If there's an Aussie film that's had everyone talking over the last few months, it's Down Under. You don't make a comedy about the 2005 Cronulla riots — and about racism in Australia in general — without causing some chatter. The fact that the flick has reached cinemas at a time when the subject of prejudice and discrimination has been splashed all over the local media has certainly helped. Actually, unless you're actor-turned-writer/director Abe Forsythe, you don't make a movie about either the horrific events of more than a decade ago or the pointless hatred behind them at all. Determined to create "a communal experience where we can all just share in just kind of how stupid and how scary everything has kind of gotten," Forsythe didn't hold back when it came to shining a light on the more problematic side of our multicultural country — and he spoke with us about his motivation, spreading a message through laughter and the timeliness of the film's release. ON DECIDING TO MAKE A FILM ABOUT THE CRONULLA RIOTS "I think the main thing for me personally was that I found that I was going to be a father, and there were two things in play. One was that I realised I didn't have much time to get the script happening because soon there was going to be someone that I was just completely responsible for, and I was kind of running out of time. And then the other was that I felt like I was bringing someone into the world and I guess I was concerned about that. This was six years ago that I wrote it. I was looking around, and going, 'This child that I'm bringing into the world has absolutely no say about it — and what kind of world is he going to be exposed to?' So that was all stuff that led me to the Cronulla riots. Because, I mean, I've got a son, and so much of the Cronulla riots, I feel, has to do with masculinity and displaced masculinity and the way males in our country — but also everywhere around the world — the way they can deal with certain things. So it was at a particular time in my life where everything just kind of bubbled up and just fell into place. And then it wrote itself very, very easily and quickly. I mean, I spent five years working on the script, but the initial draft just kind of poured out of me." ON TURNING A HEATED HISTORICAL SITUATION INTO A COMEDY "Before writing this script, [comedy's] what I had been working in. I had been working in comedy a long time ago when I made my first film [2003's Ned] — but the years preceding writing Down Under I'd been experimenting with telling these sorts of stories but in a comedic way in a couple of films I'd made for Tropfest and a couple of other things I'd been working on. "For me, it's really interesting to use comedy to take an audience into a subject matter which I guess can shine light on that subject matter in a different way. And also, it's my experience that if you can make people laugh, you're actually opening them up in a way to accepting other things. If you're laughing, you're opening yourself up emotionally, and if you're opening yourself up emotionally, then you're more receptive to, you know, a movie that's actually saying something about something." ON BALANCING HUMOUR AND TRAGEDY "To use an example, the opening two minutes where we have all that real riot footage, one consistent thing throughout every screening of this movie that we've had has been how shocking everyone finds the opening two minutes. And I think that's partly to do with the fact that it has been ten years — and when I wrote this six years ago, one of the reasons I wrote it was that I felt like we we hadn't dealt with what happened during the riots. So, it kind of feels like we've just brushed it away, and obviously recently everything's been changing locally and internationally as well. But people were shocked by — people have always been shocked by — that first two minutes. "We actually tested the movie without opening the movie with that footage, and when we didn't have that footage at the beginning of the movie, people actually had trouble with all the stuff that happens later in the movie because it kind of took them a little bit by surprise. But by opening the movie with all that footage, where you go, 'This happened, these people did this, and it's as bad as it looks,' we were actually kind of making people go, 'Okay, this subject matter, even though we're going to ease into comedy, there's going to be all of this other stuff which appears every now and then and eventually it's going to end this way too.' "So it was a tricky tonal balancing act to go from scenes where you're laughing at all sorts of different things and behaviour, but then it was always important that we were jolting back into the darker aspects and easing back into the comedy... It was tricky and it took a lot of time to get it right. But I felt like you couldn't tell this particular story and deal with this subject matter without having the darker aspects in there." ON THE TIMELINESS OF THE FILM'S RELEASE "I think it's going to make people question what we've done more, definitely. But it is one of those things — you can have a preconceived notion of what this movie is before you see it, but after you see it, I think it's pretty clear that we're trying to be respectful with how complicated this movie is and the issues are. "Even if we're going to get specific about it, the last couple of weeks with everything that happened with Sonia Kruger's comments on television and Pauline Hanson and everything — it is a little bit crazy that for me, writing something six years ago dealing with this issue, that it is getting released at a time that I could not have guessed with everything that's happening in Australian and also internationally." Down Under is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our review.
Did you have a childhood dream of visiting the gingerbread house in Hansel & Gretel (sans witch)? It's about to become a reality. From December 2, the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney's lobby will be home to a life-size gingerbread house — Sydney's largest ever gingerbread house, in fact — complete with so much icing and lollies that we'll probably cry. Who else could be behind this creation but Anna Polyviou? The mad scientist of the pastry world and her team will be using 1500kg of gingerbread bricks to construct the house of your childhood dreams this Christmas. Polyviou is inviting Sydneysiders to "take a mad trip through the gingerbread house" but not only that, there will be plenty of treats to buy and try not to gobble up before you get home. Her mini gingerbread lolly bag houses, ginger ninjas and Connect Four macaron packs will have you squealing like a kid in a candy shop. Literally. You might as well buy a couple of gifts there too. Fruit mince tubes, white Christmas nougat and Christmas puddings should be enough to put your loved ones in a jolly mood. If you can't decide on a single item, why not make a day of it and enjoy Polyviou's Festive High Tea, running all throughout December. The three tiers of scones, sweets and savouries will set you back $55 per person. The menu features something called 'Christmas in a Jar'. How much more festive could it get? "BUILDING LOLLI-BAG HOUSE" thank you to my photographer Nikki To for capturing the making... Posted by Anna Polyviou on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Anna Polyviou's gingerbread house will be open to the public daily from 7am on Wednesday, December 2 in the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Festive High Tea will be running daily from 1pm – 5pm from December 1-30. Bookings essential, call (02) 9250 6000.
There's a newish café on the Redfern end of Bourke Street and it's the answer to our prayers. St Jude, taking its tag from the patron saint of lost causes, is already a firm favourite among locals and far from its namesake. According to owners and long-time friends, Kate Thomson and Grant Piper, this trendy, welcoming breakfast and lunch joint is quite the opposite. In fact, it's somewhat of a saviour. Not only because the Surry-Redfern border residents now have a genuinely great place to go for a bite and a barista brew come weekend mornings, but, if these two hospitality heroes (who first worked together at the old DOV, yes, on the corner of Forbes and Burton) hadn't nabbed this place, a real lost cause would have taken up shop offering nothing but greasy pizza slices and pissheads. Thank you, St Jude, thank you. Designed by Surry Hills architect, Arthur Koutoulas, it's no surprise every inch of space has been carefully considered. From the monstrously heavy iron-framed railway sleeper share-table to the collection of creepy dolls playfully positioned alongside religious iconography and old photography across the back wall, this place is unique. Even the chairs embrace 'the different' with swivelling backrests inside and cork wood stools out while the salt and pepper is served in mini green faux-marble ramekins. Too cute. The menu is equally appealing. You have your brekkie classics as well as plate pleasers like the avocado smash with salsa, fresh spinach and feta ($14.30) or the daily breakfast Sanga ($13). Lunch offers the likes of potato gnocchi with lemon and herb pesto and slow roasted cherry tomatoes ($17.50) or crispy chorizo, roasted Mediterranean vegetables and giant couscous salad ($17.50). But the absolute deal breaker, the fritters, are a perfectly crafted concoction of sweet corn and pumpkin, shallow fried and served with soft poached eggs, hollandaise, avocado cream and baby spinach ($14.50). A success since get go, maybe St Jude's been sent from foodie heaven. It's unpretentious, it's comfortable, it's tasty and it's one of the best café's to open its doors for a long time. Praise be.
The future of Sydney's nightlife in the face of the NSW Government's infamous lockout laws might still be in a state of polarising uncertainty, but the perseverant bunch at nightlife lobby group Keep Sydney Open are attempting to reinvigorate one of Sydney's legendary night spots. Kings Cross has undeniably seen significant change since the introduction of the laws, including a well-covered (and debated) string of venue closures — for a discussion on whether the closures are directly linked to the lockout laws, meet every interested Sydneysider at the pub later. But now, KSO, alongside local collective Eastside Sydney, will take over seven of Kings Cross's nightlife venues for a full precinct festival, dubbed Meet Me in the Cross, on Saturday, July 1 from 9pm. Pick up a $30 ticket and it'll give you access to parties and nosh deals inside Kings Cross Hotel, The World Bar, Candy's Apartment, Potts Point Hotel, Crane Bar, Jangling Jack's and Sweethearts Rooftop. You can hop between bars until 3am. Who will you find having a mad boogie within these venues? Party-starved revellers and live performances from some of Sydney's best record labels and party crews like Future Classic, Astral People, Elefant Traks, Heaps Gay, Lovebombs and more. "Kings Cross is the heart and soul of Sydney nightlife," says KSO campaign director Tyson Koh. "We all know it has suffered in recent times, but the truth is venues are still kicking in the Cross — you can still see great local live bands and dance to amazing music ... Now it's time to support the venues and artists that make this city great in the best way possible: by having a party!" Meet Me in the Cross is happening at seven Kings Cross venues on July 1 from 9pm to 3am. Tickets are $30 for all-access across the venues, and are on sale now.
