Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellhabour, is currently under stay at home orders, while the rest of NSW has some restrictions. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in NSW, as well as current restrictions, at NSW Health. While international borders remain (mostly) shut, there's no better time to explore our regional areas — especially when there's a festival bursting with arts, eats and beats to lure you there. So, it's time to fire up the group chat and figure out whose car to take on a road trip because we're heading to Wagga Wagga for Lost Lanes Festival at the end of the month. Now in its third year, Lost Lanes returns to light up multiple locations across Wagga Wagga's CBD on Saturday, June 26 with a program centred around the theme Gloww (two w's, get it?) — and it's well worth hitting the Hume Highway for. We're talking light projections, interactive artworks that you can literally get on top of and live tunes galore across eight locations including Victory Memorial Gardens, Wollundry Lagoon and the Civic Centre Precints. Catch performances from Creature Fear and Eastbound Buzz as well as internationally renowned DJ and former Wagga Wagga resident Nina Las Vegas on the decks. Or, have a crack at ice skating at Wagga Wagga's first pop-up outdoor ice skating rink. There'll be street food and boozy winter drinks to keep you warm as you cruise around town checking out the art and activations, too — think, spicy mulled wine, fluffy paella, gooey cheese toasties and more. Lost Lanes is a free community event by Wagga Wagga City Council happening on Saturday, June 26, but you can get your skates on at the ice rink until July 11. For more information and to book tickets to an ice-skating session, visit the website. Images: By Jack of Hearts Studio, Lean Timms and Pineapple Design Studio courtesy of Wagga Wagga City Council.
Freedom Time — the free-spirited festival synonymous with balmy summer days, dance-fuelled nights and lush DJ sets — has been giving Melburnians good times for two years now, and it's gearing up for another huge summer season, today announcing that, in 2018, it will drop by Sydney too. This time around, the Freedom Time gang are spreading the love even further, adding a January 7 visit to Sydney's Manning Bar and Gardens on top of the usual shows in Perth on New Year's Eve and at Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome on January 1. As always, the festival's gifting us with a diverse lineup of musical guests, assembling a mix of international greats and homegrown heroes that'll have you dancing your little feet off no matter your style. Headlining this eclectic bunch is famed Chicago house producer Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers), Jamaican dancehall legend Johnny Osbourne and an inter-generational collaborative effort from Leroy Burgess and Melbourne's own Harvey Sutherland. Meanwhile, Rhythm Section International's Bradley Zero will present a handpicked label showcase in each city, featuring a crop of local acts performing alongside modern soul duo, Silentjay and Jace XL. Sydney's lineup includes appearances from the likes of Simon Caldwell, Rimbombo and local producer Jonti. FREEDOM TIME 2018 LINEUP Larry Heard (aka Mr. Fingers) Leroy Burgess Harvey Sutherland Johnny Osbourne Sassy J Bradley Zero Nai Palm Jonti Freda & Jackson Ben Fester Simon Caldwell Boogie Monster Rimbombo SilentJay & Jace XL Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Jimmy Sing Love Bombs Mike Who Cazeaux Oslo Freedom Time will take place on Sunday, January 7 at Sydney University's Manning Bar. Tickets will go on sale at 9am, September 26. Grab yours here.
One Day is the closest thing Australia's got to a hip hop supergroup. The crew comprises Sydney acts Horrorshow, Spit Syndicate, Jackie Onassis and Joyride. They're probably best known for their now legendary One Day Sundays at The Vic on the Park — that's the regular hip hop social on the last Sunday of the month, headlined by the sharpest producers and best up-and-comers in local hip hop, plus slow-cooked spit, live graffiti art, basketball and a heaving dancefloor in the carpark. It's one of Sydney's best hip hop events, hands down. But the One Dayers haven't limited themselves to the monthly block party (and best thing that's happened to Sundays in recent times). The collective/powerhouse have just released their debut record Mainline and its first single 'Love Me Less'. Now they're taking their inner west-born brand of hip hop on a national tour — to the biggest venues they've played to yet. These guys go from strength to strength, and they're proving some pretty sweet things about the quality of Aussie hip hop. For the tour, each act will play an individual set — but hold out for the collaborative finale. All seven crew members will come together on stage together for the first time, and if their trajectory so far's anything to go by, you can expect something big. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxCB7wU1gw
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is barrelling into the new decade with a bigger, bolder and brighter program than ever before, pinning its 2020 festivities to the theme of 'What Matters'. A supersized lineup of music, theatre, performance, dance parties, workshops and more will descend on the city from Friday, February 14 till Sunday, March 1 next year. And, with the city recently named as the 2023 location for huge international LGBTQI+ celebration World Pride, you just know that Sydney will be out to show exactly how big it can go. When it comes to the annual Mardi Gras Party — the post-Mardi Gras Parade celebration that'll descend on Hordern Pavilion for a multi-sensory extravaganza — the event is definitely going big. Headlining is Dua Lipa, with the Grammy Award-winning artist leading the all-night festivities from 10pm–8am on Saturday, February 29. She'll be joined by an array of other performers and DJs, with her pop sounds echoing through the party alongside techno and house beats. Also scaling things up is the Seymour Centre, housing an expanded festival hub — and playing host to 15 of its own memorable events, as well as to the late-night Festival Club that'll be partying hard from Thursday to Sunday right through Mardi Gras. One of its grandest shindigs comes in the form of Gender Euphoria, a genre-bending main-stage event celebrating trans life with help from a huge cast of emerging performers and big-name acts. The venue will also host rollicking live song fest Homage, which'll see a roll call of acclaimed LGBTQI+ musicians give a big, sonic nod to defining queer artists and tunes from across the decades. Expect a big injection of Eurovision talent, too, especially when 2014 winner Conchita Wurst joins Aussie cabaret star Trevor Ashley for Conchita Wurst and Trevor Ashley in Concert. The pair will play the State Theatre with a full orchestra in tow to deliver a night dedicated to their greatest hits. And the chuckles will be flowing freely when Laugh Out Proud pulls together a sparkling lineup of homegrown and international acts into one side-splitting variety comedy event. Hosted by Nath Valvo, this one features appearances from the likes of Rhys Nicholson, Cassie Workman, Zoe Coombs Marr, Geraldine Hickey and Myra DuBois. [caption id="attachment_749886" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sissy Ball, Ann-Marie Calilhanna[/caption] Of course, the program is also peppered with plenty of returning fan favourites, including sell-out vogue celebration that is the Sissy Ball, Ivy's sun-drenched, DJ-fuelled Pool Party and the family-friendly Fair Day. While the Mardi Gras party schedule will still have to contend with Kings Cross' harsh lockout laws, the CBD is getting a reprieve, with its own lockout legislation set to be rolled back later this year. That could mean even more late-night Mardi Gras fun than Sydney's enjoyed in years. The 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will take place from Friday, February 14 till Sunday, March 1, 2020. To check out the rest of the program, visit the Mardi Gras website. Top images: Jeffrey Feng.
You may have caught Zoe Coombs Marr on ABC2's Dirty Laundry Live or in post's bloody riff on death scenes, Oedipus Schmoedipus. Separate to her work with post, Coombs Marr's thing tends to be the timely topic of gender, and bending it. The "awkward sapphic high priestess of cool" (that's a description worth milking) confirms she's been dressing up as a dude (intermittently) all her life — like when she skipped schoolies to put on a drag musical. She's also won a Phillip Parsons Playwright Award and FBi SMAC Best on Stage in her time, which is pretty much as close as you get to having a quality guarantee. Now, after a run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (where she was nominated for Best Newcomer) and just before heading off to the Edinburgh Fringe, she's bringing her show Dave (co-written with Charlie Garber) to Sydney. In a piece of 'endurance drag' meta-comedy, a bearded, bumbling, pelvic-thrusting Coombs Marr parodies Aussie masculinity in the comedy scene (and probably more widely, too). Dave's an ordinary guy — confused by female anatomy, bleeding from the head and joking about lesbians and turducken. There are lots of comedians named Dave, but none are quite like this one. Or maybe they all are.
Dessert gourmands, cancel your plans for next Wednesday night. The Shangri-La Hotel's executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou may have put on innovative and excessive dessert events in the past, but this latest offering is the literal icing on the cake. Polyviou has teamed up with the Sydney chefs most adept with sweet-tooth-pleasing final courses to put on Sweet Street, the dessert festival you never knew you were missing. The bunch (which includes, naturally, the unconquerable Adriano Zumbo, and Min Chuan Chai of N2 Nitrogen Gelato) will transform the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La into the fanciest bake sale you've ever attended, putting all your high school efforts with cupcakes and coloured icing to shame. Aside from sampling ten (ten! my stomach hurts already, but in a good way) of the crush-worthy team's creations, there'll be patissiers to meet, prizes to win and DJs to get down to. The hotel's Blu Bar bartenders will also be serving fizzy spider cocktails, which means this event is basically your ideal childhood birthday party, all grown up.
There's something about Kingswood's undeniably raw and blokey brand of indie rock that just makes you want to grow some hair on your chest and spend an afternoon in your shed, lovingly (in a manly way) toiling over your custom Harley. That's almost what this event is about. (Disclaimer: no bike included.) Presented by Harley Davidson's community customisation platform The Shed, this is an intimate, invite-only chance to catch the Melbourne four-piece. Kingswood have had a pretty decent year so far, cementing their ones-to-watch status with continued high-rotation Triple J play, an appearance at Splendour and the release of their debut album Microscopic Wars, which they recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The band — who have a serious and somewhat surprising thing for First Aid Kit covers — are on an extensive national tour at the moment, but with only 40 tickets available, and only to competition winners, this gig is something special. Thanks to Harley Davidson and The Shed, we have two double passes to give away to see Kingswood at Rising Sun Workshop in Newtown on September 27. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Anyone who ever had a sneaky pash in a dark corner of the pre-refurbed Abercrombie after multiple tequila shots and five sweaty hours of late night dance floor debauchery — and anyone who never got the chance — will be glad to know Purple Sneakers now has a not-so-shiny new home on Oxford Street. It wasn’t just great music but the promise of friendly faces and unmitigated antics that drew people through the Abercrombie’s doors until Purple Sneakers moved out in January 2010. New weekly rave Discovery promises to offer up much of the same along with an increased propensity for sweatiness (Brighton Up Bar is miniscule compared to the AH) and a lineup of bands/DJs/Producers that belies the venue’s size — the launch night was headlined by Step-Panther, who NME named one of the best new bands of 2012. All that in a venue far more convenient for hailing cabs in the early hours of Saturday morning. What more could you ask for?
A quaint garden scene in cross-stitch with something that is not quite right. It’s one third of Megan Yeo’s series, Midsomer Murders (Tea Cosie Terror), which leaves no question as to whether this craft is art. Also in this exhibition is Linden Braye’s Rat and little lost glove … are they victims of some crime of passion involving sock puppets Sooty and Sweep? Funkadelic … a jilted prom queen’s revenge in acrylic on canvas? Jade Pegler’s The Decedents … possible love children of diva Grace Jones and that carnivorous plant from Little Shop of Horrors? Curator and artist Kath Fries (whose own work Ariadne’s Thread creeps unassumingly across the gallery ceiling), envisaged “a conceptual thread†running between the artists in Le Fil, and you’ll discover one of the things that joins them is their turning away from the perceived boundaries of the needle-and-thread medium.Image: Megan Yeo Midsomer Murders (Tea Cosie Terror 1). Cross stitch on printed fabric. Courtesy the artist.
