Turn inland at Milton and you'll enter a world of rolling paddocks and winding streams — just one section of the little-explored South Coast hinterland. After a few minutes, look out for an old high-ceilinged building surrounded by veggie gardens and peppered with free-range chickens. Welcome to Milk Haus. This idyllic escape is the result of the combined work of founder Danielle McKeon, and current owners Nat and Kitty, who purchased the cafe in 2020. The vision is simple but compelling, championing the Milton area through local produce, authentic flavours and lifestyle through the dining experience and accommodation in the Farm Haus. The menus rotate seasonally but are consistently delish. Arrive anytime between 8:30–11.30am for brekkie. If you're up for a hearty feast, the decadent ribboned crepes with chai-poached pear, whipped mascarpone, orange maple syrup and toasted almonds are hard to beat. From midday, lunch kicks in. The tightly curated menu includes miso ramen with sesame-crusted tofu logs, pac choi, charred corn, shoyu egg, nori, shallots and sesame seed, as well as gozleme with portobello mushroom & manchego, roasted cauliflower, walnut, tabbouleh, toum and dressed garden leaves. After 10am their booze menu kicks in, with cocktails including the Big Bang Bloody Mary, and a good selection of wines including a 2020 Ravensworth Bianco from the Margaret River. Don't want to leave? Stay overnight in their beautiful private four-bedroom cottage. Enjoy country life with a quintessential farm experience, surrounded by dairy pastures and gardens. Look out for events, too, with a regular baking club and occasional fundraisers.
In the week before the launch of Chin Chin Sydney, the lofty, white-walled space in the Griffith Teas building in Surry Hills (take a closer look here) is buzzing with chefs, waitstaff, builders and three women of wine, calmly ready to take on one of Sydney's most anticipated openings in years. And with the crackerjack credentials of sommeliers at the top of their game, it's easy to see why they remain tranquil amid the whir of energy around them. Leading the team is Head Sommelier Jacq Turner, who cut her teeth at Melbourne faves Gertrude Street Enoteca and Bellota Wine Bar, before helping to bring the acclaimed Prince Wine Store to Sydney. Joining her as assistant manager of wine and beverage is Brooklyn native Lilly Polanco, fresh from curating the wine list at Mjølner, but also from Woolloomooloo's Otto Ristorante, not to mention Michelin star fine dining establishments in the USA such as Restaurant Daniel. And as if that is not enough professional prowess, Lauren Norman will add top-notch experience from Rockpool Bar & Grill, London's The Ledbury, Porteño and most recently as head somm at The Dolphin Hotel. And while Chin Chin has built this team of kickass wine women, it's certainly not the norm — men still very much dominate the industry. "When I went to masterclasses there were no other women there, but me," says Turner. And Polanco can relate: "I was one girl in a very famous New York restaurant. One." But things are slowly changing, she says, adding that "then we were two. And then we were three". "I'm just fucking sick of seeing the restaurant opening with four white dudes," says Turner. "It's fucking boring. It's like, what is that offering? I think it's really just lazy." "[Having a women-led wine team is] really powerful and I feel like it's a really great mentorship for us to all to be together," says Norman. "We can support other girls too, but we can also support boys and I think it's really exciting." The overarching plan is to empower all the staff — regardless of gender and role — to be confident and knowledgeable when it comes to the drinks on offer. But it's not just the waitstaff they plan to educate about the wines, it's the Sydney public, as they prepare to introduce a controversial program of tap wines to the menu. The ladies are unanimously pumped about this; some of Australia's best producers — such as Brokenwood, Yabby Lake and Jim Barry Wines — are creating bespoke tap wines specifically delicious when paired with the chilli, sour, sweet and salty flavours on the Chin Chin menu. Venues have been slowly switching to tap wines, but Chin Chin is taking the concept and running with it. A similar reaction to when screw tops were introduced 20 years ago is expected, but the team stand behind what Polanko calls "a revolution". "It's much less expensive to run, it stays fresher longer — it just is all-around better," she says. "[But] it's not perceived that way, which is the sad part. I want to see people's faces when they come in and they are like, 'tap wine — what?'" The fact that these wines cost only $11 per glass, $29 for a half-litre and $49 for a whole litre might just add to the bewilderment. The tap program is not the only way Chin Chin Sydney will differentiate itself from its much-adored Melbourne sibling — it has a more seafood-focused menu, a pork belly rotisserie and a celebration of New South Wales wines. Add to that the regeneration of the iconic Griffiths Teas building, which has lain dormant for 37 years, a 100 seat cocktail bar called GoGo and the soon-to-open basement event space Chii Town, and there is plenty to give the Sydney outpost an edge. "I think a lot of people will be coming in thinking that it's going to be Melbourne," says Norman. "But it's going to be a lot more — this is Chin Chin Sydney." THREE DISH AND WINE PAIRINGS TO TRY AT CHIN CHIN SYDNEY So what should you order when you do visit? We asked the wine team to recommend some tasty drops to try with the new Chin Chin Sydney menu. JACQ'S PAIRING: SQUID SALAD AND SEMILLON The dish: Squid, green mango salad with cashews and coconut. Best paired with: "Our Brokenwood Semillon 2017 from our tap wine selection. Brokenwood has been a long standing supporter and friend of the Chin Chin group. This Semillon is a cracking vintage, bright, early picked and textural — made to battle with the Thai spices." LILLY'S PAIRING: PORK BELLY AND PINOT NOIR The dish: Rotisserie pork belly with fennel, plum pickle and scud chilli death sauce. Best paired with: "Our Tom Carson Pinot Noir 2015, another one of our tap wines. Tom Carson (of Yabby Lake) has long been a friend and supporter of the Chin Chin group. His single vineyard Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula has fleshy red fruits and undergrowth with notes of anise with silky tannins — perfect for the fiery sauce accompaniment." LAUREN'S PAIRING: GREEN CURRY AND RIESLING The dish: Green curry with grilled fish wing, pea, eggplant and baby corn. Best paired with: "Our 2015 Cotier Riesling. This fragrant green curry is perfect for 2015 Cotier Riesling, a spicy, textured wine that is pithy but fresh, with skin contact and barrel ferment adding a base note to this grapefruit and ginger spice-driven wine." Chin Chin Sydney is set to open at 69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, on Monday, October 2. To make a booking visit chinchinrestautant.com.au Images: Letícia Almeida.
Need an escape from the the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. While the 2017 program is yet to be announced, to give you an idea of what to expect, one of the big highlights from last year's program was the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. This played alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine.
Sydney-based art collective Alaska Projects have revealed their 2016 program, and hot damn is it impressive. The artist-run initiative, which recently celebrated its fourth birthday, will once again shine a spotlight on new and exciting works from dozens of Australian artists, across mediums including painting, sculpture, video, photography, performance and more. Among the group of artists listed in today's initial announcement, standout names include celebrated multidisciplinary artist Shaun Gladwell, provocative art collective Soda_Jerk, sibling duo nova Milne, and filmmaker and visual artist Angela Tiatia. The program was curated by gallery director Bradley Vincent and Alaska Projects founder Sebastian Goldspin. "There is a breadth of scope to the program but also a commonality," says Vincent. "Each of these artists represents the kind of questioning and open process that will deliver a year of exhibitions that look outward, delivering exciting and unpredictable works that embrace the full poetic potential of the Alaska Projects space." "Every new year of Alaska Projects brings growth but also an ongoing excitement to be working with artists at the coalface of emerging practice," added Goldspin. Check out the full list of ALASKA Projects artists, below. Alice Babidge Angela Tiatia Ash Keating Bridie Connell Catherine Clayton-Smith Daniel Mudie Cunningham Eugene Choi Harrison Witsey James Tylor Jason Wing Julia Bavyka Joe Pol Julian Hocking Kate Scardifield Lauren Berkowitz Lottie Consalvo Luke Sales Nicole Breedon nova Milne Samuel Hodge Shaun Gladwell Soda_Jerk Tarik Ahlip + more to be announced For more information about ALASKA Projects, visit their website and Facebook page.
Sydney's been enjoying some serious wall work of late, with Austrian street artist Nychos recently dropping by to create a colossal piece in Chippendale, and Sydney artist MCRT taking over Paddington's walls. But we're about to get a good dose of international game-changer, with iconic US street artist Shepard Fairey heading to Sydney to install a brand new work for Vivid Sydney, announced this morning. If you're not across Fairey's work, just punch 'Obama Hope' or 'Obey Giant' into Google. Yeah, he's the guy. Instantly recognisable and internationally acclaimed, Fairey's works are dotted around the world, from street walls to major gallery institutions — and he's left around 70 large-scale public murals in his wake. Returning to Australia for the first time in 14 years, Fairey's been invited to Sydney as part of the 2017 Vivid lineup, making his first ever Australian mural while he's here. Head to 309 George Street in Sydney's CBD between June 12 and 17 to watch him work. Fairey will also be talking the talk while he's in town, topping the bill for the Vivid Ideas 'Game-Changer' talk series. He'll appearing at Sydney Town Hall on June 17, to talk eager ears through his body of work, his DIY style and his role in shaping global street art into its current state. Plus, Fairey will be putting on a free public exhibition of his music-themed work in Darling Quarter from May 26 to June 17 — looks like Vivid isn't planning on wasting the trip. Check out the rest of the Vivid lineup here. Images: Shepard Fairey, Barack Obama 'Hope' poster, 2009, Wikicommons, and Jonathan Furlong.
Locked in to return to all three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, the boutique music festival cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its fourth instalment on Saturday, September 26. Forecast to sell out like its previous events, OutsideIn will spread its super solid lineup over three stages. Enough chatskies, who's on the bill? Headlining the bunch, Philadelphia's neo-soul gem and Common/Dilla/Kendrick Lamar collaborator Bilal will bring a full eight-piece band to the main stage. Then you'll be getting a big ol' dose of Southern rap with Big K.R.I.T and Devin The Dude, while Manchester producer Star Slinger brings new EP goodness to the table. Vancouver multi-instrumentalist producer Pomo will be there, alongside Mood Hut co-founders and progressive jazz soul beatsmiths Pender Street Steppers, while Sydney's own twin duo Cosmo's Midnight make their live set debut. The local love doesn't stop there, with dance-inducing crew Total Giovanni, Perth's electro-pop enigma KU KA and Melbourne's Harvey Sutherland cranking out an improvised show dubbed "equal parts 808 rattle and double disco". There's still over 20 international and local artists still to be announced, but just roll around in this first release for now. OUTSIDE IN 2015 LINEUP (FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT): Bilal Big K.R.I.T Devin The Dude Cosmo’s Midnight Star Slinger Pomo Total Giovanni Pender Street Steppers KU KA Harvey Sutherland OutsideIn 2015 will be held at Manning House, Sydney on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Early bird tickets have sold out. General admission tickets available from first announce at $85 +bf. Tickets over here.
