On Friday, November 9, make going out for dinner about more than just a meal — make it a cooking class as well. Flavours of Auburn is combining the two at its session dedicated to vegan Ethiopian cuisine. You'll learn the basics, help prepare the food and then, yes, you'll get to tuck in. Tickets cost $70 — or $45 for students and concessions, and $50 if you live in the area — which includes everything you'll need to cook up and then feast upon. It also includes drinks, in a class that's designed to make you feel like you're in someone's house. And as for who'll be leading the charge, Flavours of Auburn's sessions are overseen by cooks from ASCON and House of Welcome. Bookings are essential, and must be made before 4pm on Wednesday, November 7. Vegan Ethiopian fare is just one type of cuisine on Flavours of Auburn's regular cooking class menu, with other Friday night sessions dedicated to Pakistani and Afghani food — and more.
There's a gallery in Sydney's eastern suburbs whose artists and curators never pack up and go home. They are home. Welcome to Le Petit Bateau, an eastern suburbs art community with a backyard that's a grown-up culture playground. Without knowing the location of this little art haven, you could easily assume it was nestled in the streets of Kreuzberg in Berlin or Montmartre in Paris, rather than tucked away in the sunny streets of Bondi Beach. Just around the corner from the main road is a little sign welcoming you to Le Petit Bateau. Blink and you’ll miss it. Le Petit Bateau celebrates local creatives, housing art, dance and cooking classes. Home to 25 people residing in six flats, it functions as both a communal living and art space. Anne-Sophie Ridelaire is the curator behind this venture. Six months after coming across the space in Sydney and settling into the life of the complex, she and her boyfriend, Gaetano Russo, decided to convert an old garage into a multipurpose art studio and gallery, open to everyone in the community who wants to view and participate in art, with an emphasis on combining the cultural and social. “When I was in Paris, I was working for an art gallery, [and] my dream was to open a space like this where people can come and feel free to see the artwork,” she says. Everything you see is recycled, from the couches to the decorations — all bits and bobs collected from the street. Fitting in perfectly with the community's nautical name, an old boat donated by the Pyrmont Heritage Boating Club stands prominently at the entrance. “All this we found stuff on the street, so we don’t spend much," she says. "[We wanted] to show people that you can build something with nothing.” Art being accessible is at the heart of Le Petit Bateau, evidenced by the open door policy. The classes, the jam sessions, the art — it’s all for free. Anne-Sophie sees it as important to overcome the dissonant idea that art is reserved for the upper classes. She sees Le Petit Bateau as an important opportunity to reach out to people through art and to encourage dialogue across cultures. In keeping with that, the current exhibition is The Big Picture, an international photography exchange as part of the Month of Photography in Denver, Colorado. The Big Picture involves photographers from all around the world displaying their prints inside galleries and on the streets. Anne-Sophie has been working on this project for a year now. Along with five talented local photographers, she has recently returned from six weeks in Europe, in which she and her team pasted their photographs all around the streets of Lyon, Strasbourg, Rome, Sicily and Milan. Sydney is among many other cities participating in the project, alongside Perth, Paris, Vienna, Portland, Denver, Berlin, London, Mexico City and Buenos Aires. “It is an exchange of culture through photography, and the idea is to go around cities and to pass these pictures along,” she says. Working with a gallery in Sicily, the team pasted a photo of a shark at the local fish market, which attracted a crowd of observers. “The fishermen were like, 'What is that? Is it a shark? Is it real?'” she recalls. “This kind of conversation starts, and this is exactly what the project is about.” At the moment, the photos are pasted around the gallery. Her next step is to post some of these attention-grabbing works around the streets of Sydney. The success of Sydney’s Le Petit Bateau has inspired a similar projects in Anne-Sophie’s hometown of Lyon in France, as well as in Sicily in Italy. Despite that, she is not sure if the current Bondi Beach site will remain the home of Le Petit Bateau; she views its current form as a trial. Mindful that Bondi is a residential neighbourhood, she hopes to expand somewhere where there are fewer limitations. Watching Le Petit Bateau inject a bit of Paris into the streets of Sydney has been very welcome. And it would appear that the admiration is mutual. “Sydney is a sharing place, and there’s so many different cultures in Sydney, it’s beautiful," she says. "It’s a cosmopolitan city, and it’s important to create connection between each culture, to not have gates.” The Big Picture exhibition will be running at Le Petit Bateau until May 28. To keep up to date with all their events, check out their Facebook page. Images by Bodhi Liggett.
In the lead-up to the festive season, Sydney's weekend nights are set to become that little bit safer with the introduction of a volunteer-run 'Safe Space'. Between 10pm and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, the World Square-based area will be staffed with Salvation Army volunteers, who'll provide help to anyone who needs support — be it in the form of water, first aid, telephone calls or advice on how to get home. At the same time, the volunteers — who’ve been dubbed Take Kare Ambassadors — will be patrolling CBD entertainment precincts. They’ll keep an eye out for vulnerable individuals, offering assistance on the spot and, if need be, directing them towards the Safe Space. The initiative is a collaboration between the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, the City of Sydney and the New South Wales Police. It will be piloted for three months, before its permanency is determined. "There are currently no prevention services in place to assist young people who are ejected from venues due to being too intoxicated, and they can end up on the street in a vulnerable state with the potential of becoming either a victim or an offender," Mr. Kelly said in a media statement. "Tonight all that changes. Many parents will owe so much to the Take Kare Ambassadors, but few will ever know that their son or daughter got home safely because a team of people volunteered their time to come to their children’s side when they needed it the most." "It’s vital that we do everything we can to calm Sydney’s streets and curb alcohol-related violence," added the Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "The City will continue to work with NSW Police and the NSW Government to create the safest possible environment we can for young people out at night. This program will play a pivotal role in helping intoxicated young people in the city sober up, seek assistance from a responsible adult and get home safely late at night." The Safe Space trial is one of several moves by the City of Sydney to boost safety. Others include temporary toilets at Town Hall, Whitlam Square, Taylor Square and Springfield Mall, which will be open between 10pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights until next March; extended opening hours for the City’s info kiosks (until 9pm); the addition of crowd control barriers to the Bayswater Road taxi rank between 9pm and 6am on Saturday nights; and the installation of variable message signs in the CBD and Kings Cross, conveying safety and transport information. Image: Luke Reynolds.
Winter schminter, let's party on the roof. There's a new weekly rooftop shindig in town, brought to you every Saturday night by the crew behind Aussie electronic label etcetc (repping the likes of Kilter, Paces and Set Mo). After their sold-out slam dunk of a Vivid showcase, etcetc have found themselves a nice little CBD rooftop, Taylor's Social, atop the 1865 heritage listed Republic Hotel on Bridge Street — accessible from a laneway entrance on Tank Stream Way. And it's going to be pretty; there's going to be a commissioned installation from Australian-born artist Anthony Lister making a modern party spot of the heritage-listed building, handpicked for their weekly DANCEetc. party. The music policy? All things house. Featuring a solid roster of up-and-coming talent, DANCEetc. will launch on July 18 with the likes of Set Mo, POOLCLVB, Acaddamy, LO’99 and Frames locked in for the first couple of weeks. Pair your deep house with fancy wines picked out by the crew's sommelier and botanical cocktails aplenty. DANCEetc will kick off at 8pm on July 18 atop the Republic Hotel, corner of Bridge Street and Tank Stream Way. For more info, visit etcetc. Image: POOLCLVB.
By now you've been to (or at least heard about) Holey Moley, the mini-golf bar that has taken over the Newtown Social Club space — which, for some, has been a sad sight to see. And now the putt putt empire is adding another Sydney venue to its ever-growing family, bringing its signature novelty combo of multi-sensory mini-golf, karaoke and booze to Castle Hill. Set to open its doors within Castle Towers Shopping Centre at the end of November, Holey Moley's seventh iteration will feature 18 uniquely themed holes, across two indoor courses, as well as a private karaoke room, where you can give those vocal chords a post-putt workout. But as an added bonus, this sprawling venue also boasts ten bowling lanes and its own escape room — Holey Moley is owned by FunLabs, which is the group behind Strike Bowling. Plus, it'll have a sports bar, complete with private booths and a plethora of screens. Here, you'll be able to order beer by the stein, goblet or tower, along with signature cocktails and snacks like hot dogs and loaded fries. The Castle Hill launch is expected to be well-received — both because the Newtown venue has been hugely popular and because the Castle Towers location is a little less culturally sacred (that is, not a legendary live music venue). It follows just a few weeks after the opening of Holey Moley's recent Newcastle addition. A 27-hole Perth venue is also set to open this month, with another slated for Queensland's Sunshine Coast next year. Find Holey Moley & Strike Bowling at Castle Towers, The Piazza, 6-14 Castle Street, Castle Hills, from November 30. For more info, visit holeymoley.com.au.
This not-so-secret garden is, without a doubt, one of Sydney's most beautiful green spaces. Created by Wendy Whiteley, the widow of acclaimed Australian artist Brett Whiteley, the garden is a gorgeous testament to heartbreak and renewal. Channeling her grief into an artistic project, Wendy slowly transformed the abandoned railway dump in front of her home into what is now a public garden. With winding paths, benches, sculptures, and sweeping views over the harbour, this little slice of paradise offers a welcome respite from the chaos of the city. The garden's many quiet corners also make it the perfect place for a quiet picnic, or a little alone time. Image: Martin7d2 via Flickr.
