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.
Playwright Kate Mulvany has adapted Craig Silvey's 2009 Indie Book of the Year, Jasper Jones, for the stage — and scored a 2015 Nick Enright Prize nomination in the process. It's Western Australia in the 1960s. Charlie Bucktin is a clever 14-year-old whose ambition is writing The Great Australian Novel. But he's faced with a moral dilemma when Jasper Jones, an indigenous boy who serves as the town's scapegoat, turns up at the window asking for help. Jasper has unwittingly come across a crime scene. But he's too scared to tell anyone, because he knows he'll cop the blame, without question or fair trial. So he asks Charlie for help in solving the mystery. In the suspenseful story that develops, Jasper Jones explores race relations, the Vietnam War and small-town Australian culture, alongside teenage friendships, word play and the complexities of growing up. Mulvany deftly adapts Silvey's words for the stage, keeping the right balance of tension and humour. At Belvoir, her script is directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, with Guy Simon playing Jasper Jones and Tom Conroy in the role of Charles Bucktin.
Misschu is back. Well, almost. Queen of rice paper rolls Nahji Chu, with a big leg-up from the Mawson Group, has rescued misschu from administration. "I've got a small equity share, which is better than nothing," Ms Chu told Good Food. Dealing as MissChu Holdings, Chu and the Mawson Group plan to open fifty misschu stores across Australia over the next five years. Yep, fifty. Meanwhile, all six eateries currently operating in New South Wales will stay on track, meaning 110 employees will hang onto their jobs. Win. While Mawson will provide expertise in business admin and expansion, Chu will take care of creative direction and continue to work full-time as catering manager. According to Good Food, there have also been initial chats about expanding beyond tuck shops. For a start, Sydney might be gaining a misschu Vietnamese restaurant that caters to the mid-range market. "Relieved and exhausted are two understatements running through my veins as I deliver this news," Chu announced on the MissChu Facebook page. "Quality control of the products and getting back to the heart of the business is my main focus. It's important to me that misschu has consistency across the brand. "I will continue misschu as a platform for public discussion about the real issues that confront our collective future; the plight of the world’s dispossessed, the delivery of affordable nutritious food, creativity and innovation — because without it we will not socially, economically or politically evolve in a progressive way. I stride, a little wiser, into the second chapter of the misschu story with honest and professional help in tow." MissChu, which, at its most profitable, turned over $20 million a year, went into voluntary administration in December 2014, with Rahul Goyal and Janna Robertson of Korda Mentha taking charge of the books. In January 2015, the London tuck shop closed and sixty workers lost their jobs. "In hindsight, I wouldn’t have opened in London," MissChu told Good Food. Ms Chu fought passionately to save her business, gaining traction with a #weneedchu campaign across social media. More than sixty expressions of interest were received. Looks like Chu's out of the woods. Via Good Food and Smart Company.
The Museum of Contemporary Art’s monthly ARTBAR has become a firm fixture on Sydney’s after-dark cultural calendar. After knocking off work on Friday, head down to Circular Quay for an extra dose of art, a splash of wine and your choice of fun-filled activities — with the added bonus of panoramic views of the harbour from the Sculpture Terrace. Past curators have included the likes of Pip and Pop, Blak Douglas, Haines and Hinterding, and Rebecca Baumann — each building uniquely flavoured late-night events. Wander in on the last Friday night of the month and you can expect a lively conglomeration of art, music, design and performance. It’s an excuse to let loose alongside some of Sydney’s best artistic talent. The next ARTBAR for 2016 will be curated by the supremely colourful Rosie Deacon. See Bush Ranger Bob’s interactive dance performance, get a hole-in-one at the glittering mini putt-putt golf course created by Rosie Deacon, meet Teena the sausage dog, see Giselle Stanborough’s performative lecture on ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’, take in live music by The Willy Wagtail Western All Stars, take a trip to the Golden Gumnut Cottage, and dance to tunes spun by DJ Sveta on the rooftop bar. Plus there'll be roaming artworks, classic Aussie birthday party games and mates rates Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career tickets. Want more after-hours fun in the gallery? Stay after closing time on these five Sydney late night art adventures.
A small country pub on the NSW South Coast is ditching pokies in favour of live music. For years the Tathra Hotel has been home to a dozen poker machines, with 50 percent of the venue's total value tied up in the licences required to have them on site. Despite this, when veteran publican Cliff Wallis took over the hotel last year, he decided the machines had to go. "Poker machines have destroyed hotels in many respects," Wallis told the ABC. "Some hotels have become primarily poker machine venues, and they do best in the lowest socio-economic areas." Tathra has a population of just 2000 people, yet had 70 poker machines before Wallis took his stand. The plan is to use the money made from the sale of the gambling licences to revamp the hotel's accommodation. The venue had already begun to host regular live music gigs before renovations began last month. The old pokies room, meanwhile, will make way for a microbrewery. Although the decision to remove the poker machines has alienated some former regulars, it has also attracted other types of clientele. "We have a lot of people coming in who didn't come here before — retired people, professionals, and more women coming in on their own to have a drink and listen to the music," Wallis said. Wallis has spent decades working in the industry, and has owned the Sundeck Hotel in the Perisher Valley for 25 years. Ultimately, he says he wants the Tathra Hotel to be "a place that the community is proud of." Via Music Australia. Image: Wiki.
Sleepovers at IKEA are one thing, this is a little more intense. Inspired by similar epic events held in Europe stores, there's a giant game of hide and seek planned for the IKEA store in Tempe; with this Facebook event generating huge interest over the last few days and Sydneysiders upping their yoga quota to more effectively fit into tiny storage bins and blue bags. And with over 34,000 attending on Facebook, this was going to be one seriously huge game, locked in for May 23 at 1pm. But after days of waiting with baited breath for an IKEA response, we've finally got one — and it's predictably naysaying. In a statement on Facebook yesterday, IKEA has warned against playing hide and seek in store as it apparently raises security issues for both customers and co-workers. "As many of you may have heard, there are a couple of large hide-and-seek games being planned for IKEA stores in Australia. While the prospect of seeing many of you trying to camouflage yourselves among the meatballs has its appeal, we are unfortunately unable to host or support these games. Due to the level of interest these games attract we would not be able to guarantee everyone’s safety and the threat this poses to our co-workers, customers and game participants is just too great. We would still love to have you visit — no need to hide!" The Swedish furniture giant hasn't yet declared whether they'll be kicking people out for smooshing themselves into the store's display kitchens (would definitely aim for a cushy bedding spot). IKEA have held officially approved games in the past. Last year, about 500 people participated in a storewide hide and seek in Wilrijk, Belgium. But IKEA have also banned games in Holland after tens of thousands of people geared up to attend in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Utrecht in April and May — IKEA found out about it on Facebook and shut it down. Hopefully this doesn't happen to the Sydney edition. Apparently IKEA called the police on a Melbourne game in 2010, according to Huffington Post. We're hoping the Man looks the other way this time around. According to the Facebook event, meet-up is at the food court. Every player will receive a paper collar connected to their yellow fluro hat, and you'd better look out for the five people in orange — they're in. The game will commence at 1pm, within ten minutes of starting time you will be allowed to hide. It's a dollar coin entry fee, and goes to the last one found. If, by the end time, there's still more than one person left unfound, the prize pool money will be divided respectively to the number of players left — or donated to a charitable cause if everyone's unearthed. Rules? Don't create a public nuisance, run, be loud, break anything or steal. No hiding in fire escapes or toilets. Fingers crossed guys.