Fancy spending some time in Latin America? Don't we all. It's not quite the same as a holiday but, thanks to the brand new Cine Latino Film Festival, getting immersed in the sights, sounds and stories of everywhere from Mexico to Puerto Rico is as easy as heading to the movies. Throughout August, the latest addition to Palace Cinemas' ever-growing festival calendar brings the best films from the region to Australian screens, celebrating not just excellence but variety. Come for cinematic poetry from master filmmakers and stay for Peruvian horror efforts — they're just a few of our five must-see pics of the festival. Plus, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can go in the draw to win a double pass to see one of them. NERUDA Curbing one's excitement for Pablo Larraín's latest feature is close to impossible. The Chilean filmmaker hasn't even reached the age of 40 yet, and he already has a number of features under his belt that any writer/director would be envious of. After wowing the Aussie festival circuit with his first collaboration with Gael Garcia Bernal in 2012's political drama No, Larraín tasks the charismatic actor with once again exploring the difficulties of restrictive societies — this time through an examination of the life the poet that gives the movie its name. That Neruda has been called gripping won't surprise anyone, in yet another stellar work from a director on the rise. ENDLESS POETRY When it comes to Endless Poetry, knowing that it is directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky should be more than enough motivation to send you rushing towards your nearest Palace Cinema. After breaking a 23-year directing drought with 2013's The Dance of Reality, the 87-year-old filmmaker behind such brazen, mind-bending cult classics as El Topo and The Holy Mountain offers up another cinematic memoir. In the second of a planned five-feature series, he moves from his youth to the formative experiences of his 20s, chronicling his efforts to become a poet against the wishes of his family. THE WOMB If sitting in a darkened room, staring at a big screen and getting scared is your idea of a good time at the movies, then The Womb should be your type of film. If the fact that it is being billed as Peru's first bona fide horror flick doesn't get your pulse racing, then perhaps its unsettling tale of several layers of motherhood struggles will. Sure, you've probably seen plenty of frightening fare about being a parent lately, but there's a reason filmmakers keep returning to this tried and tested topic. HOW TO WIN ENEMIES You can never have too many offbeat comedies, right? Finding amusement in the quirks of everyday life is always going to strike a chord, with How to Win Enemies the latest Argentinian effort to give it a shot. Focusing on a young lawyer with a fondness for detective stories, it's a love story, a family drama and a mystery all in one. Yes, the sleuthing angle has seen Gabriel Lichtmann's film compared to TV's Bored to Death — so if you're a fan of that show, it can only be a good thing. I PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING Combine a skater film, a crime drama and a queer love story all into one, and the result is I Promise You Everything. Weaving through the streets of modern-day Mexico City, the feature tells the tale of Miguel and Johnny, their stumbling upon a get-rich-quick scheme supplying blood to drug traffickers, and the tumultuous results. If it sounds a little like the early work of Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu, that's not a bad thing. One review has even mentioned the film in the same breath as The Godfather — and while they're awfully big shoes to fill, discovering how it tries to achieve that feat should be intriguing at the very least. The Cine Latino Film Festival screens at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Verona from August 9 to 24, Brisbane's Palace Centro and Barracks from August 11 to 24, and Melbourne's Palace Como and Westgarth from August 17 to 31. For more information, visit the festival website. [competition]583085[/competition]
With the launch of a brand new Japanese-style menu, Manly Wine is transforming into a cherry blossom garden for spring and summer from Saturday, October 31. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to 'seeing flowers', the bar has launched a dining experience that is aesthetically pleasing all around. As you walk through its doors, you'll discover a world of pastel pink flowers, artful cocktails and dumplings — all while being surrounded by wonderful views of Manly Beach. Some must-try bites include its green tea soba noodle salad ($23), ebi katsu roll ($25) and matcha panna cotta for dessert ($12). Plus, there's a menu of seven different $18 spritzes to choose from, including the You're No Matcha with pistachio fairy floss and the yuzu vermouth-spiked Ginger Ninja. Manly Wine is also offering a bottomless dumpling special on Wednesdays from 5pm. For $30 (or $59 with bottomless tap beer, cider and wine), you can eat as many dumplings as your heart desires for two hours. If you prefer your bottomless meal with spritzes on weekends, the bar also is also offering boozy brunches for $79, which include all-you-can-drink spritzes and a set brunch menu. Bookings are available from 11–1pm and 2–4pm every Saturday. Images: Jasper Ave
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Sydney is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday, March 9, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in Sydney's restaurant scene to cook up their signature dishes in Centennial Park. This year they've broken up their selection of restaurants into the precincts they reside. Representing Paddington (where everything seems to have opened this past year) will be two of Sydney's newer restaurants: Tequila Mockingbird and Saint Peter (which we named as one of our favourite new restaurants of last year). Respective chefs — Regan Porteous and Josh Niland — will make their Taste debut alongside Guillaume Brahimi, who'll be representing Paddo pub The Four in Hand. Tequila Mockingbird is planning Latin American signature dishes like ceviche tacos and goat shoulder empanadas, The Four in Hand will serve up French bistro classics, including Guillaume's marinated Berimigui octopus, while Saint Peter champions its favourite, Australian seafood, like sweet and sour Mooloolabah albacore with malt sourdough crisps. The CBD will be brought to Centennial by Bouche on Bridge and — another of our favourite restaurants of 2016 — Mercado, while vermouth bar Banksii and Turkish eatery Anason will rep Barangaroo. If you've been in previous years, you'll have sampled dishes from Porteño, Kensington Street Social and nel. — these guys will all be returning with new noms for 2017. Anason will be dishing up white cod roe taramasalata with finger lime and crispy simit, while Banksii enlivens Mediterranean dishes like pork sausage, vermouth plum jam and fennel salad — alongside their very own pop-up vermouth bar. Taste favourites Porteño will bring their signature Argentinean nosh to the table including those famous fried brussel sprouts. Kensington Street Social will wheel out their hotdog creation The Social Dog, while Nelly Robinson is finishing things up with his own dessert bar, Nel's Sweet Shop — featuring his version of a wagon wheel made of raspberry, yuzu and milk chocolate. When you're not busy stuffing your face (but let's be honest, that's why you're there), you can also try your hand at cooking school, learn some skills alongside one of the aforementioned chefs in a masterclass, or up your wine knowledge with an expert from The Wine Society. Tickets cost $25, which will get you entry to the festival and access to some workshops and free tastings. You'll have to purchase food separately, but it's still a pretty good way to try some of Sydney's fanciest food without committing to a whole meal (and hefty bill). TASTE OF SYDNEY 2017 LINEUP Saint Peter Banksii Mercado Long Chim Bouche on Bridge Tequila Mockingbird Porteño nel. Anason Kensington Street Social Gastro Park Taste of Sydney will return to Centennial Park on March 9–12. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydney.tastefestivals.com. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
When it comes to making your first movie, there are easier ways to go about it than not just following in but recreating your father's footsteps. That's what O'Shea Jackson Jr experienced in taking on the role he was perhaps born to play — that of Ice Cube, who he normally just calls Dad, in the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton. Alongside Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, Aldis Hodge as MC Ren and Neil Brown Jr as DJ Yella, Jackson tackles the formation, fame and split of the influential hip hop group across the '80s and '90s. Starting on the streets of Compton in South Central LA, NWA created anthems that reflected their reality of difficult race relations and altercations with law enforcement, and went on to change the course of music history. The film that results is a slick, stirring, entertaining and engrossing music biopic that captures the spirit and circumstances of the songs and figures it focuses on. We chat to Jackson about making his acting debut by playing his father and doing justice to his family's legacy. You play your dad in this movie. I imagine this role is more important to you than any ordinary film role could be? Yeah, this is my family's legacy. It is bigger than NWA to me. I know that a lot of the people who may not even like the genre, a lot of the people who may not have grown up with NWA, there's a few people who know Ice Cube as only a movie star — I know that those people are going to take this movie as law, as exactly what happened. I couldn't risk somebody's portrayal of my father not being in the same light as I see him in. I knew the importance of this, so it had to be in my hands. Was taking on your family's legacy daunting? Of course. It takes a lot, but the sacrifices that had to be made were for my family. I'd run through a wall for them. Extreme bootcamps at times — I was twenty-two at the time, trying to look seventeen, so I had to go through a bit of a bootcamp, and I lost fifteen pounds in twenty-four days eating nothing but grass, dirt and diet water. It was a lot, but pressure makes diamonds, and if you run away from it you'll never know what you can do. Going into the film, how much of Ice Cube and NWA's complete story did you know? My father has been telling me these stories my whole life, and that was something I used to my advantage. I knew how things really went, and I knew that the authenticity of this film was what was going to make it stand out. I'm not going to say I knew about the guns in the hotel, but there were things I was comfortable with, stories that I knew, stories that knew I could talk to the source about to make sure we get it correct on film. It was just about re-enacting things I've heard since I was a child. You’ve been rapping for a few years now, touring with your father. Was that the easier part of the film for you? That's what made him believe that I could do it. Him taking me on stage, him seeing how I am on stage, is what led to him feeling like I could play him. That's such an important aspect. And my father was the young one of the group — he has the most energy on stage, he's the one rocking the crowd, waving his hands, bouncing up and down — so you know you have to bring that. When it came to those scenes, my guys — Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge and Neil Brown Jr — they knew that I had that experience under my belt, so they let me quarterback those scenes a little. They know that that's me in my element, and I'm forever thankful to those guys for making me feel comfortable. Those scenes that you see are really what NWA did. The Detroit scene, them looking at each other, making sure "are we all down to do this, to drop 'Fuck Tha Police'", that's something that really happened. The film’s director, F. Gary Gray, has ties to both Ice Cube and Dr. Dre going back to making music videos in the '90s. Do you think that helped the film’s feeling of authenticity? Oh my god yes. That was one of the aspects of him getting the job, that my father saw that Gary got it. He got what it meant. My father knew he wouldn't have to explain the power or just the aspects of NWA to Gary. He also really let me really spread my creative wings. I know I won't deal with a lot of directors who are willing to let an artist be an artist the way that Gary Gray does. If you do it by the book, get it by the script the couple of times, he lets you do what's called an 'eat take' and go ahead and just be you. And if it works, it works, you know. And I thank Gary, because I know how meticulous he is, and if it is not right he won't do it. And as a young actor, as a rookie actor, you want someone in your corner that's going to make sure you don't look stupid. Straight Outta Compton is in cinemas now. Read our review.
The City of Angels may soon be changing its name to ‘One of the few places in America with good coffee’ as Sydney coffee legends Paramount Coffee Project prepare to pack up their beans and mad skills to open a fair dinkum coffee house in Los Angeles — to teach Americans that Starbucks does not a good cuppa make. Expanding from their Surry Hills cafe, PCP are just about ready to open their establishment on the very trendy North Fairfax Avenue, in a space that once housed cheapo LA supermarket Three Amigos Produce. The project aims to take a little slice of Australia's now-famous cafe culture and plonk it in the middle of LA. The coffee side of the collaboration includes bigwigs Mark Dundon of Melbourne’s Seven Seeds Roastery and Russell Beard of Reuben Hills in Sydney. Expect tastings and cuppings aplenty. More Aussie hands are helping to build the cafe; the building is being designed by Sydney-based architecture Alana Cooke and the graphic design is taken care of by Sydney’s We Buy Your Kids because Australians working overseas stick together, ay mate. Here's the sign above the LA store, which is pretty much the greatest shark-based logo ever. Food-wise, the menu's yet to be revealed, steered by Will Majano (French Laundry, Petit Trois, La Poubelle). But so far, the lads have revealed a broken omelette roll, with shrimp, chipotle aioli and bacon jam. We're thinking their peanut butter and jelly sweet nachos would go down a treat in LA. Of course, they’re not the first Australian enterprise to try and crack the American market. Little Collins, Ruby's Cafe and Two Hands are just a handful of Australian run and styled cafes that are replacing NYC’s bagels and filter coffee with flat whites and avo toast. At Two Hands you can grab an Outback Cap, which is a cappuccino and a Tim Tam (hopefully it’s a Double Coat to really do our nation proud). Even Toby's Estate carves it up in Williamsburg. And our unofficial national treasure Messina has even opened a store in Las Vegas. Sheesh, America takes our baristas, they take our gelato and for what? Well… far better television than we could ever make and Maccas fries but still. You’re welcome America. You. Are. Welcome. Paramount Coffee Project: Los Angeles will open at 456 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles, next week. Via LA Eater.
Chinese New Year is coming up on February 8 and in 2016 we’ll be ringing in the year of the monkey (goodbye year of the sheep, go sleep it off). And what’s the best way to partake of the celebration? We’ve got it right here and it’s more fun than a barrelful of monkeys. Well, actually it is a barrelful of monkeys. Dumpling masters Din Tai Fung are offering new limited edition ‘Monkey Buns’ for the month of February and they are literally the cutest food we’ve ever seen. Just look at them. Din Tai Fung are famous for their dumplings and are known to release beautiful and novelty dumplings for special occasions (check out these adorable little lamb buns from last year). The monkey bao buns are steamed-to-order and stuffed with a sweet filling of chocolate and banana. They’re part of a series of new dishes being added to the menu from February 1 including crispy golden seafood roll, braised Szechuan sliced beef noodle and vegetarian egg fried rice with mushroom and truffle oil. Unfortunately the monkey buns are only available in the Din Tai Fung restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne (not the food court outlets) so you’ll have to make an proper sit-down event of it. The only problem we can foresee is that eating those sweet little monkey faces may be hard… but we’ll probably manage it. Monkey Buns are available for $4.80 per piece from Din Tai Fung restaurants from February 1 – February 29.