Turns out you don't need a garden to catch a glimpse of a gnome. Instead, you'll be able to find them well and truly out of the mulch when they appear at Chatswood Nights — Roaming Gnomes this month. From Friday, May 6 till Sunday, May 29, you and your crew can discover 12 inflatable gnomes at key public places and indoor retail spaces throughout Chatswood. There'll also be live music soundtracking your hunt and delicious food from all over the globe to keep you fuelled as you roam for gnomes. Need help deciding where to eat while you're out and about? There'll be a QR code at each gnome location that'll unlock restaurant recommendations to guide you. And, if you share your photos of the gnomes you spot, can enter a competition for the chance to win a slice of a $20,000 prize pool. It's not just giant gnomes that you'll get to marvel at. You can also catch a nightly 3D projection on the exterior of The Concourse, courtesy of Hungarian 3D projection-mapping experts Limelight and Ukrainian refugee and animator, Svetlana Reinish. Keen to check it out? Chatswood Nights — Roaming Gnomes will take place from Friday, May 6 till Sunday, May 29. For more information, visit the website.
There's no such thing as an ordinary dish to chef Nelly Robinson, namesake of and driving force behind Sydney restaurant Nel, as his degustation menus keep demonstrating. KFC? Lamingtons? French onion soup? Pots of honey? They can all be given a fine-dining twist, and have. And if it can work for Moulin Rouge! and Paddington Bear, it can work for Christmas. Nel is no stranger to Christmas spreads, but it is celebrating 2023's jolliest time of year with a specific range of treats. The Christmas Degustation takes its cues from European festive meals and traditions. It's also filled with culinary traditions, but not as you know them — from roast spuds to Christmas Day seafood. Nel's chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has found 11 ways to interpret Christmas food staples from around the world while still giving them his usual creative spin. Available from Tuesday, November 14–Saturday, December 23, the Surry Hills institution's new Christmas degustation features a Nel take on seafood blinis featuring crab salad and flowers on mini crumpets, a black charcoal crumbed sausage in the shape of a star that's paired with curry sauce, and a delicate rendition of silly season carbs called Nanna's Potatoes. There are also dishes named after Love Actually, 'O Christmas Tree' and 'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer' — we can all imagine what that one might be. Rounding out the menu is a reinvention of the traditional Danish Christmas dessert risalamande. In Denmark, a whole almond is often hidden in rice pudding, with anyone who finds it given a prize. In Robinson's version, there's just big flavours instead, with the dessert starring a vanilla rice pudding foam, amaretto ice cream, and an almond, cinnamon and wild rice granola. There are plenty more surprises to be discovered across the 11 courses, plus diners can also opt for a selection of wines meticulously paired with the dishes by the restaurant's head sommelier. Sydneysiders can tuck in for $185 per person, with another $155 each on top for the classic wine pairing or an additional $185 for the premium wine journey. Or, there's a non-alcoholic matching drinks selection for $85 per head. Nel will also be opening for lunch on Saturdays in November, and Friday and Saturdays in December, to give diners extra options.
Indie rocker and singer/songwriter Neko Case (of The New Pornographers) has announced a tour of Australia and New Zealand for the release of her newest solo album, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I fight, The More I Love You. Released this past September, this is Case's first album since 2009's extremely popular Middle Cyclone. The Worse Things Get... is full of tracks with the same vigour and bluntness that audiences appreciated in past hits such as 'People Got a Lotta Nerve' and 'I'm an Animal'. Her lyrical candour is particularly riotous in 'Man', where she declares, "And if I'm dipshit drunk on the pink perfume / I am the man in the fucking moon / 'Cause you didn't know what a man was / Until I showed you." Indubitably, Case is a force to be reckoned with.
It's the time of the year when the days begin to shorten, the evenings get cooler and your stomach starts grumbling for comfort food. But, while that'll remain true for the next few months, only one particular working week will bring free tacos. Tex-Mex giant Taco Bell has been steadily opening stores around the country since 2017, including in Sydney — and, to treat your taco-loving tastebuds, it's giving away freebies between Monday, May 9–Friday, May 13. If you haven't tried the chain's Taco Supreme, this is your chance. If you have and you just like freebies, count yourself in as well. There is a catch, though. This is a lunchtime taco swap — to replace whatever you'd usually eat in the middle of the day. So, to get a taco without paying a cent, you need to show a photo of your regular lunch at the counter. Also, there's a limit of one free taco per person, so you won't be able to stuff your stomach full of them. And, the deal is only available from 12–2pm daily — and in-person. What's a Taco Supreme? A crunchy taco, as filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomato and cheese — or black beans for vegetarians. Wondering where you're heading? Taco Bell has New South Wales stores in Albion Park, Blacktown, Rooty Hill, Dee Why, Zetland, Haymarket, Jesmond, Orange, Tamworth and Ballina.
We're called Concrete Playground; how could we not endorse a bit of childhood regression? Camp Super Happy Sunshine Fun is setting up at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre to help you shed the baggage of adulthood and get silly with games, arts and crafts, a 'Potato Olympics' and friendship circles. Camp director Maya Sebestyen has actually worked at US summer camps, so authenticity is a given. Read the rest of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival 2013.
Page 8 is an autobiographical one-man show about growing up black and gay in 1970’s Australian suburbia. It could, potentially, be awful when you think about it. The "Growing-Up-Gay One-Man Show" is one of the most painful theatrical genres ever created. Up there with French-Canadian puppetry.Luckily for us, this one-man show comes from David Page, one of the driving forces behind acclaimed indigenous dance company Bangarra and the eighth of twelve siblings. David's younger brother Stephen Page directed the show and it seems like the Pages want you to view their family as a sort of Koori Jackson 5. But they’re more like a dirt poor Royal Tenenbaums. Troubled, close-knit and all incredibly gifted. In other words, there are no LaToyas.This is a great show, produced with a lot of restraint. David Page's performance is stripped back and unpretentious. He has a great amount of natural warmth and ease on stage. The set design is similarly simple and elegant.A lot of the clichés we’ve come to expect from the genre are still there. Old home movies, costume changes to switch between kooky characters and camp nostalgia (Hey guys, remember Countdown? Remember bellbottoms?) But you forgive all of it, because this is such a touching story and so well told.The Pages have wisely chosen to omit their international successes and instead focus on the early years of David's life. His dad's alcoholism, how he sacrificed a musical career to care for his sick grandparents, got up at 4 in the morning to lay concrete while doing drag shows at night and generally carried himself through a tough upbringing with an incredible amount of self-sacrifice and dignity.At one point he leaps on top of the kitchen table to do an imitation of Michael Jackson's dance sequence from Billy Jean. Then, when the bassline kicks in, he seamlessly moves into a Corroboree. A moment later he drops the whole thing and continues on to another thought. It’s not just good, it’s virtuosic.
Translating to 'love lounge' in Spanish, Salón del Amor is a monthly Sunday session at Redfern's Norfolk Hotel, which pulls together top-notch curators of both music and vibes. If your New Year's resolutions included getting out and about, catching more music and soaking in some more rays in 2023, this laidback dance party is an easy way to start ticking things off. Now in its fifth iteration, the event series places fresh faces from Sydney's music scene behind the decks in the pub's sun-lit courtyard, with sets spanning groove-heavy pockets of electronic music — think: lounge, Italo disco and softer sides of techno. "I try to base the lineups on giving DJs that might not otherwise have many gigs out a chance to play on a full house system and get a bit of momentum to start out with," organiser Tex Lee says. The lineup arriving at the Norfolk on Sunday, January 29, starting at 2pm, will feature Lee himself under his alias Luther, as well as Taffie and Oliver Kleyn. Adding to the Spanish energy of the day, you can also head next door to the adjoined wine and vermouth bar La Salut if you're looking for a Catalan-inspired detour. The 40-seat venue boasts a wine list of over 200 bottles alongside tasty bar snacks.
Sydney electronic outfit Carmada — one part wave-making Yahtzel, one part ‘trapical’ artist L D R U – have had a good twelve months. The double act of harbour city producers got major triple j airplay last year with their hit 'Maybe' making it to #41 on the Hottest 100, not to mention that whole being signed to Skrillex’s label OWSLA thing (after the man himself called them his favourite sound of summer '14) and following that up with the December release of their debut EP Realise. The two have played together as Carmada for the past couple of years, doing the solid festival circuit of Splendour in the Grass, Stereosonic and Groovin' the Moo. Now, they're hitting up Oxford Art Factory with fellow Sydneysider Kilter, bound to pulse with bass so dirty it'll have even the most knock-kneed, reluctant dancer hitting the d-floor. You’ve been warned.
Get outside for a little fresh air and exercise with a pack of marauding, flesh-eating zombies snapping at your heels. After pulse-racing chases around the US and Asia, undead obstacle course Run For Your Lives is headed to Sydney. Halfway between a marathon and a Romero movie, the event is relatively simple: participants navigate various obstacle, including a blood pit, a ropes course and even a Resident Evil-style 'laser grid', while trying their very best not to be eaten tagged. Every survivor gets three lives, represented by blood coloured flags tied to their waist. Lose all three lives and it's game over. You can also choose to play as a zombie, with a hair and makeup team on hand to help with your ghoulish transformation. Regardless of which team you’re on, don’t wear anything you won’t mind getting damaged, and make sure you bring a spare change of clothes, shoes... and a towel. And before you get any bright ideas, this is strictly a weapons free event, so leave the sawn-off shotgun at home. After the race, players will be able to attend an apocalypse afterparty, with dance music, live entertainment and zombie-themed activities. You'll probably need to let off some steam after this.
When Erskineville asks for playful Mediterranean-inspired food served in an art space, it gets playful Mediterranean-inspired food served in an art space. Erskineville’s new pop-up eatery A Taste of Things to Come is a preview of future community-oriented restaurant Erskine Villa. Doubling (tripling?) as an art space and music venue, the pop-up is open now, serving dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, and weekend brunches to loll over. After putting it to the local community, the team came up with the Erskine Villa concept — a space built on bringing people together over good food made with seasonal produce, and a mutual love for the inner west. It sits on land once owned by a dude called George Erskine, after whom the suburb (itself originally called Erskine Villa) was named, FYI. The menu is actually-exciting modern Australian — take the Bangalow dry-cured bacon and egg roll for example, or their twist on the classic meat pie, with braised lamb neck and mushroom, and a side of coriander-packed mojo verde. Less familiar and much more formidable sounding is the poutine with cheese curds, curry gravy, slow-cooked egg and house-made morcilla (Spanish blood sausage). The Mediterranean influence is strong with this one — unsurprising, considering head chef is Brian Villahermosa, of Kingston Public Bar and Kitchen and MoVida lineage. It’s all a bit of a fun, flavoursome experiment for now, as Villahermosa and the team suss out how Erskine Villa will come together in the rooftop space upstairs. Keep an eye out for the upcoming program of 'concept dinners', featuring crushworthy creative and culinary talents. And just between us, the other reason to check the joint out sooner rather than later is that A Taste of Things to Come is temporarily BYO while they await their liquor licence — from a very generous 11am onwards. Preview Erskine Villa at A Taste of Things to Come pop-up at 63 Erskineville Road, Erskineville.