Since relaunching in 2016, Stockade Brew Co has made some waves in the craft brewing industry, having won over 50 Australian beer awards in the last two years and turning out some of the Great Australiasian Beer Spectapular's wackier drops. Now, it's finally opening its own joint in Sydney's booming craft beer suburb on Thursday, June 14. Located in an old factory space in Marrickville, the production brewery and bar boasts a communal dining space for 250 punters, plus a 14-person tasting room for private parties. Designed by RAD Studios, the fit-out includes terracotta tiles and blackbutt timber furniture that gives the industrial space an art deco feel, plus a custom-built bar made with up-cycled barrels and lightbox menu boards. Stockade's sessionable core five beers will be poured alongside the brewery's out-there seasonal releases. The maple syrup-infused imperial stout will be available exclusively at the venue and the award-winning imperial stout Old Money will be on tap for the launch. The Stockade brews will sit next to guest taps pouring the likes of Marrickville locals Bucket Boys and Melbourne's Hop Nation. Patrons can also expect wines from Urban Winery Sydney blended on-site in Stockade barrels and hop-infused cocktails using spirits from Australian craft distilleries. Hop Dreams, for example, will feature a combination of gin and house-made citrus liqueur. For beer nibbles, the team has gone down the food truck route, and will be teaming up with Eat Drink Collective for an offering that changes each month. American burger truck Baby Rey's will kick things off when the brewpub opens, before pan-Asian Tsuru takes over in August, Grease 'n' Grind in September and La Raza Mexican Cantina in October. Tasting sessions, brewery tours, butchery and cocktail masterclasses and beer and cheese pairings will round out this massive offering later in the year, too. Stockade Brew Co brewery and bar will open on Thursday, June 14 25 Cadagon Street, Marrickville.
Remember Mr Poopie, the giant inflatable turd emoji artwork that served up ice cream in little toilet cups at Splendour in the Grass last year? No? How could you forget. Or Nicholas Cage in a Cage? Or the giant inflatable Lionel Richie head? These are all real things, seriously. Hungry Castle, the Barcelona-based art team behind all of the above have outdone themselves this year. Announced as part of the SITG arts lineup, Hungry Castle will bring their giant inflatable Sad Kanye installation to Splendour. Didn't quite get that? Here it is again: a 10-metre-high Sad Kanye inflatable is coming to Splendour — a true headliner, in our opinion. Are LCD Soundsystem inflatable? No? Alright then. It's unclear whether you'll be able to bounce on Kanye's sad face or whether he will serve you ice cream in little Kanye vessels, but we literally don't care. It's a ten-metre-tall inflatable Sad Kanye and we're determined to turn his frown upside down. Here's the inspiration shot: More about this year's Splendour lineup over here. Image: Savannah Van Der Niet/Splendour in the Grass.
Rather than a wasted day of woe, Sundays are meant for nourishment. For homecooked meals, meaningful chats and creative beverages. Over the weekend, Concrete Playground and Secret Garden — keen weekenders and lovers of good food, new friends and general tomfoolery — teamed up to create the ultimate Sunday fortress of fun: Cubby House. Taking over the stunning Strickland House, the very first instalment of Cubby House saw a temporary haven created purely for punters to reclaim the weekend. We feasted on braised Mirrool Creek lamb and fire baked whole cauliflower salad from Raven's Eye, had one too many Bloody Marys from the Golden Age bar, marvelled at Tracey Spicer talking sex robots, listened to Omar Musa school us on Rendra, tackled the heavier parts of the news with Tom Tilley and the Guardian journos, had our shoes polished, learnt how to do a cryptic crossword, played croquet on the lawn, and had our socks harmonised off by All Our Exes Live in Texas. Obviously, with such a bloody lovely day in such a postcard perfect spot, Cubby House punters were Instagramming up a storm. Here's our favourites from the bunch. Much balloons. Such skyline. Well that was a BLOODY GREAT Sunday. Big big big big ups @concreteplayground @secretgardenfestival @cubbyhou.se you know who you are you unicorns. XXXX #CUBBYHOUSE A photo posted by Bridie Connellan (@bridieconnellan) on Oct 25, 2015 at 2:18am PDT Lunchtime ? @cubbyhou.se @padraigmageean A photo posted by Marco (@mark_mcc85) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:02pm PDT Sundaze...at #cubbyhouse @concreteplayground @richardfogarty @melfogs @nesscharlston @ad_ski @kyliemonteith23 @cubbyhou.se A photo posted by Lizzie Pearl (@lizzie_pearl) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:49pm PDT Lunch is served @cubbyhou.se A photo posted by Richard Fogarty (@richardfogarty) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:11pm PDT Braised Mirrool Creek Lamb with caponata and eggplant purée, sitting in an incredible jus. A highlight of the feast at #cubbyhouse @cubbyhou.se by @ravenseyebar #food #foodporn A photo posted by the AU review (@theaureview) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:42pm PDT We don't have time for a glass ????#bloodymarys #cubbyhouse #sundayfunday #sydneylife A photo posted by A N N A (@annafloridaxx) on Oct 24, 2015 at 7:54pm PDT Farshurn x Sun Protection @kasielise A photo posted by Vuki (@vukiv) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:38pm PDT Lunchtime at @cubbyhou.se. ? Nothing like a @ravenseyebar long lunch of spit-roasted Melinda Park pork, fire-baked cauliflower salad, braised Mirool Creek lamb and Al cartoccio Tasmanian ocean trout on a Sunday. #cubbyhouse @secretgardenfestival #sydney #sydneyeats #lunch #ravenseye #food #noms #noms #noms A photo posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:50pm PDT Meet @concreteplayground's @rimasabina, Cultural Concierge extraordinaire at @cubbyhou.se. She can hook you up with the best gigs in town (she recommended @ourgoldenage, ask her about #SamKlemkesTimeMachine!). #Cubbyhouse A photo posted by Mathieu Ravier (@mattriviera) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:07pm PDT Tackling the heavier stuff with @triplej's Tom Tilley, unpacking the news headlines with @guardianaustralia's Michael Safi, Bridie Jabour and Adam Brereton. #cubbyhouse @secretgardenfestival @concreteplayground #sydney #triple #secretgardenfestival #concreteplayground A photo posted by Cubby House (@cubbyhou.se) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:36pm PDT #cubbyhouse A photo posted by incredijen (@incredijen) on Oct 24, 2015 at 6:32pm PDT Wow. An eye-opening chat with senior writer for Future of Sex magazine Hugo Gray about robots and teledildonics. His website is here: http://futureofsex.net/virtual-sex/new-virtual-reality-girlfriend-take-things-far/ #cubbyhouse A photo posted by Tracey Spicer (@traceyspicer) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:28pm PDT @concreteplayground and @secretgardenfestival nailing the Sunday afternoon vibes with Cubby House. A photo posted by Stephen Goodhew (@stephengoodhew) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:55pm PDT Bob Ross would have been proud!! @samhillahoy #cubbyhouse @concreteplayground @secretgardenfestival #bobross #daydrunk #sundaybloodyfunday A photo posted by Yaya Stempler (@yayastemp) on Oct 25, 2015 at 12:02am PDT S U N D A Y // made for Pimms, cryptic crosswords, group feasts and deep thoughts with @sassinreallife at #cubbyhouse A photo posted by m i c h e l l e (@chellicans) on Oct 25, 2015 at 1:07am PDT We pulled off the ultimate Sunday at @cubbyhou.se. And the weather came to the party. A+ sun. #cubbyhouse #stricklandhouse #concreteplayground #milkbeach #sydney #ilovesydney #sydneylife #sydneysun #sunnydays #funinthesun #sundays #makethemcount A photo posted by Rima Sabina Aouf (@rimasabina) on Oct 25, 2015 at 3:06am PDT what a day - thanks to @secretgardenfestival - encore please! ?? @maxfdownes @willowtreewfc @milllito ? #cubbyhouse A photo posted by alice nivison (@alice.nivison) on Oct 26, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT Not bad Sydney, not bad ?#cubbyhouse A photo posted by Georgia Mooney (@georgiamooney) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:24pm PDT These guys thought they'd learn a bloody thing or two on a Sunday. Landscape drawing classes at #CubbyHouse. ? @concreteplayground @secretgardenfestival #sydney #art #drawing #landscape #secretgardenfestival #concreteplayground A photo posted by Cubby House (@cubbyhou.se) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:48pm PDT Höstruskigt i Sydney @pernillenorenberg @pettersomikkeerpaainst @magnusaurus_rex #cubbyhouse A photo posted by Anton Nytorp (@newthorpe) on Oct 25, 2015 at 2:26am PDT Sunday in Sydney #cubbyhouse A photo posted by Andrew Kyle (@andrewkyle1979) on Oct 24, 2015 at 11:05pm PDT Sunday love #cubbyhouse A photo posted by @stephanieclues on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:42pm PDT Top image: Bridie Connellan/Instagram.
