340774 Via PSFK.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the art is so delightful in Sydney this month. Well, delightful isn't exactly the word we'd pick if we weren't stretching a popular culture reference to suit our needs. Let's say... challenging. Bold. Highly astute. Nec-level. Find your way to Sydney's best galleries this July for a glimpse into the posthuman future, a peek into Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's volatile relationship, or a dreamy landscape of photographs actually designed to make you relax.
On Friday, November 9, make going out for dinner about more than just a meal — make it a cooking class as well. Flavours of Auburn is combining the two at its session dedicated to vegan Ethiopian cuisine. You'll learn the basics, help prepare the food and then, yes, you'll get to tuck in. Tickets cost $70 — or $45 for students and concessions, and $50 if you live in the area — which includes everything you'll need to cook up and then feast upon. It also includes drinks, in a class that's designed to make you feel like you're in someone's house. And as for who'll be leading the charge, Flavours of Auburn's sessions are overseen by cooks from ASCON and House of Welcome. Bookings are essential, and must be made before 4pm on Wednesday, November 7. Vegan Ethiopian fare is just one type of cuisine on Flavours of Auburn's regular cooking class menu, with other Friday night sessions dedicated to Pakistani and Afghani food — and more.
There's a gallery in Sydney's eastern suburbs whose artists and curators never pack up and go home. They are home. Welcome to Le Petit Bateau, an eastern suburbs art community with a backyard that's a grown-up culture playground. Without knowing the location of this little art haven, you could easily assume it was nestled in the streets of Kreuzberg in Berlin or Montmartre in Paris, rather than tucked away in the sunny streets of Bondi Beach. Just around the corner from the main road is a little sign welcoming you to Le Petit Bateau. Blink and you’ll miss it. Le Petit Bateau celebrates local creatives, housing art, dance and cooking classes. Home to 25 people residing in six flats, it functions as both a communal living and art space. Anne-Sophie Ridelaire is the curator behind this venture. Six months after coming across the space in Sydney and settling into the life of the complex, she and her boyfriend, Gaetano Russo, decided to convert an old garage into a multipurpose art studio and gallery, open to everyone in the community who wants to view and participate in art, with an emphasis on combining the cultural and social. “When I was in Paris, I was working for an art gallery, [and] my dream was to open a space like this where people can come and feel free to see the artwork,” she says. Everything you see is recycled, from the couches to the decorations — all bits and bobs collected from the street. Fitting in perfectly with the community's nautical name, an old boat donated by the Pyrmont Heritage Boating Club stands prominently at the entrance. “All this we found stuff on the street, so we don’t spend much," she says. "[We wanted] to show people that you can build something with nothing.” Art being accessible is at the heart of Le Petit Bateau, evidenced by the open door policy. The classes, the jam sessions, the art — it’s all for free. Anne-Sophie sees it as important to overcome the dissonant idea that art is reserved for the upper classes. She sees Le Petit Bateau as an important opportunity to reach out to people through art and to encourage dialogue across cultures. In keeping with that, the current exhibition is The Big Picture, an international photography exchange as part of the Month of Photography in Denver, Colorado. The Big Picture involves photographers from all around the world displaying their prints inside galleries and on the streets. Anne-Sophie has been working on this project for a year now. Along with five talented local photographers, she has recently returned from six weeks in Europe, in which she and her team pasted their photographs all around the streets of Lyon, Strasbourg, Rome, Sicily and Milan. Sydney is among many other cities participating in the project, alongside Perth, Paris, Vienna, Portland, Denver, Berlin, London, Mexico City and Buenos Aires. “It is an exchange of culture through photography, and the idea is to go around cities and to pass these pictures along,” she says. Working with a gallery in Sicily, the team pasted a photo of a shark at the local fish market, which attracted a crowd of observers. “The fishermen were like, 'What is that? Is it a shark? Is it real?'” she recalls. “This kind of conversation starts, and this is exactly what the project is about.” At the moment, the photos are pasted around the gallery. Her next step is to post some of these attention-grabbing works around the streets of Sydney. The success of Sydney’s Le Petit Bateau has inspired a similar projects in Anne-Sophie’s hometown of Lyon in France, as well as in Sicily in Italy. Despite that, she is not sure if the current Bondi Beach site will remain the home of Le Petit Bateau; she views its current form as a trial. Mindful that Bondi is a residential neighbourhood, she hopes to expand somewhere where there are fewer limitations. Watching Le Petit Bateau inject a bit of Paris into the streets of Sydney has been very welcome. And it would appear that the admiration is mutual. “Sydney is a sharing place, and there’s so many different cultures in Sydney, it’s beautiful," she says. "It’s a cosmopolitan city, and it’s important to create connection between each culture, to not have gates.” The Big Picture exhibition will be running at Le Petit Bateau until May 28. To keep up to date with all their events, check out their Facebook page. Images by Bodhi Liggett.