After a career that’ll give you opportunity to help, change and inspire? In a twist on the traditional careers fair, international brewers of ideas and talent Think Education are hosting the Festival of Change on Saturday, August 22. Major drawcards of the day are the keynote speakers: Leo Burnett CEO and co-creator of Earth Hour Todd Sampson, and ever-popular Bondi Rescue stalwarts Trent “Maxi” Maxwell and Jesse Polock — when those two aren’t watching over our beaches and, y’know, saving people’s lives, they’re doing cool things like riding from Sydney to Cairns on a jetski for headspace. There’ll be workshops on everything from web design to psychotherapy, plus experts on hand to answer your questions and give you the lowdown on all the courses on offer at Think Education campuses — across business, health, hospitality and design. Did we mention admission is free, and keynote addresses are just five bucks a pop? Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a million and one new app ideas, or you’re flailing and wondering what on earth you’re going to do with the rest of your life (or at least the next few years), this fest has got you covered. Find your passion or not, you're pretty much guaranteed to leave more inspired than you arrived. Register for workshops and other good stuff here.
To celebrate its 10th birthday, the Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival will be bringing together dozens of wineries and brewers for their biggest-ever event. Kicking off at 11am on Saturday, June 18, more than 50 wineries, 10 craft brewers and other local restaurants and musicians will gather to offer a selections of drinks, music and food for the festival. Operating both indoors and outdoors at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, the event will feature some of the valley's most famous wineries and brewers. These include wine selections from iconic wineries like Scarborough and Macquariedale Organic Wines, as well as beer and cider courtesy of Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley, Iron Bark Hill Brewhouse, and more. Tickets are $15 if purchased ahead of time and $25 on the day, and children can enter for free with a parent. Tastings are $2 each for 30ml of wine or 100ml of beer or cider. There are also accommodation options at the Crown Plaza itself for an ideal Hunter Valley weekend, as well as shuttles running from two locations in Newtown to bring you to and from the festival if you are enjoying the area for the day.
Sit down to dinner at Arthur when it opens in Surry Hills later this month and you'll have some idea of how chef-owner Tristan Rosier best remembers his grandfather. The original Arthur, with his love of getting friends and family together over food, was the main inspiration behind Rosier and partner Rebecca Fanning's 35-seat Bourke Street restaurant, which is slated to open its doors on Wednesday, October 24. It marks the first solo venture for the chef (ex-Farmhouse and Dead Ringer), whose focus here is on using interesting, seasonal ingredients in unexpected ways, through dishes as elegant as they are exciting. As much as possible will be done in house from scratch, from the breads and preserves, to a raft of pickled things. Food at Arthur is enjoyed as part of a $70 a head shared feast of around 11 set dishes — a move Rosier says is designed to allow punters space to really enjoy that good eating and company, rather than worrying about the whole decision-making and ordering affair. The menu will be an oft-changing one, though there'll always be at least one raw dish making an appearance and two desserts sweetening the finish. While the starting lineup's being kept under wraps, you can expect plates like crumbed baby globe artichokes, roasted pork neck served alongside crackling and kohlrabi, and carrots elevated with mandarin and horseradish. And for dessert: a chocolate and mascarpone cake served with fresh cherries. As for the wine offering, expect an Australian-heavy selection that trips across the country, showcasing "easy-to-drink wines with brightness, balance and crunch". You'll find Arthur at 544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, from Wednesday, October 24. It'll be open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday and lunch on weekends. Images: Damian Flanagan
Think fairytales are just for children? Think again. Most romance movies mightn't actually focus on a handsome prince or a downtrodden young woman with an evil stepmother, but they still take adult viewers into the realm of pure fantasy. In fact, in charting the blossoming bond between a rich former adrenaline junkie and a small town gal, Me Before You sticks closer to the storybook formula than most. Pumpkins don't turn into carriages here, but if they did, it wouldn't feel out of place. Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) is spirited away, metaphorically speaking, when she starts working as a carer for the wealthy Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), who was injured in a traffic accident two years prior and isn't coping with his quadriplegic state. A clash of classes and temperaments ensues, with the solemn Will happy to hide out in his parent's castle, and the cheerful Louisa sticking around purely to help support her family. It's only when he starts to open up, and she discovers just how miserable he is, that the pair start to form a connection. Whether you've already read Jojo Moyes' best-selling novel, or are coming into the story with no prior knowledge, where the film adaptation is headed is obvious from the get go. As scripted by the author herself and directed by first-time filmmaker Thea Sharrock, the big-screen version is as predictable as it sounds — with one complications. Here, it's not just Will's physical condition that adds difficulties, but his desire to end his own life. Unfortunately, combining fairy tale wish fulfilment with such a serious subject proves more than a little unsettling, and isn't helped by the movie's determination to approach everything in as simplistic a manner as possible. With the visuals given a soft, warm glow and the soundtrack littered with Ed Sheeran and Imagine Dragons, Me Before You takes the safe, easy option whenever it can. Touching upon a weighty issue might be designed to add a dose of reality to the otherwise fanciful narrative, but in practice it never feels like anything more than an excuse to ramp up the melodrama. That leaves the likeable Clarke and the less convincing Clafin with a tricky task, and one that they can't quite achieve. Though they boast enough chemistry as a couple, and the bubbly Clarke remains a delight to watch, their characters are about as believable as Cinderella and Prince Charming. In support, it's actually Janet McTeer and Charles Dance as Will's parents that fare best, and bring some much-needed nuance to the drama. Thanks to the latter's involvement, the highlight of the film is seeing Clarke share a few scenes with her former Game of Thrones co-star — which says a lot about the sub par tear-jerker in which they find themselves.
With Australia implementing new COVID-19-inspired restrictions almost every day at present — including limits on mass gatherings, as well as the amount of people in indoor spaces — the country's cafes, restaurants, bars and other venues have been suffering a sharp downturn in customers. Many are introducing takeaway options, or encouraging patrons to buy vouchers to use when the current situation is over. And, in Surry Hills, a heap of businesses are banding together to offer new neighbourhood passes. Paramount House Hotel has teamed up with a number of local hospitality spots to sell two types of curated vouchers, which enable folks to work their way around the neighbourhood. Think of them as a best-of package of Surry Hills eating, dining, and culture experiences, so you can grab a few bites to eat, knock back a couple of drinks, see a movie and even enjoy a night's staycation — all by hopping between the area's venues. [caption id="attachment_748503" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] The standard pass starts with chilli coriander ramen at Chaco Bar; fermented potato bread with kefir, dashi jelly and roe at Ester; and a hopper plate with dahl, sambal and herb salad at Lankan Filling Station. It also includes a shawarma or falafel pita with a pomegranate soda at Shwarmama, two glasses of wine — of the sommelier's choice — at Poly, and two classic margaritas at Tio's. And, it'll let you pick up a 250-gram bag of coffee at Reuben Hills, tuck into a breakfast dish with a coffee at Paramount Coffee Project and nab 20-percent off your final bill at Nomad, as well scoring a movie ticket and some popcorn at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. You can work your way through each of the above deals at your own pace — or make a huge day of it and do it all at once — with the neighbourhood pass costing $150. Fancy bunkering down overnight while you eat and drink your way across Surry Hills? You can also purchase a $300 overnight pass, which includes everything already listed as well as one night's accommodation in an Everyday Room at Paramount House Hotel. Both kinds of passes are available to purchase online — and can be used now, saved for later, or given as a gift. Even if you're not fond of venturing far from home at the moment, understandably, buying one to use down the track means that you're helping support these businesses. Plus, it gives you something to look forward to when you can next leave the house. Surry Hills neighbourhood and overnight passes are available to buy online — visit www.stilllocalstillopen.com to make a purchase or for further details. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
When the Biennale of Sydney announced they would be transporting Tokyo’s SuperDeluxe to Artspace in Wooloomooloo, we weren’t sure exactly what they meant — but when we finally saw the program, we squealed like Japanese schoolgirls. There’s UJINO’s noise sculpture, Toydeath’s toy torture, the tangled sounds of Hair Stylistics and the street fight dance of contact GONZO. There’s some of Japan’s best new sound and performance acts alongside locals like Wade Marynowsky, Rosie Dennis, Alex White and Gail Priest. There’s even butoh, for chrissakes! It’s all very exciting, and free, people — but you must get booking. The original Superdeluxe basement bar around the corner from Mori Gallery (founded by the Biennale director David Elliott) in Tokyo was set up by a bunch of architects and designers as a space for them hold gigs, exhibitions, performances, forums, screenings, etc — and to brew their own beer. It blew up big time, with stuff now on virtually every night of the year, and one of the most popular events has been the Pecha Kucha talks series, which has spread its “20 slides for 20 seconds each” model around the world and will also be a part of the program here. The other super thing that will be bringing people together at Artspace for the Biennale is a fine film program on Sunday afternoons from 3 to 5pm. The gallery and cafe are open from 11am to 5pm, and the nighttime performances, events and bar kick off at 7.30pm and go until midnight. Let’s move to Woolloomooloo. Image: Ujino, The Ballad of Backyard, 2008, Wood Furniture, Household Electrical Appliance and Mixed Media, photo by Koo.
Movie lovers of Sydney, get excited: you can spend the last two days of June catching up on your must-see list on the big screen for cheap. Across Saturday, June 29–Sunday, June 30, Palace Cinemas is giving film fans a present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, its daily bread and butter — but the gift of discounted great flicks. Head to one of the chain's locations across the weekend in question, and any movie at any time will only cost you $8. Want to check out George Miller's Anya Taylor-Joy- and Chris Hemsworth-starring Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, Pixar sequel Inside Out 2 or the Mads Mikkelsen-led The Promised Land? They're just some of your choices. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of movie snacks. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. The deal is running at all standard Palace locations nationwide, but there are a few caveats. You can't redeem the cheap price for film festivals, for instance, or for platinum screenings, special events and alternate content. You also can't bundle the $8 seats with other offers, such as two-for-one tickets.
