Who says bricks and mortar can't have personality too? Naysayers, meet James Gulliver Hancock, an illustrator and cityscape doodler with a difference. The offbeat drawings filling the pages of his latest book, All the Buildings in Sydney (That I've Drawn So Far) have captured the hearts of locals and architecture nerds alike. And now you can try your hand at Hancock's signature style, alongside the man himself, as an adjunct to the Finders Keepers markets. A killer arts-and-crafts party or what? Also the designer responsible for the oh-so-cute promo posters for Finders Keepers, Hancock is putting on a series of 60-minute interactive workshops to share the secrets of his trade. Pens and paper are provided, all you need to bring is a photo of your home to work from. (Pro tip: You might want to bring a photo of your mum's home, it being perilously close to Mother's Day. After all, when was the last time you gave her an artwork to proudly display on the fridge?) With signed copies of his book thrown in to sweeten the deal, this workshop is sure to transform the way you see the world (and buildings) around you.
Any time is a good time for a getaway in the Hunter Valley, though that's particularly true in May and June. That's when the Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival returns to highlight the best the region has to offer. And this year, there's more cheese than usual. Rather than focus all of their eating and drinking goodness over a few days or on a few places, HVWFF spreads the love. Keen on a fireside dinner where you'll sample 2014-vintage wines? Want to meet local producers and feast on farm-fresh meals? Or watch a wine barrel become a bonfire as part of an annual tradition? Of course you do. But if the godly trio of wine, cheese and the arts specifically take your fancy, hold on to that hat of yours. At the brand new Cheese Lovers Festival, you can try as much dairy as you can stomach for just $20 entry ($25 for early birds). This cheesy, cheesy festival will showcase over 40 cheese, wine and craft beer stalls with tasting opportunities. Tasting opportunities. There's a 'Fancy Cheesecake' competition, a three-course cheesy menu designed by chef Lyndey Milan and more. There's also the Hunter Valley Wine Festival, which showcases the beverage part of the equation. And the Lovedale Arts Festival runs for the entire two months, showcasing everything from sculpture to music. Basically, if you can't find a reason to make the trip, you're not looking hard enough. And that's just the official side of things. With more than 150 wineries in the area, taking a few detours is to be expected. The Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival runs across May and June in various locations. For more information, check out the Hunter Valley website.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. Those aiming to truly transform the city permanently have made headlines with long-awaited new cultural and food precincts, transforming Sydney neighbourhoods with gargantuan, smart and beneficial new precinct developments. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most forward-thinking teams pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new precincts, launched between 2016-16 and developed this year, have been nominated for Best New Precinct in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
Murals have been painted, skate parks revamped, herb gardens built, and plenty of punters have a pretty damn great concert experience in their pocket. After 40 projects, 3000 volunteers and a lot of paint and hard work, Optus RockCorps has wrapped up for its third year with a huge concert at Luna Park's Big Top. Filled with 3000 volunteers who had volunteered their free time helping out their community in exchange for tickets, the Big Top saw hip hop superstar Wiz Khalifa perform alongside Canberran dance duo Peking Duk, Brisbane pop sisters The Veronicas and bright young Atlanta artist Raury. You couldn't buy tickets to this gig — everyone who attended had participated in DIY, hands-on projects at community centres around Sydney. Well earned, team. By the numbers, Optus RockCorps is a pretty impressive feat: 3000 volunteers took part, 12,000 volunteer hours were clocked up in Sydney throughout the initiative, 40 different community groups were helped out including youth groups, schools, community centres and environmental groups, 1446 litres of paint were used, 5180 muesli bars were given out, 4742 bottles of water were drunk, and over 100 x 50 litre bags of potting mix were dished out. Top notch.
Vivid Sydney's massive 2017 program has landed and it's packing some serious punches, not least of which is a sneaky Sydney Opera House show by none other than The Avalanches. But it's not just a show, it's a casually large outdoor block party. The legendary Australian group has been stirring some heavy emotions since crashing back onto the live music scene in July last year, treating Splendour-goers to their first proper live onstage appearance in about a decade. Now, fresh off the back of festival shows at Falls and Sugar Mountain, The Avalanches have announced they'll be hitting the Opera House's Northern Boardwalk in May, for a Since I Left You 'block party' that'll see the band perform its seminal, sample-heavy album in full for the first time since 2001. They'll be performing with Sydney multi-instrumentalist Jonti Danilewitz, who performed Since I Left You for Vivid LIVE in 2014 with Astral People. Joining The Avalanches on May 27 and 28 is a top-notch lineup that includes renowned US producer DJ Shadow, 2017 Australian Music Prize winner Briggs, and rising hip hop star Sampa the Great. Check out the rest of the 2017 Vivid program.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 5, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its fourth year running. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 5 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 5. Check the website for participating cafes near you.
Blossoming foodie fest Parramatta Lanes has just announced their heaving 2016 lineup and, like a rich, cheesy arancini sent from the heavens, it's stuffed full of the best, brightest and most filling industry folks. You might want to start fasting now because come October it'll be a smorgasbord. Headlining the festival are the team behind Efendy in Balmain, including head chef Somer Sivrioglu, who'll be serving up contemporary Turkish fare. Neil Perry's Burger Project has burger lovers covered with his broad menu of burgs, while Surry Hills hip-hop/sneaker fiends Butter will be offering up their particularly beloved brand of fried chicken (it's unclear at this stage whether sneakers will also be on the menu). Brew-wise, you'll find gin wizards and cocktail artists Archie Rose shaking up some crisp bevs, and Young Henrys will be serving their famous craft beers. For dessert? KOI Dessert Bar, the project of Masterchef alum Reynold Poernomo, will be whipping up his treat/work of art creations. Also on board are local favourites Saffron Restaurant, Courtney's Brasserie, The Emporium, Temesek Knafeh, Adora Handmade Chocolates, StroopBros, N2 Gelato, KayterCon and Paper Street Ice Cream. The festival is taking place across ten of Parramatta's inner city laneways and squares. And there will (of course) be a food truck food court because no festival is complete without one. Parramatta Lanes runs from October 11-14 across ten Parramatta laneways. See the festival website for more info.
Every month, Sydneysiders chuck out more than 500,000 disposable coffee cups. Given how much cheering’s been going on in reaction to the COP21 climate change agreement to transform the planet’s fossil fuel-driven economy, it feels like it’s about time we killed our trash habit, too. The good news is that a visionary company by the name of Frank Green wants to help us along. Founded in Melbourne, they’ve just expanded to Sydney and their business is the design creation and sale of SmartCups, which are quite possibly the most beautiful, well-conceived, reusable coffee cups you’ve ever seen. It’s not just us who are impressed, either – the SmartCup won the 2015 Good Design Award. The vessel is 100 percent Australian-made – every step of the way, from design to engineering to manufacturing – and an array of features puts it a cut above its competitors. It's made of premium, BPA-free, non-toxic materials, which are resistant to stain and odours, so you won’t get any weird tastes mixing with your Single Origin or Toby’s Estate. You only need one hand to open and close it, allowing for endless multitasking. And the lid is completely spill-proof. Add to that a double-walled, thermo layer to keep your brew hot; a non-slip grip; a flow-optimised drinking hole; the capacity to take regular and large coffee sizes; and loads of choices in terms of colours. Last but not least, you can actually pay for your coffee with your SmartCup. Frank Green and CafePay have got together to make this little slice of magic happen – the cup itself can facilitate secure cashless payments; keep track of your progress in loyalty programmes; help you find your favourite beans, café or barista; allow you to pre-order; and get you access to special discounts. Check out Frank Green's website for more info.
