Ichi, ni, san — SAKE BOMB! Remember how that night ended? Me neither. Or maybe you prefer some kind of lychee-infused-sake cosmo situation. But the elusive Japanese speciality of sake is more than capable of standing alone, as Black Market Sake co-owner Matt Young explains to Concrete Playground. Young and co-owner Linda Wiss started the groundwork for Black Market Sake some five years ago while they both worked at Sydney's Aria. Today they import from about 16 Japanese producers and have a standout reputation. And Australia's having a burgeoning love affair with sake; we are now the second largest sake importer, behind the United States, and can boast an impressive annual growth rate of 12 percent in the market. But let's set the figures aside and get you brushed up ahead of Sydney's next drinking trend. What is sake? C'est simple! It is a Japanese alcohol brewed from specifically grown rice, water, yeast and koji-kin. But, in the great tradition of Peking duck and Mumbai vs. Bombay, we have a few things to clear up. Firstly, sake just means booze in Japanese, and while that was once near-exclusively what we call sake, in the modern era of Japanese whisky, beer and wine the locals call it Nippon shu, meaning Japanese drink. Our next erroneous assumption is rice wine — this Western shorthand ignores that being brewed from a grain not from fruit makes sake closer to beer than wine, and its booze content puts both to shame, with most sakes coming in just under the 20 percent mark. Wait, koji-kin? Koji-kin is the magical ingredient, which is very unique to Japan and it is what helps break the starch in the rice down into sugar — so the sugar is then fermented into alcohol. It is also used in the production of many other products, notably soy, mirin miso and so on. It is a kind of mould, but the good kind, Young is quick to explain, "like the kind you find in cheese". He even likens the glossy texture koji-kin gives the rice to Camembert cheese. Is it big in Japan? Sake consumption within Japan has steadily decreased over the last hundred years; the number of breweries has halved since the 1970s to about 1500 today, and it did the same from the 1930s to the '70s. "The consumption in Japan has been on the slide for a long time. The younger generation got into beer and whisky and gave up on sake as an old man’s drink." Does sake exist outside of Japan? Production of rice-wine started in China and — along with Korea — it is still made today. However, in both instances large quantities of additives and distilled alcohol go into the product. “So, Japan has the most refined drink — although you can trace it back to the Chinese.” What's in a name? Sake menus have an anxiety causing reputation amongst even the most seasoned diners, and a lot of that is due to their lengthy naming system, but the truth is all the information you need is right there in front of you. "The more words that are on the label the less has been done to the product — so no charcoal filteration (muroka); not-pasteurised (namazake) that sort of stuff is always on the label, but if they do it than there won't be anything on the label,” says Young. Here are a few keywords to help you unlock a sake list, first up: junmai. This is your producer telling you that they have made a pure sake, i.e. no distilled alcohol or flavour additives went into the brewing process. Some 80 percent of sake made in Japan fail this first test and are categorised as futsu-shu, which is essentially an inferior, cheaper drink. The next consideration is how much they polished the rice, in layman terms: as you remove more of the grain; the more expensive the sake becomes. “The more you polish away the more aromatic it will be, the less you polish away the more kind of palate weight (it will have) and (the more) textural it will be.” The most polished sake is called daiginjo, where at least 50% of the rice has been removed and then ginjo comes in at least 60%. (For a full list of common sake terms check out the glossary on the Black Market Sake website.) How do I spot a good sake? "Quality for me in sake is balance and complexity on the palate," says Young. "Often you'll see sake that is quite fragrant and elegant and pretty, but it doesn't have a lot of texture or weight on the palate, and coming from a wine background I prefer that more textural sake. So something that has lovely balance a little bit sweetness and something that finishes dry — evenness when you taste it.” Characteristics he finds more dependent on the skill of the toji (master-brewer) and the quality of the ingredients than whether 70% or 60% of the grain has been removed. Hiroshima, Kyoto and Chiba are all top sake-producing regions. Which cuisines match well with sake? Other than the obvious, "French techniques have a lot in common with sake," says Young. So, consommes and broths are easily matched, while more robust sakes (ask for spice and high levels of acidity) stand up to heavier dishes like braised pork. But, if you want to hear Young wax a little lyrical, mention the marriage of cheese and sake. To spite the well-worn tradition of cheese and wine, this sommelier pairs Swiss mountain cheeses, parmesan and other hard cheeses with the Japanese beverage (to apparently elating effect). Also, try a dark chocolate match, as per Young's suggestion. Hot or cold? “The Japanese believe that every sake has a sweet spot, and that could be chilled, room temperature or warmed," says Young. "And when we say warmed, we mean gently warmed, 'cause you don't want to boil it but heat it to body temperature, essentially.” That being said, there are two reasons heating sake became popular. Quick warning: it is embarrassing if you never guessed reason A. Japan is a cold country, and sake breweries are generally about 4-5°C (brewing often takes place in winter — fun fact), so sake brewers would heat up their knock-off sake to heat them up. Similarly, when sakes have had alcohol, sugars and enzymes added to them (remember that is 80% of sakes), there's nothing like a bit of gentle heat to mask the inferiority of the product. For those playing at home, that means futsuu sakes are likely best served warm, while unpasteurized sakes are almost always best chilled. When is sake traditionally drunk? The short answer is all the time, but Young notes that in Western culture it has garnered a reputation as an aperitif (that's before the meal, guys). Where to enjoy sake in Sydney? Momofuku. Although Young concedes the food is pretty good, too. Top image, What is sake image, Koji-kin image, How do I spot good sake? image and What's in a name image courtesy of Black Market Sake.
Shakspeare's comedies can be a little confusing. As You Like It disguises its women as men, banishes dukes, romps in the forest and has quite a lot of sheep and their shepherds. Siren Theatre's production of the play starts slowly, but soon finds it's momentum. It accumulates comedy pat by pat, as much as the actors cake on makeup as the play rolls on. The cast start dressed in more sober 1940s gear. Getting deeper into the play, and deeper into the forest, the actors' faces become more dolled and more clown-like. The make up exaggerates and deepens their expressions, and red noses become a feature of the production. Shauntelle Benjamin's Rosalind, in drag, becomes a grinning extra from Deadwood, and Julian Curtis' Orlando gets messy attacks of David Tennant hair. In the background for most of the play is a trio of musicians. Ali Hughes sings, David Manuel percusses and Daryl Wallis plays piano. Music flows behind this prodcution — it's surprisingly well-fit. Unwinding awkwardly at first, but soon making a cool counterpoint to the action on the stage with songs echoing jazz or Kurt Weil. Other moments are deftly spanned by spare percussion. The three musicians barely enter the play, but as it progresses they become the soil on which the other action spreads. As usual in Shakespeare's comedies, the juiciest roles are the funniest ones. Kate Worsley and Alice Cooper are particularly good as shepherds Phoebe and Silvius. Cooper overflows with a thousand dorky points as the unhappy lover, and Worsley is perfectly broad-voiced, expressive and ungrateful. Anthony Weir has something of the Fisher King's Perry in him, swaying enjoyably from melancholy to wit as the sad-faced Jacques. Nick Meenahan is extra comfortable with his Elizabethan lines, delivering an effortless Touchstone the fool, with a fit and functional ocker accent.
Food and drink substitutions are generally associated with 'healthy' changes. But that doesn't always have to be the case — they can make the dish (or drink) more sustainable, less ordinary, or just more fun. On this list, we've highlighted some of the most unusual food and drink swaps that really shouldn't work, but do. They push the skill of chefs and cocktail makers into new territory and shake up classic dishes and drinks, all while maximising sustainability in the food industry by using up kitchen waste. We've partnered with Patrón to reveal that traditional isn't always best. By mixing things up, you may develop a love of a whole new flavour profile that — like with tequila — meets you at the intersection between refinement and craftmanship. [caption id="attachment_642741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Middleton[/caption] MAKE AN OLD FASHIONED WITH PATRÓN TEQUILA INSTEAD OF WHISKY Why not make your next old fashioned with Patrón? The Patrón Añejo — a blend of silver tequilas aged for at least one year — gets the same high-quality treatment as your favourite whiskies but offers a different flavour depth that complements the citrus of the orange zest we all know and love in an old fashioned. Just take 60 millilitres of Patrón Añejo, add ten millilitres of simple syrup and a dash of bitters. Make sure to squeeze the oils from two strips of orange and stir with the biggest ice cubes you can find. [caption id="attachment_666149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matinee Coffee by Arlo Pyne[/caption] LEAVE OUT THE EGG FOR VEGAN (AND NOT-SO VEGAN) ALTERNATIVES More and more we're seeing egg being replaced in popular dishes for unusual trade-offs. Don't worry, your favourite cafes will still serve eggs on toast — brunch is sacred — but sometimes it doesn't hurt to give an alternative a try. Sydneysiders can try it out at Marrickville's Matinee Coffee — the cafe does vegan and gluten-free takes desserts you might find at a milk bar or diner, like the traditional lemon meringue pie made with aquafaba (that's the juice from chickpea cans, foamed up like egg whites). Or, swinging the other way, try the very un-vegan, pasta at Peter Gilmore's Quay, which uses bone marrow in the pasta instead of egg yolk. [caption id="attachment_601484" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Nikki To[/caption] EAT CARAMEL SLICE MADE WITH COD FAT (YES, REALLY) Here is one food swap that we bet has never crossed your mind: a caramel slice made with fat from a Murray cod. Chef Josh Niland from Saint Peter in Paddington, the revered fish restaurant enjoyed by Nigella Lawson and Jaime Oliver, has redefined the very genre of desserts with this luxurious caramel treat. The top layer of the dish sees the salty caramel's butter component switched with cod fat, and the accompanying biscuit is made with Hapuka roe, to create an unexpected delicacy that really is impressive. An added factor that will make you feel even better about the swap is the promise of waste-reduction — the chefs are using every part of the fish. POP YOUR BACON AND EGGS IN A BOWL OF RAMEN Newtown's Rising Sun Workshop is in itself — the cafe is situated inside a motorbike workshop. That means you can bring your wheels in and enjoy coffee and brekkie at the same time. But the real treat at Rising Sun Workshop is the breakfast ramen. Ditch the avo toast for delicious noodles swimming in buttered toast broth, topped with bacon and fried egg. SWAP GIN FOR PATRÓN SILVER IN A NEGRONI As with the old fashioned, swapping out tequila as the hero alcohol profile in your favourite cocktails can shake things up a little. Try Patrón Silver instead of gin. The smooth, clean spirit uses 100 percent of Weber Blue Agave, and is a number one tequila for bartenders across the world — you'll be set to impress your friends at your next dinner party. For the negroni, trade-in gin for Patrón Silver, and simply add equal measures of Martini Bitters and Martini Riserva Rubino Vermouth. Stir with ice and strain over fresh ice cubes in your favourite tumbler, and add an orange twist. BE DONE WITH BORING JAFFLES There was a time when a jaffle was about simplicity — ham, cheese, maybe baked beans if you were feeling fancy. But times have changed, and the jaffle has been reinvented with depth and flavour profiles that'll match even Patrón tequila cocktails. We first fell in love with the idea with Super Ling's ma po tofu jaffle in Carlton. More recently, Cavalier 2.0 in Sydney has popped a beef tongue bolognese lasagne-inspired jaffle on its menu. And you must take a visit to Potts Point for Ms.G's curry puff jaffle, complete with Malaysian-style chicken. [caption id="attachment_738008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] SWAP YOUR MARGHERITA FOR A SLICE TOPPED WITH CHINESE BOLOGNESE Tucked away on Grattan Street in Carlton is the ultimate food mash up, combining Chinese food, pasta and pizza. Chef Nick Stanton first married bolognese with the flavours of Hong Kong in a Chinese pasta dish at the now-closed Ramblr, but he's taken that beef-based sauce with him to Leonardo's Pizza Palace, and popped it on a chewy, doughy pizza base together with a creamy white sauce. The team used gochujang — a fermented chilli paste — Shaoxing wine, and stock infused with soy sauce for the oozy bolognese that'll go down in Aussie food history. Vegans can grab a plant-based version at sibling venue Leo's By The Slice at the old Ramblr site in South Yarra. Top image: Chris Middleton.