Indigenous consultants for Sydney's new light rail service are calling for construction on a section of the line to be halted, following the discovery of a significant number of Indigenous artefacts in the area. More than 20,000 artefacts have already been recovered from the site (yep, 20,000), near the corner of Alison Road and Doncaster Avenue in Randwick. But while Transport NSW has acknowledged the momentous find, it has not yet confirmed whether it will delay construction on the $2.1bn project to allow for archaeological work to take place. One of the conditions for the light rail's construction was that the process be observed by four Registered Aboriginal Parties. A representative for one such party is Scott Franks, who emphasised the significance of the discovery when he told The Sydney Morning Herald that "there is nothing at all like this in Sydney." Among the more major finds are artefacts that appear to be from as far away as the Hunter Valley, suggesting that the spot may have served as a meeting place. "It demonstrates a trading route, or that the mobs out of the Hunter Valley were working with the mobs in Sydney," Franks told SMH. "Archaeological work undertaken in late 2015 and January 2016 identified a high density of Aboriginal artefacts on a specific section of the Randwick Stabling Yard site," said a spokesperson for Transport NSW. "Transport for NSW and ALTRAC Light Rail are investigating, in conjunction with the Aboriginal representatives, opportunities to recognise the items found on site, for example in displays or education programs." Greens MP David Shoebridge has called for an immediate stop to construction, saying, "It's downright criminal that what may well be one of the most important recent heritage finds is being literally torn up without even the most rudimentary consideration." Via SMH. Image: City of Sydney.
The Hunter Valley is the oldest and busiest wine region in Australia. Some of the country's first vineyards were planted there back in the early 1800s, and now, more than 150 wineries are on the wagon. These vary from flashy, famous establishments to more intimate, off-the-typical-wine-trail cellar doors. Semillon is the area's classic variety, but you'll also come across some tip-top chardonnay and shiraz, among others. In between wine tasting, pop into traditional and contemporary art galleries, sample local produce in stellar restaurants and maybe set your alarm clock for a hot air balloon adventure. DRINK With 150 wineries to visit, it's not easy to nut out an itinerary. At the big-name end, Tyrrell's in Pokolbin is the place to try your first drop. It's home to one of the oldest vineyards in the Hunter — the first grapes were planted in 1858 — and, despite its commercial success, remains family-owned, so it's friendly. Next, pop along to Tempus Two, not only for its legendary wines but also for its posh, architect-designed cellar door. The Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop, Oishii Japanese restaurant and The Goldfish cocktail bar are all just a hazy stroll away. To keep things unpredictable, and avoid constant crowds, visit at least a couple of boutique wineries. Krinklewood, located in the Broke-Fordwich subregion, is one of the most interesting, with its certified biodynamic, organic, sustainably run vineyards. It's also incredibly beautiful, backdropped by the Brokenback Range and immersed in Provencal-inspired gardens. Owners Rod and Suzanne Windrim say they're committed to a "hands-on" approach, governed by the philosophy that "what you put in is what you get back". Just down the road, you'll find Ascella Wines, the Hunter's biggest organic vineyard. EAT A premium fine dining experience is to be had at Muse Restaurant in Pokolbin, which is attached to Hungerford Wines. This year, it was awarded two chef's hats. Run by husband-and-wife team Troy and Megan Rhoades-Brown, the restaurant is housed inside a stunning, airy, architect-designed building, and the contemporary Australian menu prioritises fresh, seasonally available ingredients and simple yet innovative combinations. If you're into creative dishes, book yourself a spot at Rothbury's Shakey Tables. Pretty much every plate is an art work, and the interior's designed to match, with bold, fun paintings on the walls and bright suede seating. Even if you're not interested in committing to a full meal, pop in for the desserts — they're extraordinary, in terms of both looks and taste. STAY Accommodation options are incredibly varied - from classic country pubs in tiny villages to simple yet cute cottages on rolling acreages to lush suites. On a wino's weekender, though, it's only fitting that you should spend at least one night deep in the grapes. The fanciest way to do this is at Spicers Vineyard Estate in Pokolbin, a ridiculously luxurious guesthouse set in its own private vineyard, with amazing views of the Brokenback Mountains. Each suite comes with its own fireplace, king-size bed, en suite with spa and complimentary mini bar. If you're envisioning yourself in a secluded cabin, consider the nearby Belford Cottages. A handful of private dwellings are scattered around 15 acres of beautiful, unspoilt bushland. Each has its own private balcony, for sundown wine sipping and kangaroo spotting. There's also a games room and, for hot days, a pool. The property is in a central location, with Pokolbin, Wollombi and Lovedale close by, and there's even a restaurant and a couple of wineries within walking distance. Take your torch. For winos travelling on a tighter budget (or saving bucks for bottles), the Hill Top Country Guest House in Rothbury is good value. Situated on the Molly Morgan Range, affording brilliant views of the Hunter Valley, it's housed in a colonial-style building and dressed with touches of luxury, including king-size beds, spa baths, a sauna and a pool. But with nightly rates starting at $115, it's much more affordable than similar options. DO The Hunter is dotted with art galleries and museums. For traditional Australian landscapes, decorative work and investment opportunities, visit the Morpeth Gallery. While you're there, take a wander around Morpeth's historic buildings, relax on the riverfront and sample some famous Morpeth sourdough. Meanwhile, at the Maitland Regional Gallery, you'll find contemporary exhibitions, with temporary shows changing every six to eight weeks. If you're banking on something more active, there's the Yango Walking Track, a 6 kilometre walk through untouched wilderness in Yengo National Park, which journeys past red cedars, giant stinging trees and spectacular vistas. Keep a lookout for the rare velvet wattle. Alternatively, get your adrenaline kicks with a hot air balloon ride. You'll have to wake up early, because the trip starts before sunrise, but the sun-kissed views are more than worth braving an early hangover for. Top image: Kevin Rheese.