Lights, art, music, performances, talks — throw them all together over a hectic three-week period, and boom, Vivid is back once again. It's the luminous festival that's become as much of a Sydney mainstay as the city's bricks-and-mortar landmarks. And if you haven't seen the Harbour Bridge or Opera House lit up during the annual fest, then, really, what have you been doing? With a massive event comes masses of folks all clamouring to bask in Vivid's glow, especially when it comes to the festival's dazzling centrepieces: the light installations. A huge 74 of them will brighten up every nook and cranny between Friday, May 24 and Saturday, June 15, and a much, much larger number of folks will come rushing along. We know you'll be one of them — but, with the help of our friends at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, we've rounded up some crowd-busting tips for viewing some of Vivid's best installations this year. [caption id="attachment_719031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toer render.[/caption] FIREFLY FIELD — ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN It's safe to say that Sydneysiders will be swarming to one of Vivid's big 2019 highlights: Firefly Field by Dutch artists Toer. The concept is both simple and awe-inspiring; the duo will turn the Royal Botanic Garden into a bioluminescent playground, simulating the radiant creatures that give the artwork its name. In total, there'll be 500 flying light points flashing and blinking each and every night. With tiny LEDs placed in transparent capsules and mounted on near-invisible steel rods, you really will feel like you're walking through a sea of glowing lightning bugs. Expect this to be busy from open till close across Vivid's 23 days; however, if you arrive right when the lights are turned on at 6pm daily, you'll have ample time to soak in the glittering splendour before the crowds rush in. [caption id="attachment_719030" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Thomas Huang and Bemo render.[/caption] AUSTRAL FLORAL BALLET – SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Vivid's biggest canvas will light up once again, and this year Los Angeles-based Andrew Thomas Huang is doing the honours. Even if you don't know his name, you may know his vibrant work from music videos for Björk, Sigur Rós and Thom Yorke. And you can expect his large-scale Sydney Opera House piece, Austral Flora Ballet, to be just as mesmerising. Made in collaboration with choreographer Toogie Barcelo, dancer Genna Moroni and animators at Bemo, the projection takes inspiration from Australian plant life (especially, species of significance to Indigenous people). If past Vivids have proven anything, every space around the harbour will be jam-packed after 6pm hits, with everyone scrambling to see the fest's centrepiece. Of course, the great thing about an installation this immense is that you can spy it from anywhere with a view of the Opera House. THE VIVID CLIMB — BRIDGECLIMB SYDNEY Much of Vivid involves staring at Sydney's structures and marvelling not only at the lights projected across them but at the buildings themselves. And while that's as ace as it sounds, clambering up the Sydney Harbour Bridge while it's in full dazzling mode, then dancing on top of the towering landmark, is something extra special. That's what's on the agenda at BridgeClimb's The Vivid Climb, which returns nightly for a three-and-a-half hour experience that you won't forget in a hurry. First, you'll strap on a flashing vest, adding your own shining contribution to Vivid's luminous feast. Then, you'll scale one of the most famous bridges in the world. Finally, you'll make shapes on the illuminated dance floor at the summit, peer out over a city filled with sparkling lights and enjoy 360-degree views. It'll cost you $268, and the fact that only 14 people per group will make the climb is an enormous bonus — there are no crowds here. [caption id="attachment_719033" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ample Projects render.[/caption] LIGHTS FOR THE WILD — TARONGA ZOO Sydney's huge annual festival teams up with one of the city's most popular spots with Lights for the Wild. That description fits much of the event's lineup, but who doesn't want to roam through a lit-up Taronga Zoo by night? A different type of animal is the star attraction, with the installation adding giant multimedia light sculptures to the zoo's communal spaces — including a glowing sumatran tiger with cubs, a multi-coloured marine turtle, plenty of glittering bees and an illuminated gorilla family. You'll also enjoy a 270-degree cinema experience and learn about Taronga's wildlife conservation efforts, so this just might be the part of Vivid with the biggest heart. Lights for the Wild runs from Wednesday to Sunday during the festival, with sessions at 5.30pm and 7.30pm, and tickets costing $26.95. If you're eager for as much space to yourself as possible, head along to the later timeslot on Wednesday or Thursday, when there's likely to be fewer tiny feet. [caption id="attachment_719032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pixar/Disney render.[/caption] PIXAR: 30 YEARS OF ART AND ANIMATION — THE ROCKS Time flies when you're watching fantastic animated films. Pixar has been the source of that joy for decades, so the studio is rightfully celebrating with a specially designed Vivid installation, bringing its movies to life by beaming them onto the façade of the Argyle Cut at The Rocks. If you've ever wanted to feel like you're swimming with Nemo or falling with style alongside Buzz and Woody, this is your chance thanks to the festival's projections. You'll also get a glimpse at the creative process behind the studio's hit films, via pencil drawings, acrylic paintings, watercolours, digital paintings and final film frames. Our tip for beating the family crowds: make the visit during the last hour each night; lights go out at 11pm daily. Tee up the best Vivid view in the city, and enter our competition to win a Vivid Bridge Climb session for you and a mate here.
Storytelling is as old as time. It's how we share experiences, knowledge and memories. At its crux though, storytelling celebrates the diversity and universality of our experiences. Keeping the flame alive, non-profit organisation The Moth is dedicated to sharing personal stories and celebrating the art of telling them. The New York-based initiative hosts over 500 live open-mic events across the globe each year, with people — from notable literary and cultural personalities to your average Joe — getting up on stage to tell their stories. On Wednesday, June 26, Sydney will be hearing some of the best stories of the city — from the most gripping to the ridiculous and the side-splitting — at The Moth GrandSLAM Championship. Ten champions, who have taken home the prize at open-mic storytelling competitions (StorySLAMS) around Sydney, will tell brand new, five-minute tales. Brandishing their weapons of word and wit at community-focused StorySLAMs, the champs will compete for the top gong at The Metro Theatre. You'll hear ten stories that are both tightly crafted and masterfully told. Come hear stories that inspire, provoke, sadden and enlighten, told by some of Sydney's best. The Moth GrandSLAM Championship will take place at The Metro Theatre. Doors open at 7pm, with stories beginning at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Not only is yoga everywhere right now, so is that most stylish of yogi clothiers, lululemon athletica. Now the group who taught us that sports gear could also be fashionable is getting us psyched for the relaunch of their freshly renovated and revamped Bondi Junction store with a weekend of celebrations and festivities dubbed Shift Your Perspective. In the spirit of healthy living, the weekend will be kicked off at 5.30-6.15am on Saturday, June 1, at Icebergs for the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, accompanied by the spine-tingling sounds of a local opera singer. Upon arrival at Bronte, revellers will keep the blood flowing and the heart pumping with some Chai tea and a 45-minute yoga session timed to coincide with the sunrise. The whole event is complimentary and includes a healthy serving of live music and eatable freebies, so there's no excuse for not donning your favourite yoga pants and getting involved. Of course, if early mornings aren't exactly your bag, head into Bondi's new Lululemon Athletica when it opens its doors on Friday, May 31, or check in on Saturday, June 1, when you can say g'day to the awesome Kid Kenobi as he performs in-store. Visit the new lululemon athletica at L04, Shop 4015, Westfield Shopping Centre, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction.
You answer a knock at the door, thinking you’ll find a familiar face only to be met with an impromptu party. Sure, that doesn’t sound too bad — but when your expected visitor is a teenager you met in a train station the day before, arriving with his hustler friends in tow, it doesn’t sound too good, either. This is where mild-mannered, middle-aged Daniel (Olivier Rabourdin) finds himself in Eastern Boys — and where cinema finds one of its most striking scenes in years. Shy-looking Ukrainian immigrant Marek (Kirill Emelyanov) arrives at Daniel’s apartment after accepting money for sex, his pals barging in, stealing stuff and trashing the place. Unravelling against an electronic soundtrack, it’s a sight that’s both unsettling and unforgettable. The movie takes its time in showing every detail of the home invasion, not only forcing Daniel to linger, but making the audience do the same. Prepare to feel stunned and awkward. Prepare to keep watching, too, and not just taking in the visuals and following the storyline. Eastern Boys is a film of observation, making you look close and then closer, and then even closer again. You’d best be scrutinising everything you can see, from the long shots of Paris's crowded Gare du Nord and the dialogue-free glances that fill the feature’s first frames. The movie demands that you gaze from afar while trying to delve beneath the surface, which is also what it offers in its complicated character studies. Never going where anyone might predict, this isn’t a tale about trouble and revenge, but a film that’s part love story, part thriller — and neither of those sticks with convention or worries about leaps in logic. Chapters signal shifts in the story, involving Daniel, Marek and Boss (Daniil Vorobyov), the volatile but charming Russian leader of the pack, as well. Power, survival, identity, affection and belonging are all wrapped up in a movie equally personal and topical. It manages to combine the attempts of men trying to carve out a different life however they can with a broader contemplation of class and immigration, and it does so with moments of horror, hope and heartbreak. Anyone familiar with French TV series The Returned will know the kind of style writer/director/editor Robin Campillo’s favours in only his second effort as a filmmaker: slow-moving, atmospheric, precise and always showing rather than telling. Here, it’s an ideal fit for a narrative that doesn’t try to justify what is going on but instead wants viewers to witness the actions, reactions, interactions and transactions that make up its reality and draw their own conclusions. Kudos also must go to his excellent cast for their naturalistic performances, specifically veteran Rabourdin and relative newcomers Emelyanov and Vorobyov. Making a movie feel intense, involving and intimate at the same time isn’t easy, but they ensure we’re always watching. Not that you have a choice — with a tale this simultaneously tense and tender, just try to look away.
When Dr Jane Goodall volunteered to live among chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, newspaper headlines were dismissive. Nearly 60 years later, the pioneering primatologist is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research — highlighting how closely connected humans are to our closest living relatives. Having dedicated the past six decades to her ongoing study, animal welfare in general and conservation, Goodall has lived a vastly fascinating life, which she'll be chatting about when she comes to Australia in May 2019. Goodall will appear at Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future event, which heads to the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11. The session will feature a 40-minute lecture by Goodall about her work, followed by a conversation between Goodall and a host for the same duration. Topics certain to get a mention include just how revolutionary her findings were at the time — and the impact they still have now — as well as her connection with the resident primates of Gombe. You can also expect Goodall to discuss her subsequent efforts to fight against threats to African chimpanzee populations, such as deforestation, illegal trade and unethical mining operations. Indeed, wildlife and environmental conservation is the main aim of the Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977. The Jane Goodall Institute Australia and Think Inc. are behind her 2019 Aussie trip. Catch Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future at the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11, with tickets on sale now.
For one magnificent spring day, Surry Hills will turn itself over to its beloved annual festival this Saturday, September 23. You can expect the usual explosion of creativity and music, with pop-up spaces, laneway experiments and hidden pop-up bars complementing all-day live music and markets in Shannon Reserve and Ward Park. And it's all free, free, free. Heading the music lineup is Sydney's own Thandi Phoenix, alongside local hip hop duo Coda Conduct, folk artist Joe Mungovan and self-described "psychedelic carnie-hop prog-rock band" Ungus Ungus Ungus. When you're not kicking back to the music, you can get active on guided tours of Surry Hills' creative spaces and architecture, along which you'll meet all kinds of local artists and creatives. A brand new art project Double Take will also launch on festival day, which will see artists curate a trail of projections and installations along Devonshire Street. This will run for three weeks, until Sunday, October 15. Plus, there'll be heaps of other things happening to keep you entertained, including roving art performances, projections and plenty of food stalls.