Sydney's poké explosion continues, this time with Hooked on Poké opening its doors along Bondi Beach. Owned by the former manager of North Bondi Italian, Marcus Lalak, the joint focuses on locally and sustainably sourced fish in fresh-to-order dishes that boast sauces made from secret recipes. The menu at Hooked on Poké may have been inspired by the traditional Hawaiian mainstay but it also takes direction from the Los Angeles version and has adopted Japanese and Korean flavours. Customers can create their own bowl or order from five 'HOP Faves' with recommended ingredient combinations — among these is the signature tuna poké bowl, made with line-caught and sashimi-grade yellow fin which has been cubed and coated in a house-made, spicy soy sauce. Apart from the tuna, they're offering up salmon and snapper, as well as poached chicken and tofu options. If you're creating your own, you can choose from a base of soba noodles, iceberg lettuce and brown or white rice, along with a wide range of toppings, including wasabi peas, grated beetroot, spicy kimchi, wakame, house-made pickles and dashi daikon. For something significantly on-trend locally, you can pick toppings of sweet potato crisps and roasted miso cauliflower. Lalak brings two decades in the hospitality industry to this new venture, which is jumping on the poké train a bit late in the game. What could set Hooked on Poké apart from the competition, though, is its series of sauces and dressings that were specially developed for the restaurant and use ingredients including yuzu kosho, miso and sriracha. These 'secret recipes' took over one-hundred hours to perfect and are meant to give each bowl a signature flavour that you can't get anywhere else. Hooked On Poké is now open for lunch and dinner at 145 Glenayr Street, Bondi Beach. Images: Alana Dimou.
There's a fair bit going on at Chippendale's Sneaky Possum. Part cafe, part bar, part restaurant and part function space, with a multipurpose area upstairs, the newly opened venue on Abercrombie Street defies easy categorisation — to the extent that even its owner isn't entirely sure what to call it. "It's a hybrid of a few different ideas," Phil Anderson tells Concrete Playground. "To try and encapsulate it in one go we're telling people it's a 'gastrobar'. That's probably the best way to describe what we're doing." Whatever Anderson wants to call it, the corner venue can be easily identified thanks to a pair of distinctive murals on its outside. One, by Fintan McGee, depicts Naomi Mayers, former lead singer of The Sapphires and founder of the Indigenous Health Service. The other, by Scott Marsh, is an ode to Sydney's ibis population. Wander through the doors and you'll find Sneaky Possum is split into a number of different sections. A large, brightly lit front bar leads through to a room full of pinball machines and retro arcade games, while out back you'll find a casual dining area complete with custom built wooden booths. A large open space upstairs, meanwhile, can be everything from a band room to a communal dining area to a gallery. But perhaps the most important space of all is the kitchen, where chef Briony Bradford has crafted a menu with a strong focus on local produce. Standout dishes include South Australian kingfish ceviche with avocado, radish and finger lime; roasted lamb with tomato, onion and burnt bread; kangaroo tartare with egg yolk, cornichon and pepperberry dressing; and Wapengo oysters with your choice of either passionfruit and lime dressing or eschallot and black pepper vinaigrette. Likewise, the drinks list draws heavily from local brewers and winemakers. They've got five beers plus a rosé on tap, including their very own Sneaky Possum Pale Ale. Even the non-alcoholic offering has a distinctly Australian flavour, courtesy of a partnership with a local tea supplier. "We've got a house blend tea which has river mint, strawberry gum and rosella, which just tastes fantastic," says Anderson. Find Sneaky Possum at 86 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. Open Monday and Tuesday, 6.30am–3pm, Wednesday to Saturday 6.30am–12am, Sunday 8am–9pm.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Rest assured, we would never joke about something this delicious. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering morsels, free of charge, at their Topshop pop-up stores. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Topshop in the Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane CBD once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Students keen on doing some shopping can also nab 10 percent off their Topshop purchases, in case you needed any more incentive to rush along. Basically, Monday just got a whole lot brighter and tastier. Free doughnuts will do that. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Why? Because it's World Nutella Day that's why. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering Love at First Bite doughnuts — a cinnamon doughnut filled with rich Nutella — free of charge, at their Chippendale store. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Yep, this is the second time this week they've handed out freebies. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Doughnut Time Central Park once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Doughnut Time Central Park is located on the Lower Ground Floor, 28 Broadway, Chippendale. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
American comedian Joel McHale is coming to Australia. The star of Community, The Soup and that one recurring daydream we have where he asks us to be his best friend (shut up, it could happen) has announced a one night only standup show in Sydney next fortnight. Tickets go on sale this Friday. Please remain calm. The last-minute show is set for Saturday, November 7 at Sydney's Theatre Royal. My Live Nation members can get pre-sale tickets from Thursday, October 22 at 10am, before they become available to the general public the same time the following day. McHale is best known for his role as Jeff Winger in Community, a sitcom that people apparently feel quite strongly about (#sixseasonsandamovie). He's also hosted pop culture current affairs program The Soup on E! since 2004 and last year headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner. Admittedly, he also had a role in Spy Kids 4D — but then again, nobody's perfect. At this stage there's no indication that McHale will perform any additional dates or locations. Tickets for his Sydney show will be available online via Live Nation. Image: Frank Ockenfels.
Since opening on January 27 (Chinese New Year's Eve), Redfern's new dumpling bar Happy D's has been easily recognisable from a distance, given the lengthy queues outside. "It's been manic," says Andrew Watts, who co-owns Happy D's with his mum, Debra. After running successful catering business Yum Cha for years, she was ready to set up shop. Meanwhile, Andrew had gained his fair share of hospitality experience, including managing The Old Fitz for 18 months. "We wanted to keep things simple," Watts says. On the Happy D's menu, you'll find just eight, straightforward steamed options, including mushroom, chicken, pork soup and barbecue pork buns, plus a weekly special. This week, it's prawn and snow peas. To match is a food-focused drinks list. The wine selection features several sakes from Japan, as well as a bunch of Australian 'light reds' and 'mainly dry whites'. Among the beers, there's Asahi on tap, Young Henrys cider, Little Smith's Golden Child from Melbourne and some unusual Japanese craft beers. If a cocktail's more your thing, order a classic or a Happy D's signature creation — a jalapeño-infused twist on the margarita and a new version of the old-fashioned, sweetened with a ginger-honey concoction instead of sugar syrup. "We want people to feel comfortable, eating and drinking however they like," Watts says. "You can come in for a quick bite or stay as long as you like, ordering as you go." Happy D's design follows suit. Four metres by 20 metres, the space is a narrow oblong. On one side, there's an electric red bar dotted with LEDs and, on the other, a six-metre long golden curtain. The pièce de résistance, however, is a 12-metre long, 15-centimetre wide faux fish tank. There's no water and the 'fish' are all attached to fishing lines. "We're encouraging locals to bring in objects to add to the tank," Watts says. On weekends, between 12pm and 4pm, Happy D's runs a 'Dumps 'n' Booze' special — $30 buys you four dishes (that's 14 dumplings) and a drink. On Saturday nights, look out for DJs. The rest of the time, the soundtrack is all soul and disco. Find Happy D's at 169 Regent Street, Redfern. Open Tuesday to Friday 12–3pm and 5–10pm, Saturday midday–10pm, and Sunday midday–8pm. Images: Bodhi Liggett.
Film buffs will get the chance to catch up with the highlights of the Sydney Film Festival, with organisers revealing a special encore program featuring some of the biggest titles of the festival. Screening at Palace Verona in Paddington and Palace Norton Street in Leichhardt from Monday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 22, the By Popular Demand lineup features 11 of this year's best selling films, including critically acclaimed dramas, jaw-dropping documentaries and that one movie where Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse. Of the 11 films that will screen in the days following the conclusion of the festival, major standouts include SFF Official Competition entrant Aquarius, the Kristen Stewart-led ghost story Personal Shopper, and John Carney's charming jukebox musical Sing Street. They'll be joined by a few more esoteric choices, including The Lure — a Polish musical about a pair of flesh-eating mermaids who become nightclub sensations — and Swiss Army Man, the divisive American indie that sees Paul Dano become friends with Daniel Radcliffe's dead body. The lineup also features a number of documentaries, including the hilarious political comeback doc about disgraced US Congressman Anthony Weiner and Tickled, an astounding and surprisingly controversial expose that explores the world of competitive tickling. "This is the second year we will extend our run for top-selling films beyond the end of the Festival," said SFF Director Nashen Moodley. "These screenings are a wonderful way for audiences, if they missed out on Festival tickets, to see some of the most talked-about films of the year." For the full By Popular Demand program including screening times, go here. SFF wraps up on Sunday, June 19. You've still got time to catch some of our top ten picks of the festival.