For most Australians, buying a kebab is like brushing your teeth. Everyone does it, most people have their own techniques or preferences but no one ever seems to talk about it — it’s just something that you do. But as commonplace as the mighty kebab is in this country, it’s odd that such a visible and popular part of our food culture has largely gone untold. Ufuk Bozoglu and his family have been making kebabs for more than 20 years. He started when he was seven in his mum and dad’s kebab shop in Westmead. Now he runs Oz Turk Jr, the offspring and namesake of the now defunct CBD kebabery which recently hosted SBS’s Kebab Kings documentary. As far as the kebab industry goes Bozoglu’s seen everything. “You have a lot of memories. I'm lucky a lot of my customers are regulars. Even the students after they finish, they come and visit me.” Bozoglu says most of his regular customers have his phone number. “Yesterday I had to go do something for SBS and I got all these calls, 'Why aren't you at work? Where are you? We came down, where are you? Are you coming tomorrow? We'll come this time, be there.'” It hasn’t all been happy memories though. He tells us about the death of one of the homeless men his family looked after, and another time where he chased a group of people down the street with kebab knives after they had king-hit an elderly man on the street. “I went and got the kebab knife, they were just there laughing. I said fucking wait for me I'm going to kill yous all. Mate, they started running,” he says with a chuckle. “The cops came and got me instead. ‘What are you doing with the kebab knife?’ ‘Oh I was cutting kebabs I forgot it in my hand’.” Then there’s New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras and St Patrick’s Day. “There were times me and mum worked 24 hours. It’s quiet then it hits one and you're smashed till nine. You can't breathe, you can't think, you’re sweating. We used to go through 60kg of just chicken in a couple of hours.” He has no regrets though. “People go, ‘Oh it's drunk food for when it's 3am’. I don't find it that way. Every kebab and every store is a little bit different,” he says. “I love the kebab industry. Hopefully I can stay as long as I can.” BOZOGLU’S PERFECT KEBAB: Bozoglu says the most important thing is freshness. The meat has to come in every morning, the hommus, garlic and chili sauces need to be homemade each day and nothing can be reheated, frozen or reused. The meat itself can’t be overcooked he says, to keep it tender and juicy “You have to be always be on it, cutting it, always cooking. It will take you three to four hours to cook a whole beef kebab.” Style-wise he likes to mix it up a bit but his all-time favourite is lamb. “I like lamb kebabs with lettuce, tomato, onion, chili and garlic sauce. I think you can't beat that.” Hommus he says is for falafel, lamb should be eaten the classic way. Bozoglu makes and toasts his own bread to order but he says toasting isn’t essential. Visit Oz Turks Jr at 245 Abercrombie Street, Redfern. Kebab Kings airs over three weeks, beginning Wednesday 25 November, 8.30pm on SBS.
From the slew of wine bars popping up around Sydney to dedicated celebrations like Huge Moves and Pinot Palooza, vino is having a real moment. Wine has been receiving a tonne of local appreciation, and the love just keeps pouring in. Online wine retailer Different Drop is reaching its decade milestone and to celebrate it'll be hosting a huge wine-tasting event at Sydney's Paddington Town Hall. Wine UNLEASHED! is taking over the hall from 2–5pm on Saturday, October 14, bringing an extraordinary lineup of 200-plus artisanal wines, plenty of top-notch wine importers and over 40 local wineries pouring their best drops. Cult producers like Dr. Edge, Ravensworth, Luke Lambert, Giant Steps and Brash Higgins will all be in attendance — plus, the selection of drinks will be accompanied by some inviting snacks to enjoy as you taste your way through the afternoon. [caption id="attachment_917031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Different Drop co-founders Tom Hollings (left) and Brett Ketelbey (right).[/caption] The event will celebrate ten years since the birth of Different Drop and the beginning of its mission to make artisan wine more accessible and easier to enjoy for all of the vino lovers of Australia. The online retailer is now referred to as a "digital wine playground" by its co-founders, offering up a massive selection of hand-crafted drinks. If you've been hoping to get in touch with some of Australia's leading producers or to discover an array of sips, new and old, this is shaping up to be the ultimate chance to do so. Wine UNLEASHED! is expecting to see upwards of 400 guests swing through the doors to sample the exclusive drops on the event's stacked program, so you'll want to secure your spot quickly. Tickets to Different Drop's tenth birthday bash are $90, which includes all of your win samples and snacks for the day. Head over to Different Drop's Wine UNLEASHED! event page to secure your spot.
Semi Permanent, Australia's three-day touring seminar that covers big ideas around design, tech, digital landscapes and the future of the internet, has a straight-up cray-cray 2016 lineup featuring speakers from Google, Uber, Netflix and Facebook. If you're in the market for some solid advice from the new generation of entrepreneurs, this is the event for you (you know you're growing up when the idea of a three-day seminar is more exciting than the idea of a three-day music festival, hey). Carriageworks is hosting the epic annual event in May and while tickets are a little pricey ($340 for a general admission single day ticket), but they always roll out mind-boggling content and installations — plus, the networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold. The theme of 2016 is the future of the internet/technology and the future of travel with two panels dedicated to the exploration of both themes. Speakers will include Hector Ouilhet (head of design research at Google), Dantley Davis (design director at Netflix), Jurgen Spangl (head of design at Atlassian), Ethan Eismann (director of product design at Uber), Jon Lax (director of product design at Facebook) alongside a whole slew of tech wizards an industry bigwigs. They'll be ready and waiting to answer your important questions, like is Steven Avery innocent, is uber legal and does Facebook read my messages. Or, you know, better questions. You'll hear from people who turned their ideas into thriving businesses that challenge the status quo and may just inspire you to pursue that tight app idea you have. The National Institute of Dramatic Art will be there too, hosting workshops on building confidence and engagement when in front of an audience (this will definitely come in handy if you ever have to do a TED talk, which we all will at some point because you're awesome).
If you’ve been missing the Festivalists’ best-known night about town, Jurassic Lounge, it’s been a long time between drinks. Their pioneering play-plus-edification mainstay at the Australian Museum slipped into indefinite hiatus with its extinction events late last year, leaving Festivalist fans to explore the film festivals, festival hub and Mayhem that make up part of their wider repertoire. This September, though, they’re adding more museum to their CV with a Lounge-like excursion to Darling Harbour: Hijinks. Hijinks sees the Festivalists take over the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for three separate nights across September, October and November. And this time they’re going with the nautical theme. On arrival, attendees will be handed a treasure map which will help them to find a treasure chest over the course of the night. But to get to it you’ll need to complete a series of challenges. Says Festivalist director Matt Ravier, “The challenges take the form of riddles and photo challenges that you might complete by taking a photo with your phone, for example.” Helping you work out what to do will be a series of actors, performers and actual scientists scattered around the building. These challenges are optional. There’ll still be plenty of scope in the evening for just a drink and a bit of hanging out. But the treasure map is all about making good with this new space, after switching from a space like the Australian Museum’s interlocking rooms to the Aquarium’s path-like layout. The Festivalists try to look at each new venue with fresh eyes. When you first scope one out, Ravier says, you try to “leave all preconceived ideas and expectations at the door, and you’ll re-experience the venue almost as a child.” So, for Hijinks guests, “rather than just have a party, which we can do pretty much anywhere, they’ll be interacting with improv comedians, performers, artists, but also marine biologists throughout their journey through the Aquarium and getting clues from them that will lead them to the treasure chest, with a chance, of course, to win its contents.” This time, says Ravier, “the whole experience is designed as a journey, rather than a free-for-all invitation to disperse and be at a certain place at a certain time.” Which also means it’s laid out a bit like one-way system. “Although people who come regularly will start discovering short cuts and secret passages that allow them to move more freely than they thought they could.” And it won’t just be the people; the point of getting to explore at the Aquarium is to get a better look at that marine life on show. “I guess, with Hijinks, we’re bringing the party to the wildlife," says Ravier. "So, it’ll be an interesting kind of meeting, audiences and marine biology.” Is it hard to plan around fish? They’ve planned around the animals, but Ravier’s not too concerned about the prospect of mixing people with fish tanks. “It’s actually quite easy, because the space has already been designed with that in mind. The tanks etcetera have been built in such a way as to protect the animals from external noise and stimuli. It simply means that we won’t have loud music in certain spaces, that we have to be careful about bass and vibrations from the bass if we have a DJ playing.” Opening night, Thursday, September 11, sees a pirate theme. Highlights will include Tom Christophersen's radio-transmitted storytelling, puppet cabaret from Defy and tattoo-drawing lessons from tattooist Jimmy Memento. Not to mention the chance to hear divers at the Aquarium talk about rescuing grey nurse sharks in the wild, a little underwater art and maybe some extra underwater activities. “I think what underpins pretty much everything that we do is access," says Ravier. "So the idea of providing access to culture, or to collections, or to artistically or culturally valuable experiences.” And like most people he asked, Ravier says that for him, before Hijinks, the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium had been a place he mainly just took overseas visitors. But now he thinks Hijinks “could be a chance to almost reappropriate the aquarium for Sydney locals as a fantastic space that’s right on our doorstep.”
Looks like Justin Hemmes will be staying put at the Coogee Pavilion, as the Merivale king and landlord David Kingston have reached an "in-principle settlement" today after Hemmes faced possible eviction from the property in May. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the ownership of the Pavilion will be transferred to Hemmes — but that's really all we've got to go with. "It's been satisfactorily resolved ... It's been a good day," said Hemmes after the hearing, without any elaboration on the agreement. The monarch of Merivale, Hemmes could have kicked out of his most successful venture in years when he faced possible eviction from the Coogee Pavilion by his landlord in May. According to SMH and documents lodged in the Supreme Court, Coogee Pavilion owner David Kingston, ex-managing director of investment bank Rothschild, issued termination notices after late rent and "unauthorised works", namely the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop and the barbershop downstairs. According to the SMH, Hemmes sought to buy the Coogee Pavilion (formerly the Beach Palace) from Kingston last March. The pair agreed on $37 million and Kingston required Hemmes to pay the whole sum in two years. Hemmes deposited $5 million (treated as an option fee) and the rent (a cheeky $1.5 million per year) was considered interest on the remaining $32 million. Hemmes then poured $12 million into the refurbishment of the Coogee Pavilion and launched in July 2014. But all seems to have gone pear-shaped after Hemmes was allegedly two days late with rent in January 2015. After failing to pay rent on Saturday, January 3, Kingston issued Hemmes a termination notice on January 5, on which Hemmes paid the rent. So rent was paid, albeit late. Apparently this two-day delay would have set Kingston back $85.74, which seems teeny compared to the $1.5 million rental fee, but money's money. Fairfax reports that Hemmes lodged a caveat on the Coogee Pavilion the very next day, claiming he had an "equitable interest" in the property — and after pouring $12 million and the hefty Merivale brand into the joint, we can't blame him. But Kingston wasn't just angry about late rent. Apparently the owner didn't know about "blatant and unauthorised works" happening at the Pavilion — the new and highly publicised Coogee Pavilion Rooftop, opened in December 2014. After claiming Hemmes hadn't clued him into the nature of the rooftop renovations, Kingston issued a second termination notice. Then Kingston claimed further breaches — he apparently didn't know Hemmes was operating a barbershop on the premises — and issued a third termination notice. Hemmes is biting back on this one, saying Kingston actually attended the opening of the downstairs section in July 2014 and the Rooftop in December. Someone check that security footage already. Three notices in a month is serious stuff, so Hemmes is took action in the Supreme Court. Fairfax reports Hemmes sought an injunction to prevent being kicked out of the Pavilion, and looked to reinstate the call option to buy the Pavilion from Kingston, who was refusing to refund Hemmes' $5 million deposit. It's unclear how much of Hemmes remaining $35 million he'll have to pay, but regardless, he's keeping his beloved Pavilion. To the oyster bar! Via the Sydney Morning Herald.