Carnage is originally a play by Yasmina Reza, now adapted to screen by Roman Polanski. The translation from one format to the other creates a stifling atmosphere; the viewer is trapped in the apartment where the entire movie takes place, and although it is only 80 minutes, it is based far more on dialogue than action, which makes it a little stagnant at times. For any other plot, this could be the film's downfall, but for Carnage, it allows for a spectacularly tense degradation of the veneer we create to tell ourselves (and others) that we are living a fulfilling life. The film starts with a long shot of kids playing in the park on a sunny day, a seemingly innocent scene until you realise one of them has a stick in his hand and is wielding it dangerously and then hits another kid in the face with it. Immediately after, we see the attempted reconciliation between the parents of Ethan (the victim) and Zach (the wielder of the stick). Like in the opening scene, it starts innocently enough, with both parties attempting to be courteous and understanding even though they are obviously from different social circles. Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael (John C. Reilly) have even bought tulips all the way from The Netherlands for the visit of Nancy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz) visit, as if painting a scene of domesticity can create an environment where they can act with graciousness and civility, presenting a united front with their spouse. What follows is a wonderful piece of orchestral music; violins open as the dialogue waltzes and dances in major keys. As time moves on, double basses creep in as a hint of tension becomes perceptible and builds, until the violins take over again and all is smoothed out. Each crescendo becomes louder and more discordant until the truth painfully is revealed: Alan's lack of care for his son, the frustration Nancy feels about his all-encompassing job, Penelope's despair that no-one actually holds any moral values or cares about societies other than their own and her hurt at Michael's lack of support. As they start to drink malt whisky, the men bond over their misogyny and it becomes a gender battle, with quotes from Ivanhoe and cigars to accentuate the point. The movie is beautifully orchestrated and has a wonderful, lilting emotional rhythm but I was left feeling empty after it. If it was because it seemed like what the film was trying to say was interrupted mid-speech, leaving us only with half-truths, or because I was depressed about the sentiments shown, I'm not certain. It is definitely worth watching though, as it's bound to spark heated debate and varying opinion. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ybiax8oozWM
Having long proved it's the master of the block party, with hit events like this year's Marrickville shindig Better Daze, the crew at hip hop and events collective One Day is heading back to its inner west home and inviting Sydneysiders to launch into summer in style at its second One Day Only festival. The main throwdown in the four-city One Day Summer Solstice national tour, this one's set to take over both levels of University of Sydney's heritage-listed Manning House to deliver a hip hop-soaked celebration on Saturday, December 7. It'll be a rollicking indoor/outdoor affair, with three stages and space for 3000 partygoers. With local hip hop at the forefront, you'll catch live shows from the likes of Haiku Hands, Mike Akox, Youngn Lipz and Rebecca Hatch, while favourites like Joyride, Klasik, Shantan Wantan Ichiban, Captain Franco and Half Queen grace the decks. Throw in a sprinkling of food stalls, pop-up bars and chill-out zones and you've got a recipe for one heck of a summer-starter. Pre-sale ticket access opens from 10am this Thursday, October 17, with general sale from 10am Monday, October 21. If past events are anything to go by, you'll want to jump on these babies quick — you can sign-up for pre-sale tickets by hitting up One Day on Facebook Messenger. One Day Only runs from 1–10pm.
If you've ever wanted to throw right back to your primary school disco — and pffft, who wouldn't? — then here's your chance to push the limits. The city limits, to be precise. That's because some local legend is breaking out the boom box and taking to the front of the Sydney Opera House to host a mass group groove sesh, featuring a huge, synchronised version of the Nutbush dance. Yep, the classic Tina Turner track and the daggy (yet, truly iconic) dance it inspired here in Australia will send the Opera House forecourt right back to the 90s, from midday on Saturday, September 8. Best channel your Year 6 self and start practicing in front of the mirror, because already more than five thousand punters have said they're keen to get involved. Here's a video, if you need a quick refresh. Last month, as part of the Birdsville Big Red Bash in QLD, a crowd of 1,719 broke the official Guinness World Record for the largest-ever Nutbush dance — let's see if Sydney can top that effort. Image: Letícia Almeida
For locals and tourists alike, Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane's must-see spots, particularly if you like peering down on cities a great height. From next year, visitors won't just drive up to the lookout to enjoy the view, walk along its trails or picnic in its parklands, however — they'll also be able to glide through the treetops and soar down from the summit via a zipline. Approved by the Brisbane City Council in 2017, set to start construction later in 2018 and due to be fully operational by 2020, the Mt Coot-tha zipline will consist of three parts, each of which will open in stages. Actual ziplines comprise two of the components, and yes, there'll be more than one, with nearly three kilometres of zipline included in the entire project. Firstly, a treetop canopy tour will span 1.5 kilometres between multiple platforms, starting at the west of the summit and finishing to the west of JC Slaughter Falls. As its name suggests, it'll zip through the trees to take riders on a tour of the site's flora, fauna and indigenous cultural heritage. It'll be the first to open to the public, from sometime in 2019. In 2020, it'll be joined by a two stage 'megazip' tour that features six parallel lines between the summit and the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens. As well as that 1.1-kilometre stretch — all in a single span, without any platforms along the way, and with users reaching speeds of around 60 kilometres per hour — there'll also be a second 340-metre run within the gardens, taking patrons zooming over the Melaleuca Lake. The final section of the project will involve a guided indigenous experience across a new 335-metre suspension bridge that'll be built above JC Slaughter Falls, connecting to the treetop canopy tour and the new arrival centre on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. And, so that everyone can get between destinations other than via zipline, there'll also be a shuttle bus linking various points. Brisbane City Council will put $1 million towards the zipline, which will be built by Zipline Australia — and, once it's finished, it'll be the longest zipline in the country. The project has also attracted criticism, including worries about its environmental impact throughout the vegetation-heavy area. In response to concerns, "extensive independent expert studies have been undertaken as part of the project to ensure the Mt Coot-tha zipline design is sensitive to the environment, including the natural habitat and Botanic Gardens," Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk advised The Courier-Mail. Images: Brisbane City Council.
Macquarie University's annual astronomy night is returning at the uni's North Ryde campus on Saturday, September 23. The night will kick off at 5pm and will feature various intergalactic activities that will engage and entertain space aficionados of all ages. A tonne of fun and exciting activations will take place throughout the event. You can head to the physics magic show that will be wowing audiences with clever scientific tricks, a telescope park where you can take a guided tour of the stars, a range of talks from Macquarie University academics and experts, and a robotics room where you can even drive an interactive robot. Plus, the planetarium will be in full swing, showing immersive peaks into the expanses of the universe. With the number of amateur astronomers in Sydney, pre-purchasing tickets is a must. Passes for the event are available for $40 for adults, $25 for concession card holders and $23 for kids.
In the name of its protagonist, and the pain and fury that threatens to parch her 12-year-old existence, Del Kathryn Barton's first feature scorches and sears. It burns in its own moniker, too, and in the blistering alarm it sounds against an appalling status quo: that experiencing, witnessing and living with the aftermath of violence against women is all too common, heartbreakingly so, including in Australia where one woman a week on average is killed by her current or former partner. Blaze has a perfect title, with the two-time Archibald Prize-winning artist behind it crafting a movie that's alight with anger, that flares with sorrow, and that's so astutely and empathetically observed, styled and acted that it chars. Indeed, it's frequently hard to pick which aspect of the film singes more: the story about surviving what should be unknown horrors for a girl who isn't even yet a teen, the wondrously tactile and immersive way in which Blaze brings its namesake's inner world to the screen, or the stunning performance by young actor Julia Savage (Mr Inbetween) in its central part. Savage also has a fitting moniker, impeccably capturing how ferociously she takes on her starring role. Blaze, the Sydney schoolgirl that she plays, isn't always fierce. She's curious and imaginative, happy dwelling in her own dreamy universe long before she flees there after witnessing a rape and murder, and then frightened and fraying while also fuming. In how she's portrayed by Savage, and penned by Barton with co-screenwriter Huna Amweero (also a feature first-timer), she's intricately fleshed out, too, with every reaction she has to the assault proving instantly relatable — especially to anyone whose life has been touched by trauma. We don't all see dragons made out of fabric, felt, feathers, papier-mâché and glitter, helping us through times good and bad, but everyone can understand the feelings behind that dragon, which swelter like the creature's fiery breath. Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, Blaze isn't — although Jake (Josh Lawson, Mortal Kombat), who Blaze spots in an alleyway with Hannah (Yael Stone, Blacklight), has his lawyer (Heather Mitchell, Bosch & Rockit) claim that his accuser knows nothing. With the attack occurring mere minutes into the movie, Barton dedicates the feature's bulk to how her lead character copes, or doesn't. Being questioned about what she saw in court is just one way that the world tries to reduce her to ashes, but the embers of her hurt and determination don't and won't die. Blaze's father Luke (Simon Baker, High Ground), a single parent, understandably worries about the impact of everything blasting his daughter's way. As she retreats then acts out, cycling between both and bobbing in-between, those fears are well-founded. Blaze is a coming-age-film — a robbing-of-innocence movie as well — but it's also a firm message that there's no easy or ideal response to something as awful as its titular figure observes. The pivotal sequence, lensed by cinematographer Jeremy Rouse (The Turning) and spliced together by editor Dany Cooper (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) to be as jarring and unflinching for Blaze's audience as it is for Blaze, is nightmarish. Avoiding agony and anguish isn't Barton's way — and it can't be with this subject matter. While never as harrowing in the same manner again, Blaze is styled by its artist-turned-writer/director in the same expressive, impressionistic way from start to finish, so that watching its frames flicker feels like diving inside its lead character's heart and mind. That internal realm is a place where a pre-trial proceeding erupts into flames spat from Blaze herself, via a tiny white dragon figurine she places between her teeth. Unsurprisingly, that's a spectacular and gloriously cathartic sight. Barton isn't afraid of symbolism, but she's also allergic to emptiness; not a single image in her kaleidoscopic trip through her protagonist's imaginings is ever wasted. As set to a soundtrack that's soulfully moody and brooding as only Nick Cave can be one minute, then psychedelic and soaring with The Flaming Lips a short time afterwards, the contents of Blaze's brain and soul is where cogs turn — not literally, not once, but in processing everything that the pre-teen has seen and felt. It's where she glimpses a corpse turned mesh and material, then spies a tiny girl climb a ladder out of its mouth, in one of the movie's many mixed-media moments. It's where tiny kissing ceramic animal figurines morph into something more, fleshy tongues waggling, and where putting her feet in a sandbox transports her to the beach. And, it's where thoughts and emotions can better be distilled through surreal stop-motion animation and puppetry, and via that towering pink-hued dragon that any child would want as their pal and confidant, and with hallucinogenic collages that everyone who has seen Barton's other art will immediately recognise as springing from her head. If Barton took on Where the Wild Things Are, Pete's Dragon or A Monster Calls, all of which deal with sadness and tragedy through fantasy as well, it'd look like this — well, as a starting point. As brilliant and deeply affecting as all three of those films are, Blaze is always bolder and darker. It's more enraged, audacious, unsettling and astounding. It stresses that hardship is what shapes us but not what solely makes us, but it's a gut-punch rather than a heartstring-tug of a feature (by design; facts and figures about femicide are purposefully worked in). Barton emphasises that surviving is both a battle and a feat, that coping through art is a balm, and that seeing and speaking are pivotal acts. In other hands, though, Blaze might've resembled another recent feature that plunged into distress, and a headphone-wearing adolescent feeling it, that's also helmed by a big-name Aussie debuting as a director after coming to fame in a different medium. Thankfully, however, similarities with Sia's Music end are superficial. Big things deserve to await Savage, who never lets Blaze forget that it's about a living, breathing, hurting, loving person, and about the screaming, receding, dreaming, needing and steaming that characterises her response to such an ordeal. In support, Baker offers a sublimely judged mix of care, stress and uncertainty, playing a dad who knows he doesn't have all the answers, because no one can — and Stone, in her crucial and devastating part, is phenomenal. Big things have already come Barton's way in the art world, but they deserve to shower over her for this also, which comes after short films The Nightingale and the Rose and Red. Blaze is brutal and beautiful, blunt and labyrinthine, and a trip, a heartache, an escape and a release. When its namesake asks why she ends up temporarily institutionalised but Jake hasn't been, the movie makes one of its points as loudly as it can, but every inch of every frame already says everything.