Don't let the sporadic showers fool you — summer is most definitely on its way. It's time to pull your beachwear out from the depths of your cupboard, dust off your tatty straw hat and prepare for three months of good food, good music and stunning sunshine. We love summer afternoons, and we've partnered with Heineken 3 so you can get the most out of them. We've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. For this particular adventure, we've teamed up with Brendan Cato of The Farmed Table fame and Matt Branagan and Chester Garcia of Work-Shop to bring you a masterclass on how to bust out a bonza barbecue in just under an hour. The pair are teaming up to create the ultimate barbecue masterclass in early November at Work-Shop, so who better to help us out? Brendan created The Farmed Table, those secret dinners that started off in a tiny café and now pack out warehouses. He's all about fresh, organic, sustainable eating. Matt and Chester founded Work-Shop, a place where you can learn to do absolutely anything. They're a good team. Use these tips and tricks for a speedy but delicious barbecue spread that isn't just the same old steak, snags and salad combo. They'll help you stand proudly as queen or king of the grill this summer. BULK UP YOUR DRY STORE It would be perfectly acceptable to assume that the tricky bits for grilling up a storm are those that require actual cooking, but Brendan assures us that this is not the case. This part is actually extremely easy — just begin with the very best produce that you can get, and stock up your pantry with good quality dry store ingredients. A few herbs, a curry powder, salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice are the key to making everything taste on-point, according to our chef for the day. Giving yourself the best base of flavour is key to a delicious barbecue no matter how much time you have. DON'T MUCK AROUND, START WITH HIGH QUALITY FRESH PRODUCE As is part of Brendan's Farmed Table ethos, buying good, fresh, organic produce gives you the perfect building blocks for your summer shindig. There's definitely no shortage of vendors around your house, from market stalls to tiny independent grocers around the corner, so it should be pretty cruisy to track down solid ingredients. We started off with leeks, cauliflower and eggplants all just tossed on the grill and taken off shortly after because, as Brendan tells us, "you don't have to do as much if you start with something good". Rather than mucking about trying to add flavour to a sad carrot, get yourself some good organic veg to begin with. LOW MAINTENANCE MEAT MEANS LESS NEED FOR FANCY MARINADES Rather than some pretty generic cuts of meat you'd normally find at a barbecue (the regular porterhouse steaks and snags, for example), Brendan decided to cook up a huge chunk of flank steak. Seasoned with the staples of salt, pepper and olive oil, that bad boy just went straight on top of the grill. It's less maintenance than paying attention to individual steaks, and more impressive when it's sliced and served. Having a good quality cut means you won't have to muck around with fancy marinades — the flavour will speak for itself. Cooking your meat, according to Brendan, all depends on each individual cut. With cuts like flank, eating it rare isn't going to be as tasty as it is with other cuts because it's naturally more chewy. If you're doing chicken, cook it skin-side down first to render the fat, then let it rest once it's almost cooked through. Get to know your meats, and save yourself some time at the grill (but always let your meat rest — no shortcuts there). FANCY FOOD IS SURPRISINGLY EASY TO PULL OFF Matt tells me that one of the reasons he started Work-Shop was because "people need to get more creative", and the same is definitely true at the barbecue. Just like with the flank steak, try a new cut of meat and pair it with a Heineken 3. Grill your veggies, instead of boiling them. For a sneaky dessert that's not a pavlova, how about halved peaches, grilled, served with amaretti, mint and mascarpone? It's literally a matter of cutting a peach in half, grilling it, and enjoying the resulting deliciousness. Even if you don't have Brendan's plating skills, it's hard to go wrong throwing nicely hued things on a plate. Always be unique, guys. Take a look at the photos from the last-minute barbecue masterclass we hosted with The Farmed Table on Sunday, November 20. Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Images: Michael Wickham.
Rub elbows with world class journalists at Storyology 2016. Presented by The Walkley Foundation, Australia's premier journalism and storytelling festival returns to Sydney from August 10-13, and will be hosted this year at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington. Whether you're a career journalist, aspiring writer or just like hearing interesting people talk, there's sure to be something on the program for you. Indeed, festival organisers have put together an extraordinarily lineup of speakers, including International Consortium of Investigative Journalists director Gerard Ryle, Storyful global news editor David Clinch, and Egyptian digital journalist Lina Attalah. Panel topics, meanwhile, will range from freedom of the press in the Arab world to the coalescence of news and comedy on programs like The Weekly and The Feed. You can also get a double dose of political podcasting with live recordings of Two Grumpy Hacks and The Party Room. [competition]580444[/competition]
If you only get stranded on one island this year, make sure to make it this one. After the colossal success of their inaugural endeavour, Wine Island is returning to Sydney Harbour this November for another long weekend of fun, food and sweet, sweet wine. For those who missed out last time, Wine Island is more or less what it sounds like, in that it's an island where you drink a lot of wine. More specifically, it's a three day mini festival on Clark Island in Sydney Harbour, where you can spend your time knocking back glass after glass while feasting on mouth-watering cuisine. If it's anything like last year, there'll also be a range of activities to enjoy – think cooking classes and treasure hunts. Yes, treasure hunts. No wonder we dubbed it the Best New Event of 2015. Wine Island 2016 is set to run from Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13, although tickets are yet to go on sale. Last year it was $79.90 for general admission, which included ferry transport, masterclass entry and a whole bunch of booze. In the meantime, we'd recommend watching their website and Facebook page like a hawk, because we reckon tickets will go fast once they're made available.
Coming next month to Westfield in Chatswood, Royal Stacks is the brainchild of burger nerd Dani Zeini. That name might not mean much to Sydneysiders, admittedly, but trust us when we tell you this news should make you very excited. Zeini is the same guy behind Melbourne's awesome American-themed eatery Grand Trailer Park Taverna, not to mention Royal Stacks venues in Brunswick and the CBD. Now, after years spent lording over your hungry neighbours south of the border, Zeini is bringing his mouth-watering buns to NSW. Set to open on August 31, Royal Stacks have a fairly simple menu, by which we mean burgers, and plenty of them. Choices range from the classic Single Stack featuring a beef patty, tomato, lettuce, pickles, cheddar and special sauce, to more extravagant options such as the Prince Harry, which adds horseradish, shallots and gherkin mayo, and The King, which throws a gigantic mac 'n' cheese croquette into the mix. The King is here! Snap: @empthyplateblog #royalstacks #fullystacked A photo posted by Royal Stacks (@royalstacksau) on Jul 21, 2016 at 11:32pm PDT They've also got you sorted when it comes to dessert, serving frozen custard in a variety of flavours – think Ferrero Rocher, cookie dough and Nutella swirl, to name but a few. "I've been obsessed with US burger culture for several years," said Zeini. "Bringing this kind of culture to Australia but focusing on ethically and locally sourced ingredients is something I've always been excited about." Find Royal Stacks at Westfield, Chatswood from August 31. For more information visit www.royalstacks.com.au.
You could pay a hefty ticket price to see Boy and Bear at a top-tier venue like the Sydney Opera House. Or you could watch the dudes busk at Sydney's Night Noodle Markets. Sydney's ARIA-winning fivesome will be setting up for a free session at tonight's Night Noodle Markets, during which they'll sing for their supper as buskers. Celebrating the release of their new album. Boy and Bear will be playing acoustic versions of their new material from 6pm in Hyde Park. SYDNEY SIDERS: to celebrate the release of the album we're heading to the Noodle Markets in Hyde Park from 6pm tomorrow night (the 15th) to play you guys some of our new stuff. We'll be playing a handful of songs acoustically, so come down and say hi and watch us busk for our dinner! #limitoflove A photo posted by Boy & Bear (@boyandbear) on Oct 14, 2015 at 1:44am PDT Find Boy and Bear busking at Sydney's Night Noodle Markets from 6pm in Hyde Park.
Time to update your reading list: the program for the latest edition of the Sydney Writers' Festival has just been revealed. One year shy of its 20th anniversary, this year's festival will run from Monday, May 16 through to Sunday, May 22, and will welcome more than 450 authors to Sydney to discuss their work and ideas in panels, lectures and workshops around the city. Standout guests from abroad include feminist icon Gloria Steinem, critically acclaimed author Jonathan Franzen (Purity), novelist, rapper and poet Kate Tempest (Brand New Ancient), and North Korean defector Park Yeon-mi (In Order to Live). They'll be joined by Man Booker Prize winners Marlon James (A Brief History of Seven Killings) and Julian Barnes (The Sense of an Ending), and overnight success story Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train). The local contingent, meanwhile, includes numerous recognisable names, including Tim Flannery, Anna Funder, Magda Szubanski, Kerry O'Brien, Andrew Denton, Peter Garrett, Stan Grant, Sarah Ferguson and Annabel Crabb. The theme of this year's festival is bibliotherapy, with a focus on reading for its therapeutic effect. "I very much like the idea of bibliotherapy and its premise that you can improve your life," said festival Artistic Director Jemma Birrell in a statement that accompanied the launch of the program. "A good literary festival, like a good book, should bring real life benefits — joy, solace and a new understanding of the world." The Sydney Writers' Festival will run from May 16-22. For the full program and to buy tickets, visit swf.org.au.