Many of Australia's annual cinema showcases focus on one particular country; however, that definitely isn't the Jewish International Film Festival's remit. Surveying the past year in movies with ties to Jewish culture, it fills its program with flicks from around the globe — in 2022, when it returns to Sydney cinemas, with 31 feature films, 25 documentaries, six short films and even episodes from episodes a TV series, in fact. That lineup will hit the Ritz in Randwick from Thursday, March 3–Monday, April 4 and the Roseville Cinemas from the same starting date through until Wednesday, March 23, and it clearly isn't short on highlights. That obviously includes its bookending titles, with the event opening with Simone Veil: A Woman of the Century and paying tribute to the French feminist icon, then closing with period melodrama Beauty Queen of Jerusalem from Israel. Other standouts and must-sees include The Painted Bird, as based on Jerzy Kosinski's novel and featuring Harvey Keitel and Stellan Skarsgård among the cast; Tahara, a coming-of-age story starring Shiva Baby's Rachel Sennott; the Cannes-premiering A Radiant Girl, which steps back to the Occupation in Paris in World War II; and satire Let It Be Morning, which picked up Best Film at the 2021 Ophir Awards (aka the Israeli Oscars). Or, there's also Haute Couture, which dives into French fashion; Tiger Within, about an unlikely friendship between a Holocaust survivor and a teenage runaway; the Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish-starring Here Today; documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, focusing on the singer-songwriter and that immensely popular song; and fellow doco Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful, which turns the lens on the prolific German Austrian photographer.
Designer stationery company Moleskine are getting into the hospitality game, with the launch of their first ever café, library, retail store and art gallery in Milan. With an aesthetic inspired by the brand's iconic notebook (think clean layout and plenty of neutral colours), the Moleskine Café is split into two levels. The ground floor will be home to the café and exhibition space, along with shared seating areas and an 'experience table' (yeah, alright guys) laden with various Moleskine products. The mezzanine level will be more secluded, featuring private seating and sofas for reading and studying. "We will provide our guests with an innovative retail experience, bringing the socialising dimensions of food, creativity and shopping to a single space designed to reflect the distinctive, clean aesthetics of Moleskine," said Moleskine CEO Arrio Berni. "I believe this vision fully reflects the growing interest people show for retail formats that go beyond the sheer act of shopping and I look forward to validating this concept for global expansion." The café in Milan comes on the back of a trial café in Geneva Airport. The brand is planning to open a number of other locations in major cities around the world, although they're remaining tight-lipped as to exactly which. Via Daily Coffee News and Design Week. Image: Moleskine/Interbrand.
The hit rock musical based on Green Day's iconic album American Idiot returns to Australian shores in 2018 for a national tour, which will see it visit Melbourne and Sydney for the first time. Following a hit season in Brisbane earlier this year, this next run of Green Day's American Idiot will see Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson reprise his lead performance as St Jimmy — a role played internationally by the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Chris Cheney and Green Day's own Billie Joe Armstrong. The acclaimed Aussie musician will again be joined on stage by Phoebe Panaretos, whose performance as Whatsername during the show's Brisbane run scored her a Helpmann nomination. Hailed as a bold and explosive production, the Tony and Grammy award-winning show features every song from the band's eponymous album, along with a number of tunes from Green Day's follow-up record, 21st Century Breakdown. It's the tale of three lifelong mates, torn between remaining in their safe, aimless ruts, and challenging the status quo to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The American Idiot 2018 tour will begin with a brief season at the Sydney Opera House, before runs in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. AMERICAN IDIOT 2018 TOUR Sydney — Sydney Opera House, January 11–14 Adelaide — Adelaide Festival Centre's Her Majesty's Theatre, January 18–28 Perth — Crown Theatre, February 2–11 Melbourne — Comedy Theatre, February 23 – March 11 Brisbane — Playhouse Theatre, QPAC, April 13–21 Tickets to Green Day's 2018 American Idiot tour go on sale from next Monday, October 9. For more info visit americanidiotlive.com.au. Images: Dylan Evans.
Sustainable Table is a not-for-profit organisation that wants to turn our money into a more sustainable and responsible system of food consumption. From October 7-14, they’re inviting you, and some big-name restaurants near you, to Give a Fork!. The inaugural event's focus ingredient is seafood, and over 150 dinner parties have been registered, at which each diner will donate what they would normally spend on food to Sustainable Table. Given that "60% of our personal eco-footprint [is] embodied in the food that we buy", a number of restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne are also throwing their hat into the sustainability ring, donating a portion of profit from selected dishes to the organisation. Some restaurants have even gone the whole hog, writing menus specific for the occasion. Participating eateries include The Commons in Sydney and Lamaro's in Melbourne. Longrain in both Sydney and Melbourne will be cooking up fishy delights and giving away a bit of dosh for the cause. By encouraging people to host their own sustainable seafood shindig, or enjoying a delicious meal at certain, ethically aware restaurants, Sustainable Table are inviting us to help save the environment, before it gets too forked up. To register, find out more about the restaurants involved or simply discover more about the cause, visit Sustainable Table's website.
Since Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco at the Tennyson Hotel drive-through bottle-o closed in April, the people of Sydney have been waiting and watching for news of the next pop-up. As of today, we – at long last – can bring you good tidings. Merivale, the hospitality powerhouse that, among many other things, owns the Tennyson, has announced that it'll be teaming up with Rushcutters Bay restaurant ACME to give you Kingdom of Rice: a pop-up dedicated to Cambodian street food. As of early October, you'll be able to feast on share plates loaded with seafood, meat and vegetables, with traditional flavours, such as kreung (a paste of lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, galangal, garlic and chilli) and prahok (crushed, salted and fermented fish paste). Expect, too, handfuls of fresh herbs, lime and Kampot pepper. Like last time, you'll be selecting and collecting your own drinks from the Tennyson's bottle-o fridge. But, unlike last time, you can count on a selection of Cambodian and Asian beers, as well as cocktails inspired by Southeast Asia and natural wines. As anyone who's eaten on the Cambodian streets would testify, the atmosphere is crucial to the experience. With this in mind, the pop-up will take on the feel of a mini-Phnom Penh laneway, with miscellaneous furniture and massive communal tables. "It's a real sensory overload," says ACME co-owner and chef Mitch Orr in a statement. "There's laughter and noise of people everywhere, the smell of food cooked over charcoal, colours of fresh tropical fruits and an amazing sense of community." Orr will be working with head chef Lillia McCabe, who has just returned from a stint at Singapore's Blackwattle, alongside ACME co-owner and maître d' Cam Fairbairn and head of front-of-house Sophia Thach. Thach is of Cambodian descent and spent time living in working in Phnom Penh, and will be bringing her first-hand experience of the region to the pop-up. Kingdom of Rice will open in early October at the Tennyson Hotel, 952 Botany Road, Mascot. Images: Nikki To
It's difficult to imagine how an art exhibition focusing on Venezuela could be anything but a documentation of carnage. With one of the highest murder rates in the world, a hyper-inflated economy and police guarding the scant food rations, Venezuela today is the battered remnant of Hugo Chavez's socialist revolution. Venezuelan-born Sydney artist Nadia Hernandez saw all of this in a recent trip back to her homeland — but she also saw coffee vendors on the street, beautiful mountains, and people protesting against corruption and rising crime. The vision of Venezuela that she depicts is one where hope and decay compete in equal measure. Her latest exhibition, Cosas Antes y Despues (Things Before and After), is a combination of painting, collage, craft and text. "My work is about finding oneself through folklore in order to call for reflection, solidarity and union," says Hernandez. The exhibition, a Mild Manners project, is squirrelled away in an improvised gallery space on Devonshire street in Surry Hills. It may take a bit of Google-mapping to get there, but the reward is a glimpse of a Venezuela that doesn't often make the headlines. Image: Kurt Davis.