The team behind popular Newtown cafe Cuckoo Callay and Crown Street restaurant Nour have a brand new project, opening a second Cuckoo Callay outpost in Surry Hills. They've taken over the now-closed Ampersand Cafe space with a refined revamp of their beloved brunch spot. It's easy to see that owners and restaurateurs Ibby Moubadder and Ella Harris have their hands full, having just opened Lebanese fine-dining spot Nour in 2016 and with their Bacon Festival in its third year. "We weren't really looking to open another restaurant since we just opened Nour, but we saw this location and just loved it so we jumped on it," says Harris. The fitout is still Cuckoo at its heart, but has been given a bit of a Surry Hills refresh by Giant Design (The Capsule Hotel, Sugarcane Coogee, Eastside Grill). While their signature magenta colour palette remains and a few neon slogans run up the stairs, the aesthetic is otherwise luxed up with velvet curtains, white marble and brass finishes. "The design has a more Surry Hills feel about it and is a little bit more grown up and refined," says Harris. The menu follows suit, with head chef Jason Black (ex-Bathers Pavilion Restaurant) at the helm. While a few of the original favourites remain — like the Bacon Macdaddy, a croissant stuffed with double smoked bacon, bacon mac and cheese, fried egg and bacon tomato jam — the rest of the menu is completely new. There's the She's My Cherry Kewpie, a karaage chicken burger topped with wasabi mayo and nori strips on a milk bun, and the Mr Pinchy, a lobster tail version of eggs Benny with tom yum hollandaise, avruga caviar and fried curry leaves, all atop a squid ink English muffin. Yup, it's all pretty indulgent. Brunchers with pups will be happy to know the dog-friendly menu is also expanding, adding pupcakes to their pupachinos among other dog treats. The Surry Hills outpost isn't simply be dog-friendly, either — Harris's own new puppies will act as mascots for the space and be at the cafe most days. Cuckoo Callay's new cafe is now open at 78-80 Crown Street, Surry Hills. Open Monday through Friday from 7am to 4pm and Saturday through Sunday from 8am to 3pm. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
Cafe Paci, the highly lauded Darlinghurst pop-up circa 2013, made its grand return in 2019. Award-winning Finnish chef Pasi Petänen (Quay, Four In Hand, Marque) opened the permanent iteration of the restaurant along one of Sydney's busiest strips — Newtown's King Street. "We always planned to reopen Cafe Paci and have been looking for a permanent spot since we closed," says Petänen. "I've lived in Newtown for 15 years, so the location is really good and we are lucky to also have good operators around us like Bella Brutta, Mapo gelato and Tandem wine bar." While the original pop-up was set-menu only, this interaction of Cafe Paci is instead a la carte — which Petänen feels will create a more casual, everyday restaurant vibe, as opposed to one that's just for special occasions. "I love to do a set menu but it narrows your clientele quite a lot, and I want [Cafe Paci] to be a place where you can just pop in anytime," says Petänen. Stop in for a quick bar snack and cocktail combo, or enjoy oysters with your glass of wine. But, for the full experience, nab a seat in the dining room. A few of the original fan-favourite menu items are still here — like the house potato and molasses bread and the liquorice cake with carrot sorbet and yoghurt mousse. A few standouts from the menu items introduced to the Newtown site include potato dumplings with trout XO sauce, tomato and mozzarella calzones and Skull Island king prawns with black pepper butter. The orange, chilli and olive oil-accompanied stracciatella is a clear Instagram favourite, too. While the pop-up had a bit of a Mexican flare — as a nod to the previous Darlinghurst tenant Cafe Pacifico — the permanent location is predominantly European, pulling inspiration from Italy, France and Nordic cuisine — although you will find ox tongue on a rye taco. For drinks, renowned sommelier Giorgio De Maria (Vini, 121BC) has created the wine list, which focuses on small producers while offering something for everyone, whether you're on the look out for a classic drop of red or a glass of something funky. The interior has been designed by George Livissianis, who also looked after other impressive fit-outs for The Dolphin Hotel, Chin Chin, The Apollo and Cho Cho San. At Cafe Paci, the space is that of a relaxed, neighbourhood joint. Expect 60 seats all up, with the bar reserved for walk-ins. "The fit-out looks very European, too, and could be set in Paris or Berlin or Helsinki," says Petänen. "It has a cosy wine bar feel, and we took the saying 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' as the design brief." Updated Tuesday, March 21 2023. Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Sydney
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.
While days of daiquiris, afternoons of sunbathing and evenings of sizzling summery barbecues aren’t completely gone, there’s a slightly cooler breeze in the air. But there's plenty of autumnal goodness to look forward to with the changing of the seasons: several new bars have opened their doors just in time for falling leaves to clog up their front stoops and daylight savings to finish up and make things a little cosier around here. Autumn’s that unexpectedly indulgent season when neither crisp, frosty bevs or warm, hearty nosh are completely ruled out. From 17th-century Dutch-inspired pub fare in Darlinghurst to cigarette-inspired cocktails and homemade salmon jerky in Enmore, we've rounded up your go-tos this season. So break out your preppiest cardigan, don fingerless gloves without social judgement and get among autumn’s best new bars.
For the next six weeks, you’ll be able to feast on Eric Koh’s perfect dumplings without leaving the CBD. Merivale is bringing the Mr. Wong maestro and former Tim Ho Wan dim sum master to King Street for a pop-up dubbed Work in Progress @erickoh. It’ll open Monday to Friday from midday till late, with the kitchen cooking between midday and 3pm for lunch, then for dinner between 5.30pm and 10pm. The pop-up's menu is promising an array of Koh’s signature creations, including scallop and prawn shumai, prawn har gau and steamed mushroom dumplings, duck spring rolls and prawn wonton with wasabi mayo. Plus there’ll be a neat beverages list to match, covering cocktails, wines and beers. Stay late on Thursdays and Fridays to kick back to local DJs. Work in Progress @erickoh is a sequel to @patrickfriesen, the Papi Chulo chef's fried chicken and noodles pop-up that drew crowds during the 2015 March into Merivale food and wine festival. Planned for just five weeks, it was so bombarded with hungry hordes that it remained open for six months. Koh has been living in Sydney since 2012, when he moved here to set up Mr. Wong, winner of ‘Best New Restaurant of the Year’ at the 2014 Good Food Guide Awards, the and the 2014 Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Awards. Once he’s done popping up in the CBD, he’ll be heading to Enmore to head the much-anticipated Queen Victoria Hotel’s new kitchen (recently bought by Justin Hemmes), alongside Papi Chulo’s Christopher Hogarth and Patrick Friesen. Eric Koh's Work in Progress dim sum pop-up will open Tuesday, September 8 at 50 King Street, Sydney. Open Monday to Friday 12-3pm, 5.30-10pm (kitchen), 12pm-late (bar).
As Sydney speakeasies go, Stitch Bar may have one of the most convincing decoy frontages in town — a small hole-in-the-wall tailor's shop on York Street. But once you venture past the vintage sewing machine by the front door and through some unassuming curtains, you'll find yourself at the top of a staircase descending into a basement saloon that feels a million miles away from any buttoned-up sartorial formality. The tailor's theme gets a slight nod via old sewing tables and sewing machines under the bar, but that's where the white-collar vibes end. This pint-sized drinking den, with comfy booths on one side and bistro tables on the other, is a laidback spot to unplug from the stress and hustle of the city above. This small bar is low-lit and has some serious booze on the list, not just in the spirits department. There are glasses of rosé or great Aussie whites, and then, of course, the cocktails. Try a classic like an old fashioned or a paloma — or one of Stitch's signature concoctions such as the Maple & Ash, a sweet yet smoky mingle that comes with a pork crackling snack on the side. There's also a broad whisky selection to sample if you're in the mood for a dram or two. Many may pretend they come to Stitch purely for the excellent drinking, but some are certainly here because it's a great excuse to have a hot dog. And there are some fancy franks to choose from: the Mac Ducky, made with duck, orange and foie gras, gets our shout. If you aren't keen on the dogs, there's also a wide array of smash-patty and fried chicken burgers on offer, as well a hearty ribeye steak alongside dive-bar bites like mac 'n' cheese balls, hot wings and loaded tacos.