In glorious news this morning, Gelato Messina have announced their pièce de résistance, revealing their new Messina Creative Department. It's is a tiny eight-seat degustation bar next to the Darlinghurst store in the space that has previously held the Messina Lab (that is, where they dreamed up all those obscene gelato cakes we know and love). But now, in true Messina form, they've decided to do some new and downright crazy stuff with gelato. The dark, intimate venue will host a seven-course dessert degustation with a non-alcoholic drink pairing with each course — and as you would expect, it looks batshit insane (in the best way possible). The menu, curated by OG gelato chef Remi Talbot, who will will feature a range of exquisite treats, running the gamut of sweet-sweet and sweet-savoury as you would expect from any degustation. But hold your gelato-loving horses right there — you can't book yet. They'll be taking bookings through their website from Wednesday, April 20. There won't be many seats available though; there will only be two sittings per night, at 7pm and 9pm Wednesday through Saturday — that's only 64 spots a week. So you'll have to have quick fingers or you'll turn to stone while waiting. In the meantime, They've released nine short teaser videos on the newly launched Messina Creative Instagram which will make your mouth water. Crispy fried bubbles, seared sugared figs, tiny hand-rolled ice cream cones garnished with crystallised flowers and — are you ready for this? — seaweed-esque, razor-thin tuile poking over the side of a golden bowl with a deep violet bloom balanced across it with plush lumps of white cloud surrounding a bed of pink sand dabbed delicately with drops of golden syrup. Phew. Whatever they're cooking up at Messina Creative looks more art than dessert — they are literally drunk on power and it looks delicious. We truly live in the renaissance era of desserts. The Messina Creative Department degustations will be seven courses and cost $130 per person. You can now book here.
The man behind Belle's Hot Chicken is taking over the kitchen at Harpoon Harry. After pop-up gigs around Sydney including multiple stints at Harry's and a nine-month residency in Barangaroo (which has just been confirmed as a permanent site), chef Morgan McGlone has taken on the role of 'culinary curator' at the Surry Hills bar and restaurant — and this week he began his tenure with the launch of a brand new menu at the Harpoon Harry public bar. Drawing on his passion for southern American cuisine after spending time in kitchens in South Carolina and Tennessee, McGlone has put together a menu laden with finger-licking favourites. However, instead of the same fried chicken schtick, he'll be doing something a little different at Harry's, employing his custom one-tonne smoker, Harriet. "We're using Harriet like a trump card," says McGlone. "Certain elements and foods speak better when smoked. But just using it in everything is redundant. So when we do use it, we want it to be fucking great. Restraint is so important." Restraint or no restraint, the menu sounds pretty awesome. Snacky options include crispy pork rinds, freshly shucked oysters and devilled eggs with smoked trout and roe, while those with a more pressing hunger can grab a rack of lamb ribs, grain-fed steak, or the Harpoon Harry burger. McGlone will also unveil a menu for room service, special event catering and — most importantly — the upstairs dining room, with service in the latter space commencing on Wednesday, April 20. You can find Harpoon Harry at 40-44 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills. For more information visit hotelharry.com.au.
Botany Bay locals, rejoice. Paddy Coughlan, founder of Sydney hospitality group Bourke Street and brains behind the Lord Gladstone relaunch, has announced the Botany Bay Hotel as the proud new site of a Sydney pub revamp. It's not dramatic, the Botany Bay Hotel has undergone a quick facelift but essentially stays true to the bones of the building. "The Botany Bay Hotel is a great pub," says Coughlan. "Until now, we've been buying venues that need a lot of work, and we then do a complete overhaul. The bones of this place were great — and we wanted to retain features like the sandstone and timber, which are a nod to the heritage of the venue. So this time around we've tweaked and freshened up, with the main changes coming in the kitchen via an all-new menu in the bistro." The biggest change is in the kitchen — the menu has been completely overhauled by Bourke Street staple Ernie Priestly. "Ernie's cheeseburger is famous across Sydney, as is his modern take on pub classics," says Coughlan. "Ernie first worked with us at the Marlborough Hotel, then again at the Lord Gladstone, and now at the Botany Bay Hotel." The new bistro offering is in the classic pub vein but broader, with favourites cherry picked from a range of different types of gastropub. The new menu includes the classic parma (is a pub really a pub if it doesn't serve up a parma? We think not), steak and nachos as well as crispy skinned salmon, Baja fish soft shelled tacos, jalapeno poppers and Southern fried chicken wings. Not bad for a pub dinner, we have to say. Coughlan and the Bourke Street crew have been responsible for some of the most dramatic Sydney revamps in the last few years, with a long list of successes under their collective belt (including the Lord Gladstone, The Workers and the under-construction Hampshire Hotel to name but a few). The revamped Botany Bay Hotel is now open, operating seven days a week with lunch from 11am–3pm and dinner from 5pm–9pm. Image: Lord Gladstone.
Get up close and personal with Melbourne's Alpine tomorrow night, at an intimate gig at the Oxford Art Factory in Darlinghurst. Presented by GiggedIn, the new live music subscription service that gets you unlimited access to gigs around Sydney, this one-night-only show will see the six-piece pop ensemble take the stage along with up and coming electro-pop artist R.W. Grace and hugely hyped newcomer Jess Kent. Sounds pretty bloody excellent to us. Tickets to the gig are currently on sale via Moshtix at $40 a head plus booking fee — unless you're a GiggedIn member, in which case the whole thing is free. Doors open at 7.30pm. Thanks to GiggedIn, we've got ten double passes to give away. And on top of that, they're giving you 30 percent off your first month if you sign up for a membership before June 18. Just enter the code CPFRIENDS at checkout. [competition]572928[/competition]
Whether you're in a relationship or not, what could be better than celebrating the summer season with a yacht party? Mumm Champagne is celebrating the launch of its summer rosé parties with its inaugural Valentines Day Eve party. It's on a yacht in Sydney Harbour on February 12 (not actually Valentines Day Eve, we know, but it's close enough), and we have two double passes to give away. On the yacht there will be Mumm Rosé Champagne and cocktails (yes, there will be frosé), and a gastronomy dinner menu that includes champagne macaroons. The party will be an intimate gathering, with an international DJ providing the soundtrack for the evening and what will hopefully be a beautiful Sydney sunset providing the backdrop. If you're lucky enough to have a special someone, skip the madness of February 14 and take your partner out to dinner on the Mumm super yacht on February 12 . If you're flying solo, grab a friend (male or female) and celebrate with them on the harbour. [competition]608491[/competition]
Birds chirp, rainbows form and the sun shines a little brighter over Moore Park — the award-winning Sydney Dog Lovers Show is returning to the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion for a second year of pats, licks and parades. And yes, the dedicated puppy cuddle zone is returning. Bounding into Moore Park's two biggest venues on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, the Sydney Dog Lovers Show will see thousands of dedicated pooch fans celebrating the noble four-legged monarch of human companionship. There'll be dozens of furry friends available for adoption from rescue groups across NSW in the CANIDAE Rescue Dog Zone, where you can learn up on what's actually involved with adoption. Champion canines, including Dr Katrina Warren’s admittedly kickass Wonderdogs, will throw down their mad skills in live doggy demonstrations including agility, flygility (whatever that means) and frisbee shows. Plus, there's going to be an Explosive Detective Dog (EDD) demo presented by the Australian Defence Force simulating a mock checkpoint in a war scenario, alongside a special tribute to Australian military working dogs over the decades. Dogs, amiright? But hold up, you came here to cuddle pooches. We're getting there. Punters can make their way to the Pat-A-Pooch zone, where you can cuddle up to over 30 of Australia’s most lovable and popular breeds from puppy to adult dogs — we're talking uppity Dachshunds to fluffball Samoyeds, all up in your grill. This was undeniably the main attraction of last year's event, and gives kitten cafes a run for their money. Probably unlikely to look like this, but we'll keep 'em crossed. There's plenty more happening over the two days of furry friended fun. Not sure which type of schnoochie is perfect for you? Sign up for a Perfect Match session where you'll be paired with your ultimate dog breed. Already found your tail-waggin' soulmate? Get some expert tips on training, behaviour, first-aid and nutrition in seminars by some of Australia's big name vets: James and Anthony from Village Vets Australia on Foxtel’s The LifeStyle Channel, Bondi Vet Dr Lisa Chimes, LauraVissaritis and Dr Katrina Warren. Plus, there's going to be a doggie kissing booth. Yep, pucker up. Here's hoping for one of these unforgettable, majestic performances on the day: Sydney Dog Lovers Show returns for the second time at the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August. Open both days from 10am - 5pm. Tickets are $20 online or $25 on-site (Adult, ages 16 and over), $9 online or $12 onsite (ages 5 to 16, kids under 5 FREE). Everything is free (including cuddles) once you have purchased your ticket, obviously excepting food and drink. To book tickets or for more info and adorable dog pictures, head to the website. View all Sydney Events.