Having established itself as a summer favourite in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne over the last few years, The Royal Croquet Club is finally gearing up for its Sydney debut. After a false start last year — in which the event was cancelled at the last minute — the outdoor festival is set to take over Bondi Beach next month. Gracing the shoreline from November 24 to December 4, the ten-day event promises all the fun and flavour of its interstate incarnations, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet. The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, and an assortment of unique pop-up food stalls and bars for further indulging in that summertime spirit. While there's no word yet on who exactly will be feeding us at this year's event, previous festivals have seen Gelato Messina serve up ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins — so we've got pretty high expectations. Fashion stalls, markets, and an array of health and wellness events will round out the RCC experience, which is expected to pull a 60,000-strong crowd for its first Sydney stint. The Royal Croquet Club Sydney will come to Bondi Beach from Thursday, November 24 to Sunday, December 4. For more information as they announce it, check back here or visit royalcroquetclub.com.au.
Looking for a little bit of renovation inspiration? In that case, you've come to the right place. Bestowed this week by a jury of respected Australian architects and designers, the House Awards celebrate the latest innovations in contemporary architecture. Reckon if we all pooled our money we could buy one of these? The top prize, Australian House of the Year, went to a wood-paneled apartment in Darling Point, Sydney – the very same apartment that took home the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design at the Australian Interior Design Awards just last month. It also won the House Awards' gong for Best Apartment or Unit, with the jury commending the "refined and surprising design" that contrasted "floating American oak and painted white steel joinery." The awards for Best New House Over and Under 200m² went to houses in NSW and Queensland, respectively, while a property on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra won prizes for Sustainability and Best Outdoor Design. Check out the full list of House Award winners, below. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE OF THE YEAR – Darling Point Apartment by Chenchow Little NEW HOUSE UNDER 200m² – Naranga Avenue House by James Russel Architect NEW HOUSE OVER 200m² – Deepwater by Tobias Partners HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION UNDER 200m² – Baffle House by Claire Cousins Architects HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION OVER 200m² – Project Zero by BVN APARTMENT OR UNIT – Darling Point Apartment by Chenchow Little OUTDOOR – Fairfield House by Kennedy Nolan HOUSE IN A HERITAGE CONTEXT – Bayside Fire Station by Owen Architecture SUSTAINABILITY – Fairfield House by Kennedy Nolan EMERGING ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE – Rob Kennon Architects
It's been 11 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival have announced their dates and venues for 2016's Australasian run. Returning to the five established Australian Laneway go-to cities as well as the Singapore and Auckland legs, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with an undoubtedly killer lineup and unique, random locations. Kicking off in Singapore on Saturday, January 30 at Gardens by the Bay, Laneway will then head over to Auckland’s Silo Park on Monday, February 1. Then it’s off to Adelaide on Friday, February 5 to kick off the Australian leg for the first time at Harts Mill, Port Adelaide, before heading to Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, February 6, Sydney College of the Arts on Sunday, February 7, Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) on Saturday, February 13 and finishing up at Fremantle’s Esplanade on Valentine’s Day. The full festival lineup for all three countries will be announced at 9am AEST on Tuesday, September 22. ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL DATES AND VENUES FOR 2016: Saturday, January 30 — SINGAPORE (THE MEADOW, GARDENS BY THE BAY) Monday, February 1 — AUCKLAND (SILO PARK) Friday, February 5 — ADELAIDE (HARTS MILL, PORT ADELAIDE, 16+) Saturday, February 6 — BRISBANE (BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS, 16+) Sunday, February 7 — SYDNEY (SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, ROZELLE) Saturday, February 13 — MELBOURNE (FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) + THE RIVER’S EDGE) Sunday, February 14 — FREMANTLE (ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END) Image: Andy Fraser.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading 13 adventurers on a two-day Wilderness Yoga Escape for the weekend of May 13 through 14. Participants will hike through the Blue Mountains where they will be guided through yoga practice by Flow with Jo in an excursion that combines yoga, hiking and wild camping. The day will begin with pre-hiking vinyasa, followed by a five-kilometre hike to a secluded, 'secret' campsite. After a sunset Yin class, enjoy a healthy camp feast (provided) and a night under the stars. Day two will include pre-breakfast vinyasa and wild-swimming before making the trek back. Apart from yoga, ticket holders will learn meditation practices and useful hiking warm up/warm down techniques. On the camping side of things, you'll develop basic navigation skills, tent setup, water filtration techniques, fire starting and other camping hacks from professional wilderness guides.
Melbourne duo Kllo (formerly Klo) are Australia's band of the moment and are touring the east coast to promote their upcoming album, Well Worn. The tour's one of the most anticipated we've seen in 2016 so far, so expect each show to be pretty damn packed. Since releasing their 2014 debut EP Cusp, cousins Simon Lam and Chloe Kaul have played sold-out shows and festivals throughout Australia and internationally, from Dark Mofo to Melbourne Music Week and Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival. The pair have been clocking up streaming numbers in the millions, popping up on artists-to-watch lists, and they've also recently been announced as part of the huge Splendour in the Grass lineup. 'Bolide', the album's first single, is a dance track inspired by Caribou's Our Love album and is a song about unconditional love (nawwww). The tour will feature special guests and gives fans a sneak peek of the album, which will be released internationally on August 5 across Kllo's now three labels: Good Manners Records, Ghostly International and Different Recordings // PIAS . Image: Charlie Brophy.
He can growl like Tom Waits and wail on melancholic high notes like Jeff Buckley, yet come out of the mix with a sound that's all his very own. If you haven't yet made acquaintance with extraordinary singer-songwriter Steve Smyth, it's high time you tipped your hat. Smyth's been making himself known both within Australia and overseas via the old-school method of extensive touring. In fact, after releasing his debut full-length album, EXITS, mid-last year, he embarked on a seriously epic journey, playing in more than eighty towns across Australia. Steering away from whizz-bang effects and slick marketing, he's kept his focus well and truly on writing and delivering authentic music. So his live performances, accompanied by his band, The Outlaws, are genuinely cracking. You'll find yourself rocking and a-rolling one minute and crying on your best mate's shoulder the next. In March, Steve popped over to Austin to play SXSW, before returning home to play Byron Bay's Bluesfest at Easter. Catch him in Sydney at the Oxford Arts Factory on April 25, before he packs his bag for a long stretch on the road in Europe.
First it was the children's book that stunned a generation into awareness. Australia's colonial history was powerfully, simply laid bare by the allegory of The Rabbits — arriving, multiplying and eventually controlling the peaceful native marsupials. Now, it's an Australian-grown opera, dreamed up by John Sheedy, the artistic director of Perth's Barking Gecko Theatre Co. Before its premiere at last year's Perth Festival, Sheedy revealed why he had to make the show. “I was completely inspired, and in awe that, between Shaun Tan’s illustrations and John Marsden’s powerful and economic language, they tackled such huge themes," he told the Australian. "You can spend an hour on each page and make discovery after discovery ... The epic nature of the illustrations just lent itself to an opera.” Two of our brightest female artists were enlisted to create the music and libretto: Kate Miller-Heidke (who also performs as the principal soprano) and Lally Katz, along with set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova. From the looks of it, the expressively angular animals dwarfed by dusty landscapes look just as magical as Tan's. Indeed, the Perth and Melbourne seasons saw The Rabbits applauded as an exceptionally brave, vital and moving work.
On the second Sunday of each month, the Burton Street Tunnel in Milsons Point becomes a shopper's dream. If you're on the hunt for original artwork, handmade homewares or vintage fashion, look no further than this charming neighbourhood market. Once you've worked up an appetite, head for one of the diverse food stalls where you can get your hands on anything from Turkish to Thai. Happen to be coming from the southern part of the city? We recommend making like a tourist and crossing the Harbour Bridge on foot for a vivid reminder of how utterly gorgeous this city is.