Across Australia, tactics to stop the spread of the coronavirus are implemented at a state-by-state level, which means that different parts of the country have been navigating the situation in different ways. That's where the nation's varying, seemingly ever-changing domestic border restrictions come in — and why hopping across the country has been a rather complex task for much of the past 12 months. In Western Australia, the state initially implemented a hard border and strict quarantine requirements with the rest of the nation. WA's border system then changed late in 2020, moving to a controlled interstate border that classifies other states according to their COVID-19 risk and puts restrictions in place accordingly. But if you live in or have visited a state that's deemed medium risk or higher, it has still meant that you can't go to WA unless you receive an exemption. New South Wales has been in that camp since December 20, and Queensland has as well since January 9; however, come 12.01am on Monday, January 25, both states will revert back to the low-risk category. So, as announced on Friday, January 22, NSW and Queensland residents, plus those who've been in either state in the past 14 days, can now head west — although there is still a quarantine requirement. Low-risk states have had fewer than five community cases per day across the past 14 days — but travellers from the area are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days. You'll also need to get a health screening at Perth Airport if arriving via air and at a border checkpoint if arriving by land, then also take a COVID-19 test on the 11th day of your quarantine no matter how you've made it over to WA. If you don't have somewhere to self-quarantine, you'll have to do so at a government-approved site at your own expense. And, you'll still need to apply for a G2G Pass, which is mandatory for everyone entering the state. To move down to the very low-risk category, WA requires NSW and Queensland to have no community cases for at least 28 days. As at Friday, January 22, NSW had hit seven days, while Queensland was at 15 days — with WA's Chief Health Officer advising that the latter could move down to very low-risk on February 1 if it continues to record zero local cases. At present, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania are all considered very low-risk by WA, while Victoria joined the low-risk category on Monday, January 18. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Western Australia, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
If you're doing your best to be an eco-conscious citizen, but find yourself stuck, bagless, at the checkout way too often, you're not alone. At least now, when you've again forgotten your reusable bag and are staring down the barrel of yet another purchase of a 15-cent plastic number, you could have a different, more planet-friendly option. Supermarket joint Woolworths has kicked off a new trial offering recyclable paper bags in 21 of its stores nationwide. Stores — including Marrickville Metro and Bondi in Sydney, Melbourne's St Kilda and the QV Centre, and Pacific Fair and Surfers Paradise in Queensland — are now offering customers the option of packing their groceries into 20-cent paper bags, which are made from 80 percent recycled paper. They're also a breeze to recycle in your regular curbside collection. The trial will be used to gauge customer demand and Woollies says it'll be monitoring feedback closely. In the meantime, all Australian Woolworths stores will continue to offer the 15-cent reusable plastic bags, as well as those signature green Bag for Good varieties priced at 99 cents. The reusable plastic ones can be recycled through the REDcycle collection bins found in-store, though plenty of us can probably attest to the fact that most of them end up collecting dust under the sink. As for the supermarket chain's sturdier green counterparts, they'll continue to raise much-needed funds for the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program. If one of yours gets damaged, Woolies will even replace it for free, regardless of how long ago it was purchased. The company says it has cut over three billion single-use plastic bags from circulation since it began phasing them out across its stores in June 2018. Here's which Woolworths stores are trialling the paper bags: Bondi, NSW Coogee, NSW Double Bay, NSW Marrickville Metro, NSW Neutral Bay, NSW Paddington, NSW Rose Bay, NSW Rouse Hill, NSW Rozelle, NSW Town Hall, NSW Cairns, Qld Pacific Fair, Qld Surfers Paradise, Qld Armadale, Vic Black Rock, Vic Burwood Brickworks, Vic Hawksburn, Vic Hawthorn, Vic QV, Vic South Yarra, Vic St Kilda, Vic
If you're a vegetarian, worshipper of eggplant or just a keen home cook, chances are Yotam Ottolenghi has had some impact on your life. In fact, we bet you've got at least one of his bestselling cookbooks in your cupboard. Next year, you'll be able to learn a few more tips and tricks from the renowned Israeli chef as he heads to Australia for a speaking tour. The trailblazing chef, author, TV personality and restaurateur whose name has become its own cooking style is touring Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth in 2021 off the back of his new book Ottolenghi Flavour, which builds on his love for innovative vegetable-based recipes. Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life will tour the country throughout June — and, as well as dishing up a few spicy secrets behind mouthwatering hits like miso butter onions and spicy mushroom lasagne, the show will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the man himself about his influences and experiences. It also promises to delve into Ottolenghi's experience as the owner of famed London restaurants Nopi and Rovi, how he approached home cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can dial up the flavour in your own kitchen. [caption id="attachment_768174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Stijn Nieuwendijk[/caption] YOTAM OTTOLENGHI AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Perth: Tuesday, June 8 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Adelaide: Wednesday, June 9 at Adelaide Convention Centre Gold Coast: Friday, June 11 at The Star Gold Coast Melbourne: Saturday, June 12 at Hamer Hall Sydney: Sunday, June 13 at ICC Sydney The Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life speaking tour is scheduled to hit Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth in June 2021. Ticket presales for all cities except Melbourne start at 10am on Wednesday, December 16, with general public sales kicking off at 11am on Monday, December 21. Melbourne presales will commence at 10am on Monday, February 1.
Good news for Sydneysiders of a wordy bent: the Emerging Writers' Festival Roadshow is returning, and they're bringing with them one of their always winning programs of engaging writing, thought-provoking panels and talented peeps. As usual, the main event is a full-day affair at the NSW Writers' Centre with a line-up featuring a whole bunch of cool people who do good things with words. Benjamin Law and Delia Falconer give you writing advice in a segment called The 5 X 5 Rules of Writing, members of the SWEATSHOP writing group share their workshopping process, and emerging indigenous writers tell stories in the garden. Fuel your mind with Mexican food from Mobile Cantina, and then join everyone for drinks on the verandah and bask in your inspired end-of-the-day buzz. There are also a handful of events happening either side of the Saturday festival — the sadly sold-out Inside the Publishing House, a seminar on writing digital literature, and the hit Melbourne event celebrating great ladies, Amazing Babes. The EWF Roadshow is all about connecting writers and forming communities. So go ahead: connect, form, do amazing things!
It's easy to forget Jack Nicholson is safe and well sometimes, and the reason is a classic 70s film by Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni called The Passenger. It oozes gloom and foreboding the way others flicks leak detonations or kisses. As a film, or even the inspired Iggy Pop song, it's a title that crams itself with coming menace. Sydney performance group the Deconvertors — who have brought you Aussie kitch as part of Loading Zone at the 2009 This Is Not Art festival, and The Hideous Demise of Detective Slate at last year's Sydney Fringe — are offering you a unique mobile dramatic experience, and just to lighten the mood they've named it The Passenger. It's not often a play asks you to accept a disclaimer before booking your tickets. The Passenger does this. It takes place in a real moving vehicle, picking you up near the old Glebe Town Hall before the actors drive you through the story, Sydney's backstreets and take you to the mysterious 'destination'. Driving carefully, the Deconvertors want you to live. But they may not want you to feel good about it. The only way to know for sure is book a ticket, stand on a quiet corner and wait for your ride. The Passenger offers four performances a night on Wednesday the 27th and Friday the 29th of April. Booking is essential.
As part of the 2013–14 Sydney International Art Series and part of an exclusive deal with the NSW government, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and Destination NSW present, War Is Over! (if you want it): Yoko Ono. Legendary artist, musician, activist and perhaps one of the most controversial figures in the history of rock 'n' roll, Yoko Ono has developed her first solo exhibition made up of five decades worth of art in diverse media. Over the past decade skeptics of Ono and her involvement with the Beatles disintegration in 1970, have let the past go and have started to embrace Ono's musical and artistic endeavours. Ono brings back to life the iconic message, 'War Is Over!' that she and her late husband John Lennon spent years spreading around the world. First appearing in 1969 across billboards worldwide, the message may be the most recognised symbol of public outcry for peace during the Vietnam War. Over the past decade some of those who were once skeptical of Ono and her possible involvement in the Beatles 1970 disintegration, have let the past go and begun to embrace Ono's musical and artistic endeavours. MCA Senior Curator Rachel Kent has worked closely with Ono on the survey. The exhibition reaffirms Ono's belief in a better future. Sydney's MCA will be the only Australian venue for Ono's artwork which includes performances, sculpture, written texts, films, sound compositions, and participatory pieces of art that involve the viewers. The exhibit is to be presented throughout the Level Three Galleries in November of next year. Ono is expected to attend.
In the 70s and 80s, it was Countdown. In the 90s and early 00s, it was Recovery. Last year, the ABC added The Set to its roster of music-focused TV shows. Fronted by triple j's Linda Marigliano and newly minted Wimbledon quad doubles champion Dylan Alcott, the newcomer was a hit — and now it's returning for a second season in August. Screening on ABC weekly from 9.30pm on Wednesday, August 28, The Set features live music performances in front of a live studio audience — and will once again spotlight a different main band each week, who'll then invite two guest acts to perform as well. To end each show, the week's artists all team up in a one-off musical collaboration, because the series has a definite party atmosphere. That extends to the audience; with the whole thing taking place on a purpose-built share house set, which also includes a backyard, 250 folks get to head along, in person, enjoying the gig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_pcuYplrTg While this year's bands haven't yet been announced, 2018's lineup included Baker Boy, Vera Blue, Ball Park Music and The Presets, as well as Illy, Odette, Wafia, Mallrat, Angie McMahon, Tia Gostelow, LANKS and Kult Kyss. The Set's second season will screen from Wednesday, August 28 till Wednesday, October 9, which each week's episode available on iView after it airs.
Now that you can start inviting friends round for an overdue catch up, we'd like to help you out with a refresher on how to play host. Sure, maybe you want to show off all those loaves of sourdough you've been baking (and we won't stop you), but to truly rise to the occasion, why not pair it with some delicatessen quality cheeses and a celebratory round of passion fruit martinis? It's an unusual pairing, but these are unusual times. We've partnered with Pernod Ricard to bring you four indulgent food and drink pairings that'll bring you back to not-so socially distant times with classic matches like freshly shucked oysters and rosé to more surprising flavour matches, such as a massaman curry with sour cocktails. Bonus: each one can all be delivered to your doorstep, so you can keep the best of lockdown convenience next time you're having your mates over. [caption id="attachment_626153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stinking Bishops[/caption] MATCH A PLATTER OF CHEESE WITH PORN STAR MARTINIS We know the classic pairing is white wine with mild cheese and red (or more tannin-heavy styles) with blues and mature cheeses, but we'd like to suggest a more playful match that adds a little fizz to the mix. The London-born cocktail porn star martini is sweet and celebratory — it's traditionally served with a shot glass of champagne — and pairs particularly well with blue cheese, comté and brie. The sweet concoction cuts through most creamy cheeses, as well as dense dried fruits and quince. What to order: Sydneysiders can order European and Australian farmhouse cheeses direct from Formaggi Ocello, or from Stinking Bishops via Doordash. In Melbourne, you can order hampers of 'all Victorian' or 'all soft' cheeses from Milk the Cow. Speciality cheese shop Harper and Blohm also delivers cloth-bound cheddars, gooey soft cheeses and stinky blues from its Brunswick store. And Brisbanites should head to Le Fromage Yard who is delivering a combo of three cheeses, quince and crackers for $55. Pair with: a round of porn star martinis made with Absolut Vanilla. [caption id="attachment_768195" align="alignnone" width="1920"] East 33[/caption] SHARE A DECADENT SEAFOOD FEAST WITH BONE-DRY ROSE You'll hardly be surprised to hear that a delicate, textural rosé sits well with a platter of grilled prawns. It's practically a national drink pairing come summer, so we're here to say make the most of those lingering warm days and fire up the barbie. There are nuances you can consider when matching your rosé to your ocean catch; light, dry styles (often pinot noir based) work well with raw and lightly cooked shellfish, and medium-dry or sweeter wines (such as zinfandel) work best with salads, dessert or foods with a bit of spice. What to order: In Sydney, sustainable seafood eatery Fish & Co delivers cold cooked king prawns and fresh oysters via Deliveroo. When you want to go all out, order from East 33 — supplier to the country's best restaurants. In Melbourne, there's been no better time to indulge in a delivery from fine diner Minamishima — order the box-pressed hakozushi, a specialty of chef Hide. And in Brisbane, Sushi Edo has nigiri and aburi nigiri available via Deliveroo. Pair with: a cold bottle of Jacob's Creek Le Petit Rosé. The blend of pinot noir, grenache and mataro is a perfect match for seafood. [caption id="attachment_696538" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Continental Deli by Kitti Gould[/caption] GRAZE ON CHARCUTERIE WITH A SUBTLE SPANISH RED It's a similar method for matching wine with cured meats — lighter styles of wine are better bedfellows for lighter flavoured meats. And while a charcuterie board is an assembly of cured meats, we also like to add cheese, fruit, cornichons and nuts to the mix, so look at the flavour balance as a whole. Generally speaking, saltier foods are best paired with acidic wines and those with bolder tannins complement smoky flavoured meats. What to order: In Sydney, Bel and Brio has ready-to-serve charcuterie platters (including white truffle honey, prosciutto, salame felino and mortadella) via Deliveroo. Or, order Continental Deli's cheese and charcuterie platter (with brie, comté, jamón and sopressa) via Bopple. Melburnians can pick up from Windsor's Tipico, which has salumi misti as well as pizza, pasta and dessert. And D.O.C. also has local delivery and takeaway of its salumi and cheese boards from $17. In Brisbane, there's a dedicated charcuterie delivery service called Say Cheese, which is packing boxes of platter-ready cheeses, cured meats, olives, dips and crackers to all suburbs, as well as Rosalie Gourmet Market which has a decadent charcuterie box for $84.99. Pair with: a bottle of Campo Viejo Tempranillo — expect woody and vanilla notes with ripe red fruits and spices. [caption id="attachment_686214" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chin Chin[/caption] PAIR A THAI FEAST WITH SOUR PINK COCKTAILS As Thai dishes balance sweet, sour, salt, spice, bitterness and aromatic flavours, you can pair them with almost any sweet–sour cocktail. If it's been a while since you've enjoyed a table full of share plates and chinked glasses with loved ones, perhaps you can take a step towards bringing the flavour party back home with a round of colourful cocktails. Whether you prefer whisky, gin or tequila as your base, go big or go home on theatrics. We suggest shaking up this pink concoction with strawberry-infused gin. What to order: In Sydney, you can get speciality dishes from award-winning restaurant Spice I Am, such as the pad prik pao pork belly. And in Melbourne and Sydney, Southeast Asian restaurant Chin Chin is offering a takeaway service direct from its website, including curries, roasts and barbecued dishes. In Brisbane, Phat Elephant has whole barramundi platters and mixed entree plates via Deliveroo, and Same Same in Fortitude Valley is running a daily delivery service of its curries and salads. Pair with: London dry gin Beefeater Pink. Right now, Pernod Ricard is offering a $10 Deliveroo voucher for every $50 spent on a select range of its wine and spirits — bought online or in-store at its partner liquor stores. Find out more, here. Top image: Continental Deli by Kimberley Low.