Summer has come to Sydney Harbour, with the return of the Sydney Opera House's Summer Playground. For the fourth year in a row, the sun-soaked western forecourt and foyers will play host to a range of activities and pop-up dining experiences, all inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of an Italian Riviera. Open 9am until late, seven days a week, from now through to the very last day of January, this year's Summer Playground has been christened 'Salsedine,' an Italian word that describes the feeling of salt on your skin. There'll be free afternoon sessions featuring locals DJs and acoustic acts, plus on-site activations including a pop-up Chandon bar. Veteran chef Lauren Murdoch has taken care of the summer menu, which includes a number of salads, paninis and antipasto plates, as well as pizzas, grilled calamari and oysters with lemon. In the beverage department you can sip on a variety of beers, wines, bubbles and digestifs, along with a handful of classic and custom made cocktails. On top of all that, Bennelong Restaurant are currently operating a pop-up balcony bar, while Opera Bar are running twice weekly breakfast and yoga sessions – although all the spots to the latter have already sold out. Taking full advantage of the summer sun, The Opera House has also extended its tour hours for January, giving you some extra time to explore what's going on back stage. For more information about summer happenings at The Opera House, go here.
Your life is about to be filled with hand-knitted wine bags, minimalist bean bags and slick storage options. Japanese design and homewares retailer MUJI has opened its very first flagship store in New South Wales — the third MUJI in Australia. Opening on May 14 at 500 George Street, the huge 1344sqm corner space is located on level one of The Galeries (where the old Freedom Furniture was) — counting Kinokuniya, Incu and Sushi Hotaru as friendly new neighbours. If you're a bit vague on MUJI, they're a Japanese brand all up in simple, elegant homewares and consumer goods with an eco-friendly aim to reduce packaging. The company's Japanese name, 'Mujirushi Ryohin' means 'no brand quality goods', so we're talking no-name, minimal packaging products — everything from apparel and accessories, to furniture and homewares, stationery and skincare products, bedding and travel goods. Yep, they're into covering all bases with a stripped back simplicity similar to IKEA. We're keen on their Body Fit Cushion for autumn snuggling: And MUJI's classic crisp-as-furk weekendy fashion ranges: And these cute as hell 2009 MUJI penguin bowling pins clearly made for children but shoosh y'face you're not the boss of us: This is the first NSW MUJI, following Australia's first at Chadstone Shopping Centre in November 2013 and Emporium Melbourne's store opening in April last year. MUJI plan to open more Australian stores, with the promise of an online store in the near future. But MUJI are no spring chickens, having started in 1980 as a private offshoot of SEIYU (one of Japan's bigwig retailers) and growing to a total 703 stores worldwide. It isn't the only opening planned for The Galeries this year either, with more yet-to-be-revealed international and local retailers set to open throughout the year. Find MUJI at Level One, The Galeries at 500 George Street, Sydney CBD. Open from May 14.
The brains behind Sydney's experimental wonderland of in-progress art, Underbelly Arts, are marking the start of their 2015 festival season with a brand new supper club. Straightforwardly dubbed SUPPER, the crew's brand new event is being pitched as a 'fete of food, art and conversation' in Redfern this May. Inspired by the sparkling, idea-generating conversations that come from sharing food with top notch folks, Underbelly Arts are inviting keen beans to head along to Redfern Town Hall on May 15 for a specially-programmed supper by Sydney chefs, artists and collectives. ACME owner/co-founder/head chef Mitch Orr will be creating some predictably delicious noms, while Newtonians Young Henrys will provide the brewskis. But it's not all nourishment for the belly. It'll be the first time you'll get to meet the artists participating in the 2015 Underbelly Arts Festival and Lab. Beth Dillon, Kieran Bryant and Lachlan Herd (otherwise known as performance collective 110%) will be there, playing with the concepts of art and leisure. Also suppering will be The Guerilla Museum, a live art production house working in experimental, immersive theatre; large-scale spatial intervention artist Biljana Jancic; and Megan Alice Clune, artist and founder of World's Only magazine (hinging around contemporary art and music). It's not every day you get to dine next to an artist. Come up with something outlandish to start the conversation off with and go from there. Underbelly Arts' SUPPER is happening at 8pm on Friday, May 15 at Redfern Town Hall. Tickets are $30 (including all food and drink), available over here.
Ordering a scotch at your local is your one way ticket to mad steeze with your mates, right? But what do we know about Scottish whisky, really? Every good whisky bar has an arsenal of scotch, but do you really know what you're ordering? In order to dispel the air of mystery surrounding scotch (and just so we can stop pretending we know what we're talking about), we've called upon Auchentoshan's head distiller Rachel Barrie to set us straight about this long-loved spirit. Rachel became the first female Master Blender 13 years ago (after 12 years working in the industry), making a few waves in the industry as a result. Suffice to say, she's the perfect person to answer all our Scotch questions. Learn up. [caption id="attachment_576038" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lindores Abbey, Nathan Baker.[/caption] Where and when did Scotch whisky originate? The earliest recorded evidence of distilling in Scotland goes back to 1494 at Lindores Abbey in the Lowlands, where Father John Cor distilled 800 gallons of aqua vitae ('water of life') from eight bolls of barley (48 Scottish bushels), on the order of King James IV of Scotland. What were the original techniques used to distil Scotch whisky? How have things changed? Prior to the Industrial Revolution, distilling was conducted on a much smaller scale (and was often illicit) using small copper pot stills. During the Industrial Revolution, sometime between 1760 and 1840, malt distilleries were granted a license to distil by government, and industrial grain distilleries were set up primarily in the Lowlands, based on the steel continuous still design using grain (wheat or maize) to provide alcohol rather than malted barley. The grain distillation process was disputed at the time, and took decades to be accepted as Scotch whisky. Around 1860, blending grain and malt whisky commenced, creating blended Scotch whisky, which heralded the growth of the spirit in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 defines how Scotch whisky is made. Over the years, the law has been more tightly defined, and now every distillery in Scotland must be verified for Geographical Indication (GI) to ensure the highest standards of production quality and integrity. How does Scotch whisky differ to other whiskies like Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky or American whiskey? Scotch whisky has evolved over many centuries to create the greatest diversity of style of any whisky. Scotland grows high quality barley in the east, has peat in the north and west, and a year round supply of water in deep lochs, flowing rivers, and natural springs. Microclimate shapes maturation in oak casks (mainly ex-bourbon American oak and ex-sherry Spanish oak), and seasonal weather and local microflora help unlock balanced complexity, enriching the spirit with vitality and depth from youth to a ripe old age. Scotch whisky is unique in the rich complexity of flavours unlocked from the 115+ malt distilleries. Single malts are united by malt sweetness that harmonises fruit, floral, salt and smoke flavours from each distillery. AMERICAN WHISKEY American whiskeys are mainly distilled from corn and rye, and matured in American oak for a relatively short time (mostly five years or less). Grain produces a spicy/oily spirit combining with intense vanilla and caramel sweetness from the oak. IRISH WHISKEY Irish whiskeys are distilled mostly from unmalted barley and corn (with a small amount of malt), and pot and continuous stills are employed. Most Irish whiskeys are blends that are light, sweet, smooth and grassy. There are a small number of single pot still Irish whiskeys (made primarily from unmalted barley), and even fewer (for example Connemara) made from peated malt. JAPANESE WHISKY The handful of Japanese distilleries in existence were built less than a century ago, based on Scotch whisky production methods. In this short time, Japanese whisky has moved to design different styles, from light, clean and precise through to smoky and oily. [caption id="attachment_576044" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gary Crawford.[/caption] How does taste differ between regions within Scotland? Each distillery's character is highly individual, however similarities in style can be found between regions. The Highland region is the largest, with Speyside having the most distinct style united by malt and fruit, much of which is blended with grain to make the heart of high volume blends. Islay malts have the dominant taste of smoke (from peat) and salt, with all other tastes woven in. Although very few distilleries exist in the Lowlands, the style is vibrant and refined with predominantly grassy, sweet and floral characters. What does it mean when you define a Scottish whisky as 'single malt' and 'single grain'? Both single malt and single grain whiskies are the product of only one distillery. Single malt whisky is made 100 percent from malted barley and distilled in copper pot stills at a single distillery. Single grain whisky is made from grain (wheat or maize), distilled in a continuous still (Coffey still) distillery. Feel like you've got a handle on scotch now? If you're a bartender, bar owner or know someone in the bar industry, listen up. Auchentoshan is looking for talented bar teams to come up with a brand new scotch-based cocktail for their 'Distilled Different' competition across Australia. More details on Auchentoshan's website.