In the lead-up to the festive season, Sydney's weekend nights are set to become that little bit safer with the introduction of a volunteer-run 'Safe Space'. Between 10pm and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, the World Square-based area will be staffed with Salvation Army volunteers, who'll provide help to anyone who needs support — be it in the form of water, first aid, telephone calls or advice on how to get home. At the same time, the volunteers — who’ve been dubbed Take Kare Ambassadors — will be patrolling CBD entertainment precincts. They’ll keep an eye out for vulnerable individuals, offering assistance on the spot and, if need be, directing them towards the Safe Space. The initiative is a collaboration between the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, the City of Sydney and the New South Wales Police. It will be piloted for three months, before its permanency is determined. "There are currently no prevention services in place to assist young people who are ejected from venues due to being too intoxicated, and they can end up on the street in a vulnerable state with the potential of becoming either a victim or an offender," Mr. Kelly said in a media statement. "Tonight all that changes. Many parents will owe so much to the Take Kare Ambassadors, but few will ever know that their son or daughter got home safely because a team of people volunteered their time to come to their children’s side when they needed it the most." "It’s vital that we do everything we can to calm Sydney’s streets and curb alcohol-related violence," added the Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "The City will continue to work with NSW Police and the NSW Government to create the safest possible environment we can for young people out at night. This program will play a pivotal role in helping intoxicated young people in the city sober up, seek assistance from a responsible adult and get home safely late at night." The Safe Space trial is one of several moves by the City of Sydney to boost safety. Others include temporary toilets at Town Hall, Whitlam Square, Taylor Square and Springfield Mall, which will be open between 10pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights until next March; extended opening hours for the City’s info kiosks (until 9pm); the addition of crowd control barriers to the Bayswater Road taxi rank between 9pm and 6am on Saturday nights; and the installation of variable message signs in the CBD and Kings Cross, conveying safety and transport information. Image: Luke Reynolds.
Winter schminter, let's party on the roof. There's a new weekly rooftop shindig in town, brought to you every Saturday night by the crew behind Aussie electronic label etcetc (repping the likes of Kilter, Paces and Set Mo). After their sold-out slam dunk of a Vivid showcase, etcetc have found themselves a nice little CBD rooftop, Taylor's Social, atop the 1865 heritage listed Republic Hotel on Bridge Street — accessible from a laneway entrance on Tank Stream Way. And it's going to be pretty; there's going to be a commissioned installation from Australian-born artist Anthony Lister making a modern party spot of the heritage-listed building, handpicked for their weekly DANCEetc. party. The music policy? All things house. Featuring a solid roster of up-and-coming talent, DANCEetc. will launch on July 18 with the likes of Set Mo, POOLCLVB, Acaddamy, LO’99 and Frames locked in for the first couple of weeks. Pair your deep house with fancy wines picked out by the crew's sommelier and botanical cocktails aplenty. DANCEetc will kick off at 8pm on July 18 atop the Republic Hotel, corner of Bridge Street and Tank Stream Way. For more info, visit etcetc. Image: POOLCLVB.
By now you've been to (or at least heard about) Holey Moley, the mini-golf bar that has taken over the Newtown Social Club space — which, for some, has been a sad sight to see. And now the putt putt empire is adding another Sydney venue to its ever-growing family, bringing its signature novelty combo of multi-sensory mini-golf, karaoke and booze to Castle Hill. Set to open its doors within Castle Towers Shopping Centre at the end of November, Holey Moley's seventh iteration will feature 18 uniquely themed holes, across two indoor courses, as well as a private karaoke room, where you can give those vocal chords a post-putt workout. But as an added bonus, this sprawling venue also boasts ten bowling lanes and its own escape room — Holey Moley is owned by FunLabs, which is the group behind Strike Bowling. Plus, it'll have a sports bar, complete with private booths and a plethora of screens. Here, you'll be able to order beer by the stein, goblet or tower, along with signature cocktails and snacks like hot dogs and loaded fries. The Castle Hill launch is expected to be well-received — both because the Newtown venue has been hugely popular and because the Castle Towers location is a little less culturally sacred (that is, not a legendary live music venue). It follows just a few weeks after the opening of Holey Moley's recent Newcastle addition. A 27-hole Perth venue is also set to open this month, with another slated for Queensland's Sunshine Coast next year. Find Holey Moley & Strike Bowling at Castle Towers, The Piazza, 6-14 Castle Street, Castle Hills, from November 30. For more info, visit holeymoley.com.au.
This not-so-secret garden is, without a doubt, one of Sydney's most beautiful green spaces. Created by Wendy Whiteley, the widow of acclaimed Australian artist Brett Whiteley, the garden is a gorgeous testament to heartbreak and renewal. Channeling her grief into an artistic project, Wendy slowly transformed the abandoned railway dump in front of her home into what is now a public garden. With winding paths, benches, sculptures, and sweeping views over the harbour, this little slice of paradise offers a welcome respite from the chaos of the city. The garden's many quiet corners also make it the perfect place for a quiet picnic, or a little alone time. Image: Martin7d2 via Flickr.