Summer in Australia means sun, surf, sand — and, increasingly, sweltering weather of heatwave proportions. The country clocked up its third-warmest year on record in 2018, and while we don't know just yet if 2019 will match it, we do know that a spate of particularly toasty days is on its way. It is the time of the year for it, of course; however the next run of warm weather will blast temperatures up, with the mercury hitting the 30s in every capital city except Hobart. The sweaty conditions will be travelling over from the western side of the country, where Perth has been has been enduring a multi-day run of temps around the 40-degree mark this week. On Thursday, the WA spot hit 39, while Friday reached 40, and tops of 41 and 40 are forecast on Saturday and Sunday. As that heat moves east over the week, the impact will differ around the country, with inland locations expected to bear the brunt. In the capitals, Sydney is expected to hit 33 degrees on Thursday, Brisbane will max out at 38 degrees on Monday before hovering around 30 for the rest of the week, Melbourne is due to hit 36 on Thursday and 41 on Friday, Adelaide will experience four days over 40 from Tuesday–Friday, and Canberra will top out at 42 on Thursday. And again, while sultry days are part and parcel of this time of year, each of the aforementioned cities except Brisbane will experience temps above its average maximum for December. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1205670711156789248 As the ABC reports, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts that, inland, the country may even break the heat record for the hottest day ever recorded. It currently stands at 50.7 degrees at Oodnadatta in South Australia, and dates back to January 1960. The warmest temp ever recorded in December is 49.5 degrees, which Birdsville in Queensland hit on Christmas Eve in 1972. BOM has already predicted that this summer will be warmer and drier than average, like 2019 overall — and that those conditions will continue well into 2020.
Some stores don't care for their customers. And some stores don't care to be creative. But for Some stores those things are imperative. The faces behind Fitzroy Street's Somedays store fit into the latter category. They sell us beautiful clothes, shoes and accessories from local and international designers. But what's more, they've spent the last year working their fingers to the bone to bring us issue three of their annual Sometimes magazine. This Wednesday, April 9, you’re invited to their Surry Hills store to launch Sometimes' release. Made with help from partners The National Grid, The Thousands, The Embassy of Sweden, Finsbury Green and Corona, Sailor Jerry and Kirin Cider, Sometimes showcases Some store's current inspiration and the creative types they've been working with. Happening from 6-8pm, the launch celebrates something they've made for you to love and keep. And let's face it; many stores wouldn't care to do the same.
April 9th, 2011 was an important day for the residents of Fayetteville, Arkansas and bacon-lovers everywhere. Why? The third annual Bacon Day took place, of course, and did so with more of a 'bang' than expected. Bacon Day began as a private event, and although it was only opened to the public for the first time last year attendance has increased significantly. The event is an all day feast, but it's B.Y.O.B (bring your own bacon) for a potluck style dinner. Nick Hamon, co-founder of the Bacon Day celebrations, brings a little extra to the table each year with his sculptures and devices made out of bacon. In previous years he's delivered the BA-K-47 and the Bacon AT-AT, but this year he made bacon history. On the day of the event, Hamon lead the inaugural launch of his new bacon-based contraption, the BA-Zooka. The BA-Zooka, unlike past bacon designs, is fully-functional. The sausage-launching contraption was successful in its first fire in Fayetteville's Agri Park in front of the crowd of admiring bacon enthusiasts in attendance. I guess playing with your food isn't always a bad thing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sz-sq7yF4bs
The 2013 smart ARTS mini-fest is back for the month of April with great art exhibitions, an awesome launch party and free workshops. smart ARTS aims to expand the creative minds of young people by "providing a forum for young people to express themselves and inspire each other through creative mediums". The festival also hopes to connect young people with networks and industry contacts in the arts, entertainment, and events. It's on until April 24 as part of National Youth Week. And the best part? All events at the festival are free. Check out the festival website and the Facebook event for a full program.
When Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' enjoyed its initial sublime movie moment in Trainspotting, it soundtracked a descent into heroin's depths, including literally via the film's visual choices. For three decades since, that's been the tune's definitive on-screen use. Now drifts in Perfect Days, the Oscar-nominated Japan-set drama from German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence). This slice-of-life movie takes its name from the song. It also places the iconic David Bowie-produced classic among the tracks listened to by toilet cleaner Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho, Vivant) as he goes about his daily routine. Fond of 60s- and 70s-era music, the Tokyo native's picks say everything about his mindset, both day by day and in his zen approach to his modest existence. 'Perfect Day' and Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' each also sum up the feeling of watching this gorgeous ode to making the most of what you have, seeing beauty in the everyday and being in the moment. Not every tune that Hirayama pops into his van's tape deck — cassettes are still his format of choice — has the same type of title. Patti Smith's 'Redondo Beach', The Animals' 'The House of the Rising Sun', Otis Redding's '(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay' and The Rolling Stones' '(Walkin' Thru the) Sleepy City' also rank among his go-tos, all reflecting his mood in their own ways. If there's a wistfulness to Hirayama's music selections, it's in the manner that comes over all of us when we hark back to something that we first loved when we were younger. Perfect Days' protagonist is at peace with his life, however. Subtly layered into the film is the idea that things were once far different and more-conventionally successful, but Hirayama wasn't as content as he now is doing the rounds of the Japanese capital's public bathrooms, blasting his favourite songs between stops, eating lunch in a leafy park and photographing trees with an analogue camera. As proves accurate for most folks, the cycle that Wenders and co-screenwriter Takuma Takasaki (an advertising creative director and an author) have scripted for Perfect Days doesn't vary wildly as time elapses. While the sky is still dark, Hirayama awakens in his minimalist flat, slips into his work overalls and gets a canned caffeine fix from the vending machine outside. From there, he drives from toilet to toilet, putting out his sign to notify those passing that the commodes are getting a wash, meticulously scrubbing porcelain and wiping basins, and barely being paid any attention. His midday break brings greenery, that snap and maybe rescuing a sapling to take home to nurture. By evening, he reads William Faulkner, Patricia Highsmith and Aya Kōda. Unless it's his day off, when he turns his cleaning skills to his apartment — and does laundry, gets his photos developed, purchases new books and has dinner out — the pattern repeats. Wenders, making his best fictional feature in years and a movie every bit as magnificent as his Berlin-set 1987 masterpiece Wings of Desire, goes zen himself with his handling of Perfect Days. He's happy with cinematographer Franz Lustig (who also lensed his most-recent documentary Anselm) largely peering on documentary-style patiently and gracefully, taking in the ins and outs of Hirayama's days as serenely as Hirayama navigates them. Perfect Days spies the revealing minutiae, though, including a gesture that's extraordinary in its simplicity, ease and impact. Each morning, as black starts to turn grey in the heavens above as he departs for work, Hirayama stands on his doorstep, peeks at the weather in store, then smiles. A face merely tilting upwards has rarely felt so profoundly tender, touching and essential — and like it says everything about the most blissful way to cope with living. Yakusho won the 2023 Cannes Best Actor prize, alongside gongs from the Japanese Academy and Asian Film Awards, for his rich and majestic performance as Hirayama. The Tampopo, Shall We Dance?, Memoirs of a Geisha and Babel star isn't required to utter much, but this could easily be a dialogue-free movie — except the lyrics of all-important tunes, of course — thanks to his deeply internalised portrayal. To witness his efforts as Hirayama is to understand all that's within the character, usually behind an expression of pure dedication, tranquility or both — and regardless of whether he has assistant Takashi (Tokio Emoto, House of Ninjas) along for the ride, or the latter's girlfriend Aya (Aoi Yamada, First Love); is playing noughts and crosses with a stranger in an endearing fashion; suddenly has his niece Niko (Arisa Nakano, Anata no shiranai kowai hanashi gekijouban) for company; or is lending an ear to someone else's troubles over the quiet drinks he's sipping by the water. With such a diligently naturalistic performance at its centre, Perfect Days tells you how to view it: by soaking up every minuscule piece of this entrancing film. Wenders wants his audience taking it in as Hirayama does all that surrounds him, valuing the small details as much as the bigger picture. The next step: holding onto that feeling and perspective after the projector stops rolling. Can a drama embody mindfulness so completely that watching it leaves its viewers embracing the ups and downs of their own standard existence afterwards, reassessing what they truly want, and rethinking how they approach the full spectrum of emotions from disappointment and monotony to joy and satisfaction? In answering that, there's before Perfect Days and after Perfect Days, because this transcendent picture gives the heartiest yes possible to that question. To grasp fulfilment in your work, to treat your ears to great music and your mind to excellent reading, to clutch as much time as you can in nature, to appreciate everything around you: that's Perfect Days' prescription for perfect days. It's a recipe for an ideal movie experience, too — and how committed the feature is to mirroring what it depicts doesn't go unnoticed. Take its toilets, which are all architectural wonders around the Shibuya neighbourhood. As everyone should, and as they're crafted to inspire, Perfect Days rejoices in their design, as well as in the fact that such striking creations cater for humanity's most-basic bodily functions. They're real. Tours now take visitors between them. There's no playing tourist with what that they, Hirayama and Perfect Days represent, though — finding value, meaning and perfection in life's ebbs and flows can only be a genuine pursuit.