Surry Hills mainstay Bitter Phew is bringing you the classier side of craft beer this year for Sydney Craft Beer Week. The tap list for this event will include barrel-aged beers from an international powerhouse of brewers including the Netherlands' Brouwerij de Molen, Norway's Nøgne and a smoked saison collab between Nomad and US-based Jester King that we're especially keen to try. From whiskey to bourbon and shiraz to chardonnay, you'll surely feel spoilt for decadence at this one.
Camperdown locals have a new old local to revisit. Parramatta Road mainstay Deus Bar and Kitchen has opened its doors after a massive refurbishment. After ten years in the same spot, this epic revamp has been a long time coming. The once Deus Cafe has been completely re-imagined by Andy Ruwald (founder of Bucket List) and James Prier, who were brought on board by Deus Ex Machina founder Dare Jennings. Deus's new digs embrace their corner location on Parramatta Road, with big airy, bright, road-facing windows unveiled this week. Don't worry, you won't have to stare at traffic during your brekkie, the leafy shrubs placed at each window make for a hidden oasis. The biggest change at Deus, of course, is the dinner and bar service, which is a hard find in Camperdown. The concrete bar and open kitchen both have seating for casual patrons. The custom-made, comfy bar stools are designed to withstand long conversations over a few drinks and bar snacks — think eggplant fritters ($12), chicken crackling served with raw kingfish ($14) and mini braised lamb pita ($14). On the restaurant side of things, table service is available from morning until night, with a distinct emphasis on hospitality. "Our customers should have a great, friendly interaction with our servers and bar staff, while also receiving really professional and knowledgeable service," says Prier. The day is run as three extremely distinct services. While breakfast and lunch are kept simple to cater to the busy work crowd, the dinner menu is where head chef Tom Walton (ex-Bistro Moncur) really flexes his culinary muscles. The dishes stem from Walton's high-end training, along with the Middle Eastern flavours that seasoned his upbringing. As the menu currently stands, Walton recommends starting with the pickled cucumber with black olive labna ($7) and roasted tiger prawns in shellfish butter ($24). For mains, go for the whole roast chook ($39), which is perfect for sharing over a bottle of wine. "It's just good, honest food," says Ruwald. "We're trying to create a really nice neighbourhood vibe," adds Walton. On the drinks side, Prier curated the menu to feature classic cocktails done well. The Scorpio VI looks the best to us ($18) – it's a cold-weather spin on a jalapeno margarita using homemade 'winter syrup' of spiced rhubarb stalks from the kitchen. Taps (of course) include local legend Young Henrys and the wine list will soon include a Deus house label. Find Deus at 98 Parramatta Road,Camperdown.
Ever have this problem? You're kayaking through crystal clear waters on adventure of a lifetime in paradise, and the goddamn bottom of your canoe is infuriatingly opaque. All that sea life, going unseen. All those underwater sea creature orchestras, going unappreciated. It's infuriating and devastating. Well, all of that is about to change thanks to the Crystal Kayak Company. They've invented (maybe a better term is re-imagined) the kayak, and this time round it's completely see-through. It's the boldest see-through invention since the see-through toaster. Using the same material as windshields are made from, the see-through kayaks are perfect for moments when you want to see what your kayaking over (i.e. undersea orchestras). Check out the promo vid — and we dare you to not feel like you want to quit your job, burn all of your possessions and spend the rest of your life in a transparent kayak. They retail from a whopping $1,499, but if that blows your kayak budget out of the water, you can trial it at resorts around the world. And don't think that price tag just buys the opacity of your kayak. Oh no. As well as offering quite the underwater view, they've been ergonomically designed to be wayyy more comfy than your average kayak. Check em out here.
Sydney legends The Bearded Tit and Heaps Gay are teaming up to run an Aussie caravan-themed pop-up bar. We’re not sure we need to say anymore. Except that this could well be the collaboration of the millennium. The Pop-Up Patio is during Mardi Gras 2016. You’ll find it on the rooftop of the Captain Cook Hotel, Flinders Street, Darlinghurst for six nights only. In addition to glamming up the rooftop to look like an Aussie caravan and giving you an excuse to watch cracking sunset views, the event will be delivering music, art and good community vibes. If you’re a regular at The Bearded Tit, you might know already that it's Redfern's most eclectic watering hole yet — regularly featuring weird and wonderful local artists in their front window. Meanwhile, Heaps Gay is one of the quirkiest and friendliest parties in Sydney. The first shindig in the series is scheduled for Friday, February 26. Dubbed Patio Party, it’ll feature Charlie Villas and Lorna Clarkson, as well as performances by Lillian Starr and Deep Sea Astronauts. On the following night, Saturday Start Up, FBi’s Sweetie and HipHopHoe will be spinning tunes, alongside performances by Erica Englert. Sunday, February 28 is dedicated to a Russian Caravan Party, starring Sveta and friends. On Thursday, March 3, give your dancing shoes a rest and head along for a panel discussion titled ‘Queer Thinking: This is how we do it’, hosted by Archer Magazine. The next night is Mardi Gras Eve, so get ready for the party with Matt Vaughan (Loose Ends) and J Daddy, and a Banga performance from Canoe. Finally, on Sunday, March, things will wrap up with a post-Gras session, starring Heaps Gay DJs, Fleetwood Crack, DJ davO and boy_friend (Swagger Like Us), as well as an appearance from Show Us Your Teeth. The Pop-Up Patio will open from 6-11pm every night, except for on Sundays, when the hours are 2-10pm. Entry is $5 on the door. Image: Darren Davis, Flickr.
After spending so much time indoors in 2020, we're all keen to be outdoors as much as possible (while the good weather lasts). And one spot you can soak up the good vibes is Federation Square, which is transforming into a garden oasis this season. On January 15, the CBD space will unveil new grass zones, deck chairs, colourful beanbags and a jam-packed program of free happenings to keep you entertained (and comfy) for those lazy summer afternoons and evenings ahead. The roster of events includes live music, wellbeing classes — think yoga, cooking demos and life drawing — plus screenings of major sports events and an outdoor cinema screening classics like Muriel's Wedding, The Great Gatsby and Red Dog. In collaboration with ACMI, Fed Square will screen a silent film on the digital facade with a live score accompaniment on selected evenings, too. And, when you get hungry, you can get food delivered from any of the surrounding Fed Square restaurants and bars, including Riverland, Mama's Canteen and Atiyah Lebanese Kitchen. Image: Liam Neal
Ease your way into the Easter long weekend with a film, cocktail and music at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. The main act of the evening is a screening of Hail The New Puritan (1987), starting at 7pm on Thursday, March 24. Directed by Charles Atlas, this off-the-wall film tells the story dancer and choreographer Michael Clark, who hails from Aberdeen, Scotland. It's part-art flick, part-documentary and delves deep into Clark's life beyond the stage, drawing together interviews, rehearsals and performance preparation, as well as bowls of fruit and spots, spots, spots. Artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery took care of production design, while the soundtrack was the work of The Fall and Glenn Branca, among others. Pelvis DJs are the brains behind this event and they'll be playing in the bar all night long.
Hankering for a visit to Europe this year, but don't have the cash? Skip the plane trip and head along to The Rocks' French-inspired Christmas in July Markets, set to coincide with Circular Quay's Bastille Festival. The market will take over Argyle Street for four days and nights, from Thursday, July 12 until Sunday, July 15. To make it feel as authentic as possible, twelve wooden chalets will be shipped in from France. These little shacks will be set up around the area, with vendors serving up heart-warming snacks, mulled wine and Christmasy creations. The markets will open at 11am each day, but it's when the sun goes down that things will really get magical. With the obvious absence of snow, the markets will get European with a blanket of fairy lights and a soundtrack of English and French Christmas carols. The Christmas in July Markets will take place over four nights, from from 11am–10pm each night except Sunday, which will wrap up at 6.30pm. If you can't wait till then, then visit the regular Friday Foodie Markets that take place in the Rocks every week from 9am–3pm.
If you haven't sorted yourself any out-of-town plans for this weekend, here's an idea. On Easter Sunday, UNDR ctrl will host the fourth incarnation of Strictly Vinyl at The Cliff Dive in Darlinghurst. It's been a while since the last event, so to refresh your memory: it's nothing but vinyl, all night long. Throwing down the party in the basement bar are three local artists with three of the biggest record collections in town, each spinning for two hours non-stop. First up, there's Donny Benet, who returns to Australia after playing SXSW with Jack Ladder and Kirin J Callinan. The trio collaborated (along with a bunch of other local talents) on Benet's 2014 release Weekend at Donny's. Then there's Steele Bonus, who makes up one half of Heartbeat DJs, and the Soul of Sydney DJs, who've lately been responsible for mad block parties and warehouse jams all over the city. Whether you want soul, jazz, funk, afro-beat, boogie, Latin and disco, you got it. Strictly Vinyl starts at 9pm and doesn't slow down until 3am. Get there before 11pm for free entry or turn up with a tenner.
When it comes to dining out, Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice. So if you've ever wished you could experience all your favourite chefs in one place, you're in luck, because now you can. Introducing The Dining Table, a pop-up restaurant brought to you by the team behind Beer The Beautiful Truth, plus some of Sydney's coolest, most talented chefs. Across ten nights, a different chef will take over the pop-up to serve up a highly delicious three courses, each paired with a different beer. Expect an all-star line-up including Bar Brose's Adam Wolfer, Nic Wong from Potts Point's Cho Cho San, Luke Powell from LP's Meats and Acme's Mitch Orr — just to name a few. From Middle Eastern influences to a modern spin on Jewish-Hungarian food to contemporary Italian cuisine, each dinner will be dedicated to showing the magic that can happen when great food and beer come together. Get ready for an eye-opening culinary journey through ten tailor-made menus accompanied by delectable brews. There will also be a pop-up bar along with the restaurant where two of the chef's dishes will be on offer. So if you live life on the spontaneous side and haven't booked into the dinner, you can just walk in, grab a seat and have a mini food and beer pairing at the bar. Image: Kimberley Low.