For most Australians, buying a kebab is like brushing your teeth. Everyone does it, most people have their own techniques or preferences but no one ever seems to talk about it — it’s just something that you do. But as commonplace as the mighty kebab is in this country, it’s odd that such a visible and popular part of our food culture has largely gone untold. Ufuk Bozoglu and his family have been making kebabs for more than 20 years. He started when he was seven in his mum and dad’s kebab shop in Westmead. Now he runs Oz Turk Jr, the offspring and namesake of the now defunct CBD kebabery which recently hosted SBS’s Kebab Kings documentary. As far as the kebab industry goes Bozoglu’s seen everything. “You have a lot of memories. I'm lucky a lot of my customers are regulars. Even the students after they finish, they come and visit me.” Bozoglu says most of his regular customers have his phone number. “Yesterday I had to go do something for SBS and I got all these calls, 'Why aren't you at work? Where are you? We came down, where are you? Are you coming tomorrow? We'll come this time, be there.'” It hasn’t all been happy memories though. He tells us about the death of one of the homeless men his family looked after, and another time where he chased a group of people down the street with kebab knives after they had king-hit an elderly man on the street. “I went and got the kebab knife, they were just there laughing. I said fucking wait for me I'm going to kill yous all. Mate, they started running,” he says with a chuckle. “The cops came and got me instead. ‘What are you doing with the kebab knife?’ ‘Oh I was cutting kebabs I forgot it in my hand’.” Then there’s New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras and St Patrick’s Day. “There were times me and mum worked 24 hours. It’s quiet then it hits one and you're smashed till nine. You can't breathe, you can't think, you’re sweating. We used to go through 60kg of just chicken in a couple of hours.” He has no regrets though. “People go, ‘Oh it's drunk food for when it's 3am’. I don't find it that way. Every kebab and every store is a little bit different,” he says. “I love the kebab industry. Hopefully I can stay as long as I can.” BOZOGLU’S PERFECT KEBAB: Bozoglu says the most important thing is freshness. The meat has to come in every morning, the hommus, garlic and chili sauces need to be homemade each day and nothing can be reheated, frozen or reused. The meat itself can’t be overcooked he says, to keep it tender and juicy “You have to be always be on it, cutting it, always cooking. It will take you three to four hours to cook a whole beef kebab.” Style-wise he likes to mix it up a bit but his all-time favourite is lamb. “I like lamb kebabs with lettuce, tomato, onion, chili and garlic sauce. I think you can't beat that.” Hommus he says is for falafel, lamb should be eaten the classic way. Bozoglu makes and toasts his own bread to order but he says toasting isn’t essential. Visit Oz Turks Jr at 245 Abercrombie Street, Redfern. Kebab Kings airs over three weeks, beginning Wednesday 25 November, 8.30pm on SBS.
From the slew of wine bars popping up around Sydney to dedicated celebrations like Huge Moves and Pinot Palooza, vino is having a real moment. Wine has been receiving a tonne of local appreciation, and the love just keeps pouring in. Online wine retailer Different Drop is reaching its decade milestone and to celebrate it'll be hosting a huge wine-tasting event at Sydney's Paddington Town Hall. Wine UNLEASHED! is taking over the hall from 2–5pm on Saturday, October 14, bringing an extraordinary lineup of 200-plus artisanal wines, plenty of top-notch wine importers and over 40 local wineries pouring their best drops. Cult producers like Dr. Edge, Ravensworth, Luke Lambert, Giant Steps and Brash Higgins will all be in attendance — plus, the selection of drinks will be accompanied by some inviting snacks to enjoy as you taste your way through the afternoon. [caption id="attachment_917031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Different Drop co-founders Tom Hollings (left) and Brett Ketelbey (right).[/caption] The event will celebrate ten years since the birth of Different Drop and the beginning of its mission to make artisan wine more accessible and easier to enjoy for all of the vino lovers of Australia. The online retailer is now referred to as a "digital wine playground" by its co-founders, offering up a massive selection of hand-crafted drinks. If you've been hoping to get in touch with some of Australia's leading producers or to discover an array of sips, new and old, this is shaping up to be the ultimate chance to do so. Wine UNLEASHED! is expecting to see upwards of 400 guests swing through the doors to sample the exclusive drops on the event's stacked program, so you'll want to secure your spot quickly. Tickets to Different Drop's tenth birthday bash are $90, which includes all of your win samples and snacks for the day. Head over to Different Drop's Wine UNLEASHED! event page to secure your spot.