Spring is nearly here and that means it's time dig out your picnic basket, book a date at your favourite indoor-outdoor bar and go hunting for wildflowers. Even if you don't have time for a weekender in the Australian Alps, where, after the snows have melted, magical carpets of everlasting daisies, billy buttons and mountain eyebrights take over the slopes, you can get your blooming fill without straying too far from Sydney. In and around the city, there's a bunch of pretty gardens, national parks, reserves and nurseries specialising in wildflowers that burst into happy colours when the warm weather arrives. [caption id="attachment_634355" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kay Watson.[/caption] KU-RING-GAI WILDFLOWER GARDEN, ST IVES This 123-hectare refuge from the city is in St Ives, on the edge of Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, about 20 kilometres north of the CBD. If you need a break from absolutely everything, park yourself on the grass somewhere, kick back and relax. Alternatively, jam as many species as you can into your visit by conquering a bushwalk or two. There's a stroll for every type of walker, from the easy, 900-metre Senses Track to the two-kilometre Solander Trail, which takes in some of the garden's most striking flowers, as well as some stunning rock formations. A more strenuous adventure is the 4.5-kilometre Mueller Wilderness Path, along which you'll meet wallabies, crayfish, red gums, waterfalls and creeks. Entry is free and opening hours are 8am–5pm daily. This weekend is a good time to go — the Wildflower Art and Garden Festival is happening on August 27 from 9am. [caption id="attachment_634146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian Botanic Gardens.[/caption] AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDENS, MOUNT ANNAN Pretty much every plant in the Australian Botanic Gardens' 416 hectares is a native that was grown from a wild seed or cutting. So that you can learn more about them — and to maximise their prettiness — they're sorted into themed gardens. In the Wattle Garden, you'll find more than 950 species of Acacia, dotted with shady Sydney blue gums. Meanwhile, the lush gully of the Banksia and Grevillea Gardens is home to grevilleas, waratahs, banksias, hakeas and rainforest plants, all frequently visited by nectar-feeding birds. The Australian Botanic Gardens are in Mount Annan, about 60 kilometres southwest of the CBD. They're open every day 8am–5pm in autumn, winter and spring, and 8am–7pm in summer. Entry is free. Can't get to Mount Annan? Head to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney's CBD, and aim for the Australian Native Rockery in the Lower Garden (Bennelong Precinct). [caption id="attachment_634340" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Rose.[/caption] SYDNEY WILDFLOWER NURSERY, HEATHCOTE Keen to create your own wildflower garden, so you can have the little beauties on tap? Get yourself to the Sydney Wildflower Nursery. This Sydney institution has been a 100 percent native plant specialist for over 40 years — these guys actually supply Mount Annan and the Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve from time to time. A whopping 1200+ species are available and there's a specialised bush food section, including rosella, which makes excellent jam, hibiscus, which you can substitute for spinach, and tree ferns, which have edible stems. So, you can add to your kitchen garden while you're shopping for aesthetic purposes. Sydney Wildflower Nursery is at 9 Veno Street, Heathcote, about 40 kilometres south of Sydney CBD. Opening hours are 9am–5pm, seven days a week. [caption id="attachment_634341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bjørn Christian Tørrissen.[/caption] JOSEPH BANKS NATIVE PLANT RESERVE, KAREELA Sutherland Shire Council created this reserve in 1969, to honour Joseph Banks, the botanist who travelled with Captain James Cook on his first voyage to Australia, taking in Brazil, Tahiti and New Zealand along the way. Among the landscaped garden's 2.2 hectares of sandstone, there are banksias (of course), grevilleas, lilly pillies and acacias, as well as areas dedicated to bush tucker and medicinal plants. Four kilometres of paved walking paths let you explore them all on foot. Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve is 23 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD. Opening hours are 9am–5pm daily, except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
And now, the end is near. And so we face the final curtain... My, what a ride it's been. 22 films, more than a dozen TV series, 80-odd main characters, $4 billion spent and close to $20 billion made. But as Tony Stark, the man whose original Iron Man film kicked this whole crazy thing off, says: "part of the journey is the end". In Avengers: Endgame, we're given an end worthy of that extraordinary journey. In the simplest sense, Endgame is a sequel to 2018's Infinity War, and the 22nd film in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe. And yet, there's very little that's simple about this picture, marking as it does the extraordinary culmination of several dozen intricate and intertwined story arcs that extend all the way back to 2008. It's also, if you'll forgive the pun, a stark counterpoint in both style and content to Infinity War, presenting very much like an out-and-out drama instead of the traditional comic book spectacle. Where Infinity War was all bombast, Endgame offers reserve. Where Infinity War wrought intergalactic devastation and destruction, Endgame delivers intimacy and an examination of grief, loss and very private regret. It's comfortably the Marvel film in which the least happens, yet it never for one moment feels dull or lags — even with its 3 hour run time. Despite Disney's best efforts, spoilers are abounding online, so in the interests of preserving secrecy for those who've managed to silo themselves away from revelations, we'll keep any plot discussion to a minimum. The shock of Infinity War's conclusion, in which 50 per cent of all living things in the universe were snapped into dust by Thanos (Josh Brolin), looms large over those left behind. Survivor guilt affects everyone, most notably the remaining superheroes burdened with the additional feelings of failure, blame and empty vengeance. In one of the film's best scenes, Captain America (Chris Evans) sits in an AA-style support group, telling those in attendance it's up to them to move on, rebuild and make something of earth again. It's a beautiful speech and entirely true, but the hollowness behind Cap's eyes betrays his own failure to practice what he preaches. So too the rest of the Avengers. Thanks to the trailers, it's safe to say Ant Man (the ever-appealing Paul Rudd) plays a pivotol role in kick-starting Endgame's plan to rectify the devastation of Thanos's genocide, employing what he playfully terms "a time heist". Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely gleefully unpack some of the persistent myths of that particular device, ripping apart the plotholes of iconic chrono-cinema stories like Back to the Future and The Terminator. In Endgame, there's some impressive backtracking through the MCU's own history, which doubles as the launch pad for most of the film's lighter moments (a discussion about Cap's butt being chief amongst them). The humour, though, doesn't always land, and the main offender in Endgame, we're sad to say, is Chris Hemsworth's Thor. He's taken the failure to prevent Thanos' snap particularly badly, but save for a solid sight gag early on, Hemsworth's performance feels at odds with everything else in the film. Only when he abandons the attempted comedy does he again sizzle on screen, be it in one of the rare moments of action or in a tender moment with a key character from his past. And there are a lot of those, with Endgame drawing its cast list from the entire MCU catalogue. Most appearances are fleeting, but rather than feel like mere fan service, they serve to reinforce the scale of the franchise's achievement. With each new face we're reminded of another moment within another film from somewhere in our own past; an opportunity to engage in some time-travelling of our own as we revisit the experience of watching these films throughout the last decade. When the inevitable culmination arrives at the film's conclusion, it's so much more than a roll call. It's at once a reunion, a rectification, a resurgence and a cathartic, tearful farewell. Yes, tearful. There are deaths here, and having spent so long in the company of these characters, the emotional resonance of their departures isn't easily absorbed. Technically, the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home is pegged as the official end to Phase 3 of the MCU, but emotionally there's no question Endgame lives up to its name. When the dust finally (and literally) settles, the payoff is thoroughly earned and the emotions are heartfelt and raw. But goodbye doesn't necessarily mean gone here, and in certain cases a character's departure simply means their baton is passed on to others. A few of these are shown; others, merely hinted at. Phase 4 will mark a significant reset for Marvel, and with the recent acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the path now lies open for drawing in the X-Men franchise to the growing MCU roster. According to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, however, it'll be a while before we see the likes of Magneto and Professor X alongside Captain America. Til then, Marvel's challenge will be to build, develop and deliver the same level of complexity and pathos into its next generation of heroes as with those we've just farewelled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8
There is a theatre work so famous in New York City that it has inspired plots on both Law & Order: SVU and Gossip Girl. It's not a Broadway show full of catchy songs and film stars. In fact, it's pretty experimental. The work, Sleep No More, is the most well known example of a medium known as immersive theatre, and it's been running in a disused warehouse in Chelsea for three-and-a-half solid sold-out years. Immersive theatre is having a moment in the world's cultural capitals, but we've seen little of it in Sydney (or Australia, for that matter). Out to change that is Mongrel Mouth, a production company whose second show, The Age of Entitlement, is taking over a 166-year-old mansion in The Rocks. It will be the most ambitious and whole immersive work in this city to date; a show about love, growing up and political corruption that audiences explore and influence through their own actions. "I've worked in festivals and things for quite a while as well as theatre, and what always excited me is the way that people move freely throughout a festival," says Mongrel Mouth director Duncan Maurice. "They go to this tent and that tent, and though they have a program, which you don't have in our show, it's up to you. It's your responsibility to see, to walk out, to leave whenever you want." But for Maurice and his collaborators, there's more to the form than just injecting some fun and spontaneity into your night. It's about speaking up, if that's what you want to do, or choosing another part of the performance to watch, or Instagramming that irresistible slice of mise en scene. It's about not sitting passively, in the theatre or otherwise. "Metaphorically what it says is we are not bystanders in our life," he says. "That's why I want to make theatre where the audience is in control, to a certain extent. Essentially [proscenium arch theatre] is a really tyrannical form. You're told when to sit, you're told when to clap, you're told when to laugh, and I think that the way that we make entertainment now is much more dynamic than that." As well as taking inspiration from the active and interactive spirit of social media, Maurice is driven to immersive theatre by something quite different: the participatory theatre culture of Latin America. Having spent years working in Peru and Argentina documenting the biographies of political refugees and dissidents, he saw that theatre there was integral to people's lives, forwarding public discourse and dealing with trauma. "The art is in the street, the protest is the celebration, it is the fiesta," he says. "It's very different." Australia is not lacking for trauma — just perhaps the will to talk about it. Maurice and The Age of Entitlement writer Saman Shad, who when she's not writing plays is a columnist for the Guardian and SBS, were united by the desire to put politics front and centre. They do it through the character of Lara, a 20-year-old, left-wing activist who's also a 40-year-old conservative party leader with good intentions that have fallen by the wayside. The 19-member cast acts out Lara's journey across two levels of the historic mansion. It's a space that has become deeply ingrained in the work following the team's three-month residency. "There's a dark energy there I think, in terms of if you look at what was going on in Australia when that was built [in 1848]," says Maurice. "The house represents a time when white people weren't doing such great things in this country, and I think that has informed our work." Mongrel Mouth's last work, The Silence Came, which told the inter-connected stories of the residents in an other-worldly apartment building, was set across several floors of atmospheric Darlinghurst bar The Commons. It sold out almost before the season had even started — sure evidence of the appetite for this kind of unusual theatre experience in Sydney (several nights of The Age of Entitlement are also fully booked). Immersive theatre already has its committed fans (we at Concrete Playground among them), but Maurice has his eyes on the newcomers. "I think the ideal [experience] would be to know very little about the content, to be dragged along by a friend," he says. "Maybe your friend's read something about it, and you just turn up at this address that you've never even known about before, and you find a doorway that's got some lights in it, and you allow yourself to not fully understand everything." So having read all this information, you know your duty: bring along an unsuspecting friend and pull them down the rabbit hole.
Majestic Gourmet Grocers are taking full advantage of their iconic Majestic Theatre space in Petersham with next week's opening of Harvest Bar, which will sit upstairs from its sister restaurant Majestic Harvest and the Mercado Europa marketplace. The drinking den will maintain many of the theatre's original features — think art deco railings and stripped-back walls — and carry through the style of the 1920s era of historic cinema. Century leather lounges will be accompanied by ebony shelving and polished metal light fittings. While Harvest Bar will open alongside the restaurant, the upstairs establishment will have its own dedicated tapas menu by ex-Three Williams chef Shiman Woon. Using the fresh, seasonal market produce the group is known for, the small dish offering will include pan-roasted scallop with sweet corn puree and parmesan foam ($13), grilled octopus with capsicum puree ($14) and a 36-month cured Iberico ham ($15). An indulgent duck liver parfait ($12) and crispy pig's ear ($9) will also sit on the menu, but for less fancy affair, house-made onion rings ($6) and herb fries ($6) are yours for the snacking. With the food sounding this tasty, it's easy to forget it's a bar we're talking about here. Harvest Bar will feature signature drinks and a curated wine list to pair with the dishes, with both local and international beverages to choose from. The local and craft beer scene hasn't been left out either, with the rotating taps starting with Batch Brewing Company. Of course, no trip to Majestic is complete without a wander around Mercado Europa, with its specialty smallgoods and overwhelmingly good-looking edible things. They have a counter for just about everything, from charcuterie to cheese (as well as a separate patisserie and boulangerie), so it's perhaps best to pop in after you've eaten to stop yourself from buying the place out. Harvest Bar will open Thursday, May 12 at the old Majestic Theatre, 49 New Canterbury Road, Petersham. The bar will be open Thursday to Friday from 5-10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 4-10pm.