We've just a festival of barbecued meats and a ceremonious gathering dedicated to bacon kicks off next week, so it's not surprising that a burger festival is next up on Sydney's culinary calendar. In fact, it's hard to believe no one has done it before. Essentially herding Sydney's best burger venues into the courtyard at The Vic, Burgapalooza is a burger aficionados wildest dream. There'll be six stations, with Pub Life Kitchen, Barrio Cellar, Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Bar Luca, Chef's Kitchen and Bare Grill each creating a custom burg for the event. They'll go for $9 a pop, and drinks will be available from the pub's bar as per usual. As expected, the festival has been created by hardcore burgies — that is, the guys behind the epic burger loving Instagram Hashtag Burgers. The festival is free and unticketed, so you can used your saved pennies on an extra burger. Or three. Seeing as there's six on-hand less than two strides from each other, it would be rude not to try at least a few. Burgapalooza will take place on Satruday, March 19 at the Vic on the Park Hotel at 2 Addison Road, Marrickville. For more info and updates, visit their Facebook page.
What is it like to speak, but not be heard? It's a conundrum most Australians don't necessarily have to worry about, but for many, it plagues every moment of their daily lives. Bringing much needed attention to the challenges of the migrant journey, Who Speaks for Me? presents unexpected stories of immigration, particularly focused on Western Sydney, in the first collaboration between National Theatre of Parramatta and Performance 4A. It's storytelling, but not as you know it. Taking audiences through the personal narratives of refugee and migrant families, this intimate show uses language to unpack the trials and triumphs of the inhabitants of Sydney's vibrant western suburbs. Hear tales like that of Cambodian mother Ly Heang Seang, who undertook 31 written examinations to finally succeed in obtaining an Australian driver's license, along with stories from Vietnamese and Bhutanese refugees fleeing by boat to resettle here on safer shores. Co-directed by storyteller and photography William Yang and writer/producer Annette Shun Wah, Who Speaks for Me? is a multi-lingual, multi-generational exploration of those living at the heart of the migrant experience.
Four artists have spent two years with Fairfield's many communities, exploring what it means to be a woman in such a diverse suburb. And now they're inviting you to experience their discoveries on a free twilight stroll, peppered with performance art, installations and drive-by soundtracks. You'll see artist collective Hissy Fit take over a carpark with actor and martial arts expert Maria Tran, to present Supreme Ultimate, which examines the influence of martial arts on perceptions of gender. Then, inside the Fairfield Chase food court, you'll come across a colourful installation by Claudia Nicholson, created through conversations with female workers and business owners. Meanwhile, Kate Blackmore has been busy collaborating with an Assyrian bride to examine the meanings of the wedding ritual to Fairfield's Assyrian diaspora. And, keep an eye and ear out for passing cars, playing soundtracks developed by Zoe Scoglio and bringing together Khmer, Aboriginal and Iraqi voices. Two free walks will take place — on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8. Meet at Crescent Park near Fairfield Station at 6pm on either evening. Women of Fairfield is presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA)'s C3West program, in conjunction with Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT), Fairfield and NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and Fairfield City Council. Image: Anna Kucera.
Prize Fighter caused a stir when it premiered at Brisbane's La Boite theatre in 2015. The first play of Congolese refugee Future D. Fidel, it tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a boy named Isa, himself a Congolese refugee, who uncovers a talent for boxing. Poised to win the national title, he has to overcome the horrors of his past – losing his family and being enlisted as a child soldier to the army that killed them – to beat his opponents. It received rave reviews and was nominated for Best Play and Best New Australian Work at the 2016 Helpmann Awards. This month, La Boite is bringing the production to Belvoir for the Sydney Festival. It features nearly all of the original cast, though Sophie Emberson-Bain has been replaced by Zindzi Okenyo (from Play School and OKENYO). Okenyo joins Pacharo Mzembe, who is again playing Isa and returns to Belvoir for the first time since their production of Gwen in Purgatory in 2010, Margi Brown-Ash, Gideon Mzembe and Kenneth Ransom. Image: Dylan Evans.
The craft beer evolution is continuing to revitalise our drinking culture and increasingly specialist online retailers are getting in on the action. Offering the best independent labels that you won't find at your local bottle shop, they offer an exciting range of new drinking options. Here's our guide to some of the best places to buy craft beer online and get it delivered in Sydney. BEER STORE Come here to order Piss. No really, they've got a lager from Geelong Brewing titled 'Piss' on offer. There's plenty more besides, including craft beer heroes Mountain Goat, James Squire and 3 Ravens. They're also particularly good at stocking little seen but intriguing independents — see, for instance, their stash of Skinny Blonde, the brew of former Vines Drummer and craft beer guru Hamish Rosser. Reminiscent of Japanese beers like Asahi, it's a beauty, though hard to find outside of inner Sydney. The website layout is simple and intuitive, making it easy to get the beer off the computer screen and down your throat. HOPS AND CRAFT A curated craft beer subscription service, Hops and Craft is an intriguing new option for fulfilling your craft beer needs. Each month you get a dozen different craft brews from across the country, and their wealth of online content gives you all the tasting notes and background on the beers you need to become an instant expert. There are no lock-in contracts, so it's easy to give it a trial run. They have hundreds of craft beers in stock, so expect the unexpected, but you could find the likes of Sydney Brewery's light Glamarama Summer Ale, a Quiet Deeds IPA or a Boatrocker SMASH! Ale in your mixed dozen. BEER CARTEL Boasting an impressive 1,100 beers in their catalogue and products from the likes of Nepal, Lebanon and Brazil, it's safe to say that the range here runs quite a bit beyond the standard slabs of VB and New. With beers arranged by country, style and brewery, it's an easy site to navigate and the staff recommendations are a nice touch. You can also sign up to their monthly beer club, or pick up a mixed pack, perfect for either a gift for a beer connoisseur mate or for a tasting session. With such an overwhelming range, choosing can be tricky, but for an easy drinking variety, you can't go wrong with the award-winning Two Birds Taco ($12.50 bottle), a wheat ale perfect for your new Mexican feast. BEER BUD For those who know what they want when they want it, you can search beers by their type, by brewery, or by Australian region at Beer Bud. If in doubt, you can go directly to their Craft Beer and Craft Cider pages, but we really do recommend having a snoop around; their selection is insane. Beer Bud also has access to rare and limited releases that are often a little experimental and packed with flavour, including brews from Doctors Orders and KAIJU!. Low prices and fast delivery are all part of the deal at Beer Bud. CRAFTY BREW It's all about supporting independent Australian breweries at Crafty Brew. The greatest thing to do on Crafty Brew is to play on their Build a Box page. Select the quantity of beers you're after, the style (or styles) you like, the ideal beer strength and the price range. They will bring you a selection of possibilities to match your wish list and you can either skip over them or add them to your cart. It's like a personality quiz, but with beer. By Daniel Herborn and Hannah Valmadre.
Sydney Fringe's 2018 program is ambitious — it features over 400 shows in more than 60 venues across six hubs and 21 postcodes. From the Oxford Street arts precinct — which will host 28 free gigs on opening night — to the Old 505 in Newtown to Friday night music events in Parramatta's CBD, the festival will have you zipping all over the city to cram in as much theatre, comedy, music and partying as possible in between September 1 and 30. There's a lot of ground to cover, but these events should help get you started.