The Art Gallery of NSW's current exhibition, Tang: treasures from the Silk Road capital, presents exquisite objects from a period (618-907 CE) seen by many as the golden age of Chinese culture. Sitting at the start (or, more to the point, the end) of the Silk Road trade route, which wound across the Asian continent all the way to modern day Turkey, the Tang capital Chang'an was a true cosmopolitan hub. Its residents had a particular taste for international haute couture and they had the coin and position to indulge it. Tang China offered women unprecedented political and social freedoms: they could own property and divorce their husbands; and it was in this period that Wu Zetian reigned as Emperor (the only woman in China's history to have done so). The garments worn by Tang women reflect this shift in power dynamics, as women experimented with transgressive styles that shocked some contemporary observers. Tang gives us a glimpse of the incredible fashions that emerged in this context. Here are some highlights. WHO WEARS THE PANTS? Tang China was a period of unprecedented freedom for women of a certain class and the fashions of this period really reflect that. Traditional strict Confucian dress codes were flouted by some women who began to show off their arms, back and (the horror!) decolletage. But perhaps the biggest surprise is the fact that Tang women sometimes wore men's clothes, both foreign and Chinese in style. A mural in the exhibition actually shows one such badass woman wearing a white robe over striped trousers. BROW DOWN The period's extravagant hairstyles and makeup also reflect the wealth and splendour of Tang China. Many of the coifs depicted in Tang look like feats of engineering (bringing to mind the hairdos rocked by Marie Antoinette some centuries later), with hair arranged in tall sculptural shapes on top of the head. And when it comes to eyebrows, Tang China had it down to a fine art. Indeed Emperor Wenzong (who seems to have been quite the stick in the mud) decreed in the 9th century that women had to cease removing their eyebrows, a practice which made it easier to paint on intricate designs. The different styles of these painted eyebrows were given the most delightful names imaginable. As you walk through the exhibition try and look out for the "mandarin duck", "drooping pearl" or "dark fog" eyebrows. IF YOU'VE GOT IT... As is often the case, clothes were a means by which Tang elites could demonstrate their wealth and sophistication. There is no denying the grandeur of the clothes depicted in Tang, not to mention a particularly stunning jade pendant that is on display. Showing off through fashion was not without its risks however; one Tang princess was punished by Emperor Wenzong for wearing excessively long sleeves. Admittedly, the Emperor does seem to have been pretty generous, considering his decreed sleeve limit was 2.65 metres (large enough to please a few Ellery fans out there). Various sumptuary laws were enacted throughout the Tang dynasty — Emperor Xuanzong for example actually ordered the burning of jade and pearl goods as a rejection of extravagant palace tastes. But you get the sense that the buzzkillers were fighting a losing battle. One Tang princess commissioned the imperial workshop to create her a skirt made of feathers. The skirt was such a hit that other elites copied the look, creating a huge trend for the feathers of exotic birds. Luxury items were a prominent feature of life in the Silk Road capital, and there was no shortage of new and more ostentatious goods to be consumed. WHAT'S OUT IS IN Thanks to the power of trade, the Tang dynasty China delighted in adopting fashions of both foreign cultures and Chinese ethnic minorities — what was literally outside the Tang dynasty found itself very in fashion during this time. Referred to as hufu, foreign dress was accessible in Tang China because of the influx of international goods, people and ideas into its capital. The AGNSW exhibition is peppered with gorgeous examples of this foreign influence — if you know where to look. Luckily, we have the exhibition's curator Yin Cao to guide us. What I had taken for a pair of soggy baguettes on the back of a ceramic pack horse figurine, are in fact bolts of the silk fabric that were China's most significant luxury export during in this period (it ain't called the Silk Road for nothing). Men's fashion borrowed from external influences, with several earthenware figurines in the exhibition depicting horse riders wearing prints reminiscent of Persian patterns. Palace women also adopted foreign fashion while riding, and, to the chagrin of some contemporary writers, they abandoned traditional modest face veils in favour of hats made of felt, a nomad fabric. And while fashions come and go, fusty old men are eternal, as one Tang politician lamented, "Our women are acting like foreigners' wives, studying foreign makeup." The exotic fashions worn by the elite filtered down to the masses in what some feared was a sign of a 'corrupted empire'. Despite these concerns, men and women of Tang China continued to seek out new styles that came through the Silk Road, dressing themselves in clothes that could be Turkish, Tibetan, Persian or Uighur in style. Some of these clothes saw their wearers branded 'barbarians' by their more conservative compatriots, an indication of conflicting attitudes to China's unusual openness to other cultures in this period. Tang: treasures from the Silk Road capital runs until July 10 at the AGNSW and there's more info right here.
Redfern/Darlington's Saturday hub of fresh bread, fresh flowers, and freshly washed pooches, the newly-named Carriageworks Farmers Market is about to takes things next level. Acclaimed Australian chef and brains behind Kitchen By Mike Mike McEnearney, has been appointed as creative director of the markets (formerly known as Eveleigh Markets). Intending to turn the markets into an internationally-renowned foodie paradise akin to London's Borough Markets, McEnearney knows a thing or two about creating a lauded, must-visit food location. One of Australia's top chefs, he's earned his stripes working at big gun restaurants; before opening his wildly popular Rosebery eatery Kitchen By Mike, he'd already worked at the likes of Neil Perry’s Rockpool, London's Michelin-starred Pied a Terre and Sir Terence Conran's Mezzo. “I want to put Carriageworks Farmers Market on the world stage, promoting NSW produce and with a goal of creating an internationally-acclaimed food and arts precinct in Sydney’s Redfern," says McEnearney. "I am passionate about produce and have always supported and promoted the local and smaller producers in my work. We’re aspiring to grow the Carriageworks Farmers Markets to the same international scale and acclaim as London’s Borough Markets.” Working closely with the Carriageworks team, the 70+ stallholders and NSW producers, McEnearney is intending to expand the markets' already-flourishing smorgasbord, offering more information about the produce's origins and potential uses, recipes and demonstrations. Carriageworks Farmers Market is held weekly on Saturdays from 8am until 1pm at Carriageworks.
Things are set to get feisty and fearless at the Opera House when the fourth All About Women Festival takes over on Sunday, March 6. Leading the prodigious, 30-speaker-strong program? None other than the inimitable Miranda July, Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, Orange Is the New Black memoir author Piper Kerman and former US State Department director of policy planning Anne-Marie Slaughter. If you’ve ever wondered what makes July tick, here’s your chance. The celebrated writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, handbag wizard and bona fide enigma will be presenting an epic, autobiographical journey through her inner world, combining readings, film and interactive performance. July’s debut novel, The First Bad Man, was published in January this year. Sleater Kinney and Portlandia's legendary Brownstein will be talking about her October-released book Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, a candid look at life and music — and if you're a super fan, Sleater Kinney are playing the same night at the Opera House. Kerman, whose memoir inspired the insanely popular TV series Orange Is the New Black, will be chatting about women she’s met in American prisons and her ongoing battle to increase prisoners’ rights. And Anne-Marie Slaughter, who worked as the director of policy planning at the US State Department when Hillary Clinton was running the show, will be arguing that we can’t have it all — well, at least not all at once, anyway. Meanwhile, Amelia Telford, the Indigenous coordinator of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, will be talking about climate change and resource extraction with Crystal Lameman, a climate change activist living in Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Canada. Other speakers on the lineup include Hyeonso Lee, a refugee from North Korea whose memoir, The Girl With Seven Names, was published in July 2015 in more than 20 nations; Masha Gessen, an American-Russian journalist, writer and LGBT activist; Jennifer Clement, an American-Mexican journalist, who’ll be covering her investigation of the impact of the drug war on thousands of stolen Mexican women and girls; and French novelist Muriel Barbery, who’s just published her first book in nine years. Multipack tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 7, with single tickets becoming available on Wednesday, December 9. Find them and rest of the program on the website.
Today, at 4.20pm precisely, Newtown's brand new stoner cafe, D'Munchies, will open its doors. So, if your idea of a satisfying chow down involves ice-cream dashed with pretzels or a hot dog filled with pizza, your inner west go-to is now sorted. "It's an idea that a lot of people have thought of," says chef and co-owner David Pyne, who's spent 11 years working in kitchens in Sydney and London. "I decided to do it because I could. I think it's a good concept." The menu isn't just about matching anything with anything for the hell of it, but about turning stoner food into restaurant-worthy dishes. One of Pyne's favourites is hot-filled doughnuts, which are based on "an old Aussie camper's dish". "Filled doughnuts are usually cold," he says. "But with these, the filling is hot and gooey, and we serve them with ice cream and sauce." He's also curing bacon in-house and has developed a chicken burger inspired by a good friend, who's eaten a burger every day for years. Pyne collaborated with his partner and "various other people" on D'Munchies' interior design. The most eye-catching element is an enormous mural of a marijuana leaf, designed by Sindy Sinn, who's worked with a slew of brands, companies and events, from Harley Davidson to Tropfest to Mary's Newtown. Find D'Munchies at 170 King Street. It'll be open between 4.30pm and 10pm from Wednesday 6 - Friday 8 April and from midday thereafter.