You can throw out your gym routine. On the lower north shore, keeping fit doesn't have to be a chore. If you don't want to spend a cent, there's a massive array of outdoor spaces — from national parks to beaches — where you can walk, run, cycle or paddle. With a few bucks to splash around, you can get moving in places like North Sydney's harbourside olympic pool, or Taronga Zoo's famous Tarzan course. In partnership with luxury Australian property development company Aqualand and its new Blue at Lavender Bay development, here are the top ten ways to train, tone and transform yourself on the lower north shore. [caption id="attachment_617827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NSW National Parks[/caption] BRADLEY HEAD TO CHOWDER BAY WALK If you don't mind cracking harbour views with your workout, then set off on the Bradley Head to Chowder Bay Walk. This beauty starts at Taronga Zoo and follows the shoreline for four kilometres, winding up at Chowder Bay, where you can celebrate with a dip in a harbour pool or a glass of wine at East Coast Lounge. Along the way, don't be surprised to find yourself sharing the path with Eastern water dragons. To extend your adventure carry on to the Spit Bridge, or if you're going the other way, the Harbour Bridge. NORTH SYDNEY OLYMPIC POOL For anyone who's struggled with the monotony of the black line, the North Sydney Olympic Pool provides an antidote. Keep 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. [caption id="attachment_617801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @hkogekar[/caption] CYCLE LANE COVE NATIONAL PARK With its trails, steep concreted drops and sealed sections, the Lane Cove National Park has cycling options for everyone. If you're after something mid-range, go for the Pennant Hills West Fire Trail, a three-kilometre journey through gum trees. There's plenty of easy rolling, as well as a scattering of hilly bits. To turn the ride into a loop, return along the Comenarra Parkway. Lane Cove National Park gives you 372 hectares of bush, waterways and fresh air. On top of the cycle paths, there are loads of walks and picnic areas. [caption id="attachment_617742" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Just Run Lah[/caption] HARBOUR BRIDGE RUN Knock over your workout and your sightseeing in one go with this run. It's a ten-kilometre circuit that connects both sides of the Harbour via the Bridge, taking in McMahons Point, Lavender Bay, Luna Park and Observatory Hill along the way. You'll hug the coast most of the time and get cracking views of the Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. With all that beauty around you, you won't even know you're getting fit. Once a year, in September, expect to share the path with thousands of others when the Sydney Running Festival hits town. NORTH SYDNEY YOGA When the weather turns — or if you prefer to get flexible when there's a roof over your head — there's North Sydney Yoga. The focus is Ashtanga Vinyasa and the school is one of the oldest in Sydney. It's been running since 1985, with Angelika Knoerzer in charge since 1987. A bunch of classes are available, for everyone from school kids and beginners, to yoga junkies. If you've never done Ashtanga Yoga before, an excellent place to start is the Essentials Intensive course. You'll go to class twice a week and learn all the basics. North Sydney Yoga is at 144 Blues Point Rd, McMahons Point — not far from the water for a post-class stroll. LANE COVE BOWLING CLUB Combine your workout with mates and a couple of beers at Lane Cove Bowling Club, founded in 1952. Barefoot bowls are a steal at ten dollars per person — including gear and tips from the club's handy onsite experts. On Sunday, the social games kick off from midday. Should you work up an appetite, pop into the bistro. PILATES INTERNATIONAL Pilates International isn't limited to the North Shore, of course, but it's an excellent choice for a workout because the standard of teaching is so high. Since opening in 2000, the organisation has pretty much stuck to teachers with at least a decade's experience. The North Shore studio is in Pymble and you can count on shiny floors, lots of light and air, splashes of greenery and top-notch gear. There are classes of all types and sizes, from one-on-ones and duet lessons to sessions dedicated to the Pilates mat and pregnancy. [caption id="attachment_617810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anton Leddin[/caption] KAYAKING BALMORAL Balmoral and surrounds offer some of the most beautiful paddling scenery you'll find on Sydney Harbour. If you're serious about building up some strength and endurance, then join Sydney Kayaks on their Group Fitness sessions. There are mixed classes, high intensity triathlon classes that include running and swimming, and sessions that combine paddling and yoga. If you prefer to take things at a slower pace, then all you have to do is hire a kayak and set off on an adventure of your own making. After conquering Balmoral, check out these sparkling spots. TARONGA ZOO ROPES COURSE Since opening in April 2016, Taronga Zoo's Wild Ropes has been inundated with would-be Tarzans. It's difficult to think of a more fun way to tone up. All in all, there are 40 obstacles, including bridges, tunnels, aerial rock walls and a hover board. While you're proving your mettle, soak up new perspectives of the water, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and expect to meet koalas, kangaroos, emus and wallabies. The obstacles are divided into four courses, so you can start off easy and work your way up to the scary, challenging stuff. It's a good idea to book ahead online. Surround yourself with everything the lower north shore has to offer at Aqualand's Blue at Lavender Bay development. The best restaurants, cafes, bars and activities are all on your doorstep.
As governments around the world continue to drag their feet resettling refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict — and the country is bombarded with airstrikes and chemical weapon attacks — it falls once more to the non-political professions to show the government where the hands go on the humanitarian clock. This time, it's hospitality's turn. On June 18, UNICEF Australia will once again partner with some of the country's best chefs for a charity dinner celebrating Syria's strong culinary traditions. The dinner is part of month-long nationwide fundraising campaign called #CookForSyria, with money raised going to UNICEF Australia's Syria Crisis Appeal for Children. Three Blue Ducks in Rosebery will host the posse of gastronomers as they prepare a banquet comprising their signature dishes with a Syrian flourishes. Saint Peter's Julie and Josh Niland will serve up a smoked eel and beetroot jam doughnut with moutabbal (smoked eggplant dip), Palisa Anderson from Chat Thai will prepare pork sausages with nahm prik chilli relish and Kylie Kwong will serve up her famed saltbush cakes, prepared on the night with Syrian spices. Tickets are a steep $280 per person — but, remember, it's going to a good cause — and include canapés, cocktails on arrival and a shared Syrian-inspired feast and wines. It may seem on the surface like you're paying for the food, but 20 professional chefs jammed into a single kitchen also suggests a night of great theatre. Momofuku Seiobo's Paul Carmichael, Firedoor's Lennox Hastie and Africola's Duncan Welgemoed will be in the fray, with Monty Koludrovic (Icebergs, Bondi Beach Public Bar) and Andy Bowdy (Saga) contending for next use of the colander with equal ferocity. While the top guns will have their turn on June 18, UNICEF Australia is encouraging anyone with passing knowledge of an oven to contribute, too. Restaurants and cafes can produce a limited edition Syrian versions of favourite dish, donating $5 from each one sold to the charity. For those who deal in culinary delight on a slightly smaller scale, bake sales are your recommended course. While you're waiting for the oven to pre-heat, you can read more and register here. To reserve your spot at the one-off dinner, make a reservation via the Three Blue Ducks website. Images: Nikki To
Prepare yourself for a night of whimsy, wonder and a weird, scaly, hermaphroditic fish man named Old Gregg. Noel Fielding, the androgynous co-lead of the surreal British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, is bringing his live show, An Evening with Noel Fielding, to a capital city near you. Combining stand-up comedy with animation and original music, as well as special appearances from some of Fielding's most beloved and baffling characters, including Fantasy Man and The Moon, the April 2015 show marks Fielding's first time in Australia since his sold-out tour in 2012. This time he'll also be joined by his younger brother Michael, best known for his recurring role on The Mighty Boosh as Naboo the Enigma, an alien shaman from the planet Xooberon. Fielding previously played the part of Richmond in The IT Crowd, appeared as a team captain on the music comedy panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and helped create the comedy sketch program Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy. He is also a member of the band Loose Tapestries along with Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, whose music will be featured in the tour. This is one of our top picks of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Check out our full top ten.
Grief can take any number of forms. Yet the same isn't necessarily true of funerals. While coming together with friends and family is a vital part of celebrating a lost loved one, the trappings that surround this process – the hearse, the funeral home, the traditional overpriced coffin – can often seem a little impersonal. It's for this reason that The House has us so intrigued. Co-founded by Kylee Stevens, Morna Seres and Christian Wills, all of whom share a background in design and the arts, this new Sydney-based funeral service is offering an alternative to the industry standard, allowing for a truly personal celebration of a person's life. "We service memory artistically through curated reflection, music, light, sound, performance, food and ritual held within our exclusive venues," reads a mission statement on the company website. "Whether it is a large affair, or a simple gathering of friends and family, The House provides the opportunity to say goodbye in a compelling, cultural and modern manner." "Our way of working with clients doesn't really exist in the industry," Stevens told Concrete Playground. "I believe there's space for tradition, particularly in a moment of grief...but if someone doesn't want something traditional, what are their options?" While The House has only been operating since the tail end of March, Stevens sees a world of "infinite possibilities." Their first service, for example, was held in a gallery, and featured a room full of suspended images and incorporated poetry written by the deceased. Friends and family were also invited to be involved in the planning and installation stages, which in turn became another way for them to process their grief. "I think each family will be quite different, said Stevens. "Some will want to come forward and work [with us], and some won't. It's our role to navigate that." Despite their ambitious and personalised approach, the cost of a funeral at The House is in line with industry standards. "We talk about substituting costs within the traditional framework," explains Stevens. "You can spend $3500 to $6500 on a coffin. Making a more ecologically friendly, better designed choice, you can go as low as $550. So you can substitute out existing cost structures that a traditional model offers, and replace them with things that are more memorable." For more information about The House, visit their website at www.thehouse.global.
If you, like us, plan your holidays entirely around food, you're in luck. We've teamed up with Zantac and we're giving away three mini holidays in Melbourne, Hobart and the Barossa Valley in South Australia. You'll wine, dine, sleep and adventure in luxe surroundings until you simply no longer can — how does that sound? Choose Melbourne and you and a guest will spend two nights at QT Melbourne in the CBD, have lunch and attend a coffee cupping course at Collingwood's famous specialty coffee house Proud Mary, and have dinner (and dessert) at Andrew McConnell's pan-Asian restaurant Supernormal on Flinders Lane. In the Barossa, you'll stay at The Louise (an incredible hotel that's side-by-side with a vineyard), head to St Hugo for a wine tasting and delicious winery lunch, then wind up at Fino at Seppeltsfield for dinner. Head to Hobart, and you'll stay at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, visit Bruny Island for a day of food, sightseeing and lighthouses thanks to Experience Oz and then feast on a South American-style dinner at Frank. Each prize includes return flights from any Australian capital city, two nights of accommodation and two foodie experiences (lunch and dinner). All you need to do is tell us your details and where you want to go — Hobart, Melbourne or the Barossa. It breaks our heart to tell you that you can only pick one destination, and you can only enter this competition once, so think long and hard about where you really want to go. If you're available to go on your adventure between Friday, July 28 and Sunday, September 10, head here to enter. To find out more about Zantac and how it tames heartburn fast, head to the website.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. Some get up earlier than most, Sydney's cafe crowd, who continue to cultivate compelling coffee breaks and brunches for locals, building neighbourhood haunts from pop-up to permanency, championing local producers and turning old bowling clubs into urban farms. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new cafes, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Cafe in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