Spotlight is a 'deep breath' movie. The kind that holds you in your seat long after the final frame and leaves you staring at the credits lost in deep, uncomfortable thoughts. You find yourself at once furious and disconsolate, avoiding others’ gaze when possible, and offering mutual half smiles when not. Others simply cry. This is a film about child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, told through the eyes of the Boston Globe journalists who uncovered and exposed it in 2002. The name, Spotlight, refers to the Globe's long-term investigative unit, a four person team whose secretive research and day-to-day operations existed largely outside the newspaper’s conventional structure – a sort of journalistic special forces if you will. Directed by Tom McCarthy (Win Win), Spotlight is, in almost every respect, a masterclass in restraint. From the performances, to the writing, to the direction and, most importantly, to the actions taken by the reporters themselves, it is the definitive anti-clickbait film; an ardent dedication to both an age and institution when the priority of media outlets was not 'first' but 'right'. For the Spotlight team, the mere selection of a story might take months and its final form not see the light of day for more than a year. If something couldn’t be substantiated, the story would be held for a few more months until it could. To imagine that level of patience (and budgetary freedom) in the modern era of twenty-four hour news is all but inconceivable. Of the film's six Academy Award nominations, two are for best supporting performances by Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, though more could (and perhaps should) have easily been spread across the entire cast. Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci all contribute incredibly passionate and complex portrayals of the journalists and lawyers responsible for either exposing or protecting the church’s extraordinarily sordid past and practices. Indeed, there are no weak links in this confident, consummate picture, whose deft touch and understated approach neatly reflect the disciplined reserve of its characters. Powerful, absorbing and deeply moving, Spotlight is almost certainly the best film about journalism, and, specifically, print media, of at least the past decade. Probably more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5zSVxx9JM
One of the last Art Deco theatres in town, The Ritz has given Sydney locals eight decades of cinematic education. From its early days at the forefront of modern cinema, to its current status as peddler of box office hits and quirky indie flicks alike, it's impossible to say when The Ritz had its heyday. If you were to ask anyone around town, they'd tell you its still having it. The heritage-listed building was built and designed by Aaron Bolot in 1937, the man behind a number of immaculately preserved Art Deco constructions in Potts Point. The iconic facade, which has been carefully added to over the intervening years, is a stunning example of the Art Deco style from the 1920s and 1930s, taking cues from the aesthetics of Chicago and New York. After World War II, the minimalist and pragmatic architecture of Modernism began to take hold around the world, but The Ritz clung on, not as a relic, but as a beacon of brilliance, standing out against a city that became more and more about functional design. In 1993 The Ritz almost met an untimely demise, when owner, Jack Ziade proposed demolishing and remodelling the cinema complex. Rather than watch the icon go to waste, the Randwick City Council intervened, pushing through a Permanent Conservation Order that had been filed in the mid eighties. Generations of Sydneysiders continue to frequent The Ritz. Beyond the silver screen, the cinema serves as a reminder of the glitz, the glamour, and the glory that cinema has always given us. To celebrate its 80th birthday, The Ritz is harking back to the bygone Hollywood era with regular screenings of classic movies from another age. Showing on Wednesdays and Sundays, the selections of classics spans the 1940s, 50s, and 60s — from the drama of Casablanca to the thrills of North by Northwest (you can check out the full list here). To help celebrate Sydney's iconic cinema, we've got ten double movie passes to give away, so you can catch any flick you want to at The Ritz. All you've got to do is enter your details into the box below and you're in the running. [competition]616883[/competition]
It's an understatement to say it's been a stressful time for Australia's beloved short film festival Tropfest. After being cancelled due to alleged financial mismanagement in November, the iconic Tropfest short film festival was been thrown a much needed lifeline in December. On the very day that the festival was originally meant to take place, Tropfest founder John Polson has announced the event will instead be held on Valentine's Day next year, after securing a last minute sponsorship deal with CGU Insurance. Back from the dead, Tropfest will triumphantly return to Sydney's Centennial Parklands on Valentine's Day. A star-studded panel of Australian screen talent will help choose the winners. Actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney will join The Dressmaker director Jocelyn Moorhouse and Moulin Rouge! cinematographer Don McAlpine as judges at the world's largest short film festival. The panel of local actors and filmmakers, along with several other judges set to be announced in the coming days, will decide which of 16 short filmmakers takes home the festival's top prize, which includes $10,000 cash, a trip to Hollywood to meet with industry executives, a Nikon D800 digital camera along with $2000 worth of accessories, and a Hyundai Tuscon for a year. The festival also revealed its live music slate, featuring rock duo Winterbourne, DJ and singer KLP and The Preatures' vocalist Gideon Bensen. Last week, Polson announced that he had started a Pozible campaign to help ensure the festival remains free, although it has so far only raised a fraction of its intended $100,000 target. Tropfest will take place on February 14 in Centennial Parklands, with gates opening from 3pm. It will be broadcast around the country from 9pm AEDT.
To make the most of your Friday night, it's imperative to slip into weekend mode as soon as possible. And to do that, you need a place that's geographically close, yet feels a long way away. In other words, you need The Rocks. With its lantern-lit laneways and sandstone squares, it could be a place out of another century — or even another country — yet it's just a short walk from the CBD. Here are five places that will banish your workday week within seconds — whether you're looking for fancy dinners, happy hours dedicated to craft beer or relaxed courtyards. HIT UP THE ROCKS FRIDAY FOODIE MARKET Nothing screams weekend quite like a market, so why wait till Saturday morning? Get in on the game early — in other words, Friday lunch time — at The Rocks Foodie Market. Take your time wandering through Jack Mundey Place and the adjacent laneways, where you can sample handmade, dried, baked, whipped and roasted products from all over the city and further afield. You name it, you’ll get your hands on it – from BBQ skewers to cupcakes, gozleme and handmade chocolates. Jack Mundey Place HAPPY HOUR AT HARTS PUB Hurry into the weekend the most patriotic way possible — by sampling Harts Pub’s all-Australian craft beer menu. Harts was one of the first drinking establishments in Sydney to champion small-batch brews and has served nothing but local drops since 2009. With 12 taps on constant rotation, there’s always an adventure to be had. Plus the food menu is made for beer matching. Get there between 4.30pm and 6.30pm for happy hour, when $7.50 will buy you a pint and $7 a house wine. Corner Essex and Gloucester Streets COURTYARD BEERS AT PHILLIP’S FOOTE Phillip’s Foote’s leafy, laidback courtyard will transport you into the weekend quicker than you can say, "A pint, please". When it’s too cold for outdoor shenanigans, get cosy inside, in the heritage-listed Sydney Cove or Phillip rooms. Wherever you are, you can expect warm, friendly, old-fashioned service and, if you’re there for dinner, a decent feast. About $30 buys you your choice of meat, bread, potatoes and access to the fresh salad bar. The all-Australian wine list covers every corner of the country — from Tassie’s Pipers River to Great Southern, Western Australia. 101 George Street EAT FANCY AT SCARLETT RESTAURANT + ERIC’S BAR To segue into Saturday in style, book a table at Scarlett Restaurant for a spot of fine dining. Dishes include miso-glazed salmon with eggplant, chilli prawns and sesame crumb, and blue eye trevalla with watercress veloute, seared scallops and avruga caviar. Scarlett, which is named after the madam who once worked out of the neighbouring terrace houses, is hidden away on Nurses Walk, one of The Rocks’ most tranquil laneways. Pre- and post-dinner drinks can be had at the attached Eric’s Bar, which forms the ground level of The Harbour Rocks Hotel. 34 Harrington Street FEAST ON MEATS AT PONY LOUNGE & DINING If woodfired grilled meats or a selection of ultra-fresh seafood sounds like your ticket to a good weekend, here’s your go-to. Nestled on the corner of historic Kendall Lane, Pony's been serving up sumptuous small plates for years, focusing on Australian produce for their Argentinian woodfire grill. Pairing a carefully-crafted boutique selection of wines (alongside a playful cocktail list) with their fine cuts of Australian meat, Pony boasts one of the best grills in the city. Pony's $38 lunch menu is a pretty damn sweet deal; choose a starter and main, or main and dessert with a glass of red or white wine (available daily from 12pm to 3pm). So pull up a pew at the 50 metre dining table outdoors, or snuggle in the lounge and feast on them meats. Corner of Kendall Lane and Argyle Street
If you've lived in Sydney long enough, we're sure there's been at least one time when you've found yourself in the food black hole between UTS, Haymarket and the Powerhouse Museum. But new development Darling Square will provide a much-needed sanctuary between those landmarks when it opens on the old site of the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Along with the residential and business buildings for 2500 CommBank employees, 3000 residents and 1300 students, Darling Square will also set up a food precinct with some of Sydney's cult names in coffee and food. And it's quite the roll-call. Darlinghurst's Edition Coffee Roasters, fried chicken slingers Belle's Hot Chicken, Marrickville Pork Roll and poke specialists Fishbowl are among the announced vendors opening up before May. Toby's Estate is already open in the building's lobby. Melbourne burger bosses 8bit are also setting up shop in the development, bringing their audience favourite burgers — and arcade-style fit-out — to Sydney for the first time. Head chef Shayne McCallum is excited to be pushing the business into new turf. "The menu will be the same as our three other Melbourne stores, but we will mix it up and do something different for the Sydney launch," McCallum says. "Although each store is an evolution of each former store, we will always have the design of the arcade games we loved back in the day." Edition's new outfit — which will be their first permanent venue outside of Darlinghurst — will serve coffee along with the Japanese-Scandi dishes the cafe is known for. "I think the most exciting change will be going from a modern cafe menu to focussing more on all-day dining," Edition Darling Square chef Jack New says. "We'll have a gas kitchen, a yakitori charcoal grill, a much bigger Scandinavian-inspired pastry section and an alcohol list, all of which will characterise our darker, sexier sister venue at Darling Square." According to Domain, the precinct will be one of the most convenient in Sydney, with a 'walkability score' of 100. Last year, all 391 apartments at Darling Square were snapped up in a matter of hours. The project has been developed by Lendlease, who also worked on Barangaroo. While some residents and workers have already moved into the building, the retail and food precinct is expected to be open for business by May 2018.