Semi Permanent, Australia's three-day touring seminar that covers big ideas around design, tech, digital landscapes and the future of the internet, has a straight-up cray-cray 2016 lineup featuring speakers from Google, Uber, Netflix and Facebook. If you're in the market for some solid advice from the new generation of entrepreneurs, this is the event for you (you know you're growing up when the idea of a three-day seminar is more exciting than the idea of a three-day music festival, hey). Carriageworks is hosting the epic annual event in May and while tickets are a little pricey ($340 for a general admission single day ticket), but they always roll out mind-boggling content and installations — plus, the networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold. The theme of 2016 is the future of the internet/technology and the future of travel with two panels dedicated to the exploration of both themes. Speakers will include Hector Ouilhet (head of design research at Google), Dantley Davis (design director at Netflix), Jurgen Spangl (head of design at Atlassian), Ethan Eismann (director of product design at Uber), Jon Lax (director of product design at Facebook) alongside a whole slew of tech wizards an industry bigwigs. They'll be ready and waiting to answer your important questions, like is Steven Avery innocent, is uber legal and does Facebook read my messages. Or, you know, better questions. You'll hear from people who turned their ideas into thriving businesses that challenge the status quo and may just inspire you to pursue that tight app idea you have. The National Institute of Dramatic Art will be there too, hosting workshops on building confidence and engagement when in front of an audience (this will definitely come in handy if you ever have to do a TED talk, which we all will at some point because you're awesome).
If you’ve been missing the Festivalists’ best-known night about town, Jurassic Lounge, it’s been a long time between drinks. Their pioneering play-plus-edification mainstay at the Australian Museum slipped into indefinite hiatus with its extinction events late last year, leaving Festivalist fans to explore the film festivals, festival hub and Mayhem that make up part of their wider repertoire. This September, though, they’re adding more museum to their CV with a Lounge-like excursion to Darling Harbour: Hijinks. Hijinks sees the Festivalists take over the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for three separate nights across September, October and November. And this time they’re going with the nautical theme. On arrival, attendees will be handed a treasure map which will help them to find a treasure chest over the course of the night. But to get to it you’ll need to complete a series of challenges. Says Festivalist director Matt Ravier, “The challenges take the form of riddles and photo challenges that you might complete by taking a photo with your phone, for example.” Helping you work out what to do will be a series of actors, performers and actual scientists scattered around the building. These challenges are optional. There’ll still be plenty of scope in the evening for just a drink and a bit of hanging out. But the treasure map is all about making good with this new space, after switching from a space like the Australian Museum’s interlocking rooms to the Aquarium’s path-like layout. The Festivalists try to look at each new venue with fresh eyes. When you first scope one out, Ravier says, you try to “leave all preconceived ideas and expectations at the door, and you’ll re-experience the venue almost as a child.” So, for Hijinks guests, “rather than just have a party, which we can do pretty much anywhere, they’ll be interacting with improv comedians, performers, artists, but also marine biologists throughout their journey through the Aquarium and getting clues from them that will lead them to the treasure chest, with a chance, of course, to win its contents.” This time, says Ravier, “the whole experience is designed as a journey, rather than a free-for-all invitation to disperse and be at a certain place at a certain time.” Which also means it’s laid out a bit like one-way system. “Although people who come regularly will start discovering short cuts and secret passages that allow them to move more freely than they thought they could.” And it won’t just be the people; the point of getting to explore at the Aquarium is to get a better look at that marine life on show. “I guess, with Hijinks, we’re bringing the party to the wildlife," says Ravier. "So, it’ll be an interesting kind of meeting, audiences and marine biology.” Is it hard to plan around fish? They’ve planned around the animals, but Ravier’s not too concerned about the prospect of mixing people with fish tanks. “It’s actually quite easy, because the space has already been designed with that in mind. The tanks etcetera have been built in such a way as to protect the animals from external noise and stimuli. It simply means that we won’t have loud music in certain spaces, that we have to be careful about bass and vibrations from the bass if we have a DJ playing.” Opening night, Thursday, September 11, sees a pirate theme. Highlights will include Tom Christophersen's radio-transmitted storytelling, puppet cabaret from Defy and tattoo-drawing lessons from tattooist Jimmy Memento. Not to mention the chance to hear divers at the Aquarium talk about rescuing grey nurse sharks in the wild, a little underwater art and maybe some extra underwater activities. “I think what underpins pretty much everything that we do is access," says Ravier. "So the idea of providing access to culture, or to collections, or to artistically or culturally valuable experiences.” And like most people he asked, Ravier says that for him, before Hijinks, the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium had been a place he mainly just took overseas visitors. But now he thinks Hijinks “could be a chance to almost reappropriate the aquarium for Sydney locals as a fantastic space that’s right on our doorstep.”