Between work, family and maintaining an impeccable (but relatable) online presence, life can sometimes get away from us. We tend to romanticise going interstate, going overseas or heading out to the country for a weekend without looking closer to home for new experiences. But the city you call home might surprise you if you let it. We've partnered with Grey Goose, one of the most luxurious brands of vodka you can get, to bring you the best luxury experiences in your city. Sydney is a melting pot of cultures and we're blessed with world class restaurants on every corner. These foodie experiences might cost a small fortune, but, when you think about it, they're cheaper than a weekend away — and they're the best (and most delicious) way to discover the luxury in this fine city of ours. Here are ten to try, and our pick of a cocktail to wash it down with. THE SIX-COURSE CHEF'S MENU AT THE BRIDGE ROOM Where better to start than 2016's Restaurant of the Year? Boasting three chef's hats and ranked 84th on the World's Best Restaurants list, The Bridge Room in Sydney's CBD is the perfect example of luxury in your city. With a constantly evolving menu drawing upon Asian and European flavours, Head Chef Ross Lusted famously prepares many of his dishes over binchotan charcoal, slow-smoked in the Japanese robata style. With a single course starting at $60, The Bridge Room is unashamedly for discerning food lovers. The servings are impressively generous and the quality of the finished product more than justifies the expense. Go all out with the six-course chef's menu for $160. Try this cocktail: The Bridge Room's Espresso Martini made with vanilla-infused vodka. THE NINE-COURSE TASTING MENU AT SEPIA Another of Sydney's three-hatted restaurants, Sepia is the creative collaboration between Sydney chef Martin Benn and renowned seafood wholesaler George Costi. Japanese cuisine lies at the heart of Sepia's contemporary menu, offering both five- and nine-course tasting options that are constantly evolving — though if you're going all out, you've got to do the latter (it rings up at $215 per person). At the moment the menu includes a charcoal-grilled David Blackmore wagyu and their famous chocolate forest dessert. The extensive wine list has been compiled by award winning sommelier Rodney Setter, and boasts over 24 domestic and international wines by the glass. This is one of those restaurants where the presentation of meals is as close to an art form as food can be — and were it not for the impossible tastes they promise, the act of even just touching one of these dishes feels like it should be explicitly forbidden. Try this cocktail: A dry martini stirred with Grey Goose Vodka. THE EIGHT-COURSE TASTING MENU AT QUAY An obvious entry given its membership in the Sydney restaurant elite and its continual appearance on the World's Best Restaurants list. Described as Sydney's 'fine dining citadel' with its glass facade and peerless harbour views, Quay even lets you know in advance if your booking will clash with a cruise ship arrival to detract from your scenic experience. But however magnificent the view, the real spectacle remains is on the plate, where chef Peter Gilmore's exquisite, seasonal and impeccably presented dishes offer a mix of playful textures and robust flavours. If you're going, go the whole hog — the eight-course tasting menu is $235 a head. Of course, Quay's famous Snow Egg dessert is an irresistible closer upon every visit. Try this cocktail: A palate-cleansing Gimlet mixed with vodka, lime juice and simple syrup. THE TEN-COURSE DEGUSTATION AT TETSUYA'S Degustation. The word is synonymous with Tetsuya's. Nestled into its refurbished heritage site and built around a secluded Zen garden in the heart of Kent Street, Tetsuya Wakuda's storied restaurant is an undisputed Sydney institution. The world famous ten-course degustation costs $230 per person, and the wine accompaniment (which is absolutely recommended) is an additional $110. Tetsuya's has perhaps one of the finest wine collections in Australia — as well as some of the most experienced sommeliers in the entire country — ensuring your wining and dining experience is the real deal. It's the ultimate indulgence. Try this cocktail: A fresh Citronic mixed with vodka, tonic and lemon juice. THREE COURSES AT BENNELONG Dinner at the Sydney Opera House overlooking the harbour has to be the epitome of luxury in Sydney. And at Peter Gilmore's reimagined Bennelong — which opened back up early last year — retains all that was great about the beloved Opera House restaurant while offering immediately tangible improvements where they most count. It feels warmer, more intimate and definitely more inviting, while the menu has become far more informal and approachable, cooking with the very best of Australian stock. The three-course menu ($125 per person) is literally the only way to go in the main restaurant, but you can take a seat at the Cured and Cultured bar for pre-show nibbles. Whatever you go for, you can't go past Gilmore's outrageously excellent pavlova — its meringue shell magically replicates the iconic sails of the Opera House that surrounds it. Try this cocktail: A Mint Julep made with mint, sugar, lemon, soda and vodka. A THREE-COURSE MEAL AT ELEVEN BRIDGE Another Bridge, another stellar performer, with Neil Perry's Eleven Bridge reasserting itself as the iconic Rockpool restaurant reborn. Eleven Bridge's dark interiors and smoke-themed decor means it still feels like its old self, yet still somehow... different. Most notable is the doing away of the degustation menu, along with a shift to gueridon service for a number of its dishes where your meals are carved, plated and presented right there by your side. Perry famously prides himself over his use of Australia's most sustainable and superior produce, which Executive Chef Phil Wood then transforms into an elegant and tantalising menu that's accompanied by an award-winning list of over 1200 wines. Order the roasted blue spanner crab or splash out on a seriously luxe cut of steak. Try this cocktail: Eleven Bridge's Blood Orange Americano — made with blood orange, Campari, sweet vermouth and vodka. THE DEGUSTATION AT LUMI Lumi is Italian for 'small lights', and, tru to that theme, LuMi Bar and Dining creates a delightfully intimate (and well lit) atmosphere. Led by Head Chef Federico Zanellato and his wife and sommelier Michela, LuMi combines Italian heritage with Asian flavours to offer a casual yet refined dining experience where the simplicity of the European decor is in stark opposition to the complexity of the cuisine it houses. On the food front, LuMi's degustation ($115) is an eight-course through snapper ceviche and prawn tagliatelle. Lumi might mean 'small lights' in Italian, but in English it's the word for enormous flavour and outstanding service. Try this cocktail: A Dry Martini stirred with Grey Goose Vodka, Vermouth, orange bitters and lemon zest. THE DINNER TASTING MENU AT ARIA Currently closed for an extensive $5 million overhaul, Sydney's fine dining sect is eagerly anticipating the November re-opening of Matt Moran's widely lauded Aria in Circular Quay. It's another of Sydney's fine dining experiences with million dollar views; Aria's unrivalled position means the Opera House and Harbour Bridge appear magnificently just beyond its famous floor-to-ceiling windows. You almost feel the urge to reach out and touch. But a restaurant's view is nothing without a menu to complement it — and Aria's is bloody delightful. With 17 years of first class, award-winning experience behind it, what Aria lacks in comparison to the experimentation of its contemporaries, it effortlessly makes up for in assured quality and excellence of service. Unerring confidence, too, can and should be placed on the sommelier's hand-holding as they escort you through Matt Dunne's impeccable wine list. Go for the tasting menu at dinner and you'll be treated to seven courses matched with seven wines. Try this cocktail: Aria's Passionfruit Martini — vodka, peach liqueur, fresh passionfruit and lemon juice. THE TASTING MENU AT LUCIO'S Lucio Galletto of Paddington's much loved Lucio's Italian Restaurant — a consistent two-hat recipient and favourite of both locals and visitors alike since 1983 — is known to have said: "Food and art is, for me, like the air that I breathe". True to that statement, art adorns the walls of this gorgeous little authentic Italian eatery, which is situated on a quiet, leafy street of Paddington, and service is world class. Diners at Lucio's aren't just shown to their table, they're greeted with the warmth of an old friend returning from a long stint abroad, and the same conviviality follows you for the remainder of your evening. The generous mains are expensive, but the fresh handmade pasta is so good, we just wanna throw money at them. Lucio's signature dish — the tagliolini alla granola — is as fine as Italian food can be; a firm base of green noodles comes speckled with with blue swimmer crab and dressed with a surprisingly zesty tomato sauce. You can order a la carte, but if you want decision taken our of your hands, go for the tasting menu. In an age of experimentation and stark simplicity, Lucio's is one of those rare and delightful throwbacks to real old-fashioned, feel-good fine dining. Try this cocktail: A classic Old Fashioned, made with vodka, brown sugar, bitters and an orange twist. THE 16-COURSE TASTING MENU AT MOMOFUKU SEIOBO Change has swept through Momofuku Seiõbo recently, and it has been for the good — for the great, even. Because while the famous pork buns are no more (we know, we know), that which remains and that which has arrived in their place is more than enough to celebrate. The recently installed Executive Chef Paul Carmichael brings his Barbadian heritage to the fore with a pronounced shift on the menu from Asian influences towards a broader type of Australian fusion, and the 16-course sample menu ($185pp) is by far the best way to journey through it (along with wine or non-alcoholic drink pairing, of course). With cool music and countertop seating an ongoing feature, the vibe is still far more relaxed here than that of many of its contemporaries. Do it. Cocktail to try: Keep it simple. Grab a Grey Goose Vodka on the rocks.
Watching the sun go down over Manly Beach is pretty special. They make postcards about that kind of stuff. And while it's certainly a lovely thing to do when you find yourself in the Northern Beaches, we recommend you stray away from the beachfront and make your way to Pittwater Road for a sundown of a different kind — a sushi sunset. At Sunset Sabi, food is done in a Japanese izakaya style, but it sure ain't traditional. Ingredients like chilli crunch, roasted peppers, whipped tofu and garlic all make their way into sushi rolls and other bite-sized morsels. It's more of an LA take on Japanese food, if anything — not that that's a bad thing. It just means you get those bold, unabashed flavour clashes alongside fancy cocktails, high bar seating and a wall display of illuminated Japanese advertisements. Instead of being garish, these kitschy cultural tokens give the bar a good glow. The signage is interestingly (if not coincidentally) a little reminiscent of Melbourne's Supernormal. Try fried potato with whipped karasumi and salmon roe for something unlike anything you've had before, or look towards the traditional dishes like gyoza and edamame. The raw stuff keeps it interesting — think Sydney rock oysters with a cucumber shallot vinaigrette, a sashimi plate with 12 pieces of mixed sashimi and a nigiri plate with salmon aburi, tuna negi and kingfish salsa criolla. Sunset Sabi knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to serving up top-notch Japanese eats — there's absolutely no doubt about that.
One of Sydney's hidden rooftop gems has reopened atop the recently revamped East Village Hotel. After much anticipation, the folks at Goodtime Hospitality Group revealed two of three newly revamped sections of the much-adored, 100-year-old drinking spot in late October — we've seen the Public Bar and Athletic Club, a slick, minimalist wine bar and a vintage-inspired sports bar, respectively. And now, the third and final space, Terrace, is open. We've been waiting to see what design team Alexander & Co.(Busby, The Village Inn, Surly's, Daniel San) do with this 100-square-metre rooftop space — it's got one heck of a CBD skyline view. Climb four flights of stairs and you'll find high bar tables, lower lounge-like seating, handcut terrazzo slabs, plenty of plants and a retractable roof. It's the perfect spot for lazy weekend cocktails, with general manager Lee Potter Cavanagh and bar manager Reece Griffiths putting together a Terrace-only menu. There's 'seasonal mimosa' on the bill, with interchanging fruit juices, a 'teetotallers' menu for non-drinkers, and 'holiday' cocktails each month with recipes from their overseas buddies. Plus, for the strong-stomached, there's a 'Squidmark Sour', with Bulleit rye whiskey, Tempus Fugit gran classico bitters, crème de cacao, cherry, grapefruit, shichimi togarashi and squid ink— yep, squid ink. Food-wise, the Terrace is offering up something a little more casual than its lower counterparts, where head chef Graham Johns (Quay) and executive chef Tom Kime (Ceru, Fish & Co.) are reimagining classic counter meals. Upstairs though, executive chef Tom Kime has crafted a summery, casual menu of grilled meats, salads and snack — think gazpacho soup with marinated blue swimmer crab and basil ($21), escabeche of seared fish with saffron and pickled vegetables ($24), and rare grilled veal with anchovy and herb mayonnaise, caper berries and fried anchovies ($24). Head downstairs to find out more about the East Village's other unique levels. Find the East Village at 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. Terrace is open this week on Wednesday and Thursday from 6–10pm, Friday – Sunday: 11am – 10pm. Then, from Monday 21 November, open 11am–10pm, seven days a week.
Everyone's starting to look for a ticket out of the city — whether that be for a couple of nights, or for a well-deserved extended break. If enjoying scenic nature sights in comfort sounds like your idea of bliss, you're in luck: Flash Camp has just announced it'll be hosting another pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve. It's Flash Camp's third stint on the site, after enjoying the location's charms twice in 2017. This time, it's sticking around not only through the Christmas and New Year period, but until Monday, June 10 (the Queen's Birthday long weekend). If you can't make the 2.5-hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney (or thirty minutes from Nowra) this year, start planning next year's Easter vacation or sneaky weekender. The remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries, a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug and individual campfire braziers. Guests also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. This year, for the first time, Flash Camp has opened up a second camp just for group bookings — with six bell tents decked out with all the luxuries — so if you're looking for ideas for that upcoming milestone birthday, this might be a good option. The glamping site is located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates start from $179 per couple, per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Rates for the new group-specific site start at $1440 for 12 people, which is $120 a head. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the esky full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from Friday, August 31, until Monday, June 16, 2019. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney. By Marissa Ciampi and Sarah Ward.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual summer weekendery. The ever-popular So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to Sydney for its fourth year running — although it will be moving over to the Glebe waterfront at Bicentennial Park for 2017. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, furious outdoor chess, casual gypsy beats. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists you may be yet to meet. There's '60s French pop-American art rock hybrid outfit The Limiñanas (think Serge Gainsbourg meets The Velvet Underground), Parisian funk-folk poet and musician Bertrand Berlin, and Nouvelle Vague, who are no strangers to the So Frenchy setup. Last, but in no way, shape or form least, there's six-piece ex-busker band Deluxe — they will be belting out their unique blend of pop, hip-hop, funk, soul and big band elements to get everyone up off their picnic rugs and dancing the blazes out of that lawn. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with their beloved picnic boxes and cheese plates from Simmone Logue. Filled with buttery pastry quiches, salad jardinière and goose egg meringue, the picnic boxes are one to preorder if you don't want to miss out. But So Frenchy won't let you go hungry; there'll be a huge banquet of seafood, crepes, macarons and ice cream available on the day. And of course, there'll be plenty of Laurent Perrier Champagne, French beer, Provence rosé, Bordeaux reds and whites, and special cocktails at the SFSC vintage caravan. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi.