All Aussie hip hop festival Come Together is back in 2015 and is doing its very best Jekyll and Hyde impersonation. After being cancelled two weeks out from its 2014 dates due to poor tickets sales, this year the all-ages festival is going all out at Luna Park's Big Top, splitting itself over two days with two unique lineups. Announcing a solid hip hop lineup for Saturday, June 6, the festival will be headlined by Melburnian hip hop champion Seth Sentry, alongside crowdpleasers Thundamentals, and chart-topping Horrorshow, with young prodigy Remi, Coin Banks and Ivan Ooze joining the fold. For the second day of the festival, Sunday, June 7, the festival takes a sharp turn and goes all indie, all day. Festival favourites Ball Park Music will be headlining the Sunday lineup, with The Jungle Giants joining them straight off their sold-out tour. Alongside them comes electro-pop from SAFIA, the smooth beats of Elizabeth Rose as well as welcoming new kids on the block Montaigne and Ecca Vandal. Keeping those emerging Aussie artists coming, lucky triple j Unearthed winners will be making surprise appearances across both days. Adding substantial excitement for anyone whose inner child is still stubbornly kicking them, tickets will come with the added bonus of unlimited rides from 1pm to 5pm on each day; so you can make yourself thoroughly ill on the Rotor before you dive into the mosh. It's a weekend that promises to finally make you comfortable with the split personality that is your music taste. Come Together Festival understands you, Australia, you big confusing mess. Come Together Festival runs June 6 - 7, 2015 at Luna Park. Tickets and more info over here.
Anyone who's played for G-Funk's best hip hop artists knows their groove. And that's exactly how DaM-FunK spent the '90s — as one of the most in-demand musicians on the G-Funk scene. Then he decided to go out on his own. After being snapped up by Stones Throw Records, he released his debut album, Toeachizown (2009) and followed up in 2015 with Invite the Light, which features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg and Ariel Pink. Dam-Funk plays the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent on January 15 at 11.45pm. $39 + bf. This is just one of our ten picks for Sydney Festival's best gigs. Check out the whole list.
Fact: having great camping gear automatically makes you good at camping. Or, it at least makes you look like you know what you're doing when you're outside of the city. Whether you're a seasoned camper, just a beginner, or just someone who hits up music festivals occasionally and wants to be that friend with a quality tent — everyone could do with a little camping gear. Thanks to Teva, we've got a whole bunch of it to give away. Whether you're hitting up a music festival this summer, or just planning on a weekend away, getting your hands on this camping gear will make your life a whole lot easier. There are two pairs of Teva's classic Arrowood Boots, a water bottle, two camping mugs, a beanie, a hat, a tent, a sleeping bag and a National Parks pass. That's a lot of really handy stuff. Enter your details below, say yes to the terms and conditions and you're in the running to win. Entries close on Sunday, December 4. Go go go. [competition]595510[/competition]
One of the best drinking spots for pre-Vivid LIVE shows last year, Sydney Opera House's pop-up pool hall is back for another round. Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd — whose work you already know if you've ever knocked back a tequila or two at Tio's or a tiki cocktail at The Cliff Dive — are bringing back the Deep Purple Pool Hall for just ten nights during this year's Vivid festival. The pop-up speakeasy, which last year genuinely resembled a dive bar plonked in Sydney's iconic arts venue, will be found inside the Concert Hall's northern foyer, where you can get cosy and warm while still taking in those epic harbour views. Expect a specially-curated menu from the team behind Tio's, served up by Aria Catering, alongside craft beer and wine from local Sydney producers, as well as live DJs and free pool. FREE. "I have wanted to set up a cool bar in this space for five years, ever since I arrived at the Opera House," said Ben Marshall, curator of Vivid Live, last year when the bar opened. "Whether you're up for a pre or post-gig drink or on the look-out for the neon eight-ball outside, you can sneak up the back stairs of the Opera House to the Deep Purple Pool Hall and settle into an incredible secret space in the heart of the city, in the middle of this incredible festival." The Deep Purple Pool Hall will open for ten nights only, May 27 – June 5, 6pm till late. Images: Daniel Boud.
Sydney's annual reminder that you're severely underdressed on a daily basis, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival (MBFF) has announced its Sydney lineup for 2015. The sister event to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is locked in to once again take over Sydney Town Hall over September 24-26, and will send sparkly couture gown after angular pantsuit down the runway over three well-tailored days of runway collections, beauty workshops and photography masterclasses. And gift bags. Don't forget the gift bags. There'll be three designer runway shows this year, showcasing Australia's dirt-on-your-shoulder swag in fashion design. 'Australian Luxe' will feature the likes of Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Christopher Esber, and Streateas.Carlucci., while 'Ready-to-wear' will pick out the highlights of this year's Fashion Week, from Romance Was Born and Alice McCall to Manning Cartell, Bec & Bridge and Kate Sylvester. Then 'Red Carpet Runway' will show you all the eveningwear you'd casually wear to pick up your BAFTA, from Alex Perry to Zhivago, Rachel Gilbert and Steven Khalil. Whether you're keen to see a runway show for the first time or you're a Instagram-dominating fashion show veteran, this is one Sydney spring fashion event worth checking out. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival runs September 24-26 at Sydney Town Hall. Tickets range from $50-140, head to the website for more info. Via Ragtrader.