If an artist told you the only way to truly appreciate their art was to get dunked in a shower of water, would you bring on the rain? One of Australia's most significant contemporary artists, Shaun Gladwell, is asking you to get wet for his next major project. Returning to his ol' stomping ground of Sydney in March for two exhibitions, Gladwell will present The Lacrima Chair at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation. The newly commissioned, site-specific installation blends sculpture, his signature video style and water, water everywhere. Quite the mystery project, The Lacrima Chair will apparently "engage the poetics of flight, travel and cultural transmission, specifically French cultural influences within Australia and vice versa," according to today's announcement. Gallerygoers will be required to wander through mist screens in the SCAF space, but the brave artseekers can costume-up (in yet-to-be-revealed threads) and sit under a shower of water in order to fully experience Gladwell’s new installation. The team have described this as 'Francis Bacon-style', which possibly means you'll be looking at something like this: So you'll be well-arted, and very, very wet. The Lacrima Chair marks the centrepiece of a double-sited project. While SCAF plays Wet 'N' Wild with Gladwell's installation, UNSW Galleries will see a 20-work-strong Collection+: Shaun Gladwell exhibition act as more of a mid-career retrospective of the artist. Filling all three spaces of the recently launched UNSW Galleries at the new Art and Design faculty (formerly known as COFA) in Paddington, the flight-focused show marks the first solo exhibition to be staged at the new UNSW instalment. The UNSW chapter of the project (curated by Geneva's Dr Barbara Polla and Paris's Prof. Paul Ardenne) is a bit of a homecoming for Gladwell — the artist rustled up a Master of Fine Arts at COFA back in the day. Represented by Sherman Galleries (now SCAF) for nine years, Gladwell is paying serious homage to his Aussie roots after recently repping at the 53rd Venice Biennale. Pro tip? Don't wear anything suede to the gallery. Shaun Gladwell: The Lacrima Chair (SCAF Project 24) and Collection+: Shaun Gladwell (SCAF Project 25) will be on show at SCAF and UNSW Galleries respectively from 6 March 2015 until 25 April 2015.
The Sydney pop-up that made everyone lose their collective shit in May is pouncing triumphantly back into the game — Sydney's teeny, tiny pop-up kitten cafe is locked in for another stint, this time in the CBD. We'll say it again, just in case you closed your eyes for maximum squealidge. There's going to be a pop-up kitten cafe in the city, at Gaffa Gallery on Clarence Street. Next week. Cuddling up to kitties has never been easier for renting Sydneysiders. Sydney's first cat cafe opened in Chatswood just months ago, and Surry Hills' own space-themed cat cafe Catmosphere, opened on Friday. The third player, Sydney Cat Cafe, opened a pop-up kitten cafe in May to raise funds for a permanent space.a Unsurprisingly, the pop-up booked out within a day. So, teaming up with Maggie's Rescue and PURINA Australia, Sydney Cat Cafe is hosting another pop-up cafe from August 6-8 and 13-15 at Gaffa Gallery. Sydneysiders can book 45 minute cuddle sessions with fluffy little kittens handpicked by the Maggie's Rescue team, with the opportunity to pledge funds towards turning the Sydney Cat Cafe concept into a permanent fixture (or perhaps you're keen to adopt one of the little critters). It's $10 a snuggle sesh, max. 20 people at a time, and no little ones allowed — for safety and tail-pulling reasons, this pop-up is restricted to cat lovers above the age of 8. Alright, alright, how do we pat the kitties? Enquire after availability over here — and spots are already filling up, so get on it. KITTIES. The Sydney Cat Cafe and Maggie's Rescue pop-up kitten cafe is open at Gaffa Gallery, 281 Clarence Street, Sydney, running from August 6-8 and 13-15. Check the website for times.
Fancy a mid-week bao and beer session in the city? Open from Monday, August 14, Bing's Bao & Beer is Barangaroo's latest casual eatery from the team behind Lotus Dining. Operated by Lotus head chef Chris Yan, Bao & Beer is offering up quick bites and beverages five days a week — dine-in or grab-and-go. This casual 48-seat retro-style eatery is a significantly casual move from the Lotus group, who've just recently opened casual bar Papa Bo Min and sophisticated restaurant Madame Shanghai in Sydney's CBD. Expect a different vibe to other Lotus venues, with the the bao being the star of the menu in this new venture. Chow down on a range of meaty fillings from Shanghai red braised pork belly topped with pickled Chinese cabbage to soft shell crab and a slather of sriracha mayo. Plus, there's also a vegetarian option. Although 'bao' sits centre stage at this newcomer, the menu has much more on offer. Big bowls of noodles are available, and come in three different options: fried pork cutlet marinated in lemongrass, red braised beef shin with chilli and Chinese spices or prawn and calamari with chicken broth and mushrooms. Food may be the focal point at Bing's, yet their drinks menu is no less impressive with house-made sodas and bubble tea currently available, and an alcohol license coming into effect from September. Bing's will serve their own range of pale ales brewed in collaboration with Brookvale brewery Nomad, wines from Clare Valley's KT Wines and Kate Mcgraw's innovative bottled cocktails — perfect to wash down a personal plate of bao of a weeknight. Find Bing's Bao & Beer at Scotch Row, Barangaroo (near corner of Watermans Quay) from Monday, August 14. Open Monday to Friday 11am–8.30pm.
Heineken are celebrating the launch of the new low-carb Heineken 3, by hosting a few free Sunday sessions across Sydney this summer called (Music + Art + Play)3. At The Port in Darling Harbour on December 4, Flight Facilities touring vocalist Michaela Baranov, DJ Matty Saville and GodWolf will perform a set together, which will be documented in artistic form by a portrait artist and photographer. It's all about three hours of art, music and play. But most importantly, there will be beer. Heineken 3 buckets are available to purchase, and some may be given out for free along with Heineken 3 merch by brand ambassadors.
Spend a day immersed in Aboriginal culture and wander around the usually tour-only Bare Island at the latest edition of Blak Markets. This single-day festival returns for its next instalment on Sunday, August 6, which will feature the works of Indigenous artists, designers and small businesses. Here, you'll find a variety of handcrafted items, alongside homemade baked goods showcasing Indigenous flavours and ingredients. The lively markets will take over the island from 10am — officially kicking off at 11am with a traditional welcome to country and a smoking ceremony. After that, you'll be treated to a cornucopia of bush tucker, dance and cultural performances. Among the stalls, there'll be a plethora of Aboriginal art and design, as well as jewellery, woodwork, woven goods — plus, Indigenous treats and spices to trial or take home. And, you can opt to get hands-on by signing up to the weaving workshop that'll run throughout the day. Access to Bare Island is usually restricted to tour groups, so this is also a special opportunity to wander around freely while supporting a great cause, shopping ethically and learning from Indigenous creators and sellers. Admission for adults sits at the low price of $2.50. And if you don't mind the cooler weather, take your snorkel — we reckon it's one of the prettiest underwater spots in Sydney.
Heading south of Sydney, it's not until you hit Kiama that you really reach the South Coast. With just 12,000 people and backdropped by green, rolling hills, it's the coast's first seaside town proper (rather than a suburb of Wollongong). The most famous attraction is the Blowhole, a natural rock formation that sends water spouting 20 metres into the air. But, when you're done Instagramming that, there are plenty more adventures to be had — from the 22-kilometre Kiama Coastal Walk to arts trails to markets galore. Plus, a short trip inland will take you to the 19th century buildings and classic country pubs of Jamberoo, while Gerringong village is ten kilometres south. Find all this just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney. Here's your guide to a Kiama weekender. [caption id="attachment_581919" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Berichard.[/caption] DO It's pretty much mandatory to make your first stop the Blowhole. After all, people have been travelling here to see it for more than 100 years. For the most powerful action, swing by when the tide's high and the swell is rolling in. You'll get beautiful coastal views while you're at it and, if you're keen for a dip, there's a rockpool close by. Less known, but also worth checking out, is Little Blowhole, found just south on Marsden Head. Next up, you might want to conquer the Kiama Coast Walk. All in all, it covers 22 sea-hugging kilometres, starting at Minnamurra River mouth and finishing at Gerringong. The way is dotted with beaches, headlands, basalt and patches of rainforest. Plus, there's easy access to four train stations, so you can walk just one section and get back to your car easily. If some scenes are looking a bit familiar, chances are you've seen them in Lloyd Rees's paintings. He owned a house at Werri Beach, where he painted works like Fire Haze Over Gerringong and The Road to Berry, which are now both at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Loads of artists continue to find inspiration in local landscapes and, on the first weekend of every month, some open their studios to the public. You can check out their work, chat about their practice and maybe even sharpen up your skills at a workshop. Another place to get an art fix is the Kiama Makers and Growers Market, held on the fourth Saturday of every month at Black Beach. [caption id="attachment_581923" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Budderoo National Park, Long Road Photography.[/caption] Travel 11 kilometres inland and you'll get to Jamberoo. This 1500-person village is best known for Jamberoo Action Park, where you can ride a bobsled. For more thrills, an up-close look at a forest canopy and cracking district views, visit the Illawarra Fly, home to Australia's highest zip line. Or, for a more sedate outdoors experience, do some exploring in Budderoo National Park. The 4.2-kilometre Falls Walk takes in waterfalls, rainforest and canyon views. [caption id="attachment_581934" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Hungry Monkey.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK The best caffeine hit around isn't in Kiama, but in Gerringong. The Blue Espresso Bar is a tiny cafe, housed in an aquamarine weatherboard cottage at 135 Belinda Street and open 7 days. Every seven days brings a new 'coffee of the week' — from Brazilian Daterra Monte Cristo to Kenyan pea berry. Match yours with a gourmet bakery treat. Just down the road in Gerroa, you'll find The Blue Swimmer. It was bought by Three Blue Ducks operations manager, Paul Dewhurst, earlier this year, and Kiama chef Shaun Smith oversees the kitchen. As you might expect, there's a big emphasis on seafood. So, tuck into steamed mussels with white bone broth, saffron, carrots, cannellini beans and sourdough or chilli-prawn spaghetti. Breakfast is served all day, too. [caption id="attachment_581925" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Milk and Honey.[/caption] Meanwhile, in the Mercure Gerringong's restaurant, Bella Char, another local chef, Jacinda Yates, has put together a seasonally-driven menu inspired by the South Coast. Sink into a red chair in the cosy, leather-and-wood splashed space and take your time over baked Australian scallops with cauliflower puree, salsa verde and toasted garlic crumbs. Back in Kiama, there's some decent casual cafe fare around. Hit Flour Water Salt for baked goodness or try the Hungry Monkey for a superfood-charged breakfast and a wide selection of burgers, like the Po' Boy, which comes with cajun fried chicken, cabbage slaw, jalapenos, parmesan and aioli. Also, right next door to the lighthouse, there's Milk and Honey. Here, the focus is on fresh, straight-forward generous dishes, with house-made ingredients, like brekkie burritos, eggs benedict and muesli. The coffee is Allpress. [caption id="attachment_581929" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Driftwood, Airbnb.[/caption] STAY The Sebel Harbourside is perched, as the name suggests, right on Kiama Harbour. 80 rooms are spread over three levels, with many overlooking the water and, for groups, there are two-bedroom apartments with country-sized kitchens. A warm, yet contemporary, aesthetic runs throughout — think red-toned woods, plantation shutters and bucket loads of natural light. If you don't feel like going anywhere much, settle into the onsite Blue Diamond Bar and Bistro for a harbourside cocktail. To stay on Blowhole Point, book a Kiama Harbour Cabin. Available in one-, tw0- and three-bedroom layouts, these cute hideaways come with water views, private balconies, electric barbecues and spa baths. There's also a tennis court onsite and the Blowhole is just 200 metres away, so you can max your chances of seeing it in action. Meanwhile, on Airbnb you're likely to find a super deal on a beach house. The 170-year-old Driftwood, for example, is a classic South Coast cottage, with high ceilings, a fire place, a big ol' verandah, timber floors and a central outdoor room. Up to nine people can sleep here at once and it's perfectly located for exploring the Blowhole, local beaches and the town centre. A fancier option is Somerville, an epic, just-renovated, four-bedroom house with 270-degree ocean views. There's a big swimming pool, loads of patio space for lounging about outside, gym facilities, two massive TVs with Netflix and even a pizza oven. Nine people can fit in here, too. Top image: The Hungry Monkey.