After snagging their second ARIA for Best Heavy/Hard Rock Release, DZ Deathrays are doing a victory lap of Australia this February and March in celebration of their second album, Black Rat. Big, loud and in-face, the lads' second offering demonstrated DZ Deathray’s versatility, from their classic DZ sound on 'Reflective Skull', to the wonderfully frantic 'Gina Works at Hearts', to the moodier 'Northern Lights'. It’s all there and it’s all good. The Get Rich or Drunk Tryin’ tour will see the boys reunited with past touring pals, and good mates in general, Bass Drum Of Death (USA) and Hockey Dad. After an absolutely massive 2014 filled with international touring, it's nice to have the Brisbane lads home. Catch them while you can.
Summer is just around the corner, and what better way to prepare your body and mind than a weekend of wellness? If a Saturday of meditation workshops, exercise classes and wellness sessions sounds like your cup of tea (or bottle of coconut water, as the case may be) mark your calendar for The Wellness Festival. After a sold-out debut in Melbourne in April 2016, this health-focused festival is coming to our fair city for the first time. This relatively new festival is the creation of health enthusiast Lauren Pell, founder of wellness-focused event production company Colour & Coconuts. Hosted by Australian model and presenter Laura Dundovic and featuring speakers such as international health blogger Jessica Sepel, The Brown Paper Bag founder Jacqueline Alwill, Mastering Your Mean Girl author Melissa Ambrosini and more, The Wellness Festival offers a full day program that includes a lunchtime workout, talks by successful entrepreneurs and health experts, and a Wellness Market. And, once all the festivities have helped you work up an appetite, refuel with a wide selection of healthy snacks and meals. Don't wait to buy your tickets: the first 100 ticket holders will nab a free gift.
Successful documentaries are often boiled down to a well-worn old adage, with the best films frequently benefiting from filmmakers simply being in the right place at the right time. The saying seems to ring true for Australian Jennifer Peedom, although calling the experienced high-altitude director 'fortunate' isn't quite appropriate. When she went to Nepal in 2014, she was motivated by reported tensions between travellers and their Sherpa guides. With the chasm between the two groups screaming for more attention, Peedom planned to make a movie about one of the local workers, the unassuming Phurba Tashi Sherpa, who was on the cusp of making history. But then nature struck, and the movie had to change. A time capsule of the toughest climbing season imaginable, as well as an exercise in quick-thinking filmmaking at its best, Sherpa is undoubtedly the superior Everest-based movie of the last 12 months. Forget re-enactments, high-profile actors looking frosty, strained accents and 3D special effects. In capturing the blackest day the mountain has ever seen with on-the-ground footage of a tragedy unfolding, as well as the build up to the Khumbu Icefall avalanche and the harrowing, heartbreaking aftermath, the film presents devastating details that could only spring from real life. Phurba's feat — ascending the world's highest peak for a record-breaking 22nd time — would've made a rousing story in its own right, as well as a powerful testament to the largely unrecognised role the Sherpa people play in the mountain's growing tourism industry. The weather had other plans, however. As the ice and snow began to move, his tale became even more emblematic of the broader situation facing Nepalese residents, and brought the appalling labour conditions of the Sherpas, who make wealthy Westerners' treks possible, sharply into focus. With the precision of a master craftsperson and the breathtaking vision to match, Peedom balances the personal plight of one pivotal figure with the anger-inspiring human rights issues that surround the mountain. Viewers will find themselves simultaneously marvelling at the images Peedom and her trio of cameramen have recorded, and wanting to leap out of their seat with frustration at the dangers the Sherpas face just to make a living. In that way, Sherpa is more than just a tale of triumph over adversity. Instead, it's a high-stakes, high-altitude dissection of commercial and financial interests triumphing over a very human cost, as pieced together with an insider's perspective and understanding. Interviewees hail from all sides of the business of climbing, but there's never any doubting the film's allegiances. That's not a consequence of Peedom's lack of balance, but simply a reflection of the galling reality on the mountain. Offering an astonishing account of a just-as-astonishing slice of life, documentary filmmaking doesn't get much better than this.
Anything could happen at this one-night-only pooling together of Sydney's most fearlessly creative and fiercely swaggering musicians. We're banking on a visionary fusion of Italo funk (courtesy of Donny Benét), walls of guitar sound (from Kirin J Callinan), revolutionary rhythms (thanks to PVT's Laurence Pike) and surreal balladeering (delivered by Jack Ladder). But, then again, your guess is probably as good as ours. Dreamland plays the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent on January 16 at 11.45pm. This is just one of our ten picks for Sydney Festival's best gigs. Check out the whole list.
UPDATE: JANUARY 17, 2020 — The Sydney Opera House has today announced that, due to health reasons, Solange has cancelled two of her four January shows. Performances on Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 will no longer be going ahead, but those on Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31 will. The SOH has already begun processing refunds for the first two shows. If you'd like to get tickets to one of the latter shows there are, thankfully, some still available — but we suggest you move quickly. The below article has been updated to reflect the changes. After blowing Sydneysiders away with her singing, dancing and towering cosmic structures at the Sydney Opera House last year for Vivid Live, Solange is heading Down Under once more. The Grammy Award-winning singer — composer, choreographer, actress, filmmaker, fashion icon — is coming back to the Opera House for two shows in January 2020. Mark it in your calendars, friends. If you were one of the lucky ones to score tickets the sold out show last year, you'll know what to expect come January: a stunning 360-degree stage, a live band, a team of incredibly choreographed dancers. Although this time, instead of singing and dancing to A Seat at the Table under a giant moon-like sphere, Solange will be performing her new album When I Get Home in Australia for the first time. Featuring hits such as 'Way to the Show', 'Dreams' and 'Binz' — and collaborators such as Pharrell, Sampha, Gucci Mane and Tyler, the Creator — the album is an ode to Solange's hometown of Houston, Texas. It was released alongside a 33-minute art film of the same name, which you can watch on YouTube while you're waiting for her Aussie return. While the stage will look a little different this time round, we're told to expect something similarly impressive. You can get a glimpse of what to expect from the new choreography, too, by checking out Solange's Instagram. All the $99 tickets have already sold out, so you're looking at paying at least $129 for a spot. The Sydney Opera House performances will be Solange's only Aussie shows, so, if you're interstate we suggest you start keeping an eye on cheap flights. Image: Max Hirschberger
As much as Mardi Gras is about the party and the parade, it just wouldn't be the same without Fair Day. Every year, up to 80,000 folks descend on Victoria Park for a day that's half picnic, half party. You'll want to bust out your brightest colours — being the only person who didn't dress up is no fun at all. From 10am on Sunday, February 17 there'll live performances from Electric Fields, Mojo Juju, Maribelle, The Marion Cranes and a whole load more, plus a pumpin' dance floor so that you can dance the day away. There'll also be over 200 stalls for food, bevvies and other delights, a fashions of the fair contest and an official after party. And, thanks to the return of Doggywood, your favourite four-legged buddy can also experience life in the spotlight. Does your fabulous pooch have what it takes to be crowned Best Dressed or Most Talented? Of course it does.