The annual French Film Festival is touring the country next month and is set to be an entertaining delight for film lovers of all tastes and ages. The festival is a wing of the Alliance Française, an independent, not-for-profit organisation devoted to promoting the spread of French language and culture worldwide. With a presence in over 146 nations and over 30 Alliance Françaises in Australia alone, it is safe to say the organisation has done well in achieving these goals. The Alliance Françaises of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, and Sydney have joined forces to develop the Film Festival, now in its 24th year. And the 43 films set to screen at this year's festival will certainly not disappoint. The festival has a huge array of productions on offer, sure to sate the appetites of the soppy romantics, the arty, youngsters, those simply looking for a bit of a laugh, nostalgia-sufferers, and even thrillseekers. These films are some of most acclaimed productions to have come out of France over the last 12 months and will have you adoring both the language and the artistic creativity of the French by the time the credits roll. Opening the festival is Haute Cuisine, light fare about a successful chef who is appointed to head the President's kitchen in the Elysee Palace. During the festival you can see Renoir (pictured), a sumptuous film about the feuds of great painters; the erotic tableaux of FEU by Christian Louboutin; the Cannes closer and Audrey Tautou vehicle Therese Desqueyroux; and the pre-Freudian Augustine. The French Film Festival will tour to major capital cities during March and April. Visit their website to see the full program. Concrete Playground has six double passes per city to give away to see the French Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The passes entitle you to receive two complimentary tickets to one festival session of choice. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Just when we thought we couldn't have any more sweets, along comes Sweetfest — a two-day-long sugar party featuring the likes of Katherine Sabbath, Andy Bowdy, Lorraine's Patisserie and Mak Mak. It's not all about eating sugar though. An assortment of masterclasses, like Andy Bowdy's soft serve desserts class, will be held across the two days. This event is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month 2015. Check out the other nine. Image: Pinbone.
Often described as "the white wine for red wine lovers", orange wines are certainly going through a moment, thanks to their big, dry flavours. Whether you consider yourself a vino aficionado or you're just getting into the orange wine scene, you won't want to miss an evening dedicated to the sunrise-hued drop coming to Sorry Thanks I Love You this week. Don't worry, this is not a stuffy traditional wine tasting. It's less of a lesson and instead more of an opportunity for casual drinks with a friend or loved one — with a little wine education on the side. Running on Thursday, June 2 from 6.30-8pm, tickets will set you back $50. That lands you four different orange wine varietals — and complimentary snacks — over the 90 minute period. As you sip and scoff, roaming sommelier Sarah Devine from P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants be taking you through the finer points of orange wine. Attendees keen to learn can get schooled up on the history and culture, while those just there for date night can focus on gasbagging with their partner. It's up to you. Set in the mini-atrium of the Martin Place store, you can check out some of the high-end fashion, gourmet food, craft beverages, jewellery and accessories while you're there. Organisers say space is extremely limited, so book your wine-tasting table sooner rather than later. [caption id="attachment_855737" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Garreth Paul[/caption]
Another beloved film is heading to the theatre — this time, iconic Australian effort Starstruck. It follows in the footsteps of a growing number of Aussie flicks-turned-musicals; think Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding and Moulin Rouge!. Like its predecessors, it's easy to see why the film is getting the stage musical treatment. In fact, given the movie's storyline, it's a wonder that a large-scale production of hasn't been made before. Directed by Gillian Armstrong and first released in 1982, the comedy-drama tells the tale of Sydney teenager Jackie Mullens, who works in her mum's pub by the harbour but wants to become a rock star — and her cousin Angus, an aspiring manager, plans to get Jackie on a national TV talent series to help her dreams become a reality. An all-singing, all-dancing affair that'll be filled with 80s pop just like the movie, Starstruck — The Stage Musical will see RGM Productions, the folks behind the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert musical, team up with the National Institute of Dramatic Art. For the show's initial run at Sydney's Parade Theatre in 2019, it'll showcase NIDA's graduating class; however the production will also act as pilot for future commercial seasons. Dates haven't yet been announced, but it's expected to take to the stage towards the end of next year. As well as Priscilla Queen of The Desert, The Musical producer Garry McQuinn and his partner Rina Gill, the behind-the-scenes talent includes director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Ladies in Black, Muriel's Wedding) and choreographer Andrew Hallsworth (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity), with the book by actor, singer, writer and director Mitchell Butel (Two Hands, Gettin' Square, Holding the Man). "It'll be an exciting adventure to see this warm-hearted little Australian film take shape on the stage," says Phillips. "The story about a couple of self-invented Ozzie kids trying to save their family pub is full of joy and adolescent energy, and NIDA feels like the perfect place to road-test its charms." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucf3bzv-e9M
In some cities, it'll happen in October. In others, it'll occur in November. Either way, folks in a heap of places around Australia are about to learn a very important truth. If you've watched Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun on Netflix — aka the platform's best comedy of 2020 — then you'll have already heard this crucial nugget of wisdom. Everyone could use a reminder, though, because knowing that everything's a drum is just that essential. Aunty Donna, purveyors of such powerful tidbits, are following up their streaming success by spreading the word — and the absurdist gags — countrywide. For the first time in more than three years, the comedy trio is hitting the road and heading to stages in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. Even if you haven't yet had your cup of morning brown yet, you'll know that this is exciting news. Writers and performers Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane will be breaking out their distinctive brand of humour between Wednesday, October 6–Friday, November 12, as part of a roadshow they're calling The Magical Dead Cat Tour. They've released a trailer to explain why these gigs have that name, and it's as silly and hilarious as you'd expect. Also part of the clip: the very wise recommendation that wannabe attendees should get their tickets quickly. Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun was just the dose of hilarity we all needed last year, so the troupe's tour is certain to prove the same this year — but in-person. Fingers crossed for more Crazy John's, Four'n Twenty pies, Eagle Boys Pizza, the Hoodoo Gurus and Grant Denyer references. And yes, plenty of funny folks are about to hit the road and bring their amusing shows to Aussie cities — with Aunty Donna touring at around the same time as Bill Bailey and Hannah Gadsby. Check out the trailer for Aunty Donna's The Magical Dead Cat Tour below — and the full tour dates, too: AUNTY DONNA'S THE MAGICAL DEAD CAT TOUR 2021: Wednesday, October 6–Thursday, October 7 — Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Saturday, October 9–Sunday, October 10 — The Playhouse, Canberra Wednesday, October 13 — Astor Theatre, Perth Thursday, October 21 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Wednesday, October 27–Thursday, October 28 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, November 2–Saturday, November 6 — Arts Centre, Melbourne Friday, November 12 — Theatre Royal, Hobart Aunty Donna's The Magical Dead Cat tour will make its way around the country this October and November. For pre-sale tickets until 10am on Thursday, June 17, or for general ticket sales afterwards — and for further information — head to the Aunty Donna website. Top image: Netflix.
If 2015's slate of documentaries has taught audiences anything — and filmmakers, too — it's the value of personal recordings, private scribblings and lost tapes. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Amy and Listen to Me Marlon all used previously unheard ramblings, unread notes or unseen footage as their basis, all to great effect. Their accounts of famous subjects unfolded in the best manner possible: in their own unguarded words. Sourcing its treasure trove of audio from a shoebox stashed in a basement for decades, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict endeavours to do the same as it peers back at the achievements of its titular socialite and collector. Indeed, her musings, all immortalised in the late 1970s by her biographer, provide the highlights of an otherwise cursory film. Guggenheim is a fascinating figure who lived a life most can only dream of, and her personality drips through in her voice and recollections. The material assembled around it, while plentiful, can only feel ordinary in comparison. It traces over the same details, rather than filling in the gaps. Meanwhile, Guggenheim's own mutterings and the accompanying chats, clips and images, seem content with offering description rather than depth. They still tell quite the tale, of course. Born into one of New York's wealthiest Jewish families, the daughter of Titanic victim Benjamin and niece of museum namesake Solomon, Peggy eagerly took on the role of rebel and black sheep, with her refusal to conform to expectations one of the strengths of her ventures in the art world. In Paris in the 1920s, she started buying pieces that caught her eye, and continued to do so until her death in Italy in 1979. In between, she befriended many an artist, founded galleries in Europe and the US, saved pieces from the Nazis and unearthed emerging talent such as Jackson Pollock. When director Lisa Immordino Vreeland isn't letting Guggenheim do the talking, she's compiling the usual mix of archival footage and interviews, with Marina Abramovic and Robert De Niro among those featured. It's the same tactic the filmmaker used in her last effort, Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel — but while both movies are straightforward in their approach, there's considerably less energy and personality this time around. Vreeland's struggle with tone — never quite knowing whether to interrogate the gossip that surrounded Guggenheim's personal affairs or to simply recount the rumours — certainly contributes to the film's lack of liveliness, as does its insistence on serving up a standard biographical documentary instead of a true reflection of its subject. It still makes for pleasant-enough viewing, particularly for art addicts themselves, but it never manages to fully do Guggenheim justice. In fact, it's only her vocal presence that stops the movie from amounting to little more than an interesting video of a Wikipedia listing.
Anyone afraid that the team at Pixar may have lost their edge can officially put those concerns to rest. After an uncharacteristic run of (relative) disappointments in the form of Cars 2, Brave and Monsters University, their most recent effort, Inside Out, signals a stunning return to form. With a wonderfully inventive premise supported by a cerebral sense of humour along with vibrant animation and a bucketload of pathos, this isn’t just one of Pixar’s best films of the past few years, but one of their best films full stop. And yes, it is going to make you cry. Co-written and directed by Pixar regular Pete Docter, who previously manned the ship on both Monsters Inc and Up, Inside Out takes place inside the brain of 11-year-old Riley, home to Joy, Fear, Disgust, Anger and Sadness. Voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black and MVP Phyllis Smith, respectively, the mismatched group are in control of Riley’s mood and take care of her core memories — memories which in turn create the basis for her personality. But things get more complicated when Riley’s family decide to move to San Francisco, a change that neither Riley nor her emotions quite know how to handle. Aesthetically speaking, it should almost go without saying that Inside Out is astounding. The fantastical setting gives the animators full license to unleash their imaginations, an opportunity they obviously relish. The world of Riley’s brain is one of life and vivid colour, a cartoon fairyland that you’ll never want to leave. Each of her five emotions boasts its own unique and expressive design, while the voice cast is terrific across the board. Of course it helps that both cast and production team are working with one of Pixar’s best ever scripts, one that’s not only highly original but very, very funny. There’s tons of straightforward physical humour for the kids, but the true gems of Docter’s screenplay are the jokes about the mind itself. After Joy and Sadness are inadvertently transported to the outer recesses of Riley’s brain, the return journey takes them through such territories as Imagination Land and Long Term Memory, as well as the Hollywood-style studio responsible for producing Riley’s dreams. A trip through Abstract Thinking will fly straight over a six-year-old’s head, but anyone who’s ever taken an Introduction to Psychology class will be rolling in the aisles. But the most incredible thing about Inside Out is how it deals with sadness. Plenty of Pixar movies have the capacity to make people cry, but Inside Out is about why we cry. While Joy spends a majority of the film trying to stop Sadness from affecting how Riley feels, the reality is that sometimes Sadness is the most important emotion of all. Without her, and the catharsis that she provides, how does anyone learn to cope with pain or loss? Sometimes there’s nothing better than a good cry. That’s an incredibly important lesson, and not just for the kids.