Sydney will become another star in British chef Jason Atherton's culinary constellation; Kensington Street Social opens today in The Old Clare Hotel. Yep, just when you thought Chippendale's snazziest destination couldn't fit in another eatery, the hotel has managed to loosen its belt for one, final mouthful. The Social is the third venue to open at The Old Clare, and keeps the esteemed company of degustation extraordinaire Automata and Silvereye's deluxe open-plan kitchen. Of the three, it's the biggest (with 120 seats) and the most casual. An all-day menu invites diners to eat any way they like, whether they're after a snack and a matching cocktail or a mega, multi-course feast with premium wines. Atherton, who has a Michelin star to his name, is acting as culinary director, with Rob Daniels (ex-Maze London) taking on the role of executive chef. Between them, they've come up with an ever-changing array of share plates, influenced by British and Mediterranean flavours and to the availability of quality produce. Samples on the opening menu include 'English breakfast tea and toast' (read: wild mushroom tea served in a teapot with relish and bone marrow toast), sea urchin risotto with Moreton Bay bug tail, and Zokoko alto beni chocolate soufflé with macadamia ice cream. Meanwhile turophiles (aka cheese piggies) will be over the moon. Atherton is promising a stack of tasty, cheese-focused morsels, such as Holy Goat La Luna goats' cheese, served with pickled fennel, bitter orange jam and cress. And breakfast will keep health-nuts happy, with dishes like organic seed and grain oatmeal porridge with pineapple, chilli and mint, and a lightly smoked flathead baked omelette with bacon and spring onion. Drinks have been planned by the man taking care of them everywhere else in The Old Clare, Matt Fairhurst, who’s been working with Atherton for years at City Social, London. He's been busying imagining, mixing and testing signature cocktails for every venue in the hotel. Kensington Street Social-ers can prepare themselves for the Fruit Looped Cereal Killer (vodka, Fruit Loop milk, apricot and Aperol served in a milk carton) and the Kahuna Colada (pineapple rum and Batch Brewing's coconut brown ale), which is already served in The Clare Bar. "I'm so excited to be opening my first restaurant in Sydney," says Atherton. "I'm all about sourcing the best produce, and here the ingredients are just incredible – Australian black truffles, the seafood – so I'm looking forward to using them to reinterpret a few of the signature dishes from my London restaurants." "I’ve had many Australian chefs in my brigade over the years, including my executive chef Rob and pastry chef Adrian Crabb, so it seemed like a natural step to come to Sydney and get the team back together." Shanghai's Neri & Hu came up with restaurant's design and Matt Darwon made it happen. It's a split-level affair with a feel that's contemporary, while still acknowledging the building's history as the long-time home of Carlton United Brewery. Kensington Street Social is open The Old Clare Hotel from Wednesday, January 13. For more information, head to their website. Image: KSC.
File this one under news that probably won't happen, but damn would it be cool if it did: Italian architect Piero Lissoni has won a competition to design New York City's new aquarium, and it's easy to see why. The proposed 'Aquatrium' would be situated at Long Island City's Anable Basin, and would consist of two circular elements submerged in the East River. Picture the underwater lair of a '70s era James Bond villain, and you probably won't be too far off the mark. The plans feature an open-air basin sitting just below water level, boasting eight clear 'biomes' that would house aquatic creatures from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans along with the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Red and Tasman seas. An iceberg in the centre would represent the poles, while at night the space would be covered by a sliding domed roof, transforming it into a planetarium (casually). You can't accuse this guy of having a lack of imagination. "Having the water level define the starting point of the project, the site is excavated to become a spacious and innovative water basin," Lissoni's team told Dezeen. "The main idea is to generate an environment whereby visitors feel that they themselves are entering the water to discover the beauty of the marine life on display." Sadly, the design competition isn't anything official, so don't expect to be walking through Lissoni's futuristic aqua-dome any time soon. But feel free to stare longingly at the pretty pictures. Via Dezeen.
Your complexion is looking a little pale, you haven't had a home-cooked meal in 12 days, and sitting in a cinema seat or rushing between theatres have become your preferred states of being. Yep, you've just made it through the 2016 Sydney Film Festival, feasting on a selection of the 250-plus movies that festival director Nashen Moodley and his hardworking team delivered straight to your eyeballs. You've seen some great stuff — and, because going to a film fest is about expanding your cinematic horizons, you've no doubt seen some strange and unexpected efforts too. So have our critics Sarah Ward and Tom Clift, who've whittled down their massive viewing lists to these ten standouts — the best, weirdest and most surprising films of this year's SFF. BEST: AQUARIUS When developers want to tear down the beachside apartment block Clara (Sonia Braga) has called home for several decades, the determined 65-year-old retired music critic won't budge. Yes, Kleber Mendonça Filho's second feature sounds a little like a Brazilian version of The Castle, however as it observes the social reality of his country today, delves into the preconceptions of ageing and understands the importance of places in shaping lives, it becomes much more than that. Braga is enthralling at the centre of a fight even her character's kids think she should give up, and a pumping soundtrack boasting everything from local flavour to several Queen songs helps set a vibrant mood. And don't just take our word for it, Aquarius was crowned the winner of this year's $63,000 Sydney Film Festival prize. - SW THE HANDMAIDEN Dripping with sex, Park Chan-wook's adaptation of Sarah Water's novel Fingersmith is a pulpy, stylish delight. Transplanting the story from Victorian Era England to 1930s Korea, the film follows a maid out to steal her mistress's fortune, only for the pair to end up falling in love. Of course there's a lot more to it than that, with the director of Stoker and Oldboy taking viewers on a ride that is both ludicrous and utterly compelling. Aesthetically speaking, every single frame feels perfectly considered, while the twisting narrative will keep you guessing until the end. - TC THE DEVIL'S CANDY Heavy metal and horror films might go hand in hand, but don't go dismissing Sean Byrne's addition to the fold as yet another brooding effort with growl-heavy music. In fact, the character-driven second feature from the Aussie filmmaker doesn't just litter its soundtrack with the likes of Metallica and Slayer (and even local heroes Spiderbait) — it seethes with the same tension, darkness and all-round unsettling tone. Set in Texas, and following a family's move to a dream house with a nightmarish past, The Devil's Candy echoes The Shining and even offers a flipside to Byrne's own previous film The Loved Ones. Refreshingly avoiding spelling everything out, it also features a strong emotional arc, striking visuals, and a standout performance from Ethan Embry, who proves worlds away from his appearances in '90s fare such as Empire Records and Can't Hardly Wait. - SW PERSONAL SHOPPER The new quasi horror from director Olivier Assayas was booed at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and in some respects it's easy to see why. Personal Shopper tells the story of a young American medium (Kristen Stewart) working in Paris as a personal shopper when she begins receiving strange text messages from someone who may or may not be a ghost. On the one hand, the film's plot is obviously fairly silly. On the other, Stewart gives a fantastic performance, and as a crafter of tension Assayas can't be beat. If you enjoyed the director's previous effort with Clouds of Sils Maria then be sure to give Personal Shopper a try. - TC THE COMMUNE After so convincingly adapting Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd last year, Danish director Thomas Vinterberg returns to his Dogme '95 roots with the '70s-set The Commune. In fact, as the writer/director charts a life-changing decision to embrace communal living, he also draws upon his own childhood experiences in a similar situation. It all starts when newsreader Anna (Berlin Film Festival best actress winner Trine Dyrholm) and her partner Erik (Ulrich Thomsen) decide to open the home they've just moved into with their teenage daughter to others, recruiting friends and strangers for everything from nude swims to arguments over who drank all the beer. Drama ensues, of course, but so does an astute contemplation of trying to find one's place in the world. - SW MAGGIE'S PLAN The latest indie diversion starring the irrepressible Greta Gerwig, Maggie's Plan doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel. But what it sets out to do, it does to near perfection, with writer-director Rebecca Miller taking full advantage of her star, along with a fantastic supporting cast that includes Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Mia Rudolph and Bill Hader. The story of an extra-marital affair gone wrong and the attempts of the unflappable Maggie (Gerwig) to put things back together, Maggie's Plan is funny from start to finish, and does a great job of bringing dimension to its catalogue of flawed characters. - TC WEIRDEST: RED CHRISTMAS Dubbed Australia's only Yuletide-set horror-comedy, Red Christmas also earns another 'Aussie first' honour. As well as combining laughs, screams and a festive theme, the amusing slasher-thriller throws an unexpected topic into the mix: the abortion debate. After setting the scene with an attack on a clinic, the film jumps forward twenty years to what is certain to be a Christmas to remember, complete with a feuding family, a sinister stranger and unearthed secrets from the past. Double the Fist actor/director turned debut feature helmer Craig Anderson doesn't always hit the marks he's aiming for, but with E.T. star Dee Wallace along for the ride, he certainly gives his distinctive brand of seasonal, blood-splashed mayhem a spirited try. - SW LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD The latest documentary from German director Werner Herzog — whose work includes such strange, fascinating films of Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans – Lo and Behold chronicles the past, present and future history of the internet, from its birth at the University of California to its applications in creating colonies on Mars. Jumping from one topic to the other with little connective tissue, in the hands of any other filmmaker the doc would probably be a failure. But frankly I'd be happy with a film about Herzog reading the phonebook. Listening to him asking baffled computer technicians such existentially loaded questions as "does the internet dream of itself?" proves both hysterically funny and weirdly profound. - TC MOST SURPRISING: SWISS ARMY MAN If you've glanced at a film-related website or social media feed since this year's Sundance Film Festival, you would've heard of Swiss Army Man. Labelled 'the farting corpse movie', it does indeed star Daniel Radcliffe as a flatulent cadaver with multiple purposes, who helps the stranded and suicidal Hank (Paul Dano) cope with his isolation and find his way back to civilisation. There's a hint of Weekend at Bernie's in this absurd comedy, but there's also a touching — and utterly disarming — amount of sweetness. The feature film debut of the directing duo known as DANIELS (Daniel Scheinert and Dan Kwan), the end result is as odd as it sounds, and yet also proves an endearing collection of existential musings. - SW DOWN UNDER Abe Forsythe's Down Under could have easily been a disaster. Instead, it's kind of brilliant. A black comedy set during the immediate aftermath of the Cronulla riots, the film tracks two carloads of men — one group of Arabic descent, the other Anglo — as they patrol the beachside suburb looking for trouble. The film is laugh out loud funny, with Forsythe never missing an opportunity to call out both sides for their extreme ignorance and stupidity. It's a brilliant satire that's sure to ruffle a few feathers when it hits cinemas in August. - TC By Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
It's telling that Knight of Cups features many a dive into a pool, seaside stroll and wave crashing against the beach. The latest movie from The Tree of Life and To the Wonder's Terrence Malick is awash in recognisable elements and seems as familiar as water. It's also as malleable as the wet substance that covers the bulk of the earth and comprises most of the human body — and as invigorating. Of course, places and people are the film's primary concerns, particularly Los Angeles and a screenwriter by the name of Rick (Christian Bale). In the city known for the emptiness beneath its allure — indeed, David Lynch (in Inland Empire) and David Cronenberg (in Maps to the Stars) have already plumbed its depths — he's a man plunged into a crisis, making a mess of his successful life as he searches for meaning. Rick drifts through his days, unhappy with his choices but uncertain about how to change them. His problems are many, and not just linked to his failed marriage to Nancy (Cate Blanchett), or spate of flings (with Imogen Poots, Freida Pinto, Teresa Palmer, Natalie Portman and Isabel Lucas) afterwards. Tragedy haunts his family, straining his relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). Though his career is beginning to take off, thrusting him into a glamorous world, it lacks fulfilment past the glitz and partying. As a result, Rick is both wading and paddling feverishly, and so is the film. Malick uses him not just as a protagonist, but as a buoy in a feature that lurches restlessly from place to place and person to person. Sometimes the movie stalks him as he floats through apartments and buildings, around sets and shindigs, and on walks over rugged terrain and by the ocean. Sometimes it adopts his perspective as it dashes around in fragments of his existence. That means that often, when you dip your toes in the feature, you get what you're expecting: a commonly told tale of mid-life malaise, Malick's roaming visuals and whispered layers of philosophical narration, and a focus on contemplation among them. Just as frequently, though, you get a burst that takes you by surprise: in dropping out of one tarot card-named chapter and into the next, in the symphony of classical music sounds and sun-dappled sights, and in the movie's dissection of hedonism, for example. Even when the surface appears still, something is always bubbling up below. Consider Knight of Cups, then, an ideal balance between relaxing and refreshing, and meditative and stimulating. Of course, with Malick at the helm, the film's reflective questioning becomes a gliding kaleidoscope of wide-angle images strikingly shot by Oscar-winning Gravity and Birdman cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, and a montage-heavy mood piece as much as a movie. Conversation rarely lasts beyond a single line, and the all-star cast — which includes brief appearances by everyone from Antonio Banderas to Jason Clarke and Nick Offerman to Fabio — exist more than they perform. And yet, as Knight of Cups ebbs and flows over the course of its fluid 118 minutes, there's no mistaking its emotional and sensory impact. Plus, if you're going to jump in a seemingly familiar body of water filled with hypnotic experiences and hidden depths, you want Malick as your guide. With him in charge, you haven't really swum there and splashed through this before.
When singer George Michael passed away aged only 53 in 2016, Sydney DJs and producers Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour commissioned a mural of Michael outside their home in Newtown. It became a site of cultural importance to Sydney's LGBTQIA+ community, and it was devastatingly destroyed by vandals soon after the result of the marriage equality vote was announced. Now, Mac has teamed up with playwright Lachlan Philpott to create a musical experience as a fitting tribute to Saint George, while also serving as both a celebration of queer culture and a defiant reminder that freedom is always worth fighting for. Tickets for this show are at capacity, however, you can join the waitlist by clicking through to 'buy tickets'. [caption id="attachment_795408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Walker[/caption] Image: Peter Rubie.