Leave everything to the chef at the expansive and moody omakase restaurant, ŌRA. Make your evening even more special with a complimentary Haku martini paired with the first choice of the special omakase menu. ŌRA is located down an unassuming street in a renovated warehouse. You could walk past and never even know that a culinary haven awaits inside. We sat down with Head Chef Nobuyuki Ura to chat about his history of becoming a hatted chef and what he loves about omakase. What sets ŌRA apart from the other stunning omakase restaurants in the city is the unique use of space. Unlike many of the other small and intimate venues, ŌRA makes use of its warehouse surroundings to provide three different offerings to its guests: a central bar with fusion food offerings, a cocktail lounge and a marble ten-seater chef's counter for omakase. Omakase literally translates to 'I'll leave it up to you' — it's a culinary performance where diners can witness the skills of the chef as each dish is carefully created and presented to the trusting guests. Each month, a new menu is created by Chef Ura, showcasing the freshness and seasonality of the produce. If you want to level up your omakase experience, from Wednesday, November 1, until Sunday, December 3, all seatings at ŌRA will begin with a complimentary bespoke Haku martini, the Barley Breeze Plum martini. Haku Vodka's signature serve is the Haku martini — a drink that showcases the craftsmanship, nuanced flavour and exceptional quality of the premium Japanese liquid. To learn more, head to the House of Suntory website. Images: Brooke Zotti
Whether by chance or the greatest promotional tie-in for a movie release in recent history, a glorious full moon shone over the First Man premiere in Sydney. An impressive enough sight going in to the cinema, it held a near-magical allure on the way back out. Even now, some 50 years since the first manned lunar landing and a lifetime of technological advancements beyond, to look up and consider the deed still feels unreal; an impossibility requiring far too much luck, daring and genius for anyone to even consider it. And yet…the Eagle did land. Directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land), First Man is at once the story of mankind's greatest ever technological accomplishment and the enormous sacrifices required to achieve it. Set against the backdrop of extreme US/Soviet tensions, First Man chronicles the NASA side of the infamous space race and highlights the extraordinary challenges precipitated by such a Herculean task. How, for example, do you come up with a list of requirements for something that's never been done before? Who is the right person for the job when your greatest understanding of what that job is is little more than a guess? This was precisely the challenge facing the newly established space agency in 1958 as it set out to find seven willing, qualified and extraordinarily capable candidates to undertake the first ever manned flights into space. One of those individuals was, of course, Neil Armstrong, whose portrayal in First Man by Ryan Gosling conveys an introverted and emotionally repressed family man possessed of unyielding skill and determination. Inevitably, films based on real world events at once benefit from, and are challenged by, an audience's knowledge of what ultimately happens. The inevitability of catastrophe in disaster films, for example, contributes to a powerful and compounding tension that can become almost unbearable. The key to maintaining drama in these films is to focus on the human stories at their core and shine a light on the details lesser known. How, though, do you find an unknown detail in perhaps the best-known story of the last century? That humans landed on the moon is far from a surprise twist, and that the first man to do it was Armstrong is such a given it's used as the title of the film. And so First Man, penned by Josh Singer (Spotlight), spans the eight physically and emotionally gruelling years of Armstrong's life prior to his iconic small step, beginning with an excruciatingly tense and near-fatal solo test flight into the earth's upper atmosphere. Singer's screenplay is tantalisingly layered, offering little by way of dialogue yet enormous scope for nuanced performances in the hands of an accomplished ensemble. Chazelle's direction is likewise sublime, especially during the film's more kinetic scenes where you feel just as drained and challenged as those on screen. The claustrophobia of the tiny capsules, the relentless g-forces of an out-of-control gyroscope, and the deafening silence of space, combine to assault the senses in the best possible way, aided by a level of sound design that will surely prove the frontrunner come awards season. On the performance front, The Crown's Claire Foy grounds the tale (as much literally as symbolically) as Armstrong's wife Janet, reminding us of the significant sacrifices made on all sides of this story. Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll and Ciarán Hinds round out the impressive troupe, with Stoll's performance in particular painting Armstrong's eventual co-pilot Buzz Aldrin in a surprisingly blunt and unlikeable light. Gosling's scenes with Clarke, too, prove some of the film's best; a meaningful friendship borne of fierce competition, and a closeness that permitted acknowledgements of extreme grief, fear and uncertainty without ever giving voice to the words. In the end First Man is, despite its scale and subject matter, an intimate character portrait rather than a history lesson. It eschews the traditional pomp and grandeur of NASA control room scenes for dimly lit kitchens and moonlit walks, yet remains every bit the space odyssey such a tale commands. Filmed for IMAX, it should be seen the same way – an honest, tense and compelling picture that reminds us exactly why we love going to the movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSoRx87OO6k
The Oak Barrel is bringing back its eighth annual Sydney Craft Beer and Cider Fair on Saturday, July 27. This indoor showcase collates the very best of Australian and international craft beer and cider under the roof of one of the best and oldest craft bottle shops in the city. This year's fair will feature 22 stallholders, including Capital Brewing, Yeastie Boys, Two Metre Tall, Sailors Grave Brewing, Wolf of the Willows, Green Beacon Brewing, The Welder's Dog, Forest for the Trees and more. Overall, there will be over 120 craft beers and ciders on hand — and many of the brewers behind those beers will be there to have a chat. As in previous years, the festival focuses on local producers and the community aspects of independent, family owned craft brewing. This event has sold out every year running, so best to get your tickets while you still can.
Smash-hit musical Once has garnered an impressive array of awards. First, as an indie film by John Carney, and later, as a Broadway production adapted by Enda Walsh — its quirky telling of guy-meets-girl, along with its otherworldly lyricism, has seen Once captivate audiences worldwide. And thanks to Darlinghurst Theatre Company, this winter will mark the Sydney debut of the stage production. Director Richard Carroll's rendition will boast a star-studded local cast and feature the show's peerless musical score — one that has seen it score a Grammy, a Tony and an Academy Award. Once will run for a limited season at Darlinghurst's Eternity Playhouse. A brief synopsis: Once opens in a charming and grungy Dublin pub. There, we meet Guy, who plays gigs at this sort of locale while pining over his unfaithful ex-girlfriend (a backstory wonderfully evoked in the song 'Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy'). guy is packing up his guitar when Girl, a young Czech immigrant enchanted by his music, approaches him. We soon discover that Girl is also a musician. And, perhaps more importantly, for Once's narrative purposes at least, Girl is the owner of a broken 'hoover'. The rest of the show charts the transient but intense intimacy Guy and Girl form through their shared love of creating music. To borrow the reviewer's now well-worn catchphrase: a show like this only comes around Once. Images: Robert Catto.
Dig out and dust off your very finest Wedding Singer-inspired formalwear, you're going to a fake '80s wedding. You'll be dancing to David Bowie, drinking champers and, right when you're least expecting it, encountering an overly enthusiastic bridesmaid. Named Dance Magic Dance: Wedding Reception, this immersive live theatre party is being brought to you by Melbourne's The Boon Companions, in their first-ever appearance in Sydney. They've previously won over Victorian crowds with sell-out events I Am Woman and Cast Party, and now they're taking over Glebe's new co-working cafe, The Works, with their latest work. Show your ticket at the door and you'll be ushered back to July 1989. You've just watched Peter and Sherry Entwhistle tie the knot and now you're at the reception, in the role of a close connection of the wedding party. Raising a glass, you, along with close friends and family members, will send the Entwhistles deep into blissful eternity. Even Lindsay McDougall and friends are forming a house band playing live '80s wedding songs. But don't go getting too misty-eyed – you'll need to keep your eyes and ears open all night long. Dance Magic Dance: Wedding Reception is being held at The Works, 62 Glebe Point Road, Glebe on Saturday, July 9, from 7.30-11pm. Tickets are available online and a cash bar will be open throughout the evening.
Sydney's biggest celebration of First Nations culture is back this weekend as Homeground 2016 gets into gear. As in years before, the music and dance line-up is packed. Bands include Arnhem Land acoustic/rock outfit East Journey, chilled out funk-jazz group Trinity Roots and nine-piece army Dubmarine. On the movement front, Queensland collectives Excelsior and NayGayiw Gigi will showcase traditional dance at various locations around the harbour. Homeground is also running a host of workshops and tours to give festivalgoers a chance to learn about First Nations culture. Introductory classes for all ages in weaving and dance will run over both days, with tours of the harbourside giving a glimpse into the lands and culture of the Gadigal people. A first for the festival is Collisions, a virtual reality experience, which explores Nyarri Morgan's experience of western culture. The Homeground Art Market will also run again, featuring art, accessories and bush foods from Indigenous artists and growers, while Indigenous hatted chef Clayton Donovan has designed the festival's official menu (although the contents appear to be a closely-guarded secret). Homeground is free, but the activity bookings suggest things are likely to get crazy. This is definitely an early bird situation. Images: Prudence Upton and Daniel Boud.
Waking up daily and not really knowing 'how to live'? Yep, we're kicking off Friday with some sweet, sweet deep thinking. Often we don't have the answer to this ourselves, so we look to the advice of others to get the glorious tips. And who better than writers, authors, novelists, essayists, journalists, critics and experts to clue our meandering minds in? Taking the theme of 'how to live?' this year, Sydney Writers' Festival has announced its 2015 program lineup. This year, Sydney Writers' Festival has booked more than 400 Australian and 45 international writers to appear, chat and have a few drinks with us in the festival lounge from May 18 - 24. Kicking off the SWF with the opening address is The Reluctant Fundamentalist novelist and acclaimed essayist Mohsin Hamid, author of the book NPR can't stop talking about (H is for Hawk) Helen Macdonald (who'll give the closing address). British actor Alan Cumming is coming (couldn't help myself), who's released novels and opinion pieces over the years — most recently his candid autobiography Not My Father's Son. Fellow British actor David Walliams will be here, who's drummed up quite the Roald Dahlian children's book career after Little Britain. The world's biggest selling author for the last 13 years and inventor of Detective Alex Cross — yep, James Patterson will be here. Then there's crime writer Michael Connelly, journalist Nick Davies (who uncovered the hacking scandal), and the one you can blame for the term 'Generation X', Douglas Coupland. Local legend and 2014 Man Booker Prize winner, Richard Flanagan, is on the bill, along with Miles Franklin Award-winning writer Evie Wyld. Two former Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard and John Howard, and former Queensland Premier turned Sydneysider Anna Bligh are locked in. Podcaster Starlee Kine will be here, alongside happiness expert Paul Dolan and happiness advocate Leigh Ann Henion, war correspondents Christina Lamb and Åsne Seierstad, celebrity critic Daniel Mendelsohn. Medically assessing how to live will be doctors who write, Atul Gawande and Norman Doidge and mortician Caitlin Doughty. Novelists aplenty this year with renowned writers like Amy Bloom, Micheal Frayn, Ben Okri, David Mitchell, Anthony Horowitz, Emily St John Mandel, Jonathan Lethem, debut novelists Zia Haider Rahman and Mitchell S Jackson, and Australia’s bestselling authors Kate Grenville, David Malouf, Liane Moriarty, Graeme Simsion, Helen Garner, Robert Dessaix, Joan London, Steve Toltz, Sonya Hartnett, Nick Earls, Don Watson and Brooke Davis all leaving their pages for a second to come chat. Sydney Writers' Festival runs May 18 to 24. For more info and tickets head over here.