In the Greater Sydney region, the past few days have seen health alerts issued, mask mandates reinstated and restrictions reimplemented, all in response to the city's two recent locally acquired COVID-19 cases. A growing number of venues have also been identified as COVID-19 exposure sites this week — with folks who visited them required to take a range of actions, usually involving getting tested and self-isolating. Eight places were initially highlighted on Wednesday, with others added since. Thankfully, no new cases were identified overnight — in the 24 hours up until 8pm on Thursday, May 6, as reported by NSW Health today — but the list of spots to note includes venues everywhere from the CBD, Paddington and Haymarket to Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction. In terms of dates, it also covers visits between Tuesday, April 27–Tuesday, May 4. A few big ones to note from the now 23-location rundown: Fratelli Fresh in Westfield Sydney from 1.15–2.15pm on Tuesday, April 27, Barbetta from 1.30–2.30pm on Friday, April 30, District Brasserie between 11am–12pm the same day, and Woolworths Double Bay from 4.05–4.15pm on Tuesday, May 4. [caption id="attachment_629203" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] District Brasserie[/caption] If you're wondering what actions you need to take, and which venues are highlighted at the time of writing, check out the full list of places, dates and times below: MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS The Meat Store, Bondi Junction — 3–4pm, Sunday, May 2 GET TESTED AND SELF-ISOLATE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A NEGATIVE RESULT Fratelli Fresh, Westfield Sydney — 1.15–2.15pm, Tuesday, April 27 XOPP, Haymarket — 1.30–2.30pm, Wednesday, April 28 Bondi Trattoria, Bondi Beach — 12.45–1.30pm, Thursday, April 29 Joe's Barbeques & Heating, Silverwater — 1.30–2.30pm, Saturday, May 1 Tucker Barbecues, Silverwater — 1.30–2.30pm, Saturday, May 1 Barbeques Galore Annandale — 2–3pm, Saturday, May 1 Barbeques Galore, Casula — 3.35–4.05pm, Saturday, May 1 BP Runway, Mascot — 4.30–5pm, Saturday, May 1 Azure Cafe, Moore Park — 12.30–1pm, Monday, May 3 Chemist Warehouse, Double Bay — 3.45–4pm, Tuesday, May 4 Woolworths, Double Bay — 4.05–4.15pm, Tuesday, May 4 GET TESTED AND SELF-ISOLATE UNTIL NSW HEALTH PROVIDES FURTHER INFORMATION The Stadium Club, Moore Park — 11.30am–12.30pm, Monday, May 3 Rug Cleaning Repairs Hand Rug Wash Sydney, Brookvale — 12.30–1pm, Tuesday, May 4 Smith Made, Balgowlah — 2.30–2.45pm, Tuesday, May 4 GET TESTED AND SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS District Brasserie, Sydney — 11am–12pm, Friday, April 30 Hine Sight Optometrist, Sydney — 12–1pm, Friday, April 30 Barbetta, Paddington — 1.30–2.30pm, Friday, April 30 Screening of The Courier at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction — 6–8pm, Friday, April 30 Figo Restaurant, Rushcutters Bay — 8.45–11pm, Friday, April 30 The Royal Sydney Golf Club, Rose Bay — 5.30–9pm, Monday, May 3 Alfresco Emporium Shop, Collaroy — 1–1.30pm, Tuesday, May 4 Alfresco Emporium Cafe, Collaroy — 1.30–2pm, Tuesday, May 4 As it has throughout the pandemic, NSW Health is maintaining an ongoing register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases — you can check out the entire list on its website. And, if you need a reminder, the symptoms to look out for are coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. You can find a rundown of testing clinic locations online as well. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Top image: Barbetta, Paddington by Nikki To.
Need a bit of extra motivation to exercise? Would the chance to dress up and step back in time make you more eager to burn some calories? If so, jog along to Retrosweat — a series of themed workouts inspired by '80s and led by Shannon Dooley of Physique Aerobics, who says she's aiming to inject a lot more fun (and eye shadow) into exercising. Her classes celebrate the glorious music and dance moves of the '80s. Think Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna. Sessions are a non-intimidating 50 minutes long and all experience levels are welcome, so don't rule yourself out if you think you have two left feet. And as to the dress code "G string leotards are encouraged, scrunchies and sweatbands compulsory". Due to growing popularity, Retrosweat now takes place twice weekly — Tuesdays and Thursdays — at Redfern PCYC.
Colourful anime hits, intriguing murder mysteries and moody yakuza thrillers — they're all on the lineup at this year's Japanese Film Festival. Throw in a rom-com about renting a friend, a musical-comedy starring a former J-pop idol and a live-action version of a best-selling manga, and Sydney viewers will have plenty to watch at Event Cinemas George Street between Thursday, November 14 and Sunday, November 24. It all starts with opening night's Masquerade Hotel, which tasks a detective (Blade of the Immortal's Takuya Kimura) with going undercover at a swanky Tokyo establishment. The reason? He believes that a murder is about to take place within its walls, and he's determined not only to stop it, but to solve three other seemingly unrelated killings. From there, standouts include Little Love Song, about Okinawa high schoolers in a pop band; family reunion drama Born Bone Born, as set on the island of Aguni; and Melancholic, which follows a new university graduate who takes a job at a bathhouse, only to find himself working for dangerous mobsters. On the animated front, Ride Your Wave takes to the sea on a surfboard, because Japanese animators can make surfing movies too. Final Fantasy fans might want to catch Brave Father Online, given that it focuses on a father and son reconnecting through their love of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, while Dance With Me takes its characters on a singing and dancing road trip — and And Your Bird Can Sing gets atmospheric with three friends over a long Hokkaido summer.
In the whimsical 2001 film that bears her name, Parisian waitress Amélie Poulain (Audrey Tautou) decides to devote her life to bringing happiness to others in the quirkiest, sweetest, most charming ways possible. The results earned the Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed effort five Oscar nominations, a slew of other awards and box office success around the world, and turned the movie into everyone's favourite French flick. We know you've seen it more than once. Now, Amélie is back — and the folks behind her latest incarnation clearly want to keep following in her footsteps by spreading joy wherever they can. No, they aren't returning prized childhood possessions, helping people find romance or taking a garden gnome around the world. However, given that they've adapted the beloved film into a stage musical, they're still achieving that aim. The song-filled theatre production will make its way to Broadway in April 2017, with previews the month prior, following its world premiere in Berkeley, California back in 2015, and another run in Los Angeles this December. Hamilton's Tony-nominated Phillipa Soo will jump from one hot hit to what's sure to be another to play the titular role alongside a cast of veteran performers, as directed by Tony-winning Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? helmer Pam MacKinnon. Amélie joins everything from Moulin Rouge to The Bodyguard in making the leap from the screen to the stage — and into must-see theatre lists as well. Just as it's a good time to be a film-loving TV watcher with the likes of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and What We Do in the Shadows making their way to television, it is also an excellent to be a movie-obsessed musical attendee. Groundhog Day, Matilda, Singin' in the Rain, Heathers and Carrie have all also received the singing, dancing theatre treatment after all, just to name a few, with musicals of True Blood and SpongeBob SquarePants also slated in the near future. Via Variety.
A dark chocolate and passionfruit martini will probably make David Bowie's codpiece appear even more miraculously bulbous to you when Labyrinth screens tonight at the Soda Factory. The inaugural Movie Monday from the bar that brought you the ridiculously popular Tuesday Dollar Dogs, tonight's only the beginning of a two-month program that concludes, ingeniously, with Spacejam. Other movies coming up are Zoolander, Pulp Fiction, Snatch and more. To sweeten the deal, the bar is offering Tiger beer, house wine and any item on the standard menu for $5, as well as a weird and highly cinematic popcorn-flavoured soda syphon share cocktail for $20. Retro movies we've all seen always make a top backdrop for drinking and flirting, so get down there. The codpiecing begins at 8pm. April 8 - Labyrinth April 15 - Zoolander April 22 - Pulp Fiction April 29 - Happy Gilmore & Billy Maddison May 6 - Snatch May 13 - Delirious May 20 - Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas May 27 - Spacejam Movies screen at 8pm, though you can get in and get a seat from 5pm.
Sydney's Secret Foodies are at it again with this weekend's Picnic in the Park. For their last event of the year, they've organised a lovely picnic with gourmet food, garden games and plenty of wines from Banrock Station, De Bortoli and Yalumba. In typical SF fashion, that's about all they'll tell you, but we think it's convincing enough. To make sure nobody lets the cat out of the bag, the location will be kept under wraps until two hours before the picnic. You can expect a lush lawn at one of Sydney's hidden harbourside spots, somewhere in the eastern suburbs. Picnic rugs will be provided so all you'll need to bring is yourself. Well, maybe a hat in case the November sun is too intense. Spend the afternoon lazing around and feasting on a plentiful spread of fresh salads, meats, cheeses, breads and desserts. It's the perfect way to say goodbye to spring.
If you're looking for an excuse for your next getaway, new Australian airline Bonza has plenty, including cheap airfares on 25 routes. First announced in 2021 and planning to take to the skies this year, the soon-to-launch carrier has announced the locations it'll be flying to, as well as the legs it'll take between them — with a big focus on regional destinations. When it hits the air, Bonza will service 16 different spots, spanning nine in Queensland, four in New South Wales and three in Victoria. For those heading to the Sunshine State, get ready for trips to Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville and the Whitsundays. NSW's list covers Albury, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Port Macquarie, while Victoria's features Melbourne, Avalon and Mildura. Given that Melbourne is the only state capital that Bonza will be servicing, the airline's routes largely connect regional spots — heading from the Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie to Melbourne, for instance. Indeed, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne both feature heavily, with the airline set to run 37 flights weekly to the former and 22 to the latter from its roster of locations. Bonza will also base its headquarters on the Sunshine Coast, too. Opening up routes to more of regional Australia was stated as Bonza's aim back when it first revealed its existence last year. "Bonza's mission is to encourage more travel by providing more choices and ultra-low fares, particularly into leisure destinations where travel is now often limited to connections via major cities," said Bonza founder and CEO Tim Jordan, who comes to the airline with 25-plus years experience in low-cost carriers such as Virgin Blue, Cebu Pacific in The Philippines and central Asia's FlyArystan. An exact date that the carrier will start flying its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft around the country still hasn't been revealed as yet, but it hopes to put flights on sale within the next two months. Those fares won't include baggage and seat selection, which'll you need to pay extra for — and it'll be cheapest to do so when you make your booking, rather than afterwards. When it launches, the carrier will take to the skies with the backing of US private investment firm 777 Partners, which also has a hand in Canada's Flair Airlines and the Southeast Asian-based Value Alliance. Bonza is set to start flying in 2022 — we'll update you when an exact date is announced. For more information, head to the airline's website. And for its full list of routes, you'll need to download the airline's app for Android and iOS.