The Hills' Wolfe & Co. took the sleepy semi-rural suburb of Dural by storm when it opened on Old Northern Road last year. Locals quickly got all over the daytime cafe — probably because they'd normally have to drive 30 minutes to find something similar — but they soon they started requesting a place to spend their nights. So earlier this year owners Che Vogel and Caroline Neill Ryan doubled down and bought another space across the road. And with the same swish attitude to food and design, they've opened the doors to their newest outfit: Cod's Gift. The restaurant specialises in seafood, with a focus on sustainable produce from the Hawkesbury River region, after the pair found that there were no seafood restaurants in The Hills. With contrasted, Nordic-style furniture in turquoise, granite, brass and steel blue — all designed by Neill Ryan — it's a huge difference from the drab strip mall in which the restaurant is located. The duo were aiming to create a beautiful-yet-casual space for all. Luxe, but approachable. David Koorey is executive chef for both Dural kitchens. His background is mainly UK restaurants and this influence can be seen in some of the menu's Japanese-fusion dishes. All are visually appealing, with sprinklings of microherbs and edible flowers (all greens are from a small, local grower within walking distance of the restaurant). There are three kinds of oysters (the Hawkesbury River's famous export) and fish dishes push the boundaries of normal ingredient combinations. The John Dory comes with carrots, cumin, smoked peas and liquorice, and then there's the snapper with sage crumb, preserved lemon butter, lilliput capers and shaved fennel. For vegetarians, the eggplant dish with chard, burrata, torn pasta, sugo and olive dust proves vegetarians are not an afterthought. Pair this with a cocktail or a wine from France, Italy or, much closer to home, the Hunter Valley. Cod's Gift is now open at shop 4–6, 3 Ward Place, Dural. For more info, visit codsgift.com.au.
Hendrick's, the Scottish gin distillers who would have you believe their product is harvested fresh from a Monty Python animation, are embarking on a 'horticultural quest' to make Australia their new veg patch. No longer content to raid Mr. McGregor's garden, the liquidologists and drinkticians at Hendrick's are teaming up with the University of Sydney to create the first truly Australian-grown species of cucumber. Despite the presence of a horticulture professor in their fellowship, Hendrick's are asking the public to head to Facebook and vote on soil ingredients that will produce the most distinctly Australian crop. Day One is a choice between kangaroo and emu poop. There's every reason to believe Day Ten will see Barnesy or Farnesy forced to stand waist-deep in fertiliser for six weeks. Planting begins on October 4 and the harvest will take place in mid-November, with a subsequent soiree for attendees to sample the cucumber from down under. To further celebrate the efforts of their botanical pioneers, Hendrick's are giving a Concrete Playgrounder and ten friends the chance to win a sumptuously provisioned cocktail masterclass valued at $3000. Enter below, and remember, you need to vote for your chosen ingredient on the Hendrick's Gin Facebook page to be eligible to win. [competition]589976[/competition]
Home to much of the festival's music, two Spiegeltents will be anchoring the expanding Festival Village, one of the real successes of last year and a true hub for hanging out in. Also within it will be a huge-scale art work from Ireland's answer to Banksy, street artist Maser. The maze-like, colour-splashed, two-storey-high installation, called Higher Ground, is said to be "a dream come true for those who always wished they could step inside a painting", and will be the focus of everyone's Instagramming this festival (which for the first time in two years, is Rubber Duck-less). Maser will be the artist-in-residence at the Village, though as he operates in anonymity, we don't expect to see too much of him. Read our interview with Maser and find out why he's happy for you to eat a sandwich in his art. Higher Ground is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Festival. Check out our other favourite events over here.
Deliciously messy Caribbean nosh is moseying over to Potts Point, as Surry Hills restaurant Jonkanoo prepares to open a pop-up canteen this Saturday. According to Good Food, Jonkanoo will pop-up in an existing gourmet catering business called Sides and Main on Orwell Street in Potts Point. Jonkanoo owner and chef Damion Brown told GF the kitchen was vacant on weekends, so the crew are scurrying in there for two days of playtime. It's right near new Potts Point resident Waterman's Lobster Co., which opened its lobster roll-lovin' doors last week. So what can you expect to gobble down over the weekend? Apparently it's going to be pretty basic, the goodies Jonkanoo has perfected over the years. Of course, there'll be jerk — jerk pork and jerk chicken — alongside two coleslaws, sweet potato and specials. Find the Jonkanoo pop-up at 7/5-15 Orwell St, Potts Point this Saturday, June 20. Via Good Food.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. More inventive, forward-thinking and experimental than ever, Sydney restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, adding in-house cinemas, recreating provincial French manors, and redefining nose-to-tail. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new restaurants, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Restaurant in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
The future of one of Sydney's most beloved green spaces has finally been secured. After a concerted effort by local campaigners, the NSW government has agreed to lease the patch of harbourfront land known as Wendy's Secret Garden to the North Sydney Council on a 30-year renewable lease, confirming its position as a public garden for future generations. "Wendy has poured her blood, sweat and tears into the garden," said Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance at the announcement on Friday. "She, along with the people of Sydney, deserve certainty that it will be here for years to come. Our announcement today ends the question mark over the garden’s future." The widow and muse of celebrated artist Brett Whiteley, for the last two decades Wendy Whiteley has tended to the government-owned land behind her Lavender Bay home, transforming it from an unofficial rubbish dump into a beautiful leafy oasis. Brett's ashes are buried in the garden, as are those of their daughter, actress Arkie Whiteley. The history of the garden was recently recorded in the book Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden, whose author Janet Hawley helped lead the push to ensure the space remained open for public enjoyment. "People wrongly assume the council or the government pays for Wendy’s Secret Garden and wrongly assume it is permanent and secure," said Hawley last month. "But Wendy has paid for everything, and, alongside her four gardeners, done all the work from day one." "I can't quite grasp it yet. It's still a bit unreal," the 74-year-old Whiteley told reporters in the wake of yesterday's announcement. "It will become a collaboration now, instead of there being the slightly worrying feeling that somebody could arrive with a bulldozer one day, or a chainsaw or something, and it would all be gone overnight." Via The Guardian.
As many films do, The Space Between begins with a series of influential events that shake up an otherwise stagnant life. When his stint in New York came to an unplanned end through a family tragedy, Marco (Flavio Parenti) returned to his home town of Udine in Northern Italy, gave up on his dream of being a chef and carved out a routine existence — and just as he has somewhat accepted his fate, more hardship strikes. But at the same time, he meets Olivia (Maeve Dermody), an Australian in the country wading through her own family and career matters. A connection forms as the two try to find their path forward. The film's narrative isn't just an interesting story worth spending 98 minutes watching — it's also somewhat based on reality. In fact, The Space Between is partially inspired by the day that Melbourne-based writer-director Ruth Borgobello met her husband Davide Giusto (who also serves as one of movie's producers), and the bond they forged as he coped with his real-life grief. In turning the tale into a film (her first feature, no less), Borgobello has not only transported parts of her life to the big screen, but has also crafted the first-ever Australian-Italian co-production in the process. While the former feat has personal significance, the latter is no lesser of an achievement; indeed, a filmmaking treaty between the two countries was signed back in 1993. Just how did Borgobello draw from such intimate experiences? And how did she manage to make history with her debut feature? With The Space Between currently touring Australia as part of the Italian Film Festival, we chatted with the filmmaker about finding inspiration in Italy, working through trauma and turning an aspect of your life into a feature film. ON LETTING REALITY INSPIRE THE NARRATIVE "I met my husband the day he lost someone very important to him unexpectedly. We'd sort of already had this plan to spend a couple of weeks together, because he's a good friend of my cousin in Italy, and he was planning to come to Australia, and he had his visa ready. And so, in spite of this loss and grief he was going through, we spent a couple of weeks together, and I guess that always stayed with me as a very transformational moment for both of us. We were in our early 20s, so it kind of throws everything into question and makes you think very carefully about the life path that you want to choose when something like that happens. You tend to think you're quite invincible when you're that age, I think. Years later I kind of was developing another project focused more on a migration story of my family and my father, but I guess just spending time in Italy and thinking about that moment, I was sort of quite inspired and pushed to do something a bit more personal as my first film. And talking about contemporary Italy within that as well. So, it was inspired by that moment — but the actual characters and the journey that they go on is very fictional, and very, much more connected to Italy today than back in that time." ON DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCED GRIEF AND TRAUMA "When I set out to write this script, I was sort of basing it on my husband's experience of losing someone close to him — and I had never lost someone, especially not a close friend in the way that he had. So I tried to get inside his head, I guess, and his grieving process. And then also working with my co-writer who had lost his father when he was quite young, so he had gone through that. But then, strangely, in the journey of writing it — and it was something that really kind of terrified me when it happened — my best friend actually was in an accident, a very unexpected accident, and was in a coma for a few weeks hovering between life and death. Luckily now she's fine, she's got through it, but I guess it strangely sort of brought me very close to that experience, which can be quite challenging because when it happens to you — you don't know if you can actually go there to bring it into the script. But, I tried to write during that period just to tune into the emotion of it all. I guess with the grief, I think the lesson that came for us that was very powerful — it was that he left...but then someone else arrived in that moment that would be very important and play a similar role, I guess, in Davide, my husband's, life. Just that sort of interesting thing that someone leaves and someone else arrives, and I guess to trust in life sometimes that it will bring you support in those kind of moments, and then opportunity to maybe grow and evolve." ON MAKING THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN-ITALIAN CO-PRODUCTION "It's just enormous, and I think it's not just sort of all the relationships and paperwork and trying to make the two governments sort of work — or their rules — really work together. Also, then you've got to translate everything and every time it changes you've got to re-translate it. So it is an enormous amount of work. I guess, at the end of the day, it's just kind of willingness and determination to make it work. And we sort of sensed that if we could make it work, then there would be a lot of positivity that would come out of that — obviously for the film, but also creating future possibilities between the two countries. So it's worth it. When you know you're going to make history, it's worth it to persevere. And we had a lot of willingness from Italy and the Italian government too, that really supported us in wanting to make it work, so that helps." ON SETTING HER FILM IN ITALY — AND FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATIONS "We spent years of research looking at locations that are not the typical tourist locations. They're not the places you could open a book and find out where they are — they're all sort of quite hidden and you have to know people who know people. So it took a lot to find those places that would really serve the psychology and the narrative of Marco's journey, and with Olivia. So I spent time myself there in Italy, living for periods of six months or so, just to also really get to know the people and the place. And trying to perceive the current climate of today, and what's going on, and the relationship between the environment and this sort of crisis as well, which I always found quite contradictory because there's so much beauty and inspiration in what's been created in the past, but it feels very stagnant in the present. So it was about sort of being able to marry those two together." ON HER TIES WITH ITALY "I've got two projects that I'm working on, and both are connected with Italy again. One of them is also sort of connected to climate change, and I really want to do a sort of original creative story around that, kind of featuring nature as a main character — and it's positive, not fear-driven. So that's something that I'm heavily researching at the moment. And then another film, perhaps with Italy dealing with refugees and what's happening at the moment in Europe with that crisis, through quite a courageous character who goes out on a limb to help the refugees. So sort of inspired by a true story that we've come across. I think we've learnt so much, so it will make the next one easier. I'm sure it will always be challenging, but it feels like there's a clear path now." The Space Between is currently screening at the Italian Film Festival, which tours Australia until October 19. Check out our top five picks of the festival.
City-dwelling foodies, Mike McEnearney has plans for the CBD. After saying farewell to his celebrated eatery Kitchen by Mike, the beloved Sydney chef has been pretty damn busy, announced last month as the new creative director for Carriageworks Farmers Markets. But next year, he's got a more city-centric project on the books, a 100-seater restaurant called No.1 Bent Street — by Mike. Set to open in early 2016 on the Bent Street side of retail/food centre, The Wintergarden, the new eatery will be a natural evolution of the wildly popular Kitchen by Mike canteen, with a more formal set-up. Open for lunch and dinner six days a week, McEnearney's new restaurant will see a daily-changing menu filled with the chef's love for simple but generous food, using seasonal, local and housemade ingredients. "I'm so pleased to be opening in the city," says McEnearney. "The food in the CBD just gets better and better and we are looking forward to being part of that. Ours will be a small, daily-changing menu and the focus will be on the produce much as it was at Kitchen by Mike. Although the setting may be more formal, I hope it will feel familiar to those who have come to love Kitchen by Mike. No.1 Bent Street will not be modeled on the canteen style everyone is used to at Kitchen By Mike but the principles and spirit behind the food will remain the same." Meanwhile, McEnearney and his team are looking for new locations for their long-loved Rosebery canteen, Kitchen by Mike, so stay tuned for more details on this. No.1 Bent Street — by Mike will open at The Wintergarden, Sydney CBD in 2016.