There aren't many better ways to spend a day than hanging out on an island, gorging on delicious food and drinking all of the wine. That's what the aptly named Wine Island serves up, and did every year before the pandemic hit — and, after a two-year interlude since 2019, it's making an eagerly awaited comeback in March 2022. Once again, Sydney's Clark Island will play host to quite the indulgent weekend of wine tasting, this time from Friday, March 18–Sunday, March 20. As always, the well-loved food and wine festival promises a packed lineup, starting with the cocktail you'll enjoy on the boat ride over. It's hosting two sessions per day, too, so you can choose between 10am and 4pm tipples. The island itself will be set up as the ultimate boozy adult playground, with Rosabelle, Dal Zotto, Dandelion/Heirloom Vineyards, Thomas Wines, Chateau Tanunda, Silent Noise, Nepenthe and Hungerford Hill among the wineries pouring their wares. Or, for those who mightn't want to sip vino all day, 4 Pines will be hosting a beer garden, Archie Rose will sling gin drinks from its own bar, Fever-Tree will be doing spritzes, and there'll also be both punch and iced tea bars — plus drinks from Brix Distillers, Grainshaker Vodka, Ned's Whisky and more. As well as pairing top-notch vino with even better views, a swag of masterclasses are also on the program, with assistance from Silent Vino Disco! and Wine Selectors. Expect everything from music-and-wine matching sessions to 'Pinot and Picasso' alcohol-fuelled art classes — plus an Archie Rose gin masterclass, too. And, to keep you fuelled for that big day of wine appreciation, food options will span oysters, lobster, burgers, Italian eats and cheese platters, as well as sweet treats from the dessert bar. There are two Wine Island ticket packages available, starting with the $109 'five-star experience', which includes ferry transfers, a cocktail on your way over, five tastings, a souvenir tumbler and a masterclass. Then there's the $209 'seven-star experience' — with ten tastings, a meal voucher, a tote bag, access to a VIP area and unlimited tastings at the rosé garden bar. Wine Island returns to Clark Island in Sydney Harbour from Friday, March 18–Sunday, March 20, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 27, with pre-sale from the same time on Monday, October 25.
Mona Vale has gained its own slice of inner city artsy-ness with recently-opened venue La de Da. Stop there; the word 'venue' doesn’t quite do this project justice. It's actually an art adventure, interior design extravaganza, live music stage, occasional dance club and off-beat eatery-drinkery wrapped into one. La de Da’s expansive canvas is thanks to a huge collaboration, involving four prominent arty and musical types: tattooist and interior designer Rick Vaughan (Four Tattoos), fine artist and graphic designer Paul Brabenec, DJ Marcus King and singer-songwriter Aya Larkin, who used to front Skunkhour and also co-ran Bondi’s Canteen Bar and Diner. The team have taken a beautiful historic building, located at 1725 Pittwater Road, and turned it into a cosy and romantic, yet quirky and electric visual feast. The space's bay windows, booths and corrugated iron roof have been given a modern edge with the addition of lush live greenery, dark wood and floral fabrics. And Vaughan, who's a serious traveller, has sprinkled his crazy international collection of objects, dolls, artworks and decorations all over the place. To add to the enigmatic atmosphere, lighting is kept to a low, falling here and there in shadowy pools. Amidst this eclectic design, La de Da is passionate about showcasing original art and music. Brabenec has brought his unique touch to the front bar, giving it a bright, abstract feel, heightened by the inclusion of several of James Ettelson’s bold pieces. In one intimate corner, Caleb Reid has left his idiosyncratic signature, while Wade Burkitt’s left-of-field portraits feature in the two main dining rooms. Live music is happening on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as on Sunday afternoons, in a dedicated chamber-style room. The program spans all genres, from laidback acoustic originals and indie rock to reggae and Latin. Every now and again a local DJ will pop in to convert the primary dining room into a dancefloor, disco ball included. Plus, when there's no live performance scheduled, you'll be able to handpick your own soundtrack via jukebox. As far as the food goes, one of the most intriguing dishes on the menu is baked jalapenos stuffed with ginger cream cheese. Also tempting is the La de Da WOW burger; twice-cooked pork belly in Chinese spices; pulled pork poutine, with molten cheese curds, shallots and a light beef gravy over steak-cut fries; wood-fired pizzas and seasonal tapas plates. All in all, the emphasis is on fresh, locally-sourced produce, dressed up with international flavours. Drinks-wise, standouts at the bar look to be the Garden Martini (gin, housemade lavender syrup, yellow chartreuse), frozen slushies, cocktail jugs and a range of craft beers, including Little Creatures, White Rabbit and Newcastle Brown. Why should the inner west have all the quirky fun? La de Da, located at 1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale, is open for dinner and drinks Tuesday to Friday, between 5.30pm and 12am; Saturday, between 4.30pm and 12am; and Sunday, between midday and 11pm.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back their Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day — because we know what you're like. Taking over Carriageworks' regular Saturday morning meet on December 23, the market will go all Christmas with a cornucopia of the spoils of 115 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams from Linga Longa Farm, cherries from Kurrawong Organics and gluten-free mince tarts from Kitchen Green. Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party — expect to see Cornersmith, Flour and Stone, Pasta Emilia, Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher and Pepe Saya there too. Of course, you can grab a snack as well, with Billy Kwong, Bar Pho, Agape Organic and Bibim Bowl setting up stalls for the morning. Look at that, Carriageworks just saved Christmas. Images: Jacquie Manning.
Over the next month or so, Sydney is absolutely the place to be if you're the type of person that considers an art gallery their happy place. Not only is the Art Gallery of NSW showing the highly anticipated Japan Supernatural exhibition, featuring Takashi Murakami, but there's also a Cornelia Parker retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, White Rabbit's decade retrospective Then, and Step Into Paradise at the Powerhouse Museum, which spotlights Aussie fashion legends Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson. There's a lot going on, so you better start planning how and when you're going to hit them all quick smart, you art fiend. Planning a staycation so you can condense them all into one very artsy long weekend is a no-brainer — as is reserving a luxe room at the new West Hotel on Sussex Street, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. It's right in the heart of the CBD and close to everything you'll want or need — including all the eateries and activities we've put together below, so you can spend less time in transit and more time gazing deeply at the newest work on show in your happy place, whichever gallery it may be. [caption id="attachment_648870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF A MODERN JAPANESE OMAKASE MENU If you've spent the day meandering around the visual decadence of Japan Supernatural at the AGNSW, it might be time to sit down to an equally decadent meal. Since you're walking through The Domain back towards Hyde Park, you won't be far from Sasaki, a truly immersive Japanese experience that pays homage to chef Yu Sasaki's hometown of Shimane. Sasaki offers an omakase menu (the term means "I'll leave it up to the chef"), which includes dishes featuring treasured Japanese ingredients like shiso, yuzu, chawanmushi and aosa nori. Walking through those traditional noren curtains into the simple, intrinsically Japanese dining room is like being transported to another world, and it'll be hard to leave — luckily your boutique West Hotel room is just five minutes away. [caption id="attachment_746464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Step Into Paradise, Zan Wimberley[/caption] WITNESS THE DEBUT COLLECTIONS OF AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE OF FASHION Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, the designers spotlighted in the Powerhouse Museum's gorgeous exhibition Step Into Paradise, are two of Australia's most beloved fashion legends. Kee and Jackson's contribution to the Australian fashion landscape is so great that they've both been honoured as Officers in the Order of Australia. But we also have some unbelievable talent starting out in the industry, so after you've spent the day marvelling at the work of the greats, you can head to the Whitehouse Institute of Design's 2019 Graduate showcase, where you'll find debut pieces from the designers that represent the future of the Australian fashion industry. We're cheating a little bit here as the showcase is happening next month, on December 3, but if you love swooning over fashion, we guarantee it'll be worth the wait. [caption id="attachment_742977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] TRY ONE OF SYDNEY'S MOST CHERISHED DISHES White Rabbit has true legacy status in Sydney, so it makes complete sense that after seeing its decade anniversary exhibition Then, you eat something that has a similar god-tier status in our harbour city. While XOPP in Darling Square is brand new, it is borne of legends — it's headed up by Billy Wong, the son of Eric and Linda Wong, who are the owners of legendary late-night joint Golden Century. The signature dish is the XO pipis (which is where the name of the new eatery comes from), a dish which is spoken about in deity-like tones throughout the city. This plate of sweet and sour goodness is so highly regarded, that even celebrity chef David Chang has called it 'the best dish in the world'. There are plenty more exquisite dishes to try on this extensive Cantonese-focussed menu, and it would be easy for your eyes to be far larger and louder than your stomach can handle. If you do make this all-too-common mistake and have to be gently rolled out of door, take solace in the knowledge that your hotel room is only six minutes away. SIP COCKTAILS AND TURN EVERYDAY OBJECTS INTO GORGEOUS ART AND CRAFT If you've spent the day at the Museum of Contemporary Art gazing in awe at all the marvellous installations, embroideries, sculptures and more by the inimitable British artist Cornelia Parker, then you might be feeling inspired to get a bit arty yourself. Parker is renowned for her ability to turn ordinary, everyday objects into an extraordinary piece of art, and you can channel that energy by attending a 'Boozy Crafternoon' at Redfern's Work-Shop. Working with a textile artist, you'll learn how to create very handy, charming mini-artworks from some everyday materials — and you'll get to enjoy some delicious cocktails while you're at it. [caption id="attachment_738437" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] GET YOUR UMAMI FIX WITH A BOWL OF JAPANESE PASTA Japanese interpretations of Italian pasta dishes are a delightfully muddled culinary genre of their very own, and Pasta Wafu in Sydney's newest food hall caters to all your Japanese pasta cravings. Taking classic pomodoro or bolognese sauces and making them with miso, mentaiko (spicy cod roe) soy and nori in order to majorly up the umami ante, Pasta Wafu is the perfect place for a quick but energising carbo-load lunch in keeping with your Japan-themed day, before you head to the Japan Supernatural exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW. [caption id="attachment_653238" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] SEE THE STREETS OF CHINATOWN COME ALIVE AT THE NIGHT MARKETS If you're sitting in your room at West Hotel wondering what to do on a Friday evening after an art-filled day at White Rabbit, it's highly recommended that you visit the Chinatown Night Markets which are just a 15-minute stroll down Sussex Street. Sydney's Chinatown strip on Dixon Street turns into a bustling, vibrant, somewhat magical place on Friday evenings, with stalls filled with an unbelievable amount of bewitchingly fragrant food, as well as those offering all sorts of off-kilter fashion, souvenirs and trinkets. The food is the main attraction though; you can grab an assortment of mouthwatering small plates from all different cuisines and create your own little yum cha experience on the street. It's honestly worth a visit even if you've already had dinner, simply for the energy and happiness radiating around you. The tantalising aromas floating past your nose will probably get you though, and you'll likely end up having some kind of post-dinner snack. But it'll be worth it. [caption id="attachment_693163" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] SHOP FOR QUIRKY VINTAGE FASHION IN THE SUN The first thing you feel like doing after seeing a bold and eclectic fashion exhibition like Step Into Paradise at the Powerhouse Museum is, of course, shop. Luckily, Sydney is brimming with some absolutely incredible markets that