Semi-Permanent is the leading global design event, a creative experience by creatives for creatives. The design world descends on Darling Harbour each year and for 2 days the Sydney Exhibition Centre becomes a showcase for the cream of the world's design, art and media communities. Now in its ninth year of bringing together interesting speakers with interested audiences, this year's speakers are continuing the trend of exceptional local and international speakers, including musician/artist Reg Mombassa, designer Annie Sperling, photographer Corey Arnold and illustrator Kelly Thompson. We're partnering with Semi-Permanent again this year and have 5 x two-day passes to give away (worth $310 each). To win, simply subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. Entries close Tuesday, 10th May at 5pm. You won't want to miss out.
Sydneysiders are set to fork out a bit extra for their public transport travels, with the NSW Government announcing it's upping the price of Opal fares by 2.2 percent, from Monday, July 2. And it could have been even worse news for your wallet — Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance revealed fares have only been adjusted in line with inflation, rather than given the 4.2 percent annual increase recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. Mr Constance said the focus was on helping to squash the cost of living and putting commuters first. "Since the introduction of OPAL in 2012, this Government has kept the fares low with a five year fare freeze and then induction of an adjustment to fares by CPI only last year, and again this coming financial year," he explained. The fare increases impacts trains, buses, ferries and light rail. On average, the increase will see passengers shelling out around 39 cents extra a week, with a Penrith–Town Hall train ticket increasing by 15 cents from $6.61 to $6.76. Caps on adult weekday and Saturdays tickets will both rise to $15.80, from the current $15.40, and the adult weekly cap will rise $1.60, from $61.60 to $63.20. The Sunday cap will only increase by 10 cents to $2.70. Gold Opal fares have been spared the price hike, remaining at $2.50 for all day travel any day of the week.
After spending most of his career dancing the tango with Simon Pegg, the loveable Nick Frost gets the chance to take the lead. It's a shame that the tune he's moving to is so embarrassingly out of key. A bland, salsa-themed rom-com without a single surprising bone in its silk-and-sequin-clad body, Cuban Fury is a comedy of the most risk averse and unimaginative kind. The premise goes like this: Bruce Garrett (Frost) is a former child salsa dancer, now lonely, overweight engineer, who spends his days being belittled by his womanising colleague Drew (Chris O'Dowd). But Bruce's passions are reignited by the arrival of his new boss, a beautiful American woman named Julia (Rashida Jones). She's way out of his league, physically speaking, but it turns out Julia loves salsa, which puts Brucey in with a chance. All he has to do is get his groove back. Frost is an endearing screen presence and ensures Bruce is easy to root for. He's also not a bad dancer, as it turns out. Sadly, natural comic charm and fancy footwork can only do so much when the script is as woeful as this. Working from an 'original idea' by Frost, Jon Brown has produced a screenplay that is predictable, cliched and strangely scarce in actual jokes; what few there come usually at the expense of either Bruce's weight, or the campy mannerisms of Bejan (Kayvan Novak), a flamboyantly gay man in Bruce's dance class. Such a cringingly one-dimensional representation is typical of all the supporting characters, which is an even bigger shame considering the genuinely high calibre of the cast. O'Dowd lands a handful of funny lines, but ultimately can't do much with such a stock-standard slime ball. The great Ian McShane, meanwhile, is left to slum it in his role as Bruce's grizzled former dance instructor Ron. Still, the most thankless part belong to Jones, whose talents as comic performer go unforgivably unexploited. Introduced via full body panning shot, it's immediately clear that Julia will be nothing more than the love interest; a pretty face for Bruce and Drew to dance-battle over. There's an unpleasant, all-too-common double standard at play in Cuban Fury's body and gender politics. Bruce finds his mojo and gets the girl in spite of his weight, yet Julia is only seen as an object of desire because she's physically attractive. That being said, it's hard to be seriously offended by a movie as generic and forgettable as this one. The highest praise Cuban Fury deserves is that will rightfully fade from the public consciousness as soon as it disappears from theatres, doing little likely long-term harm to the careers of anyone involved. https://youtube.com/watch?v=tpiyFHf7GKU
Every New Year's Eve, Sydney Harbour throws more parties than you can poke a stick at. Some are great — and some are not so great — but we have high hopes for the Sydney Opera House's NYE Party At The House, which will see the upper concourse of its western boardwalk play host to the most cultured rager in the city. Its high vantage point means uninterrupted and super Instagrammable views of the iconic fireworks, which will be curated by Romance Was Born. But there's more to do at the party than just wait for the fireworks. Think an uninterrupted flow of Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne, cocktails, premium beers and Robert Oatley Signature Series wines. You'll also be able to zero in on a seriously yum menu of canapes by Matt Moran and ARIA Catering. Drinks, food and music make up the perfect party trifecta, and in true Opera House style, there will be some stellar sounds. You may know L'Tric as the Australian duo behind the infectious 'This Feeling'. They'll be on hand to help you ring in the new year with some feel-good tunes, and DJ Dan Rowntree will also be providing nu-disco vibes. Start practicing your best dance moves. Tickets are $595 per person and, as you'd expect for the price, they include all your food and drinks for the night. Yes, all the Champagne and canapes. All. Night. Long. So go thirsty, go hungry and go ready to dance — and welcome in 2016 at The House. NYE Party At The House is happening at the Sydney Opera House on the upper concourse of western boardwalk on Thursday, December 31 from 7.30pm – 1am. Tickets are $595 + booking fee. Capacity is strictly limited, so book your tickets early here.
It's hard to believe holiday season is just around the corner with 2021 coming in close for the fastest year ever award. If you're after some festive fun to celebrate the silly season, you'll be happy to know the Sydney Christmas Fair is back with a huge lineup of Christmas-y entertainment at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter. Running across three weekends in December, you and the fam have plenty of opportunities to enjoy this outdoor and COVID-safe event. Hop on crowd favourite rides like a giant water slide, a classic carousel and the dodgem cars, or join the interactive elf workshops where kids can write letters to Santa, make Christmas cards and stuff stockings. And, if your little one loves to dance, head to the gingerbread house party for a big ol' boogie. Visiting Santa will be contactless this year, so make sure you practice your best physically distanced poses for the all-important pic with the big guy. Be sure to whip out your ugliest Christmas sweater and take your furry friend (BYO dog-sized reindeer ears) for your annual Santa photo, too. Sydney Christmas Fair is running from December 4–6, December 11–12, and December 18–19 at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. For more information and to pre-book your tickets, visit the website.
Our society seems to be developing an obsession for sleeping in places that are not our beds. Are our lives so busy and so constantly on the go that the notion of getting your 8 hours in the quiet comfort of your bedroom sometime between dusk and dawn is becoming impractical, unrealistic and just plain outdated? A range of designs over the past few years seem to be pointing to our desire to harness modcon's to make going to sleep - the concept, the verb - unnecessary and obsolete and instead, in its place, enable us to take sleep with us wherever we go. it seems survival of the fittest is all about adaptation, with new designs allowing our weary bodies to adapt to our demanding lifestyles. Athanasia Leivaditou has added a new incentive to staying late at the office through her latest offering - an office desk that can convert into a bed. The white, seemingly innocuous, everyday office desk masks deep within its belly a 2m x 0.8m x 0.73m escape to the Land of Nod complete with a small flat screen TV. Leivaditou pointed to the contraction of our lives to fit into the walls of our office as the inspiration for her design. If your occupational allegiance is tied not to an office but to mobility, you may want to invest in an OSTRICH. Designer Kawamura Ganjavian states that it is a combination of a pillow, cushion, bed and garment that offers "a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease" with a "soothing cave-like interior" into which we bury our heads and hands in mimicry of the habits of the aforementioned large flightless bird. If you want to take the concept of portable sleep vessel one step further, perhaps try out Forrest Jessee's Sleep Suit, which, for all intents and purposes, transforms you into a walking sleeping bag. It was designed as a facilitatory aid to the adoption of an alternative sleep cycle whereby you take frequent naps over the course of a day rather than having a big greedy sleep at night. The pleated foam construction enables the user to hear, eat, breathe and see, as well as, at the user's discretion, keel over whenever and wherever for a comfortable and safe snooze. Mixing literal instrumentality with aesthetic absurdity, these designs simultaneously allow us to adapt to our evolving circumstances as well as, possibly, making us question whether the need for such adaptations is an indication that it is our lifestyles themselves that need changing.
Year after year, we unthinkingly trod along to Tropfest and the Alliance Francaise Alliance French Film Festival. But what about something different, huh? Australia's first annual African Film Festival is here in Sydney. It will showcase some enlightening, thought-provoking and diverse African features, documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental films and classics to audiences across Australia. The opening night features the Australian premiere of Restless City. A visually stunning tribute to New York City, the film had its global premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Nigerian director Andrew Dosunmu creates a kaleidoscope of colour and print as he tells the story of an African immigrant living on the fringes of American society and trying to realise his dreams. When he falls in love with a beautiful prostitute, his life becomes extremely complicated. The opening night will also feature a spectacular dance performance by SAEA Banyana (South Africa, Ethiopia and Angola). The 'SAEA' represents the African nations that these young women hail from, and 'Banyana' means 'the girls' in Nguni. These girls will stomp and shake up a storm as they fuse African roots, Afrofunk and beat, RnB, dancehall and hip hop into an explosive interpretation. Ugandan film Kengere, which features as part of the African Shorts Session, explores many tense political issues through the medium of puppetry. Director Peter Muhumuza Tukei unravels the black history the governments attempted to erase, including a bizarre ruse to justify the murder of an entire village. Liberia 77, filmed in Liberia and Canada, shows the stark changes that have occurred across recent decades in this challenged nation. For director Jeff Topham and his brother Andrew, 1970s Liberia was a childhood paradise of endless beaches, thick jungle — even a pet chimp. Thirty years later, Jeff and Andrew return to Liberia, but what starts as a personal journey, quickly evolves into something they didn't expect. Closing the festival is the Australian premiere of Kinshasa Symphony, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's only symphony orchestra. The film follows the determined, captivating and inspiring members of the orchestra as they overcome daily struggles and celebrate life through the power of music. Image: Restless City.