You could trawl every art gallery and every private collection on the planet and you'd only find 800 paintings signed by Vincent Van Gogh. That's the sum total of what remains of the Dutch genius's output. So, it's insanely, insanely exciting that 60 of his masterpieces will be travelling to the National Gallery of Victoria in 2017. Set to open on April 28, the blockbuster exhibition will be titled Van Gogh and the Seasons and is expected by NGV to draw one of the gallery's biggest audiences yet. You can expect around 40 painting and 25 drawings, collected from some of the world's top-shelf galleries, including Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum and Otterlo's Kröller-Müller Museum. The curating is being taken care of by Sjraar Van Heugten, author of a genuine bucketload of books about Van Gogh and ex-head of the Van Gogh Museum's collections section. What's more, you'll also get to see a bunch of Van Gogh's letters, as well as some of the artworks he collected during his 37 years on Earth. These will be arranged to give some insight into how various artists have responded to the seasons. "It's a huge coup for the NGV and another reason why Victoria is the creative state," said Martin Foley, Victoria's Minister for Creative Industries, when announcing the exhibition on Friday 16 September. "Van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable and famous names in art history. His incredible work laid the foundation for modern art and influences artists to this day." Van Gogh and The Seasons is the 22nd exhibition in the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, which the former Labor Government set up in 2004, to treat Melburnians to the best art in the world at least once a year. Also in the 2017 series will be the NGV's inaugural Festival of Photography, featuring works from William Eggelston (US) and Melbourne's own Zoë Croggon. Van Gogh and the Seasons opens on April 28 at NGV International. It's part of the gallery's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition for 2017. Image: Vincent van Gogh, Dutch 1853–90, Orchard in Blossom, Bordered by Cypresses (1888), oil on canvas, 64.9 x 81.2 cm, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, © Kröller-Müller Museum.
Just when you thought Barangaroo, despite its mammoth size, couldn't squeeze in another eatery, along comes 12-Micron. This epic, 230-seater opens today, bringing with it a bar, late-night dessert and those now-standard Barangaroo harbour views. The name 12-Micron comes from wool — not just any wool, but a rare thread that is spun into extremely comfortable (and rather expensive) clothing. That said, there are no external sheepy bits on the menu — the name aims to capture the restaurant's focus on the best and freshest ingredients. Executive chef Justin Wise, formerly of The Press Club or The Point Albert Park, has been busy building relationships with Australia's finest producers, as well as a collective of foragers. With their offerings in mind, he's created a four-part menu that's divided into some semi-Captain Planet territory: Earth, Ocean, Land and Air. To give you an idea, Earth covers your vegetable needs, featuring paperbark-baked veg with fruit spice and goats curd. Ocean encompasses your sea creatures, for example, Skull Island king prawn steamed buns with wasabi, green mango and tobiko. Land covers your paddock-dwellers, lamb with spinach, native ironbark honey and damper. Air features anything that once flew, like half-pigeon with Aussie master stock, red cabbage and Illawarra plum. When you're done with elemental feasting, move into the 64-seater dessert bar to live your sugary dreams — and it's taking bookings until 11pm. Famed dessert chef Darren Purchese is in charge here. Just a few of his creations include coconut sago with passionfruit, ginger and mint; and dark chocolate mousse with salted caramel, tonka bean, mandarin and Zokoko chocolate. For a snackier experience, stick to the 120-seater bar. You'll get uninterrupted harbour views, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, a simple menu featuring a mushroom taleggio toastie and a wagyu cheeseburger; and a significant treasure trove of wines to choose form — 400 if you're bottling and 32 if you're glassing. They're the picks of sommelier Lyndsey Carr. Alternatively, try a cocktail, such as Riberry Limy Tia (Rebellion Bay spiced rum, Védrenne spicy chilli cinnamon, orgeat, lime, riberry confit) or Smoking Chaplin (Plymouth Sloe Gin, Védrenne apricot brandy, lime and rosella jam). SJB (The Buena, The Light Brigade, Melbourne's L'Hotel Gitan) took care of the interior by bringing the outside in. By that, we mean you'll be sitting among gum leaf-coloured stone cobbles and tiles and granite finished with leather that looks and feels like bark. There are cosy couches, too. Find 12-Micron at Level 2, 100 Barangaroo Avenue (enter via Watermans Quay), The Streets of Barangaroo. The restaurant is open seven days for lunch and dinner, the bar is opening seven days from midday-1am and the dessert bar takes bookings until 11pm.
It has been a tumultuous year for Sydney's hospitality scene. We've said farewell to some short-lived favourites — Bar Brosé, Eleven Bridge and The Antipodean to name a few — we've lamented the changes to the 457 visa and the hospitality sector's staff shortage and we continue to fight the lockout laws. But where there have been closures, innovative new ventures have risen from the ashes. As we continue to attempt to define Australian cuisine, chefs continue to push the boundaries. We've seen (and tasted) black-pudding curry in a Thai restaurant located in a renovated tea building, eaten delicate Japanese fare served behind a police station and downed hash browns and kimchi toasties at a Korean cafe. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented vanguards pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new restaurants — nominated in Concrete Playground's Best of 2017 Awards — are the Best New Restaurants of 2017.
After a quick makeover, Cornersmith Marrickville reopened yesterday. And the big news is you can now add an alcoholic beverage to your meal — be it a bloody Mary with brekkie or a local wine with lunch. On top of that, the eatery is open for dinner, Wednesday through to Sunday. In keeping with Cornersmith's approach to food, the drinks list features loads of house-made ingredients, from syrups and fermented sodas to bitters and brines. New sommelier Marc Dempsey (Yellow, 121BC) has come up with a bunch of signature cocktails, including a cherry kombucha spritz, as well as an all-Australian wine, beer and spirits menu, which focuses on small-batch drops and brews. "I'm looking forward to working in the inner west with people I admire for their ethical approach to hospitality and hoping to bring a restaurant experience that is genuine and sophisticated but friendly and relaxed to the community of Marrickville," said Dempsey, via Cornersmith's Facebook page. Dinner, served from 5pm, is all about share plates. New head chef Ava Stangherlin (Hotel Centennial) is mixing and matching local produce, such as Wapengo oysters from Bermagui, NSW, Maffra clothbound cheddar, seasonal veggies and, of course, Cornersmith's famous pickles, preserves and ferments. At lunch, design your own ploughman's plate, with fancy ingredients like pickled blue mackerel and cucumber kimchi. The brekkie menu has seen a few tasty additions, too. There's a new egg roll with Spanish tortilla, watercress, red pepper relish and kefir butter, and a creative take on the classic breakfast bowl, packed with pineapple bircher, summer stone fruit, almonds and poppy seeds. Cornersmith Marrickville, 314 Illawarra Road, is open Monday–Tuesday, 7am–3:30pm; Wednesday–Friday, 7am–late; and Saturday–Sunday, 7:30am–late. Dinner bookings are recommended and can be made through the Cornersmith website.
While Sydney's got no shortage of classic Aussie pubs, the traditional British boozer proves a little harder to come by — a tad surprising, given the city's heritage. But now the CBD is about to get its own proper nod to ye olde English tavern, by way of a new venture from The Barber Shop's Mikey Enright and Julian Train, which you'll find tucked down the award-winning gin bar's side alleyway (the same one that houses The Baxter Inn). Named after the gent who would go on to become King William IV, The Duke of Clarence is out to deliver a quintessentially British experience, and the owners aren't doing things by halves. With acclaimed UK set designer Sara Mathews (Moulin Rouge, Ned Kelly) heading up the design, there's little doubt the pub's going to look the part. Original furniture and building materials have been handpicked from pubs, churches and warehouses during the team's extensive UK travels — from the stained glass and the panelling, through to the 1850s-era floorboards. A portrait of The Duke greets punters at the entrance, while inside lies a stunning 12-metre bar and a library nook complete with open fire. Meanwhile, both the food and the drinks offering will take their cues from the proper English pubs Enright grew up with back in Northern England. A broad-ranging booze selection will include around 500 spirits from the homeland, with cask-conditioned brews the stars of the beer list. The eats, too, will be unmistakably British, the menu designed by Liverpudlian and former Merivale Executive Chef of Events, David O'Brien. The Duke of Clarence is slated to open mid-November. You'll find it at 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney. Stay tuned for more details and keep an eye on thedukeofclarence.com.
Two consecutive 12-hour days of parties, lectures, performances, installations, and music from some of Australia’s and the world’s leading queer artists. If that doesn’t sound like an amazing way to spend a weekend then frankly we are no longer for this world. Presented by perennial creative risk-takers Performance Space and Carriageworks this monumental offering of queer creativity will take place over Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February. Running from midday to midnight the symposium will feature a highlight performance from legendary producers, DJs, and musicians Stereogamous aka Jonny Seymour and groundbreaking openly-gay electropop pioneer Paul Mac.