Chippendale's Kensington Street Precinct is adding yet another eatery to the mix. The latest venture from executive chef Stanley Wong, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants whose resume includes the likes of New York's Spice Market, Hong Kong's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and Kensington Street's own The Private Kitchen pop-up, Eastside Grill will fuse American and Japanese influences from the moment it opens on January 28. Wong's cross-culinary approach can be seen in his selection of starters, where standouts such as buttermilk-marinated calamari with ginger chili dip, and Moreton Bay Bug sashimi with Nashi pear, black garlic, and jalapeño, should help prime patrons for a mouthwatering main course. On that front, bourbon-brined Kurobuta pork chop with smoked apple and fig chutney will be hard to resist, although red wine-braised octopus with rice crisps and smoked eggplant doesn't sound half bad either. As for dessert, cinnamon-dusted vanilla cream doughnut holes with mocha ice cream should do quite nicely. Sadly, the venue has yet to lock down its liquor license — but you can expect a mix of international wines, classic cocktails, boutique whiskies and sake the moment they can legally serve them. The restaurant will be located in Kensington Street's The Old Rum Store, downstairs from The Private Kitchen. The aesthetic will be inspired by the Manhattan meatpacking district — think exposed brick walls, herringbone flooring and a massive mural by Belgian-born graffiti artist Caratoes. Wong is joined by head chef Angie Ford (Navarra, Ottawa) and restaurant manager Ivan Gasparini (Marco Pierre Grill, Dubai). Find Eastside Grill at The Old Rum Store, Level 1, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale, from January 28. For more information visit www.eastsidegrill.com.au. Images: Alana Dimou.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun and finally — finally — together as one. Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. Now, they're taking the show on the road and launching in Australia this June. In partnership with Wats On Events, Bongo's Bingo Down Under is throwing a massive bingo rave in Sydney's Paddington Town Hall on June 23, then launching a national tour the following week on June 29 in Melbourne's Collingwood Town Hall. Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. If you're not sure what you're in for, check out this video for a better sense of this crazy night out: The Sydney launch event will be presided over by founder and comic ringleader Jonny Bongo who, as one would expect, is a character in the truest sense of the word and even holds the world record for the biggest ever pub quiz. Australia is the second international location for Bongo's Bingo, which recently launched in Dubai as well and, based on popularity, we imagine the event will continue to expand around the globe. This blowout party will certainly be a different kind of night out and is especially welcomed in Sydney where the lockout law ridden nightlife has taken such a hit in recent years. Venues, guest lineup and DJ hosts will be announced in coming weeks, and tickets will go on sale at 6pm on Wednesday, May 17. Keep an eye on this space for further updates and brush up on those bingo-break down skills in the meantime. Bongo's Bingo will hit Melbourne and Sydney in June. For more information and to buy tickets, visit bongosbingodownunder.com.au. Updated: Monday, May 15, 2017.
Update September 28, 2018: Due to popular demand, Ételek is sticking around. Stretching its stay from October till New Year's Eve, 2018, the pop-up restaurant will transition into a lighter menu in the warm months — we don't think you'll find matzo ball soup during summer. To book your visit, head to the website. Following the success of last year's stints at Bar Brosé and The Gretz, Adam Wolfers and Marc Dempsey are back with the next instalment of their pop-up restaurant Ételek. Wolfers, who is known for his work at establishments such as Monopole and Yellow, and Dempsey, a sommelier and front-of-house powerhouse who is currently manager at Cornersmith Marrickville, will come together to showcase a blend of Hungarian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. The duo will takeover the site of the now-closed Antipodean restaurant in Potts Point from July 25 to October 13. Drawing on inspiration from his own Eastern European heritage — Ételek means 'food' in Hungarian — Wolfers will bring back pop-up signatures like his meat-free parsnip schnitzel and lángos (Hungarian fried bread) and will introduce newbies like nokedli (Hungarian dumplings) with sea urchin and walnut. Other dishes include everything bagel 'bites' — which we're expecting to become an Instagram favourite — and, for dessert, Jerusalem artichoke ice cream with matzo praline. Wolfers also plans on returning to his Yellow roots by featuring vegetable-focused dishes that showcase "ingredients through contemporary interpretations of the dishes [he] was raised on". While Wolfers masters the food, Dempsey will provide a fitting drinks menu. The wine list is set to focus on small "producers with heart" that work with ethical practices. "There will be wine for all palates and budgets,' Dempsey assures. While the three-month pop-up won't last nearly as long as we'd like, Wolfers hopes to create the feeling of a permanent fixture with "a regularly changing menu allowing for multiple visits". The Potts Point space has had an eye-catching makeover, too, with bright orange and pink material hanging from the ceiling and colourful tape wrapped around the seats and tables — a stark contrast to the otherwise industrial space. The duo will also collaborate with other industry favourites for one-off events, including a New York-style Sunday brunch session with Hartsyard's Gregory Llewellyn on Sunday, August 26, and a party with the talented team from Canberra's Bar Rochford on Sunday, September 16. The Ételek pop-up will be open for dinner from 5pm Wednesday to Saturday and for lunch and dinner from 2pm on Sunday from July 25 through to December 31. Images: Jun Chen
Dropping in from the UK to play Groovin' the Moo, Brit singer-songwriter Charli XCX will be 'Boom Clap'ping her way through sideshows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In her own words, Ms XCX (AKA Charlotte Emma Aitchison) wants to give you "an hour of sweating and totally losing your mind, no matter what's going on that day or what you're worried about." Aitchison first attracted international attention in 2012, when she co-composed and performed on Icona Pop's hit 'I Love It', which played on Lena Dunham's Girls. In 2013, she released her own debut EP, True Romance, before joining forces with Iggy Azalea in 2014 on 'Fancy'. She and Azalea have since performed together all over the planet. Then, of course, along came 'Boom Clap', of The Fault in our Stars soundtrack, and the bratty 'Break The Rules'; confirming Charli XCX as a popstar in her own right. At the Metro, she'll be supported by Adelaide's rising rapper Tkay Maidza, another bright spark changing the rules of pop. Image: Mike Massaro.
Good food doesn't have to be fancy. Sure, it can be fun dining out on ingredients that you can't spell. But, sometimes, all you want to do is sit down in front of a familiar dish, cooked with love. At March Into Merivale's The Kitchen Table, chef Danielle Alvarez and author/cook Nadine Levy Redzepi, will be bringing dinner back to basics — and to what the season says is right. There's every chance you're familiar with one half or the other of this dynamic duo. Alvarez, who's sharpening her knives in preparation for taking on head chef position at Fred's, Merivale's new Paddington destination, has cut her teeth at San Francisco’s Chez Panisse and Napa Valley’s three-Michelin-starred French Laundry. Meanwhile, Levy Redzepi is a celebrated home cook and writer (who happens to be married to Noma's René Redzepi). These two have chosen the lovely, open venue of Uccello for their feast, where they'll be serving fresh, Australian produce, turned into simple, generous dishes.