Looks like Justin Hemmes will be staying put at the Coogee Pavilion, as the Merivale king and landlord David Kingston have reached an "in-principle settlement" today after Hemmes faced possible eviction from the property in May. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the ownership of the Pavilion will be transferred to Hemmes — but that's really all we've got to go with. "It's been satisfactorily resolved ... It's been a good day," said Hemmes after the hearing, without any elaboration on the agreement. The monarch of Merivale, Hemmes could have kicked out of his most successful venture in years when he faced possible eviction from the Coogee Pavilion by his landlord in May. According to SMH and documents lodged in the Supreme Court, Coogee Pavilion owner David Kingston, ex-managing director of investment bank Rothschild, issued termination notices after late rent and "unauthorised works", namely the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop and the barbershop downstairs. According to the SMH, Hemmes sought to buy the Coogee Pavilion (formerly the Beach Palace) from Kingston last March. The pair agreed on $37 million and Kingston required Hemmes to pay the whole sum in two years. Hemmes deposited $5 million (treated as an option fee) and the rent (a cheeky $1.5 million per year) was considered interest on the remaining $32 million. Hemmes then poured $12 million into the refurbishment of the Coogee Pavilion and launched in July 2014. But all seems to have gone pear-shaped after Hemmes was allegedly two days late with rent in January 2015. After failing to pay rent on Saturday, January 3, Kingston issued Hemmes a termination notice on January 5, on which Hemmes paid the rent. So rent was paid, albeit late. Apparently this two-day delay would have set Kingston back $85.74, which seems teeny compared to the $1.5 million rental fee, but money's money. Fairfax reports that Hemmes lodged a caveat on the Coogee Pavilion the very next day, claiming he had an "equitable interest" in the property — and after pouring $12 million and the hefty Merivale brand into the joint, we can't blame him. But Kingston wasn't just angry about late rent. Apparently the owner didn't know about "blatant and unauthorised works" happening at the Pavilion — the new and highly publicised Coogee Pavilion Rooftop, opened in December 2014. After claiming Hemmes hadn't clued him into the nature of the rooftop renovations, Kingston issued a second termination notice. Then Kingston claimed further breaches — he apparently didn't know Hemmes was operating a barbershop on the premises — and issued a third termination notice. Hemmes is biting back on this one, saying Kingston actually attended the opening of the downstairs section in July 2014 and the Rooftop in December. Someone check that security footage already. Three notices in a month is serious stuff, so Hemmes is took action in the Supreme Court. Fairfax reports Hemmes sought an injunction to prevent being kicked out of the Pavilion, and looked to reinstate the call option to buy the Pavilion from Kingston, who was refusing to refund Hemmes' $5 million deposit. It's unclear how much of Hemmes remaining $35 million he'll have to pay, but regardless, he's keeping his beloved Pavilion. To the oyster bar! Via the Sydney Morning Herald.
Summer has come to Sydney Harbour, with the return of the Sydney Opera House's Summer Playground. For the fourth year in a row, the sun-soaked western forecourt and foyers will play host to a range of activities and pop-up dining experiences, all inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of an Italian Riviera. Open 9am until late, seven days a week, from now through to the very last day of January, this year's Summer Playground has been christened 'Salsedine,' an Italian word that describes the feeling of salt on your skin. There'll be free afternoon sessions featuring locals DJs and acoustic acts, plus on-site activations including a pop-up Chandon bar. Veteran chef Lauren Murdoch has taken care of the summer menu, which includes a number of salads, paninis and antipasto plates, as well as pizzas, grilled calamari and oysters with lemon. In the beverage department you can sip on a variety of beers, wines, bubbles and digestifs, along with a handful of classic and custom made cocktails. On top of all that, Bennelong Restaurant are currently operating a pop-up balcony bar, while Opera Bar are running twice weekly breakfast and yoga sessions – although all the spots to the latter have already sold out. Taking full advantage of the summer sun, The Opera House has also extended its tour hours for January, giving you some extra time to explore what's going on back stage. For more information about summer happenings at The Opera House, go here.
Your life is about to be filled with hand-knitted wine bags, minimalist bean bags and slick storage options. Japanese design and homewares retailer MUJI has opened its very first flagship store in New South Wales — the third MUJI in Australia. Opening on May 14 at 500 George Street, the huge 1344sqm corner space is located on level one of The Galeries (where the old Freedom Furniture was) — counting Kinokuniya, Incu and Sushi Hotaru as friendly new neighbours. If you're a bit vague on MUJI, they're a Japanese brand all up in simple, elegant homewares and consumer goods with an eco-friendly aim to reduce packaging. The company's Japanese name, 'Mujirushi Ryohin' means 'no brand quality goods', so we're talking no-name, minimal packaging products — everything from apparel and accessories, to furniture and homewares, stationery and skincare products, bedding and travel goods. Yep, they're into covering all bases with a stripped back simplicity similar to IKEA. We're keen on their Body Fit Cushion for autumn snuggling: And MUJI's classic crisp-as-furk weekendy fashion ranges: And these cute as hell 2009 MUJI penguin bowling pins clearly made for children but shoosh y'face you're not the boss of us: This is the first NSW MUJI, following Australia's first at Chadstone Shopping Centre in November 2013 and Emporium Melbourne's store opening in April last year. MUJI plan to open more Australian stores, with the promise of an online store in the near future. But MUJI are no spring chickens, having started in 1980 as a private offshoot of SEIYU (one of Japan's bigwig retailers) and growing to a total 703 stores worldwide. It isn't the only opening planned for The Galeries this year either, with more yet-to-be-revealed international and local retailers set to open throughout the year. Find MUJI at Level One, The Galeries at 500 George Street, Sydney CBD. Open from May 14.