Proving that causing the internet to lose its mind by delivering adorable puppies to offices around Australia is simply not enough for them, Uber has moved yet another step closer to total world domination. The ridesharing service will launch UberEATS in Melbourne today, Tuesday, April 19 at 11am. Because who needs multiple apps when you can use one for just about everything? Melbourne is the first city in Australia to be bestowed the food delivery platform, and only the third in the world. It basically allows restaurants to get their food delivered to customers between 11am and 10pm by a wide access of ever-available drivers — much like (and in direct competition to) other food delivery apps like Foodora/Suppertime, Deliveroo and Menulog. The list of Melbourne restaurants exceeds 80, including the likes of Supernormal, Gazi, Pidapipo and Jimmy Grants. Oh, and delivery will be free for the launch. So you only have to pay the cost of your Jimmy Grants feta-covered oregano chips, and not a cent more. UberEATS launched in select US cities last year, allowing users to order lunch or dinner from an ever-shifting menu that includes options from a number of different restaurants. UberX is still technically illegal in Victoria, although that hasn't stopped the service's meteoric success. Assuming UberEATS proves a hit in Melbourne, it's safe to assume it may expand to further cities in the future. You can download the UberEATS app here from 11am. For all the details, visit ubereats.com/melbourne. Updated: April 19, 2016.
For anyone who's struggled with the monotony of the black line, the North Sydney Olympic Pool provides an antidote. Keep yourself motivated by rewarding yourself at the end of each lap — you couldn't get a better perspective on the mighty Harbour Bridge. What's more, Luna Park is just next door, so, you can wrap up your session with a ferris wheel ride. Go hard enough at your training and you might add to the 86 records set at the pool since it opened in 1936. Along with the pool, there's a gym, sauna and spa.
Pizza Birra and Vacanza better watch out, Lane Cove's Via Napoli is moving into Surry Hills. The lower north shore's home of crazy long pizzas and seriously friendly staff is opening a new branch on Crown Street in September. Via Napoli is incredibly popular in Sydney's north-west and rightly so. The Italian eatery, with packed-out restaurants in Hunters Hill and Lane Cove, has been lauded by eaters, bloggers and critics alike for their authentic Napoli-style pizzas. Hands-down one of the best pizza places in Sydney, Via Napoli possesses a winning of combination of super friendly service (we've been treated to many a post-meal hug) and their trademark smoky, soft and light dough. What more could you want? The hype surrounding this inner-city opening is very real; there are over a thousand RSVPs to the VIP opening on Facebook. You may be wondering how everybody is going to get fed/fit in the door. The answer? A bucketload of two-metre pizzas. Omg 2m pizza at #vianapoli #sydney! So yum! A photo posted by Steph T (@virconium) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:13am PDT Yes, two metres. Hit #vianapoli on Instagram and you'll be met with reams of photos of their signature long pizzas. The mammoth two-metre creations are their claim to fame and come topped with Via Napoli's top five pizzas: vesuvio, diavola, crudo e rucola, margherita and marinara. Pizza isn't the only thing they do well; their cheeses are straight-up insane. Watching fresh burrata explode over a plate of prosciutto di parma is something truly tear-inducing. Previously a $40 cab ride away from the CBD, Via Napoli have brought their famed Italian delicacies to the other side of the Harbour Bridge. Many pizzerias claim to have the best pizza in Sydney but we reckon they're a serious contender for that title. The good people of Surry Hills know their pizza, so the game is set. Via Napoli opens at 628 Crown Street, Surry Hills on Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm.
Tents at the ready: when 2023 ends and 2024 begins, there are few better ways to spend it than dancing and camping at southeast Queensland's Woodford Folk Festival. This isn't just a fest. It's a pop-up Moreton Bay village filled with live music, arts and culture. And it's returning for another year with a heap of well-known Australian — and Brisbane — names. Throwing back to the late 90s and early 00s, Regurgitator, Custard and Resin Dogs will all take to the Woodford stage between Wednesday, December 27, 2023–Monday, January 1, 2024 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. Also hailing from Brissie, along with plenty of the festival's attendees each year: Kate Miller-Heidke. Woodford 2023–24's roster of talent includes Ben Lee, Gretta Ray, Isaiah Firebrace and Kasey Chambers as well, on a list that spans more than 400 acts and 1834 shows. So, across the fest's 27 performance spaces, there'll be no shortage of things for the expected 120,000 people attending to see at Woodfordia's 500-acre parklands space (which now boasts a lake) — whether they're among the 25,000 folks who can stay onsite or just hitting up the event for the day. Accordingly, whoever piques your interest, or even if you're just keen on a Woodford experience — for the first time, tenth or 36th, because that's how many fests the event has notched up now — prepare to catch a heap of bands, wander between arts performances and get a little muddy, all around 90 minutes north of Brisbane. As always, the fest's lineup also features circus, cabaret, yoga, dance, comedy, spoken word, poetry, comedy, films, workshops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Keen to have a chat while your clothes was at The Blak Laundry? Learn to weave baskets with Kris Martin? Get giggling to talents curated by Sandeep Totlani? Hit up the Queer Ball's third year? They're some of the other standouts. Tickets are already on sale, and you can check out the full list of acts and activities on the Woodford website. WOODFORD 2023–24 LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Regurgitator Custard Resin Dogs Ben Lee Kate Miller-Heidke Isaiah Firebrace Kasey Chambers Mo'Ju Gretta Ra Odette Yirrmal A.Girl AFRO DIZZI ACT Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham The East Pointers Haiku Hands Leah Flanagan Borroloola Cultural Songwomen featuring Dr Shellie Morris AO Bumpy FourPlay String Quartet Yirinda Charlie Needs Braces Mitch King DancingWater ALPHAMAMA Jack Davies & the Bush Chooks Charm of Finches Dougie Maclean Assynt Ryan Young Hannah Rarity Dallahan Lisa O'Neill Andy Irvine Making Movies Rizo Božo Vrečo Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 7, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its third year running. Last year, 415 cafes and 20 coffee roasters raised $120,000 to fund 91 community projects. Not too shabby. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. Look for cafés posting this little guy today. @StreetSmartAust gives $1 from your coffee to help the homeless. #CafeSmart #drinkcoffeedogood A photo posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on Aug 7, 2014 at 9:02pm PDT CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 7. Check the website for participating cafes near you. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Australia is well known for having some of the best dining in the world. Melbourne is a city where people happily spend an entire weekend rambling from restaurant to restaurant; from café to cocktail, on the hunt for a new favourite. And in Sydney, whether your tastes run to Frankie's Pizza or are more on the Quay side of things, you'll find bountiful opportunity to explore this foodie mecca. It doesn't matter if you're in a major capital or dining at a hidden local gem, Aussie restaurants and cafes consistently turn out incredibly fresh, vibrant and exciting tucker — inspired by access to some of the finest meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables in the world. We have two restaurants among the Top 100 Restaurants in the world (tip your hats Attica; Brae) and Aussie coffee champ Sasa Sestic scooped the World Barista Championships in 2015. With such a heady mix of talent hailing from Australia, it makes sense that the rest of the world would want a slice of our home-grown cuisine and expertise. We've partnered with Expedia to take a jaunt around the world and explore some Australian-owned restaurants in far-flung locales. Perhaps they'll inspire your next trip — they're definitely worthy of one. HARDWARE SOCIÉTÉ, PARIS The much beloved breakfast and brunch spot of 120 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, opened up shop in Paris recently and has been providing homesick ex-pats and Parisians alike with their petit-déjeuner since late 2016. You can get your 64-degree eggs with delights like ham hock (18€) or über decadent lobster (20€) and enjoy a genuine Melbourne Padre latte to sip as you dine. Aussie visitors to Paris looking for a little taste of home, and Parisians looking for a slice of Melbourne breakfast culture, will both find what they're looking for here. 10 rue Lamarck, 75018, Paris GERALD'S BAR, SAN SEBASTIAN Melbourne's long-beloved Carlton fave for wine lovers and