Grab your midnight blue dinner jacket and holster your Walther PPK: the team at Hijinks are heading back to Madame Tussauds for a James Bond-themed party in September. The after dark pop-up specialists will channel their inner secret agent for a night of sophistication and intrigue, complete with roulette table, costume competitions and complimentary vodka martinis. Best start practicing your worst puns now. The Hijinks Casino Royale Party takes over Madame Tussauds on the evening of Friday September 25. Entry into the wax museum normally costs $40, but tickets to the Hijinks event will run you just $25 and come with a free beer or Stoli cocktail on arrival. Activities for the night will include Bond trivia, a best costume competition and a roulette table where you can gamble with chocolate chips (put it all on black, trust us). There'll also be live performances, including burlesque star Diesel Darling as Goldfinger's ill-fated Bond Girl Jill Masterson, as well as no less than five separate pop-up bars. And if you forget your bowtie, don't worry: you can always make a new one at the crafts table. You'll also be able to take photos with all the museum's famous faces, from Barrack Obama to Albert Einstein to The Queen. There'll even be a crocodile, ala Live and Let Die, although to be honest we're not entirely sure whether he'll be real or wax. If nothing else, this should be a hell of a lead in for Spectre, which opens in November. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujmoYyEyDP8 For more information about The Hijinks Casino Royale Party and to secure tickets, visit www.hijinkssydney.com
If you threw the best nosh in Newtown together, scrambled things 'round a bit, and served up the quintessential Newtown dish, what would it taste like? That's what Newtown Locals are about to find out, a relatively newish collective of Newtown foodies started by Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham of Mary's (of course). Doubling in size this year with new additions from the last twelve months, Newtown Locals are about to see their culinary powers combined with a collaborative menu specially made for Newtown Festival. So who's involved in this escapade of deliciously epic proportions? Take a breath... Mary's, Young Henry's, Bloodwood, Oscillate Wildly, Earls Juke Joint, Rising Sun Workshop, The Stinking Bishops, Oldtown In Newtown, 212 Blu, Black Star Pastry, Hartsyard, Brewtown Newtown, Continental Deli, The Bach Eatery, N2 Extreme Gelato, The Courthouse. Sweet mother of Tim Freedman that's a hefty Newtown pedigree. Aw, just look at 'em: There's so many different types of cuisine on the table here, we don't even know where to start imagining what this menu will look like. A Black Star Pastry Ginger Ninja crossed with a Mary's burger? Rising Sun ramen extreme gelato? Hartsyard buttermilk fried chicken natural lagers? Good god, the possibilities. All will be revealed this Friday, October 9, when the collaborative dishes are announced at a free public launch party for Newtown Locals — yep, you're invited. You'll be able to taste the whole Frankenmenu at Young Henrys Brewery in Newtown between 4-7pm, hosted by Mary's, Young Henrys and Bloodwood. There'll be free YH beer between 4-5.30pm, so you'll want to get there early. They'll also be announcing the winner of the new edition official Newtown Locals t-shirt design comp. Apparently there'll be some kind of pool. If you can't make it on Friday, you'll be able to taste the dishes when they're on sale at Newtown Festival on November 8. All proceeds go to charity, ain't that lovely? Newtown Locals launch party is happening this Friday, October 9 from 4-7pm at Young Henrys Brewery, 76 Wilford Street, Newtown. Free entry for everyone. Images: Kate Disher-Quill.
Western Sydney will has a new rooftop bar, complete with pool, sun lounges, cabanas and panoramas of 300 acres of greenery. It's called The Chiltern and you'll find it atop the five-star William Inglis Hotel in Warwick Farm, which is this week opened to the public. In between taking dips and gazing out at the view, you can also order cocktails and light bites. Should you work up an appetite, head downstairs to the Newmarket Room, a paddock-to-plate restaurant headed by chef Samuel Bull (The Stables, North Bondi Italian). If you have any whisky-swilling mates, you'll probably notice them heading straight for the mezzanine level, where the 1867 Lounge serves up high-end spirits, Champagne, fancy cocktails and boutique wines. The $140 million hotel precinct is named after the founder of William Inglis and Sons, one of Australia's best-known thoroughbred companies, and has been funded through thoroughbred horse sales. It's located across from the Warwick Farm racecourse. Anyone who happens to have too good a time in the whisky bar will be able to sleep over in one of 144 uniquely-designed rooms. The hotel is an MGallery by Sofitel, so it's fairly decadent, including über-comfy beds, luxe bathrooms, picture windows, racing memorabilia, a state-of-the-art 24-hour gym and a day spa. The property has also refurbished existing structures — 'The Big Barn' can be booked out for large conferences and weddings and the stables are more suitable for smaller functions. The William Inglis Hotel is now open at 155 Governor Macquarie Drive, Warwick Farm. For more information or to book a room, visit williaminglis.com.au.
Archie Rose, Sydney's first commercial distillery in 160 years, has a new, more personal offering in the works. Well, technically it would be your offering. Rosebery's gin whizzes have launched a new project where you can tailor your own spirit and have your name printed on the label. It's a dream you might not have even known you had. Archie Rose founder and owner Will Edwards wants the project to "give people the opportunity to get really involved in the distilling process." Currently, the spirits available to be tailored are gin, vodka and whisky. After choosing three to five of the distillery's unique botanicals for your Signature Dry Gin or Original Vodka, you can customise the intensity of each flavour and personalise the bottle with your name. If you're gifting these, you can add your lucky mate's name to the label. A tailored bottle of vodka will will set you back $84, or $89 for gin. Once your chosen spirit's matured and bottled, you'll receive it in the mail in a handmade crate with full brewing and distillation notes. Archie Rose's tailored whisky, on the other hand, is not for the faint-hearted (or the tight-budgeted). It will set you back a whopping $4000 (at least) but get this: it's a 20L cask. You can customise everything from the type of wood used to the level of smoke influence and ABV. You'll receive a 200ml sample annually to check how your baby's maturing, or you can visit on appointment. There's even an option for you and four friends to assist in the actual making of your whisky. If you're preparing for an apocalypse, Archie Rose also offers a 50L and 100L cask. Just in case. How many chances will you get to have an award-winning distillery make your custom blend? An Archie Rose tailored spirit a pretty perfect gift and as soon as your custom bottle (or case) is unwrapped at the family Christmas party, the 'best gift giver' trophy will be yours. Better get your acceptance speech ready. Tailor your own spirit at the Archie Rose website.
Rejoice, fans of excellent television, fried food and pop culture-themed pop-ups alike — Los Pollos Hermanos is coming to Sydney. Ever since the TV-viewing world was first introduced to Gus Fring's fast food chain, every fried chicken fiend has been hankering for a piece of their juicy poultry. Yes, we all know that it's a fictional chicken empire in a television show, but Breaking Bad was just that damn addictive. With Los Pollos Hermanos' head honcho once again crossing paths with Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) in the third season of ace Breaking Bad prequel spin-off Better Call Saul, subscription streaming video provider Stan is making everyone's dreams come true with two days of chicken goodness. The pop-up will take over Potts Point's Thirsty Bird for lunch and dinner on April 11 and 12 — and it that's not that's not exciting enough, good ol' poultry-cooking, drug baron Gustavo himself, aka actor Giancarlo Esposito, will be there. Is everything to your satisfaction? It's the event we've all been waiting for since the idea that Los Pollos Hermanos could actually become a real-life restaurant first came up, and it's timed to coincide with Better Call Saul's season three premiere on April 11. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their very best Better Call Saul-themed outfit, so expect to see plenty of pretend dodgy lawyers around. No word yet if anything blue will be on the menu. Find the Los Pollos Hermanos pop-up at Thirsty Bird, Shop 3, 2-14 Bayswater Road, Potts Point from 11.30am-3.00pm and 5.00pm-8.30pm on April 11 and 12. For more information, check out the event Facebook page. Image: Robert Trachtenberg/AMC/Sony Pictures Television. Copyright: © 2017 Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Grab your diary. Call your mates. Reserve your horse. Secret Garden has announced its 2017 dates. And we're happy to tell you that Australia's beloved, grassroots, made-for-mates-by-mates festival will be taking place over 48 hours, across Friday 24 and Saturday, 25 February. As usual, we won't know anything about the lineup or festival program until tickets are sold out. But, we can tell you that, as always, Secret Garden will bring you an immersive experience, a long way out of the city, within a magical natural setting transformed into a wonderland. You'll find yourself wandering through a forest maze, getting lost in massive installations, discovering unexpected pop-up performances and coming across tucked-away parties in custom-made rave caves. Maybe. All we know for sure? As always, you're invited to wear your craziest, most dressed up fancy dress. Start planning. Full lineup to be released soon. Images: Tim Da Rin, Zakarij Kaczmarek.