Officially Sydney's newest rooftop bar, Coogee Pavilion Rooftop is set to open its highly anticipated sky-high space — just in time for New Year's Eve. Home to no less than four indoor and outdoor bars, Merivale's Rooftop is kicking things off on Tuesday, December 30, ready to make a breezy home for post-beach snacks, sunset cocktails and one of Sydney's best panoramic views over the warmer months. Plus, the Rooftop and Ground Floor will both be open on New Year's Eve — with no bookings or tickets required. Plans have changed. The crown of Coogee's three-level beach citadel, Coogee Pavilion, opened in July this year to big ol' snaps, the Rooftop has been designed by Kelvin Ho and Emilie Delalande of Akin Creative, Amanda Talbot, Justin and Bettina Hemmes. Get ready for a few surprises, the space has been designed "as if it was once the conservatory owned by an eccentric botanist" according to Merivale. Think epic greenery, mismatched Moroccan tiles and handpainted tables from the hand of local artist Mayriel Luke. Food-wise, expect Merivale-style decadence on the Rooftop, but with a laidback beachside vibe. Coogee Pavilion's executive chef Jordan Toft is taking his crafts upstairs, infusing the menu with inspiration from his travels through the Eastern Mediterranean. Think charcoal-grilled meats and smoked seafood — we're talking whole baby calamari with ink vinaigrette, haloumi wrapped in grape vine leaves and lemon oil, and adana (ground lamb and beef, washed onion and sumac). Post-swim tipples at the Pavilion? Drinkies have been designed by Merivale's group bars manager Paul Mant, and while the cocktail list is yet to be revealed, fresh fruit-laden sharing pitchers seem to be the go. Holding the Coogee Pavilion as Merivale's pièce de résistance, CEO Justin Hemmes is super keen to unveil the Pavilion's fancy new hat. "This is our most exciting venue to open yet and certainly the one I’m most proud of," he says. "We have been overwhelmed by the support of the local community since launching the ground floor and I can’t wait to unveil the next level of this iconic property." The new Rooftop stems from the already-applauded lower levels of the Pavilion — brimming with Will & Co coffee, a lovejuice cart, barber shop, florist, nostalgia-ruled games area, true-Italian woodfired pizza by Vincenzo Biondini, raw bar and a giant 45kg rope knitted lampshade — to casually gloss over the details. With the opening of Sydney's first free beach library, seems Coogee's staking a mighty claim as the go-to eastern summer hub this season. Coogee Pavilion Rooftop will open December 30, 2014.
With Mardi Gras in full glittering swing, one of Sydney’s best and arguably favourite burger joints, Mary’s, will be showing its support for LGBTQI folk this season with a charitable and pun-tastic addition to their menu. Meet the Fairy’s Burger. The team’s cooked up a special take on the menu-staple Mary’s Burger by adding a colourful blob of 100s & 1000s to make one damn intriguing sweet-savoury mix. They've also outfitted both stores with rainbow artwork from local graphic designer Sindy Sinn. Owners Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham are simply asking punters for one extra dollar per burger, which they’ll match. Then all proceeds will go to Camp Out and Twenty10, two charities working toward making the world a better place for people of more diverse gender, sex and sexuality, especially among disadvantaged youth. As quirky nods to that glorious gay rainbow go, this sounds pretty damn cute. Critically acclaimed since opening in Newtown back in 2012, and most recently extending the venture to the CBD, Mary’s has been renowned for its simple philosophy of damn good burgers and Jack Daniel's for all. “Our guests are what make Mary’s such a crazy, colourful, vibrant and nourishing experience,” explains Smyth. “Mary’s isn’t gay or straight, man or woman, fat or thin, rich or poor. Mary’s is everyone and everything.” You go girlfriend. The Fairy's Burger is available from March 2-8 at both the CBD and Newtown stores.
The PACT Centre for Emerging Artists is teaming up with performance collective Applespiel for a 24-hour live event in protest of proposed government cuts to the arts sector. Specifically, they'll be hosting an all night telethon, with the aim of raising not money, but rather excellence, in the hope of acquiring enough excellence for George Brandis' controversial National Centre for Excellence in the Arts. The event is titled In Pursuit of Excellence: A Telethon for Excellence. Sounds excellent. Taking place in the PACT Theatre in Erskineville, the tongue-in-cheek telethon kicks off at 6pm on Friday, July 17 and will be taking pledges of excellence until the same time the next day. There'll be panel discussions, dances, exhibits and live performances, plus video statements from arts organisations far and wide. Entry into the event is free, although donations are most welcome. Those wanting to stay the night should bring a blanket and snacks (enough to share please!), while drinks will be available from the bar. If you can't make the event in person, you can stream the whole thing live at www.inpursuitofexcellence.net. The Telethon for Excellence is part of a broader movement of events and protests under the #freethearts banner, which aims to draw attention to and hopefully reverse the planned government cuts to the Australia Council. Under the most recent federal budget, the amount of money allocated to the peer-reviewed arts funding body will be slashed by more than $100 million over the next four years, and instead go to the newly created Centre for Excellence. What is most troubling about this change is that rather than being decided by an independent body, the provision of grant money would fall to the Arts Minister, aka Brandis himself. According to a statement from Applespiel, "This Telethon is at PACT to highlight what we stand to lose: the space and support for independent art makers. Because that’s what spaces like PACT do best, they nurture and grow the practices of artists, they allow space to fuck up, to try something new and difficult, to learn. Without these spaces, where will independent artist go?" For the full rundown on the Telethon for Excellence, including information on how you can pledge, check out the event page on Facebook.
The inner west officially gets all the Fringe fun. After hunkering down in Newtown last year, this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival has its sights set on Erskineville, with the suburb tapped as the home of this year’s official festival hub. This year they're calling it a Festival Village, so we expect big things from this home base for the month-long cultural marathon, the largest independent arts festival in NSW. "This September, we are leaving the safety of our underground spaces and taking over shopfronts, streets and any space we can find," says festival director Kerri Glasscock. "With pop-ups and activations, we are giving local artists the opportunity to explore new ideas, new spaces and meet new audiences. The 2015 festival will be our biggest yet." The news comes alongside our first glimpse at the 2015 program, which is set to include more than 300 performances across 50 different venues in five different main locales — Newtown, Erskineville, Marrickville, Redfern and Surry Hills. Erskineville's Festival Village will play host to the official opening night party, Fringe Ignite, on September 5, with a prohibition-themed gin bar run by Young Henrys and a 1920s-style speakeasy lounge. Throughout the festival, the suburb will also host a series of talks, performances, comedy shows and music presented by City of Sydney’s Late Night Libraries, with the Erskineville Town Hall playing home to a pair of performance spaces and the Coopers Festival Bar, from the folks at the Erskineville Hotel. The surrounding suburbs will get their Fringe fill as well. Other festival highlights include a day of Indigenous art, music and performance in Redfern; a silent dinner party hosted by internationally renowned artist Honi Ryan at Marrickville Town Hall; a masquerade horror installation (whatever that means) in a warehouse; and a two-week partnership with the Chaser's Giant Dwarf theatre. The latter venue will play host to a "mini-festival within the Festival", featuring cabaret, comedy and an array of performers from fringes around the world. The full Sydney Fringe Festival program is set to drop in August before the festival kicks off on September 1. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Fringe at the event website. Image: Emerald City Sydney Fringe Festival hub 2013.
Sydney's inner west is about to get in on the openair cinema action. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema has just announced they'll be opening their very first inner west cinema this summer, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth this November. And they've just announced their first film program. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will debut with new releases and cult classics including Joseph Gordon Levitt's Oscar tip The Walk, Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway teaming up in The Intern, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, Kate Winslet's The Dressmaker in rural Australia and the Christmas rom-com to rule them all, Love Actually. Plus, there'll be a 25th anniversary screening of Thelma and Louise. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, Angus Murphy and many more, and local DJs will spin a few for Aperol Sunsets — with free Aperol samples aplenty. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar, gourmet food stands, and lawn games aplenty, with putt putt and something called Giant Cow Jenga. Tickets for the Bondi Openair Cinema tend to sell out, so get in early. Earlybird tickets are just $15 online ($10 concession), until October 21. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a Volkswagen Polo Class ticket with reserved seating, blanket, cushion, beer or wine and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream included. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will take over Cadigal Green, University of Sydney from November 19 to December 12, 2015. For the full program or to buy tickets, head to the website. Check out CP's roundup of Sydney's best openair cinemas over here.