good-time seekers has a new location. And while it's got that same Gerald's charm it's basically on the other side of the world; 17,195km away in San Sebastián, Spain. If it weren't for the fact that we have the original right here in Melbourne (thank the gods), we'd be on a plane right now for some of that exceptional wine and unbeatable Gerald's atmosphere. Eponymous proprietor, Gerald Diffey, took over an existing restaurant space in 2014 and gave it the Gerald's flourish. Now you can dine on mountain cheeses while sipping a curated list of local and international drops. If you're in San Sebastián it's a must-do. Calle del Ángel, 10, 20003 San Sebastián RUBY'S, NEW YORK CITY Visitors to Ruby's in NYC will be greeted by many things – tastes, smells, sights – but the first thing that may greet you on sighting Ruby's is a queue to get in the door. This decidedly bijoux eatery is so damn popular that people have no qualms about lining up just to take a seat inside. Enjoy nostalgic burgers like the Coogee ($12.50) with mushroom, romesco, cress, zucchini and goat's cheese; or tuck into the Whaleys ($13.50) and enjoy a classic Aussie burger complete with beetroot, pineapple and fried egg. Don't fancy a burger? No problem – order off the breakfast menu before 1pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends. The breakfast bowl is particularly good. If you're homesick and abroad or just want to tuck into a seriously good meal in NYC, you'll find it at Ruby's. 219 Mulberry St # A, New York DA MARIA, BALI Undoubtedly set to be one of the hottest places to see and be seen in Bali, Da Maria is the latest venture for Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini. He's behind Sydney classic, Icebergs, and is set to provide Bali dwellers and visitors alike with North Bondi Italian food (the website says they're bringing the Amalfi Coast to Bali) in a luxe Canggu locale. The venue has only just flung open its doors, and the tasteful interior and stunning luxe layout makes for the perfect spot to get a little bit fancy at dinner. Or, dance and drink the night away with DJs every evening from 10pm. If you're hungry at night they've got you covered with their delectable lava-oven baked pizzas available til late. Jalan Petitenget No. 170, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali CHINESE TUXEDO, NEW YORK CITY Aussies Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam set about with a single goal in mind: to modernise Chinese dining in NYC. Their pretty spectacular venue is housed in an ex-Chinese opera house and offers its diners a broad menu which has been carefully designed to tick all the boxes. There are traditional regional Chinese dishes on offer, creatively interspersed with exciting salads and flavoursome noodle dishes. They look set to make their mark on an exciting space, with the hope being that they'll be the go-to for high-end Chinese dining in NYC. Buckingham and Lam say that at Chinese Tuxedo the food speaks for them, so if you're in New York City we recommend you go and listen. 5 Doyers St, New York, NY PARAMOUNT COFFEE PROJECT, LOS ANGELES This industrial-chic Sydney café spread its wings to LA recently, opening up a similarly bright and airy cafe in the style of its Surry Hills sister venue, in late 2015. Los Angeles diners choose from a range of 'things on toast': soft scram ($11), avocado ($12) or local burrata ($14) – to name but a few; or other ubiquitous Aussie breakfast staples. Milkshakes run from the standard (vanilla malt, $7) to the downright awesome/weird (vegemite and butterscotch, $7) and you can rest assured that the hot drinks menu is just as impressive as the food. Discerning coffee drinkers have a veritable slew of Australian brews and other hot and cold options on offer. 456 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles ST ALI, JAKARTA The much-beloved Melbourne coffee spot and all-round brunch star, St Ali, recently exploded into Jakarta and has been making diners happy with their Melbourne-style menu. Feast on the smoked salmon omelette with a cup of their delightful coffee, or tempt yourself with a matcha chai parfait as part of your 'clean eating' kick. It won't last long when there are treats like fried chicken and slaw on offer as well, but you can try. Next time you're in the Indonesian capital be sure to pop by for a coffee at St Ali's new venue – in partnership with Indonesia's Common Grounds Roastery – to get a look in at this stunning spot. RT.6/RW.7, Karet Kuningan, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta THE APOLLO, TOKYO Greek food and Japan aren't usually two things that would spring to your mind at the same time. But then, you were probably thinking of The Apollo — the contemporary Greek restaurant that opened in Ginza in the middle of 2016 — weren't you? The star of Sydney's modern Greek scene, The Apollo, has landed bringing the same beloved, succulent, smoky flavours of Greek cooking to the heart of Tokyo. Choose from lemony pan-fried saganaki, or dine on meltingly tender ten-hour slow-cooked Aussie lamb. Best to book — this is a popular spot with ex-pats and locals alike. Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza FRATELLI PARADISO, TOKYO One of Sydney's most beloved haunts for fine Italian food is getting a new venue mid next year in a very special location: Tokyo. Owner Giovanni Paradiso decided on Japan as the spot for his expansion after exploring the idea of another venue in Sydney or Melbourne and realising that Japan ticked all the boxes. His new 90-seat venue is on track to open its doors in late April 2017. Toshi Nakayasu will helm the kitchen as head chef and will be offering familiar Italian classics as well as special local dishes too. The wine will be sourced from around the world and will be heavily based on natural wines, something that Paradiso is especially excited about. Keep an eye out for this one. HO LEE FOOK, HONG KONG Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong Kong must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). Owned and operated by the team at Black Sheep Restaurants, the name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong Become an Expedia+ member and book your food holiday in the January summer sale— you'll have access to prices that others don't see. By Laura Dawson and Shannon Connellan.
This article is part of our series on the 17 most unique things to have come out of Japan. Check out the other 16. In Japan, the Kit Kat is a whole new beast. Never would you imagine that four bars of wafer and chocolate could take on such a multiplicity of weird and wonderful identities. Leading the charge is undoubtedly the edamame soybean Kit Kat. Yes, it’s green. One reviewer described it as tasting like a “not pleasant nutty” but reported that his wife found it “refreshing”. If you prefer your soy fermented rather than fresh, you can always go for the soy sauce Kit Kat. One writer reckons was extremely disappointed to discover it tastes like “maple syrup”. Also in the savoury spectrum of flavours are the wasabi, the purple sweet potato and the hot Japanese chilli. At the same time, there’s a stack of sweet, fruity options, from citrus golden blend to pear to shinshu apple. And, if you want to save yourself boiling the jug, you can opt for a tea-flavoured Kit Kat. So far, hojicha-roasted tea and matcha-green tea are available. All in all, there are 19 flavours of Kit Kat on the go in Japan. They’re all limited edition and not very easy to find outside of their home country. Image: Bodo, Flickr CC.
Thought meditation retreats were all about early wake-up calls and lots of serious silences? Well, not anymore. Say hello to Soundscape, a new three-day sensory experience to be held in NSW's Southern Highlands this March. A wellness getaway that breaks the mould, this one's focused on music, food and great company. It's the brainchild of the team at Surry Hills mindfulness studio The Indigo Project, a progressive practice that runs naptime and mindful pasta-making classes, and relatable courses like Get Your Shit Together. And it's being helmed by a trio that describes themselves as "an experimental chef, a rebel psychologist and an electronic music producer". Over one weekend at Highball House, they'll guide guests through an exploration of sound, designed to help recharge, connect and unravel all that stress. Forget about any 'hippy' stuff — here, you'll take meditative walks through the forest, feel inspired during guided creativity sessions and experience fun sound immersion sessions based around The Indigo Project's popular Listen Up workshops. And with Love Supreme chef Harry Bourne helping to run the show, boring food is definitely not part of the agenda. Instead, enjoy gourmet eats at every meal and have your mind blown wide open during a series of curated food and music experiences. "We felt that it was time to re-imagine your typical meditation retreat format," says The Indigo Project founder and head psychologist Mary Hoang. "People are in for a colourful, deep, creative journey into their minds." If this sounds like your bag, you'll probably be interested in Yoga Cucina, a yoga, wine and pasta-filled retreat that takes place a couple of times a year also in the Southern Highlands.