If anyone knows the recipe for an highly talked-about hospitality venue, it's the Merivale crew. As always with the Hemmes empire's new openings, there's been a whole lot of buzz surrounding the launch of the group's two latest ventures — and now they're set to open tomorrow on Oxford Street. Seasonally-focused restaurant Fred's and intimate basement bar Charlie Parker's are as ambitious as you'd expect, with some big guns at the helm and an exciting, produce-driven food philosophy at their core. Both venues have been designed by Justin and Bettina Hemmes, Vince Alafaci and Caroline Chocker of ACME & Co., and styled by Amanda Talbot. Inspired by provincial French manors, Fred's sees a light-filled, pared back interior detailed with old French oak timbers. Downstairs, Charlie Parker's cocktail bar is more of a cosy den of exposed sandstone. Steering the ship at Fred's, head chef Danielle Alvarez comes by way of the USA's acclaimed Chez Panisse and French Laundry, bringing a passion for sustainability and some serious farm-to-table flair to her new kitchen. She's spent the past year been scouting out the very best local producers (as well as likeminded chefs), and will be using a combination of old-world and innovative techniques to make those ingredients sing. Cooked on free-standing Tuscan grills and a large hearth, the menu's set to change regularly, based around whatever seasonal goodies Alvarez can get her hot little hands on. First up, leg of lamb a la ficelle with laver bread, broad beans and mint, or handmade cavatelli with rabbit and peas, or rhubarb and beaumes de venise mille feuille. Fred's also boasts handmade crockery, carefully handpicked artwork, and a carefully curated, 120-strong wine list from head sommelier Caitlyn Rees, boasting small-batch labels aplenty and a hefty lineup of pouring wines — the 'wine by the glass' list will change daily according to Alvarez's menu. Downstairs, the Charlie Parker's offering is similarly thoughtful. Duo Sam Egerton and Toby Marshall are throwing down an innovative, produce-driven cocktail list, backed by an Alvarez-designed menu of clever bar snacks — think Willowbrae feta with grapes and pickled chilies baked on lemon leaves. Find Fred's and Charlie Parker's at 380 Oxford Street, Paddington. Fred's is open for lunch Friday to Sunday 12pm-3pm and dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5.30pm-12am and Sunday: 5.30pm-10pm. Charlie Parker's is open Tuesday to Thursday 5pm-12am, Friday 3pm -12am, Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday: 12pm-10pm.
The brains behind Sydney's experimental wonderland of in-progress art, Underbelly Arts, are marking the start of their 2015 festival season with a brand new supper club. Straightforwardly dubbed SUPPER, the crew's brand new event is being pitched as a 'fete of food, art and conversation' in Redfern this May. Inspired by the sparkling, idea-generating conversations that come from sharing food with top notch folks, Underbelly Arts are inviting keen beans to head along to Redfern Town Hall on May 15 for a specially-programmed supper by Sydney chefs, artists and collectives. ACME owner/co-founder/head chef Mitch Orr will be creating some predictably delicious noms, while Newtonians Young Henrys will provide the brewskis. But it's not all nourishment for the belly. It'll be the first time you'll get to meet the artists participating in the 2015 Underbelly Arts Festival and Lab. Beth Dillon, Kieran Bryant and Lachlan Herd (otherwise known as performance collective 110%) will be there, playing with the concepts of art and leisure. Also suppering will be The Guerilla Museum, a live art production house working in experimental, immersive theatre; large-scale spatial intervention artist Biljana Jancic; and Megan Alice Clune, artist and founder of World's Only magazine (hinging around contemporary art and music). It's not every day you get to dine next to an artist. Come up with something outlandish to start the conversation off with and go from there. Underbelly Arts' SUPPER is happening at 8pm on Friday, May 15 at Redfern Town Hall. Tickets are $30 (including all food and drink), available over here.