When it comes to busting a move, there's always a new trend around the corner. Some dance styles, like ballroom, never go out of style. Others come out of nowhere and take over nightclubs; think disco, the Nutbush and voguing. Add tutting to the latter bunch, even if you haven't heard of it yet. The centrepiece of TUT, a new urban dance project by Shaun Parker & Company at Art & About Sydney, it's about to become Australia's next big dance craze. So what the heck is tutting? Tutting features highly intricate and rhythmic patterns of the hands, fingers and arms, and was derived from the hieroglyphics drawn on the ancient tomb walls of King Tutankhamun. Yes, your high school history lessons might actually pay off on the dance floor, but there's more to it than that. As Parker explains, it also has "throwback references to old-school hiphop, voguing, and locking and popping." And, it "really celebrates the unique individually of each dancer. Tutting is almost like a 'fingerprint' of each dance artist." But tutting isn't as ancient as it sounds. Many sources point to choreographer Mark "King Bugaloo Tut" Benson, who made tutting popular in the late '70s. No wonder Parker calls it "mind-blowing" — and given that the award-winning choreographer has worked with Sydney Theatre Company, Chunky Move and Opera Australia, he knows what he's talking about. Parker came across tutting while researching street dance styles in 2008. After being introduced to the style by one of his principal dancers, he was so impressed that he was working on tutting routines with teenage street dancers in Western Sydney soon after. Then, in 2009, YouTube marked tutting videos as a viral trend among amateurs. Inevitably, big time choreographers got amongst it. Here's San Francisco dancer PNUT tutting: You may have seen him tutting with Taylor Swift in the 'Shake It Off' video: Keen to get tutting? Not only can you watch this new sensation sweep the streets at free performances in the Dixon Street and Pitt Street malls across April, but you can be a part of it too. Head to Parker's website to apply to be involved, and even check out a handy tutorial if you need help getting into the groove. See TUT by Shaun Parker & Company at Art and About Sydney on April 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22, or visit the event website for more information. Image courtesy of City of Sydney. Photo by Daniel Boud.
Would you go camping more if you didn't have to buy the whole tent, mattresses, camping chairs set-up? Would festivals be less likely to have to deal with people ditching their tents at the end of a festival, if they simply had to return the whole thing? Meet the new Sydney start-up killing two birds with one stone — getting you into the great outdoors, saving you money and minimising waste while they're at it. Sydney-founded company CampNow will hire and deliver the camping equipment you need for a weekend away in easy packages, and you can choose the level of camping gear to match your adventure — whether you're going hard at a camping music festival or escaping down the south coast. The idea behind CampNow came from two Sydney mates, co-founders Nick Longworth and Dan Courtnall, who genuinely wanted to see people get off their phones and back into the great outdoors — they just wanted to make that process a little more carefree. "Why should you spend all your time and money on camping equipment before you have even begun your adventure?" says Nick and Dan. "Too many of us are constantly hooked into our phones, stuck in the rat race and forget the beauty that is only a short trip away. Our goal is to help you break your routine, take some time and go on an adventure." "After a heavy month of work I was feeling burnt out and wanted to do something different on my weekend and go camping, but it was also a bit hard as I didn't own any gear," says Dan. He didn't want to borrow, buy or clean any gear, he just wanted to hire some gear for the weekend and have it delivered, but there was no offering out there. So Dan contacted his buddy Nick (a keen camper) and pitched a grand idea to him. CampNow is brilliantly simple: the guys deliver (and pick up) everything you need for camping for a truly reasonable fee — there's less waste at camping grounds and you don't have to fork out for camping gear you'll never use again. Likely to be the most popular of the packages is the 'Festival' set-up. For $100, you and a friend can rent everything you'd need for a camping festival: high quality tent, queen air mattress, two chairs, 36-litre esky, tarp, headlamps, first aid kit. Best bit? They'll deliver and pick up the goods to your work or home in Sydney. Splendour, Secret Garden, Meredith, sorted. If you're keen for a weekend away, the 'Just Go' and 'Want More' packages are for you. Then there's the big kahuna, the 'Take the Kids' for $399 for four people for two nights. Now, where to start? Dan and Nick let us in on their favourite camping spot near Sydney. Ready? Treachery Camp in Seal Rocks. It's just 3.5 hours out of Sydney, a "quiet national park surrounded by amazing landscapes and epic waves" according to the guys. Now you have zero excuses. Hook up a CampNow package and head for Sydney's best camping getaways. Images: Zak Suhar, Alex Holt, Jeremy Ricketts, Julian Bialowas (all Stocksnap) and Dollar Photo Club.
It would be pretty excellent if there was some kind of magical way to view the entirety of Vivid Sydney over the city from one vantage point. It'd be even better if there was some way you could do it with a group of friends, while busting out slick dance moves on an illuminated dance floor suspended from the lofty heights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. BridgeClimb has created exactly the circumstances described above. During the annual festival of lights in Sydney, you can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and proceed to a dance floor, which will be welcoming groups of up to 14. Spend three and a half hours climbing one of our most recognisable symbols, only to throw a wicked, incandescent dance party at the summit. This rave that's literally on another level is happening exclusively during Vivid Sydney — from Friday, May 26 to Saturday, June 17 — and we've got two double passes to give away. Pop your details in below to enter, or if you don't win, head here to grab a ticket. [competition]619795[/competition]
If you've recently found yourself snapping at shop attendants, screaming at your computer and road raging at fellow drivers, then it could well be time for a break. And what better way to do it than by stealing away to a secret country retreat, where clean air, green grass and birdsong abound. We've scoured New South Wales for its cutest cottages, freshest farms and prettiest pastures. Head off to one of these bucolic beauties for a weekend and you'll be calmer than Ghandi in no time. [caption id="attachment_639525" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cottonwood Cottage[/caption] COTTONWOOD COTTAGE, BELLINGEN Set on 61 acres in lovely Gleniffer Valley, just north of Bellingen, Cottonwood Cottage is surrounded by landscaped gardens, mountain panoramas and wildlife. There's also 400 metres of river frontage, which is all yours for adventuring along. The cottage is a light-filled, high-ceilinged, Hamptons-style barn, decorated in whites and wood, with posh linen spread over a king-sized bed, a woodfired heater, splashes of marble and a cracking sound system. And just beyond your front door there's an outdoor bathroom in a private courtyard. A bottle of wine, cheeses and brekkie are all complimentary. How far? Bellingen is a six-hour drive from Sydney. Take a four-day weekend if you can. THE CHAPEL, MANNING VALLEY The Chapel is one of seven cottages scattered across Clarendon Forest Retreat, an undulating, 100-acre property in the Kiwarrak State Forest, which lies between Forster and Manning Valley. Behind the sandstone walls and gothic windows hides a split-level escape. Upstairs is devoted to a loft bedroom, complete with a four-poster, queen-sized bed, while downstairs you'll find a jarrah-granite country kitchen and a comfy sofa in front of a log fire. There's also a spa, surrounded by terracotta and affording valley views, and, for warm weather, a shady deck. How far? Manning Valley is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. Take a day of leave if you've got it. KOOKAWOOD, BLUE MOUNTAINS Reckon your dog deserves a good old break, too? His fur, slobbery kisses and overwhelming enthusiasm are welcome at Kookawoood, a two-bedroom 100-year-old farmhouse on a 200-acre property a half-hour west of Katoomba. What's more, the two of you can bond over epic views from both bedrooms, eight-metre-high ceilings, a huge stone fireplace, an old-school country kitchen and two baths: one indoor and one outdoor. In winter, snuggle in your king-sized bed and hope for snow; in summer, hang out with a G&T in the sculpture-dotted gardens. How far? Kookawood is a three-hour drive from Sydney. Could do it in a weekend, but take a day of leave if you've got it. [caption id="attachment_639855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cedar Grove Estate[/caption] SECRETS AT CEDAR GROVE ESTATE, KANGAROO VALLEY Secrets, a cottage on Cedar Grove Estate, is encircled by the Ireland-green pastures of Kangaroo Valley, dotted with lazy cattle and backdropped by rugged escarpments. Take in all the views from your oversized bathroom — complete with stand-alone tub, double shower and underfloor heating — or king-sized bed. There's also an open fireplace to keep you warm on chilly evenings and reverse-cycle air-con for unusually balmy nights. If you can muster up the energy to leave, our weekender's guide to Kangaroo Valley will come in handy. How far? The Kangaroo Valley is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. You could do one night easily. JR'S HUT AT KIMO ESTATE, GUNDAGAI This architect-designed, A-frame hut sits atop a hill with 360-degree views of Kimo Estate, a 7000-acre working farm and beyond. Without getting out of bed, soak up morning mist, wandering sheep, meandering Murrumbidgee River and far-off mountain ranges. At night the stars are countless. The hut is entirely off-grid, with a solar-powered shower, a fire and a barbecue. Also on the property are 19th century cottages and shearers' quarters, which have been transformed into cosy accommodation. How far? Gundagai is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. Take Friday off work.
If your day could use a little colour and liveliness from one of the best artists that ever lived, you're in luck — because the Art Gallery of NSW is delivering exactly that. For four months from November 2021–March 2022, the Sydney venue is hosting the huge Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris exhibition. It'll feature more than 100 of Henri Matisse's pieces spanning six decades of his artistry. Whether you're keen on Matisse's early efforts, including from his Fauvist phase, or you're more fascinated with how his talents progressed over his considerable career, you'll see something suiting your interests on display — with the exhibition running from November 20, 2021–March 13, 2022. Standouts include Le Luxe I 1907, if you're after one of his first pieces; Decorative figure on an ornamental ground 1925, from the middle of his career; and The sorrow of the king 1952, a self-portrait. Visitors to the exhibition can take a free immersive audio experience using their phones which takes them around the artworks with narration from the exhibition's co-curator Jackie Dunn and music from Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier. If it all sounds a bit familiar, that's because it was originally due to happen in 2020 as part of AGNSW's Sydney International Art Series, but was postponed for obvious reasons. As well as Matisse's paintings, sculptures and cut-outs — all from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which boasts quite the collection — AGNSW is also be hosting Matisse Alive, which reflects upon Matisse in a modern context. The gallery-wide event will kicked off in October, letting art lovers indulge in a free festival of Matisse. Think: art, music, performances and dance, all delving into his life, his creations and how his works have inspired artists today. Textile environments, huge paintings and video works are all on the lineup, including by artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, Sally Smart, Angela Tiatia and Robin White. Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris will display at the Art Gallery of NSW, in Sydney, from November 22, 2021–March 13, 2022. Matisse Alive will run from October 2021–2. For more information — including about AGNSW's full 2021 lineup — visit the Art Gallery of NSW website. Images: Installation view of ' Matisse_ Life & Spirit Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris' exhibition, on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 20 November 2021 – 13 March 2022 . AGNSW, Mim Stirlig Updated Monday, November 22, 2021.