are chock-a-block full of quirky vintage clothing and secondhand designer pieces (and plenty more, including antiques, food and drink, books — you name it). You just have to know where to look. Some no-fail options are the Surry Hills Market, held on the first Saturday of every month in Shannon Reserve on Crown Street, or the enormous and much adored Glebe Markets, which are on every Saturday on the grounds of the public school on Glebe Point Road. You'll be decked out in some gorgeously eccentric vintage pieces à la Jenny Kee in no time. [caption id="attachment_705128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] VISIT SYDNEY'S MOST TRANQUIL PLACE You've had a busy weekend exploring Sydney's streets and eats, and traipsing up and down the stairs to hit all four stories of White Rabbit's Then, which is showcasing important pieces from the gallery's past decade of incredible exhibitions of contemporary Chinese art. So, it's understandable if you're in need of some R&R — and there's no place in Sydney better to do that than the Chinese Garden of Friendship. This inner-city oasis is located right near Darling Harbour, so it's just a short walk back to West Hotel on Sussex Street. The tranquil garden, designed in 1988 to adhere to the Taoist principle of 'Yin-Yang', is filled with swaying willow trees, a glittering koi pond, waterfalls, and plenty of peaceful spots to sit and properly relax. There's also The Gardens by Lotus if you want to refuel with some dumplings. LEARN KINTSUGI, THE JAPANESE ART OF FIXING BROKEN ITEMS WITH GOLD Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese practise of repairing broken pottery with gold, and the philosophy behind it focuses on the idea that something's usefulness doesn't end simply because it is broken; it can repaired, and it can be a thing of beauty. If the Japan Supernatural exhibit has left you feeling inspired for some Japanese craft (or if you've by chance broken all your plates recently), then heading to a beginner's kintsugi class from Class Bento will be a surefire success. You'll learn the new skill from Jun, who has been teaching since 2015 and will have you adding gold to your kitchen crockery soon enough. Plus, the class is just a few streets over from your hotel, so you can pop back there and drop off your new kintsugi plates home safely before heading out for the evening. [caption id="attachment_653386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] VISIT SYDNEY'S OLDEST HOTEL FOR A PINT Cherished British pub The Lord Nelson in the historic suburb of The Rocks is a little over five minutes walk from the MCA, and it serves up some lovely pub fare as well as offering more substantial and sophisticated dinner options in the gorgeously 'ye olde worlde' restaurant upstairs. This historic pub is Sydney's oldest continually licensed hotel, and its interior still showcases much of the original design and architecture. Today, it's the home of The Lord Nelson Brewery range of ales, which you can see on taps and in shops all around the country. So, if a pint and a Ploughman's is what you need after a big afternoon walking around the survey exhibition of UK artist Cornelia Parker, then, fortunately, this beautiful historic pub is just a hop, skip and jump away. And if you try a few too many of the brewery's delicious ales, jump in a taxi and you'll be back at West Hotel in just a few minutes. Make your artsy staycation easy by booking at West Hotel to be right on the doorstep of all the city's best happenings. Top Image: THEN at White Rabbit Gallery.
Each time we experience another lockdown, we're left with a big ol' pub-sized hole in our lives. The parma nights, the midweek trivia sessions and those freshly poured pints are dearly missed while we're stuck inside. Luckily, there are a few Sydney venues serving up the next best thing — a pub fix you can enjoy from the comfort of home, socially distanced with zero cooking effort required. From takeaway pub feeds to home-delivered brews, these local joints are dishing up the pub experience, to-go. Dial in to order and transform your living room into a front bar tonight. PUB LIFE KITCHEN, ULTIMO After closing down in 2017, one of Sydney's most beloved burger joints has reopened inside The Lord Wolseley Hotel. Pub Life Kitchen has brought its fan-favourite burgers back to Ultimo alongside a whole range of pub classics. On the new-look menu, you can pick up a parmi with chips and salad, rump steak, braised eggplant with XO sauce, hot and sticky wings and of course, PLK's OG beef or TLC fried chicken burgers. The inner-city spot has also collaborated with Drnks and is delivering a fry it yourself at-home burger kits featuring OG burger patties, buns and sauce. PETERSHAM PUBLIC HOUSE, PETERSHAM This sunny neighbourhood pub is turning into a pop-up bottle shop and pizza restaurant for the duration of lockdown with natty wines, craft beers, bottled cocktails and the venue's pizza menu available for pickup. You can nab two pizzas and a bottle of wine for $59 or two pizzas and a 500ml cocktail bottle for $79. Pair a prawn and artichoke or leek and mushroom pizza with a bottle of Alpha Box and Dice wine or a margarita. COOGEE PAVILION, COOGEE The Coogee Pavilion has just about everything you need for an at-home pub feast during lockdown. Whether you're a rump steak and shoestring fries or a salt and pepper squid kind of enthusiast, you'll find it on this massive takeaway menu. Completing the pub feed, you can pick up a selection from the Pav's bottle shop which includes bottled Totti's cocktails, beers, seltzers and champagne. THE TAPHOUSE, DARLINGHURST Darlinghurst favourite The Taphouse is bringing its famous Sunday roast into your home. You can pick up pork belly, beef brisket or veggie loaf paired with veggies, gravy and Yorkshire puffing for $25 any day this week, and if you live within one kilometre of the venue you can score free delivery of your roast right to your door. Craft beer lovers can also rejoice as The Taphouse has a huge range of canned beers on offer as well as cheeky Jameson shots to enjoy with your roast. THE OXFORD TAVERN, PETERSHAM The Oxford Tavern's lockdown takeaway menu has returned to put other at-home pub menus to shame. Beef brisket, pulled pork, a selection of schnitzels and parmis, cauliflower steak, and fried chicken burgers are all on offer at this beloved Petersham spot. And of course a pub feed wouldn't be complete without an accompanying drink which here includes an endless variety of craft beers, wines, cocktails and spirits. BELLA VISTA HOTEL, BELLA VISTA Northwest Sydney stalwart Bella Vista Hotel is offering up a whole heap of at-home goodies via its new lockdown drive-through. Locals can pick up bottled cocktails pantry essentials and a whole heap of pub classics to enjoy at the dining table. On the menu you'll find at home chicken parmigiana and burger packs ready for a pub feast as well as takeaway pizzas and loaded doughnuts. You can find our updated list of Sydney restaurants doing takeaway during lockdown here.
The best meal of the day is the source of many an office debate. But truth be told, we all know that it's brunch. Done right, brunch combines all of a Sydneysider's favourite things: good drinks, delicious food, entertainment (yes, people-watching counts) and a top-notch setting that lets us soak up the fine Sydney weather. In fact, it sounds so good that we've decided to get in on the action. In partnership with Henkell, purveyors of quality bubbles, we're hosting our very own luxe brunch, featuring all of the above in bountiful supply. This special event is set to take place on Saturday, January 19 and, the best part is, you're invited. Upon arrival at 11am, you'll receive a welcome cocktail to sip as you wander through an inner-city oasis filled with greenery, fairy lights, candles and a doughnut wall — but more on the location later. A DJ will be on-site to keep things lively as you enjoy Henkell sparkling wine and tuck into a selection of sweet and savoury bites. Brunch towers will be scattered along the decadent tables, holding mini granola cups, cheese and seasonal fruit platters and a selection of petit fours — think earl grey tea cakes, mini strawberry and watermelon cakes and choc-raspberry brownies. Be careful not to fill up on those yummy bites though, as gourmet finger sandwiches, mini bagels and quiches and brunch sliders (bacon and egg rolls, meatball subs and felafel burgers) will also be making their way around. And let's not forget that Henkell bubbly — did we mention it'll be free-flowing? Plus, you'll get a bottle each to take home with you and a calligrapher will be there to scribe a personalised message on it for you. It's safe to say we've thought of every detail to ensure this will be a brunch to remember. But there's one thing that we're keeping to ourselves for now: the venue. Don't worry — all will be revealed soon. So, if you'd like to nab a spot for you and a mate at our luxe 'Bubbles and Brunch' event, just enter with your details below and, if you're chosen, we'll sling a text or email your way a few days before with directions. [competition]702610[/competition]
If you've been around Darling Harbour and Tumbalong Park of late, you've probably noticed Sydney's huge new $1.5 billion business and entertainment precinct, International Convention Centre Sydney, set to open in December 2016. This looming structure boasts three new theatres, an entertainment precinct, an open-air event deck and more (detailed in our handy breakdown), but it's not just design that's getting people talking about ICC Sydney. Focused on changing the game for average convention centre cuisine, the ICC Sydney is opening with a very specific angle on their food offerings, with a philosophy called 'Feeding Your Performance'. It's the brainchild of ICC Sydney's big name culinary team headed by director of culinary services, Lynell Peck and executive chef Tony Panetta, and they're focused on improving the alertness, concentration and overall health and wellbeing of guests. DON'T EXPECT BORING OLD FUNCTION FOOD HERE Corporate workshop, boutique event and ballroom dinner guests will be choosing from dishes that are "high in protein, low in saturated fats to boost the overall health of delegates and visitors," says executive sous chef Constantin Kautz. "We've also increased the ratio of plant based proteins to aid digestion and concentration." We even spy chia seeds and almond milk on the menu. Perhaps this is an indication that the health movement has moved from yogi fad territory into the world of Big Corporate — and there's nothing bad about that, come on. This appears to be an Australian, even potentially a world first, and Panetta says they've been fielding inquiries from around the globe. "We might be at the forefront now, but we also believe this philosophy will become business as usual in the future." LOCAL SUPPLIERS WILL RULE AN INTERNATIONAL VENUE While in other hands (or with less financial investment) this way of feeding huge crowds of people could feel trite and temporary, Panetta and the team are walking the walk when it comes to the food. Kautz says they're committed to working with local and regional farmers and producers who practice ethical and sustainable farming techniques. Among them are Martin Boetz from the Cooks Co-op, Old Salty's Oysters in Pambula River, Willowbrae Chevre Cheese Farm at the Hawkesbury river, Archie Rose distillery in Rosebery and Westview Limes from Kempsey. THERE'S A DIVERSE TEAM OF CULINARY EXPERTS BEHIND EACH DISH Panetta is enthused about this new way of cooking, saying it's a "completely different approach to anything I have ever worked with before." Along with the team including Kautz who was previously the executive chef at Sydney's Intercontinental, executive pastry chef Michael Belcher, executive sous chef Jack Astin and chef de cuisine Dylan Sanding, Panetta says the environment is one where "people are encouraged to flourish, challenging one another to keep upping the ante." He says the fact that they have such different backgrounds provides a unique jumping off point for the kitchen. "From convention centres to boutique hotels and five-star restaurants, everyone can bring something different to the table." There's also collaboration with a well-respected team of nutritionists including Dr Joanna MacMillan, who is reviewing the nutritional value of the menus and aiming to "drive physical and mental performance," says Panetta. He also says they're constantly aiming to "unlock the science behind ingredients" making sure they tick boxes in both flavour and health benefits. The focus is on locality, fruit, vegetables, whole grains and seasonal food. AND NOW A LITTLE PEEK AT THE MENU One of Panetta's favourite dishes is Australian king prawns with lemon verbena, carrot, kohlrabi and porky wild rice. "It's a zesty, seasonal dish that plays into all our philosophies." He says it's high in "protein, vitamins and minerals to actively drive mental ability." Kautz likes the slow braised beef cheek, pureed sweet potato and broccoli with pancetta and crispy white anchovies as "the beef is sourced locally from Rangers Valley and the broccoli leaves zero waste — all parts of the vegetable are included," he says. We also like the look of the Hawkesbury tomato salad, the Cowra C-boosted lamb salad with freekeh, kale, pomegranate and wild rice and the blue eye with beetroot, cucumber and sesame.