Ordering a scotch at your local is your one way ticket to mad steeze with your mates, right? But what do we know about Scottish whisky, really? Every good whisky bar has an arsenal of scotch, but do you really know what you're ordering? In order to dispel the air of mystery surrounding scotch (and just so we can stop pretending we know what we're talking about), we've called upon Auchentoshan's head distiller Rachel Barrie to set us straight about this long-loved spirit. Rachel became the first female Master Blender 13 years ago (after 12 years working in the industry), making a few waves in the industry as a result. Suffice to say, she's the perfect person to answer all our Scotch questions. Learn up. [caption id="attachment_576038" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lindores Abbey, Nathan Baker.[/caption] Where and when did Scotch whisky originate? The earliest recorded evidence of distilling in Scotland goes back to 1494 at Lindores Abbey in the Lowlands, where Father John Cor distilled 800 gallons of aqua vitae ('water of life') from eight bolls of barley (48 Scottish bushels), on the order of King James IV of Scotland. What were the original techniques used to distil Scotch whisky? How have things changed? Prior to the Industrial Revolution, distilling was conducted on a much smaller scale (and was often illicit) using small copper pot stills. During the Industrial Revolution, sometime between 1760 and 1840, malt distilleries were granted a license to distil by government, and industrial grain distilleries were set up primarily in the Lowlands, based on the steel continuous still design using grain (wheat or maize) to provide alcohol rather than malted barley. The grain distillation process was disputed at the time, and took decades to be accepted as Scotch whisky. Around 1860, blending grain and malt whisky commenced, creating blended Scotch whisky, which heralded the growth of the spirit in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 defines how Scotch whisky is made. Over the years, the law has been more tightly defined, and now every distillery in Scotland must be verified for Geographical Indication (GI) to ensure the highest standards of production quality and integrity. How does Scotch whisky differ to other whiskies like Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky or American whiskey? Scotch whisky has evolved over many centuries to create the greatest diversity of style of any whisky. Scotland grows high quality barley in the east, has peat in the north and west, and a year round supply of water in deep lochs, flowing rivers, and natural springs. Microclimate shapes maturation in oak casks (mainly ex-bourbon American oak and ex-sherry Spanish oak), and seasonal weather and local microflora help unlock balanced complexity, enriching the spirit with vitality and depth from youth to a ripe old age. Scotch whisky is unique in the rich complexity of flavours unlocked from the 115+ malt distilleries. Single malts are united by malt sweetness that harmonises fruit, floral, salt and smoke flavours from each distillery. AMERICAN WHISKEY American whiskeys are mainly distilled from corn and rye, and matured in American oak for a relatively short time (mostly five years or less). Grain produces a spicy/oily spirit combining with intense vanilla and caramel sweetness from the oak. IRISH WHISKEY Irish whiskeys are distilled mostly from unmalted barley and corn (with a small amount of malt), and pot and continuous stills are employed. Most Irish whiskeys are blends that are light, sweet, smooth and grassy. There are a small number of single pot still Irish whiskeys (made primarily from unmalted barley), and even fewer (for example Connemara) made from peated malt. JAPANESE WHISKY The handful of Japanese distilleries in existence were built less than a century ago, based on Scotch whisky production methods. In this short time, Japanese whisky has moved to design different styles, from light, clean and precise through to smoky and oily. [caption id="attachment_576044" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gary Crawford.[/caption] How does taste differ between regions within Scotland? Each distillery's character is highly individual, however similarities in style can be found between regions. The Highland region is the largest, with Speyside having the most distinct style united by malt and fruit, much of which is blended with grain to make the heart of high volume blends. Islay malts have the dominant taste of smoke (from peat) and salt, with all other tastes woven in. Although very few distilleries exist in the Lowlands, the style is vibrant and refined with predominantly grassy, sweet and floral characters. What does it mean when you define a Scottish whisky as 'single malt' and 'single grain'? Both single malt and single grain whiskies are the product of only one distillery. Single malt whisky is made 100 percent from malted barley and distilled in copper pot stills at a single distillery. Single grain whisky is made from grain (wheat or maize), distilled in a continuous still (Coffey still) distillery. Feel like you've got a handle on scotch now? If you're a bartender, bar owner or know someone in the bar industry, listen up. Auchentoshan is looking for talented bar teams to come up with a brand new scotch-based cocktail for their 'Distilled Different' competition across Australia. More details on Auchentoshan's website.
Surry Hills mainstay Bitter Phew is bringing you the classier side of craft beer this year for Sydney Craft Beer Week. The tap list for this event will include barrel-aged beers from an international powerhouse of brewers including the Netherlands' Brouwerij de Molen, Norway's Nøgne and a smoked saison collab between Nomad and US-based Jester King that we're especially keen to try. From whiskey to bourbon and shiraz to chardonnay, you'll surely feel spoilt for decadence at this one.