After being hauled back from the financial brink last year, Tropfest is on the move. Prolific Australian Mad Max director and Tropfest board member George Miller took some time out from being critically acclaimed for his films today to announce that as of next year, the world's biggest short film festival will take place in Parramatta Park in Western Sydney. Tropfest founder John Polson said moving the festival into the geographical heart of Sydney — just a short train ride from Central station — was not just a matter of making the festival accessible to more people, but also an excellent opportunity for growth. "Tropfest needed a fresh base where it can be nurtured, expand and eventually become a multi-event festival." This is not the only change for the festival, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2017. Next year's Tropfest is scheduled for February 11 — the first time it has been held on a Saturday. While organisers are remaining tight-lipped, the shift suggests next year's festivities may carry on after the final credits roll. Tropfest submissions open in September.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia, so innovative new event The Big Anxiety Festival should be well-attended. Launching in Sydney from September 20 through November 11, the new festival is an initiative developed by UNSW and the Black Dog Institute, along with over 25 partners across Greater Sydney. Bringing together artists, scientists, technologists and thinkers, the two-month festival aims to use art as a means to transform the way people think about and deal with mental health. The inaugural festival will present over 60 events across Sydney with hubs located at Circular Quay's Customs House, Riverside Theatre in Parramatta and UNSW, with five major themes on focus — awkward conversations, lived experiences, the 'NeurodiverseCity', mood experiments and power, politics and institutions. The immersive exhibitions will include the world's highest resolution 3D cinema, international art shows, theatrical performances, contemporary dance, interactive media events and public forums for all ages. A highlight of the program includes a design competition, during which students will build 'relaxation pods' that they feel encourage strong mental health. The pods will be designed in collaboration with specialist architects and be exhibited during the festival. Participation will also contribute to mental health research, with Black Dog Institute measuring the social and health benefits throughout the festival events. According to the ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007, anxiety is the prominent mental health condition in Australia, with one in four people experiencing anxiety at some point. Add to that, 65 percent of Australians with a mental health problem don't seek help according to the NSW Mental Health Commission. The Big Anxiety Festival hopes to change all that by creating meaningful interactions that expand awareness, support neurodiversity and promote mental health. The festival will run from September 20 to November 11, with the full program available here. The majority of events are free and wheelchair accessible, with select events Auslan interpreted, audio described, and with tactile tours. Image: Nick Cubbin.
Sydney’s beloved Surry Hills barbecue restaurant Porteno has found a new pop-up home in Rushcutters Bay, following the fire that broke out on January 9 in their Cleveland Street digs. Co-owner Elvis Abrahanowicz told Gourmet Traveller that while the Surry Hills fire and subsequent water damage hasn’t affected the dining area of the restaurant, repairs to the ruined areas in the upstairs bar and roof could take up to two months. So they’re popping up for a while as the adorably named Popteno, a separate endeavour to their Double Down Diner Messina team-up at the Sydney Festival Village. According to GT, Porteno's new pop-up will occupy the space formerly home to Rushcutters and Neild Avenue. The crew will no doubt be serving up a variation on the existing Porteno menu, so we're guessing a meaty, meaty Argentinian focus is in store. Poptento will launch on January 28. If you’re pining for Porteno until then, get down to the Double Down Diner at Sydney Festival village for all your American-style barbecued, fried and sauced up needs. Find Popteno at 10 Neild Avenue, Rushcutters Bay from January 28, open Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm. Via Gourmet Traveller.
One of Sydney's biggest nights of the year is returning in a massive way in 2023. Not only is this year's Mardi Gras parade the event's 45th anniversary, as well as its return to Oxford Street after multiple COVID-19-impacted years at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but it's also part of Sydney WorldPride. Block out your diaries, because it's happening on Saturday, February 25. The theme: gather, dream, amplify. All of the colourful floats and community groups the parade is known for will begin to descend down Oxford Street and Flinders Street from 6pm, with the parade continuing until 11pm. Expect more than 12,500 marchers and 200 floats throughout the five-hour celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. There are still tickets available for the Sideshow and Ruby Road viewing areas — or, if you want to cop a free view, you'll have to arrive early and nab a spot. Scope the parade map to plan your vantage point. Sydney WorldPride will span 17 days and 300-plus LGBTQIA+ festivities, with more than 500,000 people expected to participate.
It was the hit of Cannes, a highlight at both Sydney and Melbourne's film festivals, and has been selected as Germany's entry in the best foreign-language category at next year's Academy Awards. It's none other than Toni Erdmann, the almost three-hour German comedy about a father trying to spend time with his adult daughter. The memorable movie can't really be described accurately — it has to be experienced, trust us — and now, thanks to the just-announced German Film Fest Australia program, it's making its way around the country. The critical smash is just one of the highlights of the annual showcase German cinema, which notches up its 15th year in 2016. It sits amidst a packed lineup that boasts 31 features, five documentaries and more than 25 Australian premieres, and will tour Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra from November 15 to 30. Other standouts include opening night's road trip drama Goodbye Berlin, box office smash The Most Beautiful Day, a factual look at a young Burmese music fan in My Buddha is Punk, and tragicomedy Me and Kaminski, with Captain America: Civil War's Daniel Brühl as journalist doing whatever it takes to get ahead. Everything Will Be Fine, the latest effort from veteran director Wim Wenders, also pops up — in 3D and featuring James Franco, Rachel McAdams and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Yep, variety is the spice of German cinema as well as life (and James Franco has to pop up just about everywhere). Of course, great film fests look at ace flicks from years gone by, as well as new hits, adding another reason to get excited about GFFA's picks. Nodding to the nation's movie-making past, the festival closes with a restoration of silent trapeze artist drama Varieté from 1925, which stars the first-ever Oscar winner Emil Jannings. Elsewhere, doco Fassbinder explores the work and impact of New German Cinema pioneer Rainer Werner Fassbinder, while the director's legendary love story Ali: Fear Eats The Soul will also screen. The German Film Fest Australia tours the country from November 15, screening at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema and Palace Norton Street from November 15 to 29, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Kino Cinemas and Palace Westgarth from November 17 to 30, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from November 25 to 30. For more information, visit the festival website.
Yes, Rhianna snuffed Big Bird and made an omelette out of him. Yes, Solange looked like she was wearing a Sliders portal. But there were more than just celebrity fashion moments happening at yesterday's 2015 Met Gala — something only the likes of Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton would make you appreciate. Making ordinary people of celebs and stars out of ordinary people, the HONY photographer took the best snaps of the night; bringing that tried and true human interest formula to the most star-studded event on the damn calendar. Waiters become stars, pop singers become regular folk. Slam dunk, HONY. “I tried to prank him one time by putting a tuna fish sandwich in his bedside drawer. But the prank ended up being on both of us because I forgot about it for weeks.” “There’s a secret addict in me that I’m always trying to tame.” “I was too hard on my son because I couldn’t understand why he didn’t love to compete as much as I do.” “I hope to be as selfless as my mother. My father died when I was seven months old. She had to raise five kids on her own, but she made time for all of us. We used to have these days called ‘Mommy Holidays.’ She’d choose a normal school day, wake us up, have us get ready for school, cook breakfast in a hurry, and right before we walked out the door, she’d scream ‘Mommy Holiday!,’ and she’d let us skip school and go somewhere fun.” “They forced me into having an Instagram.” "I'm trying to look at my phone less." “We managed to raise two teenage girls and not get divorced.” “It was hard to see my father not become all that he wanted to be. He brought my family here from Trinidad. He really believed in the marketing of the American dream, and he thought that he’d become a DJ on the radio. He loved music and had the gift of gab. But he didn’t understand the system and he came too late in life to make the proper connections. So he ended up using his gift of gab to sell cars.” “What’s your favorite thing about each other?” “We’re fine with just a picture, thanks.” Images: Brandon Stanton/Vogue.
After a hugely popular debut event last year, New Years Eve at Barangaroo returns for 2016, with 12,000 tickets set to be snapped up by punters over the next few weeks — 6000 tickets are on sale now. New Years Eve revellers will get to see Sydney's fireworks from a prime spot at Barangaroo Reserve, as the park will again be hosting its own waterfront party. Tickets have been released on pre-sale for subscribers to the Barangaroo e-newsletter from 12pm today, and the remaining 6000 tickets will go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, 12 October on the website. Last year, tickets sold out in four weeks — and, at $29.50 a pop (or $14.50 for concession holders), we can see why. According to Craig van der Laan, CEO of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the 12,000 cap aims to keep visitors safe and comfy, while keeping neighbourhood hassle to a minimum. The park's Hickson Road gates will open at 6pm on Thursday, December 31. There'll be ample space for picnicking on the Stargazer and Walumil lawns. BYO alcohol isn't allowed, but licensed areas will be offering celebratory beverages — and of course, there'll be food stands for those who didn't plan their picnic effectively. New Year's Eve at Barangaroo tickets go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, October 12 at 9am from the website.
Calling all mathletes, design nerds and lovers of witty tea towels. New Orleans-based artist Craig Damrauer has teamed up with wholesale art merch crew Third Drawer Down Studio to create the most adorably tongue-in-cheek design collection you'll want to immediately and proudly display on your desk — much to the dismay of your jealous, regular mug-wielding coworkers. Dubbed 'New Math', Damrauer's collection features tea towels, mugs and keychains boasting cheekily simplified equations of real life complexities — an approach that has seen the artist show at institutions like MCA Denver and LA Contemporary Editions. After creating the popular tea towels boasting the equation "Modern Art = I could do that + Yeah, but you didn’t." tea towels a few years ago, Damrauer and TDDS have now created a few more equations like "Chef = Cook + Authority” and “Staring = Looking - Not Looking”. The 'New Math' collection is due for release in May 2015 from TDD, and could be the perfect gift for that life mathemaddict in your crew.