Rally up your mates and plan one long picnic because Tropfest is back for its 25th year. This time around, the world's biggest short film festival will be held in Parramatta Park for the first year, a shift that's being heralded as an exciting opportunity for growth. With this change comes the introduction of a 'Pick Your Patch' option, allowing Troppers to reserve a premium patch of grass and gain exclusive bar and hamper access for $49. Or, you can rock up for free — but get there early. Despite the slight changes and a recent brush with closure, one aspect guaranteed to remain is the impressive quality of the lineup, which features 16 films, all uniquely inspired by this year's iconic Tropfest signature item — a pineapple. This must appear at least once in every film, in any way, shape or form. In an industry largely dominated by males, founder and chairman of Tropfest John Polson is proud that half of the 2017 finalists are women. "The calibre of films submitted this year was outstanding," he said. "It's wonderful to see the entrants this year reflecting a vast range of diversity and gender." Further boosting female representation is the legendary Rose Byrne, who will be heading a stellar group of judges featuring actor Sam Neill, directors George Miller and Rachel Perkins and producer Bruno Papandrea.
Gallery-hopping after hours? Talk about a perfect Sydney date idea. Art Month Sydney's beloved Precinct Nights are back, offering you the golden opportunity to enjoy a spate of art venues open late, transforming your art viewing into an adventure trail after closing time. Art at Night | Chippenedale and Redfern in partnership with Concrete Playground and Cake Wines is the ultimate artventure, with over fifteen galleries in the two suburbs open from 6-8pm on Wednesday, March 15. Galleries on the trail include A The Bearded Tit, The Commercial, Eveleigh Creative Precinct, Galerie pompom, Harrington Street Gallery, Home@735, The Japan Foundation Gallery, Kensington Contemporary MOP Projects, M2 Gallery, Smallspaces, Spot81, UTS Gallery, Wellington St Projects and 107 Projects, who all have pretty damn great Art Month programs in store. But every great trail walk needs a solid watering hole at the end. Once you've perused enough art, make your way to the official Art Bar by Cake Wines at the Eveleigh Creative Precinct open from 7.30pm through to 10.30pm. There's plenty going on while you have a well-earned Pinot Gris, including an exhibition with works from Sarah Contos, Lara Merrett and Lucas Davidson, with performances by Lian Loke and Wade Marynowsky's Robot opera. Download the map here. Images: Daniel Boud.
Sydney's biggest celebration of First Nations culture is back this weekend as Homeground 2017 gets into gear. Like previous years, the music and dance line-up is packed. Headlining the free two-day festival is Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project, performing an electronic collaboration to mark the 25th anniversary of 'Treaty'. Electric duo Electric Fields, Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal, soul singer Radical Son and The Medics lead singer, Kahl Wallis are also performing. On the movement front, Dance Rites, Australia's national Indigenous dance competition, will see dance troupes from across the country competing across the two days. Homeground is also running a host of workshops and tours to give festivalgoers a chance to learn about First Nations culture. Introductory classes for all ages in weaving and dance will run over both days, with tours of the harbourside giving a glimpse into the Indigenous history of Bennelong. An interactive workshop, Moving Lab, incorporating images, songs, chants and a walk through nature will take you on a journey through Gadigal lands. The Arts Market will also run again, with a multitude of stalls popping up on the Opera House's picturesque forecourt. There'll be art, accessories and bush food from Indigenous artists and growers. Hungry after all that shopping? There'll be food and beverage pop-ups, too, all using Australian native ingredients. Homeground is free, but the activity bookings suggest things are likely to get crazy. This is definitely an early bird situation. Images: Prudence Upton, Joseph Mayers and Daniel Boud.
Oxford Street's food and drink scene is getting some much needed TLC, courtesy of hospitality guru Justin Hemmes and his unstoppable Merivale empire. Of the slew of new ventures the group have opening up over summer, three will be located next door to one another along the Paddington strip. The Paddington (previously The Paddington Arms) will open its doors in November, followed by The Oxford Street Chicken Shop by the end of the year. But it's the humbly-named Fred's that will complete the trifecta. Scheduled to open in February 2016, Fred's is being billed as an old world, produce-oriented restaurant complete with woodfired ovens in the kitchen, a cocktail and tapas bar in the basement, and a seasoned chef in Danielle Alvarez at the helm. A veteran of San Francisco's iconic Chez Panisse and the Napa Valley's three-Michelin-starred French Laundry, Alvarez has already forged relationships with local producers and organic farmers, whose fresh produce will help inform the direction of the menu. Expect handmade bread, butter, pasta and charcuterie, along with a 120-strong wine list that focuses on small-batch varieties and features an extensive 'wine by the glass' selection that changes to match the food. Meanwhile, Fred's basement will be home to Sussex 1854, a basement bar serving tapas and seasonal cocktails. Merivale have already earned their stripes with long-loved CBD bar Palmer & Co., so we're predicting more vintage coupe champagne glasses and more juleps than you can poke a stick at. More information about Fred's and Sussex 1854 will become available in the coming months. Fred's will be located at 380 Oxford Street, Paddington and is expected to begin service in February 2016. Image: Palmer & Co.
Inner-Sydney staple The Chippendale Hotel has been revamped and rebranded with a new interior, moniker and menu to match. Now open under its official new name The Chippo Hotel, the iconic venue known for its A+ live music vibes now boasts Louisiana-born chef Charlie Fisher in the kitchen. From the looks of things, it was a very smart appointment indeed. At a glance the new menu seems like classic pub grub — think wedges, steak and the requisite chicken parma. But look a little closer, and Fisher's influence becomes clear. Entrees include popcorn chicken (or shrimp) tossed in Cajun spices, along with buffalo wings, southern fried chicken and American-style mac and cheese. As for the main course, if you're not feeling sirloin, why not make a mess with pork ribs served in Dr Pepper BBQ sauce. They're also serving up a selection of burgers, inspired by their previous Cheekyburger pop-up. And for dessert, there are few things more American than homemade pecan pie. On the entertainment front, The Chippo will feature pub trivia on Mondays, comedy on Tuesdays, improv on Wednesday and live music Thursday through Saturdays. On Sundays from November 5 they'll be cooking up pig on the spit — because at least that way you'll start your week with a belly full of bacon. Find The Chippo Hotel at 87-91 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. For more information visit www.thechippohotel.com.au.
Backhands, beats and artisan eats will converge on Paddington's White City Tennis Centre on Saturday, April 16. Dubbed Social Serve, this fun new social tennis event will be raising money for Primary Club, an Aussie charity that helps people with disabilities to play sport. If your Lorna Jane ahctivewear has never had more of a workout than a stroll to the corner shop, then here's your chance to put it to work. The good news is you'll only have to work as hard as you feel to. The sporty part of proceedings will take the form of friendly mixed doubles matches, open to players of all levels and kicking off from 2pm. Champs who kill it on the court will play in the finals, which start at 5pm. Not so keen on joining the game? Relax on the sidelines, listening to local DJs, munching on smoked beef brisket rolls and chilli lime salmon skewers courtesy of Fumo Meats, and knocking back beverages provided by HMH.
Two of our fave Sydney food institutions are heading down to Circular Quay, where they're working together on a new 200-seat restaurant and bar. Due to open mid-October, Popina is the new venture from Salt Meats Cheese in partnership with the team from Shuk in North Bondi. Think Middle Eastern cuisine meets wood-fired pizza, and you'll be somewhere on the right track. Located within the new Gateway Building with views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the two-storey restaurant and bar was born out of the long-time friendship between SMC directors Stefano de Blasi and Edoardo Perlo, and Shuk head chef German Sanchez. The latter will bring his culinary expertise to the kitchen at Popina, where he'll combine Italian, Turkish, Lebanese and Israeli flavours with those of his native Argentina. Think pizza, pasta and Italian cured meats alongside kofta, falafel, shakshouka and house-made hummus. "Our menu will be truly unique," said Sanchez. "The flavours and spices of the Middle East perfectly marry the wood-fired pizzas, and ancient grain flour pastas. This is the dream chef kitchen where you can play with so many different ingredients all together." In addition to its mouth-watering menu, Popina will boast a 150 person rooftop bar. Open until midnight, it'll feature a selection of cocktails paired with "a very unique BBQ offering", and play host to local DJs every night. Popina is scheduled to open within the Gateway Building at Circular Quay on October 15. Stay tuned for more information. Image: Salt Meats Cheese Broadway.
Like Rollerfit, Retrosweat, Beyoncé dance classes and Morning Gloryville raves, Fitness Playground gym in Surry Hills offers an opportunity to exercise that isn't scary, or boring. You can work out with your friends, attend a circus-inspired trapeze classes or hang from monkey bars. The people are friendly, the energy is great and everyone knows your name. There are three FP locations (Surry Hills, Newtown and Marrickville), but they've just added a third level to their Surry Hills location specifically for classes. Our favourite class is Circus Fit, but there's also barre, anti-gravity yoga, pilates and Athletica — small, intensive group training classes that feel like a personal training session — on offer. Fitness Playground are hosting an 'open week' exclusive to Concrete Playground readers at all three of their gyms. That means full access to classes and gym equipment from March 6 to 12 in Surry Hills, Newtown and Marrickville. Enter your details into the registration box below and head along to any of Fitness Playground's three locations during staffed hours to redeem your free week-long membership. [competition]608850[/competition] Learn more about the story behind Fitness Playground or find out what happens at a 'Circus Fit' class. Enter here to win a one-year Fitness Playground membership. Images: Steven Woodburn and Kimberley Low.