Camperdown locals have a new old local to revisit. Parramatta Road mainstay Deus Bar and Kitchen has opened its doors after a massive refurbishment. After ten years in the same spot, this epic revamp has been a long time coming. The once Deus Cafe has been completely re-imagined by Andy Ruwald (founder of Bucket List) and James Prier, who were brought on board by Deus Ex Machina founder Dare Jennings. Deus's new digs embrace their corner location on Parramatta Road, with big airy, bright, road-facing windows unveiled this week. Don't worry, you won't have to stare at traffic during your brekkie, the leafy shrubs placed at each window make for a hidden oasis. The biggest change at Deus, of course, is the dinner and bar service, which is a hard find in Camperdown. The concrete bar and open kitchen both have seating for casual patrons. The custom-made, comfy bar stools are designed to withstand long conversations over a few drinks and bar snacks — think eggplant fritters ($12), chicken crackling served with raw kingfish ($14) and mini braised lamb pita ($14). On the restaurant side of things, table service is available from morning until night, with a distinct emphasis on hospitality. "Our customers should have a great, friendly interaction with our servers and bar staff, while also receiving really professional and knowledgeable service," says Prier. The day is run as three extremely distinct services. While breakfast and lunch are kept simple to cater to the busy work crowd, the dinner menu is where head chef Tom Walton (ex-Bistro Moncur) really flexes his culinary muscles. The dishes stem from Walton's high-end training, along with the Middle Eastern flavours that seasoned his upbringing. As the menu currently stands, Walton recommends starting with the pickled cucumber with black olive labna ($7) and roasted tiger prawns in shellfish butter ($24). For mains, go for the whole roast chook ($39), which is perfect for sharing over a bottle of wine. "It's just good, honest food," says Ruwald. "We're trying to create a really nice neighbourhood vibe," adds Walton. On the drinks side, Prier curated the menu to feature classic cocktails done well. The Scorpio VI looks the best to us ($18) – it's a cold-weather spin on a jalapeno margarita using homemade 'winter syrup' of spiced rhubarb stalks from the kitchen. Taps (of course) include local legend Young Henrys and the wine list will soon include a Deus house label. Find Deus at 98 Parramatta Road,Camperdown.
Ever have this problem? You're kayaking through crystal clear waters on adventure of a lifetime in paradise, and the goddamn bottom of your canoe is infuriatingly opaque. All that sea life, going unseen. All those underwater sea creature orchestras, going unappreciated. It's infuriating and devastating. Well, all of that is about to change thanks to the Crystal Kayak Company. They've invented (maybe a better term is re-imagined) the kayak, and this time round it's completely see-through. It's the boldest see-through invention since the see-through toaster. Using the same material as windshields are made from, the see-through kayaks are perfect for moments when you want to see what your kayaking over (i.e. undersea orchestras). Check out the promo vid — and we dare you to not feel like you want to quit your job, burn all of your possessions and spend the rest of your life in a transparent kayak. They retail from a whopping $1,499, but if that blows your kayak budget out of the water, you can trial it at resorts around the world. And don't think that price tag just buys the opacity of your kayak. Oh no. As well as offering quite the underwater view, they've been ergonomically designed to be wayyy more comfy than your average kayak. Check em out here.
Sydney legends The Bearded Tit and Heaps Gay are teaming up to run an Aussie caravan-themed pop-up bar. We’re not sure we need to say anymore. Except that this could well be the collaboration of the millennium. The Pop-Up Patio is during Mardi Gras 2016. You’ll find it on the rooftop of the Captain Cook Hotel, Flinders Street, Darlinghurst for six nights only. In addition to glamming up the rooftop to look like an Aussie caravan and giving you an excuse to watch cracking sunset views, the event will be delivering music, art and good community vibes. If you’re a regular at The Bearded Tit, you might know already that it's Redfern's most eclectic watering hole yet — regularly featuring weird and wonderful local artists in their front window. Meanwhile, Heaps Gay is one of the quirkiest and friendliest parties in Sydney. The first shindig in the series is scheduled for Friday, February 26. Dubbed Patio Party, it’ll feature Charlie Villas and Lorna Clarkson, as well as performances by Lillian Starr and Deep Sea Astronauts. On the following night, Saturday Start Up, FBi’s Sweetie and HipHopHoe will be spinning tunes, alongside performances by Erica Englert. Sunday, February 28 is dedicated to a Russian Caravan Party, starring Sveta and friends. On Thursday, March 3, give your dancing shoes a rest and head along for a panel discussion titled ‘Queer Thinking: This is how we do it’, hosted by Archer Magazine. The next night is Mardi Gras Eve, so get ready for the party with Matt Vaughan (Loose Ends) and J Daddy, and a Banga performance from Canoe. Finally, on Sunday, March, things will wrap up with a post-Gras session, starring Heaps Gay DJs, Fleetwood Crack, DJ davO and boy_friend (Swagger Like Us), as well as an appearance from Show Us Your Teeth. The Pop-Up Patio will open from 6-11pm every night, except for on Sundays, when the hours are 2-10pm. Entry is $5 on the door. Image: Darren Davis, Flickr.
After spending so much time indoors in 2020, we're all keen to be outdoors as much as possible (while the good weather lasts). And one spot you can soak up the good vibes is Federation Square, which is transforming into a garden oasis this season. On January 15, the CBD space will unveil new grass zones, deck chairs, colourful beanbags and a jam-packed program of free happenings to keep you entertained (and comfy) for those lazy summer afternoons and evenings ahead. The roster of events includes live music, wellbeing classes — think yoga, cooking demos and life drawing — plus screenings of major sports events and an outdoor cinema screening classics like Muriel's Wedding, The Great Gatsby and Red Dog. In collaboration with ACMI, Fed Square will screen a silent film on the digital facade with a live score accompaniment on selected evenings, too. And, when you get hungry, you can get food delivered from any of the surrounding Fed Square restaurants and bars, including Riverland, Mama's Canteen and Atiyah Lebanese Kitchen. Image: Liam Neal