Crucial to doing brunch properly is not having to think about time. After all, it's its occupation of the not-breakfast, not-lunch never-never land that makes it so deliciously languid. You can't be early. You can't be late. And it's impossible to stay too long. Practically, though, Sydney brunches, especially when combined with views, can't always offer such temporal escapism. Too many people want in on them. Until now, that is. This summer, the Watsons Bay Hotel is bringing an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch our way. For hours on end, you'll be able to indulge while soaking up waterfront views and recovering from whatever shindiggery you've been up to the evening before. Whipped up by executive chef John Pye, the menu is no ordinary buffet production but features the likes of house-made granola trifles layered with summer berries and vanilla yoghurt; hand-carved, glazed Kurobuta ham and cranberry sauce sliders; Belgian waffles with crispy American-style bacon and maple syrup; and banana flapjack pancakes with salted caramel sauce and Chantilly cream. For drinks, a bespoke Bloody Mary bar will have you covered, and there's also the option of bubbles, fresh mimosas and home-made watermelon lemonade. $75 will buy four beverage coupons and as much food as you can avail yourself of. Upgrade to $100 to include a four-hour house drinks pack. The Bay Brunch will be happening on the summer public holidays of Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Australia Day. RSVP is essential — give the Watsons Bay Hotel a call on (02) 9337 5444.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading nine adventurers on a two-day Wilderness Photography Escape for the weekend of May 6 through 7. Participants will meet in the Blue Mountains, where adventure photographer Jake Anderson will lead them on a ten-kilometre hike, through a waterfall and wild-swimming holes, before arriving at a secluded, 'secret' campsite — specifically positioned for sunset and sunrise shoots. After a campfire feast, Anderson will host an astro-photography session with the hopes of capturing the milky way, among other celestial bodies. This excursion combines a camping and photography workshop, teaching adventurers the core skills necessary to embark on your own adventure and capture it like a pro. Ticket holders will learn the basic fundamentals of photography, including shutter speed and aperture, composition and framing, long exposure and social media growth hacks, to name a few. On top of this, you'll also learn camping skills like basic navigation, where to pitch a tent safely, water filtration techniques, fire starting and overall camping hacks. Each ticket includes all of the above, as well as all food and snacks for the duration of the weekend. Image: We Are Explorers.
If you love surrounding yourself completely in Zara, you'll now be able to extend the Zara-love to your bedroom. Zara Home has opened its first Australian store at Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre, with a flagship store set to open in Sydney in just a few months. The home decor arm of the Zara-owning Inditex Group, the Australian stores is home to Zara's gorgeous printed bedding lines, table and bath linens, decorative furniture (we're talking seriously cute lamps and rugs), tablewear worth investing in, cutlery and ornamental items, all based on seasonal fashion trends — so you might be able to match your handbag to your bedspread for an undeniably strong look. The brand new 310-sqm Melbourne store embodies the Zara brand in interior design — think elegant chestnut wood and marble floors, neutral paints and mother-of-pearl details, not to forget that epic gold logo. Coinciding with international Zara Home stores (now operating in 60 countries with 437 stores), the Australian stores will unveil two collections per year, with new items delivered every week. Along with the slick furnishings and oaky utensils you'll be visualising in your rich mahogany-smelling apartments, you can pick up the Zara loungewear/pyjama line and bath and body collection instore. With 13 Zara stores currently operating across Australia, it's safe to say we're pretty dedicated Zarans. The stores mark some of the first international brand openings this year, following hugely hyped openings H&M and Uniqlo last year. Zara Home opens in Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre on February 12, head for 120 - 200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong. Sydney flagship date still to be confirmed.
Until last year, Nick Murphy was better known by his stage name, Chet Faker. Since dropping the moniker, Murphy has reinvented his ARIA-winning style, opting for a sharply produced cacophony of low tempo piano and his signature understated vocals, juxtaposed with upbeat synth melodies. After testing the waters with a live band at Laneway Festival, Murphy is making things a little more intimate for his Vivid Sydney show. Murphy is taking on theatre in the round for this Vivid performance, premiering new tracks performance in 360 degrees. It's a triumphant return for Murphy, who played to 12,000 people over two sold-out nights in the Opera House forecourt as Chet Faker in 2015.
Lower north shore residents won't have to head into the city for Sydney's latest opening. Brand new, modern Scandinavian-style, Mediterranean-menued bar and restaurant The Public has opened its doors in Cammeray. Joining the local foodie strip of Miller Street in the space where Belgian Beer Cafe sat for 15 years, The Public is a big, breezy, modern space made for long lazy brunches and intimate catch-ups alike. Think marine-grade plywood, aquas, blues, whites, and 3D installation art. The brainchild of North shore brothers James and Will Christopher, The Public is nothing short of a labour of love. Not their first time at the Sydney hospitality rodeo, this new bar marks the third venue for the Christopher brothers, following their long-loved local cafe The Laneway and their Spanish tapas joint Ms Miller (right next door). They've also launched start-ups, cheffed here and there, and Will feeds the entire team at the celebrated Secret Garden Festival every year — production team meals you have to taste to believe. Seriously. Next level. Aiming to give Cammeray a foodie identity of its own and steal some limelight from burgeoning eastern suburbs like Double Bay or western hubs like Marrickville, the Christopher brothers teamed up with business manager and superyacht seller (actual thing) Damian Barrow to swing the spotlight to the lower north shore. Alright, alright, now we know who's behind the joint, what can we expect to chow down on? The Christopher brothers have brought over Ms Miller head chef James Featherstone to create pub classic-meets-Euro-style dishes for The Public. Think Greek and Mediterranean food with house-made olive butter, taramasalata and hummus, with family-style platters of lamb kleftiko and barbecued chicken. Then there's the burgers, like this double beef, double bacon, double cheese wagyu beef burger: With all this hummus and barbecued chicken afoot, we're going to need some bevs here. Drinks-wise, you can expect an Australian, New Zealand, Italian and French-focused wine list, and ten beers on tap including Young Henry’s, Two Birds, Rocks Brewing, Endeavour and Mountain Goat. The Public's set to become a Cammeray staple if it plays its cards right. And with monthly markets and beer and wine events planned for the future, it looks like this by-locals-for-locals newbie holds all the aces. Find The Public at 429 Miller Street, Cammeray.
Longstanding Bondi favourite Da Orazio has reopened in its original home, complete with a new accompanying bar, Orazietto, joining it next door. That's the news since March 2022, and comes with hallmarks of the original venue — including its red door and a heap of fan-favourite dishes — alongside inventive new additions to the venue's array of Italian eats. In 2023, Da Orazio was even awarded a chef's hat by the Good Food Guide. "In Italian we say, 'il primo amore non si scorda mai', which means the first love you never forget," says the restaurant's renowned owner and head chef Orazio D'Elia. "Da Orazio was my firstborn, my first love, so to be able to bring the venue back to life means so much to me and my team. I can't wait for all our Da Orazio friends to return, and welcome new friends." Inside, the 90-seat restaurant has undergone a makeover, sporting a fresh new look, but classic dishes like rotisserie porchetta with focaccia and antipasti share plates haven't changed. Alongside these mainstays a fancy new pizza menu is among the new additions. The restaurant uses a new contemporary pizza dough recipe for the bases that they promise make the bases "lighter and more digestible". Next door, Orazietto seats up to 40 people and doesn't take reservations. The atmosphere is more casual and you can swing by for a quick drink, but all the food from Da Orazio is still on offer. Da Orazio Appears in: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney for 2023
We'll take a gin and tonic, sans the sugary soda, please. A brand new Sydney cocktail bar can help you out, using all-natural, locally-made soda and ditching the usual crap. PS40 will open in Sydney's CBD in April as the newest bar concept by the creators of PS Soda, an all-natural soda line. PS Soda and its upcoming bar are the brainchild of an all-star, internationally-renowned crew. From Sydney hospitality goalkickers Thor Bergquist (ex-Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) and Der Raum) and Michael Chiem (ex-Sokyo, Bulletin Place and the Star's Black by Ezard) to creative director Livia Lima (ex-Maud), this team knows what they're doing. PS40 will focus around the trio's new soft drink line, an unusual approach stemming from Bergquist and Chiem's gastronomic backgrounds — think core flavours like wattle cola, bush tonic and smoked lemonade. All PS Soda will be made and bottled in-house and used for the line of signature cocktails available at PS40. We're most excited to try the 'Batanga!', which combines the Wattle Cola with green coffee bean infused tequila. All PS sodas are of the preservative-free kind, which are not words you generally associate with soda pop. The ingredients themselves are sourced from local, native produce and made with community input at that; Archie Rose Distillery helped to develop the tonic that would complement their gin and LP's Quality Meats' Luke Powell helped create the lemonade. The local love doesn't stop there, with the wine list curated by Lo-Fi Wines and taps from Sydney brewers Wayward and Young Henry's. Yep, it's an all-Sydney affair at PS40. The space is promised to hold true to its warehouse interior with large open windows, concrete walls and high ceilings, designed with a modern and bright fitout. If you're keen to try PS Soda before the bar opens, you can find the sodas behind the bar at Bennelong, The Old Clare Hotel, Firedoor and Archie Rose. PS40 will open in early April at 40 King Street, Sydney. Open Monday – Saturday, 4pm - midnight (closed Sundays).
The balmy season's about to kick off on a ridiculously blissful foot, with Tame Impala announcing a huge national tour this morning, hitting some of Australia's biggest outdoor venues this November. Following one widely celebrated comeback set at this year's Splendour in the Grass, Perth's favourite psychedelic outfit are doing an epic tour through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and back to their Perth hometown. Tame brain and frontman Kevin Parker will be teaming up with Dom Simper, Cam Avery, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagello to bring the insanely successful new album Currents to venues like the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Melbourne's epic Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Brisbane Riverstage. Such big outdoor shows deserve one heck of a support, and you'll get it in Mini Mansions (Queens of the Stone Age bass player Michael Shuman's side project). Tame Impala will also be joined by Fremantle's seven-piece hip hop outfit Koi Child for the Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth shows. TAME IMPALA 2015 NATIONAL TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 7 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, November 10 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Wednesday, November 11 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Saturday, November 14 — Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth Wednesday. November 18 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Saturday. November 21 — Riverstage, Brisbane Tickets on sale Monday 31 August, 9am local time, from tameimpala.com. Image: Matt Sav.
Chuck Close is lauded as a photorealist painter, but he is much more than that. In fact, he rejects the term “realist”, even when painting delicate wrinkles and wisps of hair. As described by consulting curator Glenn Barkley, he is a magician bent on revealing his tricks. Close, who always wanted to be a magician, couldn’t resist breaking this cardinal rule of illusion. In this way, many of the 'finished' works in this huge solo show at the MCA are accompanied by a number of process works. Like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, this exhibition maps the gradual blossoming of Close's impossibly intricate portraits. Describing his artistic beginnings as crawling out from under abstract expressionism, Close took up portraiture at a time when it was notoriously untrendy. Unlike the spontaneous brushstrokes of his contemporaries, he took a more methodical tack. With an insatiable capacity for new materials and new techniques, he radicalises what has traditionally been a conservative art form. Many of his works are the product of intense manual labour and are mathematically precise. One reason Close goes to these lengths is because he suffers from face blindness, or prosopagnosia. By repeating the same portrait again and again, he is drumming his subjects into his long-term memory. Of the various techniques used, Close rescues some from obscurity, such as the Jacquard Loom (those whopping tapestries), a 19th-century punch-card system used to weave complex patterns. In other works, he uses a felt hand stamp to patch together his portraits and moulds paper pulp into the contours of a face. And then there’s the classic Japanese form of woodblock printing, or ukiyo-e, which he uses to create warbling layers of colour. Emma is a striking example of this; a work which captures the luminosity of infancy. Of course, the grid is one of the key foundations of Close’s practice. Using a horizontal or diamond axis, these individual squares guide the steady unfolding his work. This comes back to the fraught idea of realism — it is an illusion from afar and abstract up close. Some of his more recent portraits, such as those of the artist Zhang Huan, are composed of watercolour gradients. But it is a loose grid, as if Close is allowing his painting to breathe. There are specks of raw canvas that shine through at the corners of each square like little diluted rainbows. Of the thematic triad that holds this exhibition together, 'process' is perhaps the most fascinating. It seems the strength of the big picture is in seeing the tiny pieces which constitute it. The formal inventiveness of Chuck Close really does take time to be appreciated. Not only is this exhibition a comprehensive survey of a truly unique artist, it is also a whirlwind education in printmaking and colour theory. Attend more than once.