A Saturday tradition for beachbound residents, the Bondi Farmers’ Markets may be a fashionable place to shop but its popularity isn’t a superficial evolution. Consumers are increasingly more interested in where their food comes from and how it’s grown, as well as buying local produce to support farmers and reduce their carbon footprint. The Bondi Farmers’ Markets are your go-to spot for fresh, locally-made produce every Saturday morning in Bondi Beach Public School. With artisan bread, smokey salt, honey, fruit and veg, home-made ice blocks, macaroons, yoghurt, cheese and coffee only some of the produce on offer, not to mention the pleasure of doing the grocery shop in the sunshine, Bondi Farmers’ Markets is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Neither the cash nor inclination to hotfoot it to Byron Bay this Easter? Folks no longer willing to stash eggs in your backyard? Despair not. Take a staycation and get into some good ol' hometown fun. Find beachside shenanigans, live music, banquets and aqua egg hunts on the harbour. Say farewell to one of the last of the openair cinemas for the season, or take a bike tour along Sydney's foreshores. For those who like to spend their Easter weekend with a bucketload of hip hop and '00s R&B, there's more than one party for you.
Camperdown is really coming into itself of late. As Newtown's quieter sister suburb, it's always seemed to slightly live in the shadows when it comes to openings — it's pretty geographically dominated by the University of Sydney and RPA. But in 2016, Camperdown is like Cady Heron ala Mean Girls Act Two (that is, after she gets a big ol' makeover, and is still sassy and sabotaging the Plastics, but before she becomes a mean girl for real). Go with it. Camperdown is fetch. We're not the only ones to hold this opinion though, as a whole murder of cafe openings have cropped up recently (yes, the collective noun for cafe openings is murder, sure). First up, we've got Boss Lady Food & Co on Purkis Street — which already has our allegiance for the name alone. The menu is a mixture of Greek and Egyptian influences with an Aussie twist, and dishes are named after the boss ladies themselves. Because they're boss ladies. For something a little more retro, Little Lord Cafe has also just opened on Salisbury Road, and it's definitely pushing the grandma and grandpa's house nostalgia vibes. Their menu is a simple affair of coffee, cakes and sandwiches, all plucked from a few generations ago. Think pineapple upside-down cake and scotch eggs, and all served in cosy, living room-style surrounds. Little Lord took over the space that once housed the adorable Pigeon Ground Records, and we're stoked to see the continuation of twee-ness. And we’re expecting a few more exciting openings in the next few months too, after the unfortunate closure of Mo’s Pantry on Purkis Street. And so the impending gentrification of the inner west continues. But in the meantime: Camperdown, you're lookin' mighty fine. Image: Boss Lady.
A new Sicilian restaurant headed by internationally acclaimed chef Lino Sauro is the latest venue set to join the still-blooming Kensington Street precinct. Opening on the second floor of the newly restored Old Rum Store, it will join first-level French restaurant Bistrot Gavroche, Japanese-American fusion newcomer Eastside Grill, and new pop-up The Private Kitchen on level three. The best part? It'll have its own rooftop terrace. Sauro has spent the past ten years in Singapore where he headed Sicilian restaurant Gattopardo. His new Sydney venture is called Olio, which is the Italian word for olive oil — a very appropriate name given that olive oil, which will make up the base of the Sauro's dishes, sourced from his family farm in Sicily. As for the rest of the ingredients, seafood, wild fennel, raisins, saffron and couscous all play a big part in the menu. Sicily's natural environment — like the ocean and its abundance of olive trees — and historic relations with North Africa and Mediterranean Europe are major influences on Sicilian cuisine. Sauro's own farming heritage has also inspired a passion for cooking with fresh, local produce. For Olio, he's prioritised international award winners in his choice of architects too. LAVA, who are also responsible for designing Abu Dhabi's Masdar eco city centre and Sydney's Martian Embassy, have designed both the indoor dining room and the rooftop terrace to reflect the menu. They've incorporated the industrial history of the space — like its exposed brick and loft-style windows — into a modern revamp, which includes hints of Mediterranean blue and olive green in the colour scheme and Sicilian tiles. Those dining on the terrace will be treated to views of Central Park's vertical garden and Kensington Street's Spice Alley while surrounded by olive trees. Olio opens January 28 om the second floor of The Old Rum Store, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale. Images: Lauren Commens.
As far as Henry Miller was concerned, alone time is crucial to creativity. “An artist is always alone,” he wrote, “if he is an artist. What the artist needs is loneliness.” But spending day in, day out, with only your cat for company isn’t always a recipe for inspiration. Luckily, Etsy is well aware of the problem. So, every year, they host an enormous, worldwide Craft Party. Artists and craftspeople all over the planet are encouraged to get together to paint, draw, sculpt, sew and make — with like-minded others. This year, the gathering will be happening on June 6 and the theme is 'Kaleidoscope: Paper taking shape'. It's all about collages and paper cutting techniques this year, so come armed with scissors. Etsy Craft Parties will be held all over Australia. You can organise your own, or to attend one of Sydney's major bashes, book a spot online.
The Lobo Plantation crew should have no time for fun. Sydney legends and Lobo co-owners Jared Merlino, Mikey Hwang and Eddie Levy been way too busy of late. Jared's teamed up with Lewis Jaffrey (formerly of The Swillhouse Group) to create Oxford Street's hip hop cheese and wine bar Big Poppa's (opening next week), and Jared, Mikey and Eddie run one of the city's best cocktail spots, Lobo. But they've had even more on their epic to-do list of late: they're opening their highly-anticipated new cocktail bar next week. Named Kittyhawk, the bar will take over a space on Phillip Lane in the CBD, formerly occupied by short-lived '80s richo business bar Bondy's (the one with the $20,000 cocktail and a theme inspired by Alan Bond). It's a two-level space in the heart of the city, also once housing posh pub Bull and Bear. The ground floor will be opened first as cocktail bar Kittyhawk, and then word is that work will begin on a restaurant upstairs. Drinks-wise, their initial announcement suggested there'd be a focus on rum and rye whiskey, with super bartender Paige Aubort behind the wheel. And the trainings begin! Team Kittyhawk absorbing all of the Rum and Rye knowledge before we swing open the doors next week. Watch this space. @kittyhawksyd @paigeaubort @dre.walters A photo posted by Kittyhawk (@kittyhawksyd) on Jun 21, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT So, what theme have the Lobo crew chosen this time? AZBCreative has designed the joint, celebrated for their work with Lobo as well as Pink Salt, The Island, The Goodwill Society and pop-ups like Sydney's Duff Beer bar. Neither Kittyhawk's major owner Jared or his co-captains Mikey and Eddie haven't revealed much about the bar's layout or menu, we're taking clues from the name. Kittyhawk is an alternate name for a US World War II fighter aircraft, the Curtiss, and the bar's Instagram account seems to suggest a WWII-based theme, particularly focused around Paris during the Liberation in the 1940s. To give you more of an idea, the website looks pretty wartime: Kittyhawk opens in the CBD next week at 16 Phillip Lane, Sydney. Details TBC. Image: Lobo Plantation.