Apologies to your couch, your favourite streaming platform and that pile of old DVDs sitting on your shelves, but when it comes to watching a movie, there's nothing like seeing it on the big screen. And while heading out to the flicks is a year-round activity, it's even better when summer hits, when outdoor cinema season is in full swing. Getting comfy on a beanbag, sipping brews and bubbles in the open air, staring up at the silver screen as the sun goes down — that's what catching a summer film is all about. In fact, that's exactly what's on the agenda at IMB Bank Sunset Cinema, which returns to North Sydney from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Taking over North Sydney Oval for more than two months of movies under the stars, this year's season is made for cosy summer date nights and stress-free hangouts with your mates. And if you're wondering what to watch, here are five blockbusters to feast your eyeballs upon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dKzet0o4i0 AQUAMAN Back in 2016, the DC Comics Extended Universe pitted Batman and Superman against each other to see who'd emerge victorious; however, the film series was clearly asking the wrong question. If a battle between Justice League superheroes did arise, Aquaman would obviously come out on top. He has at the global box office, at least, with the Australian-shot blockbuster now the highest grossing flick in the franchise. It's easy to see why, with Aussie director James Wan (The Conjuring, Fast & Furious 7) helming a comic book effort that isn't afraid to be over-the-top — in its eye-popping visuals, its action both above and below the water and its use of charming star Jason Momoa. Showing: Thursday, January 31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ghQs5AmNk GLASS Back in 2000, fresh from the success of The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan gave the world one of the best superhero movies ever made. Now Unbreakable has a follow-up, but Glass doesn't just add a second chapter to that tale. It's also a sequel to the director's last film, Split. Capping off a trilogy that no one saw coming, the film spins a story involving Bruce Willis' indestructible hero David Dunn, all 23 personalities inhabiting James McAvoy's Kevin Wendell Crumb and Samuel L. Jackson's fragile comic-book lover Elijah Price. To say more is to say too much, although it does directly follow the events of its immediate predecessor. With Shyamalan writing and directing, it's safe to expect plenty of twists, of course. Showing: Wednesday, February 27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S9c5nnDd_s BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Fresh from rocking the Golden Globes, where it picked up Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody is here to rock Sunset Cinema. And if you've already seen this immensely popular Freddie Mercury biopic and had to stop yourself from singing along, you're in luck — that's on the agenda here. The sounds of Queen will echo through the outdoor screening, charting the band's formation, its rise to fame, Mercury's private life and the group's memorable music. Just remember to stay in your seats during the fantastic Live Aid concert scenes — you'll be tempted to jump up, sing and scream, but you won't want to block the view of the fellow film fans behind you. Showing: Wednesday, February 20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_iDqkQqtI VICE A child interred in a Second World War camp. A glam rock groupie in the 70s. A psychopathic investment banker. Batman. John Connor. Christian Bale has played many roles since becoming an actor at the age of 13, and now he steps into the shoes of former US Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice. It's a powerhouse performance in a movie that spins its true tale with a sense of humour. The Big Short's Adam McKay is in the director's chair, adopting the same kind of tone as he did in that satirical banking industry flick, while Sam Rockwell plays President George W. Bush, Steve Carell plays Donald Rumsfeld and Amy Adams plays Cheney's wife, Lynne. Showing: Friday, January 25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuFxzUC5UI HOLMES & WATSON When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first put pen to paper, scribbled down a crime mystery and conjured up an intrepid sleuth, he couldn't have known just what he'd done. That was back in 1887, and Sherlock Holmes is still going strong 142 years later — although, you can surely put Holmes & Watson on the list of things that Doyle could never have anticipated. This time around, Will Ferrell dons the detective's deerstalker, while his Step Brothers and Talladega Nights co-star John C. Reilly steps into John Watson's shoes. The game is afoot as the famous pair try to protect Queen Victoria (Pam Ferris) from the notorious Professor Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes). As you'd expect, this isn't your usual take on the idiosyncratic sleuth. Showing: Saturday, February 2 and Friday, February 8 Sunset Cinema will take over North Sydney Oval from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Check out the full film program and book tickets here.
In 2016, the burg remains king in Sydney and there are few more dedicated local servants to our Royal Meaty Highness than Bar Luca. As well as consistently trotting out a delicious/grotesque/highly Instagrammable array of burgs, you might have noticed they've just started opening a chain of takeaway spinoffs named BL Burgers. The first opened in Darlinghurst in March 2016 and has been so successful they've just announced a second opening at Bondi Beach, on the first floor of the Beach Road Hotel. It's slated to open towards the end of May and ensure the cholesterol of Bondi residents stays nice and high with takeaway Bar Luca standards such as the famous Blame Canada burger: a Wagyu beef pattie, cheddar, house smoked duck bacon, sweet potato poutine and smoked maple aioli. And in news that, at this point, surprises no one (they did once put chipotle, bacon and Nutella together on a burger), Bar Luca and Paper Street Ice Cream Company jointly announced the birth of another unholy creature to join their brood – Blame Canada ice cream. It's made of vanilla bean ice cream, smokey beefy caramel swirl (beefy caramel? Has science gone too far?), maple marshmallow fluff, parmesan, maple bacon and dark chocolate covered potato chips. It's currently available at Bar Luca and BL Burgers Darlinghurst and we can only hope it'll be made available at the new BL Burgers location as well (we really can't live without it now we know it exists). BL Burgers Bondi will open on May 25 at 71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach. Via Good Food.
Sydney's club scene was once awash with world-renown DJs popping up for secret sets across the city. While these appearances are a little scarcer these days, one of Australia's biggest names behind the decks is coming to Club 77 tonight for a last-minute set. Local producer, songwriter, DJ and bestie to Silverchair's Daniel Johns — What So Not — will be heading to the freshly revamped Darlinghurst club for a drum and bass-oriented set. What So Not announced the show on Instagram this afternoon telling local fans: "I just landed in Aus & fiending for a club sesh. Please spread the good word." If you want to catch the set you'll have to head down early with tickets only available on the door for $20 a pop. A longstanding titan of Sydney's clubbing scene, Club 77 recently underwent a major facelift which included a fresh drinks menu from the Odd Culture team, two new happy hours and an overhaul of the opening hours seeing it open until 4am seven days a week. View this post on Instagram A post shared by What So Not (@whatsonot) Top image: What So Not, Yours and Owls, Ruby Boland
Famed consultant chef Tomislav Martinovic (Five Points Burgers) is at it again, this time opening a 'burgers around the world' restaurant in Wolli Creek. A collaboration with owners Sergio Spagnuola and Coco Liang, Concept Burger is the end result — now open for weekend lunch, plus dinner six nights a week. Martinovic has become the go-to man in the restaurant consultancy business for good reason, having earned three hats at his namesake restaurant, Tomislav, and worked under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck. If his beloved Five Points Burgers is anything to judge by, this new space will be worth the train ride for city dwellers. "When Sergio and Coco came to me they were pretty stubborn on the name and the concept," says Martinovic. "I think they started with 15 to 20 different burgers, and my role was to meet them somewhere halfway with a realistic number, narrowing it down to only the seven favourite cuisines." That meant Italian for Spagnuola and Chinese for Liang, which then saw the menu take on a decidedly Asian flare. Other burgers include the Vietnamese — a grilled chicken burger with raw enoki mushroom and coriander, topped with sweet soy and chilli glaze — and a Japanese burger of tempura fish, karashi mustard and yuzu kosho paste. In burger-obsessed Sydney, where a new joint seems to open every day, it's crucial to set your eatery apart — and that's exactly what Martinovic aims to do. "Everyone is trying to do an adaptation or interpretation of the American burger lately, but we don't have an American burger, or even an Aussie burger, on our menu," explains Martinovic. "We're getting away from your plain old average cheese — it wasn't easy since as soon as you take out American cheese, there's almost this message to your brain that this isn't a burger anymore." Somehow, Martinovic prevailed, and American cheese only features in the Canadian burger, with a preference for provolone on the Italian and gruyère on the French (which is a particularly tasty-sounding mushroom and truffle paste concoction). Concept Burger also makes their own tomato chutney instead of using ketchup, again making this burger experience a bit more of a fancy one. "We tried to fit a burger into a cuisine instead of take a patty and slice of cheese and building a burger out of it — essentially we've gone the complete opposite direction," says Martinovic. "There's a fine line between a burger and a sandwich, so it was a challenging process but a lot of fun." Spagnuola took charge of the fitout, which includes polished concrete floors, black tiling and a big mural of the world in letters. Martinovic assisted with the kitchen, and the shiny new space includes beautiful heat lamps, with the open plan allowing for guests to enjoy the theatre of it all. "It's a pretty funky, slick looking restaurant, and while we'll have a takeaway option, we definitely see it as more of a dining destination," notes Martinovic. The liquor license will help with this vibe, with Concept Burger offering up wine and beer, including local Aussie and international Asian brews. Find Concept Burger at 9-11 Arncliffe Road, Wolli Creek; open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and lunch Saturday and Sunday.