Just as the flickering light of a projector illuminates a darkened cinema, so too have filmmakers from around the globe sought out tales of courage, resilience and survival amidst one of the darkest points in human history. Organised by the Jewish International Film Festival (not to be confused with the Israeli Film Festival) the Holocaust Film Series will present the Australian premieres of 22 recent feature films, documentaries and shorts, from countries including France, Germany, Poland, America and Israel. In doing so, the series aims to examine the relationship between the past and the present, as well as the ongoing role of cinema in historical representations of the Holocaust. Noteworthy titles on the program include The Lady in Number 6, about the world’s oldest concert pianist and Holocaust survivor, and Bureau 06, about the investigators who prepared the case for the Jewish people in the trial of Adolf Eichmann. The former is nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film, while the latter recently competed for Best Documentary at Israel’s prestigious Ophir Awards. The Holocaust Film Series screens in Sydney and Melbourne starting in late March. For more information, see the JIFF website.
It's that time of year again. The bargain-filled Click Frenzy sale return for its next online shopping riot, kicking off at 7pm on Tuesday, March 17 — and, this time around, it's focusing on Aussie businesses in need. The site's inaugural Places in Need event arrives on the heels of Australia's devastating bushfire season and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This double-whammy has hit the travel sector hard, and Click Frenzy plans to aid local businesses through its quarterly sale. As of 7pm, you'll have access to the usual array of bargain deals on airfare, holiday packages and accommodation, as well as on experiences, tours, car hire and travel insurance. Over 500 deals will be on offer, with big names like Virgin Australia, Travel Online, Flight Centre and Klook all on board. Those deals will specifically focus on a combination of lesser-known Australian gems and well-traversed destinations where tourism is especially low. Of course, in this period of uncertainty, it's not expecting travellers to book a trip for next week. Instead, there'll be flexible dates and cancellation terms — with the intention that consumers will hold onto their vouchers or book for future dates. Now for the deals: expect 70-percent-off Flight Centre packages, 50-percent-off Travel Online destinations, 20-percent-off Hamilton Island stays and 25-percent-off Metro Hotels across Australia. [caption id="attachment_765150" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shotever Jet Boat[/caption] A few of the New South Wales-specific offers include $400-off luxury stays at White Sand Jervis Bay, a free private tour of biodynamic vineyard Lark Hill Wines, a $100 voucher in Bundanoon (when staying at Fulford Folly) and one-night-free accommodation at Redleaf Carriages in Fitzroy Falls. There's also $30 off Sydney-based experiences via Klook, including the Harbour Bridge Climb, skydiving and hot air balloon bookings. Now may be a time to tick these off your bucket list. Other featured deals around the country include one-night-free stays at Waverley House Cottages in Lake Entrance, Yarranungara Yurt Retreat in Oxley and Aurora Ozone Hotel on Kangaroo Island (which was devastated by the bushfires. And the Mansfield Zoo in Victoria is offering adult camping for child prices. And if you're a member (or want to register for free), you get additional benefits, including early access to all of the deals. There's no official 'end' time to the sale this year, either so you'll have extra time to explore and book. Choose wisely. Click Frenzy's Places in Need kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday, March 17. You can find all the tasty travel bargains here. Check each individual deal for exact terms and conditions. Top image: Kangaroo Island by Isaac Forman
Need to get around Sydney during WorldPride, and want your trip around town to be as entertaining as the entire festival? Enter Uber Pride Ride, a party bus that's hitting the Harbour City across three weekends. From Friday, February 17–Sunday, February 19, Friday, February 24–Sunday, February 26 and Friday, March 3–Sunday, March 5, operating from 6.30–10pm daily, it'll will loop around the CBD — with a heap of drag queen stars on hosting duties. Each night's trips will feature different talents busting out onboard activities — so you might be in for a ride filled with drag bingo, karaoke or an inner-city disco on wheels with Jojo Zaho, Carla From Bankstown, Coco Jumbo, Cassandra Queen, Karen From Finance, Annie Mation and more. The Uber Pride Ride is also hosting educational talks from First Nations LGBQTIA+SB advocacy organisation Black Rainbow. Like to party on the way to the party? This is the hop-on-hop-off — and free — bus for you. It'll take an hour-long City Circle loop, departing at 6.30pm, 7.45pm and 9pm each evening, starting at Australian Museum on William Street. From there, it'll head to St James Station, Powerhouse Museum, Central Station, Albion Street in Surry Hills, Flinders Street in Darlinghurst, Oxford Street in Paddington, then via Craigend and William streets back to the beginning. Like free Uber Pool trips as well? On one weekend, from 12–10pm Friday, February 24–Sunday, February 26, the rideshare company is also doing $100 off trips.
Some Pixar movies bring childhood obsessions to big screen, as seen in the Toy Story and Cars films. If you loved monsters as a kid, the Monsters, Inc flicks definitely also count. Other features made by the beloved animation studio explore exactly what it feels like to be a child — as seen in the wonderful Inside Out, of course, and now in the company's upcoming release Turning Red. We say 'upcoming', and that is indeed accurate — but after both Soul and Luca hit streaming over the past six months, the studio's next movie won't release until March 2022. So, you'll be waiting a while to get another dose of heartwarming animated cuteness. Based on its just-dropped first trailer, Turning Red looks like it'll be worth it, though. Marking the first feature from writer/director Domee Shi, who won an Oscar for her delightful 2018 short Bao, Turning Red takes its moniker literally. Many Pixar flicks do, of course (see also: Finding Nemo, Up, Brave and Onward, for instance). Here, 13-year-old Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang, also making her movie debut) is an ordinary teen who gets embarrassed by her mum Ming (Sandra Oh, Killing Eve) fairly often, and can find adolescent life a bit overwhelming. So far, so relatable — but when she's overexcited by all of the above, Mei Lee also happens to turn into a fluffy red panda. If you're thinking about the Hulk but red, female, younger and more adorable, that's the kind of vibe the trailer gives. Disney does own both Pixar and Marvel, so that isn't a big leap. Just how Mei Lee copes with her sudden transformations is exactly what the flick will cover, obviously — and, at this stage, viewers will be able to see the end result in cinemas next year rather than on streaming. Check out the trailer below: Turning Red is slated to release in Australian cinemas on March 31, 2022. Top image: © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
A secret password, golden glitter and burlesque-meets-art — if you're after a party so revelrous, that it's almost scandalous, look to Sydney Contemporary's Night Cap series. With the Old Clare Hotel as the pad for the series running every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the art fair, expect several evenings of arty debauchery as you rub shoulders with golden coated artists, sip bubbles and celebrate one of Sydney's best annual art events. On Friday, September 8, international speculative superstar Uji Handoko Eko Saputro aka Hahan, whose work is a mix of eclectic, energised euphoria, will host an extremely VIP event — a VVVVVVVVVIP event, actually. Guests will be showered in gold glitter before ending up front and centre for live performances throughout the space. Yes, a secret password is required, so sign up in advance to avoid being left out in a less glittery world. We've also snagged a 20% discount on Sydney Contemporary tickets for you, our lovely readers. You're welcome.
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. The 2017 lineup featured the likes of Peter Garrett, Kurt Vile and Killing Heidi, and, from the looks of things, 2018 will be even bigger. Held in Taronga Zoo's natural amphitheatre, the concert series kicks off on Friday, February 2 with a set by Sydney legends The Jezebels. They'll be followed on Saturday by singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, who'll perform alongside Melbourne's The Teskey Brothers. Other standouts include Neil and Liam Finn, The Preatures, Cloud Control with Julia Jacklin, retro faves The Lemonheads and a Valentine's Day special edition of the cult rock music trivia show RocKwiz. They've also announced partnerships with Electric Lady presenting Montaigne, Tired Lion and Sloan Peterson, and Future Classic presenting Mount Kimbie, Kučka and Christopher Port. And yes, ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be back by popular demand. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 17, and include same-day entry into the zoo plus free select public transport. As always, all proceeds will go to the go back into Taronga's ongoing conservation work. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2018 LINEUP Friday, February 2 - The Jezabels Saturday, February 3 - Dan Sultan with The Teskey Brothers Friday, February 9 - Paul Dempsey Saturday, February 10 - Neil and Liam Finn Wednesday, February 14 - RocKwiz Thursday, February 15 - RocKwiz Saturday, February 17 - Cloud Control and Julia Jacklin Friday, February 23 - Bjorn Again Saturday, February 24 - Bjorn Again Thursday, March 1 - The Lemonheads and Jebediah Friday, March 2 - The Preatures supported by The Creases Saturday, March 3 - Electric Lady presents - Montaigne, Tired Lion and Sloan Peterson Friday, March 9 - Future Classic presents - Mount Kimbie, Kučka and Christopher Port Saturday, March 10 - James Morrison Sunday, March 11 - James Reyne Plays All Crawl Friday, March 16 - Kate Miller-Heidke supported by Odette Saturday, March 17 - Tex, Don and Charlie Twilight at Taronga will run from February 2 until March 17, 2018. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 17 at twilightattaronga.com.
While New South Wales started moving out of lockdown a few months back, life definitely hasn't returned to pre-COVID-19 normality just yet. Slowly, however, more and more restrictions are continuing to relax — including, as just announced today, Wednesday, December 2, very significant changes to venue and event capacity restrictions. As revealed by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, from Monday, December 7, major outdoor events with a crowd are back on the agenda. Regional areas had already been given the go-ahead to host events, such as shows, with 5000 people this summer. Now that bigger cap applies to Sydney as well. Again, the events have to be outside and they must be ticketed — in other words, they must be 'controlled'. Otherwise, outdoor events can only have up to 3000 people. Also changing, as flagged in the most recent eased restrictions announced back on Wednesday, November 25: the in-venue capacity cap. Last week, it was revealed that venues with up to 200 square metres of space could welcome in more customers, with a one-person-per-two-square-metres limit in place from December 1 — and with no limit on the total number of patrons. From December 7, the same will apply to all venues both indoors and outdoors, except for gyms and nightclubs. And, it'll be in place for events as well. At hospitality venues, you'll also be allowed to stand outside. You will need to remain seated indoors, however. Indoor dance floors will be able to welcome 50 people at a time, too, so you can start showing off your fancy footwork again. Seated outdoor stadiums and theatres can move to 100-percent capacity as well, if they're outdoors, ticketed and seated. Indoors, stadiums and theatres can move to 75-percent capacity. [caption id="attachment_720223" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vivid, Proudence Upton[/caption] For outdoor gatherings — so you and your mates or family having a picnic or barbecue — you can now get together with up to 100 people, too. Also relevant: there'll also be no upper caps for weddings and funerals, either. Premier Berejiklian called the news "a major easing of restrictions" — and noted that the announcement came as NSW clocks up 25 days without community transmission. As previously revealed, another big change will come into effect on Monday, December 14, and it applies to working from home. The NSW Government will remove the public health order that covers the topic, so you can expect more people returning to the office. In line with that shift, NSW residents are also asked to wear masks on public transport as there'll be more people using the network. As always, the usual rules regarding hygiene, social distancing and getting tested if you display any possible COVID-19 symptoms all still apply as restrictions keep easing. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Vivid, Jordan Munns.