Australians are notoriously picky when it comes to their daily coffee. But how many of us actually know how and why coffees can vary so much from place to place? Sure there's the skill of the barista, but it might be time to learn a bit more about the beans to inform our preferences. Here's a handy guide to coffee tasting, from what aromas to look for to how to drink better coffee in general. You'll be hosting your own coffee cupping sessions at home in no time — something you can even do with the humble coffee pod. [caption id="attachment_578979" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Daniel Ruswick.[/caption] WHY DO A COFFEE TASTING? Coffee cupping sessions are about educating people on the difference in beans. Where they're from, if they're single origin, how they're roasted and ground all contribute to a different product at the end of the line. Sam Gibson co-owner of Back and Forth cafe attends quarterly cupping sessions with his supplier Gabriel coffee. "Coffee tastings are important to identify the profile of the coffee, where it's from and how it's roasted determines the flavours which inform our choices of what to serve." Back and Forth has a house blend then a monthly single origin coffee it grinds freshly and sells to customers. Cupping sessions are also available and gaining popularity at places like Campos in Newtown and Rueben Hills in Surry Hills. DO'S AND DON'TS Don't do anything silly like brush your teeth just before doing a tasting. Cleanse the palate with sparkling water, that's not too cold between tasting. Don't swallow the coffee, but do leave it and swill it around your mouth a bit before spitting it out. Don't add sugar. When you're sipping, Gibson advises to take in a little bit of air with the mouthful, in the same way as when you're tasting wine. "It's really important as it gets the coffee to the back of the mouth and all over the tongue," he says. [caption id="attachment_578982" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Drew Coffman.[/caption] WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR "Aroma is really important and the first thing to be considered," says Gibson. Before tasting the coffee smell each one after the other and notice the difference. Then smell each one again just before you taste it. "Very roughly speaking the darker blends are better for milky coffees as they hold up with their more full bodied, bitter chocolatey characteristics." Lighter blends tend to be a bit more earthy, floral and citrusy which suit black coffee. When tasting the coffee think about characteristics beyond the actual flavour profiles like body, acidity, complexity, mouth feel and finish. Try to think of words that describe the flavours you're tasting, such as grassy, earthy. chocolatey, sharp, delicate, bitter, bold etc. COFFEE TASTING AT HOME With the rise in popularity of portable espresso machines at home, so too are people developing tastes for their favourite beans and blends in the pods. Australian startup company Tripod Coffee sources single origin and blended regional beans, then roasts and vacuum sealed locally to retain freshness. It might be an idea to get one of their sample packs, which has all five varieties from their spicy, savoury, cedar style 'Grey Gaucho' to their raisiny, citrusy and coco bean-esque 'Blue Beret'. Otherwise getting a small pack of a few different beans from a cafe, having them freshly ground and serving them French press style side by side, is a surprisingly good way to compare the characteristics of the beans. TIPS FOR DRINKING BETTER COFFEE Adding sugar is a real no-no for coffee purists. But knowing what kind of bean suits the way you drink your coffee (black, espresso or flat white, for instance) can help you make an educated choice to bring out the best in your coffee. Never keep coffee in the freezer at home, but tightly sealed somewhere dry. The best thing you can do is invest in a grinder and grind small quantities of beans as you make your coffee. And try as much coffee as you can — shake it up.
He's created culinary delights for Cate Blanchett, David Beckham and U2, now chef Nelly Robinson (formerly of the Aria group) wants to cook for you. Snuggled in an underground bunker-style space in Surry Hills, Robinson's brand new London-like eatery nel. restaurant is the city's newest 'progressive dining' spot. Sitting on Wentworth Avenue on the border of Surry Hills, nel. works around an open, modern kitchen layout — you'll be able to see your nosh prepared from every seat in the house. Decked out with copper facades, exposed brickwork and minimalist leather booths, nel. is sure to be on the top of Sydneysider must-try lists. Food-wise, nel. is all about shaking things up. Robinson has worked with acclaimed Northern English chef Nigel Howarth (Northcote Manor, UK), so this is his own personal branch-out. Robinson's crafted a monthly rotating seasonal menu — right now we're talking venison carpaccio with a chocolate dust and pickled enoki mushrooms; slow-cooked and water bathed Tasmanian lobster with paprika and garlic butter, charred sweet corn and fresh mango; and blowtorched peach with elderflower sorbet and a buttermilk mousse. Accompanying the constantly changing menu is ten specially-matched wines — you'll be served two with each dish so you can experience different tastes (without the judgement-bait of having two wines at a time). nel. restaurant is located at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills NSW 2000. nel. restaurant will be open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday 6pm-late, Thursday-Friday 12pm-3pm. For more info and bookings, call (02) 9212 2206 or visit the website.
A basement bar with 150 whiskies and a fireplace, The Doss House is exactly where you want to be during the winter months. But, its new pop-up openair bar is made for balmy summer nights. Running until February 9, The Dock Yard has taken over the historic sandstone courtyards surrounding The Doss House. It's open from 4pm Thursday—Sunday serving up Furphy and Guinness on tap, Aussie wines and four classic cocktails: negronis, old fashioneds, Aperol spritzes and espresso martinis. Cheap espresso martinis. If you head along from 4–6pm, Thursday–Sunday, you can grab one for just $6. To eat, you'll find cheese, charcuterie — including the likes of kangaroo prosciutto and wild boar salami — and ploughman's boards, hefty sandwiches and sourdough with hummus. The bar is inspired by the many sailors and merchants that frequented The Rocks during the 1800s, so expect nautical theming and knick-knacks scattered throughout, too. The Dock Yard is open from 4pm–midnight Thursday–Saturday and 4–11pm Sunday.
Sydney record label Of Leisure are teaming up with V MoVement to host a party with all the good things: lawn bowls, putt-putt, ping-pong and of course, killer tunes. Did we mention it's free? The label launch party will be headlined by Brisbane's Young Franco, who has been touring the country with the likes of Basenji and Touch Sensitive. Last time Young Franco made it to Sydney, his show at Civic Underground sold out two weeks in advance. MUTO, Tyler Touché and GRMM will kick things off, along with Of Leisure DJs and a mystery special guest. The dress code is listed as 'Australiana inspired White, Off White, Cream, Beige, Pastel' — bust out the stain remover and interpret this however you wish. The shenanigans will be taking place at Marrickville Bowling Club. Entry is free with with an RSVP at the Of Leisure webpage.
When the sun goes down every Wednesday, the Art Gallery of NSW decks the halls with jam-packed evenings of talks, guided tours, and live music. A super-charged extension of the Gallery's usual Wednesday night Art After Hours program will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, dubbed Up Late with The Greats. After the Gallery's usual closing time of 5pm, you can take an extended jaunt through The Greats exhibition — featuring the likes of Titian, Botticelli, Gauguin and Degas, all the way from the National Galleries of Scotland — and partake in a ramped up range of activities. On Wednesday nights, celebrated comedian and SERIOUS art nerd Hannah Gadsby will be unveiling her SERIOUS art history chops and treating gallery-goers to a VERY SERIOUS rundown of different eras of Western art history each week. There'll be salon drawing on Thursday nights, and live music by members of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra on Friday nights. On all three nights, Young Henrys will be serving a limited edition masterpiece-inspired brew at the Gallery’s pop-up bar. Up Late With The Greats will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from January 6 – 29.
